Objectives: To investigate the electrical activity of the diaphragm during extubation readiness testing. Design: Prospective observational trial. Setting: A 29-bed medical-surgical pediatric intensive care unit. Patients: Mechanically ventilated children between 1 month and 18 yrs of age. Interventions: Twenty patients underwent a standardized extubation readiness test using a minimal pressure support ventilation strategy. A size-appropriate multiple-array esophageal electrode (electrical diaphragmatic activity catheter), which doubled as a feeding tube, was inserted. The electrical diaphragmatic activity, ventilatory parameters, and spirometry measurements were recorded with the Servo-i ventilator (Maquet, Solna, Sweden). Measurements were obtained before the extubation readiness test and 1 hr into the extubation readiness test. Measurements and Main Results: During extubation readiness testing, the ratio of tidal volume to delta electrical diaphragmatic activity was significantly lower in those patients who passed the extubation readiness test compared to those who failed the extubation readiness test (extubation readiness test, pass: 24.8 ± 20.9 mL/&mgr;V vs. extubation readiness test, fail: 67.2 ± 27 mL/&mgr;V, respectively; p = .02). Delta electrical diaphragmatic activity correlated significantly with neuromuscular drive assessed by airway opening pressure at 0.1 secs (before extubation readiness test: r = .591, p < .001; during extubation readiness test: r = .682, p < .001). Eight out of 20 patients had ventilator dys-synchrony identified with electrical diaphragmatic activity during extubation readiness testing. Conclusions: Patients who generate higher diaphragmatic activity in relation to tidal volume may have better preserved diaphragmatic function and a better chance of passing the extubation readiness test as opposed to patients who generate lower diaphragmatic activity in relation to tidal volume, indicating diaphragmatic weakness. Electrical activity of the diaphragm also may be a useful adjunct to assess neuromuscular drive in ventilated children.


Trypanosoma brucei and related kinetoplastid parasites possess unique RNA processing pathways, including in their mitochondria, that regulate metabolism and development. Altering RNA composition or conformation through nucleotide modifications is one such pathway, and modifications including pseudouridine regulate RNA fate and function in many organisms. We surveyed pseudouridine synthase (PUS) orthologs in Trypanosomatids, with a particular interest in mitochondrial enzymes due to their potential importance for mitochondrial function and metabolism. T. brucei mt-LAF3 is an ortholog of human and yeast mitochondrial PUS enzymes, and a mitoribosome assembly factor, but structural studies differ in their conclusion as to whether it has PUS catalytic activity. Here, we generated T. brucei cells that are conditionally null for mt-LAF3 and showed that mt-LAF3 loss is lethal and disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Addition of a mutant gamma-ATP synthase allele to the conditionally null cells permitted ΔΨm maintenance and cell survival, allowing us to assess primary effects on mitochondrial RNAs. As expected, these studies showed that loss of mt-LAF3 dramatically decreases levels of mitochondrial 12S and 9S rRNAs. Notably, we also observed decreases in mitochondrial mRNA levels, including differential effects on edited vs. pre-edited mRNAs, indicating that mt-LAF3 is required for mitochondrial rRNA and mRNA processing, including of edited transcripts. To assess the importance of PUS catalytic activity in mt-LAF3 we mutated a conserved aspartate that is necessary for catalysis in other PUS enzymes and showed it is not essential for cell growth, or maintenance of ΔΨm and mitochondrial RNA levels. Together, these results indicate that mt-LAF3 is required for normal expression of mitochondrial mRNAs in addition to rRNAs, but that PUS catalytic activity is not required for these functions. Instead, our work, combined with previous structural studies, suggests that T. brucei mt-LAF3 acts as a mitochondrial RNA-stabilizing scaffold.


PurposeThis study reviews post-2009 literature on public sector internal auditing (IA) and addresses three interrelated research questions (RQ): How is research on the public sector IA being developed? What are the focus and criticisms of the literature on public sector IA? What is the future of public sector IA research?Design/methodology/approachWe adopt a systematic literature review approach and analyze 78 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2010 and 2019. We evaluate five criteria to identify the development of public sector IA research (RQ1), namely level of government, academic discipline, number of countries, geographic areas and MSCI country classification. Similarly, we use four criteria to present the focus and criticisms of the literature (RQ2), namely, type of organizational respondent, research instrument, theories and research theme examined. Finally, we use two criteria to propose new directions for future research (RQ3), namely, the directions resulted from RQ1 and RQ2 and the directions highlighted by the 10 most cited studies in the IA literature (i.e. out of the 78 papers identified).FindingsWe find an increase of publications up to 2017, most of which are single country–focused, particularly on emerging markets. Moreover, we note that IA has been studied at all government levels, most often at the local government level. Although we identify multiple research themes examined in the literature, most studies emphasize "governance" and "operational effectiveness" using quantitative analysis, without reference to any theory. By analyzing these key features, we critically interpret the challenges as well as the skepticism that may surface by researchers. Finally, considering implications from this stream of research and analyzing the most influential studies, we recommend new avenues for investigation such as comparative studies among countries and different markets that provide further evidence on the international and regional levels and studies on the effect of cultural, institutional and demographical characteristics in IA.Practical implicationsOur results will help researchers, practitioners and consultants to identify the key issues related with IA.Originality/valueThis study is the first to provide a systematic literature review on public sector IA. Furthermore, it develops insights, critical reflections and avenues for future research in this field.


Sport-related concussions have recently been at the forefront of mainstream media, where the attention is now turning to the safety of our young athletes. With the recent rise of concussion lawsuits, coaches need to know concussion basics to protect their athletes and themselves. What we know about concussions has evolved, and it is critical that coaches understand these changes and how they impact the management of their teams' injuries. In the absence of medical personnel, coaches are responsible for removing athletes from play if they have potentially sustained a concussion. Coaches must therefore understand the different mechanisms of injury, signs and symptoms, and the protocol to follow if they believe their athlete has sustained a concussion.


Improvement of measurement precision and repeatability is one of the issues currently faced by the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS) technique, which is expected to be capable of precise and accurate quantitative analysis. It was found that there was great potential to improve the signal quality and repeatability by reducing the laser beam divergence angle using a suitable beam expander(BE). In the present work, the influences of several experimental parameters for the case with BE are studied in order to optimize the analytical performances: the signal to noise ratio(SNR) and the relative standard deviation(RSD). We demonstrate that by selecting the optimal experimental parameters, the BE-included LIBS setup can give higher SNR and lower RSD values of the line intensity normalized by the whole spectrum area. For validation purposes, support vector machine(SVM) regression combined with principal component analysis(PCA) was used to establish a calibration model to realize the quantitative analysis of the ash content. Good agreement has been found between the laboratory measurement results from the LIBS method and those from the traditional method. The measurement accuracy presented here for ash content analysis is estimated to be 0.31%, while the average relative error is 2.36%.


Electric vehicles will play a crucial role in balancing the future electrical grid, which is complicated by many intermittent renewable energy sources. We developed an algorithm that determines for a fleet of electric vehicles, which EV at what price and location to commit to the operating reserve market to either absorb excess capacity or provide electricity during shortages (vehicle-2-grid). The algorithm takes the value of immobility into account by using carsharing fees as a reference point. A virtual power plant autonomously replaces cars that are committed to the operating reserves and are then rented out, with other idle cars to pool the risks of uncertainty. We validate our model with data from a free float carsharing fleet of 500 electric vehicles. An analysis of expected future developments (2015, 2018, and 2022) in operating reserve demand and battery costs yields that the gross profits for a carsharing operator increase between 7-12% with a negligible decrease in car availability (<0.01%).


In patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis were recorded and studied by various authors multiple eye damage with time. Studying the literature we conducted a study to assess the impact of intradialitic-interdialitic and postdialitic volemic game above the retinal circulation. By measuring diameters of retinal circulation after processing the digital fundus, we found that, 30 minutes after hemodialysis session takes a degree of dilatation of retinal vessels, permanent vascular insult that can be responsible for stroke and ischamic eye and coronary diseases of these patients.


Abstract. Abstract. Dissolved carbon leaching in and from soils plays an important role in C transport along the terrestrial-aquatic continuum. However, a global overview and analysis of dissolved carbon in soil solutions, covering a wide range of vegetation types and climates, is lacking. We compiled a global database on annual average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in soil solutions, including potential governing factors, with 762 entries from 351 different sites covering a range of climate zones, land cover types and soil classes. Using this database we develop regression models to calculate topsoil concentrations, and concentrations vs. depth in the subsoil at the global scale. For DIC, the lack of a proportional globally distributed cover inhibits analysis on a global scale. For DOC, annual average concentrations range from 1.7 to 88.3 (median = 25.27) mg C/L for topsoils and from 0.42 to 372.1 (median = 5.50) mg C/L for subsoils (excluding lab incubations). Highest topsoil values occur in forests of cooler, humid zones. In topsoils, multiple regression showed that precipitation is the most significant factor. Our global topsoil DOC model (R2 = 0.36) uses precipitation, soil class, climate zone and land cover type as model factors. Our global subsoil model describes DOC concentrations vs. depth for different USDA soil classes (overall R2 = 0.45). Highest subsoil concentrations are calculated for Histosols.


The paper describes an implementation of a large heterogeneous distributed parallel computation that counts the distribution of twin primes and calculates Brun's constant and maximal distances between pairs of twin primes. Two primes are twins if they differ by two. It is not known if there are infinitely many twin primes but it was proven that the sum of their inverses converges to the value defined as Brun's constant. Prior to this work, the number of twins and their contribution to Brun's constant was known for all twins up to 10/sup 14/. The authors have advanced this calculation to 2/spl middot/10/sup 15/ and are planning to continue to 10/sup 16/. The computation is distributed using the farmer-workers paradigm. The farmer divides the numerical range into intervals of 10 billion. Workers are assigned intervals to analyze and return results. If a worker fails, e.g., it does not return results within a given time period, the farmer reassigns its intervals to other workers. The farmer also frequently saves its state. If the farmer dies, a new one can be started up with minimal loss of work. The paper describes the algorithm for locating twin primes, a modified Sieve of Eratosthenes. It also discusses the method for distributing the work to clients, time and space saving optimizations, and multi-platform support. They conclude by presenting some preliminary results up to 1.8/spl middot/10/sup 15/ future directions for the system.


OBJECTIVE: The main cause of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in the diagnostic category of neoplasms are malignant lymphomas. This study was done to describe the clinical features and the investigation results which diagnostic contribution. METHOD: Between 2000 and 2005 a prospective and descriptive study was conducted in 18 patients hospitalized for studying a classical FUO who were diagnosed as having a malignant lymphoma. RESULTS: More than half of all patients (55%) were in stage IV. The weight loss and the peripheral lymphadenopathy were found in 13 (72%) and 9 patients (50%), respectively. Abdominal ultrasonography had a diagnostic contribution in 55% of the patients. The malignant lymphoma diagnostic was made by peripheral or deep lymphadenopathy biopsy in 8 patients (44%). The bone marrow biopsy established diagnostic in 6 patients (33%). In four patients (22%) the diagnosis was made at the autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Most of patients with malignant lymphomas presenting as FUO had an advanced disease. The weight loss and the peripheral lymphadenopathy were the most frequent clinical features. Abdominal ultrasonography, lymphadenopathy biopsy and bone marrow biopsy were the procedures with more diagnostic utility.


The Bayesian logic of probability, evidence and decision is the presumed rule of reasoning in analytical models of accounting disclosure. Any rational explication of the decades-old accounting notions of "information content", "value relevance", "decision useful", and possibly conservatism, is inevitably Bayesian. By raising some of the probability principles, paradoxes and surprises in Bayesian theory, intuition in accounting theory about information, and its value, can be tested and enhanced. Of all the branches of the social sciences, accounting information theory begs Bayesian insights. This monograph lays out the main logical constructs and principles of Bayesianism, and relates them to important contributions in the theoretical accounting literature. The approach taken is essentially "old-fashioned" normative statistics, building on the expositions of Demski, Ijiri, Feltham and other early accounting theorists who brought Bayesian theory to accounting theory. Some history of this nexus, and the role of business schools in the development of Bayesian statistics in the 1950–1970s, is described. Later developments in accounting, especially noisy rational expectations models under which the information reported by firms is endogenous, rather than unaffected or "drawn from nature", make the task of Bayesian inference more difficult yet no different in principle. The information user must still revise beliefs based on what is reported. The extra complexity is that users must allow for the firm's perceived disclosure motives and other relevant background knowledge in their Bayesian models. A known strength of Bayesian modelling is that subjective considerations are admitted and formally incorporated. Allowances for perceived self-interest or biased reporting, along with any other apparent signal defects or "information uncertainty", are part and parcel of Bayesian information theory.


—Vision transformers, which were originally developed for natural language processing, have recently generated significant interest in the computer vision and audio communities due to their flexibility in learning long-range relationships. Constrained by data hungry nature of transformers and limited labelled data most transformer-based models for audio tasks are finetuned from ImageNet pretrained models, despite the huge gap between the natural images domain and audio domain. This has motivated the research in self-supervised pretraining of audio transformers, which reduces the dependency on large amounts of labeled data and focuses on extracting concise representation of the audio spectrograms. In this paper, we propose ASiT, a novel self-supervised transformer for general audio representations that captures local and global contextual information employing group masked model learning and self-distillation. We evaluate our pretrained models on both audio and speech classification tasks including audio event classification, keyword spotting, and speaker identification. We further conduct com-prehensive ablation studies, including evaluations of different pretraining strategies. The proposed ASiT framework significantly boosts the performance on all tasks and sets a new state-of-the-art performance on five audio and speech classification tasks, outperforming recent methods, including the approaches that use additional datasets for pretraining. The code and pretrained weights will be made publicly available for the scientific community.


Introduction: Patients addicted to alcohol or drug often have additional unhealthy lifestyles, adding to the high mortality and morbidity in this patient group. Therefore, it is important to consider lifestyle interventions as part of the usual addiction treatment. Objective: The aim was to identify predictors of successful changes in lifestyle risk factors among patients in treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a trial using a 6-week intensive integrated lifestyle intervention: The very integrated program (VIP). Patients were recruited in Addiction Centres Malmö and Psychiatry Skåne, Sweden. The primary outcome was successful changes in lifestyle, measured as quitting tobacco, exercising 30 min per day, and not being over- or underweight after 6 weeks and 12 months. Results: A total of 212 patients were included in the RCT, and 128 were included in this secondary analysis: 108 at 6 weeks and 89 at 12 months of follow-up. A total of 69 patients were respondents at both follow-ups. The follow-up rates were 51 and 42%, respectively. More education, having at least 2 lifestyle risk factors and having a high quality of life were predictors of a successful change in lifestyle after 6 weeks. After 12 months, the predictors for a successful outcome were having 3 or more risk factors, while an education level up to 3 years was a negative predictor. Conclusions: Having several unhealthy lifestyles in addition to alcohol and drug addiction was a significant predictor of successful lifestyle changes in the short- and long term after the VIP for lifestyle interventions. Likewise, education was significant. The results should be considered in future development and research among this vulnerable group of patients.


State space modeling is an efficient and flexible method for statistical inference of a broad class of time series and other data. This paper describes the R package KFAS for state space modeling with the observations from an exponential family, namely Gaussian, Poisson, binomial, negative binomial and gamma distributions. After introducing the basic theory behind Gaussian and non-Gaussian state space models, an illustrative example of Poisson time series forecasting is provided. Finally, a comparison to alternative R packages suitable for non-Gaussian time series modeling is presented.


Figure-ground (FG) segregation that separates an object from the rest of the image is a fundamental problem in vision science. A majority of neurons in monkey V2 showed the selectivity to border ownership (BO) that indicates which side of a contour owns the border. Although BO could be a precursor of FG segregation, the contribution of BO to FG segregation has not been clarified. Because FG segregation is the perception of the global region that belongs to an object, whereas BO determination provides the local direction of figure (DOF) along a contour, a spatial integration of BO might be expected for the generation of FG. To understand the mechanisms underlying the perception of figural regions, we investigated the interaction between the local BO determination and the global FG segregation through the quantitative analysis of the visual perception and the spatiotemporal characteristics of eye movements. We generated a set of novel stimuli in which translucency induces local DOF along the contour and global FG independently so that DOF and FG could be either consistent or contradictory. The perceptual responses showed better performance in DOF discrimination than FG segregation, supporting distinct mechanisms for the DOF discrimination and the FG segregation. We examined whether the contradiction between DOF and FG modulates the eye movement while participants judged DOF and FG. The duration of the first eye fixation was modulated by the contradiction during FG segregation but not DOF discrimination, suggesting a sequential processing from the BO determination to the FG segregation. These results of human perception and eye fixation provide important clues for understanding the visual processing for FG segregation.


Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has decreased morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. With the adoption of the 90-90-90 strategy prevention and control of non-communicable disease, particularly knowledge of the burden and profile of cardiovascular disease, will become increasingly important. Our study assessed cardiovascular risk among recently diagnosed HIV-infected ART-naïve patients in a first referral urban hospital in a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV-positive ART-naïve patients were submitted to cardiovascular risk assessment, clinical history, physical examination and laboratory workout, including 12-lead electrocardiography, portable transthoracic echocardiography, glycemia, lipidemia, hemogram and D-dimers. Three years after the diagnosis their vital status and occurrence of major cardiovascular events was assessed. We recruited 70 patients, all of black ethnicity (41 females; mean age 37±10.7). CD4 levels were very low (mean 21.3 cells/mL; SD 10.4). Twenty-one (26.6%) were overweight, 13 (16.7%) were obese, 19 (20.5%) had hyperglycemia and 20 patients (25.6%) had hypercholesterolemia. The median blood pressure was 119.5/79 mmHg (IQR 107-141/67-83); 20 patients (25.6%) had hypertension. Four (5.7%) patients had signs of heart failure, and left ventricular ejection fraction was reduced in 17 (25%). High levels of circulating D-dimers were found in 44 (62.8%) patients; the mean levels were 725.9 (SD 555.1). We found high occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors, left ventricular dysfunction and evidence of a pro-coagulant state in these HIV-infected ART-naïve patients. Active cardiovascular risk screening and stratification, as well as management protocols tailored to low-income settings are needed to sustain the gains obtained with increased availability of ART in Africa.


Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major inducer of skin aging and accumulated exposure to UV radiation increases DNA damage in skin cells, including dermal fibroblasts. In the present study, we developed a novel DNA repair regulating material discovery (DREAM) system for the high-throughput screening and identification of putative materials regulating DNA repair in skin cells. First, we established a modified lentivirus expressing the luciferase and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) genes. Then, human dermal fibroblast WS-1 cells were infected with the modified lentivirus and selected with puromycin to establish cells that stably expressed luciferase and HPRT (DREAM-F cells). The first step in the DREAM protocol was a 96-well-based screening procedure, involving the analysis of cell viability and luciferase activity after pretreatment of DREAM-F cells with reagents of interest and post-treatment with UVB radiation, and vice versa. In the second step, we validated certain effective reagents identified in the first step by analyzing the cell cycle, evaluating cell death, and performing HPRT-DNA sequencing in DREAM-F cells treated with these reagents and UVB. This DREAM system is scalable and forms a time-saving high-throughput screening system for identifying novel anti-photoaging reagents regulating DNA damage in dermal fibroblasts.


First measurements on a combined instrument with a thin fibre optic Raman probe mounted inside a hollow tactile resonance sensor have been performed in ambient light on porcine tissue. The ambient fluorescent light was removed successfully from the spectra. The stiffness and the biomolecular composition of the tissue were analysed.


Policy interventions and social marketing campaigns to educate young adults of the risks associated with excessive amounts of alcohol have gained momentum. Yet many young adults engage in risky drinking behavior; especially at hedonic social gatherings. The authors affirm there has been growth in music festivals yet the relationship with alcohol, the shared emotional experience and the increased promotion of alcohol through this vehicle is limited. Therefore, we explore this phenomena using real-time data from festival attendees through experience sampling (ESM), photo-elicitation techniques and post-festival qualitative expositional interviews to inform and guide policy initiatives. The findings show that extreme drinking is considered an essential part of the festival experience, is encouraged by peers and not discouraged by the festival organisers or alcohol brands. However, of greater importance is the evidence of self-reguation and a clear understanding of the dangers of 'over' consumption. It is recommended that public policy makers regulate music festivals in terms of alcohol sponsorhip and that social marketing campaigns harness 'camaraderie-style' approaches as collective influence and peer pressure has great potential to change alcohol behavior in a positive way.


ABSTRACT Since the invention of artificial light, people have been working, studying, and playing for longer hours than ever before. They are also sleeping less as a result. This article examines the impact of sleep deprivation on people generally, and specifically on college students. Students accrue a large sleep debt that impairs their ability to function adequately. Students suffering from sleep deprivation can be as impaired as if they are drunk. They suffer damage to their minds and bodies. Adequate sleep can repair this damage, but with the many demands on college students, they may be unlikely to be able to accomplish this. Studies have indicated that naps are beneficial in helping to reduce students' sleep debts. Universities are realizing the importance of naps, and university libraries may be ideal locations for napping stations. Several options of providing students with safe comfortable napping areas are discussed.


Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is the most potent microvascular vasodilator known. It exerts effects centrally as well as in the gastrointestinal, respiratory and endocrine system. However, its role in cardiovascular regulation remains controversial. We studied the hemodynamic and autonomic function in CGRP knockout (KO) mice. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and activity level were assessed at least one week after mice were implanted with telemeters. Ten CGRP KO and ten wild type (WT) mice (3-4month old) were used in this study. After the recording period, 24-hr urine and blood were collected for assessment of catecholamine and their metabolites. To study the baroreflex sensitivity, phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside were administered in an acute study with seven mice from each group. We found higher blood pressure at rest during daytime in the CGRP KO mice (102.4 ± 1.652mmHg, vs. 110.5 ± 3.242mmKg, p = 0.039), though not in 24-hr mean arterial pressure (MAP) (105.0 ± 1.789mmHg, vs. 112.1 ± 3.123mmHg, p = 0.05). There was no difference in HR in the two groups (KO: 566.4 ± 12.09; WT: 581.9 ± 8.544, p = 0.31). Norepinephrine was greatly elevated in both plasma and 24-hr urine in KO mice (in urine: KO: 956.7 ± 90.65 pg/ml, WT: 618.1 ± 46.15pg/ml, p = 0.004; in plasma: KO: 2505 ± 596.3pg/ml, n=6, WT: 1168 ± 98.05 pg/ml, p = 0.04). Baroreflex sensitivity was higher in the KO mice (KO: 3.217 ± 0.6852 ms/mmHg, n=7, WT: 1.398 ± 0.2583 ms/mmHg, n=7, p=0.03). The activities level was slightly lower in the KO mice (KO: 6.717 ± 1.059 counts/min, WT: 10.59 ± 1.787 counts/min p = 0.08). However, KO mice that were 6-8 month old were heavier compared to WT mice of the same age (KO: 30.65 ± 0.6009 g, n=17, WT: 27.89 ± 0.6345 g, n=17, p = 0.004). While CGRP might seem to contribute less to the physiological regulation of blood pressure in young adult mice due to their better baroreflex function, it likely contributes to blood pressure and sympathetic activation in older mice. Therefore, further study in BP, HR and metabolic syndromes in old CGRP KO mice is required.


For years, the international development community has been considering poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon, which takes into account not only income or consumption of the poor, but also their access to basic needs (education, health, etc.) and resources (credit, social network, etc.). In Vietnam, since 2016, the Government has adopted the multidimensional approach to thoroughly measure poverty. This paper is an attempt to assess the state and evolution of multidimensional poverty in the rural areas of Vietnam, using data from the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey 2008-16. Results show remarkable improvement of the living conditions in the rural areas, with a greater pace shown among the ethnic minority groups. However, there need to be more efforts to reduce the gap in poverty headcount ratios among Kinh and non-Kinh groups, households with male and female heads, and among households in different provinces. Some of the main suggestions to reduce multidimensional poverty in Vietnam is to increase households' access to health care services, education, clean water and hygienic latrines, and to improve the presence of such service providers near the households' locations.


Domain Adaptation (DA) approaches achieved significant improvements in a wide range of machine learning and computer vision tasks (i.e., classification, detection, and segmentation). However, as far as we are aware, there are few methods yet to achieve domain adaptation directly on 3D point cloud data. The unique challenge of point cloud data lies in its abundant spatial geometric information, and the semantics of the whole object is contributed by including regional geometric structures. Specifically, most general-purpose DA methods that struggle for global feature alignment and ignore local geometric information are not suitable for 3D domain alignment. In this paper, we propose a novel 3D Domain Adaptation Network for point cloud data (PointDAN). PointDAN jointly aligns the global and local features in multi-level. For local alignment, we propose Self-Adaptive (SA) node module with an adjusted receptive field to model the discriminative local structures for aligning domains. To represent hierarchically scaled features, node-attention module is further introduced to weight the relationship of SA nodes across objects and domains. For global alignment, an adversarial-training strategy is employed to learn and align global features across domains. Since there is no common evaluation benchmark for 3D point cloud DA scenario, we build a general benchmark (i.e., PointDA-10) extracted from three popular 3D object/scene datasets (i.e., ModelNet, ShapeNet and ScanNet) for cross-domain 3D objects classification fashion. Extensive experiments on PointDA-10 illustrate the superiority of our model over the state-of-the-art general-purpose DA methods.


Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with high-grade osteosarcoma has highly improved the clinical survival. However, the prognostic and predictive role of P16 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear. We first determined whether P16 expression can become a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker in high-grade osteosarcoma. Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Eligible studies were pooled and the overall odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in this analysis. Results: Four studies involving a total of 527 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were identified. We did not find that P16 expression was correlated with sex status, histologic subtype, and tumor site (P > .1). P16 expression was found to be significantly associated with a "good" response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 4.69, P < .001). A significant relationship was observed between p16 expression and pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using multivariate analysis (OR = 9.63, P = .001). The expression of the P16 was not associated with clinical outcomes in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) by multivariate analysis (OS: P = .448; DFS: P = .263). Conclusions: The use of P16 expression could become a promising predictive biomarker of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the white population with high-grade osteosarcoma. However, it was not correlated with the prognosis of patients in OS and DFS. More clinical researches are very essential in Asians in the future.


Abstract. Vegetation fires influence global vegetation distribution, ecosystem functioning, and global carbon cycling. Specifically in South America, changes in fire occurrence together with land use change accelerate ecosystem fragmentation and increase the vulnerability of tropical forests and savannas to climate change. Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) are valuable tools to estimate the effects of fire on ecosystem functioning and carbon cycling under future climate changes. However, fire-enabled DGVMs have partly poor performances in capturing the magnitude, spatial patterns, and temporal dynamics of burnt area as observed by satellites. As fire is controlled by the interplay of weather conditions, vegetation properties and human activities, fire modules in DGVMs can be improved in various aspects. As a starting point, we here focus on improving the controls of climate and hence fuel moisture content on fire danger in the LPJmL4-SPITFIRE DGVM in South America and especially for the Brazilian fire-prone biomes Caatinga and Cerrado. We therefore test two alternative model formulations (standard Nesterov index and a newly implemented water vapor pressure deficit) for climate effects on fire danger within a formal model-data integration setup where we estimate model parameters against satellite data sets of burnt area (GFED4) and above ground biomass of trees. Our results show that the optimized model improves the representation of spatial patterns and the seasonal to inter-annual dynamics of burnt area especially in the Cerrado/Caatinga region. In addition, the model improves the simulation of above-ground biomass and plant functional types (PFTs). We obtained the best results by using the water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for the calculation of fire danger. The VPD includes, in comparison to the Nesterov index, a representation of the air humidity and the vegetation density. This work shows the successful application of a systematic model-data integration setup, as well as the integration of a new fire danger formulation, in order to optimize a process-based fire-enabled DGVM. It further highlights the potential of this approach to achieve a new level of accuracy in comprehensive global fire modelling and prediction.


Two patients who developed fungal peritonitis after receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for various periods were successfully treated with intracatheter retention of amphotericin B 1-2 mg and oral flucytosine or fluconazole 50 mg b.i.d. for 5 weeks. The catheter was not removed and efficient peritoneal permeability was maintained. We suggest that intracatheter retention of antifungal agents to sterilize the catheter with simultaneous oral antifungal agents be used to eradicate peritoneal infection. The catheter may not have to be removed, and CAPD can be accomplished. Period of hospitalization may be shortened, and the efficiency of CAPD can be maintained.


OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of MAPK signal transduction in TGF-beta1 induced phenotypic differentiation of human lung fibroblasts. METHOD Human lung fibroblasts cell line (HLF-02) were cultured and then stimulated with 10 ng/ml TGF-beta1 for different time; SB203580 or PD98059 was added into culture medium to prevent p38 or Erk kinase pathway before incubating with TGF-beta1; the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR; Western blotting was used to assay phosphorylation of p38, Erk, and JNK kinase. RESULTS (1) In the process of stimulation by TGF-beta1, the alpha-SMA mRNA expression levels of 24, 48 and 72 h groups were 1.87 +/- 0.11, 2.49 +/- 0.10, 3.02 +/- 0.15 respectively; and the alpha-SMA protein expression levels of 24, 48 and 72 h groups were 3.20 +/- 0.14, 3.96 +/- 0.21, 4.57 +/- 0.13 respectively. (2) TGF-beta1 induced p38, Erk kinase phosphorylation but not JNK kinase. (3) The inhibitors SB203580 and PD98059 suppressed TGF-beta1-induced p38 kinase and Erk phosphorylation respectively. (4) SB203580 significantly attenuated TGF-beta1-induced alpha-SMA mRNA and protein expression (inhibition rate: 30% and 40%); PD98059 also significantly inhibited TGF-beta1-induced alpha-SMA mRNA and protein expression (inhibition rate: 10% and 20%). CONCLUSION TGF-beta1 is capable of inducing the phenotypic differentiation of HLF-02, which is regulated by p38 and Erk kinase signal pathway.


This article is based on the findings from a Master of Education dissertation, which explored the partnership between a junior school (Year 7–10) in New Zealand and VineLife Limited—a technology company based in Auckland. In this partnership, the students completed a design sprint, including a series of activities that required them to apply design thinking to a specific problem: investigating how to best use a sensor to scan trees within a forest for diseases. This article explores the benefits of such school–industry partnerships and shares insights gained from the research, including the benefits of exploring authentic problems, engaging with external audiences and encouraging student agency and critical thinking. Assertions are made about the need for a person to liaise between the school and industry to best enable Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based learning in schools.


High-precision uranium-thorium mass spectrometric chronology and 18O-13C isotopic analysis of speleothem calcite from Cold Water Cave in northeast Iowa have been used to chart mid-Holocene climate change. Significant shifts in †18O and †13C isotopic values coincide with well-documented Holocene vegetation changes. Temperature estimates based on 18O/16O ratios suggest that the climate warmed rapidly by about 3�C at 5900 years before present and then cooled by 4�C at 3600 years before present. Initiation of a gradual increase in †13C at 5900 years before present suggests that turnover of the forest soil biomass was slow and that equilibrium with prairie vegetation was not attained by 3600 years before present.


Abstract The APOBEC3 (A3) family of cytidine deaminases plays a vital role for innate defense against retroviruses. Lentiviruses such as HIV-1 evolved the Vif protein that triggers A3 protein degradation. There are seven A3 proteins, A3A-A3H, found in humans. All A3 proteins can deaminate cytidines to uridines in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), generated during viral reverse transcription. A3 proteins have either one or two cytidine deaminase domains (CD). The CDs coordinate a zinc ion, and their amino acid specificity classifies the A3s into A3Z1, A3Z2, and A3Z3. A3 proteins occur as monomers, dimers, and large oligomeric complexes. Studies on the nature of A3 oligomerization, as well as the mode of interaction of A3s with RNA and ssDNA are partially controversial. High-resolution structures of the catalytic CD2 of A3G and A3F as well as of the single CD proteins A3A and A3C have been published recently. The NMR and X-ray crystal structures show globular proteins with six α-helices and five β sheets arranged in a characteristic motif (α1-β1-β2/2′-α2-β3-α3-β4-α4-β5-α5-α6). However, the detailed arrangement and extension of individual structure elements and their relevance for A3 complex formation and activity remains a matter of debate and will be highlighted in this review.


ABSTRACT 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands suppress 17β-estradiol (E)-induced responses in the rodent uterus and mammary tumors and in human breast cancer cells. Treatment of ZR-75, T47D, and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with TCDD induces proteasome-dependent degradation of endogenous estrogen receptor α (ERα). The proteasome inhibitors MG132, PSI, and PSII inhibit the proteasome-dependent effects induced by TCDD, whereas the protease inhibitors EST, calpain inhibitor II, and chloroquine do not affect this response. ERα levels in the mouse uterus and breast cancer cells were significantly lower after cotreatment with E plus TCDD than after treatment with E or TCDD alone, and our results indicate that AhR-mediated inhibition of E-induced transactivation is mainly due to limiting levels of ERα in cells cotreated with E plus TCDD. TCDD alone or in combination with E increases formation of ubiquitinated forms of ERα, and both coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid assays demonstrate that TCDD induces interaction of the AhR with ERα in the presence or absence of E. In contrast, E does not induce AhR-ERα interactions. Thus, inhibitory AhR-ERα cross talk is linked to a novel pathway for degradation of ERα in which TCDD initially induces formation of a nuclear AhR complex which coordinately recruits ERα and the proteasome complex, resulting in degradation of both receptors.


BACKGROUND
Although widely used by infants, little is known about the long-term effects of pacifiers. We investigated relationships between pacifier use in infancy and appetite, temperament, feeding, and weight outcomes through age 2 years using data from the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories study.

METHODS
Mother-newborn dyads were randomized to a responsive parenting intervention for obesity prevention or a control group. Infants with data on pacifier use (n = 250) were categorized as using a pacifier beyond early infancy (≥4 months of age) or not. Anthropometrics were measured at 6 months, 1, and 2 years with overweight defined as weight-for-length ≥95th percentile at 1 year and BMI ≥85th percentile at 2 years. Mothers completed questionnaires on temperament, appetite, and feeding.

RESULTS
Infants who used a pacifier at 4 months or later (68%) had greater conditional weight gain from birth to 6 months (p = 0.01), weight-for-length z-score at 1 year (p < 0.001), and BMI z-score at 2 years (p < 0.001) than infants who did not. Infants using a pacifier at ≥4 months were more likely to be overweight at ages 1 year (11.7% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.03) and 2 years (20.1% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.03). Pacifier use was associated with shorter breastfeeding duration and less responsive parent feeding styles, but these variables did not mediate the relationship between pacifiers and weight. Parent-reported temperament and appetite were unrelated to pacifier use.

CONCLUSIONS
Pacifier use beyond early infancy is associated with accelerated infant growth and toddler overweight, although the reasons for this relationship are unclear.


The case examines one of the most significant infrastructure projects in southeastern Europe during a time when the legal and financial environment for project financing was in its infancy (early to mid-1990s). Athens needed a ring road to support its bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games. The road was technically - as well as logistically - complex, involving 33 municipalities and construction that involved a major metropolitan area (Athens) populated by more than 3.5 million inhabitants. The case examines the economics of the project, how private-public partnerships (PPP) are structured, and the broader field of infrastructure finance.


In this paper, we exploit the potential of the GPU in order to accelerate the process of 3D shape retrieval in large databases. Indeed, the massive parallelism of the GPU offers a huge performance in much high-performance computing (HPC) applications. Our solution consists to accelerate the shape matching process of methods that use a specific similarity metric called Clock Matching (CM). This CM measure is used by view-based methods as an efficient solution to compare two 3D models even if they are not presented in same pose and orientation by taking into account all possible poses in the matching phase. However, the increase in the number of comparisons has a strong influence on the execution time. Our challenge is to exploit the maximum benefit of GPU computing resource by considering the difficulty of implementing the CM metric on GPU. Indeed, the descriptor of a given 3D object is organized using a specific data structure (hash table), where only the information whose values are not equal to zero appears in the feature vector, which makes the parallelization on GPU to be not trivial. Experiment results show a reasonable benefit from the GPU approach.


This research aims to study the obstacles to establishing and implementing operational budgeting in insurance branches of social security organization Tehran. The research is practical in terms of purpose and the statistical population in this research includes 60 people of budget managers and experts in the branches of social security organization of Tehran. The method is census and therefore, no sampling is applied. After comparing and assessing the approved budget with the performance budget in the branches of the social security organization in achieving its goals and policies, some strategies are offered to reduce the cost and increase the revenue in the studied organization.


Dataset includes Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell (DBFC) impedance and
polarization test in anode with Pd/C, Pt/C and Pd decorated Ni–Co/rGO catalysts. In fact, different
concentration of Sodium Borohydride (SBH), applied voltages and various anode catalysts loading with explanation of experimental details of
electrochemical analysis are considered in data. Voltage, power density and resistance of DBFC change as
a function of weight percent of SBH (%), applied voltage and amount of anode
catalyst loading that are evaluated by polarization and impedance curves with
using appropriate equivalent circuit of fuel cell. Can be stated that
interpretation of electrochemical behavior changes by the data
of related cell is inevitable, which can be useful in simulation, power source investigation
and depth analysis in DB fuel cell researches.


Legal Writing guides students comprehensively through this essential legal skill, and addresses a range of examining methods, from questions to final essays and problem answers. It considers how to deconstruct essay and problem questions and how to conduct and apply legal research to answer set questions.


This paper examines a number of key questions relating to Canadian copyright law and it's impact on the music market in Canada including: 1) Whether Canadian Copyright law has adapted well to the digitisation of content and the spread of the internet over the past 20 years? If not, how did we arrive at this outcome, and what offers a better legal approach? and 2) What are the economic consequences of any weaknesses identified in Canadian copyright law relative to the better legal approach? In particular what is the extent of the total "Value Gap�? in recorded music these weakness may have generated, where the "Value Gap�? refers to the disparity between the market value of creative content accessed by consumers, and the revenues received by the artists and businesses who create the content. The Value Gap occurs when third parties commercially exploit artists' creations online without fully compensating them for their market value, or at all. And finally 3) How does the total value gap in recorded music break down by music market segment, in particular music video streaming (YouTube), audio streaming (Spotify etc.), radio, downloads (iTunes etc.) and physical sales (CD's etc). In short this paper identifies weaknesses in statutory copyright law in Canada, explores their adverse consequences for artists and other music stakeholders, and measures the consequent size of the value gap in the recorded music industry in Canada. The paper identifies the weaknesses in statutory copyright law in Canada in the extensive limitations, exceptions, and immunities in current statutory copyright law, and isolates a better approach. The many exceptions, limitations and immunities to copyright in Canadian statutory law have together led to the situation where the authorization of rights holders is effectively not required for use of creators' works. As a consequence this has caused a large Value Gap to emerge that continues to grow. The paper shows that from the outset Canadian statutory copyright law created a very weak liability regime, that was then both very slow to adapt, and further badly adapted to new technological developments associated with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry revolution. Canadian Copyright law is shown to have consistently failed to adapt well to technological developments in ICT since the first use of the electromagnetic spectrum to support Radio from the 1920's, through to the use of the internet to support the distribution music from the 1990's.This has led to the weakening of the rights of copyright holders over time. The analysis in the paper confirms not only that the Value Gap due to poor copyright law exists, but also that it is considerably greater than many observers have previously concluded. Furthermore, the paper confirms the Value Gap continues to increase, even with the growing popularity of music streaming services. The evidence reviewed suggests the value gap will continue to grow unless federal policymakers in Canada implement measures to prevent the unauthorized commercial exploitation of creative works and thereby ensure that creators are compensated at fair market rates. Specific solutions in terms of law reform are further identified. The extent of the Value Gap as a result of poor copyright law is summarised in three key numbers (in CAD): �? $19.3 billion: the cumulative Canadian recorded music Value Gap over 20 years since 1997. �? $1.6 billion: the music industry Value Gap in Canada in 2017 alone. Absent this gap, 2017 revenues would have reached $2.2 billion – nearly four times the actual revenues of $570 million. �? $82 million: the average annual increase in the Value Gap from 1997 to 2017 in Canada. A significant source of this weakness is found in the "safe harbours�? in the Copyright Act that exempt active intermediaries like YouTube from paying market royalties to creators when musical works are commercially exploited on their service. This undermines the ability of right holders to enforce their rights in digital music distribution, thereby allowing these commercial intermediaries to avoid compensating rights holders, wholly or in part. I estimate the Value Gap or deficit between the market value of the music distributed by YouTube and what it pays to creators as a result is alone contributes approximately $550 million per annum to the total value gap in Canada. Other exceptions in the Copyright Act increase the gap between the market value generated by music consumption and payments to right holders. In each case, commercial music users exploit recordings for commercial gain, but little to none of the economic value is passed on to creators. Simple examples include: • The radio royalty exemption, which exempts commercial radio stations broadcasting sound recordings from paying royalties on their first $1.25 million in advertising revenue; and • The definition of a "sound recording�? used in TV and film soundtracks, which effectively exempts royalty payments to performers and creators (but incongruously, not songwriters, composers and music publishers) when their recordings are played in TV and film soundtracks.


The "BIO-Sulfex" biofilter of ATZ-EVUS removes hydrogen sulfide from biogas in a biological way. Hydrogen sulfide causes massive problems during power generation from biogas in a power plant, e.g. corrosion of engines and heat exchangers, and thus causes frequent and therefore expensive engine oil changes. The BIO-Sulfex module is placed between the digester and the power-plant and warrants a cost-effective, reliable and fully biological desulfurization. In the cleaned gas concentrations of less than 100 ppm can be achieved. Power-plant manufacturers usually demand less than 500 or less than 200 ppm. At present, several plants with biogas flow rates between 20 and 350 m3/h are in operation.


Zika virus has emerged as a global concern because neither a vaccine nor antiviral compounds targeting it exist. A structure for the positive-sense RNA genome has not been established, leading us to look for potential G-quadruplex sequences (PQS) in the genome. The analysis identified >60 PQSs in the Zika genome. To minimize the PQS population, conserved sequences in the Flaviviridae family were found by sequence alignment, identifying seven PQSs in the prM, E, NS1, NS3, and NS5 genes. Next, alignment of 78 Zika strain genomes identified a unique PQS near the end of the 3′-UTR. Structural studies on the G-quadruplex sequences found four of the conserved Zika virus sequences to adopt stable, parallel-stranded folds that bind a G-quadruplex-specific compound, and one that was studied caused polymerase stalling when folded to a G-quadruplex. Targeting these PQSs with G-quadruplex binding molecules validated in previous clinical trials may represent a new approach for inhibiting viral replication.


Considering the lack of knowledge on genetic variation on members of the freshwater red algal of the order Batrachospermales in tropical regions, phylogeographic patterns in Sirodotia populations were investigated using two mitochondrial regions: the cox2‐3 spacer and partial cox1 gene (barcode). Individuals identified as Sirodotia delicatula were analyzed from 14 stream segments across its distribution in Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large sub‐unit gene showed three clades, one representing S. delicatula, from all locations in southeastern Brazil and other regions from Brazil. The remaining samples formed two clades, which were highly divergent and distantly positioned from those of S. delicatula: 2.5–2.7% and 3.4–3.7%. This level of variation would warrant the species split of these taxa from mid‐western Brazil. A total of eight cox2‐3 spacer and nine cox1 haplotypes were observed among the 122 individuals studied. One location had two cox2‐3 haplotypes and three locations had two cox1 haplotypes; all others had a single dominant haplotype each. The existence of high intraspecific genetic variation among individuals of distinct locations (several haplotypes), but little variation within a location seems to be a pattern for the Batrachospermales. Haplotype networks showed low variation among the haplotypes from southeastern Brazil (10 locations with divergence of 0.3–1.1% for cox2‐3, 0.1–0.3% for cox1) and high variation among the haplotypes from the mid‐west region (four locations, 4.0–9.3% for cox2‐3, 6.2–8.4% for cox1). Thus, the present data clearly suggest the existence of cryptic species in Sirodotia in Brazil.


Abstract In this paper the need for Intelligent Computer Aided Design (Int.CAD) to jointly support design and learning assistance is introduced. The paper focuses on presenting and exploring the possibility of realizing "learning" assistance in Int.CAD by introducing a new concept called Shared Learning. Shared Learning is proposed to empower CAD tools with more useful learning capabilities than that currently available and thereby provide a stronger interaction of learning between a designer and a computer. "Controlled" computational learning is proposed as a means whereby the Shared Learning concept can be realized. The viability of this new concept is explored by using a system called PERSPECT. PERSPECT is a preliminary numerical design tool aimed at supporting the effective utilization of numerical experiential knowledge in design. After a detailed discussion of PERSPECT's numerical design support, the paper presents the results of an evaluation that focuses on PERSPECT's implementation of "controlled" computational learning and ability to support a designer's need to learn. The paper then discusses PERSPECT's potential as a tool for supporting the Shared Learning concept by explaining how a designer and PERSPECT can jointly learn. There is still much work to be done before the full potential of Shared Learning can be realized. However, the authors do believe that the concept of Shared Learning may hold the key to truly empowering learning in Int.CAD.


Objectives: To investigate the relationship between abdominal circumference (AC) growth velocity and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) to predict perinatal outcome in small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses. Methods: A cohort of 238 singleton SGA fetuses at 36-38 weeks was created. Ultrasound fetal biometry, umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery Doppler measurements were performed for each fetus. The AC growth velocity, defined as the Z score difference between 20 and 36 weeks divided by the interval in days between the two ultrasound evaluations, and the CPR centile were calculated. The lowest decile of the change in AC Z score was determined from a large database of 20 and 36 week scans in an unselected population at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. The lowest decile cut-off of AC growth velocity and CPR less than 10th centile were defined as abnormal. A composite adverse perinatal outcome (APO) was defined as 1+ of the following: umbilical artery pH <7.10, 5 min Apgar score <7, admission to neonatal intensive care, hypoglycemia, intrapartum fetal distress requiring expedited delivery, and perinatal death. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between the lowest decile of AC growth velocity and CPR <10th centile, and the APO. Results: Abnormal AC growth velocity (OR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.03 3.63; p=0.04) and CPR <10th centile (OR: 2.84, 95%CI: 1.46 5.54; p=0.002) were independent predictors of APO. AC growth velocity and CPR centile were weakly correlated (r=0.22, p=0.001). Our model provided a good fit to the data (χ2=15.428, p=0.001), and removing either AC growth velocity or CPR from the model caused a significant drop in fit. Conclusions: Which SGA fetuses are actually growth restricted, and at increased risk of adverse outcome, is the subject of intensive research. The lowest decile of AC growth velocity is a risk factor for adverse outcome independently of CPR.


We synthesized data from geologic maps, wells, seismic-reflection profiles, potential-field interpretations, and low-temperature thermochronology to refine our understanding of late Cenozoic extension and shortening in the Salinian block of the central California Coast Ranges. Data from the La Panza Range and southern Salinas Basin document early to middle Miocene extension, followed by Pliocene and younger shortening after a period of little deformation in the late Miocene. Extension took place on high-angle normal faults that accommodated ∼2% strain at the scale of the ∼50-km-wide Salinian block (oriented perpendicular to the San Andreas fault). Shortening was accommodated by new reverse faults, reactivation of older normal faults, and strike-slip faulting that resulted in a map-view change in the width of the Salinian block. The overall magnitude of shortening was ∼10% strain, roughly 4–5 times greater than the amount of extension. The timing and magnitude of deformation in our study area are comparable to that documented in other Salinian block basins, and we suggest that the entire block deformed in a similar manner over a similar time span. The timing and relative magnitude of extension and shortening may be understood in the context of central Coast Range tectonic boundary conditions linked to rotation of the western Transverse Ranges at the south end of the Salinian block. Older models for Coast Range shortening based on balanced fault-bend fold-style cross sections are a poor approximation of Salinian block deformation, and may lead to mechanically improbable fault geometries that overestimate the amount of shortening.


Background Non-invasive ventilation is increased used in preterm infants. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (nIPPV) versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) after less invasive surfactant administration (LISA). Materials and Methods In this clinical trial, eighty two preterm infants admitted in neonatal intensive care unit, Sohag University Hospital, Egypt with a gestational age of 28–34 weeks, mean ± standard deviation birth weight (1259.44±377.22 grams), suffering from RDS but not requiring intubation in the delivery room were included in the study. Forty one received nIPPV as an initial respiratory support (RS). If nIPPV failed, surfactant administration was given with the LISA approach and patients continued on nIPPV. This group was compared with a historical cohort group of 41 infants managed with nCPAP as an initial RS, and if nCPAP failed, the surfactant was given by LISA. Results There was no significant difference between the case and control group regarding the mean ± SD gestational age or birth weight. When nIPPV was used as the primary RS in preterm infants with RDS compared to nCPAP, it had a significantly less nIPPV failure (31.71% versus 53.66%, P = 0.04), had significantly fewer infants who needed invasive ventilation within the first seven days of life (12.20% versus 34.14%, P = 0.03), and the total days of supplemental oxygen was less (9 (3–18) days versus 12 (6–34) days, P = 0.02). Conclusion In infants born at 28–34 weeks gestation, nIPPV, when used as the primary RS, reduced the need for invasive ventilation and the surfactant requirement within the LISA technique.


Exercise provides many metabolic benefits for people with type 2 diabetes; nevertheless, the ability to switch substrate oxidation from fat to carbohydrate and back, known as metabolic flexibility (MetFlex), in response to prolonged exercise training has not been thoroughly explored. Purpose: The goal of this analyses was to investigate changes in MetFlex after an exercise intervention. We enrolled healthy sedentary participants with obesity (HSO) and participants with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a 10-week aerobic exercise intervention. Methods: Seventeen participants with T2DM (8 females; 52.9 years; BMI= 36.9 kg/m 2 and 9 males; 48.8 years; BMI= 33.3 kg/m 2 ) and seven HSO (5 females; 44.8 years, BMI= 37.6 kg/m 2 and 2 males; 46.5 years, BMI= 36.2 kg/m 2 ) completed the intervention. MetFlex was assessed as the respiratory quotient (RQ) kinetic response after ingesting a standard high CHO breakfast during a 24-h energy expenditure measurement in a whole-room respiratory chamber. Briefly, the kinetics between the lowest RQ and highest RQ points were analyzed by a simple linear regression between time (1-minute resolution) and RQ units (RQ Units ). Individual data were time-aligned and averaged for each group and moments (PRE and POST intervention), then slopes and intercepts for T2DM vs. HSO groups and PRE vs. POST were compared using a multiple regression model. Results: At PRE-intervention, HSO group had a significantly lower intercept than T2DM (HSO=0.737 vs. T2DM=0.705; P ) and slower RQ kinetics as demonstrated by a greater slope (HSO=0.00448 RQ Units /min vs. T2DM=0.00332 RQ Units /min; F=18.1, P=0.001 ). After the exercise intervention only T2DM significantly increased their slope (POST= 0.003944 RQ Units /min; F=6.47, P=0.013 ). Conclusions: Our results indicate that participants with diabetes significantly improve MetFlex following a prolonged aerobic exercise intervention. Disclosure E.A. Carnero: None. C.P. Bock: None. N. Stephens: None. R.E. Pratley: Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eisai Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc.. S.R. Smith: None. L.M. Sparks: None.


We exploit the similarity between source compression and channel decoding to develop a new encoding algorithm for trellis vector quantization (TVQ). We start by drawing the analogy between TVQ and the process of sequence-ML channel decoding. Then, the new search algorithm is derived based on the symbol-MAP decoding algorithm, which is used in soft-output channel decoding applications. Given a block of source output vectors, the new algorithm delivers a set of probabilities that describe the reliability of the different symbols at the encoder output for each time instant, in the minimum distortion sense. The performance of both the new algorithm and the Viterbi algorithm is compared using memoryless Gaussian and Gauss-Markov sources. The two algorithms provide expected similar distortion-rate results. This behavior is due to the fact that sequence-ML decoding is equivalent to symbol-MAP decoding of independent and identically distributed data symbols. Although the new algorithm is approximately 4 times more complex than the Viterbi (1974) algorithm, it provides distortion-dependent reliability information that can be used to improve the quality of compression.


We provide an in-depth example of modular ontology engineering with ontology design patterns. The style and content of this chapter is adapted from previous work and tutorials on Modular Ontology Modeling. It offers expanded steps and updated tool information. The tutorial is largely self-contained, but assumes that the reader is familiar with the Web Ontology Language OWL; however, we do briefly review some foundational concepts. By the end of the tutorial, we expect the reader to have an understanding of the underlying motivation and methodology for producing a modular ontology.


Winding molding is a commonly-used molding method for composite fiber materials. In this method, the fiber winding tension control is a key technique in fiber winding since the winding tension directly affects the quality of winded products. Here designed is a closed-loop tension control system, equipped with the PLC as the main controller, the industrial control computer as the upper-host, the alternating numeric servo-electromotor and air cylinder as the actuators, and with the angle sensor of real time feedback filament tension change is designed. Presented below is Fuzzy-PID control algorithm, which combines the advantages of PID and fuzzy control by adopting the theory of adapt fuzzy control in big error range and adapt PID control in small error range. Experimental results prove that the principle of the design scheme is right with tension deviation less than 4 pers, response time about 0.4s and thus meeting the requirements of the system well.


This paper investigates the relationship between stock returns volatility and trading volume in Nigeria using daily All-Share Index and closing trading volume of the Nigerian Stock Exchange for the period of 3 January 2000 to 21 June 2011. The results of GARCH (1,1) and GARCH-X (1,1) models show that the relationship between trading volume and stock returns volatility is positive and statistically significant. However, the results do not support the hypothesis that persistence in volatility disappears with inclusion of trading volume in the conditional variance equation. This finding is consistent irrespective of the distribution.


Disaster risk reduction (DRR) research has long recognised that social networks are a vital source of support during and after a shock. However, the quantification of this social support, primarily through its recognition as social capital, has proven problematic as there is no singular method for its measurement, invalidating the credibility of studies that try to correlate its effects with community disaster resilience. Within the wider resilience field, research that specifically utilises social networks as the focus of analysis is evolving. This paper provides a critical synthesis of how this developing discourse is filtering into community disaster resilience, reviewing empirical case studies from the Global South within DRR that use social network analysis and connectivity measurement. Our analysis of these studies indicates that a robust methodology utilising social network analysis is emerging, which offers opportunity for research cross-comparability. Our review also finds that without this bottom-up mapping, the implementation of top-down preparedness policy and procedures are likely to fail, resulting in the advocation of social network analysis as a critical methodology in future resilience research and policy planning.


The UK Department for International Development has announced a major shake up of its aid programme in the wake of a comprehensive review of existing expenditure. Overall the aid budget will continue to rise, but the number of countries receiving aid directly will drop from 43 to 27, and assistance channelled through aid organisations will be reallocated to "bring maximum value" for UK taxpayers.

This means major boosts in funding for several organisations that deal with global health issues, including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Unicef.

Next year's total aid budget is £8.4bn (€9.8bn; $13.7bn), and the annual figure is due to rise by 42% between now and 2014-15 in line with the government's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on official development assistance by 2013. …


Abstract : Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited disorder where patients, over the course of decades, develop large fluid filled cysts that damage the normal kidney tissue and can lead ultimately to kidney failure that necessitates transplantation or dialysis. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for this condition. Recent research reveals that the formation of cysts is due in part both to inappropriate cell growth, fluid secretion, and dysregulation of cellular energy metabolism. The enzyme AMPK regulates a number of cellular pathways, including these disease-causing features. Drugs that activate AMPK, therefore, may constitute an effective therapeutic option for slowing or preventing cyst growth in ADPKD. This research project is aimed at examining the potential of approved, widely used, inexpensive and low-toxicity drugs that can activate AMPK (metformin, simvastatin, and salicylates) and or promote oxidative metabolism (dichloroacetic acid) as potential therapies for the treatment of ADPKD. During this past research period, we optimized the measurement and analysis of various metabolites and metabolic enzymes (metabolomic biomarkers) in samples derived from cell lysates and urine and collected preliminary data in ADPKD mouse in vitro cell culture models and urine specimens derived from a cross-section of patients with ADPKD.


The population of a predefined relational schema from textual content, commonly known as Information Extraction (IE), is a pervasive task in contemporary computational challenges associated with Big Data. Since the textual content varies widely in nature and structure (from machine logs to informal natural language), it is notoriously difficult to write IE programs that unambiguously extract the sought information. For example, during extraction, an IE program could annotate a substring as both an address and a person name. When this happens, the extracted information is said to be inconsistent, and some way of removing inconsistencies is crucial to compute the final output. Industrial-strength IE systems like GATE and IBM SystemT therefore provide a built-in collection of cleaning operations to remove inconsistencies from extracted relations. These operations, however, are collected in an ad hoc fashion through use cases. Ideally, we would like to allow IE developers to declare their own policies. But existing cleaning operations are defined in an algorithmic way, and hence it is not clear how to extend the built-in operations without requiring low-level coding of internal or external functions.
 We embark on the establishment of a framework for declarative cleaning of inconsistencies in IE through principles of database theory. Specifically, building upon the formalism of document spanners for IE, we adopt the concept of prioritized repairs, which has been recently proposed as an extension of the traditional database repairs to incorporate priorities among conflicting facts. We show that our framework captures the popular cleaning policies, as well as the POSIX semantics for extraction through regular expressions. We explore the problem of determining whether a cleaning declaration is unambiguous (i.e., always results in a single repair) and whether it increases the expressive power of the extraction language. We give both positive and negative results, some of which are general and some of which apply to policies used in practice.


Abstract Salmincola californiensis infected 25 of 31 (prevalence 0.8; intensity 2–35 [mean 6.6 ± standard deviation 7.7; n = 25]) rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a private trout farm connected to the Watauga River, North Carolina. Salmincola edwardsii infected all of 9 (1.0; 2–43 [9.3 ± 13.0; 9]) brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, from Big Norton Prong, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River, North Carolina. Both lernaeopodids are well-known salmonid pathogens, but neither is native to, nor has been previously taxonomically confirmed from, the southeastern United States. Herein, we (1) use light and scanning electron microscopy to identify and provide supplemental morphological observations of these lernaeopodids, (2) furnish complementary molecular sequence data from the 28S rDNA (28S), and (3) document the pathological effects of gill infections. We identified and differentiated these lernaeopodids by the second antenna (exopod tip with large [S. californiensis] vs. slender [S. edwardsii] spines; endopod terminal segment with subequal ventral processes shorter than [S. californiensis] vs. longer than or equal to [S. edwardsii] dorsal hook), maxilliped palp (length typically ≤1/3 [S. californiensis] vs. 1/3–1/2 [S. edwardsii] subchela length exclusive of claw), and bulla (sub-circular and concave on manubrium's side [S. californiensis] vs. non-stellate [S. edwardsii]). Analysis of the 28S rDNA sequences confirmed our taxonomic assignments as demonstrated by 100% sequence similarity among the sympatric, morphologically-conspecific isolates. Histopathology revealed focal gill epithelial hyperplasia, obstruction of interlamellar water channels, lamellar fusion, and crypting of gill filaments. High intensity infections by either lernaeopodid are surveillance-worthy because they are potentially pathogenic to trout in the southeastern United States.


We consider a Gaussian multiple access channel (GMAC) where the users are sensor nodes powered by energy harvesters. The energy harvesters may have finite or infinite buffer to store the harvested energy. First, we find the capacity region of a GMAC powered by transmit nodes with an infinite energy buffer. Next, we consider a GMAC with the transmitting nodes equipped with a finite energy buffer. Initially we assume perfect knowledge of the buffer state information at both the encoders and the decoder. We provide an achievable region for this case. We also generalize the achievable region when only partial information about buffer state is available at both the encoders and the decoder.


Received: 01 August 2017 Accepted: 02 May 2018 Abstract. While operating in competition with conventional banks, Islamic banks need to push up the returns to depositors so that they could attract funds. If an Islamic bank optimizes its investment portfolio to maximize deposit returns, it might have increasing access to the supply of deposit funds. Unlike other studies, which consider return to deposit as a cost, this study considers it as means to public benefit. It has used all 53 known full-fledged Islamic banks operating in Pakistan, Malaysia and MENA countries in a panel stochastic frontier analysis for data between 2001 and 2015 and confirmed that Islamic banks are approximately 26% optimized. Mud. ārabah investment presents itself as the best candidate for boosting the efficiency. Also, if the market is favorable in terms of banking profits, market return rate of investment, banking sector development and risks, then efficiency could be increased.


Abstract. Every year during the Asian summer monsoon season from about mid-June to early September, a stable anticyclonic circulation system forms over the Himalayas. This Asian summer monsoon (ASM) anticyclone has been shown to promote transport of air into the stratosphere from the Asian troposphere, which contains large amounts of anthropogenic pollutants. Essential details of Asian monsoon transport, such as the exact timescales of vertical transport, the role of convection in cross-tropopause exchange, and the main location and level of export from the confined anticyclone to the stratosphere are still not fully resolved. Recent airborne observations from campaigns near the ASM anticyclone edge and centre in 2016 and 2017, respectively, show a steady decrease in carbon monoxide (CO) and increase in ozone (O3) with height starting from tropospheric values of around 100 ppb CO and 30–50 ppb O3 at about 365 K potential temperature. CO mixing ratios reach stratospheric background values below ∼25 ppb at about 420 K and do not show a significant vertical gradient at higher levels, while ozone continues to increase throughout the altitude range of the aircraft measurements. Nitrous oxide (N2O) remains at or only marginally below its 2017 tropospheric mixing ratio of 333 ppb up to about 400 K, which is above the local tropopause. A decline in N2O mixing ratios that indicates a significant contribution of stratospheric air is only visible above this level. Based on our observations, we draw the following picture of vertical transport and confinement in the ASM anticyclone: rapid convective uplift transports air to near 16 km in altitude, corresponding to potential temperatures up to about 370 K. Although this main convective outflow layer extends above the level of zero radiative heating (LZRH), our observations of CO concentration show little to no evidence of convection actually penetrating the tropopause. Rather, further ascent occurs more slowly, consistent with isentropic vertical velocities of 0.7–1.5 K d−1. For the key tracers (CO, O3, and N2O) in our study, none of which are subject to microphysical processes, neither the lapse rate tropopause (LRT) around 380 K nor the cold point tropopause (CPT) around 390 K marks a strong discontinuity in their profiles. Up to about 20 to 35 K above the LRT, isolation of air inside the ASM anticyclone prevents significant in-mixing of stratospheric air (throughout this text, the term in-mixing refers specifically to mixing processes that introduce stratospheric air into the predominantly tropospheric inner anticyclone). The observed changes in CO and O3 likely result from in situ chemical processing. Above about 420 K, mixing processes become more significant and the air inside the anticyclone is exported vertically and horizontally into the surrounding stratosphere.


The seasonal variations in nitrogen and phosphorus fractions and cations in 2 species of Atriplex common to Western Australia (Atriplex amnicola P.G. Wilson and Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) were investigated. Both species contain high concentrations of nitrogen (N) in winter as compared with summer when both species contain high concentrations of sodium. The sum of soluble protein-N, amino acid-N, nucleic acid-N and nitrate-N is about half of the total nitrogen. The remainder includes non-soluble protein-N and other N associated with cell membranes and walls. Phosphorus was more uniformly distributed among pools of inorganic-P, phytate-P, nucleic acid-P and other (residual) fractions. We suggest that interpretation of animal nutrition studies based on similar trichloroacetic acid (TCA) fractionations might be improved by independent estimation of soluble proteins. Fractionation using TCA provides valuable information about the subcellular distribution of both N and P in foliage tissues for study of plant physiology and animal nutrition. Concentrations of major nutrients in foliage of both species were significantly and negatively correlated with monthly maximum temperature and significantly and positively correlated with monthly rainfall. In summer and early autumn the apparent nutritive value of both species is well below the basic requirement of sheep or other grazing ruminants such as goats. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v53i1_islam


PV energy generates economic and environmental benefits (e.g., energy cost-saving, GHG emissions reduction, etc.), which can be capitalized into market prices. There is, therefore, growing interest in assessing the value that PV systems add to solar homes (i.e., homes equipped with PV production plants) market prices. Although the number of solar homes has experienced rapid growth in Europe and Italy, literature investigating the impact of PV power plants on home values is still very limited. This paper aims to fill this gap. We implement a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) approach to estimate individuals' WTP for different typologies of domestic PV plants, which vary in technical characteristics. Our findings show that homebuyers are willing to pay a price premium for solar homes, ranging from some 3% to some 15%, depending on PV panels' characteristics. These results can provide a wealth of recommendations to different interested parties such as homeowners, homebuyers, realtors, and governments, seeking knowledge on the capitalization effect of residential PV plants on the housing market to implement cost-effective investment strategies or design optimal policy incentives.


To define the causes of disabling forms of tuberculous spondylitis, 218 patients with advanced complicated forms of tuberculosis of the vertebral column were examined. Their specific process was complicated by abscesses, fistulas, deformity, and instability of the affected portion of the vertebral column, and neurological disorders. Analysis of clinical findings has indicated that the main causes of complications are late diagnosis of the disease and general practitioners' poor special knowledge. Diagnostic errors may be also caused by a larger number of asymptomatic and atypical forms of tuberculous spondylitis. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis should be improved in order to prevent complications due to spinal tuberculous and as a result its disabling forms.


In order to show the effect of training and employee development on and profitability in the industrial companies in Jordan, The study comes to examine the relationship between profitability and employee training and employee development in the industrial companies in Jordan during the period (2000- 2004). The sample of the study represents a group of (30) industrial companies in Jordan. The overall data related to the study sample were collected from several sources including the financial statements of the industrial companies, in addition to the Jordanian Central bank and Amman financial market (monthly and annually) bulletins. The suggested model has been tested by using the multiple regression techniques. The analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship existed between profitability and employee training and employee development in Jordanian Industrial Companies The study suggested some results and recommendations which might lead to enhance and develop the role of industrial companies in national economy. These recommendations represented by greater efforts are required for training employees so as to develop their abilities to be innovative and creative, developing skills of subordinates and managers, meeting customer's needs and maximizing the use of new technology.


We examined the relationship between age, race and residential location with respect to four issues salient to public park agencies, (a) citizens' perceived need for additional park land; (b) preferences for the desired function of that park land (e.g., conservation vs. recreation); (c) preferences for the style of recreation (e.g., developed vs. naturebased recreation); and, (d) level of existing visitation to local parks. Data for this study was drawn from a general population of urbanites residing within a seven-mile radius of Cleveland Metroparks' newly opened Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) was used to collect data from respondents during an 8- to 10-minute interview. Eight hundred telephone interviews were completed in December, 2000, representing an overall response rate of 77% and an overall sampling error of - 3.5 %. Four logistic regression models were generated to test the relationships of interest. Results of the study suggested that while all three variables (race, age, and residential location) contributed significantly to the models, age was the strongest predictor of support/nonsupport for additional park land. Examination of park preferences revealed that older adults and Blacks were more likely to prefer recreation to conservation than younger adults and Whites. Race, however, was the strongest of these characteristics in terms of predictive power. Race had the strongest influence on the preference for type of recreation activity. When examining park visitation, older adults and Blacks were more likely to be nonvisitors.


Single ventricular cells from 7- to 10-day-old embryonic chicks were studied with the use of whole cell, outside-out, and cell-attached patch-clamp techniques. The macroscopic delayed rectifier current, IK, activated at membrane potentials above -25 mV. Peak IK at +40 mV was 103 +/- 20 pA (5.7 +/- 1 microA/cm2). IK was selective for K ions with reversal potentials close to the Nernst equilibrium potentials. The onset of current during a voltage step was sigmoidal and was fit by the function IK = IKoo (1-e-t/tau)2. The peak time constant of activation was greater than 6 s at -25 mV (22 degrees C). Significant inactivation was not observed. IK was blocked by intracellular cesium, extracellular 1 mM 4-aminopyridine, 20 mM tetraethylammonium chloride, and 1 mM barium chloride. Single-channel recordings revealed a K+-selective channel with a slope conductance of 15 pS (extracellular [K+] = 4 mM, intracellular [K+] = 145 mM). An ensemble average of consecutive single-channel traces reproduced the whole cell current. The single-channel density was approximately 0.04/micron 2 based on frequency of patches containing the 15-pS single conductance. Approximately 100 channels/cell would sum to account for the net IK. We have described for the first time a channel underlying the main delayed rectifier current and, as such, a main repolarization current in chick ventricle.


A robust multi-fidelity design optimization methodology has been developed to integrate advantages of high- and low-fidelity analyses and alleviate their weaknesses. The aim of this methodology is to reach more efficient turbine runners with respect to different constraints, in reasonable computational time and cost. In such a framework, an inexpensive low-fidelity (inviscid) solver handles most of the computational burden by providing data for the optimizer to evaluate objective functions and constraint values in the low-fidelity phase. An open-source derivative-free optimizer, NOMAD, explores the search space. Promising candidates are selected among all feasible solutions using a filtering process. The proposed filtering process accounts for Pareto optimal solutions and considers solutions which are different in the design variable space and are dominant in their local territories. A high-fidelity (viscous) solver is used outside the optimization loop to accurately evaluate filtered solutions. Accurate information achieved by high-fidelity analyses is also employed to recalibrate the low-fidelity optimization.The developed methodology demonstrated its ability to redesign a Francis turbine blade for a given best efficiency operating condition. The original and optimized cases were evaluated and compared for a complete range of operating conditions by calculating the efficiency curves and losses of different components. The optimal blade has provided an efficient runner for the given operating conditions considering the design constraints.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


This thesis probes the role of environment in galaxy evolution, focussing particularly on understanding the links between the truncation of star formation, the transformation of galaxy structure, and environment. This study utilises deep HST imaging, photometric and spectroscopic data for galaxies within ten high-z cluster fields, which form part of the ESO Distant Cluster Survey (EDisCS). I first compare the mass--size relations of cluster and field galaxies, to address the dependence of galaxy size on environment observed from z~2.5, and which seemingly disappear at lower redshifts. I find no significant difference in the size distributions of cluster and field galaxies of a given morphology, or with similar rest-frame B-V colours. I rule out average size differences larger than 10--20 % in both cases. Thus, I conclude that if the size difference at higher-z reported in the literature is real, the growth of field galaxies seem to have caught up with that of cluster galaxies by z~1. Any putative mechanism responsible for galaxy growth has to account for the existence of environmental differences at high redshift and their absence (or weakening) at lower redshifts.

I then move on to analyse the effects of the global cluster/field environment on the internal structure of galaxies and their colours. I introduce quantitative non-parametric measures like the residual flux fraction (RFF) and the asymmetry in galaxy residuals (A_res) which measure deviations from symmetric light distributions using HST images, to explore the internal structure of galaxies. I also obtain complementary information on the probable causes of structural disturbances, both internal and external in nature, by performing visual classifications of cluster and field galaxies. Combining these two approaches of measuring galaxy structure, it is found that the RFF is a good proxy for `roughness' in the surface brightness distribution, while A_ res is more sensitive to the causes of the structural disruption. Incorporating visual morphology and environment, it was found that the external causes of disturbances were most often associated with star formation in spiral galaxies. When adding information on the star formation activity of galaxies, I discover two complementary subpopulations of galaxies abundant in clusters: visually undisturbed passive spirals, and undisturbed star-forming lenticulars. In addition to being visually symmetric, these passive cluster spirals are also consistently smoother than their star-forming counterparts. These observations, therefore, strongly advocate gentle physical processes acting on the gas content to modify the star formation properties of galaxies accreted into clusters, without large-scale disturbances in their stellar structure.

Considering the variations of quantitative galaxy structure with the star formation history of galaxies, I find that the young, star-forming galaxies are consistently rougher and more asymmetric than the galaxies with older passive stellar populations. Further, the galaxies with different average stellar ages seem to have similar distributions of RFF and A_res over cluster/field environments, thereby emphasising that the star formation history of galaxies is strongly linked to their intrinsic structure alone.
Finally, complementing the global cluster/field environment, I explore the projected phase--space as a tool to investigate possible variations in galaxy structure and their stellar ages over the internal cluster environment. The analysis with the projected phase--space shows a decrease in the fraction of galaxies with younger stellar populations in the cluster core when separated by morphology, especially for spirals. This trend, however, is less pronounced in the observed distributions of RFF and A_res across the projected phase--space and the field.

All these observations, when put together, signify that the star formation in galaxies is shut down as they get accreted into clusters, while the internal structure of galaxies remains more or less unaffected. The actual morphological change in galaxies, therefore, will follow later after the star formation has already been truncated. Furthermore, the physical mechanisms driving these transformations would, therefore, be gas extinguishing ICM processes like ram-pressure stripping and starvation, which leave the galaxy structure undisturbed.


Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have achieved remarkable performance in the task of the semi-supervised node classification. However, most existing models learn a deterministic classification function, which lack sufficient flexibility to explore better choices in the presence of kinds of imperfect observed data such as the scarce labeled nodes and noisy graph structure. To improve the rigidness and inflexibility of deterministic classification functions, this paper proposes a novel framework named Graph Stochastic Neural Networks (GSNN), which aims to model the uncertainty of the classification function by simultaneously learning a family of functions, i.e., a stochastic function. Specifically, we introduce a learnable graph neural network coupled with a high-dimensional latent variable to model the distribution of the classification function, and further adopt the amortised variational inference to approximate the intractable joint posterior for missing labels and the latent variable. By maximizing the lower-bound of the likelihood for observed node labels, the instantiated models can be trained in an end-to-end manner effectively. Extensive experiments on three real-world datasets show that GSNN achieves substantial performance gain in different scenarios compared with state-of-the-art baselines.


In D=2+1 dimensions there are two dual descriptions of parity singlets of helicity {+-}1, namely, the self-dual model of first order (in derivatives) and the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory of second order. Correspondingly, for helicity {+-}2 there are four models S{sub SD{+-}}{sup (r)} describing parity singlets of helicities {+-}2. They are of first, second, third, and fourth order (r=1, 2, 3, 4), respectively. Here we show that the generalized soldering of the opposite helicity models S{sub SD+}{sup (4)} and S{sub SD-}{sup (4)} leads to the linearized form of the new massive gravity suggested by Bergshoeff, Hohm, and Townsend (BHT) similarly to the soldering of S{sub SD+}{sup (3)} and S{sub SD-}{sup (3)}. We argue why in both cases we have the same result. We also find out a triple master action which interpolates between the three dual models: linearized BHT theory, S{sub SD+}{sup (3)}+S{sub SD-}{sup (3)}, and S{sub SD+}{sup (4)}+S{sub SD-}{sup (4)}. By comparing gauge invariant correlation functions we deduce dual maps between those models. In particular, we learn how to decompose the field of the linearized BHT theory in helicity eigenstates of the dual models up to gauge transformations.


Among the superconducting power devices developed to nowadays first of all should be mentioned superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) and superconducting fault current limiters (SFCL) since they have the best test results while operation in real electric power systems. This study is aimed to the development of superconducting magnetic systems of both these devices operating in power system together, what facilitates the solution of two tasks. The first one is to assure the dynamic stability of electric power network itself by the joint operation of SMES and SFCL. The second one is to provide an uninterrupted power supply together with the assurance of stable operation for power system with the synchronous load, e.g., for oil refineries, the main power consumers of which are parallel operating synchronous motors. Under fault event which disturbs the normal operation, we understand here the sudden short-circuit leading to the disconnection of the damaged power transmission line.