1. The speed of snakes moving by lateral undulation was measured on a smooth board studded with equally spaced pegs arranged in a hexagonal pattern. 2. For some snakes speed was drastically reduced (by as much as 50%) as the ratio of body length to peg spacing was reduced from values as high as twelve to values near or below three. 3. Speed is also influenced by the relative orientation of the pegs contacted by the moving snake. 4. Snakes which can sidewind use this ability to maintain a constant speed when the number of contact points available is insufficient for continuous lateral undulation.


The current landscape of Global History literature appears dominated by a rather asymmetrical dichotomy between Eurocentric analyses of the cumulative emergence of the West and global history which reduces the significance of this transition by blending it into very long-term perspectives. This 'synecdoche syndrome' – whereby a part and the whole are often equated and compared – belies the real nature of human history, which, up to the XIX century at least, was grounded in the presence of a plurality of coexisting world-systems. Each of these systems revolved around a multilayered cultural, economic and political relationship between centre(s) and peripheries. It is through both a synchronic and diachronic comparative study of such systems that the theory of structural systemic transformations may be refined. This essay contributes to this endeavour by offering an exploration of what can be considered as the architrave of the pre-modern East Asian world, namely the tributary system established by the Chinese Empire. The complex set of policies that regulated the implementation and supported that system represent the most consistent world-system in human history, spanning two millennia despite several systemic breakdowns. The achievement was rendered possible by a foreign policy which will be interpreted here as a peculiar form of ethnocentric centripetal hegemony. Especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, China's interaction with weaker political units of the East Asian world was geared toward a form of power which aimed at maintaining systemic stability as a function of the Empire's survival. In this context tribute performed a threefold role in keeping internal and external threats under check: it enhanced the ideological legitimacy of the Emperor's rule of 'All Under Heaven', it strengthened his military credibility by guaranteeing the flow of military resources, and it offered the state an economic channel thorough which to pursue appeasement policies. The versatility of the system permitted China to adjust its foreign relations within several, diverse theatres of action. Interpretations envisaging too monolithic dynastic cycles should therefore be tempered by an understanding of the Empire's hegemonic posture as standing – at the same time, but in relation to different systemic units – at various points on a spectrum running from systemic stabilization to systemic breakdown. Utter failure only featured when the ideological underpinnings of the system were eventually undermined.


The abrasive jet finishing process with wheel as restraint is a kind of compound precision finishing process that combined grinding with abrasive jet machining, in which inject slurry of abrasive and liquid solvent to grinding zone between grinding wheel and work surface under no radial feed condition when workpiece grinding were accomplished. The abrasive particles are driven and energized by the rotating grinding wheel and liquid hydrodynamic pressure and increased slurry speed between grinding wheel and work surface to achieve micro removal machining. The micro removal machining with grinding wheel as restraint, not only to attain higher surface form accuracy but also to can acquire efficiently defect-free finishing surface with Ra0.15~ 1.6μm and finally achieve high efficiency, high precision and low roughness values, furthermore, integrating grinding process and abrasive jet process into one features. In the paper, surface topography and tribological characteristics finished by abrasive jet with grinding wheel as restraint were analyzed. Experiments were performed with plane grinder M7120 and workpiece material Q235A. The machined surface morphology was studied using SEM and the microscope and microcosmic geometry parameters were measured with TALSURF5 instrument. The experimental results show that microcosmic geometry parameter values were diminished comparing with ground surface. The tribological characteristics of finished surface were also investigated with pin on disk wear tester of MG-2000. The experimental results show that the friction coefficient and wear amounts of finishing machining surface were obviously decreased comparing with ground surface. As a result, life and precision consistency of finished workpiece were improved.


The place of total prostatectomy in the management of prostatic cancer remains controversial. After a historical review, the perineal and retropubic approaches are briefly described. The later one allows a staging lymphadenectomy which is capital for the operative decision. Indications, complications and results of the operation are analyzed. The author concludes that prostato-vesiculectomy is of value but that its indications must be clearly defined: patients under 70 years old, stages T1-T2, N0-N1, M0 and cancers with low grade of differentiation (G1: no; G2: ?; G3: yes).


John Boyd Orr was born on 23 September 1880 at Kilmaurs, Ayrshire. His father, Robert Clark Orr, was a quarry owner in a small way of business whose interests ranged widely. 'A remarkable man of great ability', he had not only deep religious convictions as an earnest, practising member of a sect of the Free Church of Scotland and in many of his views a Fundamentalist, but was also widely read in political, sociological and metaphysical, in addition to religious issues. John was born into a home where there was no shortage of books and spent his boyhood in an environment of active thinking and expression, particularly when, in the long winter evenings, these issues were discussed at home between his father, his elder brothers and various visiting friends of like mind. As John grew older he took a serious part in these discussions and also in outside activities such as church choir practice, meetings of the local Mutual Improvement Society or the Literary Association, meetings usually followed by debates. Once or twice in the winter months there would be a visit from a travelling concert party, whose concerts he was allowed to attend, but 'promiscuous dancing' was not permitted. (John once stated that he had never heard dance music until he was 27 years of age). But his home atmosphere was happy and the children were allowed much freedom; neither parent inflicted physical punishment. There was family worship each evening. He was the middle child in a family of seven; a sister and two brothers were older and two brothers and a sister younger. Mutual discipline in such a large family could hardly fail to exist.


The dynamics of HIV-1 viremia is a complex and evolving landscape with clinical and epidemiological (public health) implications. Most studies have relied on the use of set-point viral load (VL) as a readily available proxy of viral dynamics to assess host and viral correlates. This review highlights recent findings from population-based studies of set-point VL, focusing primarily on robust data related to host genetics. A comprehensive understanding of viral dynamics will clearly need to consider both host and viral characteristics, with close attention to (i) the timing of VL measurements, (ii) the biology of viral evolution, (iii) compartments of active viral replication, (iv) the transmission source partner as the immediate past microenvironment, and (v) proper application of statistical models.


The living organism is complex and depends on information transfer for its effective operation. One way to regard the organism is as a biological hierarchy in which each level not only serves a particular, circumscribed function but also contributes in an important way to the integrated performance of the organism as a whole. Two levels in the organization of biological functions are discussed to illustrate the principle of biological hierarchy: a subsidiary role, as exemplified by the role of the lungs in water and macromolecular exchange, and a primary function, as typified by the integrated performance of the cardiorespiratory apparatus in accord with the metabolic needs of the whole body. This hierarchical approach not only preserves the perspective for appreciating the coordinated behavior of the normal individual but also provides a vantage for assessing derangements produced by disease at any level in the biological hierarchy.


Science is frequently touted as the solution to dryland management problems, yet most management decisions are, by necessity, based primarily on expert knowledge and experience. This paper describes an integrated framework for organizing, synthesizing, and applying our growing understanding of aridland ecosystems using a flexible, multi-objective assessment, monitoring, and management approach. The framework is dual-purpose: (1) to coordinate the use of existing tools, resources, and diffuse knowledge, and (2) to facilitate the integration and application of new knowledge as it is developed. In particular, this framework must facilitate the integration of new knowledge about linkages among landscape units across scales. The framework includes five elements: (1) an ecological site-based approach for categorizing land based on soils and climate, (2) a repository for organizing existing data and knowledge about each ecological site, (3) conceptual models that organize information on the impacts of management and climate variability, and protocols for (4) assessing and (5) monitoring key ecosystem attributes fundamental to a variety of management objectives. Within this framework, basic and applied research are explicitly linked to management of arid and semi-arid ecosystems to more effectively articulate research questions and set research priorities. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Oxidation of fats and oils is an important indicator for performance and shelf life of oils. As other vegetable oils, virgin coconut oil (VCO) is not susceptible to lipid oxidation. Thus, a rapid method for quantitative analysis of peroxide value in VCO was developed in this study using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (ATR). Thirty training samples of VCO were subjected to oxidative condition in convection oven at temperature of 70⁰C up to 20 days to accelerate the lipid oxidation process. The peroxide values were determined periodically using the standard method of American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) and then analyzed with FTIR spectroscopy. Calibration model using partial least square (PLS) was developed by studying the spectral features for regions that correlated with peroxide value content (absorption of oxidation compounds band near 988 to 900 cm -1 ) and validated by removing one sample at a time. A linear calibration curve was obtained for the actual value against FTIR predicted value which yields an equation of y = 1.0398x + 0.0468 and satisfactory results of root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.4978 and correlation coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.9826. Thus, FTIR spectroscopy with PLS regression can serve as important tools for determining the peroxide value in VCO. Application of FTIR is rapid, accurate and environmental friendly compared to the conventional chemical analyses.


Proteins encoded by genes containing regions of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) are known to be polymorphic within species but the influence of their instability in molecular interactions remains unclear. VNTRs are overrepresented in encoding sequence of particular functional groups where their presence could influence protein interactions. Using human consensus coding sequence, this work examines if genomic instability, determined by regions of VNTRs, influences the number of protein interactions. Findings reveal that, in relation to protein function, the frequency of unique interactions in human proteins increase with the number of repeated regions. This supports experimental evidence that repeat expansion may lead to an increase in molecular interactions. Genetic diversity, estimated by Ka/Ks, appeared to decrease as the number of protein-protein interactions increased. Additionally, G+C and CpG content were negatively correlated with increasing occurrence of VNTRs. This may indicate that nucleotide composition along with selective processes can increase genomic stability and thereby restrict the expansion of repeated regions. Proteins involved in acetylation are associated with a high number of repeated regions and interactions but a low G+C and CpG content. While in contrast, less interactive membrane proteins contain a lower number of repeated regions but higher levels of C+G and CpGs. This work provides further evidence that VNTRs may provide the genetic variability to generate unique interactions between proteins.


Deterioration of the contractile parameters of the heart muscle caused by ischemia and followed reperfusion is known as the main postoperative complication which is related to Ca2+ and Na+ overload in cardiomyocytes and mitochondria. Pinacidil reduced the overload in ischemia/reperfusion experiments. The mechanism of this phenomenon is still not clear. We hypothesized that increased ion permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) followed drop of electrochemical potential (ΔΨmito) can reduce the calcium. The aim of the study was to elucidate the effect of pinacidil (100 μM) and Ca2+ (100 μM ) on swelling, oxygen consumption and ΔΨmito of isolated sodium-loaded rat heart mitochondria (RHM(Na)) energized glutamate and malate. Pinacidil significantly enchanced the permeability of IMM to protons in ammonium nitrate medium. Also increased swelling of RHM(Na) energized with substrates in potassium acetate medium revealed that pinacidil increased potassium transport into matrix. Pinacidil stimulated oxygen consumption of RHM(Na) in State 4 and detained Ca2+-induced dissipation of ΔΨmito. Under condition of Ca2+ and Na+ overload simulating ischemia/reperfusion, RHM(Na) oxygen consumption was not affected with pinacidil in State 3 and in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol. Cyclosporin A and ADP, the inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), markedly decreased Ca2+- induced swelling of RHM(Na) in nitrate ammonium or potassium acetate medium in the presence of pinacidil. Carboxyatractyloside, an inhibitor of cytosolic side-specific adenine nucleotide translocase, eliminated a pinacidil-stimulated oxygen consumption of succinate-energized RHMNa in State 4 regardless of the presence of Ca2+. Pinacidil was also concluded to accelerat potassium flux into energized RHM(Na) and promot MPTP opening in the low conduction state. Based on our data we suggested that the effect of pharmacological preconditioning induced by pinacidil could be due to it's direct effect on mitochondria which is connected with above stimulation of the potassium permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane and following reduce of the ΔΨmito that thus prevent calcium overload of cardiomyocytes after ischemia/reperfusion in turn.


This report is a synthesis of a specified set of reports from BACKUP and K4D with a focus on integration of health care services in relation to Malaria, TB and HIV and how integration efforts contribute or impede health systems strengthening in Uganda, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. It does not cover epidemiology or interventions (other than in relation to integration). The K4D reports highlight country specific epidemiology, disease control endeavours and key interventions for each disease including some that would strengthen health systems and promote integration. The BACKUP reports focus more on integration and can add country specific details with recommendations. Where references indicate a country name, this refers to either the K4D report or Backup report from that country. A list of the reports used for this synthesis may be found in the acknowledgement section. Where there are no references, this indicates that this is collective evidence from across BACKUP and K4D reports. Other references are included in the reference section.


"Literature and the Right to Marriage," which bears the same title as the special issue that it introduces, takes up the challenge of the claim that marriage is a universal right. Framing the questions that traverse the five essays in the collection with a close reading of the sections on marriage from Hegel's Elements of the Philosophy of Right, the authors argue that if marriage can be considered a right, this right both guarantees access to and is founded upon each partner's vow to abide by his or her vows to the other. Hegel's text is important because it underscores the linguistic dimension of the marriage ceremony; and it thus helps to show that, if the right to marriage were universal, it must be understood as the right to an irreplaceable kind of ritual speech. Moreover, this text is remarkably modern in its emphasis upon love as the condition of rightful marriage. Hegel considered the exchange of marriage vows to be a political event at which love becomes ethical (distinct from seduction), and ethics becomes political (distinct from morality and inseparable from civil society and the state); and thus also the point at which the model for "ethical love" becomes the verbally solemnized love between a man and a woman rather than the priestly love of the neighbor. Marriage, for Hegel, is always a turning point, both in the lives of the couple and in the history of the state. But this means that the importance of any marriage cannot be measured in terms of a norm; it can only be measured in terms of the amorous situation that precedes the event of marriage. Hegel's analyses are indispensable for grasping the stakes of the essays collected in this special issue and for addressing contemporary questions about which couples have the right to marry and what marriage becomes when those who would marry already have shared long and complex lives together.


The gas diffusion layers (GDLs) in polymer proton exchange membrane fuel cells are
under compression in operation. Understanding and then being able to quantify the
reduced ability of GDLs to conduct gases due to the compression is hence important in
fuel cell design. In this paper, we investigated the change of anisotropic permeability of
GDLs under different compressions using the improved multiple-relaxation time (MRT)
lattice Boltzmann model and X-ray computed micro-tomography. The binary 3D X-ray
images of GDLs under different compressions were obtained using the technologies we
developed previously, and the permeability of the GDLs in both through-plane and inplane
directions was calculated by simulating gas flow at micron scale through the 3D
images. The results indicated that, in comparison with the single-relaxation time (SRT)
lattice Boltzmann model commonly used in the literature, the MRT model is robust and
flexible in choosing model parameters. The SRT model can give accurate results only
when using a specific relaxation parameter whose value varies with porosity. The simulated
results using the MRT model reveal that compression could lead to a significant
decrease in permeability in both through-plane and in-plane directions, and that the relationship
between the decreased permeability and porosity can be well described by both
Kozeny-Carman relation and the equation derived by Tomadakis and Sotirchos (1993,
"Ordinary and Transition Rdgime Diffusion in Random Fiber Structure," AIChE J., 39,
pp. 397–412) for porosity in the range from 50% to 85%. Since GDLs compression takes
place mainly in the through-plane direction, the results presented in this work could provide
an easy way to estimate permeability reduction in both through-plane and in-plane
directions when the compressive pressure is known.


The Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) is a four-day event in Melbourne, Australia, that supports and celebrates the work of Australian women filmmakers. Launched in 2017, the festival emerged from our desire as screen academics to increase the visibility of both professional and amateur women filmmakers and their work. Despite a strong history of grassroots and state-supported women's creative cultures in Australia, women have remained marginal within the domestic screen industry. Women filmmakers are also underrepresented within the global festival circuit. This article traces the curatorial practices underpinning MWFF since its inception. We describe our approach to running a locally based, women-centered film festival; how we define "women" and "women's filmmaking"; and how our programing choices support our festival ethos. We also contextualize our event as one that both continues and is in dialogue with women's screen culture in Australia, particularly the one-off Women's International Film Festival held in 1975. Locating our festival in this historical context, we argue that retrospective screenings play a particularly vital role at MWFF in achieving our festival aims. We recount our inaugural festival in 2017 and explain the significance of retrospectives in building a legacy for women filmmakers and making their achievements visible to the next generation.


Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a highly prevalent and challenging disorder which impacts patients' quality of life and poses a considerable socioeconomic burden. Given the vagueness of the definition of FD based on the current Rome III criteria's expert opinion, the diagnosis of FD continues to be one of exclusion. Despite efforts to better define what constitutes FD, validity of such diagnostic criteria remains controversial given the lack of a distinct pathophysiologic mechanism. Areas covered: New insights into the pathophysiology of FD have expanded our treatment options for the syndrome. This review will discuss the current pharmacologic treatments of FD with particular focus on the more robust randomized controlled trials to date. Expert opinion: Recently, the understanding of the pathophysiology of FD has evolved with novel hypothesis such as sensorimotor abnormalities of the stomach or duodenum, genetic polypmorphisms, psychological comorbidities, food sensitivities and allergies, and immune dysregulation found to be possibly responsible for its pathogenesis. Despite the expanding knowledge about the likely multifactorial pathophysiology of FD, its treatment remains a challenge.


In this article we examine the legal framework of the European Union for injunctions against intermediaries whose services are used by a third party to infringe an intellectual property right, as set forth in the InfoSoc Directive and the Enforcement Directive. In particular, we consider the conditions to apply for the injunctions, taking into account how those conditions have been construed by the CJEU. We explore which is the minimum floor of injunctive relief Member States are obliged to provide under the Directives, as well as the maximum ceiling allowed, beyond which the protection granted would infringe upon the limits imposed by the EU Law. Next, we move to consider a particular type of injunctions that rights holders may apply for against intermediaries on the basis of Art. 8(3) of the InfoSoc Directive, namely those that would consist of enjoining an ISP from providing internet access to one of its users allegedly engaging in copyright infringement. A case already decided in Spain, Promusicae et al v. R Cable y Telecomunicaciones Galicia, granting such an injunction serves us as a study case to assess the problems these remedies face. On the one hand, these privately litigated internet disconnection injunctions may be seen by rights holders as a promising tool to fight online copyright infringement – maybe an alternative to unsuccesful graduate response schemes. However, as we show in the article, these injunctions raise serious issues regarding their compatibility with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Indeed, the possibility of effective and human-right-conform injunctions of this kind turns up to be very narrow. In other words, the Directive's provisions promise much, but if applied correctly, they deliver little.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the familial resemblance for baseline and seven-year changes in blood pressure in the Canadian population.

METHODS
The study participants were 857 people from 348 families in the 1988 Campbell's Survey, which was a seven-year follow-up of the Canada Fitness Survey. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured at baseline and at follow-up, and were adjusted for age and body mass index by using regression analysis. Familial correlation models were fit to the data by using path analysis, and maximal heritabilities were calculated from the most parsimonious models.

RESULTS
There was significant familial resemblance for baseline blood pressure and changes in blood pressure. In general, all classes of familial correlations (spousal, parent-offspring and sibling) were significant and were of comparable magnitude. The maximal heritabilities, which are influenced to an unknown degree by genes and shared environmental factors, were 50% and 70% for diastolic and systolic blood pressures, respectively, and 66% and 41% for seven-year changes in diastolic and systolic blood pressures, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
There is significant familial aggregation for blood pressure and for natural changes in blood pressure in the Canadian population. Genes may be important in explaining the familial resemblance for blood pressure; however, the presence of significant spousal correlations suggests that shared lifestyle and family environments are also important factors in the familial aggregation.


Positive linear systems are frequently used in research areas like biology and economics. The problem to classify all minimal realizations of these systems is treated in this paper. Extensive use is made of the theory of polyhedral cones. Sufficient and necessary conditions for the existence of a positive realization are given, but the problem of minimality leads to a yet unsolved factorization problem of positive matrices. Ideas and results are given to come towards a solution of this factorization problem.<<ETX>>


In the last five years, work on software that interacts with people via typed or spoken natural language, called chatbots, intelligent assistants, social bots, virtual companions, non-human players, and so on, increased dramatically. Chatbots burst into prominence in 2016. Then came a wave of research, more development, and some use. The time is right to assess what we have learned from endeavouring to build conversational user interfaces that simulate quasi-human partners engaged in real conversations with real people. This workshop brings together people who developed or studied various conversational agents, to explore themes that include what works (and hasn't) in home, education, healthcare, and work settings, what we have learned from this about people and their activities, and social or ethical possibilities for good or risk.


Abstract Background: Women with obstetric fistula share a common experience of physical and psychosocial morbidity, social isolation, and rejection by family and local society. However, there are only a few studies that focus on women with this condition in Ethiopia. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the presence of psychological distress in women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia.  Methods: The study employed a multi-center, facility-based, cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted at six fistula repair hospitals in Ethiopia and 219 women with obstetric fistula took part in the study. The data were collected during the women's admission for obstetric fistula surgical repair. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information and the medical history of the respondents. Symptoms of depression and anxiety over the past two weeks were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales, respectively. We chose the score cut-off point of 10 or above to define the symptoms over the past two weeks. The data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.2 software and exported to SPSS version 20 for further analysis. Results: Of the 219 women interviewed, 58% and 47% reported a history of symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. They also reported significantly lower social support. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were significantly associated with social support (P = 0.008, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Women with obstetric fistula are predisposed to high levels of psychological distress. Clinicians should manage women with obstetric fistula through targeted and integrated mental health interventions to address their mental health needs.  [ Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2018;32(4):210-217] Key words: Anxiety, depression, Ethiopia, obstetric fistula, women


The electrodynamics of a high-Tc superconductor with a network of numerous weak links (the Josephson medium) in the low-field mixed state have been analysed. The AC response to an electromagnetic wave is governed by the motion of vortices of very large size (hypervortices). The nonlinear effect of the vortex convection has been taken into account, and the second harmonic amplitude calculated.


The design of fire detection algorithms is an iterative process that requires a continual performance estimation. The performance can be evaluated using statistical values, e.g., mean fire detection times, fire detection probabilities, and false alarm rates. The determination of these parameters requires many test data measured by defined test fires and disturbing events. In order to reduce the test and design costs, it is advantageous to model sensor responses by test experiments. The modeling process requires the definition of ancillary conditions for the validation of the models. They include experimental (EN54) and mathematical (nonlinearity) conditions. In this paper, we investigated selected modeling techniques including ARX models and weighting functions. Hereby, relative mass losses of used fuels are introduced as inputs and sensor responses as outputs. Although the measured sensor responses are different for experiments with the same test fire, models have been identified using one experiment for each considered test fire only. The generation of the artificial sensor responses is performed by modifying analytical functions that describe the burning process (relative mass loss) and then subjecting them to the investigated models. The evaluation of the selected model has been performed with regard to the capability to reproduce measured data as well as to the independence of inputs from the residuals. The simulator was able to generate a valid variety of sensor response shapes by changing defined characteristics of the fire progresses that are described by relative mass losses.


The Cadia East porphyry deposit, located approximately 20 km south of Orange, New South Wales, Australia, contains a significant resource of copper and gold. This resource is hosted within the Forest Reefs Volcanics and is spatially and temporally associated with the Cadia Intrusive Complex. To extract ore, the underground mine currently uses the block cave mining method. The Cadia East geotechnical model provides data inputs into a range of numerical and empirical analysis methods that make up the foundation for mine design. These data provide input into the construction of stress models, caveability models, ground support design, and fragmentation analysis. This geotechnical model encompasses two commonly used rock classification systems that quantify ground conditions: (1) rock mass rating (RMR) and (2) rock tunneling quality index (Q index). The RMR and Q index are calculated from estimates of rock quality designation (RQD), number of fracture sets, fracture roughness, fracture alteration, and fracture spacing. Geologists and geotechnical engineers collect information used to produce these estimates by manually logging sections of drill core, a time-consuming task that can result in inconsistent data. Modern automated core scanning technologies offer opportunities to rapidly collect data from larger samples of drill core. These automated core logging systems generate large volumes of spatially and spectrally consistent data, including a model of the drill core surface from a laser profiling system. Core surface models are used to extract detailed measurements of fracture location, orientation, and roughness from oriented drill core. These data are combined with other morphological and mineralogical outputs from automated hyperspectral core logging systems to estimate RMR and the Q index systematically over contiguous drill core intervals. The goal of this study was to develop a proof-of-concept methodology that extracts geotechnical index parameters from hyperspectral and laser topographic data collected from oriented drill core. Hyperspectral data from the Cadia East mine were used in this case study to assess the methods. The results show that both morphological and mineralogical parameters that contribute to the RMR and Q index can be extracted from the automated core logging data. This approach provides an opportunity to capture consistent geologic, mineralogical, and geotechnical data at a scale that is too time-consuming to achieve via manual data collection.


Most of the ongoing studies led at worldwide level, mainly through IADC Actions, conclude that in order to keep a stable Low Earth Orbit environment in the coming decades, it may be necessary to retrieve some 5 to 10 large objects annuall y. These operations, known as Active Debris Removal (ADR), raise a huge amount of diff iculties in numerous domains: politi cal, legal, insurance, defense, financing and, last but not least, technical questions. The current paper aims at reviewing the current status of the ADR activiti es led by CNES both at National and Multi -lateral level. The first question which is raised is that of the high level requirements to be appli ed. What are the requirements coming from the operators; do we want to stabili ze the environment, decrease it or could we accept some increase over the years; when do we have to act; can we baseli ne random reentry of such large objects or do we have to stick to controlled destructive reentries?... There may not yet be clear answers to these points, so efforts at international level are required. The second part of the paper deals with the potential solutions at system level. Numerous possibiliti es can be identified, depending on the size of the launcher and of the strategy selected to de-orbit the debris. Large space tugs visiting some 10 debris or small dedicated chasers launched as piggyback are among the solutions which have been traded. The currently preferred solution is described in detail s. The third part of the paper is devoted to the chaser-debris operations themselves, foll owing five key functions; the long range rendezvous, the short range rendezvous up to contact, the mechanical interfacing of the debris, its control by the chaser, when required, the de-orbiting maneuver itself. For each of these functions, the current status of avail able technologies is described, enabling the identification of the most criti cal ones requiring additional R&T effort and subsequent demonstrations. Among them, two are already identified as criti cal: the final rendezvous with an unprepared, non-cooperative, potentiall y tumbling target of unknown physical status has never been demonstrated yet; the physical interfacing between the chaser and the target during the do-orbiting boost is also far from obvious. The paper is essentiall y based on the on-going findings of the two significant industrial studies under CNES contract, as well as several smaller actions led by Universities and internal work.


ABSTRACT While best practices have been proposed on how to engage men in family planning (FP), the limited options of male hormonal contraceptives (MHC) are a barrier to reaching men as clients of FP programs. The lack of alternative MHC is preventing the global health community from providing holistic reproductive healthcare. A qualitative grounded theory study was conducted in 2020 to explore MHC experts' perceptions around the development and theoretical acceptability of MHCs. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 key informants. The informants cited evidence that there is a demand for MHC. The inability to access this data by the pharmaceutical industry was acknowledged. Many informants expressed concern of the possibility for MHC to increase male power in a predominantly patriarchal world. To most informants, at least for the initial introduction of MHC, fertility sharing is something that will largely happen among couples alone rather than individually. There is proven demand among women and men for MHC, however industries may still be reluctant to invest. Effort is needed by the sexual and reproductive health and rights community to include male engagement in FP and to advocate for the development and use of MHC as a tool for women's empowerment.


A series of copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and the more hydrophobic comonomer N-tert-butylacrylamide (NTBAM), with increasing NTBAM content (i.e., increasing hydrophobicity) were prepared. The adhesion of human epithelial cells on polymer films prepared from copolymers of NIPAM: NTBAM was observed to increase with increasing polymer hydrophobicity. However, in the absence of serum, cell adhesion to the different surfaces was statistically indistinguishable. Thus, it appears that the copolymer films differentially support cell adhesion due to selective adsorption of proteins from the physiological environment (the serum). Using contact angle measurements, molecular simulations, and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the different surfaces, we show evidence that the different behavior of cells on the films of increasing hydrophobicity is actually due to the different chemical properties of the surfaces with increasing content of NTBAM in the copolymers. As the NTBAM content is increased, the number of NH residues at the surface decreases, due to the additional steric hindrance of the bulkier NTBAM group, which results in decreased hydrogen bonding and thus decreased adsorption of proteins such as albumin. However, in some cases, the adsorption is driven by hydrophobic interactions, and proteins such as fibronectin were found to adsorb more to the films with a higher content of NTBAM. There appears, thus, to be a direct correlation between surface composition, i.e., the functional groups exposed at the surface, and protein binding and subsequent cell adhesion.


Smart energy networks provide an effective means to accommodate high penetrations of variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are key for the deep decarbonisation of energy production. However, given the variability of the renewables as well as the energy demand, it is imperative to develop effective control and energy storage schemes to manage the variable energy generation and achieve desired system economics and environmental goals. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid energy storage system composed of battery and hydrogen energy storage to handle the uncertainties related to electricity prices, renewable energy production, and consumption. We aim to improve renewable energy utilisation and minimise energy costs and carbon emissions while ensuring energy reliability and stability within the network. To achieve this, we propose a multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient approach, which is a deep reinforcement learning-based control strategy to optimise the scheduling of the hybrid energy storage system and energy demand in real time. The proposed approach is model-free and does not require explicit knowledge and rigorous mathematical models of the smart energy network environment. Simulation results based on real-world data show that (i) integration and optimised operation of the hybrid energy storage system and energy demand reduce carbon emissions by 78.69%, improve cost savings by 23.5%, and improve renewable energy utilisation by over 13.2% compared to other baseline models; and (ii) the proposed algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art self-learning algorithms like the deep-Q network.


In this paper we present an alternative perspective to physics expertise research. Using Lave and Wenger's theoretical perspective of Legitimate Peripheral Participation [4] as a guide to understanding expertise development, we redefine expertise from the perspective of physicists. We analyze data from an ethnographic, qualitative study of a physics research group and draw data from multiple sources to triangulate a definition of expert. Results show that a very critical part of becoming a physics expert in this physics research group is communicating one's scientific ideas through writing. Students perceive scientific writing as an important aspect of participating in the research group and it is a significant discussion point in the research meetings. Thus, it appears that learning to write a scientific paper is a process congruent to developing physics expertise.


ABSTRACT Mold-damaged building materials may contain biologically active agents, such as (1→3)-β-d-glucan, allergens, and mycotoxins, which have been associated with adverse health effects. The release of these components from contaminated surfaces into the air is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the release of particulate (1→3)-β-d-glucan from the surface of artificially mold-contaminated materials. Aspergillus versicolor and Stachybotrys chartarum were grown on malt extract agar (MEA), white ceiling tiles, and a wall-papered gypsum board for 1 and 6 months. The (1→3)-β-d-glucan on the surfaces of moldy materials and in air samples collected from these materials was analyzed by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. The aerosolization ratio was defined as the amount of (1→3)-β-d-glucan in the air divided by the amount on the surface. The results showed that the aerosolization of particulate (1→3)-β-d-glucan was influenced mainly by the type of material and the fungal species. For A. versicolor, the aerosolization ratios of particulate (1→3)-β-d-glucan released from the three types of material were not significantly different. However, the ratios for S. chartarum released from ceiling tiles and gypsum board were significantly higher than the ratios for this organism released from MEA (P < 0.001) and were comparable to those for A. versicolor. These findings indicate that the use of MEA in aerosolization experiments is likely to underestimate the release of S. chartarum particles from building materials. These results provide important background information for design of future laboratory or animal experiments, as well as for interpretation of field measurement data.


Abstract Measurements in the infrared wavelength domain allow direct assessment of the physical state and energy balance of cool matter in space, enabling the detailed study of the processes that govern the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems in galaxies over cosmic time. Previous infrared missions revealed a great deal about the obscured Universe, but were hampered by limited sensitivity. SPICA takes the next step in infrared observational capability by combining a large 2.5-meter diameter telescope, cooled to below 8 K, with instruments employing ultra-sensitive detectors. A combination of passive cooling and mechanical coolers will be used to cool both the telescope and the instruments. With mechanical coolers the mission lifetime is not limited by the supply of cryogen. With the combination of low telescope background and instruments with state-of-the-art detectors SPICA provides a huge advance on the capabilities of previous missions. SPICA instruments offer spectral resolving power ranging from R ~50 through 11 000 in the 17–230 μm domain and R ~28.000 spectroscopy between 12 and 18 μm. SPICA will provide efficient 30–37 μm broad band mapping, and small field spectroscopic and polarimetric imaging at 100, 200 and 350 μm. SPICA will provide infrared spectroscopy with an unprecedented sensitivity of ~5 × 10−20 W m−2 (5σ/1 h)—over two orders of magnitude improvement over what earlier missions. This exceptional performance leap, will open entirely new domains in infrared astronomy; galaxy evolution and metal production over cosmic time, dust formation and evolution from very early epochs onwards, the formation history of planetary systems.


From relative intensities of Fe I lines, a study has been made of the excitation temperatures in short-time high current condensed spark discharges, both in the integrated light from single sparks and from time-resolved spectrograms. In all cases a Boltzmann distribution of the atoms among the various excited energy-states has been found to exist, with the temperature as the distribution parameter. A statistical equilibrium between the electron gas and the excited atoms is presumed to exist, in which case the excitation temperature is the temperature of the electron gas. The spectrum of the initial phase of the spark is characterized by short-lived broadened lines of N II and O II. During the latter phase of the discharge (4–14 microseconds), in spite of extreme variations in current and radiation intensity from the source, the temperature was found to be approximately constant (6000–7000°K) both for damped and oscillatory discharges.


Presently, the optimization concept plays an important role in the problems related to engineering management and commerce etc. Recent trends in optimization, points towards the genetic algorithm and evolutionary approaches. Different genetic algorithms are proposed, designed and implemented for the single objective as well as for the multiobjective problems. GAS3 [2006] (Genetic Algorithm with Species and Sexual Selection) proposed by Dr. M. M. Raghuwanshi and Dr. O. G. Kakde is a distributed Quasi steady state real-coded genetic algorithm. In this work, we have modified GAS3 algorithm. We introduce a reclustering module in GAS3 after simple distance based parameter less clustering (species formation). GAS3KM (Modifying Genetic Algorithm with Species and Sexual Selection by using K-means algorithm) uses K-means clustering algorithm for reclustering. Experimental results show that GAS3KM has outperformed GAS3 algorithm when tested on unimodal and multimodal test functions.


We are living in a world of steel. Although there are a lot of other material in use, our most used material is steel. From building industry to transportation and even mother industries like mining, we use steel in different grades and amounts. There is always need for different grades of steel, and there is always interest in better properties and lower costs. Fe-Mn-Al-C steel group is one of the grades of steel is from the TWIP family. Beside its interesting mechanical properties, its corrosion resistance and cryogenic properties makes it very desirable to substitute more expensive current classes of the steel used in the industry. The automobile industry is also looking forward to implement this family of the steel in their products. This group of steel based on their chemical content can created a carbide ordered phase called κ which is one of the reasons of its interesting mechanical properties beside the TWIP properties. While κ may give more hardness due to precipitation hardening, it will make the steel brittle. Thus we need an understanding of the phase diagram of this group of the steels in order to choose our material and process accordingly. Phase diagrams are material engineers' road maps for the processes and material choice as the initial steps, since we can predict the processes results and stable phases based on the equilibrium state from the diagrams. As the number of components gets more than three the phase diagram calculations and determination gets harder. For the ternary alloying systems we can only show sections of the phase diagrams as isothermal sections, or consider an element constant and depict the diagram as a "binary" system for the other two alloying elements at the other element concentration. In this work, we tried to experiment on the experimental data for equilibrium phases of Fe-Mn-Al-C alloying system based on the Equilibrated Alloys for alloys containing 20, 30 and 40 weight percent Manganese. The results were compared to the current database of the Thermo-Calc software for this family and we found some inconsistencies between the experimental data and the calculations which shows that the calculated results for this alloying system with its high Mn-content, is not reliable and that the thermodynamic descriptions must be adjusted.


An immuno-homologue of maize Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase with a molecular mass of 72 kDa was identified in pea. The pea kinase (PsCCaMK) was upregulated in roots in response to low temperature and increased salinity. Exogenous Ca2+ application increased the kinase level and the response was faster than that obtained following stress application. Low temperature-mediated, but not salinity-mediated stress kinase increase was inhibited by the application of EGTA and W7, a CaM inhibitor. The purification of PsCCaMK using immuno-affinity chromatography resulted in coelution of the kinase with another polypeptide of molecular mass 40 kDa (p40). Western blot revealed the presence of PsCCaMK in nuclear protein extracts and was found to phosphorylate p40 in vitro. Gel mobility shift and South-Western analysis showed that p40 is a DNA-binding protein and it interacted specifically with one of the cis acting elements of the Arabidopsis CaM5 gene (AtCaM5) promoter. The binding of p40 to the specific elements in the AtCaM5 promoter was dependent of its dephosphorylated state. Our results suggest that p40 could be an upstream signal component of the stress responses.


Aims.Our goal is to characterize AGN populations by comparing their X-ray and optical classifications within the framework of the standard orientation-based unified scheme. Methods: We present a sample of 99 spectroscopically identified (R ? 22 mag) X-ray selected point sources in the XMM-LSS survey which are significantly detected (?3?) in the [ 2-10] keV band with fluxes between 8 × 10-15 and 8 × 10-14 erg s-1 cm-2, and which have more than 80 counts. We have compared their X-ray and optical classifications. To this end, we performed an X-ray spectral analysis for all of these 99 X-ray sources in order to assess whether they are intrinsically absorbed or not. The X-ray classification is based on the measured intrinsic column density. The optical classification is based on the measured FWHM of the permitted emission lines, the absence of broad lines being due to obscuration within the framework of the standard AGN unified scheme. Results: Introducing the fourfold point correlation coefficient r, we find a mild correlation between the X-ray and the optical classifications (r = 0.28), as up to 32 X-ray sources out of 99 have differing X-ray and optical classifications: on one hand, 10% of the type 1 sources (7/32) present broad emission lines in their optical spectra and strong absorption (N{H}int ? 1022 cm-2) in the X-rays. These objects are highly luminous AGN lying at high redshift and thus dilution effects by the host galaxy light are totally ruled out, their discrepant nature being an intrinsic property instead. Their X-ray luminosities and redshifts distributions are consistent with those of the unabsorbed X-ray sources with broad emission lines (L{2-10} 4 × 1044 erg s-1; z 1.9). On the other hand, 25/32 are moderate luminosity (L{2-10} ? 5 × 1043 erg s-1) AGN, which are both unabsorbed in the X-rays and only present narrow emission lines in their optical spectra. Based on their line ratios in the optical, the majority of them have an optical spectrum which is more representative of the host galaxy rather than of a reddened AGN. We finally infer that dilution of the AGN by the host galaxy seems to account for their nature. 5/25 have been defined as Seyfert 2 based on their optical spectra. In conclusion, most of these 32 discrepant cases can be accounted for by the standard AGN unified scheme, as its predictions are not met for only 12% of the 99 X-ray sources. Table 4 and Figs. [see full text]-[see full text] are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org


Land Mobile Satellite (LMS) networks, forming a key component of future mobile Internet and broadcasting, can benefit from Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) techniques to improve spectral efficiency and outage. LMS-MIMO networks can be obtained using multiple satellites with single polarization antennas with spatial multiplex channel coding, or by a single satellite with dual polarization antennas providing polarization multiplex channel coding. In this paper, a guide is presented showing the steps required to implement a simple empirical-stochastic dual circular polarized LMS-MIMO narrowband channel model with validation both with and without a line of sight. The model is based on an S-band tree-lined road measurement campaign using dual circular polarizations at low elevations. Application of the model is aimed at LMS-MIMO physical layer researchers and system designers, who need an easy to implement and reliable model, representative of typical LMS-MIMO channel conditions.


To understand how current patterns of habitat loss and fragmentation will ultimately affect ecosystem functioning, we need to match experimental manipulations of community structure with real changes occurring in the landscapes of today. In this study, we examine the consequences of habitat fragmentation on a key function: the decomposition of dung by invertebrates. In a microcosm experiment, we use previous observations of dung beetle assemblage structure in fragmented and intact landscapes to create realistic differences in assemblages of small, dung-dwelling species in the genus Aphodius. We ask whether such differences will affect ecosystem functioning, and how their effects compare to those of removing full functional groups: dung-dwelling Aphodius, tunnelling Geotrupes stercorarius, and/or earthworms. As measured by changes in dung fresh weight, we observe an overriding impact of removing G. stercorarius, with the amount of dung remaining at any one time doubling if the species is excluded. Compared to this major effect, there seem to be less effects of removing Aphodius, ambiguous effects of excluding earthworms, and no detectable effects of relatively minor changes in Aphodius assemblages as induced by current levels of fragmentation. Overall, our results support the general notion that different species contribute highly unevenly to overall ecosystem functioning. Most importantly though, our findings suggest that the functional consequences of habitat loss will depend on taxon-specific responses to landscape modification. Only by addressing these responses may we predict the actual consequences of habitat loss.


Abstract.
 Unlike the Asian and North American Pliocene record, fossil occurrences of Canidae in Europe (and Africa) are uncommon and fragmentary. The revision of canid material from the late Pliocene site of Kvabebi (eastern Georgia) revealed the contemporaneous occurrence of three different taxa: (1) Nyctereutes megamastoides (a derived species of the Eurasian Pliocene raccoon dog-like canids); (2) Vulpes cf. V. alopecoides (representing the first occurrence of a member of the vulpine taxon V. alopecoides, a species that was the most widespread fox in the early Pleistocene in western Europe); and (3) Eucyon sp. The latter occurrence at Kvabebi completes our knowledge of the late Pliocene evolutionary history of the latest representatives of the genus in Western Europe and Central Asia. Our revision of Kvabebi canids registers a previously undocumented case of established niche partitioning among early Pliocene sympatric Canidae.


Two isolates of non-alkaliphilic, extremely halophilic archaea, with very similar characteristics, were recovered from a marine solar saltern crystallizer. Cells were pleomorphic, motile and Gram-stain-negative and grew on a limited range of carbon sources, with pyruvate being the best substrate. Optimum growth occurred at 18-20 % (w/v) NaCl, pH 6.0-8.5 and 37-40 degrees C. Both isolates possessed typical archaeal lipids, and their 16S rRNA gene sequences were 99.8 % identical. Phylogenetic tree reconstructions indicated that they were most closely related to the haloalkaliphile Natronomonas pharaonis (97.5 % similarity to the type strain), but the different phenotypic properties and low DNA-DNA hybridization values between Nmn. pharaonis DSM 2160(T) and the two isolates suggested that they represent a novel species within the genus Natronomonas. The name Natronomonas moolapensis sp. nov. is proposed for these isolates, with the type strain being 8.8.11(T) (=JCM 14361(T) =CECT 7526(T) =DSM 18674(T)). An emended description of the genus Natronomonas is also provided.


With the surge of populism in Europe, public service broadcasting has come under increased pressure. The established media are considered part of the corrupt elite not serving the interests of the people. The public service media, for which pluralism is at the core of their remit, are a particular thorn in the side of the populists. Therefore, they attack the financial basis of public service, which is supposed to guarantee their independence. The populist attacks on the traditional broadcasting corporations meet with the interests of neoliberal politics and of those political actors who want to evade public scrutiny and democratic control and do no longer feel committed to democratic accountability. The assaults on the public service media are thus an assault on freedom of the media and further increase the pressure on the democratic system.


Health inequity among Indigenous populations continues to widen despite advances in Indigenous health research. Under Canada's esteemed universal healthcare system, Indigenous populations continue to experience much poorer health outcomes due to the intersectional legacies of colonialism and racism. In this commentary, we reflect on structural, systemic and service delivery racism at all levels of care, which are deeply embedded in historical, political, institutional and socioeconomic policies and practices that continue to perpetuate harm and genocide of Indigenous Peoples. We call for immediate action to re-establishing epistemic justice and reframing Indigenous knowledge systems in nursing practices, policies, research and education as the starting point in counteracting systemic racism.


Ethiopia enacted the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation (hereinafter the Proclamation) in July 2009 with a view to countering threats of terrorism which may not be adequately addressed by the operation of ordinary criminal laws. However, the Proclamation has been criticized as overly repressive of freedom of expression and right to information guaranteed under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution of 1995. It is argued that the ruling party is using this law to crackdown on a legitimate opposition and criticisms under the guise of countering terrorism. The prosecution and criminal conviction of civil society leaders, journalists and bloggers under the Proclamation has intensified the claim that 'the government is applying the law to stifle the dissent in the country' instead of countering actual national security threats posed by terrorism. This essay critically examines an impact of the Anti-terrorism Proclamation on freedom of expression by analyzing Article 6 on "encouragement of terrorism" and its application to journalists and bloggers who criticize the government without actually committing "terrorist acts".


For those aiming to improve the social competence of others, the choice is usually between shaping specific micro-skills or more general problem-solving. While these are not mutually exclusive in practice, research has tended to investigate them separately. One of the major issues facing those targeting micro-skills is their validity in the setting of concern. For those targeting problemsolving, the issue is predominantly one of triggering problem-solving behaviour in the absence of trainer prompts. Other major issues which still have to be satisfactorily resolved include the identification and assessment of children requiring improved social skills and social competence. In addition, there is a need to remind ourselves that while improved social skills should lead to improved judgments about an individual's social competence, the latter is a somewhat abstract notion which tells us little about an individual's goals and objectives. While improved social competence should be one of our goals, it must be anchored to well defined behavioural objectives. One can be the life and soul of a party and receive high social competence ratings, yet be lonely and isolated once the party ends.


Financial turbulence over the past two years has generated increased interest in the analysis of financial stability. However, such analysis often suffers from conceptual difficulties and a lack of measurability. This paper develops a 'cobweb model' for analysing financial stability in New Zealand. A key objective of this cobweb model is to depict the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's assessment of financial stability in a single diagram that will enable better communication of the main risks facing New Zealand's financial system. The results of this model are displayed using a cobweb-style diagram, with five dimensions constructed using a wide range of quantitative indicators, supplemented by expert judgement where necessary. It is anticipated that this cobweb diagram will become the focal point of the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Report.


Co3O4 and CuO nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized via an uncomplicated mechanochemical solvent-free method. Their crystalline structures and their average diameters between 5 and 8 nm, were determined fromXRD patterns and byHR-TEMimages. Particle sizeswere controlled through the concentration of starting materials and heating temperature. The UV-visible electronic absorption, raman spectroscopy and electronic paramagnetic resonance spectra of Co3O4 and CuO nanocrystals show clear evidence of the quantum size effect. The mechanochemical method as a simple process provides economically viable route for largescale nanomaterials production.


A readout detector integrated circuit (IC) has been developed which is capable of detec@ e p r f p e r e photo-current signals 3f interest in a high (micro-ampere) background illumination or DC noise level (SNR=92dB). The readout detector sensor IC processes transient signals of interest from a separate photodiode array chip. Low noise signal conditioning, filtering, and signal thresholding implement smart sensor detection of only "active pixels." This detector circuit can also be used to perform signal conditioning for other sensor applications that require detection of very small signals in a high background noise environment.


The present study reports the isolation of three complementary DNA (cDNA) clones encoding distinct subtypes of CRF receptors from the diploid catfish (cf) species, Ameiurus nebulosus. The first clone encodes a 446-amino acid protein (cfCRF-R1) that is highly homologous to mouse (m) CRF-R1 (93% identical). The cfCRF-R1 messenger RNA is highly expressed in the brain, and its distribution pattern correlates well with that of mammalian CRF-R1, except for weak expression in the pituitary. When transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, cfCRF-R1 bound CRF, urotensin I, and sauvagine with similar affinities. The second full-length cDNA, which was cloned from catfish heart, encodes a 406-amino acid protein that showed homology to murine CRF-R2 (88%) and when expressed in COS-7 cells preferentially bound sauvagine. The highest level of cfCRF-R2 expression was observed in the heart. The third full-length cDNA clone, which encodes a 428-amino acid protein, is structurally closer to cfCRF-R1 (85%) than to cfCRF-R2 (80%). This novel CRF receptor (cfCRF-R3) bound CRF with a 5-fold higher affinity than urotensin I and sauvagine and was expressed in the pituitary gland, urophysis, and brain. The presence of three different CRF receptors, each with distinct tissue distribution and ligand binding properties, suggests a complex CRF/urotensin I system. (Endocrinology 142: 446 ‐ 454, 2001)


ABSTRACT:This paper focuses on the phenomenon that the same combination of verbs denoting the meaning of action-motion can occur in two different syntactic subtypes of Serial Verb Construction, i.e., the nuclear serialization and core serialization, based on the general distinction made in studies that adopt a variety of theoretical frameworks. Despite the similar meaning expressed by the two constructions and their instantiations that share the same component verbs, the nuclear and core serializations can be distinguished from each other in terms of their argument structure and constituency structure. In this paper, I attempt to offer an adequate description of the properties of these syntactic subtypes of action-motion SVC attested in two Sinitic varieties: Standard Mandarin Chinese and Jinjiang Southern Min. In addition, I argue that only the directional verb (V2) in the core serialization can be optionally followed by a locative noun phrase due to its partly independent argument structure in the core serialization, a characteristic not observed in the nuclear serialization. While both syntactic subtypes of action-motion SVC can be found in Mandarin Chinese, in Jinjiang Southern Min, the meaning of action-motion can only be encoded by the core serialization. The use of contrasting structures to encode action-motion expressions in Mandarin Chinese and mainland Southern Min also indicates the diversity of grammar found in different Sinitic varieties (also see Chappell 2015; Chappell and Li 2015).摘要:本文基千多项研究中显示的关千连动式的一般性区别,集中探讨用以表述"动作—位移"义的相同的一组动词可出现在句法类别不同的连动式(即大、小核心连动式)中的现象。虽然大、小核心连动式可以表达相似的语义且相同的连续动词可以出现在结构不同的连动式中,但是 它们在仑元结构和组成结构方面表现不同。本文试图为汉语普通话和晋江闽南话中表述"动作—位移"意义但句法结构不同的连动式提供充分的描写。此外,本文仑证,正是因为其部分独立的仑元结构,只有 大核心连动式中的方向动词(V2)才允许其后选择性出现地点名词短语,这一特点在小核心连动式中则观察不到。在汉语普通话中,大、小核心连动式均可用以表述"动作—位移"义,而晋江闽南话只用大核心连动式表述相似的意义。汉语普通话与内陆闽南话用不同的结构编码"动作—位移"义也表明了汉语方言语法的多样性(也参见 Chappell 2015; Chappell and Li 2015) 。


VLSI TECHNOLOGY Bipolar Technology B. Gunnar Malm, Jan V. Grahn and Mikael Ostling CMOS/BiCMOS Technology Yasuhiro Katsumata, Tatsuya Ohguro, Kazumi Inoh, Eiji Morifuji, Takashi Yoshitomi, Hideki Kimijima, Hideaki Nii, Toyota Morimoto, Hisayo S. Momose, Kuniyoshi Yoshikawa, Hidemi Ishiuchi and Hiroshi Iwai Silicon-On-Insulator Technology Sorin Cristoloveanu SiGe HBT Technology John D. Cressler Silicon Carbide Technology Philip G. Neudeck Passive Components Ashraf Lotfi Power IC Technologies Akio Nakagawa Microelectronics Packaging Bi-Shiou Chiou Multichip Module Technologies Victor Boyadzhyan and John Choma, Jr. DEVICES AND THEIR MODELS Bipolar Junction Transistor Circuits David J. Comer and Donald T. Comer RF Passive IC Components Thomas H. Lee, Maria del Mar Hershenson, Sunderarajan S. Mohan, Kirad Samavati and C. Patrick Yue CMOS Fabrication Jeff Jessing Analog Circuit Simulation J. Gregory Rollins Interconnect Modeling and Simulation Michel S. Nakhla and Ramachandra Achar LOW POWER ELECTRONICS AND DESIGN System-Level Power Management: An Overview Ali Iranli and Massoud Pedram Communication-Based Design for Nanoscale SoCs Umit Y. Ogras and Radu Marculescu Power-Aware Architectural Synthesis Robert P. Dick, Li Shang and Niraj K. Jha Dynamic Voltage Scaling for Low-Power Hard Real-Time Systems Jihong Kim, Flavius Gruian and Dongkun Shin Low-Power Microarchitecture Techniques and Compiler Design Techniques Emil Talpes and Diana Marculescu Architecture and Design Flow Optimizations for Power-Aware FPGAs Aman Gayasen and Narayanan Vijaykrishnan Technology Scaling and Low-Power Circuit Design Ali Keshavarzi AMPLIFIERS CMOS Amplifier Design Harry W. Li, R. Jacob Baker and Donald C. Thelen Bipolar Junction Transistor Amplifiers David J. Comer and Donald T. Comer High-Frequency Amplifiers Chris Toumazou and Alison Burdett Operational Transconductance Amplifiers Mohammed Ismail, Seok-Bae Park, Ayman A. Fayed and R.F. Wassenaar LOGIC CIRCUITS Expressions of Logic Functions Saburo Muroga Basic Theory of Logic Functions Saburo Muroga Simplification of Logic Expressions Saburo Muroga Binary Decision Diagrams Shin-ichi Minato and Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesis with AND and OR Gates in Two Levels Saburo Muroga Sequential Networks Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesis with AND and OR Gates in Multi-Levels Yuichi Nakamura and Saburo Muroga Logic Properties of Transistor Circuits Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesis with NAND (or NOR) Gates in Multi-Levels Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesis with a Minimum Number of Negative Gates Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesizer with Optimizations in Two Phases Ko Yoshikawa and Saburo Muroga Logic Synthesizer by the Transduction Method Saburo Muroga Emitter-Coupled Logic Saburo Muroga CMOS Saburo Muroga Pass Transistors Kazuo Yano and Saburo Muroga Adders Naofumi Takagi, Haruyuki Tago, Charles R. Baugh and Saburo Muroga Multipliers Naofumi Takagi, Charles R. Baugh and Saburo Muroga Dividers Naofumi Takagi and Saburo Muroga Full-Custom and Semi-Custom Design Saburo Muroga Programmable Logic Devices Saburo Muroga Gate Arrays Saburo Muroga Field-Programmable Gate Arrays Saburo Muroga Cell-Library Design Approach Saburo Muroga Comparison of Different Design Approaches Saburo Muroga MEMORY, REGISTERS AND SYSTEM TIMING System Timing Baris Taskin, Ivan S. Kourtev and Eby G. Friedman ROM/PROM/EPROM Jen-Sheng Hwang SRAM Yuh-Kuang Tseng Embedded Memory Chung-Yu Wu Flash Memories Rick Shih-Jye Shen, Frank Ruei-Ling Lin, Amy Hsiu-Fen Chou, Evans Ching-Song Yang and Charles Ching-Hsiang Hsu Dynamic Random Access Memory Kuo-Hsing Cheng Content-Addressable Memory Chi-Sheng Lin and Bin-Da Liu Low-Power Memory Circuits Martin Margala ANALOG CIRCUITS Nyquist-Rate ADC and DAC Bang-Sup Song Oversampled Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Converters John W. Fattaruso and Louis A. Williams III RF Communication Circuits Michiel Steyaert, Wouter De Cock and Patrick Reynaert PLL Circuits Muh-Tian Shiue and Chorng-kuang Wang Switched-Capacitor Filters Andrea Baschirotto MICROPROCESSOR AND ASIC Timing and Signal Integrity Analysis Abhijit Dharchoudhury, David Blaauw and Shantanu Ganguly Microprocessor Design Verification Vikram Iyengar Microprocessor Layout Method Tanay Karnik Architecture Daniel A. Connors and Wen-mei W. Hwu Logic Synthesis for Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Technology John Lockwood TESTING OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS Design for Testability and Test Architectures Dimitri Kagaris, Nick Kanopoulos and Spyros Tragoudas Automatic Test Pattern Generation Spyros Tragoudas Built-In Self Test Dimitri Kagaris COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY Compound Semiconductor Materials Stephen I. Long Compound Semiconductor Devices for Analog and Digital Circuits Donald B. Estreich Compound Semiconductor RF Circuits Donald B. Estreich High-Speed Circuit Design Principles Stephen I. Long DESIGN AUTOMATION Internet-Based Micro-Electronic Design Automation (IMEDA) Framework Moon Jung Chung and Heechul Kim System-Level Design Alice C. Parker, Yosef Tirat-Gefen and Suhrid A. Wadekar Performance Modeling and Analysis Using VHDL and SystemC Robert H. Klenke, Jonathan A. Andrews and James H. Aylor Embedded Computing Systems and Hardware/Software Co-Design Wayne Wolf Design Automation Technology Roadmap Donald R. Cottrell VLSI SIGNAL PROCESSING Computer Arithmetic for VLSI Signal Processing Earl E. Swartzlander Jr. VLSI Architectures for JPEG 2000 EBCOT: Design Techniques and Challenges Yijun Li and Magdy Bayoumi VLSI Architectures for Forward Error-Control Decoders Arshad Ahmed, Seok-Jun Lee, Mohammad Mansour and Naresh R. Shanbhag An Exploration of Hardware Architectures for Face Detection T. Theocharides, C. Nicopoulos, K. Irick, N. Vijaykrishnan and M.J. Irwin Multidimensional Logarithmic Number System Roberto Muscedere, Vassil S. Dimitrov and Graham A. Jullien DESIGN LANGUAGES Languages for Design and Implementation of Hardware Zainalabedin Navabi System Level Design Languages Shahrzad Mirkhani and Zainalabedin Navabi RT Level Hardware Description with VHDL Mahsan Rofouei and Zainalabedin Navabi Register Transfer Level Hardware Description with Verilog Zainalabedin Navabi Register-Transfer Level Hardware Description with SystemC Shahrzad Mirkhani and Zainalabedin Navabi System Verilog Saeed Safari VHDL-AMS Hardware Description Language Naghmeh Karimi and Zainalabedin Navabi Verification Languages Hamid Shojaei and Zainalabedin Navabi ASIC and Custom IC Cell Information Representation Naghmeh Karimi and Zainalabedin Navabi Test Languages Shahrzad Mirkhani and Zainalabedin Navabi Timing Description Languages Naghmeh Karimi and Zainalabedin Navabi HDL-Based Tools and Environments Saeed Safari Index


The long term impact of being born premature has received limited scientific investigation. Studies that have been carried out, focus on outcomes in childhood, with very few considering the impact on adult physical health. Three case studies are presented here, investigating differences in adult minor illness and psychological variables between adult participants born preterm, fullterm but small and fullterm with normal birthweight. This is a retrospective design using questionnaires and checklist to gather relevant information. Minor illness symptoms, daily hassles, anxiety, depression and general self-efficacy were measured. The participant born preterm scored higher on all measures. Data were applied to the Equilibrium Model for Minor Illness. Being born early appears to have a greater impact on later adult outcomes measured than being born fullterm but small or fullterm but of normal weight. In this article the authors reflect upon possible explanations for the different outcomes of each of the participants within the foetal origins of disease theory.


Background: Clonal cytopenias of Undetermined Significance (CCUS) have a higher risk of progression to myeloid neoplasm (MN) compared to idiopathic cytopenias of undetermined significance (ICUS) (Malcovati et al., Blood, 2017). The implementation of flow cytometric (FC) immune-phenotyping and next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical practice has improved the diagnosis of these entities but the clinical significance and interaction of these abnormal results are still unknown. In this study we investigated predictive factors that play role in survival and progression to MN in patients with ICUS/CCUS.
 Methods: Patients (Pts) who had undergone evaluation for unexplained cytopenia and had undergone FC and bone marrow morphological assessment between 3/2015-3/2020 at Mayo Clinic Rochester were included. Pts were excluded if a malignant hematological disorder was diagnosed prior to the time of FC. FC included evaluation of the following parameters: Abnormal expression of HLA-DR/CD13, CD2, CD7, CD45, and CD56 on blasts; and abnormal CD13/CD16 expression and side scatter on granulocytic cells. NGS panel up to 2018 included 34 genes, ASXL1, BCOR, BRAF, CALR, CBL, CEBPA, CSF3R, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FLT3, GATA1, GATA2, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MPL, MYD88, NOTCH1, NPM1, NRAS, PHF6, PTPN11, RUNX1, SETBP1, SF3B1, TERT, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, WT1, and ZRSR2; in 2018, BRAF was omitted and 12 genes were added, ANRD26, DDX41, ELANE, ETNK1, KDM6A, MYD88, NOTCH1, RAD21, SH2B3, SRP72, SMC3, and STAG2.
 Results: Characteristics: Of 490 consecutive pts, 238 (median age 69 years (range 19-92), 66% males) met our inclusion criteria as ICUS. 86 (36%) pts had CCUS (abnormal cytogenetics and/or tested positive for pathogenic mutations on NGS). After a median follow-up of 28 months (95% CI: 20 to 31 months), 21 (25%) patients developed MN and 23 (27%) died during follow-up.
 Comparing ICUS vs CCUS: upon comparing CCUS pts to ICUS, several factors were found to be significantly different: CCUS pts were older (p= .02); majority male (p= .04), had more abnormal HLA-DR/CD13 (p <.0001), more side-scattered light by FC (p <.0001), more pancytopenia on follow up (p= .02) and more morphologic atypia (<.0001).
 Overall survival (OS) outcomes in CCUS: Several covariates were significant in univariate models, and model selection was used to generate a risk score based on abnormal CD7, abnormal CD13/CD16, abnormal HLA-DR/CD13, splenomegaly and history of prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy (range: 0 - 4; HR=2.58, [95 CI: 1.69 - 3.94], p<.0001). Risk scores were grouped as low risk (score=0), intermediate risk (score=1), and high risk (score=2+), with estimated 2-yr-OS of 95%, 84%, 40%, respectively (Figure 1). An extended risk score model including NGS factors added ASXL1 and IDH1 mutation status to the previous model (range: 0 - 6; HR=2.72, [95 CI 1.82 - 4.06], p<0.0001).
 MN-free survival (MNFS) in CCUS: 37 pts either progressed to MN and/or died with a median follow up time for MNFS of 22.4 months. Similar for OS, model selection approaches yielded a composite risk score: splenomegaly, BCOR mutation status, mutation in RAS signaling pathway, abnormal expression of flow markers CD13/CD16, HLA-DR/CD13 or CD7 (HR=3.23, [95 CI: 1.90 - 5.49], p=<0.0001). Risk scores were grouped as low risk (score=0), intermediate risk (score=1), and high risk (score ≥ 2), with estimated 1-yr MNFS of 84%, 74%, and 31%, respectively (Figure 2).
 Conclusion: CCUS has unique features compared to ICUS. Several factors, including clinical characteristics, immune-phenotyping by FC, and somatic mutations have important impact on risk of progression to MN and on overall survival. Our findings serve as proof-of-concept that such integrated models could help identify CCUS patients at higher risks for progression to MN or death. They can guide treatment accordingly and should be evaluated further.

 Shah: Dren Bio: Consultancy.


In this work we have evaluated the effect of platinum (Pt) pre-coating on microstructure evolution of MCrAlY coating during isothermal oxidation, to improve high temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance of the nickel-based superalloy MAR M247-DS. Pt was deposited on the superalloy by electroplating before the MCrAlY coating by a vacuum plasma spray, which was compared to the superalloy without Pt pre-coating. The samples were subjected to isothermal oxidation in a box furnace at 1100°C for 25–150 hrs. The weight gain and loss caused by the oxidation of samples was recorded, and the variation of surface layer and interface morphology were observed before and after the oxidation tests. The length decrement of cross section is remarkably low on according to the precipitation of (Ni,Pt)Al phase by Pt pre-coating. Also, the amount of voids at interface between the coating and the superalloy, which would be introduced as a processing defect, is reduced by Pt pre-coating.


Article History: Received: 4 Sep. 2017 Accepted: 24 Dec. 2017 The accidental release and ignition of flammable vapours in petrochemical facilities generate overpressure and drag load which can impact the safety of installation and people. The intensity of the blast loads depends on many influencing factors including congestion, geometry, type & amount of fuel, leak size, and points of ignition among others. Given the stochastic nature of these parameters, it is obvious that the design for accidental load must be determined using a probabilistic method. This paper discusses a methodology known as "explosion exceedance diagram" and draws on recent developments in vapour cloud explosion research to determine the design accidental load (DAL). A case study demonstrates the application of the method.


Global changes would have impacts worldwide, but their effects should be even more exacerbated in areas particularly vulnerable. Mountainous areas are among these vulnerable territories. Ecological systems are often at a fragile equilibrium, socio-economical activities are often climate-dependent and climate-driven natural hazards can be a major threat for human activities. In order to estimate the capacity of such mountainous valleys to face global changes (climate, but also climate-and human-induced land-use changes), it is necessary to be able to evaluate the evolution of the different threats. The present work shows a method to evaluate the influences of the evolution of both vegetation cover and climate on landslide hazard over a whole Pyrenean valley, in Cauterets municipality, until 2040 and 2100. Firstly, the assessment of future land use is addressed through the construction of four prospective socioeconomic scenarios up to 2040 and 2100, which are then spatially validated and modeled with LUCC models. Secondly, the climate change inputs of the project correspond to 2 scenarios of emission of greenhouse gases. The used simulations available on the portal DRIAS (http://www.drias-climat.fr) were performed with the GHG emissions scenarios (RCP: Representative concentration pathways, according to the standards defined by the GIEC) RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The impact of land use and climate change is then addressed through the use of these scenarios into hazards computations. For that we use a large-scale slope stability assessment tool ALICE which combines a mechanical stability model (using finite slope analysis), a vegetation module which interfere with the first model, to take into account the effects of vegetation on the mechanical soil properties (cohesion and overload), and an hydrogeological model. All these elements are interfaced within a GIS-based solution. In that way, future changes in temperature, precipitation and vegetation cover are analyzed, permitting to address the direct and indirect impacts of global change on mountain societies. The whole chain is applied to a 100-km² Pyrenean Valley, for the ANR Project SAMCO (Society Adaptation for coping with Mountain risks in a global change COntext), as a first step in the chain for risk assessment for different climate and economical development scenarios, to evaluate the resilience of mountainous areas.


The total number of American blacks aged 65 years and over is estimated to be approximately 2.3 million, and the black elderly population will continue to increase faster than the white elderly population throughout the remainder of this century. During the period 1985 to 2025, the elderly population in the United States will increase to 105 percent.

The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes for the elderly population (65 years and over) is much higher in blacks than in whites. During the period 1976 to 1980, 76.5 percent of black women aged 65 to 74 years had definite hypertension, compared with 53.4 percent of white women.

Many factors are associated with the development of hypertension and diabetes in blacks. Specfic epidemiologic studies are necessary to identify black-white differences in risk factors, including biomedical risk, socioeconomic status, psychosocial risk, nutritional status, lifestyle, and genetic factors.


From study of the values of central and peripheral hemodynamics in 369 patients with peritonitis of the diffuse form, it may be concluded that they reflect objectively the degree of intoxication. A hypodynamic reaction of the blood-vascular system is a poor prognostic sign indicative of progressing peritonitis. Much significance is attached to morphological and microbiological study of the biopsy material of the parietal peritoneum, which allows judgement of the stage of peritonitis. Along with the traditional infusion and antibacterial therapy in peritonitis, UVI of autoblood and intravenous laser irradiation of the blood in stages IIA and IIB are applied. This should be followed by hemosorption which contributes to the active excretion of toxins from the organism. The authors recommend the method of programmed relaparotomy in stage IIB when there is a large amount of exudate with a collibacillary odour and a tendency to the formation of unterintestinal abscesses. Intraaortal infusion of medicinal agents is recommended in this clinical group marked by a tendency towards hypotension. In the group of 369 patients who underwent operation 112 (29.5%) died.


Although many cytokine receptors generate their signals via the STAT3 pathway, the IL-10R appears unique in promoting a potent anti-inflammatory response (AIR) via STAT3 to antagonize proinflammatory signals that activate the innate immune response. We found that heterologous cytokine receptor systems that activate STAT3 but are naturally refractory (the IL-22R), or engineered to be refractory (the IL-6, leptin, and erythropoietin receptors), to suppressor of cytokine signaling-3-mediated inhibition activate an AIR indistinguishable from IL-10. We conclude that the AIR is a generic cytokine signaling pathway dependent on STAT3 but not unique to the IL-10R.


Thyroid hormone is known to accelerate renal function recovery following toxic acute renal failure. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor activation is most likely critical in renal replicative repair, these studies were undertaken to assess whether triiodothyronine (T3), the most active form of thyroid hormone, may modulate EGF-induced renal proximal tubule cell proliferation by an effect on the EGF receptor. Rabbit renal proximal tubular cells were grown in primary culture and treated with or without T3 (0.1 or 1.0 nM) for 24 to 48 h. Compared with nontreated controls, T3 exposure led to significant increases in EGF-promoted DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, in renal tubule cells. Furthermore, T3 treatment resulted in increases in EGF receptor mRNA in proximal tubule cells compared with nontreated cells and was associated with elevated numbers of EGF receptors on the cell surface of proximal tubule cells. EGF binding studies demonstrated that T3 treatment had only modest effects on Kd values of both the high-affinity binding site (0.19 nM) and the low-affinity binding site (3.7 nM) but substantially increased the maximal number of high-affinity sites from 3.8 x 10(3) to 9.4 x 10(3) receptors/cell and the maximal number of low-affinity sites from 132 x 10(3) to 199 x 10(3) receptors/cell. These findings suggest that a T3 effect to increase EGF receptor gene expression with resulting increases in the number of cell surface EGF receptors on renal proximal tubule cells and a potentiated mitogenic response to EGF may be a mechanism for thyroid hormone to enhance renal function recovery following toxic acute renal failure.


Abstract Crowdfunding platform due diligence comprises background checks, site visits, credit checks, cross-checks, account monitoring, and third party proof on funding projects. We evaluate the factors associated with platforms' compliance expenses, and their due diligence application. We find that due diligence is related to legislation requirement, platform size, and type or complexity of crowdfunding campaigns. In addition, we find that platforms applying due diligence provide more services to project issuers and funders. Furthermore, due diligence is associated with higher percentage of successful campaigns, more fund contributors, and larger amount of capital raised on platforms. Our analyses are supported by platform-level data, covering the period 2014–2017.


Liquid phase diffusion bonding between ODS steel and pure W was carried out and its joint strength was investigated for fusion applications. A block of high-Cr ODS ferritic steel and a W plate were diffusion bonded at 1240 °C for 1h with/without an insert material under an uni-axial compression load and a high vacuum atmosphere. Cross sectional microstructures of joint region were observed by scanning electron microscope and the mechanical properties of the joint region were evaluated by hardness test and torsion tests. Microstructure analysis revealed that high Cr ODS ferritic steel block and W plate with insert material was successfully diffusion bonded with free of voids. Shear strength of liquid phase diffusion bonded ODS steel and W was higher than that of directly solid state diffusion bonded ODS steel and W. This was attributed to residual strain which is resulted from the difference of thermal conductivity between the ODS steel and W.


The communicative practice in the ex-GDR was complex and diverse, although public political discourse had been fairly ritualized. Text-types characteristic of the Communist Party discourse were full of general (superordinate) terms semantic specification was hardly possible (propositional reduction). Changes in the social world result in changes in the communicative practice as well. However, a systematic comparision of text-types across cultures and across ideological boundaries reveals both differences in the textual macro- and superstructures and overlapping as well as universal features, probably related to functional aspects (discourse of power). Six sample texts of the text-type `government declaration', two produced in the ex-GDR, four in the united Germany, are analysed. Special attention is paid to similarities and differences (i) in the textual superstructure (problem-solution schema), (ii) in the concepts that reflect the aims of political actions (simple worlds), (iii) in the agents who (are to) perform these actions (concrete vs abstract agents). Similarities are found mainly in the discursive strategies, e.g. legitimization text actions. Differences become obvious in the strategies used for legitimization, and also in the conceptual domains referred to by the problem-solution schema. The metaphors of construction, path and challenge are of particular interest in this respect.


This paper presents a Furuta pendulum as a test-bed to experimentally validate automatic control strategies or theoretical concepts associated with nonlinear systems. Herein, the modeling, simulation, and construction of a Furuta pendulum test-bed are introduced step-by-step. The development of the Furuta pendulum mathematical model is achieved by using Lagrange equations of motion. In contrast with other works, the development of this model includes an analysis of the system kinematics. Also, a numerical simulation of the mathematical model is performed via Matlab-Simulink. Furthermore, with the purpose of presenting a different tool for the modeling and simulation of dynamic systems, a graphical model and a graphical simulation of the Furuta pendulum are carried out by means of Working Model 3D. Moreover, a computer aided design of the system under study is accomplished through SolidWorks, based on such a design a test-bed is built. With the intention of verifying that the test-bed built behaves according to the models (numerical one and graphical one) presented herein, experiments with the test-bed in open-loop are carried out by using Matlab-Simulink, ControlDesk, and a DS1104 board from dSPACE.


In the conventional scaling scheme, interconnect delay cannot be reduced and the global interconnect delay become worse if the length of the wire is not scaled. The conventional approaches of global interconnect design are (1)introduction of inverse scaling concept where the upper metal layers have larger cross sections than lower metal layers, (2)insertion of repeaters, and (3) architecture level approach of multi/many core. In order to improve global interconnect delay even in aggressively miniaturized circuit, we have developed the transmission lien interconnect. This paper describes the novel analytical interconnect length distribution and discussion on future interconnect design direction. Then, recent our developments of the transmission line interconnect are described and performance comparison with another global wiring scheme such as optical interconnection is discussed.


PURPOSE
To use the lifecourse framework to examine the association between duration of breastfeeding and risk of developing bulimic behaviors or a diagnosed eating disorder.

METHOD
Questionnaires were sent every 12-24 months between 1996 and 2005 to 6,436 females and 5,756 males in the Growing Up Today Study, who were 9-14 years at baseline. Duration of breastfeeding was reported by the participants' mothers in 1997. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate the association of breastfeeding with purging, binge eating, engaging in bulimic behaviors, and having a diagnosed eating disorder.

RESULTS
Compared to girls who were breastfed for more than 9 months, those who were breastfed for less than 4 months did not have a significantly different prevalence of purging, binge eating, bulimic behaviors, and self-reported history of diagnosed eating disorders. Adjusting for gestational age/birthweight, age, age at menarche, maternal history of an eating disorder, and maternal body mass index, short duration of breastfeeding was not associated with any outcome among the girls [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) ranged from 0.8 to 1.1]. Among the boys, the results showed no significant associations between duration of breastfeeding and purging, binge eating, and self-reported history of diagnosed eating disorder. However, there was a suggestion that boys who had been breastfed for less than 4 months were at a higher risk of engaging in bulimic behaviors [AOR: 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-2.3].

DISCUSSION
No association was found between duration of breastfeeding and risk of developing bulimic behaviors or a diagnosed eating disorder among girls or boys with the one exception of longer duration of breastfeeding associated with fewer bulimic behaviors in boys. Although there are many benefits to breastfeeding, our data suggest that breastfeeding does not offer any protection against binge eating or purging, nor does it present harmful effects.


Acquisition of verbal behavior is a major goal of interventions for children with developmental disabilities. We evaluated the effectiveness of manipulation of an establishing operation for functional discriminated mands. Four individuals with developmental disabilities participated in a training procedure designed to teach two separate mands for two separate preferred items. Participants were taught to mand using picture cards. Following training, the manipulation of the establishing operation was used to assess and establish discriminated manding. This manipulation involved providing free access to one of the preferred items, such that there should be no motivation to ask for it, while motivation to ask for the other item remained in place. Three of the 4 participants acquired discriminated manding using topographically similar responses (picture cards). One participant did not acquire a discriminated mand until topographically distinct mands were taught (vocal and picture card). Results suggest that discrimination training is not necessarily sufficient to teach discriminated manding when more than one picture card showing preferred items is used. In addition, manipulation of the establishing operation served as an appropriate assessment tool for the verification of discriminated manding as well as a possible training tool to establish discriminated manding.


An outbreak of multiresistant tuberculosis from Eastern Europe in the Netherlands. – Infectious multiresistant pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a 24-year-old woman from an Eastern European country who resided in the Netherlands illegally. Her chest X-ray showed extensive cavitating lesions in both lungs. The patient was infectious for a long time and contact investigation revealed 2 other cases of multiresistant tuberculosis, her boyfriend aged 39 and his father, aged 58 years. Transmission from the index case was confirmed by DNA fingerprinting. Seven contacts had a latent tuberculosis infection. All 3 tuberculosis patients were successfully treated, while a number of the infected contacts received preventive treatment. Multiresistant tuberculosis is on the rise in Eastern Europe. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate despite treatment and has considerable social implications. This outbreak emphasises the necessity of maintaining an efficient tuberculosis control network in low incidence countries, such as the Netherlands. This is the first time an outbreak of multiresistant tuberculosis of this magnitude is described in the Netherlands. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:1921-4


A new species of snail-eating snakes of the genus Pareas Wagler, 1830 is described from the eastern Himalayas. The species Pareas kaduri sp. nov. differs from all known species of the genus in bearing the following suite of characters: SVL 455–550 mm, TaL/TL 0.184–0.207, brown dorsum with black transverse bands throughout the body, 15 dorsal scale rows throughout the body and mid-dorsal vertebral scale rows enlarged, 8 rows keeled in males, loreal not touching orbit, ventrals 160–183, subcaudals 65–70 in males, 52 in one female specimen, hemipenis short, unilobed and 6–7 maxillary teeth. Molecular data for mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome b genes further attest the distinctness of the new species, which was recovered as a member of the Pareas hamptoni clade. Our work brings the total number of species recognized within the genus Pareas to 20.