Objective: Characterize the effectiveness of insulin glargine alone, exenatide alone, or combined in subjects taking stable doses of metformin and evaluate their impact on hemoglobin A1C, hypoglycemia, weight, and glucose variability. Methods: Open-label, randomized, parallel-arm study of adults with type 2 diabetes naïve to both insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist who were not at A1C goal despite treatment with metformin. This prospective interventional study employed blinded continuous glucose monitoring ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) reports over 32 weeks. Subjects were randomized to treatment with glargine (Iglar), exenatide (GLP-1), or combination of glargine and exenatide (Iglar + GLP-1). At midpoint, those not at A1C target had the second medication added; those on Iglar + GLP-1 continued therapy optimization. Results: Decreases in A1C were: 7.6 to 6.2% for Iglar + GLP-1, 7.5 to 6.6% for Iglar, and 7.5 to 6.4% for GLP-1. Iglar + GLP-1 achieved A1C targets faster (14 to 16 weeks) but had more hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia rates increased slightly for all arms. Weight loss was achieved in all regimens including GLP-1. Glucose variability was not reduced to the same extent in the Iglar arm as the GLP-1 arm. Conclusion: Addition of Iglar and/or GLP-1 to metformin for patients not at treatment goal was safe and effective. The order of medication addition needs to consider individualized AGP patterns and goals. Iglar + GLP-1 resulted in rapid A1C lowering, whereas GLP-1 was noted to have less hypoglycemia. Weight loss was most pronounced in GLP-1 monotherapy, suggesting that GLP-1 may mitigate the weight gain of Iglar. Any treatment with GLP-1 showed significant decreases in glucose variability. Abbreviations: A1C = hemoglobin A1c; AGP = ambulatory glucose profile; CGM = continuous glucose monitoring; GLM = general linear model; GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide 1 (exenatide); Iglar = insulin glargine; SGLT2 = sodium-glucose cotransporter 2; SMBG = self-monitoring blood glucose; SU = sulfonylurea; T2D = type 2 diabetes mellitus.


This paper outlines transparency measures that could be taken to build international confidence that "subcritical experiments" conducted underground by the U.S. or any other country do not violate the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Our calculations suggest that on‐site measurement of the integrated radiation output from these experiments should be adequate to verify that nuclear yields greater than grams of TNT equivalent had not occurred, even allowing for the possibility of substantial shielding. However, our calculations also indicate that a pure fission experiment that remained strictly subcritical for its entire duration should have a yield no greater than 0.1 micro‐gram TNT equivalent, even given irradiation by an external deuterium‐tritium neutron source. Experiments involving chemical‐implosion‐induced deuterium‐tritium fusion could have yields above this limit, and may require fission product measurements in addition to prompt radiation measurements to rule out a supercritical test.


A North Carolina Design II experiment was used to examine the genetic variability of yield, quality and some associated characters in tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Considerable variation was apparent for all parameters studied. Differences between progenies were attributable to general combining ability, rather than specific combining ability, for most of the characters. Relatively low narrow sense heritabilities were obtained for both yield and quality. Correlation coefficients, which were computed for all combinations of variates, showed that yield and quality were inversely related, and indicated that shoot density was the single most important factor governing yield. Principal component analysis was used in order to elucidate further this complex of relationships. It is suggested that bushes with an upright growth habit, a large number of shoots per unit area and a high rate of shoot extension will represent high yielding genotypes. Implications for breeding and selection are discussed.


The field of knowledge organization, and cataloguing in particular, has increasingly become concerned with bibliographic relationships. Tillett (2001) developed a taxonomy of bibliographic relationships that is largely shared by Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), with the exception of the "shared characteristic" relationship including such features as shared creator or subject headings. This paper will offer another possible shared characteristic: "memes." Memes are units of cultural inheritance and include literary tropes, character archetypes, and genre conceits, and can link otherwise unconnected works.


Based on the experience of the junior research group "Berlin intellectuals 1800-1830", this lecture explores the way modern literary studies apprehend the digital turn and how it affects (or fails to affect) their self-understanding. Does the so-called "digitization" amount to using "new" methods to answer "old" questions and if so, what justifies the resilience to those methods in the scientific community?

Digital approaches often scare off literary scholars because they require developing IT-skills: this is true, but it is only a small part of the truth. They also make what can feel like the last solid grounds crumble, particularly the concept of text and the historiography of canonical authors that had bravely resisted the theoretical dismantlings of the 20th century. Also, digital literary studies come along with forms of communication that have a major medial potential as scholarly tools and as literary formats (blogging, tweeting), but a potential equally untamed and unregulated in both declinations. These varying levels of intrusion of digitality in literary studies show that what the discipline would actually need most are "old" methods help sorting out with the "new" questions, and not necessarily shiny new methods to answer old questions.

In the middle of that slow and complex (and, yes, somewhat scary) process of disciplinary recontouring, rabbits are being pulled out of magic hats and thrown in the arena: infrastructural calls for applications, virtual research environments, meta-infrastructures, that impose to this evolution a pace of their own. Imposed interdisciplinarity makes it all the more difficult to assess one's own disciplinary position and that of the discipline at large.

The metamorphoses are by far not over. This lecture wants to plead for a reflected approach on our disciplinary expectations to them.


The main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is an attractive therapeutic target for developing antivirals to combat COVID-19. Mpro is essential for the replication cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so inhibiting Mpro blocks a vital piece of the cell replication machinery of the virus. A promising strategy to disrupt the viral replication cycle is to design inhibitors that bind to the active site cysteine (Cys145) of the Mpro. Cysteine targeted covalent inhibitors are gaining traction in drug discovery owing to the benefits of improved potency and extended drug-target engagement. An interesting aspect of these inhibitors is that they can be chemically tuned to form a covalent, but reversible bond, with their targets of interest. Several small-molecule cysteine-targeting covalent inhibitors of the Mpro have been discovered-some of which are currently undergoing evaluation in early phase human clinical trials. Understanding the binding energetics of these inhibitors could provide new insights to facilitate the design of potential drug candidates against COVID-19. Motivated by this, we employed rigorous absolute binding free energy calculations and hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations to estimate the energetics of binding of some promising reversible covalent inhibitors of the Mpro. We find that the inclusion of enhanced sampling techniques such as replica-exchange algorithm in binding free energy calculations can improve the convergence of predicted non-covalent binding free energy estimates of inhibitors binding to the Mpro target. In addition, our results indicate that binding free energy calculations coupled with multiscale simulations can be a useful approach to employ in ranking covalent inhibitors to their targets. This approach may be valuable in prioritizing and refining covalent inhibitor compounds for lead discovery efforts against COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections.


We present the correlations between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and the [N ii]/Hα flux ratio as an indicator of gas-phase metallicity for a sample of 222 galaxies at 0.8 < z < 2.6 and log (M*/M☉) = 9.0–11.5 from the LUCI, SINS/zC-SINF, and KMOS3D surveys. This sample provides a unique analysis of the mass–metallicity relation (MZR) over an extended redshift range using consistent data analysis techniques and a uniform strong-line metallicity indicator. We find a constant slope at the low-mass end of the relation and can fully describe its redshift evolution through the evolution of the characteristic turnover mass where the relation begins to flatten at the asymptotic metallicity. At a fixed mass and redshift, our data do not show a correlation between the [N ii]/Hα ratio and SFR, which disagrees with the 0.2–0.3 dex offset in [N ii]/Hα predicted by the "fundamental relation" between stellar mass, SFR, and metallicity discussed in recent literature. However, the overall evolution toward lower [N ii]/Hα at earlier times does broadly agree with these predictions.


Creative works are now increasingly distributed as digital "content" through the internet, and copyright law has created powerful incentives to monitor and control these flows. This paper analyzes the surveillance industry that has emerged as a result. Copyright surveillance systems identify copyright infringement online and identify persons to hold responsible for infringing acts. These practices have raised fundamental questions about the nature of identification and attribution on the internet, as well as the increasing use of algorithms to make legal distinctions. New technologies have threatened the profits of some media industries through copyright infringement, but also enabled profitable forms of mass copyright surveillance and enforcement. Rather than a system of perfect control, copyright enforcement continues to be selective and uneven, but its broad reach results in systemic harm and provides opportunities for exploitation. It is only by scrutinizing copyright surveillance practices and copyright enforcement measures that we can evaluate these consequences.


High thermal stability is one of the important factors in the design of high-performance insensitive energetic compounds. A straightforward synthesis of tricyclic energetic molecules (2, 3, 5 and 6) has been developed through bridging ethylene-/propylene-moieties featuring two polynitroazoles. Remarkably, such ring closure reactions lead to higher thermal stability. In addition, the influence of 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2H,2′H-3,3′-bipyrazole (1) and 5,5′-dinitro-2H,2′H-3,3′-bi-1,2,4-triazole (4) with or in the absence of an N,N′-alkylene bridge on the structural and electrostatic potentials (ESP) was established theoretically. The high thermal stability and good detonation properties may make these materials useful as replacements for trinitrotoluene (TNT).


Background Since January 2013 clinical pharmacists have conducted medication history and review (pharmacist notes) in the Emergency Department (ED) at Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen. Inclusion criteria are patients over 50 years using ≥5 drugs. The aim of the service is to identify drug-related problems, increase patient safety and contribute to a safer medication process. The pharmaceutical service has been adopted from another hospital. In order to ensure optimal use of the service, it is continuously being evaluated and adapted. Purpose The purpose is to optimise the pharmaceutical service through continuous evaluation and adaption. Material and methods The data consists of pharmacist notes compiled in 2014, lists of patients admitted to the ED, a daily logbook and physician's medical records. Monthly analysis of approximately 15% of the produced pharmacist notes. The notes are compared with the physician's prescriptions to establish the application rate. The efficiency is calculated from the number of compiled pharmacist notes in relation to the number of patients over 50 years admitted to the ED. Adaption: Assessment of the changes in the process: The Model for Improvement is applied. Dates of any changes relevant for the pharmaceutical service (i.e. changes in structure of pharmacist notes, organisational changes in the department) is correlated to the application rate and number of compiled pharmacist notes, to assess the influence of the amendments to the pharmaceutical services. Results The application rate increased from 70% to 79% from January to July 2014. The efficiency increased from 46% in week 1 to 75% in week 31 in 2014. Conclusion By continuous evaluation and adaption, the pharmacist increased the application rate and the efficiency; thereby ensure continuous improvement of patient safety in the ED. References and/or acknowledgements No conflict of interest.


The thermostable antifactor Xa is demonstrable in liver homogenate extracts in an amount exceeding its content in other parenchymatous organs and blood serum. In the course of liver perfusion and incubation of liver sections, the antifactor is demonstrable in the perfused liquid and in the medium used for incubation. Affection of the liver with carbon tetrachloride was attended by the decreased content of the antifactor in serum. The liver seems likely to play an important role in the production of the thermostable antifactor Xa.


Coherency Sensitive Hashing (CSH) extends Locality Sensitivity Hashing (LSH) and PatchMatch to quickly find matching patches between two images. LSH relies on hashing, which maps similar patches to the same bin, in order to find matching patches. PatchMatch, on the other hand, relies on the observation that images are coherent, to propagate good matches to their neighbors, in the image plane. It uses random patch assignment to seed the initial matching. CSH relies on hashing to seed the initial patch matching and on image coherence to propagate good matches. In addition, hashing lets it propagate information between patches with similar appearance (i.e., map to the same bin). This way, information is propagated much faster because it can use similarity in appearance space or neighborhood in the image plane. As a result, CSH is at least three to four times faster than PatchMatch and more accurate, especially in textured regions, where reconstruction artifacts are most noticeable to the human eye. We verified CSH on a new, large scale, data set of 133 image pairs.


This paper reviews the current philosophy and criteria for design and considers information on the performance of roads that has been collected since the last revision of UK design standards, in 1984. This has demonstrated that the deterioration of thick, well-constructed, fully-flexible pavements is not structural, and that deterioration generally occurs at the surface in the form of cracking and rutting. The evidence suggests that fatigue and structural deformation originating deep within the pavement structure are not the prevalent modes of deterioration. It also shows that changes that occur to the structural properties of the bituminous materials over the life of the road are crucial to the understanding of its behaviour. These changes can help to explain why conventional mechanisms of deterioration do not occur. They imply that a road built above a minimum strength will remain structurally serviceable for a considerable period provided that non-structural deterioration in the form of cracks and deformation are detected and remedied before they have a serious impact on the structural integrity of the road. The recognition of long-life design will result in more cost effective road construction with a reduction in future maintenance costs and in the associated traffic delays. (A)


This working paper presents the results of a detailed comparative empirical study of sanctions imposed for insider trading in Australia, Canada (Ontario), Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Insider trading is considered to be a serious form of misconduct and has in some cases resulted in defendants receiving lengthy custodial sentences and significant monetary sanctions. The comparative study is based on a dataset of a significant size, scope and comprehensiveness, encompassing nearly 700 individuals and companies, as well as approximately 1400 sanctions imposed for the contravention of insider trading provisions in the seven jurisdictions. The study provides a detailed analysis of the insider trading enforcement landscape across a range of common law jurisdictions over an extended period by examining custodial sentences, banning orders and various pecuniary sanctions imposed for insider trading during the seven year period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2015.


Abstract:Luke 22:38 often functions in a symbiotic relationship with Luke 22:51 to reinforce the picture of Jesus as a principled pacifist. If Jesus is countenancing some sort of violent action, his rebuke at his arrest makes it clear that he rejects the way of violence altogether. Some interpreters go so far as to suggest that Jesus commands the use of swords earlier precisely to rebuke their use later. Both verses, however, contain ambiguous Greek expressions, neither of which supports the contention that Jesus is rejecting violence per se. As with Luke 22:51, it is misguided to push Luke 22:38 in a pacifistic direction. The ambiguous ἱκανόν ἐστιν ("It is enough") is not a rhetorical ploy to cut the conversation short, nor does it mark out violence-prone disciples as the "lawless ones" of Isa 53. Rather, once released from the neutralizing effects of Luke 22:51 as an interpretive control, Luke 22:38 offers an altogether different picture of Jesus's stance toward violence.


BACKGROUND: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is an established technique that hospitals and anesthesia groups can use to understand their potential to grow different specialties of inpatient surgery. Often related decisions such as recruitment of new physicians are made promptly. A practical challenge in using DEA in practice for this application has been the time to obtain access to and preprocess discharge data from states. METHODS: A case study is presented to show how results of DEA are linked to financial analysis for purposes of deciding which surgical specialties should be provided more resources and institutional support, including the allocation of additional operating room (OR) block time on a tactical (1 yr) time course. State discharge abstract databases were used to study how to perform and present the DEA using data from websites of the United States' (US) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUPNet) and Census Bureau (American FactFinder). RESULTS: DEA was performed without state discharge data by using census data with federal surgical rates adjusted for age and gender. Validity was assessed based on multiple criteria, including: satisfaction of statistical assumptions, face validity of results for hospitals, differentiation between efficient and inefficient hospitals on other measures of how much surgery is done, and correlation of estimates of each hospital's potential to grow the workload of each of eight specialties with estimates obtained using unrelated statistical methods. CONCLUSIONS: A hospital can choose specialties to target for expanded OR capacity based on its financial data, its caseloads for specific specialties, the caseloads from hospitals previously examined, and surgical rates from federal census data.


A rapid superfusion system incorporating a continuous amperometric detector has been employed to study the effects of p-tyramine, d-amphetamine and cocaine on K+-stimulated release of dopamine (DA) from striatal tissue. Qualitative identification of the released substances is made by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and DA is established to be the principal substance released following exposure of the tissue to 60 mM K+ in the presence of Ca++. At a superfusion rate of 1 ml/min with a 20 microliter volume tissue holder, d-amphetamine and p-tyramine do not elicit detectable release of endogenous substances. These results are in direct contrast to the significant release of DA observed when striatal tissue is incubated with d-amphetamine for the same time period and suggest that the pools susceptible to release by the sympathomimetic amines are removed by superfusion. When striatal tissue is superfused with a buffer containing 60 mM K+ and cocaine or sympathomimetic amines, the effects of uptake blockade are manifested as an increase in the amount and duration of observed release over that obtained with 60 mM K+. In a competitive study of cocaine and p-tyramine with d-amphetamine, it appears that all three of these agents induce blockade at the same site(s). All of these data are in direct accord with the facilitated exchange diffusion mechanism proposed for the actions of sympathomimetic amines at DA nerve terminals.


Content adaptation is a potential solution for tailoring multimedia web content according to the users' preferences
and heterogeneous devices' constraints. Content adaptation can be done as third party service over the Internet.
Users may pay for the service thus demand quality. The quality should include the human psychological factors.
One of these factors is the maximum time a user can wait for the output to be displayed. Thus, response time is
one of the qualities of service (QoS) to be considered in assessing the deliverability of content adaptation services.
However, the advertised response time may not be deliverable accordingly during the actual service execution
due to heavy load. Practically, the service provider should able to determine a current deliverable response time
before the service level agreement (SLA) is settled with the users. In this paper, we propose a strategy for service
providers to evaluate incoming requests and capable of offering the new response time. The proposed strategy
takes into account the current server load and enables a mechanism for the user to evaluate whether the new
response time can be accepted or not. We analyzed the performance of the proposed strategy in terms of SLA
settlement under various conditions. The results indicate that the proposed strategy performs well.


Objective : Some previous studies suggested a significant relationship between alpha- amylase, and caries formation. This study was implemented in order to investigate the interrelation between level of salivary and serum alpha- amylase and dental caries. Material and Methods : In this cross-sectional investigation, un-stimulated whole saliva  and serum sample was collected from 118 high school students  who were divided to four groups: Caries free female (N= 28), caries active females (N=35), caries free males(N= 28) and caries active males(N= 27). Mean levels of salivary and serum alpha-amylase was assayed by spectrophotometric method to assay enzyme kinetics. Data were analyzed using student's t-test and chi-square test. Results : The results of this study demonstrated  that salivary and Serum alpha- amylase were  significantly   higher in caries active group as compared to carries free group(P = 0.002, P= 0.001 respectively). In addition in male groups the mean salivary and serum alpha -amylase was significantly higher in caries active as compared to caries free (P = 0.002, P = 0.02 respectively) and in   female Groups the mean serum   alpha- amylase was statistically significant higher in caries active as compared to caries free (P = 0.01) . Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrated significant association between salivary and serum alpha- amylase in adolescence with dental caries. More research should be done to demonstrate real relation between   alpha amylase and   dental caries. Keywords Alpha–amylase; Dental caries; Saliva; Serum.


The paper presents an automatic acquisition of linguistic patterns that can be used for knowledge based information extraction from texts. In knowledge based information extraction, linguistic patterns play a central role in the recognition and classification of input texts. Although the knowledge based approach has been proved effective for information extraction on limited domains, there are difficulties in construction of a large number of domain specific linguistic patterns. Manual creation of patterns is time consuming and error prone, even for a small application domain. To solve the scalability and the portability problem, an automatic acquisition of patterns must be provided. We present the PALKA (Parallel Automatic Linguistic Knowledge Acquisition) system that acquires linguistic patterns from a set of domain specific training texts and their desired outputs. A specialized representation of patterns called FP structures has been defined. Patterns are constructed in the form of FP structures from training texts, and the acquired patterns are tuned further through the generalization of semantic constraints. Inductive learning mechanism is applied in the generalization step. The PALKA system has been used to generate patterns for our information extraction system developed for the fourth Message Understanding Conference (MUC-4). >


We propose a fuser that projects different function estimators in different regions of the input space based on the lower envelope of the error curves of the individual estimators. This fuser is shown to be optimal among projective fusers and also to perform at least as well as the best individual estimator. By incorporating an optimal linear fuser as another estimator, this fuser performs at least as well as the optimal linear combination. We illustrate the fuser by combining neural networks trained using diflerent parameters for the network and/or for learning algorithms.


In this paper, we tackle the problem of remote monitoring (e.g., remote factory) in which a number of sensor nodes are transmitting time sensitive measurements to a remote monitoring site. We assume that packets generated by different sensors have different sizes. Moreover, different sensors have different Maximum Allowable Transfer Intervals (MATIs). We consider minimizing a metric that maintains a trade-off between minimizing the average MATI violation of all sensors, and minimizing the probability that the MATI violation of each sensor exceeds a predefined threshold. We formulate the problem as a stochastic optimization problem with integer constraints. In order to solve this problem, we first relax the original intractable formulation to a tractable problem. Then, we use the Lyapunov stochastic optimization framework to solve the relaxed problem. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the considered baselines in terms of minimizing the probability of the MATI violation for all sensors.


Our paper considers the ethical challenges engendered by participatory visual research with girls. Drawing on photographs taken by and of girls we consider how to reconcile the challenges generated by disseminating images of girls whilst supporting them to have a voice in research. Our concerns are focused on how to maintain the integrity of girls' visual voices while protecting them from any harm that may emerge from revealing visual information about them. This issue has become increasingly germane for visual sociology as developments in digital technology and visual culture mean that images can circulate instantaneously and for time immemorial, potentially stripping them of their creators' intentions and infusing them with new and unintended meanings. The paper considers different approaches to resolving our ongoing ethical dilemma and examines their potential for honoring the flesh and blood girl's right to be heard amidst concerns about her digital visibility.


Clock-rate adaptation circuits of network synchronizers work by controlling the output data rate by pulse stuffing. The technique of stuff threshold modulation (ST-Mod) is one method used to reduce the waiting time jitter produced by pulse stuffing. An expression for the filtered waiting time jitter in the presence of an ST-Mod sequence is present and the selection of a suitable ST-Mod dither sequence for a given set of data transmission conditions is investigated. It is shown that by using either a random ST-Mod sequence or a modified-wave ST-Mod sequence, it is possible to obtain minimal filtered jitter for given synchronizer-desynchronizer characteristics.


The number of information systems using adaptation rules is increasing quickly. These systems are usually focused on implement nice and complex functionality for adaptation of contents, links or presentation, so software engineering methodologies for the description of rules are required. In addition, the distributed service oriented Internet philosophy presents the challenge of combining different rules from independent Internet sources. Moreover, easy authoring, rule reuse and collaborative design should be enabled. This paper presents the AR (Adaptation Rules) model, a new software engineering model for the description of rules for adaptation. These rules can be composed as a set of smaller atomic, reusable, parametric, interchangeable and interoperable rules, with clear restrictions in their combinations. Our model enables the distribution of rules as well as rule reuse and collaboration among rule creators. We illustrate our approach with the application of this model to a hinting adaptive e-learning system that generates exercises with hints, which can be adapted based on defined rules. Advantages of the AR model are confirmed with an evaluation that has been done with teachers and learning analytics experts for adaptive e-learning.


This report summarises the current research that is being carried out into haptic sense technology for assisting visual impairment. Moreover, it presents a framework of mechanisms blind students apply to identify basic 3D objects into free space. People with visual impairments are still excluded from accessing certain types of information - like graphics - that are easily accessible by the general public. Today, screen reading software and Braille displays or text-to-speech systems have solved many problems of accessing text. For accessing graphics, and specifically digital graphics, there is to date no standardised technology that is accepted and used by blind people. Especially in school education, access to pictures is almost impossible to master; making teamwork very complicated and thus isolating blind students from their sighted peers making it impossible to acquire a shared understanding of school material. Focusing on geometry, which is believed to be the main theory of space, is very crucial for non-sighted students to develop an accurate spatial sense and reasoning. The emergence of haptic technology and the potential to create interfaces for non-visual audio-haptic interaction opens new promising doors to accessing digital graphics.


Using the haptic modality to transfer information to the driver is recognized as a promising possibility in many in-vehicle applications. In the field of lane departure warning systems, several haptic warning signals were presented in the last years. The application of synthetic steering wheel torque or vibration informs the driver of an imminent lane departure. In this paper, an approach to classify the existing signals is provided. The examination of the literature reveals diversity in type and parameterization of the warning signals as well as methodical differences, complicating comparability. While the general effectiveness of haptic warning signals at the steering wheel could be proven, there still is room for improvement. Based on the findings, the authors derive hypotheses concerning requirements from a user's point of view.


With the wide penetration of broadband access, it is desirable to provide supporting user interactivity services such as Video-on-Demand (VoD). However, this introduces a challenge on how to efficiently support Video Cassette Recording (VCR) functions for VoD services in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. In this paper, we propose a locality-aware peer searching algorithm, called LAPS. In LAPS, peers are distributed in various areas by its physical location. For each peer, it could implement relocation of forward seek based on neighbors' and trackers' information. To decrease the backbone load, LAPS dedicated to download media content from local area. We explore several key issues in LAPS including overlay organization, three various situations of forward seek with neighbor circle. We evaluate its performance through simulations and compare it with existed system. The results show that LAPS is superior to a previous scheme in terms of latency and backbone load.


This special themed edition of the BJPsych takes on precision medicine and personalised healthcare in psychiatry. A bit like Sue Gray's parliamentary report andWordle, some scepticism has arisen about whether this might be all hype, a waste of time that will not produce meaningful change in our lives. Practical gains seem forever just over the next hill. Another criticism is that it is the domain of academic converts lost in the weeds, and that the data are inexplicable to the average-intelligence reader. Fortunately, at the BJPsych, for these Highlights we've been able to team up both an expert who really understands the issues and that modal-psychiatrist to try to unpick the issues and gains. To save his blushes, we won't say which of them has served as that somewhat head-scratching average individual, except to note that he has been overheard asking whether deep neural networks (DNNs) were 'the thing that went wrong with the robots in Blade Runner'. In this issue, Cearns et al (pp. 219–228) draw attention to the clinical application of pharmacogenomic testing, while KambeitzIllankovic et al (pp. 175–178) ask more broadly 'what is in reach?' Risk assessment, diagnostics and targeted prescribing are offered as natural topics for machine learning, but it is noted that more multimodal approaches are necessary, better combining neuroimaging, genetic and blood markers. As well as the need for larger, longitudinal, prospective data, the call that 'engaging clinicians' also means showing that models can exceed their clinical heuristics felt apposite. On the second, Dwyer and Krishnadas (pp. 169–171) helpfully offer five points to consider when reading a translational machine learning paper: acknowledge our interest, appreciate the limitations, understand 'overfitting' (see below), consider sample representativeness and consider real-world utility.


A new format to represent binary terms in a Boolean function, called the Integer Pair Representation (IPR) is proposed. This format uses an ordered pair of integers to compactly represent each cube of a Boolean function written as a sum-of-products in either canonical or non-canonical form. Properties of the representation are discussed and its advantages illustrated in the development of algorithms for minimizing single-output, binary valued Boolean functions.


Study Design. Retrospective comparative study. Objective. To compare the outcomes of C1-C2 transarticular screw with C1 laminar hook (TAS + C1H) fixation and C1 trans-arch lateral mass screw with C2 pedicle screw (C1TLMS + C2PS) fixation in the treatment of reducible atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD). Summary of Background Data. TAS + C1H is comparable to TAS with posterior wiring techniques and superior to C1 lateral mass screw combined with C2 pedicle screw (C1LMS + C2PS) in biomechanics. There were, however, few studies analyzing the differences in outcomes between TAS + C1H technique and modified C1LMS + C2PS technique (C1TLMS + C2PS) for treating AAD. Methods. Data of 30 patients with reducible AAD treated by TAS + C1H fixation and another 30 cases treated by C1TLMS + C2PS fixation were retrospectively analyzed. Bone fusion time was recorded. The outcomes evaluated by American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale, visual analog scale score for neck pain, neck stiffness (none/mild/severe), patient satisfaction, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were compared between two groups. Results. There were no complications related to the surgical approach and instrumentation in either group. At the final follow-up, bone graft fusion rates were 100% in both the TAS + C1H fixation group and the C1TLMS + C2PS fixation group (P > 0.05). The neurological status evaluated by American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale were greatly improved in both screw-hook group (P < 0.001) and screw-rod group (P < 0.001), but with no significant differences between groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences between two groups in visual analog scale score for neck pain, neck stiffness, patient satisfaction, or Neck Disability Index (all P > 0.05). Conclusion. C1TLMS + C2PS fixation was comparable to TAS + C1H fixation in fusion rate and functional outcomes for treating reducible AAD. To reduce the risk of vertebral artery injury, computed tomography scan, and reconstruction should be done to analyze vertebral artery course and C1-C2 anatomic structures before operation. Level of Evidence: 3


In order to determine the effective concentration, 2, 7, and 14 brix black garlic extracts (BGE) were fed to restraint stressed rats and the lipid metabolism was analyzed. The dietary intake of the 14 brix BGE-fed group was 547.64±13.99 g/4 weeks and it was significantly higher than that of the control group. The weight of all organs from the all BGE-fed groups showed no significant differences. While BGE concentration increased, BGE-fed groups tend to have low content of blood glucose. It was the lowest in the 14 brix BGE-fed group (121.32±3.50 mg/dl). Total cholesterol content was 54.54±1.63~65.84±2.61 mg/dl. Total cholesterol content of the 14 brix BGE-fed group was the lowest and, in addition, lower than the normal group. Triglyceride content of serum showed the same tendency. HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the restraint stressed control (RSC) group were significantly higher than those of 7 and 14 brix BGE-fed groups. LDL and VLDL-cholesterol contents showed contrary results. GOT, GTP, and ALP activity of serum were lower when BGE concentration was higher. It is expected that BGE has a liver protective activity. In the liver, total lipids and triglyceride contents were significantly lower in BGE-fed groups than in the ISC group. However, total cholesterol content showed no significant difference between groups. TBARS content in liver of the 2 brix BGE-fed group was not significantly different than control, while 7 and 14 brix BGE-fed groups were lower than control. Glycogen content in the liver was only significantly lower in the 14 brix BGE-fed group than in the RSC group. Findings indicate that feed of BGE over 7 brix contributes to resolving the restraint-stressed rats by improving the lipid metabolism and liver protective activity.


We present data from a comprehensive investigation carried out from 2007 to 2010, focussing on nitrogen pollution in the Oglio River basin (3800 km 2, Po Plain, Northern Italy). Nitrogen mass balances, computed for the whole basin with 2000 and 2008 data, suggest a large N surplus in this area, over 40 000 t N yr −1, and increasing between 2000 and 2008. Calculations indicate a very large impact of animal husbandry and agricultural activities in this watershed, with livestock manure and synthetic fertilizers contributing 85 % of total N inputs (about 100 000 t N yr −1) and largely exceeding crop uptake and other N losses (about 60 000 t N yr−1). Nitrogen from domestic and industrial origin is estimated as about 5800 and 7200 t N yr −1, respectively, although these loads are overestimated, as denitrification in treatment plants is not considered; nonetheless, they represent a minor term of the N budget. Annual export of nitrogen from the basin, calculated from flow data and water chemistry at the mouth of the Oglio River, is estimated at 13 000 t N yr −1, and represents a relatively small fraction of N inputs and surplus ( ∼12 % and 34 %, respectively). After considering N sinks in crop uptake, soil denitrification and volatilization, a large excess remains unaccounted ( ∼26 000 t N yr−1) in unknown temporary or permanent N sinks. Nitrogen removal via denitrification was evaluated in the Oglio riverbed with stable isotope techniques (δ15N andδ18O in nitrate). The downstream final segment of the river displays an enriched nitrate stable isotope composition but calculations suggest a N removal corresponding to at most 20 % of the unaccounted for N amount. Denitrification was also evaluated in riverine wetlands with the isotope pairing technique. Areal rates are elevated but overall N removal is low (about 1 % of the missing N amount), due to small wetland surfaces and limited lateral connectivity. The secondary drainage channel network has a much higher potential for nitrogen removal via denitrification, due to its great linear development, estimated in over 12 500 km, and its capillary distribution in the watershed. In particular, we estimated a maximum N loss up to 8500 t N yr −1, which represents up to 33 % of the unaccounted for N amount in the basin. Overall, denitrification in surface aquatic habitats within this basin can be responsible for the permanent removal of about 12 000 t N yr −1; but the fate of some 14 000 t remains unknown. Available data on nitrate concentration in wells suggest that in the central part of the watershed groundwater accumulates nitrogen. Simultaneously, we provide evidences that part of the stored nitrate can be substantially recycled via springs and can pollute surface waters via rivergroundwater interactions. This probably explains the ten fold increase of nitrate concentration in a reach of the Oglio River where no point pollutions sources are present.


Due to their large body size and high mammalian metabolic rate, blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have the highest average daily total energy requirement of any species. Blue whales meet this energy demand by feeding exclusively upon dense but patchy schools of euphausiids. We used an integrated approach to determine whether a unique combination of seasonally high primary production supported by coastal upwelling works in concert with topographic breaks in the continental shelf off California to collect and maintain large concentrations of euphausiids that are exploited by foraging whales. Specifically we used concurrent shipand mooring-based oceanographic, hydroacoustic, and net sampling, opportunistic whale sighting records, systematic visual surveys, and time-depth recorder deployment to: 1) define prey patches and whale foraging behavior within patches, 2) determine spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution and abundance of whale prey patches, and 3) examine the biotic and abiotic factors important in creating whale foraging patches in the seasonal upwelling context of Monterey Bay, California between 1992-1996. Blue whales fed exclusively upon epipelagic euphausiids (Thysanoessa spinifera and Euphausia pacifica) that were larger and in proportions from that generally available in the Bay. Foraging blue whales targeted schools of adult T. spinifera, diving repeatedly to extremely dense patches aggregated between 150 and 200m on the edge of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. These patches averaged 145 g m , approximately two orders of magnitude greater than the densities generally available in the Bay (1.3 g m ) High euphausiid densities are supported by a combination of high primary production between April and August (average peak production 249 mg-C m -3 day) and the presence of a deep canyon that provided deep water downstream from the Davenport/Año Nuevo coastal upwelling center. Peak euphausiid densities occur in late summer/early fall, lagging the seasonal increase in primary production by 3-4 months. This lag likely results from both the temporal development of euphausiids spawned around the seasonal increase in primary production in the spring and the shoreward collapse of productivity due to decreased intensity of coastal upwelling in the late summer. The annual migratory movements of the California blue whale likely reflect seasonal patterns in productivity in other foraging areas similar to those we have described for Monterey Bay.


Motion compensated predictive coding is one of the most efficient video coding methods. Full search gives the optimal performance in minimizing the sum of absolute difference (SAD) of pixel values within a block for residual images. We propose a new fast SBMA which exploits spatial and temporal correlations existing in the motion vector field. The new SBMA has a variable search window size and a shiftable search center. Within a given search window, we consider a new search procedure based on a modified 3-step search. Compared to full block matching, we achieve a speed up factor ranging from 70 to 150. As a trade off, we see a 1-12% increase in the error residuals, and the corresponding PSNR value degrades by 0.1-0.5 dB only.


We measure the branching fractions of B-0 -> J/psi eta((')) decays with the complete Belle data sample of 772 x 10(6) B (B) over bar events collected at the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The results for the branching fractions are: B(B-0 -> J/psi eta) = (12.3 +/-(1.8)(1.7)+/- 0.7) x 10(-6) and B(B-0 -> J/psi eta') < 7.4 x 10(-6) at 90% confidence level. The eta-eta' mixing angle is constrained to be less than 42.2 degrees at 90% confidence level.


From his films Empire (2002) and Anticultural Positions (2009) to a variety of his modes of drawing, a singular concentration on the photographic negative can be found throughout Paul Sietsema's artistic practice. Rather than grounding a medium, Baker argues, the location of photography's logic in the negative preserves the photograph as a space of reversal and inversion, a deep and powerful force of negation rather than a servant of the real. To return, as Sietsema does, to this history and to such processes now, after they have run their course, seems to insist on the negative as a kind of literal afterimage, and also, potentially, as an open image, considering how the negative transmutes the density of the world into transparency, inhabiting a space between the object and the image, the middle point between camera and print, a "medium" in the true but irremediably hybrid sense of the word.


REPLY: We thank Laffon and Marthan for their interest in our study (1). They discuss the influence of measurement uncertainty on the ability to detect changes in measurements. We refer them to previous work by members of our group (2) that compared 18F-fluoride Ki measurement derived from 60-min dynamic PET acquisitions and a semipopulation input function approach, using the Hawkins model (3) and similar methods that allow k4 to be fitted as a free variable, in 20 women who underwent scanning at 0, 6, and 12 mo after stopping bisphosphonate therapy. The paper reported similar precision errors (% coefficient of variation) between all Ki methods and SUVmean (12.9%–14.8% and 10.1%, respectively). That study also indicated that Ki is likely to be a more reliable index of changes in bone turnover than SUV in studies in which the treatment alters the arterial input function. In our current study, Ki is calculated from a single static scan at 60 min after injection (1). This is, in effect, measuring SUV, with all the benefits of good precision, and then converting this into a Ki measurement using plasma concentration data from venous blood samples taken more than 30 min after injection when venous and arterial blood are in equilibrium. The plasma measurements have excellent precision and accuracy as blood samples can be timed to a few seconds, the plasma samples are weighed to an accuracy of 1 mg, and the counting statistical errors in the g-counter are about 1%. Although we add a fixed residual curve, it is important to note that approximately 75%–80% of the total area under the curve at 60 min comes from the single exponential. Also, if the bone treatment alters the input function, then it is the terminal exponential that will show the greatest change, not the residual function, which reflects the bolus peak and the early rapid mixing with soft tissue. We therefore believe that precision errors for our method of measuring Ki and those for SUVs will be similar and that a 25% cutoff is a reasonable starting point to differentiate progressive disease from non–progressive disease for 18F-fluoride SUVmax, SUVmean, and Ki. We also believe that for treatment monitoring, Ki is a more reliable parameter to detect changes in bone turnover than SUVs, particularly when the therapy may affect the arterial input function.


The objective of this work is the investigation of milling process variables which resulting in optimal values of the surface roughness and material removal rate during machining of 7024 Al-alloy. The machining operation implemented on C-TEK CNC milling machine. The effects of the selected parameters on the chosen characteristics have been accomplished using Taguchi's parameter design approach; also ANOVA had been used to evaluate the contribution of each parameter on the process outputs. Different feed rates are used ranging from (60, 80 and 100) mm/min, found that high feed rates gives a high material removal rates and good surface roughness. On the other hand, using three levels of spindle speeds found that a higher spindle speeds gives better surface roughness with a little effect on MRR. The process results showed that maximum MRR achieved (2.40) mm3/min when machining feed rate (100) mm/min, spindle speed (1000) r.p.m, and depth of cut (0.6) mm while good surface roughness (0.41 µm) when machining feed rate (100) mm/min, spindle speed (1000) r.p.m, and depth of cut (0.2) mm. The level of importance of the machining parameters for material removal rate and surface roughness and is determined by using Taguchi designing experiments and the variance analysis (ANOVA).


The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of local blood substitute rheomannisol on some metabolic, functional and structural parameters of the organism in the dynamics of development of experimental hemolytic anemia caused by phenyl hydrazine. Objects & Methods of Research: The object of research was white rats (n=120) in vivarian conditions of the tashkent medical academy. The study used experimental, biochemical and statistical methods. The practical results of the study are as follows: Data have been obtained that allow a deeper understanding of the formation of pathogenetic developmental mechanisms of hemolytic anemia. It is based on the use of a new blood-replacing drug Reomannisol to correct the degenerative mechanisms in hemolytic anemia, which has reduced the material costs and improved the quality of life in the treatment of patients and has been proven in practice.


With the improvement in health services and continuing advancements in medicine, people are living longer all over the world. Thus the proportion of patients in the elderly age group is also increasing. How ethically are we treating our geriatric patients in India and what does the future hold for them?


Seen from the point of view of any organization it is a duty to formulate the demand for activities arising from the spectrum of safety and security. Each of these activities generates costs from their service providers. Earlier publications provide instructions to hospitals or at least recommendations for action. However, there are no quantified, FM-related tasks in the literature so far. It may also be the case that they, if described, are not detailed sufficiently. The purpose of this research is therefore to provide a detailed analysis of safety and security processes and costs. Based on an applied research design by a comparative case-study approach with four hospitals, a performance and cost comparison of the different processes was carried out. At the same time, tasks and activities in processes were separated from one another by using an order system with an associated process hierarchy as a reference. This subsequently enables the mapping and delineation of costs, which in turn enables a performance and cost comparison of FM-related tasks. Results contribute to the handling and understanding of FMrelated risk management in the context of safety and security and its quantification.


The authors present the results of the electron microscopic and roentgenological study of the crystalline protein of diphtheria toxin. On the basis of direct measurements of the crystal image and diffraction pictures it was possible to calculate the interplane distances of the placement of molecules in the crystal. Examination in polarization microscope showed that the crystals were optically uniaxial with a direct extinction and a positive character of elongation. Molecular aggregates revealed in the protein molecules resembled the caudal part of the bacteriophage by structure.


Two distinct and parallel research communities have been working along the lines of the Model-Based Diagnosis approach: the FDI community and the DX community that have evolved in the fields of Automatic Control and Artificial Intelligence, respectively. This paper clarifies and links the concepts and assumptions that underlie the FDI analytical redundancy approach and the DX consistency-based logical approach. A formal framework is proposed in order to compare the two approaches and the theoretical proof of their equivalence together with the necessary and sufficient conditions is provided.


The development of resistance in trypanosomes to commonly-used trypanocides has an important implication in the chemotherapy and prophylaxis of both human and animal trypanosomosis. This study compared the prophylactic activity of pentamidine isethionate and isometamidium chloride in mice experimentally-infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The 96 mice were divided into four groups with 24 animals each: a) Group I - untreated control group; b) Group II - treated with pentamidine isethionate at 4 mg/kg body weight for 3 alternate days; c) Group III - treated with pentamidine isethionate at 8 mg/kg body weight for 3 alternate days; and d) Group IV - treated once with isometamidium chloride at 1 mg/kg body weight. Thereafter, three mice from each group were infected intraperitoneally with T. brucei brucei at weekly intervals and monitored for parasitaemia. The entire control group was positive for T. brucei brucei by day 6 post infection. Parasitaemia was recorded in Group II at 3 weeks post infection, at 4 weeks in Group III and at 8 weeks in Group IV. Group IV had the highest survival rate followed by Group III. The results showed that isometamidium chloride provides better prophylaxis than pentamidine isethionate. Keywords: isometamidium chloride, mice, pentamidine isethionate, trypanosome


The thermal properties of Cycloaliphatic Epoxies (CE) and Anhydride Curing Agent (ACA) are predicted using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with the Optimized Potential for Liquid Simulation (OPLS) force field. A modeling procedure has been developed to simulate the unique continuous crosslinking process of this material system, which has not been previously achieved. The predicted glass-transition temperature is in good agreement with experiment. The thermal conductivity is determined by using Non-Equilibrium MD (NEMD) techniques and is also close to the experimental value.


Background: More than one-third of genetic conditions involve the eye. Young adults with visual impairments experience psychosocial implications throughout their lives. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period during which young adults with hereditary visual impairment make choices regarding relationships, procreation and independence, setting the foundation for their future. Aim: This study explored the perceptions and lived experiences of visually impaired young adults. Setting: The study was conducted at three institutions for the blind in Cape Town. Methods: Using purposive sampling, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted using a phenomenological approach with 15 young adults aged 18–23 years with genetic-based visual conditions. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Eleven participants had minimal knowledge and understanding of their condition, which also created uncertainty about their future health. Making decisions about procreation was the main implication of having a genetic-based visual impairment. Mixed feelings were reported regarding bearing offspring. Social alienation was experienced in some instances; many participants felt misunderstood by society, and intimate relationships were thought to be harder to obtain. Challenges with mobility, such as the inability to drive and the need to use public transportation, significantly impacted them, and various psychosocial aspects influenced how they perceived their lives and future. Conclusion: This research indicates that improved patient-centred healthcare services and support systems would be beneficial in aiding visually impaired individuals successfully transition into adulthood. The findings of this study serve as a useful guide for those who need to provide healthcare services, genetic services and support for visually impaired young adults.


In order to determine the optimal sowing date of ratoon rice in South Henan's rice-growing areas, this paper performs a comparative analysis of rice growth process, seedling quality and yield of first season rice and ratoon rice under different sowing date treatments. The results show that under climatic conditions (2014), by using dry seedling cultivation in a small plastic shed, the growth of seedling sown on February 21 was affected, while the sowing treatments from March 1 to April 11 can breed normal seedlings, and in this period, the maturity period of first season rice was delayed with prolonged sowing date, and ratoon rice yield declined with prolonged sowing date (total production of rice sown on 11 March reaching a peak). Thus, it is considered that the optimal sowing date of ratoon rice in South Henan's rice-growing areas is mid-March.


We propose a re-interpretation of the oceanic influence on the climate of the African Sahel that is consistent across observations, 20th century simulations and 21st century projections, and that resolves the uncertainty in projections of precipitation change in this region: continued warming of the global tropical oceans increases the threshold for convection, potentially drying tropical land, but this 'upped ante' can be met if sufficient moisture is supplied in monsoon flow. In this framework, the reversal to warming of the subtropical North Atlantic, which is now out-pacing warming of the global tropical oceans, provides that moisture, and explains the partial recovery in precipitation since persistent drought in the 1970s and 1980s. We find this recovery to result from increases in daily rainfall intensity, rather than in frequency, most evidently so in Senegal, the westernmost among the three Sahelian countries analyzed. Continuation of these observed trends is consistent with projections for an overall wetter Sahel, but more variable precipitation on all time scales, from intra-seasonal to multi-decadal.


Recent debates within UK rural studies have stressed the shifting interplay of economic, social, political and cultural forces, with a concomitant blurring as to what constitutes rural living, rural spaces and even rural occupations. This article situates the rural school within this social, cultural and political landscape and attends to the frequently heralded discursive policy conviction that 'local schools are at the heart of many rural communities'. The research applies an inclusive model of ethnography, drawing on participant observation, interviews and documentary analysis, to facilitate a multifaceted engagement, and holistic exploration of the role and place of the village school in two contrasting English rural localities.


In the 10 years since tiotropium was introduced into clinical practice, it has become the mainstay long-acting bronchodilator for maintenance treatment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Multiple randomised controlled trials have demonstrated its efficacy as an intervention which improves lung function, quality of life, symptom control and exercise capacity, and reduces exacerbations in patients with COPD.1

Subsequent to the introduction of tiotropium, evidence emerged from the Lung Health Study that ipratropium, the short-acting anticholinergic medication widely used prior to tiotropium, was associated with a greater risk of cardiac death in the smoking intervention-ipratropium (SI-A) arm compared with the smoking intervention-placebo (SI-P) arm.2 There was a preponderance of arrhythmias as a cause of hospitalisation in the SI-A group because of a relatively high prevalence of supraventricular tachycardia. Because smoking cessation rates were similar in both groups, ipratropium looked to be the likely cause.

Following this, the United States Food and Drug Administration, being made aware of an increased risk of stroke in pooled data from 29 trials of tiotropium through a report supplied to it by the manufacturer, issued an early warning in March 2008.3 Later that year, a meta-analysis of 17 trials (ipratropium (n=5) and tiotropium (n=12)) showed an increased risk of the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke (relative risk 1.60, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.10) and of all-cause mortality (relative risk 1.29, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.65).4 Inhaled anticholinergics significantly increased the risk of myocardial infarction (relative risk 1.52, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.22) and cardiovascular death (relative risk 1.92, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.00), but not stroke (relative risk 1.46, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.62).

However, also later in 2008 the Understanding Potential Long-Term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium (UPLIFT) study,5 the largest randomised trial of tiotropium, showed …


The demands on professors and universities are increasing in many ways. One set of challenges are in the form of state policy on higher education and the demands this puts on the educators. As an example all study programs in Sweden are currently being evaluated by the graduation projects, failed graduation projects mean a low rating for the study program, which eventually can result in cancellation. Another set of challenges are the demands of students for more flexible study, both in time and place. The average student is changing, as well as the needs of the average student. The third challenge is to increased demand for higher education; the number of students seeking a degree is increasing at a higher pace then the resources available to deliver the education. Many professors are working more and more hours to keep up with demand. So, how can technology help us to meet these challenges both as professors and universities? We believe that by creative use of IT support the challenges can be overcome. For the professors this implies system that makes routine tasks, administrative as well as pedagogical, more efficient in the respect of having to spend less time on theses tasks. For the universities the challenge can be meet by systems that facilitate management of large numbers of students with a minimum of administrative and pedagogical staff. From the students' perspective the challenge could be overcome by making the knowledge easily accessible and tools that makes the student more autonomous. The time involving direct interaction with the professor should therefore focus on quality guidance, not on basic routines and administrative issues. In the Lab session we aim to demonstrate a group of tools that will assist all three interested parties to handle the challenge. An administrative system that decentralise much of the administrative activities, students can administer their own studies to a large extent, the small central administration can handle more students and professors. The professor has to spend less effort on routine and administrative matters. We will also present a system that will facilitate the managing of supervision with quality despite large student numbers. The system will provide the student with basic knowledge for all steps of the thesis process, at the moment the need arises. This makes the student self-propelled in the process and it frees up time for the professor for more individually adopted quality supervision. An important element of this is the availability of quality video presentations that have been customised for use in higher education. Video presentations that can be linked to other media for added richness. Last but not least the session will work with two models for using peer review to improve the learning experience.


The heterogeneous abilities of the players in various competitive contexts often lead to undesirable outcomes such as low effort provision, lack of diversity, and inequality. A range of policies are implemented to mitigate such issues by enforcing competitive balance, i.e., by leveling the playing field. Some of those policies, known as affirmative action (AA) policies, are practiced in an ethical response to historical discrimination against particular social groups, and are also aimed at increasing competition. This survey summarizes the rapidly growing literature of contest theory on AA and other policies that level the playing field. Using a general theoretical structure, we outline research on contest outcomes under a multitude of such policy mechanisms; and discuss the theoretical, experimental, and empirical findings in relation to some of the common debates surrounding AA.


This volume focuses on the nature of official correspondence produced m the period after 1500, from Early Modern to nineteenth-century English. The contributions reflect the extent to which the genre is somewhat plastic in this period, gradually acquiring distinguishing conventions and protocols as the situations in which the letters themselves are encoded acquire more distinctiveness. Although correspondence has long been the object of diachronic studies, very little seems to be available as far as specialized usage is concerned, hence the specific interest in letters exchanged within scientific, diplomatic, and business networks. In addition, the study of business and official correspondence offered here profits from a multi-disciplinary and multi-methodological approach, as it relies on a rich array of databases and corpora of correspondence, ranging from highly specialized collections to more broadly constructed diagnostic corpora, in which correspondence is just one register or text-type. While specific attention is paid to phenomena relating to the expression of positive and negative politeness through the investigation of authentic (rather than constructed) texts, methodological issues are also taken into consideration.


Objective: To evaluate visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) changes after surgery for retinal detachment (RD).  Method: A total of thirty patients undergoing surgery for retinal detachment were observed up to two visits after surgery. Functional success or failure of surgery for retinal detachment was assessed by assessing visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) after surgery. VA and CS of these patients were obtained before retinal detachment surgery and at two visits (1 st visit after 1week while 2 nd visit after 1 month) after surgery for retinal detachment. VA was assessed by using Snellen chart placed at 6m distance while CS was obtained by using Lea symbols CS chart. Results: Improvement in VA is seen in 70% of the patients, while 23.33% patients have not improved their VA at 1 st visit. 6.66% patients reduce their VA up to 1 st visit post-operatively. At 2 nd visit, improvement in VA is seen in 79.99% of patients. 6.66% patients did not improve and 13.33% patients have reduced VA. Contrast sensitivity (CS) of 30% patients did not improve, and 3.32% patients had reduced CS while 56.66% patients have improved their CS up to 1 st visit. At 2 nd visit, 72.66% patients have improved their CS while 16.67% patients have not improved. Only 9.99% patients have reduced their CS up to 2 nd visit post-operatively. Conclusion: Visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) was significantly improved after surgery for retinal detachment (RD). RD surgery has good prognosis if patient has no other pathology which cause disturbance in vision. Post-operative visual (VA and CS) outcome mainly depends upon pre-operative visual functioning.  Key words: Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, retinal detachment surgery


This work presents results from OpenFOAM simulations conducted on a swirl generator
designed to give similar
flow conditions to those of a Francis turbine operating at partial
load. Francis turbines are one of the most commonly used water turbines. In these turbines,
there is however a frequent problem occuring at part load. Due to a swirling
flow in
the draft tube, a transient helical vortex rope builds up and creates severe pressure
fluctuations
in the system that increase the risk for fatique. To predict and control such
flow
features is therefore critical. A test rig was thus developed at the "Politehnica" University
of Timisoara, Romania, to provide a detailed experimental database of such
flow features.
This test rig has four parts: leaning strout vanes, stay vanes, a rotating runner which is
designed to have zero torque, and a convergent divergent draft tube.

In this work, numerical results are compared and validated against measurements realized
on the swirling
flow test rig at the Polytechnica University of Timisoara in Romania.
The computational mesh is created with ICEM-Hexa and the parts have been meshed
separately and then merged together, using General Grid Interfaces (GGI) to couple them
numerically. The finite volume method is used to solve both the unsteady and steady state
Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations and the standard k-epsilon model is used to close
the turbulence equations. Steady-state simulations is a preliminary method, which is less
time-consuming and predicts the general behavior of the
flow field. It also provides good
initial conditions for the unsteady simulations. For the unsteady simulations, the mesh of
the rotating part of the domain is rotating and the coupling between the stationary and
rotating parts is handled by a sliding GGI interface.

The simulation results shows a developing vortex rope in the draft tube which gives rise
to oscillations of
flow properties in the whole system. The size and shape of this vortex
rope, as well as the frequency of the
flow property oscillations it gives rise to, is highly
dependent on the rotational speed of the free runner. The results show that a rotational
speed of 920 rpm on the runner, corresponds best with the measurements out of the three
rotational speeds 870 rpm, 890 rpm and 920 rpm. The rotational speed of 870 rpm gives a
positive moment on the runner, an rpm of 890 of almost zero moment, and a speed of 920
rpm gives a positive moment on the runner. This leads to the conclusion that the tourque
in the test rig was not zero when measurements were carried out. The rotational speed
of 920 rpm is however not the most corresponding rotational speed, for the results can
probably give a better velocity profile if the rotational speed would be increased to maybe
930 rpm, and if LES or DES would be used for resolving the turbulence.


The molecular chaperone GRP78/BiP is a key regulator of protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum, and it plays a pivotal role in cancer cell survival and chemoresistance. Inhibition of its function has therefore been an important strategy for inhibiting tumor cell growth in cancer therapy. Previous efforts to achieve this goal have used peptides that bind to GRP78/BiP conjugated to pro-drugs or cell-death-inducing sequences. Here, we describe a peptide that induces prostate tumor cell death without the need of any conjugating sequences. This peptide is a sequence derived from the cochaperone Bag-1. We have shown that this sequence interacts with and inhibits the refolding activity of GRP78/BiP. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that it modulates the unfolded protein response in ER stress resulting in PARP and caspase-4 cleavage. Prostate cancer cells stably expressing this peptide showed reduced growth and increased apoptosis in in vivo xenograft tumor models. Amino acid substitutions that destroyed binding of the Bag-1 peptide to GRP78/BiP or downregulation of the expression of GRP78 compromised the inhibitory effect of this peptide. This sequence therefore represents a candidate lead peptide for anti-tumor therapy.


Service Oriented Architecture perfectly manifests itself in Web services, which create seamless and loosely-coupled interactions. Web service utilizes supportive functionalities such as security, reliability and so on. These functionalities are called as handlers, which incrementally add new capabilities. However, adding new handlers into the execution path may cause performance and scalability problems. Distribution of handlers solves these problems by providing abundant computing resources. However, pulling a handler out of its native place and positioning it away from Web service endpoint brings additional costs. Hence, we will investigate the overhead of handler distribution for various environments.


Professor Michael R Trimble Emeritus Professor of Behavioural Neurology at the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, and Honorary Consultant Physician to the Department of Psychological Medicine at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London. Interests: Neuropsychopharmacology with special reference to neuropsychiatric disorders: epilepsy, its relationship to disturbances of behaviour and its treatment, and the effects of antiepileptic drugs and other treatment for epilepsy on the brain and behaviour. Other research and clinical interests include movement disorders and their treatment, especially the development of psychiatric disorders in Parkinson's disease and Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome. Psychiatric disorders following accidents, including head injuries, dementia and the clinical interface between pseudodementia and dementia: and the spectrum of presentations in neurology and psychiatry of patients with medically unexplained neurological symptoms. Many such patients turn out to have one or other form of somatoform disorder. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and a Member of the Association of British Neurologists. Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American Neurological Association. Three Research degrees: MD (in medicine), Bsc (in neuroanatomy), and MPhil (in psychiatry). Past council member of the British Association of Psychopharmacology, council member of the CINP between 1998 and 2001, Chairman of the British Neuropsychiatry Association 2001–2004, and currently Vice President of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. His publications include two editions of Biological Psychiatry (1988 and 1996), John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, and six other single author titles dealing with the interface between neurology and psychiatry, especially in the field of epilepsy. He has edited 25 books covering similar areas. His books include Somatoform Disorders – a medico-legal guide, Cambridge University Press 2004, the Neuropsychiatry of Epilepsy edited with Professor B Schmitz, Cambridge University Press and Psychiatrische Epileptologie, Thieme, written with Professor B Schmitz. He is an Ambassador for epilepsy (International League Against Epilepsy Award), and received a life time achievement award from the International Neuropsychiatry Association. His new book is entitled "Why Humans Like to Cry – Tragedy, Evolution and the Brain", Oxford University Press 2012. Disturbances of the body image have been rather neglected over the years and there is much confusion in terminology. Thus, our physical bodies, (the actual body in extended space) differs significantly from our body image, (the body as viewed in a mirror) or from the body image in the brain. The latter would represent neuronal activity coincident in space with the perceived body, namely the collection of somatic sensations present at any one moment in consciousness. Much confusion may have been brought to the topic by the term "Body Schema", a term used by Head and Holmes, which initially became associated in particular with the parietal cortex. A further category namely the body concept relates to our beliefs concerning our physical bodies. Disturbances of the body image are central to neuropsychiatry since they cover a broad spectrum from the obviously neurological (such as phantom phenomena) to the body image disturbances noted in schizophrenia, and disorders such as anorexia nervosa or gender dysphoria. The presentation will try to unravel some of these problems and finish by emphasising the concept of embodiment and the now interesting areas of motor cognition interlinked with such concepts as intentionality.


The influence of a purified Ig preparation on morbidity, mortality, and performance of purchased calves was evaluated. Calves (n = 187) were 3 to 8 d of age and were infused i.v. (blocks 1 and 2) or s.c. (blocks 3 and 4) with a purified Ig preparation derived from bovine blood that was obtained from an abattoir (n = 88) or were infused with 0.9% NaCl saline (n = 99). The Ig solution was purified by column chromatography and (NH4)2SO4 precipitation (blocks 1 and 2) or by column chromatography only (blocks 3 and 4). Calves were infused with 504 g of Ig solution containing a mean of 47 g of IgG. Serum IgG concentrations at 24 h postinfusion increased 2.9 g/L when calves in blocks 1 and 2 were infused with Ig, but concentrations declined when calves in blocks 3 and 4 were infused with Ig or when calves were infused with NaCl saline. Total protein in serum increased with infusion of Ig in blocks 1 and 2 also. Serum urea N increased when calves in blocks 3 and 4 were infused with Ig. Mean BW at 28 d after arrival, BW gain, DMI, mortality, and scour scores were unaffected by treatment. Infusion of Ig increased the concentration of serum IgG but was dependent on the method of processing. Increased serum Ig did not markedly influence incidence or severity of disease in young dairy calves.


BACKGROUND
The etiology of the overactive pelvic floor syndrome is not fully understood and no gold standards are available for diagnosis or treatment. The article presents an overview of literature, and discusses diagnostics and treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Literature was identified through a non-systematic search in PubMed, and discussed in light of the authors' clinical experience with the patient group.

RESULTS
The main symptoms of overactive pelvic floor syndrome are pain and defecation difficulties; the latter often leads to chronic constipation. Other symptoms depend on which parts of the pelvic floor that are most affected. Pain is often chronic and ranges from mild to severe; it is aggravated by micturition, sexual intercourse, orgasm, defecation and sitting on hard surfaces, and reduces the ability to work and quality of life in general. Injection of Botulinum toxin in the pelvic floor muscles seems to alleviate pain in many patients. Physiotherapy of the pelvic floor and treatment offered by pain clinics can also be useful.

INTERPRETATION
A close cooperation between gastroenterologists, surgeons, urologists, gynecologists, neurologists, physiotherapists and possibly pain clinics is important to improve the situation for these patients.


Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether protein expression of the extracellular matrix-degrading protease ADAMTS5 can be demonstrated in the urinary bladder of healthy rats, and, if so, to determine the localization of this enzyme. Materials and methods: The experiments were conducted with eight inbred male Sprague–Dawley rats. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of ADAMTS5 in the urinary bladder. Negative controls were established by either excluding the primary antibody or applying the antibody after it had been preabsorbed with its immunogenic peptide. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize the distribution of ADAMTS5 in the urinary bladder tissue. Results: Immunoreactivity for ADAMTS5 was demonstrated in the urothelium and in the detrusor. This expression was localized not only in the cytoplasm, but also in the nuclei. Confocal microscopy corroborated these findings. Conclusion: Expression of ADAMTS5 was demonstrated in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei of the urothelium and detrusor cells, suggesting that it may play a role at the transcriptional level.


Presidents shape the economy; the economy shapes presidencies. Yet analyses of presidential influence over the economy usually examine this interplay through an excessively narrow focus: the ability of presidents to shape short-term economic outcomes, particularly as these affect their own reelection prospects. Here, drawing on work in comparative political economy, we ask about the capacity of presidents to influence long-term economic developments, particularly the degree to which the economy produces broadly distributed growth. Focusing on the transformation of American tax policy over the last generation, we stress the constraints and opportunities that come from "durable policy coalitions" of partisans, activists, and organized economic interests seeking enduring shifts in governance. We develop this argument in part through a contrast with the influential views of Larry Bartels, who claims that presidents have a powerful immediate impact on economic inequality. We suggest that presidents are generally much more constrained, while attempting to clarify when and how they make a difference.


We present a general methodology to automate the search for equilibrium strategies in games derived from computational experimentation. Our approach interleaves empirical game-theoretic analysis with reinforcement learning. We apply this methodology to the classic Continuous Double Auction game, conducting the most comprehensive CDA strategic study published to date. Empirical game analysis confirms prior findings about the relative performance of known strategies. Reinforcement learning derives new bidding strategies from the empirical equilibrium environment. Iterative application of this approach yields strategies stronger than any other published CDA bidding policy, culminating in a new Nash equilibrium supported exclusively by our learned strategies.


The hydraulic actuation of cochlear implant is considered in this research. The deformation behavior of the compliant mechanism by hydraulic actuation is of interest to facilitate the insertion of the implant or the instrument used in the non-linear access paths to the target area, and to avoid any damage, which could occur during the surgical procedure. The described implant is a hydraulically actuated compliant structure with a symmetric internal hollow core and with a non-stretchable thin fibre embedded in the wall. Under inner pressure of 6 bar, the structure is bended, thus the insertion will facilitate during the operation. With the help of the simulations, a specific geometry of the compliant structure is determined for the target deformation executed by hydraulic actuation. In this paper a Finite Element (FE) model and an analytical model is demonstrated for simulation the deformation behavior of the fibre The maximum difference between both model results for simulated fibre curves is about 0.5 mm. This is 1.6% of the entire length of the implant.


Background Anti-glycan antibodies can be found in autoimmune diseases. IgM against glycan P63 was identified in clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) and included in gMS-Classifier2, an algorithm designed with the aim of identifying patients at risk of a second demyelinating attack. Objective To determine the value of gMS-Classifier2 as an early and independent predictor of conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS). Methods Data were prospectively acquired from a CIS cohort. gMS-Classifier2 was determined in patients first seen between 1995 and 2007 with ≥ two 200 µL serum aliquots (N = 249). The primary endpoint was time to conversion to CDMS at two years, the factor tested was gMS-Classifier2 status (positive/negative) or units; other exploratory time points were 5 years and total time of follow-up. Results Seventy-five patients (30.1%) were gMS-Classifier2 positive. Conversion to CDMS occurred in 31/75 (41.3%) of positive and 45/174 (25.9%) of negative patients (p = 0.017) at two years. Median time to CDMS was 37.8 months (95% CI 10.4–65.3) for positive and 83.9 months (95% CI 57.5–110.5) for negative patients. gMS-Classifier2 status predicted conversion to CDMS within two years of follow-up (HR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.8; p = 0.014). gMS-Classifier2 units were also independent predictors when tested with either Barkhof criteria and OCB (HR = 1.2, CI 1.0–1.5, p = 0.020) or with T2 lesions and OCB (HR = 1.3, CI 1.1–1.5, p = 0.008). Similar results were obtained at 5 years of follow-up. Discrimination measures showed a significant change in the area under the curve (ΔAUC) when adding gMS-Classifier2 to a model with either Barkhof criteria (ΔAUC 0.0415, p = 0.012) or number of T2 lesions (ΔAUC 0.0467, p = 0.009), but not when OCB were added to these models. Conclusions gMS-Classifier2 is an independent predictor of early conversion to CDMS and could be of clinical relevance, particularly in cases in which OCB are not available.


BACKGROUND
The prevalence of partner violence in Norway is unknown. International research on individual risk factors for such victimisation is also sparse; moreover, the research has almost exclusively been focused on female victims.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The data stem from a representative longitudinal study of young people in Norway. In the latest survey, 2211 (response rate: 68%) responded to standardised questions on aggressive behaviour in an intimate relationship. The average age was 22; 37% were married or cohabiting.

RESULTS
Slightly more men (6%) than women (4%) reported that a partner had physically attacked them in course of the past six months. For men and women alike, victimisation correlated with aggressive behaviour towards a partner on their own part, alcohol or drug use, involvement in problem behaviour, and friends with a wild lifestyle. Own and friend's problem behavior in the teenage period were also related to future victimisation among women.

INTERPRETATION
The observed gender difference in victimisation for the more prevalent, less serious forms of partner violence could be explained by the social norm that tells men to refrain from violence against those physically less strong and against women in particular. However, other studies indicate that victims of gross maltreatment and systematic abuse are most likely to be female and that studies of standard populations fail to disclose such grave partner violence.


The reign of Henry VIII saw a renascent militarism encapture England. Memories of great victories over the French remained fresh and resplendent in the psyche and pageantry of early-Tudor England, and the pursuit of glory on the battlefield and of due recognition of England as a major player in European power politics were the identifying features of Henry's reign. In an exciting new work, James Raymond traces the development of Henry's military establishment within the context of the wider European military revolution. Making use of extensive new research into the military literature of the mid-Tudor period, 'Henry VIII's Military Revolution' is able to root firmly the military theories of the time within the solid realities of Henry's army. Raymond pays particular attention to the rise of professionalism in the English military, and its adaptation to new technologies and ideas. In this vein, the career of Sir Christopher Morris, Henry's first professional artilleryman, is explored for the first time, casting light on the experience of day-to-day life in the English army of mid-Tudor England, and challenging the established view on the development of artillery both in England and in Europe. "Henry VIII's Military Revolution" develops and expands the argument that the English Army was up-to-date with its European contemporaries, and moves the English experience away from the periphery towards the centre of the debate on the European military revolution. The militarism of Henry VIII's England is seen through new eyes in this fascinating new work.


When products are becoming more complex and their life-cycles become shorter it sets higher demands on product development within companies. Also, it is becoming more common for companies to have multi-site projects where team members are divided between different geographical locations. A method for planning and synchronising projects is Visual Planning, from Lean Product Development, which have strong benefits in its simple design. Normally the only resources demanded is sticky notes, some pens and a wall to place the notes on, but when including several sites in projects and demand that they all should work as one team the physical solution with sticky notes cannot achieve desired results. The purpose of this study was to address how Visual Planning can help a multi-site team within product development to succeed, and has strived for finding every day, practical solutions. The research within the area is limited, especially on how to achieve the benefits of Visual Planning. The study has therefore included interviews, and in several of the cases observations, from ten companies and with an expert of Visual Planning to gain a practical approach on how Visual Planning can help a team to succeed. One of the companies included has been the case company, Emerson Process Management, which is a global company that has used Visual Planning for about a year. The use of a case company gave the opportunity to interview and observe teams within product development over time, and to verify information gained from the field of research and the reference companies through performing tests. The study has shown that Visual Planning can help a multi-site team to succeed, and also includes new findings on how it can be accomplished. Visual Planning fills its purpose well for teams that need coordination and/or collaboration, and Visual Planning enables a structured way of visualisation and communication. The main difference between a multi-site team and a single-site team is that nothing is gained for free, such as small chats by the coffee machine, so the structure of Visual Planning is a way to ensure that necessary communication between sites occur. Also, for receiving the benefits of visualising information in multi-site teams, the whole team need to be able to see and interact with it and therefore a digital tool is recommended instead of sticky notes. In this study the digital tool Yolean has been chosen which was developed to support the methodology of Visual Planning.


The perinucleolar compartment (PNC) is a unique nuclear structure preferentially localized at the periphery of the nucleolus. Several small RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III (e.g., the Y RNAs, MRP RNA, and RNase P H1 RNA) and the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB; hnRNP I) have thus far been identified in the PNC (Ghetti, A., S. PinolRoma, W.M. Michael, C. Morandi, and G. Dreyfuss. 1992. Nucleic Acids Res. 20:3671–3678; Matera, A.G., M.R. Frey, K. Margelot, and S.L. Wolin. 1995. J. Cell Biol. 129:1181–1193; Lee, B., A.G. Matera, D.C. Ward, and J. Craft. 1996. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93: 11471–11476). In this report, we have further characterized this structure in both fixed and living cells. Detection of the PNC in a large number of human cancer and normal cells showed that PNCs are much more prevalent in cancer cells. Analysis through the cell cycle using immunolabeling with a monoclonal antibody, SH54, specifically recognizing PTB, demonstrated that the PNC dissociates at the beginning of mitosis and reforms at late telophase in the daughter nuclei. To visualize the PNC in living cells, a fusion protein between PTB and green fluorescent protein (GFP) was generated. Time lapse studies revealed that the size and shape of the PNC is dynamic over time. In addition, electron microscopic examination in optimally fixed cells revealed that the PNC is composed of multiple strands, each measuring ∼80–180 nm diam. Some of the strands are in direct contact with the surface of the nucleolus. Furthermore, analysis of the sequence requirement for targeting PTB to the PNC using a series of deletion mutants of the GFP–PTB fusion protein showed that at least three RRMs at either the COOH or NH2 terminus are required for the fusion protein to be targeted to the PNC. This finding suggests that RNA binding may be necessary for PTB to be localized in the PNC.


DEVELOPMENT OF A HUMAN HEART RATE AND SKIN TEMPERATURE MONITORING SYSTEM by GIRI BABU SINNAPOLU MAY 2015 Advisor: Dr. Amar Basu Major: Electrical Engineering Degree: Master of Science Continuous heart rate monitors (CHRM) can give unique insights into a person's physiological and psychological state; however, existing CHRMs are not suitable for continuous monitoring because they do not provide beat-to-beat accuracy and comfort needed for all-day use. Our group is currently developing a miniature earlobe mounted CHRM system which is both comfortable and provides beat-to-beat accuracy, based on a miniature heart rate sensing technology developed previously in our lab. The objective of this thesis is to design low power system firmware to perform key tasks: i) acquire heart rate and skin temperature data from wearable sensors; ii) signal process the raw heart rate data to calculate r-r interval; iii) optimize the heart rate sensor parameters for power and noise; iv) store the sensor data in local flash memory, and v) stream the data to an Android device. Each of the above functions was successfully implemented with low power considerations.


Pluripotent cells are promising tools in the arena of regenerative medicine. For many years, research efforts have been directed toward uncovering the underlying mechanisms that govern the pluripotent state and this involves identifying new pluripotency-associated factors. Zinc finger protein 553 (Zfp553) has been hypothesized to be one such factor because of its predominant expression in inner cell mass of the mouse early embryo. In this study, we have identified Zfp553 as a regulator of pluripotency. Zfp553 knockdown downregulates pluripotency markers and triggers differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Further investigation revealed that Zfp553 regulates pluripotency in mESCs through the transcriptional activation of Pou5f1 and Nanog. Microarray results revealed that depletion of Zfp553 downregulates many pluripotency genes, as well as genes associated with metabolism-related processes. ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) depicted the genomic binding sites of Zfp553 in mESCs and its binding motif. In addition, we found that depletion of Zfp553 could impair somatic cell reprogramming, evidenced by reduced reprogramming efficiency and cell viability. Together, our preliminary findings provide novel insights to a newly identified pluripotency factor Zfp553 and its role in pluripotency regulation.


The contact stress that occurs in the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) hip joint cup has been shown to be correlated with the implant wear rate. The wear of the hip joint is considered as one of the main factors that affect the long term performance of the implant. The contact stress that occurs in the UHMWPE hip joint cup is affected by the implant dimensions and materials. In this study, four different femur materials and geometries were used to investigate the effects of femur design parameters on the resultant contact stress on the UHMWPE cup. The results of the finite element (FE) simulation show that the contact stresses at the UHMWPE cup decreases dramatically with increasing the femur diameter. Also the results indicated that the contact stresses on the UHMWPE cup decrease significantly when using functionally graded (FG) femur with low modulus of elasticity. The presence of metal backing results in a slight reduction in the UHMWPE cup contact stresses especially for small femurs. Finally, the presence of a gap between the UHMWPE cup and the femur results in a remarkable increase in the cup stress especially for a small femur. The hip joint femur dimensions and materials are thought to play an important role in the transition of load in the implant and should be taken into consideration during the design of the hip joint.


The sensitivity of Arctic atmospheric simulations to initial and boundary conditions was investigated with the high horizontal resolution regional climate model HIRHAM driven by observa- tional data analyses at the lateral and lower boundaries. Investigation of the constraint of the synoptic- scale flow in the specific circumpolar Arctic domain showed that even though the same domain size as in mid-latitude RCM (regional climate model) simulations was used, a weaker constraint of the synop- tic scales and a smaller predictability were obtained. A simple spectral analysis showed that only scales with wavelengths longer than 1000 km contribute to the higher root-mean-square difference. Due to the weaker lateral boundary control a pronounced sensitivity of the Arctic simulations to uncertainties in initial conditions was found. The changes in the monthly mean atmospheric structures due to inter- nal processes were of the same order as those due to inaccurate physical parameterizations. Sensitivity experiments concerning changed sea ice thickness showed a substantial impact of the lower boundary conditions on the monthly mean atmospheric structures up to the middle troposphere.