The electrophoretic and NH2-terminal analyses were performed for D and E fragments obtained by tryptic digestion of bovine fibrinogen and fibrin under various conditions. The preparations of fragment D were heterogeneous, they were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into a number of electrophoretic components with molecular weight ranging from 65 000 to 85 000. NH2-terminal analysis revealed from 6 to 8 NH2-terminal amino acids: Ser, Gly, Thr, Asp, Gly, Lys, Gln, Asn. Their composition and quantitative ratios were found to vary depending on the conditions of the fragment D production. The electrophoregrams showed that with Ca++ in the medium the enzymatic splitting of fibrinogen was limited. Fragment D obtained from fibrinogen without Ca++ was electrophoretically rather similar to that obtained from fibrinogen at Ca++ optimal concentration. Taking into consideration a very high specific anti-coagulational activity of these two fragment D preparations, one may conclude that both the polymerized state of protein molecules and the presence of Ca++ stabilize the specific molecular structure, that favorus the preservation of specific inhibitory activity in fragment D. According to the NH2-terminal analysis data, fragment E derived from fibrinogen hydrolyzed in the presence of Ca++ optimal concentration is also heterogeneous. The following amino acids were found: Tyr, Lys, His (main ones) and Gly, Ser, Thr, Val (minor ones). As to molecular weight determined by electrophoresis, fragment E appears to be homogeneous.


Abstract. A good knowledge of extreme storm surges is necessary to ensure protection against flood. In this paper we introduce a methodology to determine time series of skew surges in France as well as a statistical approach for estimating extreme storm surges. With the aim to cope with the outlier issue in surge series, a regional frequency analysis has been carried out for the surges along the Atlantic coast and the Channel coast. This methodology is not the current approach used to estimate extreme surges in France. First results showed that the extreme events identified as outliers in at-site analyses do not appear to be outliers any more in the regional empirical distribution. Indeed the regional distribution presents a curve to the top with these extreme events that a mixed exponential distribution seems to recreate. Thus, the regional approach appears to be more reliable for some sites than at-site analyses. A fast comparison at a given site showed surge estimates with the regional approach and a mixed exponential distribution are higher than surge estimates with an at-site fitting. In the case of Brest, the 1000-yr return surge is 167 cm in height with the regional approach instead of 126 cm with an at-site analysis.


Phanerochaete chrysosporium completely degrades lignocellulose. The most recalcitrant component, lignin, is oxidized by the radical products of lignin and manganese peroxidases, whereas cellulose and hemicellulose are hydrolysed. Both peroxidases and cellulases exist as complex families at both the DNA and protein levels. The lignin peroxidases may function principally when mycelium‐bound and, therefore, undetectable in culture supernatants. Moreover, methods for the study of P. chrysosporium must be applicable to solid substrate as well as liquid‐culture conditions. For these reasons, detailed studies of gene expression, made possible by the reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction method, are essential. Such studies reveal that gene families are subject to differential expression. The cellulase system has some differences from that of Trichoderma reesei; the distinction made between the activities of exocellobiohydrolases and endoglucanases needs to be re‐appraised in both species. Current studies also seek to reconstruct the systems of degradation of lignocellulose and its individual components by heterologous expression of individual proteins in recombinant systems, and their use in mechanistic studies singly and in combinations.


Distributed virtual environment (DVE) systems model and simulate the activities of thousands of entities interacting in a virtual world over a wide area network. Possible applications for DVE systems are multiplayer video games, military and industrial trainings, and collaborative engineering. In general, a DVE system is composed of many servers and each server is responsible to manage multiple clients who want to participate in the virtual world. Each server receives updates from different clients (such as the current position and orientation of each client) and then delivers this information to other clients in the virtual world. The server also needs to perform other tasks, such as object collision detection and synchronization control. A large scale DVE system needs to support many clients and this imposes a heavy requirement on networking resources and computational resources. Therefore, how to meet the growing requirement of bandwidth and computational resources is one of the major challenges in designing a scalable and cost-effective DVE system. In this paper, we propose an efficient partitioning algorithm that addresses the scalability issue of designing a large scale DVE system. The main idea is to dynamically divide the virtual world into different partitions and then efficiently assign these partitions to different servers. This way, each server will process approximately the same amount of workload. Another objective of the partitioning algorithm is to reduce the server-to-server communication overhead. The theoretical foundation of our dynamic partitioning algorithm is based on the linear optimization principle. We also illustrate how one can parallelize the proposed partitioning algorithm so that it can efficiently partition a very large scale DVE system. Lastly, experiments are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed partitioning algorithm under various settings of the virtual world.


In this study, the suitability of the polychaete Arenicola marina as a test organism using clean intertidal sediment contaminated with copper, zinc and cadmium was evaluated. Metal levels in casts were significantly lower than in unworked sediment indicating that the bioturbatory activity of lugworms might be significant in the distribution of the pollutants. This study showed that sediments contaminated with specific pollutants affected the uptake of these pollutants by Arenicola in a predictable and dose-dependant way and gave further justification for the use of this species in sediment toxicity tests.


Background It has been suggested that the structure of psychopathology is best described as a complex network of components that interact in dynamic ways. The goal of the present paper was to examine the concept of psychopathology from a network perspective, combining complementary top-down and bottom-up approaches using momentary assessment techniques. Method A pooled Experience Sampling Method (ESM) dataset of three groups (individuals with a diagnosis of depression, psychotic disorder or no diagnosis) was used (pooled N = 599). The top-down approach explored the network structure of mental states across different diagnostic categories. For this purpose, networks of five momentary mental states ('cheerful', 'content', 'down', 'insecure' and 'suspicious') were compared between the three groups. The complementary bottom-up approach used principal component analysis to explore whether empirically derived network structures yield meaningful higher order clusters. Results Individuals with a clinical diagnosis had more strongly connected moment-to-moment network structures, especially the depressed group. This group also showed more interconnections specifically between positive and negative mental states than the psychotic group. In the bottom-up approach, all possible connections between mental states were clustered into seven main components that together captured the main characteristics of the network dynamics. Conclusions Our combination of (i) comparing network structure of mental states across three diagnostically different groups and (ii) searching for trans-diagnostic network components across all pooled individuals showed that these two approaches yield different, complementary perspectives in the field of psychopathology. The network paradigm therefore may be useful to map transdiagnostic processes.


A gold screen printed electrode (Au-SPE) was modified by merging Molecular Imprinting and SelfAssembly Monolayer techniques for fast screening cardiac biomarkers in point-of-care (POC). For this purpose, Myoglobin (Myo) was selected as target analyte and its plastic antibody imprinted over a glutaraldehyde (Glu)/cysteamine (Cys) layer on the gold-surface. The imprinting effect was produced by growing a reticulated polymer of acrylamide (AAM) and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (NNMBA) around the Myo template, covalently attached to the biosensing surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out in all chemical modification steps to confirm the surface changes in the Au-SPE. The analytical features of the resulting biosensor were studied by different electrochemical techniques, ardiac biomarker yoglobin iosensor including EIS, square wave voltammetry (SWV) and potentiometry. The limits of detection ranged from 0.13 to 8 g/mL. Only potentiometry assays showed limits of detection including the cut-off Myo levels. Quantitative information was also produced for Myo concentrations ≥0.2 g/mL. The linear response of the biosensing device showed an anionic slope of ∼70 mV per decade molar concentration up to 0.3 g/mL. The interference of coexisting species was tested and good selectivity was observed. The biosensor was ologi successfully applied to bi


The expression of the SPAG9 is associated with various human malignancies. Earlier work revealed a significant association of SPAG9 expression with the early spread of cervical cancer, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Here, the authors investigated the role of SPAG9 in carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. Furthermore, they sought to determine whether ablation of SPAG9 expression reduces the tumor growth of cervical SCC in vivo.


Maritime ports are intensive energy areas with a plenty of electrical systems that require an average power of many tens of megawatts (MW). Competitiveness, profits, reduction of pollution, reliability of operations, carbon emission trading are important energy related considerations for any port authority. Current technology allows the deployment of a local micro-grid of the size of tenths of MW, capable of islanded operation in case of emergency and to grant an increasing energy independency. Ownership of the grid permits a large flexibility on prices of energy sold inside the port, trading on local electric market and reduction of pollution. Renewable energy generation has a large impact on costs since features a low marginal cost. Unfortunately the smart grid is a critical asset within the port infrastructure and its intelligence is a high-level target for cyber-attacks. Such attacks are often based on malicious software (malware), which makes use of a controlling entity on the network to coordinate and propagate. In this document, we will outline some features of a port smart grid and typical characteristics of cyber-attacks including potential ways to recognize it and suggestion for effective countermeasures.


The phenomenon of adolescent runaway behavior is of critical concern to mental health professionals. Conceptualization, prediction, and treatment interventions are of extreme importance. This study sought to build upon prior research by using the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Previous research indicated that adolescent running away could be predicted with great accuracy. The current study extended the prior research by using a profile classification system (typology) as well as actuarial interpretive guidelines both associated with the PIC. The results indicated that the PIC classification system identified 93.4% of the runaway sample. In addition, this classification system had corresponding DSM-III tentative diagnoses associated with it. It was recommended that a more fruitful approach to conceptualizing the adolescent runaway and his/her family was to view it as emotional disturbance within the context of a dysfunctional family. It was further recommended that runaway programs use the PIC as a screening measure which would be useful for initial assessments, treatment interventions, and for referral purposes to other professionals when the adolescent and family left the runaway program. (Contains 54 references. Two figures and three tables present data and statistical analysis.) (Author/TS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************


Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program This pilot quality improvement project provides data to support a creative option that involves the use of a clinical resource nurse to support units with high percentages of new‐to‐practice staff, and also improves nursing satisfaction, complies with new staffing guidelines set by a professional organization, and improves patient flow. Proposed Change A 2‐week pilot project of the clinical resource nurse (CRN) was implemented on a labor and delivery floor in an academic medical center with 772 beds. This concept was tested for five main reasons: (a) increased acuity, (b) new staffing guidelines, (c) high percentages of new to practice staff, (d) high percentages of nurse turnover rates, and (e) low nurse satisfaction scores. To implement the pilot project, an extra registered nurse (RN) was assigned as the clinical resource nurse on every shift (excluding weekends) resulting in over budgeting (one extra RN was needed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) for a 2‐week period. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation A core group of nurses were selected to continue the role of CRN 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A PowerPoint presentation was created as a resource for all staff, and education continued surrounding the daily responsibilities of this nurse by a clinical level IV nurse. During the trial period this role focused on the use of the CRN on the labor and delivery floor, but upon implementation the scope of this role was expanded to be a resource for the newly developed antepartum unit (APU). This requires the CRN to assess the APU every 4 hours and assist with admissions and overseeing the management of nursing care for patients. A preimplementation and postimplementation survey was given to 32 nurses based on the Likert scale. Results showed increased perceived quality of care provided to patients and increased feelings of having the necessary resources for help when they need them. Furthermore, the results showed an increased perception of improved quality of patient care with 50% of respondents rating their care as excellent posttrial as opposed to only 16% pretrial. A decrease in incident reports was also noted. Implications for Nursing Practice This pilot indicated that a CRN may be useful in areas with high rates of new‐to‐practice nurses. In the short period of time, nurses reported increased perceived quality of care along with resources needed for complex patients. Patient flow was improved as well as possible improved quality of care related to the decrease in incident reports filed.


The Proterozoic crystalline Lindas nappe of the Bergen arc, Caledonides of western Norway, displays local Caledonian eclogite facies overprint along fractures and shear zones. The overprint results from fluid infiltration in a dry granulite facies protolith under eclogite facies conditions. Formation of a low Th/U zircon overgrowth in eclogites is interpreted to be coeval with crystallization of the eclogite facies assemblage. A lower intercept age of 456 ± 7 Ma obtained from combined zircon U-Pb data for an eclogite and an associated granulite are believed to reflect the eclogite facies fluid infiltration event. An alternative minimum age of 419 ± 4 Ma can be extracted from the data. A charnockite and a mafic granulite yield Proterozoic intrusion ages of 1237 +43/–35 and 951 ± 2 Ma, and a garnet- bearing granulite provides an age of 929 ± 1 Ma for the late Sveconorwegian granulite facies metamorphism. The Proterozoic ages are compatible with a correlation between the Lindas and Jotun nappes and an origin of the Lindas nappe in the Sveconorwegian province of Baltica. We propose a possible model featuring subduction of the Lindas nappe at 456 ± 7 Ma attached to the Baltica plate during a Late Ordovician (Caradoc) collision between Baltica and an outboard island arc in the Iapetus Ocean. Accretion of some of the ophiolite-bearing terranes preserved in the Caledonides of western Norway may have taken place during this event.


This study made use of a survey instrument which employed items from the notices of different companies looking for hospitality practioners. The questionnaire highlighted the different skills needed by the industry. The results showed that the fourth-year Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students were only 'good' in the following areas: knowledge, skills and attitudes. The study implies that the students were not adequately prepared to meet the needs, demands, and challenges of the hospitality industry.


The CDIO framework as context for curriculum design implies among other things, rethink the workspace structure, to strengthen the processes involved in learning personal, interpersonal, and products, processes and systems construction skills. The Faculty of engineering of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in the process of curricular reflection of its four undergraduate programs (Civil, electronics, Industrial Engineering and software) has undertaken the challenge of conceive, design, implement and operate a complex of spaces inspired by the learning of engineering, which has as main characteristics being motivating, inclusive, flexible and creative. Criteria for the workspaces conception and design are generated from the skills of the CDIO Syllabus which were integrated into the programs and the curriculum structure based on design experiences. The total construction of the 3500 m 2 complex of spaces is projected to the 2016 and will count with the support of Hewlett Packard, in order to be a Center for teaching and learning in engineering model for Latin America. The present work shows the specification of 6 types of workspaces that support the CDIO standards and the integration of skills.


Background Circulating miRNAs have momentous clinical relevance as prognostic biomarkers and in the progression of solid tumors. Recognizing novel candidates of neuroblastoma-specific circulating miRNAs would allow us to identify potential prognostic biomarkers that could predict the switch from favorable to high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma (HR-NB). Results Utilizing mouse models of favorable and HR-NB and whole miRnome profiling, we identified high serum levels of 34 and low levels of 46 miRNAs in animals with HR-NB. Preferential sequence homology exclusion of mouse miRNAs identified 25 (11 increased; 14 decreased) human-specific prognostic marker candidates, of which, 21 were unique to HR-NB. miRNA QPCR validated miRnome profile. Target analysis defined the candidate miRNAs' signal transduction flow-through and demonstrated their converged roles in tumor progression. miRNA silencing studies verified the function of select miRNAs on the translation of at least 14 target proteins. Expressions of critical targets that correlate tumor progression in tissue of multifarious organs identify the orchestration of HR-NB. Significant (>10 fold) increase in serum levels of miR-381, miR-548h, and miR-580 identify them as potential prognostic markers for neuroblastoma progression. Conclusion For the first time, we identified serum-circulating miRNAs that predict the switch from favorable to HR-NB and, further imply that these miRNAs could play a functional role in tumor progression.


enter into details of the case, except to say that throughout the later part of the antenatal period the woman stated she was better than she had been for years. Her maintenance dose of "eucortone" was 5 ml. daily intramuscularly. She had had a D.C.A. implant of 300 mg. in January, 1951. The baby weighed I lb. 12 oz. (3.5 kg.) at birth, was alive, and appeared normal in every way. Although the woman gave a history that she had had a crisis in 1947 when she had been in coma for four days, also a crisis in March. 1950 (coma for three days), she went through the pregnancy, labour, and puerperium without any crisis. I was grateful to Dr. G. E. F. Sutton for the supervision of her medical care. Dr. Richards omitted to record the most recent review of 39 cases by Dr. Florence Brent, of Brooklyn (Amer. J. Surg., 1950, 79, 645). Of her 22 full-term pregnancies 12 patients developed crises after delivery and seven patients died. She believes that patients with Addison's disease are very susceptible to barbiturates and morphine, and sedation throughout labour should be kept at a minimum. An interesting point she recorded was that none of the patients in the series had developed toxaemia of pregnancy. Spontaneous delivery at term was followed by the best results. The association of pregnancy with Addison's disease is possibly becoming more common with greater improvement in the medical care of the Addison's disease. But as long ago as 1922 Dr. Gilbert Fitzpatrick, of Chicago (Surg. Gynec. Obstet., 1922, 35, 72), reported a case and reviewed the reports of 11 such cases already published. It was he who stated that lactation should be forbidden, " as it renders the patient weaker." Dr. S. L. Simpson (Proc. roy. Soc. Med., 1946, 39, 511) recorded two successful pregnancies in a case of Addison's disease.-I am, etc.,


The benefits of multisensor data fusion (MSDF) in controlling the piezo actuated beam structure using sliding mode controller (SMC) has been brought out. The first two vibrating modes of the smart cantilever beamare measured by two sensors namely, piezoelectric sensor and laser displacement sensor. The states are estimated from the sensors outputs using information filter, which were then fused and applied as input to the controller. The controller has been designed from the linear dynamic model of a piezo actuated beam, identified using linear recursive least square (RLS) method based on ARX model. A digital control system consisting of virtual instrumentation software LabVIEW, and USB data acquisition module NI 6008, was used for simulation and real-time control. Improved closed-loop performance was obtained when the controller designed used fused data, as compared to the closed-loop performance obtained with a single sensor. The beam structure considered in this work was a pilot model of the structures used in aerospace applications. Simulation and experimental results presented demonstrate the benefits of data fusion in controlling the vibration modes. Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(4), pp.346-353 , DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.1114


This thesis is a critical investigation of the issues around the exclusion of individuals described as having 'learning difficulties' from higher education participation. As a qualitative inquiry it is situated within a 'real life' contemporary, interpretive and rapidly changing context. Using a postmodernist conceptual framework it draws upon the work of Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari. Adopting a case study approach, it explores the insights and experiences of a group of individuals who attempted to develop an undergraduate degree programme in the performing arts.
Using one-to-one interviews, focus-group interviews and participant observations, its principal findings relate to a range of exclusionary barriers; these being attitudinal, cultural, educational, employment, financial and modern higher education. Its contribution is to (critical) disability studies, research and a critique of 'learning difficulties'. Its postmodernist framework offers a theoretical map, insights into discourses of power/knowledge, and makes transparent the competing and contradictory discursive practices, challenging dualism and tree like structures.
It concludes, suggesting that 'learning difficulties' is a constructed and re-constructed discourse. Its relationship with higher education is a feature of modern times, which comes to light in the turn to postmodernism. It rejects understandings of 'learning difficulties' that have taken-on 'beliefs', 'realities', 'practices' and 'truths' associated with 'deficit', 'personal tragedy', and 'abnormality'. Moreover, individuals labelled as having 'learning difficulties', despite the rhetoric of 'widening participation', are intentionally positioned, and beset by barriers, and silenced, and excluded from degree level participation. Therefore, it calls for a radical re-think of the notion of 'learning difficulties', segregated provision, access to employment in theatre, associated HE policy and legislation, and to critical questions of modern higher education participation.


Long-term population dynamics of three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in the White Sea during the 20th century has patterns similar to that of eelgrass Zostera marina. In this study we address possible mechanisms of such association through analysis of spatial distribution of juvenile stickleback in the wild and their substrate preferences in experimental conditions. Samples from different habitats (Z. marina, Fucus spp.) in 13 localities of Kandalaksha Bay have shown that the juvenile sticklebacks occurred mainly in the eelgrass beds. Their density was significantly lower in fucoids. In the experiments, carried out in August 2008–2009, the juveniles were offered the following types of substrates: brown macroalgae (dense and scarce), eelgrass and control (no substrate). In the experiments sticklebacks also showed a tendency to prefer eelgrass to fucoids, even if the density of the latter was higher. This may explain their higher densities associated with eelgrass in the wild.


Algorithmic trading systems are often completely automated, and deep learning is increasingly receiving attention in this domain. Nonetheless, little is known about the robustness properties of these models. We study valuation models for algorithmic trading from the perspective of adversarial machine learning. We introduce new attacks specific to this domain with size constraints that minimize attack costs. We further discuss how these attacks can be used as an analysis tool to study and evaluate the robustness properties of financial models. Finally, we investigate the feasibility of realistic adversarial attacks in which an adversarial trader fools automated trading systems into making inaccurate predictions.


Ophthalmic drug delivery is one of the most interesting and challenging endeavors facing the pharmaceutical companies in the market. In ophthalmic formulation to the eye like solutions, suspensions, and ointments are available in the market shows drawbacks such as increased precorneal elimination, high variability in efficiency, and blurred vision. The major problem associated with the conventional dosage forms is the bioavailability of drug. In the last three decades to improve the bioavailability by common to adding viscosity-enhancing agents or mucoadhesive polymers into dosage formulations. To overcome to conventional dosage formulations there were non-conventional technologies such as nanotechnology, microspheres, microemulsion and ocular inserts could be developed in pharmaceutical market. This review focuses on recent development in conventional and non-conventional ophthalmic dosage formulation and products used to achieve prolonged contact time of drugs with the cornea and increase their bioavailability.


Endometriosis, defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial lesions, is a common disease in reproductive-age women that profoundly affects patients' quality of life. Various pathogenic models have been proposed, but the origin of endometriosis remains elusive. In this article, we propose that the mesothelial barrier, which protects the underlying stroma from endometrial transplants present in retrograde menstrual fluid, can be compromised by activation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) repair mechanism that lead to temporary loss of barrier integrity. Absent of the mesothelial barrier, endometrial cells can more readily adhere to the underlying peritoneal stroma and establish endometrial lesions. The hypothesis is based on the clinical and experimental observations that correlate the location of endometrial lesions with areas of mesothelial damage, together with genetic evidence that 4 genes associated with endometriosis are direct regulators of the actin-cytoskeleton, which coordinates mesothelial barrier integrity. It supports past observations that implicate the peritoneum in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and unifies previously disparate theories that endometriosis may be triggered by infection, mechanical damage, and inflammation since each of these mechanisms can induce EMT in the mesothelium. If the hypothesis is correct, inhibition of EMT in the mesothelial barrier provides a novel paradigm for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.


The evaluation of agronomic characteristics of crops is important because they may be influenced by
the height, density and spatial arrangements of eucalyptus in an agroforestry system. These
silvicultural characteristics may interfere with height and productivity of crops between the rows of
the tree component due to shading, competition for water and nutrients. The objective of this study was
to evaluate the effect of the assessed site on some agronomic characteristics such as height, grain
yield and effective yield of BRS 655 forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench) with different
clones and arrangements of eucalyptus in the north of Minas Gerais. Experimental randomized block
with a split-plot design and five replications was used to evaluate sorghum. The effective productivity
and height of sorghum comparing to the average values in the area were low. The GG 100 clone
(Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis ) showed low adaptation to semi-arid region while the MA 2001 clone
(Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. Tereticornes) presented greater height. The low values of some
agronomic characteristics of sorghum were due to the distance between the rows of eucalyptus. The 2
× 3 + (15 m) and 2 × 3 + (20 m) arrangements of eucalyptus generated higher sorghum plants regardless
of the clone.


With the rise of online social networks and smartphones that record the user's location, a new type of online social network has gained popularity during the last few years, the so called Location-based Social Networks (LBSNs). In such networks, users voluntarily share their location with their friends via a "check-in". In exchange they get recommendations tailored to their particular location as well as special deals that businesses offer when users check-in frequently. LBSNs started as specialized platforms such as Gowalla and Foursquare, however their immense popularity has led online social networking giants like Facebook to adopt this functionality. The spatial aspect of LBSNs directly ties the physical with the online world, creating a very rich ecosystem where users interact with their friends both online as well as declare their physical (co-)presence in various locations. Such a rich environment calls for novel analytic tools that can model the aforementioned types of interactions. In this work, we propose to model and analyze LBSNs using Tensors and Tensor Decompositions, powerful analytical tools that have enjoyed great growth and success in fields like Machine Learning, Data Mining, and Signal Processing alike. By doing so, we identify tightly knit, hidden communities of users and locations which they frequent. In addition to Tensor Decompositions, we use Signal Processing tools that have been previously used in Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimations, in order to study the temporal dynamics of hidden communities in LBSNs.


Knowledge representation is a crucial area of work in the intelligent system, especially in query answering system development. Ontology is used to represent shared knowledge of a particular domain for query answering system. Domain-specific ontology can be designed and developed by many groups and researchers, because of which there is heterogeneity in the knowledgebase. Ontology integration or merging is necessary in order to solve this problem of mixed knowledge. Finding similarity between two ontologies is crucial to achieve integration or merging of ontology. In this study, we present a method to generate a cluster of ontologies using global similarity measure of two ontologies. Ontology matching tools are used to find matched classes between two ontologies. Output of ontology matching tool is mapping between two ontologies and is used for generating clusters of ontology. We use Jaccard Similarity Index as a global similarity measure for clustering. Based on this measure, the popular k-means clustering algorithm is used to perform clustering of ontologies. Bins of ontologies are generated from each cluster. From each bin, all ontologies are finally merged into a single ontology, which helps us in reducing search effort in querying knowledge in query processing. The outcome of this research paper to provide better solution for merging ontology. Here, we use agriculture domain ontology corpus from the standard dataset for experimentation.


From the Publisher:
This book closes the gap between information technologies and management decision making. It treats currently relevant topics in information technology--knowledge-based expert systems, graphic-user interface, fuzzy logic, neural networks, data storage, client server, and integration of heterogeneous databases--by using examples and, more importantly, by relating these methods to the needs of the decision maker by taking into account the individual's decision style. The authors provide a solid basis for determining how decision makers use and access information that becomes part of the design of information systems. Integrating the decision maker into the design results in a more "intelligent information system" because the focus is on the outcome rather than on the methodology or computer power used.


This review aims at reporting on very recent developments in the, properties and applications of Green Composites. One very important aspect of green composites is that they can be designed and tailored to meet different requirements. Recent advances in natural fiber development offer significant oppurtunities for improved materials from renewable resources. Biocomposites offer a significant non-food market for crop-derived fibres and resins. Considerable growth has been seen in the use of biocomposites in the automotive and decking markets over the past decade or so, but application in other sectors has hitherto been limited. Recent developments of different biodegradable polymers and biocomposites are discussed in this review article.


This study aimed to determine the extent of satisfaction and adequacy of the knowledge and skills that graduates have obtained from PNU in connection to their current employment. The data were gathered through a validated survey questionnaire and were interpreted using frequencies and percentages. The study made use of convenience sampling and the survey was administered both online and face to face. There were 1,826 PNU alumni from various programs, both graduate and undergraduate levels from 2010 to 2018 who served as respondents of this study. Findings revealed that competencies and skills learned by PNU alumni at the university, Human Relations Skills, Communication Skills, and Knowledge and Technical Skills have been considered as the most recognized and relevant of all the skills as viewed to a large extent. In terms of adequacy of the skills learned at PNU, the alumni respondents indicates that critical thinking skills, communication skills, human relations skills, and content knowledge are adequate at great extent. Still, it is highly recommended that improvement of research skills and ICT skills shall be given emphasis in the curricular enhancement.


A constant-rate multi-mode system is a hybrid system that can switch freely among a finite set of modes, and whose dynamics is specified by a finite number of real-valued variables with mode-dependent constant rates. We introduce and study a stochastic extension of a constant-rate multi-mode system where the dynamics is specified by mode-dependent compactly supported probability distributions over a set of constant rate vectors. Given a tolerance $\varepsilon > 0$, the almost-sure reachability problem for stochastic multi-mode systems is to decide the existence of a control strategy that steers the system almost-surely from an arbitrary start state to an $\varepsilon$-neighborhood of an arbitrary target state while staying inside a pre-specified safety set. We prove a necessary and sufficient condition to decide almost-sure reachability and, using this condition, we show that almost-sure reachability can be decided in polynomial time. Our algorithm can be used as a path-following algorithm in combination with any off-the-shelf path-planning algorithm to make a robot or an autonomous vehicle with noisy low-level controllers follow a given path with arbitrary precision.


The equilibrium constants of complexes of 7 purine derivatives with 1,5-naphthalenediol and of 5 purine derivatives with 1-naphthol were estab lished in aqueous solutions at 20°C by using electron absorption spectrometry. The study of interactions has shown that the equilibrium constants of the complexes of the studied purines with 1,5-naphthol are generally higher than those of the complexes with 1-naphthalene and that the presence of further methyl and oxo groups, respectively, in the purine molecule results in significant increase of equilibrium constants of the formed complexes.


BACKGROUND
Functional alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoreceptor subtype pharmacology was characterized in an in vitro human nasal mucosa contractile bioassay.

METHODS
Nasal mucosa was obtained from 49 donor patients and mucosal strips were placed in chambers filled with Krebs-Ringer solution and attached to isometric force transducers.

RESULTS
Nonselective a-adrenoreceptor agonists epinephrine, norepinephrine, and oxymetazoline produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated human nasal mucosa (pD2 = 5.2, 4.9, and 6.5, respectively). The alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist BHT-920 (10 microM)-induced contractions were blocked by yohimbine (0.01-1 microM) and prazosin (0.01-1 microM) inhibited the contractile response to the alpha1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (10 microM). Histological analysis showed that phenylephrine and BHT-920 differentially contracted the arteries and veins of human nasal mucosa, respectively.

CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that functional alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptors are present and functional in human nasal mucosa. The alpha2-adrenoceptors display a predominant role in contracting the veins and the alpha1-adrenoceptors appear to preferentially constrict the human nasal arteries.


Washing whole and cut produce by dipping or submerging in chlorinated water has a sanitizing effect, although reduction in microbial populations is minimal and is usually less than 100-fold. A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a spray application of chlorine in killing Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, yeasts and molds, and total aerobic mesophilic microorganisms on whole apples, tomatoes, and lettuce leaves. Inoculated produce was treated (sprayed and then soaked) with water (control) or solutions containing 200 or 2,000 ppm of chlorine for 0, 1, 3, 5, or 10 min, rinsed with sterile water, and analyzed for populations (CFU/cm2) of target microorganisms. Compared to the control treatment, further reductions in numbers of pathogens of 0.35 to 2.30 log CFU/cm2 were achieved by treatment with chlorine. Chlorine was generally more effective at 2,000 ppm than at 200 ppm. Inactivation of microorganisms occurred essentially within 1 min after application of chlorine. These reductions are significant relative to populations of pathogenic microorganisms that may be present on produce. Spray application of chlorine to raw produce at food service or household levels may be a suitable, and more convenient, alternative to treatment by dipping or submersion.


When the numerical solution of differential equations (DE's) for dynamical simulation is performed with short-word-length computing devices, it is essential that truncation (round-off) error be understood and controlled where possible. This paper presents a simple but enlightening analysis of truncation errors in the computer solution of DE's, an analysis which develops the rationale for the residue register, the distinguishing feature of the digital differential analyzer (DDA), for the suppression of (second-order) truncation error. The analysis is extended formally to complete the theory of nth order truncation error suppression in linear DE's. After discussing the application of residue retention techniques to higher order integration formulas, the utility of third-order truncation error suppression strategy is illustrated in the suppression of "limit cycle" oscillations that occur in marginally damped oscillatory systems. The use of residue retention is then shown to be more critical in the case of DE's with multiplicative nonlinearities. Finally, design strategies are discussed briefly.


Based on survey data of 319 rain-fed farmers in Al-Hasakeh, Syria, this study analyses rain-fed farmers' risk attitudes and farmers' perceptions of risk and risk management. Furthermore, it analyzes, using multiple regression analysis, the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and farmers' risk attitudes. The results demonstrate that precipitation shortage was the most important risk source that threaten farmers in both zones. Moreover, risks of diseases and pests and natural disasters were highly perceived by farmers in zone 1. Farmers in zone 2 were more concerned about fire damages and lack of government support. The financial strategy related to the producing at lowest possible cost is perceived as an important strategy to manage risk by farmers in both zones. Spraying for diseases and pests and liquidity are perceived as the most effective risk management strategies by farmers in zone 1, whereas farmers in zone 2 considered liquidity and choose good quality materials as an important strategy. The results also show that some farm and farmers' characteristics (e.g. age, experience, education, household size, farm size, family labour, extension contact, off-farm work and Co-op Member) significantly impact the risk attitudes of the farmers in both zones.


Epileptic encephalopathies represent a group of devastating epileptic disorders that appear early in life. They are characterized by pharmacoresistant generalized or focal seizures, persistent severe EEG abnormalities, and cognitive dysfunction or decline. The ictal and interictal epileptic discharges are age-specific and either are the main cause or contribute to cognitive deterioration in the idiopathic or symptomatic group, respectively. Despite choosing the most appropriate antiepileptic drugs for the seizure type and syndrome, the results are often disappointing, and polytherapy and/ or alternative therapy becomes unavoidable; in those cases, consideration should be given to the quality of life of the child and carers. In this chapter, we will discuss the clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics and evolution and management of age-related epileptic encephalopathies, recognized by the International League Against Epilepsy, as follows: early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (Ohtahara syndrome), early myoclonic encephalopathy, epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures, infantile spasms (West syndrome), severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (Dravet syndrome), myoclonic-atonic epilepsy (Doose syndrome), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep, and Landau-Kleffner syndrome. Their clinical features, prognosis, etiologies, and treatment are presented and updated.


For investigating the aerodynamic characteristics of a novel hedgehopping projectile under the angular motion coupling of pitching and rolling, a method to deal with simulation of the complex angular motion is proposed based on the Euler rotation theorem and sliding meshing technique. By applying this method, and solving and identifying the unsteady aerodynamic parameters, the influences of the projectile's rolling motion on dynamic derivatives of pitching combination and lift coefficient under various Mach numbers are explored. The results indicate that: in the solving process for the unsteady flow field, the proposed method can eliminate the accumulative errors in calculation of attitude angles effectively, realizing the accurate simulation under arbitrary given angular motion; due to coupling with the pitching motion, the projectile's rolling motion can generate significant influences on the identification results of dynamic derivatives of pitching combination and lift coefficient, and in details, the identification results always decrease along the increasing the rolling frequency under conditions of different angles of attack.


Mungbean or green gram ( Vigna radiata L.) is an important component of rice-based cropping systems in Myanmar, where grain yields of around 800 kg ha^(-1) are much below its yield potential of 3000 kg ha^(-1). The reasons for this shortfall are as under-investigated as is the genotype-specific response of this crop to phosphorus (P) application, which is critically low in many Myanmar soils, and the genetic variation in grain quality. For green gram quality, the concentration of lysine, an essential amino acid is particularly important given its scarcity in many cereal-based diets of Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate the effects of P application on the root and shoot growth, yield and its components for a range of green gram varieties, and to analyse the protein concentration and amino acid composition in green gram seed of different origins. To this end from 2001 to 2003, field experiments were conducted under rain-fed conditions in Yezin and Nyaung Oo. Fifteen landraces and five introduced green gram cultivars were grown at two levels of P (0 and 15 kg ha^(-1)). There were large genotypic differences in P effects and a significant interaction between green gram genotypes and P for shoot and root growth. An unexpected benefit of P application was a reduction of pest and plant virus infestation in the field. Significant genotypic differences in the amino acid profile of seeds were also observed. The results indicate the potential for breeding efforts to increase seed yield and protein quality in green gram.


This paper provides a case study where data analytics techniques are used to improve the health of a global remote monitoring & diagnostics (RM&D) center for power plants that is a key part of our industrial internet infrastructure. The "Industrial Internet" is being heralded as a transformative, disruptive technology that is part of the digitization of traditional industries all over the world. A key technical capability includes the ability to continuously monitor critical assets (like power generation equipment) with sensors and other measurements to get leading indicators of anomalous behavior and identify opportunities for optimizing the performance and life of this equipment. This allows our customers to maximize their asset's availability, reliability, and performance and is usually achieved by connecting these assets to dedicated RM&D centers that aggregate and analyze the data streaming in from all over the world. An RM&D center is a complex system with hardware (data acquisition boxes, communication hardware, processing servers), software and analytics in place to ensure the generation of timely notifications and recommendations. There is a need to understand the health of this complex system and to quickly diagnose and mitigate issues before any disruption occurs that impacts the ability to monitor. What makes this case study unique is the combination of qualitative and quantitative input variables that need to be considered, which is different from traditional PHM applications which tend to be based on sensor derived numeric or binary data. Details in the paper include extraction of key system health features (server health, data integrity, analytic robustness, etc.) from computer logs. These parameters, once collected, can be analyzed using various statistical techniques (Multivariate Outliers, Process Control, Mixture Distributions) to develop system health indices using methods like Principal Component Analysis, Factor Analysis as well as kernel PCA methods. We explore the development of anomaly detection methods using regression (Multilevel regression, Logistic regression), Clustering (KMeans, Hierarchic, Normal Mixtures and Latent Class Analysis) and Classification (Decision Trees, Bootstrap Forest, Discriminant) techniques followed by their comparison in terms of computational cost and classification accuracy. We then go further to pinpoint the likely cause (Bayesian Diagnosis) of disruptions, and demonstrate how this approach can be generalized for a variety of industrial assets. All of results/analysis are based on representative data from a global Remote Monitoring and Diagnostic center that is used to monitor a significant portion of the world's electric power generation fleet.


Virtualization is a term that refers to the abstraction of computer resources. The purpose of virtual computing environment is to improve resource utilization by providing a unified integrated operating platform for users and applications based on aggregation of heterogeneous and autonomous resources. More recently, virtualization at all levels (system storage, and network) became important again as a way to improve system security, reliability and availability, reduce costs and provide greater flexibility. In this paper, we address the requirements and solutions for the security of virtualization in cloud computing environment. Moreover, a Virtualization Security framework is presented which contains two parts: virtual system security and virtualization security management.


This article studies the effectiveness of technical trading approaches in market environments of varying sentiment. Because of short-sale constraints, overpricing with high sentiment (i.e., relatively optimistic sentiment) is more prevalent compared to underpricing with low sentiment (i.e., relatively pessimistic sentiment), and this effect is stronger on difficult-to-arbitrage securities. The authors find consistent evidence over the period from 1993 to 2010 that the examined set of technical indicators perform better during periods of high sentiment than during periods of low sentiment. Moreover, this sentiment effect is relatively more pronounced for small stocks. These findings hold after a number of robustness checks are applied, and they highlight the importance of incorporating the sentiment effect when using technical indicators.


Objective In order to provide evidence for improving the quality of managers in elderly care institutions, this paper explored the situation of managers of elderly care institutions in a city in Central China under the national guidelines for the combination of medical and elderly health care. Design A cross-sectional study carried out in a city in Central China was designed. Setting. The online questionnaire was distributed to the managers of six elderly care institutions in a city in Central China. Participants. The questionnaire was sent to 61 recipients; from this, 60 responses were obtained. Results There was a 98% response rate. The study found that most managers in elderly care institutions were middle-aged, with low education level and years of management. The job mobility was high, and 27% of the managers had no relevant certificates. Management years had a significant influence on the rate of certificate holding (P < 0.05). Some managers were less than 30 years old and had college degree or above, which indicated that people with young and high levels of education were more likely to become managers. However, there was no significant difference in educational level among managers of different ages (P > 0.05). 56.6% of the managers have received provincial or municipal training, and few managers have received the national level training. The education level is positively related to the access to training opportunities. More than half of the managers earn less than ¥3000 a month. The study showed that the education level was positively related to the career growth space (P < 0.05). Conclusions Specialized training and high salary should be provided for managers to improve their elderly care skills and hence the quality of elderly care service. In addition, in order to improve the education level of managers, a long-term continuing education system should be established gradually. Through expanding the enrollment scale of the nursing school, carrying out training about elderly care skills, and issuing vocational skills certificates to those who pass the examination, the number of local nurses for the elderly will be increasing, and the quality of the elderly care service will be improving.


Forage-management principles have been structured from small-plot experimentation targeted at evaluating defoliation regimens, fertilization, and other factors on growth and persistence of forage varieties or germplasm. Seasonal and total forage-mass attributes have been the primary benchmark for sustainable grass pastures. Forage mass affects level of grazing intensity and stocking rates to maximize gain per unit land area. Forage nutritive value sets the upper limits on gain per animal. Both forage mass and nutritive value are uniquely linked to animal performance; however, the priority role is different for C3 versus C4 forages because of the substantial differences in percentage of protein and digestible DM. The value of grazing-intensity and stocking-rate experimentation includes identifying ADG × gain per hectare relationships, and the mathematical expressions of other factors including forage allowance. The calculated forage allowance (forage DM:animal BW) has moved past the original point-in-time reference to be more inclusive of the average forage allowance for an entire season. Forage-allowance databases provide management decisions for stocking strategies to affect forage-animal pasture systems. Forage allowance of a pasture may provide management decisions for setting initial grazing intensities, or these calculated values may provide stocking strategy choices to optimize ADG or gain per hectare. The role of forage management is a dynamic, evolving, data-driven process with the inclusion of heuristic approaches to serve as correction factors to optimize forage utilization. Grazing research provides grazing-experiment databases to direct and redirect the role of forage-management decisions to enhance biological-economic efficiencies and sustainable pastures.


The European legislature has identified weaknesses in the functioning and transparency of financial markets as major shortcomings of the regulatory framework under MiFID I. The new MiFID II/MiFIR regime essentially addresses these identified deficits by means of three regulatory measures: First, it considerably extends the scope and increases the stringency of the obligations with regard to pre- and post-trade transparency with a view to improving the quality of pre- and post-trade transparency data. Second, it instigates a shift towards increased trading on regulated trading venues or on other regulated platforms (more extensive market regulation and trading obligations) and, third, it extends the scope of reporting obligations vis-à-vis the supervisory authorities to enable better monitoring of the financial markets. The already extensive Level 1 requirements have been further specified by numerous pieces of highly detailed Level 2 legal acts. In addition, ESMA has already issued several guidelines and Q&As to harmonize supervisory practice. The resulting network of regulations poses immense challenges for legal practice - as is increasingly characteristic of European capital market law today. The paper sets out to shed some light on the subject.


In this study, a 10"-sized panel with novel tetrode structure was tried to prevent broadening of electrons emitted from CNTs. The structure of the novel tetrode is composed of CNT emitters on a cathode electrode, a gate electrode, an extracting electrode coated on the top of a hopping electron spacer (HES), and an anode. HES contains funnel-shaped holes whose inner surfaces are coated with MgO. Electrons extracted through the gate are collected inside the funnel-shaped holes and hop along the hole surface to the top extracting electrode. The effects of HES on emission characteristics of field emission display (FED) were investigated. An active ozone treatment for the complete removal of residues of organic binders in the emitter devices was applied to the FED panel as a post-treatment


The presence of the text amid the reader gives rise to different forms of meaning and understanding. This difference in understanding and meaning is due to the diversity of each reader with a variety of complexities in their life backgrounds. The existence of the text needs to be questioned again about the extent to which the truth of the text is in expressing and expressing reality as a whole. Likewise, the understanding of the concept of "religious language" contained in the texts of the Qur'an also needs to be studied holistically to obtain a correct and comprehensive understanding. One of the Muslim intellectuals who quite covered everything related to the language of the religion was Komaruddin Hidayat. The research method used in this research is a literature review (Library Research). For the results of this study that according to Komaruddin Hidayat's perspective, the religious language which tends to use symbolic languages has the potential to generate speculation and understanding relativism. This is one of the spirits to always interpret or interpret the holy book in the form of modern interpretation such as the hermeneutic method or other classical exegetical methods. Meanwhile, hermeneutics wants to portray itself as an art and a method of interpreting "other absent realities" either because it has passed in time or a long distance from places, where the present reality is represented by the text. Keywords : Language, Religion, Hermeneutics


In this work, we demonstrate the significance of defined surface chemistry in synthesizing luminescent carbon nanomaterials (LCN) with the capability to perform dual functions (i.e., diagnostic imaging and therapy). The surface chemistry of LCN has been tailored to achieve two different varieties: one that has a thermoresponsive polymer and aids in the controlled delivery of drugs, and the other that has fluorescence emission both in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) region and can be explored for advanced diagnostic modes. Although these particles are synthesized using simple, yet scalable hydrothermal methods, they exhibit remarkable stability, photoluminescence and biocompatibility. The photoluminescence properties of these materials are tunable through careful choice of surface-passivating agents and can be exploited for both visible and NIR imaging. Here the synthetic strategy demonstrates the possibility to incorporate a potent antimetastatic agent for inhibiting melanomas in vitro. Since both particles are Raman active, their dispersion on skin surface is reported with Raman imaging and utilizing photoluminescence, their depth penetration is analysed using fluorescence 3D imaging. Our results indicate a new generation of tunable carbon-based probes for diagnosis, therapy or both.


Importance
The potential association of schizophrenia with distinct retinal changes is of clinical interest but has been challenging to investigate because of a lack of sufficiently large and detailed cohorts.

Objective
To investigate the association between retinal biomarkers from multimodal imaging (oculomics) and schizophrenia in a large real-world population.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This cross-sectional analysis used data from a retrospective cohort of 154 830 patients 40 years and older from the AlzEye study, which linked ophthalmic data with hospital admission data across England. Patients attended Moorfields Eye Hospital, a secondary care ophthalmic hospital with a principal central site, 4 district hubs, and 5 satellite clinics in and around London, United Kingdom, and had retinal imaging during the study period (January 2008 and April 2018). Data were analyzed from January 2022 to July 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Retinovascular and optic nerve indices were computed from color fundus photography. Macular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGC-IPL) thicknesses were extracted from optical coherence tomography. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the association between schizophrenia and retinal biomarkers.

Results
A total of 485 individuals (747 eyes) with schizophrenia (mean [SD] age, 64.9 years [12.2]; 258 [53.2%] female) and 100 931 individuals (165 400 eyes) without schizophrenia (mean age, 65.9 years [13.7]; 53 253 [52.8%] female) were included after images underwent quality control and potentially confounding conditions were excluded. Individuals with schizophrenia were more likely to have hypertension (407 [83.9%] vs 49 971 [48.0%]) and diabetes (364 [75.1%] vs 28 762 [27.6%]). The schizophrenia group had thinner mGC-IPL (-4.05 μm, 95% CI, -5.40 to -2.69; P = 5.4 × 10-9), which persisted when investigating only patients without diabetes (-3.99 μm; 95% CI, -6.67 to -1.30; P = .004) or just those 55 years and younger (-2.90 μm; 95% CI, -5.55 to -0.24; P = .03). On adjusted analysis, retinal fractal dimension among vascular variables was reduced in individuals with schizophrenia (-0.14 units; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.05; P = .001), although this was not present when excluding patients with diabetes.

Conclusions and Relevance
In this study, patients with schizophrenia had measurable differences in neural and vascular integrity of the retina. Differences in retinal vasculature were mostly secondary to the higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in patients with schizophrenia. The role of retinal features as adjunct outcomes in patients with schizophrenia warrants further investigation.


The MISR and MODIS instruments aboard the NASA Earth Observing System's Terra Satellite have been collecting data containing information about the state of Earth's atmosphere and surface for over eleven years. Among the retrieved quantities are amount and type of wildfire smoke, desert dust, volcanic effluent, urban and industrial pollution particles, and other aerosols. However, the broad scientific challenges of understanding aerosol impacts on climate and health place different, and very exacting demands on our measurement capabilities. And these data sets, though much more advanced in many respects than previous aerosol data records, are imperfect. In this presentation, I will summarize current understanding of MISR and MODIS aerosol product strengths and limitations, discuss how they relate to the bigger aerosol science questions we must address, and give my view of the way forward.


This paper provides new insights into the relationship between the supply of credit and the macroeconomy. We present evidence that credit shocks constitute shocks to aggregate supply in that they have a permanent effect on output and cause inflation to rise in the short term. Our results also suggest that the effects on aggregate supply have grown stronger in recent decades.


Student attrition has been a primary focus among higher education institutions for nearly 50 years, yet overall retention and graduation rates continue to be of significant concern. Despite increased attention, ongoing struggles of colleges and universities to effectively address potential barriers to student progress are well-documented.  Part of the challenge lies in garnering widespread organizational commitment that establishes student progress as an institutional priority.  Along with leadership commitment, broad institutional involvement and adherence to a systematic approach to testing new, innovative solutions are necessary to better position the institution to make clear, evidence-based decisions that improve the student experience. The purpose of this manuscript is to detail one university's cultural shift towards establishing a clear student progress strategy (with particular focus on the first year), and the methodological approach that laid the foundation for a multi-year study of initiatives that resulted in improved student satisfaction, performance, and retention.


This article examines common motifs in the accounts of the sound systems of Iroquoian, Polynesian and Khoesan languages as the most well-known cases of extremes in phonetic complexity. On the basis of examples from European and American scholarship between the 17th and early 20th century, we investigate continuities in the description of their seemingly 'exotic' inventories and phonotactic structures when viewed from the perspective of European languages. We also demonstrate the influence of phonetic accounts on the interpretation of other components of language and their role in the construction of biased images of the languages and their speakers. Finally, we show that controversies in descriptions of 'exotic' languages concern issues that remain relevant in modern phonetic research, in particular complexity of phonological systems, while notions which were conceived as 'misconceptions' have re-emerged as unresolved research questions, e.g., the status of clicks and small and large consonant inventories.


Similarity search in high-dimensional data spaces is a popular paradigm for many modern database applications, such as content based image retrieval, time series analysis in financial and marketing databases, and data mining. Objects are represented as high-dimensional points or vectors based on their important features. Object similarity is then measured by the distance between feature vectors and similarity search is implemented via range queries or k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) queries.
Implementing k-NN queries via a sequential scan of large tables of feature vectors is computationally expensive. Building multi-dimensional indexes on the feature vectors for k-NN search also tends to be unsatisfactory when the dimensionality is high. This is due to the poor index performance caused by the dimensionality curse.
Dimensionality reduction using the Singular Value Decomposition method is the approach adopted in this study to deal with high-dimensional data. Noting that for many real-world datasets, data distribution tends to be heterogeneous, dimensionality reduction on the entire dataset may cause a significant loss of information. More efficient representation is sought by clustering the data into homogeneous subsets of points, and applying dimensionality reduction to each cluster respectively, i.e., utilizing local rather than global dimensionality reduction.
The thesis deals with the improvement of the efficiency of query processing associated with local dimensionality reduction methods, such as the Clustering and Singular Value Decomposition (CSVD) and the Local Dimensionality Reduction (LDR) methods. Variations in the implementation of CSVD are considered and the two methods are compared from the viewpoint of the compression ratio, CPU time, and retrieval efficiency.
An exact k-NN algorithm is presented for local dimensionality reduction methods by extending an existing multi-step k-NN search algorithm, which is designed for global dimensionality reduction method. Experimental results show that the new method requires less CPU time than the approximate method proposed for CSVD at a comparable level of accuracy.
Optimal subspace dimensionality reduction has the intent of minimizing total CPU cost or the number of pages accessed with an multi-dimensional index. The problem is complicated in that each cluster has a different number of dimensions. A hybrid method is presented combining the best features of the CSVD and LDR methods to find optimal subspace dimensionalities for clusters generated by local dimensionality reduction methods. The experiments show that the proposed method works well for both real-world datasets and synthetic datasets.


Recently it has been suggested that serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and its 5HTTLPR polymorphism could be involved in post stroke recovery. Here, we characterized the methylation profile of two different CpG islands within the SLC6A4 promoter region in the whole blood of 50 patients with subacute stroke before and after a six-week rehabilitation treatment. These patients were genotyped for 5HTTLPR polymorphism identifying patients on the basis of short (S) and L (L) alleles: 17 patients LL, 22 patients LS and 11 patients SS. At baseline, all CpG sites for both CpG islands displayed a heterogeneous methylation percentage that were not influenced by the different genotypes. After rehabilitation, we found a significant variation in the methylation levels (increase/decrease) in the specific CpG sites of both CpG islands. The statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the LL, LS and SS alleles and the outcome of the rehabilitation intervention (χ2 (2,50) = 6.395, p = 0.041). Specifically, we found a significant difference between patients with or without a favorable outcome in the LL (11.1% with a favorable outcome) and in the SS (54.4% with a favorable outcome) groups. Our data suggest that 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and SLC6A4 promoter methylation may be employed as a non-invasive biological marker of recovery in patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation.


Abstract. We identify two previously unknown subglacial lakes beneath the stagnated trunk of the Kamb Ice Stream (KIS). Rapid fill-drain hydrologic events over several months are inferred from surface height changes measured by CryoSat-2 altimetry and indicate that the lakes are probably connected by a subglacial drainage network, whose structure is inferred from the regional hydraulic potential and probably links the lakes. The sequential fill-drain behavior of the subglacial lakes and concurrent rapid thinning in a channel-like topographic feature near the grounding line implies that the subglacial water repeatedly flows from the region above the trunk to the KIS grounding line and out beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. Ice shelf elevation near the hypothesized outlet is observed to decrease slowly during the study period. Our finding supports a previously published conceptual model of the KIS shutdown stemming from a transition from distributed flow to well-drained channelized flow of subglacial water. However, a water-piracy hypothesis in which the KIS subglacial water system is being starved by drainage in adjacent ice streams is also supported by the fact that the degree of KIS trunk subglacial lake activity is relatively weaker than those of the upstream lakes.


Are users of an online social network interested equally in all connections in the network? If not, how can we obtain a summary of the network personalized to specific users? Can we use the summary for approximate query answering? As massive graphs (e.g., online social networks, hyperlink networks, and road networks) have become pervasive, graph compression has gained importance for the efficient processing of such graphs with limited resources. Graph summarization is an extensively-studied lossy compression method. It provides a summary graph where nodes with similar connectivity are merged into supernodes, and a variety of graph queries can be answered approximately from the summary graph. In this work, we introduce a new problem, namely personalized graph summarization, where the objective is to obtain a summary graph where more emphasis is put on connections closer to a given set of target nodes. Then, we propose Pegasus, a linear-time algorithm for the problem. Through experiments on six real-world graphs, we demonstrate that Pegasus is (a) Effective: node-similarity queries for target nodes can be answered significantly more accurately from personalized summary graphs than from non-personalized ones of similar size, (b) Scalable: it summarizes graphs with up to one billion edges, and (c) Applicable to distributed multi-query answering: it successfully replaces graph partitioning for communication-free multi-query processing.


In our view, the most important characteristic of a fuzzy rule-based system is its readability, which is seriously affected by, among other things, the number of features used to design the rule base. Hence, for high-dimensional data, dimensionality reduction through feature selection (not extraction) is very important. Our objective, here, is not to find an optimal rule base for classification but to select a set of useful features that may solve the classification problem. For this, we present an integrated mechanism for simultaneous extraction of fuzzy rules and selection of useful features. Since the feature selection method is integrated into the rule base formation, our scheme can account for possible subtle nonlinear interaction between features, as well as that between features and the tool, and, consequently, can select a set of useful features for the classification job. We have tried our method on several commonly used datasets as well as on a synthetic dataset with dimension varying from 4 to 60. Using a ten-fold cross-validation setup, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of our method.


The effect of the aeration conditions on the content of volatile acids in the fermentation broth was studied. It was shown that deterioration of the aeration conditions during the process of biosynthesis in both flasks and 750 1 fermentors resulted in decreased levels of the antibiotic accumulation and was accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the concentration of the volatile acids in the culture fluid. Under unfavourable aeration conditions the volatile acids present in the fermentation broth in higher concentrations than under the optimal conditions had no effect. It was shown that the volatile acid concentration may be used as a parameter for the control of the aeration conditions and as an index of normal biosynthetic process.


Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic systemic disease that manifests via various symptoms such as chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive impairment described as "brain fog". These symptoms often prevent patients from keeping up their pre-disease onset lifestyle, as extended periods of physical or mental activity become almost impossible. However, the disease presents heterogeneously with varying severity across patients. Therefore, consensus criteria have been designed to provide a diagnosis based on symptoms. To date, no biomarker-based tests or diagnoses are available, since the molecular changes observed also largely differ from patient to patient. In this review, we discuss the infectious, genetic, and hormonal components that may be involved in CFS pathogenesis, we scrutinize the role of gut microbiota in disease progression, we highlight the potential of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for the development of diagnostic tools and briefly mention the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection causing CFS.


We propose an active display robot for tele-communication system combining 3-axis display arm manually controlled by touch input, and automatically controlled by human tracking. This system is designed to present distance change behavior between user and robot by implementing two types of user interaction during communication; 1) Providing robot's movement to follow the user who is far from or going to pass by the display robot, 2) providing touchable display to activate and manipulate the direction of the display during the user is sited in front of the display system. Both local and remote users use the same system to communicate, make user's attention to distanced user via the system. Manipulating the movable part of the display by the movement of the finger of the user's touch makes the display correspond to user's intention and attention. There are two advantages of the movable display by the operation of the user's touch. One is to enhance remote communication by making the display arm moving with touch operation. Second is to enable the transmission of non-verbal information through the operation of the display. We designed hardware and software associated with user behavior and user input via the display. It is expected that the system will solve that the problem of misunderstanding of remote device operation, then it contribute to intuitive operation. In order to evaluate how this system does contribute to intuitive operation, we conducted an assessment experiment by using Questionnaire of Likert scale and interview. We verified that the display can move in response to operator's touch input contribute to intuitive experience.


A long essay submitted to KNUST- School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration, 2008


An $S$-hypersimplex for $S \subseteq \{0,1, \dots,d\}$ is the convex hull of all $0/1$-vectors of length $d$ with coordinate sum in $S$. These polytopes generalize the classical hypersimplices as well as cubes, crosspolytopes, and halfcubes. In this paper we study faces and dissections of $S$-hypersimplices. Moreover, we show that monotone path polytopes of $S$-hypersimplices yield all types of multipermutahedra. In analogy to cubes, we also show that the number of simplices in a pulling triangulation of a halfcube is independent of the pulling order.


Between September and November 2018 Lawrence University conducted a geophysical survey, Phase I shovel testing, and a single Phase II 1.5 meter by 1.5 meter test excavation to determine if significant archaeological deposits are present on the north side of the historic Grignon Mansion. The survey and test excavations were undertaken on behalf of the City of Kaukauna in anticipation of constructing a replica of the summer kitchen that had once been located on the north side of the Mansion. The survey and excavations found what are thought to be remnants of the original summer kitchen, including a possible original subfloor and the foundation for a support post. Early glass found during the excavations suggest that the Grignon Mansion may have been built in the location of an earlier structure. The survey also identified what appears to be a large group of prehistoric longhouses to the northwest of the Mansion, here named North Kakalin Village. This area may contain archaeological deposits significant enough to be eligible for the National Register. Finally, it is recommended that a full Phase III excavation be undertaken in the area of the planned replica summer kitchen before construction proceeds.


As a commercial acquisition and ideal location for American settlement, Hawaii was a vulnerable kingdom during the era of Manifest Destiny. Perhaps, it was this vulnerability, which underlay King Kamehameha III's opposition to Hawaiian women "taking up with foreigners for husbands." In 1850 at the age of 18, Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki challenged dynastic resistance when she terminated an arranged betrothal to a royal cousin in favor of marriage to a New England entrepreneur named Charles Reed Bishop. The joining of a Native Hawaiian princess and Anglo American foreigner at a time when Hawaii was the "object of expansionist lust" offers a rare but rich opportunity to examine the interplay of ethnicity, religion, class, and gender in attitudes toward interracial marriage. Moreover, an alliance of two unequally ranked individuals in such a complicated, power-laden scenario raises crucial questions about structures of dominance. For example, are power struggles and mutual love incompatible? Placing the Bishop marriage within a comprehensible framework that considers both imperialism and intimacy, this microhistorical narrative opens to critical scrutiny the idea that the union was a love match, strategic alliance, or both romantic and diplomatic. With its incorporation of Hawaii and United States histories, this project is a provocative analysis of a single marriage as an intimate and ambiguous zone of empire. My study of the intimate is not to turn away from structures of dominance entirely, but rather to relocate possibilities for individual agency in quasi-colonial contexts.


Conceptually, attentional interference should affect balance of typically developing children and even more so those with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). However, due to equivocal findings and limited methodologies this issue remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cognitive task on static balance control in typically developing children and those with symptoms of DCD by using traditional and non-traditional measures of postural sway. Ten typically developing children and ten with symptoms of DCD, between 8 and 10 y of age, were recruited. A dual-task methodology was implemented involving quiet standing as a motor task and a numeric classification as an attentional task. Mean and intra-individual variability for three traditional (Ao, Ap sway, Lat) and nontraditional measures of sway (fdis, fmode, Pp) were derived from 10 trials performed with and without attentional interference. The results showed no interaction effects, and aside from area of sway, the differences between the groups or attentional conditions were marginal. In terms of non-traditional measures, the impact of interference was evident from two out of three measures (fdis, fmode), but the emerging values were still within what would be considered as adult-like performance. Collectively, the expected differences between the groups did not emerge, and like-wise the impact of attentional interference was measure-specific as majority of analyses failed to reveal any reliable effects. The emerging small effect sizes further confirmed that the differences between the group means were marginal. However, due to the characteristics of sample these inferences should be treated with caution as they may not generalize to all children with this diagnosis (e.g., ADHD and DCD).


Contact with the natural environment in green and blue spaces can have a valuable influence on population physical and mental health and wellbeing. The aim of this study is to explore the economic evidence associated with the public's value for accessing, using and improving local environments to undertake recreational activity and consuming the associated health benefits of green and blue spaces. Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted. Peer-reviewed articles were sought using electronic databases, scrutiny of reference lists, experts and grey literature. All relevant papers meeting the criteria were critically appraised for methodological quality using the Drummond checklist. The review search concluded with 12 papers applying the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the quality with a narrative analysis conducted under the themes. Results suggest the public value access to green and blue spaces to undertake recreational activities and avoid delay or losing the recreational experience and associated health benefits. The public are willing to pay between £5.72 and £15.64 in 2019 value estimates for not postponing or losing an outdoor experience and for walking in local environments under current and improved environmental conditions, respectively. Valuation estimates indicate the public value green and blue spaces and are willing to pay to improve local environments to gain the health benefits of undertaking leisure activities in green and blue spaces.


Background In 2012, the number of people infected with HTLV-1 was estimated to be 10 million worldwide. Prevalence varies according to geographic location, ethnic factors, sex, age, populations exposed to risk factors, income, and education, reaching countries with the worst socioeconomic scenarios. There is a need to determine the current global prevalence of HTLV-1 and examine its association with countries' human development index (HDI) to provide data for global health policy. Methods Systematic review with meta-analysis according to PRISMA 2020 recommendations. It was registered at PROSPERO, CRD42021223146. Prevalence or cross-sectional studies of HTLV-1 infection with at least 100 participants, screening, and confirmatory serologic testing were included. Studies with incomplete or unavailable results or with duplicate information were excluded. Data were selected by two independent investigators and analyzed using R software, a metapackage that generated the forest plots (95% CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and funnel plot asymmetry was assessed using Egger's test. Countries were compared using an HDI cutoff ≥ 0.8. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute criteria. Results The overall prevalence of HTLV-1 infection was 0.91% (95%CI: 0.80-1.02, p < 0.0001) and was higher in low HDI countries [1.18% (95%CI: 1.03-1.34)] than in high HDI countries [0.41% (95%CI: 0.27-0.57)]. Prevalence varied according to the populations studied: it was higher in the general population [1.65% (95%CI: 1.08-2.34)] compared to pregnant women [0.34% (95%CI: 0.17-0.57)] and blood donors [0.04% (95%CI: 0.01-0.08)]. Consistently, prevalence for each population group was higher in low HDI countries than in high HDI countries. Conclusion The worldwide prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is highly heterogeneous, with a global prevalence of 0.91%. In high HDI countries, the observed prevalence is approximately three times lower than in low HDI countries. In the general population, the observed prevalence is about five times higher than in pregnant women and forty-one times higher than in blood donors.


The influence of UVB irradiation on the metabolic pathway for the production of L-tyrosine from L-phenylalanine in the human epidermis has been examined in 12 healthy volunteers with photo skin types I-VI (Fitzpatrick classification). This metabolic pathway involves the induction of GTP-cyclohydrolase 1 (GTP-CH-1), the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo synthesis of (6R)L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (6-BH4). This essential cofactor controls the production of L-tyrosine from L-phenylalanine via phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The de novo synthesis of 6-BH4 depends on the induction of GTP-CH-1, e.g., by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Epidermal suction blister tissues were taken before (0 h) and after (24 and 72 h) UVB exposure with a standardized dosage [1 minimal erythema dose (MED)]. In all cases, there was a significant increase in TNF alpha release, GTP-CH-1 activity, total 6-biopterin level, and PAH activity, indicative of enhanced L-tyrosine production. The response of this metabolic cascade over baseline activities was pronounced in fair photo skin types (I-III) compared to dark skin (IV-VI). Taken together, our results suggest that UVB can control the direct supply of L-tyrosine in the epidermis, and this process may represent an important factor in de novo melanogenesis.


Micro and nanomechanical resonators are highly sensitive, label-free analyte sensors in a range of environments. Resonant cantilevers, i.e. those operated in dynamic mode, can be considered as mechanical oscillators, with analyte adsorption creating a shift in cantilever resonance. Cantilever sensors work via a purely mechanical approach, transducing an analyte binding event into a nanomechanical signal. This response is governed by changes in sensor mass and stiffness due to adsorbed analytes, with previous theoretical work predicting the latter to produce significant effects on measured frequency shifts, counteracting effects of adsorbed mass. This highlights a particularly unsatisfactory feature of micro/nano-mechanical sensors, as an accurate interpretation of the sensor response must depend on both adsorbate mass and rigidity, which for nanometer-scale coverage can only be guessed, rather than derived from independent measurements. In this thesis, procedures to disentangle such effects in air and liquid are discussed and tested on a range of surface coatings, offering a novel method of analyte detection and analysis.
The dynamic characteristics of cantilever beams are strongly dependent on the mass density and viscosity of the fluid in which the beams are immersed. The application of cantilevers in accurately determining such rheological properties is also presented, first via the use of model solutions, and then extending measurements to a range of commercial alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A method to quantify alcohol content is also discussed, further demonstrating the commercial applications of cantilever sensors.


In this paper, we are concerned with the finite-length analysis of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes when used over the binary erasure channel (BEC). The main result is an expression for the exact average bit and block erasure probability for a given regular ensemble of LDPC codes when decoded iteratively. We also give expressions for upper bounds on the average bit and block erasure probability for regular LDPC ensembles and the standard random ensemble under maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding. Finally, we present what we consider to be the most important open problems in this area.


Abstract The main aim of this contribution is to outline the role and importance of key performance indicators in the frame of Industry 4.0 implementation. These key performance indicators are presented as a cornerstone for industry 4.0 implementation in organizational practice, since they represent key input for needed data in digitalized organization. In that framework, the contribution first exposes some of the essential characteristics of "Industry 4.0", followed by the methodology of key performance indicators (KPI). Next, the contribution outlined a proposed methodology for implementing KPIs in frame of Industry 4.0 adoption in organizations. Another section of the paper is dedicatd to the linkage between corporate social responsilbty and KPIs in frame of Industry 4.0. The paper also outlines implications, limitations and further research directions are outlined.


Abstract In the 1950s and 1960s it was causing interest among physicists that in the formalism of quantum mechanics (complex-valued) 'probability amplitudes' obeyed laws similar to the laws obeyed by probabilities in the ordinary probability calculus. But this did not then lead decisively to the claim that probabilities should be represented by complex numbers. It became fashionable instead to regard probability amplitudes as an abstract concept from which actual probabilities could be derived by taking the squared moduli of the amplitudes. In this monograph, however, we make another attempt to show how probability amplitudes might after all be identified with actual probabilities. To do this, probability itself is interpreted in a rational Bayesian manner (i.e. as an extension of logic) and a new (complex-valued) probability theory is formulated that incorporates the uncertainty principle (i.e. that takes account of the fact that acquisition of knowledge of a quantum mechanical process generally interferes with it). Taking this probability theory as the new logic of science, and assuming certain physical laws and properties of matter, an interpretation of non-relativistic quantum mechanics is built up. It is consistent with the usual quantum mechanical formalism but allows a clear distinction to be made between the physical world and our knowledge of it.


This article examined the efficacy of a primary-level, standard-protocol behavior intervention for students with externalizing behavioral disorders. Elementary schools were randomly assigned to treatment (behavior intervention) or control (business as usual) conditions, and K-3 students were screened for externalizing behavior risk status. The final sample included 7 treatment schools (n = 44 students) and 6 control schools (n = 26 students). Results of multilevel models showed that students with externalizing behavior in the treatment schools had significantly lower levels of problem behavior than those in the control schools. A positive but statistically nonsignificant treatment trend was observed for increased on-task behavior. No effects were observed for academic skills. The positive effects of the behavior intervention were smaller in schools serving higher proportions of students with low socioeconomic status and for students who had higher baseline levels of externalizing behavior. The discussion includes the results, practical importance, and limitations.


The paper examines the selection mechanism of technology and the extent of technology transfer in the Bangladesh fertilizer industry. The entire supply of production process and machinery and equipment have so far been imported. There are only a few established companies in the world which have acquired the knowledge of the complex production process and machinery in this industry. These companies, mainly from developed countries, control this knowledge in an oligopoly form. The study also observes that there is a connection between the source of production process and machinery on the one hand and the source of foreign aid on the other. In an aid-dependent development situation, as in Bangladesh, there has hardly been any effective transfer of technology in the industry. Local participation in plant design is nil and that in plant erection and supervision of plant construction or fabrication of plant structure is very low or negligible The paper stresses the need for a systematic and conscious national policy to this effect.


Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for food allergens has made considerable progress in recent years, yet acceptability of its outcomes remains stymied because of the limited extent to which it has been possible to incorporate severity as a variable. Reaction severity, particularly following accidental exposure, depends on multiple factors, related to the allergen, the host and any treatments, which might be administered. Some of these factors are plausibly still unknown. Quantitative risk assessment shows that limiting exposure through control of dose reduces the rates of reactions in allergic populations, but its impact on the relative frequency of severe reactions at different doses is unclear. Food challenge studies suggest that the relationship between dose of allergenic food and reaction severity is complex even under relatively controlled conditions. Because of these complexities, epidemiological studies provide very limited insight into this aspect of the dose‐response relationship. Emerging data from single‐dose challenges suggest that graded food challenges may overestimate the rate of severe reactions. It may be necessary to generate new data (such as those from single‐dose challenges) to reliably identify the effect of dose on severity for use in QRA. Success will reduce uncertainty in the susceptible population and improve consumer choice.


The Javalambre-Physics of the Accelerated Universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS) is a narrow band, very wide field Cosmological Survey to be carried out from the Javalambre Observatory in Spain with a purpose-built, dedicated 2.5m telescope and a 4.7 sq.deg. camera with 1.2Gpix. Starting in late 2015, J-PAS will observe 8500sq.deg. of Northern Sky and measure $0.003(1+z)$ photo-z for $9\times10^7$ LRG and ELG galaxies plus several million QSOs, sampling an effective volume of $\sim 14$ Gpc$^3$ up to $z=1.3$ and becoming the first radial BAO experiment to reach Stage IV. J-PAS will detect $7\times 10^5$ galaxy clusters and groups, setting constrains on Dark Energy which rival those obtained from its BAO measurements. Thanks to the superb characteristics of the site (seeing ~0.7 arcsec), J-PAS is expected to obtain a deep, sub-arcsec image of the Northern sky, which combined with its unique photo-z precision will produce one of the most powerful cosmological lensing surveys before the arrival of Euclid. J-PAS unprecedented spectral time domain information will enable a self-contained SN survey that, without the need for external spectroscopic follow-up, will detect, classify and measure $\sigma_z\sim 0.5\%$ redshifts for $\sim 4000$ SNeIa and $\sim 900$ core-collapse SNe. The key to the J-PAS potential is its innovative approach: a contiguous system of 54 filters with $145\AA$ width, placed $100\AA$ apart over a multi-degree FoV is a powerful "redshift machine", with the survey speed of a 4000 multiplexing low resolution spectrograph, but many times cheaper and much faster to build. The J-PAS camera is equivalent to a 4.7 sq.deg. "IFU" and it will produce a time-resolved, 3D image of the Northern Sky with a very wide range of Astrophysical applications in Galaxy Evolution, the nearby Universe and the study of resolved stellar populations.


Human Embryonic Stem (hES) cell research has met with a mixed reception internationally, but in the UK remains a significant national priority. Management of what is called the 'national embryo supply' in the UK involves new forms of governance at the 'IVF-Stem cell Interface', where questions about the provenance of donated embryos, including the ethics of their sourcing, are at a premium. This article explores the question of embryo donation to stem cell research from the perspective of the increasing proximity of IVF and hES cell derivation, using a model of 'double reproductive value' to explore what forms of exchange and flow are occurring, and how these are defined and negotiated in the context of a national hES cell coordination network of practitioners.