Electroactive hydrogels have been considered as flexible solid-state supercapacitor electrode materials. Herein, a novel strategy has been proposed to directly prepare polyaniline (PANI) hydrogels from soluble PANI dispersion by self-crosslinking of molecules during the hydrothermal process. The PANI hydrogel single-electrode shows high specific capacitance (325 F g−1) and superior rate capability. To achieve more excellent electrochemical performance, the graphene/PANI hydrogel (GPH7) is prepared using graphene oxide (GO) and soluble PANI dispersion. However, a slightly enhanced specific capacitance (375 F g−1) is achieved for the GPH7 single-electrode, due to the strong interactions between GO and PANI molecules. It is of particular interest that the incorporation of m-phenylenediamine (mPD) into the GO and PANI system could protect the inherent conjugated structure of PANI, and thereby the as-prepared N-doped graphene/PANI hydrogels (GMPH7) show significantly improved specific capacitance (514.3 F g−1). Moreover, the assembled flexible solid-state supercapacitors based on the PANI hydrogel, GPH7 and GMPH7 exhibit excellent areal specific capacitance (484, 519.2 and 584.7 mF cm−2, respectively), approximately 100% capacitance retention after 2000 mechanical bending cycles and favorable energy density (42.96, 60.9 and 81.28 μW h cm−2, respectively). Such hydrogel assembled supercapacitors with robust capacitive behavior and outstanding flexibility are promising for applications in flexible and wearable electronics.


CONSTANS forms a trimeric complex with At-NF-YB2/NF-YC3 to efficiently bind the CORE element: the CCT provides trimerization and DNA-binding, akin to NF-YA but divergent in sequence selectivity. Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor that binds CCAAT elements. The NF-Y trimer is composed of a Histone Fold Domain (HFD) dimer (NF-YB/NF-YC) and NF-YA, which confers DNA sequence specificity. NF-YA shares a conserved domain with the CONSTANS, CONSTANS-LIKE, TOC1 (CCT) proteins. We show that CONSTANS (CO/B-BOX PROTEIN1 BBX1), a master flowering regulator, forms a trimer with Arabidopsis thaliana NF-YB2/NF-YC3 to efficiently bind the CORE element of the FLOWERING LOCUS T promoter. We term this complex NF-CO. Using saturation mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and RNA-sequencing profiling of co, nf-yb, and nf-yc mutants, we identify CCACA elements as the core NF-CO binding site. CO physically interacts with the same HFD surface required for NF-YA association, as determined by mutations in NF-YB2 and NF-YC9, and tested in vitro and in vivo. The co-7 mutation in the CCT domain, corresponding to an NF-YA arginine directly involved in CCAAT recognition, abolishes NF-CO binding to DNA. In summary, a unifying molecular mechanism of CO function relates it to the NF-YA paradigm, as part of a trimeric complex imparting sequence specificity to HFD/DNA interactions. It is likely that members of the large CCT family participate in similar complexes with At-NF-YB and At-NF-YC, broadening HFD combinatorial possibilities in terms of trimerization, DNA binding specificities, and transcriptional regulation.


This classroom experiment introduces students to the concept of double marginalization, i.e. the exercise of market power at successive vertical layers in a supply chain. By taking on roles of firms, students determine how the mark-ups are set at each successive production stage. They learn that final retail prices tend to be higher than if the firms were vertically integrated. Students compare the welfare implications of two potential solutions to the double marginalization problem: acquisition and franchise fees. The experiment also can stimulate a discussion of two-part tariffs, transfer pricing, contracting, and the Coase theorem.


Specific forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP) are modulated by or require increases in cAMP. The various adenylyl cyclase isoforms possess unique regulatory properties, and thus cAMP increases in a given cell type or tissue in response to converging signals are subject to the properties of the adenylyl cyclase isoforms expressed. In most tissues, adenylyl cyclase activity is stimulated by neurotransmitters or hormones via stimulatory G-protein (Gs)-coupled receptors and is inhibited via inhibitory G-protein (Gi)-linked receptors. However, in the hippocampus, stimulation of Gi-coupled receptors potentiates Gs-stimulated cAMP levels. This effect may be associated with the regulatory properties of adenylyl cyclase types 2 and 4 (AC2 and AC4), isoforms that are potentiated by the βγ subunit of Gi in vitro. Although AC2 has been shown to be stimulated by βγ in whole cells, reports describing the sensitivity of AC4 to βγ in vivo have yet to emerge. Our results demonstrate that Gs-mediated stimulation of AC4 is potentiated by βγ released from activated Gi-coupled receptors in intact human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Furthermore, we show that the AC2 and AC4 proteins are expressed in the mouse hippocampal formation and that they colocalize with MAP2, a dendritic and/or postsynaptic marker. The presence of AC2 and AC4 in the hippocampus and the ability of each of these enzymes to detect coincident activation of Gs- and Gi-coupled receptors suggest that they may play a crucial role in certain forms of synaptic plasticity by coordinating such overlapping synaptic inputs.


: In a study of 565 hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) positive persons from the Auckland region, antibody to the hepatitis delta virus was detected in 38. The largest number were in Samoans (61%) although the infection was present in some other Pacific Islanders. Among HBsAg positive healthy blood donors, antenatal patients and acute hepatitis patients between 3.8 and 4.8% were anti-delta positive; while 28% of chronic hepatitis patients were positive suggesting an association between this disease and delta infection. Some positive results were also found in sera from intravenous drug addicts. By contrast, anti-delta was uncommon in New Zealand born Maoris or Europeans. Delta infection can be detected in some Pacific Islanders, some European immigrants as well as intravenous drug addicts and has the potential to spread in an epidemic form to HBsAg carriers in the general community. Widespread vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended to eventually reduce the number of HBsAg carriers in New Zealand.


1. Some aspects of the biology and nutritional physiology of the corals Stylophora pistillata and Echinopora gemmacea from the Red Sea are described in this thesis. The two species were selected on the basis of their differing growth form and nutritional strategies. The main objective was to compare their nutritional energy budgets and to examine the effects upon these of environmental factors associated with differing depths on the reef and with different seasons. 2 . S. pistillata is a branching coral, with small polyps. In shallow water (1m) the coral has compact club-shaped branches, whereas at 10m it has an open growth form with slender branches. E. gemmacea has large polyps, and both encrusting and lightly branching growth forms. It was not found at depths of less than 3m. 4 . Histological examination showed that the coenosarc of S. pistillata is characterised by holotrich nematocysts and mucus-gland cells containing neutral mucopolysaccharides. By contrast, the epidermis of E. gemmacea contains spirocysts and large numbers of mucus-gland cells secreting an acid mucopolysaccharide. The gastrodermis of the tentacles of S. pistillata, which are expanded during the day time are packed with zooxanthellae. In E. gemmacea the tentacles are withdrawn during the day and are devoid of zooxanthellae. In both species, lipid stores are concentrated in the gastrodermal layers only, mainly in the lower half of the polyps. 4 . Four types of nematocyst are present in both species : spirocysts, microbasic P-mastigophores, microbasic B-mastigophores and holotrichs. Spirocysts are most common on the oral discs and mainly at the tentacle tips. Microbasic P-mastigophores are more common in the tentacles of E. gemmacea suggesting a more important role for prey capture in this species. In both species the mesenterial filaments are armed with microbasic P-mastigophores and holotrichs, indicating that they are important for aggression and defence. 5 . S. pistillata displays a weak ability to deal with particulate food when presented as Artemia nauplii or eggs. There is an extensive development of ciliary currents on the outers epidermis, but these appear to be used only for cleansing of the outer surface. E. gemmacea expands its tentacles at night and feeds on particulate organic matters trapped on the surface mucus net. Large particles, including fish faecal pellets, may be ingested. The expansion of the tentacles of S. pistillata during the day time suggests a nutritional economy which is more dependent upon the symbiotic zooxanthellae. 6 . Both species are hermaphrodite with protogynous gametogenesis. S. pistillata has an extended breeding cycle. Oogenesis began in May, whilst spermatogenesis was first detected in August. Fertilisation takes place in the coelenteron and the first planulae were observed in December. E. gemmacea has a short annual cycle of gametogenesis. Oogenesis was first observed in June and spermatogenesis in August. Broadcast-spawning occurred in November. 7 . The distribution of the two species on a shallow fringing reef in Sharm Ubhur, a small creek to the north of Jeddah, is described from a transect survey. At the study site, the lowest mean water temperature of 25.5


We introduce partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) with the two-dimensional (2D) soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) and 2D equalizer for holographic data storage (HDS) channel. The 2D SOVA output is the average of two 1D SOVAs that are separately operated in horizontal and vertical directions. The complexity of the proposed 2D SOVA is increased only twice compared with 1D SOVA while its performance is superior to that of 1D SOVA. Since the 2D SOVA outputs soft decision value, LDPC can be utilized by the soft-in hard-out decoding. We study for different PR target, comparing 1D Viterbi detection with 2D SOVA detection, different misalignments, and two kinds of LDPC codes.


BACKGROUND
A spontaneously hypercholesterolemic Imai rat has recently been reported as a model of focal glomerulosclerosis that causes nephrotic syndrome followed by renal failure. This study was designed to determine if an oral adsorbent, AST-120, ameliorates renal lesions and TGF-beta 1 expression in the rats.

METHODS
AST-120 was given orally to the Imai rats for 32 weeks, and renal function and pathology were compared between the AST-120-administered and control Imai rats.

RESULTS
AST-120-administered rats showed significantly lower level of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urinary protein, serum total-cholesterol, serum triglyceride, and serum and urinary indoxyl sulfate, and significantly higher levels of serum albumin and creatinine clearance than control rats. AST-120 reduced the glomerular sclerosis index, interstitial fibrosis area, and the extent of glomerular lipid deposition. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that AST-120 reduced the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 as well as interstitial infiltration of macrophages in the renal cortex of the Imai rats.

CONCLUSIONS
AST-120 prevented the progression of nephrotic syndrome and renal failure in the Imai rats by ameliorating glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, accompanied with reduced expression of TGF-beta 1 and TIMP-1, and reduced infiltration of macrophages in the kidneys.


An origin of replication within the long unique sequence of herpes simplex virus type 2 designated oriL2 has been identified in a position homologous to its type 1 counterpart, oriL1, between map coordinates 0.398 and 0.413. The difficulties encountered in previous attempts to clone both oriL2 and oriL1 in an undeleted form were surmounted by minimizing the growth of the host Escherichia coli, using a recBC sbcB E. coli host, and purifying the full-length plasmid from delected forms by using a novel method which exploits the ability of a palindrome-containing plasmid to adopt a cruciform conformation, thereby decreasing its supercoiling. In a previously developed assay for functional origin activity, oriL2 was localized to a 241-base-pair ApaI-SstII fragment. DNA sequence analysis revealed a 136-base pair, almost perfect palindrome. Comparison with oriL1 showed a very high degree of conservation: the two origins differ in only 16 of the 144-base-pair oriL1 palindromic region. Most significantly, the differences between oriL1 and oriL2 mainly occur in pairs so as to generally preserve the potential for intrastrand base pairing. The central region of oriL2 is homologous with the shorter palindromic structures detected in origins located within the repetitive sequences of the short component of herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2.


It is shown that the SU(2) Yang--Mills theory in 3-dimensional Riemann--Cartan spacetime can be completely reformulated as a gravity-like theory in terms of gauge invariant variables. The resulting Yang--Mills induced equations are found, and it is demonstrated that they can be derived from a torsion-square type of action.


External sprinkler systems are one of a relatively small number of measures that are frequently recommended for the protection of houses from wildfires. However, very little scientific work appears to have been undertaken to evaluate their effectiveness. Numerical simulation techniques such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could be used to investigate spray performance in the conditions of a wildfire; however, detailed characteristics of the sprays typically implemented in wildfire sprinkler systems must first be known, so that they can be accurately represented in such simulations. This paper presents the results of an in-depth experimental investigation into the spatiotemporal distributions of droplet mass flux, diameter and velocity, in six water sprays used in wildfire sprinkler systems. The sprays were produced using: a flat-fan misting nozzle, a hollow-cone nozzle, a deflector-plate sprinkler, a butterfly sprinkler, an impact sprinkler main nozzle, and the auxiliary nozzle of the same impact sprinkler. The experimental and video-analysis methodologies developed have also been described in detail, to serve as a guide for future investigations. A single-camera, back-illuminated, highspeed videography technique was adopted, and droplets within a specific measurement volume were identified in the video footage using a focal criterion based on the point-spread function half-width of droplet images. A new technique was developed to separate overlapping droplet images, which was found to perform better than existing methods when applied to noncircular


BACKGROUND
We previously reported the prevalence and associations of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 73451 veterans aged 50 to 79 years who underwent ultrasound screening.

OBJECTIVE
To understand the prevalence of and principal positive and negative risk factors for AAA, and to assess reproducibility of our previous findings.

METHODS
In the new cohort of veterans undergoing screening, 52 745 subjects aged 50 to 79 without history of AAA underwent successful ultrasound screening for AAA, after completing a questionnaire on demographics and potential risk factors.

RESULTS
We detected AAA of 4.0 cm or larger in 613 participants (1.2%; compared with 1.4% in the earlier cohort). The direction and magnitude of the important associations reported in the first cohort were confirmed. Respective odds ratios for the major associations with AAA for the second and for the combined cohorts were as follows: 1.81 and 1.71 for age (per 7 years), 0.12 and 0. 18 for female sex, 0.59 and 0.53 for black race, 1.94 and 1.94 for family history of AAA, 4.45 and 5.07 for smoking, 0.50 and 0.52 for diabetes, and 1.60 and 1.66 for atherosclerotic diseases. The excess prevalence associated with smoking accounted for 75% of all AAAs of 4.0 cm or larger in the total population of 126 196. Associations for AAA of 3.0 to 3.9 cm were similar but tended to be somewhat weaker.

CONCLUSIONS
Our findings confirm our previous cohort findings. Age, smoking, family history of AAA, and atherosclerotic diseases remained the principal positive associations with AAA, and female sex, diabetes, and black race remained the principal negative associations.


This paper traces the origins and early history of perceived gender differences in absenteeism in Great Britain and the USA. Among politicians and scholars, the problem was first articulated during World War I and reappeared as an issue of prime concern during World War II. The war efforts required mobilization and allocation of large numbers of women to jobs that had previously been done by men while maintaining high and continuous flows of production in an economy that was increasingly characterized by high capital intensity. The most common explanation of women's higher levels of absenteeism was their double burden of wage work and unpaid household duties. Although researchers in the field were cautious to give policy recommendations, the studies on absenteeism revealed that 'industrial fatigue' could have negative effects on productivity and helped to motivate regulations on working hours. Studies on absenteeism also encouraged firms to professionalize personnel management and to reinforce apprehensions of differences between men and women as workers and employees. Some employers and other policy makers referred to gender differences in absenteeism to motivate wage discrimination.


Lithium carbonate is commonly used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and in delaying the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However a narrow therapeutic window and safety concerns limits its clinical utility. The present study was carried out on forty eight sprague dawley (SD) rats divided in to group I, II, III and IV (each having six male and six female rats) for the period of 30 days to study the effects of lithium carbonate on haemato-biochemical parameters and organ weight. The group I served as control while group II, III and IV were gavaged with lithium carbonate @ 10, 40 and 80 mg/kg bodyweight respectively. Exposures of lithium carbonate resulted in decrease in relative organ weights of spleen, thymus, prostate and uterus and significantly altered the hemato-biochemical parameters as compared to control.


Wireless rechargeable sensor networks (WRSNs) have emerged as an alternative to solving the challenges of size and operation time posed by traditional battery-powered systems. In this paper, we study a WRSN built from the industrial wireless identification and sensing platform (WISP) and commercial off-the-shelf RFID readers. The paper-thin WISP tags serve as sensors and can harvest energy from RF signals transmitted by the readers. This kind of WRSNs is highly desirable for indoor sensing and activity recognition and is gaining attention in the research community. One fundamental question in WRSN design is how to deploy readers in a network to ensure that the WISP tags can harvest sufficient energy for continuous operation. We refer to this issue as the energy provisioning problem. Based on a practical wireless recharge model supported by experimental data, we investigate two forms of the problem: point provisioning and path provisioning. Point provisioning uses the least number of readers to ensure that a static tag placed in any position of the network will receive a sufficient recharge rate for sustained operation. Path provisioning exploits the potential mobility of tags (e.g., those carried by human users) to further reduce the number of readers necessary: mobile tags can harvest excess energy in power-rich regions and store it for later use in power-deficient regions. Our analysis shows that our deployment methods, by exploiting the physical characteristics of wireless recharging, can greatly reduce the number of readers compared with those assuming traditional coverage models.


BACKGROUND AND AIM
Recently, considerable attention has been given to beverage intake as a source of calories which may be linked to pediatric obesity. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the beverage intake in school children and adolescents aged 7 to 15 years old.

METHODS
Six hundred and seven (607) out of 655 children participated in the study. One hundred percent fruit juice were classified those beverages that contain 100% fruit juice, without sweetener. Sweetened sugar beverages (SSBs) were included (fruit drinks sweetened fruit juice, fruit-flavored drink or drink that contained fruit juice in part, sweeten soft drinks, coffee, and tea).

RESULTS
Around 84% of subjects consumed water while 81% of children who were included in the analysis consumed milk, 49.5% consumed 100% fruit juice, and 79.4 % SSBs. Whole milk was consumed by 40.9% of school children. Skim milk and 1% milk were consumed by 3.6% and 4.7% of the children, respectively. Children and adolescents consuming SSBs were 2.57 (95% CI: 1.06, 3.38) times more likely to become obese compared to normal peers.

CONCLUSION
Sugar beverage drinks but not 100% fruit juices and milk are associated with obesity. Further studies investigating the relationship among beverage consumption, total energy intake, and development of overweight are needed.


This paper evaluates the heterogeneous impact of hydro-meteorological disasters on populations along the dimensions of age, sex, and human development. The analysis is based on previously untapped cause-of-death data over the period 1995– 2011 that were obtained from the WHO mortality database, and were based on the civil registration records of 63 countries/territories. Using these data, we evaluate patterns of mortality related to meteorological disasters in the spirit of model life tables.We observe that mortality rates from hydro-meteorological disasters for men are consistently higher than for women across all age groups, and that the differential by sex is larger for adults than for young children or the elderly. Furthermore, the sex differential in mortality becomes smaller with improvements in human development. Comparing our disaster fatalities with those recorded in the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), we find that the number of deaths from hydro-meteorological disasters was underestimated in the WHO database, especially in the case of highimpact events. In the paper we discuss issues of data quality and data harmonisation for the study of the differential demographic impact of natural disasters. One of our main goals is to stimulate an interdisciplinary debate in this area.


In close accordance with the "International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps" issued by the World Health Organisation in 1980, and in cooperation with medical doctors, psychologists, and vocational teachers a reintegration of disabled adults. Instead of only attesting to the rehabilitated person his disabilities this system allows qualified persons to assess by means of a set of 64 evaluation criteria in an "Ability Profile" the abilities available to the disabled after rehabilitation; likewise, using the same 64 criteria it allows one to determine in a "Requirement Profile" those requirements a particular job poses to the corresponding person. The two profiles can be compared, thus providing an easy match between the person's abilities and the abilities necessary to perform the job. The various criteria reflect "elementary abilities" or correspondingly "elementary requirements". By comparison of the two profiles it is possible--in a first rough approach based on correspondingly developed judging abilities of the evaluator--to determine rather accurately whether a certain kind of work, to which a "Requirement Profile" is available, is adequate for a certain disabled person--for whom an "Ability Profile" has also been developed. The question whether the chosen work is fully adequate can thereby be answered with maximum accuracy only at the corresponding workplace by an occupational physician and the other professionals responsible for the employment of the disabled. The ERTOMIS system thus facilitates the job placement of disabled people; it can also help decide on eventual complementary rehabilitation measures directed towards the better adjustment of the disabled to a certain work, or the improved adjustment of that work to the abilities of the disabled. Each disability is unique to each individual; by means of this system system--completed with the personal dossier from which data on the vocational training and experience of the disabled can be taken--it can also be assessed in a way that reflects this important individuality. The criteria describe only abilities and requirements relevant to work performance. If one so chooses, for data protection reasons the "Ability Profile" can be handed out to the disabled person only. No copies of documents may be kept except for the purpose of medical records.


Originally ascribed passive roles in the CNS, astrocytes are now known to have an active role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Neuronal activity can evoke Ca2+ transients in astrocytes, and Ca2+ transients in astrocytes can evoke changes in neuronal activity. The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has been shown to mediate such bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons. We demonstrate here that ATP, a primary mediator of intercellular Ca2+ signaling among astrocytes, also mediates intercellular signaling between astrocytes and neurons in hippocampal cultures. Mechanical stimulation of astrocytes evoked Ca2+ waves mediated by the release of ATP and the activation of P2 receptors. Mechanically evoked Ca2+ waves led to decreased excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission in an ATP-dependent manner. Exogenous application of ATP does not affect postsynaptic glutamatergic responses but decreased presynaptic exocytotic events. Finally, we show that astrocytes exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ waves mediated by extracellular ATP and that inhibition of these Ca2+ responses enhanced excitatory glutamatergic transmission. We therefore conclude that ATP released from astrocytes exerts tonic and activity-dependent down-regulation of synaptic transmission via presynaptic mechanisms.


The use of web 2.0 technologies in web based learning systems has made learning more learner-centered. In a learner centered environment, there is need to provide appropriate support to learners based on individual learner characteristics in order to maximize learning. This requires a Web-based learning system to have an adaptive interface to suit individual learner characteristics in order to accommodate diversity of learner needs and abilities and to maintain an appropriate context for interaction and for achieving personalized learning. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how machine learning techniques can provide adaptive learning support in a Web-based learning system. In this research, two machine learning algorithms namely: Heterogeneous Value Difference Metric (HVDM) and Naive Bayes Classifier (NBC) were used. HVDM was used to determine those learners who were similar to the current learner while NBC was used to estimate the likelihood that the learner would need to use additional materials for the current concept. To demonstrate the concept we used a course in object oriented programming (OOP).


For those interested in learning more about, and reflecting upon, the iconic Russian revolutions of 1917 during this centenary year, there has been no shortage of recent publications. Notable works by academic specialists published already this year include excellent new introductory texts on the Revolution written by Geoff Swain, Steve Smith, and Mark Steinberg, the latter two published by Oxford University Press. Another Oxford publication, Andy Willimott's new book, the first comprehensive monograph on the urban commune phenomenon in early Soviet Russia, is perfectly timed. Based on a PhD dissertation, Willimott's book directly and explicitly addresses the meanings of 1917. The result is a brilliant, erudite, and elegant contribution to our understanding of the Russian Revolution, a social and cultural history that illustrates vividly what the October Revolution meant to young activists inspired by the establishment of Soviet power. Based on exhaustive original research and a comprehensive reading of relevant secondary literature, it is a history that builds on seminal work in the social, cultural, political and intellectual history of the Soviet state over the last two decades or so. It contributes a rich and nuanced understanding of popular engagement with the October Revolution, a portrayal of the complex relationship between state and society in early Soviet Russia, and valuable insights into the social and cultural origins, and the nature, of early Stalinism.


In January of the year 1598, Guilielmus Fabricius 6 treated the "noble matron Margarita a Gleresse" for a hernia with "intestinal erosion." He stated that there was gangrene in the right inguinal region and that bloody, purulent material escaped periodically from this area. However, normal bowel function continued in this patient and the fistula closed by itself after about two months' duration. Much later, in 1785, August Gottlieb Richter 17 described accurately the type of small hernia now bearing his name "which does not involve the whole canal, but only one side of the gut." At that time he admonished physicians "that since often no external protrusion appears, those ruptures may not be discovered and errors in diagnosis will result in the loss of the patients' health and possibly their lives." The question of priority of description between Littre and Richter seems to have been resolved in the English literature


Over 100,000 older, handicapped, emotionally disturbed, and minority race children await adoptive placement. In recent years a major effort has been made to place such children in adoptive homes. Previously only infants and toddlers had been considered adoptable. Therefore, inadequate literature exists regarding older children adoptions. An opportunity was afforded to conduct in-depth interviews with 17 adults who were adopted as older children an average of 18.5 years ago. A qualitative analysis of these interviews revealed a causal developmental pattern. Although each subject suffered early childhood traumas, deprivation, and loss of family, each has recovered to function adequately as an adult. These adults tended to have developed patterns of trusting interpersonal relationships and to have become adequate marriage partners and caring parents. Two hypotheses were generated for further research: 1. Adults adopted at age 6 or older, who recall their adoptive experience, tend to have a pattern of unique and characteristic life styles. 2. Adults adopted at age 6 or older, when given choice, preparation, and participation in the adoptive experience, tend toward closeness with the adoptive family and tend to reconcile painful childhood memories.


One potential design for a geological disposal facility (GDF) for intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) involves the use of a cement base grout which will establish a highly alkaline environment for extended time periods [1]. Methane generation by colonising microbes could impact the long-term performance of the facility by influencing gas pressures and potentially leading to the migration of 14C to the biosphere [1]. Sediments acquired from a wide-range of anthropogenic alkaline sites in the UK were used to develop acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogen enrichment cultures over a broad range of pH values (7.0–12.0). The generation of methane from hydrogen and acetate was assessed to determine the dominant methanogenic pathways. Archaeal community analysis via Illumina MiSeq was employed to describe the populations involved and the acetoclastic inhibitor methyl fluoride was utilised to confirm the lack of acetate-dependent methane generation under alkaline conditions. High pH (pH>9.0) microcosms employing alkaline sediments were dominated by hydrogen-consuming methanogens of the orders Methanobacteriales and Methanomicrobiales, with no acetate consumption detected under these conditions. In contrast, neutral pH microcosms employing control sediments were dominated by acetoclastic methanogens of the order Methanosarcinales and demonstrated high acetate consumption rates. The rate of acetate consumption and proportion of acetoclastic methanogens decreased in a linear fashion as the pH within cultures was increased, however hydrogen consumption rates remained stable up to pH 11.0. The data shown suggests hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is the dominant methanogenic pathway at high pH which could have important consequences on gas pressures within a GDF.


Background and aims Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. These patients tend to have large amounts of autoantibodies. Blood memory Tfh17 cells represent efficient B cell helper cells with distinct capacities to induce IgG and IgA secretion and to regulate immunoglobulin isotope switching. Recent study found overall Tfh17 cells are highly presented in peripheral blood of SLE patients. However, it is not clear how different subsets of Tfh17 cell are distributed in broncholalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and peripheral blood of SLE-ILD patients. The study is to determine the proportion of different Tfh17 cell subsets (activated Tfh17: CXCR3-CCR6+ICOS+PD-1++CCR7lo, quiescent: CXCR3-CCR6+ICOS-PD-1+CCR7int and CXCR3-CCR6+ICOS-PD-1-CCR7hi) among CD4+ T cells and levels of immunoglobulins in BAL and peripheral blood of SLE-ILD patients. Methods 30 SLE-ILD patients were included. The lung disease were proved by high resolution CT scan. Patients underwent bronchoscopy and BAL were collected. Tfh17 cell profiles were determined using flow cytometry. Levels of immunoglobulins were detected by ELISA. Statistics were analysed by SPSS 22.0. Results IgA and IgG levels were significantly higher in BAL than in blood. Activated Tfh17 in BAL was increased significantly (p=0.011) and both subsets of quiescent Tfh17 cells were decreased (p<0.05) compared to those in the blood. The activated Tfh17 was positively correlated with IgA level (r=0.871, p=0.039) in BAL and with IgG level (r=0.714, p=0.047) in blood. Conclusions Activated Tfh17 is more abundant in BAL than in blood and switches from IgG correlation to IgA correlation, suggesting its role in the pathogenesis of SLE-ILD.


The specification of photomask patterns is defined for each semiconductor device technology node based on the ITRS (International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors). The quality of the photomask patterns has been managed by using a metrology tool for CD (Critical Dimension) and an inspection tool for pattern shape. According to shrinkage of semiconductor device patterns, the lithography margin has gradually become smaller. Consequently, the quality of photomask patterns has been managed by observing small lithography margin patterns in addition to the conventional quality management patterns with the conventional metrology tool. Furthermore, recently, as each successive device generation has become shorter, rapid improvement of not only turnaround time of photomask manufacturing but also yield of semiconductor device manufacturing has become necessary. Therefore, the importance of the flexible mask specifications concept is increasing. The quality of photomask patterns with respect to the specifications is judged in terms of pass/fail based on the allowable lithography margin. The methodology is that small lithography margin patterns are selected, micrographs of the selected photomask patterns are acquired by a metrology tool, photomask pattern contours are extracted with the micrographs, resist patterns exposed on Si wafer are simulated by using the photomask pattern contours with lithography simulation under actual exposure conditions, the lithography margin is calculated and the quality of the photomask is judged in terms of pass/fail criteria based on the lithography margin for each generation, device and layer. For management of the quality of photomask patterns based on the flexible mask specifications, it is necessary to measure two-dimensional patterns such as hot-spot patterns for each critical layer in devices having small lithography margin. Therefore, in order to manage quality in the case of flexible mask specifications, a two-dimensional photomask pattern contour extraction tool was studied and developed. The photomask pattern contour extraction tool realizes the combination of acquisition of fine-pixel SEM images of the photomask patterns in wide field and extraction of photomask pattern contours by using the acquired fine-pixel SEM images. There have been many reports on the repeatability and reliability of CD and two-dimensional pattern metrology tools based on the conventional specifications. However, there are very few reports on the repeatability and reliability of photomask pattern metrology tools based on flexible mask specifications. In this paper, using small lithography margin patterns, firstly, the fine-pixel SEM images of photomask patterns are acquired. Secondly, contours of the photomask patterns are extracted with the SEM images. Thirdly, contours of resist patterns on Si wafer are simulated with lithography simulation under actual exposure condition by using the actual photomask pattern contours. Finally, the lithography margin is calculated by using FEM (Focus Exposure Matrix) for the simulated contours of resist patterns. This flow is repeated. The lithography margin with this flow is compared with that of actual exposed wafers. Repeatability and reliability of the lithography margin is evaluated. As a result, accuracy of the photomask pattern contour extraction tool is discussed.


We study static repair priorities in a system consisting of one repair shop and one stockpoint, where spare parts of multiple, critical repairables are kept on stock to serve an installed base of technical systems. Demands for ready-for-use parts occur according to Poisson processes, and are accompanied by returns of failed parts. The demands are met from stock if possible, and otherwise they are backordered and fulfilled as soon as a ready-for-use part becomes available. Returned failed parts are immediately sent into repair. The repairables are assigned to static priority classes. The repair shop is modeled as a single-server queue, where the failed parts are served according to these priority classes. We show that under a given assignment of repairables to priority classes, optimal spare parts stock levels follow from Newsvendor equations. Next, we develop fast and effective heuristics for the assignment of repairables to priority classes. Subsequently, we compare the performance of the system under these static priorities to the case with a First-Come First-Served (FCFS) service discipline. We show that in many cases static priorities reduce total inventory holding and backordering costs by more than 40%. Finally, we analyse the effect of the number of priority classes. We show that 2 priority classes suffice to obtain 90% of the maximal savings via static priorities.


Refusal is a face threatening act because it contradicts with the expectations of the speaker and therefore, is not a preferred speech act. However, the speech act of refusal cannot be avoided as it is a part of our daily communication. Therefore, this study was carried out to find out how Indian undergraduates, one of the majority races in Malaysia, handle refusal. The present study investigates the strategies used by Malaysian Indian undergraduates to make refusals in English as well as the influences of power on the choice of refusal strategies made by them in an academic context. These objectives were expressed through two research questions. The data, gained from a DCT was analysed and coded according to an adapted framework of refusal strategies that was developed from a combination of the frameworks proposed by Beebe et al. (1990) and Al-Issa (2003).


The paper describes the outcomes of the experiments to study hydrogen and gaseous fission products accumulation during simulations of the wet damaged VVER-440 SNF storage in air-tight canisters with the water drained and no drying conducted. Physical and chemical processes occurring during the damaged oxide SNF storage in wet environment are discussed. The experiments were carried out in two stages: 1) preliminary soaking of fine fuel particles in water in an air-tight canister, 2) water draining and keeping the wet SNF in the air-tight canister.
 The experiments were conducted one after another using the same SNF canister and differing only in the SNF soaking temperature, i.e. 25 and 80 °С.
 The radionuclide release into the liquid phase during the SNF storage under water was studied. Uranium and cesium isotopic concentrations were found to reach steady values when the SNF is kept under water for more than a month. The kinetics of hydrogen and gaseous fission product accumulation in the gaseous phase during wet storage of the spent fuel in the air-tight canister with the water drained coincide for both experiments. The kinetics demonstrate an abrupt decrease of the hydrogen and gaseous fission product accumulation rate in 46 hours. The data obtained can be applied for development and verification of the damaged SNF behavior models during SNF storage in wet environment under radiolysis.


This study traces and identifies the psychological crisis of the veteran, old hand poet, Suhaym, the slave of Bani Al-Hashaas as exposed through his poems. This personality disorder results basically from the poet's inability to socialize and merge into his local society which denies him both his masculinity and recognition as a poet. The study also deals with the repercussions of the poet's psychosis which reduces him to sadism, narcissism, and perversion. As a result, the poet is resolved to get revenge on the tribe through tarnishing the chastity of its women and depicting sexual savagery towards them in his poems. The study results find that these poems are nothing but mere delusions and Suhaym has to pay the price eventually by being burned to death.


This article addresses the proposition that all talk whatsoever of bounds between language-varieties in the mind should be abandoned. This abandonment of boundaries is a standard view in respect of the semantic or conceptual dimensions of language. The tendency does not, however, stop there; being called into question is the whole notion that languages in the mind are bounded entities in any of their aspects. The response offered here to such a position is that language knowledge in the mind is all its aspects, in fact, highly differentiated, and that this differentiation broadly follows the lines recognized by the traditional conception which draws (always, of course, permeable) lines between languages. Evidence is adduced in favour of this latter view from a number of areas, including language loss and recovery, bilingual/multilingual development and communication and the affective dimension of language differentiation.


This study empirically investigates the relationship between Chinese banks' green lending and their credit risk, and how China's green finance regulations contribute to the solvency of individual banks and the resilience of the financial system as a whole. Using a sample of 41 Chinese banks for the period 2007-2018, we find that the association between a bank's (relative) green lending as a proportion of its overall loan portfolio and its credit risk depends critically on the size and structure of state ownership. While the implementation of China's Green Credit Policy reduces credit risk for the major state-controlled banks, it increases credit risk for city and regional commercial banks. This performance difference is largely due to information and expertise asymmetries, with city and regional commercial banks having less access to information and expertise necessary to evaluate the credit risk of green lending. Understanding this phenomenon can help policymakers tailor green finance policies according to banks' characteristics. It also suggests that mechanisms and platforms for city/regional commercial banks to learn from major state-controlled banks could be beneficial.


ABSTRACT Recently, terms such as the "fourth industrial revolution", or the "second machine age", have been used both in the business press and by academics to describe the current era of technological development. Embedded in these catchphrases is an assumption about the role of technology in the economy, who it serves, and the outcomes it provides. Communication scholars have long studied how the economy and technology are independently framed in the media, but little work has focused on how these terms are framed together. Understanding how the media frames technology's role in the economy, and how those frames change over time, is necessary to fully analyze the role of technology in today's society. This paper conducts a comparative frame analysis of the business press in two recent periods heavily influenced by technological development: 1992–1998 and 2010–2016. Results of this frame analysis show that a positive Growth frame was the most popular frame used in both periods. Overall coverage of technology's role in the economy has dropped significantly since 1992. The 2010–2016 period saw a notable drop in positive Market Disruption frames but an increase in positive Social Recomposition and Employment frames.


In the face of excellent survival rates for pediatric and adolescent cancer, preserving the opportunity to have biological children is an important component of long term quality of life. Yet, modern chemotherapeutic regimens continue to pose a threat to fertility. The only fertility preservation methods available to pre-pubertal children of both genders is cryopreservation of gonadal tissue, a highly experimental intervention, or shielding/re-location of reproductive tissue in the setting of radiation. These techniques are available in the post pubertal population as well, but post pubertal patients also have the option for cryopreservation of gametes, a process that is much simpler in males than females. For this reason, prior to the initiation of therapy, sperm banking should be considered standard of care for males, while consideration of embryo or oocyte cryopreservation should be limited to those females at risk of developing ovarian failure. Attention to reproductive health and fertility preservation should continue after the completion of therapy. Establishing programs that streamline access to current fertility preservation techniques will assist in ensuring that all eligible patients can avail themselves of current options.


Online social networks (OSNs) contain data about users, their relations, interests and daily activities and the great value of this data results in ever growing popularity of OSNs. There are two types of OSNs data, semantic and topological. Both can be used to support decision making processes in many applications such as in information diffusion, viral marketing and epidemiology. Online Social network analysis (OSNA) research is used to maximize the benefits gained from OSNs' data. This paper provides a comprehensive study of OSNs and OSNA to provide analysts with the knowledge needed to analyse OSNs. OSNs' internetworking was found to increase the wealth of the analysed data by depending on more than one OSN as the source of the analysed data. Paper proposes a generic model of OSNs' internetworking system that an analyst can rely on. Two different data sources in OSNs were identified in our efforts to provide a thorough study of OSNs, which are the OSN User data and the OSN platform data. Additionally, we propose a classification of the OSN User data according to its analysis models for different data types to shed some light into the current used OSNA methodologies. We also highlight the different metrics and parameters that analysts can use to evaluate semantic or topologic OSN user data. Further, we present a classification of the other data types and OSN platform data that can be used to compare the capabilities of different OSNs whether separate or in a OSNs' internetworking system. To increase analysts' awareness about the available tools they can use, we overview some of the currently publically available OSNs' datasets and simulation tools and identify whether they are capable of being used in semantic, topological OSNA, or both. The overview identifies that only few datasets includes both data types (semantic and topological) and there are few analysis tools that can perform analysis on both data types. Finally paper present a scenario that shows that an integration of semantic and topologic data (hybrid data) in the OSNA is beneficial.


Interviewer falsification, such as the complete or partial fabrication of interview data, has been shown to substantially affect the results of survey data. In this study, we apply a method to identify falsifying face-to-face interviewers based on the development of their behavior over the survey field period. We postulate four potential falsifier types: steady low-effort falsifiers, steady high-effort falsifiers, learning falsifiers, and sudden falsifiers. Using large-scale survey data from Germany with verified falsifications, we apply multilevel models with interviewer effects on the intercept, scale, and slope of the interview sequence to test whether falsifiers can be detected based on their dynamic behavior. In addition to identifying a rather high-effort falsifier previously detected by the survey organization, the model flagged two additional suspicious interviewers exhibiting learning behavior, who were subsequently classified as deviant by the survey organization. We additionally apply the analysis approach to publicly available cross-national survey data and find multiple interviewers who show behavior consistent with the postulated falsifier types.


This is a translation of the afterword of Legality and Legitimacy (1932), rewritten by Carl Schmitt in 1958 for his collection Verfassungsrechtliche Aufsatze aus den Jahren 1924-1954. In the afterword, Schmitt once again describes the situation in Germany in the early 1930's, and argues against the influential German lawyers who rejected his interpretation of the Weimar Constitution. He rejects the wide-spread opinion that he wanted a state of emergency in Germany to be introduced, and insists that this book was his final attempt to rescue the presidential republic of Weimar Germany. Schmitt then demonstrates the weakness of legal positivism and specifically stops at the several key points in his argument. First, according to Schmitt, the positivists did not know that legality, an unopposed form of the manifestation of legitimacy, had originally been an essential part of Western rationalism. Second, it is necessary to distinguish between the law and the sanctions because of their different legal statuses. This distinguishing is important because the legislative state was gradually becoming the administrative state. As a result, the governing institutions are more powerful than the parliamentary laws. Any parliamentary decision providing executive bodies relevant authority cannot be executed without an effective parliamentary majority. Thirdly, Schmitt explores the question of the so-called "premiums" for the legal possession of power. The afterword concludes with a brief overview of the situation at the end of the January 1933. The Publication includes the translator's preface providing an overview of the main provisions of Schmitt's book, Legality and Legitimacy.


Online shopping business start-known in Indonesia. Some advantages of online shopping is the marketing of products can reach consumers anywhere, the ease of both payment transactions and goods delivery, competitive pricing, product selection is varied, t he quality of the product can be communicated to consumers more transparent lagi.Tujuan of writing this thesis is to analyze and design website is also an online marketing system on PT. Ratu Enim Gallery so it could help market the products of fuel briquettes as a substitute for kerosene, LPG and charcoal is more efficient, safe, hot and easy to households and industry. The method used is the method of analysis and design methods. Analytical methods used to conduct surveys and questionnaires to PT. Ratu Eni m and consumers in order to get the proper analysis for the design of marketing systems at PT. Ratu Enim. Thus we can find out the advantages and disadvantages of this system. The results obtained from both methods is in the form of a website. Website PT. Ratu Enim serves as a means for the promotion of briquettes which provides various facilities, such facilities briquettes information about products and facilities to accommodate inquiries from consumers.


Bluebeard dominates the folk tales of France written by Charles Perrault. He is womanish; sadistic, oppressive and callous. Angela Carter took inspiration from the Gothic tales and French tales of Perrault to depict the plight of contemporary women. In this research paper the various stylistic techniques used by Angela Carter have been explored. She got Nobel Prize for her feministic ideas and innovations in the themes in the context of modern age. Carter contended that in spite of the tremendous changes in society women are subjected to sexual oppression and marginalization. It is quite paradoxical to note that on one hand there are radical changes in the society all over the world, but at the same time women are subjected to all forms of sexual oppression.. Women are active in all fields but their sexual molestation and oppression by the male dominated society still persists. In this paper researcher has depicted the conspicuous role of Bluebeard who plays vital role in the plot of The Magic Toyshop and The Nights at the Circus of Angela Carter.


We present a novel method to determine the projected atomic potential of a specimen directly from transmission electron microscopy coherent electron nano-diffraction patterns, overcoming common limitations encountered so far due to the dynamical nature of electron-matter interaction. The projected potential is obtained by deconvolution of the inverse Fourier transform of experimental diffraction patterns rescaled in intensity by using theoretical values of the kinematical atomic scattering factors. This novelty enables the compensation of dynamical effects typical of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments on standard specimens with thicknesses up to a few tens of nm. The projected atomic potentials so obtained are averaged on sample regions illuminated by nano-sized electron probes and are in good quantitative agreement with theoretical expectations. Contrary to lens-based microscopy, here the spatial resolution in the retrieved projected atomic potential profiles is related to the finer lattice spacing measured in the electron diffraction pattern. The method has been successfully applied to experimental nano-diffraction data of crystalline centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric specimens achieving a resolution of 65 pm.


Fitness costs of reproduction play a key role in understanding the evolution of reproductive tactics. Nevertheless, the detection and the intensity of costs of reproduction vary according to which life-history traits and species are studied. We propose an evolutionary model demonstrating that the chance of detecting a cost of reproduction should be lower when the fitness component studied has a low rather than high variance. Consequently, the fitness component that is affected the most by costs of reproduction should vary with life speed. Since long-lived species have developed a strategy that avoids jeopardizing their survival and short-lived species favour current reproduction, variance in survival is smaller and variance in reproduction higher in long-lived vs. short-lived species. We review empirical studies of costs of reproduction in free-ranging mammals, comparing evidence of costs reported among species and focal traits. In support of our model, more studies reported evidence of reproductive costs of reproduction in ungulates than in rodents, whereas survival costs of reproduction were more frequent in rodents than in ungulates. The life-history model we propose is expected to apply to any species, and hence provides a better understanding of life-history variation, which should be relevant to all evolutionary ecologists.


Digital fingerprinting protects multimedia content from illegal redistribution by uniquely marking every copy of the content distributed to each user. The collusion attack is a powerful attack where several different fingerprinted copies of the same content are combined together to attenuate or even remove the fingerprints. One major category of collusion-resistant fingerprinting employs an explicit step of coding. Most existing works on coded fingerprinting mainly focus on the code-level issues and treat the embedding issues through abstract assumptions without examining the overall performance. In this paper, we jointly consider the coding and embedding issues for coded fingerprinting systems and examine their performance in terms of collusion resistance, detection computational complexity, and distribution efficiency. Our studies show that coded fingerprinting has efficient detection but rather low collusion resistance. Taking advantage of joint coding and embedding, we propose a permuted subsegment embedding technique and a group-based joint coding and embedding technique to improve the collusion resistance of coded fingerprinting while maintaining its efficient detection. Experimental results show that the number of colluders that the proposed methods can resist is more than three times as many as that of the conventional coded fingerprinting approaches.


Background: With a population-based setting, high coverage and accurately recorded data, the validity of a register is guaranteed. The South-East Region Prostate Cancer relies on the National Cancer Register as a basic source of data, thereby ensuring a high coverage of the corresponding geographic area. To assess the reproducibility of the data recorded a random sample of the cases were reviewed a second time and compared to the original recording. Material and methods: The South-East Region Prostate Cancer Register was started in 1987. In addition to the basic data acquired from the Swedish National Register, it also includes tumour stage, grade, treatment and, since 1992, PSA. In the first stage of quality assessment 10 cases for each of the years 1987-1996 from Linköping University Hospital were randomly selected for two independent recodings according to the same protocol as the original registration. In the second step 10 cases each for the same years from the remaining 8 hospitals in the region were selected for a single recoding. Results: No systematic deviations were seen between the two independent recodings from Linköping, a single recoding was therefore considered sufficient for assessing the reproducibility of the data from the remaining hospitals in the region. The Kappa values for agreement between the original registration and the single recoding ranged from 0.589 to 0.869. Conclusion: The population-based setting and high coverage guarantees the external validity of the register. The internal validity is ensured by the high reproducibility shown in the present study.


*These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1), acting as a transcriptional activator for liver-specific transcripts, plays a vital part in proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle. Methods: The mRNA expression of FOXA1 in 90 HCC tissues and matched adjacent nontumor tissues was determined by qRT-PCR. The downstream and upstream regulators of FOXA1 were identified by bioinformatics analysis and experimental confirmation. Results: We found out that the expression of FOXA1 was obviously higher in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues than that in matched non-tumor tissues. Similarly, FOXA1 is also highly expressed in HCC cell lines as compared with normal human hepatic cell line L02. Clinical association analysis indicated that high expression of FOXA1 was prominently correlated with high HBV level, large tumor size, high venous infiltration, high Edmondson–Steiner grading, and advanced tumor-node-metastasis tumor stage. Furthermore, the in vitro tests showed that ectopic expression of FOXA1 promoted HepG2 cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis. In contrast, the downregulation of FOXA1 inhibited cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells. To investigate the functional mechanism of FOXA1, anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), an executor in proliferation and apoptosis, was identified as the direct target gene of FOXA1. Meanwhile, we also found the expression of FOXA1 could be inhibited by miR-212-3p, which working as a tumor suppressor downregulated in HCC. Conclusion: We revealed that FOXA1 exerted its biological function by regulating AGR2 expression, and its ectopic expression may be blamed for low expression of miR-212-3p.


OBJECTIVE
This review focuses on the role of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in diabetic vascular complications.

DATA SOURCES
Relevant articles published in English or Chinese from 1981 to present were selected from PubMed. The search terms were "BKCa channels" and "diabetes". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.

STUDY SELECTION
Articles regarding the role of BKCa channels in diabetic vascular complications and relevant mechanisms were selected.

RESULTS
The BKCa channels are abundantly expressed in vascular smooth cells and play an important role in regulation of vascular tone. Multiple studies indicated that the expression and function of BKCa channels are altered by different mechanisms in diabetic vascular diseases such as coronary arterial disease, cerebral arterial disease, and diabetic retinopathy.

CONCLUSION
BKCa channels may play an important role in diabetic vascular complications and may be an effective therapeutic target for relieving and reducing the burden of diabetic vascular complications.


The performance of overseas (OS) and New Zealand (NZ) Holstein Friesian (HF) dairy heifers was compared when fed an all-pasture diet (Grass) or a total mixed ration (TMR) throughout lactation. The four treatments were NZ Grass (n=14); OS Grass (n=9); NZ TMR (n=15); and OS TMR (n=10). Compared with NZ HF, OS HF had a higher live weight and produced more milk, but milksolids yield, efficiency of milksolids production, and persistency of lactation were not different. Compared with HF fed Grass, HF fed TMR produced more milk and milksolids, were more efficient, had a greater persistency of lactation, and ended lactation with a greater body weight. The OS HF genotype was unable to maintain acceptable body condition and live weight on an all-grass diet. This raises serious questions regarding the sustainability and suitability of these genetics for seasonal all-pasture dairying systems.


Triplication of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome (DS) results in overexpression of the minibrain kinase/dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylated and regulated kinase 1A gene (DYRK1A). DYRK1A phosphorylates cytoplasmic tau protein and appears in intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). We have previously shown significantly more DYRK1A-positive NFTs in DS brains than in sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD) brains. This study demonstrates a gene dosage-proportional increase in the level of DYRK1A in DS in the cytoplasm and the cell nucleus, and enhanced cytoplasmic and nuclear immunoreactivity of DYRK1A in DS. The results suggest that overexpressed DYRK1A may alter both phosphorylation of tau and alternative splicing factor (ASF). Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed modification of ASF phosphorylation in DS/AD and AD in comparison to controls. Altered phosphorylation of ASF by overexpressed nuclear DYRK1A may contribute to the alternative splicing of the tau gene and an increase by 2.68× of the 3R/4R ratio in DS/AD, and a several-fold increase in the number of 3R tau-positive NFTs in DS/AD subjects compared with that in sporadic AD subjects. These data support the hypothesis that phosphorylation ofASF by overexpressed DYRK1A may contribute to alternative splicing of exon 10, increased expression of 3R tau, and early onset of neurofibrillary degeneration in DS.


In heterogeneous radio network environments, the incorporation of dynamic adaptation capabilities in the protocol stack of mobile devices is an important challenge. In this direction, an appropriate model of the network decision-making process for mobile device adaptation is presented. Two main adaptation alternatives are assumed: (1) handover and (2) protocol reconfiguration. We consider two classes of mobile devices, i.e., reconfigurable and autonomous; the difference between them lies on the degree by which they support the decision-making functionality. An algorithmic framework for the management of the decision-making requests for reconfiguration or handovers is proposed. This work is based on the introduced metric of user satisfaction, which is based on the network response time for serving the decision-making requests. Such a framework is important for guiding the relocation of mobile terminals to achieve offloading. Furthermore, an analytical model for the computation of the user satisfaction is introduced, based on the work by Litoiu The analysis uses multiclass queuing networks to model the requests to the network as transactions among the system entities and compute the user satisfaction and the required parameters, e.g., network response time bounds. The obtained results show how the global bounds on the asymptotic network response time and throughput per class are affected by the number and frequency of reconfiguration decision requests. The analysis quantifies how the increase in the autonomicity level of mobile devices affects the network load and how to maximize the percentage of requests handled by the network, compared with the percentage of dropped requests. Moreover, our work reveals the degree of performance deterioration caused by increasing the autonomicity level in the management of requests.


Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been approved as an effective prevention strategy for HIV infection in high-risk populations. However, little is known about its effects on people who have failed to prevent HIV infection. Based on a proposed mathematical HIV-PrEP model, we examined the effectiveness of different drug responses and PrEP times on patient outcomes. Our result demonstrated a significant interaction between the drug response and patient outcomes. The generalized benefits of PrEP on patient outcomes can be observed in all PrEP groups. The optimal PrEP time might correlate with the clinical pharmacology of the drug. From an epidemiological viewpoint, when the drug response reaches a sufficiently high level, the PrEP strategy can successfully control HIV infection at a population level, even for those people who have failed in preventing HIV infection.


Abstract The half-open real unit interval (0,1] is closed under the ordinary multiplication and its residuum. The corresponding infinite-valued propositional logic has as its equivalent algebraic semantics the equational class of cancellative hoops. Fixing a strong unit in a cancellative hoop—equivalently, in the enveloping lattice-ordered abelian group—amounts to fixing a gauge scale for falsity. In this paper we show that any strong unit in a finitely presented cancellative hoop H induces naturally (i.e., in a representation-independent way) an automorphism-invariant positive normalized linear functional on H. Since H is representable as a uniformly dense set of continuous functions on its maximal spectrum, such functionals—in this context usually called states—amount to automorphism-invariant finite Borel measures on the spectrum. Different choices for the unit may be algebraically unrelated (e.g., they may lie in different orbits under the automorphism group of H), but our second main result shows that the corresponding measures are always absolutely continuous w.r.t. each other, and provides an explicit expression for the reciprocal density.


Capital-labor substitution and TFP estimates are essential features of many economic models. Such models typically embody a balanced growth path. This often leads researchers to estimate models imposing stringent prior choices on technical change. We demonstrate that estimation of the substitution elasticity and TFP growth can be substantially biased if technical progress is thereby mis-specified. We obtain analytical and simulation results in the context of a model consistent with balanced and near-balanced growth (i.e. departures from balanced growth but broadly stable factor shares). Given this evidence, a Constant Elasticity of Substitution production function system is then estimated for the US economy. Results show that the estimated substitution elasticity tends to be significantly lower using a factor-augmenting specification (well below one). We are also able to reject conventional neutrality forms in favor of general factor augmentation with a non-negligible capital-augmenting component. Our work thus provides insights into production and supply-side estimation in balanced-growth frameworks.


This paper discusses the design and field implementation of a facility for the measurement of wideband high voltage (HV) transient waveforms using a normally earthed substation current transformer (CT) configured in a transconductance voltage measuring topology. This implies that the HV waveforms are obtained by integrating the CT earth currents. The design, implementation and performance evaluation of dedicated instrumentation for the measurement, summation, integration and acquisition of multiple earth currents under field conditions are discussed. It is shown that a system with a measuring bandwidth of the order of 500 kHz can be realized.


Two accidents, Seveso 1976 and Bhopal 1984, paved the way toward the international control of hazardous substances and waste, and public dissemination of information on their releases and transfers. The final facility cleanup in Seveso took place in 1982. The remaining dioxin-containing residues were packed in 41 drums. However, the drums disappeared and were found several months later in France. This was the starting point for the development of international control on trans- boundary movements of waste within the OECD. Between 1983 and 1992 OECD developed five binding Council Acts on the classification and con- trol of transboundary movements of waste. This work also provided the foundation for the adoption of a series of directives and the Shipment Regulation 259/93 within the European Community, aimed at monitoring and controlling transboundary movements of hazardous waste, and of a global instrument in 1989 under UNEP: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal. The Bhopal 1984 and another similar accident shortly thereafter led to the development of a mandatory Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) in the United States in 1986, to inform the public of releases and transfers of potentially hazardous pollutants and waste. OECD work has supported the rapidly increasing implementation of Pollutant Release and Trans- fer Registers (PRTRs) since 1994. The Basel 1989, Rotterdam 1998, and Stockholm 2001 Conventions all require strict control of the production and management of hazardous chemicals and waste. Yet, production of hazardous chemicals and generation of hazardous waste are still in rise.


The effect of integrated nutrient management on aromatic rice var. basmati-370 was studied. Treatments included 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF:80:40:40 NPK), 75% RDF, and 75% RDF in combination with pelleted form of organic manure (0.4 t ha-1), organic manure rich with humus (0.1 t ha-1), Karanja (Pongamia pinna) cake (0.6 t ha-1), neem seed powder (0.8 t ha-1), FYM (4.0 t ha-1) and crop residue (3.8 t ha-1). All the organic manures applied at the time of land preparation. Supply of inorganic sources of nutrient in conjunction with organic sources significantly increased grain yield (21.2–76.8%) over sole inorganic application. The highest grain yield of rice (2.83 t ha-1) registered under integrated use of 75% RDF + pelleted form of organic manure. It was closely followed by the grain yield (2.56 t ha-1) obtained with the application of 75% RDF + neem seed powder. However, sole chemical fertilizer addition produced lower grain yield (1.6 t ha-1) compared to combined use of organic and inorganic sources. Further considerable improvement in grain quality was recorded under the treatments of integrated nutrient supply. Uptake of N, P and K was improved up to 54.6, 72.3 and 28.3% respectively with the integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizer compared to RDF. Under integrated nutrient management considerable build up of soil fertility status (N, P and K content) was observed. This furnished the possibility of replacing 25% RDF through pelleted form of organic manure or neem seed powder or FYM for sustainable production, improving quality and fertility build up of soil.


ABSTRACT: The Loaded Leprechaun is a brewery/restaurant with locations around the U.S. At the end of their meal, patrons have the option to participate in the popular "Dollar Holler" tradition, wherein they personalize a dollar bill and staple it to a surface in the restaurant. The case requires students to address the legal, financial accounting, tax, and auditing issues arising from this tradition. The modular nature of the case allows the instructor to assign individual topics or the entire case, depending on the nature of the class. As students complete the case, they are exposed to an unusual, but realistic, scenario requiring them to think critically about the underlying accounting issues and conduct professional research. In addition, implementation of the case does not require a significant investment of effort on the part of the instructor.


Metal-carbonyl complexes are attractive structures for bio-imaging. In addition to unique vibrational properties due to the CO moieties enabling IR and Raman cell imaging, the appropriate choice of ancillary ligands opens up the opportunity for luminescence detection. Through a classification by techniques, past and recent developments in the application of metal-carbonyl complexes for vibrational and luminescence bio-imaging are reviewed. Finally, their potential as bimodal IR and luminescent probes is addressed.


The growing importance of creativity in organizations, the reliance of creativity on knowledge, the increasing use of information systems (IS) as means to support organizational knowledge - all point to the importance of research on the relationship between IS, knowledge and creativity in organizations. In this paper, evidence from case studies of realworld industrial creative processes is presented. Drawing on the evidence, the creativity, knowledge and IS literatures are critically examined. In particular, attention is given to the Creativity Templates approach - according to which, fundamental "templates" representing creativity regularities underlie seemingly original product instantiations, and therefore algorithms for the development of creative products can be used to enhance creative processes. An alternative view of bounded creativity is explored that is reliant on flexible knowledge sharing, rather than on prescriptive creativity algorithms. This view involves primarily two complementary organizational practices: communication of exemplars and references, and knowledge restriction. Ideation, in this view, takes place with no direct use of techniques or creativity enhancement methods. Such approach may be more suitable to highly creative organizations given the strong sense of identity and high regard of originality. Unlike many of the creativity support approaches presented in the literature, it is not an isolated technique but rather a set of fairly specific organizational practices, which, brought together, seem to give rise to creativity, and mitigate against potential identity conflicts.


Objectives: To assess the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis and the outcome of partial agenesis (PACC) and hypoplasia of corpus callosum (HCC). Methods: PACC/HCC were suspected on fetal multiplanar neurosonography when the corpus callosum appeared caudally shorter and thinner respectively. Follow-up was obtained in all cases. Results: Between 1990–2003, 8 cases of PACC and 3 cases of HCC were identified at a median gestational age of 22 weeks (21–33) (see table). The cavum septi pellucidum was present in 9 cases, in 7 there was mild to severe ventriculomegaly, usually in association with 'teardrop' lateral ventricles, and 4 had associated cerebral anomalies (Dandy-Walker complex, emimegalencephaly, microcephaly). Magnetic resonance (MR) was performed in 4/11 cases without adding significant information. Five fetuses were terminated, 7 had multiple anomalies, and 3 are developing normally. Conclusions: PACC can be reliably diagnosed since midgestation. However, multiplanar neurosonography is required. On standard axial planes sonographic findings are similar to complete agenesis but more subtle. In particular the cavum septi pellucidum is usually present. MR did not offer significant advantage over multiplanar neurosonography. HCC was an incidental finding usually in fetuses with multiple anomalies. The outcome of PACC/HCC is similar to complete agenesis of the corpus callosum.


Continuous conduction mode power factor correction (PFC) without input current measurement is a step forward with respect to previously proposed PFC digital controllers. Inductor volt-second (vsL) measurement in each switching period enables digital estimation of the input current; however, an accurate compensation of the small errors in the measured vsL is required for the estimation to match the actual current. Otherwise, they are accumulated every switching period over the half-line cycle, leading to an appreciable current distortion. A vsL estimation method is proposed, measuring the input (vg) and output voltage (vo). Discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) occurs near input line zero crossings and is detected by measuring the drain-to-source MOSFET voltage vds. Parasitic elements cause a small difference between the estimated voltage across the inductor based on input and output voltage measurements and the actual one, which must be taken into account to estimate the input current in the proposed sensorless PFC digital controller. This paper analyzes the current estimation error caused by errors in the ON-time estimation, voltage measurements, and the parasitic elements. A new digital feedback control with high resolution is also proposed. It cancels the difference between DCM operation time of the real input current, (TDCMg) and the estimated DCM time (TDCMreb). Therefore, the current estimation is calibrated using digital signals during operation in DCM. A fast feedforward coarse time error compensation is carried out with the measured delay of the drive signal, and a fine compensation is achieved with a feedback loop that matches the estimated and real DCM time. The digital controller can be used in universal applications due to the ability of the DCM time feedback loop to autotune based on the operation conditions (power level, input voltage, output voltage...), which improves the operation range in comparison with previous solutions. Experimental results are shown for a 1-kW boost PFC converter over a wide power and voltage range.


The history of Ireland highlights how Irish identity has proved to be both an emotive and divisive force in Irish society. Events in both pre and post-independent Ireland point out how central Irishness has been within Irish society and also highlights how a sense of national identity has often been assumed as shared, natural and fundamentally taken for granted. Accepting that hegemonic understanding of Irishness change, so in 1900 – when Ireland was of course part of the United Kingdom – the dominant sense of Irishness may differ to that of 1971 or 2004, there can be no avoiding the position that people in Ireland remain firmly socialised through a discourse of nationalised identity.
The aim of this research is to investigate how young people engage with this nationalised identity and position their own self-understandings of Irishness. Following on from explaining young peoples" sense of identity this research formalises their understandings of Irishness into particular paradigms of Irish identity.
The findings show that though young people strongly identify with Irishness their understandings are often shifted around to accommodate varied meanings which can be implied of Irishness. Young people then hold both a solid and fluid sense of Irishness which allows shifting meanings of Irishness to fit contextual sitations. Young people may overwhelming identity with Irishness but in comparison to how emotive and essentially stable Irishness was for much of the Twentieth century, it is fair to say young people embrace a brand of Irishness that might be termed Light Irishness.


Brachiaria species are widely sown on the infertile and Al-toxic soils of neotropical savannas. Breeding programs seek to combine edaphic adaptation with other traits in interspecific hybrids. Edaphic adaptation is difficult to assess because it is only manifest in pasture persistence across several growing seasons. We developed and validated a solution-culture technique that uses rooted vegetative propagules from mature plants to assess two key components of edaphic adaptation: root vigor and Al resistance. Root vigor was assessed by measuring growth of adventitious root systems in 200 mM CaCl2 (pH 4.2). Aluminum resistance was assessed by comparing root growth in this solution vs. root growth in an identical solution that also contained 200 mM AlCl3. The well-adapted parent (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk) was superior to the less-adapted parent (B. ruziziensis Germain & Evrad clone 44-02), and both traits segregated as expected in a set of 44-02 3 Basilisk hybrids. A simplified version of this technique, which exclusively relies on visual inspection, has been implemented in our breeding program to facilitate progress toward edaphic adaptation.


Surface heat fluxes play a crucial role in the surface energy and water balance. In situ measurements are costly and difficult, and large‐scale flux mapping is hindered by surface heterogeneity. Previous studies have demonstrated that surface heat fluxes can be estimated by assimilating land surface temperature (LST) and soil moisture to determine two key parameters: a neutral bulk heat transfer coefficient (CHN) and an evaporative fraction (EF). Here a methodology is proposed to estimate surface heat fluxes by assimilating Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) soil moisture data and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) LST data into a dual‐source (DS) model using a hybrid particle assimilation strategy. SMAP soil moisture data are assimilated using a particle filter (PF), and GOES LST data are assimilated using an adaptive particle batch smoother (APBS) to account for the large gap in the spatial and temporal resolution. The methodology is implemented in an area in the U.S. Southern Great Plains. Assessment against in situ observations suggests that soil moisture and LST estimates are in better agreement with observations after assimilation. The RMSD for 30 min (daytime) flux estimates is reduced by 6.3% (8.7%) and 31.6% (37%) for H and LE on average. Comparison against a LST‐only and a soil moisture‐only assimilation case suggests that despite the coarse resolution, assimilating SMAP soil moisture data is not only beneficial but also crucial for successful and robust flux estimation, particularly when the uncertainties in the model estimates are large.


This study analyzes the relationship of savings behavior and financial problems to financial literacy among college students in Malaysia. Controlling for correlates of financial literacy, multivariate analysis of a sample obtained at 11 colleges and universities demonstrated that students who had higher financial knowledge test scores were more likely to report savings behavior and also reported fewer financial problems. The influence of childhood consumer experience and financial socialization agents on savings and financial problems was more mixed, indicating that financial experience before college may create bad habits or poor attitudes toward financial management that could be mitigated through financial education during college. Implications of these findings for targeting financial education on particular kinds of students are discussed.


There are many food-borne pathogens in the wild and they are considered the cause of serious public health problems in both developed and developing countries. The use of natural products, such as antimicrobial compounds, has been increasing, in an attempt to control bacteria present in foods, mainly pathogens resistant to conventional antibiotics. This chapter is intended to provide the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Citrus latifolia (tahiti lemon) and Curcuma longa (saffron) as well as to determinate its chemical composition. The oils had been extracted by hydrodistillation with a Clevenger type apparatus and the antimicrobial activity was performed against standard strains Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus . The antioxidant activity was carried out using the ABTS [2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] method. The essential oils presented a mixture of mono- and sesquiterpenes. The best minimum inhibitory concentration was determined to C. zeylanicum against S. aureus . O. vulgare antioxidant activity presented inhibition of 90.74% and EC 50 of 14 μ g mL − 1 . These results demonstrate that the essential oils analyzed presented efficient antibacterial activity and antioxidant action being able to satisfy the demand of use as control of microorganisms in the food.


The economic and financial crisis of 2008 has raised some particularly challenging issues regarding assessing the performance of proposed financial institution bailout solutions. The need for quick action to avoid financial disaster often precluded a full airing of the possible advantages and disadvantages associated with the accountability and performance indicator mechanisms put in place. Now, a vigorous debate is occurring over performance indicators related to the effectiveness, efficiency and equity aspects of the solutions that have been implemented both in the U.S. and Europe. The United States major bailout proposal was the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) overseen by the Office of Financial Stability in the US Department of Treasury which has taken major ownership positions in US banks.

The British bailout plan called the Bank Recapitalisation Scheme (BRS) is being directed by HM Treasury and the United Kingdom Financial institutions, Corp. which has also taken equity positions in major UK banks. These similarities and differences form the backdrop for the empirical case studies. The particular nature of these government programs make them ideal candidates for an extreme type case analysis in the characterizing the fight over defining performance. Not surprisingly, a host of academics, private financial institutions, government agencies and even intergovernmental governing bodies such as the IMF are airing their respective performance definitions. The competition between these bodies will serve as the empirical basis for assessing the arguments and motivations over how to define performance in the context of the bank bailouts. These case studies will be analyzed in the performance regime and competing values conceptual frameworks as initially brought together in Talbot (2008).

. The performance regime frame will help assess the institutional forces who are attempting to exert influence over indicators. The competing values frame advances the notion that there are four major types of models by which social relationships are constructed and the form through the regime influences impact indicators and performance definitions. The major new contribution presented here will be in using these case studies to define the types of variables and factors that drive different types of private and public agents in constructing the definition of performance as well as advancing this combination of the performance regime and competing values framework. It is felt that these financial bailouts provide a rich set of data upon which new insights and the advancement of knowledge can be constructed. The United States and United Kingdom models represent important cases where large scale financial bailouts have occurred in two countries that have similar business cultures and yet there remain important differences in their approaches.


INTRODUCTION
Intraarticular distal radius fractures are a therapeutic challenge for the orthopedist surgeon there are studies that support the use of fluoroscopy, and others promote arthroscopy, with this work we try to summarize the evidence, to determine whether arthroscopic assistance provides additional benefits to avoid joint incongruities compared to results obtained under fluoroscopic assistance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Systematic search for prospective, retrospective, cohort, follow-up, clinical trials on PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Scielo, Embase, Google Scholar and other national sources, including as keywords the terms: "intra-articular distal radius fracture", "wrist arthroscopy", "arthroscopy", "fluoroscopy". The average values and standard offsets for each characteristic, obtained from the selected works, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and illustrative graphs.

RESULTS
463 patients (256 women and 207 men) were evaluated, with an average age of 48.29 years and range from 39 to 64 years. The two treatments (A and F) were homogeneous in terms of the age of the patients reporting (p = 0.5820) and the average follow-up time (p = 0.9597). Only the ulnar deviation and DASH score, for which the arthroscopy group performed best, in the remaining variables the differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION
The evidence available to date is conflicting, and does not allow recommendations to be made for or against these interventions, finding other factors that could influence decision-making.


: Recent years have seen growing interest among historians in newspaper reporting of crime and criminality in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. To date, however, comparatively little academic attention has been paid to the way in which the press, particularly regional newspapers, reported executions. Examining the newspaper reportage of executions at Norwich Castle between 1805-67, this article examines how two newspapers representing different political opinions that circulated in Norfolk during the period, the Tory Norfolk Chronicle and the liberal Bury and Norwich Post, differed in how they reported the executions that took place in the city. The newspapers, it will be shown, differed in both the attention given to executions, and the agenda taken towards them. While both newspapers expressed hopes in its reportage that the lesson of the scaffold would be learned, and described the condemned dying penitent, the Norfolk Chronicle emphasised this a lot more. In particular, it explicitly sought to legitimate executions in its pages by describing at length the confessions made by the condemned, and championed the actions of the Chaplain in attempting to secure confessions from the condemned even as they stood upon the drop with the noose around their necks, and by linking in various ways temporal and supernatural justice. In contrast, both reportage and commentary such as letters and editorials in the Bury and Norwich Post , reveal that it was more concerned with reforming, rather than legitimating, capital punishment.


Cities are complex urban conurbations and facing many challenges. The majority of the world's population now live in cities and consume 80% of the resources. 'Smart City' innovation is emerging as a major response to the challenges cities are facing. Much of the focus remains on technological interventions, but technology alone may not be sufficient to reach smart and sustainable city goals. Cities are made up of people who have influence and are therefore key stakeholders in the development of smart city innovation and cannot be ignored. This paper aims to explore community engagement in Nottingham to help deliver smart city innovation and the way Nottingham City Council is engaging local communities in its smart projects. The paper analyses the community engagement strategy of Nottingham developed as part of the EU funded smart city project, REMOURBAN (REgeneration MOdel for accelerating the smart URBAN transformation). The main drivers and barriers to effective community engagement are identified in the smart city context. This exploratory study adopted a case study strategy and qualitative research methods. The data was collected through thirteen semi-structured interviews with middle and senior managers in Nottingham City Council and other stakeholder organisations in the city and a focus group of five community leaders from three local community groups. The content analysis of the REMOURBAN documents related to citizen engagement and the council's energy strategies and policies was carried out. The key results are discussed with recommendations to nurture effective community engagement as a smart city tool and conclusions are drawn.


Digital Image Correlation (DIC) can be used to obtain full-field strain information on specimens under load. Through analysis of the resultant strain-contours, defects such as delaminations in composite materials can be detected, based on their effect on the deformation behaviour. This work focusses on the use of the DIC technique and two variations of active thermography (lock-in thermography and pulse thermography) for determining the lengths of delaminations in "milled-slot" specimens; for each technique, the measured delamination lengths have been compared with visually observed (i.e. photographed) delaminations grown under fatigue loading in transparent woven fabric GFRP specimens. In addition, the DIC results have been interpreted with the aid of a finite element model of the strain distribution in the milled-slot specimens.
It has been found that the DIC technique provides a reasonably good method for measuring the length of the fatigue-grown delaminations after an empirical fit is applied, with the aid of the FE analysis, to overcome complications caused by fibre-bridging. On the other hand, the results using both lock-in and pulse thermography showed reasonable correlations with the visually observed (i.e. photographed) delamination lengths without the need for an empirical fit, although some post-processing of the data was required. For both thermography techniques, there were difficulties in determining the delamination lengths close to the edge of the milled slot.


Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and is a recognized public health issue. Diagnosis of skin cancer involves biopsy of the suspicious lesion followed by histopathology. Biopsies, which involve excision of the lesion, are invasive, at times unnecessary, and are costly procedures (~$2.8B/year in the US). An unmet critical need exists to develop a non-invasive and inexpensive screening method that can eliminate the need for unnecessary biopsies. To address this need, our group has reported on the continued development of a multimodal spectroscopy (MMS) system towards the goal of a spectral biopsy of skin. Our approach combines Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to collect comprehensive optical property information from suspicious skin lesions. We describe our present efforts to develop an updated MMS system composed of OEM components that will be smaller, less expensive, and more clinic-friendly than the previous system. Key system design choices include the selection of miniature spectrometers, a fiber-coupled broadband light source, a fiber coupled diode laser, and a revised optical probe. Selection of these components results in a ~50% reduction in system footprint, resulting in a more clinic-friendly system. We also present preliminary characterization data from the updated MMS system, showing similar performance with our revised optical probe design. Finally, we present in vivo skin measurements taken with the updated MMS system. Future work includes the initiation of a clinical study (n = 250) of the MMS system to characterize its performance in identifying skin cancers.