During Xenopus gastrulation α5β1 integrin function is modulated in a temporally and spatially restricted manner, however, the regulatory mechanisms behind this regulation remain uncharacterized. Here we report that XGIPC/kermit2 binds to the cytoplasmic domain of the α5 subunit and regulates the activity of α5β1 integrin. The interaction of kermit2 with α5β1 is essential for fibronectin (FN) matrix assembly during the early stages of gastrulation. We further demonstrate that kermit2 regulates α5β1 integrin endocytosis downstream of activin signaling. Inhibition of kermit2 function impairs cell migration but not adhesion to FN substrates indicating that integrin recycling is essential for mesoderm cell migration. Furthermore, we find that the α5β1 integrin is colocalized with kermit2 and Rab 21 in embryonic and XTC cells. These data support a model where region specific mesoderm induction acts through kermit2 to regulate the temporally and spatially restricted changes in adhesive properties of the α5β1 integrin through receptor endocytosis.


In 2005, the main computer for data acquisition and control system of Small-angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) BATAN Spectrometer (SMARTer) was replaced since it halted to operate the spectrometer. According to this replacement, the new software for data acquisition and control system has been developed in-house. Visual Basic programming language is used in developing the software. In the last two years, many developments have been made both in the hardware and also the software to conduct the experiment is more effective and efficient. Lately, the previous motor controller card (ISA Card) was replaced with the programmable motor controller card (PCI Card) for driving one motor of position sensitive detector (PSD), eight motors of four collimators, and six motors of six pinhole discs. This new control system software makes all motors can be moved simultaneously, then it reduces significantly the consuming time of setting up the instrument before running the experiment. Along with that development, the new data acquisition software under MS Windows operating system is also developed to drive a beam stopper in X-Y directions as well as to read the equipment status such as position of the collimators and PSD, to acquire neutron counts on monitor and PSD detectors, and also to manage 12 samples position automatically. A timer object which is set in one second to read the equipment status via serial port of the computer (RS232C), and general purpose interface board (GPIB) for reading the total counts of each pixel of the PSD from histogram memory was used in this new software. The experiment result displayed in real time on the main window, and the data is saved in the special format for further data reduction and analysis. The new software has been implemented and performed for experiment using a preset count or preset time mode for absolute scattering intensity method.


The Isua supracrustal belt (ISB) rocks are dated at about 3.8 Ga and constitute the oldest accretionary complex in the world. Petrochemical and geothermobarometric studies of over 1,500 rock samples in ISB enabled us to estimate the extent of regional metamorphism, petrotectonic environment and subduction- zone geothermal gradient in the Archean. The following lines of evidence indicate the first discovery of progressive, prograde metamorphism from greenschist (Zone A) through Ab-Ep-amphibolite (Zone B) to amphibolite facies (Zones C and D) in the northeast part of the Isua supracrustal belt: (1) systematic change of mineral paragenesis in metabasites and metapelites; (2) progressive change of composition of major metamorphic minerals, including plagioclase, amphibole, chlorite, epidote, and garnet; (3) normal zoning of amphibole and garnet; and (4) absence of any vestige of high-grade metamorphism even in the lowest metamorphic zone. Geology and chronological constraints of ISB indicate that the regional metamorphism was related to the subduction of Archean lithosphere. Metamorphic pressures and temperatures of the metamorphism are estimated to be 5 to 7 kbar from Grt-Hbl-Pl-Qz geobarometry and 380° to 550°C from the Grt-Bt geothermometry in Zones B to D. These P-T estimates indicate that ISB was affected by progressive metamorphism of an intermediate P/T ratio metamorphic facies series, and that it records a much higher geothermal gradient of a subduction zone in the Archean than is known from the Phanerozoic. The high geothermal gradient may have resulted from the subduction of young lithosphere and a high potential temperature of mantle. The Archean high geothermal gradient led to melting of thick oceanic crust in a thin oceanic plate, creating many huge granitic (tonalite, trondhjemite, and granodiorite) batholiths. The slab melting changed the oceanic crust (density = 3.07) into a denser Grt-bearing residue (density = 3.55), implying that TTG melt extraction provided a potential driving force for Archean plate tectonics. In addition to the preservation of the oldest accretionary complex, this suggests that Precambrian-type plate tectonics, whose driving force is slab-pull due to densification of the residue of oceanic crust as a consequence of slab melting, was already operating in the Early Archean. The transition from Precambrian-type to Phanerozoic-type plate tectonics may be caused by thinning of oceanic crust and thickening of oceanic lithosphere in the late Archean, due to decrease of mantle temperature.


Sigurdur Thorarinsson has inspired generations of tephrochronologists. In his thesis in 1944 he outlined the prospect of finding ash from some of the major Icelandic eruptions in peat bogs in Scandinavia. Since Christer Persson's pioneering work in the 1960s, more than 15 tephra horizons have been identified in distal peat and sediment sequences in Sweden. The most widespread tephra from the Last Glacial-Interglacial transition (LGIT, ca. 15–9 ka BP) is the rhyolitic phase of the Vedde Ash (ca. 12.1 ka BP) which has been found in several sites with lacustrine sediments and uplifted marine clays south of the Younger Dryas moraines. Two significant new additions to the LGIT tephrochronological frameworks of NW Europe are the Hässeldalen (ca. 11.3 ka BP) and Askja-S tephras (ca. 10.4 ka BP). The most significant mid to late Holocene isochrones in Sweden are Hekla-4 (ca. 4260 BP), Hekla-S/Kebister (ca. 3720 BP), Hekla-3 (ca. 3000 BP) and Askja-1875. Other layers have been identified in single sites and are so far less valuable as marker horizons, but are potentially important for the future.


A pilot plant equipment for continuous coating of technical textiles is implemented to establish thermal spraying as a new and promising coating technique in the textile industry. In order to apply thermal spraying to temperature sensitive and flexible fiber structures two main difficulties have to be taken into account. First, the flexible structure of a textile fabric has to be fixed and stretched to achieve a sufficient mechanical support. Second, the kinetic and thermal energy of the molten particles and the hot gas jet may damage the fibers and their woven structure both mechanically and chemically. Special winding equipment is designed to allow various fabrics to be fixed and stretched in a way that enables the coating of wound fabrics from "coil to coil". With this equipment even temperature sensitive fabrics, like cotton or polyester, but also aramide, carbon and oxide ceramic fabrics are coated by atmospheric plasma spraying or electric arc wire spraying in the case that higher deposition rates are required. Fabric coils up to a web width of 1500 mm can be coated continuously with a well-defined pre-stress in one single procedure.


Substitution processes are of two sorts: origination processes record the times at which nucleotide mutations that ultimately fix in the population first appear, and fixation processes record the times at which they actually fix. Substitution processes may be generated by combining models of population genetics-here the symmetrical-neutral, overdominance, underdominance, TIM, and SAS-CFF models-with the infinite-sites, no-recombination model of the gene. This paper is mainly concerned with a computer simulation study of these substitution processes. The rate of substitution is shown to be remarkably insensitive to the strength of selection for models with strong balancing selection caused by the genealogical drift of mutations through alleles held in the population by selection. The origination process is shown to be more regular than Poisson for the overdominance, TIM, and SAS-CFF models but more clustered for the underdominance model. A class of point processes called Sawyer processes is introduced to help explain these observations as well as the observation that the times between successive originations are nearly uncorrelated. Fixation pro- cesses are shown to be more complex than origination processes, with regularly spaced bursts of multiple fixations. An approximation to the fixation process is described. One important conclusion is that protein evolution is not easily reconciled with any of these models without adding pertur- bations that recur on a time scale that is commensurate with that of molecular evolution.


Symbolic algebraic modeling and analysis techniques for DEDS are applied to the landing gear subsystem in the new Swedish fighter aircraft, JAS 39 Gripen. Our methods are based on polynomials over finite fields. Polynomials are used to represent the basic dynamic equations for the processes (controller and plant) as well as static properties of these. Temporal algebra (or temporal logic) is used to represent specifications of system behavior. We use this approach to model the landing gear controller from the complete implementation in Pascal. We also provide temporal algebra interpretations of the specifications made available to us. Finally we perform a number of symbolic analyses on the complete process (controller and plant). This project is a first demonstration of possible uses of these methods and tools and it demonstrates that these methods and tools scale to problems of a non trivial size, i.e. of the size found in complex system designs such as the JAS 39.


SUMMARY The Andaman Sea has developed as the result of highly oblique subduction at the western Sunda Trench, leading to partitioning of convergence into trench-perpendicular and trench-parallel components and the formation of a northward-moving sliver plate to accommodate the trench parallel motion. The Andaman forearc contains structures resulting from both components of motion. The main elements of the forearc are the accretionary prism and outerarc ridge, a series of forearc basins and major N–S faults. The accretionary prism is an imbricate stack of fault slices and folds consisting of ophiolites and sediments scrapped off the subducting Indian Plate. The western, outer slope of the accretionary prism is very steep, rising to depths of 1500–2000 m within a distance of 30 km. There is a difference in the short wavelength morphology between the western and eastern portions of the accretionary prism. The outer portion consists of a series of faulted anticlines and synclines with amplitudes of a few 100 to ∼1000 m and widths of 5–15 km resulting from ongoing deformation of the sediments. The inner portion is smoother with lower slopes and forms a strong backstop. The width of the deforming portion of the accretionary prism narrows from 80 to 100 km in the south to about 40 km between 10 ◦ N and 11 ◦ 30 � N. It remains at about 40 km to ∼14 ◦ 40 � N. North of there, the inner trench wall becomes a single steep slope up to the Myanmar shelf. The eastern edge of the outerarc ridge is fault bounded and, north of the Nicobar Islands, a forearc basin is located immediately to the east. A deep gravity low with very steep gradients lies directly over the forearc basin. The West Andaman Fault (WAF) and/or the Seulimeum strand of the Sumatra Fault System form the boundary between the Burma and Sunda plates south of the Andaman spreading centre. The WAF is the most prominent morphologic feature of the Andaman Sea and divides the sea into a shallow forearc and a deeper backarc region. The Diligent Fault runs through the forearc basin east of Little Andaman Island. Although it has the general appearance of a normal fault, multichannel seismic data show that it is a compressional feature that probably resulted from deformation of the hanging wall of the Eastern Margin Fault. This could occur if the forearc basins were formed by subduction erosion of the underlying crust rather than by east–west extension.


The error complexity analysis of three algorithms for matrix multiplication and matrix chain product has been given. It is shown that the usual inner product type algorithm is by far the best algorithm for simple matrix multiplication or matrix chain product in terms of minimal basic term growth and minimal error complexities, the latter being independent of the order of pairwise matrix multiplications. Winograd's algorithm is comparable to the usual one, although in matrix chain product the error and data complexities are very sensitive to the order of pairwise matrix multiplication. Strassen's algorithm is not very attractive numerically for having the largest upper bound for both the maximum error complexity and the number of basic terms generated.


Author(s): Sandall, Sharsti L. | Abstract: Mitosis is the period of the cell cycle during which the duplicated genome is equally partitioned into two daughter cells. Cells accomplish this feat by condensing their chromosomes into compact units that are aligned and segregated by the cytoskeleton. This process requires correct attachment of sister chromatids to the dynamic mitotic spindle. Attachment errors have severe consequences and can lead to developmental defects, cell death, and cancer. The molecular machine responsible for making attachments between chromosomes and the mitotic spindle is the kinetochore. Composed of over 60 proteins, the kinetochore serves as the attachment interface between chromosomes and microtubules and monitors its' own attachment status. The coupling of these two functions provides a mechanism to delay cell division until all sister chromatids are properly attached to the mitotic spindle, ensuring their correct segregation. While the functions of the kinetochore have long been appreciated, the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained elusive. Studies presented here, which utilize the biochemical and genetic amenability of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, reveal a specific attachment between the centromeric DNA and microtubules that is mediated by two conserved proteins Bir1/Survivin, and Sli15/INCENP. These proteins are of particular interest for their multiple roles in cell division and their potential use as cancer therapy targets since both are over-expressed in several types of cancer. The Bir1/Survivin-Sli15/INCENP mediated attachment is not responsible for making "core attachments" between kinetochores and microtubules, but instead functions to regulate the conserved kinase, Ipl1/ Aurora B. Ipl1/Aurora B, Sli15/INCENP, and Bir1/Survivin are known collectively as the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) and over a decade of work has revealed that they are important for regulating kinetochore attachments, presumably by recognizing the amount of tension felt by sister chromatids when they are correctly attached to the mitotic spindle. The discoveries described in Chapter 2 has led to the hypothesis that this Bir1/Survivin-Sli15/ INCENP mediated attachment is sensing tension directly to regulate Ipl1/Aurora B, which in turn regulates attachments. This model forms the basis for work presented in Chapter 3, which explores the molecular mechanisms of how the Bir1/Survivin-Sli15/INCENP mediated CEN-DNA linkage regulates and is regulated by Ipl1/Aurora B


The long-term failure of seemingly intact corrosion resistant organic coatings is thought to occur via the development of ionic transport channels, which spontaneously evolve from hydrophilic regions on immersion, i.e., as a result of localized water uptake. To this end, we investigate water uptake characteristics for industrial epoxy-phenolic can coatings after immersion in deionized water and drying. Moisture sorption and the changing nature of polymer-water interactions are assessed using FTIR for dry and pre-soaked films. More water is found to be absorbed by the pre-soaked coatings on exposure to a humid environment, with a greater degree of hydrogen-bonding between the polymer and water. Furthermore, morphological changes are then correlated to localized water uptake using the AFM-IR technique. Nanoscale softened regions develop on soaking, and these are found to absorb a greater proportion of water from a humid environment.


Ca/vitamin D supplementation maintains bone health and decreases stress fracture risk during initial military training (IMT); however, there is evidence that Ca may negatively affect the absorption of other critical micronutrients, particularly Fe. The objective of this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to determine whether providing 2000 mg/d Ca and 25 µg/d vitamin D in a fortified food product during 9 weeks of military training affects Fe status in young adults. Male (n 98) and female (n 54) volunteers enrolled in US Army basic combat training (BCT) were randomised to receive a snack bar with Ca/vitamin D (n 75) or placebo (snack bar without Ca/vitamin D; n 77) and were instructed to consume 2 snack bars/d between meals throughout the training course. Circulating ionised Ca was higher (P0·05) in markers of Fe status between placebo and Ca/vitamin D groups. Collectively, these data indicate that Ca/vitamin D supplementation through the use of a fortified food product consumed between meals does not affect Fe status during IMT.


The antithrombotic action of thrombomodulin was studied in mice. Rat and mouse thrombomodulin were isolated from lung acetone powders, and anti-rat thrombomodulin antibodies were prepared in rabbits. The antibodies neutralized both mouse (Kd approximately 150 nM) and rat thrombomodulin (Kd approximately 50 nM). A role for thrombomodulin in vivo was shown in mice injected intravenously (IV) with thrombin. All mice injected with 15 U thrombin (bolus) died of thromboembolism (mean survival 55 minutes), whereas those injected with a lower dosage survived. Prior injection with anti-rat thrombomodulin (1.8 mg IgG/mouse) potentiated the lethal effects of subsequent thrombin, whereas injection of thrombomodulin (isolated from mouse lung) prior to thrombin prolonged survival in a thrombomodulin concentration-dependent manner. The protective effect of thrombomodulin persisted for 30 minutes but after one hour thrombin injection was as toxic as in control animals. The half life (t1/2) for plasma clearance of 125I- mouse lung thrombomodulin was nine minutes. The major site of clearance was the liver, although thrombomodulin accumulated in several organs ten minutes after injection. The mechanism by which antithrombomodulin antibodies potentiated the lethal effects of thrombin was studied by measuring the protein C activating cofactor activity on vena cava removed from animals injected with antibodies. Protein C activation was inhibited by antibodies, suggesting a role for activated protein C in prevention of lethal thromboembolism. We found no effect of antibodies on the clearance of thrombin from mouse plasma, suggesting that blockade of endothelial endocytosis of thrombin does not play a significant role in the effects of antibodies. These results indicate that thrombomodulin participates in the defense against thrombosis in vivo.


The most persistent question in the field of school facility planning relates to that of the relationship between the built environment and the performance and behavior of users, particularly students. Ways in which the built environment affects two student variables--student achievement and student behavior--are explored. The first variable is student achievement as measured by some form of standardized or normed test, or examination administered to all students in the schools under study. The other variable is student behavior that can include specific level of student activity or school climate. A survey of research summarizes open-education programs and open-space schools, school building age, thermal factors, visual factors, color and interior painting, hearing factors, open space, windowless facilities, underground facilities, site size, building maintenance, and numerous other factors. All of the studies demonstrated a relationship between student performance--both achievement and behavior--and the condition of the built environment. The relationship varied from very weak in some early studies to a considerable degree of relationship in recent studies. Some of the more important factors that were found to influence learning are those relating to control of the thermal environment, proper illumination, adequate space, and availability of equipment and furnishings, particularly in science education. Some areas of needed research are discussed. (Contains nine references.) (RJM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************


Acclimatization of the freshwater field crab, Paratelphusa , to high temperature results in a decrease in the chloride, free amino acids and osmotic pressure of the blood.

Following similar acclimatization the freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis unlike the crab, shows a considerable increase in the blood chloride as well as the free amino acids, while the total osmotic pressure increases relatively little.

These results are discussed and it is suggested that the ionic and osmotic gradient between the milieu interieur and the protoplasm of the cells might be important in the metabolic compensation to temperature.


Rainwater harvesting is one of the available solutions to overcome water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions with highly variable rainfall and unexpected periods of drought or floods. This study aims to identify the best rainwater harvesting system in Al-Muthanna governorate using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Landsat 8 images were used to produce the land use map which shows five different classes: water (0.2%), bare soil (82.11%), built-up (15.71%), forest (0.27%), and farmland and grass (1.71%). The results revealed that the rainwater harvesting system can be applied only in the north and north-eastern parts of the study area which consists of residential and agricultural areas and has a maximum monthly mean rainfall range of (85.32-157.21) mm. Rooftops, semi-circular bunds, and ponds are the most suitable systems for rainwater harvesting in Al-Muthanna. The rooftops system can provide 7000-13,500 litres of water for domestic purposes. Furthermore, if the water quality was low, it could be also used in agriculture practices or  to irrigate home gardens.


This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of chronic hand eczema comparing with topical clobetasol propionate. A total 60 patients of chronic hand eczema were recruited in the study. Thirty patients (Group A) were treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and the rest 30 (Group B) with topical clobetasol propionate. Severity and improvement were assessed using Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score. The patients of both groups were followed up at 4th week and 12th week. In Group A, median HECSI score at baseline, 4th week and 12th week were 3, 20 and 20 respectively; whereas these scores were 54, 10 and 8 in Group B. In both groups, HECSI score was decreased gradually but the rate was higher in Group B than Group A (p 0.05). The result of this study demonstrates that intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is effective and safe in treating chronic hand eczema but less effective than the topical clobetasol.


There are three pairs of suspensory muscles in the larva of Tipula abdominalis which originate dorso-laterally between body segments one through four and insert laterally along the mid-gut and on the mid-portion of the Malpighian tubules. Cytologically these muscles resemble body wall muscles more than gut muscles. In the living animal, the muscles probably take up slack and keep the gut and Malpighian tubules from being displaced unduly. Although the existence of suspensory muscles in some insect larvae has been recognized for some time, few descriptions of these muscles have actually been published. Lyonet (1762) was the first to describe such muscles, in the carpenter moth, Cossus cossus. He observed seven pairs of these muscles which extended from intersegmental portions of the body wall to various places on the mid-gut, hind-gut, Malpighian tubules, and silk glands. He called these "trunk" muscles. Much later, a second observation of such muscles was made in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Tanaka (1911) described nine pairs of muscles which he called "dermo-visceral" muscles. They originated on the body wall between segments Manuscript received July 1, 1964. THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 66(2): 209, March, 1966. 210 MARJORIE ELDRIDGE Vol. 66 one and two through segments nine and ten. The second pair was attached dorsally to the gut. The fourth and eighth pairs sent branches to the silk gland. Further work was done on the "dermo-visceral" muscles in Bombyx mori in order to discover their action. Mori (1928) noted that contractions and relaxations of these muscles produced vermicular movements and a pulling forward of the gut. He described also a dimpling of the body wall at the dorsal attachment of the large second pair of muscles. This dimpling alternated from one side to the other. About the same time that the original work was done on Bombyx mori, Peterson (1912) described one pair of such muscles (which he called suspensory muscles) in the tomato hornworm, Protoparce quinquemaculata. They extended from the ventral side of the cephalic margin of the caudal enlargment of the large intestine to the latero-ventral portion of the transverse conjunctiva, between the sixth and seventh abdominal segments. Later, Snodgrass (1928) recognized one similar pair of muscles in the eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americana, and called it the first suspensory muscle of the ventriculus. He also illustrated, but did not name, a suspensory muscle in the grasshopper, Dissoteira. In a later paper, Snodgrass (1931) showed a suspensory muscle in the fourth abdominal segment of Estigmene acraeae, the salt-marsh caterpillar, but did not label it. The most recent mention of suspensory muscles was made by Graham-Smith (1934) who described a pair of long, thin muscles in the blowfly, Calliphora erythrocephala. These muscles extend from each side of the anterior portion on the thoracic wall and are inserted near the side of the "neck." He called these the "adductor muscles of the ventriculus." Although there are few published accounts of the suspensory muscles, they appear to be wide-spread among the insects. They are present in other Orthoptera and in the larvae of many Lepidoptera, Trichoptera, Neuroptera, and other related Diptera (Weaver, 1963). In the present paper, the cytology of three pairs of suspensory muscles in a crane-fly larva, Tipula abdominalis, (Diptera: Tipulidae) has been studied in order to determine if the muscles are derived from body wall or gut muscles. It was also hoped that through this study a possible related function for the suspensory muscles could be suggested. EXPLANATION OF FIGURE 1 FIGURE 1. Dorsal view of dissected larva of Tipula abdominalis showing the three pairs of suspensory muscles.


Summary During the 1860s the sciences relating to human diversity were undergoing significant intellectual and methodological changes. The older generation of practitioners including James Cowles Prichard, Thomas Hodgkin and John Crawfurd were slowly passing away. Recognising that there was an opportunity to take a leading role in reforming the study of human variation, two competing intellectual camps vied for control of the nascent discipline; anthropologists led by James Hunt, and ethnologists led by Thomas Huxley. Taking their observational practices and vocational strategies as its starting point, this paper seeks to expand our understanding of the debates surrounding British race studies during the 1860s. In doing so, this paper takes seriously Hunt and Huxley's self-descriptions as scientific reformers. Both of these figures promoted strategies for transforming the sciences relating to human diversity. Each believed they were strengthening anthropology and ethnology's best aspects and dispensing with their weakest. Moreover, their training in natural history, anatomy and physiology can be seen to have influenced their observational practices when it came to identifying and classifying human varieties.


We examined the effect of nestling diet quality on a suite of physiological, morphological and life–history traits in adult male zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata. Compared with birds reared on a supplemented diet, nestlings reared on a seed–only diet showed a reduced rate of growth and reduced cell–mediated immune function as measured by an in vivo response to a T lymphocyte–dependent mitogen. There were no differences between birds reared on the two diets in any of the following adult traits: body size, primary sexual traits (testes mass, numbers of stored sperm, sperm function, velocity and morphology), secondary sexual traits (beak colour and song rate), serological traits or immunological traits. The only differences we detected were a lower body mass and a greater proportion of individuals with plumage abnormalities among those reared on a seed–only diet (this latter effect was transient). The fact that male zebra finches reared on a seed–only diet were, as adults, virtually indistinguishable from those reared on a supplemented diet, despite having reduced growth and immune function as nestlings, demonstrates that they subsequently compensated through the differential allocation of resources. Our results indicate that differential allocation is costly in terms of fitness since birds reared on a seed–only diet experienced a significantly greater mortality rate than those reared on a supplemented diet. This in turn suggests the existence of a trade–off between the development of traits important for reproduction, such as primary and secondary sexual traits and longevity.


Autism spectrum disorder describes a behaviourally defined impairment in social interaction and communication, along with the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviours. Although the etiology is mostly unknown, it is evident that biological factors affect the brain and result in the autistic clinical presentation. Assessment for diagnosing autism spectrum disorder should be comprehensive in order to cover all sorts of problems related to the disorder. Knowledge and experience from working with neurological and psychiatric disorders are a prerequisite for quality in the examination. Up to now, there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, but support and adaptations in education are nevertheless important for obtaining sufficient life quality for the patients and the family.


This article focuses on the question of how the worldwide emergence of conflicts over mining, and particularly in Latin America, can be explained. It aims at systematizing contemporary conflicts over mining. Based on existing case studies and our own research in Colombia, it investigates the issues at stake in conflicts over largescale mining, the strategies which local actors apply, and the factors influencing their actions. The analysis combines theoretical concepts from the study of contentious politics with concepts from spatial theory. The empirical examples demonstrate that conflicts over mining are embedded in overriding processes of transformation in which global processes (the resource boom) come together with national politics and the symbolic and material meaning of specific locations. Political opportunity structures – political programs, institutions, laws, regulations, changes in government and regimes – are pivotal for local conflicts. Protest actors search for allies, responsibilities and solutions on the local, national, or transnational scale. An important characteristic of conflicts over mining is the particular meaning of specific places. This is shaped by the physical-material existence of resource deposits and at the same time by various cultural attributions. In this article, it is demonstrated that both these dimensions of place are relevant to the demands and strategies of collective actors.


Social media can act as an invaluable tool that businesses can use as a means of reaching out and engaging with current and potential customers. Instagram, a Social Network Service known for its predominance as a photo-and-video focused sharing platform, is often used and even presented by the company as a tool to drive awareness about a business and pique interest in the products or services that they offer to its over 700 million users. However, this particular platform is being employed as more than just an advertising and marketing agent outside of Canada and the USA. In particular, Instagram in South Korea has transformed into an even more multifaceted experience, from being used as a product catalogue for retail startups to operating as a mobile online marketplace where direct, transactional exchange occurs.
While social media platforms are continually being modified to suit the behaviours and attitudes of this technologically advancing world, Instagram has evolved into a more dynamic online forum for commercial exchange, further expanding the capacities of Social Commerce. This major research paper engages in qualitative observations on how Instagram is being utilized in South Korea for the purposes of marketing, advertising and mobile commerce. Furthermore, several best practices are outlined on how Instagram can be organized for businesses, particularly startup companies, through the use of case studies on current South Korean company.


BACKGROUND
Although International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes have been in use for decades to classify patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the United States, they did not allow characterization of patients with ST elevation MI (STEMI) versus non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

METHODS
We evaluated all discharged patients with AMI participating in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2, 3, and 4 databases with coded ICD-9 information. Patients who were transferred out to a different institution were excluded. A comparison of the ICD-9 codes used for STEMI and NSTEMI patients, as determined by electrocardiography (ECG), was performed. A comparison of mortality for patients that were neither transferred in or out was also performed.

RESULTS
Among 1.45 million patients, 521,332 (36.1%) had STEMI and 923,757 (63.9%) had NSTEMI based on presenting ECG criteria. There were 10.9% of those with STEMI who were coded as 410.71 (subendocardial MI). In contrast, 38.8% of NSTEMI patients had an ICD-9 code other than 410.71. Mortality across ICD-9 codes was similar between the STEMI and NSTEMI groups overall and within each ICD-9 subsection.

CONCLUSION
Substantial overlap and inconsistency exists in ICD-9 codes for STEMI and NSTEMI patients, yet both ICD-9 code and STEMI predicted mortality. The new changes to ICD-9 coding, implemented in October 2005 to segregate STEMI and NSTEMI, should allow better description of quality measures and outcomes of these 2 distinct types of MI patients.


Smallholder farms in the humid highlands of East Africa are undergoing changes that question the notion of the rural space. Characterized by land degradation, increasing population pressure, intensive farming and continuous cropping in small plots, smallholder farmers have increasingly embraced additional forms of nonfarm income generation activities. The observed changes put to question parameters used in the analysis of smallholder farming systems in the region. In this paper, we endeavour to analyze how these changes in smallholder farming systems influence investments of proven sustainable land management practices. The paper is based on a study of 320 farm households comprising 494 plots in the western Kenya region. For cross-section data, use is made of the OLS and instrumental variable methods to explain investments in sustainable land management. In contrast to a number of recent studies, specification is made of non-farm income (NonFarmincome) as income from non-agricultural activities, and natural resource-based income (NRMincome) as income from natural resource management activities undertaken away from individual farm holdings. The NRMincome activities have an implication on landscape conservation, as they are mainly undertaken in communal and other public lands. Results show that non-farm income contributes to investments in soil prevention practices, contrary to the results of a number of studies looking broadly at off-farm incomes. The findings have implications for suitable policies for enhancing sustainable land management. This study argues that those policies need to focus on landscape level conservation, enhance non-farm income, and address impacts on communal lands and other common property regimes resulting from smallholder farmers' natural resource management income strategies.


Gliclazide (GZ) is practically insoluble in water and its
bioavailability is limited by dissolution rate. The aim of the
present study was to enhance the dissolution rate and
bioavailability of GZ by complexation with hydroxypropyl
(HP)-β-cyclodextrin (CD) applying three different methods;
physical mixing, kneading technique and spray drying
technique. Also, to evaluate the dissolution rate and the
hypoglycemic effect of the prepared complexes, in
comparison with the GZ market product (Glizide tablets) in
Saudi market. The produced complexes were
characterized and evaluated using Differential Scanning
Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM) and the in vitro release studies.
All the methods of preparation of complexes were found to
be effective in improving the solubility of gliclazide in
comparison with the commercial product (Glizide tablets).
The formation of inclusion complexes was evident in these
formulations as shown by DSC and XRD studies. The
inclusion complexes prepared by spray drying method in
1:1 molar ratios were the most effective method for
improving the solubility of GZ. The in-vivo hypoglycemic
effect of the complexed GZ-HP-β-CD prepared by spray
drying significantly improved the biological performance
and therapeutic efficacy of the drug compared to Glizide
market product.


This webinar was organized by Concurrences, in partnership with Hong Kong Competition Association, Allen & Overy, Baker McKenzie, Charles River Associates, Compass Lexecon, King & Wood…


Objective: We investigated trunk control, protective arm movements, and electromyographic responses to multidirectional support-surface rotations in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), aiming to better understand the pathophysiology underlying postural instability in PD, on and off antiparkinson medication. Methods: Ten patients with PD were compared with 11 age matched healthy controls. Seven patients were also tested without (OFF) antiparkinson medication. All subjects received rotational perturbations (7.5 deg amplitude) that were randomly delivered in six different directions. Results: The PD patients had decreased trunk rotation and ankle torque changes, consistent with a stiffening response. Stiffness appeared to be caused by the combined action of three factors: co-contraction that interfered in particular with the normal response asymmetry in trunk muscles; increased response amplitudes in agonist and antagonist muscles at both medium (∼80 ms) and balance correcting (∼120 ms) response latencies; and increased background activity in lower leg, hip, and trunk muscles. Although the patients had significantly earlier onset of deltoid muscle responses, this gave no functional protection because the arm movements were abnormally directed. Most instability in PD occurred for backward falls, with or without a roll component. Medication provided partial improvement in arm responses and trunk roll instability. Conclusions: Our results confirm previous findings in ankle muscles, and provide new information on balance impairments in hip, trunk, and arm responses in PD.


Purpose
The opportunities that the building information modeling (BIM) mode of project delivery presents warrant the need for the construction professionals to be adequately trained on BIM technology and processes. The purpose of this paper is to assess the training gaps that exist between the perceived and expected knowledge of BIM practice among construction professionals in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach
The study was carried out through a structured questionnaire survey administered on identifying training gaps among registered Nigerian construction professionals toward BIM adoption. Relevant information on the perceived and expected BIM mode of practices was systematically collected from 212 participants who are familiar with BIM concepts. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gap analysis.

Findings
Gap analysis was employed in determining the significance of BIM training gap for various practices among the construction professionals. The most significant gaps in BIM practice with gap analysis value>1 are the project review technique and clash detection for architectural practice. Among quantity surveyors, cost estimating, preparation of bills of quantities and project budgeting are the practice areas where there are significant training gaps in adopting BIM. For engineering practices, the gap analysis reveals a significant training gap in design creation and coordination, as-built-modeling, clash detection and space management.

Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to the perception of the respondents on actual and ideal BIM practices, not considering the process workflow, facility requirements and other issues that revolve round BIM adoption and implementation. It is also limited to professionals in the industry, and further studies will be appropriate to address these limitations.

Practical implications
The study reveals that there is a great need to meet the training gaps for BIM adoption in ensuring efficiency of construction project delivery.

Originality/value
The gaps that exist between the actual and expected BIM training were statistically established.


Abstract The hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae: Adelges tsugae Annand) is an invasive insect, introduced from Japan to eastern North America, where it causes decline and death of hemlock trees. There is a closely related lineage of A. tsugae native to western North America. To inform classical biological control of A. tsugae in the eastern USA, the density and phenology of three native western adelgid specialist predators, Leucopis argenticollis (Zetterstedt), Le. piniperda (Malloch) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), and Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), were quantified in the Pacific Northwest. Infested branches were collected from western hemlock (Pinaceae: Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) at four sites around the Puget Sound, Washington and three sites in Oregon. Immature Leucopis were identified to species using DNA barcodes. Leucopis argenticollis was roughly twice as abundant as Le. piniperda. Laricobius nigrinus larvae were more abundant than the two species of Leucopis during the egg stage of the first adelgid generation, but Leucopis were present as feeding larvae during the second adelgid generation when La. nigrinus was aestivating in the soil, resulting in Leucopis being more abundant than La. nigrinus across the entire sampling period. Adelges tsugae and La. nigrinus densities were not correlated, while A. tsugae and Leucopis spp. densities were positively correlated. Leucopis spp. and La. nigrinus densities were negatively correlated. These results support the complementary use of La. nigrinus and the two Leucopis species for biological control of A. tsugae in the eastern USA, and point to the need for further investigation of spatial and temporal niche partitioning among the three predator species.


One of the main challenges in offline and off-policy reinforcement learning is to cope with the distribution shift that arises from the mismatch between the target policy and the data collection policy. In this paper, we focus on a model-based approach, particularly on learning the representation for a robust model of the environment under the distribution shift, which has been first studied by Representation Balancing MDP (RepBM). Although this prior work has shown promising results, there are a number of shortcomings that still hinder its applicability to practical tasks. In particular, we address the curse of horizon exhibited by RepBM, rejecting most of the pre-collected data in long-term tasks. We present a new objective for model learning motivated by recent advances in the estimation of stationary distribution corrections. This effectively overcomes the aforementioned limitation of RepBM, as well as naturally extending to continuous action spaces and stochastic policies. We also present an offline model-based policy optimization using this new objective, yielding the state-of-the-art performance in a representative set of benchmark offline RL tasks.


This study examines the impacts of reforms – privatization, new entry and independent regulatory authority – on mobile network penetration and expansion using a new and hitherto unused panel dataset for 30 national mobile markets (i.e. 29 OECD countries and China) over the time period 1991-2006 under a 3-equation econometric framework. The estimation results confirm that introducing new entry is, in general, positively correlated with mobile network penetration and expansion; and in particular, the third entry brings many more benefits than the second one. The results also highlight the crucial role of an independent regulator in privatized mobile markets. Especially, the dynamic estimation results suggest that without an independent regulator, privatization is, on average, negatively correlated with mobile network expansion, even in certain competitive market environments.


I INTRODUCTION "Behavioral genetics" does not describe a single field with a single set of methodological tools, nor does it describe a single explanatory project. Rather, different researchers are interested in answering different questions about the relationship(s) between genes, behaviors, and development, and they use different methodologies to answer their questions. The same diversity holds for human behavioral genetics: different researchers are interested in different questions, and in attempting to answer those questions they use different approaches. At the broadest level, one can distinguish between (1) research into the differences in behaviors between different individuals and (2) research into behaviors shared by (most) individuals. It is obvious that some traits vary between people. Different people tend to act differently--when, for example, someone is said to be shy, it follows that, in general, they act differently at parties than people who are said to be gregarious. It is equally obvious that some traits do not vary much between people--although different people may speak different languages, all normal human adults (unlike other animals) use some complex language and learn that language while growing up. Researchers interested in the differences within a population will focus on the variation within that population. For example, within normal human populations, some people are taller than others, some people score higher on standardized intelligence tests than others, and some are more prone to violent behavior than others. Researchers interested in such differences attempt to discover how these differences are associated with the presence or absence of particular genes or environments. In other words, are particular genes associated with being more (rather than less) prone to violence? Do particular environments in which children grow up result in their being more (rather than less) likely to score highly on intelligence quotient (IQ) tests? More generally, such research focuses on particular differences in the resources used in organismal development. Humans, for example, develop over time from a single fertilized egg to an adult capable of a variety of complex behaviors, behaviors that require a body consisting of an astonishingly complex organization of many different types of cells. The development of any complex organism requires a variety of resources. Some of these resources are genetic (the genetic material inherited from the parents), some are environmental (from the prenatal environment of the mother, to the provision of food, and so forth), and some are hard to classify (the complex subcellular systems that, in conjunction with genes, make proteins, etc.). The outcome of this development is a complex organism that differs from (and, of course, resembles) other organisms in the population in a variety of ways. The goal of research focused on differences is to find ways to associate different phenotypes with differences in how the organisms developed--whether different phenotypes had, for example, different genes or experienced different environments. (1) In these projects, the hope is that researchers will be able to explain how differences in available resources produce different outcomes. More specifically, human behavioral genetics research that is focused on variation in human behavioral tendencies tries to associate different behavioral tendencies with genetic differences. It asks, for instance, if people who are more prone to violent behavior are also more likely to have certain genes, or if people who tend to score highly on standardized intelligence tests also share particular genetic traits. On the other hand, researchers interested in behaviors that do not vary significantly within a population have other goals. In the study of behaviors shared by (most) humans, the purpose is to figure out how particular traits are produced in normal development. …


In the article author´s present results of long-term research
aimed at the maximal running speed development with use of the
supra-maximal speed means. They succeeded to establish the
optimal pulling force (20-40 N) that enables to reach 105-108%
of the maximal running speed. In this speed the kinematical
parameters between maximal and supra-maximal speed do not
differ considerably and this secures their optimal transfer
into competition activity. Authors proved that there can be
different effects on sprinters according stimulus magnitude of
supra-maximal speed, but also according individual specialities
of adaptation sprinter´s reaction.


The current model of basal ganglia circuits has been introduced almost two decades ago and has settled the basis for our understanding of basal ganglia physiology and movement disorders. Although many questions are yet to be answered, several efforts have been recently made to shed new light on basal ganglia function. The traditional concept of "direct" and "indirect" pathways, obtained from axonal tracing studies in non-human primates and post-mortem fiber dissection in the human brain, still retains a remarkable appeal but is somehow obsolete. Therefore, a better comprehension of human structural basal ganglia connectivity in vivo, in humans, is of uttermost importance given the involvement of these deep brain structures in many motor and non-motor functions as well as in the pathophysiology of several movement disorders. By using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and tractography, we have recently challenged the traditional model of basal ganglia network by showing the possible existence, in the human brain, of cortico-pallidal, cortico-nigral projections, which could be mono- or polysynaptic, and an extensive subcortical network connecting the cerebellum and basal ganglia. Herein, we aimed at reconstructing the basal ganglia connectome providing a quantitative connectivity analysis of the reconstructed pathways. The present findings reinforce the idea of an intricate, not yet unraveled, network involving the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Our findings may pave the way for a more comprehensive and holistic pathophysiological model of basal ganglia circuits.


The authors describe the implementation of the local and focal levels of a dynamic-motion-analysis framework. Dynamic motion analysis achieves efficiency through sequential decomposition of a complex analysis task into simpler tasks, by 'peeling off complexity', and by directing analysis to portions of a scene that are most critical to the vision task. The authors describe four basic techniques for implementing dynamic analysis: foveation, two-stage motion computation, tracking, and one-component-at-a-time segmentation. Each process entails several iterations of a basic operation but convergence is fast and the computations themselves can be relatively crude. By way of illustration, the dynamic motion analysis technique was applied to a number of image sequences. Particular attention is given to an actual video sequence of a helicopter flying over a terrain. The sequence was obtained from a camera moving relative to the helicopter. It is concluded that the dynamic approach to motion analysis holds the promise of performing real-time processing to obtain precise, robust results, using practical hardware.<<ETX>>


By researching the adiabatic circuits, domino circuits and multi-valued circuits, the scheme of a low-power and high-speed ternary gate circuit was proposed. First, the adiabatic domino circuit was improved by using two-phase overlapping clocks to guarantee energy recovery to the full and enhance reliability of the circuit. Then, the basic structure of ternary gate circuit was designed based on the NDL (1-of-N domino logic) and MDD (Multi-valued Decision Diagrams). Finally, the simulation result of PSPICE show that the logical function of the circuit was correct and the energy consumption was 25% less than the ordinary domino counterpart.


Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) have a key role in vast number of research activities. CDMA is a spread spectrum technology for the transmission of radio signals in telecommunication system. In CDMA multiple users can transmit the data simultaneously in a channel using same frequency. Each user is assigned with a unique code for transmission. The performance of any CDMA system can be determined by the choice of the spreading codes which are used as a signature code for the users in such a system. The choice of spreading code sequence is vital for resistance against interference with other areas and against interference with multiple users. Sequences of code that desires to be as different but at the same time can be easily reproduced at the reception signal can be recovered. This multiple access technique requires neither the frequency management nor the time management. This paper deals with the comparison of different spreading codes based on the autocorrelation and crosscorrelation properties. These spreading codes provide security for the data transmission.


Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) thermometry is a promising approach for non-invasive and remote temperature sensing for applications in both fundamental and applied sciences. However, the small thermosensitivity (temperature-dependent magnetization) of conventional single magnetic material MNPs (e.g. magnetite or other ferrites) limit the requisite sensitivity needed for practical applications. Bimagnetic nanoparticles with tunable thermosensitivity and operating temperature ranges represent a potential route to overcome these limitations. Here we present results on the temperature-dependent AC magnetization of synthesized cobalt-doped ferrite MNPs and demonstrate the feasibility of engineered material composition and structure towards the realization of a highly sensitive MNP thermometer.

Int. J. Mag. Part. Imag. 6(2), Suppl. 1, 2020, Article ID: 2009010, DOI: 10.18416/IJMPI.2020.2009010


Background: Stainless steel and titanium are two different metals with different mechanical and metallurgical properties. Stainless steel is twice more stiffer than titanium. Internal fixation of fractures with stainless steel plates is likely to produce more rigid fixation than titanium plates. Hence, stainless steel plate fixation is likely to produce healing of fracture site with minimum callus/primary healing. This study analyzes whether these properties of the metals influence the healing of the fractures and their outcomes. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five cases of fractures of radius and ulna were treated by internal fixation using stainless steel limited contact-dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) (Group I) in 17 patients and titanium LC-DCP (Group II) in 18 patients. Follow-up was done at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year for clinical and radiological healing and complications. Results: All the fractures united in time. 10 (62.5%) patients in Group I and 9 (56.2%) patients in Group II showed primary union and 6 (37.5%) patients in Group I and 7 (43.2%) patients in Group II showed union with callus formation. No complications were observed. Conclusion: Stainless steel and titanium are two different metals with different mechanical and metallurgical properties. However, fixation of fractures with these metals failed to show the difference in the patterns of fracture healing.


Non-local advection is a key process in a range of biological systems, from cells within individuals to the movement of whole organisms. Consequently, in recent years, there has been increasing attention on modelling non-local advection mathematically. These often take the form of partial differential equations, with integral terms modelling the non-locality. One common formalism is the aggregation-diffusion equation, a class of advection diffusion models with non-local advection. This was originally used to model a single population, but has recently been extended to the multi-species case to model the way organisms may alter their movement in the presence of coexistent species. Here we prove existence theorems for a class of non-local multi-species advection-diffusion models, with an arbitrary number of co-existent species. We prove global existence for models in n=1 spatial dimension and local existence for n>1. We describe an efficient spectral method for numerically solving these models and provide example simulation output. Overall, this helps provide a solid mathematical foundation for studying the effect of inter-species interactions on movement and space use.


Calculations of prompt fission neutron spectra (PFNS) from the 235U(n, f) reaction were performed with a semi-empirical method for En = 7.0 and 14.7 MeV neutron energies. The total PFNS were obtained as a superposition of (n,xnf) pre-fission neutron spectra and post-fission spectra of neutrons which were evaporated from fission fragments, and these two kinds of spectra were taken as an expression of the evaporation spectrum. The contributions of (n,xnf) fission neutron spectra on the calculated PFNS were discussed. The results show that emission of one or two neutrons in the (n,nf) or (n,2nf) reactions influences the PFNS shape, and the neutron spectra of the (n,xnf) fission-channel are soft compared with the neutron spectra of the (n,f) fission channel. In addition, analysis of the multiple-chance fission component showed that second-chance fission dominates the PFNS with an incident neutron energy of 14.7 MeV whereas first-chance fission dominates the 7 MeV case.


Two-year long field study was conducted using a permanent layout to investigate the economics of crop residues incorporation (2 tm pHs = 8.38; SAR = 6.57 (mmolc L-1)1/2; CaCO3 = 3.21%; Extractable P = 4.07 mgm sandy clay loam) at farmers field in district Hafizabad during the year 2012-13. Split plot design (crop residues in main plots and P application in sub plots) was followed with three replications. Agronomic data on growth and yield were collected at the time of each crop maturity. Maximum growth and yield of both the crops were harvested from the plots where P2O5 was applied @ 80 kg&middotha-1 along with crop residues incorporation. On an average of two years, maximum paddy (3.26 t&middotha-1) and wheat grain (3.56 t&middotha-1) yield were produced with P application @ 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 along with crop residues incorporation. Although, the yield harvested with this treatment (80 kg P2O5 ha-1 + crop residues) performed statistically equal to 120 kg P2O5 ha-1 without crop residues incorporation during both the years, however, on an average of two years, grain yield of directly sowing rice and subsequent wheat was significantly superior (22% and 24% respectively) than that of higher P rate (120 kg&middotha-1) without crop residues. Overall, continuous two-year crop residues incorporation further increased (17%) paddy yields during the follow up year of crop harvest. Economic analyses of both the crops were carried out to choose the best treatment with adequate economic benefits as compared to those without crop residue incorporation. Maximum net benefit of Rs = 108,680/- for direct seeded rice and Rs = 99,362/- for wheat grown with 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 application under crop residues incorporation was determined. Among P application treatments without crop residues incorporation, the maximum net benefit (Rs = 75,874/- and Rs = 65,725/-) and highest residual values (49,809 and 39,160) for direct seeded rice and wheat respectively, were obtained with extended P application rate (120 kg P2O5 ha-1) which was not again as much as that of 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 application with crop residues incorporation.


Introduction Grade 3 AVMs are diverse due to variations in size (S), location in eloquent cortex (E) and presence of central venous drainage (V). These variations may have implications for management and outcome which were evaluated in this study. Methods 100 patients with grade 3 AVMs were treated from 1984 to 2010. The AVMs were categorized by Spetzler-Martin characteristics as follows: Type 1, S1E1V1, Type 2 S2E1V0, Type 3 S2E0V1 and Type 4 S3E0V0. The occurrence of new neurological deficit, functional status (mRS) at discharge and follow-up, and radiological obliteration were correlated with demographic and morphologic characteristics. Results 100 patients (49f, 51 m, age 5–68 years, mean 35.8 years) were evaluated. Size of AVMs were <3 cm (28), 3–6 cm (71) and >6 cm (1); 86 AVMs were in eloquent cortex, and 38 had central drainage. The AVMS were type 1 (28), type 2 (60), type 3 (11) and type 4 (1). Embolization was performed in 77 patients (175 procedures), surgery in 64 patients (74 surgeries), and radiosurgery in 49 patients (44 primary, 5 postoperative). Mortality following the management of these AVMs was 1%. 14 patients (14%) had new neurological deficits, with 5 (5%) disabling (mRS >2), and 9 (9%) non-disabling (mRS <2) events. Patients with type 1 AVM (small AVMs) had the best outcome, with 1/28 (3.6%) having a new neurological deficit as compared to larger AVMs (13/72, 16.7%, p<0.002). Older age (>40 years), size >3 cm, and non-hemorrhagic presentation predicted occurrence of new deficits (p<0.002). Gender, eloquence and venous drainage did not confer any benefit. 89 patients had adequate follow-up to be included in the obliteration analysis. AVM was obliterated in 78 patients (87.6%), 69 of them (78.6%) on angiogram and 9 on MRI/MRA. There was no difference between obliteration rates between different types of AVMs, Size, eloquence and drainage. Age, gender and clinical presentation also did not predict obliteration. Conclusions Multi-modality management of Grade III AVMs results in a high rate of obliteration which does not appear to be influenced by size, venous drainage or eloquent location. However, the development of new neurologic deficits did correlate with size, while eloquence and venous drainage did not influence this. We propose sub-classifying the grade III AVMs according to their size (<3 cm and >3 cm) to account for treatment risk.


After benzene synthesis, radiocarbon dating samples are usually stored for 3–4 weeks before counting to allow an eventual radon contamination to decay to a negligible level. This paper presents a technique that can minimize, and often eliminate, this delay by using a simple single-phototube liquid scintillation counting system, specifically designed for 14C dating. Radon contamination is assessed by pulses of 214Po (a 222Rn decay product, half-life 0.16 μs), identified through pulse-time analysis. For each 214Po pulse, 0.49 beta particle pulses of 214Pb and 214Bi fall in the 14C counting window, and the 214Po pulses are used to correct the 14C count rate. A 14C sample (count rate 11.6 cpm) was measured continuously for 16 days. It was then doped with radon, which increased the first 24-hr count rate in the 14C channel by 3.8 cpm, and the sample was measured for 27 more days. Radon did not measurably affect the 14C-corrected count rate. Counting a sample for 2 min reveals whether it needs storing. If the radon concentration is low, the sample can be measured immediately without degrading accuracy.


Abstract. Mapping the extent of damage due to natural calamities remains one of the thrust areas in monitoring resource inventory through geo-spatial techniques. The effect of the cyclone 'Titli' and heavy rains during first fortnight of October 2018 in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh State has been demonstrated using geo-spatial technology in terms of flood inundated rice area and corresponding yield and production loss. The pre- and post-cyclone (5 and 13 October 2018) flood inundation maps were generated using Sentinel-1A and TerraSAR-X Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data respectively. The pre-cyclone rice area estimates were derived from multi-temporal Sentinel-1A SAR data, while yield forecast is based on the combination of satellite observations and yield simulation using ORYZA crop growth model. An intensive ground truth data collection had been carried out for the validation of satellite-derived rice area estimation of pre-cyclone event. An accuracy assessment has been carried out for district, mandal and village level. An overall accuracy of 96% with kappa coefficient 0.92 has been achieved. With the help map flood inundation and rice area maps, mandal-wise flood affected rice area and corresponding yield loss have been estimated. The post-cyclone ground truth data had been collected for quantitative assessment of crop damaged area. An overall accuracy of the flood affected rice map was 85% with kappa coefficient 0.70. It was estimated that rice crop damage assessment with SAR data indicated 53312 ha out of 205174 ha were affected and corresponding estimated yield as well as production are 0.8 t/ha and 189160 t respectively.


Lateral vibration of rotors can be significantly reduced by inserting the damping elements between the shaft and the casing. The theoretical analysis, confirmed by computational simulations, shows that to achieve the optimum compromise between attenuation of the oscillation amplitude and magnitude of the forces transmitted through the coupling elements between the rotor and the stationary part, the damping effect must be controllable. For this purpose, the squeeze film dampers lubricated by magnetorheological fluid can be applied. The damping effect is controlled by the change of intensity of the magnetic field in the lubricating film. This article presents a procedure developed for investigation of the steady state response of rigid rotors coupled with the casing by flexible elements and short magnetorheological dampers. Their lateral vibration is governed by nonlinear (due to the damping forces) equations of motion. The steady state solution is obtained by application of a collocation method, which arrives at solving a set of nonlinear algebraic equations. The pressure distribution in the oil film is described by a Reynolds equation modified for the case of short dampers and Bingham fluid. Components of the damping force are calculated by integration of the pressure distribution around the circumference and along the length of the damper. The developed procedure makes possible to determine the steady state response of rotors excited by their unbalance, to determine magnitude of the forces transmitted through the coupling elements in the supports into the stationary part and is intended for proposing the control of the damping effect to achieve optimum performance of the dampers.


The GMPLS paradigm pleads for a control plane clearly separated from the data plane. Decoupling control plane from the data one provides several benefits, allowing signaling information not to be disrupted upon transport plane failures. Moreover, control plane protection mechanisms are not linked with the ones used in the transport plane, which permits to protect control information with improved efficiency. Link management protocol (LMP) is presented as the best candidate to provide control channel failure detection capabilities in the GMPLS-based control plane. However, it requires the manual configuration of control channel remote IP addresses. In this paper we propose novel control channel bootstrap procedures which are compared with alternative existing ones in terms of their requirements and achieved performance. Moreover, we propose extensions to LMP Config and ConfigAck messages to allow the bootstrap of related backup control channels when bootstrapping the working ones configuring an efficient link protection scheme. The feasibility and performance of our contributions has been evaluated over the experimental ASON/GMPLS CARISMA network control plane


The ability to provide a high Quality of Service is a crucial aspect in the acceptance and widespread dispersion of the Industrial Internet of Things and it has a key role to enhance the end user experience. The emerging fog cloud computing architectural concept aims to diminish the experienced latency while simultaneously providing a seemingly unlimited quantity of computational power by moving computations from the cloud and things to the edge. To enhance the reliability, fault-tolerance, and connectivity of the data transmission, the transport layer protocol Stream Control Transport Protocol may be applied. To this end, we analyzed the feasibility of this protocol for an Industrial Internet of Things and fog computing setting by demonstrating and conducting essential network performance measurements. Our results reveal, that the protocol is a valid candidate for industrial scenarios in a fog computing environment and that it outperforms established Internet transport layer protocols in several of the conducted measurements.


: 1. The concepts of magnification rating, equivalent power, image location, enlargement ratio, and combined reading power confront the practitioner who uses magnification when working with low-vision patients. 2. The discussion of these advanced concepts gives the low-vision practitioner new insight into accurately recommending magnifiers. 3. These concepts should be integrated into the everyday work of professionals who optically rehabilitate patients with visual impairment.


The haemolysin from a virulent strain of Treponema hyodysenteriae was extracted and injected into ligated loops of the ileum and colon of germ-free pigs. It caused severe epithelial damage, especially to the differentiated cells at the tips of the villi in the ileum and the cells in the intercrypt zones of the colon; goblet cells were less affected. The changes in the colon were similar to those seen in natural cases of swine dysentery. The ligated loop offers a means of investigating pathogenic mechanisms and the mode of action of the toxin. This study demonstrated that the haemolysin was a potent cytotoxin for pig enterocytes, and a probable virulence determinant in swine dysentery.


The ideas of scholars such as HLA Hart and Lon Fuller raise fundamental issues about the nature of law, the characteristics of a successful and efficient legal order, and the role of enforcement in ensuring that the law functions correctly. These are precisely the types of questions that need to be raised about European data protection law, which even European government ministries and data protection authorities (DPAs) have described as complicated, increasingly out-dated, and out of step with good regulatory practice.


The emerging metropolitan university faces a diversity of issues and challenges occurring in a rapidly evolving social, economic, and demographic environment. To meet these challenges and serve the residents of its region, it must be able both to adapt and to adopt: adapt to change and adopt new ways of doing things. This article discusses the environment within which planning to meet the needs of the metropolitan university student occurs. It goes on to discuss a general planning model capable of providing the necessary feedback for institutional learning. More specifically, it discusses how such a planning process has been put in place and is evolving in the St. Louis· metropolitan region.


Changes in the political and economic environment of sports organizations are taking place, especially at the levels of state and local government. These changes will impact negatively the nature of the sport-community relationship. The manner in which sports administrators respond to these changes may ultimately determine the viability of many sports organizations. This article suggests that sports administrators must be sensitive to these changes and must adjust their views of the sport-community relationship and their negotiating strategies accordingly. This especially will be important for sports administrators representing organizations that do not have major league status and, therefore, lack power at the negotiating table.


In this thesis, we consider the problem of estimating the regression function in location-scale regression models. This model assumes that the random vector (X,Y) satisfies Y = m(X) + s(X)e, where m(.) is an unknown location function (e.g. conditional mean, median, truncated mean,...), s(.) is an unknown scale function, and e is independent of X. The response Y is subject to random right censoring, and the covariate X is completely observed. In the first part of the thesis, we assume that m(x) = E(Y|X=x) follows a polynomial model. A new estimation procedure for the unknown regression parameters is proposed, which extends the classical least squares procedure to censored data. The proposed method is inspired by the method of Buckley and James (1979), but is, unlike the latter method, a non-iterative procedure due to nonparametric preliminary estimation. The asymptotic normality of the estimators is established. Simulations are carried out for both methods and they show that the proposed estimators have usually smaller variance and smaller mean squared error than the Buckley-James estimators. For the second part, suppose that m(.)=E(Y|.) belongs to some parametric class of regression functions. A new estimation procedure for the true, unknown vector of parameters is proposed, that extends the classical least squares procedure for nonlinear regression to the case where the response is subject to censoring. The proposed technique uses new `synthetic' data points that are constructed by using a nonparametric relation between Y and X. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimator are established, and the estimator is compared via simulations with an estimator proposed by Stute in 1999. In the third part, we study the nonparametric estimation of the regression function m(.). It is well known that the completely nonparametric estimator of the conditional distribution F(.|x) of Y given X=x suffers from inconsistency problems in the right tail (Beran, 1981), and hence the location function m(x) cannot be estimated consistently in a completely nonparametric way, whenever m(x) involves the right tail of F(.|x) (like e.g. for the conditional mean). We propose two alternative estimators of m(x), that do not share the above inconsistency problems. The idea is to make use of the assumed location-scale model, in order to improve the estimation of F(.|x), especially in the right tail. We obtain the asymptotic properties of the two proposed estimators of m(x). Simulations show that the proposed estimators outperform the completely nonparametric estimator in many cases.


In this paper, a perceptual multiview video coding scheme is proposed, based on the synthesized Just Noticeable Distortion (JND) maps. In JND-based perceptual video coding, the residues after intra or inter prediction are tuned according to the corresponding JND thresholds to save the bits without affecting the perceptual quality. In our scheme, to reduce the computational cost of generating the multiview JND maps, only the JND maps of some anchor views are calculated directly. These maps are then used to synthesize the JND maps of other views via the block-based Depth Image Based Rendering (DIBR) method, which can be more than 30 times faster than direct computation with reasonable error. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can improve the perceptual performance of the JMVC by more than 1 dB in terms of the Peak Signal Perceptual Noise Ratio (PSPNR).


The relaxation behavior of wrought high chromium Ni-base alloys Nimonic 80A, Nimonic 101 and Nimonic 105 was studied at different temperatures. All of these alloys exhibited increase in the residual stress during the relaxation tests e.g. at 450°C for Nimonic 80A and 650°C for Nimonic 105. The observed increase in the residual stress is a manifestation of the known phenomenon of "negative creep". The stress free aging of specimens of these alloys exhibited dimensional contraction at different temperatures ranging from 450°C to 650°C. The abnormal relaxation behavior of these alloys and the observed contraction were attributed to the precipitation and ordering of the intermetallic phase Ni2(Cr,Mo) at the test temperature. The differential thermal analysis i.e. DTA results, demonstrated endothermic peaks to correspond with the order–disorder reaction of Ni2(Cr,Mo).


Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic that acts by the inhibition of bacterial topoisomerase type II (DNA gyrase) and have a potent activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria. However, due to its rigid and solid-state structure it suffers from limited water solubility. Improving its pharmacokinetic properties especially its water solubility is the concern of this work through the synthesis of various derivatives of ciprofloxacin with ethylene glycols through prodrug strategy without reducing its antibacterial activity. Shake-flask method was used to measure the aqueous solubility in phosphate buffer. The ciprofloxacin analogues were adequately stable at acidic and physiological pH. Synthesized derivatives were subjected to esterase-mediated hydrolysis reaction for the release of the drug from its prodrug form and showed a total hydrolysis after 25 min. Also antibacterial activity was studied against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Compared to ciprofloxacin, the solubility was increased for the three derivatives, and the antimicrobial activity was enhanced up to 40%.


A case of Frey syndrome developing in the mandibular region after the removal of recurrent ameloblastoma including the submandibular gland is presented. The patient was a 63-year-old man who presented with gustatory sweating at the left mandibular region. He had undergone partial mandibulectomy and immediate reconstruction with alumina ceramics for an ameloblastoma arising in the left mandibular angle in 1986. The mandible was again reconstructed by iliac bone because of fracture of the alumina ceramics in 1987. The ameloblastoma recurred in the left submandibular region and was extirpated with the left submandiblar gland in 1995. After a few uneventful years, gustatory sweating developed at the left mandibular region in 2001. Frey syndrome of the left mandibular region was diagnosed by Minor's test. Frey syndrome in our patient was attributed to severe damage of the platysma and subcutaneous nerve due to repeated surgeries.


Real-time services over best-effort networks, such as teleconferencing over unspecified bit rate (UBR) class asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks or the Internet, are expected to be in high demand in the near future as such services become more cost effective. However, cell loss caused by buffer overflow at switches is a serious problem in this service class, and is responsible for degradation of the quality of service (QoS). A promising technology for improving the QoS of best-effort networks is the recovery of lost cells by forward error correction (FEC). Conventional FEC methods utilize a FEC matrix with fixed dimensions and which is usually designed to cope with the worst case of cell loss. In this paper, a new method that provides dynamic recovery capacity to deal with the current cell loss ratio through the use of a variable-dimension FEC matrix is proposed. The scheme also takes into account the coding method of the matrix to provide data prioritization. Numerical results show that the cell loss ratio and transmission efficiency of the proposed method are superior to those of conventional methods.


Objective: This study investigated how young urban students conceptualize health and fitness and tried to identify their sources of information about health-related issues. The findings are intended to help make suggestions for policy makers to design and develop effective health-education strategies. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) of 20 groups, each comprised of eight 10th-grade students, were carried out. In total 160 students participated in the FGDs. Results: Young students' knowledge and perceptions about health and fitness had certain limitations, although most of the students emphasized the importance of good health and felt that they knew the meaning of health and fitness. They were most concerned with physical health and failed to consider other aspects of health such as mental/psychological, behavioural and social aspects. This represents a lack of awareness of contemporary conceptions of health and illness. Conclusion: These findings are important when considering the design of effective high school health education strategies that meet state content standards and for influencing students to continue participating in health-promoting activities.


This essay examines state-society relations in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq through a case study of the March 2006 protest in Halabja, during which protesters destroyed a memorial built to honor the victims of the 1988 chemical bombing of the city. The article suggests that contradictions between word and deed fueled local perceptions that the Kurdistan Regional Government was exploiting Halabja's symbolic and material legacy. The essay's main argument is that these contradictions, along with Halabja's symbolic capital, gave student protesters leverage for renegotiating the terms of the relationship between authorities and local people. They mobilized the politics of shame to pressure officials, transformed the monument site and the commemoration into a theater for conveying their challenge, and acquired influential allies capable of substantiating and institutionalizing their demands.


This case study outlines the strategic, marketing, and organizational issues facing the farm machinery and equipment division of Deere and Company as it tries to continue to grow. Deere Ag Division is considering the development of products in the information domain, which encompasses many opportunities, but faces uncertainties and challenges, as well. Instructors can use this case to discuss uncertainties and tools to mitigate risk. Readers must think strategically about innovation and the uncertainties associated with each innovation project. Beyond a listing of uncertainties, readers are also challenged to think about ways to mitigate risk through the use of real options, an options portfolio, and organizational structure.


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Secondary care consumes a large proportion of the healthcare budget and the need to spend wisely is ever pressing. The prevailing political philosophy of the past few decades in Britain has meant that efficiency and effectiveness have become part of NHS vocabulary. Doctors have probably been better at adopting new practices than they have been at dropping outdated methods, but in both areas there is room for improvement. Moreover, government funding is unlikely to improve unless the profession can show not only its commitment to best practice but also its ability constantly to examine its procedures and implement improvements or abandonment when necessary. Clinical governance should nourish this process, but if success is to be achieved it will come from leadership, drive, and initiative from within the profession. The move to keep patients out of hospital is clearly part of the search for efficiency and effectiveness, but it is important to know what patients think of it and that clinical effectiveness is …


The current project is a secondary analysis of a treatment sample of adolescents (age 13 to 18; 54% female; N=221) possessing both a DSM Axis I substance use disorder and a comorbid Axis I internalizing (e.g., major depression, generalized anxiety disorder) and/or externalizing (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder) disorder. Social cognitive theory applied to addictive behaviors assumes that characteristics of situations common to an individual's substance use prior to treatment for a substance use disorder represent situational characteristics that will pose high risk for relapse following treatment. The long-term objective of the current project is to inform the development of prevention and treatment programs for addictive behaviors. Specifically, patterns of substance use situations for comorbid adolescents were identified so that psychosocial interventions can be specifically tailored to focus on the needs of the heterogeneous population of adolescent substance users. The current project specifically investigated the structure of comorbid adolescent substance use situations. First, the fit of two adult classification systems of pretreatment substance use situations were compared to an alternative, developmentally informed classification system. Next, pretreatment substance use situational profiles for comorbid adolescents were identified and differences in substance use situations across profile groups were described. Secondarily, differences were explored across substance use situation profile groups in relation to several covariates. Specifically, aims of secondary analyses were to validate the situational profiles obtained in earlier analyses, and to determine associations of specific profile groups with comorbid psychopathology, gender, ethnicity, age, and substance use history. Results from a series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) indicated that the 5-factor model corresponding to the developmentally informed classification system best represented the structure of substance use situations for comorbid adolescents. Separate factors represented substance use situations involving conflict with others/unpleasant emotions (CO/ UE); positive social interactions/urges (PS/U); pleasant emotions (PE); physical/sexual (P/S); and testing personal control (TPC). Substance use situational profiles were determined through the conduct of cluster analyses on the substance use situation factors. A four-cluster solution was identified representing participants who used substances frequently in all situations (all high group); frequently in situations involving pleasant emotions (high PE group); and those who did not use frequently in any situations (all low group); or in pleasant emotions and physical/sexual situations (low PE/P/S group). Exploratory analyses revealed no differences among cluster groups in terms of age and gender, and limited differences in terms of ethnicity and comorbid psychopathology. Most notably, consistent differences were found among situation clusters when examining associations among cluster groups and substance use history. For example, adolescents were 1.1 times more likely to be classified in the high PE cluster, compared to the low PE and P/S cluster, for every 50 times they used marijuana in their lifetime (Wald = 7.68; p < .01; OR = 1.002). Further, adolescents were 1.23 times more likely to be classified in the high PE cluster, compared to the all low cluster, for every lifetime drug- related problem experienced (Wald = 9.13; p < .01; OR=1.23). Findings indicate that the clusters likely represent valid profiles of substance use situations for comorbid adolescents and that severity of substance use is likely associated with situational patterns of use. Evaluation of situational patterns of substance use as part of substance abuse treatment may help tailor coping skills interventions to subgroups of comorbid adolescents with differential situational substance use patterns. Replication of the current study and extension to longitudinal outcomes should be conducted to determine if cluster groups are reliable across samples, and if prospective relationships among clusters and substance use outcomes exist


1Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Division of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa; 2Laboratory of Research in Medicinal Chemistry (PeQuiM), Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil; 3Discipline of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Abstract: It is essential to acknowledge the efforts made thus far to manage or eliminate various disease burden faced by humankind. However, the rising global trends of the socalled incurable diseases continue to put pressure on Pharma industries and other drug discovery platforms. In the past, drugs with more than one target were deemed as undesirable options with interest being on the one-drug-single target. Despite the successes of the singletarget drugs, it is currently beyond doubt that these drugs have limited efficacy against complex diseases in which the pathogenesis is dependent on a set of biochemical events and several bioreceptors operating concomitantly. Different approaches have thus been proposed to come up with effective drugs to combat even the complex diseases. In the past, the focus was on producing drugs from screening plant compounds; today, we talk about combination therapy and multi-targeting drugs. The multi-target drugs have recently attracted much attention as promising tools to fight against most challenging diseases, and thus a new research focus area. This review will discuss the potential impact of multi-target drug approach on various complex diseases with focus on malaria, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases as the main representatives of multifactorial diseases. We will also discuss alternative ideas to solve the current problems bearing in mind the fourth industrial revolution on drug discovery.


A silvipastoral experiment was conducted for six years to evaluate the performance of seven forage species (Cenchrus ciliaris, Clitoria ternata, Desmanthus virgatus, Sorghum vulgare, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra, and Vigna unguiculata) as under-storey in Acacia leucophloea, a multipurpose tree species, at the National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, India. The tree species was raised at an espacement of 4 m x 4 m and the forage crops were sown in between trees during the rainy season every year and the fodder yield recorded. It was observed that loss of forage yield was strongly influenced by the tree component. The loss in forage yield as a result of tree growth increased from the fourth year. Thus, the yield of all forage species increased up to the third year. Among the forage combinations, the relative performance was in the order of Cenchrus ciliaris > cenchrus + sorghum > cenchrus + cowpea > other species. It was concluded from the study that for higher biomass yields, the best combination is A. leucophloea with cenchrus.


We investigate the nucleosynthesis of the radionuclide 60Fe in electron-capture supernovae (ECSNe). The nucleosynthetic results are based on a self-consistent, two-dimensional simulation of an ECSN as well as models in which the densities are systematically increased by some factors (low-entropy models). 60Fe is found to be appreciably made in neutron-rich ejecta during the nuclear quasi-equilibrium phase with greater amounts being produced in the lower-entropy models. Our results, combining them with the yields of core-collapse supernovae in the literature, suggest that ECSNe account for at least 4%–30% of live 60Fe in the Milky Way. ECSNe co-produce neutron-rich isotopes, 48Ca, 50Ti, 54Cr, some light trans-iron elements, and possibly weak r-process elements including some radionuclides such as 93Zr, 99Tc, and 107Pd, whose association with 60Fe might have been imprinted in primitive meteorites or in the deep ocean crust on the Earth.


The current study examined the relationship between John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC), experiences of racial discrimination, and behavioral health outcomes in a community sample of 319 Black adults. Assessments included primary health care screenings as well as self-reported survey questions to assess JHAC, experiences of discrimination, and self-reported behavioral health. Logistic regression models, adjusted for control variables, found a significant relationship between JHAC and having an opioid problem (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, p = 0.003) and needing mental health services (OR = 0.95, p < 0.001), such that higher levels of coping were associated with lower odds of reporting an opioid problem and needing mental health services. Notably, racial discrimination was not significantly independently associated with behavioral health. Implications for interventions and community programming are discussed.


This paper reports a method developed for the simultaneous determination of methylmercury (MeHg+) and mercury(II) (Hg2+) species in water by liquid chromatography coupled to online UV irradiation and cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-UV-CV-AFS) after online short-column preconcentration. This work focused on systematic studies of several variables to establish the maximum species recoveries, preconcentration factors and good reproducibility. The optimum results obtained were the following: 0.07 mmol L−1 2-mercaptoethanol as a complexing agent, precolumn conditioning with the mobile phase: a mixture of 80% of methanol (MeOH) and 20% of the following buffer: 0.0015 mol L−1 ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and 0.01 mol L−1 ammonium acetate (NH4CH3COO) at pH 5.5, 2 cm precolumn length and 2 mL min−1 sample flow. This method was applied to three water samples with different mineralisation contents. Various tests, based on spikes, were performed on each sample. A breakthrough volume of 4 mL was found. The recovery values of 72 ± 3% and 81 ± 5% for MeHg+ and Hg2+, respectively, were obtained regardless of the matrix composition, and the PF values were 30 and 32 for MeHg+ and Hg2+, respectively. The accuracy of the preconcentration method was verified by analysing a certified reference material. The detection limits (LDs) obtained were 15 ng L−1 for MeHg+ and 2 ng L−1 for Hg2+. The quantification limits (LQs) were 50 ng L−1 for both species. The established analytical online preconcentration method is suitable for the quantification of mercury species in a wide range of environmental waters.


Backdoor defenses have been studied to alleviate the threat of deep neural networks (DNNs) being backdoor attacked and thus maliciously altered. Since DNNs usually adopt some external training data from an untrusted third party, a robust backdoor defense strategy during the training stage is of importance. We argue that the core of training-time defense is to select poisoned samples and to handle them properly. In this work, we summarize the training-time defenses from a unified framework as splitting the poisoned dataset into two data pools. Under our framework, we propose an adaptively splitting dataset-based defense (ASD). Concretely, we apply loss-guided split and meta-learning-inspired split to dynamically update two data pools. With the split clean data pool and polluted data pool, ASD successfully defends against backdoor attacks during training. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets and DNN models against six state-of-the-art backdoor attacks demonstrate the superiority of our ASD. Our code is available at https://github.com/KuofengGao/ASD.


The now ubiquitous WWW provides ready access to a plethora of MM data. However, the MM information management facilities of the WWW are little better than those that are several decades old. The audio domain in particular has received little attention in this area. The authors have addressed this oversight by developing a structured audio representation based on "audio objects", allowing more useful access than traditional methods. The representation has also been designed for the demands of a networked world where efficient transmission capabilities are a priority. is paper describes how the decomposition of audio into objects can be exploited for compression gain.