The paper studied the overview of activities of biogas operations in different parts of the world and the technology involved in the production of biogas from anaerobic digestion of organic wastes in a biogas plant. Different designs of biogas plants operating in different places in the globe were highlighted. Public health aspects of biogas technology activities were fully treated to allay the fear of infection of bacteria of public health significance by the workers. The paper dwelt extensively on the financial options for consideration during the execution of family biogas digester. Solutions were proffered for the popularization and adoption of family biogas digester for cooking in a clean environment. The paper touched on the socio-economic benefits of the deployment of biogas as a source of energy. Keywords: operating, financing, family and biogas plant.


In lizards and snakes, the kidneys produce seminal fluid in addition to having osmoregulatory functions. Therefore, in response to polyandry, kidney mass should be under selection regimes such as those influencing testes. Male red-sided garter snakes deposit a kidney-derived copulatory plug that functions in sperm competition. We first tested for intersexual differences in kidney mass and allometry in one population and found that males had kidneys twice as heavy as those of females, consistent with stronger selection on male kidney mass. Previous studies have shown that male size enhances mating success in one-on-one competition prevalent in small mating aggregations. We then examined the relationship between body size, kidney mass and testes mass in two populations with low (LD) and high (HD) mating aggregation densities. Males from the HD population had heavier testes and heavier kidneys compared with males from the LD population; HD males were also smaller in body size. Our results suggest that the strength of sexual selection, and possibly the balance between pre- and postcopulatory selection, varies in response to population size or density. However, more replication is needed to confirm the generality of these results within red-sided garter snakes and other squamate reptiles.


Recently, porous carbon materials have attracted attention due to their versatile properties. In this study, a hierarchical porous N-doped carbon (NHPC) was successfully synthesized as a catalyst support using a facile method. A large amount of Pd nanoparticles were uniformly loaded on the NHPC with an average diameter of about 4.45 nm. The synthesized Pd/NHPC nanocatalyst exhibited excellent stability and reusability toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) at room temperature. The uniformity and high reusability of Pd/NHPC was mainly attributed to the abundant doped nitrogen as a coordinated site to largely stable Pd nanoparticles. Herein, the excellent properties of NHPC provided ideas for the fabrication of other NHPC supported noble nanoparticles, which can be applied in various catalytic reductive reactions.


Introduction: Oral L-Arginine is a conditional essential amino acid that plays a role in wound healing in DM. The role of arginine in diabetic wounds is by enhancing blood circulation in the injured area and increasing oxygen supply to the wound tissue. The purpose of this study to prove the administration of oral L-Arginine toward vascularization status in wound healing of male white rats wistar diabetes mellitus.
Methods:   A randomized posttest only control group study using with 36 diabetic induced wistar rats (Rattus Norvegicus) aged 2-3 months and weighing 180-200gram which then divided randomly into two groups. Nitric oxide level was measured on the third day and each group was then further divided into two groups for examination of neovascularization, fibroblasts and epithelialization on the seventh day and on the tenth day.
Results: Administration oral L-Arginine failed to induce any significant change in Nitric Oxide level and wound gap closure. On the other hand, the results showed that the mean neovascularization was significantly different between the two groups on the 10th day (Control group vs intervention group: 4.22±1922 vs1.89±1364; p=0.009). In addition, the mean number of fibroblast at the 10th day was also significantly different (Control group vs intervention group: 74.11±28.57 vs 38.11±20.90; p=0.008).
Conclusion: In conclusion, oral L-Arginine did not significantly affect nitric oxide and epithelialization while decreased neovascularization and the number of fibroblasts on day tenth in the healing process of male white rats diabetes mellitus


THE entries in this survey have been restricted to books and articles treating of the history of the Catholic Church in the continental United States. In a few instances, items of broader compass, but possessing a direct and intimate relation to this subject, have been listed. In the field of periodical literature an effort has been made to limit the listings to studies appearing in historical and professional journals. A few articles published in general periodicals have been entered when this procedure seemed justified by the merits or timeliness of the articles.


This work describes the synthesis of new 1,3-benzoxathiol-2-one sulfonamides and evaluation of their ability to inhibit some in vitro (coagulant, proteolytic and hemolytic) and in vivo (hemorrhagic, edematogenic and lethality) toxic activities of Bothrops jararaca and B. jararacussu venoms. Compounds have been synthesized from the coupling of intermediate 5-amino-6-methoxybenzo[d] [1,3]oxathiol-2-one 4 with benzenesulfonyl chlorides. Characterization of the products was achieved by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectra (ESI-MS) techniques. Biological assay results have shown that most of compounds inhibited the main toxic activities of the venom of the two snake species. Compound 5b (N-(6-methoxy-2-oxobenzo[d] [1,3]oxathiol-5-yl)-4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide) was the most efficient in inhibiting hemolysis of B. jararaca, and coagulation and proteolysis induced by both venoms. For in vivo activities, all compounds inhibited the edema, from 35 to 72%, and most of them exhibited antihemorrhagic and antilethality activities. Thus, the results pointed to the biological potential of these compounds, being promising molecules to treat envenomation by these snakes as well as to aid the current antivenom serum therapy.


A few studies have examined the accuracy of the Megyesi et al. (2005) total body score/accumulated degree-day (TBS/ADD) method; however, no study has investigated the validity of the method using human remains at known ADD intervals. The current study validates the TBS method for human cadavers placed in three different human decomposition facilities in the United States. Twenty-eight donated cadavers, with known ADD and dates of death, in the first (fresh) stage of decomposition, were placed in sun and shade environments four times per year. The validity of the method was examined by conducting an interobserver error test of the TBS and analyzing the accuracy of the equation at predicting ADD. Nine individuals, experienced with the TBS method, participated in the interobserver error test. The results of the interclass correlation coefficient show that there was no statistically significant difference between observers for any of the body sections (trunk = 0.975, head = 0.959, limbs = 0.940, p < 0.001). Using the TBS regression equation, mean ADD with error ranges was calculated for all subjects and compared to actual ADDs of 100, 300, 500, and 1,000. Results show that mean ADD estimates do not correlate well with actual ADD for any of the actual ADDs (100, 300, 500, and 1,000). The accuracy of the TBS equation is insufficient in estimating mean ADD and error is largely unpredictable, other than it increases with postmortem time. KEYWORDS: forensic anthropology, taphonomy, total body score, accumulated degree-days


OF DISSERTATION ESSAYS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY Environmental goals such as urban water conservation and pollution control regulations are typically achieved through price and non-price methods. This dissertation offers an analysis of the non-price approaches, including the rationing of water for particular users, installation of particular technologies, and adoption of particular certifications to achieve environmental goals. To begin, an analysis of California's 2015 urban water conservation mandate was performed. Results indicate that the average welfare loss of the mandate is $6,107 per acre-foot of restriction in Northern California and $2,757 per acrefoot of restriction in Southern California. In terms of monthly household-level willingness-to-pay (WTP) to avoid the mandate, results illustrate that households have a WTP between $5 and $200 per month. Northern Californian utilities were generally in compliance with their mandated conservation targets, while Southern Californian utilities tended to fall short. The second essay focuses on analyzing how web-based Home Water Use Reports (HWURs) affect household-level water consumption in Folsom City, California. The HWURs under study, offered by the company Dropcountr (DC), share social comparisons, consumption analytics, and conservation information to residential accounts, primarily through digital communications. We found that there is a 7.8% reduction in average daily household water consumption for a typical household under treatment of the DC program. Results suggest that the effect of DC varies by the baseline consumption quintile, the number of months in the program, the day of the week, message type, and enrollment wave. Furthermore, we find that indicate these responses to DC program likely come from the information channel rather than moral suasion. The final essay studies the effectiveness of ISO-14001 on pollution reduction as a non-price pollution control approach. Manufacturers have been increasingly relying on environmental management systems (such as ISO 14001 based ones) to comply with government regulations and reduce waste. In this essay, we investigated the impact of ISO 14001 certification on manufacturers' toxic release by release level. Results show that ISO 14001 had a negative and statistically significant effect on the top 10% manufacturing sites regarding the on-site toxic release, but it did not reduce off-site toxic release. Therefore, one should not expect ISO 14001 to have a uniform impact on manufacturing sites' environmental performance. For large firms, encouraging voluntary adoption of ISO 14001 might be an effective government strategy to reduce on-site pollution.


Purpose Veneto Region is currently achieving the integration of health and social services by integrating the tele-surveillance (detection of emergencies) already provided to 'socially frail' people with tele-monitoring, addressed to patients affected by chronic diseases. Theory This strategy is guided by the idea that a better integration between the different levels of assistance is capable of improving the quality and continuity of care and generating synergies that benefit the healthcare system both by enhancing coordination of efforts and by reducing costs. Methods The strategy employs a unique call center at Regional level, that currently performs tele-surveillance services (a social service) originally targeted to 'socially frail' people and a more complete tele-monitoring service for chronic patients, thus integrating health and social services. Tele-monitoring consists in the remote measurement of vital parameters (controlled by physicians), and the management of emergencies. Results and conclusions This approach to the integration of different assistance levels is being put to the test in the context of the RENEWING HEALTH European Project. The project will assess the services using a multidisciplinary HTA methodology thus providing reliable evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness on the large-scale implementation of this kind of service.


This study investigates the issue of digital exclusion resulting from the digitisation of government and council services within the United Kingdom. An initial analysis of customer support log data from a council in a large UK city helped identify the most commonly queried services and modes of support. The main findings are based on qualitative analysis of 10 interviews, structured around the results from the log analysis, conducted with front-line staff members at the central library of the same council. The study identifies a range of issues associated with the provision of e-government services and the subsequent under-utilisation by the public, including poor design, issues with effective access and the level of digital literacy among end users. The study also proposes the concept of the 'digital carer', a friend or family member who is relied upon by users unable to interact with e-government services themselves. The findings of this study have implications for the way in which these services are designed and delivered and point to the need for further work that can contribute to the UK digital economy by facilitating better access to e-government services and reduce digital exclusion, especially for elderly and marginalised users.


A rapid flow of materials with little intermediate buffering between steel mill and hot strip mill has many benefits. One is energy savings due to raised charging temperature in the reheat furnaces of the hot strip mill. Another is that tied capital is freed up, thereby improving mill economy. Still, it is not unusual that average lead-time is in the order of days, or even weeks. The aim of the present work was to show how lead-times from casting to rolling could be improved by changes in the scheduling function. A System Dynamics model of a stainless steel strip production facility with continuous caster and hot rolling mill was created. The model was used to study the dynamics of the system in response to changes in parameters that defined the scheduling configuration. More frequent schedule updating generally resulted in less work in process (WIP) and shorter lead times from casting to rolling, with resulting higher charging temperatures. The amount of oscillation in the system was also reduced. More frequent work roll changes were required when scheduling frequency increased, resulting in an increased fraction of setup time in relation to total processing time. Therefore, a development towards increased scheduling frequency may have to be complemented by efforts to reduce changeover times. The conclusion was that dynamic scheduling routines with frequent schedule updating result in better overall performance of the system due to lower WIP and better heat utilization. Dynamic scheduling routines with frequent updates make the system respond better to changes in the system and give better overall performance. The result is lower WIP, increased energy efficiency and less oscillation in the system.


THE ailLD WITH A HANDICAP. HaH DMB. BlIll:kweU Scienlific Publialtions 1984. £35.00ISBN 0632010118. Ifyou are involved with the treatment of handicapped children in any way then this book is essential reading and will provide you with an extensive reference source. Information is provided on the diagnosis and care of the handicapped child. The scientific basis for developmental paediatrics is examined with reference to developmental psychology, linguistics, and other related areas. Normal development is briefly, but adequately, reviewed and provides a sound basis for understanding the nature of handicaps described later in the book. Educational and social problems are also covered. A critical analysis of assessment techniques is given, some common misconceptions are exposed, and appropriate solutions recommended. Hearing and vision tests are also included.


This book is the account of teaching practice linked to research projects, a practice that is able to create new, unexpected values in the complex patchwork of the city through experimental and strategic interventions with greenery. That the interventions involve greenery is obviously linked to the fact that the Van Hall Larenstein university of applied sciences specializes in nature and agriculture, but there is also a practical reason. Green spaces act as a cohesive force, as is shown again and again in the Netherlands and in the Lively Cities programme. Particularly in the urban context, green spaces have a distinctive and perhaps even emotional value that encourages people to pause there and makes them think about their appreciation of a place. Greenery triggers people to take part in social experiments. But that is just the beginning.


Secondary Organisms in the Lungs in Influenza SIR,-Your leading article on staphylococcal pneumonia (Dec. 18, p. 783) is evidence of a renewed interest in the secondary invaders of the lungs in influenza, and especially in the very dangerous Staphylococcus aureus, which one or two of us found in 1918-19. You quote from a short paper of mine in the Lancet, but this was a preliminary note on what we were then finding in Malta. I really write this to say that a somewhat fuller account, with records of a larger number of cases, was published in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps for Feb., 1923. One striking cor'iparison showed that while Staph. aureus was present in the sputum in 27% of 187 cases of bronchopneumonia, it was found in 83% of 30 fatal cases. Perhaps I might quote from the conclusions of this paper:


This work reports on an investigation of the optical feedback in an InAs/InGaAs passively mode-locked quantum dot (QD) laser epitaxially grown on silicon. Under the stably-resonant optical feedback condition, experiments demonstrate that the radio-frequency linewidth is narrowed whatever the bias voltage applied on the saturable absorber (SA) is; on the other hand, the effective linewidth enhancement factor of the device increases with the reverse bias voltage on the SA, hence it is observed that such an increase influences the mode-locking dynamic and the stability of device under optical feedback. This work gives insights for stabilizing epitaxial QD mode-locked lasers on silicon which is meaningful for their applications in future large-scale silicon electronic and photonic applications requiring low power consumption as well as for high-speed photonic analog-to-digital conversion, intrachip/interchip optical clock distribution and recovery.


We measure cost efficiency of 202 Czech municipalities of extended scope in period 2003-2008. The study is the first application of overall efficiency measurement of the local governments in the new EU member states, and the second in post-communist countries. We measure government efficiency through established quantitative and qualitative indicators of the provision of education, cultural facilities, infrastructure and other local services. First, we employ non-parametric approach of the data envelopment analysis and adjust the efficiency scores by bootstrapping. Second, we employ the stochastic frontier analysis and control for effects of various demographic, economic, and political variables. We compare scores under our preferred specification, i.e. pseudo-translog time-variant stochastic-frontier analysis with determinants, with alternative scores. The determinants that robustly increase inefficiency are population size, distance to the regional center, share of university-educated citizens, capital expenditures, subsidies per capita, and the share of self-generated revenues. Concerning political variables, increase in party concentration and the voters' involvement increases efficiency, and local council with a lower share of left-wing representatives also tend to be more efficient. We interpret determinants both as indicators of slack, non-discretionary inputs, and unobservable outputs. The analysis is conducted also for the period 1994-1996, where political variables appear to influence inefficiency in a structurally different way. From comparison of the two periods, we obtain that small municipalities improve efficiency significantly more that large municipalities.


This paper investigates the impact of palm oil prices on exchange rates in Malaysia and Indonesia using the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) model. The paper uses real monthly data from 1983:1 to 2015:5 and follows three estimation steps: (i) determination of the integrational properties of the data, (ii) testing for cointegration relationship through bounds testing method, and (iii) estimating the long run impact of real palm oil price, real crude oil price and real interest rate differential on real exchange rate. The finding indicates that real palm oil prices have significant negative effects on real exchange rate. While coefficient estimates differ for Malaysia and Indonesia, however, they tend to be around 0.2. In other words, a 10% increase in the real price of palm oil leads to appreciation of about 2% in the equilibrium exchange rate in Malaysia and Indonesia. The findings confirm that an increase in palm oil price leads to exchange rate appreciation.


Recent studies on the effect of the fibroblast and epidermal growth factors (FGF and EGF, respectively) on the proliferation of ovarian cells and vascular endothelial cells are reviewed. During the ovarian cycle, luteal cells are derived from granulosa cells by a process of cytomorphosis. These two cell types thus allow a study of the changes that occur in growth control when one cell type is converted into another. Also described is the control of vascular endothelial cell proliferation by FGF (but not by EGF). We discuss the effects of FGF and EGF on cells derived from the embryonic ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm and examine the hypothesis that cellular specificity for various growth factors is conferred during embryo development. Finally, since antagonists of growth factors are probably as important as the mitogens in the overall control of cell proliferation, we review certain mechanisms and agents through which the mitogenic effect of FGF can be repressed, i.e., cell-cell interaction at confluence, trophic hormones, and a diffusible factor(s) from cartilage.


This article will focus on the experiences of Lou Tseng-Tsiang (Lu Zhengxiang, 陆 征祥 one of modern China's leading diplomats) and the Chinese delegation he led during the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. It argues that Chinese participation at the Paris Peace Conference was motivated by a quest for justice. China especially sought redress from the Unequal Treaties with foreign powers such as Germany. The Chinese delegates used ideals espoused by US President Woodrow Wilson to support their claims and also displayed political and diplomatic savvy as they used tools such as the media to further their cause. Nevertheless, Lou Tseng-Tsiang and his compatriots in Paris and China were disappointed with the outcome of the Peace Conference and the Chinese delegation ultimately did not sign the Treaty of Versailles.


A group of patients operated upon for ulcer disease of the stomach was selected from 1279 patients with this disease in which the nearest results of the surgical treatment were followed-up retrospectively. Seven patients died. The average period of postoperative treatment in the hospital was (17.7 +/- 1.5) days. Complications developed in 78 patients. A comparison of results of preoperative examinations with the conclusions of the morphologist according to data of studying the operative specimens has established low sensitivity of the current methods of diagnosing the cancerous nature of ulcers--as low as (72 +/- 5)%. The final diagnosis of a malignant ulcer was made in 81 patients, only in 58 of them the malignization was suspected before operation, in 23 patients the tumoral process was a "chance" finding. This fact speaks in favour of widening the indications for operative treatment of noncomplicated gastric ulcers.


For a given camera setting, scene points that lie outside of depth of field (DOF) will appear defocused (or blurred). Defocus causes the loss of image details. To recover scene details from a defocused region, deblurring techniques must be employed. It is well known that the deblurring quality is closely related to the defocus kernel or point-spread-function (PSF), whose shape is largely determined by the aperture pattern of the camera. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework of aperture evaluation for the purpose of defocus deblurring, which takes the effects of image noise, deblurring algorithm, and the structure of natural images into account. By using the derived evaluation criterion, we are able to solve for the optimal coded aperture patterns. Extensive simulations and experiments are then conducted to compare the optimized coded apertures with previously proposed ones. The proposed framework of aperture evaluation is further extended to evaluate and optimize extended depth of field (EDOF) cameras. EDOF cameras (e.g., focal sweep and wavefront coding camera) are designed to produce PSFs which are less sensitive to depth variation, so that people can deconvolve the whole image using a single PSF without knowing scene depth. Different choices of camera parameters or the PSF to deconvolve with lead to different deblurring qualities. With the derived evaluation criterion, we are able to derive the optimal PSF to deconvolve with in a closed-form and optimize camera parameters for the best deblurring results.


Holy Name University (HNU) just like any other academic institution is largely dependent on community trust, employees' loyalty and collaborative efforts in order to attain its goals and objectives. However in the past few years, the administration noticed that there were lapses in addressing societal concerns and collaborative efforts among HNU's various stakeholders which in a way affected the operations of the school. It is within this context that this study was made. The primary aim of the study was to assess HNU's practices in terms of corporate citizenship and governance in order to design schemes to enhance its implementation and ensure its continued success. The study used the descriptive survey method. The findings showed that except for promoting environmental sustainability, all the components of corporate citizenship and governance were manifested and adhered to a great extent. In the light of these findings, the proponent concluded that while HNU upheld and integrated CSR and governance in its operations, there were certain aspects of the processes that needed to be enhanced to fulfill its obligations expected of it by its various stakeholders.


Background: Dental stem cells derived from tooth structures are adult stem cells that have received attention of researchers over the past decade. Dental stem cells can be used to regenerate dental tissues as well as non dental organs. These dental stem cells are readily accessible as compared to other sources of stem cells and can be obtained and stored for future use through minimally invasive procedures. Research in this field is growing at a fast pace and it is essential that awareness regarding the same should be present amongst professionals. Aim: This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and attitude of Indian dentists regarding dental stem cells. Material and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive, questionnaire based survey based on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) was conducted and a total of 823 dentists from Maharashtra, India participated in the survey. The Pearson's Chi-Square Test and percentages of the total were used for statistical analysis. Results and Conclusion: A total of 823 dentists completed the questionnaire survey; out of which 396 were male and 427 were female. Maximum respondents (53%) were dental graduates, followed by post graduates (45%) and PhD (1.7%). Data from the study revealed that there is good awareness regarding stem cells in general. However; the awareness, knowledge regarding sources, applications, uses and clinical research guidelines regarding dental stem cells is lacking amongst most dentists. Despite this lack of knowledge, dentists are keen on updating their knowledge regarding dental stem cells.


A core set of fronto-parietal brain regions is implicated in a wealth of cognitive functions. Researchers have suggested that working memory, a fundamental element in many higher-order processes, is the underlying mechanism supported by this network. However, the idea that the same fronto-parietal network underlies the qualitatively different tasks employed throughout visual working memory research is contentious. Instead, systems neuroscience has adopted the view that cognition arises out of the dynamic interaction of several large-scale networks. A hierarchical split divides these networks into an extrinsic system, which governs attention to the external environment, and an intrinsic system, which guides internally-directed processes. Given visual working memory involves a two-way connection between perceptual input and internal representations, the current dissertation uses converging methodologies to explore whether tasks that vary in their exogenous and endogenous attentional demands are likely supported by different network dynamics.
A quantitative meta-analysis used stress as a paradigm to investigate the differential effects of exogenous and endogenous distraction on visual working memory task performance. This analysis was followed by a controlled stress study that examined whether endogenous distraction, instigated by a psychosocial stressor, differentially influenced visual maintenance versus mental rotation. Finally, an electroencephalographic study was conducted where participants were required to store visual information despite an ongoing external distractor. Taken together, the data presented from these three studies suggest key differences between maintenance and manipulation that may reflect the variable interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic networks. These data support the idea that the maintenance of visual information depends on right-lateralized regions of the dorsal attention network, while mental rotation recruits additional regions of the default mode and central executive networks. This work emphasizes the importance of implementing synergistic protocols while investigating cognitive function, and supports the view that the human brain consists of multiple interacting networks. It also corroborates the idea that the functional connectivity patterns accompanying cognitive state changes can impose processing constraints, and that understanding these constraints can allow us to predict behavioural impairments likely to arise in various circumstances. Similar investigations of large-scale network dynamics can provide a framework for understanding fundamental aspects of cognitive function.


By programming both the data plane and the control plane, network operators can adapt their networks to their needs. Thanks to research over the past decade, this concept has more formulized and more technologically feasible. However, since control plane programmability came first, it has already been successfully implemented in the real network and is beginning to pay off. Today, the data plane programmability is evolving very rapidly to reach this level, attracting the attention of researchers and developers: Designing data plane languages, application development on it, formulizing software switches and architecture that can run data plane codes and the applications, increasing performance of software switch, and so on. As the control plane and data plane become more open, many new innovations and technologies are emerging, but some experts warn that consumers may be confused as to which of the many technologies to choose. This is a testament to how much innovation is emerging in the network. This paper outlines some emerging applications on the data plane and offers opportunities for further improvement and optimization. Our observations show that most of the implementations are done in a test environment and have not been tested well enough in terms of performance, but there are many interesting works, for example, previous control plane solutions are being implemented in the data plane.


The term ``functional connectivity' is used to denote correlations in activation among spatially-distinct brain regions, either in a resting state or when processing external stimuli. Functional connectivity has been extensively evaluated with several functional neuroimaging methods, particularly PET and fMRI. Yet these relationships have been quantified using very different measures and the extent to which they index the same constructs is unclear. We have implemented a variety of these functional connectivity measures in a new freely-available MATLAB toolbox. These measures are categorized into two groups: whole time-series and trial-based approaches. We evaluate these measures via simulations with different patterns of functional connectivity and provide recommendations for their use. We also apply these measures to a previously published fMRI dataset in which activity in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was evaluated in 32 healthy subjects during a digit sorting task. Though all implemented measures demonstrate functional connectivity between dACC and DLPFC activity during event-related tasks, different participants appeared to display qualitatively different relationships.We also propose a new methodology for exploring functional connectivity in slow event-related designs, where stimuli are presented at a sufficient separation to examine the dynamic responses in brain regions. Our methodology simultaneously determines the level of smoothing to obtain the underlying noise-free BOLD response and the functional connectivity among several regions. Smoothing is accomplished through an empirical basis via functional principal components analysis. The coefficients of the basis are assumed to be correlated across regions, and the nature and strength of functional connectivity is derived from this correlation matrix. The model is implemented within a Bayesian framework by specifying priors on the parameters and using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Gibbs sampling algorithm. We demonstrate this new approach on a sample of clinically depressed subjects and healthy controls in examining relationships among three brain regions implicated in depression and emotion during emotional information processing. The results show that depressed subjects display decreased coupling between left amygdala and DLPFC compared to healthy subjects and this may potentially be due to inefficient functioning in mediating connectivity from the rostral portion Brodmann's area24 (BA24).


Aim. To identify the main types of risks, remarkable for agricultural dairy production, to evaluate the consequences of their increase and to substantiate a comprehensive system of managing them on the level of enterprise which would promote their minimization and neutralization. Methods. Common methods and techniques were applied in the study: a combination of scientifi c techniques of abstract-logical method of elaborating theoretical provisions, deduction method while isolating specifi c risks in dairy farming from the total amount, empirical methods of investigating the activity of dairy enterprises and computer generated simulation while substantiating practical instruments of risk management in agricultural dairy production. The correlation-regression analysis was used for statistical processing of the data and study results. Results. During the investigation the following kinds of risks in dairy production were isolated: natural, ecological, technological, market-related risks. The natural risk is related to the environmental impact, fi rst and foremost, to the change in temperature regime of the environment of keeping cows, ecological component of manure utilization. The technological risk is characterized by violating the conditions of keeping cows at farms, which is manifested via loss and disposal of cows from the core herd. It has been found that currently the distribution of diseases, i.e. epizootic situation in the country, presents increased risk for farms. One of the ways to neutralize and minimize the manifestation of technological risks is improving biosafety of stock breeding complexes and developing the insurance of livestock. In addition to risks of diseases (infectious, invasion, non-contagious) and other standard risks (fi re, natural disasters, etc.), it is reasonable to insure against the following kinds of risks: interrupted production (caused by death or loss of insured animals), after which current expenses for renewal of production or forfeited profi t would be reimbursed automatically or after submission of confi rmation documents; transportation of animals, including sea, air, and railway travel; expenses to remove the remains of animals after the insured event which caused their death; reimbursing the expenses for elimination of consequences, caused by infectious diseases, which made it impossible to renew the production without prior applica- tion of disinfectants. While evaluating market-related risks, special attention should be given to the relations of producers and processors of milk. Market risks are closely related to technological risks, as milk quality has a decisive impact on the formation of procurement prices. Conclusions. The systematization of risks in dairy farming should be performed in accordance to the total system of their manifestation and to specialized identifi cation which characterizes specifi cities of this sphere. The probability of most risks, occurring in dairy production, is considerably dependent on the effi ciency of managers of agricultural enterprises and partially on legislative and executive branches of power (in the part of legisla- tive provisions). Currently the mitigation of environmental risks is possible only on condition of searching for internal reserves of ensuring the stability of dairy farming, which envisages creating conditions for production of high quality milk, minimization of expenses for its production and sale, compliance with agreements with contractors.


Detailed multiphysics modeling of nuclear power plants has become a necessity in the era of best-estimate analysis. For a number of transients with strong coupling between the neutronics in the reactor core and the fluid-dynamics in the primary circuit and overall heat transfer, it is required to carry out coupled system thermal hydraulics and core three-dimensional (3D) neutronics analysis. Point kinetics approach in the system thermal-hydraulics (TH) code RELAP5 limits its use for many reactivity-induced transients, which involve asymmetric core behavior. In a recent development, a simplified multipoint kinetics model has been coupled with system TH code RELAP5 to circumvent its inadequacy for the analysis of reactivity-induced transients involving asymmetric core behavior. The objective of this paper is to validate the simplified multipoint kinetics model against an asymmetric fast transient benchmark problem in a large power reactor. Time-step and nodalization sensitivity studies have been performed. It is demonstrated that the multipoint kinetics model results are in good agreement with the benchmark, advocating its applicability.


The present situation regarding environmental radiation monitoring observed by the author at the Taiwan Radiation Monitoring Center in June 1997 is discussed. These observations are then compared with the current situation in Japan. An outline of the Taiwanese situation is as follows: 1) All organizations operating and supervising nuclear industries and monitoring the environment around the facilities belong to the government. 2) It has become difficult to deepen the public's comprehension concerning the results of radiation monitoring. 3) Cobalt-60 has been detected in environmental samples from soil and indicator plants around nuclear power stations. 4) It is desirable that collaborative studies between Taiwan and Japan be promoted in this field. Procedures are reviewed with which each prefectural radiation monitoring authority in Japan assesses and evaluates public exposure to radiation and radioactive materials in the environment that result from the operation of nuclear facilities. Although several small differences are evident in the procedures, the primary objective of environmental monitoring remains constant. That is, every procedure is satisfactory to ensure that public exposure to radiation is well below the limit, thus, protecting public health and safety in the vicinity of nuclear facilities.


One of the manifestations of the interaction of bleomycin with the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system is an inhibition of NADPH-dependent, reactive oxygen-mediated lipid peroxidation. The results of this investigation demonstrate that this effect by bleomycin can be attributed to the sequestering of adventitious iron. However, as a result of the microsome-catalyzed, iron-facilitated activation of bleomycin and the concomitant spontaneous decay of the activated bleomycin intermediate, iron can apparently no longer be bound by the bleomycin molecule; consequently, the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by bleomycin is only temporary.


Altered scapular kinematics have been linked to increases in shoulder pain and pathology. As such, identifying normal scapular movement is integral to preventing pathology and maintaining health of the joint. Existing methods to evaluate scapular movement are invasive, expensive, require exposure to radiation, suffer skin based motion artifacts, or allow for examination only in static postures. Freehand three-dimensional ultrasound offers the unique ability to image bone while being non-invasive, relatively low cost, and free of radiation. This is a novel application of a technology that in the past has been used for needle guided injections and determining changes in organ volumes, but never for evaluating bone movement. We have developed a custom freehand-ultrasound system that shows high repeatability across trials (SEM < 2°) in evaluating scapular kinematics in static postures with the arm at rest and elevated in the sagittal, frontal and scapular planes. Among manual wheelchair users and able-bodied controls we found scapular kinematics with the arm in an elevated position were predicted by scapular and trunk position at rest. We also found BMI ≥ 25, presence of pathology on a physical exam, shoulder abnormalities on a clinical ultrasound exam, and greater than 10 years of wheelchair use resulted in scapular postures associated with shoulder pathology in previous studies. We found no significant differences between wheelchair users and age-matched controls but attribute this to a lack of difference in pathology between the groups. A learning curve was identified over time for capturing quality ultrasound images and it is suggested future studies incorporate ample training time and require raters to meet minimum performance measures set forth by this study. In a subsample of subjects we found increases in external rotation, upward rotation and posterior tilting at incremental angles of humeral elevation during dynamic trials indicating that it is feasible to apply our methods to evaluate dynamic scapular movement. Application of these methods may help to identify shoulder pathology and evaluate the efficacy of interventions to correct altered scapular kinematics.


As this is a special issue, this month's news is supplied by commentators from a social-materialist perspective. Next month will be back to the usual format. I hope you find these pieces thought provoking, regardless of whether you agree with the content.


The nature of animated cinema involves the creation of any realistic or fantastical characters, places, and situations. Animation can be used to take characters far from their hometowns on believable journeys without big budgets used on location shooting.

The Basque animated feature film Ipar Haizearen Erronka (The Challenge of the North Wind), directed in 1992 by Juanba Berasategi, illustrates how animation can represent a journey and a historic reality in a plausible way. The movie depicts a Basque whale hunting vessel travelling to the wild coast of Newfoundland, Canada in the sixteenth century. Typically, Basque live action movies in the 80s would recreate foreign locations with nearby settings. Ipar Haizearen Erronka avoids this problem by showing America through drawings.

In this paper, we will use the movie Ipar Haizearen Erronka to interpret how animation uses backgrounds and objects to represent a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and determine the realistic accuracy of the social and historical moments represented in the movie. We will also see how this journey embodies the characteristics of the literary genre of Bildungsroman, as well as the narrative structures pointed out by Vladimir Propp's folktale and Joseph Campbell's monomyth. The study also focuses on how the film depicts the most representative characteristics of the journey, and how they are used as filming narrative resources. A closer look will be taken into the main vessels, the captain's logbook, the map, the historical context of the sailing of the ship, the maritime laws where sexism is abundant, the financing of the trip, and the work on board.


The study's aim was to look into the different aspects of strategic competitiveness and how they affect competitive advantage in the private sector in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The researchers used four Strategic Competitiveness dimensions to assess the current analysis (Competitive strategies, innovation culture, managerial ethics, and Innovative Ideas). In order to interpret the current analysis, a quantitative methodology was used. The technique or process that the researcher is willing to accept in selecting objects for the sample is referred to as sample design. The research sample was chosen using a random sampling method and was carried out in various banks. A total of 125 questionnaires were distributed, but only 112 participants completed them correctly. Competitive strategies as a Strategic Competitiveness dimension has an important and positive impact on competitive advantage at a 5% level, according to the findings. The findings indicate that the Strategic Competitiveness dimension of Skills & Competencies has an important and positive impact on competitive advantage at a 5% stage. The findings show that entrepreneurial thought has an important and positive impact on the Strategic Competitiveness dimension, with a competitive advantage of 5%. The findings indicate that the Strategic Competitiveness dimension of Innovative Ideas has an important and positive impact on competitive advantage at a 5% stage. Furthermore, all beta values are greater than.001. The modified R2 for all models is quite large (0.693, 0.621, 0.712, and 0.763, respectively), meaning that the models' ability to explain variance in competitive advantage due to variation in independent variables is quite good. The F-value indicates that the explanatory variables in the model are jointly statistically important, and the Durbin-Watson (DW) statistics indicate that the models have autocorrelation.


This paper considers pre-requisite conditions for developing grinding mill control systems and describes the main problems of control and existing constraints. The author selected a set of grinding equipment that consists of autogenous grinding mills and ball mills. The paper considers the selected mill types as control objects. It is shown that there exists a good correlation between the mill charge and its acoustic and vibration noise. The paper examines the relationship between the level of vibroacoustic noise and the mill motor power draw and defines what can be considered an extreme dependence, as well as the conditions in which a stable operation of the automatic system can be maintained excluding the mill overload mode. The paper specifies what hardware and software means would be necessary to implement such system and describes the mill charge analyzer VAZM-1M developed by Soyuztsvetmetavtomatika that was selected for this application. The author looks at certain downsides typical of the conventional control scheme when the head mill feed rate changes as the mill motor power draw changes without allowing for changing physical and mechanical properties of the ore material. The author also considers the capability of the VAZM-1M analyzer in terms of mill load estimation accuracy. This laid the basis for developing mill protection and optimization algorithms for the AG and Ball Mill comminution circuit. The paper features a block diagram of the control algorithm and its brief description. The algorithm consists of blocks, which are responsible for the following actions: they receive key process parameters from the process control system database, check them for validity, perform initial processing and filtering; after that they analyze the trends of the measured parameters and analyze if an overload condition is probable. As decided by the mill operator, the ore flow rate can be adjusted. The paper describes a case study of running an AG mill control system on the basis of the above described algorithm and using the VAZM-1M analyzer. It is noted that this algorithm can be implemented both as an adviser for the operator and for automatic control of the mill when running in overload mode.


The capacity to repair O6-methylguanine-DNA adducts was measured in the liver of transgenic mice expressing a chimeric gene consisting of the induciblc P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) promoter linked to the bacterial O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ada) gene. Under induced conditions, total hepatic alkyltransferase reached 32.8 ±4.2 (SE) fmol/MgDNA compared to 7.8 ±1.1 fmol/^g DNA in nontransgenic mice. Administration of methylnitrosourea or nitrosodimethylamine to both groups of mice produced 6>6-methylguanine-DNA adducts which resulted in repair-mediated depletion of total hepatic alkyltransferase in a dose-dependent fashion. In nontransgenic mice, depletion of hepatic alkyltransferase occurred at lower doses of carcinogen, and recovery of alkyltransferase activity occurred later than in ada* transgenic mice. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of residual alkyltransferase activity after methylating agent exposure indicated that the bacterial as well as endogenous mammalian alkyltransferases were functioning as DNA repair proteins in hepatocytes in vivo. Analysis of O6-methylguanine- and /V7-methylguanine-DNA adducts in the liver of transgenic and nontransgenic mice after treatment with one dose of 50 mg/kg methylnitrosourea ¡.p.revealed that transgenic mice repaired in situ O 6-methylguanine-DNA adducts approximately 3 times faster than nontransgenic mice, commensurate with the increase in alkyltransferase activity. Thus, ada* transgenic mice treated with methylnitrosourea have lower levels of persistent mutagenic O 6-methylguanine adducts than ada~ nontransgenic mice. Hepatic expression of bacterial alkyltransferase appears to protect mice from the DNA-damaging effects of A'-nitroso compounds in vivo.


The end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth were emblematic in the 'scientifization' of physical education in Brazil. This examination of the journal Brazil-Medico during 1887-1923 seeks to identify views of the body and health as well as contributions to the scientific bases of physical education in Brazil.


We provide an empirical foundation for research on the demography of loneliness at older ages. First, we use published life tables and data from the U.S.-based Health and Retirement Study for the period 2008-2016 to calculate lonely life expectancy for Americans aged 55 or older. Using Sullivan's method, we demonstrate pronounced differences in lonely life expectancy by sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment that correspond to well-established patterns of stratification in other dimensions of well-being. Next, we estimate models that decompose observed sex, racial/ethnic, and educational differences in three key health outcomes into the part explained (in a statistical accounting sense) by loneliness and the part accounted for by other factors. We find little evidence of an important role for loneliness in understanding disparities in mortality and the onset of physical disability and cognitive impairment among Americans aged 55 or older, net of several established correlates of health disparities. These descriptive findings provide an empirical foundation for continued development of a demography of loneliness at older ages in response to the anticipated growth in scientific and policy emphasis on loneliness and the fundamental life changes that have accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic.


Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important viral disease of sheep and goats and is endemic in all regions of Turkey. In this study, PPR virus infection was investigated by RT-PCR assay based on the fusion (F) gene in PPR-suspected sheep and goat samples. PPR virus RNA was detected in 65 small ruminants (51 sheep, 14 goats) from independent outbreaks during 2008-2012 in provinces in the central and Mediterranean regions and the central-west part of the Aegean region in Turkey. The virus was detected in an aborted sheep fetus sample by RT-PCR, and diagnosis was also confirmed by virus isolation. Vaccine strain Nigeria 75/1 was differentiated from field isolates by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of RT-PCR products using EcoRI. Phylogenetic analysis of 16 viruses indicated that all viruses, including the one from the aborted sheep fetus, belonged to lineage IV, as had the PPR viruses previously isolated in Turkey. Nucleotide sequence identity among 16 viruses was 99.1%-100%. Results showed that PPR virus lineage IV has been in circulation in Turkey since the first detection of the disease.


In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid alternating impedance electromagnetic bandgap (AI-EBG) structure for noise suppression in ultra wide band (UWB) applications (from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz). In UWB technology, since the maximum signal power is limited to a very low level (-41.3 dBm) by Federal Communications Commission (FCC), any noise from digital circuits could destroy RF circuits and cause system failure. Hence, noise suppression is a major bottleneck for UWB technology since very high isolation is required for UWB frequency range. For the first time, a novel hybrid AI-EBG structure has been designed, simulated, fabricated, and measured for UWB isolation requirement. This novel hybrid AI-EBG structure shows very good isolation over UWB frequency range


ObjectivesMaintenance of normoglycemia with insulin reduces mortality and morbidity of critically ill patients. Here we report the factors determining insulin requirements and the impact of insulin dose vs. blood glucose control on the observed outcome benefits. DesignA prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SettingA 56-bed predominantly surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary teaching hospital Patients and InterventionA total of 1,548 patients were randomly assigned to either strict normalization of blood glucose (80–110 mg/dL) with insulin infusion or the conventional approach, in which insulin is only given to maintain blood glucose levels at 180–200 mg/dL. Measurements and Main ResultsIt was feasible and safe to achieve and maintain blood glucose levels at <110 mg/dL by using a titration algorithm. Stepwise linear regression analysis identified body mass index, history of diabetes, reason for intensive care unit admission, at-admission hyperglycemia, caloric intake, and time in intensive care unit as independent determinants of insulin requirements, together explaining 36% of its variation. With nutritional intake increasing from a mean of 550 to 1600 calories/day during the first 7 days of intensive care, normoglycemia was reached within 24 hrs, with a mean daily insulin dose of 77 IU and maintained with 94 IU on day 7. Insulin requirements were highest and most variable during the first 6 hrs of intensive care (mean, 7 IU/hr; 10% of patients required >20 IU/hr). Between day 7 and 12, insulin requirements decreased by 40% on stable caloric intake. Brief, clinically harmless hypoglycemia occurred in 5.2% of intensive insulin-treated patients on median day 6 (2–14) vs. 0.8% of conventionally treated patients on day 11 (2–10). The outcome benefits of intensive insulin therapy were equally present regardless of whether patients received enteral feeding. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the lowered blood glucose level rather than the insulin dose was related to reduced mortality (p < .0001), critical illness polyneuropathy (p < .0001), bacteremia (p = .02), and inflammation (p = .0006) but not to prevention of acute renal failure, for which the insulin dose was an independent determinant (p = .03). As compared with normoglycemia, an intermediate blood glucose level (110–150 mg/dL) was associated with worse outcome. ConclusionNormoglycemia was safely reached within 24 hrs and maintained during intensive care by using insulin titration guidelines. Metabolic control, as reflected by normoglycemia, rather than the infused insulin dose per se, was related to the beneficial effects of intensive insulin therapy.


Purpose the purpose of the payroll accounting information system is to be able to process data quickly and precisely, making it easier for the admin section in the payroll process and can improve employee performance efficiently. Design / Methodology / approach Payroll information system that the writer built at PT. Mega Pratama Insurance uses a web-based information system. The system development method in the study uses the waterfall model and the data flow model used is, DFD (Data Flow Diagram). The design of this system is assisted by several tools such as XAMPP version 3.2.1, Notepad ++ web editor, Adobe Dreamweaver web and Mozilla Firefox web browser. Findings The author chose this company because the payroll system in this company is still done manually, using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. The variable used in this study is the payroll information system at PT. Mega Pratama Insurance. Originality/value Payroll information system at PT. Mega Pratama Insurance uses three user access rights, namely, user as admin, user as employee and user as manager.


Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging defined by stable exit from the cell cycle in response to cellular damage and stress. Senescent cells (SnCs) can develop a characteristic pathogenic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that drives secondary senescence and disrupts tissue homeostasis, resulting in loss of tissue repair and regeneration. The use of transgenic mouse models in which SnCs can be genetically ablated has established a key role for SnCs in driving aging and age-related disease. Importantly, senotherapeutics have been developed to pharmacologically eliminate SnCs, termed senolytics, or suppress the SASP and other markers of senescence, termed senomorphics. Based on extensive preclinical studies as well as small clinical trials demonstrating the benefits of senotherapeutics, multiple clinical trials are under way. This Review discusses the role of SnCs in aging and age-related diseases, strategies to target SnCs, approaches to discover and develop senotherapeutics, and preclinical and clinical advances of senolytics.


Infrared spectroscopy is nowadays one of the most important analytical techniques available to scientists. One of the greatest advantages of the infrared spectroscopy is that virtually any sample in any state may be analyzed. For example, liquids, solutions, pastes, powders, films, fibres, gases and surfaces can all be examined with a judicious choice of sampling technique. The review by Annette, Sudhakar, Ursula and Andrea [1-2] also demonstrates the applicability of dispersion infrared spectroscopy for natural fibres studies.


The e-book market has been rapidly growing in recent years due to developments in technology and the widespread use of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs. Although an e-book serves as a nearly perfect substitute for its corresponding paper book in respect of contents, it has many differences regarding cost structure and consumers' acceptance. Therefore, setting an appropriate price for an e-book is an academically interesting and practically important issue. Consumers' price sensitivity and its dynamics should be investigated to develop an optimal pricing strategy. This paper empirically explores the dynamics of price elasticity of e-book demand. We use a data set that contains information for records of e-book sales for the last two years provided by Kyobobook, the largest book retailer in Korea. The results suggest that the demand of e-books is becoming price inelastic over time. This can be partially attributed to the reference price, which has been constructed by consumers through personal experiences. We also find other factors that influence the price elasticity and demand of e-books. From the results, we discuss the broader implications on pricing strategy.


Embedding foreign atoms or molecules in graphene has become the key approach in its functionalization and is intensively used for tuning its structural and electronic properties. Here, we present an efficient method based on chemical vapor deposition for large scale growth of boron-doped graphene (B-graphene) on Ni(111) and Co(0001) substrates using carborane molecules as the precursor. It is shown that up to 19 at. % of boron can be embedded in the graphene matrix and that a planar C-B sp(2) network is formed. It is resistant to air exposure and widely retains the electronic structure of graphene on metals. The large-scale and local structure of this material has been explored depending on boron content and substrate. By resolving individual impurities with scanning tunneling microscopy we have demonstrated the possibility for preferential substitution of carbon with boron in one of the graphene sublattices (unbalanced sublattice doping) at low doping level on the Ni(111) substrate. At high boron content the honeycomb lattice of B-graphene is strongly distorted, and therefore, it demonstrates no unballanced sublattice doping.


This paper examines the finescale structure and seasonal fluctuations of the isopycnal salinity of the California Current System from 2007 to 2013 using temperature and salinity profiles obtained from a series of underwater glider surveys. The seasonal mean distributions of the spectral power of the isopycnal salinity gradient averaged over submesoscale (12–30 km) and mesoscale (30–60 km) ranges along three survey lines off Monterey Bay, Point Conception, and Dana Point were obtained from 298 transects. The mesoscale and submesoscale variance increased as coastal upwelling caused the isopycnal salinity gradient to steepen. Areas of elevated variance were clearly observed around the salinity front during the summer then spread offshore through the fall and winter. The high finescale variances were observed typically above 25.8 kg m−3 and decreased with depth to a minimum at around 26.3 kg m−3. The mean spectral slope of the isopycnal salinity gradient with respect to wavenumber was 0.19 ± 0.27 over the horizontal scale of 12–60 km, and 31% to 35% of the spectra had significantly positive slopes. In contrast, the spectral slope over 12–30 km was mostly flat, with mean values of −0.025 ± 0.32. An increase in submesoscale variability accompanying the steepening of the spectral slope was often observed in inshore areas; e.g., off Monterey Bay in winter, where a sharp front developed between the California Current and the California Under Current, and the lower layers of the Southern California Bight, where vigorous interaction between a synoptic current and bottom topography is to be expected.


Immunological response is an interlinking network of stimuli and response signals. Rejection includes a complex series of events that depends on the interaction of many cells and soluble mediators--cytokines--and other biological response modifiers--among these, prostaglandins and hormones. In small bowel transplantation rejection, the role of "biological response modifiers" may be especially important because cytokines act on both "antigens presenting cells" from the recipient and "passenger lymphocytes" from the donor, in addition cytokines play a central role in the pathogenesis of clinical acute graft versus-host disease. Finally, perspective of new modalities of immunosuppression appear to be important in monitoring and controlling the cytokine release and function.


In the article the issue of influence of vortical currents on rate of change of short circuit current is considered, a mathematical model for the calculation of short circuit currents in the traction mode in the power circuits of DC electric rolling stock is presented, and the research results are given.


We present the reweighted complex Langevin method, which enlarges the applicability range of the complex Langevin method by reweighting the complex trajectories. In this reweighting procedure both the auxiliary and target ensembles have a complex action. We validate the method by applying it to two-dimensional strong-coupling QCD at nonzero chemical potential, and observe that it gives access to parameter regions that could otherwise not be reached with the complex Langevin method.


Thirty-five medieval bell towers, along with dozens of churches such as S. Clemente, S. Crisogono, S. Maria in Trastevere, and S. Lorenzo fuori le mura, survive as testimony to a boom in ecclesiastical construction in Rome during the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. This article focuses on these bell towers, using computer database analysis of their architectural and decorative features to investigate the nature of building workshops in medieval Rome. A comparison of a number of variable features among the bell towers, such as masonry techniques, cornices, and decorative details, uncovered patterns of similarities and differences which may be attributed to workshop practices. Four distinct groups of bell towers are identified on the basis of these features, which I suggest are evidence of the existence of four workshops of brick masons active in bell tower construction in Rome between the early twelfth and the thirteenth centuries. Finally, the article addresses the question of specialization within medieval Rome9s building industry and the circumstances behind a rapid decline around 1200 in bell tower building and the fate of the workshops that built them. I observe that by the early thirteenth century, certain prestigious architectural commissions, such as the cloisters at the Lateran and S. Paolo f.l.m., were not given to workshops of brick masons, but to marble workers.


In the paper Fe82Nb2B16, Fe80Nb2B18 and Fe78Nb2B20 amorphous alloys, obtained by melt spinning, were examined. It was shown that the alloys studied in the as quenched state and in the relaxed amorphous state or in nanocrystalline state (after a suitable annealing) belong to very good soft magnetic materials with relatively high resistivity. The influence of annealing on brittleness as well as magnetic and electric properties measured at room temperature was examined. A correlation between sample microstructure (in the as quenched state and after annealing) and different physical properties is discussed. It was shown that the observed changes of relative magnetic permeability can be explained by changes of magnetoelastic energy, concentration of microvoids frozen during production process, effective anisotropy constant and magnetic polarisation.


Feature Models (FMs) are a popular formalism for modelling and reasoning about commonality and variability of a system. In essence, FMs aim to define a set of valid combinations of features, also called configurations. In this paper, we tackle the problem of synthesising an FM from a set of configurations. The main challenge is that numerous candidate FMs can be extracted from the same input configurations, yet only a few of them are meaningful and maintainable. We first characterise the different meanings of FMs and identify the key properties allowing to discriminate between them. We then develop a generic synthesis procedure capable of restituting the intended meanings of FMs based on inferred or user-specified knowledge. Using tool support, we show how the integration of knowledge into FM synthesis can be realized in different practical application scenarios that involve reverse engineering and maintaining FMs.


The superiority of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring over casual blood pressure measurement for the prediction of target-organ damage is now well established, although the significance of "white coat" hypertension is still controversial. Is an office blood pressure measurement that is higher than the mean ambulatory value an added risk? Because left ventricular hypertrophy is a potent risk factor, the effect of hypertension on left ventricular mass merits attention. Left ventricular mass indexed for height was measured by M-mode echocardiography in 204 essential hypertensive patients (140 males, 64 females; mean age [SD], 50 [11] years). Blood pressure over 24 hours was monitored routinely with a noninvasive auscultatory device. Office blood pressure after 10 minutes of the subject in the supine position was measured by the same physician under the same conditions. The white coat effect was defined as the difference between the office and average daytime values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Patients were divided into four quartiles according to their office and daytime blood pressures. Two-way analysis of variance was used to assess the influence of the white coat effect at a given level of daytime blood pressure on left ventricular mass. Left ventricular mass increased significantly (P < .001) with daytime systolic blood pressure but was independent of white coat effect for both the whole population and the 143 untreated patients. We conclude that the white coat effect has no influence on left ventricular mass, favoring the view that white coat hypertension is a benign condition.


Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically activated beige adipose tissue, nonhomogeneously surrounding the myocardium. Physiologically, EAT regulates toxic fatty acids, protects the coronary arteries against mechanical strain, regulates proinflammatory cytokines, stimulates the production of nitric oxide, reduces oxidative stress, and works as a thermogenic source against hypothermia. Conversely, EAT has pathologic paracrine interactions with the surrounded vessels, and might favour the onset of atrial fibrillation. In addition, initial atherosclerotic lesions can promote inflammation and trigger the EAT production of cytokines increasing vascular inflammation, which, in turn, may help the development of collateral vessels but also of selfstimulating, dysregulated inflammatory process, increasing coronary artery disease severity. Variations in EAT were also linked to metabolic syndrome. Echocardiography first estimated EAT measuring its thickness on the free wall of the right ventricle but does not allow accurate volumetric EAT estimates. Cardiac CT (CCT) and cardiac MR (CMR) allow for threedimensional EAT estimates, the former showing higher spatial resolution and reproducibility but being limited by radiation exposure and long segmentation times, the latter being radiationfree but limited by lower spatial resolution and reproducibility, higher cost, and difficulties for obese patients. EAT radiodensity at CCT could to be related to underlying metabolic processes. The correlation between EAT and response to certain pharmacological therapies has also been investigated, showing promising results. In the future, semiautomatic or fully automatic techniques, machine/ deeplearning methods, if validated, will facilitate research for various EAT measures and may find a place in CCT/


Home automation and control systems as basic elements of smart cities have played a key role in the development of our homes environments. They have a wide range of applications in many fields at home such as security and monitoring, healthcare, energy, and entertainment applications. The improvement of humans' living standards make people keep trying to delegate many of their needs to a home automation system. Such a system has been built with capabilities of predicting what the user intends to do in smart home environment. However, there are many issues that need more investigation and solutions, such as: 1) many researches adopt a specific application without integrating different varieties of applications in one environment, 2) there is no study tries to show the real effect or even evaluates the implementation of predicted actions that have been established via homes intelligent gateway, 3) there is an interoperability issue due to using different kinds of home applications that have different protocols for message context. In this proposal, we will describe a new approach of an intelligent self-adaptive system that can precisely monitor a stakeholder behaviors and analyze his/her actions trying to anticipate a stakeholder behavior in the future. In addition, we will evaluate the real effect of a predicted actions after implementing them by an intelligent gateway in a simulated home environment. The principle behind a prediction process is presented by analyzing a sequence of user's interaction events with heterogeneous, and distributed nodes in the environment using an intelligent gateway. Predicting next stakeholder action can be process using certain analytical algorithms. The main novelties in the proposed approach are threefold: I) Developing a learning technique which is embedded in an intelligent gateway to build a model of users' behavior and interactions to balance the needs of multiple users within a smart home environment. II) Presents a novel visualization model for a home area network (HAN) based on a degree of centrality criteria, that helps an enterprise companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Xively to understand the most important services of their customers, III) The proposed system shows a high level concept of how we can design an intelligent self-adaptive system in home environment that has the capability to provide stakeholder with local services, and to support a use of IoT paradigm concurrently.


Audio tagging aims to perform multi-label classification on audio
chunks and it is a newly proposed task in the Detection and
Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events 2016 (DCASE
2016) challenge. This task encourages research efforts to better
analyze and understand the content of the huge amounts of
audio data on the web. The difficulty in audio tagging is that
it only has a chunk-level label without a frame-level label. This
paper presents a weakly supervised method to not only predict
the tags but also indicate the temporal locations of the occurred
acoustic events. The attention scheme is found to be effective
in identifying the important frames while ignoring the unrelated
frames. The proposed framework is a deep convolutional recurrent
model with two auxiliary modules: an attention module
and a localization module. The proposed algorithm was evaluated
on the Task 4 of DCASE 2016 challenge. State-of-the-art
performance was achieved on the evaluation set with equal error
rate (EER) reduced from 0.13 to 0.11, compared with the
convolutional recurrent baseline system.


Both silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (SiC) are promising materials used in nano-electro-mechanical system (NEMS), however, the understanding on its phonon heat conduction is rare, which restrict the performance improvement of NEMS. Moreover, the effects of the interface between crystals, which could significantly impact the phonon transport, on heat conduction are not sufficient in the existing publication pool. In this paper, two systems, Si/Si and Si/SiC, are simulated at different temperatures and temperature differences using molecular dynamics simulation and the results were analyzed.
 The temperature of Si inside Si/SiC system was set at 280K, and the temperatures of SiC were set as a certain absolute value based on temperature difference setting. Meanwhile, 6 groups of temperature difference are applied as simulated conditions. In addition, simulated results from Si/Si system are also applied in comparative analysis as a reference group. The results suggested that the existence of the interface of Si/SiC system would reduce the capability of heat conduction compared to the heat conduction of Si/Si and reverse temperature differences are discovered. When the average temperature is higher than 280K, the heat conduction rate of Si/SiC system is higher than that of Si/Si system initially and as the temperature differences between crystals increases to 60.90K, the heat conduction rate of Si/Si system is higher than that of Si/SiC system. Similar conclusion can also be obtained when the average temperature is lower than 280K. This work provides an open opportunity to study the effect of interface on phonon heat conduction between crystals at typical temperature differences and average temperatures.


Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) acts as an important co-factor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Glucocorticoids have been shown to inhibit expression of the rate-limiting enzyme for tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis, GTP cyclohydrolase, in other cell types. We hypothesized that endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses would be blunted in rats made hypertensive with dexamethasone. Further, we hypothesized that treatment of rat vascular segments with dexamethasone would result in attenuation of endothelial function accompanied by decreased GTP cyclohydrolase expression. We report that endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to the calcium ionophore A23187 are reduced in aortic rings from dexamethasone-hypertensive rats compared with sham values. Dexamethasone incubation abolishes contraction to Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10–5M) in endothelium-intact aortic rings, and inhibits expression of GTP cyclohydrolase. We conclude that inhibition of BH4 synthesis by glucocorticoid regulation of GTP cyclohydrolase expression may contribute to reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation characteristic of glucocorticoid-induced hypertension.


Using data for Germany and 23 other economies in Eastern and Western Europe, this paper estimates the monetary returns to education acquired under communism more than 10 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. We show that, in the 2000s, Eastern European workers who completed their education under communism earned in the 2000s similar returns to their education as did workers belonging to the same age cohorts who studied in Western Europe. This might suggest that education under communism is still as valuable as education attained in Western Europe. However, individuals educated under communism are more likely than their Western counterparts to be unemployed, retired or disabled, and therefore to earn lower or zero returns to their education. Moreover, when we allow the returns to pre‐ and post‐secondary education to differ, we find that senior males who have attained only primary or secondary education under communism are penalized in the post‐transition Eastern European labour markets, and that those who have completed post‐secondary education under communism enjoy in these markets higher payoffs to their education than similarly educated Western European individuals who are employed in the West.


The emerging MPEG-4 standard supports the transmission and composition of facial animation with natural video. The new standard will include a facial animation parameter (FAP) set that is defined based on the study of minimal facial actions and is closely related to muscle actions. The FAP set enables model-based representation of natural or synthetic talking-head sequences and allows intelligible visual reproduction of facial expressions, emotions, and speech pronunciations at the receiver. This paper addresses the data-compression issue of talking heads and presents three methods for bit-rate reduction of FAPs. Compression efficiency is achieved by way of transform coding, principal component analysis, and FAP interpolation. These methods are independent of each other in nature and thus can be applied in combination to lower the bit-rate demand of FAPs, making possible the transmission of multiple talking heads over band-limited channels. The basic methods described here have been adopted into the MPEG-4 Visual Committee Draft and are readily applicable to other articulation data such as body animation parameters. The efficacy of the methods is demonstrated by both subjective and objective results.


The release of the Lego Mindstorms kit has carried the flexibility and creativity of Lego into the world of robotics, whilst targeting a variety of children and adults audiences. To achieve this goal, a programming language called NXT-G was developed to provide everyone full control of the Lego Mindstorms kit, regardless of their programming experience. In this project, the programming language ambition is tested through practical experiments. In a controlled experiment, twelve participants carry out four tasks using the NXT-G software and a Lego robot. Their performances are then analysed to confirm the stated claim.


Background and Issues:
 In 1998, Providence St. Peter Hospital (PSPH) created its first stroke team. An on-call Stroke RN/neurologist duo responded to pages from the emergency center and inpatient attending physicians and nurses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By late 2010, the responsibilities of the stroke team members had significantly increased, but only two Stroke RNs and one neurologist participated on the team. It became clear that the 100% on-call model had become resource limited and processes were now inconsistent. The development of a sustainable new stroke model was critical.

 Purpose:
 The purpose of the project was to create a sustainable in-house stroke patient care process that would meet the community's need for excellent stroke care while maintaining Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center certification.

 Methods:
 In early 2011, an interdisciplinary team convened to develop the new process. Members included RNs and physicians from neuroscience, emergency center, and primary care, radiologists, CT technicians, pharmacists, and phlebotomists. Stroke clinical guidelines, best practices and outcome data were reviewed. Operational, financial and clinical opportunities for improvement were identified.

 Results:
 As a result, two separate initiatives were implemented, (a) in-house acute stroke response and (b) emergency center acute stroke response, both which are active 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Seven neurologists now rotate call as the stroke neurologist. One of sixteen neuroscience RNs is onsite 24 hours a day as the Stroke RN. Acquisition of a telestroke robot enables the stroke neurologist to assess the patient immediately and make treatment decisions that are initiated before the neurologist arrives at the hospital. Procedures are outlined for all involved departments, ensuring timely diagnostics completion, appropriate medication administration or intervention, and consistently high standards of care.

 Conclusions:
 In conclusion, the revised stroke patient care management processes have proven to be sustainable and effective in ensuring timely intervention and positive outcomes for stroke patients. The program is reviewed and updated monthly.


The paleo diet is popular among the general population due to promoted weight loss and disease prevention benefits. We examined the effectiveness of a self-administered paleo diet in improving cardiometabolic disease risk factors. Overweight, physically inactive but otherwise healthy adults (males = 4, females = 3, age 32.7 ± 4.9 years, body mass index [BMI] 29.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2) habitually eating a traditional Western diet (1853.4 ± 441.2 kcal; 34.0% carbohydrate; 41.4% fat; 19.2% protein) completed an ad libitum self-administered paleo diet for 8 weeks. Height, weight, blood pressure, and a fasting blood sample were collected pre– and post–paleo dietary intervention. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting cardiometabolic disease biomarkers—including brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21, and leptin. After 8 weeks, body mass (−5.3 kg, P = .008), BMI (−1.7 kg/m2, P = .002), serum leptin (−56.2%, P = .012), serum FGF21 (−26.7%, P = .002), and serum BDNF (−25.8%, P = .045) significantly decreased. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were unchanged following the paleo dietary intervention (P > .05). Average energy intake (−412.6 kcal, P = .016) significantly decreased with the paleo dietary intervention mostly due to a reduction in carbohydrate consumption (−69.2 g; P = .003). An 8-week self-administered paleo dietary intervention was effective in improving cardiometabolic disease risk factors in a healthy, physically inactive overweight adult population.


In order to improve the diagnosis of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, we developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay. The gene encoding elongation factor Tu (tuf) was selected as the target sequence. Oligonucleotides derived from variable stretches of the tuf gene were able to prime the amplification of a 950-bp fragment exclusively when M. pneumoniae DNA was used as the template. The sensitivity of the assay was increased 10-fold when the amplification products were hybridized with an internal M. pneumoniae-specific oligonucleotide. The use of three to four genome copies for PCR was sufficient for obtaining a hybridization signal. In addition, we substituted radioactive filter hybridization with a microtiter plate assay. Via a biotin moiety of one PCR primer, the amplification products were immobilized on streptavidin-coated microtiter plates. Subsequent hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide resulted in the same sensitivity and specificity as those obtained by filter hybridization. Clinical application of the assay was performed on 102 throat swab specimens from patients with respiratory tract infections. Of 21 culture-positive samples, 19 were confirmed to be positive in the PCR-based assay (sensitivity, 90%). Furthermore, 14 of 19 seropositive but culture-negative samples gave a positive hybridization signal. Of 62 culture-negative and seronegative specimens, 60 gave a negative result in our assay (specificity, 97%). Of the 33 samples that were positive in our PCR-based assay, 5 samples initially gave false-negative results because of the presence of inhibitory substances in those specimens. Inhibition of Taq polymerase in these five cases was prevented by an additional step of phenol extraction and subsequent ethanol precipitation.


Producers and consumers will make the investments and innovations necessary to transition to a low carbon electricity supply industry only if they are compensated for their efforts. In the absence of explicit government support for these activities, this outcome will occur only if wholesale and retail prices provide this compensation. Efficient wholesale and retail pricing provides compensation for the cost-effective deployment of these innovations. Multi-settlement locational marginal pricing markets set efficient short-term wholesale electricity prices. Marginal cost-based pricing of transmission and distribution networks is increasingly important in regions with solar resources. More efficient wholesale and retail pricing implies significantly greater price volatility, particularly as the share of intermittent renewable generation increases, which requires implementing a number of competition and regulatory safeguards to protect consumers, while still providing the price signals necessary for a least cost transition to a low-carbon electricity supply industry.


Selection of maxillary anterior teeth for complete dentures is crucial in clinical practice and controversy about the validity of even the best method to employ still exists. Leon Williams formulated and publicized a method called the "Geometric theory" which is still widely used. Williams believed that there exists a relationship between the face-form and the form of the maxillary central incisor in most people and that this relationship should be taken into account in the tooth selection procedure.A Cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in an institution, on randomly selected individuals. The study group consisted of adult patients who attended the outpatient Department of Prosthodontics from June 2019- March 2020.86000 case sheets were evaluated and Chi-square test and frequency analysis was used to explore the relationship between two variables.Leon Williams criteria was fulfilled by only 41% individuals Ovoid face form 41% is more common in indian population as compared to other forms.Ovoid and square tapering tooth forms are more common compare to other tooth forms 30% with square tooth form being the least 12%.In females leon williams criteria was more matched than males. But the difference was not significant. This study concludes that there is a much greater percentage of dissimilarity between incisor and face-form, in sample Indian population. The "Williams' law of harmony" to select artificial teeth stands inconclusive in the sample Indian population both in males and females.


Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, histologically characterized by the presence of non caseating granulomas. The diagnostic suspicion relies on clinical, epidemiological, biological and radiological elements. It is confirmed by an evocative histology and by the exclusion of other granulomatous pathologies. The aim of this article is to expose some clinical manifestations of extrapulmonary sarcoidosis particularly the cardiac and abdominal involvements. A register was made on cases of sarcoidosis diagnosed in CHUV from 2000 to 2009. It demonstrates the rarity of the disease in the region of Lausanne and confirms the existence of purely extra-thoracic affections.


Histone modifications, largely regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases, have been recognized as major regulatory mechanisms governing human diseases, including cancer. Despite significant effort and recent advances, the mechanism by which the HAT and transcriptional coactivator p300 mediates tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we use a genetic and chemical approach to identify the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a critical downstream target of p300 driving human melanoma growth. Direct transcriptional control of MITF by p300-dependent histone acetylation within proximal gene regulatory regions was coupled to cellular proliferation, suggesting a significant growth regulatory axis. Further analysis revealed forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) as a key effector of the p300-MITF axis driving cell growth that is selectively activated in human melanomas. Targeted chemical inhibition of p300 acetyltransferase activity using a potent and selective catalytic p300/CBP inhibitor demonstrated significant growth inhibitory effects in melanoma cells expressing high levels of MITF. Collectively, these data confirm the critical role of the p300-MITF-FOXM1 axis in melanoma and support p300 as a promising novel epigenetic therapeutic target in human melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE: These results show that MITF is a major downstream target of p300 in human melanoma whose expression is predictive of melanoma response to small-molecule inhibition of p300 HAT activity.


In this study we explore the possibility of incorporating Sr into nano-apatite coatings prepared by a solution-derived biomimetic methodology for coating titanium based implants. The way this element is incorporated in the apatite structure and its effects on the stereochemistry and morphology of the resulting apatite layers were investigated, as well as the resulting mineralization kinetics. The presence of Sr in solution induced an inhibitory effect on mineralization, leading to a decrease in the thickness of the mineral layers. This ion was incorporated in the apatite structure through a substitution mechanism by replacing Ca in the crystal lattice. The obtained Sr-substituted biomimetic coatings are expected to enhance bone formation and osteointegration.


In many applications from telephone fraud detection to network management, data arrives in a stream, and there is a need to maintain a variety of statistical summary information about a large number of customers in an online fashion. At present, such applications maintain basic aggregates such as running extrema values (MIN, MAX), averages, standard deviations, etc., that can be computed over data streams with limited space in a straightforward way. However, many applications require knowledge of more complex aggregates relating different attributes, so-called correlated aggregates. As an example, one might be interested in computing the percentage of international phone calls that are longer than the average duration of a domestic phone call. Exact computation of this aggregate requires multiple passes over the data stream, which is infeasible.
We propose single-pass techniques for approximate computation of correlated aggregates over both landmark and sliding window views of a data stream of tuples, using a very limited amount of space. We consider both the case where the independent aggregate (average duration in the example above) is an extrema value and the case where it is an average value, with any standard aggregate as the dependent aggregate; these can be used as building blocks for more sophisticated aggregates. We present an extensive experimental study based on some real and a wide variety of synthetic data sets to demonstrate the accuracy of our techniques. We show that this effectiveness is explained by the fact that our techniques exploit monotonicity and convergence properties of aggregates over data streams.


Data by EU Commission show a low representation of women on boards. The scope of this article is to read contemporary and according to a managerial approach the possible causes of this situation: the availability of skills possessed by women to cover top positions, the presence of binding or self-regulatory rules and the corporate culture towards CSR approach. Our research is focused on EU countries, where the gender equality on board is currently matter of attention and regulatory interventions. We conclude that the scarce presence of women in the boardrooms is not ascribable to a scarcity of expertise, but it is associated with a social background and a corporate culture not inspired by corporate global responsibility values. Regulatory interventions may accelerate the consciousness of gender balance on boards, but without companies' commitment in CSR matters and without a clear vision of corporate global responsibility (including economic, social and environmental aspects), they tend to become additional tasks in the management of corporate compliance risk.


Abstract. Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs), which are caused by Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs), are detected and characterised by a joint analysis of the results of two measurement techniques: incoherent scatter radar and multiple-receiver GPS measurements. Both techniques to measure TIDs are already well known, but are developed further in this study, and the strengths of the two are combined, in order to obtain semi-automatic tools for objective TID detection. The incoherent scatter radar provides a good vertical range and resolution and the GPS measurements provide a good horizontal range and resolution, while both have a good temporal resolution. Using the combination of the methods, the following parameters of the TID can be determined: the time of day when the TID occurs at one location, the period length (or frequency), the vertical phase velocity, the amplitude spectral density, the vertical wavelength, the azimuth angle of horizontal orientation, the horizontal wavelength, and the horizontal phase velocity. This technique will allow a systematic characterisation of AGW-TIDs, which can be useful, among other things, for statistical analyses. The presented technique is demonstrated on data of 20 January 2010 using data from the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar in Tromso and from the SWEPOS GPS network in Sweden. On this day around 07:00–12:00 UT, a medium-scale TID was observed from both data sets simultaneously. The TID had a period length of around 2 h, and its wave propagated southeastward with a horizontal phase velocity of about 67 m s−1 and a wavelength of about 500 km. The TID had its maximum amplitude in Tromso at 10:00 UT. The period length detected from the GPS results was twice the main period length detected from the radar, indicating a different harmonic of the same wave. The horizontal wavelength and phase velocity are also estimated from the radar results using Hines' theory, using the WKB approximation to account for inhomogeneity of the atmosphere. The results of this estimate are higher than those detected from the GPS data. The most likely explanation for this is that Hines' theory overestimated the values, because the atmosphere was too inhomogeneous even for the WKB approximation to be valid.