The interaction between the hydrogen plasma and the divertor wall is yet an unresolved issue in the design of ITER. Especially the erosion rates and retention of tritium (the fuel of a fusion reactor) presently foreseen for the ITER divertor are critical issues for its prolonged operation. The large linear plasma generator Magnum-PSI, is presently being build at our institute to study the underlying processes. This requires intense hydrogen plasma jets to mimic the plasma conditions of the ITER divertor. The research described in this thesis was carried out at Pilot-PSI, the fore- runner of Magnum-PSI, and focused on the e±cient production of such intense hydrogen plasma jets with a wall-stabilized cascaded arc operated in a strong magnetic ¯eld. The cascaded arc that was used here operates at a relatively high pressure (» 0:1 bar). Coupled to a vacuum vessel, the hydrogen plasma is observed to ex- pand in a way similar to gas expansion. The investigations start with Langmuir probe measurements to determine the plasma density and temperature under these conditions. The results con¯rmed the importance of molecular assisted recombination. The performance of the arc operating on hydrogen was characterized and compared with argon operation by power measurements. An important aspect observed in these measurements is a decreasing discharge voltage for increasing discharge currents for hydrogen operation. This is a consequence of an increasing e®ective plasma channel with increasing power input resulting in a decreased average resistivity. Such an IV-characteristic is not observed for argon. Results on argon for di®erent diameters of the discharge channel demonstrate that the resistivity of the arc (i.e. its resistance divided by the area of the channel cross section and the channel length) scales predominantly with the discharge current density as ´ / ¹ji0:6 and is independent on the diameter. For hydrogen, this relation is ´ /¹ji1:3. The independence on the channel diameter is not entirely clear for hydrogen and at most true for channels wider than 4 mm. A model is developed from a power balance for the discharge channel. It explains the experimental data on the basis of the higher heat conduction of hydrogen, which leads to a smaller hot plasma channel compared to argon. The model predicts higher e±ciencies if higher discharge currents are combined with larger channel diameters. Pilot-PSI o®ers magnetic ¯elds up to 1.6 T, which is unique for a linear plasma generator. This con¯nes the otherwise expanding plasma into an intense jet and reduces the recombination losses that are typical for hydrogen plasma. Thomson scattering was applied to determine the record plasma parameters, unprecedented in a linear plasma generator: an electron density ne = 7 ¢ 1020 mi3 and temperature Te = 2 eV (at B=1.6T). The average forward velocity of the plasma was determined from the Doppler shift in the light emission and amounts typically » 3 km/s at the position of the Thomson scattering experiment. Together with the measured electron density, this yields a proton °ux density that is expected in the ITER divertor: iH+ = 2 ¢ 1024mi2si1 The magnetic ¯eld also e®ects the operation of the source. This is concluded from the signi¯cant increase of the potential di®erence at the exit of the source induced by the magnetic ¯eld. The additional potential is dependent on the inner diameter of the nozzle (with respect to the discharge channel) and amounts up to 90 V for an 8 mm nozzle at B=1.6 T. The potential increase from a wider nozzle causes a signi¯cantly improved source output, up to a factor of 2, as was quanti¯ed by Thomson scattering. The e®ect is explained in a physical picture where a signi¯cant part of the discharge current continues outside the source before it attaches to the nozzle. The consequence of current continuing into the free jet is that a large poten- tial is built up, which gives rise to an appreciable radial electric ¯eld. The radial electric ¯eld is perpendicular to the axial magnetic ¯eld and causes strong ro- tation of the jet via E£B drift of the plasma particles. High-resolution optical emission spectroscopy (HiRES) was performed to investigate this rotation from the Doppler shift in the atomic light emitted perpendicular to the plasma jet. The measured line shapes were asymmetric, which was explained by the ex- istence of two populations in the radiating atoms. One is coupled to rotating ions and has the ion temperature and velocity. The other is coupled to colder background gas and rotates at most slightly. This picture was implemented in a ¯tting procedure that yields the ion temperature and rotation velocity, the back- ground gas temperature and rotation velocity, and the electron density. In this way, peak rotation velocities up to 104 m/s were determined, probably limited by ion-neutral friction to below the thermal velocity. These rotation velocities correspond to electric ¯elds larger than 104 V/m. The rotation frequency of the central part of the plasma jet was observed to scale with the potential di®erence between the last plate and the nozzle, which con¯rms the physical picture on currents continuing beyond the source. The ion temperature Ti that followed from the ¯tting procedure was found to be systematically larger than Te. Al- though the accuracy in the temperature determination is expected to be too limited to quantify the ratio Ti=Te, we do conclude that it is larger than unity. This is in line with additional viscous heating of the ions due to the rotation of the jet. On the basis of the results presented in this thesis we conclude that the cascaded arc can serve as the basis for a future Magnum-PSI source. Scaling of the arc will be based on an enlargement of the discharge channel diameter (to » 10 mm) in combination with an increased discharge current (to 1 i 2 kA).


Neither the Due Process Clause nor the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause contains a directive ordering the federal or state governments to define the substantive criminal law in any particular fashion. The Due Process Clause prohibits the government from punishing someone until he has been convicted of a crime under the governing jurisdiction's laws, but it does not instruct legislatures how to define those crimes and whether or how to recognize defenses to them. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause has even less relevance to the content of the substantive criminal law. It only comes into play after an offender has been convicted of a crime and focuses entirely on the punishments that he can receive. The criminal law recognizes various defenses — self-defense, defense of others, duress, necessity, consent, and so forth — but the Framers did not incorporate any of them into the text of the Constitution. Indeed, with the exception of the Treason Clause, the Constitution leaves entirely to the political process the definition of the penal code because the judgments involved in drafting it involve precisely the type of moral decisions that the public and its elected representatives are fully competent to make. The most that could be required of the federal or state governments is to make a non-arbitrary choice. The judgment that Kansas made easily passes that test.


This is an easy to use guide to a wide range of art 'isms'. From the isms of the Renaissance to the isms of now, it gives a practical introduction to all the significant isms that have shaped art history. For each ism, there is a definition, an introduction to the topic, lists of key artists, key words, and key works as well as suggestions of other isms that the reader might be interested in. This book should be a must for everyone who is interested in art - whether they be Sunday afternoon visitors to galleries, art students or the more knowledgeable art connoisseur.


Intragenerational mobility has been a central concern in sociology, especially in the latter half of the 20 century. Most of this analysis has proceeded using measures of social position that are functions of an individual's occupation. This approach has been based on two primary justifications. First, occupational mobility is a key attribute of labor market structure, and the labor market, along with the educational system, is the principal institution responsible for a country's structure of inequality. Second, occupation is an income producing asset that provides an approximate measure of "permanent income" and standard of living. Occupation-based models of social mobility, however, have limitations that arguably have grown during the recent past. Meta-analysis of available evidence for Sweden, western Germany, and the United States concerning occupational mobility, household income mobility, job displacement, union dissolution, and poverty dynamics shows the limitations of the individual-level occupation-based careertrajectory approach to life course mobility. An alternative formulation at the household rather than the individual level is developed that focuses on cross-national variation in the extent to which institutions influence the rate of class-altering events, and the extent to which they mitigate the consequences of these events. The combination of these two institutional processes produces the distinctive characteristics of the mobility regimes of these three countries.


Histoplasmosis, a systemic mycosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum manifests clinically in immunocompromised patients as acute or chronic pulmonary infection or as a progressive disseminated disease. In immunocompetent hosts, the disease is usually self-limited or presents as flu-like symptoms. It is endemic in North, Central and South America as well as parts of Europe and Africa. We report a case of a 76-year-old diabetic, HIV negative patient who presented with white nodular patches on the tongue and gingiva which were reported as histoplasmosis on histopathology. He also had idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia.


For a re-entry glider, approximate solutions are found in closed form for the problem of maximizing a function of the terminal velocity, altitude, flight path angle and heading angle subject to, at most, three terminal nonlirear constraints. The results given here extend the predious results in two important ways:


The paper discusses the design of environmental remediation laws in countries struggling with fundamental market and institutional reforms. Optimal cleanup standards, liability rules, and enforcement are discussed from the standpoint of both economic efficiency and practical implementation. Particular attention is paid to financing mechanisms and issues that arise during privatization.


Along with the popularity of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Things (IoT), Federated Learning (FL) has attracted steadily increasing attentions as a promising distributed machine learning paradigm, which enables the training of a central model on for numerous decentralized devices without exposing their privacy. However, due to the biased data distributions on involved devices, FL inherently suffers from low classification accuracy in non-IID scenarios. Although various device grouping method have been proposed to address this problem, most of them neglect both i) distinct data distribution characteristics of heterogeneous devices, and ii) contributions and hazards of local models, which are extremely important in determining the quality of global model aggregation. In this paper, we present an effective FL method named FedEntropy with a novel dynamic device grouping scheme, which makes full use of the above two factors based on our proposed maximum entropy judgement heuristic.Unlike existing FL methods that directly aggregate local models returned from all the selected devices, in one FL round FedEntropy firstly makes a judgement based on the pre-collected soft labels of selected devices and then only aggregates the local models that can maximize the overall entropy of these soft labels. Without collecting local models that are harmful for aggregation, FedEntropy can effectively improve global model accuracy while reducing the overall communication overhead. Comprehensive experimental results on well-known benchmarks show that, FedEntropy not only outperforms state-of-the-art FL methods in terms of model accuracy and communication overhead, but also can be integrated into them to enhance their classification performance.


Time synthesis of sensorimotor action is reviewed as a process of a coherence setting action duration (expected duration), time sequence of required operations and significant changes in conditions. Aim: to experimentally set up the connection of time synthesis success and efficiency of realization sensorimotor action in changeable conditions. Hypothesis: successful time synthesis of the setting duration and the temporal sequence of operations in the mental organization of sensorimotor action in changing conditions is realized in accordance with the corresponding operational meaning and is allowed by anticipatory effects and an increase in the effectiveness of the action, materials and methods. An experimental study involved 152 male and female students. Participants of the investigation solved experimental tasks, implemented in a computer version, according to schemes of a simple visual-motor reaction and a choice reaction (separately and in combination), according to a scheme of sensorimotor action with a warning signal when the apperceptive scheme, setting duration and sequence of required operations were changed promptly. Results were reviewed in the aspect of disclosing the features of the subject's elimination of the uncertainty of the moment of achieving the goal in the future and the construction of a sequence of operations of sensorimotor actions in a connection with changes in external conditions, typical for the time deficit regime. The conditionality of the time synthesis of sensorimotor action by the actual operational meaning was established revealing that the successful temporal synthesis of sensorimotor action in changing conditions is associated with the fastest acceptance of an adequate apperceptive scheme, with effective anticipation of the moment of achieving the goal and the formation of a detailed setting duration of action, with the formation of a temporal sequence of required operations. Conclusions. The levels of success of the time synthesis of sensorimotor action in changing conditions are highlighted: "quite successful; moderately successful; unsuccessful."


The negative effects from the use of fossil fuels that are evident in the ongoing climate change and pollution challenges necessitates a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies. The most promising of these is probably photovoltaic solar cells, and one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies is perovskite solar cells. These are a type of thin film solar cells that has shown the most rapid increase in power conversion efficiency of any photovoltaic technology in history. They are also relatively cheap and easy to produce, as well as light-weight and flexible, which makes them a promising candidate for building integrated solar cells. However, they are still in the research stage and require further development to achieve long-term stability and to scale up to commercial sizes. Plasmonic effects that arise from the integration of metal nanoparticles within the perovskite solar cells is a very promising method for increasing the power conversion efficiency of these solar cells. This thesis used computer simulations to investigate how these plasmonic effects alter the fraction of light that is absorbed by the solar cell, since light absorptance is the most important factor affecting the power conversion efficiency. Close to 400 simulations are performed using the Lumerical FDTD Solutions software. The materials used for the nanoparticles are gold, silver, aluminum and platinum, and the shapes used are spheres, cubes, rods (cylinders) and pyramids. Simulations using core-shell particles with a silicon dioxide shell, and simulations where the position and number of nanoparticles is adjusted are also performed. Material data from research articles are imported and used for the various layers of the solar cell structure. The absorptance increases in almost all the simulations where nanoparticles are used. Relatively large nanoparticles usually show the highest absorptance. The thinnest solar cell, where the thickness of the active perovskite layer is 200 nm, show a larger increase in absorptance relative to the reference solar cell without nanoparticles than the thicker solar cell (500 nm perovskite) does. These two thicknesses (200 and 500 nm) for the perovskite layer was used in the simulations because those are the lower and upper limit of the thicknesses that are usually used in published research literature on the topic, and because the 200 nm layer showed the highest absorptance per nm while the 500 nm layer showed the highest total absorptance. The largest total absorptance was achieved by using a platinum nanoparticle shaped like a pyramid in the thickest solar cell, while the largest relative absorptance increase was achieved by using a platinum nanoparticle shaped like a cube in the thinnest solar cell. The former achieved a total absorptance of 0.861 (86.1% of incident photons were absorbed), while the latter achieved a 52.9% increase in absorptance relative to the reference solar cell without nanoparticles. However, the reduced price and higher availability of aluminum could make it more beneficial to replace the platinum nanoparticles with aluminum, which resulted in a


Humans are deeply connected to the oceans, who provide us vital ecosystem services (ES) (climate regulation, control of natural threats, wealth of its biodiversity, etc.), but the oceans are the first to suffer from human activity (climate change, destruction of ecosystems, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution, endangered species, etc.). Marine biodiversity is a fundamental natural capital in the generation of marine ecosystem services (MES), fundamental elements for the maintenance of human wellbeing. The objective of this article is to empirically demonstrate the role of marine ES in natural protected areas in Nature 2000 Rías Baixas (N2RB) (Galicia, NW Spain) in order to (1) to improve the knowledge on natural capital and ES associated to conserved coastal areas, (2) to analyze the contribution of these conserved coastal areas to the provision of sustainable business opportunities, and (3) to analyze if green-oriented policies can revert the current unsustainable exploitation model by providing real opportunities for business development. By creating an inventory, we gathered detailed information collected up to October 2020 of scientific literature, research projects, press releases, information on business initiatives and public policies regulations on ES and conservation of marine biodiversity in the N2RB (Cíes Islands and Island of Ons, including the Ons–O Grove Complex). Better protection of marine natural capital needs coordinated efforts among all sectors of government, business, and international institutions. It is a priority to generate a greater degree of social and business commitment that promotes the conservation of marine biodiversity, through the design of social and business participation strategies in the planning and use of ES in the N2RB areas.


Passive states of quantum systems are states from which no system energy can be extracted by any cyclic (unitary) process. Gibbs states of all temperatures are passive. Strong local (SL) passive states are defined to allow any general quantum operation, but the operation is required to be local, being applied only to a specific subsystem. Any mixture of eigenstates in a system-dependent neighborhood of a nondegenerate, entangled ground state is found to be SL passive. In particular, Gibbs states are SL passive with respect to a subsystem only at or below a critical, system-dependent temperature. SL passivity is associated in many-body systems with the presence of ground state entanglement in a way suggestive of collective quantum phenomena such as quantum phase transitions, superconductivity, and the quantum Hall effect. The presence of SL passivity is detailed for some simple spin systems where it is found that SL passivity is neither confined to systems of just a few particles nor limited to the near vicinity of the ground state.


The first example of a catalytic Michael addition reaction of non-activated aliphatic nitriles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under mild, neutral conditions is reported. A new de-aromatized pyridine-based PNP pincer complex of the Earth-abundant, first-row transition metal manganese serves as the catalyst. The reaction tolerates a variety of nitriles and Michael acceptors with different steric features and acceptor strengths. Mechanistic investigations including temperature-dependent NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveal that the cooperative activation of alkyl nitriles, which leads to the generation of metalated nitrile nucleophile species (α-cyano carbanion analogues), is a key step of the mechanism. The metal center is not directly involved in the catalytic bond formation but rather serves, cooperatively with the ligand, as a template for the substrate activation. This approach of "template catalysis" expands the scope of potential donors for conjugate addition reactions.


textabstractThe information explosion in science has become a different problem, not the sheer amount per se, but the multiplicity and heterogeneity of massive sets of data sources. Relations mined from these heterogeneous sources, namely texts, database records, and ontologies have been mapped to Resource Description Framework (RDF) triples in an integrated database. The subject and object resources are expressed as references to concepts in a biomedical ontology consisting of the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS), UniProt and EntrezGene and for the predicate resource to a predicate thesaurus. All RDF triples have been stored in a graph database, including provenance. For evaluation we used an actual formal PRISMA literature study identifying 61 cerebral spinal fluid biomarkers and 200 blood biomarkers for migraine. These biomarkers sets could be retrieved with weighted mean average precision values of 0.32 and 0.59, respectively, and can be used as a first reference for further refinements.


Technology impact assessments in high-schools give different results depending on the context. However, there are coincidences as to the important role of teachers in successful experiences, especially when they carry out an analysis of their practices together. This paper studies the impact of collaborative methodologies and peer review using technologies as CoRubric for negotiation and use of collaborative rubrics, and the acquisition of digital skills in the initial training of high school teachers. The case study was conducted with a group of 27 master students of secondary education teachers in social science specialty at Malaga University generating a collaborative methodology to building a rubric where 260 records of contents were analyzed by category analysis. This methodology was supported by educational technologies in order to agree on the criteria for assessment of student presentations, with a high rate of participation among them. As conclusions of the work are showed that the proximity among the evaluations given by student and professor is getting closer thanks to the increased eRubric use.


In this article we present a framework for modeling a building with a single Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The model is constructed in two stages. A first stage segments the DEM into planar surface patches to describe the building. Then, a polygonalisation stage generates the final polygonal model of the building by using constraints. We use robust estimation methods at different stages of our framework to develop an efficient and insensitive to noise system of modeling. The system that we propose is fully automatic and does not use any a priori information about the shape of the buildings. We present results with simple buildings and with a large area of a real city. ha l-0 08 21 47 6, v er si on 1 10 M ay 2 01 3


We present a multiwavelength analysis of 48 submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) detected in the Large APEX Bolometer Camera/Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) Survey of Clusters at All Redshifts, LASCAR, which acquired new 870 μm and Australia Telescope Compact Array 2.1 GHz observations of 10 galaxy clusters detected through their Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect (SZE) signal by the ACT. Far-infrared observations were also conducted with the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (100/160 μm) and SPIRE (250/350/500 μm) instruments on Herschel for sample subsets of five and six clusters. LASCAR 870 μm maps were reduced using a multiscale iterative pipeline that removes the SZE increment signal, yielding point-source sensitivities of σ ∼ 2 mJy beam−1. We detect in total 49 sources at the 4σ level and conduct a detailed multiwavelength analysis considering our new radio and far-IR observations plus existing near-IR and optical data. One source is identified as a foreground galaxy, 28 SMGs are matched to single radio sources, four have double radio counterparts, and 16 are undetected at 2.1 GHz but tentatively associated in some cases to near-IR/optical sources. We estimate photometric redshifts for 34 sources with secure (25) and tentative (9) matches at different wavelengths, obtaining a median . Compared to previous results for single-dish surveys, our redshift distribution has a comparatively larger fraction of sources at z > 3, and the high-redshift tail is more extended. This is consistent with millimeter spectroscopic confirmation of a growing number of high-z SMGs and relevant for testing of cosmological models. Analytical lens modeling is applied to estimate magnification factors for 42 SMGs at clustercentric radii >1.′2; with the demagnified flux densities and source-plane areas, we obtain integral number counts that agree with previous submillimeter surveys.


Recently, the Entropy Ensemble Filter (EEF) method was proposed to mitigate the computational cost of the Bootstrap AGGregatING (bagging) method. This method uses the most informative training data sets in the model ensemble rather than all ensemble members created by the conventional bagging. In this study, we evaluate, for the first time, the application of the EEF method in Neural Network (NN) modeling of El Nino-southern oscillation. Specifically, we forecast the first five principal components (PCs) of sea surface temperature monthly anomaly fields over tropical Pacific, at different lead times (from 3 to 15 months, with a three-month increment) for the period 1979–2017. We apply the EEF method in a multiple-linear regression (MLR) model and two NN models, one using Bayesian regularization and one Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for training, and evaluate their performance and computational efficiency relative to the same models with conventional bagging. All models perform equally well at the lead time of 3 and 6 months, while at higher lead times, the MLR model's skill deteriorates faster than the nonlinear models. The neural network models with both bagging methods produce equally successful forecasts with the same computational efficiency. It remains to be shown whether this finding is sensitive to the dataset size.


ABSTRACT Amos, C.L.; Kassem, H.; Bergamasco, A.; Sutherland, T.F., and Cloutier, D., 2021. The mass settling flux of suspended particulate matter in Venice Lagoon, Italy. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(6), 1099–1116. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. A multidisciplinary study of the stability of the tidal flats of Venice Lagoon has provided field and laboratory data on the factors influencing the mass settling rates of material in suspension. This work was performed using two in situ benthic flumes (Sea Carousel and Mini Flume) in association with a wide range of physical and biological measurements undertaken during the summer of 1998 and the subsequent winter. Also, controlled experiments on erosion/sedimentation of prepared beds were carried out using Lab Carousel, a laboratory equivalent of Sea Carousel. Particle size and mass settling rates were found to be largely independent of suspended sediment concentration but strongly controlled by the antecedent bed shear stresses that led to the suspension. Results between the three flume types differed because of differences in the induced stress history created in each case. Comparable results were obtained by normalizing mass settling rate to the mean friction velocity of the flow during settling, i.e. the Rouse parameter () , and by use of the mean dimensionless particle diameter (D*). Results fell in line with results on carbonate and silica sands of the inlets of the lagoon. The mean particle diameter (df) varied in proportion to the applied shear stress and shear rate (G) suggesting that the suspended particles were eroded aggregates not floccules. The effective density of these aggregates was least (∼16 kgm–3) at the largest sizes (df > 1 × 10–4 m) and greatest (∼160–1600 kgm–3) at the smallest sizes (df < 1 × 10–4 m). The lack of an increase in df at low shear rates suggests that flocculation was not taking place. The mean deposition threshold (all experiments) was 0.68 Pa, which is less than the mean erosion threshold from these sites (0.78 Pa).


In this letter, a multi-user space-time trellis coding (MU-STTC) scheme is proposed for MIMO vector Gaussian broadcast channels (VGBC). For the system with two transmit antennas and two users with one receive antenna each, the proposed scheme decomposes the system into two sub-systems, each of which is equivalent to a system with two transmit and one receive antenna with known interference. A novel precoding scheme is developed to eliminate such interference. The proposed scheme enables to incorporate space time trellis coding and adaptive weighting into the system to provide a significant coding and weighting gain. Simulation results confirm its good performance.


Integrating gene expression data with secondary data such as pathway or protein-protein interaction data has been proposed as a promising approach for improved outcome prediction of cancer patients. Methods employing this approach usually aggregate the expression of genes into new composite features, while the secondary data guide this aggregation. Previous studies were limited to few data sets with a small number of patients. Moreover, each study used different data and evaluation procedures. This makes it difficult to objectively assess the gain in classification performance. Here we introduce the Amsterdam Classification Evaluation Suite (ACES). ACES is a Python package to objectively evaluate classification and feature-selection methods and contains methods for pooling and normalizing Affymetrix microarrays from different studies. It is simple to use and therefore facilitates the comparison of new approaches to best-in-class approaches. In addition to the methods described in our earlier study (Staiger et al., 2012), we have included two prominent prognostic gene signatures specific for breast cancer outcome, one more composite feature selection method and two network-based gene ranking methods. Employing the evaluation pipeline we show that current composite-feature classification methods do not outperform simple single-genes classifiers in predicting outcome in breast cancer. Furthermore, we find that also the stability of features across different data sets is not higher for composite features. Most stunningly, we observe that prediction performances are not affected when extracting features from randomized PPI networks.


Grain boundaries hinder twin boundary motion in magnetic shape-memory alloys and suppress magnetic-field-induced deformation in randomly textured polycrystalline material. The quest for high-quality single crystals and the associated costs are a major barrier for the commercialization of magnetic shape-memory alloys. Adding porosity to polycrystalline magnetic-shape memory alloys presents solutions for (i) the elimination of grain boundaries via the separation of neighboring grains by pores, and (ii) the reduction of production cost via replacing the directional solidification crystal growth process by conventional casting. Ni-Mn-Ga foams were produced with varying pore architecture and pore fractions. Thermo-magnetic training procedures were applied to improve magnetic-field-induced strain. The cyclic strain was measured in-situ while the sample was heated and cooled through the martensitic transformation. The magnetic field-induced strain amounts to several percent in the martensite phase, decreases continuously during the transformation upon heating, and vanishes in the austenite phase. Upon cooling, cyclic strain appears below the martensite start temperature and reaches a value larger than the initial strain in the martensite phase, thereby confirming a training effect. For Ni-Mn-Ga single crystals, external constraints imposed by gripping the crystal limit lifetime and/or magnetic-field-induced deformation. These constraints are relaxed for foams.


This study has been focused on the comparison of the application of Thermal Desorption (TD) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) methods for the identification and quantification of organic chemicals in house dust samples. To investigate how the results obtained by SFE and TD of house dust compare to one another and whether the SFE has advantages over the TD method, an aliquot of a house dust sample has been subjected to desorption at successively increasing temperatures. The thermal desorption unit used cryo - focusing on capillary tubing and was connected to a GC-MS combination. A quantity of the same house dust sample was extracted, using a method consisting of a two-step SFE with CO2 and CO2 + 5% of methanol, and GC-MS analysis of the eluates. The comparison of the results showed that the SFE method was superior to the TD for analysing indoor dust samples because of the pre-separation and the absence of thermal degradation, particularly for compounds of low volatility. However, TD could be more appropriate for relatively volatile or lower molecular weight range compounds and thermally stable compounds.


The research work of Wil van der Aalst, Arthur ter Hofstede, Bartek Kiepuszewski, and Alistair Barros has resulted in the identification of 21 patterns that describe the behavior of business processes. This paper reviews how two graphical process modeling notations, the BPMN Business Process Diagram from the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI), and the UML 2.0 Activity Diagram from the Object Management Group (OMG), can represent the workflow patterns. The solutions of the two notations are compared for technical ability to represent the patterns as well as their readability. INTRODUCTION The research work of Wil van der Aalst, Arthur ter Hofstede, Bartek Kiepuszewski, and Alistair Barros has resulted in the identification of 21 patterns that describe the behavior of business processes. The rationale for the development of the patterns was to describe the potential capabilities that a workflow server may have during the performance of business processes. The patterns range from very simple to very complex and cover the behaviors that can be captured within most business process models. The researchers have developed a web site1 that contains descriptions and examples of these patterns, plus supporting papers and evaluations of how workflow products support the patterns. The purpose of this paper is to examine how two modeling notations, the BPMN Business Process Diagram from BPMI, and the UML 2.0 Activity Diagram from the OMG, can graphically represent the workflow patterns. For each of pattern, there will be a comparison of the two notations about how well they handled the pattern. The focus of the comparison will be both technical and how visually intuitive each notation represents the pattern. BASIC CONTROL PATTERNS The first five patterns are fairly simple examples of process behavior. They define the basic modeling patterns of business processes. WORKFLOW PATTERN: SEQUENCE The Sequence pattern is defined as being an ordered series of activities, with one activity starting after a previous activity has completed. The WfMC2 defines this behavior as a "Sequential Routing." Business Process Diagram A Business Process Diagram defines this pattern as a series of activities connected by Sequence Flow (see Figure 1). The direction of the Sequence Flow arrowheads determines the order of the Sequence. The behavior of this pattern can be described by the use of a conceptual "Token" that travels down a Sequence Flow from the source object to the target object—as shown by the directionality of the arrows. For this pattern, when an activity completes, a Token will travel through the Sequence Flow from that activity to the next activity in the Sequence. There is no conditionality or any other type of control put upon the Token. In BPMN, any control placed upon the flow of Tokens will be indicated by a diamond shape, with either a Gateway object or a conditional Sequence Flow. Examples of the flow control will be seen in the other workflow patterns. Tokens will be used to describe the behavior of the patterns covered in this paper. 1 http://tmitwww.tm.tue.nl/research/patterns/patterns.htm 2 The Workflow Management Coalition Terminology & Glossary (1999) PROCESS MODELING NOTATIONS AND WORKFLOW PATTERNS 2 Figure 1: WP #1: Sequence—Business Process Diagram Activity Diagram The UML Activity Diagram defines this pattern as a series of activities connected by control flow (see Figure 2). The direction of the control flow arrowheads determines the order of the Sequence. As with the Business Process Diagram, when an activity completes, a Token will travel through the control flow from that activity to the next activity in the Sequence. Figure 2: WP #1: Sequence—Activity Diagram Comparison There is no major difference between BPMN and UML in diagramming the Sequence pattern. Both notations use rounded rectangles to notate activities. The exact degree of rounding for the corners of the rectangles is up to the modeler or tool vendor. Both use solid, directed lines to show the direction of flow. However, the arrowheads are different between the two standards. UML uses a line arrowhead for control flow and standard object flow, while BPMN uses a solid arrowhead for its Sequence Flow. UML does use a solid arrowhead, but this is used for streaming object flow edges—which means that multiple object Tokens can enter the activity without generating new instances of that activity. This type of behavior handled through Association links in BPMN (refer to the respective UML and BPMN specifications for more details on these types of behaviors). The arrowhead differences will apply to all the patterns described below. WORKFLOW PATTERN: PARALLEL SPLIT The Parallel Split pattern is defined as being a mechanism that will allow activities to be performed concurrently, rather than serially. A single path through the process is split into two or more paths so that two or more activities will start at the same time. The WfMC defines this behavior as an "AND-Split." Business Process Diagram A BPMN Business Process Diagram provides three mechanisms for creating the Parallel Split pattern. The first mechanism allows that a flow object can have two or more outgoing Sequence Flow (see Figure 3). A special flow control object is not required to fork the path, since it is considered uncontrolled flow; that is, flow will proceed down each path without any dependencies or conditions—i.e., there is no Gateway that controls the flow. A Token will be generated for each of the outgoing Sequence Flow. Forking Sequence Flow can be generated from a Task, Sub-Process, or a Start Event. Figure 3: WP #2: Parallel Split—Business Process Diagram, Version 1 The second mechanism uses a Parallel Gateway (A diamond with a plus sign internal marker—see Figure 4). For situations as shown in Figure 4, a Gateway is not required, since the same behavior can be created through multiple outgoing Sequence Flow, as shown in Figure 3. However, some modelers and modeling tools may use a forking Gateway as a "best practice." After the Token arrives at the Gateway, there will be a Token immediately sent down each of the outgoing Sequence Flow. PROCESS MODELING NOTATIONS AND WORKFLOW PATTERNS 3 There are other situations where the Parallel Gateway would be required, such as a Parallel Split that follows an Exclusive Choice (see Figure 10 for an example of an Exclusive Choice). Figure 4: WP #2: Parallel Split—Business Process Diagram, Version 2 A third mechanism can be used to create the Parallel Split pattern. If a Process or a Sub-Process does not have a Start Event, which is optional, then any activity that does not have any incoming Sequence Flow will start when the Sub-Process starts. A Token will be provided for each of the starting activities. The general idea is that the modeler can create a "parallel box," as seen in Figure 5, and create a parallel situation with a compact and visually distinct technique. Figure 5: WP #2: Parallel Split—Business Process Diagram, Version 3 Activity Diagram The UML Activity Diagram uses a fork node to create a set of parallel paths (a vertical or horizontal bar— see Figure 6). The bar shown in the figure indicates that all outgoing control flow from the bar will create a set of parallel flows. A Token will be generated for each of the outgoing control flow. The target activities for each of those flows will be available to start at the same time. Figure 6: WP #2: Parallel Split—Activity Diagram Comparison The mechanisms for providing the Parallel Split pattern are different between the two notations. BPMN provides much simpler mechanisms with the multiple outgoing Sequence Flow and the "parallel box." If a control object is required or desired, then a parallel Gateway is available. UML requires that a graphical object, a fork node, create the Parallel Split. In general, the approach for controlling flow is different between the two notations. BPMN employs a single shape, a diamond, to represent any control or constraint on the flow of Tokens between activities. Internal markers indicate the exact type of control (e.g., alternative or parallel splits). The diamond shape was chosen since it is widely recognized as a decision object in flow charting. The BPMN approach provides for a smaller set of core modeling objects. UML employs two different types of objects (a diamond and a bar) to represent control of Token flow. This provides a easier distinguishing between the two basic types of control (alternative and parallel), but when PROCESS MODELING NOTATIONS AND WORKFLOW PATTERNS 4 more complex control is required, such as a N out of M Join or a Synchronizing Merge, which contain both alternative an parallel behavior, then the distinction becomes less clear. WORKFLOW PATTERN: SYNCHRONIZATION The Synchronization pattern combines the paths that were generated by a Parallel Split pattern. The final set of activities within the flows must be completed before the process can continue. This is the "synchronization" of the parallel paths. The WfMC defines this behavior as an "AND-Join." Business Process Diagram In BPMN, there are two mechanisms for the Synchronization pattern. The first mechanism involves the use of a Parallel Gateway (see Figure 7). This Gateway also functions for the Parallel Split pattern (see Figure 4), and can perform both functions simultaneously. The Gateway will accept multiple incoming Sequence Flow and wait for a Token to arrive from each flow before a single Token will continue past the Gateway. This mechanism is used for both of the first two types of Parallel Split patterns (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). A Gateway must be used in this case since the flow of the Process is being controlled (synchronized). Figure 7: WP #3: Synchronization—Business Process Diagram—Version 1 The second mechanism is the closing half of the "parallel box" technique shown in Figure 5. If a Process or a Sub-Process does not have an End Event, the


Ogata, M., Takatsuka, Y., and Tomokuni, K. (1970).Brit. J. industr. Med.,27, 378-381. A simple method for the quantitative analysis of urinary trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid as an index of trichloroethylene exposure. A simple method of estimating trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid in the urine of workers exposed to trichloroethylene is described. The glucuronide of trichloroethanol was hydrolysed enzymatically to trichloroethanol by β-glucuronidase and the trichloroethanol released was allowed to react with pyridine and potassium hydroxide in that order, thereby avoiding decomposition of trichloroethanol with strong alkali. The colour which developed in 3·5 minutes at 100°C with pyridine was measured at 440 nm and 530 nm. This also allowed trichloroacetic acid to be determined. The results agreed well with those obtained by longer methods.


: In this paper, we aim to present a new and unified way, including the previously mentioned solution methods, to overcome the problem in [7] for closed and bounded valued F -contraction mappings. We also want to obtain a real generalization of fixed point results existing in the literature by using best proximity point theory. Further, considering the strong relationship between homotopy theory and various branches of mathematics such as category theory, topological spaces, and Hamiltonian manifolds in quantum mechanics, our objective is to present an application to homotopy theory of our best proximity point results obtained in the paper. In this sense, we first introduce a new family, which is larger than F ∗ that has often been used to give a positive answer to the problem. Then, we prove some best proximity point results for the new kind of F -contractions on quasi metric spaces via the new family. Additionally, we show that the note given by Almeida et al. [4] is not valid for our results. Therefore, our results are real generalizations of fixed point results in the literature. Moreover, we give comparative examples to demonstrate that our results unify and generalize some well-known results in the literature. As an application, we show that each homotopic mapping to φ satisfying all the hypotheses of our best proximity point result has also a best proximity point.


The neotropical frog Eleutherodactylus coqui (Thomas) undergoes direct development within the egg, emerging at hatching as a juvenile frog. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiorespiratory changes that accompany development, as well as to determine how the developmental physiology of direct-developing anurans differs from anurans with free-living larval stages. Heart rate ( f H), oxygen uptake ( M OO2), vitelline fluid pH, and the protein and lactate concentrations of vitelline fluid were measured as a function of development. At 24–25°C, f H doubled from 50 to 100 beats min−1 during the early stages of heart development, then increased more slowly with later embryonic development to 120 beats min−1 at hatching. The act of hatching itself was accompanied by a transient increase in f H to 155 beats min−11, this mild tachycardia lasting for at least 2 h. In juveniles and adults, heart rate decreased with increasing body mass, falling to about 80 beats min−1 in 6 g frogs at 24–25°C. M OO2 at 24–25°C increased from about 2 μmol g egg−1 h−1 for the earliest embryos examined to about 12 μmol g egg−1 h−1 at hatching. M OO2 in adults decreased with increasing body size, ranging from 4 to 5 μmol g−1 h−1 in the largest adults examined (6 g). Both f H and M OO2 were also measured at 18°C. The Q10 for f H was between 1.5 and 2 throughout development. The Q10 for M OO2 in embryos ranged between 3.5 and 6.5 until hatching, falling to 1.6-2.0 in juveniles and small adults. Vitelline fluid pH (24–25°C) decreased from 5.2 in early embryonic stages to 4.7 at the time of hatching. Egg dehydration caused a significant decrease in the pH of vitelline fluid and was associated with a significant rise in f H. Vitelline fluid protein concentration was about 5–6 mg dl−1, and showed no consistent change with development. Whole-egg lactate concentration ranged from 4 to 11 μg g egg−1, and also showed no consistent change during development. These findings indicate considerable changes in cardiac and metabolic physiology associated with development in Eleutherodactylus coqui . These changes appear to be associated with both organogenesis (primary influence before hatching) and body mass changes (primary influence after hatching).


A phenomenon of eyelid closure on opening the mouth or with movements of mastication has been described by many. 1-7 This synkinesis has been referred to as the "reversed or inverted Marcus Gunn phenomenon." It has also been known as the "Syndrome of Marin Amat." In the Marcus Gunn phenomenon, where the lids open when the mouth is opened, the levator is considered to have neural connections not only with the third nerve nucleus, but also with the external pterygoid part of the fifth nerve nucleus. In the present syndrome the orbicularis oculi was believed by most of the early writers to have intraneural connections between the fifth and seventh cranial nerves. The validity of this explanation has been questioned. 3,9,10 Report of Case A 20-year-old Caucasian hospitalman was admitted on April 11, 1960, to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Oakland, complaining of eyewinking while chewing. The past history revealed that


A double core event with Σ Eγ 1000 TeV, observed in MEC, is reported. The distributions of particles in the two cores are quite dissimilar from each other. The event is briefly discussed.


Waterway barriers have been constructed on waterways throughout Queensland and in many cases have obstructed the movement of native fish species.

This project uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to numerically model fish passage designs recommended by the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) minor waterway barrier works guidelines and aims to assess and refine the designs relevant to the free movement of native fish species of the Mary River catchment.

The construction of waterway barriers within Australian streams impacts on fish migration and is identified as a major cause of decline in native fish populations and localised extinction of some species. This project uses CFD modelling to expand on the laboratory, field and literary research used to develop the DAFF waterway barrier works guidelines.

Literary review was undertaken to determine the movement behaviour and swim performance of native fish species of the Mary River catchment. To assess the suitability of CFD as a design tool ANSYS CFX validation models were established based on data sourced from prior field and laboratory fish passage studies. Design models based on the requirements of the DAFF guidelines were then developed and assessed.

The results of the CFD modelling suggest that the DAFF minor waterway barrier requirements generally provide conditions adequate for fish passage however high flow velocity was identified as a barrier to fish passage in the `Green' and `Amber' DAFF fish passage design models. The design requirements of the DAFF self-assessable code WWBW01 were therefore considered inadequate in terms of the hydraulic conditions applicable to the swimming ability of native fish species of the Mary River catchment.

Further work is to be undertaken to further investigate alternatives to the design treatments included in the DAFF guidelines and to investigate refinement options.
The DAFF minor waterway barrier guidelines provide general requirements for facilitating fish passage through waterway barriers, however the requirements are not region or site specific therefore may not be suitable for all situations and conditions.


This paper analyses the history and effectiveness of the two major mechanisms of resolution of balance of payments crisis. It argues that IMF lending has met its counter-cyclical objectives through history and has been improving in terms of providing adequate lending facilities as well as focusing conditionality on macro-relevant areas. In contrast, and despite the spread of collective action clauses, much remains to be done in the area of debt restructuring. In this regard, it proposes a multilateral mechanism that offers a sequence of voluntary negotiations, mediation and eventual arbitration with pre-established deadlines, similar to that used in the World Trade Organization.s dispute settlement process.


Abstract
We live in a complex, globalised world. Everything is connected and still many of us feel detached, disconnected from other entities on earth. We might sleepwalk into a global ecological crisis and therefore we need to develop new ways of living together differently. Can we imagine an ecological response on globalisation and complexity? What difference can systemic practitioners make, a difference that makes a difference, that matters (Bateson, 1979)?  Transformation in a complex system is the emergent result of interactions between its components and its environment. We can't predict and control inter-action between al multi-actors in a complex system. We can anticipate, improvise and learn how to learn. In this article I present a theoretical framework, inspired by Neo-Materialism, that integrates cybernetics and social-constructionism in contemporary systemic thinking. The question I ask is how to navigate complexity and offer accountability about the process of systemic learning, without getting drawn into the paradoxical spiral of control. I suggest ways in which therapists may become systemic nomads and describe how to produce 'validity from within', remaining open to the unpredictable process of becoming in multi-actor networks of human and non-human generators.


Abstract:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is considered a valuable ancillary tool for dermatopathology diagnosis, but few studies have measured IHC utilization by dermatopathologists or assessed its diagnostic utility. In a regionalized, community-based dermatopathology practice, we measured IHC utilization (total requests, specific antibodies requested, and final diagnosis) over a 12-month period. Next, we assessed diagnostic utility by comparing a preliminary "pre-IHC" diagnosis based on routine histochemical staining with the final diagnosis rendered after consideration of IHC results. The dermatopathology IHC utilization rate was 1.2%, averaging 3.6 stains requested per case. Melanocytic, hematolymphoid, and fibrohistiocytic lesions made up 23%, 18%, and 16%, respectively, of the total cases requiring IHC. S100 and Melan A were the most frequently requested stains, ordered on 50% and 34% of IHC cases, respectively. The utility study revealed that IHC changed the diagnosis in 11%, confirmed a diagnosis, or excluded a differential diagnosis in 77%, and was noncontributory in 4% of cases. Where IHC results prompted a change in diagnosis, 14% were a change from a benign to malignant lesion, whereas 32% changed from one malignant entity to another. IHC is most commonly used in cutaneous melanocytic and hematolymphoid lesions. In 11% of dermatopathology cases in which IHC is used, information is provided that changes the H&E diagnosis. Such changes may have significant treatment implications. IHC is noncontributory in only a small percentage of cases.


Reviews the social and economic position of indigenous and tribal people with a view to identifying the role of the cooperative movement in supporting employment and income generation whilst preserving their traditional livelihoods.


The visual word form area (VWFA) is a region of human inferotemporal cortex that emerges at a fixed location in occipitotemporal cortex during reading acquisition, and systematically responds to written words in literate individuals. According to the neuronal recycling hypothesis, this region arises through the repurposing, for letter recognition, of a subpart of the ventral visual pathway initially involved in face and object recognition. Furthermore, according to the biased connectivity hypothesis, its universal localization is due to pre-existing connections from this subregion to areas involved in spoken language processing. Here, we evaluate those hypotheses in an explicit computational model. We trained a deep convolutional neural network of the ventral visual pathway, first to categorize pictures, and then to recognize written words invariantly for case, font and size. We show that the model can account for many properties of the VWFA, particularly when a subset of units possesses a biased connectivity to word output units. The network develops a sparse, invariant representation of written words, based on a restricted set of reading-selective units. Their activation mimics several properties of the VWFA, and their lesioning causes a reading-specific deficit. Our simulation fleshes out the neuronal recycling hypothesis, and make several testable predictions concerning the neural code for written words.


In prior studies, it was demonstrated that the redox metabolism of doxorubicin leads to the formation of promutagenic oxidized DNA bases in human chromatin, suggesting a potential mechanism for doxorubicin-related second malignancies. To determine whether a similar type of DNA damage is produced in the clinic, peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA from 15 women treated with infusional doxorubicin (165 mg/m(2)) as a single agent was examined for 14 modified bases by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. Prior to the 96-hour doxorubicin infusion, 13 different oxidized bases were present in all DNA samples examined. Chemotherapy, producing a steady-state level of 0.1 microM doxorubicin, increased DNA base oxidation up to 4-fold compared to baseline values for 9 of the 13 bases studied. Maximal base oxidation was observed 72 to 96 hours after doxorubicin treatment was begun; the greatest significant increases were found for Thy Gly (4.2-fold), 5-OH-Hyd (2.5-fold), FapyAde (2.4-fold), and 5-OH-MeUra (2.4-fold). The level of the promutagenic base FapyGua increased 1.6-fold (P < .02), whereas no change in 8-OH-Gua levels was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA during the doxorubicin infusion. These results suggest that DNA base damage similar to that produced by ionizing radiation occurs under clinical conditions in hematopoietic cells after doxorubicin exposure. If doxorubicin-induced DNA base oxidation occurs in primitive hematopoietic precursors, these lesions could contribute to the mutagenic or toxic effects of the anthracyclines on the bone marrow.


Studies point to the role of ethnic civic community on political participation; that is, the greater the civic community involvement (a measure of social capital), the greater is the political participation. In this paper we expand the hypothesis linking social capital and political participation on two fronts: we explore whether family social capital has similar effect as the affiliation to ethnic group and, we examine whether social capital affects not only political participation but also the social dimension of integration. Using the data from the Ethnic Diversity Survey conducted by Statistics Canada in 2002, we examine the relation between ethnic and family social capital on experience of discrimination, sense of belonging to the wider society, and voting in federal election. We focus on young Canadians aged 15 to 34, and do separate analysis for all young Canadians, all visible minorities, and for Blacks, Chinese, and South Asians. In general, family social capital (measured as trust and sense of belonging to family) is positively related to integration and political participation. As for membership in organizations, the results show contrasting effects. Membership in ethnic and sports organizations increases one's sense of belonging to the wider society, and members of organizations are more likely to vote. In contrast, for visible minorities, the proportion reporting discrimination is higher among members than non-members of all types of organizations.


Reproductive investment during the chick-rearing period is an important contributor to lifetime fitness. Key to chick-rearing is the success of parental foraging, as food deliveries affect chick growth and survival up until fledging. For seabirds, oceanographic conditions including factors such as sea surface temperature are known to influence foraging decisions, but few studies have examined the physiological variables that might affect those decisions. We used global positioning systems (GPS), time-depth recorders (TDR), and physiological sampling techniques to explore links between ocean temperature, diving behavior, and foraging success in chick-rearing female macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus. We then explored correlations between these foraging variables and measures of individual physiological condition, specifically aerobic capacity (hematocrit) and metabolic state (corticosterone). In GPS-tracked penguins, 2 principal foraging tactics were observed: penguins made deep dives in cool, near-shore areas surrounding the breeding colony at Bird Island, South Georgia, or they traveled farther to dive shallower in warmer shelf-break areas. TDR-equipped penguins showed similar patterns. Blood sampling of TDR penguins at the onset of trips revealed strong positive correlations between hematocrit and the mean duration of foraging trips, the ocean temperature experienced during these trips, and the relative efficiency of foraging activity in terms of the number of foraging behaviors recorded per dive. These results suggest that aerobic capacity might be an important determinant of foraging trip range, as well as workload. Corticosterone was unrelated to diving behavior, which counters previous studies examining the effects of experimental increases of this hormone on foraging behavior, and we discuss reasons for this disparity.


ABSTRACT Following the onset of central vision loss, most patients develop an eccentric retinal location outside the affected macular region, the preferred retinal locus (PRL), as their new reference for visual tasks. The first goal of this article is to present behavioral evidence showing the presence of experience-dependent plasticity in people with central vision loss. The evidence includes the presence of oculomotor re-referencing of fixational saccades to the PRL; the characteristics of the shape of the crowding zone (spatial region within which the presence of other objects affects the recognition of a target) at the PRL are more "foveal-like" instead of resembling those of the normal periphery; and the change in the shape of the crowding zone at a para-PRL location that includes a component referenced to the PRL. These findings suggest that there is a shift in the referencing locus of the oculomotor and the sensory visual system from the fovea to the PRL for people with central vision loss, implying that the visual system for these individuals is still plastic and can be modified through experiences. The second goal of the article is to demonstrate the feasibility of applying perceptual learning, which capitalizes on the presence of plasticity, as a tool to improve functional vision for people with central vision loss. Our finding that visual function could improve with perceptual learning presents an exciting possibility for the development of an alternative rehabilitative strategy for people with central vision loss.


COVID-19 has emerged as a global pandemic. It is mainly manifested as pneumonia which may deteriorate into severe respiratory failure. The major hallmark of the disease is the systemic inflammatory immune response characterized by Cytokine Storm (CS). CS is marked by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Of these, IL-6 is found to be significantly associated with higher mortality. IL-6 is also a robust marker for predicting disease prognosis and deterioration of clinical profile. (1) IL-6 was detectable in the breath condensate of all the healthy non-smokers, but was significantly higher in the COPD patient. Exhaled breath condensate is totally non-invasive and highly acceptable to patients. The collection procedure has no effect on airway function or inflammation, and there is growing evidence that abnormalities in condensate composition may reflect biochemical changes in airway lining fluid. This method has been successfully used in previous studies to investigate several inflammatory markers in COPD and asthmatic patients. (2) Il-6 is produced in the lung by interstitial fibroblasts, alveolar macrophages, and large-vessel and bronchial epithelial cells. IL-6 levels are high in chronic inflammatory conditions of the lung, such as those due to allogeneic transplantation, bleomycin-induced fibrosis and a variety of human interstitial lung diseases. High levels of IL-6 have been found in the induced sputum of patients with COPD, particularly during exacerbation. Park et al. found increased IL-6 levels in the Bronchioalveolar lavage fluid of patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis and in some patients with interstitial pneumonia. (3) the study involved 20 healthy controls and 20 patients with moderate to severe covid-19 according to cdc classifaction and 20 patients post covid-19 with lung fibrosis to estimate the measurment of interleukin-6 at exhaled condensate, this clinical randomized control study consists of 3 arms for 6 month ( all participants above 18 years non prgnant humans )


The NRMN STAR program was created to address the persistent underrepresentation in grant submissions and receipt of National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards by racial/ethnic minority groups. In our current study, we assessed program impact on trainees' self-efficacy related to grant writing. The program was conducted with two cohorts: one in June 2014 and one in June 2015. We used a 19-item grant writing self-efficacy scale drawn from the 88-item Clinical Research Assessment Inventory of three domains (conceptualizing, designing, and funding a study) to predict whether self-efficacy influences researchers' grant submissions. Trainees were assessed prior to and following program completion with subsequent assessments at 6 and 12 months beyond participation. The majority of trainees were Black (62%), female (62%), and had obtained a PhD (90%). More than half (52%) were assistant professors and 57% had none or <1 year of research experience beyond postdoctoral training. However, 24% of trainees reported no postdoctoral research training. NRMN STAR trainees' self-efficacy significantly improved on all three domains exhibiting a 2.0-point mean change score on two domains (conceptualizing and design) and 3.7 point mean change score on the domain, funding a study. Findings suggest that NRMN's STAR provides impactful, confidence-building training for diverse, early stage investigators with little-to-no skills, experiences, or low self-efficacy in writing research grants.


We present a family with multiple carriers of a subtle balanced translocation t(14;21)(q21.2;q21.2) and three patients with a resultant adjacent‐2 malsegregation containing a +der(14)t(14;21)(q21.2;q21.2),‐21 in their chromosome complement. The initial study was performed when a 2‐month‐old female was referred to genetics clinic for evaluation of developmental delay, growth retardation, and failure to thrive. Physical findings included prominent eyes, micrognathia, prominent and simple external ears, camptodactyly, contractures of the wrists, ankles, and hips, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, prominent atria and occipital horns, cerebellopontine hypoplasia; and small atrial septal defect. High resolution chromosomes showed an extra band on the proximal 21q and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated only one signal for the centromere of 21. Karyotypes of the parents and grandparents revealed that the mother and maternal grandfather were carriers of a balanced translocation, and the propositus contained an unbalanced chromosome complement with partial duplication of proximal 14q and partial deletion of proximal 21q. Investigations performed on an institutionalized maternal aunt revealed identical karyotypic abnormalities as in the propositus. More recently, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on a subsequent child with multiple congenital anomalies further out in the extended family allowed for more accurate identification of the breakpoints. Our investigation includes analysis on a total of 11 family members spanning three generations. Among those investigated, there were no living members with other possible consequential unbalanced translocations or with adjacent‐2 segregation resulting in −14,+der(21). Chromosome rearrangements require FISH and aCGH studies for accurate identification and elucidation of the abnormality and breakpoints. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Reaction of endogenous catechol estrogen quinones (CE-Q) with DNA may initiate cancer by generation of oncogenic mutations. Treatment of male Syrian golden hamsters with estrogens or 4-catechol estrogens (4-CE), but not 2-CE, induces kidney, but not liver, tumors. The hamster provides an excellent model for studying activation and deactivation (protection) of estrogen metabolites in relation to formation of CE-Q. Several factors can unbalance estrogen homeostasis, thereby increasing the oxidative pathway leading to the carcinogenic CE-3,4-Q. Hamsters were injected with 8 micromol of estradiol (E(2)), and liver and kidney extracts were analyzed for 31 estrogen metabolites, conjugates, and depurinating DNA adducts by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Neither liver nor kidney contained 4-methoxyCE, presumably due to the known inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase by 2-CE. More O-methylation of 2-CE was observed in the liver and more formation of CE-Q in the kidney. These results suggest less protective methylation of 2-CE and more pronounced oxidation of CE to CE-Q in the kidney. To investigate this further, hamsters were pretreated with L-buthionine(S,R)-sulfoximine to deplete glutathione levels and then treated with E(2). Compared to the liver, a very low level of CE and methoxyCE was observed in the kidney, suggesting little protective reductase activity. Most importantly, reaction of CE-3,4-Q with DNA to form the depurinating 4-hydroxyE(2)(E(1))-1-N7Gua adducts was detected in the kidney, but not in the liver. Therefore, tumor initiation in the kidney appears to arise from relatively poor methylation of 2-CE and poor reductase activity in the kidney, resulting in high levels of CE-Q. Thus, formation of depurinating DNA adducts by CE-3,4-Q may be the first critical event in the initiation of estrogen-induced kidney tumors.


Income inequality is in a majority of earlier studies more or less affirmatively agreed to be negatively related to economic growth. The underlying complexity of the connection lacks well-tried backing in the modern time. The main purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between income inequality and economic growth, but also the effects of other factors, such as human capital and investment. This is conducted with a panel data approach on 34 OECD countries with data over the period 1990-2010. Aggregate income inequality, represented by the Gini coefficient is used in the empirical estimation, together with two other variables to control for the income inequality at the bottom and top end of the income distribution. The results indicate the aggregate inequality level to be significantly and positively related to growth, while bottom end and top end inequality is seen to have a significant and negative relationship with growth. The level of GDP per capita, education and population growth is also seen to have an impact on economic growth.


Deficiency of ACE2 in macrophages has been suggested to promote the development of an inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. We evaluated effects of ACE2 deficiency in bone-marrow-derived stem cells on adipose inflammation and glucose tolerance in C57BL/6 mice fed a high fat (HF) diet. ACE2 activity was increased in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from visceral, but not subcutaneous adipose tissue of HF-fed mice. Deficiency of ACE2 in bone marrow cells significantly increased mRNA abundance of F4/80 and TNF-α in the SVF isolated from visceral adipose tissue of HF-fed chimeric mice, supporting increased presence of inflammatory macrophages in adipose tissue. Moreover, deficiency of ACE2 in bone marrow cells modestly augmented glucose intolerance in HF-fed chimeric mice and increased blood levels of glycosylated hemoglobin. In summary, ACE2 deficiency in bone marrow cells promotes inflammation in adipose tissue and augments obesity-induced glucose intolerance.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major cause of dementia in the world. Although the entorhinal cortex and hippocampal complex are best known as the sites of early pathology in AD, increasing evidence shows that the eye, particularly the retina, is also affected. The AD-related changes in the retina are associated with degeneration and loss of neurons, reduction of the retinal nerve fibres, increase in optic disc cupping, retinal vascular tortusity and thinning, and visual functional impairment. Given the fact that evaluating pathologic changes in the brain during life has always been an indirect process, largely shielded from view by the barrier of the skull, the eye can be used as a window into diseases of the brain. Using modern techniques, the changes in the retina can be visualized in real-time. In addition to the changes in the eyes of AD patients, similar mechanisms of neurodegeneration in the brain have also been demonstrated in the eye. Targeting AD-liked changes in the retina has been recently shown to be effective in the reduction of retinal neuronal degeneration and loss in eye diseases. This review will cover recent findings on retinal degeneration in AD, pathological similarities between AD and eye diseases, and highlight the potential of modern technologies for the detection of prospective biomarkers in the eye in early AD.


In the case of hip-hop, the forces of top-down corporatization and bottom-up globalization are inextricably woven. This volume takes the view that hip-hop should not be viewed with this dichotomous dynamic in mind and that this dynamic does not arise solely outside of the continental US. Close analysis of the facts reveals a much more complex situation in which market pressures, local (musical) traditions, linguistic and semiotic intelligibility, as well as each country's particular historico-political past conspire to yield new hybrid expressive genres. This exciting collection looks at linguistic, cultural and economic aspects of hip-hop in parallel and showcases a global scope. It engages with questions of code-switching, code-mixing, the minority language/regional dialect vs. standard dynamic, the discourse of political resistance, immigrant ideologies, youth and new language varieties and will be essential reading for graduates and researchers in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis.


In this paper, a design of 16-bit fixed-point digital signal processor (DSP) is proposed. This DSP is based on the Harvard architecture, having two buses for ALU and a pipeline multiply accumulator (MAC). It composes of 16 general purpose 24-bit registers together with 41 four-cycle instruction sets. The DSP has a simple structure which is compact and flexible. The DSP is designed for low-power consumption, and implemented on ASIC using SOTB 65nm process which is a kind of SOI devices. The DSP chip consumes very low-power consumption 282μW at the operation voltage 0.55V and operation frequency 200MHz.


In this work, several extractants and solvents have been investigated for the selective removal of aluminum from a pickling bath, containing HF and H3PO4 as its main active components, each at a concentration of 0.01–0.30 M. The final aim of the research is to increase the lifetime of the pickling bath, resulting in reduced operating costs, in a decreased environmental burden, and in a more constant and better pickling performance. Several tertiary amines and one quaternary amine salt have been examined as extractants, Shellsol D70, paraffine and Marlowtherm S have been examined as solvents and Exxal 13 has been examined as a modifier. None of the aluminum extractions were completely selective as phosphorus was co-extracted; selectivities obtained were 0.16–1.1. Aggregation took place in many shake tests, but adding Exxal 13 to the organic phase decreased the aggregation in most cases. Of the solvents tested, Shellsol D70 showed the lowest aggregation. The best conditions for SLM were found to be 1.0 M Alamine 308/Alamine 336 with 50 g/l Exxal 13. In almost all shake tests, [Al] : [P] ≈ 1 : 1.3–1.9 in the organic phase.


Treatment of tumor sites affected by respiratory motion requires knowledge of the position and the shape of the tumor and the surrounding organs during breathing. As not all structures of interest can be observed in real-time, their position needs to be predicted from partial information (so-called surrogates) like motion of diaphragm, internal markers or patients surface. Here, we present an approach to model respiratory lung motion and predict the position and shape of the lungs from surrogates. 4D-MRI lung data of 10 healthy subjects was acquired and used to create a model based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The mean RMS motion ranged from 1.88 mm to 9.66 mm. Prediction was done using a Bayesian approach and an average RMSE of 1.44 mm was achieved.


Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the role of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with atraumatic knee pain. Background and Objectives: Knee pain is one of the most common problems faced by people from time immemorial. There is a wide range of disease ranging from traumatic to degenerative causing knee pain in which articular cartilage is involved. Over the past 15 years, MRI has become the premier, first-line imaging study that should be performed in the evaluation of the painful knee in particular in tears of menisci, cruciate and collateral ligaments, osteochondral abnormalities (chondromalacia, osteoarthritis and osteochondral defects), synovial cysts and bone bruises. MRI, by virtue of its superior soft-tissue contrast, lack of ionizing radiation and multiplanar capabilities, is superior to more conventional techniques for the evaluation of articular cartilage. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 150 patients in the Department of Radio-diagnosis, Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune over a period of 2 years from June 2011 to May 2013. Patients having fracture or dislocations of the knee joint were also excluded from the study. Detailed clinical history, physical and systemic examination findings of all patients were noted in addition to the laboratory investigations. All patients were subjected to radiograph of knee anterior-posterior and lateral view. MRI was performed with Siemens 1.5 Tesla MAGNETOM Avanto machine. Results: In our study of 150 patients with knee pain, articular cartilage defect was found in 90 patients (60%). Out of 90 patients with articular cartilage defect, 30 patients (20%) had full thickness cartilage defects. Subchondral marrow edema was seen beneath 30 patients (20%) with articular cartilage defects. 32 patients (21.1%) had a complex or macerated meniscal tear. Complete anterior cruciate ligament tear was found in seven patients. Joint effusions were detected in 70% (105) of the knees. Large Baker cysts were observed in 6.1% of the knees. Conclusion: In conclusion, individual with acute or chronic knee pain without any definite history of trauma should be subjected to MRI study of the knee provided radiographs are non-informative or non-diagnostic. The study not only outlines the tendons, ligament and cartilage status, but also demonstrates subtle underlying bony pathologies causative for patient complaints.


Emerging pathogens constitute a severe threat for human health and biodiversity. Determining the status (native or non‐native) of emerging pathogens, and tracing back their spatio‐temporal dynamics, is crucial to understand the eco‐evolutionary factors promoting their emergence, to control their spread and mitigate their impacts. However, tracing back the spatio‐temporal dynamics of emerging wildlife pathogens is challenging because (i) they are often neglected until they become sufficiently abundant and pose socio‐economical concerns and (ii) their geographical range is often little known. Here, we combined classical population genetics tools and approximate Bayesian computation (i.e. ABC) to retrace the dynamics of Tracheliastes polycolpus, a poorly documented pathogenic ectoparasite emerging in Western Europe that threatens several freshwater fish species. Our results strongly suggest that populations of T. polycolpus in France emerged from individuals originating from a unique genetic pool that were most likely introduced in the 1920s in central France. From this initial population, three waves of colonization occurred into peripheral watersheds within the next two decades. We further demonstrated that populations remained at low densities, and hence undetectable, during 10 years before a major demographic expansion occurred, and before its official detection in France. These findings corroborate and expand the few historical records available for this emerging pathogen. More generally, our study demonstrates how ABC can be used to determine the status, reconstruct the colonization history and infer key evolutionary parameters of emerging wildlife pathogens with low data availability, and for which samples from the putative native area are inaccessible.


Common studies of gender bias in NLP focus either on extrinsic bias measured by model performance on a downstream task or on intrinsic bias found in models' internal representations. However, the relationship between extrinsic and intrinsic bias is relatively unknown. In this work, we illuminate this relationship by measuring both quantities together: we debias a model during downstream fine-tuning, which reduces extrinsic bias, and measure the effect on intrinsic bias, which is operationalized as bias extractability with information-theoretic probing. Through experiments on two tasks and multiple bias metrics, we show that our intrinsic bias metric is a better indicator of debiasing than (a contextual adaptation of) the standard WEAT metric, and can also expose cases of superficial debiasing. Our framework provides a comprehensive perspective on bias in NLP models, which can be applied to deploy NLP systems in a more informed manner. Our code and model checkpoints are publicly available.


ABSTRACT Species composition shifts in mangrove forests may alter organic matter dynamics. The purpose of this study was to predict the effect of species replacements among mangrove trees on organic matter dynamics in a mangrove forest on the island of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia. We were particularly interested in elements of the carbon cycle that affect peat accumulation rates, organic matter exports to the estuary and coral reef systems, and soil microbiology. We compared organic matter production and decomposition rates among three mangrove species that commonly grow in similar hydrogeomorphic settings: Rhizophora apiculata BL, which is selectively harvested; Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, which may gradually replace Rhizophora; and Sonneratia alba, which is producing few mature fruits. Sonneratia had significantly higher rates of root production (estimated with ingrowth chambers) than Bruguiera or Rhizophora. Sonneratia foliage had significantly faster decomposition rates and significantly lower lignin:nitrogen ratios than Bruguiera foliage. Live root mass was positively correlated with ingrowth and soil carbon, although soil carbon and ingrowth were not significantly correlated with each other. Humic acid concentrations were significantly higher in Sonneratia rhizospheres than in either Bruguiera or Rhizophora rhizospheres and were positively correlated with root ingrowth. The species changes taking place on Kosrae are likely to result in lower rates of root production and foliage decomposition, and more refractory carbon pools in soil.


New class of photo and electrically switchable azobenzene containing pendant bent-core liquid crystalline monomers (AZBM 1, 2, and 3) and their polymers (AZBP 1, 2, and 3) are reported. The synthesized precursors, monomers, and polymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stability of polymers was examined by thermogravimetric analysis and revealed stable up to 260 °C. The mesophase transition of monomers and polymers are observed through polarized optical microscopy (POM) and further confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The electrically switching property of monomers and their polymers were studied by electro-optical method. Among the three monomers AZBM 1, 2, and 3, AZBM 1 and 2 exhibit antiferroelectric (AF) switching and AZBM 3 exhibits ferroelectric (F) switching behavior. On the other hand, low molecular weight polymers (AZMP 1, 2, and 3) show weak AF and F switching behavior. The photo-switching properties of bent-core azo polymers are investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy, trans to cis isomerization occurs around 25 s for AZBP-1 and 30 s for AZBP-2 and 3 in chloroform, whereas reverse processes take place around 80 and 90 s. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013


The diurnal pattern of growth hormone (GH) serum levels depends on the frequency and amplitude of GH secretory events, the kinetics of GH infusion into and clearance from the circulation, and the feedback of GH on its secretion. We present a two-dimensional linear differential equation model based on these physiological principles to describe GH diurnal patterns. The model characterizes the onset times of the secretory events, the secretory event amplitudes, as well as the infusion, clearance, and feedback half-lives of GH. We illustrate the model by using maximum likelihood methods to fit it to GH measurements collected in 12 normal, healthy women during 8 h of scheduled sleep and a 16-h circadian constant-routine protocol. We assess the importance of the model components by using parameter standard error estimates and Akaike's Information Criterion. During sleep, both the median infusion and clearance half-life estimates were 13.8 min, and the median number of secretory events was 2. During the constant routine, the median infusion half-life estimate was 12.6 min, the median clearance half-life estimate was 11.7 min, and the median number of secretory events was 5. The infusion and clearance half-life estimates and the number of secretory events are consistent with current published reports. Our model gave an excellent fit to each GH data series. Our analysis paradigm suggests an approach to decomposing GH diurnal patterns that can be used to characterize the physiological properties of this hormone under normal and pathological conditions.


Filaments and fibrils that exhibit a 100-nm axial periodicity and occur in the medium and in the deposited extracellular matrix of chicken embryo and human fibroblast cultures have been tentatively identified with type VI collagen on the basis of their similar structural characteristics (Bruns, R. R., 1984, J. Ultrastruct. Res., 89:136-145). Using indirect immunoelectron microscopy and specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, we now report their positive identification with collagen VI and their distribution in fibroblast cultures and in tendon. Primary human foreskin fibroblast cultures, labeled with anti- type VI antibody and studied by fluorescence microscopy, showed a progressive increase in labeling and changes in distribution with time up to 8 d in culture. With immunoelectron microscopy and monoclonal antibodies to human type VI collagen followed by goat anti-mouse IgG coupled to colloidal gold, they showed in thin sections specific 100-nm periodic labeling on extracellular filaments and fibrils: one monoclonal antibody (3C4) attached to the band region and another (4B10) to the interband region of the filaments and fibrils. Rabbit antiserum to type VI collagen also localized on the band region, but the staining was less well defined. Control experiments with antibodies to fibronectin and to procollagen types I and III labeled other filaments and fibrils, but not those with a 100-nm period. Heavy metal- stained fibrils with the same periodic and structural characteristics also have been found in both adult rat tail tendon and embryonic chicken tendon subjected to prolonged incubation in culture medium or treatment with adenosine 5'-triphosphate at pH 4.6. We conclude that the 100-nm periodic filaments and fibrils represent the native aggregate form of type VI collagen. It is likely that banded fibrils of the same periodicity and appearance, reported by many observers over the years in a wide range of normal and pathological tissues, are at least in part, type VI collagen.


This article aims to contribute to the study of the difficulties that young people face in accessing the public sphere as political actors. It looks at the press coverage and the Twitter activity surrounding the restructuring process and the subsequent dissolution of the Spanish Youth Council (Consejo de la Juventud de España CJE). A content analysis was carried out on the news published in 22 newspapers between 2012 and 2014, as well as on the use of Twitter within the framework of the "Salvemos el CJE" campaign during the same period of time. The main objective of the analysis has been to see the prominence of this issue on both the media and citizens agendas. In most newspapers, the measures taken by the government vis-á-vis the CJE were treated as punctual news of peripheral importance. The online campaign, mainly orchestrated by youth grassroots movements, raised the controversy on the biased nature and the political consequences of this plan. The core of the campaign addressed the representation of young people in public institutions. The results of the study suggest that the increased potential for visibility offered by social media is not always maximized and does not necessarily alter the prominence of an issue in the public sphere. PALABRAS CLAVE |


There is no logical, linear way to approach a future in which knowledge and technology explode and new opportunities go hand-in-hand with rapid obsolescence. Teams and task groups will replace the vertical command structures of the past, making teamwork, flexibility, and imagination more important that absolute knowledge. Maximum downward task delegation and decentralization will empower workers at all levels while challenging the assumptions of licensure. As the health-care organization grows more ephemeral, management will become an increasingly subtle art. Visionary skills are essential in a dynamic, rapidly changing society where the past is no longer a guide for the future.


Background and aim Severe adverse events (AEs) compromise the outcome of direct antiviral agent-based treatment in patients with advanced liver fibrosis due to HCV infection. HEP3002 is an ongoing multinational programme to evaluate safety and efficacy of telaprevir (TVR) plus pegylated-interferon-α (PEG-IFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) in patients with advanced liver fibrosis caused by HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1). Methods 1782 patients with HCV-1 and bridging fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis were prospectively recruited from 16 countries worldwide, and treated with 12 weeks of TVR plus PEG-IFN/RBV, followed by 12 or 36 weeks of PEG-IFN and RBV (PR) alone dependent on virological response to treatment and previous response type. Results 1587 patients completed 12 weeks of triple therapy and 4 weeks of PR tail (53% cirrhosis, 22% HCV-1a). By week 12, HCV RNA was undetectable in 85% of naives, 88% of relapsers, 80% of partial responders and 72% of null responders. Overall, 931 patients (59%) developed grade 1–4 anaemia (grade 3/4 in 31%), 630 (40%) dose reduced RBV, 332 (21%) received erythropoietin and 157 (10%) were transfused. Age and female gender were the strongest predictors of anaemia. 64 patients (4%) developed a grade 3/4 rash. Discontinuation of TVR due to AEs was necessary in 193 patients (12%). Seven patients died (0.4%, six had cirrhosis). Conclusions In compensated patients with advanced fibrosis due to HCV-1, triple therapy with TVR led to satisfactory rates of safety, tolerability and on-treatment virological response with adequate managements of AEs.


Our study explores the challenges of first-generation students while also examining the factors that predict success in this population. We surveyed undergraduate students to compare the academic and social support needs of first-generation and continuing-generation students. First-generation students showed lower grades and critical-thinking scores compared to their peers. In addition, they reported having less faculty contact and less time for academic tasks. Academic preparedness and contact with faculty members predicted college success for first-generation students. Our results suggest that universities should continue to develop and test programs that bolster academic skills while simultaneously improving the social environment for first-generation students.


2D semiconductors and their heterostructures have developed into a flourishing research field. A more or less simultaneous start of experimental and theoretical developments has led to continuous advancements in both branches of physics that continue to benefit from one another in an exemplary manner. This article gives an overview of the theoretical advancements that have resulted from a decade of research on 2D van der Waals materials and reviews current theoretical methods, focussing on exciton‐plasma balance, excited‐state optics, and laser physics.


The study attempts to investigate the effect of controversial advertisements on consumer attitude, behavior and purchase intention of religious consumers. The study also aims to investigate what difference of attitude is prevailing between men and women. 200 participants ranging in age from 20 to 25 at first were randomly selected. Religious Commitment Inventory – 10 was distributed to the 200 participants. 40 participants (20 males; 20 females) having the highest and nearly equal scores on the RCI-10 were selected. The selected participants were shown censored advertisements first and the responses were collected on Consumer Attitude Questionnaire and Juster's 11 Point Probability Scale. After collecting the questionnaires, participants were shown uncensored versions of the same advertisements, and responses were then collected again on same scales. The analysis of results using t-test and Pearson correlation co-efficient suggested that controversial advertisements negatively affect the consumer attitudes of religious consumers; moreover females with high religiosity are more offended by controversial advertisements as compared to males with high religiosity. However, the analysis of results showed that consumer attitude is not a strong predictor of consumer behavior, as there might be other mediating and moderating variables that shape the ultimate purchase intention and consumer behavior.


Although metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is essential for cocaine self-administration and drugseeking behavior, there is limited knowledge of the cellular actions of this receptor in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although mGluR5 has the potential to regulate neurons directly, recent studies have shown the importance of mGluR5 in regulating Ca(2+) signaling in astrocytes and, as a consequence, the Ca(2+)dependent release of excitatory transmitters from these glia. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of mGluR5 induces Ca(2+) oscillations in NAc astrocytes with the correlated appearance of NMDA receptordependent slow inward currents detected in medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Photolysis of caged Ca(2+) loaded specifically into astrocytes evoked slow inward currents demonstrating that Ca(2+) elevations in astrocytes are responsible for these excitatory events. Pharmacological evaluation of these glial-evoked NMDA currents shows that they are mediated by NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, whereas synaptic NMDA receptors rely on NR2A-containing receptors. Stimulation of glutamatergic afferents activates mGluR5-dependent astrocytic Ca(2+) oscillations and gliotransmission that is sustained for minutes beyond the initial stimulus. Because gliotransmission is mediated by NMDA receptors, depolarized membrane potentials exhibited during up-states augment excitation provided by gliotransmission, which drives bursts of MSN action potentials. Because the predominant mGluR5-dependent action of glutamatergic afferents is to cause the sustained activation of astrocytes, which in turn excite MSNs through extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, our results raise the potential for gliotransmission being involved in prolonged mGluR5-dependent adaptation in the NAc.


Since the control of the Lipschitz constant has a great impact on the training stability, generalization, and robustness of neural networks, the estimation of this value is nowadays a real scientific challenge. In this paper we introduce a precise, fast, and differentiable upper bound for the spectral norm of convolutional layers using circulant matrix theory and a new alternative to the Power iteration. Called the Gram iteration, our approach exhibits a superlinear convergence. First, we show through a comprehensive set of experiments that our approach outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in terms of precision, computational cost, and scalability. Then, it proves highly effective for the Lipschitz regularization of convolutional neural networks, with competitive results against concurrent approaches. Code is available at https://github.com/blaisedelattre/lip4conv.