Independency interpreted as a judge must not be controlled, influenced mainly by litigants. Influence and intervention are political and economic, the judge is not bound by any party. Independent judges do not carry the interests of certain parties. The legal basis is guaranteed Article 24 Paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, Article 1, Article 2 paragraph (1), Articles 6, 7, 8 and 9, Article 2 paragraph (3), Article 13 paragraph (1), Article 11 paragraph (1), and Article 4 paragraph (1) of Law Number 48 of 2009 and Article 81 A of Law Number 3 of 2009. Independence of judges in the interests of formal law and material law. Judges impartiality is seen in the idea that judges base Reviews their decisions on law and facts at trial. Accountability and transparency serve as a counterweight to the independence of judges. The forms of responsibility of judges in the accountability mechanism: social accountability, public service, provide justice for justice seekers. Integrity and transparency, has made publication of court decisions and public access Easier to find out and discuss court decisions that have permanent legal force through a directory of decisions on the websites of each judicial body, so that they can Become objects of legal study. The foundation of Indonesian legal philosophy is Pancasila as the noble values of the Indonesian nation and basic norms, the source of all sources of law in Indonesia. Pancasila especially this first Precept is what animates the principle of independence of judges in Indonesia. The relationship between the principle of independence of judges with the principles of Pancasila as its philosophical foundation. The principle of independence of judges based on the study of Pancasila philosophy can be seen from the relationship between Law No. 48/2009 with the essence of the Pancasila precepts as follows: Consequences: internal supervision through the Supreme Court supervisory body, and external supervision through KY, BPK and BPKP on the performance of judicial bodies concerning the course of the judiciary, Including the behavior of its Officials, so that the independence of the judiciary is not Misused. Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48 of 2009 highly upholds the first precepts of Pancasila: and external supervision through KY, BPK and BPKP on the performance of judicial bodies concerning the course of the judiciary, Including the behavior of its Officials, so that the independence of the judiciary is not Misused. Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48 of 2009 highly upholds the first precepts of Pancasila: and external supervision through KY, BPK and BPKP on the performance of judicial bodies concerning the course of the judiciary, Including the behavior of its Officials, so that the independence of the judiciary is not Misused. Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48 of 2009 highly upholds the first precepts of Pancasila: Justice for Justice Based on the Almighty God, the which when linked to Article 1 of Law No. 48 of 2009 further Strengthens the principle of independence of judges. Articles 6,7,8 and 9 of Law No. 48/2009 Appear to have second precepts, Essentially no one can be subject to legal action without a reason in the law. Reviews These provisions imply that independence is not Synonymous with freedom that leads to arbitrariness. Article 2 paragraph (3) of Law No. 48 of 2009, all courts in the entire territory of the Republic of Indonesia are state courts and are determined by law. Article 13 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48/2009 stipulates that the judiciary is open to the public. People are included in the judicial process even as Spectators, IF NECESSARY the people must Participate in upholding justice. Fair means giving what is rightfully his. Article 4 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48 of 2009, courts try According to the law without Discriminating against people. This means, that all people have the same rights and obligations before the law. Vision of the judiciary: The realization of the Indonesian Supreme Judiciary, referring to the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, especially the second and fourth paragraphs as the goals of the Republic of Indonesia. In the perspective of this blueprint, the vision of a judicial body is Efforts to improve the realization of a great Indonesian judicial body that can ideally be Tirrenus as a judicial body carrying out the functions of the judicial power Independently, Effectively and fairly. The mission of the judiciary is Formulated in an effort to Achieve its vision, Realize effective judicial power, Disputes resolves in order to uphold law and justice based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, based on grandeur, nobility and glory of institutions. Among the missions of the 2010-2035 judicial body, maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The main requirements for the implementation of objective judicial processes are the independence of the judiciary, as an institutional independence, as well as the independence of judges in Article 24 of the 1945 Constitution and its Amendments, and Principle 1 in the Bangalore Principles of the Judicial Conduct 2002. Independence as a keyword is the implementation of the main duties and functions of the judiciary Effectively. Point 1 Basic Principles of Independence of the United Nations Judicial Power in General Assembly Resolutions 40/32 of 29 November 1985 and 40/146 of 13 December 1985, that judicial power must be guaranteed by the state and stipulated in a country's constitution. The obligation of all government institutions and other institutions to respect and maintain the independence of the judicial power. As a consequence of one roof siatem under the Supreme Court, the judiciary has gained authority over the organizational, administrative and financial matters in accordance with Article 21 paragraph (1) of Law No. 48 of 2009, which was previously regulated in Article 11 paragraph (1) of the Law No. 35 of 1999, the functions of planning, implementation and oversight of the organization, administration and finances of all judicial bodies in Indonesia must be Carried out properly. Intended so as not to interfere with the task of judicial power that it carries. The independence of the judiciary contains aspects of the independence of judges to decide (functional independence), closely related to the objectives of the administration of the court, to Ensure the recognition, guarantee, protection and fair legal certainty of every human being in accordance with D Article 28 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution and its Amendments. It is Necessary to build an equal understanding and ability among judges regarding developing legal issues. Chief Justice McLachlin Noted that there are three conditions to guarantee the independence of the judiciary in Deciding cases: Security guarantees, during good behavior, during good behavior, until the age of 75, and can only be dismissed by the Governor General for Parliamentary resolutions. In the United States, justices and subordinate judges serve during good behavior, but are entitled to request retirement when they reach the age of 70. In Germany, judges are appointed for life, but the law can regulate retirement age. Financial security (financial security), intended so that judges and judicial power are protected from the possibility of manipulation by the legislative and executive bodies. Guaranteed administrative independence in a functional sense. The daily work of the administration is under the control of the court. Regarding infrastructure, it is under the legislative body (budget) and infrastructure is under the executive. Indonesia since 2004 has been more lax. Facilities, infrastructure, and all administrative functions, Including the procurement of prospective judges are Carried out by the court itself, at the highest level by the Supreme Court, the budget of the which is regulated by the State Budget. Remain control of the legislative and executive bodies. But budget management is entirely run by the court. The important thing that must be Fought for is the independence of performance-based budget management and the provision of supporting facilities in the form of a definite allocation from the state budget. This certainty needs to provide guarantees for the administration of courts throughout Indonesia. Financial Judicial independence has been regulated in Article 81 A of Law Number 3 Year 2009 budget that the Supreme Court is charged to a separate budget item in the state budget (APBN). The most important starting points for budget independence are at two stages play items, namely the planning process and the use process. Aspirations from the planning side are very important for the Supreme Court to Obtain guarantees of the amount of the budget as is the case in the education budget, roomates in the law is set at 20%. So if the state budget is around 1500 trillion budget, then the judiciary should receive 15 trillion in 2014, and the 2000 state budget if the budget is in 2016, the judiciary should receive a budget of Rp 20 trillion or only around 1%. The request is quite realistic considering the MA budget needs are always increasing every year. Although the law states that MA independent institutions include the budget, the current practice of the proposed budget planning by the Supreme Court still has to go through a tough process of discussion between Bappenas and the Ministry of Finance, and ironically Often the results Often do not According to plans get funding.


The requirements of ISO 9000 are studied in order to find the easiest way of coping with the consequences of rapid changes in the academic and research libraries in Serbia alongside unsatisfactory working conditions and the consequences of this. The analysis of the prerequisites for launching the project for improvement of quality in library operations indicated the need for training. Searching for the most appropriate forms of training for librarians, with the aim that they should embrace the idea of continual professional development under given conditions, has necessarily included the efforts for their motivation to learn. Preliminary educational activities are conceived as providing educational material, named Q(uality) messages, that should initiate the librarian, step by step, into best practice procedures in order to familiarize them with them in the working place and in the rhythm appropriate for them. messages аlso introduce the definitions of concepts from quality standards related to libraries and the continual improvements of library work processes. Librarians are informed about new editions of library standards – ISO 2780 and ISO 11620 and about the goals of the educational activities, materials and events planned by the Serbian Academic Library Association.


Rationale: Kv1.5 (KCNA5) mediates the ultra-rapid delayed rectifier current that controls atrial action potential duration. Given its atrial-specific expression and alterations in human atrial fibrillation, Kv1.5 has emerged as a promising target for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. A necessary step in the development of novel agents that selectively modulate trafficking pathways is the identification of the cellular machinery controlling Kv1.5 surface density, of which little is yet known. Objective: To investigate the role of the unconventional myosin-V (MYO5A and MYO5B) motors in determining the cell surface density of Kv1.5. Methods and Results: Western blot analysis showed MYO5A and MYO5B expression in the heart, whereas disruption of endogenous motors selectively reduced IKur current in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Dominant negative constructs and short hairpin RNA silencing demonstrated a role for MYO5A and MYO5B in the surface trafficking of Kv1.5 and connexin-43 but not potassium voltage-gated channel, subfamily H (eag-related), member 2 (KCNH2). Live-cell imaging of Kv1.5-GFP and retrospective labeling of phalloidin demonstrated motility of Kv1.5 vesicles on actin tracts. MYO5A participated in anterograde trafficking, whereas MYO5B regulated postendocytic recycling. Overexpression of mutant motors revealed a selective role for Rab11 in coupling MYO5B to Kv1.5 recycling. Conclusions: MYO5A and MYO5B control functionally distinct steps in the surface trafficking of Kv1.5. These isoform-specific trafficking pathways determine Kv1.5-encoded IKur in myocytes to regulate repolarizing current and, consequently, cardiac excitability. Therapeutic strategies that manipulate Kv1.5 selective trafficking pathways may prove useful in the treatment of arrhythmias.


PURPOSE
Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are often cured, but the therapies they receive may be neurotoxic. Little is known about the incidence and severity of late-occurring neurologic sequelae in ALL survivors. Data were analyzed to determine the incidence of adverse long-term neurologic outcomes and treatment-related risk factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We analyzed adverse neurologic outcomes that occurred after diagnosis in 4,151 adult survivors of childhood ALL who participated in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), a retrospective cohort of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. A randomly selected cohort of the survivors' siblings served as a comparison group. Self-reported auditory-vestibular-visual sensory deficits, focal neurologic dysfunction, seizures, and serious headaches were assessed.

RESULTS
The median age at outcome assessment was 20.2 years for survivors. The median follow-up time to death or last survey since ALL diagnosis was 14.1 years. Of the survivors, 64.5% received cranial radiation and 94% received intrathecal chemotherapy. Compared with the sibling cohort, survivors were at elevated risk for late-onset auditory-vestibular-visual sensory deficits (rate ratio [RR], 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.2), coordination problems (RR, 4.1; 95% CI, 3.1 to 5.3), motor problems (RR, 5.0; 95% CI, 3.8 to 6.7), seizures (RR, 4.6; 95% CI, 3.4 to 6.2), and headaches (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.7). In multivariable analysis, relapse was the most influential factor that increased risk of late neurologic complications.

CONCLUSION
Children treated with regimens that include cranial radiation for ALL and those who suffer a relapse are at increased risk for late-onset neurologic sequelae.


We analyze the implications of entrepreneurial spawning for a variety of firm characteristics such as size, focus, profitability, and innovativeness. We examine the dynamics of spawning over time. Our model accounts for much of the empirical evidence relating to the relation between spawning and firm characteristics. Firms that have higher patent quality spawn more, as do firms that have higher knowhow. Older firms spawn less, they are more diversified and less profitable. Spawning frequency, focus, and profitability are positively related where spawning is driven by the value of organizational fit; they are negatively related with firm size. JEL classification: L25, M13, O31, O33.


The basic working principle and the two-position north-seeking method based on single-axis FOG(fiber optic gyroscope) is researched in this paper. Improved north-seeking method was proposed to solve the problem in the two-position FOG north-seeking scheme. To Sample in three positions of 0º, 90ºand 180ºseparately and obtain the measurement values of angular rate in these three positions. Then according to the measurement values of angular rate in the first and the third positions to calculate the north-seeking angle, and using the positive and negative pulse outputs of the FOG in the second position to obtain the specific direction information of carrier. So that, accomplish the north-seeking in the range of 0~360° for single-axis FOG. The experiment results showed that the accuracy of the improved two-position north-seeking program based on single-axis FOG is 0.101 (1σ) within 4 minutes.


Optimal design of passives is important for realization of monolithic DC-DC converters. This paper discusses ideas for integrating inductors onto a silicon chip. Expressions for trace resistance and inductance estimation of on-chip spiral inductors is compared. Based on these expressions, planar spiral inductors are designed for use in monolithic DC-DC buck converters. An out-of-plane technology that uses a surface micromachining technique, known as plastic deformation magnetic assembly, is used to erect high quality inductors with small footprints. Experimental results from buck converters with each inductor are presented.


We describe how vertical seismic profile (VSP) interferometric imaging of transmitted P-to-S (PS) waves can be used to delineate the flanks of salt bodies. Unlike traditional migration methods, interferometric PS imaging does not require the migration velocity model of the salt and/or upper sediments in order to image the salt flank. Synthetic elastic examples show that PS interferometric imaging can clearly delineate the upper and lower boundaries of a realistic salt-body model. Results also show that PS interferometric imaging is noticeably more accurate than conventional migration methods in the presence of static shifts and/or migration velocity errors. However, the illumination area of the PS transmitted waves is limited by the width of the shot and geophone aperture, which means wide shot offsets and deeper receiver wells are needed for comprehensive salt-flank imaging. Interferometric imaging results for VSP data from the Gulf of Mexico demonstrate its superiority over the traditional migration method. We also discuss other arrivals that can be used for interferometric imaging of salt flanks. For comparison, reduced-time migration results are presented, which are similar in quality to those obtained for interferometric imaging. We conclude that PS interferometric imaging of VSP data provides the geophysicist with a new tool by which salt flanks can be viewed from both above and below VSP geophone locations.


Migration literature tends to speak of temporary migration as economic migration and therefore the experience of migration is centred on the economy. In South Africa, this economic experience includes violence and crime especially after the 2008 xenophobic attacks. Yet migrants have established and forged relations in South Africa that transcend pure economic relationships. In this paper, I argue that the lived experience of Bangladeshi migrants produce a far more complex picture of migration. While the economy may have been the primary reason these men migrated, they are neither poor nor destitute. Further, this paper looks at how the spaces of the home, work and the social are negotiated in the daily lived experience of Bangladeshi migrants in South Africa. It looks at spaces like Fordsburg Johannesburg where the men socialise and find a sense of community among their countrymen, as well how marriage and social mobility.


The anti‐cancer activity of vanadium and fish oil has been shown in a large number of studies. This study was undertaken to analyze the combined effect of vanadium and fish oil on 7,12‐dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague–Dawley rats. The whole experiment was divided into three parts: (1) DNA strand breaks study, (2) morphological analysis, and (3) histological and immunohistochemical study. Rats were treated with DMBA (0.5 mg/0.2 ml corn oil/100 g body weight) by a tail vein injection. Rats received vanadium (w/v) as ammonium monovanadate at a concentration of 0.5 ppm (4.27 µmol/L) in the drinking water and given ad libitum and/or fish oil (0.5 ml/day/rat) by oral gavage. Histology, morphology, DNA strand breaks, cell proliferation, and apoptosis of the mammary tissue were assessed in this study. Treatment with vanadium or fish oil alone significantly reduced the DNA strand breaks, palpable mammary tumors, tumor multiplicity, and cell proliferation but the maximum protection effect was found in the group that received both vanadium and fish oil and the combination treatment offered an additive effect (P < 0.05). Furthermore, vanadium and fish oil significantly increased the TUNEL‐positive apoptotic cells (P < 0.05) but the increase was maximal with combination treatment and had an additive effect. These results affirm the benefits of administration of vanadium and fish oil in the prevention of rat mammary carcinogenesis which was associated with reduced DNA strand breaks, palpable mammary tumors and cell proliferation and increased TUNEL‐positive apoptotic cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 2327–2339, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The quality of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) is critical to their success as biological control agents, but it is difficult to evaluate quality because standard procedures are not available. Generally, the quality of biological control agents is determined by field performance because end users may have minimal knowledge pertaining to the condition of biological control agents before application. This study assessed the variability in quality of commercially available EPN products. The authors evaluated preapplication survival of five EPN formulations, Steinernema feltiae (NemaShield, Nemasys, Gnat Not, Horticultural Scanmask), and Heterorhabditis indica (GrubStake-Hi), based on eight shipments/samples of each EPN product received during a 5-month period (July to November). The estimated total number of EPN delivered per shipment (i.e., sample) was compared with the expected quantity listed on the label, and percent live EPN was determined for each shipment. One-half of the shipments of Gnat Not (four of eight) contained 40% to 70% of the number of EPN expected based on the label (25 million). The remaining shipments contained consistently higher numbers, with 99% of the expected quantity of EPN received. Entomopathogenic nematode mean percent survival was highest for Nemasys (98%) and lowest for Horticultural Scanmask (56%). The overall mean percent survival for Gnat Not and GrubStake-Hi, both from the same supplier, was more than 85%. Survival of EPN in the NemaShield product was as low as 50%, but was typically between 65% and 75%. NemaShield and Nemasys were the only two EPN products that provided return policy information if the product was damaged in any way. It is important for distributors and suppliers to ensure that EPN products are in quality condition before shipping to avoid performance failures and loss of customers. In addition, end users need to evaluate shipments upon receipt to determine the viability of EPN products.


To enhance the understanding about the utilization of steel slags as a cementitious material, this paper presents a comparative overview for the different raw steel and stainless steel slags types in different literatures. The properties of basic-oxygen-furnace steel slag (BOF C) and electric-arc-furnace stainless steel slag (EAF S) were studied with emphasis of the following aspects: chemistry (X-Ray Florescence (XRF)); mineralogy (X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)); and morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)). To determine the slag activity index, the compressive strength for slag mortars was studied at 7 and 28 days. The results showed that BOF C had higher alkalinity and higher pH value than EAF S. The XRD pattern showed that BOF C contains tricalcium silicate (C3S), dicalcium silicate (C2S), calcium aluminates (Al2O3) and maynite (C12A7) as hydraulic phases. For EAF S, only the phases related to C2S are considered to be hydraulic. SEM results for BOF C and EAF S powders showed that it mostly consist of irregularly, subrounded to angular shaped particles. The BOF C activity index conformed the GB/T 20491-2006 standard requirements for steel slag grade one. While for EAF S, slag activity index could meet the GB/T 20491-2006 standard requirements for steel slag grade two.


Laboratory and field tests have shown that accelerated compression of peat soils occurs in response to moderate heating and an effective overconsolidation is produced on subsequent cooling. This phenomenon has been termed thermal precompression. In this study, long-term laboratory and field tests were conducted to investigate secondary compression behavior of peat as a function of stress and temperature. Step stress and step-temperature compression tests were conducted on two peat soils. Dramatic effects were observed upon heating and cooling. A field test site in Middleton, Wisconsin, USA was constructed to test the thermal precompression concept for in situ peats. The site contained two instrumented embankments. The soils under one test embankment were left at ambient temperature conditions. The soils beneath the second embankment were heated for a one-year period using a circulating hot water system. An increase in temperature up to 20°C over ambient conditions was achieved at depths extending to 5 m. Secondary compression rates for the heated embankment were up to 4 times greater than the corresponding rates for the unheated embankment. After the soils under the second embankment cooled for one year, a second lift of soil was applied to both embankments and subsequent settlement was monitored over a ten-year period. The relationship of rate of void ratio change during secondary compression as a result of temperature and stress changes is described. This is provided as a function of void ratio for the peat soils using laboratory tests and for in situ compression using the field test site data. I Member, ASCE, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W. Ten Mile Rd., Southfield, Ml48075 2 Member, ASCE, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706 3 Associate Member, ASCE, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095


Compared with the conventional low carbon steels, the expulsion is more prone to occur in resistance spot welding (RSW) of dual phase (DP) steels. Especially when the initial gap exists between the steel sheets, the weld expulsion would reduce the weld quality of the joint. It is important to decrease or inhibit the occurrence of the weld expulsion in auto-body assembly line in order to guarantee the joint quality. In this study, the experiments of RSW with different initial gaps have been done to study the effect of the electrode force on the expulsion using different thicknesses of dual phase steels. The results show that the increment of the electrode fore would enable to decrease the occurrence of expulsion with the increase of the sheet thickness and gap spacing in resistance spot welding of DP steel sheets.


Ravel9s "Bolero" consists of 18 pieces. In "Bolero", only two melodies are each repeated nine times, with changing instruments in the orchestration. In our experiment, 13 listeners rated their perceptual impressions of each of the pieces on 25 semantic scales, such as bright—dark, strong—weak, and expressive—simple. The experimental data were analyzed by Kruskal9s multidimensional scaling program and a multiple regression analysis program. Analysis of the data showed that each of the 18 pieces could be arranged on a two-dimensional perceptual space and that the first and second dimensions corresponded to feelings of powerfulness (quietness) and such expressive feelings as comic (serious), sticky (flowing), and coquettish (reserved). Relationships between the perceptual impressions and the orchestration were discussed.


Background: Antisense and other RNA-targeting strategies have the potential to impact a broad array of human diseases. Although the methodological approaches for achieving targeted RNA degradation have changed over the past 5 – 10 years, the technological hurdles facing these and other nucleic acid-based drugs have remained fairly constant. Objective: To provide an update on the clinical status of several antisense compounds and discuss methodological strategies for improving efficacy of antisense compounds and other nucleic acid therapeutics. Method: Some of the clinical advances in antisense therapeutics, including a description of sugar or backbone modifications and delivery approaches for improving antisense efficacy are highlighted; a few alternative nucleic acid strategies are discussed. Conclusion: Although a variety of technological issues continue to hamper antisense progress towards the clinic, advances in stabilization and delivery have provided new hope for using nucleic acids as drugs.


Aims To evaluate the impact of the HeadSmart Campaign upon symptom interval (SI) for newly diagnosed childhood brain tumours at UK Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) treatment centres. Introduction HeadSmart's national awareness campaign (www.headsmart.org.uk) aims to disseminate the RCPCH endorsed Brain Pathways Guideline for referral and imaging of patients with symptoms suggestive of brain tumour. Methods The SI experienced by children newly diagnosed with brain tumours was determined from January 2011 to December 2012 by HeadSmart Clinical Champions at 18 CCLG treatment centres reporting to an online database as part of a service evaluation under Caldicott guardian permission. Results Data from 353 children (median 6.7 yr, range 0.02–17.71) is available. The median SI is 7.57 weeks (mean 21.8, range 0 to 435 weeks). The median symptom onset to consultation with a healthcare professional interval is 2.3 weeks (mean 12.9, range 0 to 433 weeks), and the median consultation to diagnosis interval is 2.7 weeks (mean 9.0, range 0 to 156 weeks). Imaging that identified the tumour took place as an outpatient in 28.3%, an inpatient in 43.3% and from the emergency department in 19.5%. 3.1% of children were referred via a "two week wait" cancer referral. The most frequent symptoms and signs at symptom onset were headache (46%), vomiting (41%), abnormal coordination (12%), abnormal gait (12%), lethargy (12%); and at diagnosis were vomiting (53%), headache (48%), abnormal coordination (26%), abnormal gait (23%), lethargy (21%), and papilloedema (21%). The medium SI prior to campaign launch was 9.3 weeks, and after launch 6.9 weeks (p = 0.043); mean SI during the same period was 22.9 and 21.0 weeks. The median consultation to diagnosis interval was 3 weeks prior to launch; post launch it was 2.3 weeks during the first 6 months, and reduced to 1.0 week between the 7th – 18th month of the campaign (p = 0.026). Changes in mean during the same period did not show a reduction trend; mean SI 15.2, 10.3, 13.3 weeks, respectively. Conclusions Analysis of the SI experienced by UK children before and after the HeadSmart launch suggests that the SI and the consultation to diagnosis interval have reduced. Further data is required to determine whether this reduction is sustained.


Deep learning (DL) techniques have demonstrated satisfactory performance in many tasks, even in safety-critical applications. Reliability is hence a critical consideration to DL-based systems. However, the statistical nature of DL makes it quite vulnerable to invalid inputs, i.e., those cases that are not considered in the training phase of a DL model. This paper proposes to perform data sanity check to identify invalid inputs, so as to enhance the reliability of DL-based systems. To this end, we design and implement a tool to detect behavior deviation of a DL model when processing an input case, and considers it the symptom of invalid input cases. Via a light, automatic instrumentation to the target DL model, this tool extracts the data flow footprints and conducts an assertion-based validation mechanism.


Background and Objective: Vancomycin is frequently the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). For the last years, the incidence of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) has been increased in various parts of the world. The present study was carried out to determine the presence of VISA and VRSA in Tehran. Materials and Methods: A total of 164 S. aureus strains were isolated from clinical specimens in four university-affiliated hospitals in Tehran from November 2006 to June 2007. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin of isolates was determined by agar dilution method. Vancomycin (6 mg/l) screen agar plate method and E-test were used to confirm presence of resistance to vancomycin. Disc diffusion agar test was also used to detect resistance to other antimicrobial agents. Results: Only one VRSA (MIC 256 mg/l) was detected and three strains with MIC 4 mg/l considered VISA according to recent CLSI breakpoints for vancomycin. Only VRSA strain had shown growth on vancomycin screen agar plate and was also resistant to several antimicrobial agents but susceptible to quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, chloramphenicol, mupirocin and cotrimoxazole. Isolated VISA were also multi-resistant but showed susceptibility to quinupristin/ dalfopristin, linezolid, chloramphenicol and mupirocin. Conclusion: Detection of vancomycin resistance in Iranian S. aureus isolates emphasizes the challenges confronted by the infection control specialists in hospitals in Iran as well as causing problems in the treatment of patients with S. aureus infections.


Breastfeeding education and support are critical health worker skills. Confusion surrounding infant feeding advice linked to the HIV epidemic has reduced the confidence of health workers to support breastfeeding. High antiretroviral therapy coverage of breastfeeding women living with HIV, and an Infant Feeding policy supportive of breastfeeding, now provides an opportunity to improve breastfeeding practices. Challenges remain in restoring health worker confidence to support breastfeeding. This qualitative study presents findings from focus group discussions with mothers of young infants, exploring their experiences of health worker breastfeeding counselling and support. Analysis followed the thematic framework approach. Six researchers reviewed the transcripts, coded them independently, then jointly reviewed the codes and agreed on a working analytical framework. Whilst mothers received antenatal breastfeeding messages, these appeared to focus rigidly on the importance of exclusivity. Mothers described receiving some practical support with initiation of breastfeeding after delivery, but support and advice for postnatal breastfeeding challenges were often incorrect or absent. The support also ignored the context in which women make infant feeding decisions, including returning to work and pressures from family members. Despite improved breastfeeding policies, restoring confidence in health workers to support breastfeeding remains a challenge. The postnatal period, when mothers experience breastfeeding difficulties is particularly critical and our findings reinforce the importance of continuity of care between communities and health facilities. This research has implications for how health workers are trained to support breastfeeding. Greater attention is needed on developing skills and confidence in identifying, assessing and supporting women experiencing breastfeeding challenges.


The Faculty of Arts, Charles University, is currently one of the largest and most important research and educational institutions in the arts and humanities in Central Europe. The Faculty was founded in 1348 by the Czech king and later Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV who established it as one of the four faculties of the Prague university, later named after him Charles University – the oldest university in Central Europe east of France and north of the Alps. Ever since, it has been the intellectual centre of the Czech lands: alumni of the Faculty, their deeds and ideas, have been shaping the Czech society and culture and at the crucial moments of Czech history, the Faculty of Arts has always been at the very heart of the events.


blic Keys Schemes usually generate two pairs of keys that bear some mathematical relation-usually, a relation of the field known as Number Theory. Identifying a key from another that is given is a problem of great difficulty. This paper presents a public key scheme in wich such key identification is also a great difficulty problem-however, the mathematical problem does not fall under Number Theory; rather, it is one of Differential equations, the rules of Lie groups being the best solution. Even using Lie groups, a problem of great difficulty still remains. The first few examples use Maple 5.0, a symbolic processing program, and are available in an Internet site.


Background Meeting specific objective discharge criteria after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) or delaying return to sport (RTS) until nine months post ACLR decreases the risk of re-injury. Objective Compare plantar forces during running in two groups of soccer players: cases (5–10 months post ACLR) vs controls (no history of ACLR).We also undertook within subjects comparison (injured vs uninjured limb). Players were arbitrarily divided into two groups (≥9 months post ACLR or <9 months post ACLR) and peak plantar forces and symmetry across different running speeds compared. Design Case-control study. Setting Elite male soccer players. Participants Sixteen football players (age 26±4 yrs, weight 74±6 kg, height 178±6 cm) post ACLR on completion of criteria based rehabilitation and 16 uninjured players (28±4 yrs, 77±9 kg, 179±6 cm) were recruited. Interventions In-shoe plantar force measured (Novel PedarX) while running on a treadmill at 12,14, and 16 km/h. Main Outcome Measurements Peak plantar forces of the injured and uninjured limbs in athletes <9 months post-ACLR and those ≥9 months ACLR were compared. Negative vales indicate relatively lower peak forces on the injured leg. Normative data was collected in uninjured players for comparison (N=16). Results Increasing asymmetry for peak plantar force was demonstrated at all running speeds in athletes <9 months post ACLR (n=11) compared to athletes ≥9 months (n=5). Increasing asymmetry was seen with increasing running speed and peaked at 16 km/h −32±11% asymmetry compared to −6±8%; ES=−2.8, p<0.01. Controls showed substantially less asymmetry at each running speed than <9 months ACLR players: 16 km/h (3.8±3% peak plantar force limb asymmetry). Conclusions Relative unloading of the ACLR limb is marked at higher running speeds for athletes <9 months post ACLR despite having completed all functional criteria required to permit return to play. These preliminary findings may help add further objective criteria to guide RTS following ACLR.


Suicide mortality in a population has long been thought to be sensitive to social, economic and cultural contexts. This review examined research on the relationship between social-environmental variables and suicide mortality published over a ten-year period. The main areas covered in the review included: the economy and income, unemployment, relationship status, fertility and birth rates, female participation in the workforce, religion, migration, location of residence, modernisation, media reporting, alcohol, and access to suicide methods. Results of the review indicated that rates of suicide mortality (deaths per 100,000 in a population) were sensitive to a wide range of social factors. There were relatively stable associations noted between divorce and unemployment with suicide mortality, while many of the reported associations between suicide mortality and other social variables (such as religion, fertility and female participation in the workforce) were influenced by contextual factors and time. These findings indicate the importance of considering the relationship between social factors and suicide as dynamic phenomena.


Abstract The progress made by American women in higher education has been impressive. In 1970 a higher fraction of men than women completed a college education. During the following four decades, the gender gap in education not only decreased but became negative. However, this was not always so. The pre-1970 period (1950-1970) was characterized by an opposite trend: the gender gap strongly increased. This paper develops a model to quantify, within a unified framework, the relative importance of supply and demand forces on the rise and fall of the U.S. gender gap in education. Specifically, I build and calibrate an assignment model for the U.S. economy with endogenous human capital accumulation of women and men, where three different sources of education gains exist: (1) supply shifts, (2) a within-sector skill-biased technical change (SBTC), and (3) the creation of new high-skill services/sectors. I find that asymmetrical supply shifts by gender were the major force behind, first, the increase in the gender gap during the pre-1970 period and, second, the decrease in the gap during the post-1970 period. The empirical results show positive supply shifts for men but not for women during the pre-1970 period, and negative supply shifts for men together with no changes in supply for women during the post-1970 period. I discuss some explanations for the dissimilar behavior of women's and men's supply during both periods.


Radiation-induced brain cavernomas have been mainly reported in children who underwent radiotherapy for medulloblastoma, leukemia, or low-grade glioma. Otherwise, the "de novo" appearance of a cavernoma in an elderly long-survivor patient after resection and radiotherapy of a glioblastoma is a rare event. We report the case of a 62-year-old female patient who underwent surgical resection of a right temporal glioblastoma, followed by radiation therapy of the operative field and surrounding brain and concomitant adjuvant temozolomide. Four years after the operation, a follow-up Magnetic Resonance revealed a good tumor control and a small round lesion at the superior surface of the right cerebellar hemisphere, close to the margins of the previous irradiation field. The radiological items were consistent with a cavernous angioma. Because of the small size of the malformation and the absence of related symptoms, no treatment was performed. The patient died for tumor progression 86 months after the initial operation, with unchanged cerebellar cavernoma. The occurrence of a cavernous angioma in an elderly patient after radiotherapy for brain glioblastoma is an exceptional event; the distribution of radiotherapy-induced cavernous malformations reported in current literature is presented and the mechanism of their formation is discussed. (www.actabiomedica.it)


Let A be a linearly compact ring with ideal neighborhoods of zero, and let N be its radical. Zelinsky shows that [3, Theorem l] A/N is algebraically and topologically isomorphic to a complete direct sum (i.e., a cartesian product) of discrete simple rings with minimum condition. In case A is commutative, then [3, Theorem 2] A is algebraically and topologically isomorphic to a complete direct sum of a radical ring and primary rings with units, all the summands being linearly compact. If A is an algebra and the closure of powers of N has zero intersection, he then shows [4, Theorem C, p. 320] that A (having the usual properties) satisfies the Wedderburn principal theorem. The restriction of N is needed at two stages: raising of orthogonal idempotents of A/N to orthogonal idempotents of A, and the inductive process of producing the semi-simple part. We propose to show that, if A is commutative, the Wedderburn principal theorem is valid without restriction on N. The problem of raising orthogonal idempotents no longer exists, for idempotents which are orthogonal modulo N are already orthogonal; indeed to each idempotent in A/N there is only one idempotent representative in A. By [3, Theorem 2] we can restrict ourselves to primary algebras. Then A/N is a field and we may avail ourselves of the results of field theory to construct the semi-simple part. Our main tool (Lemma 1) is a result of Jacobson [2, Theorem 6]. It also follows easily from this that we can raise a countable number of idempotents with no restriction on the radical. We use the terminology of [3]. The author wishes to acknowledge his thanks to Professor Zelinsky for his many valuable comments.


A new front-end data acquisition (DAQ) system has been conceived for the data collection of the new detectors which will be installed by the KLOE2 collaboration. This system consists of a general purpose FPGA based DAQ module and a VME board hosting up to 16 optical links. The DAQ module has been built around a Virtex-4 FPGA and it is able to acquire up to 1024 different channels distributed over 16 front-end slave cards. Each module is a general interface board (GIB) which performs also first level data concentration tasks. The GIB has an optical interface, a RS-232, an USB and a Gigabit Ethernet Interface. The optical interface will be used for DAQ purposes while the Gigabit Ethernet interface for monitoring tasks and debug. Two new detectors exploit this strategy to collect data. Optical links are used to deliver data to the VME board which performs data concentration tasks. The return optical link from the board to the GIB is used to initialize the front-end cards. The VME interface of the module implements the VME 2eSST protocol in order to sustain a peak data rate of up to 320 MB/s. At the moment the system is working at the Frascati National Laboratory (LNF).


In this paper a novel two-inlet MSW shredder was presented to overcome the intermission work of the single-course shredder. The reliability of the two-inlet shredder was investigated and four organic constituents of MSW namely plastic, kitchen garbage, leaves and branch were shredded in the two-inlet shredder to evaluate the shredder adaptability to MSW complex composition. The results show that compared with single-course shredder, the two-inlet operation mode improves shredding efficiency and reduces energy consumption to a great extent. With the double-inlet operation,about 73% as much energy is used per gram as with the single-course shredder. The shredder is much more effective for the pulverization of soft, ductile and fibrous materials (kitchen garbage and leaves in the test), but it is not good at the brittle material (branch). A total of 57.7% product of branch is below 10mm in size, while for kitchen garbage and leaves, the values are 97.7% and 92.5% respectively. And the value is the lowest for plastic, only 38.0 %.


We studied costs and benefits of life history shifts of water fleas (genus Daphnia) in response to infochemicals from planktivorous fish. We applied a dynamic energy budget model to investigate the resource allocation patterns underlying the observed life history shifts and their adaptive value under size selective predation in one coherent analysis. Using a published data set of life history shifts in response to fish infochemicals we show that Daphnia invests less energy in somatic growth in the fish treatment. This observation complies with theoretical predictions on optimal resource allocation. However, the observed patterns of phenotypic plasticity cannot be explained by changes in resource allocation patterns alone because our model-based analysis of the empirical data clearly identified additional bioenergetic costs in the fish treatments. Consequently, the response to fish kairomone only becomes adaptive if the intensity of size selective predation surpasses a certain critical level. We believe that this is the first study that puts resource allocation, energetic costs, and adaptive value of predator induced life-history shifts – using empirical data – into one theoretical framework.


For all in-patients a fundamental change of hospital financing based only on diagnosis related groups (DRGs) is planned in Germany for 2004. Patients are grouped into different DRGs according to their coded diagnoses, operations and procedures. Hence, the quality of coding is essential for adequate reimbursement of cases and thus for hospital financing. The legal framework of coding is supplied by the so-called "general and special coding guidelines for coding diseases and procedures", presented jointly by the associations representing hospitals and public and private health insurance companies in early 2002. These German coding standards regulate how coding must be performed in daily practice and therefore have a major influence on the grouping of patients into DRGs. Because of their importance this paper describes the practical application of current coding standards. Specifically in Ophthalmology the problem exists that for many procedures adequate coding numbers are still missing, thus impairing further development of the DRG system.


OBJECTIVES: Characterize the use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for pediatric cardiac patients and assess the relationship between patient characteristics before iNO initiation and outcomes following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: PICU and cardiac ICUs in seven Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network hospitals. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients, less than 18 years old, mechanically ventilated before or within 24 hours of iNO initiation. iNO was started for a cardiac indication and excluded newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and persistent pulmonary hypertension, or when iNO started at an outside institution. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Four-hundred seven patients with iNO initiation based on cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac dysfunction patients were administered iNO for a median of 4 days (2–7 d). There was significant morbidity with 51 of 407 (13%) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 27 of 407 (7%) requiring renal replacement therapy after iNO initiation, and a 28-day mortality of 46 of 407 (11%). Of the 366 (90%) survivors, 64 of 366 patients (17%) had new morbidity as assessed by Functional Status Scale. Among the postoperative cardiac surgical group (n = 301), 37 of 301 (12%) had a superior cavopulmonary connection and nine of 301 (3%) had a Fontan procedure. Based on echocardiographic variables prior to iNO (n = 160) in the postoperative surgical group, right ventricle dysfunction was associated with 28-day and hospital mortalities (both, p < 0.001) and ventilator-free days (p = 0.003); tricuspid valve regurgitation was only associated with ventilator-free days (p < 0.001), whereas pulmonary hypertension was not associated with mortality or ventilator-free days. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients in whom iNO was initiated for a cardiac indication had a high mortality rate and significant morbidity. Right ventricular dysfunction, but not the presence of pulmonary hypertension on echocardiogram, was associated with ventilator-free days and mortality.


Cleft palate is one of the common features of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC). However, there are few clinical data about cleft palate in SEDC. We report four patients with cleft palate and SEDC including two with overt cleft palate and two with submucous cleft palate. Our results suggested that SEDC associated with cleft palate should be treated in the same way as solitary cleft palate, and submucous cleft palate may be more common in patients with SEDC than previously appreciated.


Advances in construction data analysis techniques have provided useful tools to discover explicit knowledge on historical databases supporting project managers' decision making. However, in many situations, historical data are extracted and preprocessed for knowledge discovery based on time-consuming and problem-specific data preparation solutions, which often results in inefficiencies and inconsistencies. To overcome the problem, we are working on the development of a new data fusion methodology, which is designed to provide timely and consistent access to historical data for efficient and effective management knowledge discovery. The methodology is intended to be a new bridge between historical databases and data analysis techniques, which shields project managers from complex data preparation solutions, and enables them to use discovered knowledge for decision making more conveniently. This paper briefly describes the motivation, the background and the initial results of the ongoing research.


TO THE EDITOR: We read the IM Board Review article by Hanouneh et al in the February issue of the Journal with great interest.1 The authors described an interesting case of a young woman presenting with what initially seemed to be jaundice of acute onset, with rapid progression to acute encephalopathy and worsening liver failure. The patient was eventually diagnosed with fulminant Wilson disease and, thankfully, underwent successful liver transplant. We thank the authors for their in-depth review of the common causes of acute liver failure, the general approach to management, and the tailored treatment of Wilson disease in such settings. However, we believe that several aspects merit further attention. First, on initial presentation and investigation, it would have been important to consider cholestatic hepatobiliary pathologic processes (eg, choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis), given the characteristic liver panel results. Second, the authors rightly pointed out that hemolytic anemia is common in patients with acute liver failure secondary to Wilson disease. However, it is important to keep in mind that additional testing should include Coombs testing (typically negative in Wilson disease) and examination of the peripheral smear to exclude other etiologies, since such conditions as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura may present with multiorgan failure as well.2 Third, the authors report that KayserFleischer rings are pathognomonic for Wilson disease. However, many reports in peerreviewed medical journals suggest that this may not be the case and the overall clinical picture should be considered.3 Fourth, while the authors focus their attention on liver transplant, several other treatments deserve mentioning. We agree that liver transplant is considered the only lifesaving treatment. But in certain situations, molecular absorbent recirculation systems and hemodialysis may provide temporary support while awaiting transportation to a liver transplant center or actual liver transplant.4 AIBEK E. MIRRAKHIMOV, MD University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, KY


Abstract. Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) remote sensing is a promising technology for atmospheric CO2 detection. However, stringent wavelength accuracy and stability are required in DIAL system. Accurate on-line wavelength calibration is a crucial procedure for retrieving atmospheric CO2 concentration using the DIAL, particularly when pulsed lasers are adopted in the system. Large fluctuations in the intensities of a pulsed laser pose a great challenge for accurate on-line wavelength calibration. In this paper, a wavelength calibration strategy based on multi-wavelength scanning (MWS) was proposed for accurate on-line wavelength calibration of a pulsed laser for CO2 detection. The MWS conducted segmented sampling across the CO2 absorption line with appropriate number of points and range of widths by using a tunable laser. Complete absorption line of CO2 can be obtained through a curve fitting. Then, the on-line wavelength can be easily found at the peak of the absorption line. Furthermore, another algorithm called the energy matching was introduced in the MWS to eliminate the backlash error of tunable lasers during the process of on-line wavelength calibration. Finally, a series of tests was conducted to elevate the calibration precision of MWS. Analysis of tests demonstrated that the MWS proposed in this paper could calibrate the on-line wavelength of pulsed laser accurately and steadily.


South African and Australian societies share many common elements and experiences including a British settler heritage, gold, similar British trade union impetus, and a colonial period which was roughly contemporaneous. Despite this, the mining trade unionism which evolved in the first few decades after the discovery of gold in each country, was markedly different: South African trade unionism remained weak in its organization and adhered to a thoroughly exclusive and ""old unionist"" policy; in Australia on the other hand, where the gold-digger was not faced with large-scale organized capital, gold-mining trade unionism ironically attained formidable membership and moved in the direction of ""new unionism"" by embracing the idea of a broader worker alliance. The reasons for this include various specific local material conditions in the respective countries, such as the geological nature of the gold reefs, the methods of gold extraction, the structure of the labour force, the origin of capital and its control, as well as the political dispensation. These factors shaped a trade unionism which was unique to each country and fully indigenized.


A hybrid algorithm consisting of a Gauss--Newton method and a second-order method for solving constrained and weighted nonlinear least squares problems is developed, analyzed, and tested. One of the advantages of the algorithm is that arbitrarily large weights can be handled and that the weights in the merit function do not get unnecessarily large when the iterates diverge from a saddle point. The local convergence properties for the Gauss--Newton method are thoroughly analyzed and simple ways of estimating and calculating the local convergence rate for the Gauss--Newton method are given. Under the assumption that the constrained and weighted linear least squares subproblems attained in the Gauss--Newton method are not too ill conditioned, global convergence towards a first-order KKT point is proved.


The countries of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are currently emerging from the deepest recession suffered by any developing region. Post-crisis conditions are very different from those of preceding years. Financial resources are more limited and more expensive, and export growth is restrained by potentially slower growth in destination countries. Restoring and sustaining growth in this context require reforms that boost competitiveness and increase labor productivity. Such reforms are all the more important given the shrinking of the working-age population in many countries of the region. Lack of data on student learning and employment outcomes makes it difficult for education ministries to address the legacy of central planning, which emphasizes centralized management based on inputs. Ministries of education in the region continue to micromanage the sector using detailed norms and regulations. This input-oriented style of management leads to the inefficient use of resources and results in a rigid education sector, not the type of flexible sector needed by ECA to create modern, skilled workforces. This book highlights how these constraints manifest themselves and then presents ways of overcoming them, relying on the experience of ECA countries that have successfully addressed them, together with international experience. Recommendations are presented in separate chapters for pre-university, tertiary, and adult education.


An airborne geophysical survey of the whole of Northern Ireland has provided over 4.8 M estimates of the bedrock conductivity over the wide range of geological formations present. This study investigates how such data can be used to provide additional knowledge in relation to existing digital geological map information. A by-product of the analysis is a simplification of the spatially aggregated information obtained in such surveys. The methodology used is a GIS-based attribution of the conductivity estimates using a lithological classification of the bedrock formations. A 1:250k geological classification of the data is performed leading to a 56 unit lithological and geostatistical analysis of the conductivity information. The central moments (medians) of the classified data are used to provide a new digital bedrock conductivity map of Northern Ireland with values ranging from 0.32 to 41.36 mS m–1. This baseline map of conductivities displays a strong correspondence with an existing 4 quadrant, chrono-geological description of Northern Ireland. Once defined, the baseline conductivity map allows departures from the norm to be assessed across each specific lithological unit. Bulk electrical conductivity is controlled by a number of petrophysical parameters and it is their variation that is assessed by the procedures employed. The igneous rocks are found to display the largest variability in conductivity values and many of the statistical distributions are multi-modal. A sequence of low-value modes in these data are associated with intrusives within volcanic complexes. These and much older Neoproterzoic rocks appear to represent very low porosity formations that may be the product of rapid cooling during emplacement. By way of contrast, extensive flood basalts (the Antrim lavas) record a well-defined and much higher median value (12.24 mS m–1) although they display complex spatial behaviour in detail. Sedimentary rocks appear to follow the broad behaviours anticipated by standard theoretical descriptions of rock electrical properties that allow for a term due to grain surface conduction (e.g. the presence of clay). Single lithology sedimentary rocks are represented by an increasing set of conductivities through the sequence sandstone (4.91 mS m–1), limestone (8.41 mS m–1) and mudstone (17.85 mS m–1) with argillaceous rocks providing a conductivity of 41.1 mS m–1. In the case of both sandstone and limestone, the single lithology conductivities are significantly less than their mixed lithology counterparts. Mudrocks display a bimodal statistical distribution and an extended analysis of these rocks is carried out across a Carboniferous basin. The results clearly indicate that non-shale mudstones are distinctly less conductive than their shale counterparts. Shale formations display rapid and large movements in conductivity and it is suggested that the observed sensitivity may be due to competing surface conduction effects due to clay and organic material. A study of the variation of conductivity with geological period is also performed. Both a decreasing trend with age and a modulation that peaks in the Triassic period are observed.


The inventions of modern scientific applications of recent era have introduced many new dimensions of the computing technology. Conventionally two basic types of the computing technologies have ever been in use including the computing based on the extremely high speed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and the computing based on the most flexible programmable general purpose processors (GPPs). So far these domains of computing have been targeting the two different types of the applications including the high speed applications with the use of the ASICs and versatile programmable applications with the use of the GPPs. But the recent scientific research has introduced many new application areas which are requiring both the high speed as well as flexibility of the computing platforms. In order to fulfill these requirements of such type of applications, the reconfigurable computing technology has been introduced. Reconfigurable computing is intended to fill the gape between the ASICs and GPPs by integrating the both technologies on a single chip. This research paper introduces the role of reconfigurable computing in the execution of such a type of newly born modern scientific applications.


Wireless local area networks (WLANs) designed as wireless ATM systems to extend the services of fixed ATM networks to mobile users appear best suited to provide a guaranteed quality of service (QoS) for wireless IP networks. HiperLAN/2 is an ETSI/BRAN standard providing convergence layers for both IP and ATM classes of service. Besides a description of HiperLAN/2 and its Home Environment Extension, the performance for IP traffic flows is presented from analysis and from simulating a prototype implementation. Co-existence with the IEEE 802.11a WLAN is discussed and the ability of HiperLAN/2 to guarantee QoS even when coexisting is analyzed. Ad hoc networking of HiperLAN/2 is analyzed and two possible extensions of the system are introduced and their performance evaluated, namely, adaptive antennas and wireless base stations.


Starting out from the current crisis which has affected the intermediaries-clients relationship and caused a massive litigation in the banking and financial sector, particularly in the Italian judicial system, this paper sets out to examine the normative framework of the Banking and Financial Arbitrator (A.B.F.). Specifically, the A.B.F. should pursue the aims of fair and impartial dispute resolution in line with the judicial character ascribable to decision-making by that body. However, the Bank of Italy is given the task of defining the composition and organisation of the organs of the Banking and Financial Arbitrator; a closer examination of the rules suggests that there are plenty of room for intervention by the Supervisory Authority with regard to the A.B.F. investigation procedure. It is evident as a result that there is a plausible risk of functionalisation of the activity carried out by the A.B.F. for purposes other that and different from those referable to aims of justice.


The growing non-religious minority remains among the most distrusted groups in America. We examined how non-religious individuals experience microaggressions—subtle prejudicial verbal and behavioral acts. U.S. participants who self-identified as being non-religious (N = 1,485) were recruited to develop and validate a Microaggressions Against Non-religious Individuals Scale (MANRIS). Items from MANRIS were created using prior literature, expert feedback, and psychometric assessment. An exploratory factor analysis (n = 765) yielded a 31-item, five-factor model: Assumption of Inferiority, Denial of Non-religious Prejudice, Assumption of Religiosity, Endorsing Non-religious Stereotypes, and Pathology of a Non-religious Identity. A confirmatory factor analysis (n = 720) supported a bifactor five-factor model. Both studies produced high levels of internal consistency, cumulative variance, and fit. We found experiences of non-religious microaggressions to uniquely predict depressive symptoms, even after controlling for potential confounds including overt non-religious discrimination. Atheists reported experiencing the highest incidences of non-religious microaggressions and discrimination compared to other non-religious groups. We discuss the applications of the scale in light of the broader discussions and criticism about microaggressions.


Since 1970 several methods have been proposed for using formal systems of constructive logic as programming languages. One prominent approach is based upon systems of computationally significant terms which either bear or are assigned types; these systems are essentially lambda calculi or combinatory logics in which either the terms are explicitly typed or else types are assigned to untyped terms in the manner of Curry. This thesis concerns two such systems, namely, Martin-Lof''s intuitionistic type theory of 1979, and a variation of that theory upon which Nuprl is based. Nuprl is a system implemented at Cornell for developing functional programs and constructive proofs. The expressive machinery of these theories can be given a rather natural non-type-theoretic semantics that is not inherently constructive and yet closely follows the semantical explanation of type theory. The principal content of this thesis is a careful development of such a semantic reinterpretation with the intention of making the bulk of type-theoretic practice, of the kind arising from the use of Nuprl and formalizations of Martin-Lof''s theory, independent of its original type-theoretic and constructive basis. The reinterpretation opens the type-theoretic methodology of programming to nonconstructivists and others who may not subscribe to the intuitionistic theory of types, preserving the features of type-theoretic language that make it a suitable language for programming. Moreover, the natural structural similarity between the type-theoretic concepts and their reinterpretations yields an analytic tool which may serve type-theorists as well. The body of this thesis has two phases. In the first, the semantic concepts of Martin-Lof''s theory, including expressions, types, judgements of functionality, and universes, are reinterpreted. This phase culminates in a non-type-theoretic definition of the types explicitly defined in Martin-Lof''s paper of 1979. The remainder of the thesis treats various topics of semantic significance, including the representation of propositions as types, the anticipation of new terms and types, certain ``type-free'''' forms of inference, and a sort of ``universe polymorphism.'''' Finally, we shall reinterpret the semantics of Nuprl''s judgements of functionality which differs radically from that of Martin-Lof''s judgements in the use of assumptions.


In order to have a sustainable agriculture it is necessary to use environmental friendly inputs to improve ecological aspects of environment. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a medicinal and vegetable crop which is cultivated in different parts of the world. An experiment was conducted at Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in year 2009. A complete randomized block design with six treatments, and three replications was used. The treatments were: control (no fertilizer), cow manure, sheep manure, hen manure, vermin-compost and NPK fertilizers. Results showed that all studied organic manures were high in measured characters in compare with chemical fertilizer. The highest plant height, leaf yield, fresh and dry matter were obtained at vermicompost. Treatments have no significant affect on Essential oil percentage. The highest essential oil yield was obtained in cow manure treatments. Third cut and the first cut had the maximum and the minimum of leaf yield, fresh and dry shoot yield, respectively. Essential oil percentage in the first cut was significantly more than other cuts, but essential oil yield, were the highest in third cut because this cut produced highest leaf yield. There was no significant difference between chemical fertilizers and control treatment in all characters except green area index and fresh and dry leaf weight in a plant.


First place winner of poster presentations in the Natural Science section at the 11th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center , Wichita State University, April 5, 2011


The objective of the present study is to explore the diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in Amirthi Forest Division, Vellore District. Dragonfly watching and recording has been done in each line transect during a week. A total of 37 species belonging to 29 genera and 6 families viz . Lestidae, Platycnemididae, Coenagrionidae (under suborder Zygoptera) and Coenagrionidae, Platycnemididae and Libellulidae (under suborder Anisozygoptera) were recorded. The maximum number of Odonates were found in Libellulidae (n=20), followed by Coenagrionidae (n=11 species), Aeshnidae (n=2 species), Lestidae (n=3 species), Platycnemididae (n=1 species) and Gomphidae (n=1 species). Out of the Site -1 Urban areas, Site -2 Agricultural areas, Site -3 wet land areas and Site - 4 Amirthi park areas are selected study sites, the highest number of Odonate species (28) was recorded in S3 and S2 ranked second with 24 species. Species richness was comparatively low in the remaining Study sites: S4 with 21 species and S1 with 18 species. The result of high species richness in the particular study sites (S3 and S2) may be due to the intensity and duration of longer surveys, rather than true ecological species richness. Among the selected Sites the diversity of dragonflies was high in Agricultural areas and wet land areas. Out of the 37 Odonates recorded from the district, 35 species come under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Category. Among them 37 species comes under Least Concern (LC) Category, one species under Data Deficient (DD) and three species is not evaluated. The present study is to encourages the wide range conservation of dragonfly species in the study area.


Vacuum ultraviolet laser absorption spectroscopy has been employed to measure the populations and temperatures of ground electronic state H-atoms and vibrationally-excited H{sub 2} molecules in a volume H{sup -} ion source. Measurements of both species have been made under a variety of discharge conditions. Vibrational levels to v{double prime}=8 have been measured, with the vibrational population distribution well described by a temperature of 4150K. 10 refs., 9 figs.


We study the endogenous choice to accept fiat objects as media of exchange and the implications for nominal exchange rate determination. We consider an economy with two currencies which can be used to settle any transactions. However, currencies can be counterfeited at a fixed cost and the decision to counterfeit is private information. This induces equilibrium liquidity constraints on the currencies in circulation. We show that the threat of counterfeiting can pin down the nominal exchange rate even when the currencies are perfect substitutes, thus breaking the Kareken-Wallace indeterminacy result. We also find that with appropriate fiscal policies we can enlarge the set of monetary equilibria with determinate nominal exchange rates. Finally, we show that the threat of counterfeiting can also help determine nominal exchange rates in a variety of different trading environments. These include a two-country setup with tradable and non-tradable goods sectors, and with an alternative timing of money injections.


HIV-1 infection of the brain causes the neurodegenerative syndrome HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), for which there is no specific treatment. Herein, we investigated the actions of insulin using ex vivo and in vivo models of HAND. Increased neuroinflammatory gene expression was observed in brains from patients with HIV/AIDS. The insulin receptor was detected on both neurons and glia, but its expression was unaffected by HIV-1 infection. Insulin treatment of HIV-infected primary human microglia suppressed supernatant HIV-1 p24 levels, reduced CXCL10 and IL-6 transcript levels, and induced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) expression. Insulin treatment of primary human neurons prevented HIV-1 Vpr-mediated cell process retraction and death. In feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected cats, daily intranasal insulin treatment (20.0 IU/200 μl for 6 weeks) reduced CXCL10, IL-6, and FIV RNA detection in brain, although PPAR-γ in glia was increased compared with PBS-treated FIV+ control animals. These molecular changes were accompanied by diminished glial activation in cerebral cortex and white matter of insulin-treated FIV+ animals, with associated preservation of cortical neurons. Neuronal counts in parietal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus were higher in the FIV+/insulin-treated group compared with the FIV+/PBS-treated group. Moreover, intranasal insulin treatment improved neurobehavioral performance, including both memory and motor functions, in FIV+ animals. Therefore, insulin exerted ex vivo and in vivo antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects in models of HAND, representing a new therapeutic option for patients with inflammatory or infectious neurodegenerative disorders including HAND. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) represent a spectrum disorder of neurocognitive dysfunctions resulting from HIV-1 infection. Although the exact mechanisms causing HAND are unknown, productive HIV-1 infection in the brain with associated neuroinflammation is a potential pathogenic mechanism resulting in neuronal damage and death. We report that, in HIV-infected microglia cultures, insulin treatment led to reduced viral replication and inflammatory gene expression. In addition, intranasal insulin treatment of experimentally feline immunodeficiency virus-infected animals resulted in improved motor and memory performances. We show that insulin restored expression of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), which is suppressed by HIV-1 replication. Our findings indicate a unique function for insulin in improving neurological outcomes in lentiviral infections, implicating insulin as a therapeutic intervention for HAND.


Background: Pre-anaesthetic evaluation is a basic component of safe anaesthetic practice and ends with the establishment of an anaesthetic plan of action for individual patients. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the difficulties encountered by the anaesthetist during such visits and suggest ways they can be overcome Subjects and Methods: The 'activity book' of anaesthetic resident doctors in the hospital was reviewed retrospectively for documented problems they encountered during the pre-operative visit. The problems listed were then subjected to analysis using the SPSS 17. Result: The commonest problem was the unavailability of the patient for review 73.1% followed by very busy schedule (7.4%) and unfit patients (6.9%) Conclusion: Anaesthetists still do encounter problems during the pre-operative visit. Exposing such problems creates the necessary awareness for improvement of patient care.


Consensus optimization has received considerable attention in recent years. A number of decentralized algorithms have been proposed for convex consensus optimization. However, on nonconvex consensus optimization, our understanding to the behavior of these algorithms is limited. This note first analyzes the convergence of the algorithm Decentralized Gradient Descent (DGD) applied to a consensus optimization problem with a smooth, possibly nonconvex objective function. We use a fixed step size under a proper bound and establish that the DGD iterates converge to a stationary point of a Lyapunov function, which approximates one of the original problem. The difference between each local point and their global average is subject to a bound proportional to the step size. This note then establishes similar results for the algorithm Prox-DGD, which is designed to minimize the sum of a differentiable function and a proximable function. While both functions can be nonconvex, a larger fixed step size is allowed if the proximable function is convex.


Surface discharge at the oil-pressboard interface is classified as one of the most dangerous fault conditions of large transformers. Surface discharges can be sustained for long periods without surface flashover or breakdown as long as the surface breakdown voltage is not exceeded [1]. Damage at the pressboard surface due to surface discharge is a function of applied voltage and time. If an applied voltage, above the surface partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) but less than surface flashover voltage persists, the resulting discharges can develop a creeping path due to the drying out of the pressboard by localized heating (forcing oil and water out of the pressboard pores) and the carbonization of the oil and cellulose [1]. The drying of pressboard during the surface discharge process has been observed as the development of white marks on the pressboard surface [1]. A surface discharge experiment using a needle-bar electrode configuration has been developed. A shunt resistor that has been extensively used to measure leakage current for outdoor insulation systems [2] is used in the experiment. The leakage current is also measured using a commercial partial discharge detection system to allow comparison of the leakage current waveform from the oscilloscope against the corresponding phase resolved partial discharge (PRPD) pattern obtained. Figure 1 shows an example of measured leakage current during the occurrence of full-length discharge. It has been found that after long periods of surface discharge, temporary full-length discharges may occur across the pressboard surface bridging the needle tip and the earth without resulting in complete electrical breakdown. The full-length discharges occur when the white marks have reached the earth bar and travel along the same path as the white marks [3]. The occurrence of this full-length discharge leads to small leakage current (mA range) flowing to earth that is unlikely to trip the earth fault protection relays [3]. Although the currents are relatively small, identifying their presence and relating them to forms of PD activity at the pressboard oil interface is important as it may provide a mechanism for earlier detection of creep stress failure.


In this letter, new estimators of the a-m distribution are derived based on the skewness of the logarithmic a-m distribution using the moments method. This distribution has been recently proposed to model the received field strength in nonlinear propagation mediums. Therefore, simple and computationally efficient estimators are required to infer the parameters of the received signal amplitude distribution in nonlinear wireless communication propagation channels. The performance of these new estimators is compared to that obtained with the estimators calculated with the moments method of the a-m distribution by solving numerically transcendental equations. These estimators are easily evaluated with simple expressions. SUBMITTED TO IEEE TRANS. ON COMMUNICATIONS 3rd Review DRAFT 03/24/2011 2


Airbag deployments during automobile accidents can cause injury and even death if the occupant is an improper size or in an improper position. Because of this, steps have been taken to make airbag deployment safer by adding adaptive deployment decision capabilities. This paper presents a new method to obtain occupants' pose and location by using a CCD camera fixed in a cabin. The face location is the target of our initial focus, as it provides a good estimate of the occupant's head position and is the most critical part of the body in airbag deployment. The occupants' head locations are detected through obtaining their face position. First, establish criterion templates to represent different size of occupants, that is, children, the 5th percentage of female, the 50th percentage of male and the 90"' percentage of male. Then compare the occupants' stature with the criterion templates. The airbag can be fully deployed, partially deployed or nor deployed at all according to occupants' size and location. This arithmetic has the advantage of simple, accuracy, real time and less sensitive to illumination. Experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the proposed approach is better. The total correct classification rate is 96.5%. It has great significance to maximum protect occupants' lives according to occupants' stature to control the deployment of airbag.


During hemolysis, macrophages in the liver phagocytose damaged erythrocytes to prevent the toxic effects of cell-free hemoglobin and heme. It remains unclear how this homeostatic process modulates phagocyte functions in inflammatory diseases. Using a genetic mouse model of spherocytosis and single-cell RNA sequencing, we found that erythrophagocytosis skewed liver macrophages into a unique anti-inflammatory phenotype that we defined as Marcohigh/Hmoxhigh/MHC-class IIlow erythrophagocytes. This phenotype transformation profoundly mitigated disease expression in a model of an anti-CD40-induced hyperinflammatory syndrome with necrotic hepatitis and in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model, representing two macrophage-driven sterile inflammatory diseases. We reproduced the anti-inflammatory erythrophagocyte transformation in vitro by heme-exposure of mouse and human macrophages, yielding a distinctive transcriptional signature that segregated heme-polarized from M1- and M2-polarized cells. Mapping transposase-accessible chromatin in single cells by sequencing (scATAC-seq) defined the transcription factor NFE2L2/NRF2 as a critical driver of erythrophagocytes, and Nfe2l2/Nrf2-deficiency restored heme-suppressed inflammation. Our findings point to a pathway that regulates macrophage functions to link erythrocyte homeostasis with innate immunity.


Unrestrained cell division in cancer cells is dependent upon mitosis and its related processes. Therefore, a proven effective strategy in cancer treatment has been to interfere with the function of the mitotic spindle. Despite the success of these anti-mitotic agents, tubulin itself remains the only spindle-associated protein targeted by clinically approved agents. However, in recent years major advances have been achieved in targeting proteins that associate with tubulin and the mitotic spindle. Mitotic kinases such as the Aurora and Polo families are receiving significant attention due to their vital roles in assuring proper centrosome separation and chromosome segregation. Indeed, potent and selective inhibitors of these kinases have entered clinical trials. Similarly, the kinesins, particularly kinesin spindle protein (KSP), have emerged as potential therapeutic targets and inhibitors of KSP are currently under evaluation in the clinic. Although inhibitors have not been reported, mitotic checkpoint kinases (Mad2) and separase are additional potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Continued investigation of mechanisms regulating mitotic events will likely reveal additional proteins and pathways that could be potentially targeted and thereby provide more effective therapeutic options for cancer patients.


The authors report results of a clinical and immunological study involving 38 patients with exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media. It has demonstrated high immunological and clinical efficiency of combined treatment with derinate (an agent stimulating local immunity) and high molecular-weight polypeptide polyoxidonium. It is concluded that inclusion of these drugs in combined therapy of chronic suppurative otitis media increases its immunological and clinical effectiveness and allows duration of patients' hospitalization to be reduced.


Virtual reality (VR) is a technology covering a large field of applications among which are sports and video games. In both gaming and sporting VR applications, interaction techniques involve specific gestures such as catching or striking. However, such dynamic gestures are not currently being recognized as elementary task primitives, and have therefore not been investigated as such. In this paper, we propose a framework for the analysis of interaction in dynamic virtual environments (DVEs). This framework is based on three dynamic interaction primitives (DIPs) that are common to many sporting activities: catching, throwing, and striking. For each of these primitives, an original modeling approach is proposed. Furthermore, we introduce and formalize the concept of dynamic virtual fixtures (DVFs). These fixtures aim to assist the user in tasks involving interaction with moving objects or with objects to be set in movement. Two experiments have been carried out to investigate the influence of different DVFs on human performance in the context of ball catching and archery. The results reveal a significant positive effect of the DVFs, and that DVFs could be either classified as performance-assisted or learning-assisted.


BepiColombo, a cornerstone mission of European Space Agency (ESA) in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will explore Mercury the planet closest to the Sun. This first European mission toward Mercury will be launched in October 2018 from the Guiana Space Centre, on a journey lasting up to six and a half years. The data that will be brought back from the two orbiters will tell us about Mercury's surface, the atmospheric composition, and the magnetospheric dynamics; it will also contribute to understanding the history and formation of terrestrial planets. Probing of Hermean Exosphere by Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (PHEBUS) is a double spectrometer that will be flown on the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) one of the two BepiColombo orbiters. This French-led instrument was developed with the purpose of detecting emission lines from Mercury's exosphere to reveal its composition and distribution, in the wide UV range 55 nm - 315 nm and by recording full spectra. In this paper, we present the instrument design by focusing on the optical subsystems and giving a technical feedback of the major challenges we had to face. We also introduce the calibration philosophy and the main performance results of the instrument.


: Experiments in animal models revealed that unilateral lidclosure, artificial esotropia or anisometropia cause amblyopia comparable to that occuring in humans and produces morphological and functional anomalies in the visual centers. Form vision deprivation and abnormal binocular interaction have been identified as amblyopiogenic factors. The age of susceptibility for amblyopia in humams needs better definition. Uncontrolled occlusion in infants must be avoided and congenital or traumatic cataracts occuring in infancy should be operated upon as early as possible and the aphakic eye(s) optically corrected without delay to prevent deprivation amblyopia.


Preweaning growth data were obtained during 4 yr on 349 Braford-sired calves from Brahman-Hereford F1 first-calf females. These females were allotted to either semiarid rangeland (Uvalde) or humid improved pasture (Overton) as weanlings and to one of four herbage allowance levels at each location as yearlings. Females were wintered on systems in local industry practice and maintained on various allotted herbage levels both as yearlings and during first lactation. The desired range in herbage allowance (400 to 2,800 kg of DM per 100 kg of BW at Uvalde and 80 to 460 kg of DM per 100 kg of BW at Overton) was accomplished by adjusting stocking rate monthly from April to weaning (October). Herbage allowance and yearling heifer characteristics (hook height, condition score, or weight) were treated as continuous, independent variables in regression analyses. Preweaning daily gain responded to increased herbage allowance differently for the two locations. Generally, at Overton, herbage allowance influenced suckling calf growth to a greater extent than for the F1 yearling variables, but at Uvalde this trend was reversed. Heifers with larger yearling heights had first calves that grew faster to weaning for both locations and all herbage allowances, although the relationship was stronger for greater herbage allowances at Overton (herbage allowance x yearling weight interaction, P < .07). This interaction was not detected (P > .15) at Uvalde. Interactions between herbage allowance and yearling condition score were detected (P < .05) at both Overton and Uvalde, but these interactions were different (P < .15) at the two locations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The defining with profound implications on the economy and society is represented by the globalization. In this context, we have noticed the increasing influence of the financial markets on the economy, the tendency to remove the finances from the real economy requirements, the growing role of external financing using more volatile capital goods, increased competition regarding the access to financing, the significant increase of power of the international capital markets whose characteristic is represented by the increased instability, the implications of the investors' obsession with an excessive profitableness of their own funds and the expansion of using sophisticated financial products. Realities of today's financial markets, which are the subject of numerous studies and analysis, have contributed to the association of the arguments that are contesting the thesis on the virtues of self-regulation markets and promoting a new paradigm, within which finances should subordinate the requirements of a balanced and sustained economic growth.


The purpose of this research was to know how the community of Koto Parik Gadang Diateh District in Solok Selatan adapted to the flood disaster risk. It was a descriptive qualitative research using purposive sampling technique to select the sample and interview and documentation to collect the data. The obtained data was then analized descriptively to present the facts found in the field. Types of community adaptation in the district were 1) Community passive and active adaptation to the flood disaster risk covered the activities of increasing income, elevating household appliances and equipment, and priotizing basic needs. 2) Community social adaptation to the flood disaster risk included well established kinship and sociological systems when the disaster hit and mutual cooperation to cope with the disaster. 3) Community economic adaptation to the flood disaster risk Included the community activities in fulfilling their clothing, food, and housing needs and donation from social organization such as the district  officials, BPBD of  Slok Selatan Regency (a regional disaster management agency), MRI (Indonesian Volunteer Community), ACT (Aksi Cepat Tanggap) and others. (4) Community cultural adaptation to the flood disaster risk. It related to the community customs, such as tahlilan and istighosa when they were having the misfortune and it also included constructing  Floodway to reduce the flood risk. These 4 community adaptations interracted with each other and they were very important in facing flood risks.
Keywords: Adaptation, Risk, Flood Disaster


We formulate a two-stage Iterative Wiener filtering (IWF) approach to speech enhancement, bettering the performance of constrained IWF, reported in literature. The codebook constrained IWF (CCIWF) has been shown to be effective in achieving convergence of IWF in the presence of both stationary and non-stationary noise. To this, we include a second stage of unconstrained IWF and show that the speech enhancement performance can be improved in terms of average segmental SNR (SSNR), Itakura-Saito (IS) distance and Linear Prediction Coefficients (LPC) parameter coincidence. We also explore the tradeoff between the number of CCIWF iterations and the second stage IWF iterations.


An erosion and sediment transport component incorporated in the HYdrology Simulation using Time‐ARea method (HYSTAR) upland watershed model provides grid‐based prediction of erosion, transport and deposition of sediment in a dynamic, continuous, and fully distributed framework. The model represents the spatiotemporally varied flow in sediment transport simulation by coupling the time‐area routing method and sediment transport capacity approach within a grid‐based spatial data model. This avoids the common, and simplistic, approach of using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to estimate erosion rates with a delivery ratio to relate gross soil erosion to sediment yield of a watershed, while enabling us to simulate two‐dimensional sediment transport processes without the complexity of numerical solution of the partial differential governing equations. In using the time‐area method for routing sediment, the model offers a novel alternative to watershed‐scale sediment transport simulation that provides detailed spatial representation. In predicting four‐year sediment hydrographs of a watershed in Virginia, the model provided good performance with R2 of 0.82 and 0.78 and relative error of −35% and 11% using the Yalin and Yang's sediment transport capacity equations, respectively. Prediction of spatiotemporal variation in sediment transport processes was evaluated using maps of sediment transport rates, concentrations, and erosion and deposition mass, which compare well with expected behavior of flow hydraulics and sediment transport processes.


Random linear network coding (RLNC) has been shown to efficiently improve the network performance in terms of reducing transmission delays and increasing the throughput in broadcast and multicast communications. However, it can result in increased storage and computational complexity at the receivers end. In our previous work we considered the broadcast transmission of large file to N receivers. We showed that the storage and complexity requirements at the receivers end can be greatly reduced when segmenting the file into smaller blocks and applying RLNC to these blocks. To that purpose, we proposed a packet scheduling policy, namely the Least Received. In this work we will prove the optimality of our previously proposed policy, in terms of file transfer completion time, when N = 2. We will model our system as a Markov Decision Process and prove the optimality of the policy using Dynamic Programming. Our intuition points that the Least Received policy may be optimal regardless of the number of receivers. Towards that end, we will provide experimental results that agree with this intuition.


Ten patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent cardiac catheterization to assess the effectiveness of palliative surgery designed to prepare them for a modified Fontan procedure. The objectives of palliation were to establish unobstructed systemic blood flow, normalize pulmonary blood flow and pressure, and relieve pulmonary venous obstruction. In the first four patients, systemic blood flow from the right ventricle was established by means of a conduit from either the right ventricular free wall or the proximal main pulmonary artery to the thoracic aorta. Pulmonary blood flow was limited by pulmonary artery banding and ligation of the ductus arteriosus in three patients and by a Blalock-Taussig shunt in one. Conduit obstruction of systemic blood flow developed in two of these infants, and pulmonary vascular abnormalities precluded reparative surgery in the other two. In the other six patients, systemic blood flow was established by direct anastomosis of the proximal main pulmonary artery to the ascending aorta and aortic arch. The pulmonary vasculature was protected by providing pulmonary flow through a central or Blalock-Taussig shunt. The interatrial communication was enlarged by atrial septectomy or balloon atrial septotomy. One infant had progressive tricuspid regurgitation necessitating valve replacement. One, in whom balloon atrial septotomy had been performed, developed an obstructive interatrial communication necessitating late atrial septectomy. These six patients were candidates for physiologic correction. To date, three patients have undergone a modified Fontan procedure; two are clinically well at 9 and 12 months after surgery. Three patients await this procedure.