This work is part of a multidisciplinary project designated "Sense4me - Monitoring and control system of discomfort, for disabled persons and surgical patients". When an individual is confined to prolonged recumbent or sitting positions, a process of ulceration is likely to occur at sites with prominent bony structures, called pressure-sore or pressure-ulcer. Pressure-sores are an increasing problem within our society, with high prevalence amongst hospitalized patients or physically handicapped persons, often leading to premature deaths [1]. In the USA the overall annual cost of dealing with this problem is estimated to be between 5 to 9 billion dollars [2]. The main objective of the study is to analyze the viability of a novel active mattress system, based on turbulent waterjets impinging onto the mattress-cover, which will allow the control of pressure and temperature on the contact-surface with the human skin, thus decreasing the risk of pressure-ulcer formation. A small fluid-mattress prototype was designed and is being constructed. It consists on a chamber with a rectangular cover-area of 500 by 500 mm and a deepness of 100 mm. The bottom surface is a metal plate with equally-spaced orifices forming a matrix. The fluid jets, emerging from these orifices, impinge onto the pliable membrane-cover. The fluid is then collected from the sides and directed to a leveling tank and to a water-pump. This pump discharges the fluid into a plenum chamber, located behind the main plate with the orifices, thus completing the hydraulic circuit. The relevant physical and geometric parameters for the prototype definition (orifice diameter and matrix spacing, distance plate/membrane, plenum pressures, minimum body sustainable pressure, total jet momentum, etc) are described and studied. This included the realization of static pressure measurements with an inflatable mattress supporting a human body in different positions, as well as essays with a high velocity air-jet impinging on a surface. Preliminary calculations were made for the prototype running with a selected pump. The results indicate that the additional pressure exerted on the membrane will lead to a force in excess of 150 N, for a flow-rate between 20 and 40 m3 /h, and a plenum pressure from 1 to 4 bar, depending on orifice diameter. The work currently follows with tests involving weights located on the membrane surface, to verify the calculations and the soundness of the jet impingement principle. Further work will entail the division of the plenum in 16 sub-chambers with inlet flow valves, thus allowing the local modulation of membrane pressure by variation of the jets exit velocities, and temperature through sub-chamber individual control of water supply temperature.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


We consider the long time asymptotic behavior of a large system of $N$ linear differential equations with random coefficients. We allow for general elliptic correlation structures among the coefficients, thus we substantially generalize our previous work [14] that was restricted to the independent case. In particular, we analyze a recent model in the theory of neural networks [27] that specifically focused on the effect of the distributional asymmetry in the random connectivity matrix $X$. We rigorously prove and slightly correct the explicit formula from [28] on the time decay as a function of the asymmetry parameter. Our main tool is an asymptotically precise formula for the normalized trace of $f(X) g(X^*)$, in the large $N$ limit, where $f$ and $g$ are analytic functions.


BACKGROUND
Congenital heart defects (CHD) may be associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities mainly due to brain hypoperfusion. This defect is attributed to the major cardiac operations these children underwent, but also to hemodynamic instability during fetal life. Advances in imaging techniques have identified changes in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)in children with CHD.

OBJECTIVES
To examine the correlation between CHD and brain injury using fetal brain MRI.

METHODS
We evaluated 46 fetuses diagnosed with CHD who underwent brain MRI. CHD was classified according to in situs anomalies, 4 chamber view (4CV), outflow tracts, arches, and veins as well as cyanotic or complex CHD. We compared MRI results of different classes of CHD and CHD fetuses to a control group of 113 healthy brain MRI examinations.

RESULTS
No significant differences were found in brain pathologies among different classifications of CHD. The anteroposterior percentile of the vermis was significantly smaller in fetuses with abnormal 4CV. A significantly higher biparietal diameter was found in fetuses with abnormal arches. A significantly smaller transcerebellar diameter was found in fetuses with abnormal veins. Compared to the control group, significant differences were found in overall brain pathology in cortex abnormalities and in extra axial findings in the study group. Significantly higher rates of overall brain pathologies, ventricle pathologies, cortex pathologies, and biometrical parameters were found in the cyanotic group compared to the complex group and to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
Fetuses with CHD demonstrate findings in brain MRI that suggest an in utero pathogenesis of the neurological and cognitive anomalies found during child development.


We present a study of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) under focused beam excitation in a planar Fabry-Perot cavity using an image-dipole formalism. We give a comprehensive description of forward- and backward-CARS signal generation by introducing the expressions of the nonlinear induced polarization in the cavity as a function of their counterpart in free space. We show that the cavity gives rise to a backward-CARS signal and allows working with low numerical aperture collection objectives. We finally discuss the influence of the scatterer position in the cavity on the detected signal.


In a survey of negatively stained preparations of the prototype strains of Neisseria meningitidis, pili were detected on three strains. However, these pili were detected on fewer than 5% of cells in populations of these three strains. Those individual cells with pili were seldom observed to contain more than two or three pili per cell. In contrast, nearly all cells of the nonprototype group B strain ATCC 13090 had numerous pili on their surfaces. When viewed in frozen-etched replicas, a few pili were observed lying on the cell surface of this latter strain. An annular structure was also found in frozen-etched replicas. This structure usually consisted of a series of concentric rings that were always found on the flat side of these bean-shaped cells. It is concluded that such structures represent a differentiated portion of the cell wall, which is involved in cross-wall formation during synthesis of the cell septum in dividing cells.


Agricultural pest management control strategies are primarily concerned with food security and safety. Popular pest control methods include application of synthetic pesticides, biopesticides (plant extracts), non-chemical pest management and integrated pest management (IPM). The resistance of some of the pests to the chemical pesticides, coupled with potential health hazards on the environment gave birth to a search for botanicals as alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Botanicals as biopesticides were, though effective but their shelf lives and specific actions on the target organisms have not been determined. Non-chemical pest control methods involve common cultural practices which include crop rotation, tillage, and varying time of planting or harvesting, trap cropping which appear to be the best in terms of food safety and quality but the ability of this approach to reduce pest population may be minimal. Because no single pest control method can guarantee food security and safety, integrated pest management (IPM) approach appears to hold promise. The IPM is an ecologically based approach that combines all the available pest control methods to manage pest damage by the most economical means, with the fewest possible hazards to life, property and environment. However, this review shows that the impact of integrated pest management in the rural farm communities is low. In an era of growing consumer awareness and sophistication, food quality is being emphasized. Food safety means that the agro-products should be free from pesticide residues:- therefore, aspects of farm management such as sources of seeds and seedlings, pests and weed elimination, pesticide application dates, dates and amount of fertilization, harvesting or post harvest treatments and basic information regarding the individual farmer or marketing agents activities should be certified before consuming agricultural products. Federal governments especially in developing countries are advised to mount regulating Agencies that will be responsible for a number of activities that contribute to food security and safety, water quality and pesticide applicator training as practiced in the United States of America, India and Indonesia. The agencies will ensure that the public is protected from potential health risks posed by pesticide treated foods.


The study aims to make an assessment of COVID-19 on Indian economy by analysing its impact on growth, manufacturing, trade and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, and highlights key policy measures to control the possible fallout in the economy. The impact of the pandemic across sectors and in different scenarios of complete, extended and partial lockdown, and at different levels of capacity utilization is massive on the Indian economy. India's economy may barely manage to have a positive growth of 0.5 per cent in an optimistic scenario but also faces the possibility of a 3–7 per cent negative growth in worst case scenarios for the calendar year 2020. The impact is severe on trade, manufacturing and MSME sectors. The likely impact (deceleration) of COVID-19 from best case scenario to worst scenario are as follows: manufacturing sector may shrink from 5.5 to 20 per cent, exports from 13.7 to 20.8 per cent, imports from 17.3 to 25 per cent and MSME net value added (NVA) from 2.1 to 5.7 per cent in 2020 over previous year. The economy is heading towards a recession and the situation demands systematic, well targeted and aggressive fiscal-monetary stimulus measures.


Background: Several studies in interlanguage pragmatics have reported Russian directive speech acts to take a particular position within the dimensions of linguistic politeness and (in)directness, when compared to some Germanic and Romance languages extensively studied in this framework.Purpose of the study: The present paper aimed to investigate the role of language specific cues to politeness in Russian requests by examining their perception by native speakers and L2 learners in a scenario of teacher-student interaction.Methods: An experiment was conducted in which L1 and L2 groups rated the politeness of teacher directives in Russian on a discrete 7-point scale. Three variables were controlled for in the experimental design: the directness of the speech act (manifested in the choice between an imperative or an interrogative construction), verbal aspect, and the type of nuclear pitch accent.Findings: The obtained data generally corroborate existing studies, demonstrating that both native Russian speakers and learners of Russian with Chinese L1 do not judge as impolite direct imperative strategies employed in teacher requests. Though both groups of participants similarly relied on intonational cues in their judgements, the L2 learners did not perform target-like in evaluating the pragmatics of verbal aspect. Within the native group, the usage of imperfective verbs both in direct and conventionally indirect constructions was perceived as a highly salient indicator of impoliteness. Conversely, the size of this effect in L2 judgements did not reach a significance level, implying that this language specific cue is not acquired through incidental learning at pre-intermediate or intermediate proficiency levels.Conclusions: Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of explicit pragmatic instruction even for students who have sufficient experience studying abroad; furthermore, they outline new directions for empirical studies in Russian from the perspective of interlanguage pragmatics.


This retrospective study evaluated the ability to predict certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC), using an overall score cutoff of 60% on a university comprehensive exam. The study also evaluated overall and content area scores (Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Laboratory Operations, Microbiology, and Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids) for correlation between the university and BOC exams. Overall university exam scores ranged from 35-86% (percentage of correct answers) for students completing both exams from 2006-2015 (n = 152). BOC exam scores ranged from 287-755 (scaled from 0-999, with 400 required to pass). The overall correlation between scores was 0.65. Content area correlations ranged from 0.00 (Immunology) to 0.55 (Microbiology) for students completing both exams from 2012-2015 (n = 51). A receiver operating characteristic curve resulted in an overall university exam score cutoff of 55% showing the highest sensitivity and specificity for predicting success. Using the hypothesized 60% cutoff, one student showed a false positive result. All students scoring above 67% on the comprehensive exam passed the certification exam. In general, this study indicates that there are large variations when comparing results between comprehensive and certification exams. ABBREVIATIONS: ASCP - American Society for Clinical Pathology; BOC - Board of Certification; BOR - Board of Registry; GPA - grade point average; MLS - medical laboratory science/scientist; NAACLS - National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences; ROC - receiver operating characteristic; SD - standard deviation


Mycoplasma hominis is one of the well known genital mycoplasma agent that has been recognized as potentially pathogenic species and associated with various infectious diseases in adult men and woman. The organism could cause pelvic inflammatory disease, postpartum, postabortion fever and pyelonephritis. The Aim of this prospective study was to detemine the occurrence and prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis in patients with urinary tract infections, since they are usually not detected by routine microbiological examination of urine samples in laboratory department. For this purpose, Culture method was to be attempted as the current laboratory methods of choice for detection urogenital mycoplasmas infections. This study was designed as a case-control study in which a total of 100 patients with mean age of the of 42.78±22.49 (95% CI = 39-49.17) in case group as well as a mean age of 48.18±18.81 ((95% CI = 42.83-53.53) in the control group. The patients of both sexes were investigated for the presence of M. hominis and they were admitted to the urology department at asser central hospital in Abha (a city in southwest region of Saudi Arabia), during over a period of one year (February, 2013-March, 2014). A detailed history with specific urinary symptoms and signs was obtained as a result. These patients were divided into two groups: The first group (or case group) and the second group (or control group): The case group, included 50 symptomatic patients who had been admitted in hospital and they were examined for the presence of one or more of the following specific urinary symptoms and signs: Urinary frequency, dysuria, suprapubic/pelvic pain. Unlike the case group, the control group included 50 asymptomatic patients who were free of any specific urinary symptoms and they were matched by the first group for their age index. First voided urine specimens were tested using urine microscopy, culture for M hominis was performed and the isolates were identified serologically by growth inhibition test (disc method). In the case group, 8 cases out of 50 and in control group 1 out 50 were positive for M. hominis infection. The incidence of M. hominis was higher and statistically significant among case symptomatic patients group (8/50, 16%) than control asymptomatic patients group patients (1/50, 2%). On applying tests of significance to the observed data for isolation of Mycolplasma hominis among cases and controls, the values were found to statistically significant. Chi-square test with Yate's correction [χ2 4.396; p value 0.036] and the Fisher's exact test (2 tailed) [p value = 0.0309] indicated the relevance of the findings. The Relative Risk (RR) for the occurrence of Mycoplasma hominis infection was estimated to be 8 (95% C.I = 1.0386 -61.6235). The odds ratio was determined to be 0.1071 (95% CI = 0.129-0.892) and the risk ratio was 0.2063 (95% CI = 0.0322-1.3224). This is the first report study for the detection of M hominis in patients with urinary tract infections performed in Saudi Arabia. Infection caused by M hominis was associated with higher incidence rate in patients with symptomatic urinary tract diseases. Further work studies is needed for their rapid detection of these organism in urine samples using other diagnostic methods such as PCR. Further knowledge of the role and the effect of this pathogen in patients with urinary tract infections can be a prospective field of study.


We report on a series of 514 consecutive diagnoses of skeletal dysplasia made over an 8‐year period at a tertiary hospital in Kerala, India. The most common diagnostic groups were dysostosis multiplex group (n = 73) followed by FGFR3 (n = 49) and osteogenesis imperfecta and decreased bone density group (n = 41). Molecular confirmation was obtained in 109 cases. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was obtained in close diagnostic collaboration with expert groups abroad through Internet communication for difficult cases. This has allowed for targeted biochemical and molecular studies leading to the correct identification of rare or novel conditions, which has not only helped affected families by allowing for improved genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis but also resulted in several scientific contributions. We conclude that (1) the spectrum of genetic bone disease in Kerala, India, is similar to that of other parts of the world, but recessive entities may be more frequent because of widespread consanguinity; (2) prenatal detection of skeletal dysplasias remains relatively rare because of limited access to expert prenatal ultrasound facilities; (3) because of the low accessibility to molecular tests, precise clinical‐radiographic phenotyping remains the mainstay of diagnosis and counseling and of gatekeeping to efficient laboratory testing; (4) good phenotyping allows, a significant contribution to the recognition and characterization of novel entities. We suggest that the tight collaboration between a local reference center with dedicated personnel and expert diagnostic networks may be a proficient model to bring current diagnostics to developing countries. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


From September 1970 to December 1971, samples were taken monthly from farm pigs, piglets and abattoir pigs in Southern Taiwan for virus isolations and serologic studies. A total of 10 strains of hemagglutinating agent were isolated in January and July 1971, following 2 epidemics of human influenza occurring in December 1970 and June 1971, respectively. Three strains were antigenically confirmed as influenza A similar to A/Hong Kong/68 virus.


The aromatic substituents such as phenyl and thienyl have a direct impact on the structure-property relationship of conjugated semiconducting molecules and thus play a significant role in determining the performance of organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). To design a molecule with good charge transport properties, it is essential to understand the charge transfer process. Herein, through the study of two groups of classical OTFT materials with different substituents, we demonstrate the fundamental reasons for the contrasting carrier mobilities between the materials in each group by means of DFT calculations. The results from our theoretical analysis on the two groups of molecules provide very good estimates of their charge transfer properties and the numerical trend from our calculation is consistent with that from the corresponding experimental results. We reveal in detail the impacts of the subtle geometric differences caused by different substituents from two aspects including (i) the significant influence of steric hindrance on reorganization energy and (ii) the overlap of the adjacent molecular orbitals (MOs) on electron coupling. Overall, our systematic investigation into the charge transfer mechanism and geometry effects allows us to employ a reliable theoretical methodology for the prediction of the material performance, which is crucial for the design of high performance OTFT materials.


With the advent of computer technology, Virtual Reality (VR) became an integral part of design studios in architecture education. Researchers have been exploring how VR-enhanced design studios can be assessed from a student-centered perspective. This paper illustrates the role of teaching architectural design for developing a novel and contextual curriculum based on an analysis of student feedback. The background focuses on the development of VR-based architectural design education. The methodology frames two digital design ecosystems which are experimented in four undergraduate courses. With an ecosystem-based approach discussed in this paper, a medium-oriented and a content-oriented curriculum are offered for testing students' reaction to teaching design in VR. In both ecosystems, students are engaged with advanced digital design methods and techniques, which include 3D form-finding, building information modeling, visual programming, coding, and real-time rendering. The study screens the usage of software solutions for the creation of complex virtual environments, covering Blender, Rhinoceros, Unity, Grasshopper, and Revit. The implementation of a User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) comparatively demonstrates the performative qualities of both digital design ecosystems. Results indicate that the intensity of interaction varied in two incomparable, but connate, levels of qualities. The findings suggest that the perspicuity aspects of student interaction bare the risk of "complicated" and "confusing" software. The results further demonstrate a conflict between task-related qualities and non-task related qualities. Additionally, interacting with VR tools in architecture design education is found attractive, stimulating, and original despite low scores on the pragmatic qualities of perspicuity, efficiency, and dependability. The data and results obtained from this study give insight into the planning of design studios in architecture education based on the use of VR and digital methods. Therefore, this study contributes to future research in the contextualization of the design teaching efforts.


Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, are rock concretions on the sea bottom formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core. The core may be microscopically small and is sometimes completely transformed into manganese minerals by crystallization. When visible to the naked eye, it can be a small test (shell) of a microfossil (radiolarian or foraminifer), a phosphatized shark tooth, basalt debris or even fragments of earlier nodules. They generally range in size from 0.5 cm to 25 cm in diameter but the average diameter being 2 to 4 cm. However, the largest nodule ever recorded weighed about 800 kg. The shape of nodules vary from spheroidal to oblate, discoidal or prolate. Mostly they are asymmetrical. Truly symmetrical shapes are quite rare. Near spherical shapes have been observed in smaller nodules. It may be said that the shape of the nodules is determined by their growth pattern and is a reflection of gross internal structures and the proximity of the nodules to the mud water interface. The morphology of the nodules depend to a large extent upon the shape of nucleus and is often responsible for the enrichment of the metals. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to classify the most common type of nodules found in the Central Indian Ocean Basin alongwith their genesis and chemistry.


The notion of graph filters can be used to define generative models for graph data. In fact, the data obtained from many examples of network dynamics may be viewed as the output of a graph filter. With this interpretation, classical signal processing tools, such as frequency analysis, have been successfully applied with analogous interpretation to graph data, generating new insights for data science. What follows is a user guide on a specific class of graph data, where the generating graph filters are low pass; i.e., the filter attenuates contents in the higher graph frequencies while retaining contents in the lower frequencies. Our choice is motivated by the prevalence of low-pass models in application domains such as social networks, financial markets, and power systems. We illustrate how to leverage properties of low-pass graph filters to learn the graph topology and identify its community structure; efficiently represent graph data through sampling; recover missing measurements; and denoise graph data. The low-pass property is also used as the baseline to detect anomalies.


We study the convergence of random function iterations for finding an invariant measure of the corresponding Markov operator. We call the problem of finding such an invariant measure the stochastic fixed point problem. This generalizes earlier work studying the stochastic feasibility problem, namely, to find points that are, with probability 1, fixed points of the random functions. When no such points exist, the stochastic feasibility problem is called inconsistent, but still under certain assumptions, the more general stochastic fixed point problem has a solution and the random function iterations converge to an invariant measure for the corresponding Markov operator. We show how common structures in deterministic fixed point theory can be exploited to establish existence of invariant measures and convergence in distribution of the Markov chain. This framework specializes to many applications of current interest including, for instance, stochastic algorithms for large-scale distributed computation, and deterministic iterative procedures with computational error. The theory developed in this study provides a solid basis for describing the convergence of simple computational methods without the assumption of infinite precision arithmetic or vanishing computational errors.


Many financial markets including but not limit to, the emerging stock market in Viet Nam, have been affected by the financial crisis 2007-2011. This study analyzes the impacts of tax policy on market risk for the listed firms in the wholesale and retail industry during this period as it becomes necessary. First, by using quantitative and analytical methods to estimate asset and equity beta of total 9 listed companies in Viet Nam wholesale and retail industry with a proper traditional model, we found out that the beta values, in general, for many companies are acceptable.Second, under 3 different scenarios of changing tax rates (20%, 25% and 28%), we recognized that there is not large disperse in equity beta values, estimated at 0,646, 0,653 and 0,657.These values are much lower than those of the listed VN construction firms.Third, by changing tax rates in 3 scenarios (25%, 20% and 28%), we recognized both equity and asset beta mean values have positive relationship with the increasing levels of tax rate.Finally, this paper provides some outcomes that could provide companies and government more evidence in establishing their policies in governance.


This article provides a knowledge-based assessment of planned cesarean delivery compared with planned vaginal delivery for breech presentation at term gestation. The most critical evidence on this issue is the intention-to-treat analysis from the Term Breech Trial, which showed that planned cesarean delivery reduced composite perinatal death and serious neonatal morbidity. Although there was no difference in composite death or neurodevelopmental delay at 2 years of age, this finding was based on only 44% of randomized patients and was not an analysis by intention to treat. On the other hand, the design of the nonexperimental Presentation et Mode d'Accouchement: presentation and mode of delivery (PREMODA) study (which showed no difference in composite perinatal mortality or morbidity after planned cesarean delivery compared with planned vaginal delivery), likely favored the planned vaginal delivery group; lack of exclusion criteria led to higher risk women (with contraindications to vaginal delivery) being included in the planned cesarean delivery group. Such selection bias notwithstanding, both the Term Breech Trial and the PREMODA study showed significantly higher rates of 5-minute Apgar score less than 4, 5-minute Apgar score less than 7, intubation, and birth trauma in the planned vaginal delivery group. Finally, studies from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Canada have shown that increases in planned cesarean delivery after the Term Breech Trial led to improved neonatal outcomes. Nevertheless, planned vaginal delivery continues to be associated with higher rates of adverse perinatal outcomes in these countries. The totality of the evidence therefore unequivocally shows the relatively greater safety of planned cesarean delivery for breech presentation at term gestation.


EEcient data motion has been key in high performance computing almost since the rst electronic computers were built. Providing suucient memory bandwidth to balance the capacity of processors led to memory hierarchies, banked and interleaved memories. With the rapid evolution of MOS technologies, microprocessor and memory designs, it is realistic to build systems with thousands of processors and a sustained performance of a trillion operations per second or more. Such systems require tens of thousands of memory banks, even when locality of reference is exploited. Using conventional technologies, interconnecting several thousand processors with tens of thousands of memory banks can feasibly only be made by some form of sparse interconnection network. EEcient use of locality of reference and network bandwidth is critical. We review these issues in this paper.


The problem of steady two-dimensional boundary layer flow of momentum, heat and mass transfer over a stretching  permeable  wedge-shaped  surface  in  a  nanofluid  in  presence  of magnetic field has been studied. In this respect, the governing partial differential equations have been converted into ordinary differential equations by using the local similarity transformation. The transformed governing equations have been then solved numerically using the bvp4c in MATLAB software. The effects of the pertinent parameters, namely wedge angle parameter (β), Brownian motion (Nb), thermophoresis (Nt), magnetic parameter (M), moving wedge parameter (λ), permeability parameter (K*), Prandtl number (Pr), and Lewis number (Le) on fluid velocity, thermal and concentration within the boundary layer have been analyzed. The numerical results obtained of the skin friction coefficients, local Nusselt number and local Sherwood number, as well as the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles have been presented graphically and also in tabular form. The results indicate that the momentum boundary layer thickness increases with  increasing  values  of  wedge  angle  and  moving  wedge  but  reduces  for  magnetic and permeability effects. The heat transfer rate increases for wedge angle, moving wedge, Brownian motion but decreases for thermoporesis and magnetic effects. The mass transfer rate decreases for Brownian motion and thermoporesis effects but increases for wedge angle and moving wedge parameters.  Finally,  the  numerical  results  have  been  compared  with  previously  published research and found to be in good agreement.


The Jatropha plant was promoted to farmers in Kenya as a plant which would produce fuel while helping them out of poverty. The promoters of the plant created expectations among farmers and key decision-makers alike that the plant could grow anywhere and needed low maintenance. As farmers took up the crop, it bacame clear that the plant would not perform as expected, and that the expectations created were baseless.This is an exploratory thesis based on a literature review. Part of the Jatropha Value Chain in Kenya is looked at in order to identify and present the different actors and their roles in this technical experiment. A multi-level Strategic Niche analysis is then done to analyze the spread of Jatropha activities in the country, and why a technological niche was not created. This is based mainly on an analysis of the landscape, the regimes, and the so-called three internal niche processes.Three main conclusions are drawn. Firstly, the plant was introduced at a time when there was no legal and institutional ramework to allow the technological niche to develop. Secondly, there was no prior research and development on the plant in Kenya's agro-climatic conditions. Lastly, even if Kenyan Jatropha smallholders were to produce sufficient yields, the Value Chain in Kenya does not contain a well-developed market for their produce.


"George," he said, "I don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a chap who's come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven't got a recording contract, and I wonder if you'd like to see him and listen to what he's got?" Certainly," I said, "I'm willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come and see me." "O.K., I will. His name's Brian Epstein..." All You Need Is Ears is the story of George Martin, the man who spotted the Beatles' talent, who recorded and produced them from the start, and who brought their musical ideas to life. In this witty and charming autobiography, he describes exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles-from the first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper (complete with sound effects, animal noises and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct request of Paul McCartney).


ABSTRACT The performance of firms within industrial clusters has been the subject of a multitude of studies. The organizational attributes inherited by spinoffs from parent firms is one explanation behind performance premiums. This paper examines the relationship between a spinoff's network and its geographic location in an industrial cluster. We hypothesize that there is a negative relationship between a spinoff's network efficiency and its distance from the cluster's centroid. Although recent literature infers that the transmission of knowledge in industrial clusters is accomplished via inherited network ties, this has not been directly measured. This paper aims to fill that research gap. We find that, after controlling for firm size, parent size and age, there is indeed a statistically significant and negative relationship between network efficiency and geographic distance to a cluster's core.


Current methods of summarizing and analyzing electric load shape are discussed briefly and compared. Simple rules of thumb for graphical display of load shapes are suggested. We propose a set of parameters that quantitatively describe the load shape in many buildings. Using the example of a linear regression model to predict load shape from time and temperature, we show how quantities such as the load?s sensitivity to outdoor temperature, and the effectiveness of demand response (DR), can be quantified. Examples are presented using real building data.


Lithofacies and their relationships, sedimentological and glaciotectonic structures, pebble fabrics, and laboratory data were used to delineate seven facies associations in a classic upper Wisconsinan glacigenic succession near Wedron, Illinois. Each association is interpreted to represent a different depositional environment. Proglacial facies include massive and laminated silt (lacustrine), bedded sand (fluvial), and massive silt (eolian). Subglacial facies consist of homogeneous diamicton (lodgement till) and variable diamicton and sorted sediment deformed by folding and shearing (deformed till). An ice-marginal facies of heterogenous diamicton and sorted sediment (supraglacial redeposited sediment) and a paraglacial facies of laminated silt (lacustrine) also are present. Stratigraphic relationships among the facies allow the delineation of three glacigenic sequences from which three glacial events are inferred. Each sequence consists of proglacial fluvial and/or lacustrine sediment, subglacial till and fluvial deposits, and supraglacial and ice-marginal sediment-flow, fluvial, and lacustrine deposits. The complete nature of these glacigenic sequences suggests that the area was located primarily in the depositional zone of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the late Wisconsinan. Erosional contacts and localized sorted sediment between three lithologically distinct till facies in the lowest sequence are interpreted to be subglacial in origin; the three facies were deposited during the same event, rather than separate events as previously inferred. Spatial and temporal variability among the subglacial processes of erosion, transportation, deformation, and lodgement is evident within that sequence.


BACKGROUND
Most children do not eat enough fruits and vegetables (FV). Schools are a critical setting for supporting children to consume FV. To fill a gap in available materials, a classroom curriculum was developed and evaluated to determine impacts on student FV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

METHODS
A pre-/post-intervention survey was administered to 4th-6th grade students in 3 intervention and one comparison schools. Post-intervention student focus groups, parent/guardian surveys, and teacher surveys provided complementary information.

RESULTS
Intervention students had a significantly greater increase in total FV intake, fruit intake, and 100% juice consumption, and preference for several types of FV relative to comparison group students. Students, teachers, and parents reported overall high levels of satisfaction with the curriculum.

CONCLUSIONS
The Harvest of the Month curriculum is effective at increasing fruit intake among a low-income, diverse student population in grades 4-6, is acceptable to students, teachers, and parents, and is feasible to implement. Findings suggest this impact is the result of changes in preferences, skills, and motivation but not self-efficacy or perceived social norms. Some tailoring of the curriculum may be needed to increase its appropriateness for 6th-grade students, increase the impact on vegetable intake, and limit intake of juice.


The by‐now standard formulation of interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control (for input‐affine systems) proposes the solution of a partial differential equation (PDE) that defines the assignable energy functions and computes the control using the input matrix pseudo‐inverse. However, in its original formulation—a more general design procedure was proposed, which was essentially abandoned because of the difficulties in solving the PDE. In this note, a new family of interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based controls is proposed by extending this method in the following directions: (i) It allows the desired interconnection and damping matrices to depend on the control signal, giving the possibility to shape the PDE to ensure its solvability; (ii) the PDE directly generates the control signal that have, in general, simpler expressions; and (iii) it is applicable for general nonlinear systems possibly not affine in the control. The technique is illustrated with three examples, including the well‐known boost power converter for which it yields a simple, high‐performance controller. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The purpose of this paper is to explore the legal consequences of the digitisation of cultural heritage institutions' archives and in particular to establish whether digitisation processes involve the originality required to trigger new copyright or copyright-related protection.As the European Commission and many MS reported, copyright and in particular "photographers rights" are cause of legal uncertainty during digitisation processes. A major role in this legally uncertain field is played by the standard of originality which is one of the main requirements for copyright protection. Only when a subject matter achieves the requested level of originality, it can be considered a work of authorship. Therefore, a first key issue analysed in this study is whether – and under which conditions – digitisation activities can be considered to be original enough as to constitute works (usually a photographic work) in their own right. A second element of uncertainty is connected with the type of work eventually created by acts of digitisation. If the process of digitisation of a (protected) work can be considered authorial, then the resulting work will be a derivative composed by two works: the original work digitally reproduced and the – probably – photographic work reproducing it. Finally, a third element of uncertainty is found in the protection afforded to "other photographs" by the last sentence of Art. 6 Term Directive and implemented in a handful of European countries.Accordingly, the paper is structured as follows: Part I is dedicated to the analysis of copyright law key concepts such as the originality standard, the definition of derivative works and the forms of protection available in cases of digital (or film-based) representations of objects (photographs). The second part of the study is devoted to a survey of a selection of EU Member States in an attempt to verify how the general concepts identified in Part I are applied by national legislatures and courts. The selected countries are Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK. The country analysis fulfils a double function: on the one hand it provides a specific overview of the national implementation of the solutions found at international and EU level. On the other hand, it constitutes the only possible approach in order to analyse the protection afforded by some MS to those "other photographs" (also called non original photographs or mere/simple photographs) provided for by the last sentence of Art. 6 Copyright Term Directive. Part III presents some conclusions and recommendations for cultural heritage institutions and for legislatures.


Background. There is a lack of current detailed national data on the prevalence, correlates, disability and co-morbidity of DSM-IV specific phobia (SP), the prevalence of specific objects and situations feared, and associations between impairment, treatment and co-morbidity and the number of specific situations and objects feared, among adults in the USA. Method. The data were derived from a large (43093) representative sample of the adult population in the USA. Results. Prevalences of 12-month and lifetime DSM-IV SP were 7·1% and 9·4% respectively. Being female, young, and low income increased risk, while being Asian or Hispanic decreased risk (p<0·05). The mean age at onset of SP was 9·7 years, the mean duration of episode was 20·1 years and only 8·0% reported treatment specifically for SP. Most specific phobias involved multiple fears, and an increasing number of fears, regardless of content, was associated with greater disability and impairment, treatment seeking and co-morbidity with other Axis I and II disorders. Conclusions. SP is a highly prevalent, disabling and co-morbid disorder in the US adult population. The early onset of SP and the disorders most strongly associated with it highlights the need for longitudinal studies beginning in early childhood. Results suggest the existence of a generalized subtype of SP much like social phobia, which, once revealed, may lead to a classification of SP that is more etiologically and therapeutically meaningful.


Vitamin A deficiency is a widespread public health problem in SubSaharan Africa. This paper analyzes the impact of an intervention fighting vitamin A deficiency through the promotion of the consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). We conducted a randomized evaluation of OFSP-related training to female farmers in Mozambique, who were also the primary caretakers of pre-school children. The treatment consisted of group and individual-level training where basic knowledge about nutrition was taught, and planting and cooking skills related specifically to OFSP were developed. We found encouraging evidence of adoption of OFSP for production in the short and mediumrun, but only marginally significant improvements in our measures of consumption of OFSP. The treatment led to gains in child nutrition status less than one year and a half after the treatment was administered, identified by improvements in weight-for-age and height-for-age Z-score. Lastly, we also found considerable increases in nutrition-related knowledge, as well as knowledge about cooking and planting OFSP.


Abstract This article explores how 'competing sovereignties' are shaping the political construction of food sovereignty—broadly defined as 'the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems'. This study was motivated by a lack of clarity on the 'sovereignty' of food sovereignty, as noted by numerous scholars—sovereignty for whom, and how? As there is a growing consensus that there are in fact 'multiple sovereignties' of food sovereignty that cut across jurisdictions and scales, there is the question of how these sovereignties are competing with each other in the attempted construction of food sovereignty. This question is becoming ever more relevant as food sovereignty is increasingly adopted into state policy at various levels, calling for state and societal actors to redefine their terms of engagement. This article explores questions of 'competing sovereignties' by developing an analytical framework, using the lenses of scale, geography, and institutions, and applying it to Venezuela, where for the past 15 years a food sovereignty experiment has been underway in the context of a dynamic shift in state–society relations.


The development of electronics is continuously expanding the possibilities of computational power and system complexity. The progress has in the past and in the foreseeable future primarily been achieved by the development of integrated circuit technologies. Though the trend is to integrate more and more functionality on a single chip (usually referred to as the system-on-chip concept). technology. manufacturing. system integration. and enterprise business model considerations prevent the system-on-chip concept to prevail in all electronic systems. Therefore. the continuous progresses in integrated circuit data handling capabilities impose faster inter chip communication.Though the improvements in materials and devices have to some extent fulfilled these increased communication speed requirements, the pace has been slower than the development of the integrated circuits. For many applications, this has made the communication channels between integrated circuits a limiting factor.To tackle these problems, electronic systems tend to utilize more point to point high-speed high quality links for chip-to-chip communication. This approach only partially solves the problem and it can for various reasons not be used for a ll systems. One type of system where high-speed narrow links have been used. but where the dominating bus structure s till is a wide multi-drop structure. is the memory interface of a standard computer. Improvements in the electrical properties of this type of bus have so far been enough to keep up with the increased demands for higher data rates, but it will not be able to do so in the future. This thesis presents work exploiting the possibilities of using equalizing techniques to drastically improve the data handling speed of multi-drop memory buses. The approach has been to accept the speed limiting mechanisms of the multi-drop bus and to exploit the fast deve lopment of integrated circuit's on-chip computational power to enable higher data rates.The thesis analyses the speed limiting factors on a chip-to-chip multi-drop channel. Different equalization techniques (including blind adaptive techniques) are presented and compared from a multi-drop bus point of view. A new equalizer implementation structure is presented and results from test chip measureme nts are included. Different computational abilities for the memory chip and the memory host chip make us suggest the use of asymmetric equalization relying on the reciprocal properties of the channel. Finally. issues related to evaluation of high -speed channels are addressed and the on-chip structures used for channel evaluation in this project are presented.


Strategic alliances continue to be important tools of competitive strategy. However, many alliances do not achieve their partners' collaborative objectives and are terminated prematurely. As a result, alliances are often described as inherently unstable organizational forms that are subject to high rates of failure. In addition to the problems associated with not achieving collaborative objectives, a related issue has received limited attention. Although alliances are prone to failure, there are numerous examples of strategic alliances that continue for years despite failing to accomplish partner objectives. This article examines such strategic alliances; however, it does not focus on why failure occurs, but rather the variables that contribute to firms' persistence with failing alliances. It also provides measures that can effectively counter persistence.


A flexural capacity test is presented of a long precast concrete sheetpile system, intended as a protection wall for a water storage canal bank in soft-ground conditions, for a nursing college in Penang, Malaysia. The precast concrete sheetpile with a length of 7 m and a maximum exposed corrugated-section height of 1.8 m, was designed at Ultimate Limit State (ULS) bending moment of 175 kNm. A total of 2 specimens of precast concrete sheetpiles were tested in the Heavy Structure Laboratory at School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The test method specified in Malaysian Standard MS 1314 was adopted. The results showed that the capacity of Specimens 1 and 2 were respectively 1.49 and 1.48 times higher than the designed capacity at ULS. The test set-up, to reflect the practical behavior of precast concrete sheetpile, and the test procedures are also described.


6LiF:ZnS(Ag) micro-particle neutron detectors are a promising technology to further improve neutron detection capabilities for a variety of applications. Specifically, we have been investigating 6LiF micro-particles coated with ZnS(Ag) to increase the neutron detection efficiency, light production, and light collection efficiency when compared to the existing powder-based technology (EJ-426 from Eljen Technology). Extensive radiation and light transport simulations with single micro-particles have been performed to find the optimal 6LiF diameter and ZnS(Ag) coating thickness. Full-scale multi-particle simulations also have been performed to determine the optimal pitch (particle-to-particle distance) and detector thickness. Randomizations of 6LiF radius, ZnS(Ag) coating thickness, position of particles, as well as shape of particles and partial coating have been performed to account for possible manufacturing imperfections. EJ-426 sheets have been modeled for reference purposes by defining spherical grains of 6LiF and ZnS(Ag) and compared against experiments. The simulation results show that the coated micro-particles should dramatically increase the neutron detection efficiency, light production, and light collection efficiency when compared to the existing EJ-426 technology.


Aims: Despite the clinical importance of the leukemic transformation of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), very little is known about markers that predict leukemic transformation. We studied WT1 expression in 37 MPN patients diagnosed as bcr-abl negative and JAK2 (V617F) positive with a molecular genetic test, and 23 healthy controls. Results: WT1 expression is higher in MPN patients compared with normal controls (p=0.002). According to the WT1 expression levels, patients were divided into two groups: high (≥0.205) and low (0–0.205) WT1 expression. Two out of six patients with a high WT1 expression level transformed to myelodysplastic syndrome at a 42- and 46-month follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the overexpression of WT1 may play an important role in the leukemic transformation of MPNs.


Purpose: To compare the postoperative results of Epi-LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy-mitomycin (PRK-mitomycin) in patients with moderate to high myopia Methods: For this double-blind clinical trial, samples were randomly selected among those subjects above 20 years of age who were visited for myopia correction and had a spherical equivalent between -4 to -8 D. We randomly performed PRK-mitomycin in one eye and Epi-LASIK in the other eye of the patients. Refraction examinations, visual acuity (VA) measurements, contrast sensitivity testing, and corneal examination were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. In the current study, analysis was performed on 3- and 6-month data. Results: Thirty-six eyes were studied. Six months after surgery, the mean spherical equivalent in PRK-mitomycin and Epi-LASIK groups was 0 and -0.1 D, respectively (p=0.994). Six months after surgery, 13 eyes had a spherical equivalent of 0±0.5 D in each group while one diopter of ametropia was seen in 16 and 15 eyes in the PRK-mitomycin and Epi-LASIK groups, respectively. Six months after surgery, one eye in the PRK-mitomycin group and two eyes in the Epi-LASIK group lost 1 line of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Six months after surgery, 12 eyes in the PRK-mitomycin group and nine eyes in the Epi-LASIK group had an uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 10 /10. The safety index in the PRK-mitomycin and Epi-LASIK group was calculated to be 1.25 and 1.19, respectively (p=0.480). No haze was seen in the PRK-mitomycin group 6 months after surgery while 2 cases in the Epi-LASIK group had haze grade 0.5. There was no significant difference in contrast sensitivity between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The two methods were similar in postoperative VA and refractive results. Since the chance of haze formation in Epi-LASIK surgery without the application of mitomycin-C (MMC) is similar to PRK with mitomycin, Epi-LASIK can be considered as an alternative to PRK with MMC for the treatment of moderate to high myopia.


The study on Female Adolescent Reproductive Change was undertaken as part of the ongoing effort at understanding some of the problems that confront adolescents in Ghana. The study uses a sample of 1,828 female adolescents aged 12-24 years (1,503 from Cape Coast and 325 from Mankrong) in the Central Region of Ghana as a case study. This has the primary purpose of comparing the situation in an urban vis-a-vis a rural area. The general objective of the study is to examine the possible changes in the reproduction among female adolescents within the context of overall fertility decline in Ghana as a way of assessing the progress made in addressing adolescent reproductive health problems following the adoption of a national adolescent reproductive health policy in Ghana. The study examines age at first sex, first marriage, first pregnancy and first birth as a way of finding out any changes that might have occurred in the recent past. It also looks at issues pertaining to pregnancy incidence and wastage as may be related to school attendance. Throughout, comparisons are made with reports from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) and other small-scale studies that have been done in certain areas in Ghana. Overall, the study finds that major positive changes have occurred among female adolescents first with respect to the proportion of female adolescents ever having sexual activity. More and more female adolescents continue to abstain from sex. However, among the small proportion that ever indulges in sex, sexual initiation appears to be earlier when age is controlled for.


We present concurrency control techniques used in Collaborative IMage Editing Systems (CIMES). CIMES adopts a replicated architecture: shared pattern images are replicated at the each participant site; so image operations are performed at local sites immediately and then propagated to remote sites. An image operation transformation algorithm is proposed to resolve the image editing conflicting caused by multi-user collaborative editing and to maintain the consistency of shared image. Then, an image undo/redo algorithm is presented to support group undo in the same editing sessions. Finally, a distributed locking mechanism is used as a concurrency control tool in some collaborative phase to prohibition of shared updating to a region. All of these are realized in CIMES.


To provide some insights into the nature and role of warfare in the rise, development, and decline of Classic Maya civilization, this article discusses spear, dart, and arrow points used by the Classic Maya elites at the rapidly abandoned fortified city of Aguateca, Guatemala, and their temporal and spatial distribution patterns in and around Copan, Honduras. Both the royal family and elite scribes/artists at Aguateca used spear and dart points for intergroup human conflict as well as for artistic and craft production under enemy threat. An important implication is that the ruler and elite scribes/artists were also warriors. The unusually high concentrations of identifiable weaponry at the Early Classic hilltop center of Cerro de las Mesas as well as the Acropolis and other Late Classic locations in the Copan Valley, along with other lines of evidence, indicate that warfare was critical in the development and downfall of Classic Maya civilization at Copan.


Cyclosporine A is a noncytotoxic, natural, 11 amino acid cyclic peptide used clinically as an immunosuppressant to prevent organ rejection after transplantation. Cyclosporine A is an in vitro calmodulin antagonist. At the low concentrations required to inhibit calmodulin- dependent phosphodiesterase in vitro, cyclosporine A causes a dramatic alteration in the nuclear morphology of 23% of human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in vitro without loss of viability. The shape of the nucleus changes from ovoid to a distinctive, radially splayed lobulated structure. The changes occur in a dose-dependent manner in 60 min at 37 degrees C. Specific monoclonal antibodies to human leukocytes identify the cells susceptible to nuclear lobulation by cyclosporine A as OKT4 antigen-positive T cell lymphocytes and monocytes. The lobulated nuclei are 2N as determined by flow cytometric measurement of ethidium bromide fluorescence of DNA. The cyclosporine A-induced lobulation of T cell nuclei requires both physiologic temperature and metabolic energy. Although structurally different than cyclosporine A, the calmodulin antagonists R24571 and W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalene-sulfonamide] also produce T cell nuclear lobulations that are indistinguishable from the nuclear lobulations caused by cyclosporine A. These data indicate that nonmitotic structural elements that govern normal nuclear morphology in a subset of mononuclear leukocytes appear to require a calmodulin-mediated process. Cyclosporine A may be a useful noncytotoxic inhibitor of calmodulin- dependent systems that influence nuclear structure and function.


This study aims to show the impact resulting from signing of Euro-Mediterranean Agreements and the establishment of free Euro-Mediterranean trade zone on inter-Arab trade, and the establishment of a major Arab free trade zone. International economic relations at the present time are characterized by a large interrelationship and interdependency, encouraging most of the countries in the world; whether developed or developing, to form economic blocs and groupings; whether in a bilateral or multilateral way. At the level of Arab countries, in the context of their efforts to keep pace with developments occurring in the world, they proceeded to go two different ways, in order to achieve their economic development and to accompany the course of the rapid change in the global economy. The first trend focused on its complementary efforts with each other; whereas the establishment of an Arab free trade zone is considered as a logical entrance to gain access to higher degrees of integration among Arab countries in order to maintain their interests in front of international economic blocs. The second trend consisted in the signature of cooperation and partnerships agreements with various economic coalitions; the most important was the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Agreement, between the Arab countries and the European Union. It is worthy to note that this latter initiated the launch and design of all agreements with Arab countries, following the objectives that suited it best, regardless of integrative interests of the Arab countries; this, because Arab countries perform their negotiations individually with the European Union, therefore the EU gets more bargaining power to ensure its superiority as a single entity facing dispersed countries.
 In this study, we exposed the project of Euro-Mediterranean partnership and to show the difference between it and the Middle Eastern project. We discussed as well the project of Arab economic integration and the march of the joint Arab action the theoretical bases of the Arab foreign and intra-trade and the efforts made in this important sector. Finally, this study focused on the establishment of a free Euro-Mediterranean trade zone and its impact on inter-Arab trade zone.
 The establishment of a free trade Euro Mediterranean zone, which includes four Arab Mediterranean countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia) on the one hand, and the European Union on the other hand, or what is known as the Agadir Agreement, aimed to develop trade intra exchanges between the four Arab countries in the framework of their partnership with the European Union, while keeping this agreement open for the accession of all Arab Mediterranean countries that signed a partnership agreement with the European Union, where some of these countries have expressed their wish to join them as one of the success models at the regional level.
 The results of the study showed that the establishment of free Euro-Mediterranean trade zone resulting from the signing of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership Agreement between the Mediterranean countries, including the Arab and the European Union, conducts to the actual blocking for the application of the Arab Free Trade Zone area, and thus eliminating the Arab dream of economic integration as a result of directing the Arab efforts outside the global Arab integration circuit; the fact of the entrance to facilitate trade exchange between Arab countries is of a great importance in order to reach the upper levels of integration. However, it can contribute effectively to the increase of trade exchanges between Arab countries that accessed under it, and this is what was proved through the increase of intra-regional trade of Arab countries in the Euro Mediterranean free exchange zone (Agadir Agreement) as well as the emergence of complementary opportunities in important export sectors in these countries.
Key words: Arab free trade zone, the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, foreign trade exchanges, the European-Arab economic relations, the Mediterranean free trade zone, the Agadir Agreement.


Abstract Measurements of a sample from ~580 m depth in the WAIS Divide (WDC06A) ice core reveal that bubbles are preferentially elongated in the basal plane of their parent grain, as expected if bubble shape preserves the record of dominant basal glide. This suggests that a method using bubbles as strain gauges could provide insights to grain-scale ice deformation. We introduce a technique using fabric and image analyses of paired thin and thick sections. Comparison of the crystallographic orientations of 148 grains and the shape orientations of 2377 intragrain bubbles reveals a strongly preferred elongation of bubbles in the grain basal planes (R2 = 0.96). Elongation magnitudes are consistent with a balance between ice flow deformation and diffusive restoration, with larger bubbles more elongated. Assuming bubbles record ice strain, grains with greater resolved stress on their basal planes from the far-field ice flow stresses show greater deformation, but with large variability suggesting that heterogeneity of the local stress field causes deformation even in unfavorably oriented grains. A correlation is also observed among bubble elongation, grain size, and bubble size, explaining a small but significant fraction of the variance ( P< 0.05), with implications for controls on ice deformation, as discussed here.


We extend the analytic bond-order potentials for transition metals [Phys. Rev. B 74, 174117 (2006)] to include ferro, antiferro, and noncollinear magnetism and charge transfer. This is achieved by first deriving a suitable tight-binding model through the expansion of the spin-density energy functional to second order with respect to magnetic and charge fluctuations. The tight-binding model is then approximated locally by the bond-order potential expansion, where the variational property of the bond-order potential expansion allows us to derive analytic expressions for the forces and torques on the atoms. From the bond-order potentials we then extract a hierarchy of multispin interactions beyond the conventional Heisenberg model. The explicit valence dependence of the bond-order potentials enables us to characterize the magnetic properties of the 3$d$ transition metals and to reproduce the trend from antiferromagnetic spin ordering close to the center of the $d$ band through noncollinear spin configurations to ferromagnetic ordering toward the edges of the $d$ band. The analytic representation of the energy within the bond-order potentials is then further expanded in the form of a Ginzburg-Landau expansion, deriving the prefactors explicitly from tight-binding and bond-order potentials. Thus, in this paper we present a coherent simplification from fundamental to empirical models of magnetism through coarse graining the electronic structure from spin-density functional theory to tight binding to bond-order potentials to the Ginzburg-Landau expansion.


ABSTRACT Sustained global ocean observations are needed to recognise, understand, and manage changes in marine biodiversity, resources and habitats, and to implement wise conservation and sustainable development strategies. To meet this need, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a network of observing systems distributed around the world and coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has proposed Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that are relevant to both the scientific and the broader community, including resource managers. Building a network that is truly global requires expanding participation beyond scientists from well-resourced countries to a far broader representation of the global community. New approaches are required to provide appropriate training, and resources and technology should follow to enable the application of this training to engage meaningfully in global observing networks and in the use of the data. Investments in technical capacity fulfil international reporting obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14A. Important opportunities are emerging now for countries to develop research partnerships with the IOC and GOOS to address these obligations. Implementing these partnerships requires new funding models and initiatives that support a sustained research capacity and marine technology transfer.


Random pruning is arguably the most naive way to attain sparsity in neural networks, but has been deemed uncompetitive by either post-training pruning or sparse training. In this paper, we focus on sparse training and highlight a perhaps counter-intuitive finding, that random pruning at initialization can be quite powerful for the sparse training of modern neural networks. Without any delicate pruning criteria or carefully pursued sparsity structures, we empirically demonstrate that sparsely training a randomly pruned network from scratch can match the performance of its dense equivalent. There are two key factors that contribute to this revival: (i) the network sizes matter: as the original dense networks grow wider and deeper, the performance of training a randomly pruned sparse network will quickly grow to matching that of its dense equivalent, even at high sparsity ratios; (ii) appropriate layer-wise sparsity ratios can be pre-chosen for sparse training, which shows to be another important performance booster. Simple as it looks, a randomly pruned subnetwork of Wide ResNet-50 can be sparsely trained to outperforming a dense Wide ResNet-50, on ImageNet. We also observed such randomly pruned networks outperform dense counterparts in other favorable aspects, such as out-of-distribution detection, uncertainty estimation, and adversarial robustness. Overall, our results strongly suggest there is larger-than-expected room for sparse training at scale, and the benefits of sparsity might be more universal beyond carefully designed pruning. Our source code can be found at https://github.com/VITA-Group/Random_Pruning.


The principle threats for sustainable production of wild collected medicinal plants are related to ecological factors, such as endemism, and botanical factors critical for survival, such as the collection of roots or barks or slow growing species. The sustainable way to produce raw material on a large scale would be species specific management of the wild resources that guarantees conservation of biodiversity, or bringing the species under cultivation. A checklist proposed by WHO, UICN and WWF (1993) indicates that domestication of any medicinal plant concerns plant selection and breeding, studies about propagation, cultivation techniques, plant protection, time of harvest, among others. The different domestication steps are illustrated for the Chilean maqui ( Aristotelia chilensis ), a wild tree whose fruits are demanded in increasing volumes by the international market because of its high antioxidant capacity. High yielding plants with good fruit quality have been selected from wild populations and accessions have been cultivated under different environmental conditions to select the most suitable genotypes for the establishment of commercial orchards.


Using data over more than a century, we show that shifts in the location of manufacturing industries are a domestic reflection of what the international trade literature refers to as the product cycle in a cross-country context, with industries spawning in high-wage areas with larger pools of educated workers and moving to lower-wage areas with less education as they age or become "standardized." We exploit the China shock industries as a set of industries that were in the late-stage product cycle by 1990 and show how the activity in those industries shifted from high-innovation areas to low-education areas over the 20th century. The analysis also suggests that the resilience of local labor markets to manufacturing shocks depends on local industries' phase in the product cycle, on local education levels, and on local manufacturing wages. The risk of unemployment and detachment from the labor force rises most when a shock hits in areas where an industry already has begun phasing out, wages are high, or education levels are low. The results are consistent with the belief that there are long-term, secular trends in U.S. industrial structure driving the movement of industries, which shocks may mitigate or accelerate. Katherine Eriksson Department of Economics University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 and NBER firstname.lastname@example.com Katheryn Russ Department of Economics University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 and NBER email@example.com Jay C. Shambaugh George Washington University Elliot School for International Affairs 1957 E Street, N.W. Suite 502D Washington, D.C. 20052 and NBER firstname.lastname@example.com Minfei Xu One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 United States firstname.lastname@example.com


The recodification of commercial and civil law in the Czech Republic has resulted in a new concept for the legislation relating to securities. Significant changes have also been made to the legislation covering shares. The new legislation concerns not only the actual form of shares, but also their circulation. The aim of this article is to highlight the most important changes in the legislation relating to bearer shares, especially bearer shares in paper form, and to assess these changes from the viewpoint of their impact on the transparency of joint stock companies and uncontrolled circulation of shares. This assessment will be based on an appraisal of the importance of bearer shares for capital business in the Czech Republic and the effects the new legislation is expected to bring about. The article will also consider possible alternatives in the behavior of shareholders (investors) who prefer to remain anonymous.


The microbial community structure from dark earth in a native archaeological site of the Lower Amazon was analyzed by PCR-DGGE, using 16S rRNA gene for prokaryote population and 18S rDNA and ITS regions (using clamp GC) for the eukaryote population. The bands were excised from gel and re-amplified for sequencing. The diversity found according to the region of amplification showed same profiles for the two primers pairs. The bacteria genus were: Bacillus, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, Escherichia, Leuconostoc and actinobacterias as Streptomyces and Microbacterium. Among the fungal community was Zygosaccharomyces, Lachancea, Saccharomyces, Cladosporium, Candida, Penicillium and Uncultured ascomycota and zygomycete were found. Molecular approaches revealed microbial groups that have never been reported in Lower Amazon soil as the Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei bacteria's and Lachancea meyersii yeast. The soil pH was ~6.5; the soil had high levels of minerals with exception of Na (not detected) and Al (~0.2 mg/dm3). The organic matter was 3.5 dag/kg. This study also shows that the Amazon soil is rich in minerals. This can be an important factor in the species richness in the Amazon region. The present data show that the Lower Amazon represents a vast resource for the biotechnology area.

 Key words: PCR-DGGE, fungi and yeast, soil microdiversity, soil chemical.


The remainder of the book is devoted to digital computer arithmetic, simple logic design of static and sequential circuits using Karnaugh maps, and state diagrams. A range of design projects for the tutors is given which embodies most of the theory given in earlier chapters. Presentation is good and the book is to be recommended to schools and other institutions involved in the teaching of elementary logic principles. A.COXONandE. T.POWNER


We address the problem of performing decision tasks and, in particular, classification and recognition in the space of dynamical models in order to compare time series of data. Motivated by the application of recognition of human motion in image sequences, we consider a class of models that include linear dynamics, both stable and marginally stable (periodic), both minimum and nonminimum phases, driven by non-Gaussian processes. This requires extending existing learning and system identification algorithms to handle periodic modes and nonminimum-phase behavior while taking into account higher order statistics of the data. Once a model is identified, we define a kernel-based cord distance between models, which includes their dynamics, their initial conditions, and input distribution. This is made possible by a novel kernel defined between two arbitrary (non-Gaussian) distributions, which is computed by efficiently solving an optimal transport problem. We validate our choice of models, inference algorithm, and distance on the tasks of human motion synthesis (sample paths of the learned models) and recognition (nearest-neighbor classification in the computed distance). However, our work can be applied more broadly where one needs to compare historical data while taking into account periodic trends, nonminimum-phase behavior, and non-Gaussian input distributions.


Abstract. Implementing a nonlinear whole atmosphere gravity wave (GW) parameterization into the Middle and Upper Atmosphere Model extending to the lower thermosphere (160 km), we study the response of the atmosphere in terms of the circulation patterns, temperature distribution, and migrating terdiurnal solar tide activity to the upward propagating small-scale internal GWs originating in the lower atmosphere. We perform three test simulations for the Northern Hemisphere winter conditions in order to assess the effects of variations in the initial GW spectrum on the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. We find that the overall strength of the source level momentum flux has a comparatively small impact on zonal mean dynamics. The tails of the GW source level spectrum, however, are crucial for the lower thermosphere dynamics. With respect to the terdiurnal tide, we find a strong dependence of tidal amplitude on the induced GW drag, generally being larger when GW drag is increased.


Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of omitting teat preparation prior to milking on the bacterial levels in milk directly after milking and after a period of milk storage. Eighty Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were assigned to two pre-milking teat preparation treatments: (i) washing of teats and drawing of foremilk, followed by drying with paper towels and (ii) no teat preparation. Individual cow measurements included individual quarter somatic cell count (SCC) and teat swabs for the presence of Bacillus cereus sensu lato. On seven monthly occasions, all milk produced over a 24 h period from each treatment group was segregated into a separate tank and sampled. Sub-samples of this milk were stored at 4 °C for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, and the milk was analysed for total bacterial count (TBC), thermoduric bacterial count and the presence of B. cereus s. I. Individual quarter SCCs were numerically higher for unprepared teats (159,000 cells/mL) compared with those for prepared teats (133,000 cells/mL; P < 0.09). A similar trend was observed for bulk tank SCC, with the unprepared teat treatment tending to have a higher SCC (155,857 cells/mL) compared to the prepared teat treatment (102,286 cells/mL; P< 0.09). The TBC was not significantly higher from unprepared teats (3,152 cfu/ mL) compared with milk from prepared teats (1,678 cfu/mL) (P< 0.10). Milk TBC was significantly higher after storage for 72 h compared with that after 0, 24 and 48 h (P< 0.01). The results of this study indicate that under good hygienic conditions in an outdoor grazing situation, the omission of pre-milking teat preparation has a minimal effect on TBC and SCC.


Bone-to-soft tissue interfaces are responsible for transferring loads between tissues with significantly dissimilar material properties. The examples of connective soft tissues are ligaments, tendons, and cartilages. Such natural tissue interfaces have unique microstructural properties and characteristics which avoid the abrupt transitions between two tissues and prevent formation of stress concentration at their connections. Here, we review some of the important characteristics of these natural interfaces. The native bone-to-soft tissue interfaces consist of several hierarchical levels which are formed in a highly specialized anisotropic fashion and are composed of different types of heterogeneously distributed cells. The characteristics of a natural interface can rely on two main design principles, namely by changing the local microarchitectural features (e.g., complex cell arrangements, and introducing interlocking mechanisms at the interfaces through various geometrical designs) and changing the local chemical compositions (e.g., a smooth and gradual transition in the level of mineralization). Implementing such design principles appears to be a promising approach that can be used in the design, reconstruction, and regeneration of engineered biomimetic tissue interfaces. Furthermore, prominent fabrication techniques such as additive manufacturing (AM) including 3D printing and electrospinning can be used to ease these implementation processes. Biomimetic interfaces have several biological applications, for example, to create synthetic scaffolds for osteochondral tissue repair.


On the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, the Texas Supreme Court promulgated Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a, which permitted trial courts to dismiss actions that have no basis in either law or fact. Since then, Rule 91a has created considerable confusion among both state and federal courts applying Texas pleading procedure. Looking for guidance, the courts have analogized Rule 91a to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), which similarly allows trial courts to dismiss baseless claims at the pre-trial stage. Neither the legislature nor the drafting committee appear to have intentionally invited this analogy. This Comment proposes new language to resolve Rule 91a's interpretive confusion. Part II begins by discussing the history of Texas pleading—the "fair notice" tapestry into which Rule 91a was woven. It also explores Rule 91a's legislative and committee history, focusing on the battle over what language to include and exclude, as well as whether to adopt the federal plausibility standard. Part II concludes that neither the legislature nor the drafting committee intended to adopt the federal plausibility standard in Texas. Part III discusses the various analogy-laden appellate and federal district court decisions that attempt to make sense of the rule, but ultimately leaving Texas litigants in a state of uncertainty about the specificity and plausibility a pleading must contain to survive dismissal. Part IV concludes by proposing new language to resolve this apparent confusion. The proposed language clearly distinguishes Rule 91a and the federal plausibility standard. It also clearly delineates each of Rule 91a's standards—"no basis in law" and "no basis in fact"—to highlight their distinction. This Comment argues that the new language better encapsulates the drafting committee's true intent and provides courts with a clearer standard that does not invite the improper FRCP 12(b)(6) analogy.


AbstractThe nosology of bullous lesions or equivalents (vesicles, erosions, and crusts) in patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) is rarely addressed.The primary aim of this study was to draw up a precise phenotypic inventory of such skin lesions; the secondary objective was to assess a potential relationship between the different types of loss of epidermis and extracutaneous lupus manifestations.We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including 22 patients with definite LE and bullous lesions or equivalents. All biopsies were reviewed. Patients were recruited in the dermatology departments of 6 centers. Patients were included if they met the diagnosis of systemic LE according to American College of Rheumatology and/or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria or diagnosis of cutaneous LE based on classic clinical criteria and/or histological ascertainment of LE. Patients were recruited through clinician's memory and photographic collections.Three clinico-pathological patterns could be individualized. First, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)-like, sheet-like, skin detachment; sun-exposure, mild mucosal involvement, and dermal mucin deposition allow differential diagnosis with classical Lyell syndrome. Second, vesiculo-bullae and/or crusting occurring on typical lesions of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus or chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Third, tense vesicles and/or blisters with an underlying neutrophilic dermatosis and a usual response to dapsone.A careful analysis of 22 LE patients with epidermal detachment reveals 2 main pathomechanisms: a classic LE interface dermatitis, which can be hyperacute and lead to TEN-like skin detachment; and a neutrophilic dermatosis, with tense vesicles and/or blisters, including classic bullous LE.


We derive two families of supergravity solutions describing D-branes in the maximally supersymmetric Hpp-wave background. The first family of solutions corresponds to quarter-BPS D-branes. These solutions are delocalized along certain directions transverse to the pp-wave. The second family corresponds to the non-supersymmetric D-branes. These solutions are fully localized. A peculiar feature of the non-supersymmetric solutions is that gravity becomes repulsive close to the core of the D-brane. Both families preserve the amount of supersymmetry predicted by the D-brane probe/CFT analysis. All solutions are written in Brinkman coordinates. To construct these kinds of solutions it is crucial to identify the coordinates in which the ansatz looks the simplest. We argue that the natural coordinates to get the supergravity description of the half-BPS branes are the Rosen coordinates.


Abstract This paper presents a review of the literature on the theory and practice of retouching in easel paintings conservation. Focusing on texts from the early twentieth century to the present, the practical and theoretical development of the three principal approaches to loss compensation are traced: imitative reintegration, visible retouching, and no reintegration. Consideration of the philosophical underpinnings and cultural influences that have shaped each approach provides some context for the methodologies discussed. Special attention is given to the connection between retouching issues and the development of conservation principles, as well as the significant role that art historians have played in guiding restoration theory and practice.


Background and objective: This prospective study was to evaluate the probable risk factors for perforation of duodenal ulcer, highlighting any prevalent one in the occurrence of perforation in Sulaemania city. The study was designed to be performed on patients with perforated duodenal ulcer attending the emergency department in Sulaemania teaching hospital over the period of this study. Methods: This study was conducted between 1st of March 2009 till the 1st of October 2009 involving 50 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer attended the emergency department in Sulaemania teaching hospital. A number of probable risk factors for the patients were studied. Results: Out of 50 patients, 41(82%) were males, 9(18%) were females and the male to female ratio was (4.5:1), about 32% of the patients were more than 60 years old. Patients described themselves as having a nervous personality were 31(62%) and the number of patients lived in city center were 28(56%). Smoker patients were 36(72%) and 33 patients (66%) had a history of NSAIDs ingestion. Conclusion: Smoking, NSAIDs ingestion, sex, age and stress played a major role as risk factors in the occurrence in duodenal ulcer perforation. There is a seasonal variation in incidence of perforation including high incidence during spring and autumn.


Collagen peptide was prepared from Navodon septentionalis bone by applying bromelin as a catalyst. Navodon septentionalis bone was mixed with 1%bromelin (w:w)and water at a ratio of 1:4 (w/w).The mixture was incubated at 60°Cfor 4 hours. The dehydration degree was up to 26.20% on optimum condition and the concentration of polypeptide was almost 50mg/ml. The antioxidant activity was investigated and compared with vitamin C, TBHQ, BHA and BHT. Collagen polypeptide at 50mg/ml and 10mg/ml exhibited 80% and 92.5% of scavenging activities on hydroxy radical and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, respectively.


Memory is one of the basic computer components that is intensively accessed. Therefore, it is more likely to be affected by manufacturing faults rather than other components in the System on Chip (SoC). Memory Built-in Self Test (MBIST) is the most commonly used to test embedded memories. Although many algorithms were developed for MBIST, only few of these techniques focus on reducing the test power which plays an important role in evaluating the effectiveness of the test. This paper deals with reducing the switching activity in the address bus when testing SRAM of personal devices. The MBIST architecture was programmed using VHDL and then five address generators were simulated using Xilinx ISE tools and compared with each others in terms of their switching activity which is proportional to the test power.


Systemic foliar chlorosis of melon, watermelon, and cucumber plants grown in plastichouses was first observed in Shanghai, China in 2008. By the end of October 2009, this symptom had become prevalent across 13,000 ha of plastichouses in Shanghai, Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, and Shouguang in Shandong Province. By mid-October, disease incidence ranged from 50 to 100% and losses were estimated between 10 and 20% across 100 plastichouses. Initial disease symptoms were chlorosis beginning at the base and middle portion of the older leaves followed by development of chlorotic spots on the lamina. Within 4 to 5 days, the entire leaf lamina was bright yellow and the veins remained green. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, was frequently observed colonizing plants in all plastichouses included in this study. Leaf samples were collected from six symptomatic cucumber, melon, and watermelon plants from individual plastichouses in Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shouguang. A pair of degenerate primers, F-5'-GGN TTA GAN TTC GGN ACN AC-3' and R-5'-TCA AAN GTN CCN CCN CCN AA-3', that were specific for the genera Crinivirus and Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae (2) were used to amplify a 636-bp fragment of the viral heat shock protein 70 gene (Hsp70). A PCR product of the expected size was amplified from RNA extracted with TaKaRa RNAiso Reagent (TaKaRa, Dalian, China) from symptomatic leaf samples: 3 of 3 melon, 2 of 2 watermelon, and 1 of 1 cucumber, and from 5 of 5 Bemisia tabaci adults collected from plants in five plastichouses in Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shouguang. No PCR product was obtained from RNA extracted from cucumber leaves grown in a virus-free facility at the Fruit Research Institute, Zhengzhou. PCR products were sequenced from representative plants samples and the sequences were submitted to GenBank (Nos. GU721105 to GU721107, GU72118 to GU721110, and GU721111. The six Hsp70 sequences shared 99.8 to 100% identity with Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) (GenBank No. AB523789) from Japan. Using the complete CCYV sequence (1), PCR primers were designed to amplify the complete CCYV coat protein (Cp): Cp F-5'-CGCAATCAATAAGGCGGCGACC-3' and Cp R-5'-ACTACAACCTCCCGGTGCCAACT-3' (804 bp), minor Cp (Cpm): Cpm-F-5'-TGATGAANTGCCANGCTNTGAAA-3' and Cpm-R5'-ACAANTGATTCACATTNACAAT-3' (1,632 bp); and Hsp70: Hsp F-5'-TGCAACCGATGTCAGGTTCAGCG-3' with Hsp R-5'-TGGATAATTGGTCACGACCTCCAGT-3' (1,947 bp). One PCR amplicon was obtained for each target gene using RNA extracted from a cucumber collected in Ningbo. Three of the PCR amplicons were cloned and the DNA sequence was determined. A representative sequence for each gene was deposited in GenBank as: cp (HM581658), cpm (HM581657), and hsp70 (HM581659). The cp, cpm, and hsp70 sequences shared 99.7, 99.9, and 99.9% nt identity with the respective genes of CCYV (AB523789), whereas they shared only 62.5, 49.9, and 69.6% identity with the respective gene sequences for Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV; NC004810), suggesting the two viruses are divergent crinivirus species. Although this virus was first reported to infect cucurbits in Japan in 2009 (1), to our knowledge, this is the first report of CCYV in China. Eradication and management efforts are therefore paramount to reducing the spread of the disease. References: (1) M. Okuda et al. Phytopathology 100:560, 2010. (2) T. Tian et al. Phytopathology 86:1167, 1996.


English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) textbooks and internet resources exhibit various formats and implementations of exercises on phrasal verbs. The experimental study reported here examines whether some of these might be more effective than others. EFL learners at a university in Japan were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups. Two groups were presented first with phrasal verbs and their meaning before they were prompted to retrieve the particles from memory. The difference between these 2 retrieval groups was that 1 group studied and then retrieved items 1 at a time, while the other group studied and retrieved them in sets. The 2 other groups received the exercises as trial-and-error events, where participants were prompted to guess the particles and were subsequently provided with the correct response. One group was given immediate feedback on each item, while the other group tackled sets of 14 items before receiving feedback. The effectiveness of these exercise implementations was compared through an immediate and a 1-week delayed posttest. The best test scores were obtained when the exercises had served the purpose of retrieval, although this advantage shrank in the delayed posttest (where scores were poor regardless of treatment condition). On average 70% of the posttest errors produced by the learners who had tackled the exercises by trial-and-error were duplicates of incorrect responses they had supplied at the exercise stage, which indicates that corrective feedback was often ineffective.


Advanced sensor technologies can help keep aging transmission and distribution systems in good condition. Electricity is the lifeblood of our economy, as it provides comfort and makes possible most of our recreational activities. In addition to the unwavering expectation of making electricity available at any time, we recognize the technical and economic challenges for meeting this expectation as the electric grid is operated closer to its physical limits and major power-delivery components reach the end of their expected lifetimes.


An unusual trimerization of aldehydes in the presence of cyanide via metal-free aerobic oxidative esterification under ambient conditions is described. Various aromatic aldehydes provided the corresponding oxidative esterification products in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies suggested that this reaction would proceed via a two-step sequence: cyanide-catalyzed benzoin condensation of aldehydes and subsequent aerobic oxidative esterification of aldehydes with the resultant benzoin products. The usefulness of this protocol was further demonstrated by converting the resulting trimeric products into other biologically important compounds.


High disease prevalence rates continue to significantly impact illness and mortality rates of American children. Therefore, an investigation of specific identifiable risk factors which may be associated with negative health outcomes among children's groups may therefore be warranted. A large randomly drawn sample (N = 422,599) of boys (n = 198.960) and girls (n = 223,639) ages 4 to 12, was examined in this research study to test for the association between disease prevalence and the factors of Healthcare Quality, Household Income, Race, and Gender. The Pearson Chi Square test for Association was applied to measure for significant variable associations in this research study. This research study examined inpatient admissions for pediatric patients using the Kids ́ Inpatient Database (KID), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, 2016). The results of this study found that there were statistically significant associations between negative disease outcomes and identifiable risk factors which were investigated (p< .05). The findings from this research study provide support for establishing the initiatives which may assist in reducing disease and illness rates among children's groups.


Many kinds of active particles, such as bacteria or active colloids, move in a thermostatted fluid by means of self-propulsion. Energy injected by such a non-equilibrium force is eventually dissipated as heat in the thermostat. Since thermal fluctuations are much faster and weaker than self-propulsion forces, they are often neglected, blurring the identification of dissipated heat in theoretical models. For the same reason, some freedom—or arbitrariness—appears when defining entropy production. Recently three different recipes to define heat and entropy production have been proposed for the same model where the role of self-propulsion is played by a Gaussian coloured noise. Here we compare and discuss the relation between such proposals and their physical meaning. One of these proposals takes into account the heat exchanged with a non-equilibrium active bath: such an "active heat" satisfies the original Clausius relation and can be experimentally verified.