Species of the genus Galaxaura are unusual in having gametophyte and tetrasporophyte phases that, while somewhat similar in stature, display markedly different cortical morphologies. These differences have, in the past, led to many species being erected that represent no more than life-history phases of a single species. This paper discusses the identity of the tetrasporophyte phase of G. rugosa, the type of the genus, and concludes that it, at least, includes G. subverticillata, a species regarded as independent in several recent publications. Evidence for this conclusion resides in a comparison of large subunit rDNA sequence data from G. rugosa and "G. subverticillata" collected in Hawaii, in situ observations, plus a review of historical and recent morphological studies. In addition, evidence is presented to support the inclusion of plants with both flattened and subterete branch morphologies in Dichotomaria marginata (Ellis et Solander) Lamarck.


The Rise of the Seminoles is the fairy-tale story of Florida State University football. From 1973--75, the football team at FSU had a combined record of 4--29. The next season, Bobby Bowden took over as head football coach and, over the next thirty-three years, led FSU to twenty-one bowl game wins and two National Championships. The Rise of the Seminoles is not just about Bobby Bowden; it is about the season that started it all: 1976. Before Bowden took over and the University of Miami gained its notoriety, college football in the state of Florida consisted of the University of Florida. Florida State wasn't even on the radar. Today, FSU is a football powerhouse and recently won the 2013 National Championship. Through the writing talents of Lew Freedman, one of only two reporters covering FSU during Bowden's time, this book follows the incredible journey the Seminoles have taken through history. Drawing from firsthand experience and Bowden himself, Freedman is the perfect author to bring this story to life. No matter their age, fans of the FSU football program can enjoy and take pride in their team's very own rags-to-riches story. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.


The computation offloading, where Internet of Things (IoT) devices transfers their task to an external cloud, has several advantages such as low energy consumption of IoT devices and fast response time. To maximize these advantages, IoT devices can exploit the nearest edge cloud. However, frequent offloadings to the nearest edge cloud can cause a location privacy vulnerability due to the proximity of the edge cloud from IoT devices, which is a critical issue in smart city IoT applications. To address this problem, we propose a location privacy-guaranteed offloading algorithm (LPGA) in cache-enabled edge cloud environments. In LPGA, an IoT device decides where to offload the task (i.e., edge cloud or central cloud) with the consideration of the privacy level on its location and the cache hit probability. To minimize the generated traffic volume while maintaining low energy outage probability and providing a sufficient level of location privacy, a constrained Markov decision process (CMDP) problem is developed and it is converted into an equivalent linear programming (LP) model to achieve the optimal policy for offloading. Evaluation results demonstrate LPGA can reduce the traffic volume up to 39 percent compared to a central cloud-based offloading scheme while maintaining the energy outage probability below a certain level and providing required location privacy level.


We consider estimation of the cointegrating relation in the stationary fractional cointegration model which has found important application recently, especially in nancial economics. Previous research on this model has considered a semiparametric narrow-band least squares (NBLS) estimator in the frequency domain, often under a condition of non-coherence between regressors and errors at the zero frequency. We show that in the absence of this condition, the NBLS estimator is asymptotically biased, and also that the bias can be consistently estimated. Consequently, we introduce a fully modi ed NBLS estimator which eliminates the bias, and indeed enjoys a faster rate of convergence than NBLS in general. We also show that local Whittle estimation of the integration order of the errors can be conducted consistently on the residuals from NBLS regression, whereas the estimator has the same asymptotic distribution as if the errors were observed only under the condition of non-coherence. Furthermore, compared to much previous research, the development of the asymptotic distribution theory is based on a di erent spectral density representation, which is relevant for multivariate fractionally integrated processes, and the use of this representation is shown to result in lower asymptotic bias and variance of the narrow-band estimators. We also present simulation evidence and a series of empirical illustrations to demonstrate the feasibility and empirical relevance of our methodology.


The Rete forward inference algorithm forms the basis for many rule engines deployed today, but it exhibits the following problems: (1) the caching of all intermediate join results, (2) the processing of all rules regardless of the necessity to do so (stemming from the underlying forward inference approach), (3) not defining the join order of rules and its conditions, significantly affecting the final run-time performance, and finally (4) pointer chasing due to the overall network structure, leading to inefficient usage of the CPU caches caused by random access patterns. The Hiperfact approach aims to overcome these shortcomings by (1) choosing cache efficient data structures on the primary rank 1 fact index storage and intermediate join result storage levels, (2) introducing island fact processing for determining the join order by ensuring minimal intermediate join result construction, and (3) introducing derivation trees to allow for parallel read/write access and lazy rule evaluation. The experimental evaluations show that the Hiperfact prototype engine implementing the approach achieves significant improvements in respect to both inference and query performance. Moreover, the proposed Hiperfact engine is compared to existing engines in the context of a comprehensive benchmark.


Context The effects of fish oil on cardiac function, ventricular remodelling and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remain controversial. Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate effects of fish oil on cardiac function and related parameters in CHF patients. Data Sources Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and references cited in related reviews and studies. Study Selection Randomised controlled trials of fish oil supplementation on cardiac function in patients with CHF were identified. Data Extraction Two investigators read all papers and extracted all relevant information. A fixed effect or, in the presence of heterogeneity, a random effect model, was used to estimate the combined effects. Results 7 trials with 825 participants were included. Meta-analysis results showed that left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.25%, 95% CI 0.66 to 3.83, p = 0.005) and left ventricular end-systolic volume was significantly decreased (WMD = 7.85 ml, 95% CI −15.57 to −0.12, p = 0.05) in the fish oil group compared with the placebo group, although left ventricular end-diastolic volume was not significantly affected. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis indicated that the improvement in left ventricular systolic function was more remarkable in patients with nonischaemic heart failure. Fish oil supplementation also improved the New York Heart Association functional classification and peak oxygen consumption in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure. Conclusions Improvement in cardiac function, remodelling and functional capacity may be important mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic role of fish oil for patients with CHF. These effects might be more remarkable in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure.


Abstract
China's unprecedented emergence as an economic and political power has created a new geopolitical economy for semi-industrialised and developing economies in Southeast Asia. This paper examines China's trade relationships with Thailand and Indonesia using the concepts of uneven and combined development (UCD) and unequal exchange. The mass of surplus value obtained through China's trade with the developed economies has flowed into the considerable expansion in China's imports from developing countries since 2000. China has maintained a consistent trade deficit with the latter. While the developing countries concerned have benefitted from this set of relationships, the extent to which they have done so has been determined by national strategies. In countries like Thailand – where manufacturing capital and a significant working class has emerged – exports expanded on the basis of mutually advantageous technologically and skills intensive goods. These are produced with a similar organic composition of capital as in China. The result has been a further consolidation of the hegemony of manufacturing capital. Indonesia, however, has a political system and economy long dominated by resource exploitation linked fractions of capital. The result has been a surge in primary goods exports. The current commodity price cycle has meant these goods exchange at prices above their value. The current looming price correction, however, may have negative repercussions. In the meantime, the concentration in raw materials exports is helping to prevent the emergence of a circuit of productive capital in manufacturing. The evidence from these contrasting cases suggests that the degree to which developing economies can benefit from China's own historically unparalleled combined development remains highly contingent on the strength of the combined development possibilities and efforts within these other national social formations. Above all, there is the degree to which manufacturing sectors of capital can obtain hegemony.


HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 78-year-old woman had a 30-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, of late treated with prednisolone and methotrexate. A week before admission she had first noticed a mass about 3 cm in diameter, at the lower end of a scar from a Billroth II gastric resection for gastric ulcer, performed 4 months before. She reported to have lost 6.5 kg in weight. On admission a moderately mobile, hard mass was palpated on the abdomen. INVESTIGATIONS: Ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a superficial, inhomogenous space-occupying lesion with poorly circumscribed margins. TREATMENT AND COURSE: After two days the skin over the mass became reddened and a laparotomy was performed because an incarcerated herniation was suspected. An abscess and inflammatory adhesions were found in the area of the transverse colon, histologically shown to be a chronic purulent abscess with granular clusters of pathogens indicating actinomycosis. After 3 weeks' treatment with imipenem i.v. the patient became free of symptoms, oral doxycyclin was continued for a further 6 months. CONCLUSION: Actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a tumour of undetermined benignity in the region of the head, chest or abdomen in immunosuppressed patients. This bacterial infection should be thought of especially if the gastrointestinal mucosa has been penetrated by invasive procedures.


A Yoga for Stress Management Program (YSMP) that served as a complementary alternative therapy resource was successfully implemented at a midsize, predominantly undergraduate university. It was offered in addition to traditional treatments for student mental health. Counselors, Residence Life staff, and faculty found that the program was useful for their students/clients, who reported many benefits from participation. Participants in this YSMP included students and faculty/staff. Logistics of setting up a YSMP are outlined. ********** The innovative practice program of focus is a Yoga for Stress Management Program (YSMP), first implemented in the fall of 2001. The program has been used since then as a complementary alternative therapy designed to help students cope with stress (Long, Huntley & Ernst, 2001; Rubin & Feeney, 1986). This program was developed and has been used with the intention of providing preventive, psychotherapeutic, and developmental assistance to students (Keeling, 2005). In this article, I introduce the concept of a YSMP, consider therapeutic uses of yoga, and describe the basic logistics of creating and implementing such a program. Overview and Rationale for the YSMP University counseling centers are serving a more psychologically diverse student population who present with more severe issues than ever before. Furthermore, students are less likely to persist academically in the face of distraction and difficulty, and most of those who leave college report difficulty with chronic health problems, sleep, anxiety, and depression. Often, counseling center financial, physical, and personnel resources do not increase in proportion to increased student needs for services (Kitzrow, 2003; Levine & Cureton, 1998a, 1998b; Sharkin, 1997, 2004; Wilson, Mason, & Ewing, 1997). The use of primary prevention and health promotion groups can be an efficient, creative, and diversity-enhancing way of meeting students' stress-management needs. These groups can help students become more aware of their own mental and physical health and provide many teachable moments, thereby improving their capacity to self-assess and manage their health (Keeling, 2005). The YSMP is designed as a skill-based group therapy technique. It is designed to help promote normal developmental growth potential by increasing self-awareness and self-acceptance and by teaching stress-management skills. These yoga-based skills can help to prevent student stress from leading to developmental delays or declining mental and physical symptoms. For centuries, East Indian cultures have incorporated yoga into their psychological mind-body therapies and often use yoga with the assumption that it is helpful to those with mental, emotional, and physical problems (Ram, 2005; Sinha, 1984). The many physical and mental benefits of general yoga practice in helping clients have been reported anecdotally and are empirically supported (Jensen & Kenny, 2004; Malathi, Damodaran, Shah, Patil, & Maratha, 2000; Mishra & Sinha, 2001; Naveen, Nagrathna, Nagendra, & Telles, 1997; Nespor, 1993; West, Otte, Geher, Johnson, & Mohr, 2004). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has suggested that mild exercise or yoga may have a positive effect on various aspects of mental and physical health (NIMH, 2005). In my YSMP counseling center group, I integrated physical yoga exercises (asana) and breath work (pranayama) with Eastern psychology, mindfulness, meditation, and traditional stress-management principles. The mission of the program is to provide stress-management and relaxation skills, which assist participants in improving their ability to relax at will, to focus their attention, to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, and to enhance their overall wellness. Because stress can be crippling to natural abilities, students in the YSMP are encouraged to realize that stress is the body's natural internal communication, which cannot and should not be disregarded or eliminated entirely. …


Background Currently, molecular xenomonitoring efforts for lymphatic filariasis rely on PCR or real-time PCR-based detection of Brugia malayi, Brugia timori and Wuchereria bancrofti in mosquito vectors. Most commonly, extraction of DNA from mosquitoes is performed using silica column-based technologies. However, such extractions are both time consuming and costly, and the diagnostic testing which follows typically requires expensive thermal cyclers or real-time PCR instruments. These expenses present significant challenges for laboratories in many endemic areas. Accordingly, in such locations, there exists a need for inexpensive, equipment-minimizing diagnostic options that can be transported to the field and implemented in minimal resource settings. Here we present a novel diagnostic approach for molecular xenomonitoring of filarial parasites in mosquitoes that uses a rapid, NaOH-based DNA extraction methodology coupled with a portable, battery powered PCR platform and a test strip-based DNA detection assay. While the research reported here serves as a proof-of-concept for the backpack PCR methodology for the detection of filarial parasites in mosquitoes, the platform should be easily adaptable to the detection of W. bancrofti and other mosquito-transmitted pathogens. Methodology/Principal findings Through comparisons with standard silica column-based DNA extraction techniques, we evaluated the performance of a rapid, NaOH-based methodology for the extraction of total DNA from pools of parasite-spiked vector mosquitoes. We also compared our novel test strip-based detection assay to real-time PCR and conventional PCR coupled with gel electrophoresis, and demonstrated that this method provides sensitive and genus-specific detection of parasite DNA from extracted mosquito pools. Finally, by comparing laboratory-based thermal cycling with a field-friendly miniaturized PCR approach, we have demonstrated the potential for the point-of-collection-based use of this entire diagnostic platform that is compact enough to fit into a small backpack. Conclusions/Significance Because this point-of-collection diagnostic platform eliminates reliance on expensive and bulky instrumentation without compromising sensitivity or specificity of detection, it provides an alternative to cost-prohibitive column-dependent DNA extractions that are typically coupled to detection methodologies requiring advanced laboratory infrastructure. In doing so, this field-ready system should increase the feasibility of molecular xenomonitoring within B. malayi-endemic locations. Of greater importance, this backpack PCR system also provides the proof-of-concept framework for the development of a parallel assay for the detection of W. bancrofti.


The irreversible relaxation to equilibrium is explained for macroscopic quantum systems with an emphasis on the behavior of expectation values and extremely high dimensionality of the Hilbert space. We consider a large but isolated system that is initially out of equilibrium and eventually relaxes to equilibrium. The relaxation is described by the deviation of the expectation value of the quantity of interest from the long-time average. After relaxation, the amount of deviation from equilibrium is discussed based on probabilistic arguments, which are available for nonintegrable systems. We also evaluate how long the system stays near equilibrium.


Abstract. In this paper we describe the results of a project ongoing at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). The objective is to develop and implement a system for monitoring and forecasting volcanic plumes of Etna. Monitoring is based at present by multispectral infrared measurements from the Spin Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager on board the Meteosat Second Generation geosynchronous satellite, visual and thermal cameras, and three radar disdrometers able to detect ash dispersal and fallout. Forecasting is performed by using automatic procedures for: i) downloading weather forecast data from meteorological mesoscale models; ii) running models of tephra dispersal, iii) plotting hazard maps of volcanic ash dispersal and deposition for certain scenarios and, iv) publishing the results on a web-site dedicated to the Italian Civil Protection. Simulations are based on eruptive scenarios obtained by analysing field data collected after the end of recent Etna eruptions. Forecasting is, hence, supported by plume observations carried out by the monitoring system. The system was tested on some explosive events occurred during 2006 and 2007 successfully. The potentiality use of monitoring and forecasting Etna volcanic plumes, in a way to prevent threats to aviation from volcanic ash, is finally discussed.


ABSTRACT The availability of legalized gambling products has increased over the past three decades. Though the negative personal consequences of problem gambling (PG) are well documented, a comprehensive picture of gambling-related harm from the perspective of concerned significant others (CSOs) is lacking. The aim of this systematic review was firstly, to describe the nature of existing peer-reviewed published studies from inception through to July 2018 that have directly engaged CSOs concerning gambling-related harm. Secondly, to synthesize this literature and describe the impacts of PG on CSOs; how CSOs respond to gambling-related harm; identify gaps in the literature, and provide specific directions for future research. A systematic search strategy identified 53 studies. Following the extraction of data, a meta-synthesis was conducted on the 26 quantitative, 21 qualitative and 6 mixed-methods studies. Partners are especially impacted, suffering both mental and physical health problems. Children are also particularly affected, and appear to suffer silently due to their reluctance to disclose their parental PG worries. Problem gambling treatment and counselling services should take into account the pervasiveness of the impacts of PG, and be equipped to respond appropriately to the needs of CSOs. Future research should focus on male CSOs, and CSOs associated with non-help-seeking problem gamblers.


This article assesses whether or not a cultural event can play a peacebuilding role during the post-violence phase of conflict. Cultural expression has long been a contentious issue in Northern Ireland, no more so than in Derry/Londonderry, the city at the center of this study. Adopting
 a qualitative approach, the authors used the city's Fleadh Cheoil (2013) event as a case study and found that it served three of the seven peacebuilding functions outlined by Paffenholz and Spurk: social cohesion, in-group socialization, and intermediation/facilitation. The findings suggest
 that the event enabled positive change by building "bridges" and developing intercommunal trust and cross-culture understanding. This did not happen by chance and nor was it unproblematic. However, inclusivity was a core objective and the event was planned and managed accordingly. This required
 strong leadership, risk taking, sensitivity, and a willingness to negotiate and compromise. In turn, this created the conditions for cross community dialogue that had ramifications beyond the cultural realm. Although this article has demonstrated how a cultural event can play a role in peacebuilding,
 it does not suggest that culture events are a panacea for sectarianism, bias, or conflict in Northern Ireland or elsewhere. However, if planned properly they can contribute to the peacebuilding process by providing an opportunity for people to navigate difficulties and develop shared experiences
 in complex and challenging conditions. These can help build trust, tolerance, understanding and confidence that enable divided societies to coexist more peacefully.


Some who should know argue, and I find plausible, that among these aspects of AI, accumulation and organization of data sets is the most significant. If this claim is right, then increasingly the most valuable property on the planet will be in cyberspace. As a conflict grows in intensity, adversaries will want to protect their property and degrade that of their opponents. The more important big data becomes, the more likely that adversaries will take actions affecting it.

Almost inevitably some kind of international law will come into the picture, in the sense that relevant actors will frame claims about what they and others do in terms of international legal arguments. This chapter focuses on the question of jurisdiction or domain, rather than content: Under what circumstances will international lawyers in 2040 look to LOAC, including ius ad bellum, to regulate actions taken in cyberspace involving big data? This focus allows me to avoid considering what particular rules LOAC will apply. Rather, I consider whether LOAC, rather than some other body of international law or exclusively municipal law, might govern particular cyberspace activity.


Abstract Although circumscribed interests are pathognomonic with autism, much about these interests remains unknown. Using the Interests Scale (IS), this study compares interests between 76 neurotypical (NT) individuals and 109 individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) matched groupwise on age, IQ, and gender ratio. Participants and their parents/caregivers completed diagnostic measures (the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; HF-ASD only), cognitive tests (Wechsler IQ Scales), and questionnaires (the Repetitive Behavior Scale—Revised, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and the Social Responsiveness Scale), in addition to the IS. Consistent with previous research, HF-ASD and NT individuals did not differ in number of interest areas, but the types of interests and intensity of those interests differed considerably. Using only the IS intensity score, 81% of individuals were correctly classified (NT or HF-ASD) in a logistic regression analysis. Among individuals with HF-ASD, Interests Scale scores were significantly related to Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Repetitive Behavior Scale—Revised, and Social Responsiveness Scale scores, but they were not related to Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised scores, IQ, gender, age, or psychotropic medication use. The type and intensity, but not the number, of interests distinguish high-functioning individuals with ASD from NT individuals.


Only a small number of quantitative studies have investigated the shortand longterm impacts of climate variations on society during Europe's pre-industrial era. Accordingly, there is a lack of research clearly comparing the consequences of climate variation (short-term) and climate change (long-term). This study focuses on the close relationship between climate variations and the dynamics of the agrarian economy in Europe during the period of 1500 to 1800 AD. ARX modeling was applied to analyze the relationship between climate and past agrarian economies, on large spatial and long temporal scales. Both shortand long-term findings are provided, based on statistical analysis, as well as the empirical study of the 17th century economic crisis as a case analysis. The negative climatic variations in the short-term caused grain prices to increase. Grain prices were affected for up to 25 yr by a period of climatic variation due to the price stickiness. The immediate and long-term effects of climate variations over the study period can add up to significantly influence agrarian economies. Climate change occurs when climate variations last for more than 30 yr. The accumulated effect of climate change on the agrarian economy ultimately resulted in an economic crisis in pre-industrial Europe.


The installation and configuration of cloud environments has increasingly become automated and therefore simple. For instance, solutions such as RedHat RDO and Mirantis Fuel facilitate the deployment of popular computational clouds like OpenStack. Despite the advances in usability, effort is still required to create and manage multiple users. This is of particular relevance when dealing with sensitive information, a somewhat common case for private clouds. To alleviate this burden, many clouds have adopted federated Single Sign-On (SSO) mechanisms for authenticating their users in a more transparent manner. In this work we analyze the practical security of an OpenStack IaaS cloud when combined with either OpenID Connect (using Google as IdP) or Facebook Connect (using Facebook as IdP). The criteria used in the analysis comprise the ability to provide data encryption, the risks involved in the use of an external IdP, and improper access control. We identify potential issues regarding these solutions and we propose approaches to fix them.


The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of milling methods on tensile properties of polypropylene (PP) / oil palm mesocarp fibre (OPMF) biocomposites. Two types of mills were used; Wiley mill (WM) and disc mill (DM). Ground OPMF from each milling process was examined for its particle size distribution and aspect ratio by sieve and microscopic analyses, respectively. Results showed that
DM-OPMF had smaller diameter fibre with uniform particle size compared to the WM-OPMF. Surface morphology study by SEM showed that DM-OPMF had rougher surface compared to WM-OPMF. Furthermore, it was found that PP/DM-OPMF biocomposite had higher tensile strength compared to
PP/WM-OPMF, with almost two-fold. Thus, it is suggested that small diameter and uniform size fibre may improve stress transfer and surface contact between the fibre and polymer matrix and cause welldispersion of filler throughout the polymer resulted in better tensile strength of PP/DM-OPMF compared to PP/WM-OPMF biocomposite. Overall, it can be concluded that disc milling could serve as a simple and effective grinding method for improving the
tensile properties of biocomposite.


This article assesses former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's proposal for a new security system and varying perspectives in the context of this development. US-led unipolarity has been undermined as a gradually more independent 'Europe' has weakened transatlantic unity and that of a broader 'West'. Russia could neither join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union (EU), nor assume directorship for security in the former Soviet Union. It has nonetheless increased its ties and influence with the EU, becoming a major trade partner and the biggest supplier of energy resources. A discourse of multipolarity accompanies Russian geopolitical ambitions and incorporates demands for new arrangements that can facilitate reliable cooperation in the security field and beyond. This implies recognising and accommodating Russian interests, which presents challenges to existing organisations. Medvedev's proposal is viewed differently by political-security sectors in the United States, Germany, France, Poland, Russia and the hybrid EU.


Experiments were performed to elucidate the mechanism through which p210 BCR-ABL, by its downstream signals, regulates c-myc messenger RNA expression in hematopoietic cells. We studied a model system in which stable expression of p210 BCR-ABL in interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent murine myeloid cell lines led to growth factor independent transformation. Active c-myc transcription was observed in p210 BCR-ABL transformed cells by nuclear run-on assay, and in heterologous reporter assays performed with the 5' regulatory region of murine c-myc linked to firefly luciferase. Transcription initiation occurred primarily from the P2 promoter in p210 BCR-ABL transformed cells. Cis and trans elements responsible for transcription initiation from the c-myc P2 promoter were studied. Expression of E2F1 protein in p210 BCR-ABL transformed cells accounted, in part, for binding to the E2F site of the P2 c-myc promoter. The functional importance of E2F1 expression in p210 BCR-ABL transformed cells toward c-myc transcription was established in reporter assays performed with the P2 c-myc promoter containing either wild-type or mutant E2F sites. Mutation of the E2F motif of P2 5' c-myc reduced activity of the promoter by 50%. By gel mobility shift, E2F1 was found in P2 c-myc band shift complexes along with the cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Therefore, coupling of E2F to components of the retinoblastoma-cyclin pathway defines a route from p210 BCR-ABL to c-myc transcription, which is required for p210 BCR-ABL transformation.


Dipeptides are known to spontaneously cyclize to
diketopiperazines, and in some cases these cyclic dipeptides have been shown to
self-assemble to form supramolecular nanostructures. Herein, we demonstrate the in
situ cyclization of dipeptide methyl esters in aqueous buffer by
intramolecular aminolysis, leading to the formation of diverse supramolecular
nanostructures. The chemical nature of the amino acid side chains dictates the
supramolecular arrangement and resulting nanoscale architectures. For c[LF],
supramolecular gels are formed, and the concentration of starting materials
influences the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Moreover, by adding
metalloporphyrin to the starting dipeptide ester solution, these become
incorporated through cooperative assembly, resulting in the formation of nanofibers able to
catalyse the oxidation of organic phenol in water. The approach taken here,
which combines the chemically activated assembly with the versatility of short
peptides might pave the way for achieving the spontaneous formation of
supramolecular order and function using simple building blocks.


The increase of the aluminium profile consumption required the efficient manufacturing process in order to support the aluminium profile product and capacity requirement. The life-time of the extrusion die was one of the important factors that could influence the productivity and quality of the aluminium profiles. This paper was the study of the effect of the extrusion speed on the extrusion load, temperature distributions and the stress concentration in the pothole die. The aluminium square hollow profile size 1.7x1.7 inch with the wall-thickness of 0.7 mm was used in this study. The aluminium initial billet was made of AA6063-T5, which has the diameter of 127 mm and length of 508 mm. This process has the extrusion ratio of about 106, which is considered to be extremely high. Viscoplastic Finite Element Modelling (FEM) was employed to simulate the aluminium hot extrusion process and investigate the results. The simulation results demonstrated that the extrusion load and temperature over the whole extrusion process was not uniform, and the die stress analysis could predict the weak area in the porthole die.


With an ever increasing dependence on electrical energy for powering modern equipment and electronics, research is focused on the development of efficient methods for the generation, storage and distribution of electrical power. In this regard, the development of suitable dielectric based solid-state capacitors will play a key role in revolutionizing modern day electronic and electrical devices. Among the popular dielectric materials, anti-ferroelectrics (AFE) display evidence of being a strong contender for future ceramic capacitors. AFE materials possess low dielectric loss, low coercive field, low remnant polarization, high energy density, high material efficiency, and fast discharge rates; all of these characteristics makes AFE materials a lucrative research direction. However, despite the evident advantages, there have only been limited attempts to develop this area. This article attempts to provide a focus to this area by presenting a timely review on the topic, on the relevant scientific advancements that have been made with respect to utilization and development of anti-ferroelectric materials for electric energy storage applications. The article begins with a general introduction discussing the need for high energy density capacitors, the present solutions being used to address this problem, and a brief discussion of various advantages of anti-ferroelectric materials for high energy storage applications. This is followed by a general description of anti-ferroelectricity and important anti-ferroelectric materials. The remainder of the paper is divided into two subsections, the first of which presents various physical routes for enhancing the energy storage density while the latter section describes chemical routes for enhanced storage density. This is followed by conclusions and future prospects and challenges which need to be addressed in this particular field.


Over the last 20 years the ICT industry has seen many developments and changes, such as faster and smaller computers, many new digital devices, the convergence of this digital technology, the internet, and operational aspects such as outsourcing. Governments and professional societies have discussed the issues related to these changes in the media, yet the Australian Computer Society's Code of Ethics has not changed. This paper discusses the need to change the ACS Code, the issues to be addressed, and procedures to be followed, if changes are to be made. These issues include, amongst others, the lack of specificity of the Code, and the absence of a way to decide between ethical principles which may conflict in some situations, and how to resolve such conflicts. With the focus on the Australian context, the ACS Code's relationship with international standards and codification of ethics are considered, and the paper discusses what lessons can be learned from overseas experience in modifying codes. The paper concludes by outlining the next steps to bring the ACS Code up to date.


State-of-the-art approaches in computer vision heavily rely on sufficiently large training datasets. For real-world applications, obtaining such a dataset is usually a tedious task. In this paper, we present a fully automated pipeline to generate a synthetic dataset for instance segmentation in four steps. In contrast to existing work, our pipeline covers every step from data acquisition to the final dataset. We first scrape images for the objects of interest from popular image search engines and since we rely only on text-based queries the resulting data comprises a wide variety of images. Hence, image selection is necessary as a second step. This approach of image scraping and selection relaxes the need for a real-world domain-specific dataset that must be either publicly available or created for this purpose. We employ an object-agnostic background removal model and compare three different methods for image selection: Object-agnostic pre-processing, manual image selection and CNN-based image selection. In the third step, we generate random arrangements of the object of interest and distractors on arbitrary backgrounds. Finally, the composition of the images is done by pasting the objects using four different blending methods. We present a case study for our dataset generation approach by considering parcel segmentation. For the evaluation we created a dataset of parcel photos that were annotated automatically. We find that (1) our dataset generation pipeline allows a successful transfer to real test images (Mask AP 86.2), (2) a very accurate image selection process - in contrast to human intuition - is not crucial and a broader category definition can help to bridge the domain gap, (3) the usage of blending methods is beneficial compared to simple copy-and-paste. We made our full code for scraping, image composition and training publicly available at https://anau.github.io/parcel2d.


We have developed an innovative power generation scheduling method using quadratic programming (QP). The advantage of using our method is that it simultaneously solves unit commitment and economic load dispatch. We relax the binary variables of the unit state into continuous variables to apply QP to this problem. We also add the penalty term to converge the value of those variables to 0 or 1 to the objective function; the sum of fuel costs and start-up costs. This penalty term depends on per-unit fuel cost. The possibility of its variable converging to zero increases as the cost increases. This method was applied to a test system of daily generation scheduling that consisted of 29 thermal units, two pumped-storage units, four cascaded-hydro units, and one transmission. The schedule satisfied all constraints, i.e., load-power balance, operation reserve, power flow, minimum up/down-times, and fuel consumption. This result shows that the developed method is effective.


We evaluate the implications of structural change towards services in the EU in terms of environmental pressures. vis a` vis the changes in the distribution of employment and value added. To carry out this integrated assessment we use Environmentally Extended Multi Regional Input Output modelling applied to data from the World Input Output Database (WIOD). The results suggest that, when looking at direct emissions (''production perspective''), the service sectors is characterized by a lower emission intensity than the industrial sectors, but this gap is much smaller when considering also indirect emissions in a ''vertically integrated'' approach (''consumption perspective''). Moreover, changes in the production structure economy in absence of relevant changes in the composition of the final demand induce an increased reliance on environmental pressures, employment, and value added generated abroad. The EU is transferring worldwide more emissions that value added and employment.


The generalized stress and strength distribution interference theory is introduced to establish the reliability model of torsion spring in multi-failure modes. Using it as constraint condition, the lightweight optimization model of torsion spring based on reliability constraint in multi-failure modes is presented. And then an optimization design for a given structure of torsion spring is made to use the theoretical model under operating conditions and the reliability constraint. The weight of the opti-mized torsion spring is lighter than that of non-optimization. This verified the validity of the opti-mization method. The optimization method may contribution to design of aerospace equipments which demand strictly in weight.


Training transfer is an important concern for researchers and practitioners due to the huge budget on training but lower estimation of transfer in practical domains. Researches revealed training design, trainees' characteristics and work environment characteristics are the most important sets of variables in a training context. This study intended to examine individuals' cognition of motivation with perceived organizational transfer climate by structural equation modeling (SEM) from broad industries in Taiwan. 500 questionnaires were sent to participants and 316 usable returns in 63.2% return rate were computed. The results revealed the predictor role of the positive organizational transfer climate to both motivation to learn and motivation to transfer. Both motivation to learn and motivation to transfer predict training transfer and played mediator roles of transfer climate to training transfer. Moreover, motivation to transfer also mediated motivation to learn to training transfer. In addition to confirm the prediction role of positive organizational transfer climate, this study contributed to reinforce the relationship among motivation to learn, motivation to transfer, and training transfer.


The WLCG community and many groups in the HEP community have based their computing strategy on the Grid paradigm, which proved successful and still ensures its goals. However, Grid technology has not spread much over other communities; in the commercial world, the cloud paradigm is the emerging way to provide computing services. WLCG experiments aim to achieve integration of their existing current computing model with cloud deployments and take advantage of the so-called opportunistic resources (including HPC facilities) which are usually not Grid compliant. One missing feature in the most common cloud frameworks, is the concept of job scheduler, which plays a key role in a traditional computing centre, by enabling a fairshare based access at the resources to the experiments in a scenario where demand greatly outstrips availability. At CNAF we are investigating the possibility to access the Tier-1 computing resources as an OpenStack based cloud service. The system, exploiting the dynamic partitioning mechanism already being used to enable Multicore computing, allowed us to avoid a static splitting of the computing resources in the Tier-1 farm, while permitting a share friendly approach. The hosts in a dynamically partitioned farm may be moved to or from the partition, according to suitable policies for request and release of computing resources. Nodes being requested in the partition switch their role and become available to play a different one. In the cloud use case hosts may switch from acting as Worker Node in the Batch system farm to cloud compute node member, made available to tenants. In this paper we describe the dynamic partitioning concept, its implementation and integration with our current batch system, LSF.


The coagulation experiment, with Kaolin as objects, aluminum chloride (PAC) as coagulant and hydrated MnO2 as coagulant aid, were accomplished under different conditions. In the experiment, the particle size distribution and turbidity in water were detected by on-line detector. The results show that increase PAC dosage, original turbidity, hydrated MnO2 dosage and coagulation time will make the fractal dimensions of floc growth in micro-coagulation stage increase. The fractal dimensions of floc growth in micro-coagulation stage increasing means more particle size <5µm flocs are removed. Hydrated MnO2 can strengthen micro-coagulation.


The conditions for immobilization of an l-aminoacylase-producing strain of Aspergillus oryzae in gelatin and the enzymic characteristics of the immobilized pellets were studied. The optimal concentrations of gelatin, glutaraldehyde and ethyldiamine and time of immobilization were determined. Scanning electron micrographs reveal the cross-linked structure differences between the native and immobilized pellets. Optimum pH and temperature of the native and immobilized pellets were determined. Effects of ionic strength and substrate concentration on relative activity of the native and immobilized pellets were investigated in detail. The immobilized pellets were more stable over broader temperature and pH ranges. In addition, the immobilized pellets showed stable activity under operational and storage conditions. The immobilized pellets lost about 20% of their initial activity after five cycles of reuse. The results reported in this paper show the potential for using the immobilized A. oryzae pellets to resolve d,l-methionine.


We perform Jeans anisotropic modeling (JAM) on elliptical and spiral galaxies from the MaNGA DR13 sample. By comparing the stellar mass-to-light ratios estimated from stellar population synthesis and from JAM, we find a systematic variation of the initial mass function (IMF) similar to that in the earlier results. Early-type galaxies (elliptical and lenticular) with lower velocity dispersions within one effective radius are consistent with a Chabrier-like IMF, while galaxies with higher velocity dispersions are consistent with a more bottom-heavy IMF such as the Salpeter IMF. Spiral galaxies have similar systematic IMF variations, but with slightly different slopes and larger scatters, due to the uncertainties caused by the higher gas fractions and extinctions for these galaxies. Furthermore, we examine the effects of stellar mass-to-light ratio gradients on our JAM modeling, and we find that the trends become stronger after considering the gradients.


BACKGROUND
CT scanning is increasingly used to characterize COPD. Although it is possible to obtain CT scan-measured lung lobe volumes, normal ranges remain unknown. Using COPDGene data, we developed reference equations for lobar volumes at maximal inflation (total lung capacity [TLC]) and relaxed exhalation (approximating functional residual capacity [FRC]).

METHODS
Linear regression was used to develop race-specific (non-Hispanic white [NHW], African American) reference equations for lobar volumes. Covariates included height and sex. Models were developed in a derivation cohort of 469 subjects with normal pulmonary function and validated in 546 similar subjects. These cohorts were combined to produce final prediction equations, which were applied to 2,191 subjects with old GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage II to IV COPD.

RESULTS
In the derivation cohort, women had smaller lobar volumes than men. Height positively correlated with lobar volumes. Adjusting for height, NHWs had larger total lung and lobar volumes at TLC than African Americans; at FRC, NHWs only had larger lower lobes. Age and weight had no effect on lobar volumes at TLC but had small effects at FRC. In subjects with COPD at TLC, upper lobes exceeded 100% of predicted values in GOLD II disease; lower lobes were only inflated to this degree in subjects with GOLD IV disease. At FRC, gas trapping was severe irrespective of disease severity and appeared uniform across the lobes.

CONCLUSIONS
Reference equations for lobar volumes may be useful in assessing regional lung dysfunction and how it changes in response to pharmacologic therapies and surgical or endoscopic lung volume reduction.


Large-scale grid Connected photovoltaic (PV) systems significantly contribute to worldwide renewable energy growth and penetration, which has inspired the application of cascaded modular multilevel converters due to their unique features such as modular structures, enhanced energy harvesting capability, scalability and so on. However, power distribution and control in the cascaded PV system faces tough challenge on output voltage over modulation when considering the varied and non-uniform solar energy on segmented PV arrays. This paper addresses this issue and proposes a decoupled active and reactive power control strategy to enhance system operation performance. The relationship between output voltage components of each module and power generation is analyzed with the help of a newly derived vector diagram which illustrates the proposed power distribution principle. On top of this, an effective control system including active and reactive components extraction, voltage distribution and synthetization, is developed to achieve independent active and reactive power distribution and mitigate the aforementioned issue. Finally, a 3-MW, 12-kV PV system with the proposed control strategy is modeled and simulated in MATLAB and PSIM co simulation platform. A downscaled PV system including two cascaded 5-kW converters with proposed control strategy is also implemented in the laboratory. Simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy for large-scale grid-connected cascaded PV systems. Keywords—component, formatting, style, styling, insert (key words)


The growth of broadband services in India has been a fraction of the otherwise very impressive cellular growth of almost 500 million+ connections in the past decade. We extend our work in [1], in which we defined and analyzed the causes of the stagnation of broadband penetration in India, and propose a comprehensive solution. Specifically, we understand the problem from a business perspective, and then propose a novel techno-economic model that is shown to lead to enhanced broadband penetration. This model is based on a concept that we term global content balancing - showcasing the relationship between content and the proliferation of broadband. We show the working of this model and postulate reasons for its acceptability and success. A simulations study evaluates our solution and compares it to usage-based approaches, showing a return on investment improvement.


100 Things to Do Before You Die highlights the wildest and most exciting events on the planet. The authors profile the 100 best happenings, gatherings, festivals, and events from all over the globe, providing photographs and detailed reports from each scene.


Human estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ) are ligand-inducible transcription factors that are highly homologous in their central DNA-binding and carboxyl-terminal ligand-binding domains. In contrast, there is very little conservation between ERα and ERβ in the amino-terminal domain. Using different human cell lines, we show that wild-type ERβ transcriptional activity is lower or similar to that of ERα, depending on the cell type. Deletion of the amino-terminal domain in both ER subtypes resulted in no or a lower decrease of transcriptional activity of ERβ compared with ERα, suggesting that the ERβ amino-terminal domain contains a weaker transcriptional activation function-1. Using ERα and ERβ deletion mutants, we showed that the amino-terminal transcriptional activity of ERβ maps to amino acids 1-31. Interestingly, this domain contains a six amino-acid motif (amino acids 5–10 in human ERβ) that is part of the ERα-activation function-1 region (amino acids 49–54 in human ERα) and highly conserved among all mammalian ERα amino-terminal domains. Despite this similarity between the two ER subtypes, no autonomous and ligand-independent activity of the ERβ-amino-terminal domain was observed in yeast and mammalian cells in contrast to ERα. This study provides a molecular basis for the difference in transcriptional activity between ERα and ERβ and establishes that ERβ contains a structurally and functionally restricted amino-terminal transcriptional activity.


When an anti-neutrino collides with a proton in the atomic nucleus, it yields an anti-lepton and a free neutron. In a water Cherenkov neutrino detector like Super-K or the next generation Hyper-K, the free neutron is captured by a hydrogen or gadolinium nucleus about one hundred microseconds after the collision. The low-energy signal from the neutron capture (ranging from 2-8 MeV of gamma rays) is recorded by only tens of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), making neutron captures difficult to distinguish from radioactive decay, muon spallation and other background sources. Improved methodologies for neutron tagging can advance understanding and enable new research over a survey of topics in particle physics. In this research, machine learning techniques are employed to optimize the neutron capture detection capability in the new intermediate water Cherenkov detector (IWCD) for Hyper-K. In particular, boosting decision tree (XGBoost) and graph neural network (GCN, DGCNN) models are developed and benchmarked against a statistical likelihood-based approach, achieving up to a 10% increase in classification accuracy. Characteristic features are also engineered from the datasets and analyzed using SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to provide insight into the pivotal factors influencing event type outcomes. Three main datasets were used for evaluative purposes in this research, each consisting of roughly 1.6 million events in total, divided nearly evenly between neutron capture and a distinct background electron source.


In the history of the Western Desert Art Movement, the Papunya School murals are widely acclaimed as the movement's progenitors. However, in another community, Yuendumu, some 150 kilometres from Papunya, a seminal museum project took place prior to the completion of the Papunya School murals and the production of the first Papunya boards. The Warlpiri men at Yuendumu undertook a ground-breaking project between 1969 and 1971 to build a men's museum that would not only house ceremonial and traditional artefacts but would also be adorned with murals depicting the Dreamings of each of the Warlpiri groups that had recently settled at Yuendumu. While the murals at Papunya are lost, those at Yuendumu have, against all odds, survived. Having been all but forgotten, this unprecedented cultural and artistic endeavour is only now being fully appreciated. Through the story of the genesis and construction of the Yuendumu Men's Museum and its extensive murals, this paper demonstrates that the Yuendumu murals significantly contributed to the early development of the Western Desert Art Movement. It is time to acknowledge the role of Warlpiri artists in the history of the movement.


Background Child fatalities due to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a significant burden in Canada. Data specific to these deaths are often referenced, yet few Canadian jurisdictions systematically collect comprehensive details of all child occupant and pedestrian MV fatalities reducing the effectiveness of informing and setting targets for injury prevention initiatives. Methods This project had two objectives; 1): To document the details of injuries and specific crash circumstances of all fatally injured child and youth (0–18 years) occupants and pedestrians through review of two provincial coroner case files (2004–2012). 2): To introduce recommendations toward standardised data collection procedures for use by coroners, specific to child and youth occupants and pedestrians involved in fatal MVC to: a) support revision of procedures, processes, and practices to facilitate detailed data capture by coroners; and b) to improve information transfer to inform prevention initiatives. Results Phase 1: Review of death investigation files (n = 317) did not allow ascertainment of suitable detail about injuries (56.5%, n = 160), restraint status (38.1%, n = 121) and crash type (7.3%, n = 23). Data obtained in the retrospective review revealed 43% (95% CI: 36.3, 50.0) of cases were side impact collisions, and 40.0% (95% CI: 33.0, 48.0) of the fatalities were reported improperly or unrestrained. Phase 2: A standardised form was developed and provided to each provincial coroner service to facilitate consistent and detailed data collection. Prospective data collection reduced missing data to 0%. Conclusions Review of data obtained from review of child and youth fatalities demonstrated a significant proportion of deaths followed side impact collisions without use of restraint systems; however, detailed information about MVC circumstances and injury details were not present in the investigation files. Stakeholder involvement plays a pivotal role in attaining data that are imperative to the development of effective injury prevention products, policies and practices.


Objectives: To explore most suitable and efficient method for the removal of dyes from textile effluent. Methods/ Statistical Analysis: In this paper, scattered information of research work carried out by many researchers related to various methods for the removal of cationic dyes especially Rhodamine-B, Methylene Blue, Crystal Violet, Malachite Green and Safranin-O dye present in textile effluent have been compiled and compared to find out cheap and effective method by calculating their percentage removal. Findings/Recommendations: It has been found that among all the methods reported so far, Adsorption process show promising results and overcomes almost all the demerits of otherwise efficient methods like advanced oxidation and electro coagulation etc. in terms of high cost and sludge problem. So ,the use of natural adsorbents and agricultural/industrial waste materials especially modified flyash, red mud ,activated rice husk , surfactant modified alumina, bentonite clay as adsorbents is recommended for the removal of cationic dyes since they are of less cost/ no cost, easily available and have great affinity for dyes. Moreover, agriculture/industrial waste often poses a disposal problem. So, their use (after chemical treatment) as adsorbent is environmental friendly. Applications/Improvements: This review paper would be helpful to find the most promising method for the removal of cationic dyes from the textile effluent considering the merits and demerits of each method. Much work has been done to explore the most effective and cheap method for the removal of dyes recently but not under the range of operating conditions. In future, more methods need to be explored to study and check removal of dyes from real textile effluent at the industrial level as the dye effluent also contains other harmful pollutants. Attention is to be paid to develop cheaper and more efficient adsorbents from the agriculture/ industrial waste with some modification which would be cost effective. Moreover, management of exhausted adsorbents is also to be taken care of.
Keywords: Biodegradable, Biosorbent, Cationic Dyes, Carcinogenic, Solvent Extraction and Fenton's Reagent


Introduction: Irritability (including tantrums, aggression and moodiness) is often associated with autistic disorder. Children with autism are frequently prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications for these behaviors. Although multiple agents have been found to be effective, the safety and tolerability of each antipsychotic may be the determining factor in its selection. Areas covered: The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and efficacy data on aripiprazole for the treatment of irritability associated with autism are discussed. Knowledge of the mechanism of action, advantages and disadvantages relative to other atypical antipsychotics, and an appreciation of the efficacy of aripiprazole when used to treat irritability in autism is also explored in this paper. Expert opinion: Aripiprazole may have a more favorable side-effect profile than another commonly prescribed medication, risperidone, because of its unique mechanism of action. It seems to be effective in treating irritability associated with autism, but more research is needed.


Nitrogen ions pumped by intense femtosecond laser pulses give rise to optical amplification in the ultraviolet range. Here, we demonstrated that a seed light pulse carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) can be significantly amplified in nitrogen plasma excited by a Gaussian femtosecond laser pulse. With the topological charge of ℓ = ±1, we observed an energy amplification of the seed light pulse by two orders of magnitude, while the amplified pulse carries the same OAM as the incident seed pulse. Moreover, we show that a spatial misalignment of the plasma amplifier with the OAM seed beam leads to an amplified emission of Gaussian mode without OAM, due to the special spatial profile of the OAM seed pulse that presents a donut-shaped intensity distribution. Utilizing this misalignment, we can implement an optical switch that toggles the output signal between Gaussian mode and OAM mode. This work not only certifies the phase transfer from the seed light to the amplified signal, but also highlights the important role of spatial overlap of the donut-shaped seed beam with the gain region of the nitrogen plasma for the achievement of OAM beam amplification.


This paper describes of a complete workflow to produce individualized cranial implants using additive manufacturing with PEEK filament. The workflow includes design regulations, definitions of part orientation and support generation as well as process parameter definitions and post-processing steps. In addition to technical feasibility, clinical requirements and regulatory pathways are described. The described workflow has the potential to accelerate the distribution of personalized medical care while saving material compared to milling processes. In comparison to milling technologies this manufacturing process has the enormous potential to save raw material. In additive manufacturing about 85% of the material used is used for the implant. Only 10-15% is used for support structures, which are removed in post-processing. However, with conventional manufacturing technologies such as milling, on the other hand, about 10-20% of the material is used as the implant - the rest is wasted that is removed.
In addition, the described technology provides for the first time to achieve mechanical properties equivalent to those achieved by milling. Cost savings with filament printing compared to other 3D printing technologies for cranial plate manufacturing will further accelerate the acceptance of patient matched implants. Comparable low initial investments in printer hardware and reduced post-processing requirements make the overall costs shrink in comparison to titanium printing based on powder bed technology. Kumovis workflow makes individualized cranial implants affordable for a broad range of healthcare systems.  In addition, it accumulates the clinical benefits of high-performance polymers such as high wearing comfort, patient`s acceptance, millimetre accuracy of fit, optimal biocompatibility and low revision rates.


Cyclostationary characteristics of communication signals can be exploited for performing various signal processing tasks. Receiver impairments that affect the cyclic statistics of signals may lead to a degradation in the performance of cyclostationarity-based signal processing algorithms. Inphase/ quadrature (I/Q) imbalance, oscillator phase noise, and random sampling jitter can be counted amongst the typical receiver impairments encountered in wireless communication systems. In this work, we investigate the effects of these nonidealities on the second-order cyclic statistics of baseband communication signals. General results are derived for arbitrary complex-valued (and possibly improper) signals, and examples are provided for cases of practical interest.


If you are looking to understand social media marketing, search engine optimization, blogging, digital public relations, Google, and more, then this book is for you. Whatever your job title, these skills will help you go far in this new world of digital media. After reading this new media resource, you will be better equipped to build your personal brand through new media and position yourself for success; use digital marketing to help sell products or find new volunteers; start a new blog or develop content for blogs that already exist but are dead in the water; write digital public relations (PR) news releases; be a master of social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube; build communities of interest with customers or other audiences; practice search engine optimization and search engine marketing; understand how Google and Yahoo search rankings have an impact on your business's bottom line, and prove it with Google Analytics.


Introduction Exposure to organic dust is a well-known risk in the agro food sector. A transition from gravimetric analyses of dust to real-time direct reading equipment is taking place. The goal of this study is to explore the validity of using a low cost sensor, the Optical Particle Counter (OPC), for assessing occupational exposure to organic dust in the agrofood industry. Methods In two onion processing companies particle number concentration (PNC) was continuously monitored for 7 days with 2 OPC devices, a TSI 3321 Aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), and a 3081 scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Correlations between PNC as obtained by the different types of direct reading equipment were investigated for OPC versus OPC and for a combination of APS and SMPS vs OPC. Results A high correlation between total PNC obtained by two OPC devices in both companies (r = 0.99 and r = 0.70) was observed. The observed correlation between total PNC obtained by combining the APS and SMPS and the two OPC devices was moderate (r = 0.58–0.62 and r = 0.35–0.48). A large variability in hourly correlations between APS/SMPS and OPC is observed. It is currently being explored if the correlation is affected by (variability in) the size distribution or total particle count. Conclusions The preliminary results give some indication that low cost real-time sensors, like the OPC, may be used to monitor occupational exposure to particulate matter, providing the opportunity to obtain real time exposure data. Since endotoxin as components of organic dust is a major concern in the agrofood industry, the feasibility of using the OPC as the basis for an 'online' screening method for endotoxin is currently being explored in an experimental setup.


The present work proposes hydrotropy as a type of co-solvency method to increase the solubility of Aceclofenac as the drug candidate due to its poor solubility. Aqueous solutions containing small quantities of several water-soluble excipients giving a concentrated solution, may act as a solvent system for some poorly water-soluble drugs. This is one of the concepts of mixed-solvency. This same concept has been explored to formulate the syrups (solutions) of poorly water-soluble drug Aceclofenac (as a model drug). For this, the blends containing solubilizers from the category of hydrotropes, co solvents and water soluble solids were employed. The blends of randomly selected solubilizers were used for solubility studies. Based on the solubility studies, few blends showing largest solubilities were employed to make the syrup. This may reduce the individual concentration of solubilizers and so reduce their potential of toxicities. The formulated syrups were subjected to accelerated stability studies and they were found quite stable.


The authors examined 40 patients with the hyperkinetic syndrome (HS) who underwent thorough clinical and instrumental examination including ECG, PCG, bicycle ergometry, hyperventilation and orthostatic tests, and determination of the central hemodynamic indices by echocardiography and the rate heart indices in dopplercardiography. The great diagnostic possibilities of doppler-cardiography are demonstrated. The diagnostic criteria of HS are suggested and general recommendations for treatment are given.


BACKGROUND
Mandibular angle fractures are common and frequently involve a tooth in the fracture line. Despite trends toward more conservative indications for tooth extraction during open repair, the literature remains heterogeneous. This review aims to ascertain the effect of tooth extraction/retention on patient outcomes following mandible open reduction and internal fixation and to evaluate the evidence surrounding indications for extraction.

METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Elsevier text mining tool database, and clinicaltrials.gov were queried through March of 2018 for English language publication on adults with traumatic mandibular fractures. The review protocol was not registered online. Quality of evidence was assigned using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Meta-analyses were performed when definitions of outcomes were deemed similar.

RESULTS
Overall, 26 of 1212 identified studies met inclusion criteria. Indications for tooth extraction and rates of extraction varied considerably across studies. The quality of evidence was low or very low for all outcomes. Tooth retention was associated with lower overall complications (OR, 0.54; 95 percent CI, 0.37 to 0.79), major complications requiring readmission or reoperation (OR, 0.47; 95 percent CI, 0.24 to 0.92), and malocclusion (OR, 0.56; 95 percent CI, 0.32 to 0.97); there was no difference in wound issues or nonunion. Removal of asymptomatic teeth was associated with inferior alveolar nerve injury (39.4 percent versus 16.1 percent).

CONCLUSIONS
The literature is limited by retrospective study deign and poor follow-up; however, when indicated, tooth extraction is not associated with an increased risk of infection or nonunion. Removal of asymptomatic teeth was associated with a risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury. Additional high-quality studies are needed to evaluate potentially expanded indications for tooth extraction.


The sex pheromone of the oak leaf roller, Archips semiferanus, was identified as a specific blend (67:33) of trans-11- and cis-11-tetradecenyl acetates. The pheromone blend of females from a semisynthetic diet and from three oak species did not vary significantly. Males from these diets responsded in the laboratory and the field only to treatments approximating the 67 : 33 blend. These findings conflict with the hypothesis that the composition and perception of month sex pheromones vary with slight changes in diet.


The Cray XT4 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), named Jaguar, has recently been up- graded, from dual-core to quad-core processors in addition to other significant changes. Although we have had very limited access to the machine and therefore are not presenting definitive performance results, we can share some meaningful and constructive experiences to the user community which could be of assistance as they gain access to Jaguar as well as other multi-core processor based parallel com- puters. These experiences were gained while porting a broad set of scientific application programs to Jaguar.


In nature, the commonly occurring reactive metal oxides of titanium, chromium, aluminium, and vanadium often chemically combine with the transition metal oxides such as iron oxides and form complex minerals. Physico-chemical separation of transition metal oxides from the remaining reactive metal oxides is therefore an important step in the purification of reactive oxide constituents. Each purification step has quite a high energy requirement at present. Current practice in industry yields sulphate and neutralized chloride waste from titanium dioxide enrichment, red mud from bauxite refining, slag and leach residues from vanadium extraction and chromite ore process residue (COPR) from chromate processes. In this review article, a novel alkali-based oxidative roasting and aqueous leaching for the extraction of mineral oxides is explained in the context of the original work of Le Chatelier in 1850, which was unsuccessful in the industrialization of bauxite processing for alumina extraction. However, much later in the 19th century the alkali-based oxidative mineral roasting was successfully developed for industrial scale manufacturing of chromate chemicals, which yields COPR. The crystal chemistry of mineral oxides, namely alumina, titanium dioxide, and chromium oxide in naturally occurring minerals is briefly reviewed in the context of chemical extraction, which is then developed as a model for developing thermodynamic chemical equilibrium principles for analyzing the physical separation and enrichment of such reactive metal oxides by forming water-soluble and water-insoluble alkali complexes. The involvement of the alkali roasting chemistry of non-magnetic titaniferous mineral waste is also reported in the initial separation of rare-earth oxide mixtures for subsequent separation of individual oxides. The paper concludes with a generic approach to process chemistry which minimizes waste generation and therefore helps in reducing the overall process and energy costs. Examples of recovering alkali from high pH solution using carbon dioxide are also demonstrated.


According to the study of Koltko-Rivera (2006), Maslow, toward the end of his life, highlighted a new stage of needs in the name of self-transcendence The level of "selftranscendence" representing the highest level of Maslow's hierarchical needs in phenomenological structure for psychological aspect, indicates both intrinsic and extrinsic developmental process of individual. For instance, independence, self-actualization, identity achievement and effective social connection are the products of "self-transcendence". This study is the first in related field to literally express the statement of self-transcendence in Turkish language. Besides, it was evaluated the cultural and individualized factors of recent studies might present differences in the area of selfactualization and self-transcendence. Thus, it was considered to develop tests and scales related to the level of self-transcendence. Specifically, hoping to be more beneficial to update the services given in the field of education, psychology and counselling by considering the new needs of individual.


Visits to China by U.S. faculty members in the field of public administration tend to be concentrated in eastern China, especially in Beijing and Shanghai, and to a lesser extent Guangzhou. Perhaps most of the exchanges involving U.S. public administrative faculty occur in connection with Remnim University of China, located in Beijing. As is well known, there are marked regional differences between the urban and rural sectors as well as between the eastern and western areas in contemporary China. In June 2007, I had the opportunity to visit and lecture at the School of Management at Lanzhou University in Lanzhou, Gansu. Previously, I had lectured and/or taught at Renmin University of China, Northwest University in Xi'an (Xi Bei Da Xue), and Fudan University in Shanghai. My visit to Lanzhou University included two lectures and several formal, but unstructured, meetings with graduate and undergraduate students. This article summarizes my impressions of public administrative education at Lanzhou University, which to a large extent services northwestern China in the field of management.


Fifty-two patients with acute traumatic bilateral locked facets were treated at one trauma center during a 3 1/2-year period (July, 1987, to December, 1990). The patients presented with complete motor quadriplegia (34 cases), incomplete myelopathy (13 cases), or intact long-tract function (five cases). The injuries occurred at C2-3 (one patient, with intact function), C4-5 (12 patients), C5-6 (16 patients), C6-7 (19 patients), and C7-T1 (four patients). Immediate traction (with increasing weight and serial x-ray studies) and/or induction of general anesthesia and muscle relaxation reduced the dislocation in 40 patients, but 12 needed prompt operative reduction as their injuries failed to reduce within 4 hours. Stabilization was indicated for all patients, but three did not undergo surgery: two elderly patients with complete injuries (one refused surgery and one died), and one patient with multiple injuries (fusion was achieved by halo-vest immobilization for 3 months). Of the 49 patients treated operatively, 23 (44.2%) underwent surgery on the day of injury and 26 on a delayed basis (mean 8.7 days postinjury). Surgical treatment included fusion of the posterior facet to a spinous process (44 cases), an anterior Caspar plate technique (three cases), and both procedures (two cases). Of these 49 patients, three (6.1%) with complete injuries died due to an adult respiratory distress syndrome. Improvement of cord function, judged by functional grade change, was observed at discharge in 15 patients (31.9%) and in 15 (71.4%) of the 21 patients with a 1-year follow-up period. Of the 34 patients with complete myelopathy on admission, three are ambulatory after 1 year, and 13 others have gained function in at least one nerve root. It is concluded that prompt reduction (nonoperative or surgical) and internal stabilization facilitate recovery even in neurologically compromised patients, and that early operative intervention is a wiser option than conservative management. This report also documents a higher incidence of this injury without deficit (five of the 52 cases) than reported in other series.


Extraction of features from images has been a goal of researchers since the early days of remote sensing. While significant progress has been made in several applications, much remains to be done in the area of accurate identification of high-level features such as buildings and roads. This paper presents an approach for detecting bridges over water bodies from multispectral imagery. The multispectral image is first classified into eight land-cover types using a majority-must-be-granted logic based on the multiseed supervised classification technique. The classified image is then categorized into a trilevel image: water, concrete, and background. Bridges are then recognized in this trilevel image by using a knowledge-based approach that exploits the spatial arrangement of bridges and their surroundings using a five-step approach. A river extraction module identifies the rivers using a recursive scanning technique and geometric constraints. Using a neighborhood operator and the knowledge of the spatial dimensions of a typical bridge, we identify the possible bridge pixels. These potential bridge pixels are then grouped into possible bridge segments based on their connectivity and geometric properties. Finally, these bridge segments are verified on the basis of directional water index along different directions and their connectivity with the road segments. The approach proposed in this paper has been implemented and tested with images from the IRS-1C/1-D satellite that has a spatial resolution of 23.5 23.5 m. The results show that this approach is both efficient and effective in extracting bridges.


The use of modifiers to improve the performance of bituminous road paving materials is increasing worldwide. These additives range from polymers and fibers to lime. One product is now being considered very seriously by road paving engineers and paving contractors who are concerned both with high performance and cost effectiveness. This product, gilsonite resin, has long been known as an bitumen reinforcer and hardening agent. New evidence, both from the laboratory and from a fast growing body of field work, demonstrates that gilsonite offers a unique combination of high performance and economy for high stress paving applications. The main benefit of gilsonite is in producing road pavement mixes of much higher stability than conventional ones. A unique, natural hydrocarbon, high in asphaltenes and nitrogen compounds, gilsonite is a granular solid that is fully compatible with bitumen. It can be melted into hot bitumen, or it can be added during hot mix manufacture. In either case, gilsonite dissolves easily in bitumen and requires only a slight increase in mixing time to achieve a uniform, easily workable hot mix. The increased stability of gilsonite fortified pavements makes them more resistant to deformation problems, such as rutting and shoving, and increases the pavement's load carrying ability. In addition, laboratory tests and field results show that improved deformation resistance can be obtained while the pavement retains much of its original ductility and ability to resist low temperature cracking. Other positive benefits include increased resistance to water stripping and aging (a).


Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a quantum-proof key-exchange scheme which is fast approaching the communication industry. An essential component in QKD is the information reconciliation step, which is used for correcting the quantum-channel noise errors. The recently suggested blind reconciliation technique, based on low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, offers remarkable prospectives for efficient information reconciliation without an a priori error rate estimation. We suggest an improvement of the blind-information-reconciliation protocol promoting a significant increase in the efficiency of the procedure and reducing its interactivity. The proposed technique is based on introducing symmetry in operations of parties, and the consideration of results of unsuccessful belief-propagation decodings.


From Ace to Zodiac - via the world-beating Land Rover, the thrilling Morgan Aeromax, the eternally young Mini Cooper and the unique London taxi - this is a celebration of the best British cars, old and new, in all their glorious diversity. Don't you believe it when people say there's no such thing as a 'British' car any more. As a nation, the calamity of British Leyland and MG Rover lingers in our collective conscience, but car factories in Britain today build some of the world's most advanced and desirable cars. Some of them have Japanese names, for sure, but then Ford was always more hamburger than roast beef, wasn't it? Britain's engineers, designers and entrepreneurs have for decades been the creators of motor cars with unique style and charm, from the Bentley 3-litre and Morris Minor Traveller of 'then' to the Aston Martin Vantage and Lotus Evora of 'now'. Inside, you'll find out about the country's 100 most significant models, boasting style, speed, ingenuity and The Right Stuff. They'll make you glad they're British!


For the problem of estimating parameters of a linear system from its input and output sequences, we present iterative quadratic maximum likelihood (IQML), iterative quadratic weighted Kalman (IQWK), and noniterative subspace linear prediction (SLP) algorithms. The SLP algorithms are based on a novel subspace deconvolution of the output. In particular, a double total-least-squares (D-TLS) SLP algorithm is provided.


The design issues of a single-transistor-control (STC) low-drop-out (LDO) based on flipped voltage follower is discussed in this paper, in particular the feedback stability at different conditions of output capacitors, equivalent series resistances (ESRs) and load current. Based on the analysis, an STC LDO was implemented in a standard 0.35-mum MOS technology. It is proven experimentally that the LDO provides stable voltage regulation at a variety of output-capacitor/ESR conditions and is also stable in no output capacitor condition. The preset output voltage, minimum unregulated input voltage, maximum output current at a dropout voltage of 200 mV, ground current and active chip area are 1 V, 1.2 V, 50 mA, 95 muA, and 140 mum times 320 mum, respectively. The full-load transient response in the no output capacitor case is faster than a micro second and is about 300 ns.


Western flower thrips is a pest on a large variety of vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops. The damage these minute slender insects cause in agriculture through feeding and the transmission of tospoviruses requires a sustainable solution. Host-plant resistance is a cornerstone of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Plants have many natural defense compounds and morphological features that aid in the protection against herbivorous insects. However, the molecular and physiological aspects that control host-plant resistance to thrips are largely unknown. A novel and powerful tool to study host-plant resistance to insects in natural populations is genome-wide association (GWA) mapping. GWA mapping provides a comprehensive untargeted approach to explore the whole array of plant defense mechanisms. The development of high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) systems is a necessity when large plant panels need to be screened for host-plant resistance to insects. An automated video-tracking platform that could screen large plant panels for host-plant resistance to thrips, and dissect host-plant resistance to thrips in component traits related to thrips behavior, was developed. This phenotyping platform allows the screening for host-plant resistance against thrips in a parallel two-choice setup using EthoVision tracking software. The platform was used to establish host-plant preference of thrips with a large plant population of 345 wild Arabidopsis accessions (the Arabidopsis HapMap population) and the method was optimized with two extreme accessions from this population that differed in resistance to thrips. This method can be a reliable and effective high throughput phenotyping tool to assess host-plant resistance to thrips in large plant populations. EthoAnalysis, a novel software package was developed to improve the analyses of insect behavior. There were several benefits from using EthoAnalysis to analyze EthoVision data. The detailed event statistics that could be extracted from EthoAnalysis allows researchers to distinguish detailed differences in moving and feeding behavior of thrips. The potential of this additional information is discussed in the light of quantitative genetic studies. Stress resistance was studied in the HapMap population on a total of 15 different biotic and abiotic stresses ranging from biotic stresses like insects and nematodes, to abiotic stresses like drought and salt. A multi-trait GWA study to unravel the genetic architecture underlying plant responses to the different stresses was performed. A genetic network in this study revealed little correlation between the plant responses to the different insect herbivores studied (aphids, whiteflies, thrips and caterpillars). For thrips resistance a weak positive correlation with resistance to drought stress and Botrytis, and a negative correlation with resistance to parasitic plants were observed. One of the surprising outcomes of this study was the absence of shared major QTLs for host-plant resistance and abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms. RESISTANCE METHYLATED GENE 1 (RMG1) was one of the candidate genes in this multi-trait GWA study that could be controlling shared resistance mechanisms against many different stresses in Arabidopsis. RMG1 is a nucleotide-binding site Leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) disease resistance protein and its potential relation to several resistance/tolerance traits was successfully demonstrated with T-DNA insertion lines. The 15 stresses were used in a comparison with a metabolomics dataset on this Arabidopsis HapMap population. It was discovered that levels of certain aliphatic glucosinolates correlated positively with the levels of resistance to thrips. This correlation was further investigated with the screening of a RIL (Recombinant Inbred Line) population for resistance to thrips, several knockout mutants and the analysis of co-localization of GWA mapping results between glucosinolates genes and thrips resistance. In a GWA analysis, the C4 alkenyl glucosinolates that correlated the strongest with thrips resistance mapped to the genomic regions containing genes known to regulate the biosynthesis of these compounds. However, thrips resistance did not co-localize with any of the GSL genes, unless a correction for population stratification was omitted. Additional screening of a Cvi x Ler RIL population showed a QTL for thrips resistance on chromosome 2, but no co-localization with any known glucosinolate genes, nor with thrips resistance loci identified by GWA mapping. Knock-out mutants and overexpressors of glucosinolate synthesis genes could also not confirm a causal link between glucosinolates and resistance to thrips. It is possible that the crucial factors that control resistance to thrips may not have been present in sufficient quantities or in the right combinations in the mutants, RILs and NIL screened in this study. Alternatively, the correlation between thrips feeding damage and glucosinolate profiles could be based on independent geographical clines. More research should be conducted to assess which of these explanations is correct. In the general discussion, the results from this thesis are discussed in a broader perspective. Some prototypes of new phenotyping platforms that could further aid screening for resistance to thrips in the future are presented. Natural variation in host-plant resistance to thrips is compared to the variation in host-plant resistance to aphids and caterpillars. The geographic distribution of host-plant resistance to thrips is not evident in the other insects, in line with the distribution of glucosinolate profiles and other climate factors. The chapter concludes with some suggestions for future research in the field of host-plant resistance to thrips.


Introduction: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk for the development of atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular complications. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are two widely used important members of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statins). The beneficial effects of statins on clinical events also involve lipid-independent mechanisms which include improvement of oxidative stress status.
Objective: To compare the antioxidative effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized single-center analytic study was carried out in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from March 2016 to August 2017 on 52 hyperlipidemic patients. After randomization patients were assigned to atorvastatin 10 mg or rosuvastatin 5 mg daily for 8 weeks. Blood was collected at baseline and after the intervention to measure plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) (as biomarkers of oxidative stress) and serum lipid profile.
Results: The baseline characteristics of patients treated with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were almost identical. The level of plasma MDA in atorvastatin (1.35 ± 0.94 to 0.97± 0.64) and rosuvastatin (1.56±0.69 to 0.98±0.38) group was significantly reduced after intervention (28.15%, p<0.05 and 37.18%, p<0.001 respectively) but no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between the two statin-treated groups. Erythrocyte GSH level was increased after intervention in both atorvastatin (2.43±2.90 to 4.14 ± 4.87) group (70.37%, p<0.01) and rosuvastatin (2.76±3.80 to 8.36±12.93)  group (202.90%, p<0.01), which was statistically significant. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (p>0.05). Both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin significantly improved serum lipid profile.
Conclusion: Both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin significantly improved oxidative stress status in hyperlipidemic patients but no significant change was observed between the two statin-treated groups.
Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.14(1) 2018: 54-58


The Bay of Koper (BoK) located in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) is subject to a variety of anthropogenic influences; pollutants from inland are transported to the sea by the local rivers. The impact of high river discharge on suspended solids distribution was assessed by analysing results of an extensive measurement campaign conducted during two episodes of river flooding. The spatial analysis demonstrated the area influenced by fresh water and the distribution of inorganic suspended solids (ISS). The results were then used to calibrate the PCFLOW3D model and to simulate two episodes. A correlation was identified between the measurements and short-term simulations found in the central part of the bay. The results confirm the methods and the model used in this study to be appropriate for studying complex suspended solids processes in coastal areas.


The site of obstruction was evaluated by seminal vesiculography in 24 cases of azoospermia with normal testicular biopsies. In 21 cases, obstruction was located at the level of the tail of the epididymis; in 2 cases ejaculatory duct was obstructed; and in 1 case the injected dye was arrested at the level of internal inguinal ring, at the site of previous hernia operation. Vesiculogram in 24 obstructed cases and 4 cases of chronic seminal vesiculities without obstruction showed one normal picture, four with catarrhal inflammation, and the rest with chronic interstitial vesiculities. Radiological study of a patient complaining of aspermia showed multiple congenital anomalies. The high incidence of chronic vesiculities and postinflammatory obstruction is attributed to underlying bilharziasis.


This article reviews the different theories of law and culture, and defines the concept and breadth of legal culture. It also discusses the relationship between law and culture, referring to the existing literature on the subject. Furthermore, it discusses how authors have connected culture to civil procedure, and why the concept of "modern legal culture" is important in the context of class action law. Its main thesis is the cultural construction of class action law. Indeed, the class action encourages the transmission of culture and the history of the North American class action was influenced by culture. The class action also mirrors society's structure and culture, in light of the following three characteristics of North American contemporary culture: access to justice, managerial judging and the preference for settlements. Class actions correspondingly affect North American legal culture, as evidenced by changes in the legal institutions, in the role of judges and in the legal profession. Finally, in this article it is argued that the cross-constitutive relationship between class action law and culture must be studied both theoretically and empirically. Ultimately, this article seeks to demonstrate that the class action is a disputing institution that is culturally constructed, that plays a role in the construction and transmission of culture-that is, of social arrangements, systems of beliefs and values.


Vibration driven robots such as the so called bristlebot and kilobot utilize periodic forced vibration of an internal mass to achieve directed locomotion. These robots are supported on an elastic element such as bristles or cilia and contain an internal mass that is driven to oscillate at a high frequency. Besides well known applications in investigating swarming behavior, such robots have potential applications in rescue operations in rubble, inspections of pipes and other inaccessible confined areas and in medical devices where conventional means of locomotion is ineffective. Bristlebot or its commercially available variants such as hexbugs are popular toy robots. Despite the apparent simplicity of these robots, their dynamic behavior is very complex. Vibration robots have attracted surprisingly few analytical models, those models that exist can only explain some regimes of locomotion. In this paper, a wide range of motion dynamics of a bristlebot is explored using a mathematical model which accounts for slip-stick motion of the bristles with the substrate. Analytical conditions for the system to exhibit a particular type of motion are formulated and the system of equations defining the motion are solved numerically using these conditions. The numerical simulations show transitions in the kinds of locomotion of a bristlebot as a function of the forcing frequency. These different kinds of locomotion include stick-slip and pure slip motions along with the important phenomenon of the reversal of the direction of motion of the robot. In certain ranges of frequencies, the robot can lose contact with the ground and 'jump'. These different regimes of locomotion are a result of the nonlinear vibrations of the robot and the friction between the robot's bristles and the ground. The results of this paper can potentially lead to more versatile vibration robots with predictable and controllable dynamics.