1. We examined the contribution of voltage-gated conductances to inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) effects under current clamp in silent and spiking slowly adapting stretch receptor neurons (SN1s) in the slow receptor muscle of the crayfish Procambarus. The receptor exemplifies the simplest inhibitory neural circuit, with one presynaptic and one postsynaptic neuron. The effects of synaptic inhibition were compared with the outcome of hyperpolarizing current pulses. Because pulse effects were exclusively due to postsynaptic mechanisms, an estimation of the synaptic or extrasynaptic origin of the results of IPSP was possible. 2. Inhibition by single IPSPs increased gradually with the time elapsed from the preceding spike in 60% of the spiking SN1s. However, early IPSP arrivals were exclusively excitatory in the rest of the cases. Inhibition was restricted to a single expanded SN1 interspike interval, but the early excitation and the postinhibitory rebound lasted several intervals. Rebound was invariably present; it was the only consequence of IPSPs in silent receptors and could be extremely long lasting (> 25 s). 3. The membrane potential of the SN1 neuron was clamped at hyperpolarized values (greater than -65 mV) by prolonged IPSP barrages at high rate (> 20/s). A prominent depolarizing sag and a gradual reduction of the IPSP amplitude were observed with prolonged presynaptic stimulation. There were subthreshold IPSP amplitude oscillations consisting of gradual increases and decreases of the post-IPSP peak depolarization at lower presynaptic rates. IPSP amplitude variations (< or = 10 mV) were primarily due to larger local responses. 4. Essentially all IPSP effects were mimicked by hyperpolarizing pulses. Sag was also evoked by pulses and was accompanied by a gradual conductance increase preceded by a brief initial drop. Sag and rebound were markedly reduced by Cs+ (2 mM) and tetrodotoxin (1 microM) and less by Ba2+ (5 mM) or tetraethylammonium (25 mM) superfusion. Both were somewhat decreased by acetylcholine (30 microM), which also markedly depolarized and accelerated firings, results which were usually reduced by atropine (10 microM). 5. In conclusion, IPSP and hyperpolarizing pulse effects were essentially identical, implying that extrasynaptic membrane properties were decisive. Interestingly, net excitatory consequences were usual, effectively increasing sensitivity and reducing the sensory threshold. Pharmacological evidence is provided suggesting that the hyperpolarization-activated current, IQ, and also probably the K+ M-current, the A-current, and the low-threshold, persistent Na+ conductances participate in sag and rebound genesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Background The common T2 mapping is not suitable for the use in rat heart with high heart rate, unless data are acquired in multiple cardiac cycles. Purpose To evaluate a simplified T2 mapping method for faster assessment of myocardial edema and area at risk in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Material and Methods The simplified T2 mapping method (TR/TE, 1500 ms/10, 20, 30 ms) was implemented at a 7.0T MRI system. The accuracy of T2 mapping was compared with a standard T2 mapping method (TR, 2500 ms, 16 TEs equally spaced from 11 ms to 176 ms) in thigh muscles in rats (n = 6) and a phantom. This method was further evaluated in normal rats (n = 8) and rats with myocardial infarction (n = 8). Late gadolinium enhancement images were also acquired in the rats with myocardial infarction. Results T2 values of simplified T2 mapping in the muscles and phantom were 27.3 ± 2 ms and 26.5 ± 1.1 ms, which were similar to the T2 values obtained by the standard T2 mapping method (28.1 ± 1.4 ms, P > 0.05; 26.9 ± 1.7 ms). No significant difference in T2 distribution (different segments and slices from base to apex) in the whole heart was found in normal rats (25.6 ± 3.3 ms, P > 0.05). The mean T2 value in the myocardial edema regions of myocardial infarction rats (37 ± 4.9 ms) was significantly higher than that of the normal rats (25.6 ± 3.3 ms, P < 0.001). The T2 value in the myocardial infarction core of myocardial infarction rats (39.9 ± 3.6 ms) was significantly higher than that of area at risk (34.7 ± 2.9 ms, P < 0.001). Conclusion The simplified myocardial T2 mapping is technically feasible and accurate, and can readily detect myocardial edema and area at risk in rats with high heart rate.


Multi-robots systems require dedicated tools and models for their design and the deployment. Our approach proposes service-oriented architecture that can simplify the development and deployment. In order to solve the problem of neighbors and service discovery in an ad-hoc network, the fleet robot needs a protocol that is able to constantly discover new robots in its coverage area. To this end we propose a robotic middleware, SDfR, that is able to provide service discovery. This protocol is an extension of the Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) used in Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) used in dynamic networks generated by the mobility of the robots. Even if SDfR is platform independent, we propose a ROS (ROS, 2014) integration in order to facilitate the use. We evaluate a series of overhead benchmarking across static and dynamic scenarios. We also present some use-cases where our proposal was successfully used.


Cost-based abduction (CBA) is an important AI formalism for representing knowledge under uncertainty. In this formalism, evidence to be explained is treated as a goal to be proven, proofs have costs based on how much needs to be assumed to complete the proof, and the set of assumptions needed to complete the least-cost proof are taken as the best explanation for the given evidence. The problem of finding the least-cost proof for a given CBA system is NP-hard and current techniques have exponential complexity in the worst case. Computational intelligence approaches to this problem have not been previously explored. In this paper, we show how high order recurrent networks can be used to find least-cost proofs for CBA instances. We describe experimental results on 80 CBA instances using networks of up to 68 neurons.


Uncertainty hampers innovative mixed‐fisheries management by the scales at which connectivity dynamics are relevant to management objectives. The spatial scale of sustainable stock management is species‐specific and depends on ecology, life history and population connectivity. One valuable approach to understand these spatial scales is to determine to what extent population genetic structure correlates with the oceanographic environment. Here, we compare the level of genetic connectivity in three codistributed and commercially exploited demersal flatfish species living in the North East Atlantic Ocean. Population genetic structure was analysed based on 14, 14 and 10 neutral DNA microsatellite markers for turbot, brill and sole, respectively. We then used redundancy analysis (RDA) to attribute the genetic variation to spatial (geographical location), temporal (sampling year) and oceanographic (water column characteristics) components. The genetic structure of turbot was composed of three clusters and correlated with variation in the depth of the pycnocline, in addition to spatial factors. The genetic structure of brill was homogenous, but correlated with average annual stratification and spatial factors. In sole, the genetic structure was composed of three clusters, but was only linked to a temporal factor. We explored whether the management of data poor commercial fisheries, such as in brill and turbot, might benefit from population‐specific information. We conclude that the management of fish stocks has to consider species‐specific genetic structures and may benefit from the documentation of the genetic seascape and life‐history traits.


Two concepts are considered. One refers to the cochlear amplifier, the other, to hair cell stimulation. According to the first, a biological amplifier produces strong amplification at the falling edge of the passive wave envelope and produces a sharp amplitude peak there. When the amplifier is eliminated, only a less sharp passive peak remains at a more basal location. It has been demonstrated experimentally that, at a given cochlear location, when the amplifier is eliminated, the sound frequency of the amplitude peak is lowered by about an octave. This is equivalent to a basal shift of the maximum by over 2 mm. According to the second concept, cochlear hair cells are depolarized by deflection of their stereocilia toward the spiral ligament. The deflection is due to shear displacement between the reticular lamina and the tectorial membrane, which is supposed to take place during basilar membrane displacement toward scala vestibuli as a result of the geometry of the organ of Corti. Experiments show that this is often not true. The discrepancies can be explained on the basis of experimental evidence concerning the dynamics of the stereocilia and the tectorial membrane. [Work supported by NIDCD.]


Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is critical for early linkage to treatment and care services. However, there is a substantial gap in HIV testing, particularly in resource limited settings due to low accessibility of HIV testing sites, inconvenient testing hours, and concerns about loss of confidentiality. Thus, adopting new strategies such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) could overcome these barriers and increases HIV testing uptake. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-invasive HIVST kit using oral fluid for HIV diagnosis. This study also aimed to assess the ability of clients in interpretation of OraQuick HIVST results. Method Between December 2017 and February 2018, a total of 400 study participants were enrolled into the study to assess a diagnostic accuracy of Oral fluid-based HIVST kit (OraQuick) in 15 public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants were provided with instructions and visual aids on how to perform HIVST and interpret results. They also underwent a blood-based rapid HIV antibody test as per the current national algorithm. The results of HIVST were interpreted independently by the participants and respective health care workers (HCWs). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), Negative predictive value (NPV) and inter-rater agreement of the test were computed. Results Out of 200 participants who tested positive on the national algorithm testing, oral fluid-based self-testing was positive in 199 (99.5%), false negative in 1 (0.5%). Of 200 participants who tested negative on the national algorithm testing, self-testing was negative in 200 (100%). There were no false positive and invalid tests. The sensitivity and specificity of the OraQuick HIVST were 99.5% (95%CI: 97.26–99.99) and 100% (95%CI: 98.18–100.0), respectively. The overall agreement between the two tests was high (κ value = 0.995). The PPV and NPV of OraQuick test were 100% and 99.5% (95%CI: 96.59–99.93) respectively. Conclusion This study showed a high diagnostic performance of OraQuick HIV self-test and suggests that OraQuick HIVST kit has a potential to be used for HIV testing in Ethiopia along with the national algorithm.


BACKGROUND-- Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy is used in the diagnosis of pulmonary and pleural lesions. The standard procedure using the Vacu-Cut cutting type of needle is the "thrust" technique in which the needle is rapidly forced through the lesion. In our experience this technique has a low yield of histological biopsy specimens. The diagnostic yield of a new biopsy technique ("drill" technique) using the Vacu-Cut needle was assessed. METHODS-- The series comprised 29 consecutive patients, 23 with localised peripheral pulmonary lesions and six with pleural lesions. The Vacu-Cut 1.2 mm needle was rotated and drilled by hand through the lesion. RESULTS-- Biopsy specimens 4-30 mm long were obtained in 20 of the 23 patients with pulmonary lesions; in three patients material was available for cytological examination only. The diagnostic yield in the 18 malignant pulmonary lesions was 89% and in the five non-malignant lesions 80%. Biopsy specimens 10-30 mm long were obtained in all patients with pleural lesions. The diagnostic yield in the four malignant and two non-malignant lesions was 100%. The total diagnostic yield in malignant lesions was 20 of 22 patients and in non-malignant lesions six of seven patients. The diagnostic yield in the entire series was 26 of 29 patients (90%). Pneumothorax occurred in seven of the patients and three needed a chest tube. There was no haemoptysis and no deaths. CONCLUSIONS-- The drill technique has a high diagnostic yield in both malignant and non-malignant pulmonary and pleural lesions, and is suggested as the ideal biopsy technique when using the Vacu-Cut needle.


Heat stress (HS) has a significant economic impact on the global dairy industry. However, the mechanisms by which HS negatively affects metabolism and milk synthesis in dairy ewes are not well defined. This study evaluated the production and metabolic variables in dairy ewes under controlled HS conditions. Eight Lacaune ewes (75.5 ± 3.2 kg of body weight; 165 ± 4 d of lactation; 2.31 ± 0.04 kg of milk per day) were submitted to thermoneutral (TN) or HS conditions in a crossover design (2 periods, 21 d each, 6-d transition). Conditions (day-night, 12-12 h; relative humidity; temperature-humidity index, THI) were: TN (15-20°C; 50 ± 5%; THI = 59-65) and HS (28-35°C; 45 ± 5%; THI = 75-83). Ewes were fed ad libitum and milked twice daily. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, feed intake, water consumption, and milk yield were recorded daily. Milk and blood samples were collected weekly. Additionally, TN and HS ewes were exposed to glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, and epinephrine challenge. Heat stress reduced feed intake (-11%), and increased rectal temperature (+0.77°C), respiratory rate (+90 breaths/min), and water consumption (+28%). Despite the reduced feed intake, HS ewes produced similar milk to TN ewes, but their milk contained lower fat (-1.7 points) and protein (-0.86 points). Further, HS milk tended to contain more somatic cells (+0.23 log points). Blood creatinine was greater in HS compared with TN, but no differences in blood glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, or urea were detected. When glucose was infused, TN and HS had similar insulin response, but higher glucose response (+85%) was detected in HS ewes. Epinephrine infusion resulted in lower nonesterified fatty acids response (-215%) in HS than TN ewes. Overall, HS decreased feed intake, but milk production was not affected. Heat stress caused metabolic adaptations that included increased body muscle degradation and reduced adipose tissue mobilization. These adaptations allowed ewes to spare glucose and to avoid reductions in milk yield.


We present an approach for smooth and collision-free navigation of multiple mobile robots amongst each other. Each robot senses its surroundings and acts independently without central coordination or communication with other robots. Our approach uses both the current position and the velocity of other robots to predict their future trajectory in order to avoid collisions. Moreover, our approach is reciprocal and avoids oscillations by explicitly taking into account that the other robots also sense their surroundings and change their trajectories accordingly. We build on prior work related to velocity obstacles and reciprocal velocity obstacles and introduce the concept of hybrid reciprocal velocity obstacles for collision avoidance that takes into account the kinematics of the robots and uncertainty in sensor data. We apply our approach to a set of iRobot Create robots using centralized sensing and show natural, direct, and collision-free navigation in several challenging scenarios.


An automated in-vitro, medium-throughput screening method was designed to compare the rapid actions of 10−9M estradiol to those of modified bisphenol A (BPA) compounds: chlorinated (created due to waste water treatment) and phase II BPA metabolites. GH3/B6/F10 prolactinoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations (10−15‒10−7M) of BPA or modified BPA compounds for 5 min, and phospho-activated kinases assayed via a fixed-cell plate immunoassay. Mono- and di-chlorinated BPAs phospho-activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), while tri-chlorinated BPA dephosphorylated ERK to a level below vehicle-treated controls. When c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) was examined, mono-chlorinated compounds caused no responses (similar to unmodified BPA), while di- and tri-chlorinated BPAs caused extensive dephosphorylation. When deconjugation of di-sulfated and glucuronidated metabolites were inhibited, these stably conjugated compounds were unable to activate either ERK or JNK, but could inactivate them. This suggests that the modified versions of BPA (extensively chlorinated or conjugated metabolites) may alter the ability of membrane estrogen receptor-α (which mediates these rapid signaling responses) to partner with other signaling proteins. While other studies have examined the estrogenicity of modified (chlorinated and conjugated) BPA compounds in gene expression assays, this is the first to examine their actions via rapid, membrane-initiated signaling pathways.


The volume of firearms sold in USA and trafficked across the US–Mexico border is notoriously difficult to estimate. We consider a unique approach using GIS-generated county-level panel data (1993–1999 and 2010–2012) of Federal Firearms Licenses to sell small arms (FFLs) to estimate the realized demand for firearms based on the distance by road from the nearest point on the US–Mexico border. We use a time-series negative binomial model paired with a post-estimation population attributable fraction (PAF) estimator. We do so to control determinants of domestic demand. We are able to estimate a total demand for trafficking, both in terms of firearms and dollar sales for the firearms industry. We find that nearly 2.2% (between 0.9% and 3.7%) of US domestic arms sales are attributable to the US–Mexico traffic in the period 2010–2012, representing 212,887 firearms (between 89,816 and 359,205) purchased annually to be trafficked.


This work examines the concept of deceit and its ubiquity both in everyday life and in various forms of psychopathology. It offers examples of clinical work with true impostors, those with imposturous tendencies, and those who fear they are impostors when in fact they are not.


ABSTRACT Within a 1-year period, six surgical-site infections (SSI) caused by Staphylococcus schleiferi were observed in the department of cardiac surgery of Ignatius Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands. Since outbreaks caused by this species of coagulase-negative staphylococci have not been described before, an extensive environmental survey and a case control study were performed in combination with molecular typing of the causative microorganism in order to identify potential sources of infection. Variability, as detected by four different genotyping methods (random amplification of polymorphic DNA [RAPD], conventional and PCR-mediated ribotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE] of DNA macro restriction fragments), appeared to be limited both among the clinical isolates and among several control strains obtained from various unrelated sources. Among unrelated strains, RAPD and PCR-mediated ribotyping identified two types only, whereas seven different types were identified in a relatively concordant manner by conventional ribotyping and PFGE. The latter two procedures proved to be the most useful tools for tracking the epidemiology of S. schleiferi. Four of the outbreak-related strains were identical by both methods, and two isolates showed limited differences. In the search for a potential source of S. schleiferi infection, two slightly different PFGE types were encountered on several occasions in the nose of a single surgeon. These strains were, however, clearly different from the outbreak type. In contrast, S. schleiferi cultures remained negative for two persons identified on the basis of case control analysis. It was demonstrated that SSI caused by S. schleiferi had a clinical impact for patients comparable to that of a wound infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This report describes the first well-documented outbreak of S. schleiferi infection. A source of the outbreak was not detected.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss the use of condylar prostheses after mandibular resection for tumor.

DESIGN
Case series and literature review.

SETTING
Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS
Four patients underwent condylar reconstruction with metallic condylar prostheses after hemimandibulectomy for either squamous cell cancer or Ewing sarcoma.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Complications related to the condylar prostheses.

RESULTS
Clinical and radiological follow-up in these patients revealed several complications, including exposure or extrusion of the prosthesis and migration of the prosthesis into the epitympanum, resulting in profound sensorineural hearing loss owing to bony destruction of the cochlea. Two of our patients required removal of the mandibular hardware because of the seriousness of the complications, and 1 of the 2 underwent reconstruction of the condyle with a fibular free flap.

CONCLUSIONS
Metallic condylar prostheses in the setting of tumor resection and reconstruction involve significant risks. Autogenous materials, such as vascularized bone grafts, should be used whenever possible.


The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of using great auricular nerve - facial nerve (GAN-FN) coaptation in the correction of experimentally induced facial paralysis according to clinical, histological and histomorphometrical analysis in dogs. Five mongrel dogs of different age (range 2 to 6 years) and sex (2 male and 3 female) were the study material. Facial paralysis was induced by neurectomy at the side of the facial nerve trunk passing through the stylomastoid foramen. The great auricular nerve (GAN) was freed, neurectomized behind the furcations and transposed to the distal part of the neurectomized facial nerve trunk. Both nerve stumps were coapted by epiperineural sutures. All 5 dogs were kept under clinical control for 6 months. At the end of the observation period, each dog was anesthetized and the operated area exposed. Specimens were taken from the coapted area and about 1 cm proximal and distal of the coapted area. The remaining facial nerve stumps were repaired by nerve grafting and the animals were used for another study. The specimens were evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically with respect to axon counts, myelin area and nerve fiber diameter. Clinical signs of facial paralysis had improved, except in one dog, which had wound dehiscence. There were no significant differences between the proximal and distal parts of the coapted area with respect to axonal counts, nerve fiber diameter and myelin area. In conclusion, in facial paralysis, GAN-FN coaptation can be a good alternative treatment for intracranial facial nerve lesions that can not be treated and injuries located at a point after the nerve exits the stylomastoid foramen.


In this study, we have sequenced the rpoB gene, encoding the beta subunit of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, from a selection of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The presence of insertions and deletions (indels) in the beta subunit separate the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria from each other and support the division of the gram-positive organisms into two clades based on DNA G+C content. Phylogenetic and amino acid content analyses further separate the clostridia from bacilli, leuconostocs, listeriae and relatives, forming an early branch after the common gram-positive ancestor. The occurrence in the beta subunit of Asn-Ala at positions 471-472 in Porphyromonas cangingivalis and Asn at position 372 in Weissella paramesenteroides are postulated to be the cause of the natural rifampicin resistance of these species.


In the 1970s and early 1980s the US Supreme Court issued several landmark decisions establishing the contours of patent eligibility, a judicially created doctrine that serves as a gatekeeper to prevent the patenting of subject matter deemed so fundamental as to be better left unpatented. Over the course of the next 25 years the Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit oversaw a progressive expansion in the scope subject matter deemed patent eligible, highlighted by the adoption in the 1990's of a "useful, concrete and tangible" test for patent eligibility that for all practical purposes seemed to subsume the patent eligibility inquiry with the requirement of utility. However, in 2006 the Supreme Court actively reengaged the doctrine, and since that time the Court has granted certiorari in five patent eligibility cases, resulting in four decisions (the first case was dismissed after oral argument). In every case in which the Court reached a decision, all of the patent claims at issue were ruled invalid for covering patent ineligible subject matter. Unfortunately, these decisions provide little guidance for the lower courts and the Patent Office with respect to the criteria to be applied in assessing patent eligibility, and little coherent insight into exactly what the Court is trying to accomplish. This Article identifies some of the critical open questions that have been raised by the Supreme Court's reinvigoration of patent eligibility, and reviews some of the early efforts by the lower courts to apply the heightened standard in a manner that maintains adequate incentives for innovation while addressing the legitimate policy concerns underlying the Supreme Court's current obsession with the doctrine.


We present the design and measurement results of millimeter-wave integrated circuits implemented in 65-nm baseline CMOS. Both active and passive test structures were measured. In addition, we present the design of an on-chip spiral balun and the transition from CPW to the balun and report transistor noise parameter measurement results at V-band. Finally, the design and measurement results of two amplifiers and a balanced resistive mixer are presented. The 40-GHz amplifier exhibits 14.3 dB of gain and the 1-dB output compression point is at +6-dBm power level using a 1.2 V supply with a compact chip area of 0.286 mm2. The 60-GHz amplifier achieves a measured noise figure of 5.6 dB at 60 GHz. The AM/AM and AM/PM results show a saturated output power of +7 dBm using a 1.2 V supply. In downconversion, the balanced resistive mixer achieves 12.5 dB of conversion loss and +5 dBm of 1-dB input compression point. In upconversion, the measured conversion loss was 13.5 dB with -19 dBm of 1-dB output compression point.


Chemical reactors are a part of modern industry and the catalytic tubular fixed bed reactor examined in this work is an important reactor for chemicals production.In this work two different types of models for the reactor are studied; a pseudohomogeneous model and a heterogeneous model. The goal is to find differences in behaviour between these two types of reactor models and explain these.In a real reactor there exists two phases, a solid catalyst and a fluid reactant. Both these phases are in the pseudohomogeneous model treated as a single phase, a pseudofluid. In the heterogeneous model the two phases are treated separately.When comparing these types of models a few structural differences exist, void fraction, heat exchange between two phases, and heat dispersion in the phases, and all of these will affect the behaviour of the models differently.The models are studied using bifurcation analysis and linear analysis. Bifurcation theory is used to find and track different solutions depending on a certain parameter and to get a good overall picture of a system's solutions and their type, steady state or sustained oscillation.Linear analysis is used to study linearization around a specific solution and to determine stability and frequency dependency.It is found that the concept of void fraction in the reactor model affects the behaviour only as a time scaling, while the concept of interfacial heat exchange affects the stability. The distribution of heat dispersion between phases has a significant impact on the reaction behaviour. Feedback is determined as the main cause for instabilities and oscillative solutions.


Zr(IV)-alkyl-phosphonate and Zr(IV)-aryl-phosphonate thin films of varying compositions were investigated for corrosion inhibition capabilities on AA2024-T3. A strong correlation between the alkyl chain length and the ability of these self-assembled systems to inhibit the O 2 reduction reaction at the alloy surface was found. In particular, modification using Zr(IV)-octadecyl-phosphonate initially inhibits O 2 reduction currents by more than 2 orders of magnitude in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 at a potential of -0.80 V vs a saturated calomel electrode and by greater than 95% after 5500 s under similar conditions. Scanning electrochemical microscopy reveals uniform inhibition of cathodic processes. Auger electron spectroscopy confirms the presence of Zr and P in the thin film. Infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy indicates that the alkyl chains are in a liquidlike environment. Long-term testing of the Zr(IV)-octadecyl-phosphonate system in a sulfate-containing solution yields low levels of surface activation, as evidenced by small amounts of trenching adjacent to intermetallic particles and little change in near-surface Cu content.


Modern training typically incorporates real-world training applications. Augmented Reality (AR) technologies support this by overlaying virtual objects in real-world 3-Dimensional (3D) space. However, integrating instruction into AR is challenging because of technological and educational considerations. One reason is a lack of architecture for supporting Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) in AR training domains. We present a novel modular agent-based Distributed Augmented Reality Training (DART) architecture for ITSs to address two key AR challenges: (1) a decoupling of the display and tracking components and (2) support for modularity. Modular agents communicate with each other over a network, allowing them to be easily swapped out and replaced to support differing needs. Our motivation is driven by the fact that AR technologies are vary considerably and an ITS architecture would need to be flexible enough to support these requirements. Finally, we believe that our novel architecture will appeal to practical designers of ITSs and to the more theoretical educators who wish to use such systems to simulate and broaden research in the distributed cognitive educational theories.


A computerized teaching program for the individualized teaching of reading and writing has been developed and periodically revised by a research team. Designed under the conceptual framework of stimulus equivalence, the program teaches conditional relations between printed words and dictated words. Additional teaching trials include matching printed syllables to dictated syllables. The assessment of the program in laboratory settings has systematically shown that it is very effective in promoting the emergence of reading (textual behavior) and dictation-taking (performances not directly taught). The present study is part of a broader research program on the feasibility and efficacy of the teaching program when implemented in school settings by the school's staff. The specific goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the teaching program under these new conditions. Sixty-four students participated. They were not learning to read and write in the classroom and a pre-test evaluation demonstrated that they did not read single words. The study used a group design. The Experimental Group (N=38) was exposed to the program (a sequence of 17 teaching units interspersed among 15 assessment units). The Control Group (N=26) was exposed to a similar program, except that the task required only matching pictures to dictated words and naming the pictures. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences between the groups on the pre-test, but on the post-test only the Experimental Group showed accurate reading and writing performances and also generalized those repertoires to new words. These results replicate and extend the findings of previous studies in laboratory settings, thus recommending the teaching program as a remedial tool that could be useful in supplementing the school efforts to teach students who fail with the conventional procedures.


In the scientific literature devoted to the history of the perception of the Alps, we find different periodisation schemes that partially contradict one another. Studies of the history of literature and of philosophy, and in related disciplines, often use a periodisation that sees the 18th century as the turning point from "fog-laden and sombre" mountains to mountains that are "luminous and magnificent". Authors who study mountaineering or geography employ another periodisation: they note the first discovery of the Alps in the 16th century, the return to oblivion in the 17th century and, at the time of the Enlightenment and of Romanticism, a definitive rediscovery of the mountains. Careful attention to sources and historical context shows that the two periodisations are neither completely false nor completely correct. Rather than a history sharply divided into black and white, it would be preferable to think in terms of an evolution in shades of grey.


The present comparative study of throat and milk streptococci was undertaken with the object of establishing a method for distinguishing between organisms isolated from these two sources. Much confusion has existed as to the relationships within this genus. The introduction of the biometric study of the streptococci according to their reaction in various carbohydrate mediums by Gordon (1904-1905) and the subsequent extension of the study by Houston (1905-1906) seemed to give a method of solving this obscure problem. The English results have been obtained by the use of litmus added to the mediums and the reactions recorded as positive or negative according to the color of the litmus, without titration. If the mediums were not neutral at the start, it is obvious that they must have classified many organisms as fermentors which have only very slight fermentative properties and really belong to the non-fermenting group. Winslow has pointed out that


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (FLT-1 and KDR) are overexpressed by human bladder cancer cells and tumor endothelial cells, respectively. Strategies that target VEGF receptors hold promise as antiangiogenic therapeutic approaches to bladder cancer. A fusion protein of VEGF121 and the plant toxin gelonin (rGel) was constructed, expressed in bacteria, and purified to homogeneity. Cytotoxicity experiments of VEGF121/rGel on the highly metastatic 253J B-V human bladder cancer cell line demonstrated that the VEGF121/rGel does not specifically target these cells, whereas Western blot analysis showed no detectable expression of KDR. Treatment with VEGF121/rGel against orthotopically implanted 253J B-V xenografts in nude mice resulted in a significant suppression of bladder tumor growth (approximately 60% inhibition; P < .05) compared to controls. Immunohistochemistry studies of orthotopic 253J B-V tumors demonstrated that KDR is highly overexpressed in tumor vasculature. Immunofluorescence staining with antibodies to CD-31 (blood vessel endothelium) and rGel demonstrated a dramatic colocalization of the construct on tumor neovasculature. Treated tumors also displayed an increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin end labeling staining compared to controls. Thus, VEGF121/rGel inhibits the growth of human bladder cancer by cytotoxic effects directed against the tumor vascular supply and has significant potential as a novel antiangiogenic therapeutic against human bladder cancer.


Several studies have documented the failure of neonatal clinical screening to reduce the incidence of hip dislocation later in infancy. In addition, the practice of splinting unstable hips is said to result in the treatment of many infants who would have developed normally if left unsplinted. Ultrasound provides a detailed image of the bony and cartilaginous neonatal hip. The results of conventional testing for hip instability were compared with ultrasound screening in 1001 neonates. As a result of the ultrasonic image 14 of 17 infants with hip instability were not splinted and developed normally. Two babies without detectable clinical signs were shown to have severe hip abnormalities. It is suggested that clinically normal but dysplastic hips do exist and that ultrasound will detect them. In addition, the overtreatment that is current practice might be avoided.


Abstract:Authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China are skillfully puffing themselves up to appear more economically, politically, and militarily powerful than they actually are—in particular, by presenting an outsized image of their ability to influence the politics of other countries. The success of this "authoritarian inflation" is clearly visible in Europe, the United States, and beyond. Distorted perceptions of authoritarian potency damage democratic confidence and help Russia and China to exert real influence, which turn undermines Western values and institutions. If left unchallenged, these false perceptions will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Global warming. Acid rain. Expanding deserts. Dwindling forests. Depletion of the ozone layer. Freshwater scarcity. The problems are all too familiar, and the lengthening list adds up to a crisis that threatens to overwhelm us unless an unprecedented level of international cooperation can be reached. But all countries have not contributed equally to these problems, and all are not in equal positions to solve them. Shridath Ramphal, former secretary-general of the British Commonwealth and president of the World Conservation Union, warns in this timely book that the global effort needed to solve the environmental crisis has been undermined by fundamental differences between the developed and developing worlds. Ramphal presents a course of action that accounts for the needs and limitations of both rich and poor countries. He argues that industrial countries must consume less energy so that poorer countries may consume more, allowing for increased development without a corresponding increase in the overall level of greenhouse gases. He presses for more equitable trade policies that would allow developing nations to work their way out of poverty rather than rely on hand-outs, which would only lead to continued dependence. In addition, he shows how industrial countries have stymied progress in the developing world by subsidizing their own agricultural products, levying stiff tariffs to keep out processed and manufactured goods, and ensuring that commodity prices remain low--all of which have left developing countries no choice but to over-exploit their natural resources and degrade the environment in a desperate attempt to compete in world markets.


Abstract. Basal hydrological systems play an important role in controlling
the dynamic behaviour of ice streams. Data showing their morphology and
relationship to geological substrates beneath modern ice streams are,
however, sparse and difficult to collect. We present new multibeam
bathymetry data that make the Anvers-Hugo Trough west of the Antarctic
Peninsula the most completely surveyed palaeo-ice stream pathway in
Antarctica. The data reveal a diverse range of landforms, including
streamlined features where there was fast flow in the palaeo-ice stream,
channels eroded by flow of subglacial water, and compelling evidence of
palaeo-ice stream shear margin locations. We interpret landforms as
indicating that subglacial water availability played an important role in
facilitating ice stream flow and controlling shear margin positions. Water
was likely supplied to the ice stream bed episodically as a result of
outbursts from a subglacial lake located in the Palmer Deep basin on the
inner continental shelf. These interpretations have implications for
controls on the onset of fast ice flow, the dynamic behaviour of palaeo-ice
streams on the Antarctic continental shelf, and potentially also for
behaviour of modern ice streams.


Victor Hugo's socialism is characterized, from the 1830s onwards, by a holistic vision of the people. It comes as no surprise, then, that the concept of class struggle is not one he relies on to define his vision of social progress. In Les Misérables, however, Hugo shows an acute awareness of the conflicts permeating French society, especially since 1848; he engages with the concept of class, notably in his description of the barricades, and in so doing enters into dialogue with Marx's own interpretation of class struggles in France. This paper analyses to what extent Hugo incorporates social conflicts in his own social messianism; it also demonstrates that class struggle acts as an important fictional catalyst, contributing to the narrative construction of the elusive figure of the misérable. (In French)


The author shows how the nineteenth century's 'cult of domesticity' had invested the home with great importance - as the centre of republican virtue, as the source of religious values and as an area of heady female responsiblities. But this emphasis meant that women were relegated to the domestic sphere, especially when Darwin's 'survival of the fittest' doctrine seemed to indicate that women were physically inferior to men. Ironically, the industrialization of the home in the early twentieth century failed to improve women's lot; on the contrary, it helped lose the home its place of centrality in American culture and produced a terrible dilemma for women by urging them to go into the work place but offering them very little social support for doing so.


The prediction of chronological age from methylation-based biomarkers represents one of the most promising applications in the field of forensic sciences. Age-prediction models developed so far are not easily applicable for forensic caseworkers. Among the several attempts to pursue this objective, the formulation of single-locus models might represent a good strategy. The present work aimed to develop an accurate single-locus model for age prediction exploiting ELOVL2, a gene for which epigenetic alterations are most highly correlated with age. We carried out a systematic review of different published pyrosequencing datasets in which methylation of the ELOVL2 promoter was analysed to formulate age prediction models. Nine of these, with available datasets involving 2298 participants, were selected. We found that irrespective of which model was adopted, a very strong relationship between ELOVL2 methylation levels and age exists. In particular, the model giving the best age-prediction accuracy was the gradient boosting regressor with a prediction error of about 5.5 years. The findings reported here strongly support the use of ELOVL2 for the formulation of a single-locus epigenetic model, but the inclusion of additional, non-redundant markers is a fundamental requirement to apply a molecular model to forensic applications with more robust results.


Purpose: Type I diabetes results from β-cell death and dysfunction, induced by infiltration of immune cells and local production of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we investigated the effect of iNOS and NF-κB gene silencing on β-cell survival and function. Methods: Rat insulinoma INS-1E cells were transfected with chemically synthesized siRNA after complex formation with Lipofectamine 2000. Cells were then treated with a cocktail of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β+ TNF-α+ IFN-α), and glucose stimulated-insulin response and viability were determined. iNOS and NF-κB gene expression was assessed at mRNA level by real time RT-PCR. The effect of gene silencing was also correlated with cytokine-induced NO production and apoptosis. Results: Transfection of INS-1E cells with siRNAs silenced iNOS and NF-κB gene expression and reduced NO production in a sequence-specific manner without causing significant loss of cell viability and function. However, the abrogation of NO production did not prevent INS-1E cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis, suggesting that this event may not be totally dependent on NO production. Conclusion: The gene silencing approach presented here is capable of attenuating the effects of inflammatory cytokines, such as iNOS expression and NO production and it will help to identify new target genes to improve islet transplantation.


This study was carried out to compare the growth, fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Morkaraman (M) and Kivircik (K) x (K x M) Bi lambs. Fifty-four M and 57 K x (K x M) Bi male and female lambs were used for growth traits and 18 M and 30 K x (K x M) Bi for fattening traits, and 6 male lambs for slaughter and carcass traits. Growth was investigated from the birth to weaning (day 90). The lambs were fed, after weaning at approximately 25 kg live weight, with sainfoin and concentrates ad libitum. Fattening lasted 56 days. The least squares means of birth weight and day 30, 60 and 90 weights were 4.03, 11.09, 18.73 and 26.60 kg, respectively, for M lambs; 4.13, 11.07, 18.26 and 26.73 kg for K x (K x M) Bi lambs. In the fattening period, daily gains and feed gain ratios were 272 g and 5.38 kg for M lambs and 324 g and 5.75 kg for K x (K x M) B1 lambs. Dressing percentages were 45.0 and 45.8% for M and K x (K x M) Bi lambs, respectively; the ratios of leg weights in the carcass were 28.8 and 31.7%; shoulder weights 14.9 and 17.0%; back weights 4.8 and 5.9%; loin weights 4.8 and 5.7%; other weights 26.4 and 33.4%; kidney knob and channel fat weights 0.9 and 2.6%; internal fat weights 0.8 and 1.1%; tail fat weights 18.6 and 3.1%; the ratios of lean meat weights in the leg cut were 63.5 and 62.9%; fat weights 15.4 and 17.8%; bone weights 21.1 and 19.3%; the ratios of lean meat weights in the shoulder cut were 64.8 and 58.3%; fat weights 12.6 and 20.5%; bone weights 22.6 and 21.1%; the ratios of total meat weights in the carcass 48.4 and 51.9%; fat weights 13.5 and 22.0%; bone weights 17.8 and 19.8%; and fat weights in the tailed carcass 32.4 and 25.1% for the same genotypes.


Herein, a highly-efficient quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) with stacked blue and yellow quantum dot (QD) layers can be demonstrated to output white light. A buffer layer of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) inserted between two QD layers can prevent them from mixing and penetrating. In order to promote charge balance, Zn0.95Mg0.05O was employed as the electron transport layer (ETL), which can block excessive electrons due to the 0.07 eV higher conduction band minimum (CBM) level compared to that of pristine ZnO, leading to the suppression of exciton quenching. In addition, the lower defect concentration and lowered conductivity of Zn0.95Mg0.05O due to the reduction of oxygen vacancies by doping the Mg element into ZnO can also benefit the inhibition of exciton quenching. The device can be demonstrated with a maximum luminance current efficiency of 24.6 cd A−1 and power efficiency of 25.8 lm W−1, exhibiting a 19% and 38% enhancement, respectively. The strategy demonstrated here demonstrates a promising way to realize highly efficient white QLEDs and also other optoelectronic devices.


Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) are commonly used in text-independent speaker identification systems. However, for large speaker databases, their high computational run-time limits their use in online or real-time speaker identification situations. Two-stage identification systems, in which the database is partitioned into clusters based on some proximity criteria and only a single-cluster GMM is run in every test, have been suggested in literature to speed up the identification process. However, most clustering algorithms used have shown limited success, apparently because the clustering and GMM feature spaces used are derived from similar speech characteristics. This paper presents a new clustering approach based on the concept of a pitch correlogram that captures frame-to-frame pitch variations of a speaker rather than short-time spectral characteristics like cepstral coefficient, spectral slopes, and so forth. The effectiveness of this two-stage identification process is demonstrated on the IVIE corpus of 110 speakers. The overall system achieves a run-time advantage of 500% as well as a 10% reduction of error in overall speaker identification.


Nearly three million refugees have been resettled in the United States since 1975. As a population, they are subject to a number of impediments unique amongst English-language learners and under constant pressure to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Language learning is a crucial component of their successful adaptation to their new home. This thesis will show that no single, comprehensive language policy on refugee language-learning in the United States exists. Instead, policy is administered and shaped by a variety of institutions and policy makers at many different levels. Recognizing how refugees' lives are impacted by this spectrum of influences is critical to our understanding of their role as language-learners. Using government documents and ethnographic methods (e.g., Duff (2002) and Shohamy (2006)), this thesis will describe the United States' language policy jigsaw by looking at its manifestations at the federal, state, and local levels. The first part of this investigation involves an analysis of the refugee-related legislation and associated documents that constitute the superstructure of this ad-hoc policy. The second half takes a look at the consequences of this framework via an ethnographic case study of the refugees, social services providers and educators who serve them in Pittsburgh, PA. The ethnography is based primarily upon interviews and correspondence with 15 people: 5 with resettlement agencies (including religious and secular), 6 with NGOs (including a family support center and a literacy program provider), 2 with schools (one urban and one suburban) and 2 with refugees (Somali Bantu and Nepali-Bhutanese). We conclude that current resources are inadequately addressing refugees' language-learning needs in large part due to U.S. refugee policy's roots in foreign policy, USRAP's focus on self-sufficiency through employment, and the manner in which political power shapes policy.


[1] The ERA-40 data set is used to examine the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). The data set extends from the ground to 0.1 hPa (∼65 km) and covers a 44-year period (January 1958 to December 2001), including 18.5 QBO cycles. Analysis of this data set of unprecedented spatial and temporal coverage has revealed a threefold structure in height in the QBO zonal wind anomalies at the equator. In addition to the well-known twofold structure in the lower and middle stratosphere, that is, easterlies overlying westerlies or vice versa, there is a third anomaly in the upper stratosphere. The sign of this upper stratospheric anomaly is the same as the lower stratospheric anomaly, thus forming anomalies of alternating sign throughout the depth of the equatorial stratosphere. The amplitude of this upper stratospheric anomaly is ∼10 m s−1, approximately one third of the amplitude of the lower stratospheric signal. The frequency and descent rates of the east and west QBO phases are analyzed in detail, with particular attention to any 11-year solar cycle influence. In addition to the observed solar modulation of the duration of the QBO west phase the analysis shows a solar modulation of the mean descent rate of the easterly shear zone. The mean time required for the easterly shear zone to descend from 20 to 44 hPa is 2 months less under solar maximum conditions than under solar minimum conditions (7.4 months versus 9.7 months). This rapid descent of the easterly shear zone cuts short the west phase of the QBO in the lower stratosphere during solar maximum periods.


Central Nervous System (CNS) complications in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are seldom reported. The authors describe the case of a 48-year old female with polymyositis and positive anti-Jo-1 autoantibody who, after five years of evolution, developed extensive CNS demyelinating injury associated with lymphocytic arteritis.


Gendered Universities in Globalized Economies combines the best in theoretical analysis and practical research in an insightful survey of the organizational culture of the university in today's globalized world. Currie, Thiele, and Harris's qualitative research narrating the views of academics, general staff, and managers of American and Australian universities examines the gendered power structure of university life. Gendered Universities describes the corporatized university from the inside, showing how neoliberal globalization has forced it to become more competitive, aggressive, and entrepreneurial. The authors consider why universities seem to preserve patriarchal cultures despite pervasive equal opportunity legislation and feminist activism on campus. This important study is a must read for education, gender, and policy studies scholars seeking a deeper understanding of globalization and the impact of the "new managerialism" on equity issues.


Corporate Governance has become a major topic of interest for both academics and policy-makers in recent years. The advent of major financial scandals in the early 2000s (Enron, WorldCom, Ahold, Parmalat) was followed by turmoil in the financial markets at the end of the decade. The increased power of finance was a common factor singled out in the development of these events - especially shareholder value oriented institutional investors - across advanced capitalist economies. Will the pressures of financial market globalization force companies to converge on a shareholder-based model of corporate governance? In Contingent Capital Michel Goyer highlights the importance of the institutional context in which companies are embedded, focusing on the divergence in the allocation of capital by shareholder-value oriented institutional investors in Europe's two largest non-liberal market economies: France and Germany. The major difference between these two economies is that France has proven to be twice as attractive to short-term, impatient shareholders with a short-term horizon as compared to Germany - a disparity that disappears for investors with a longer-term term horizon. These empirical findings highlight the importance of providing a sophisticated differentiation between different categories of institutional investors in order to assess the impact associated with the greater prominence of finance. Goyer points to the importance of firm-level institutional arrangements in the process by which companies coordinate their activities as the key variable for understanding the investment allocation of impatient investors. The implication is that the governing of corporations is not about whether or not strategies of shareholder value are being adopted - but rather what types of strategies of shareholder value are being pursued.


Fragile ecosystems and the harnessing of resources for human use are two major elements that have to coexist in coastal regions. The sensitivity of the coastal environment to oil spills and related cleanups depends on the presence of these resources, and can be assessed by the level of potential impact that would be caused by an oil spill. In this study, the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) and maps associated with it (ESI maps) are introduced and will be applied to the Taiwan coastline. The ESI indicators include shoreline classification, biological resources and resources for human use (socio-economic resources). These indicators will represent the extent to which a specific coastal area would be vulnerable to the effects of an oil spill. In other words, these indicators tell us the level of reactions induced as a result of the adverse changes in safety, survival and reproduction in ecosystems. A framework for an index setup procedure will be described and constructed in this study. ESI maps are very useful tools as complementary guidelines for decision-making support systems in oil-spill contingency plans. Furthermore, electronic ESI maps combined with a query scheme in a geographic information system could be convenient to apply and use.


This study analyzed the factors that affect student participation in discussion forum under the two main purposes. The first purpose was to examine the relationship between the students' individual demographics and categories of students' participation level (inactive, moderate, and active) in discussion forum of an online course. The second purpose was to examine the students' views about reasons for low level of interaction in discussion forum. A total of 196 students who attended computers systems and structures course of online certificate program were included in the study. The data was collected at the beginning and at the end of the course through online survey and semistructured interviews. The descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze the quantitative data. The content analysis method was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results of the study indicated that three student characteristics (achievement, gender and weekly hours of Internet use) showed a significant relationship with students' participation level in discussion forum of the online course. Also, the findings emphasized some of the critical issues that should be taken into account in designing online discussions, such as, students' workload and responsibilities, progress of interaction over the Internet taking more time, planned and structured instructional activities in discussion forum.


We describe the spatiotemporal variability and vertical structure of turbulent Reynolds stresses (RSs) in a stratified inner shelf with an energetic internal wave climate. The RSs are estimated from direct measurements of velocity variance derived from bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers. We link the RSs to different physical processes, namely, internal bores, midwater shear instabilities within vertical shear events related to wind-driven subtidal along-shelf currents, and nonturbulent stresses related to incoming nonlinear internal wave (NLIW) trains. The typical RS magnitudes are O(0.01) Pa for background conditions, with diurnal pulses of O(0.1–1) Pa, and O(1) Pa for the NLIW stresses. A NLIW train is observed to produce a depth-averaged vertical stress divergence sufficient to accelerate water 20 cm s−1 in 1 h, suggesting NLIWs may also be important contributors to the depth-averaged momentum budget. The subtidal stresses show significant periodic variability and are O(0.1) Pa. Conditionally averaged velocity and RS profiles for northward/southward flow provide evidence for downgradient turbulent momentum fluxes, but also indicate departures from this expected regime. Estimates of the terms in the depth-averaged momentum equation suggest that the vertical divergence of the RSs are important terms in both the cross-shelf and along-shelf directions, with geostrophy also present at leading-order in the cross-shelf momentum balance. Among other conclusions, the results highlight that internal bores and shoaling NLIWs may also be important dynamical players in other inner shelves with energetic internal waves.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disorder causing progressive disability that severely affects patients' quality of life. Although early interventions can provide significant benefits, PD diagnosis is often delayed due to both the mildness of early signs and the high requirements imposed by traditional screening and diagnosis methods. In this paper, we explore the feasibility and accuracy of detecting motor impairment in early PD via sensing and analyzing users' common touch gestural interactions on smartphones. We investigate four types of common gestures, including flick, drag, pinch, and handwriting gestures, and propose a set of features to capture PD motor signs. Through a 102-subject (35 early PD subjects and 67 age-matched controls) study, our approach achieved an AUC of 0.95 and 0.89/0.88 sensitivity/specificity in discriminating early PD subjects from healthy controls. Our work constitutes an important step towards unobtrusive, implicit, and convenient early PD detection from routine smartphone interactions.


Time series forecasting has a long track record in many application areas. In forecasting research, it has been illustrated that finding an individual algorithm that works
best for all possible scenarios is hopeless. Therefore, instead of striving to design a single superior algorithm, current research efforts have shifted towards gaining a
deeper understanding of the reasons a forecasting method may perform well in some conditions whilst it may fail in others. This thesis provides a number of contributions
to this matter. Traditional empirical evaluations are discussed from a novel point of view, questioning the benefit of using sophisticated forecasting methods
without domain knowledge. An own empirical study focusing on relevant off-the shelf forecasting and forecast combination methods underlines the competitiveness
of relatively simple methods in practical applications. Furthermore, meta-features of time series are extracted to automatically find and exploit a link between application
specific data characteristics and forecasting performance using meta-learning. Finally, the approach of extending the set of input forecasts by diversifying functional
approaches, parameter sets and data aggregation level used for learning is discussed, relating characteristics of the resulting forecasts to different error decompositions for
both individual methods and combinations. Advanced combination structures are investigated in order to take advantage of the knowledge on the forecast generation
processes. Forecasting is a crucial factor in airline revenue management; forecasting of the anticipated booking, cancellation and no-show numbers has a direct impact on general planning of routes and schedules, capacity control for fareclasses and overbooking limits. In a collaboration with Lufthansa Systems in Berlin, experiments in the thesis
are conducted on an airline data set with the objective of improving the current net booking forecast by modifying one of its components, the cancellation forecast. To also compare results achieved of the methods investigated here with the current state-of-the-art in forecasting research, some experiments also use data sets of two recent forecasting competitions, thus being able to provide a link between academic research and industrial practice.


The use of Social Media, particularly microblogging platforms such as Twitter, has proven to be an effective channel for promoting ideas to online audiences. In a world where information can bias public opinion it is essential to analyse the propagation and influence of information in large-scale networks. Recent research studying social media data to rank users by topical relevance have largely focused on the "retweet", "following" and "mention" relations. In this paper we propose the use of semantic profiles for deriving influential users based on the retweet subgraph of the Twitter graph. We introduce a variation of the PageRank algorithm for analysing users' topical and entity influence based on the topical/entity relevance of a retweet relation. Experimental results show that our approach outperforms related algorithms including HITS, InDegree and Topic-Sensitive PageRank. We also introduce VisInfluence, a visualisation platform for presenting top influential users based on a topical query need.


The technology of gerotor pumps is progressing towards cutting-edge applications in emerging sectors, which are more demanding for pump performance. Moreover, recent environmental standards are heading towards leakage-free and noiseless hydraulic systems. Hence, in order to respond to these demands, this study, which will be referred to as the GeroMAG concept, aims to make a leap from the standard gerotor pump technology: a sealed, compact, non-shaft-driven gerotor pump with a magnetically-driving outer rotor. The GeroMAG pump is conceived as a variable-flow pump to accomplish a standard volumetric flow rate at low rotational speed with satisfactory volumetric efficiency. By following the authors' methodology based on a catalogue of best-practice rules, a custom trochoidal gear set is designed. Then, two main technological challenges are encountered: how to generate the rotational movement of the driving outer rotor and how to produce the guide of rotation of the gear set once there is no drive shaft. To confront them, a quiet magnet brushless motor powers the driving outer rotor through pole pieces placed in its external sideway and the rotational movement is guided by the inner edgewise pads carved on it. Subsequently, GeroMAG pump architecture, prototype, housing, methodology, materials and manufacture will be presented. As a principal conclusion, the GeroMAG proof of concept and pump prototype are feasible, which is corroborated by experimental results and performance indexes.


Abstract This paper builds on the composite likelihood concept of Lindsay (1988) to develop a framework for parameter identification, estimation, inference, and forecasting in dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models allowing for stochastic singularity. The framework consists of four components. First, it provides a necessary and sufficient condition for parameter identification, where the identifying information is provided by the first- and second-order properties of nonsingular submodels. Second, it provides a procedure based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo for parameter estimation. Third, it delivers confidence sets for structural parameters and impulse responses that allow for model misspecification. Fourth, it generates forecasts for all the observed endogenous variables, irrespective of the number of shocks in the model. The framework encompasses the conventional likelihood analysis as a special case when the model is nonsingular. It enables the researcher to start with a basic model and then gradually incorporate more shocks and other features, meanwhile confronting all the models with the data to assess their implications. The methodology is illustrated using both small- and medium-scale DSGE models. These models have numbers of shocks ranging between 1 and 7.


Growth of polythiophene (PTh) on five-fold twinned Ag nanowires (NWs) is not symmetrical due to preferred etching of their intrinsic defects. This imbalance of polymer formation leads to consistent bending action along the etched NWs, coiling the resulting Ag-PTh nanocomposites into planar spirals. We studied the etching intermediates and also the effects of the surface ligands in order to understand the symmetry-breaking action. The defect-dependent etching chemistry offers a new means to induce motion and a novel perspective in the ordered occurrence of certain defects. We demonstrate that Ag can be deposited back onto the coiled Ag-PTh composite to form metallic spirals.


Abstract. Imperfect dynamical core is an important source of model biases that adversely impact on the model simulation and predictability of a coupled system. With a simple pycnocline prediction model, in this study, we show the mitigation of model biases through parameter optimization when the assimilation model consists of a "biased" time-differencing. Here, the "biased" time-differencing is defined by a different time-differencing scheme from the "truth" model that is used to produce "observations", which generates different mean values, climatology and variability of the assimilation model from the "truth" model. A series of assimilation experiments is performed to explore the impact of parameter optimization on model bias mitigation and climate estimation, as well as the role of different media parameter estimations. While the stochastic "physics" implemented by perturbing parameters can enhance the ensemble spread significantly and improve the representation of the model ensemble, signal-enhanced parameter estimation is able to mitigate the model biases on mean values and climatology, thus further improving the accuracy of estimated climate states, especially for the low-frequency signals. In addition, in a multiple timescale coupled system, parameters pertinent to low-frequency components have more impact on climate signals. Results also suggest that deep ocean observations may be indispensable for improving the accuracy of climate estimation, especially for low-frequency signals.


In these days, most urban railway vehicles have been serviced under the random load application. However, it is considered to be a major factor of safety to predict the fatigue life for structures. It is thus required that fatigue assessment method for cumulative damage approach while Korea domestic regulations practices only the only has endurance limit approach. With this endurance limit approach, fatigue life prediction is impossible. In this research, the fatigue assessment for urban transit structure by using of cumulative damage approach method and related theories are presented.


In this work, the notion of a L-R crossed products is introduced as a unified approach for L-R smash product and  crossed product.  Then the duality theorem for L-R crossed product is given. As the applications of the main result, some classical results in some materials can be obtained.


Withaningsih S, Parikesit, Iskandar J, Megantara EN. 2017. Breeding behavior of different raptor species in human modified landscape. Biodiversitas 18: 1234-1242. Raptors are important birds which sensitive to environment and mostly used as best indicator for knowing the health of the ecosystem. The breeding period is a critical phase for raptors and seems to be difficult leading to the status of those birds as an endangered species. The nest site selection is of importance to the success of raptor nesting program. Of this reason, the use of human-modified landscape as one of nesting location for raptors, located in Panaruban and Telaga Warna landscape, West Java, Indonesia has been assessed to know the breeding behavior among raptors. The aim of the study was to analyze the nest site, nesting period, and nest placement of raptors in human-modified landscape in Panaruban and Telaga Warna. The relationship among raptor nest occurrences was analyzed using four circular buffers at distances of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 m around each nest-tree. Data was collected by descriptive analysis and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping. The four species of raptors i.e. the Javan Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi syn. Spizaetus bartelsi), the Changeable Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus syn. Spizaetus cirrhatus), the Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), and the Indian Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) showed to select nesting sites in different places. The landscape structure at different scales around the nest may contribute to the varied characteristics of nest site selection. The raptors had a different time of the breeding period in the same landscape. These differences might be a part of the strategy to decrease competition among raptors.


Colombia's policy on its indigenous people includes recognizing their rights relating to political and administrative autonomy, land tenure, education and health. This progressive policy has been implemented through the establishment of indigenous reserves called resuguaros, which recognizes the role of traditional indigenous management mechanisms for the conservation of the environment. The greatest impact is in the tropical rainforests of the Colombian Amazon region where more than 20 million hectares are declared Resguardo Indigena. This publication shows both the problems and the potential of this system of land tenure in relation to the conservation of the tropical rainforest. It also includes a proposal for the implementation of a financial mechanism to support reinforcement of the resguardos.


This article introduces the concept of standardized third-party cer- tification of supplier process capability. It is based on the principle that capable suppliers provide capable products. At a time when security concerns are preeminent, it should be clear that purchasing software from unknown or unvet- ted suppliers is a risky proposition, and the trend toward global outsourcing only exacerbates the problem. Yet businesses lose competitive advantage if they deal only with local suppliers. The approach outlined here allows acquirers to trust even previously unknown suppliers if those suppliers have undergone third-party assessment of the security capability of their processes. It allows acquisition of- ficers to deal with a much wider range of suppliers and increases the competitive pressure necessary to ensure cost-efficient products.


This paper deals with the detection of mu- suppression from electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in brain-computer interface (BCI). For this purpose, an efficient algorithm is proposed based on a statistical model and a linear classifier. Precisely, the generalized extreme value distribution (GEV) is proposed to represent the power spectrum density of the EEG signal in the central motor cortex. The associated three parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood method. Based on these parameters, a simple and efficient linear classifier was designed to classify three types of events: imagery, movement, and resting. Preliminary results show that the proposed statistical model can be used in order to detect precisely the mu-suppression and distinguish different EEG events, with very good classification accuracy.


The effect of sucrose replacement by erythritol and inulin was studied in short-dough cookies using instrumental and sensory analysis. Two levels of replacement were used (25% and 50% of total sucrose content). Descriptive sensory analysis showed that the sucrose replacement affects visual and texture cookies characteristics, being the differences perceived by mouth greater than by hand. In general, sucrose substitutes produced a less crispy cookie and lower consumer acceptability, with the exception of 25% sucrose replacement by inulin. Matrix aeration attributes such as open and crumbly obtained by trained panel were important properties, and correlated positively with consumer acceptance and negatively with maximum force at break (hardness). Inulin cookies sensory properties were more similar to the control than the erythritol cookies. Also, consumer overall acceptance decreased significantly with sucrose replacement by erythritol. The analysis of texture and sound revealed that inulin cookies were softer whereas erythritol cookies were harder in comparison with control cookies; despite this difference, inulin cookies had similar sound characteristics to erythritol cookies.


To better understand controls on the origin and evolution of brackish groundwater, the hydrogeochemistry of brackish groundwaters was studied within the Triassic Dockum Group across the Midland Basin in Texas. The suitability of Dockum Aquifer water for use in hydraulic fracturing fluid was examined because the area overlies the largest and most productive tight oil province in the United States. Groundwater generally flows southward and eastward across the basin. Transmissivities indicate that water yield from the Dockum Aquifer is mixed. Higher salinity (up to ∼100 g/L), group I water is found mainly in the center and western parts of the basin; chemistry of these meteoric waters is controlled by water–rock interaction with salinity increasing along its flow path via dissolution of halite and anhydrite, followed by salinity-enhanced carbonate dissolution and/or cation release from clays. Along the down-gradient basin margins, lower salinity (<7.5 g/L), group II waters of various ion compositions are more commonly found. Group II waters are also meteoric but from local recharge including downward flow from the Edwards–Trinity or other aquifers. Despite having lower salinity, the water in the down-gradient southern and eastern margins of the basin can exceed acceptable SO4 limits for cross-linked gel fluids. Generally, the majority of the water in the basin is suitable for use with slick-water hydraulic fracturing. Findings from this research provide important information on the complex controls on the chemistry of brackish groundwater and their potential beneficial uses in the oil and gas industry.


in this country; it is the only forceps I use now, and tho following are some of its advantages. 1. The head can be easily rotated in posterior and transverse positions. 2. The pull is exerted in the line of true axis traction. 3. It fits more snugly and tllere is less damaging compression to the foetal head. 4. It is easier to apply than any other forceps, even in the high operation. 5. It will grasp a smaller or malformed head more filmly than will other forceps. 6. It can be kept on uniitil the head is completely delivered, with advantage to the perineum, as it fits so closely to the head that the vulva is not stretched more than by the head -itself (due to overlapping of shanks). The choice of operation in an eccipito-posterior presentation in a multipara lies between internal version and Nielland's forceps; in a primipara rotation by Kielland's torceps is by far the best treatment.-I. am, etc.,


HYPOTHESIS
Evaluate the benefit of preoperative surgical planning using computed tomography (CT) for atraumatic cochlear implantation.

BACKGROUND
The surgical technique has a direct impact on hearing and structure preservation. Much interest has been given to depth of electrode insertion. We focused on electrode diameter depending on exposure of round window membrane (RWM) as calculated on preoperative CT.

METHODS
Measurements were calculated radiologically and anatomically on 10 temporal bones. Results were compared with CT scans of a control population. Thereafter, preoperative CT scan measurements were applied to seven additional temporal bones that underwent cochlear implantation with the insertion of two electrodes of different diameters (14 implantations) to validate radiological analysis.

RESULTS
RWM size was 1.5 ± 0.2 mm on CT and 1.2 ± 0.2 mm during dissection; posterosuperior bony overhang of round window niche was 1.1 ± 0.1 mm on CT and 1.3 ± 0.2 mm during dissection. There was no statistically significant difference between radiological and anatomical measurements and between radiological measurements of cadaveric temporal bones and control population (p > 0.05 for both). Also, preoperative surgical planning was reliable in the seven temporal bones implanted with two electrode types (accuracy 93%, sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 100%) yielding no damage to intracochlear structures.

CONCLUSION
Difficulties to access RWM could be predicted on preoperative CT of temporal bones and control population, which correlated well with anatomical dissections and surgical findings during cochlear implantation. According to CT planning, electrode insertion through RWM was feasible in most patients, with or without drilling posterosuperior bony overhang of round window niche. Promontory cochleostomy could be recommended when electrode apical diameter exceeded maximal RWM exposure. There was no case of intracochlear trauma on microdissections.


The enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the world. The species is extremely diverse, containing more than 2,500 named serovars that are designated for their unique antigen characters and pathogenicity profiles—some are known to be virulent pathogens, while others are not. Questions regarding the evolution of pathogenicity, significance of antigen characters, diversity of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) loci, among others, will remain elusive until a strong evolutionary framework is established. We present the first large-scale S. enterica subsp. enterica phylogeny inferred from a new reference-free k-mer approach of gathering single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole genomes. The phylogeny of 156 isolates representing 78 serovars (102 were newly sequenced) reveals two major lineages, each with many strongly supported sublineages. One of these lineages is the S. Typhi group; well nested within the phylogeny. Lineage-through-time analyses suggest there have been two instances of accelerated rates of diversification within the subspecies. We also found that antigen characters and CRISPR loci reveal different evolutionary patterns than that of the phylogeny, suggesting that a horizontal gene transfer or possibly a shared environmental acquisition might have influenced the present character distribution. Our study also shows the ability to extract reference-free SNPs from a large set of genomes and then to use these SNPs for phylogenetic reconstruction. This automated, annotation-free approach is an important step forward for bacterial disease tracking and in efficiently elucidating the evolutionary history of highly clonal organisms.


We consider a stochastic bandit problem with a possibly infinite number of arms. We write $p^*$ for the proportion of optimal arms and $\Delta$ for the minimal mean-gap between optimal and sub-optimal arms. We characterize the optimal learning rates both in the cumulative regret setting, and in the best-arm identification setting in terms of the problem parameters $T$ (the budget), $p^*$ and $\Delta$. For the objective of minimizing the cumulative regret, we provide a lower bound of order $\Omega(\log(T)/(p^*\Delta))$ and a UCB-style algorithm with matching upper bound up to a factor of $\log(1/\Delta)$. Our algorithm needs $p^*$ to calibrate its parameters, and we prove that this knowledge is necessary, since adapting to $p^*$ in this setting is impossible. For best-arm identification we also provide a lower bound of order $\Omega(\exp(-cT\Delta^2 p^*))$ on the probability of outputting a sub-optimal arm where $c>0$ is an absolute constant. We also provide an elimination algorithm with an upper bound matching the lower bound up to a factor of order $\log(T)$ in the exponential, and that does not need $p^*$ or $\Delta$ as parameter. Our results apply directly to the three related problems of competing against the $j$-th best arm, identifying an $\epsilon$ good arm, and finding an arm with mean larger than a quantile of a known order.


Most food product qualities are developed during heating processes. Therefore the internal heating and mass transfer of water are important aspects in food processing. Heating of food products is mostly induced by convection heating. However, the number applications of convective heating in combination with microwave heating are growing. Convection heating only promotes heating on the surface while microwave induce internal heating. This paper focuses on effect of convection heating sources to changes of quality properties in bakery products such as brownness and texture. Heat convection and conduction, and moisture migration due to diffusion and convection are the key to changes (transformations) in physical, chemical and structure properties in products. A 2D model for heat and mass transfer within bread is presented and a numerical FEM approach is used to solve the model and to predict the product qualities.


Methanolic extracts of five Nigerian mushrooms – Auricularia polytricha, Corilopsis occidentalis, Daldinia concentrica, Daedalea elegans and Tricholoma lobayensis were investigated for their antimicrobial activities using filter paper disc and hole diffusion methods. Bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus aureus were well inhibited by these mushroom extracts, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to all the mushroom samples except Tricholoma lobayensis . The study on the antifungal effect of these mushroom extracts revealed that Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans and Microsporum boulardii were either weakly inhibited or not inhibited at all. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged between 1.25 and 9.00mg/ml for bacteria and between 10.50 and 17.50mg/ml for fungi. These results are discussed in relation to therapeutic value of the studied mushrooms. African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(2) 2005: 83-87


The vertical structure and dynamics of stars in our local Galactic neighbourhood contains much information about the local distribution of visible and dark matter and of perturbations to the Milky Way disc. We use data on the positions and velocities of stars in the solar neighbourhood from \gaia\ DR2 and large spectroscopic surveys to investigate the vertical number counts and mean-velocity trend as a function of distance from the local Galactic mid-plane. We perform a detailed measurement of the wave-like North-South asymmetry in the vertical number counts, which reveals a number of deficits at heights $\approx 0.4\,\mathrm{kpc}$, $\approx 0.9\,\mathrm{kpc}$, and $\approx 1.5\,\mathrm{kpc}$, and peaks at $\approx 0.2\,\mathrm{kpc}$, $\approx 0.7\,\mathrm{kpc}$, and $\approx 1.1\,\mathrm{kpc}$. We find that the asymmetry pattern is independent of colour. The mean vertical velocity is almost constant to $<1\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}$ within a few 100 pc from the mid-plane and then displays a North-South symmetric dip at $\approx0.5\,\mathrm{kpc}$ with an amplitude of $\approx 2\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}$ that is a plausible velocity counterpart to the main number-count dip at a similar height. Thus, with \gaia\ DR2 we confirm at high fidelity that the local Galactic disc is undergoing a wave-like oscillation and a dynamically-consistent observational picture of the perturbed local vertical structure emerges for the first time. We also present the most precise and accurate determination of the Sun's height above the local Galactic mid-plane, correcting for any asymmetry in the vertical density: $z_\odot = 20.8 \pm 0.3\,\mathrm{pc}$.


The specifics of data layout can be important for the efficiency of
functional programs and interaction with external libraries. In this paper, we
develop a type-theoretic approach to data layout that could be used as a typed
intermediate language in a compiler or to give a programmer more control. Our
starting point is a computational interpretation of the semi-axiomatic sequent
calculus for intuitionistic logic that defines abstract notions of cells and
addresses. We refine this semantics so addresses have more structure to reflect
possible alternative layouts without fundamentally departing from
intuitionistic logic. We then add recursive types and explore example programs
and properties of the resulting language.


We report the case of a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type three, which was first diagnosed by members of the department of Ophthalmology. He was found to have multiple mucosal neuromata and medullary thyroid carcinoma. The ocular components of this syndrome include visible corneal nerves, conjunctival neuromas, thickened lids, anterior displacement of the cilia and a "dry eye" syndrome. The major systemic components are medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma. It is important that the Ophthalmologist recognize the ophthalmic manifestations of this syndrome so that early diagnosis and treatment may be possible.


The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theoretical discussion of scientific mobility in order to progress understanding of the role it plays in shaping and fostering knowledge transfers, which in turn could benefit the scientific and technological advancement of developing countries. We use Callon's socioeconomics of scientific research (1994, 2002) as the theoretical basis for posing the question: to what extent are the components of scientific knowledge embodied in scientific human capital (tacit knowledge, scientific skills, problem solving capabilities, etc.) actually appropriable and rival? Mainstream economics assumes that rivalry and appropriability are intrinsic properties of human capital. We argue, however, that 'external' factors, particularly the configuration of networks, play a role in determining the degree of rivalry and appropriability of knowledge embodied in scientific human capital, turning therefore these characteristics into extrinsic (and not intrinsic) ones. This has important consequences for the analysis of economic allocation and distribution of human capital and for the understanding of scientific mobility and the circulation and replication of knowledge. Callon's framework forces us to think about scientific mobility and its role in the diffusion of scientific knowledge in a different way, using the language of networks and emergent and consolidated configurations.


Assessing recent changes in landforms associated with Lake Illawarra was achieved by identifying changes in geomorphological features observed in early mapping of the region, aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Quantifying rates of sedimentation associated with prograding fluvial bay-head deltas and within the central basin of Lake Illawarra was established within the framework of amino acid racemisation, radiocarbon, and cesium 137 dating. Results indicate that sedimentation rates associated with fluvial bay-head deltas range from 31 mm/yr proximal to the delta front and fall to between 3 and 7 mm/yr in the pro-delta region. This is a significant increase in sedimentation rate when compared to the underlying estuarine mud (<1mm/yr). Data obtained from the central lagoon facies also support a significant increase in the rate of sedimentation over the last 200 years with pre-European settlement sedimentation rates of ca. 0.3 mm/yr increasing to 0.52 m/yr for the period associated with initial settlement and a sedimentation rate of ca. 4.5 mm/yr for the past 50 years. As indicated by the aerial photos, remotely sensed imagery and post-European sedimentation rates, the sedimentary infill of Lake Illawarra and the morphological change associated with the fluvial influenced facies and inlet processes have increased significantly over the last 200 years. However, results only imply that recent morphological change and increased sedimentation is due to anthropogenic effects, and further research is needed to separate natural sedimentary processes as opposed to accelerated sedimentation due to human modification of the landscape.


Kant treats the problem of a philosophical theory of God in two basic steps. First he develops his own understanding of the notion of God by providing the doctrine of the transcendental ideal. Then he proceeds to a critique of three types of the proof of God's existence. Thus,
Kant's "deconstruction" of philosophical theology has a positive and
a negative part. The present contribution analyses the positive part only, with the aim to supply a detailed reconstruction of Kant's procedure here. The reconstruction proceeds in the following steps. First we have to elucidate Kant's notion of ideal. Following Wolff's differentiation of the three kinds of special metaphysics, Kant distinguishes three basic types of those notions of pure reason which, in an explicit reference to Plato, he names "ideas". It must then be explained why Kant calls the theological idea, unlike the psychological and the cosmological ones, an ideal. My claim is that the difficulty of the chapter on the transcendental ideal derives from the fact that Kant, without adverting to it explicitly yet in accordance with his own methodology, develops one by one three alternative suggestions of how the notion of the transcendental ideal can be approached. These three suggestions are then investigated in three sections where I also attempt to answer the question as to why Kant defines the theological idea to be not only an ideal but also a transcendental one. In conclusion, I provide a reconstruction of Kant's explanation of the origin of the notion of the transcendental ideal in pure reason.


There are a variety of grand challenges for multi-orientation text detection in scene videos, where the typical issues include skew distortion, low contrast, and arbitrary motion. Most conventional video text detection methods using individual frames have limited performance. In this paper, we propose a novel tracking based multi-orientation scene text detection method using multiple frames within a unified framework via dynamic programming. First, a multi-information fusion-based multi-orientation text detection method in each frame is proposed to extensively locate possible character candidates and extract text regions with multiple channels and scales. Second, an optimal tracking trajectory is learned and linked globally over consecutive frames by dynamic programming to finally refine the detection results with all detection, recognition, and prediction information. Moreover, the effectiveness of our proposed system is evaluated with the state-of-the-art performances on several public data sets of multi-orientation scene text images and videos, including MSRA-TD500, USTB-SV1K, and ICDAR 2015 Scene Videos.


Autopsy investigations, toxicological analyses, and calculation of body mass index were performed in 1180 deceased illicit drug addicts (IDAs) in Stockholm. Sweden during 1988-2000, i.e., during a period of time when the general population in numerous countries showed a dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight. Nutritional deficit in IDAs has been pointed out as a threat to their health as well as to their quality of life. The prevalence of overweight in deceased IDAs increased from 27.4% in 1988 to 45.5% in 2000. The prevalence of overweight among all heroin users, heroin injectors, methadone, cocaine, and amphetamine users was 36.0, 38.4, 43.1, 45.0 and 50.9%, respectively, the lowest prevalence being among users of cannabis alone and HIV-positive IDAs (22.0 and 16.1%, respectively). In conclusion, Stockholm's IDAs are affected by the past decade's dramatically increased prevalence of overweight, at least to the same degree as the general population. The increased body weight seems not to influence the danger of dying upon heroin administration.


I N T R O D U C T I O N Competence has usually been defined as a capacity of the cell to undergo transformation. The term has been used in a relative sense to denote populations of ceils which produce either a high or low level of transformation for a particular characteristic. The transformation process involves a number of steps, any one of which may vary, and therefore affect the competence of a population. However, in this and subsequent papers competence is defined in terms of the ability of the recipient cell to take up DNA irreversibly (and subsequently undergo transformation). In view of the fact that additional transforming systems are appearing and an increasingly large number of viral nucleic acids are proving to be infective, the value of understanding the mecha-


Context: Lack of experience and practical knowledge makes it difficult to deal with the issues related to health-care practices. This acts as a threat to the learner's theoretical ability. Aims: The study aims to identify the challenges and the associated factors which limit the knowledge acquisition of new nurse graduates in Saudi Arabia. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study design was used in which a sample of 95 individuals was recruited from public hospitals in Al-Baha region. Subjects and Methods: A primary survey approach was used to collect data from nurses using close-ended questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: IBM SPSS (Statistical Tool for Social Sciences) version 20.0 was used to conduct the statistical analysis. Results: The challenges include role expectations, lack of confidence, workload, fear, and orientation issues, while other factors such as physical environment, responsibility, support, and professional development create a sense of dissatisfaction among nursing professionals. New graduate nurses are infrequently scheduled in situations where they cannot feel confident in dealing with clinical cases. Conclusions: The study concluded that transition is the major issue with respect to difficulties faced by nurses in the health-care environment.


A mobile learning system, called MobiQiyas, for preparing Saudi Arabian students for one of the standardized tests, given by the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education (NCAHE), has been developed, using ready-made commercial products and tools. The learning material of MobiQiyas consists of practice questions with their answers, both provided by NCAHE, to be loaded by the students into their own mobile phones; after installation, the students can interact with MobiQiyas any number of times, as desired, without incurring any additional cost, other than the initial airtime cost for downloading. From total number of students taken the test, 20,000 students were randomly selected to use MobiQiyas and information was collected from them to measure their attitudes and participation of MobiQiyas. It was found that 36.1% of students had actually downloaded MobiQiyas successfully. Furthermore, a telephone survey was conducted, after the test period, on a class of 40 students in a secondary school in Riyadh, taking the same test, to measure their acceptance of MobiQiyas, using a 9-item questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale. The responses of the 40 students reflected high acceptance and satisfaction levels of MobiQiyas as an effective test prep tool.