Abstract A least squares regression method is formulated for obtaining global temperature and geopotential height profiles from satellite radiation measurements, particularly those obtained by the Sate1lite Infra-Red Spectrometer (SIRS) aboard the Nimbus 3 satellite launched Apr. 14, 1969. Regression equations relating temperature and geopotential height to spectral radiance observations are derived. A method accounting for the influence of clouds, mountains, and hot terrain on the solutions is described. Results obtained from Nimbus 3 radiance data are presented. The procedure described herein has been successfully applied to Nimbus 3 SIRS observations on a real-time basis. The temperature and geopotential heights obtained are being used operationally by the National Meteorological Center in their objective constant pressure analyses. Numerous meteorological results are given to demonstrate the usefulness of this new sounding tool.


The birth of the Vienna Secession was brought about by collaboration among numerous painters, sculptors and architects, including Gustav Klimt and Josef Hoffmann. For more than twenty years these pioneering figures mutually influenced each other as they created lasting monuments to the principles of artistic freedom. Published in conjunction with an exhibition commemorating the centennial of one of the pair's greatest accomplishments - the Stoclet Palace in Brussels - this book centres on the collaboration as a means of exploring the modernist movement at the turn of the century. Essays on Hoffmann's designs for the 1900 Paris World's Fair; the creation of the iconic Ver Sacrum building; the 1909 Internationale Kunstschau exhibition; and the history of the Stoclet Palace trace the rise of one of Europe's most fertile artistic eras. Readers will also learn about the role played by other prominent artists such as George Minne, Fernand Khnopff, Jan Toorop, and Frank Brangwyn as they explore the interplay of ideas that marked this important moment in western art.


We generalize an equation introduced by Benamou and Brenier and characterizing Wasserstein Wp-geodesics for p > 1, from the continuous setting of probability distributions on a Riemannian manifold to the discrete setting of probability distributions on a general graph. Given an initial and a nal distributions (f_0(x)), (f_1(x)), we prove the existence of a curve (f_t(x)) satisfying this Benamou-Brenier equation. We also show that such a curve can be described as a mixture of binomial distributions with respect to a coupling that is solution of a certain optimization problem.


In constructing an ontological theory of a domain such as geography, it is important not only to take account of the vagueness and ambiguity which is inherent in many of the relevant concepts, but also to be able to relate the high-level definitions of the theory to actual sets of data of varying kinds. Any attempt to ignore or remove vagueness and ambiguity risks errors and conflict in the ontological theory with the knowledge of different domain experts, while an inability to ground the theory in real data limits its practical use. We present here a means of structuring such a theory to handle these issues in a principled manner, which lends itself to concrete implementation. We illustrate with reference to several examples from the domain of hydrography.


Arguing for a reconsideration of William Butler Yeats's work in the light of contemporary studies of world literature, Barry Sheils shows how reading Yeats enables a fuller understanding of the relationship between the extensive map of world literary production and the intensities of poetic practice. Yeats's appropriation of Japanese Noh theatre, his promotion of translations of Rabindranath Tagore and Shri Purohit SwA£mi, and his repeated ventures into American culture signalled his commitment to moving beyond Europe for his literary reference points. Sheils suggests that a reexamination of the transnational character of Yeats's work provides an opportunity to reflect critically on the cosmopolitan assumptions of world literature, as well as on the politics of modernist translation. Through a series of close and contextual readings, the book demonstrates how continuing global debates around the crises of economic liberalism and democracy, fanaticism, asymmetric violence, and bioethics were reflected in the poet's formal and linguistic concerns. Challenging orthodox readings of Yeats as a late-romantic nationalist, W.B. Yeats and World Literature: The Subject of Poetry makes a compelling case for reading Yeats's work in the context of its global modernity.


The fixed-dose ledipasvir-sofosbuvir combination offers an effective and well-tolerated pill for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. Only a few analytical works were carried out to estimate the Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir drug combination in the various dosage forms. This work aimed to simplify the estimation process using RP-HPLC methodology. The method was developed on a reversed phase Agilent C18 (4.6 x 150 mm, 5 µm) column. The isocratic elution process was performed using a mobile phase ratio of Methanol (70% v/v): Water (30 % v/v) with 0.6 ml/min flow rate. Elute was scanned using the PDA detector at the wavelength of 235 nm. The results of the elution process showed that the Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir elute the peak at a concentration of 9 μg/ml and 40 μg/ml with retention times of 7.745 min and 2.345 min respectively. The percentage purity of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir was found to be 99.40 % w/v and 98.20 % w/v. The proposed method was found to be a high degree of precision and reproducibility. The percentage recovery was found to be 99.92 % for Ledipasvir and 99.82 % for Sofosbuvir. The LOD and LOQ were measured, and the results were within limits. The developed validation method can be applied for degradation evaluation of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for the various dosage forms.


We present a transient mathematical model for the sublimation growth of silicon carbide (SiC) single crystals by the physical vapor transport (PVT) method. The model of the gas phase consists of balance equations for mass, momentum, and energy, as well as reaction-diffusion equations. Due to physical and chemical reactions, the gas phase is encompassed by free boundaries. Nonlinear heat transport equations are considered in the various solid components of the growth system. Discontinuous and nonlocal interface conditions are formulated to account for temperature steps between gas and solid as well as for diffuse-gray radiative heat transfer between cavity surfaces. An axisymmetric induction heating model is devised using a magnetic scalar potential. For a nonlinear evolution problem arising from the model, a finite volume scheme is stated, followed by a discrete existence and uniqueness result. We conclude by presenting and analyzing results of transient numerical experiments relevant to the physical growth process.


The foregoing experiments in outdoor, unprotected enclosures demonstrates the difficulties surrounding the rearing of turkeys. These are discussed from another view-point and to avoid repetition only a few outlying facts should be considered here. The occasional presence of coccidia, the presence of Heterakis papillosa in the ceca, the occurrence of cases of aspergillosis and of chicken-pox in incubator-bred birds which did not come in contact with other domesticated birds, except in a few cases with incubator-bred chickens, show clearly that turkeys are picking up from the ground material deposited by other birds. The agent of blackhead must come from the same sources. The field experiments show a steadily increasing concentration of the infection from 1917 to 1919, even though the ground had been ploughed and seeded before use. As a result, the various groups of turkeys became infected to a greater degree. The growth in the intensity of the disease may be in part ascribed to an accumulation on the soil of infectious agents during any given season after they had been introduced, but it is hardly acceptable as an explanation from season to season, when the soul was either virgin, as regards poultry yards, or ploughed deep and seeded before use. A more rational hypothesis is the gradual attraction of birds in larger numbers and greater variety on account of the food supply in the turkey enclosures and the more intensive cultivation of the land surrounding the laboratory and animal buildings since the beginning of the experiments in 1917. The intensity of the outbreaks due to the confining of young turkeys with birds over a year old which had been infected during the preceding year, or on ground previously occupied by them, was in all instances much greater than in the spontaneous outbreaks. The cases amounted to nearly 100 per cent of the exposed. On the other hand, the number of cases in the control flocks varied and was very low in some groups. It could have been kept down if the sick birds had been promptly removed and not permitted to recover on the same ground. However, the object of the experiment was not to suppress the disease, but to see to what extent it would develop. It is self-evident that the results obtained apply strictly only to that part of the country where the experiments were made. We have at present no means of knowing whether the sources of infection would become more numerous and concentrated with a higher mean annual temperature, or the reverse. Only by using incubator turkeys exclusively for such tests and eliminating the older turkeys and domesticated birds as carriers, can the miscellaneous, at present not controllable sources of the agents of this disease in different localities and the chances of successful rearing be determined.


A cross‐sectional survey of outpatients attending the three district hospitals in the towns of Mombasa, Kilifi, and Malindi was conducted to determine the patterns of hepatitis B transmission in eastern Kenya. Of 1,533 study subjects (mean age 21.9 ± 13.2 years; range, 4 months to 80 years), 11.4% were positive for HBsAg and 56.2% were seropositive for at least one hepatitis B marker (HBsAg, anti‐HBs, or anti‐HBc). Antidelta antibody was found in 1.2% of HBsAg‐positive samples. HBeAg was found in 36.0% of HBsAg‐positive samples obtained from women of childbearing age. The prevalance of seropositivity for hepatitis B markers was positively correlated with age, increasing from 20% in subjects less than 4 years old to more than 80% in study subjects greater than 40 years old. On multivariate analysis, male sex was found to be associated with HBsAg positivity, and age and previous deliveries of children were associated with seropositivity for any hepatitis marker (HBsAg, anti‐HBs, or anti‐HBc). An effective hepatitis B immunization strategy in this region of Kenya would require vaccination early in life because a major portion of hepatitis B transmission occurs in childhood.


It is dwelling that allows mortals to initiate themselves in time and space. As such, dwelling constitutes the event of being. In his essay "Building Dwelling Thinking," Martin Heidegger stipulates that dwelling can only be achieved through harmonious relations among the constituents, earth, sky, mortals and gods ("divinities"), of the "fourfold." Heidegger writes, "To preserve the fourfold, to save the earth, to receive the sky, to await the divinities, to initiate mortals – this fourfold preserving is the simple essence of dwelling." Initiating themselves in time and space is the great difficulty that the residents of Ilmorog, the remote village in postcolonial Kenya in which Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel Petals of Blood is set, experience; in Petals of Blood , dwelling is what defines mortals' being.


In this study. the spray models incorporated into the GTT code were tested for sprays injected in quiescent, swirling gases and for the sprays impinging on a flat wall, and the validity of the models has been confirmed by comparing the calculated results with the experimental data. Using this code, the gas flow, spray behavior and fuel vapor distributions in the combustion chamber of a D.I engine have been numerically analyzed with respect to the constant injection pressure and the injection pressure varying with injection time.


Background: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) might prevent hospitalizations in children because of the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the complications of influenza infection. We investigated the benefit of PCV vaccination in preventing influenza hospitalization in children <5 years of age during the 2009 to 2010 pandemic wave and the 2010 to 2011 influenza epidemic in Spain. Methods: A multicenter matched case-control study was undertaken in 27 hospitals from 7 Spanish regions between July 2009 and April 2011. A case was defined as a hospitalized patient between 6 months and 5 years of age with influenza virus infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. We selected 2 matched controls for each case from patients with unplanned hospital admission for reasons other than acute respiratory infection or influenza-like illness. Cases and controls were matched according to age, date of hospitalization and province of residence. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated for associations between influenza hospitalization and PCV vaccination. Results: One hundred ninety-four cases and 342 controls were included in the study. In the 2009 to 2010 pandemic wave, the adjusted benefit in preventing hospitalization was 48% (95% confidence interval: 1 to 76) in fully vaccinated children compared with –79% (95% confidence interval: –341 to 27) in the 2010 to 2011 influenza season. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that, in children <5 years of age, PCV vaccination reduced hospitalization during the 2009 to 2010 pandemic wave. By contrast, there was no observed benefit of vaccination in the 2010 to 2011 influenza season.


Information technology is evolving in bulk, has changed the shape of society, from the local people of the world into a global world community. Social changes as a result of the fast-paced process of modernization and globalization has resulted in changes in the pattern of life, ethics and moral values in particular the relationship of sexual behavior. Students as part of the community is a great consumer of media information, whether in print, and electronic media. This study aims to describe the information media exposure to premarital sexual acts boarding student at Kampung Susuk,  Medan 2014. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, with the aim to determine the effect of media exposure information on premarital sexual acts boarding student at Kampung Susuk Medan Year 2013. The method used was to interview the informant chosen in Kampung Implant. The number of informants in this study 5 people. Boarding students at Kampung Susuk understand what media information and feel increased knowledge of sexual information through the media. This gives the effect on the sexual attitudes of students boarding that arouse sexual desire in themselves and to give effect to their sexual actions, evident from their sexual activity with a partner. Therefore, the necessary existence of clear rules about visiting hours, and a ban on bringing a friend of the opposite sex to stay at the boarding house with clear sanctions against the perpetrators as well as the commitment of the residents who live for obey it. It also need a  serious attention from the local community, both from the head of the environment and security forces against the sexual behavior of children in boarding house, for example by sharing a circular letter to the owners and occupants of the boarding house.


Whittle index policy is a powerful tool to obtain asymptotically optimal solutions for the notoriously intractable problem of restless bandits. However, finding the Whittle indices remains a difficult problem for many practical restless bandits with convoluted transition kernels. This paper proposes NeurWIN, a neural Whittle index network that seeks to learn the Whittle indices for any restless bandits by leveraging mathematical properties of the Whittle indices. We show that a neural network that produces the Whittle index is also one that produces the optimal control for a set of Markov decision problems. This property motivates using deep reinforcement learning for the training of NeurWIN. We demonstrate the utility of NeurWIN by evaluating its performance for three recently studied restless bandit problems. Our experiment results show that the performance of NeurWIN is significantly better than other RL algorithms.


A reduction in renal gluconeogenesis appears to be one cause for the drop in blood glucose concentration (BGC) accompanying decreased renal function in diabetes. However, it remains unclear as to how this drop in BGC is related to the changes in reabsorption of amino acids (AAs) that accompany decreased renal function. We therefore investigated the relationship between the drop in BGC accompanying decreased renal function in diabetes patients and changes in the reabsorption rates of AAs.
Subjects and methods: Using 100 diabetes patients and 100 non-diabetics as subjects, we measured their blood AAs concentration and urinary AAs excretion, and calculated the AAs' reabsorption rate. We then examined the relationship between the latter and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and HbA1c.
Results: In diabetics, blood glutamate concentration and reabsorption rate of glutamate were reduced. The blood glutamine concentration was increased; however, the reabsorption of glutamine was unchanged. The reabsorption rates of some AAs, including glutamate, showed a positive correlation with eGFR. However, a reduced reabsorption rate of glutamate was the only independent risk factor for reduced eGFR. Moreover, only the reabsorption rate of glutamate correlated positively with HbA1c.
Conclusions: In diabetes, glutamate reabsorption shows a decline that parallels decreased renal function: this reduction is related to a drop in BGC. The reduction in the reabsorption of glutamate appears to influence renal gluconeogenesis by reducing the gluconeogenesis-adjusting factor (malate-aspartate shuttle), not by reducing gluconeogenic substrates. Further studies are therefore needed to examine the role glutamate plays in renal gluconeogenesis.


: Three of the nitrosoureas, BCNU, CCNU, and methyl-CCNU, have displayed significant antitumor activity in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma with none clearly superior to the others, although direct comparison in clinical trials was not accomplished. Response rates to various combinations of these nitrosoureas seem a bit higher, but not dramatically so, when compared to the single-agent response rates, although again this cannot be stated with certainty since direct comparisons were not accomplished. There appears to be no therapeutic advantage to the utilization of any one of the nitrosoureas over the others, but oral administration, as is available for CCNU and methyl-CCNU, is a distinct advantage to the patient and to the clinician. The response rates are, for the most part, rather consistent for the various studies reported in this paper, and these response rates leave a great deal of room for improvement. Secondary therapy utilizing the nitrosoureas was singularly unsuccessful in most of the reported clinical trials. It is refreshing, however, to have agents which have shown activity, although modest, in this most refractory of neoplasms.


In the last decade, the importance of exploiting significant long-term potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in Chile has increased significantly as fossil fuel prices rise and concerns regarding climate change issues grow, posing an important threat to its economy. However, to date, the advancement rate of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in the country has been very limited in practice due to various barriers. For this reason, identifying and mitigating the main barriers that hamper the advancement of RETs is necessary to the successful deployment of these technologies. Based on data collected from a questionnaire survey and interviews conducted among the major renewable project developers, the major barriers in the adoption of renewable energy technologies in the Chilean context are identified and also ranked in importance. Our findings show that the most significant barriers include "grid connection constraints and lack of grid capacity, longer processing times for large number of permits", "land and/or water lease securement" and "limited access to financing". Furthermore, we discuss the most critical ones in detail together with policy recommendations to overcome them.


The novel cobalt incorporated nickel phosphate, (CoNiPO4), has been synthesized from aqueous system with triethyl amine (TEA) as an organic template using the microwave assisted reaction system under weak basic conditions. Among various factors used for synthesis, the pH of the reactant mixture and homogeneous heating under microwave could be the decisive factor to form the cobalt incorporated microporous VSB-n type nickel phosphate with novel structural parameters and unique stacked sheet like morphology. Its ability to perform as heterogeneous catalyst was discovered in the aerial oxidation of ethylbenzene and liquid phase oxidation of styrene using aq. hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent.


Monte Carlo (MC) codes are increasingly spreading in the hadrontherapy community due to their detailed description of radiation transport and interaction with matter. The suitability of a MC code for application to hadrontherapy demands accurate and reliable physical models capable of handling all components of the expected radiation field. This becomes extremely important for correctly performing not only physical but also biologically based dose calculations, especially in cases where ions heavier than protons are involved. In addition, accurate prediction of emerging secondary radiation is of utmost importance in innovative areas of research aiming at in vivo treatment verification. This contribution will address the recent developments of the FLUKA MC code and its practical applications in this field. Refinements of the FLUKA nuclear models in the therapeutic energy interval lead to an improved description of the mixed radiation field as shown in the presented benchmarks against experimental data with both 4He and 12C ion beams. Accurate description of ionization energy losses and of particle scattering and interactions lead to the excellent agreement of calculated depth–dose profiles with those measured at leading European hadron therapy centers, both with proton and ion beams. In order to support the application of FLUKA in hospital-based environments, Flair, the FLUKA graphical interface, has been enhanced with the capability of translating CT DICOM images into voxel-based computational phantoms in a fast and well-structured way. The interface is capable of importing also radiotherapy treatment data described in DICOM RT standard. In addition, the interface is equipped with an intuitive PET scanner geometry generator and automatic recording of coincidence events. Clinically, similar cases will be presented both in terms of absorbed dose and biological dose calculations describing the various available features.


Background Survivors of critical illnesses often have clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study describes the 2-year prevalence and duration of PTSD symptoms after acute lung injury (ALI), and examines patient baseline and critical illness/intensive care-related risk factors. Method This prospective, longitudinal cohort study recruited patients from 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in four hospitals, with follow-up 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after ALI onset. The outcome of interest was an Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R) mean score ⩾1.6 ('PTSD symptoms'). Results During the 2-year follow-up, 66/186 patients (35%) had PTSD symptoms, with the greatest prevalence by the 3-month follow-up. Fifty-six patients with post-ALI PTSD symptoms survived to the 24-month follow-up, and 35 (62%) of these had PTSD symptoms at the 24-month follow-up; 50% had taken psychiatric medications and 40% had seen a psychiatrist since hospital discharge. Risk/protective factors for PTSD symptoms were pre-ALI depression [hazard odds ratio (OR) 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–3.64], ICU length of stay (for a doubling of days, OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.06–1.83), proportion of ICU days with sepsis (per decile, OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.16), high ICU opiate doses (mean morphine equivalent ⩾100 mg/day, OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.02–4.42) and proportion of ICU days on opiates (per decile, OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.94) or corticosteroids (per decile, OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99). Conclusions PTSD symptoms are common, long-lasting and associated with psychiatric treatment during the first 2 years after ALI. Risk factors include pre-ALI depression, durations of stay and sepsis in the ICU, and administration of high-dose opiates in the ICU. Protective factors include durations of opiate and corticosteroid administration in the ICU.


Hybrid methods have been known for a long time as very efficient algorithms for attenuation correction in single-photon emission computed tomography, but only recently have efforts been made to formulate them with more rigorous mathematics. This has allowed us to explain their efficiency in terms of approximate inversion, and to establish a convergence condition. The present study focuses on the convergence problem and emphasizes the question of symmetry. Hybrid method operators are not symmetrical; therefore the convergence condition is not easily verified. New schemes based on a modified conjugate gradient method are presented. Convergence is proved and performances are shown to be at least as good as the standard hybrid schemes on perfect and noisy simulated data.


We report a case of pulmonary embolism occurring transiently during impaction of morsellized bone graft in the femoral medullary canal as a part of revision hip arthroplasty. To our knowledge this complication has not yet been reported during impaction bone grafting. Increased awareness would lead to use of monitoring devices and early intervention during revision hip surgery.


This thesis presents novel attention-driven techniques for image interpretation, annotation and retrieval. Four main contributions are reported in the thesis. They include: (1) an attention-driven image interpretation method with application to image retrieval; (2) an efficient algorithm for attention-driven image interpretation from image segments; (3) a pre-classification technique to classify "attentive" images and "non-attentive" images and a combined retrieval strategy; and (4) a semantic network for image annotation by modelling attentive objects and their correlations.
In the first investigation, we propose an attention-driven image interpretation method to pop out visually attentive objects from an image iteratively by maximizing a global attention function. In the method, an image is interpreted as containing several perceptually attended objects as well as the background, where each object is measured by an attention value. The attention values of attentive objects are then mapped to importance measures so as to facilitate the subsequent image retrieval. An attention-driven matching algorithm is proposed based on a retrieval strategy emphasizing attended objects. Experiments on 7376 Hemera color images annotated by keywords show that the retrieval results from our attention-driven approach compare favorably with conventional methods, especially when important objects are seriously concealed by the irrelevant background.
In the second investigation, the computation issue of an attention-driven image interpretation is addressed. The object reconstruction is a combinational optimization problem with a complexity of 2N which is computationally very expensive when the number of segments N is large. We formulate the attention-driven image interpretation process by a matrix representation. An efficient algorithm based on elementary transformations of the matrix is proposed to reduce the computational complexity to 3NN-12 2 . Experimental results on both synthetic and real data show an acceptable small degradation to the accuracy of object formulation while the processing speed is significantly increased.
In the third investigation, an all-season image retrieval system is proposed. The system can handle both the images with clearly attentive images and those without clearly attentive images. Firstly, considering the visual contrasts and spatial information of an image, a neural network is trained to classify it as an "attentive" or "non-attentive" image by using the Back Propagation Through Structure (BPTS) algorithm. In the second step, an "attentive" image is processed by an attentive retrieval strategy emphasizing attentive objects. Meanwhile, a "non-attentive" image is processed by a fusing-all retrieval system. An improved performance can be obtained by using this combined system.
In the fourth investigation, we propose an image annotation method based on attentively interpreted images. Firstly, a number of interpreted images are annotated manually as training samples. Secondly, a semantic network is constructed, which stores both the visual classifiers of attentive objects and the correlations among concepts. Finally, an annotation strategy is proposed to utilize the semantic network to annotate objects. Experimental results show that the trained semantic network is able to produce good annotation results, especially when a visual classifier does not produce a precise concept.


Introduction: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency caused by WASP mutations. Identification of novel WASP mutations may help understand uncovered pathogenesis. We here noticed a rare case with a novel WASP mutation, which was also detected in his mother and grandmother. This article aimed to detect the genetic features of a WAS family and determine the source of the completely new mutation. Case presentation: This Chinese male infant was admitted to our department at postnatal day 7. He was found thrombocytopenia for 4 days. The family history documented that his two uncles both died in infancy due to repeated infections; his aunt had experienced 2 pregnancies, and both resulted in unexplained abortion. After 18-day treatment, his parents signed the request to discharge. The infant finally died at 9 months old. A novel heterozygous mutation in the exon 9 was found on his X chromosome, that c.928C>T resulting in amino acid changes p.Q310X. This mutation was revealed to be derived from his grandmother to his mother. Conclusion: In conclusion, a novel mutation (c.928C>T) was found in our male infant patient, as well as his mother and grandmother. The patient died from uncontrollable WAS symptoms, as the two boys of his grandmother did. Early detection and diagnosis of new mutation may reduce complications and increase the life expectancy of WAS patients. Prenatal DNA sequencing could be recommended to avoid birth of WAS in particular for male fetuses.


An interesting bioluminescent fungus growing on dead bamboo stems was collected from bamboo forests in the East Khasi and West Jayantia Hills Districts of Meghalaya, Northeast India. Both morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of nrITS and nrLSU regions showed that the bioluminescent fungus belongs to the genus Roridomyces and is a new species to science, as well as the first report of the genus, Roridomyces, in India. Full descriptions, colour photographs, phylogenetic trees to show the position of the novel bioluminescent taxon, and comparisons with its morphologically and phylogenetically similar species are provided.


Multimodal biometric system in recent days has become more popular, because single biometric systems slows down and fail also in some cases especially if it is used for security applications in various capacities. Single biometric system shows certain disadvantages, non-universality, spoof attacks etc. Iris is unique part of the eye that is varied from person to person. Iris is white part of the eye and it covering the sclera. The accuracy of the iris recognition system depends on the image quality of the iris images and also iris recognition requires frontal gaze images of the eye. The sclera is the white section of the eye, is the opaque, rubbery, defensive, external layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber Images of sclera vessel patterns are often defocused and saturated and most significantly, the vessel structure in the sclera is multilayered and has complex nonlinear transformations, sclera recognition system is not give sufficient accuracy. So current research is to develop multimodal authentication system using features of iris and sclera for an accurate and efficient recognition system. In this superlatively develop iris and sclera recognition system and then fusing together. Results proved that Intelligent Recognition System using Iris and Sclera Features developed is more accurate and efficient as compared to other single biometric systems. KeywordsBiometrics pattern extraction, Iris recognition, Sclera recognition, Dual authentication, Pattern Recognition.


This "eye-opener" review briefly surveys the current Kinect exergame titles for the Xbox 360 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) (up to July 2012), focusing on possible uses by different age groups, from kids to older people, for improving players' physical, mental/cognitive, and psychological/emotional health and fitness. A quick survey of existing related research is also provided, and links are made to it. There are already many published studies about digital exergames in general, but very little about Kinect exergames. More research is needed to establish the evidence base concerning the latter (e.g., in relation to obesity management [pediatric and adult] or cognitive state improvement in older people, etc.): What works in each condition, what does not, and under which settings and criteria.


Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system is an automated train control system using bidirectional train-ground communications to ensure the safe operation of rail vehicles. Handoff design has significant impacts on the train control performance in CBTC systems based on multi-input and multi-output (MIMO)-enabled WLANs. Most of previous works use traditional design criteria, such as network capacity and communication latency, in handoff designs. However, these designs do not necessarily benefit the train control performance. In this paper, we take an integrated design approach to jointly optimize handoff decisions and physical layer parameters to improve the train control performance in CBTC systems. We use linear quadratic cost for the train controller as the performance measure. The handoff decision and physical layer parameters adaptation problem is formulated as a stochastic control process. Simulation result shows that the proposed approach can significantly improve the control performance in CBTC systems.


Better housing for the rural population was an important part ofthe Finnish housing discussion in the 20th century. Between 1938 and 1969, Bostadsföreningen för svenska Finland (The housing association for the Swedish speaking areas of Finland) promoted rational housingfor the Fenno-Swedish minority. The construction of a collective identityfor a minority through dwelling ideals is the main focus of the article.Methods as identity process theory and perspectives on architecture and nationalism are used to interpret the material. Specific questions relate to how modernist architecture became a symbol when constructing an identity for a non-homogeneous minority. The housing association viewed modernist housing as a solution to a political and ideologicalproblem. With efficient homes, Fenno-Swedish farmers were less inclined to sell their homesteads to Finnish speakers and move to the cities, where they were assimilated into the Finnish culture. Mobility wasperceived as a threat to the minority, since it led to a loss of voters in areas of political importance. Modernist architecture combined with aesthetics from the vernacular building tradition were used to make thefarmers proud of their ancestral homes, willing to stay, securing theideological home of the Fenno-Swedes.


Sialic acid (SA), which usually occupies the terminal position of oligosaccharide chains in mammalian spermatozoa, has important functions in fertilization. Compared with other methods, such as lectin probing, boronic acid could recognize and bind SA with a higher affinity and specificity at pH 6.9. In this study, two boronic acid carriers, 3-aminophenylboronic acid-labeled fluorescent latex (CML-APBA) and magnetic beads (CMM-APBA were applied to explore surface sialylation profile and sialoglycoproteins of the boar sperm. There are three binding sections of CML-APBA on the head of ejaculated sperm: acrosomal region, equatorial segment and the head posterior, which are the major regions undergoing sialylation. After capacitation in vitro, two major binding patterns of CML-APBA exists on sperm head. On some spermatozoa, sialylation exists on the equatorial segment and the posterior head, whilst on other spermatozoa, sialylation occurs on the acrosomal region and equatorial segment. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that the level of sialylation on boar sperm membrane decreases after capacitation. Furthermore, using CMM-APBA, we pulled down sialylated proteins from spermatozoa. Among them, two decapacitation factors associating on sperm surface, AWN and PSP-1, were identified. The levels of the two proteins reduced during capacitation, which might contribute to the decrease of sialylation on boar sperm surface.


The unique holotype of Hallopus victor (Marsh), from the Upper Jurassic of Garden Park, Colorado, is redescribed. The bones previously identified as pubes (Marsh 1890) or ischia (von Huene 1914) are regarded here as the left radius and ulna, and the ' ulna5 and 'radius5 of previous workers are considered to be the left radiale and ulnare. Marsh's identification (1890) of the ischium and his orientation of the scapula and femur (1896) are upheld. The presence of a humerus on the larger slab is confirmed. Hallopus is interpreted as a highly specialized, cursorial crocodilian, with slender, hollow bones, a greatly elongated radiale and ulnare, and a roller-like joint between these and the metacarpals. The manus is pentadactyl with a symmetrical distribution of lengths about the central axis and some proximal wedging-out of the metacarpals. The iliac blade is elongated and resembles that of Orthosuchus , the ischium is reminiscent of that of Protosuchus . The femur has a lesser trochanter, a fourth trochanter and a 'pseudointernal9 trochanter, but no greater trochanter. The tibia is longer than the femur. The tarsus is basically crocodilian in pattern, but greatly compressed and specialized. The first metatarsal is reduced to an elongated splint, permanently recessed into metatarsal II. Metatarsals II to IV are symmetrical in length with III longest, metatarsal V is reduced, pointed, and lacks phalanges. The interpretation put forward provides a consistent explanation of the peculiarities of the skeleton of Hallopus as a variant on the basic crocodilian plan. The details of the articulation of the carpal and tarsal joints are described as far as preservation permits, and possible movements are considered. The carpometacarpal and tarsal joints are simple hinges, but the proximal carpal joint appears to have been relatively immobile and the elongation of the radiale and ulnare is viewed as a device to compensate for the increase in length of the tibia. The femur has an off-set, ball-like head and evidently moved essentially in a parasagittal plane. The pes is functionally tridactyl, with the metatarsals locked together proximally. It is concluded that both fore- and hind-feet were digitigrade during movement, although in a stationary pose the metatarsus may have been in contact with the ground. Some aspects of the pelvic and hind-limb musculature are briefly discussed. Functional analogies from the locomotory point of view are limited by the lack of cursorial quadrupedal archosaurs for comparison. It is concluded that a hare-like bounding gallop was the most probable type of fast locomotion in Hallopus . Although no skull bones have been identified, evidence from the postcranial skeleton is adduced to show that Hallopus is of pedeticosaurid descent. The relationships of early crocodilomorphs are discussed, and it is deduced that two basic stocks diverged from a common ancestry during the middle part of the Trias. These two groups are included in an expanded Order Crocodylomorpha. The Suborder Crocodylia has the Triassic Stegomosuchidae as its radicle and contains ' normal ' crocodiles (including the Sebecosuchia but not the Baurusuchidae). The suborder Paracrocodylia is proposed for mainly cursorial forms, to include the infraorders Pedeticosauria, Baurusuchia and Hallopoda. Diagnoses for these groupings are presented. An origin for both stocks from a form close to Cerritosaurus is postulated. Erpetosuchus and Dyoplax are not now regarded as crocodilomorphs. The possibility of an early cursorial phase in crocodilian evolution is briefly discussed, and it is tentatively suggested that the gallop occasionally observed in young crocodiles (Cott 1961) may be a relic of a primitive type of locomotion in the group. The significance of this to the emergence of the crocodilian type of shoulder-girdle is considered.


Mutations in genes encoding presenilin 1 and presenilin 2 account for the majority of cases of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. The presenilins have been localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi, but which of the multiple hydrophobic segments of the polypeptide chain span the lipid bilayer is unclear. To address this question, we have constructed a series of chimeric molecules in which a topologically neutral reporter protein (a C-terminal fragment of prolactin) containing three artificial glycosylation sites is fused to presenilin 1 following each of the 10 potential transmembrane domains identified in hydrophobicity plots. We have expressed these chimeras by translation in reticulocyte lysate containing canine pancreatic microsomes and by synthesis in transfected COS cells. Based on utilization of the glycosylation sites and sensitivity of the reporter to protease digestion, we provide evidence that presenilin 1 has six transmembrane segments with the N and C termini in the cytoplasm. This model provides important clues to the potential functions of different parts of the presenilin molecule and how these might relate to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to understand if accounting is an un-Australian activity, contrasting the notion of the bush and bushman present in popular Australian poetry and cultural myth with the notion expressed by Maltby of the link between the soul of the middle class and the practice of bookkeeping. The paper aims to explore the notion of a tension between what might be seen as indigenous values and the values of Western capitalism. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents an analysis of Australian poetry to identify in this culturally significant media how the city and the technologies of accounting are negatively contrasted with the bush and the bushman. Since many Australians migrated from European countries, we might expect bookkeeping to claim a foundational place in the Australian soul. Findings - This literature shows bush dwellers as being exploited by those from the city, and city professionals such as the accountant and the lawyer as having lost their sense of self and soul. The sense of "other" reflected by the concept of the bush in Australian literature represents a tension between a structured and ordered European sense of self expressed by Maltby and an archetypical sense of self implied by the character of the bushman and connected to the Australian landscape, with its inherent but little acknowledged debt to the Aboriginal. In this landscape the absence of both accounting and the associated rhetoric of economic rationality allow other forms of rationality to emerge. Originality/value - This is the first time that poetry has been examined in relation to accounting. It shows a deep insight into the place of archetype of the accountant in Australian cultural identity. In addition it argues that responses to accounting can reflect underlying rhetorics of rationality.


The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to reverse the country's unacceptably high maternal and neonatal mortality. It has been in operation for over five years (2009) and it became imperative to review its success. This study therefore assessed the effectiveness of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) in Oyo state. The study was carried out in Akinyele, Lagelu and Ibarapa East Local Government Areas (LGAs). Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 135 beneficiaries from the study area. Data on characteristics of the respondents, benefits derived, constraints to effectiveness and perceived effectiveness of the scheme were collected through structured questionnaire administered to (135) beneficiaries of MSS in Oyo state. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi Square, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that respondents benefited to a large extent from skilled birth attendants (97.0%), Antenatal care (94.1%) and 24 hours qualified managed service (94.1%). Ambulance service was the only activity which majority of the beneficiaries (97.8%) were not satisfied with. Beneficiaries (68.1%) perceived the MSS as highly effective, while poor ambulance services ( =1.93) and erratic power supply (=1.79) were the most limiting constraints faced by the beneficiaries. MSS was substantially effective in achieving its set objectives in the study area in spite of the constraints being faced. Ambulances should be made available to PHCs so as to enhance referral system.


The gear is a major mechanical element for the power transmission between two adjacent axes. Even though tooth profile of the gear is made of involute and cycloid curve, involute curved gear is generally used by the easiness of the fabrication and assembly. There are lots of studies for the gear design but mostly weighted toward to the drawing production and two dimensional modeling. And because the exclusive three dimensional gear design program is costly high, it is only used at the very confined fields. In this study, we developed automatic gear design program to create three dimensional model and gear profile of the spur and helical gear with involute tooth profile by using user development program named Visual LISP on the AutoCAD and compared each gear tooth profile which is created by automatic design program and commercial program named KissSoft, Inventor utilizing exclusive reverse engineering program named RapidForm XOV and performed gear fabrication through wire cutting electric discharge machining and after that, we compared gear measured data which was made by three dimensional scanner and made by the fabricated gear to check accuracy of the gear profiles. And also checked interference and undercut of the gear tooth by using gear driving motor.


Antioxidative, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Tea Infusions from Berry Leaves, Carob and Doum This study is carried out to evaluate the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of berry leaves, carob and doum tea infusions and their mixtures. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of these extracts were investigated by scavenging of 1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylehydrozyl (DPPH) radicals. The proliferation inhibition activities on some types of bacteria and yeast were also measured for evaluating the antimicrobial activity of berry leaves, carob and doum tea infusions and their blends. The results showed that carob was characterized by its high protein content. The highest percentage of fiber was found in doum sample, followed by carob but ash was the highest in berry leaves samples. The levels of most elements were higher in carob sample, when compared with those of berry leaves and doum samples. The highest value of TSS was found in the tea infusions of doum and carob (22.5 Brix), meanwhile, the lowest was observed in the doum tea infusions (10.60 Brix). Acidity of berry leaves, carob and doum tea infusions was higher than that of the berry leaves +doum tea infusions, but lower than that of the berry leaves + carob + doum tea infusions. Total sugars formed the major components in doum and berry leaves + carob tea infusions. Doum and carob tea infusions had significantly higher non-reducing, but lower contents of reducing sugars than the other tested samples. The results indicated that berry leaves + carob + doum tea infusions sample showed higher quality attributes especially color, taste and overall acceptability. The berry leaves and berry leaves + carob tea infusions had a high level of vit. C (11.05 and 10.28 mg/100 g), while it was low in doum tea infusions. Blended samples showed a higher content of total phenol compounds compared to tea infusions of berry leaves, carob and doum. Data indicated that the berry leaves + carob + doum, berry leaves + carob, berry leaves + doum and doum + carob tea infusions samples were good antioxidants with strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity. The results confirmed that the investigated extracts had good antimicrobial activity, especially against bacteria.


Good health is a crucial requirement for every child for proper growth and development. To increase their future prospects the exact nutritional intervention is needed to boost the thinking and self-confidence of children. Adequate levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids are vital for children during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and few years post-weaning. This is not just for their perfect growth but including their cognitive development. Poverty levels continue to be high in rural areas and there are nutritional interventions that can be used to reverse the trends. However, omega-3 fatty acids, known to have a greater impact on brain development are not cheap and available in forms that are accessible by the rural poor. With the many complications attached to a rural lifestyle, little is known about culturally accepted local sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, alternative sources of nutritional intervention including the provision of eggs enriched with appropriate fatty acids, which are readily available, accessible, cheaper, and culturally accepted should be explored for children.


This paper presents an efficient carbon nanotube (CNT) transistor modeling technique that is based on cubic spline approximation of the nonequilibrium mobile charge density. The approximation facilitates the solution of the self-consistent voltage equation in a CNT so that calculation of the CNT drain-source current is accelerated by at least two orders of magnitude. A salient feature of the proposed technique is its ability to incorporate both ballistic and nonballistic transport effects without a significant computational cost. The proposed models have been extensively validated against reported CNT ballistic and nonballistic transport theories and experimental results.


Animal houses are extremely dusty environments. Airborne particulate matter (PM) poses a health threat not only to the farmer and the animals, but, as a result of emissions from ventilation systems, also to residents living in livestock farming areas. In relation to this problem, the objectives of this thesis were threefold. The first objective was to increase our understanding and knowledge of concentrations and emission rates of PM in commonly applied animal housing systems. This objective is worked out in chapter 2 which presents a national emission survey into the concentrations and emissions of PM, which covered 13 common housing systems for poultry, pigs, and dairy in the Netherlands and included 202 24-h measurements at 36 farms. The emission figures from this work are currently used in the Netherlands in environmental permit granting procedures (to model the local dispersion of PM10 in the vicinity of livestock farms), to estimate national emissions, to compute large-scale pollutant concentration maps, and to annually evaluate the state of affairs of the National Air Quality Cooperation Programme (NSL). The second objective was to develop, test, and validate technologies to mitigate PM concentrations and emissions in poultry farms and ultimately contribute to cleaner outdoor air. This objective is worked out in chapters 3 through 7. Chapters 3 and 4 describe two experiments, one in broilers, one in layers, that investigated the effects of spraying rapeseed oil droplets onto the litter of poultry houses which prevents particles from the litter from becoming airborne. On the basis of chapters 3 and 4, chapter 5 describes a field evaluation of four systems that mitigate PM emissions by reducing indoor concentrations: a fixed oil spraying system, an autonomously driving oil spraying vehicle, a negative air ionization system, and a positive air ionization system. Chapter 6 describes a field evaluation of two 'end of pipe' systems to remove PM from the exhaust air of poultry farms, namely: a dry filter wall and an electrostatic precipitator. Chapter 7 describes an emission survey carried out at a total of 16 commercial poultry farms with an 'end of pipe' manure drying tunnel. This chapter aimed to elucidate the PM abatement potential and possible additional emissions of ammonia and odor of these tunnels. Furthermore, this chapter aimed to elucidate the perspective of two strategies to reduce any additional emissions from the manure drying tunnels. The results from chapters 5 through 7, carried out at commercial farms, have been used to adopt accurate PM removal figures in Dutch regulations on PM emissions from livestock houses. Finally, the third objective was to determine the applicability (in terms of acceptable accuracy and comparability) of alternative PM10 measurement methods – i.e., alternative to the 'cyclone sampler' developed prior to this thesis and used in chapters 2 through 7. Such alternative samplers could then be applied in future for determination of PM10 emission rates of animal houses. This objective has been worked out in chapter 8 as an equivalence study between the European reference sampler for PM10 (described in EN 12341) and five different candidate measurement methods (the cyclone sampler, a beta-ray attenuation sampler, a microbalance device, and two light-scattering devices) in four different environments (a fattening pig house, a laying hen house, a broiler house, and an office room). Results show that all samplers showed a systematic deviation from 'true' values, that between-device variation was relatively high, and that samplers started to dysfunction after about 432 to 500 h of operation. Therefore, appropriate measures (such as duplicate sampling, correction factors, and more frequent servicing) must be taken. The results can be used to harmonize PM10 measurement methods across institutes and to further increase the availability of samplers for the measurement of PM10 in animal production.


Cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) is an emerging enzyme in the field of bioelectrocatalysis. Due to its flexible cytochrome domain, which acts as a built-in redox mediator, CDH is capable of direct electron transfer (DET) to electrode surfaces. This rare property is employed in mediatorless "third generation" biosensors. The ability of Corynascus thermophilus CDH to oxidize glucose under physiological conditions makes it a promising candidate for miniaturized glucose biosensors or glucose powered biofuel cell anodes. We report for the first time the electrochemical application and characterization of a recombinantly produced CDH in a glucose biosensor. Recombinant CDH from C. thermophilus (rCtCDH) was expressed by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (376 U L(-1) , 132 mg L(-1) ). A comparative characterization of rCtCDH and CtCDH shows identical pH optima, K(M) values and heme b midpoint potentials. In contrast, the specific activity of rCtCDH (2.84 U mg(-1) ) and consequently the turnover numbers were ~five-times lower than for CtCDH, which was caused by a sub-stoichiometric occupation of catalytic sites with flavin-adenin-dinukleotid (FAD). The performance of rCtCDH-modified electrodes demonstrates the suitability for electrochemical studies. This opens the possibility to engineer the substrate specificity of C. thermophilus CDH for specific carbohydrates by rational engineering or directed evolution.


This case study centered on understanding the perceptions and acceptance of 21st century learning skills and emerging technologies for education by teachers and administrators in an urban school district. Data were collected at three different strata within the district: superintendent, principals, and teachers. The study elaborates on these findings that emerged from the data: a) a consistent vision for 21st century learning and teaching was shared among stakeholders; b) a discrepancy between the district's vision and its schools' capacity to implement that vision existed; and c) conflicting accounts of infrastructure reliability were evident. From the data it was recommended that the district: 1) Stratify professional development by teacher skill level; 2) Embed time for curriculum design into professional development; 3) Ensure the adequate provision of mobile technology resources; and 4) reassess the reliability of wireless infrastructure.


The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of urea ammoniation of pearl millet silage, at different compaction densities, on chemical composition, losses in the ensilage process, fermentation profile, microbial population count, and aerobic stability. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with two compaction densities (600 and 800 kg m -3 ) and four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6% on a dry matter basis), with five replicates. For the aerobic stability assay, the experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with two times (0 and 72 hours) and four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6%, on dry matter basis), with five replicates. The urea levels interacted significantly with density as to the contents of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble protein, and as to dry matter recovery; and with exposure hours as to the contents of acid detergent fiber and lignin. Molds and yeasts were not observed in the ammoniated silages. The 800 kg m -3  density reduced losses in the fermentation process of pearl millet silage, and promoted better nutritive value than the compaction at 600 kg m -3 . The use of urea does not reduce losses and does not improve the aerobic stability of silages; however, it controls mold growth after silage exposure to air.


Summary. Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast lysate antigen (T‐58, dog isolate) fractions prepared using the Rotofor® preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) cell (Bio‐Rad) were compared with B. dermatitidis yeast lysate and filtrate reagents with respect to the detection of antibodies in sera from dogs with blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis and aspergillosis. A horseradish peroxidase enzyme immunoassay with Turbo TMB substrate was used in the study. One particular IEF fraction (pH 4.3) was optimal in the assay, and it exhibited greater sensitivity (100%) and specificity (93%) than the lysate or filtrate preparations. The highest degree of cross‐reactivity was encountered with the histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis specimens and considerably less with the cryptococcosis and aspergillosis sera. Studies are in progress to purify further the optimal IEF fraction.


In a world where it is frighteningly easy to manipulate media content, fighting fake news and validating the source of that content to prevent it from being altered is vital. This paper introduces the key concepts of Blockchain and Smart Contracts and proposes a design to ensure the traceability of media assets in a potentially untrustworthy environment. In this particular use-case, the distributed ledger keeps track of each operation which happens to an asset from its capture through to publication, including editing. This information can be checked against the ledger, in order to validate intermediate steps required to produce the resulting asset. This design ensures integrity of media assets including reliable chronological dating, and the validation of sources while preserving anonymity. At each stage of the workflow, manual or automated verifications are recorded, which creates chains of trust without central authority. INTRODUCTION It is all too familiar: a news report appears online with questionable origins; press reports of social media storms based on falsely attribute reports. It's becoming important to be able to distinguish genuine content and to identify the sources of that content. With modern editing tools, almost any individual is capable of editing video content at high quality, and immediately accessing an audience of billions through modern social networks – a potentially dangerous development for the media industry. When the infrastructure required to capture, edit and produce high quality content was the preserve of large media institutions, modification of that content was the preserve of jokes and novelty pranks. These trusted organisations also had exclusivity in being able to target large audiences rapidly. The term "viral" was an exclusively medical term 15 years ago. Many examples of this phenomenon exist today. The BBC was forced to deny a story perhaps produced as a prank, but which went viral as outlined in the Telegraph, Horner (1). Manipulated images will become more and more difficult to detect as shown by Suwajanakorn et al. (2). They demonstrated how they used former US President Barack Obama's videos to synthetize his face and how they learned from audio how to fake lip-sync on a different video with the same audio. News material has therefore to be traceable. It's not just the date and location of shooting, but a verified source and content accuracy are also now priorities for any media institution. This paper will introduce the key concepts of Blockchain and propose a design of public blockchain to ensure the traceability of media assets from production to distribution in a potentially untrustworthy environment.


The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus was the cause of a pandemic of avian influenza which affected poultry from most parts of the world. In contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where HPAI is endemic, Timor Leste is currently free from HPAI. The current study was designed to collect data to confirm that Timor Leste is actually free from HPAI and to identify potential risk factors that might be involved in the introduction of HPAI into the country. Data to confirm freedom were collected from various sources, and included biological samples for HPAI testing from regions with a high risk of infection.

The analysis of existing animal health data (2004 to 2006) found that, with the exception of a survey in June 2004, there was no evidence of HPAI being present in Timor Leste. In the survey of June 2004 low titres were found indicating previous exposure to HPAI virus (H5 and H7). As only two serological positive samples were found and there were no reports of outbreaks of clinical disease typical of HPAI, it is likely that the results were false positives.

As no surveys had been undertaken in Timor Leste since March 2006, as part of the current study, targeted surveillance was conducted in July 2009. As all samples were negative the findings support the belief that Timor Leste was free from HPAI at the time of sample collection.

Although the country may currently be free from HPAI, the country is at risk of having an incursion of HPAI through certain high risk practices. These include the smuggling of live chickens, the lack of awareness of HPAI by farmers, a lack of adoption of biosecurity measures by households owning poultry and the extensive poultry management system adopted.

A risk assessment that was conducted as part of this study demonstrated that the probability of entry of infection through a smuggled chicken was high. The most important factors that would contribute to the entry of HPAI included: an increased number of chickens smuggled; increased number of smugglers; and the prevalence of AI in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). On the other hand the risk decreased by: strengthening the detection, confiscation, and submission of smuggled birds by the Border Police Units (BPU) and by increasing the destruction of smuggled poultry by quarantine staff.

Although there were many putative risk factors identified for HPAI, it was confirmed that Timor Leste was free from HPAI, however the control measures to prevent the introduction of HPAI into the country should be reinforced and target the most influential factors identified in this project.


This research examined the factors affect the growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in Hossana Town. Also the study assessed how microfinance institutions deliver the services/ products to improve the expansion, endurance, productivity, and performance of MSEs. Micro and Small Enterprises are best known as the structure block of both developed and emerging economy. Recognizing the expansion behaviors of MSEs is quite heterogeneous. The basic aspire to comprise this research is to recognize and examine factors that affect the growth of MSEs. In this survey growth of MSEs was measured with sale and accessibility of external business environment. And major issues were recognized that control growth of MSEs. Firm specific issue control variables and external business environment source as: size, age, education level, credit of microfinance and business environment factor which include access to finance, access to market, and infrastructure are realized as major factors for MSEs working in Hossana Town . In this study both quantitative and qualitative approach (mixed approach) was used. As well, primary data was collected to achieve the purpose' and Stratified sampling technique was applied to select the sample from a selected inhabitants. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and Binary logistic regression Model with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that the loan criteria inversely related with growth of MSEs. Participation of female in enterprise is less than male and manufacturing sector was growing faster than other economic sectors.


The paper investigates whether positive network effects may have existed between large-scale commercial farmers and small-scale communal farmers prior to the recent land redistribution in Zimbabwe. A difference-in-difference approach is used where measurement is carried out using several data sources including farm level, geographic and survey information for cotton farmers in Mashonaland Central. It tests whether the removal of large-scale farmers has resulted in a decline in productivity for those small-scale farmers close to redistributed land when compared to those with more distant farms. A significant negative productivity effect is found in addition to a country-wide negative redistribution effect in general (due mainly to wider economic and political instability over the last 10 years).


This study investigates the effect of voltage profile and steady-state voltage stability margin when a wind-driven squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG)-based distributed generator (DG) is integrated with radial distribution system (RDS). The study has been carried out considering different configurations of SCIG. The node at which a DG has to be installed is identified based on voltage collapse index (VCI), which is a measure of steady-state voltage stability margin. The computational procedure for studying the voltage profile of RDS without and with DG has been developed. The developed algorithm has been tested on the 33-bus RDS with 1 MW SCIG integrated at the identified node and results are furnished. Finally, a configuration of SCIG having star and delta switching arrangements with permanently connected capacitor across each phase winding of the stator is found to be superior in providing improved system performance over a wide range of wind velocity. A switching criterion for this type of DG is proposed based on VCI for the improved performance of RDS.


On July 16-17, 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Regional Office ( now called the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office)  brought together scientists and fisheries managers to explore methods to effectively integrate climate change science into management activities within the Northeast Region's Protected Resources Division (PRD).  PRD works to manage, conserve, and rebuild species in marine and anadromous waters from Maine to North Carolina.  Managers across NMFS are faced with questions on how to best integrate climate change science into their management actions.  The workshop focused on bringing together many of the NOAA line offices to exchange information on ongoing and planned climate change research and climate change effects on protected species.  NOAA line offices and other federal management agencies also described the status of regional and national efforts to incorporate climate change into natural resources management.  Focused discussions were utilized to meet the objectives of: (1) identifying trends and projections for climate change in the Northeast Region (through Cape Hatteras, NC) and outside this area, as appropriate; (2) reviewing projects in which climate science has been incorporated into natural resources management decisions to assist PRD's future consideration of climate change in management; and (3) identifying ways to utilize the best available climate change data in management decisions, including barriers that may hinder such an effort.


Aim: A review explaining different oral manifestations & complications of diabetes mellitus Objective: To relate different oral manifestations and oral complications of diabetes mellitus Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic lifestyle disease affecting all age groups. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The term "diabetes mellitus" describes a group of disorders characterised by elevated levels of glucose in the blood and abnormalities of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. A number of oral diseases and disorders have been associated with diabetes mellitus, and periodontitis has been identified as a possible risk factor for poor metabolic control in subjects with diabetes. The article will speak in depth about the complications of diabetes mellitus. This article aims to review and increase the awareness of oral manifestations and complications of diabetes mellitus and to stimulate research on the subject. Reason: It is important to know the different oral manifestations of diabetes mellitus to prevent its complications at the early stages.


This paper deals with the problem of modeling of phase noise in OFDM systems and the impact it may have on the bit error rate performance of such systems subject to a number of system variables and to a number of channel conditions which may be encountered when such systems are deployed for certain applications such as high speed wireless LANs and Digital Television Terrestrial Broadcasting (DTTB). The phase noise processes, the sources of which are the transmitter's and receiver's local oscillator, are modeled using what is believed to be commercially realizable phase noise masks. Such masks represent the long-term averaged power spectral densities of the local oscillator output signal.


Intensive research in bio-engineering has been conducted in the search for flexible biomaterials that could support cell growth and cells attachment. Flexible synthetic materials that support cell growth without the aid of synthetic extracellular matrix proteins are still rare. Cholesteryl liquid crystal containing cholesteryl moieties may have suitable biological affinity. Human keratinocytes (HaCat) were cultured with a nematic liquid crystal and three cholesteryl liquid crystals of different formulation. Subsequently, the trypan blue dye exclusion assay was used to determine cell viability in the liquid crystals. The two classes of liquid crystal were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and polarizing microscope (POM) to understand the nature of the interface material. The cell viability study in medium containing liquid crystals verified that liquid crystals had no effects on cell viability. However, only the surface of cholesteryl liquid crystal has shown affinity to HaCat cells. In addition, cells continued to proliferate in the presence of liquid crystals without a change of medium for eight days. No sign of exothermic and endothermic activities at 37 0 C were observed from the DSC test results for the three samples. Biological and mechanical test result of the cholesteryl liquid crystals has shown that cholesteryl liquid crystals are non toxic and support cell attachment without extracellular matrix protein at very low elasticity.


The performance of devices based on organic semiconductors strongly depends on the molecular organisation in thin films. Due to the intrinsic complexity of these systems, a combination of theoretical modelling and experimental techniques is often the key to achieve a full understanding of their inner working. Here, we introduce the modelling of organic semiconductors by means of molecular dynamics simulations. We describe the basic theoretical framework of the technique and review the most popular class of force fields used to model organic materials, paying particular attention to the peculiarities of confined systems like nano-thick films. Representative studies of the organisation of organic functional materials in thin film phases are also reviewed.


The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the amounts of major elements (Ca, Mg, K) and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni and Cd) found in forty five species of wild-grown common edible mushrooms growing in the Bingöl and Selim (Kars) provinces of Turkey. The minimum and maximum values of the mineral elements concentrations varied for Ca (40-5700), Mg (180-1900), K (5900-29000), Fe (5-1930), Zn (15-450), Cu (5-83), Mn (0.20-80), Pb (<0.010-2.3), Ni (0.15-4.4), and Cd (<0.032-19.1) mg/kg dry weight. The potassium concentrations were found to be greater than those of the other mineral constituents in all the species. The K, Zn, Cu, and Ni concentrations were the greatest in Leucoagaricus leucothites.Keywords:


How do score-based generative models (SBMs) learn the data distribution supported on a low-dimensional manifold? We investigate the score model of a trained SBM through its linear approximations and subspaces spanned by local feature vectors. During diffusion as the noise decreases, the local dimensionality increases and becomes more varied between different sample sequences. Importantly, we find that the learned vector field mixes samples by a non-conservative field within the manifold, although it denoises with normal projections as if there is an energy function in off-manifold directions. At each noise level, the subspace spanned by the local features overlap with an effective density function. These observations suggest that SBMs can flexibly mix samples with the learned score field while carefully maintaining a manifold-like structure of the data distribution


Vertical profiles of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in different areas of the Mediter- ranean Sea were studied during 6 oceanographic surveys conducted between January 1999 and Sep- tember 2001. The study areas were located at key points of water mass circulation of the entire Mediterranean basin. DOC showed similar behaviors at all hydrological stations, with highest values in surface waters, a minimum in the intermediate layers and slightly increasing values in deep waters. Important links were found between DOC distribution in the water column and hydrological structures. In particular, distinctive DOC concentrations were detected in the different water masses. This finding was attributed to the age, origin and route of each water mass.


A total of 955 surgical patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus were treated at the Stomatological Medical Institute Surgery Faculty Hospital. Therapeutic experience made physicians arrive at a conclusion on the necessity of active detection of carbohydrate metabolic derangements in high risk patients, as well as reasons for the decompensation of diabetes mellitus in surgical patients. Decompensation was caused by the activation of the hypothalamohypophyseal-adrenal system in stress and a considerable increase in contrainsular factors in the blood with a decrease in adaptive function of the pancreas. A high proteolytic activity of the blood in decompensated diabetes mellitus resulted in insulin inactivation. Means for the correction of the above disorders were proposed.


Abstract Background There are no randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Gem-Nab) and fluorouracil, folinic acid, irinotecan, oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC). Although it is well known that RCT-based efficacy often does not translate to real-world effectiveness, there is limited literature investigating comparative cost-effectiveness of Gem-Nab vs FOLFIRINOX for APC. We aimed to examine the real-world cost-effectiveness of Gem-Nab vs FOLFIRINOX for APC in Ontario, Canada. Methods This study compared patients treated with first-line Gem-Nab or FOLFIRINOX for APC in Ontario from April 2015 to March 2019. Patients were linked to administrative databases. Using propensity scores and a stabilizing weights method, an inverse probability of treatment weighted cohort was developed. Mean survival and total costs were calculated over a 5-year time horizon, adjusted for censoring, and discounted at 1.5%. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and net monetary benefit were computed to estimate cost-effectiveness from the public health-care payer's perspective. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the propensity score matching method. Results A total of 1988 patients were identified (Gem-Nab: n = 928; FOLFIRINOX: n = 1060). Mean survival was lower for patients in the Gem-Nab than the FOLFIRINOX group (0.98 vs 1.26 life-years; incremental effectiveness = −0.28 life-years [95% confidence interval = −0.47 to −0.13]). Patients in the Gem-Nab group incurred greater mean 5-year total costs (Gem-Nab: $103 884; FOLFIRINOX: $101 518). Key cost contributors include ambulatory cancer care, acute inpatient hospitalization, and systemic therapy drug acquisition. Gem-Nab was dominated by FOLFIRINOX, as it was less effective and more costly. Results from the sensitivity analysis were similar. Conclusions Gem-Nab is likely more costly and less effective than FOLFIRINOX and therefore not considered cost-effective at commonly accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds.


Current industry codes, such as ASCE 4-98 recommend consideration of Structure-to-Soil-Structure Interaction (SSSI) only when it is determined to have a significant effect on local results. In some cases, it is not computationally feasible, or too costly, to analyze an explicit model including a complex of all contributing structures. The significance of SSSI is dependent upon several variables, namely the characteristics of the soil, structures, and ground motion, as well as the spatial distance between structures. The SSSI effect is most significant for lighter structures adjacent to more massive structures that are founded on soil sites. The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Pretreatment Facility Complex is comprised of two small surface-founded structures adjacent to one large partially embedded structure, separated by a seismic gap of less than one foot. The effects of SSSI are evaluated using explicit modeling of each building on the Complex. A case study, showing the importance of explicit modeling for SSSI analysis of the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Pretreatment Facility Complex, is presented in this paper. The SSSI effect is illustrated through comparison of seismic member forces and acceleration response spectra. Overall observations are summarized and recommendations for future research are presented.


Involving followers in the communication of a new vision can be critical to its ultimate adoption. Viewing vision as a relatively novel guiding framework that may or may not "diffuse" throughout an organization, we apply Roger's (2003) Diffusion of Innovations model to the visioning process. Employees from a large supermarket chain (n = 1481) completed surveys concerning vision knowledge, perceptions of the vision's innovation characteristics (i.e. relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, observability, and complexity), bidirectional leader–follower communication about the vision, perceived integration of the vision into work behaviors, and organizational commitment. Perceptions of the innovation characteristics of the vision were related to both vision integration and commitment. Based on our findings, we argue that a new vision can be conceptualized as an innovation, in which followers are actively involved in decisions of adoption or rejection. We advocate a more balanced approach to vision integration that highlights both leader and follower roles.


RNA content is deciphered by random fragmentation of biomolecules, generating millions of sequences. In lack of references these sequences are reconstructed relying on algorithms that require intensive use of computational resources. Numerous factors affect this process. This study explores for the first time how memory/core allocation on reconstruction processes influences assembly quality and variability. Multiple de novo assemblies for two model organisms were obtained from one monolithic platform and two High Performance Computers. Low memory monolithic platforms observed greater variability (1.98 & 2.10 times greater than HPC); however, most of the obtained contigs (99.16% & 75.79%) mapped to the reference transcriptome, thus proving good quality. Therefore, contrary to what was expected, using low-resource equipment when applying assembly strategies that unify numerous assemblies outperforms HPCs on RNA discovery.


Objectives: To study the direct immunofluorescence (DIF) in cicatricial alopecia (CA) patients. Materials and Methods: Approximately, 155 skin biopsies from CA patients examined over 7 years (2009–2015). Special stains and Hematoxylin and Eosin were performed, and final histopathological diagnosis was made. DIF (against anti-IgG, IgM, C3, IgA, and fibrinogen) on all these cases and patterns were noted. The descriptive statistics were applied along with ANOVA test. Results: Approximately, 155 patients with Male: Female = 1.24:1, age 7–65 years. In total, 57 cases were of Lichen planopilaris (LPP; 36.7%), 22 Lichen planus (LP; 14.2%), 22 Psuedopalade of Brocq (PPB; 14.2%),16 discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE; 10.3%), 8 end-stage scarring alopecia (ESSA; 5.2%), 2 cases each of Fungal folliculitis (FF), and Folliculitis decalvans (FD; 1.3% each), and in 26 cases, no specific diagnosis could be reached were collectively kept in the category of non-specific findings (NSP; 16.7%). On DIF: LPP positive for IgG = 4 cases (7%), IgM = 26 (45%), IgA = 11 (19.3%), C3 = 16 (28.1%), and fibrinogen = 11 (19.3%). LP positive for IgG = 2 (9%), IgM = 18 (81%), IgA = 2 (9.1%), C3 = 10 (45%), and fibrinogen = 1 (4.5%). DLE positive for IgG = 6 (37%), IgM = 8 (50%), IgA = 1 (6.3%), C3 = 9 (56%), and fibrinogen = 1 (4.5%). Limitations: Because this was a retrospective study, clinical follow-up and treatment history of the patient could not be retrieved. Conclusions: IgG positivity helps significantly in differentiating LPP from DLE (P 0.004) and NSP from DLE (P 0.005). IgM positivity helps significantly in differentiating LPP from LP (P 0.04), LP from PPB (P 0.00) and NSP (P 0.00). C3 positivity helps significantly in differentiating PPB from DLE (P 0.02).


We present Interplanetary Network localization information for 343 gamma-ray bursts observed by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) between the end of the 4th BATSE catalog and the end of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) mission, obtained by analyzing the arrival times of these bursts at the Ulysses, Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), and CGRO spacecraft. For any given burst observed by CGRO and one other spacecraft, arrival time analysis (or "triangulation") results in an annulus of possible arrival directions whose half-width varies between 11 arcsec and 21°, depending on the intensity, time history, and arrival direction of the burst, as well as the distance between the spacecraft. This annulus generally intersects the BATSE error circle, resulting in an average reduction of the area of a factor of 20. When all three spacecraft observe a burst, the result is an error box whose area varies between 1 and 48,000 arcmin2, resulting in an average reduction of the BATSE error circle area of a factor of 87.


A finite dynamical system is a function $f : A^n \to A^n$ where $A$ is a finite alphabet, used to model a network of interacting entities. The main feature of a finite dynamical system is its interaction graph, which indicates which local functions depend on which variables; the interaction graph is a qualitative representation of the interactions amongst entities on the network. The rank of a finite dynamical system is the cardinality of its image; the periodic rank is the number of its periodic points. In this paper, we determine the maximum rank and the maximum periodic rank of a finite dynamical system with a given interaction graph over any non-Boolean alphabet. The rank and the maximum rank are both computable in polynomial time. We also obtain a similar result for Boolean finite dynamical systems (also known as Boolean networks) whose interaction graphs are contained in a given digraph. We then prove that the average rank is relatively close (as the size of the alphabet is large) to the maximum. The results mentioned above only deal with the parallel update schedule. We finally determine the maximum rank over all block-sequential update schedules and the supremum periodic rank over all complete update schedules.


The objective of this study was to determine whether asphalt rubber (AR) binders will provide similar or better performance compared with a polymer modified asphalt (PMA) binder when used in a high-performance, ultra-thin lift overlay pavement preservation strategy. Current specifications for these types of overlays normally require the use of a PMA binder, because it has the ability to make these overlays more elastic under traffic loading and is less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. However, several state agencies are looking into the feasibility of incorporating sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies, such as AR binders and warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies, into their asphalt mixtures, including those used for high-performance, ultra-thin lift overlays. This study examined the effect of binder modification type (AR or PMA) and the influence of the use of WMA in high-performance, ultra-thin lift overlays. In general, the mixtures that were tested provided comparable rutting, moisture damage, and low-temperature cracking performance in the high-performance, ultra-thin lift overlay. However, the use of the AR binders indicated reduced performance compared with the PMA binder in mixture fatigue cracking via the beam fatigue test, and mixture reflective cracking in the overlay tester. The results from the beam fatigue test were not always supported by the fatigue life predictions from the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage model. The only detriment to mixture performance for mixtures incorporating WMA was a reduction in fatigue cracking performance when used with AR binders.


Background We examined the infrastructure for US public sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinical services. Methods In 2013 to 2014, we surveyed 331 of 1225 local health departments (LHDs) who either reported providing STD testing/treatment in the 2010 National Profile of Local Health Departments survey or were the 50 local areas with the highest STD cases or rates. The sample was stratified by jurisdiction population size. We examined the primary referral clinics for STDs, the services offered and the impact of budget cuts (limited to government funding only). Data were analyzed using SAS, and analyses were weighted for nonresponse. Results Twenty-two percent of LHDs cited a specialty STD clinic as their primary referral for STD services; this increased to 53.5% of LHDs when combination STD-family planning clinics were included. The majority of LHDs (62.8%) referred to clinics providing same-day services. Sexually transmitted disease clinics more frequently offered extragenital testing for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea (74.7%) and gonorrhea culture (68.5%) than other clinics (52.9%, 46.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). The majority of LHDs (61.5%) reported recent budget cuts. Of those with decreased budgets, the most common impacts were fewer clinic hours (42.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.4–61.2), reduced routine screening (40.2%; 95% CI, 21.7–58.8) and reductions in partner services (42.1%; 95% CI, 23.6–60.7). One quarter of those with reduced STD budgets increased fees or copays for clients. Conclusions Findings demonstrate gaps and reductions in US public STD services including clinical services that play an important role in reducing disease transmission. Furthermore, STD clinics tended to offer more specialized STD services than other public clinics.


MDR1/ABCB1, a member of the ABC group of proteins, is clinically important because it is not only involved in multidrug resistance in cancer but also affects the pharmacokinetic properties of various drugs. The most puzzling feature of MDR1 is that it recognizes and transports such a wide variety of substrates. In the present review, the function of MDR1 is compared with that of other ABC proteins, particularly MDR2/ABCB4, to understand the mechanism of drug recognition and transport by MDR1. MDR2, the amino acid sequence of which has 86% similarity to that of MDR1, excretes phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in the presence of bile salts. ABCA1 transfers phospholipids, preferentially phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol to lipid-free apoA-I to generate pre-beta-HDL, and ABCG1 excretes phospholipids, preferentially sphingomyelin, and cholesterol. Cholesterol also binds directly to MDR1 and modulates substrate recognition by MDR1. Cholesterol may fill the empty space of the drug-binding site and aid the recognition of small drugs, and facilitates the ability of MDR1 to recognize compounds with various structures and molecular weights. Eukaryote ABC proteins may retain similar substrate binding pockets and move bound substrates in an ATP-dependent manner. The prototype of eukaryote ABC proteins might be those involved in membrane lipid transport.


Introduction The percentage of angina and cardiac dysfunction and cardiovascular events increased significantly in hypertensive diabetes mellitus compared with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus alone. Hypertension and diabetes are often associated with cardiac microvascular abnormalities. The major cardiac microcirculation alterations are the capillary rarefaction and endothelial cell functional impairment, which may be in the development of coronary insufficiency. We presume that the more serious injury in cardiac microvascular structure and function followed by hypertensive diabetes mellitus. Aims The purpose of the present study is to investigate ultrastructural changes and expression of eNOS in rat myocardial capillary endothelial cells as a response to hypertension with diabetes mellitus. Methods The rat model of hypertension with diabetes mellitus (SHDM) and the rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM) alone were induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin combined with high fat diet in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SD rats, respectively. The groups were as follows: SD, DM, SHR, and SHDM. After 16 weeks, ultrastructure of the myocardial capillaries was examined by transmission electron microscopy and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Ultrastructural alterations of myocardial capillaries in SHR, DM and SHDM were oedematous endothelial cell, endothelial protrusions into lumen and narrowed /or irregular lumen respectively. These alterations indicate that cell injury was more significant in the myocardium of DM and SHDM. Thickening of basal lamina in myocardial capillaries with SHR was less considerable compared with SD (31.3±4.2 nm vs 28.6±3.6 nm, p>0.05), while thickening was a prominent feature of DM (46.6±5.3) nm and SHDM (51.5±4.6) nm (compared with SD or SHR, p<0.01). The expression of eNOS in myocardial tissue was significantly lower in SHDM than in SHR or DM. Conclusions These results suggest that a combination of hypertension and diabetes mellitus enhanced the damage of myocardial capillaries endothelial cell ultrastructure and function more than either hypertension or diabetes mellitus alone.


The importance of the Soma-plant in Vedic religion has never been underestimated. Among the rituals of the Yajurvedic texts, the soma-sacrifices are among the most elaborate and important, and are described in minute detail in the Brāhmaṇas and Śrauta-sūtras. These later texts nevertheless continue a direct tradition from the Ṛgveda, which can be seen to reflect an earlier stage in the development of the ritual, doubtless of a less rigidly formalized and probably less elaborate nature. Even so, the Ṛgveda is, so to speak, permeated by Soma. Understandably, therefore, from the early days of Vedic studies in the West, many scholars have speculated on the botanical identity of the plant in question. Numerous candidates have been nominated, the most frequently favoured being species of the genera Ephedra, Sarcostemma, Periploca, and latterly Cannabis, and even Rheum. Not a single one of these conjectures has gained general assent, and the opinion is widely held that the problem is insoluble.


The three paradigms presented in this paper demonstrate the value of ERPs in examining the development of early cognitive processes. Although we have presented only three examples, early cognitive processing could be investigated in a wide range of paradigms using ERPs, in normal as well as clinical populations. Clearly, a next step in understanding the age-related changes in these cognitive processes is to employ dipole source localization to examine the involvement of different generators and their maturation. The final conclusion is that developmental studies are important as they can contribute to our understanding of models of processing and of the generators of ERPs, in terms of cognition as well as neuroanatomy. Hence, the models of cognitive processes in adults should include the development of those processes through childhood.


This work reports outcomes of a pilot trial and practical assessment of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) towards achieving zero liquid discharge at a textile manufacturing plant. Treatment of textile wastewater is difficult due primarily to the complexity of textile processing and the wastewater produced. Combined effluent from the site, either untreated or treated with the site's existing flocculation and biological processes, were considered as the feeds to the MD testing. Initial bench scale studies found rapid membrane wetting appeared to be avoided by the novel use of foam fractionation on the untreated effluent, or by using the conventionally treated effluent. The trial was conducted on treated effluent using fractionation on a side stream within the MD process, and no wetting was observed over the entire 3 month trial duration. The flux of the 6.4 m2 membrane module started at 5 L m−2 h−1 and declined to 2 L m−2 h−1 after more than 65 days. Caustic cleaning effectively restored flux to 4 L m−2 h−1. A 41-fold increase in feed concentration was verified by sulphate measurements, increasing from 567 mg L−1 to 23 000 mg L−1. After concentrating in the hot cycle, all ammonia entering the DCMD plant from the feedwater was found to evolve into the permeate, but non-volatile sulphate rejection was >99.9%. Water recovery at the end of the trial was 91.6%. A plant integration assessment found that zero liquid discharge would be feasible if saline waste streams were isolated and reverse osmosis processes were coupled with MD harnessing waste heat. MD application to current and future treatment scenarios with waste heat integration to textile processing appears viable.


Investors' capacity to accept risk when making a financial investment decision is popularly known as Financial Risk Tolerance (FRT). Financial advisors and managers are focused on understanding a client's risk profile before giving any financial advice, and FRT is the most influential factor when investors choose among competing investment avenues. The current study analyzes the impact of various demographic factors, personality type, and financial literacy on the FRT of individual investors. We used a single cross-sectional descriptive research design, and collected data with the help of a structured questionnaire using a convenience sampling method. We found that personality type and financial literacy, along with gender, income, marital status, occupation, and number of dependents, significantly influenced the FRT of investors, while investors' age and level of formal education were not significant in the determination of FRT. TOPICS: Wealth management, risk management, quantitative methods, statistical methods Key Findings ▪ Personality Type A positively correlated with Financial Risk Tolerance. ▪ Financial literacy positively influenced Financial Risk Tolerance, while formal education played an insignificant role. ▪ Gender, income, marital status, occupation, and number of dependents significantly influenced the Financial Risk Tolerance of investors.