—Data Analytics (DA) plays an important role in improving and optimizing the processes in a Supply Chain (SC) network. Due to a huge amount of data generated in the various SC processes, the role of DA in Supply Chain Management (SCM) is becoming increasingly evident. Organizations have already invested heavily in applying various DA technologies to their SC networks. Several reviews have been conducted in different domains of SCM indicating applications and limitations of DA in SCM. As the research domain of DA applications in SCM matures, it is necessary to identify and address the research gaps that exist at the intersection of these domains. The paper qualitatively examines recent review papers in the domain of DA in SCM to identify and outline prominent ways that DA is currently applied in SCM, what potential future opportunities stated and what challenges affecting DA application in SCM are existing. Prominent use cases of DA in SCM include i) forecasting demand, ii) product development, iii) logistics route planning and iv) lean SC development. However, there is no prominent, unique future application list of DA in SCM since the findings vary across the papers. Prominent challenges affecting DA in SCM include i) lack of collaboration, ii) data sharing problems, iii) risks associated with BD management and iv) lack of skilled experts. Lastly, this article provides two conceptual ideas for addressing these prominent DA challenges in SCM: first, a framework for data analytics enabling collaboration in SCM by using transparent data questions and second, a blockchain-based data management approach in SC networks.


The c-MYC oncogene regulates multiple cellular activities and is a potent driver of many highly aggressive human cancers, such as leukemia and triple-negative breast cancer. The oxadiazole class of compounds has gained increasing interest for its anticancer activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular modes of action of a 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivative (ZINC15675948) as a c-MYC inhibitor. ZINC15675948 displayed profound cytotoxicity at the nanomolar range in CCRF-CEM leukemia and MDA-MB-231-pcDNA3 breast cancer cells. Multidrug-resistant sublines thereof (i.e., CEM/ADR5000 and MDA-MB-231-BCRP) were moderately cross-resistant to this compound (<10-fold). Molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis revealed a strong binding of ZINC15675948 to c-MYC by interacting close to the c-MYC/MAX interface. A c-MYC reporter assay demonstrated that ZINC15675948 inhibited c-MYC activity. Western blotting and qRT-PCR showed that c-MYC expression was downregulated by ZINC15675948. Applying microarray hybridization and signaling pathway analyses, ZINC15675948 affected signaling routes downstream of c-MYC in both leukemia and breast cancer cells as demonstrated by the induction of DNA damage using single cell gel electrophoresis (alkaline comet assay) and induction of apoptosis using flow cytometry. ZINC15675948 also caused G2/M phase and S phase arrest in CCRF-CEM cells and MDA-MB-231-pcDNA3 cells, respectively, accompanied by the downregulation of CDK1 and p-CDK2 expression using western blotting. Autophagy induction was observed in CCRF-CEM cells but not MDA-MB-231-pcDNA3 cells. Furthermore, microarray-based mRNA expression profiling indicated that ZINC15675948 may target c-MYC-regulated ubiquitination, since the novel ubiquitin ligase (ELL2) was upregulated in the absence of c-MYC expression. We propose that ZINC15675948 is a promising natural product-derived compound targeting c-MYC in c-MYC-driven cancers through DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis.


The authors present data on the occurrence of different types of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with coronary heart disease collected in the course of population-based epidemiological study. The diastolic function was evaluated from parameters of transmitral blood flow depending on ejection fraction.


We analyze excited baryon properties via a 1/Nc expansion from two perspectives: as resonances in meson-nucleon scattering, and as single-quark excitations in the context of a simple quark model. For both types of analysis one can derive novel patterns of degeneracy that emerge as Nc → ∞, and that are shown to be compatible with one another. This helps justify the single-quark excitation picture and may give some insight into its successes. We also find that in the large Nc limit one of the S11 baryons does not couple to the π-N channel but couples to the η-N channel. This is empirically observed in the N(1535), which couples very weakly to the π-N channel and quite strongly to the η-N channel. The comparatively strong coupling of the N(1650) to the π-N channel and weak coupling to η-N channel is also predicted. In the context of the simple quark model picture we reproduce expressions for mixing angles that are accurate up to O(1/Nc) corrections and are in good agreement with mixing angles extracted phenomenologically.


The Australian Rhino Project (http://www.theaustralianrhinoproject.org) proposes importing 80 rhinos from South Africa to Australia by 2019 at a cost of over $US4 million, with the first six due to have been moved in 2016. This project has high‐profile supporters in the private sector, zoos, and both governments, and is gaining major publicity through association with sporting teams and TedEx talks (http://www.theaustralianrhinoproject.org/index.php/news/blogs/11-news-and-blogs/242-ray-tedx). However, establishing extralimital populations of African rhinos is a very low‐priority conservation action, particularly given over 800 are already in captivity, and we argue this project diverts funds and expertise away from more important conservation activities; the proposed captive conditions will lead to selection for domestic traits; the most likely species involved is the white rhino, which is the lowest priority rhino species for conservation; it removes a driver of in situ conservation; it does not focus on the critically endangered Asian rhino species; and it extends the historical exploitation of Africa's resources by colonial powers. There are also insufficient details in the public domain about the project for objective decision‐making. We believe this is misdirected neocolonial conservation and the policy support from both governments for this project should be reconsidered.


This book, the second in a series published by Prometheus Books on the provisions of the Bill of Rights, collects excerpts from important recent academic scholarship on the Free Exercise Clause. The central question is that addressed by the Supreme Court in the Peyote Case, Employment Division v. Smith: the extent to which free exercise encompasses the right to be free from burdens imposed upon religious practice by laws or regulations not specifically directed at religious practice. Topics covered include, among others, the historical background of religious freedom in the founding era, the normative debate on whether and why religious practice merits special constitutional protection, the challenge of identifying principled boundaries between religious freedom and legal duties, the relative roles of legislatures and courts in protecting religious freedom, and the distinctive considerations raised by the free exercise claims of religious institutions as opposed to individuals. The book is intended to serve as a supplement to case materials on religion and the First Amendment. In addition, because recent debates have focused on whether free exercise is best protected by legislatures as opposed to courts, and by context-specific exemptions as opposed to general constitutional or statutory standards, the book should be of use to those studying the dynamics of governmental institutions and of civil liberties protection.


The successful management of crowdsourcing risk has gained considerable attention because of the challenges involved in obtaining the satisfactory performance from crowdsourcing activities. However, the mechanism of how various critical risk factors affect crowdsourcing performance has been poorly investigated. Empirical evidence based on a dataset of 169 samples from China shows that three technical (i.e., complexity, requirement, and task) and three social (i.e., seeker, solver, and relationship) subsystem risks not only directly but also interactively influence the crowdsourcing task performance. Technical subsystem risk factors, while worsen performance, diminish the negative effects of social subsystem risk factors on the crowdsourcing task performance. The diminishing effects of three technical subsystem risk factors are also differentiated. High requirement and task risks lessen the negative effects of seeker, solver, and relationship risks on the task performance, whereas the high complexity risk only weakens the negative effect of the solver risk. Therefore, various crowdsourcing risk factors affect the performance in different ways and directions (either negatively or positively). Risk can perform dual roles in influencing the performance. Hybrid strategies that integrate social and technical subsystem elements may be effective in achieving a superior task performance for the crowdsourcing risk management. Managers of crowdsourcing platforms can also optimize social and technical environments to improve the fit between social and technical systems.


Supreme Court: Abortion Protesters Not in Violation of RICO-Scheidler v. National Organization for Women, Inc.1-The U.S. Supreme Court held "that petitioners did not commit extortion because they did not 'obtain' property from respondents as required by the Hobbs Act."2 The respondents in this case included the National Organization for Women, Inc. (NOW), a "national nonprofit organization that supports the legal availability of abortion"3 and two clinics that perform abortions. The petitioners were Joseph Scheidler, a coalition of anti-abortion groups known as the Pro-Life Action Network (PLAN), and other organizations and individuals that oppose legal abortion. The respondents brought a class action suit alleging that the petitioners had violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)4 by their participation in a nationwide conspiracy to shut down clinics that perform abortions through a "pattern of racketeering activity."5 The respondents further alleged that Petitioners' activities included acts of extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act.6 The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed the respondents' claims.7 The respondents appealed and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.8 The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari and reversed and remanded.9 On remand, the jury awarded damages to Respondents and the district court issued a "permanent nationwide injunction prohibiting petitioners from obstructing access to the clinics, trespassing on clinic property, damaging clinic property, or using violence or threats of violence against the clinics, their employees, or their patients."10 The petitioners appealed and the Seventh Circuit affirmed in relevant part.11 The Supreme Court granted certiorari to resolve two questions. The first question was whether the petitioners committed extortion as defined by the Hobbs Act.12 The second question was whether the respondents may be granted injunctive relief under section 1964 of RICO.13 Chief Justice Rehnquist, writing for the majority, held that the petitioners did not obtain property from Respondents and therefore did not commit extortion under the Hobbs Act.14 The majority further held that there was no basis for the conclusion that Petitioners violated RICO.15 The Court thus reversed without considering private injunctive relief under section 1964(c) of RICO.16 The majority opinion reasoned that because the predicate acts supporting the jury's finding of a RICO violation must be reversed, the judgment that Petitioners violated RICO must also be reversed.17 In its analysis of the extortion issue, the Court stated that Congress used the New York Penal Code and the Field Code, a 19th-century model penal code, in formulating the Hobbs Act.18 Both of these sources defined extortion as "the obtaining of property from another with his consent, induced by a wrongful use of force or fear or under the color of official right."19 The Court also referred to an earlier decision "that the 'obtaining' requirement of extortion under New York law entailed both a deprivation and acquisition of property."20 Similarly, the Court construed the Hobbs Act provision in question, as it had in the past, to require both deprivation and acquisition.21 The majority acknowledged that the petitioners "interfered with, disrupted, and in some instances completely deprived respondents of their ability to exercise their property rights."22 The Court noted that even Petitioners' counsel conceded "that aspects of his clients' conduct were criminal."23 The Court emphasized, however, that such interference and disruption did not constitute coercion regardless of the result.24 Even if Petitioners deprived the Respondents' of their property rights, Petitioners did not acquire, or "obtain," the Respondents' property.25 The majority opinion further explained that "petitioners neither pursued nor received 'something of value from' respondents that they could exercise, transfer, or sell. …


Background/Aim: The absolute risk of death due to coronary artery disease (CAD) is two to five times higher in patients with diabetes than in those without diabetes regardless of the cholesterol concentration, and females with diabetes have the worst prognosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the angiographic severity and extent of CAD in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with nondiabetic patients. Patients and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 340 patients who were diagnosed with CAD. The two groups were matched for age, gender, and other major risk factors. Data collected include demographic data, distribution, and extent of coronary artery involvement. Results: Three hundred and forty patients were included in the study, 175 of them (51.4%) were diabetics, and 165 (48.5%) were nondiabetics, comparing coronary angiographic results of both groups: One hundred and twenty-six patients (73%) of the diabetic patients have multivessel diseased (P = 0.003), 49 patients (27%) have a single-vessel diseased and none of them have a normal coronaries (0%). While for the nondiabetic patients 82 (50%) of them have a multivessel diseased, 63 patients (38%) have a single-vessel diseased, and 20 patients (12%) have normal coronaries. Conclusion: Multivessel disease with diffuse lesion is more prevalent among diabetic Libyan patients compared with nondiabetics. The affected vessels in diabetic patients are diffusely diseased more than nondiabetic.


Background: Tissue engineering of heart muscle from human pluripotent stem cells holds great potential for in vitro studies, disease modeling, and cardiac replacement therapy. A number of variables may however affect maturation and function of human cardiomyocytes (CM) in tissue engineered heart muscle (EHM). Here, we hypothesized that defined non-myocyte (NM) populations support structural and functional maturation of EHM.

Methods and Results: To investigate the role of non-myocytes (NM) for heart muscle assembly in vitro we generated EHM from purified CM (93±1.5% actinin+) and a mixture of CM and NM (70/30%). Notably, only the NM-supplemented EHM generated measurable forces (0.8±0.1 mN, n=9) with anisotropically aligned cardiomyocytes. Depending on pluripotent stem cell line and differentiation protocol the NM compartment may vary considerably. To further define the influence of the NM compartment we generated EHM from HES2-derived CM with undefined NM, i.e the NM typically derived during cardiac differentiation, and defined NM (fibroblasts). Defined EHM were more mature with higher forces and lower variability between experimental series (defined: 9.8±0.9 nN/CM, undefined: 4.7±1.4 nN/CM, n=10/9), higher EC50 for calcium, and enhanced inotropic response to isoprenaline despite comparable CM:NM composition of 1:1. Increased actinin protein per CM, a reduction of MLC2V/2A double positive CM, and evidence of CM cycle withdrawal indicated enhanced ventricular maturation in defined EHM. Next, we tested whether defining cell composition and NM in iPS-derived EHM will yield a comparable functional phenotype to HES2-EHM. In agreement with the above data, defined iPS-EHM displayed advanced functional maturation with high specific forces, comparable calcium EC50, and inotropic response to isoprenaline.

Summary and Conclusions: Here we demonstrate that defining the NM compartment is essential for optimized human heart muscle formation and maturation in vitro. Moreover, our data provide (1) evidence for the applicability of EHM in modelling of heart muscle development and (2) a strong rationale for the need to define CM and NM compartments in tissue engineered myocardium to reduce variability in applications such as disease modelling.


Abstract Expert systems are computer programs that rely on a body knowledge to perform a difficult task usually performed only by a human expert. This technology has been used in a number of subject areas to tackle a variety of problem types or roles, including interpretation, prescription, design, planning, monitoring and control, diagnosis and instruction. All eight of the roles considered applicable for expert systems have been used within environmental management, their uptake being reflected by the similarity to human cognitive process and the technological difficulties involved in their construction. There has also been a large in the number of expert systems that tackle more than one of the above roles. The continued expansion in numbers of expert systems is because of the increase in a single-role systems. Explanations of this trend are not certain but could be due to new researchers being drawn into the field and also the appearance of the first fully-working systems, some of which are now being marketed.


Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a peracute or acute febrile zoonotic mosquito-borne viral disease affecting wildlife, domestic animals and occasionally humans. It occurs after heavy rains and floods and is transmitted to humans through infected mosquito bite or handling of infected animals and/or their products. The Dodoma Regional Authority received reports from 90 villages on possibility of occurrence of RVF in livestock in December 2006. About 315 animals were suspected of being infected by the disease. This was followed by the Dodoma Regional and District hospitals, receiving several patients from different parts of the region in critical conditions in January 2007. Blood samples were collected for disease examination. While waiting for the results the patients were treated for malaria and/or meningitis based on visual/ clinical signs. However, most of the patients did not recover and the situation worsened followed by several deaths. Most of the blood samples were negative for Malaria and/or meningitis. This led to suspicion of RVF. The number of RVF suspects however, declined from an average of 18% in March to 11 % in April 2007 suggesting reduced incidence of the disease. The objective of our study was to determine possibility RVF occurrence to humans by using case study definitions for RVF suspect's, and confirmation by laboratory analysis in order to develop appropriate management program for the unfamiliar disease. Blood samples and/ or postmortem biopsies from all RVF suspected patients were submitted in Nairobi-Kenya for laboratory confirmation. Among 130 suspects, 71 were RVF positive. Although there was no specific treatment used to treat the disease other than provision of supportive treatment, more than fifty percent of the infected patients were discharged within two weeks. The supportive treatment included analgesic, antimicrobial and antiepileptic drugs, fluid and electrolyte therapy, food and oxygenation and intensive care. The major management used in Dodoma included preventive measures such as livestock movement quarantine, health education campaigns, livestock vaccination, disinfecting livestock carcasses and vector management and intensified surveillance. We recommend development of capacity for confirming RVF in the country and strengthening the disease surveillance and communication among communities. A retrospective household survey should be implementing to determine number of deaths and or patients with similar symptoms that occurred since January 2007 to date. This may give an indication of the extent of RVF incidence in Dodoma. Key words: Rift Valley fever – zoonotic - reemerging – human – Dodoma - Aedes mosquito


Because effective preparations are required to mitigate disaster impacts before implementing effective interventions, it is important to understand why people do or do not act on disaster preparedness. This study explores factors influencing residents' intentions and actual behaviors following the 2016 Kaohsiung Meinong earthquake in southern Taiwan. Protection Motivation Theory was used to develop a hypothesized model to test hypotheses regarding residents' disaster preparedness, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the model. Data were comprised of 286 valid responses from seven major administration areas in Tainan, Taiwan. Self-efficacy, response-efficacy, and obstacles were significantly correlated with behavioral intentions and actual disaster preparedness behaviors. SEM results revealed that (a) the model fit the data well, (b) the relationship between risk perception and response-efficacy was fully mediated by behavioral intention, and (c) self-efficacy and obstacles were partially mediated by behavioral intention. Behavioral intent and actual disaster preparedness behavior are related but not equal. The main factors affecting actual disaster preparedness behavior are self-efficacy and obstacles. Therefore, strategies like drills or workshops can improve disaster-preparedness knowledge and capabilities and reduce difficulties of implementing disaster preparedness. To improve health and well-being, healthcare providers should promote disaster preparedness by interventions to increase self-efficacy during disasters.


The contemporary management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has seen renewed interest in the use of autologous fascia for the formation of a retropubic suburethral sling. Traditionally, it has been used in only the most severe of incontinence cases, such as those women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency, or in patients requiring concomitant reconstructive procedures. In the current climate surrounding transvaginal mesh, many doctors and patients are shying away from the less morbid synthetic midurethral sling. International literature has demonstrated that the fascial sling is a safe and efficacious procedure for all patients with SUI, adequately treating both urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. This paper will discuss the indications, technique, and outcomes of autologous fascial slings. We will explore the use of fascial slings following failed synthetic slings and also the troubleshooting of commonly encountered issues intra‐ and postoperatively.


Catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions provide one of the most efficient ways to synthesize optically active compounds, and, accordingly, many chiral catalysts for these reactions have been developed in the past two decades. However, the efficiency of the catalysts in terms of turnover number (TON) is often lower than that of some other reactions, such as asymmetric hydrogenation, and this has been one of the obstacles for industrial applications. Although there are some difficulties in increasing the efficiency, the issues might be solved by using continuous flow in the presence of chiral heterogeneous catalysts. Indeed, continuous-flow systems have several advantages over conventional batch systems. Here we summarize the recent progress in asymmetric C-C bond-forming reactions under continuous-flow conditions with chiral heterogeneous catalysts.


This paper presents a visual analysis of the UNSW-NB25 computer network security or intrusion detection dataset in order to detect any issues inherent to this dataset which may require researchers to address before employing this dataset for data-driven model development such as a machine learning classifier. A number of data preprocessing algorithms are applied on the raw data to address common issues such as elimination of redundant features, conversion of nominal features into numerical format and scaling. PCA, t-SNE and K-means clustering algorithms are employed for developing the graphs and plots for visualization. Consequent analysis through visualization identified and illustrated two major problems as class imbalance and class overlap for this dataset. In conclusion, it is necessary to address these two problems of class imbalance and class overlap prior to employing this dataset for any classifier model development.


Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in children and adolescents is becoming a growing public health concern and reflects the increasing rates of obesity in our society. The prevalence of T2D in Canadian Aboriginal children and youth has been documented to be as high as 1%, with the highest prevalence in the Plains Cree people of Central Canada. However, no such pediatric data are available for any First Nations community in British Columbia. Hartley Bay is an isolated First Nations community in BC, accessible only by air or water, with a population of 184 members living on reserve. Members of this community have multiple known risk factors for developing T2D, including First Nations ethnicity, obesity, and a family history of T2D. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity, glucose intolerance, and metabolic syndrome in the community of Hartley Bay. Methods All children in the community of Hartley Bay, ages 6 to 18, were invited to participate in the study. A medical history was obtained to document risk factors and symptoms associated with T2D. Measurements including height, weight, blood pressure, and waist and hip circumferences were documented. Body mass index (BMI) was standardized for age and sex. Overweight was defined as a BMI ≥ 85th percentile and obese was defined as a BMI ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex. Presence of acanthosis nigricans, hirsutism, and acne were recorded. Children fasted overnight, and a standard oral glucose tolerance test was administered the following morning. Baseline and 2-hour levels of glucose and insulin were measured. Glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting C-peptide, and fasting lipid profile were also obtained. Results There were 33 eligible children, and 29 children (88%) (age 11.8 years ± 3.4; 16 females and 13 males) participated in the study. Nine (31%) of the children were obese and 5 (17%) were overweight, with a total of 48% obese or overweight. One child had fasting and 2-hour glucose levels consistent with impaired glucose tolerance. One other child, absent from the community at the time of the screening, was previously recently diagnosed by this team to have T2D. The incidence of glucose intolerance (T2D/IGT) in this community is 2/34 (5.9%), which is greater than previously reported in other pediatric Aboriginal populations in Canada. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the prevalence of obesity and overweight as well as glucose intolerance in this population is higher than previously reported in other pediatric Aboriginal populations in Canada. This study will generate interest, knowledge, and the willingness within the community to support modifications in lifestyle and nutrition practices required for the primary and secondary prevention of T2D.


This paper reviews the research of narrow-gap TIG welding. It contains narrow-gap welding with double arcs, narrow-gap welding with double wires, compounded narrow-gap welding, TIG welding under controlled magnetic arc and ultra-narrow-gap welding. It analyzes the merits and drawbacks of every manner in narrow-gap welding. Considering the little groove angle and small gap, how to make sure sidewall fusion, the improvement of fusion welding forming and the prevention of weld crack are focal points of narrow-gap welding researches. The further development of electrical and visual sensors can lower the precision of work piece assembling and solve the central location problem of electrode. Narrow-gap welding will have a good application foreground.


Author(s): Yeh, Cathery | Advisor(s): Santagata, Rossella | Abstract: Elementary school mathematics has gained increased attention in the last few decades. A growing field of research has studied the programmatic design and development of elementary mathematics teaching in teacher education, however, few studies have examined longitudinally the mathematics teaching of novice elementary teachers. Existing longitudinal studies on elementary mathematics teaching have generally focused on the effects of teacher preparation on their beginning practices and have examined novice teachers as a homogenous group. This dissertation consists of two studies that examined longitudinally novice elementary teachers and their mathematics teaching practices during their first two years of professional teaching. The first paper examined how three novice bilingual teachers organized mathematics learning for their emergent bilinguals. Data are drawn from three longitudinal case studies and include videotaped classroom observations and interviews of their mathematics instruction. Specifically, the study examined the type of supports the teachers provided to develop student learning of the language of mathematics, how learners were positioned within the classroom community, and how, and what, student repertoires of practice were utilized. The study findings highlight the complexity of bilingual teaching in the context of supporting students in learning the language of mathematics. The second paper examines the role of reflection as a vehicle for teacher change. Reflection has been identified in teacher education as a vehicle for professional growth and development. However, there are few studies that specifically look at the relation between reflection and teaching. This pair of case studies details the mathematics teaching practices and the teaching reflections of two novice teachers over a two-year period, examining their relationships, and how they may contribute to their development over time. Findings from this study highlight the generative potential in attending to student thinking in teaching and lesson reflection. In light of the two study findings, specific recommendations for teacher preparation are provided. A model of teacher knowledge from a situated perspective is proposed.


It is a prerequisite to formulate material parameters affecting chloride penetration into concrete. This paper is focused on defining intrinsic parameters of concrete, linking a theoretical solution for durability design in submerged concrete under marine environment. Material parameters, such as surface chloride content, chloride diffusivity, critical threshold critical content, chloride binding capacity are formulated.


This article traces the co‐evolution between models of research communication and development. It looks at how creative and visual methods fit into this trajectory. It argues that the current growth in the accessibility of communication technologies has emerged alongside a strong revival of more linear, marketing‐style understanding of development research communication, which threatens to undermine their progressive potential. It argues that despite development research communicators having many more options available to them, in terms of tools and approaches, and a much better understanding of how to integrate research and communication, they are also under increased pressure to prove impact, or show direct attribution. It argues that the more democratised communication becomes, the more difficult it is to do this.


Algorithms for current automatic train operation (ATO) focus mainly on reducing the mechanical energy of motion for a single train within an existing timetable. However, the reuse of regenerative energy is another factor that contributes to energy consumption and conservation in multitrain networks. To improve regenerative energy receptivity and energy savings in a bidirectional metro transit network, this study formulated a coordinated train control algorithm that was based on genetic algorithm techniques. The energy saving potential of different station departure time intervals between two opposing trains (synchronization time) was tested. Simulation on the Visual C++ platform demonstrated that the algorithm could provide an optimal train speed profile with better energy performance while also satisfying operational constraints. Different synchronization times have different optimization ratios. This research was another step to facilitate the development of an ATO control algorithm that considers overall energy consumption. Increased knowledge of the influence of synchronization time at stations on energy consumption in regenerative multitrain networks will also aid in the design of more energy-efficient timetables.


The viability of six serovars of Leptospira spp. was studied after long storage at −70°C. The bacteria were either preserved in Ellinghausen–McCullough–Johnson–Harris (EMJH) liquid growth medium or in sheep blood added as a cryoprotectant. The viability of the strains was observed on a monthly basis by dark‐ground microscopy over a period of 20 months at −70°C. Addition of sheep blood was not significantly advantageous, since leptospires that were stored in EMJH showed a slight increase in number after recovery. The results suggest a very simple and useful technique for long‐term preservation of such Leptospira.


Using the example of classical electrodynamics, I argue that the concept of fields as mediators of particle interactions is fundamentally flawed and reflects a misguided attempt to retrieve Newtonian concepts in relativistic theories. This leads to various physical and metaphysical problems that are discussed in detail. In particular, I emphasize that physics has not found a satisfying solution to the self-interaction problem in the context of the classical field theory. To demonstrate the superiority of a pure particle ontology, I defend the direct interaction theory of Wheeler and Feynman against recent criticism and argue that it provides the most cogent formulation of classical electrodynamics.


This study presents a low-profile broadband microstrip patch antenna with filtering response. The proposed antenna consists of a rectangular patch and four parasitic gap-coupled elements, two L- and two rectangular-shaped patches. A broadband quasi-elliptic boresight gain response is obtained without using any extra filtering circuits. The input impedance of each radiating element, i.e., driven patch and parasitic elements, is matched to its radiating quality factor and the couplings between patches are optimised for broadband impedance bandwidth with filtering response. Prototype hardware is designed and fabricated on Kappa 438 substrate with a relative permittivity of 4.4 and thickness of 3.2 mm. The antenna exhibits a total size of 25 × 23 × 3.2 mm
 3
 with relative impedance bandwidth (voltage standing wave ratio<;2) of 60% ranging from 4.4 to 7.8 GHz. The experimental results demonstrate good performance with nearly flat gain and good filtering response. The proposed filtering antenna exhibits low pulse distortion in time domain which makes it a good candidate for location-aware Internet-of-things applications employing the IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband standard. Switchable sector base-station antenna system is studied to demonstrate the capability of this design to enhance the localisation and communication performance of the wireless network.


by Lisa J. Flickinger Missouri mules were the best. Alda grew to love the creatures working side by side with her pa on their farm along the banks of the Missouri River. He would be hopping mad when he realized his wife and daughter colluded behind his back to sell a pack string. It wouldn't matter that they were trying to save the farm. Alda struck out on her own to drive the team over fifteen hundred miles. By day three, her lead mule Bessie refused to take one more step. It was a good thing the handsome cowboy Cord stopped by to lend a hand or Alda might still be sitting in the dust. Now, Alda needed the man to move on so she could continue her journey. Judging by the spark in Cord's eye … it just might take some convincing.


We report the induction of stable and reliably detectable mixed xenogeneic chimerism through the coadministration of a mixture of untreated rat bone marrow plus T cell-depleted mouse bone marrow into B10 recipients conditioned with total body irradiation (TCD B10 mouse + untreated F344 rat----B10 mouse). Recipients repopulated as true mixed lymphopoietic chimeras, with from 1-21.6% rat-derived lymphoid cells in peripheral blood and splenic lymphoid tissue. Production of rat platelets was also demonstrated. Rat platelet and lymphoid chimerism was reliably detectable in chimeras from 1 to 7 months following reconstitution, suggesting engraftment of the rat bone marrow stem cell. Production of each stem cell-derived lineage appeared to be under independent regulation since a significantly greater proportion of platelets were rat-derived (24-81%) than were lymphocytes (1-21.6% rat), while erythrocytes were preferentially syngeneic (less than 2% rat). The tolerance induced by this model was highly donor strain-specific: donor-specific rat and mouse skin grafts were accepted while MHC-disparate third-party mouse (C3H; H-2k) and rat (Wistar Furth; Rt1Au) skin grafts were promptly rejected. Although specifically prolonged xenogeneic donor rat skin grafts underwent a slow chronic rejection, and some totally disappeared. In spite of this, chimeras retained their lymphoid chimerism, suggesting the presence of skin-specific antigens. This model for mixed xenogeneic chimerism with reliably detectable rat lymphoid cells may provide a model to study the existence of tissue-specific antigens across a species barrier, as well as mechanisms responsible for the induction and maintenance of this strain-specific transplantation tolerance.


Purwito, Nur Rohmad. 2018. "The Poetic of Barasuara Song Lyrics". Essay Undergraduate programs in Science of Indonesian Literature Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University Semarang. Adviser I : Drs. Mulyo Hadi Purnomo, M.Hum., II. Laura Andri R.M., S.S., M.A.
Poetry is oneof the forms of the works of art of imaginative literature who prefers the sound, the form of and also the meaning of which want to be transmitted. The song lyric can be classified as poetry because the song lyric having elements forming like poetry. The element in a poetry is a physical and inner. The song lyric that sung by group band Barasuara considered laden the meaning thsat showen by words in every bit of the song. The problems studied were forming element in the Barasuara song lyric wuth study stilistics. The purpose of this study is to describe poetry element and the meaning of Barasuara song lyric.
The method that use to this study is describe method. The collectionn of data using literature stydy. A technique that is used is book study, read, listen and note. Data were collected from nine Barasuara song lyric that identified hav in common with the elements in the poetry.
The results showed tah in order to trhoughly understand the Barasuara song lyric can be done by analyzing two constituent elements. In the physical element there is the choice of words in the form denotative and connotative meaning empty symbol (blank symbol) adn special symbol (private symbol), figure of speecch and versification. Of the inner structure there have been instances of lyrics with the theme of love, critism as well as social and a personal quest to know, and having the message of advice and motivation to the community. Style of language that exist in the Barasuara song lyrics is simple style tone language, powerful style tone language and medium style tone language.
Key Words : Song lyrics, poetry structure, stylistics


Modelling wildfire occurrences is important for disaster management including prevention, detection and suppression of large catastrophic events. We present a spatial Poisson hurdle model for exploring geographical variation of monthly counts of wildfire occurrences and apply it to Indonesia and Australia. The model includes two a priori independent spatially structured latent effects that account for residual spatial variation in the probability of wildfire occurrence, and the positive count rate given an occurrence. Inference is provided by empirical Bayes using the Laplace approximation to the marginal posterior which provides fast inference for latent Gaussian models with sparse structures. In both cases, our model matched several empirically known facts about wildfires. We conclude that elevation, percentage tree cover, relative humidity, surface temperature, and the interaction between humidity and temperature to be important predictors of monthly counts of wildfire occurrences. Further, our findings show opposing effects for surface temperature and its interaction with relative humidity.


The sixth volume, on the Civil War Era, of Harvard historian Edward Channing's 'Great Work,' A History of the United States, won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1925. Unfortunately, the series went out of print some years ago. This new volume makes the essence of Channing's history available to a new generation of readers by reprinting highlights from each volume. Davis D. Joyce has written an extensive introduction which places Channing and his work in perspective in American historiography. Contents: I. The Planting of a Nation in the New World, 1000-1660; II. A Century of Colonial History, 1660-1760; III. The American Revolution, 1761-1789; IV. Federalists and Republicans, 1789-1815; V. The Period of Transition, 1815-1848; VI. The War for Southern Independence.


This paper establishes position error model based on parallel robot kinematics theory, and analyses position error of the 3-TPS hybrid machine tool. Firstly, to calculate position error of the movable plate caused by the parallel mechanism links, through error model of the parallel mechanism which is established through inverse kinematics of the hybrid machine tool. Then, according to the error model of constraint mechanism established by transformation matrix method, the position error has been simulated and calculated. Finally, this paper compares the effects of both mechanisms. The analysis indicates the link error of constraint mechanism has more influence on movable plate posture than parallel mechanism, and provides help with motion error compensation and kinematic calibration.


A difference Ha-miltonian operator with three arbitrary constants is presented. When the arbitrary constants -in the Hamiltonian operator are suitably chosen, a pair of Hamiltonian operators are given. The resulting Hamiltonian pair yields a difference hereditary operator. Using Magri scheme of bi-Hamiltonian formulation, a hierarchy of the generalized Toda lattice equations is constructed. Finally, the discrete zero curvature representation is given for the resulting hierarchy.


Loss-of-a-chance doctrine has been developed primarily in the context of medical malpractice law. When employed, it eases the plaintiff's burden of proving causation. Instead of having to prove that the doctor's neglect of duty more likely than not was a but-for cause of the plaintiff's injury, the loss-of-a-chance plaintiff only has to prove that the malpractice made it somewhat more likely that she would suffer an injury. Several prominent commentators have recently called for application of loss-of-a-chance to legal malpractice, primarily out of concern over the difficulty a legal malpractice plaintiff faces in proving that, but for her lawyer's carelessness, she probably would have prevailed in the matter in which she was being represented. These remarks attempt to explain why, despite the intuitive appeal of the doctrine on grounds of both fairness and deterrence, courts ought to be wary about transplanting it into the law of legal malpractice.


Traditionally, pricing of hospital-based ancillary and diagnostic services has been a reactionary response to a cost-based budgeting system. Revenue objectives have been determined by budgeted costs, new development, contractual allowances, and required net income. Since hospitals have found it difficult to accurately measure the costs of specific services, price setting has been reserved solely for senior management or for the financial division. Thus, operating managers and their professional (medico-administrative) counterparts have had little opportunity to participate in the price-setting process and, for the most part, have had little understanding of the cost components which should be analyzed before the rates are set. A great deal of confusion and questioning has developed surrounding the establishment of prices at the departmental level. Although hospitals have given some consideration to market forces, this element in the new competitive environment will have a greater impact on the services purchased by the various payors.


Understanding the behaviour of water sheets is relevant in numerous areas, such as thin film coating and atomisation. The rupture of planar liquid sheets are interesting due to the fact that they are objects of co-dimension 1. Previous work seems to suggest that a generic route to liquid structure fragmentation is via liquid sheets. The interplay between inertia, surface tension and viscosity is crucial in determining the dynamics of liquid sheets at a macro scale. At the nanoscale, where thermal fluctuations are expected to play a dominant role, the dynamics become more interesting. The stability and rupture dynamics of nanoscaled water sheets, at constant temperature, are studied using constrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The SPC/E potential with long range electrostatics is used to simulate water molecules. The effect of an applied electric field on the stability of the nanoscaled water sheet forms the focus of this study. The effect of the initial configuration is studied by changing the random seed values used for velocity initialisation. The effect of sheet thickness on the rupture dynamics is also explored. It is seen that when large electric fields (5 V/nm) act across very thin sheets (1 layer), then breakup into multiple ellipsoidal structures is a possibility, and the response of the fluid structure to the applied electric field is non-linear. Furthermore, it is seen that Taylor's predictions for the critical electric field intensity, based on classical electro-hydrodynamics for the onset of instability in macroscopic drops, scales surprisingly well for the case of nanoscaled sheets.


Thermodynamically, native cellulose nano fibrils are more stable in an aggregated state. The aggregated state is however not useful from a material development perspective. Therefore much research has been done to stabilize the dispersal of the fibrils. One method to overcome this instability is by surface substitution of the O6 hydroxyl group with carboxylate groups, to make highly charged fibrils in aqueous solutions. It is therefore of much interest to understand the interaction of highly charged fibrils in aqueous solutions. In this study, we aim to model the interaction potential energy between native and surface modified cellulose nanofibrils in order to understand under what conditions the contribution from the dipole interactions can be neglected. To achieve this we propose to use a continuum electrostatic approach, modeling the electrostatic interactions as a function of the fibrils relative dipole orientation, separation, surface charge as well as ionic strength of the solution, by means of using the Poisson-Boltzmann equation.


ABSTRACT Background: The distribution of pronouns varies cross-linguistically. This distribution has led to conflicting results in studies that investigated pronoun resolution in agrammatic indviduals. In the investigation of pronominal resolution, the linguistic phenomenon of "resumption" is understudied in agrammatism. The construction of pronominal resolution in Akan presents the opportunity to thoroughly examine resumption. Aims: To start, the present study examines the production of (pronominal) resumption in Akan focus constructions (who-questions and focused declaratives). Second, we explore the effect of grammatical tone on the processing of pronominal (resumption) since Akan is a tonal language. Methods & Procedures: First, we tested the ability to distinguish linguistic and non-linguistic tone in Akan agrammatic speakers. Then, we administered an elicitation task to five Akan agrammatic individuals, controlling for the structural variations in the realization of resumption: focused who-questions and declaratives with (i) only a resumptive pronoun, (ii) only a clause determiner, (iii) a resumptive pronoun and a clause determiner co-occurring, and (iv) neither a resumptive pronoun nor a clause determiner. Outcomes & Results: Tone discrimination .both for pitch and for lexical tone was unimpaired. The production task demonstrated that the production of resumptive pronouns and clause determiners was intact. However, the production of declarative sentences in derived word order was impaired; wh-object questions were relatively well-preserved. Conclusions: We argue that the problems with sentence production are highly selective: linguistic tones and resumption are intact but word order is impaired in non-canonical declarative sentences.


In generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS)-enabled wavelength-switched optical networks (WSONs), shared path protection (SPP) attains 100% survivability with an acceptable recovery time, for lightpaths affected by a single-link failure. This is achieved by sharing backup resources. Nevertheless, neither the standard OSPF-TE nor the RSVP-TE protocols support the respective flooding/collection of shareable resource information for SPP purposes. This prevents the source node from computing backup paths exploiting the SPP advantages, and the destination node from performing optimal wavelength assignment (WA) favoring the reuse of shareable resources. In this paper, we experimentally evaluate, in the GMPLS control plane of the ADRENALINE testbed, the performance improvements when shareable resource information is either flooded (by enhanced OSPF-TE) and/or collected (by enhanced RSVP-TE), under the wavelength continuity constraint. Additionally, we propose efficient SPP path computation and WA algorithms, considering three information dissemination strategies: aggregated unreserved bandwidth, aggregated shared bandwidth, and wavelength-channel granularity.


LHCb will have an upgrade of its detector in 2018. After the upgrade, the LHCb experiment will run at a high luminosity of 2 × 1033 cm−2s−1. The upgraded detector will be read out at 40 MHz with a highly flexible software-based triggering strategy. The Data Acquisition (DAQ) system of LHCb reads out the data fragments from the Front-End Electronics and transports them to the High-Lever Trigger farm at an aggregate throughput of ~ 32 Tbit/s. The DAQ system will be based on high speed network technologies such as InfiniBand and/or 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet. Independent of the network technology, there are different possible architectures for the DAQ system. In this paper, we present our studies on the DAQ architecture, where we analyze size, complexity and relative cost. We evaluate and compare several data-flow schemes for a network-based DAQ: push, pull and push with barrel-shifter traffic shaping. We also discuss the requirements and overall implications of the data-flow schemes on the DAQ system.


This paper, the first of two parts, focuses on the way in which the midwife/client relationship has evolved and how this has affected the way in which midwives relate to each other and the women they attend. Midwives are urged to examine this aspect of their role in light of recent policy initiatives, which have, to some extent, created a competitive, ever-changing, and sometimes,threatening environment in which they work. For some midwives this has made the way they practice more daunting and challenging, and some have stated that they do not find the support they require within the current model of statutory supervision (Association of Radical Midwives, 1995). The second part of the paper addresses the therapeutic relationship that exists between midwives and clients and encourages supervisors of midwives and midwifery managers to consider an alternative way in which they themselves and a constantly changing health care organization could offer support to midwives. The concept of clinical supervision is...


The strong-property-fluctuation theory (SPFT) provides a general framework for estimating the constitutive parameters of a homogenized composite material (HCM). We developed the elastodynamic SPFT for orthotropic HCMs in order to undertake numerical studies. A specific choice of two-point covariance function―which characterizes the distributional statistics of the generally ellipsoidal particles that constitute the component materials―was implemented. Representative numerical examples revealed that the lowest-order SPFT estimate of the HCM stiffness tensor is qualitatively similar to the estimate provided by the Mori-Tanaka mean-field formalism, but the differences between the two estimates vary as the orthotropic nature of the HCM is accentuated. The second-order SPFT provides a correction to the lowest-order estimate of the HCM stiffness tensor and density. The correction, indicating effective dissipation due to scattering loss, increases as the HCM becomes less orthotropic but decreases as the correlation length becomes smaller.


This paper addresses the understanding and characterization of residual networks (ResNet), which are among the state-of-the-art deep learning architectures for a variety of supervised learning problems. We focus on the mapping component of ResNets, which map the embedding space towards a new unknown space where the prediction or classification can be stated according to linear criteria. We show that this mapping component can be regarded as the numerical implementation of continuous flows of diffeomorphisms governed by ordinary differential equations. Especially, ResNets with shared weights are fully characterized as numerical approximation of exponential diffeomorphic operators. We stress both theoretically and numerically the relevance of the enforcement of diffeormorphic properties and the importance of numerical issues to make consistent the continuous formulation and the discretized ResNet implementation. We further discuss the resulting theoretical and computational insights on ResNet architectures.


In this article, part of an investigation concerning the management of political power and the separation of powers, the author makes an analysis of the historical evolution of the principle of separation of powers of the State, where it makes clear how problematic is the power issue since the most distant times. From ancient Greece, where the early doctrines relating to society are made, its management and the position of individuals, passing through the transformation of the feudal stage until the Absolute State, arriving to the revolutionary processes. More important related to the new configuration of power, are the English, North American and French cases. It is noted that in any of these stages, despite more than a millennium of time elapsed, there has always been a latent problem of management of political power, and in particular the articulation of this power in the structure of the State, in its various functions and powers. It is very important to understand the management of the democratic State to know about the evolution of one of its most important pillars, the separation of powers.


Case Report The patient is a female with Turner's Syndrome (45, XO) born at 32 weeks gestation by emergency caesarean section with a birth weight of 1.6KG. The neonatal course was complicated by respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, coagulopathy, gram negative sepsis and small bowel perforation. Ongoing clinical issues included transaminitis, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and bilateral grade 4 intra-ventricular haemorrhages. The patient was transferred from a neonatal intensive care unit to our institutions paediatric intensive care unit where her cardiorespiratory profile continued to deteriorate. She was started on noradrenaline, milrinone and intravenous diuresis to support cardiac output and ameliorate left sided pulmonary oedema. 2D echocardiography demonstrated PAPVC of the left upper pulmonary vein to the innominate vein as well as a small secundum ASD, mild right heart dilatation, moderate RVH and well preserved biventricular systolic function. There was moderate PR and mild TR with an estimated right ventricular systolic pressure approaching systemic levels. CT angiogram confirmed a left PAPVC to innominate vein via a vertical vein and suggested only a small segment of the left lower lobe was draining to the left atrium. The CT also raised the possibility of a vertical vein stenosis. At eight weeks corrected the patient presented for cardiac cathederisation under GA. Pulmonary artery pressure was systemic on manometry. The mean pressure in the vertical vein measured 24mmHg with a 9mmHg gradient across the stenosis. A stent was placed across the stenosis and inflated to 22 ATM. Relief of the stenosis was achieved and the procedure was tolerated without complication.


Cohesion is defined as the creation and maintenance of cooperative effort towards the attainment of the organization's goals. This paper argues that existing theories of cohesion in the military are deficient. For most soldiers, patriotism and ideology play only a diffuse an indirect motivational role. Explanations based on selective incentives and primary group solidarity also suffer from theoretical and empirical inconsistencies. This paper maintains that the more individual soldiers self-identify as members of an armed organization over other putative identities, the greater will be organizational cohesion. While the military provides individuals with a sense of belonging to an entity greater than the face-to-face primary group, it also provides a means of status distinction within, as opposed to across communities. Three mechanisms by which organizational socialization is strengthened are identified: training, ritual, and collective burden sharing. Evidence from the U.S. Army in Vietnam and the Wehrmacht in the Second World War suggests that the latter may be especially significant. Soldiers kill and die, not for society as a whole, but for an imagined community of fellow warriors, an imaginary brotherhood.


This article discusses the syntax–prosody interface, drawing on evidence from Stockholm Swedish. It is shown that a Swedish main clause containing an embedded clause has three prosodic correlates, two of which are non-isomorphic to the syntactic bracketing. However, two coordinated clauses have only one – isomorphic – prosodic correlate. Optimality-theoretic constraints (Prince & Smolensky 1993) are used to derive this variation. A new markedness constraint, EqualSisters, is argued to be responsible for a preference for flat prosodic structures. This constraint requires that sister nodes in prosodic structure belong to the same prosodic category, and therefore sometimes conflicts with match constraints, which call for syntax–prosody correspondence (Selkirk 2009, 2011). When high-ranked, EqualSisters forces syntax–prosody non-isomorphism if the input syntactic structure contains embedding, whereas full isomorphism is predicted in coordinated structures. The previously suggested markedness constraints Non-recursivity and Exhaustivity (Selkirk 1996) cannot replace EqualSisters, and in the present account are rendered redundant.


Article history: Received on: 12/08/2015 Revised on: 19/11/2015 Accepted on: 10/12/2015 Available online: 27/02/2016 To improve the dyeability and antimicrobial activity of cotton, the cotton was treated. Firstly, Carboxymethylation was carried out in the cotton fibers to form alkali cellulose. Due to carboxymethylation, the alkali cellulose modifies the crystalline structure of cellulose and increases the accessibility of fibers to chemicals by swelling. Secondly, it padded in a solution content (5 % nano zinc oxide, 4% citric acid) or (6 % titanium isopropoxide, 4% citric acid) or in a solution of 5 % nano zinc oxide, 6 % titanium isopropoxide, 4% citric acid or in a solution of 7% nano zinic oxide, 7% titanium isopropoxide, 4% citric acid, at wet pick up of ca 100%, then dried at 85 °C for 5 min., and cured at 100 °C for 3 min, the latter, we use these fabric in dyeing with synthesized acid dye and commercial basic dye finally, we measure antimicrobial activity for these fabric toward Gram negative and Gram positive .


Available bandwidth measurements and locating congested link can be useful in network performance management, server selection, and promoting performance of overlay networks. However, it is difficult to obtain this information from router directly because most of ISP would not like sharing this information to the world. In this paper, we propose a new available bandwidth estimation algorithm. Instead of Probe Gap model using the interval expanding to estimate available bandwidth, our algorithm use the ratio of interval compressing to estimate the link idle probability. This algorithm can measure every link's utilization by end to end active measurement. We use Ns simulation to valid our algorithm.


Purpose - The constantly changing prices, promotions, and packaging options have made decision making more complex for consumers of packaged goods. The purpose of this paper is to explore how price and promotions influence consumer propensity to buy a certain package size. Design/methodology/approach - Scanner panel data for shelf-stable salad dressing obtained from Information Resources Inc. were used to compute the proportion of large packages bought, the relative price paid for large packages, propensity to use various types of promotions, and a behavioral covariate for each household. Data of over 5,600 households were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis for hypothesis testing. Findings - The positive nature of relationship between the relative price of large packages and the proportion of large packages bought demonstrates the suboptimal nature of consumer decision making. The inefficiency is partially attributable to the abundance of promotions, to consumers' lack of price awareness, and to the use of heuristics by consumers. Also, consumers who are prone to use promotions such as displays and temporary price reductions tend to purchase larger packages. They are more likely to buy impulsively and base their decisions on heuristics. In contrast, consumers who are influenced by featured price cuts and who utilize coupons tend to purchase smaller packages. Research limitations/implications - Data were obtained from grocery stores; only a single product category was studied. Practical implications - Offer coupons and advertise featured price cuts on small packages to increase the sales of smaller packages. To move large packages successfully, retailers should rely more on in-store displays and temporary price reductions. Originality/value - The impact of price and promotions on package size propensity has never been investigated. This study is also one of the few that uses a household-level analysis based on observable purchase data for consumer packaged goods.


The affinity of AMD3100, a symmetrical nonpeptide antagonist composed of two 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) rings connected through a 1,4-dimethylene(phenylene) linker to the CXCR4 chemokine receptor was increased 7, 36, and 50-fold, respectively, by incorporation of the following: Cu(2+), Zn(2+), or Ni(2+) into the cyclam rings of the compound. The rank order of the transition metal ions correlated with the calculated binding energy between free acetate and the metal ions coordinated in a cyclam ring. Construction of AMD3100 substituted with only a single Cu(2+) or Ni(2+) ion demonstrated that the increase in binding affinity of the metal ion substituted bicyclam is achieved through an enhanced interaction of just one of the ring systems. Mutational analysis of potential metal ion binding residues in the main ligand binding crevice of the CXCR4 receptor showed that although binding of the bicyclam is dependent on both Asp(171) and Asp(262), the enhancing effect of the metal ion was selectively eliminated by substitution of Asp(262) located at the extracellular end of TM-VI. It is concluded that the increased binding affinity of the metal ion substituted AMD3100 is obtained through enhanced interaction of one of the cyclam ring systems with the carboxylate group of Asp(262). It is suggested that this occurs through a strong concomitant interaction of one of the oxygen's directly with the metal ion and the other oxygen to one of the nitrogens of the cyclam ring through a hydrogen bond.


A lattice Boltzmann flux solver (LBFS) is presented in this work for simulation of incompressible viscous and inviscid flows. The new solver is based on Chapman-Enskog expansion analysis, which is the bridge to link Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations and lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE). The macroscopic differential equations are discretized by the finite volume method, where the flux at the cell interface is evaluated by local reconstruction of lattice Boltzmann solution from macroscopic flow variables at cell centers. The new solver removes the drawbacks of conventional lattice Boltzmann method such as limitation to uniform mesh, tie-up of mesh spacing and time interval, limitation to viscous flows. LBFS is validated by its application to simulate the viscous decaying vortex flow, the driven cavity flow, the viscous flow past a circular cylinder, and the inviscid flow past a circular cylinder. The obtained numerical results compare very well with available data in the literature, which show that LBFS has the second order of accuracy in space, and can be well applied to viscous and inviscid flow problems with non-uniform mesh and curved boundary.


Safe, stable, and affordable housing is central to ensuring healthy, sustainable, and inclusive communities. Amid COVID-19-related economic shocks and a worsening housing crisis, residents in cities across California are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of housing. This report draws from a unique, longitudinal dataset of over 14,000 residents to examine residential instability–in the form of moving and household crowding–in the City of Oakland, California. It presents trends from the last 20 years, with an additional focus on patterns emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors find that lower credit score residents have left Oakland at accelerating rates in recent years, with least-resourced movers the most likely to leave the Bay Area altogether. Lower credit score residents also transitioned into crowded housing conditions at higher rates after the Great Recession; these transitions to crowded conditions subsided by 2020, but the pandemic once again pushed rates up for most groups. Rates of moving out and shifting into crowded housing in the last 20 years often trended in opposite directions, suggesting that lower credit score residents may make important tradeoffs to stay in their communities as housing price pressures increase. However, that most groups have seen increases in both crowding and moving since the pandemic may point to mounting and multiple instability pressures. Outcomes of instability were most pronounced for residents in Predominantly Black, Mixed Black, and Multiethnic neighborhoods in East and West Oakland. Taken together, our findings highlight the vulnerability of lower credit score groups, especially those living in communities of color, and offer important insights for policymakers and practitioners working to stabilize Oakland's most vulnerable residents. The report concludes with a discussion about the direction of future research.


The purpose of this study is to analyse difficulties and special needs of Language Specific Needs students (BiLS, Bisogni Linguistici Specifici) in the field of comprehension of a narrative text and, specifically, in the study of fiction. This paper summarises the theories on which this study is built and, in a second stage, describes the particular case that brought at the compilation and practice of specific teaching method on the narrative category of the character. Our goal is to verify the efficacy and strength of this teaching method built specifically for BiLS students to facilitates the reading approach of a narrative text book, allowing the student to get closer with reading and consulting a narrative text book. The results of the case study are particularly satisfying, specifically regarding the positive approach of the student with the text analysis and fiction learning.


We investigated the effects of microRNA-587b (miR-487b) in a rat model of chronic heart failure (CHF). Wistar rats were assigned to 10 groups (n=8 per group). Expression of interleukin-33 (IL-33), somatostatin 2 (ST2), IL-6, and TNF-α was higher in the CHF group than the control group. In the CHF, negative control (NC) for si-IL-33, NC for miR-487b mimic, NC for miR-487b inhibitor, and miR-487b inhibitor + si IL-33 groups, as compared to the blank and sham groups: steroid binding protein (SBP), D binding protein (DBP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), ± dp/dtmax, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were all lower; myocardial fibrosis, MDA, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), myocardial apoptosis rate, IL-6, and TNF-α were all higher; levels of IL-33 and ST2 mRNA and protein were higher; and levels of miR-487b were lower. Levels of IL-33 and ST2 mRNA and protein were lower, and SBP, DBP, LVSP, ± dp/dtmax, and SOD were higher in the miR-487b mimic and si-IL-33 groups than the CHF group. Expression of miR-487b was increased in the miR-487b mimic group, and expression of IL-33 and ST2 were increased and expression of miR-487b was decreased in the miR-487b inhibitor group. MiR-487b reduces apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and fibrosis in CHF by suppressing IL-33 through inhibition the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway.


ABSTRACT The descriptions of the part I of this study showed that Paraformaldehyde tablets in environmental conditions was used in a brazilian reality as the inadequate choosing way for most of the researched Institutions. This articles shows how this chemical agent is used outstanding problems as the lack of a theoretical base and process validation compromiting, this way, the safety of the sterilization. The "sterilization" conditions of most of the Institutions didn't include temperature, increment of the relative humidity and didn't make the adapted quantification of the tablets. It was observed that the researched Institutions don't have based parameters that guide the reutilization of a same group of Paraformaldehyde tablets in the sterilization processes. The use of Individual Protection Equipment is quite valued in handle of this chemical agent. KEYWORDS: Paraformaldehyde tablets. Chemical sterilization. Higt level of desinfectant activity. Central Supply Unit.


Since the decline of the aggregate economic growth rates in the 1970's and ensuing changes in the international division of labour, innovation is increasingly being considered the key factor in national as well as regional and local development. Innovation requires a "scientific infrastructure" and close (synergetic) interaction of potentially innovative actors, particularly research and training, government, services, and production units. This applies to all the spatial levels mentioned. Some countries have applied technology policy in a general a spatial form, others in sinspatial1y concentrated: (national science city type) or spatially decentralized from (ea. the Japanese Technopo1is policy). In the view of the systemic character of new technologies, important criteria for their success are their permeating effects primarily in three dimensions: horizontally from high-tech to traditional sectors, vertically between firms of different size, and spatially between different locations and regions. Examples of different types of regional innovation strategies, are given such as centrally (Central Government/large firm) externally implanted ted innovation, regionally (Local Government - local university, local enterprise/community) initiated innovation. Finally a framework for the analysis of their permeating effects is offered.


ABSTRACT Tritium compounds need to be separated to each chemical form for reasonable and continuous monitoring of tritium compounds. In this study, the continuous monitoring of HT in the air containing HT and HTO was investigated using the separation cell made of porous Vycor glass tube. The apparatus for a continuous and selective monitoring of tritium compounds in the air containing HT and HTO was constructed of radioactive gas monitor, ion chamber and the separation cell. An air containing tritium compounds (HT, HTO, etc.) was provided by Research Reactor Institute of Kyoto University. In the air containing of HT and HTO, HT is found to permeate selectively through the pores of the porous Vycor glass tube wall.


This paper focuses on using the Bees Algorithm in both its basic and enhanced forms to tune the parameters of a fuzzy logic controller developed to stabilise and balance an under-actuated two-link acrobatic robot (ACROBOT) in the upright position. A linear quadratic regulator (LQR) was first developed to obtain the scaling gains needed to design the fuzzy logic controller. Simulation results confirmed that using the Bees Algorithm to optimise the membership functions and the scaling gains of the fuzzy system improved the controller performance.


The reproductive biology of round sardinella, Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847, was studied for the first time in the north-eastern Mediterranean Sea. Round sardinella has gained much attention lately because of its biomass increase, which might be the result of climatic changes occurring across the Mediterranean Sea. Monthly samples were collected on board commercial purse-seiners for two complete year cycles (September 2000 to August 2002). Round sardinella is a gonochoristic fish. The overall female to male ratio was not statistically different (P=0.34) from unity, although it varied monthly and with the length of the fish. The seasonal changes in the gonadosomatic index and the macroscopic characteristics of gonads showed that round sardinella in the northern Aegean spawns between May and July. Male round sardinella reach first sexual maturity at a smaller total length than females (155.0 and 168.3 mm respectively). Mean absolute fecundity (FA) increased exponentially with body length (FA=0.0949xL 4.22 ) and weight (FA=511.19xW 1.02 ), with an average of ~21,000 oocytes produced per spawning female. Relative fecundity (FR) ranged between 242 and 681 oocytes/g of body weight (average: 445 oocytes/g). The frequency distribution of oocytes showed that round sardinella produces a single batch of oocytes. In general, the reproductive characteristics of round sardinella in the north-eastern Mediterranean Sea differed when compared to stocks from other areas of its distribution.


Objective To determine the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes after sport-related concussion (SRC) in a regional sports concussion centre. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Comprehensive sports concussion centre. Participants 282 youth, high school, and collegiate student-athletes. Intervention All patients seen at a comprehensive sports concussion centre were contacted after their injury for in-depth telephone interviews. Subsequent demographic data was also collected. Outcome measures SES was defined based on six variables: cost of living percentile, median income percentile, % college graduates, % homeowners, county type, and insurance. Outcomes after SRC were defined as the following three variables: days of symptom duration, days of missed school, and days of missed practice. Main results A total of 282 student-athletes were studied. The median age was 15.8 years (range 11.6–22.2). American football was the most common sport (32.2%). After multivariate cox-regression analysis, no relationship between SES and symptom duration or missed practice was seen. For the outcome of missed school, insurance status had a significant relationship, where those with private insurance had fewer missed days of school than those with public insurance (HR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26–0.83, p=0.009). Conclusions In a regional cohort of youth, high school and collegiate student-athletes, SES had largely no impact on the outcomes of symptom duration, missed school, and missed practice. The only significant relationship was that those with private insurance returned to school quicker than those with public insurance, which may represent increased access to rehabilitation resources after SRC. Competing interests None. GS Solomon receives consulting fees from the Tennessee Titans (NFL), the Nashville Predators (NHL), and the athletic departments of several universities, all fees paid to institution. In addition he is a member of the ImPACT Scientific Advisory Board and receives reimbursement for expenses to board meetings. AK Sills is a consulting physician to the Nashville Predators (uncompensated) and also serves as an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant for the NFL.


One approach for tackling grand challenges that is gaining traction in recent management literature is robust action: by allowing diverse stakeholders to engage with novel ideas, initiatives can cultivate successful ideas that yield greater impact. However, a potential pitfall of robust action is the length of time it takes to generate momentum. Crowdsourcing, we argue, is a valuable tool that can scale the generation of impact from robust action. We studied an award‐winning environmental sustainability crowdsourcing initiative and found that robust action principles were indeed successful in attracting a diverse stakeholder network to generate novel ideas and develop these into sustainable solutions. Yet we also observed that the momentum and novelty generated was at risk of getting lost as the actors and their roles changed frequently throughout the process. We show the vital importance of robust action principles for connecting ideas and actors across crowdsourcing phases. These observations allow us to make a contribution to extant theory by explaining the micro‐dynamics of scaling robust action's impact over time.


Flecainide acetate is a new class 1 c antiarrhythmic drug. It slows conduction in the working myocardium and the specialized conduction system and may depress sinus node activity in patients with pre-existing sinus node disease. Its hemodynamic effects are minimal. The drug is completely absorbed and shows a half-life of 7-22 hours. Elimination is mainly through the kidneys. Flecainide is highly effective in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, pre-excitation syndromes and AV reentry tachycardias. Side effects are mild and consist mostly of dizziness, visual disturbances, and nervousness. They rarely require discontinuation of therapy. Proarrhythmic effects have been reported. Caution is required in patients with congestive heart failure, AV block, and/or bundle-branch block or sinus node dysfunction.


In recent years, the oil and gas industry has gained greater operational efficiencies and productivity by deploying advanced technologies, such as smart sensors, data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning — all linked via Internet of Things connectivity. This transformation is profound, but just starting. Leading offshore E&P operators envision using such applications to help drive their production costs to as low as $7 per barrel or less. A large North Sea operator among them successfully deployed a low-manned platform in the Ivar Aasen field in December 2016, operating it via redundant control rooms — one on the platform, the other onshore 1,000 kilometers away in Trondheim, Norway. In January 2019, the offshore control room operators handed over the platform's control to the onshore operators, and it is now managed exclusively from the onshore one. One particular application — remote condition monitoring of equipment — supports a proactive, more predictive condition-based maintenance program, which is helping to ensure equipment availability, maximize utilization, and find ways to improve performance. This paper will explain the use case in greater detail, including insights into how artificial intelligence and machine learning are incorporated into this operational model. Also described will be the application of a closed-loop lifecycle platform management model, using the concepts of digital twins from pre-FEED and FEED phases through construction, commissioning, and an expected lifecycle spanning 20 years of operations. It is derived from an update to a paper presented at the 2018 SPE Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) that introduced the use case in its 2017-18 operating model, but that was before the debut of the platform's exclusive monitoring of its operations by its onshore control room.


Background: The studies of complex traits project new challenges to current methods that evaluate association between genotypes and a specific trait. Consideration of possible interactions among loci leads to overwhelming dimensions that cannot be handled using current statistical methods. Methods: In this article, we evaluate a multi-marker screening algorithm – the backward genotype-trait association (BGTA) algorithm for case-control designs, which uses unphased multi-locus genotypes. BGTA carries out a global investigation on a candidate marker set and automatically screens out markers carrying diminutive amounts of information regarding the trait in question. To address the 'too many possible genotypes, too few informative chromosomes' dilemma of a genomic-scale study that consists of hundreds to thousands of markers, we further investigate a BGTA-based marker selection procedure, in which the screening algorithm is repeated on a large number of random marker subsets. Results of these screenings are then aggregated into counts that the markers are retained by the BGTA algorithm. Markers with exceptional high counts of returns are selected for further analysis. Results and Conclusion: Evaluated using simulations under several disease models, the proposed methods prove to be more powerful in dealing with epistatic traits. We also demonstrate the proposed methods through an application to a study on the inflammatory bowel disease.


Ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products, such as deli ham, can support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) which can cause severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. The objectives of this study were to validate a miniature ham model (MHM) against the ham slice method and screen antimicrobial combinations to control LM on ham using response surface methodology (RSM) as a time- and cost-effective high-throughput screening tool. The effect of nisin (Ni), potassium lactate sodium acetate (PLSDA), lauric arginate (LAG), lytic bacteriophage (P100), and Ɛ-polylysine (EPL) added alone, or in combination, was determined on the MHM over 12 days of storage. Results showed the MHM accurately mimics the ham slice method since no statistical differences were found (p=0.526) in the change of LM cell counts in MHM and slice counts after 12 days of storage at 4°C for treated and untreated hams. The MHM was then used to screen antimicrobial combinations using an on-face design and three center points in a central composite design. The RSM was tested using a cocktail of five LM strains isolated from foodborne disease outbreaks. Three levels of the above mentioned antimicrobials were used in combination for a total of 28 runs performed in triplicate. The change of LM cell counts were determined after 12 days of storage at 4°C. All tested antimicrobials were effective on reducing LM cell counts on ham when added alone. A significant antagonistic interaction (p=0.002) was identified by the RSM between LAG and P100, where this antimicrobial combination caused a 2.2 logCFU/g change of LM cell counts after 12 days of storage. Two  interactions, between Ni and EPL (p=0.058), and Ni and P100 (p=0.068), showed possible synergistic effects against LM on the MHM. Other interactions were clearly non-significant, suggesting additive effects. In future work, the developed MHM in combination with RSM can be used as a high-throughput method to analyze novel antimicrobial treatments against LM.


: The black rat (Rattus rattus) causes severe damage to coconut (Cocos nucifera) crops in Colombia. These rodents climb to the crown of producing palms and often nest there. Damage results from the rats gnawing the shells of the coconuts until they penetrate to the endosperm; the perforated nuts will fall within a period of 15 days and are unsuitable for harvest. Since series of investigations to obtain information about the characteristics of this damage and the best means of reducing it. Damage surveys in several of the principal coconut-producing areas reveal a high percentage of crop loss (e~g., TIJllaco : 20%, San Andres Island - 34%, and Gorgona Island - 60%) and illustrate the seriousness of the problem. The lack of water (i.e., rainfall) during the dry season seems to be associated with increased damage. In some areas, such as San Andres, the planting density is excessively high. Hence, physical barriers such as metal bands on the trunk are ineffective -- the proxim\ty of the palms allows the rats to transit easily among adjacent trees on overlapping fronds. Our observations indictte that chemical control using anticoagulant baits placed in the palm crowns, significantly reduces dilJllage. The effect of a single ' baiting can last up to six months, with the length of the effect dependent upon cultural practices implemented after treatment (e.g., maintaining cleanliness of area, weed control, etc.). At present, chemical control and associated cultural practices is the program rec0111nended by ICA for reduction of rat damage to coconut crops in Colombia.


Abstract. A novel way of estimating near-surface mean flow tilt angles from ground based Doppler lidar measurements is presented. The results are compared with traditional mast based in-situ sonic anemometry. The tilt angle assessed with the lidar is based on 10 or 30 min mean values of the velocity field from a conically scanning lidar. In this mode of measurement, the lidar beam is rotated in a circle by a prism with a fixed angle to the vertical at varying focus distances. By fitting a trigonometric function to the scans, the mean vertical velocity can be estimated. Lidar measurements from (1) a fetch-limited beech forest site taken at 48–175 m a.g.l. (above ground level), (2) a reference site in flat agricultural terrain and (3) a second reference site in complex terrain are presented. The method to derive flow tilt angles and mean vertical velocities from lidar has several advantages compared to sonic anemometry; there is no flow distortion caused by the instrument itself, there are no temperature effects and the instrument misalignment can be corrected for by assuming zero tilt angle at high altitudes. Contrary to mast-based instruments, the lidar measures the wind field with the exact same alignment error at a multitude of heights. Disadvantages with estimating vertical velocities from a lidar compared to mast-based measurements are potentially slightly increased levels of statistical errors due to limited sampling time, because the sampling is disjunct, and a requirement for homogeneous flow. The estimated mean vertical velocity is biased if the flow over the scanned circle is not homogeneous. It is demonstrated that the error on the mean vertical velocity due to flow inhomogeneity can be approximated by a function of the angle of the lidar beam to the vertical and the vertical gradient of the mean vertical velocity, whereas the error due to flow inhomogeneity on the horizontal mean wind speed is independent of the lidar beam angle. For the presented measurements over forest, it is evaluated that the systematic error due to the inhomogeneity of the flow is less than 0.2°. The results of the vertical conical scans were promising, and yielded positive flow angles for a sector where the forest is fetch-limited. However, more data and analysis are needed for a complete evaluation of the lidar technique.


The current pace of technological development has forced many companies to invest significant capital and resources in research and development (R&D) activities. A systematic and efficient method of identifying technology trends and their evolutionary potentials can help companies guide their R&D planning and wisely allocate their R&D resources. This study proposes a framework combining the evolutionary trends developed by the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, or Teoriya Reshniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch (TRIZ) in Russian, with the visualization technique of text mining to systematically identify technology trends from patent documents. As technological information in patent documents is stored almost entirely in text format, the text mining method allows R&D personnel to efficiently identify technology trends and effectively conduct R&D planning. Utilizing text mining method on patents of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) systems and the underlying principles of TRIZ evolutionary trends, this study shows that MRAM includes 10 important technology trends. These trends have almost reached the evolutionary limit phase defined by TRIZ, which means that MRAM is fast becoming a mature technology. Therefore, for businesses that intend to acquire MRAM technology they do not possess, a wise R&D plan may be licensing the technology, buying the technology from others, or participating in a joint venture rather than using in-house R&D.


The subject of modeling and estimating of synchronous motor (SM) parameters is a challenge mathematically. Although effective solutions have been developed for nonlinear systems in artificial intelligence (AI)-based models, problems are faced with the application of these models in power circuits in real-time. One of these problems is the delay time resulting from a complex calculation process and thus the difficulties faced in the design of real-time motor driving circuits. Another important problem regards the difficulty in the realization of a complex AI-based model in microprocessor-based real-time systems. In this study, a new hybrid technique is developed to solve the problems in AI-based nonlinear modeling approaches. Through this method, the relationships among the motor parameters can be described in a linear/quadratic SM form. The most effective and modern metaheuristic methods are utilized in the creation of SM forms. The SM forms developed in this study lead to an easy design and application of the SM driver software. Therefore, a model that is faster, more effective, and more easily applicable than AI-based popular methods is developed for SMs. The proposed techniques can also be applied to many other industrial modeling problems that have nonlinear features.


Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has a thermogenic function in animals. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP) is responsible for the thermogenic function in BAT cells. Vitamin A affects proliferation and differentiation in cells. Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, stimulates the expression of the UCP gene, which is found in BAT cells. Retinoic acid performs its function regardless of differentiation stage of BAT cells. It is known that vitamin A is teratogenic at therapeutic doses in pregnancy. In this study, effects of retinyl palmitate applied in a therapeutic dose were examined in mice fetal BAT cells. Tissue samples were subjected to a routine electron microscopic procedure for this purpose and then examined. In the control group cells, mitochondria were found to have short cristae, the glycogen granules occupying the cytoplasm were large and the same as those in developing BAT cells, and the lipid granules were few. Glycogen granules constituted smaller clusters in the cytoplasm of cells in the vitamin A group. As compared with the control group, cristae of mitochondria were elongated and matured. In this group, the amount of lipid granules was more striking than that in the control group. In conclusion, this study indicated that vitamin A derivative applied in therapeutic dose during pregnancy accelerates the developmental period of BAT adipocytes in fetal mice.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a scoping review on the health challenges of families experiencing homelessness. There is a bi-directional relationship between health and homelessness in that poor health can increase the risk of housing loss, and experiencing homelessness is bad for one's health. The experience of homelessness differs between populations and this review focuses on families as one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. While research has been integrated on the causes of homelessness for families, this same integration has not been conducted looking at health challenges of families experiencing homelessness.

Design/methodology/approach
A scoping review methodology is utilized in the paper. As the goal of this work is to ultimately develop interventions for a Canadian context, primacy is given to Canadian sources, but other relevant literature is also included.

Findings
A clear distinction is seen in the literature between health challenges of children of homeless families and health challenges of parents. These themes are explored separately, and preliminary recommendations are made for potential points of intervention as personal, program and policy levels.

Originality/value
This review of current evidence is an important first step in building a foundation for interventions to improve health outcomes for those experiencing housing loss.


Due to forced migration migrants, asylum seekers and refugees finding themselves in a new cultural environment and trying to build a new life, they need to feel affiliated, to achieve peer acceptance among natives and diverse migrant groups. Such affiliation needs can be achieved by tailored training interventions aiming to promote the development of prosocial skills of cultural diverse groups, as alternative actions to facilitate better migrants'/asylum seekers/refugees' integration into the host society. The scope of this survey is to study the short-term effects of a social skills and prosocial behaviour training for adult migrants, refugees or asylum seekers. The method is based on the theory of prosociality and explores the effectiveness of a prosocial game in the development of prosocial skills, which are considered important for the social and emotional wellbeing and smoother integration of migrant groups in the new host community. A pre-test-post-test design was used, assigning 110 migrant participants to either an experimental or a control group and comparing them on their prosocial skills as evaluated through the NADINE questionnaire. Those who played the game significantly improved in their teamwork and interpersonal skills. Although further research should be made on the use of serious games in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in migrant adults, this study adds to the research literature, supporting the potential of a game-based SEL intervention for effectively assisting migrant groups develop their prosocial skills and facilitating their better integration into the host society.


Background
Malaria is endemic in Sarawak contributing to the highest incidence rate in Malaysia. Kuching division consists of three main areas, namely Kuching district, Lundu and Bau. This review aims to highlight the trends of malaria over the past five years in terms of demographic characteristics and vector control programmes and to identify factors that contribute to the difficulty in malaria control programme in this state.

Methodology
This is a descriptive review of malaria cases based on surveillance data compiled from 2000 to 2004. Data is analysed based on demographic background, malaria species, type of malaria infection and vector control activities between the three districts.

Results
Lundu has the highest average 5-year incidence rate per 10,000 population of 121.97 as compared to the national figure of 4.10. Malaria is more prevalent in males (14.3%) than females (5.7%). Among the race, Dayaks had the highest prevalence rate (66.5%). Peak age affected is between 15 to 40 years. The predominant species was Plasmodium vivax (65.4%) followed by Plasmodium falciparum (32.8%). For occupation, the majority of cases were among villagers (55.2%) followed by foreign workers (19.0%). Cases were detected mainly by passive case detection (82.7%) and blood film for malarial parasites was positive in 2.67%. For malaria control activities, focal spraying were successfully done in 94.4% of the
structures, regular spraying in 89.5% structures, impregnated bednet distribution among 38.2% population and mass drug administration distributed among 80.7% of the population.

Conclusion
Results analysis has shown that the incidence rate of malaria in Kuching division is very high, particularly in Lundu district. Although activities conducted by the malaria control programme is sufficient, it has not been able to successfully reduce the incidence of malaria in
this region. Problems identified include difficulty in accessing the affected areas, movements of illegal immigrants, financial constraints and lack of training of field staff involved in malaria control. Recommendations include integrating malaria control measures with cross
border agents, community participation, aggressive surveillance programmes and improvement of vector control.