One way to treat the organic wastes accordingly to the environmental policies is to develop biological treatment like composting. Nevertheless, this development largely relies on the quality of the final product and as a consequence on the quality of the biological activity during the treatment. Favourable conditions (oxygen concentration, temperature and moisture content) in the waste bed largely contribute to the establishment of a good aerobic biological activity and guarantee the organic matter stabilisation with limitation and control of odorous and greenhouse effect gaseous emissions. Several approaches (0D biochemical reducing, see Pommier et al. 2007, effective 1D modelling coupling transport and biochemical) have been made to understand the behaviour of such systems. In this paper we will present a 2D numerical model using Darcy scale equations for heat and mass transport coupled with a biochemical reactive scheme. Then, we will solve that system (using experimental measurements on reactivity and transport coefficients) with a commercial code (COMSOL TM). The model described here is based on the biological model presented in Tremier et al 2005 coupled with an upscale transport model detailed in Henon 2008 which takes into account the major components of the gas phase: N₂, O₂, CO₂ and also H₂O. This is a crucial point because of: - The reaction rate, depending on the moisture content (humidity comes from the initial condition of the sludge but also from the reactive scheme because reactions produce water), - heat content, very sensitive to the evaporation rate in the sludge. It has been shown in Pujol et al 2011 that the impact of drying could be important on the reactivity but also that the pseudo component air could not be sufficient to represent the drying in the sludge. The process studied was a closed reactor composting process (180 m³ rectangular box) with positive forced aeration. The air was blown from the bottom of the reactor, via two ventilation pipes. In the upper part of the reactor, air was sucked and led to a biofilter treatment system. The treated waste was a mixture of sewage sludge and bulking agent that was composted during four weeks without turning. Several informations were recorded during the treatment like temperature evolutions at different locations (see Henon et al. 2009 for more details about the temperature recording). We have validated this code by comparing the temperatures obtained through the simulations with those recorded during the experiments. After this step of validation and a discussion on final composition of the organic matter in the experiments compared to the ones estimated by simulations, we have used this numerical model as an optimization tool. Modifying the initial, boundary and operating conditions we have been able to determine the best conditions to this particular composting process. A whole set of conditions is discussed in the paper.


The coastal zone is a dynamic area surrounding the interface between land and sea. The coastal area and its resources offer great benefits and opportunities for human use. Most coastal activities in Tanzania rely on the natural resources that the coas t offers (fishing, forestry, agriculture, tourism, mining, salt production mariculture etc). Therefore the condition of the coast al ecosystem and social well being are closely linked. The challenge is to maintain and improve the resources base on which those activities are dependent, while developing new economic opportunities in a way that benefits the people of the coast and the nation as a whole. A major constraint is the inadequate institution and legal framework for coastal management. Economics is about efficient allocation of resources. In normal cases market forces provide efficient allocation of resources. In fisheries, however, market forces alone can not produce an efficient allocation. And as it has been evident in this paper there is already overfishing in most of the offshore waters where majority of artisan fishernen concentrate. Thus calling for policy intervention to rescue the stock from depletion. This should include licencing, seasonal closure; finding alternative economic activities to fishermen, and community based conservation approach can as well be instituted.


The cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of a series of carcinogenic mutagens in human peripheral blood T cells exposed in culture were determined and compared with results obtained previously with diploid human skin fibroblasts. The mutagens studied were: ethylnitrosourea (ENU), (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE) and UV (254 nm) radiation. Resistance to 6-thioguanine (TG) served as the genetic marker. The T lymphocytes, cultured in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, T cell growth factor and lethally-irradiated B lymphoblastoid cells (allogeneic stimulators), exhibited population doubling times of 22 h for as long as tested, i.e. greater than 40 days, and cloning efficiencies between 30 and 50%. The T cells were exposed to the mutagens in exponential growth, 3 days after being isolated and primed to begin blast formation, using doses that reduced cell survival to between 80 and 25% of the untreated control. The background frequency of TG-resistant cells in the 14 independent populations assayed ranged from 1.2 x 10(-6) to 10.6 x 10(-6), with an average of 5.1 x 10(-6) +/- 2.8 x 10(-6). Each agent induced a dose-dependent increase in TG-resistant cells, reaching 85 x 10(-6) for UV, 260 x 10(-6) for ENU and 70 x 10(-6) for BPDE. When compared on the basis of fluence or applied concentration, T cells were 1.5-times more sensitive than fibroblasts to the cytotoxic effects of ENU, but equally as sensitive as fibroblasts to its mutagenic effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Of 8,500 consecutive cervical cytology tests in the antenatal period a positive or suspect result was found in about 1%. For the patients with a positive smear, examination under anaesthesia and small four-quadrant cervical biopsies are proposed as an alternative to antenatal conization, with its risk of subsequent haemorrhage or abortion. A waiting policy is safe and permits normal delivery in hospital. Clinical and cytological follow-up is a vital part of conization-excision therapy. For the suspect smear (dyskaryosis) follow-up tests may revert to normal, but others may become positive and demand biopsy.


Size-based indicators are important tools for understanding how environmental variability and fishing impact on marine populations and communities. Ideally, they would standardise fishery-independent survey data. However, this is not possible in many of the world's ecosystems with important commercial fisheries. Using fishery-dependent data we investigated changes in the size–structure of pelagic catches off Northern Chile and whether or not these changes are influenced by the environment. We computed singleand multispecies, size-based fishery indicators (SBFIs) from 1990 to 2008 for the main commercial species, anchovy (Engraulis ringens), sardine (Sardinops sagax), jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) and mackerel (Scomber japonicus). SBFIs indicated a downward trend of body size in the catches taking all species together; a decrease of large sardine, an increase of small jack mackerel together with a decrease limate variability ishing of larger sizes. Anchovy remained stable in body size and catch per unit of effort over the time period. Significant effects of the environment on mean length and catch per unit of effort were found for anchovy and sardine, respectively. We conclude that catches of pelagic species have shifted to smaller body sizes, with anchovy becoming the dominant species in the catches. We discuss the changes in the context of simultaneous, long-term, climate variability and fishing mortality.


Empirical research is increasingly documenting eco-evolutionary dynamics that shape ecological processes. I examine the population dynamic implications of this, analysing whether natural selection improves our ability to predict population dynamic trajectories. Fitting singlespecies population dynamic models to 3,368 and 480 timeseries for 900 species of birds and 208 mammals, I find that selection-based population dynamic models are 320 (se:1.3) times more probable on average than models with no selection. Selection is essential in 76% to 90% of AIC-selected models, explaining 80% of the population dynamics variance, with median selection regulation being 1.5 (se:1.1) times stronger than density regulation. The estimated dynamics is cyclic with median damping ratios for birds and mammals of 0.12 (se:0.0068) and 0.083 (se:0.022), and population periods of 8 (se:0.56) and 6.1 (se:1.1) generations, given stable cycles with damping ratios around zero. These results highlight the necessity of integrating natural selection into population dynamic theory, and they are discussed in relation to the literature resolving several enigmas of population dynamic cycle.


We propose a controller design for a system composed of two sets of linear heterodirectional hyperbolic PDEs, with actuation at one boundary, and coupled at the other boundary by ODEs in a PDE-ODE-PDE configuration. The design approach employs a backstepping transformation, however, the under-actuation limits the choice of target system. To deal with this limitation, we propose to use stability results from delay systems to find a stable target system. Furthermore, we propose to use a high-pass filter of the proximal reflection, in place of cancellation, to obtain controllers that are robust to small delays.


Cell adhesion molecules are involved in a number of biological functions, such as cell survival, cell differentiation, tissue repair, and development. A novel molecule, POEM (preosteoblast epidermal growth factor-like repeat protein with meprin, A5 protein, and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase mu domain), was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using a set of degenerate primers designed after other known epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like motifs. From its structure, POEM was suggested to be a novel adhesion molecule with five EGF-like domains, an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) cell binding motif, and a meprin, A5 protein, and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase mu (MAM) domain. By in situ hybridization using embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5) mouse embryos, strong expression of POEM mRNA was observed in developing kidney renal tubules, parathyroid and thyroid glands, developing bone, tooth germ, and endocrine organs of the brain. The inner ear, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle (except for the vascular system), and skin were also positive for POEM expression. Bacterial recombinant POEM protein containing the RGD sequence and MAM domain showed strong cell adhesion, spreading, and survival-promoting activities. By mutating the RGD sequence to RGE, the cell spreading and survival activities were significantly decreased, but the MAM domain was shown to contribute only to cell adhesion and not to cell spreading and survival-promoting activities. The distribution of POEM in several tissues was close to that of alpha(8)beta(1) integrin. Therefore, we conducted cell adhesion assays using KA8 cells, a K562 leukemia clone stably expressing alpha(8) integrin. Parental K562 cells, which expressed alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, bound to fibronectin but not to POEM. On the other hand, KA8 cells showed strong binding and spreading on both fibronectin and POEM. These results suggest that POEM is a novel ligand for alpha(8)beta(1) integrin and that POEM may be involved in the development and function of various tissues, such as kidney, bone, muscles, and endocrine organs.


This paper uses a unique data set covering 12 national systems to document the current state of electronic purse projects in Europe. Specifically, it presents and compares rates of penetration and use, and analyses their evolution over time. While one or two EPs perform significantly better than the others, retailer acceptance and consumer uptake invariably fall short of expectations. This does not bode well for the use of EPs on the Internet, and particularly since the virtual world presents a number of additional hurdles. On the other hand, it may also present additional opportunities.


This study aims to analyze the language variety spoken by Italian Americans gangsters in a corpus of five American drama films released in the 1990s, as well as the strategies used during the process of dubbing into Italian. Several studies have focused on the representation of Italian American gangsters in Hollywood films. However, most of the scholars who have worked on this topic have approached it from a film studies or a cultural perspective, while, to my knowledge, no one has investigated the characters' linguistic characterization. Indeed, the identity of Italian American gangsters in American movies is always clearly identifiable thanks to a series of visual and other extra-linguistic elements which recur in the films of the genre. However, it is a fact that language plays an extremely important role in the construction of the stereotyped identity of these characters, as the final result is achieved not only through the selection of the elements which act at the level of the visual code, but also thanks to the interaction of these features with the ones that act at the verbal one. Undoubtedly, the language variety spoken by the protagonists of the films that constitute the object of study of this research is heavily loaded with connotations. Such connotations definitely contribute to characterizing the speakers, conveying both their ethnic origins and their social background. The elements that characterize the variety as an ethnolect are identifiable mainly at a phonological (intonation; pronunciation), and a lexical level (phenomena of code switching and code mixing, and slang), while those which characterize it as a sociolect mainly act at a syntactic (non-standard forms), and lexical level (taboo language, and, again, slang). Italian dubbing seems to have established a set of consolidated strategies aiming at transposing the connotations conveyed by the original language in the target texts. The language variety spoken in Italian dubbing, indeed, cannot be considered as standard, as it turns out to be connoted both from a diatopic and a diastratic perspective. The characterization of the language from a diatopic perspective acts at the phonological (intonation, pronunciation), morphosyntactic (geographically connoted structures), and lexical levels (code switching and code mixing, phraseology, and slang), while the elements that connote the variety diastratically act at the syntactic (non-standard forms) and lexical levels (taboo language and, again, slang). In general, the connotations seem to be maintained in dubbing, although there are obviously differences among the various films, and some of the target texts are less connoted than their corresponding source texts.


Teachers around the world are likely to encounter students with varied backgrounds and experiences, strengths and weaknesses in their classrooms. The paper reviews the literature and available data on how teachers can be agents of inclusion in education. It focuses particularly on how teacher education and professional development systems can assist in this task. It then describes the challenges present in the existing design of systems and offers recommendations for ways forward. The article is based on the research conducted for the 2020 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report (UNESCO, 2020). Hence, it takes a broad view of inclusion in education, not limited to any groups, but rather focused on learning for all learners. The paper emphasises the central role teachers can play in accommodating students of all abilities and backgrounds. It also highlights the importance of relevant internationally comparable data on teacher training, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) and particularly its target 4.c. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and ways forward in supporting and strengthening teachers' role in building inclusion in education.


Farming systems of households in the western Uttar Pradesh have been analyzed based on the primary data collected through a sample of 197 farmers in 2004-05. The sugarcane- based farming system has been found predominant in the study area. Livestock, vegetables, cereals and sugarcane have been observed to be the main sources of farm income. The study has indicated that cross-bred breeding programme has not become popular due to low demand for milk of cross-bred cows. Credit has significant impact on farm income and credit requirement of about 86 per cent farmers is met by the institutional sources. Fragmentations and sub-divisions of landholdings, scarcity of labour, low yield of crops, less reliable markets, scarcity of owned-fund, depleting natural resources, non-availability of good quality seeds and sheds for poultry, etc. have been identified as the major constraints to promote integrated farming system in this area.


The March–April 1986 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, provided an opportunity to directly measure the flux of gas, aerosol, and ash particles during explosive eruption. Most previous direct measurements of volcanic emission rates are on plumes from fuming volcanoes or on very small eruption clouds. Direct measurements during explosive activity are needed to understand the scale relationships between passive degassing or small eruption plumes and highly explosive events. Conditions on April 3, 1986 were ideal: high winds, clear visibility, moderate activity. Three measurements were made: 1) an airborne correlation spectrometer (Cospec) provided mass flux rates of SO2; 2) treated filter samples chemically characterized the plume and 3) a quartz crystal microcascade impactor provided particle size distribution. Atmospheric conditions on April 3 caused the development of a lee wave plume, which allowed us to constrain a model of plume dispersion leading to a forecast map of concentrations of SO2 at greater distances from the vent. On April 3, 1986, the emission rate of SO2 at Augustine was 24,000 t/d, one of the largest direct volcanic rate measurements yet recorded with a Cospec. The results, coupled with analytical results from samples simultaneously collected on filters, allow us to estimate HCl emissions at 10,000 t/d and ash eruption rate at 1.5×106 t/d. Based on other data, this ash eruption rate is about 1/50 of the maximum rate during the March–April activity. Filter samples show that the gas:aerosol proportions for sulfur and chlorine are about 10:1 and 4:1, respectively. By contrast, measurements of Augustine's plume, together with ground-based gas sampling in July 1986 when the volcano was in a posteruptive fuming state, are 380 t/d SO2 and approximately 8000 t/d HCl with no ash emission. The observations of large Cl releases at Augustine support the Cl abundance conclusions of Johnston (1980) based on study of melt inclusions in the 1976 lavas. The results reinforce the need for more measurements during eruptions and for better understanding of scaling of volcanic emissions of various eruptive components.


Post-election audits use the discrepancy between machine counts and a hand tally of votes in a random sample of precincts to infer whether error affected the electoral outcome. The maximum relative overstatement of pairwise margins (MRO) quantifies that discrepancy. The electoral outcome a full hand tally shows must agree with the apparent outcome if the MRO is less than 1. This condition is sharper than previous ones when there are more than two candidates or when voters may vote for more than one candidate. For the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, a test using MRO gives a $P$-value of 4.05% for the hypothesis that a full hand tally would find a different winner, less than half the value Stark [Ann. Appl. Statist. 2 (2008) 550--581] finds.


Strategizing is a human cognitive activity. While this may suggest that business strategy would focus on human cognition, this thesis finds the opposite – that business strategy overwhelmingly treats cognition superficially, and that business strategy consequently is limited and underperforms. This thesis recommends a cognitive turn that places cognition at the centre of business strategy and thereby enables the enhanced research and execution of business strategy.   To research the question "how does business strategy treat cognition?" requires an epistemology that admits cognition. Having found no such epistemology, this thesis creates its own – Pragmatic Cognitivism. A research method that is based upon the works of Michel Foucault, and which aligns with this epistemology, is adopted to analyse two mainstream business strategy discourses and two academic business strategy discourses.   This analysis finds that business strategy, driven by Enlightenment thinking and human sciences, perceives itself to be the problem and creates a large variety of approaches to strategy and strategy solutions. The development of these approaches establishes both the discipline of strategy and the role of the strategist. The analysis concludes that business strategy often ignores cognition and, when it is considered, it is treated only as a side issue. Furthermore, strategy solutions are not cognitive solutions, tasks such as learning and designing strategy are not considered, there is no consideration of knowledge of strategy and strategy intentions, and the subconscious is rarely mentioned.   Conditions that have led to this limited treatment of cognition include a scientific approach that does not easily cater for cognition and the complexities of understanding the mind. For business strategy, this has resulted in methodological approaches, a limited scope, and underperformance. Business strategy has developed in such a way that its own context is the limiting factor – business strategy cannot perform well because its core ingredient, cognition, is left untreated.   This thesis recommends a cognitive turn in business strategy that makes cognition the centre of strategy discourses. This is not to wholly reject current discourses, but it is a fundamental shift in how business strategy is conceived, researched, and executed. By placing cognition at the centre of strategy interpretations, strategy can potentially develop higher levels of performance rather than being structurally constrained.   The necessary starting point for such a cognitive turn is epistemological – to enable cognition to be well thought. Pragmatic Cognitivism is recommended as an epistemology that enables the reinstatement of the concepts of intuition and judgment, the inclusion of the subconscious as a cognitive factor, and the consideration of group cognitive dynamics. Such a cognitive turn is not an increased drawing of theory from contemporary psychology – it is a turn to concepts initially found in pre-behavioural approaches.   This thesis seeks to understand business strategy in the present by exploring how business strategy has treated human cognition in the past.


The structure of heavy atoms in strong magnetic fields of the order of ${10}^{12}$ G, such as are generally presumed to be present on pulsars, has been previously described in terms of a magnetic Thomas-Fermi (TF) model, suitably adapted from the normal TF model. We present here a model which is analogous to the well-known screening-theory approach for ordinary, "laboratory" atoms\char22{}the electrons occupy various orbits with a transverse dimension characterized by the radius of magnetic cyclotron orbits and an over-all dimension characterized by Bohr orbits. Not only does this model give results similar to, though quantitatively more reliable than, the magnetic TF model, but it provides more insight into the structure of atoms in strong magnetic fields. For instance, the number of electrons in the $n\mathrm{th}$ shell is seen to be proportional to ${n}^{4}$ instead of the usual $2{n}^{2}$ in the laboratory situation. This accounts for the tighter binding of such atoms, a result already derived in the magnetic TF model, but also goes further in suggesting a new kind of shell structure and a new Periodic Table for atoms in strong magnetic fields. Quantum mechanically, our model is based on energy minimization with a simple analytical wave function and this represents the first time a simple wave function has been suggested for heavy atoms in strong magnetic fields. The wave function consists of an antisymmetrized product of single-particle orbitals, each of which is a product of an ordinary hydrogenic radial function and a magnetic Landau orbital so that both the spherical Coulombic and cylindrical magnetic symmetry of the problem are taken into account. However, in analogy with Bohr theory, we motivate and discuss many of the results without explicit use of this wave function. An approximate electron density function is trivially established which is itself physically more reasonable than the corresponding magnetic TF function. Further, our model is valid over a broader range of magnetic-field values and its variational-bound character allows for both successive improvements in its predictions and for a knowledge of the sign of the error in the energy estimate. Useful scaling laws are presented so that, starting from the knowledge of the ground-state energy for some $Z$ and $B$, the energy for other combinations of $Z$ and $B$ can be estimated. A second major result of this paper is that the single-particle wave function that arises during the course of the development of the many-electron wave function is of interest in itself, combining as it does aspects of both spherical and cylindrical symmetry. This simple wave function seems to describe well the ground state of the hydrogen atom at all values of the magnetic field.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of deracoxib and aspirin on serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy dogs.

ANIMALS
24 dogs.

PROCEDURE
Dogs were allocated to 1 of 3 groups of 8 dogs each. Dogs received the vehicle used for deracoxib tablets (PO, q 8 h; placebo), aspirin (23 to 25 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h), or deracoxib (1.25 to 1.8 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) and placebo (PO, q 8 h) for 28 days. Measurement of serum concentrations of T4, T3, fT4, and TSH were performed 7 days before treatment (day -7), on days 14 and 28 of treatment, and 14 days after treatment was discontinued. Plasma total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations were measured on days -7 and 28.

RESULTS
Mean serum T4, fT4, and T3 concentrations decreased significantly from baseline on days 14 and 28 of treatment in dogs receiving aspirin, compared with those receiving placebo. Mean plasma total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations on day 28 decreased significantly in dogs receiving aspirin, compared with those receiving placebo. Fourteen days after administration of aspirin was stopped, differences in hormone concentrations were no longer significant. Differences in serum TSH or the free fraction of T4 were not detected at any time. No significant difference in any of the analytes was detected at any time in dogs treated with deracoxib.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Aspirin had substantial suppressive effects on thyroid hormone concentrations in dogs. Treatment with high dosages of aspirin, but not deracoxib, should be discontinued prior to evaluation of thyroid function.


In this paper, we present a fast re-synchronization algorithm for permutation coded sequences. The new algorithm combines the dynamic algorithm and a Viterbi-like decoding algorithm for trellis codes. The new algorithm has a polynomial time complexity O(N), where N denotes the length of the sequence. A possible application to M-ary FSK for the CENELEC A band power-line communications (PLC) is considered.


Background: Whether changes in 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels after colorectal cancer diagnosis influence clinical outcomes is unclear. We investigated the association of trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels with recurrence and all-cause mortality. Methods: In total, 679 patients were included in our data analyses. Trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels were defined on the basis of vitamin D status at diagnosis, at 6 months, and 2 years after diagnosis. Observed trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels were consistent deficient levels (20%), consistent sufficient levels (39%), increasing levels (20%), and a temporary drop in levels (13%). Associations of trajectories of 25(OH)D3 with recurrence and all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: During a follow-up time of 2.2 years for recurrence and 3.5 years for all-cause mortality, 31 and 65 events occurred, respectively. No statistically significant associations were observed for vitamin D trajectories and the risk of recurrence. Patients who were consistently sufficient compared with patients who were consistently deficient had a lower risk of all-cause mortality [HR 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.21–0.73]. The risk of all-cause mortality seems lower in patients with increasing levels or a temporary drop in levels (HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27–1.10 and HR 0.40 95% CI, 0.17–0.93) relative to patients with consistent deficient levels. Conclusions: Patients with colorectal cancer following a trajectory characterized by sufficient levels of 25(OH)D3 2 years after diagnosis all appeared to have a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with patients having consistent deficient levels. Impact: Further studies should investigate how trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with colorectal cancer recurrence.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

One of the mechanisms of platinum resistance in cancer chemotherapy is the activation of DNA damage checkpoint pathways. Chk2 is a multifunctional key component of the DNA replication-monitoring S/G2 checkpoint system, which mediates DNA damage signaling following genotoxic stress and leads to DNA repair or apoptosis. Developing checkpoint kinase inhibitors for better treatment of cancer has been a major target in drug discovery over the past decade. In our study, flow cytometric experiments show that cisplatin induces an initial accumulation of cells at S phase of cell cycle followed by an increase of cell fraction at G2 phase, suggesting cisplatin-induced cell cycle arrest. Treatment of cisplatin in human ovarian carcinoma cells resulted in Chk2 phosphorylation at Thr-68 and p53 phosphorylation at Ser-15. The observed cisplatin-induced increase in p53 phosphorylation preceded (by about 12 hours) the observed increase in Chk2 phosphorylation. Elevated protein levels of ATM, p53 and P21 by cisplatin in these cells appear in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, overexpression of p53 by cDNA transfection in cells with wild type p53-function doubled the amount of Chk2 phosphorylation 48 hours after cisplatin treatment, whereas p53 knock-down by specific siRNA greatly reduced Chk2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, selective Chk2 Inhibitor (C3742) potentiated the cell-killing effect of cisplatin in both sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that after cisplatin exposure the DNA damage response pathway is activated with greatly increased Chk2 phosphorylation which is modulated by p53. Inhibition of Chk2 with a small-molecule inhibitor may overcome cisplatin resistance in cancer chemotherapy.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2982.


In the last decades, the Sahelian area was hit by an increase of flood events, both in frequency and in magnitude. In order to prevent damages, an early warning system (EWS) has been planned for the Sirba River, the major tributary of the Middle Niger River Basin. The EWS uses the prior notification of Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) to realize adaptive measures in the exposed villages. This study analyzed the performances of GloFAS 1.0 and 2.0 at Garbey Kourou. The model verification was performed using continuous and categorical indices computed according to the historical flow series and the flow hazard thresholds. The unsatisfactory reliability of the original forecasts suggested the performing of an optimization to improve the model performances. Therefore, datasets were divided into two periods, 5 years for training and 5 years for validation, and an optimization was conducted applying a linear regression throughout the homogeneous periods of the wet season. The results show that the optimization improved the performances of GloFAS 1.0 and decreased the forecast deficit of GloFAS 2.0. Moreover, it highlighted the fundamental role played by the hazard thresholds in the model evaluation. The optimized GloFAS 2.0 demonstrated performance acceptable in order to be applied in an EWS.


SINCE the early successes of Gibbon1in the maintenance of an artificial circulation in experimental animals, it has been generally recognized that such a system when perfected would be of tremendous value in human intracardiac surgery. Until recently, the workers in this field (Stokes and Gibbon,2Bjork,3Crafoord,4Jongbloed,5Dennis6and others) have concentrated their efforts on the development of an artificial system which would temporarily relieve the entire heart and lungs of their function. Such systems would have a broad field of application. Conditions of the heart and great vessels such as acquired and congenital valvular deformities, septal defects, and abnormalities of the pulmonary arteries would be amenable to a direct visual approach. An artificial heart-lung system might also be used as an emergency procedure to tide a patient over a serious cardiopulmonary crisis. All these workers have been able to maintain the


Through a series of case studies based on current research topics in Southampton, we describe optoelectronic devices whose realization is entirely dependent on new materials. The first is a practical optical fibre amplifier for the second telecommunications window at 1.3µm. Such a device based on rare-earth-doped fibres simply does not work in a silica host, where all useful emission is dissipated as heat in the glass. The second is a planar waveguide device, the lossless splitter. In this important component for fibre to the home, fibres with lengths of several metres would normally be required. New glasses allow greater concentrations of the active rare-earth dopant to be incorporated, thereby shrinking the size of the device to dimensions of a few centimetres. Thirdly, new glasses and fibres for fibre-based acousto-optic modulators will be described. These devices have the potential to allow direct modulation of the light within the fibre. Through these three case studies, we highlight the potential role of new materials in three key waveguide devices for telecommunications; amplifiers, splitters and modulators. The paper will conclude by reviewing overall efforts in Southampton in new glasses for optoelectronics, identifying key materials, their properties and applications in a global telecommunications network.


Transitions are often times of upheaval. A transition, even when positive, may be disruptive as familiar contexts, supports, and resources change. While early career academics are highly trained and experienced, the transition from doctoral student to academic involves a series of new roles and responsibilities within a new information environment, an environment that has been influenced by neoliberal ideals and become increasingly corporatised and managerial in nature. Within information behaviour research there has been a lack of research that focuses specifically on periods of transition, particularly on individuals in transition over time. Additionally, while there is information behaviour research on academics, it does not address the experiences of academics as they start their careers. This research addresses those gaps. This research used constructivist grounded theory and critical discourse analysis as methodologies to explore the information behaviour of 20 individuals transitioning from doctoral students to academics in Australia and Canada. Academics in the humanities and social sciences, who had recently moved from full - time doctoral studies to full - time academic positions, were followed for a period of between five and seven months. To triangulate the data, three data sources were used: two in - depth interviews, multiple check - ins, and documents. Interviews were analysed using grounded theory analysis, documents using critical discourse analysis. Two theoretical frameworks were used to provide analytical lenses: neoliberalism and Transitions Theory. Several major themes emerged from this research that contribute to both information behaviour research and Transitions Theory. In looking at academics' work, the number and variety of administrative and managerial tasks universities require academics to perform greatly increases their information needs. Administrative work becomes a layer over all academic work. However, universities frequently fail to provide the information academics require, leaving information needs unfulfilled. Because of this, early career academics frequently seek information from their more senior colleagues, rather than relying on textual sources. Senior colleagues provide timely, convenient, and comprehensive information. Physical proximity and the building of collegial relationships promote information sharing, informal information exchanges, and serendipitous information finding that is of great use to early career academics. Social information is instrumental for early career academics' settling in to their new positions, as doctoral studies often fail to provide an accurate picture of academic life or to fully prepare students for research, teaching, service, and administrative roles. Comparing and contrasting previous experiences to their current experience is one way that early career academics use new information to learn new ways of working and develop a sense of belonging in academia. From these findings, the theory of Systemic Managerial Constraints (SMC) emerged. SMC views the managerialism that results from neoliberalism within universities as pervasive and constraining both what work early career academics do and how they do it. However, colleagues help to ameliorate the effects of SMC and early career academics learn, as they transition, to enact their personal agency to enable them to do the work that they value.


We examine a model of locational choice in commercial media markets. Commercial media (stations) compete for audiences with their choice of programming variety in order to attract advertising revenues from advertisers. These advertisers (producers) compete in a differentiated product market and rely on advertising to inform consumers about their product. We use the model to show that media have incentives to minimize the extent of differentiation between them. This incentive is an implication of the assumed role of advertising as information and as an ultimate nuisance to the audience. When stations minimally differentiate their programming offerings, producers choose lower levels of advertising. Consequently, lower levels of product information are available to consumers, permitting producers to gain higher margins on product sales. As a result, stations can negotiate higher payments for advertising space. Copyright (c) 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


The extended Born approximation (ExBorn) has been shown an efficient formulation in the electromagnetic (EM) scattering by dielectric objects in both free-space and air-Earth half-space problems. In most cases, ExBorn is much more accurate than the conventional Born approximation at low frequencies. When the frequency is high or the contrast of dielectric objects is large, however, the ExBorn approximation becomes inaccurate. In this paper, new approximations are proposed for the EM scattering by dielectric objects buried in a lossy Earth, which are also suitable for the case of free space. It has been shown that the zeroth-order form of new approximations is completely equivalent to ExBorn. Hence, high-order approximations can be regarded as high-order ExBorn. Closed-form formulations are derived for the new approximations. Using the fast Fourier transform (FFT), these formulations can be implemented efficiently at a cost of CNlogN, where N is the number of unknowns and C is a small number. Numerical simulations show that high-order ExBorn approximations are much more accurate than the ExBorn approximation.


In this paper the performance of a (1,2)-convolutional encoder combined with continuous phase modulation is simulated. A binary sequence is used inconjunction with the above encoder and a modulation index of (h=1/4). A full response 1REC frequency shaping function is used to maintain phase continuity. A binary (uncoded)CPM with the above modulation index is also simulated. The performance in terms of the probability of bit error event is plotted against signal to noise ratio for both coded and the uncoded CPM schemes. The asymptotic performance of both schemes is plotted along with MSK for comparison purposes. The simulation algorithm used in this paper utilizes the Block Oriented System Simulator known as BOSS. The major components of this simulation are the encoder and the decoder. The encoder consists of binary random data generator and a (1,2)-convolutional encoder combined with a channel vector encoder and a random white gaussian noise generator. The decoder consists of the following modules: sequential vector bank, inner product unit, metric calculator unit, multi stage trellis, symbol decoder and error counter module.


Physician burnout has been linked to decreased job performance, increased medical errors, interpersonal conflicts, and depression. Recent multispecialty studies suggest that urologists have higher rates (up to 63.6%) of burnout compared to physicians in other specialties; however, these reports were limited by low sample sizes. 1 We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of urologist burnout, verify risk factors, and recommend preventative measures and solutions for colleagues at risk or suffering from burnout. Urologist burnout is a true entity that transcends level of training and nationality. Its roots appear to be deep-seated in our tireless efforts to strive for excellence in care for our patients, our growing academic and research pursuits, and surmounting administrative responsibilities; these virtues, which are regarded as the foundations of our career successes, are often obtained at the expense of personal health and wellbeing, as well as family sacrifice. Various other medical societies have become increasingly vocal about the issue of physician burnout and have actively initiated successful strategies to minimize its impact on their members. As an organization with a strong national presence, the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) should promote tools to prevent and interventions to assist those at risk for and suffering from burnout. Increased awareness in the general medical community has led to strategies and tools that can help prevent, identify, or assist physicians in their recovery from burnout. The CUA should develop and facilitate access to information and offer comprehensive support for urologists struggling with burnout.


While there is growing interest in the postwar era, the cultural characteristics of the period after World War II and the period's historical scope are still largely underdetermined. The purpose of this article is to offer a more nuanced use of the term postwar and insights into the cultural landscape of this enormously significant moment in the history of the West. To do so, it examines three major works of what is termed here the immediate postwar. These works are fundamentally dissimilar and yet, it is argued, share an emotional disposition. As shown, all three works exhibit a complex dialectical coupling of horror and anticipation. In other words, this article demonstrates that the cultural production of the postwar period (in the exact sense of the term) is characterized, on the one hand, by a sincere depiction of suffering and depravity but, on the other, by an intense engagement with questions about the moral and social future.


27.6%), there was no statistically relevant difference (p=0,165). Thromboaspiration as the first-line reperfusion method was associated with more complete (mTICI 3, 74.1%) and successful (mTICI 2b-3, 86.5%) reperfusion by the end of the intervention. The use of stent retrievers as the first-line method led to less frequent complete (55.6%) (p=0,048) and successful (66.6%) (p=0,009) reperfusion. The efficiency of the reperfusion in posterior circulation depends on the first-line method and the number of passes. Thus, after the first pass with a stent retriever the level of successful (p=0.04) and complete (p=0.015) reperfusion is statistically lower than with thromboaspiration. SAVE technique also proved to be effective in achieving more successful (p=0.015) and complete (p=0.003) reperfusion comparing to stent retrievers. However, thrombectomy with a stent retriever as a second-line method of recanalization was used more often than thromboaspiration or SAVE. The second-line method was ineffective in 25.8% of cases, which required switching to the third method of reperfusion. This figure is comparable to the need to switch to the second-line reperfusion method in 29.4% of cases. Disclosure Nothing to disclose


We propose a method allowing for a simulation of cross-correlated turbulence-induced phase fluctuations produced by many stars is proposed. It turns out that for weak-turbulence conditions which are important for many applications, it is possible to suggest a relatively simple and fast simulation procedure. Both the variation of C 2 n along a propagation path and an effect of finite outer scale of the turbulence are considered. The validity of the simulation is verified by comparing theoretical and simulated results, and it is shown that there is good agreement takes place even for big separations between the observation points. Adaptive optics, guide stars, speckle interferometry, long-base interferometry, imaging through the turbulence, as well as simulations of the image distortions of extended objects are among the possible applications of this method.


We aimed to assess the influence of fracture location and comminution on acute scaphoid fracture displacement using three-dimensional CT. CT scans of 51 adults with an acute scaphoid fracture were included. Three-dimensional CT was used to assess fracture location, comminution and displacement. Fracture location was expressed as the height of the cortical breach on the volar and dorsal side of the scaphoid relative to total scaphoid length (%), corresponding to the fracture's entry and exit point, respectively. We found a near-linear relation between dorsal fracture location and displacement. As dorsal fracture location became more distal, translation (ulnar, proximal, volar) and angulation (flexion, pronation) of the distal fragment relative to the proximal fragment increased. Comminuted fractures had more displacement. Dorsal fracture location predictably dictates the direction of translation and angulation in displaced scaphoid fractures. Surgeon attention to dorsal fracture location can help identify displacement patterns and provide guidance in adequately reducing a displaced scaphoid fracture. Level of evidence: III


Caveolin-1 is a palmitoylated protein involved in assembly of signaling molecules in plasma membrane subdomains termed caveolae and in intracellular cholesterol transport. Three cysteine residues in the C terminus of caveolin-1 are subject to palmitoylation, which is not necessary for caveolar targeting of caveolin-1. Protein palmitoylation is a post-translational and reversible modification that may be regulated and that in turn may regulate conformation, membrane association, protein-protein interactions, and intracellular localization of the target protein. We have undertaken a detailed analysis of [3H]palmitate incorporation into caveolin-1 in aortic endothelial cells. The linkage of palmitate to caveolin-1 was hydroxylamine-sensitive and thus presumably a thioester bond. However, contrary to expectations, palmitate incorporation was blocked completely by the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and puromycin. In parallel experiments to show specificity, palmitoylation of aortic endothelial cell-specific nitric-oxide synthase was unaffected by these reagents. Inhibitors of protein trafficking, brefeldin A and monensin, blocked caveolin-1 palmitoylation, indicating that the modification was not cotranslational but rather required caveolin-1 transport from the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi to the plasma membrane. In addition, immunophilin chaperones that form complexes with caveolin-1, i.e. FK506-binding protein 52, cyclophilin A, and cyclophilin 40, were not necessary for caveolin-1 palmitoylation because agents that bind immunophilins did not inhibit palmitoylation. Pulse-chase experiments showed that caveolin-1 palmitoylation is essentially irreversible because the release of [3H]palmitate was not significant even after 24 h. These results show that [3H]palmitate incorporation is limited to newly synthesized caveolin-1, not because incorporation only occurs during synthesis but because the continuous presence of palmitate on caveolin-1 prevents subsequent repalmitoylation.


Apendix is a worm shaped tubular structure found attached to the ceacum just below the ileocecal junction in humans, some apes and wombats. It's inflammation is the most common disease of the appendix which leads to appendectomy; the most common emergency operation throughout the world. It's different positions are responsible for different clinical presentation apart from common symptoms and on top of that a long subhepatic appendix can further confuse the picture and produce a diagnostic dilemma. Hence a good clinical acumen and a high index of suspicion are required to lower the morbidity and mortality associated with a delayed diagnosis of acute appendicitis.


In the present article, a study of the use of a virtual lab in environmental science teaching is reported. The lab was used as part of regular instruction; the idea was to provide a context to learn about experimentation as a research method. The study builds on a sample of 80 of 511 students, and uses preand post-test data of students' insights about concepts and procedures relevant for designing an experiment in environmental science. The results show that students discovered some principles of how to organize an experiment. A majority of the students appropriated some of the relevant terminology and procedures relevant for organizing experiments. However, the findings also pointed to limitations in how students were able to reason about experimentation. A major problem for the students was to understand the role an experiment plays in resolving an issue. Such insights do not emerge from using the virtual lab per se, but rather from realizing the role an experiment plays as part of a scientific study of a problem.


This study was conducted in Hacienda Bufalera La Suiza, municipio de Puerto Nare Antioquia (the Colombian Middle Magdalena). The objective was to determine variations in the elimination of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces of gastrointestinal parasites during the months of January to December to a total of 150 water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), which were divided into three groups of 50 (animals under 12 months of age, 13 to 36 months of age and over 37 months of age). These animals were randomly selected from a total of 4.200 buffalos. Faeces were collected directly from the rectum every month for a year, and then samples were processed by the technique of Mc-Master modified by Scmidht to count eggs. Statistix software was used to calculate descriptive statistics and correlation between climatic variables (temperature, sunlight and precipitation) and each parasite group. Analysis of variance was calculated in Microsoft Excel. Annual elimination curves of eggs per gram of faeces of Strongylida order and Strongyloides, Toxocara and Eimeria gender were established. In group of animals under 12 months of age, the most constant parasite eggs throughout the year were Strongyloides spp. and oocysts of Eimeria spp. In groups of 13 to 36 months of age and older than 37 months, the most constant parasites were Strongylida order and Eimeria spp., where the eggs of Trichuris spp. were the smaller elimination. As for the elimination of Toxocara eggs was only found in the group younger than 12 months of age, with a single presentation in january, june and august.


Current railway localization systems rely on both track side and train side sensors, providing only a discrete positioning of the trains at a high cost in deployment and maintenance. On the other hand, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can provide a world-wide positioning at a lower cost since it requires only an antenna and a receiver on board. However, due to disadvantageous environments, the GNSS signals may get blocked and the use of additional sensor and information of the railway map is necessary to achieve a robust positioning. In this article, we propose a probabilistic localization system for trains using raw measurements from GNSS, inertial sensors and a digital railway map. The combination of these sensors in our algorithm can achieve a robust localization even in low visibility situations.


A practical method for residue analysis of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T in baked tobacco leaves has been developed using nonaqueous CE (NACE). The herbicide residues of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T in tobaccos were extracted by ultrasonication with ethyl acetate, followed by a cleanup procedure with gel permeation chromatography. The separation of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T by NACE was optimized based on orthogonal experiment design with four factors at three levels. The optimal NACE condition was established with the running buffer of 40.0 mmol/L ammonium acetate in 90% CH3CN (apparent pH 10.2), and the applied voltage of -25 kV over a capillary of 50 microm id x 46 cm (37.5 cm to the detector window), which gave a baseline separation of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T within 15 min. The LOD were ca. 0.4-0.6 microg/mL for the three herbicides, whereas the overall recovery ranged from 80.8 to 84.1%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to measure 300 real tobacco samples, and the residue profiles of the three herbicides in tobacco samples were obtained and evaluated.


The ancient Indian texts 'Puranas' are voluminous compendiums of information and have been passed down through the ages – sometimes being split into sub-volumes, sometimes getting combined or appended with additional content. Over time, large portions of the original text have been lost to antiquity. While there is much published on the genealogy and lineage of the branch of the Iksvaku dynasty of which Lord Rama is the most famous son, there is very little known about the ancestry and lineage of that branch of the Iksvaku dynasty of which Sita, the illustrious wife of Lord Rama is the most famous daughter. In the current study, a portion of the lineage of the kings of Mithila, including the ancestors and successors of King Janaka (father of Sita), are elaborated. The study of this text yields the names of nearly 40 kings of the dynasty of Iksvaku descended from Nemi.


A mechanism for resonantly diffracting surface waves is presented. Symmetric and antisymmetric Bloch surface modes, prism coupled via evanescent coupling on a one-dimensional photonic crystal slab, are backdiffracted by means of a very shallow sinusoidal grating located on the top of the slab. At a given wavelength, resonant diffraction is produced when the grating vector equals the spatial beat frequency between the two modes. The presented mechanism is particularly attractive in optical sensing schemes in which both a high surface sensitivity and high diffraction efficiencies are required.


Abstract The purposes of the study were to measure adherence with antiretroviral therapy to dose, schedule, and dietary instructions in a sample of patients with HIV infection in Stockholm, Sweden, over a 2-year period and identify baseline predictors of the three types of adherence. The study cohort consists of 144 patients who completed at least six out of seven follow-up self-reported adherence questionnaires. Baseline self-administrated questionnaire examined socio-demographics, medication-related, psychological, cognitive, and social context factors and self-reported adherence. Biomedical data were obtained through patients' medical records. Summary dose, schedule, and dietary instructions adherence scores provided outcome measures reflecting 100% adherence across all time points or not 100% adherence during at least one measurement period. A total of 61% maintained consistent full-dose adherence throughout baseline and all follow-up visits and equivalent proportion of 100% schedule adherence was 39%. Among patients with dietary instructions, 37% retained consistent adherence at all visits. Only schedule adherence was predicted by baseline data; perceived pressures from medical staff to take HIV medications (OR 0.51, p < .05), life stress (OR 0.13, p < .01), ART health concerns (OR 0.19, p < .01), and ART prolongs one's life (OR 0.39, p < .05) predicted reduced schedule adherence over time. Perceived medication pressures from those close to the patient (OR 1.76, p < .05), post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (OR 1.07 p<.01), and adherence self-efficacy (OR 3.50, p < .05) predicted positive schedule adherence over time. These results clearly illustrate difficulties in sustaining ART adherent behaviour, in particular schedule and dietary restrictions, over time and thus emphasizes the importance of multiple periodic assessments of all three types of adherence. Interventions aimed at improving schedule adherence should in particular focus on psychological and cognitive factors.


The disease huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-limited and psyllid-vectored ' Candidatus Liberibacter' spp., is threatening the Mediterranean citrus industry. The African psyllid ( Trioza erytreae ) vector of the pathogen was detected in Madeira (Portugal) in 1994 and in the Canary Islands (Spain) in 2002, and its arrival in 2014 in northwest Spain and Portugal along the Atlantic coast instigated a biological alert, and a contingency management plan was developed. Extensive surveys were conducted in Canary Islands from 2009 to 2015 and in the northwest mainland Spain (Galicia) since the first detection of T. erytreae . Symptoms of the psyllid were observed in most sweet orange orchards of five islands in Canary Islands (93% of the inspected plots). In northwest mainland Spain, 65% of the inspected plots up to 2016 showed T. erytreae symptoms. During the surveys, ten leaves/tree from trees showing suspicious symptoms and from symptomless trees, as well as adult psyllids, were collected and analysed by real-time PCR using a universal ' Ca . Liberibacter' spp. kit, according to the EPPO standard. Suspected samples from other surveyed Spanish regions free of the vector were also analysed. The few samples that were positive in the screening test were tested by species-specific real-time PCR protocols, and they did not show amplification. These data confirm that the Spanish citrus industry is currently free of the ' Ca . Liberibacter' spp., but strict measures to prevent the introduction of this pathogen are required as the presence of T. erytreae increases the risk of its dissemination.


New BVI color-difference measurements are reported for the reflection nebulae NGC 7023, NGC 2068, and CED 201. The data are obtained through BVI imaging with a CCD detector and are analyzed together with previously published measurements for the reflection nebula NGC 2023. All four nebulae are substantially redder in the (V, I) range than expected on the basis of dust scattering alone, a result of the presence of extended emission in the I band. The relative strength of the I excess reaches a maximum in nebular regions where the color in the (B, V) range is bluest. These facts are interpreted in terms of a model which explains the extended I emission as a luminescence process excited by UV radiation from the illuminating star(s). Model fits identify the wavelength region between 1800 and 2500 A of the illuminating star's spectrum as the source of the energy of excitation. It appears possible that the 2200 A band in the dust-extinction curve is a gate for the excitation energy, and it is likely that the I excess emission and the extended near-IR emission recently discovered in reflection nebulae are similar in nature and origin. 24 references.


Foveated, log-polar, or space-variant image architectures provide a high resolution and wide field workspace, while providing a small pixel computation load. These characteristics are ideal for mobile robotic and active vision applications, but have been little used due to the general lack of image processing tools that are applicable to the log-polar coordinate system. Recently, we have described a generalization of the Fourier transform (the fast exponential chirp transform), which allows frame-rate computation of full-field two-dimensional (2-D) frequency transforms directly in log-polar coordinates. In the present work, we show that is possible to achieve full-frame image de-blur at frame rate on a standard "PC" platform, using these methods, we illustrate this idea with a Wiener filter based restoration technique. The main contribution of this note is the implementation of (space-variant) image de-blur directly in log-polar coordinates, using the exponential chirp transform. The results show reasonable quality of de-blur, and suggest that these methods are relevant to applications in mobile image processing platforms in which real-time motion deblur is important, and for which it is not desirable to use extensive or custom fabricated hardware.


Several factors have contributed to bring pressure on agriculture. In this context, nanomaterial properties can be explored to design more efficient fertilizers and therefore increase productivity. In the present study, the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris were immersed in several nano ZnO dispersions for 48 h. The absorption and transport phenomena were in vivo monitored by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The nanoparticle size, concentration and coating with surfactants affected the rate of Zn release and therefore its uptake. In vivo X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed that Phaseolus vulgaris takes up Zn bound to both citrate and malate, while entire nanoparticles were only absorbed when roots were injured. X-ray fluorescence microanalysis unravelled that besides xylem bundles, root to shoot Zn transport can take place through the cortex.


Abstract Sample representativeness remains one of the challenges in effective HIV/STD surveillance and prevention targeting men who have sex with men (MSM) worldwide. Although convenience samples are widely used in studies of MSM, previous studies suggested that these samples might not be representative of the broader MSM population. This issue becomes even more critical in many developing countries where needed resources for conducting probability sampling are limited. We examined variations in HIV and Syphilis infections and sociodemographic and behavioral factors among 307 young migrant MSM recruited using four different convenience sampling methods (peer outreach, informal social network, Internet, and venue-based) in Beijing, China in 2009. The participants completed a self-administered survey and provided blood specimens for HIV/STD testing. Among the four MSM samples using different recruitment methods, rates of HIV infections were 5.1%, 5.8%, 7.8%, and 3.4%; rates of Syphilis infection were 21.8%, 36.2%, 11.8%, and 13.8%; and rates of inconsistent condom use were 57%, 52%, 58%, and 38%. Significant differences were found in various sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, migration history, education, income, and places of employment) and risk behaviors (e.g., age at first sex, number of sex partners, involvement in commercial sex, and substance use) among samples recruited by different sampling methods. The results confirmed the challenges of obtaining representative MSM samples and underscored the importance of using multiple sampling methods to reach MSM from diverse backgrounds and in different social segments and to improve the representativeness of the MSM samples when the use of probability sampling approach is not feasible.


The main objective of this bachelor thesis in Industrial Technology Engineering is to predict dynamically
consistent walking motions from kinematic and dynamic measurements obtained at the
UPC Biomechanics Laboratory. A healthy gait cycle is captured and foot-ground contact forces are
measured. Then, in order to acquire the new motions, optimal control techniques are applied.
The human body is modeled with a multibody system formed by rigid bodies. Concretely, a twodimensional
simpli ed skeletal model focused on the lower extremity is used in this work. It is
formed by a total of 12 rigid bodies (trunk, pelvis and leg segments) and it has 10 degrees of freedom.
The inverse dynamic analysis is performed using OpenSim, a free software tool developed by
Stanford University that is widely used by the scienti c community.
The optimal control algorithm to obtain dynamically consistent walking motions from experimental
data is implemented in MATLAB. Moreover, the software used to solve the optimal control problem
is GPOPS-II, a general-purpose MATLAB-based software for solving multiple-phase optimal
control problems, developed by the University of Florida. Parameters of GPOPS-II are changed to
study the in
uence on the solution. Then, di erent formulations are analyzed to assess convergence
and similarity between the new motion and the captured one.
During this report, all the processes involved in the analysis and the related theory are detailed,
as well as the methodology used. Theoretical background is presented and complemented with
examples of other works. The skeletal model used is described in detail. The process to export
and obtain the experimental kinematics and dynamics using OpenSim is explained step by step.
Optimal control theory and GPOPS-II working environment, which are employed as the tool to
predict new motions, are also explained. And nally, results are presented and discussed.
This project is considered an initial study of optimal control techniques to predict human motion.
Thereby, it allows to understand these techniques and gain knowledge about how they can be used
in order to be applied, in the future, in more complex models.


The problem of robust reliable tracking control on the omnidirectional rehabilitative training walker is examined. The new nonlinear redundant input method is proposed when one wheel actuator fault occurs. The aim of the study is to design an asymptotically stable controller that can guarantee the safety of the user and ensure tracking on a training path planned by a physical therapist. The redundant degrees of freedom safety control and the asymptotically zero state detectable concept of the walker are presented, the model of redundant degree is constructed, and the property of center of gravity constant shift is obtained. A controller that can satisfy asymptotic stability is obtained using a common Lyapunov function for admissible uncertainties resulting from an actuator fault. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method and verify that the walker can provide safe sequential motion when one wheel actuator is at fault.


Objective: Electronic cigarette (e-cig) is recently growing substitute for smoking. The attention and practice of e-cig among consumers is expanded globally, and Malaysia is not an exception to this, but the paucity of local data motivates us to do the current research. Methods: A total of 220 e-cig vapers recruited for the study and divided into two categories based on smoking status as a single user and dual user. Both users observed for 1 month period to assess smoking cessation rate, adverse effects, withdrawal symptoms, and smoking-related diseases. Results: A month follow-up showed still 28.44% (P ≤ 0.001) of the entire study population (62 of 218, intention to treat analysis) were abstained from tobacco smoking. However, a high number of single user shown more quit rate as compared to of dual users (72.9% [51] vs. 7.4% [11]: Odds ratio 33.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.102–3.410) and merely two persons (<1%) started e-cig by ever smokers. The key adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms that observed in dual users were coughing, breathing problems, and craving, whereas in single users high appetite cases documented; however, no cases of any diseases reported among both users during the whole study period. Conclusion: A month follow-up showed a good smoking cessation rate among Malaysian vapers mainly in single users, whereas less number of quitters but the high reduction in tobacco cigarette consumption observed in dual users without any harmful effects. Furthermore, extended period studies are warranted to confirm its long-term safety and effectiveness among different Malaysian population.


Introduction : Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm abnormality. AF treatment is provided by either cardiologists or non-cardiologists and is based on the prevention of thromboembolic events and on heart rate control or rhythm control. There is evidence that AF management by specialists leads to improved patient outcomes. Moreover, management of complex cardiac arrhythmias by a specialized team has been considered helpful by an overwhelming majority of practicing physicians. Therefore, we designed a multidisciplinary team - Fast Approach by a Specialized Team for Atrial Fibrillation (FAST-AF) - to evaluate the treatment effectiveness of a specialized arrhythmia team compared to the standard of care in the management of patients with new-onset AF presenting in the emergency department (ED). Methods: We propose an open-label, single-center, randomized, parallel group, superiority trial in an university hospital during a period of 36 months. 294 patients with new-onset AF presenting in the ED will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to FAST-AF or standard of care. The primary outcome will be time to discharge from the beginning of the intervention. Secondary outcomes will be time to heart rate/rhythm control, compliance to anticoagulation after discharge, readmission rates, quality of life assessment (AFEQT) and hospitalization costs. For the primary analysis, an intention-to-treat (ITT) time to event (TTE) analysis will be conducted. The trial will be prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. Conclusions: AF is a prevalent disease that causes several complications and morbidity. The heterogeneity of medical criteria, the lack of knowledge of international guidelines and inadequate adherence to treatment may compromise therapeutic success. This study design is readily replicable, given its simplicity and feasibility. If the study show promising results of FAST-AF intervention, future studies can be conducted  to assess cost reduction and specialized consultation by virtual meeting platforms.


Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practices of blood pressure measurement (BPM) among final year students, house officers, and resident dental surgeons. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of a convenience sample of all final year students, house officers, and resident dental surgeons in a dental hospital in South West Nigeria was conducted. All participants were requested to complete a 16-item questionnaire about their knowledge of accurate BPM. After completing the questionnaire, the participants were observed by a single research associate as they measured the blood pressure (BP) of patients using a checklist prepared according to the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for measuring BP. The performance score was based on a 25-element skillset on BP measurement. Data were entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22. Frequencies and means were generated and independent Student's t-tests and Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to test the association between continuous and categorical variables, respectively at P value < 0.05. Results: In total, 139 questionnaires were returned by 59 final year dental nursing students, 29 final year dental students, 14 house officers, 18 registrars, and 19 senior registrars. Overall, 46.0% of the participants had poor knowledge of accurate BPM. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] BPM knowledge score was 5.8 (2.0), dental nursing students had the least 4.8 (1.5) score, and dental students had the highest 6.9 (2.0) score (P < 0.0001). Overall, the mean (SD) BPM knowledge scores for students and dentists were 5.5 (1.9) and 6.4 (1.9), respectively (P = 0.01). One-hundred and thirty-seven (98.6%) participants performed BPM inaccurately. There was a weak positive non-statistically significant correlation between knowledge and performance scores (r = 0.03; P = 0.75). Conclusions: Overall, 46.0% of participants had poor knowledge of accurate BPM while 98.6% performed BPM inadequately. These findings suggest the need for curriculum review on accurate BPM.


As a resource-intensive industry, the policy, processes and practices in relation to sustainable development of the construction industry is critical. An important theoretical and practical concern is the creation of indicator systems that assist with the measurement of sustainable urban development. Past research and practice has tended to focus on the measurement of sustainability of the construction projects in relation to the individual projects or at the organizational level. This paper introduces a new measurement of sustainable development for construction industry as a whole so that countries can make comparisons. The model is based on the previous research, the fundamental meaning of sustainable development and the characteristics of the construction industry.


The growth of a region has changed land-use pattern, not only in urban areas but also rural areas such as Humbang Hasundutan regency, North Sumatra Province. As one district that newly developed since its establishment in 2003, land-use change has affected the environment such as the emergence of degraded land due to deforestation and other environmental vulnerability issues in some sub districts. CLUE-S (the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects at Small region extents) model with a combination of dynamic systems and quantification of empirical relationships between land-use and its driving factors was chosen to predict land-use change that improves an understanding of land allocation planning. The aims of this study were to analyze land-use change in Humbang Hasundutan district and predict the changes in year 2033. The results showed Humbang Hasundutan district has 5,362 hectares of forest cover loss in period of years 2003 to 2013. Land use change simulation by using scenario with restricted area policy and forest land rehabilitation can maintain forest cover over 30 % and contribute to augment forest vegetation on degraded lands by 47.87 % in year 2033.
Keywords: CLUE-S, degraded land, forest cover, land-use change


To study the incidence of and mortality from cancer among sewage workers a retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 656 men employed for at least one year at any one of 17 Swedish sewage plants during the years 1965-86. Assessment of exposure was done by classification of work tasks. Lower than expected total mortality (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.58-0.97) and cardiovascular mortality (SMR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.91) was found. This was interpreted as a result of the healthy worker effect. For all cancers combined the mortality (SMR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.68-1.67) and morbidity (SMR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.72-1.38) were comparable with those of the general population. There were increased incidences for brain tumours (SMR = 2.19, 95% CI 0.45-6.39), gastric cancers (SMR = 2.73, 95% CI, 1.00-5.94), and renal cancers (SMR = 1.68, 95% CI = 0.35-4.90). For lung cancer the risk was reduced (SMR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.15-2.05). Allowance for a latency period of 10 years from the start of exposure did not change the pattern. Logistic modelling was used to search for exposure-response relations. In a logistic model with the confounder age forced in, renal cancer had a significant positive relation with a weighted sum of employment times, where the weights describe the classification of exposure. No exposure-response relations were found for brain tumors or gastric cancers. The increased risks are based on small numbers of cases. A future follow up will add more conclusive power to the study. Specific exposures need to be identified to allow for a better dose-response analysis.


Artificial neural networks (ANN) mimic the function of the human brain and they have the capability to implement massively parallel computations for mapping, function approximation, classification, and pattern recognition processing. ANN can capture the highly nonlinear associations between inputs (predictors) and target (responses) variables and can adaptively learn the complex functional forms. Like other parametric and nonparametric methods, such as kernel regression and smoothing splines, ANNs can introduce overfitting (in particular with highlydimensional data, such as genome wide association -GWAS-, microarray data etc.) and resulting predictions can be outside the range of the training data. Regularization (shrinkage) in ANN allows bias of parameter estimates towards what are considered to be probable. Most common techniques of regularizations techniques in ANN are the Bayesian regularization (BR) and the early stopping methods. Early stopping is effectively limiting the used weights in the network and thus imposes regularization, effectively lowering the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension. In Bayesian regularized ANN (BRANN), the regularization techniques involve imposing certain prior distributions on the model parameters and penalizes large weights in anticipation of achieving smoother mapping.


Patient: Male, 44 Final Diagnosis: Pyoderma gangrenosum Symptoms: Pain • ulceration • scarring • exudate • necrosis Medication: Clobetasol 0.5% ointment • Cadexomer iodine • Pentoxifylline Clinical Procedure: Compression stocking application • leg elevation at night Specialty: Family Medicine Objective: Rare disease Background: Classical pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, inflammatory, neutrophilic dermatosis that commonly presents with severe ulcerations on the lower extremities and is often misdiagnosed and mistreated. Delay in treatments can lead to worsening of the ulcerations and allows for multiple comorbid factors. Pyoderma gangrenosum is most commonly treated with immunosuppressants or anti-inflammatory agents and is often worsened by surgical procedures due to the presence of pathergy. In acute cases, a course of anti-inflammatory treatments works well in alleviating symptoms and reducing ulcerations and residual scarring. However, in chronic cases with the presence of severe scarring and necrotic ulcerations, the simple implementation of systemic immunosuppressants is frequently ineffective alone. Although not mentioned in most case reports on pyoderma gangrenosum, the chronicity of its inflammatory component can lead to necrosis and scarring and subsequent vascular insufficiency. Case Report: We present a severe case of chronic ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient who had treatment-resistant ulcerations and cribriform edematous scarring with subsequent vascular insufficiency of the right lower extremity. This patient, while receiving topical clobetasol, had marked improvement in the healing of his ulcerations only after starting a novel course of cadexomer iodine, compression stockings, and pentoxifylline. Conclusions: The efficacy of non-anti-inflammatory treatments indicates that chronic pyoderma gangrenosum with extensive scarring is commonly associated with the comorbid factors of vascular insufficiency, necrotic debris, and extensive wound fluid. In cases of ulcerations in chronic pyoderma gangrenosum that are resistant to anti-inflammatory treatments alone, one should identify and address other compounding factors that may inhibit wound healing.


The present study of screening for gestational diabetes mellitus was carried out in 500 preg-nant women attending OPD section of Gynecology Department at Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni. The high risk patients underwent glucose challenge test with 75 gm glucose, between 14-16 weeks of gestation and if negative the test was again done after 28 weeks. Out of 500 pregnant women, 117 individuals with abnormal glucose challenge test were subjected to 2 hr- 75gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Sensitivity of oral glucose tolerance test in detection of gestational diabetes in high risk group was determined. The screening of high risk group was done with the help of OGTT, which required no extra laboratory facilities, long waiting period or trained manpower. It has no side effects but guarantees good compliance of patient. OGTT hence is a reliable method to detect gestational diabetes mellitus in high risk group.


The behavior of the fluid control in hemodialysis patients can determine the success of hemodialysis therapy. Hemodialysis patients who do not abide by controlling the fluid can develop complications such as congestive heart failure. This study aimed to identify the behavior of hemodialysis patients in the control of body fluids in the Hemodialysis Dr. Harjono Ponorogo General Hospitals. The design used is descriptive with a population of 250 hemodialysis patients in Dr. Harjono Ponorogo General Hospitals. Total sample of 38 respondents to the sampling technique used was purposive sampling. Data Collection using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using T-Score categories of good and bad behavior. From The study, of 38 respondents we obtained 20 respondents (52.63%) had a bad behavior and 18 respondents (47.36%) had good behavior. The behavior of the fluid control in hemodialysis patients can be improved by providing better support from health professionals and families of patients during hemodialysis and self-efficacy training. Recommendations for further research conduct research on "The Relationship Behavior In Hemodialysis Patients With Body Fluids Controls Risk of Complications.


Gene expression in early animal embryogenesis is in large part controlled post-transcriptionally. Maternally-contributed microRNAs may therefore play important roles in early development. We have elucidated a major biological role of the nematode mir-35 family of maternally-contributed, essential microRNAs. We show that this microRNA family regulates the sex determination pathway at multiple levels, acting both upstream and downstream of her-1 to prevent aberrantly activated male developmental programs in hermaphrodite embryos. The predicted target genes that act downstream of the mir-35 family in this process, sup-26 and nhl-2, both encode RNA binding proteins, thus delineating a previously unknown post-transcriptional regulatory subnetwork within the well-studied sex determination pathway of C. elegans. Genome-wide profiling of SUP-26 binding targets reveals 775 mRNAs, most of which have no known role in sex determination, suggesting that the mir-35 family may modulate numerous other pathways via regulation of sup-26. Since sex determination in C. elegans requires zygotic gene expression to read the sex chromosome karyotype, early embryos must remain gender-naïve; our findings show that the mir-35 family microRNAs act in the early embryo to function as a developmental timer that preserves naïveté and prevents premature deleterious developmental decisions.


This paper presents a numerical simulation of air velocity and air temperature distribution in an office room of Computer Engineering Department of University of Maiduguri which is naturally ventilated. The office room under investigation with the dimension 5 m × 5 m × 4 m has a door in the East direction, and two windows, one in the East direction and the other in the South direction. For cost effectiveness, numerical solutions of steady-state airflow and heat transfer were done using a complete two-dimensional model. The results showed that the windows and the door could not undertake indoor heat load that can make the occupants to be thermally comfortable. In activity area where people sit and stand, the air velocity is moderate, this is about 0.98 m/s on the average. In addition, the temperature in this area is relatively high of about 302 K (29 °C) on the average. Based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard for comfort environment in summer (air temperature: 293 – 299 K (20 – 26 °C); air velocity: 0.5 – 0.8 m/s), the natural ventilation for the office room cannot give a thermal comfort for the inhabitant of the room. However, a window, if installed opposite the door could improve the ventilation of the office.


This book takes associations and cult societies in Africa as structural forms, much contrary to claims of super human agency proper to members, promoters and modernists alike. The aim is to understand the underlying principles of operation at work in organization and practices over a wide area (that stands astride the South of Cameroon and South East of Nigeria) and which even take on a universal character over time (with surviving forms in the Americas). The rich repertoire of grand societies, entertainment clubs, governing councils, women's mobilization movements and mystery manifestations and therapeutic orders are analyzed comparatively in terms of spatial distribution, relationship to social organization/social structure, representations and connectivity/disassociation between persons and communities. This books brings together insights from sociology and anthropology into what is often treated as senselessly exotic by the foreign observer, the relics of a disturbing past for the modernized African, a tradition that must be reproduced mechanically by the African or religious practices that run contrary to the grand world religions with a proselytizing character.


There is an increasing focus on disease control programs in developing countries such as Thailand and a growing use of techniques of economic analysis to assist in optimal policy on disease- control. In Thailand, while national vaccination programs have been applied, maintenance of disease free zones in the south and central regions is becoming an increasingly important objective given recent changes in international trade protocol. While several economic assessment techniques can be applied to evaluate disease control programs (Murphy 1996b), this paper will provides a simple bio-economic model that integrates deterministic epidemiological modelling with economic optimising techniques. The model attempts to highlight important economic considerations in the optimal control of FMD within a zoning framework. However as outlined in Murphy (1996b), while this approach provides a useful conceptual framework for determining optimal economic conditions, it is limited in its direct application particularly to national control programs. It is in this framework that cost-benefit approaches, despite their inability to provide essentially optimal solutions, are better able to attribute values to such factors as shadow prices and incorporate the distributional welfare issues associated with national control programs.


The response of news audiences to graphic visual portrayals of distant suffering is a long-debated issue among media commentators, producers, and researchers alike. The increasing visualization of news media makes empirical evidence on this issue more important than ever. Recent studies of graphic images indicate that pictures have the power to mobilize people via emotions. Yet, little is known about other potential reactions embedded in the theory of distant suffering, such as apathy or voyeuristic pleasure. This study uses an experiment to, for the first time, quantify overlapping roles of the spectatorship of suffering. Via cluster analysis, we explore in which combinations responses of empathy, voyeurism, protest, and apathy co-occur. Exposing participants to victimizing photographs suggests that personal characteristics of participants play a larger role in the processing of distant suffering than the pictures' content. Besides shedding light on audience perception of suffering, this study provides empirical evidence for a fuller range of potential responses to photojournalism. The results are discussed in light of ethical difficulties with the visual depiction of war.


: Dependence of parameters of the neuromuscular transmission on the stimulation frequency was determined. This dependence was analyzed as applied to the processes of synapsis "fatigue" occurring in prolonged rhythmic muscle stimulation. The suggested mathematical model and the method of statistical analysis of the EMG of the sum total muscle responses following from it offered a possibility of determination by the experimental data of the approximate parameters giving a quanititative expression of the frequency properties of the neuromuscular transmission.


Detecting novelty of an entire document is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) frontier problem that has widespread NLP applications, such as extractive document summarization, tracking development of news events, predicting impact of scholarly articles, etc. Important though the problem is, we are unaware of any benchmark document level data that correctly addresses the evaluation of automatic novelty detection techniques in a classification framework. To bridge this gap, we present here a resource for benchmarking the techniques for document level novelty detection. We create the resource via event-specific crawling of news documents across several domains in a periodic manner. We release the annotated corpus with necessary statistics and show its use with a developed system for the problem in concern.


'The Lord's Prayer' stands at the heart of Christianity. Over the past two millennia, it has been spoken millions of times by millions of people around the world. Rudolf Steiner affirms the power of this prayer, given by Jesus Christ himself, and encourages us to begin to understand it at deeper levels. Such an understanding, he explains, is now necessary for humanity's further development. In the four lectures he gave on this subject, collected here under one cover, Rudolf Steiner penetrates the esoteric meanings of the Lord's Prayer, relating its seven petitions to the seven spiritual and physical bodies of the human being. He also discusses the difference between prayer and meditation, and shows how true prayer is selfless in nature. This volume features an introduction by Judith von Halle, whose work is valued for her experiential knowledge of the Lord's Prayer and the events of Christ's life.


Hydroxyapatite bioceramics are proven to be good materials for bone replacement and repair applications, due to their similarity in chemical composition to bone. Plasma spraying has been commonly used to apply hydroxyapatite coatings onto metallic implants for use in orthopaedic surgeries. The addition of HA coatings was successful in improving the performance of titanium implants. However, this type of implant has shown some limitations with regards to mechanical (implant loosening) and biological (infections) behaviour. It is thought that local drug delivery would be useful to prevent implant failures that could be treated with therapeutic agents (drug/growth factor). It is hypothesised in this work that polymers proven in drug delivery for other applications could be successfully applied to implants using existing technology in the sector. This research aims to introduce biodegradable materials (polymers) to the existing HA-titanium combination and to bare titanium implants in order to act as a drug-delivery vehicle. The proposed materials (PCL, PMMA and PHBV) consisted of biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers (used separately or as a composite) that are widely used as drug delivery systems. The method used to apply these drug delivery systems in this project was flame spraying, due to its superior mechanical advantages over other techniques. Taking into account the thermal sensitivity of the chosen polymers and the high process temperature generated by the process, the mains challenges of this study were to obtain viable coatings with regards to all coating properties (chemical, physical, biological) and to control the mechanical characteristics of such coatings by varying the process parameters. Screening tests were conducted to determine the spraying parameters suitable for each polymer, followed by a more thorough Design of Experiments analysis to understand the relationship between three process factors: traverse speed, number of passes and spraying distance, and four coatings properties: thickness, roughness, adhesion and wettability. Chemical, physical, physiological and biological tests were also performed in order to study the suitability of the proposed polymers for such an application. The optimal process parameters to spray the PCL and PHBV matrices were: traverse speed of 0.152 m/s and 0.33 m/s, spraying distance of50 cm and 42.5 cm number of passes of 6 and 14, respectively. Viable polymer composites were obtained with the optimised spraying parameters on bare titanium and on HA coatings. These polymer coatings were not chemically damaged following flame spraying and all physiological and biological indicators suggested that the deposition technique used in this project is well suited for applying polymeric materials on orthopaedic implants for use as bioactive and drug delivery systems.


Social Media offer a vast amount of geo-located and time-stamped textual content directly generated by people. This information can be analysed to obtain insights about the general state of a large population of users and to address scientific questions from a diversity of disciplines. In this work, we estimate temporal patterns of mood variation through the use of emotionally loaded words contained in Twitter messages, possibly reflecting underlying circadian and seasonal rhythms in the mood of the users. We present a method for computing mood scores from text using affective word taxonomies, and apply it to millions of tweets collected in the United Kingdom during the seasons of summer and winter. Our analysis results in the detection of strong and statistically significant circadian patterns for all the investigated mood types. Seasonal variation does not seem to register any important divergence in the signals, but a periodic oscillation within a 24-hour period is identified for each mood type. The main common characteristic for all emotions is their mid-morning peak, however their mood score patterns differ in the evenings.


Application programmers in domains like machine learning, scientific computing, and computational biology are accustomed to using powerful, high productivity array languages such as MatLab, R and NumPy. Distributed array frameworks aim to scale array programs across machines. However, maximizing the locality of access to distributed arrays is an unsolved problem; such locality is critical for high performance. This paper presents Spartan, a distributed array framework that automatically determines how to best partition (aka "tile") n-dimensional arrays and to co-locate data with computation to maximize locality. Spartan combines a lazy-evaluation based, optimizing frontend with a distributed tiled array backend. Central to Spartan's design is a small number of carefully chosen parallel high-level operators, which form the expression graph captured by Spartan's frontend during runtime. These operators simplify the programming of distributed applications. More importantly, their well-defined semantics allow Spartan's runtime to calculate the costs of different tiling strategies and pick the best one for evaluating the entire expression graph.

Using Spartan, we have implemented 12 applications from a variety of domains including machine learning and scientific computing. Our evaluations show that Spartan's automatic tiling mechanism leads to good and scalable performance while eliminating the need for manual tiling.


This Brandeis Brief sets out the problems relating to a person subject to a covert operation that involved the use of a recording device. The recording was intentionally made without the use of the authenticity protocol, and was instrumental in the conviction of a crime. The client asserted that the recording was edited and his original lawyer did not object to the admission of the recording into evidence. Index words: United State of America; Brandeis Brief; electronic evidence; digital authentication