Fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) extraction is an important issue in biomedical signal processing. In this paper, we develop an objective function for extraction of FECG. The objective function is based on the non-Gaussianity and the temporal structure of source signals. Maximizing the objective function, we can extract the desired FECG. Combining with the solution vector obtained by maximizing the objective function, we further improve the accuracy of the extracted FECG. In addition, the feasibility of the innovative methods is analyzed by mathematical derivation theoretically and the efficiency of the proposed approaches is illustrated with the computer simulations experimentally.


This paper contributes to debate of the relevance of current measures of employability and entrepreneurial (E&E) outcomes from Higher Education (HE). Given current metrics are often reliant upon statistics at predominately general, cohort level as a one-off cross-section (e.g. DLHE); are they fit for evaluating longer term E&E gains from a University experience? Does attempting to perform against exit performance metrics engender positive or negative responses? Educators and employers increasingly argue E&E outcomes should not focus heavily on hard skills, but a broader range of behavioural, attitudinal and mindset changes, claiming these provide more sophisticated bases for exploring the longitudinal value of the HE experience. Relatedly, this paper asks is there value in individual students contributing contextualised insight, in the form of their own E&E development narrative? Qualitative and quantitative data gathered from approximately 300 Undergraduate students at a UK business school, using the AGILE self-reflection tool, are evaluated to investigate correlations between student demographics, subject studied and exposure to enterprise education (EE), as variables, affecting E&E development. Initial findings indicate that certain self-reported AGILE scores increase as students get older and progress through levels of their course, whilst others do not. The aim is to further discussion relevant to all HE stakeholders (including staff in careers and entrepreneurial services, teachers, programme leaders, strategic 5 decision makers, students, employers and policy makers), regarding E&E development and outcome measures. Importantly, it is hoped readers perceive valuable insights for enhancing curricula, through identification of tangible benefits to students, from adopting AGILE mindset development.


Sequential patterns have been studied for the last fifteen years and are now well-recognized as a key method for extracting relevant knowledge from large databases. They have been extended to handle quantitative attributes, both in the crisp and fuzzy context. However, they still fail to catch one of the key information often hidden in the data, i.e. graduality. In this paper, we identify two kinds of gradualness that can be combined with the ordering notion of sequential patterns. For instance, gradualness can be seen as a {\bf temporal evolution} or as a {\bf values evolution} from one object to another one. We then propose an efficient algorithm to handle the first kind of gradual sequential pattern. We also provide the necessary theoretical material.


The increasing use of deep neural networks for safety-critical applications, such as autonomous driving and flight control, raises concerns about their safety and reliability. Formal verification can address these concerns by guaranteeing that a deep learning system operates as intended, but the state-of-the-art is limited to small systems. In this work-in-progress report we give an overview of our work on mitigating this difficulty, by pursuing two complementary directions: devising scalable verification techniques, and identifying design choices that result in deep learning systems that are more amenable to verification.


In large low-power networks of battery-driven sensors, power outages are a major concern and communication rates have to be carefully designed in order to optimize energy consumption, network connectivity and sensors lifetime. In some IoT use cases, power can be supplied to sensors by way of renewable energy automatic harvesting (solar panels, etc.). Given the high variability of energy arrival processes, energy consumption in sensors, in particular caused by transmissions to the sink, has to be aligned with energy harvesting patterns, so as to maximize throughput while avoiding power outages that may arise when the battery is empty. This paper proposes ODMAC++, an extension to a well-known protocol for sensor transmission scheduling in a WSN. ODMAC++ relies on learning techniques to adapt sensors communication rate to energy harvesting patterns, and uses a beaconing mechanism whose frequency is adjusted based on past measurements on the harvested energy process. Simulations based on analytical energy arrival models and on real solar radiation measurements indicate that ODMAC++ is able to avoid power outages and to cope with battery limitation and energy variations due to variability in time.


The most efficient method to reduce material loss and frictional energy losses is by using lubrication. An alternative is the use of solid lubrication, specifically by using solid lubricants evenly distributed in a metallic matrix, thus forming self-lubricating composites, which are capable to induce low coefficients of friction in mechanical systems. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a very versatile solid lubricant, suitable for lubrication in critical circumstances such as vacuum, high temperatures, and pressures. Therefore, the aim of this study is to produce samples of sintered composites consisting of homogeneously distributed MoS2 in a bronze matrix obtained by cold uniaxial pressing and to compare the wear-rates and friction coefficient between the MoS2-free bronze and the self-lubricating composites. Different MoS2 percentages were used to characterize the tribological properties of the composites as a function of the MoS2 content. At the end of the experiments, it was found that samples with 20% MoS2 did not sinter properly due to the large amount of lubricant between the bronze particles. It was also found that the mixture with 5.0 vol% MoS2 had proper sintering, satisfactory hardness, achieved lower friction coefficient, and better material wear performance due to the optimal amount and good distribution of MoS2 when compared with the rest of conditions studied.


We propose and demonstrate for the first time a cost-effective and colorless wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network which can provide a full-duplex 155-Mb/s up/downstream data and broadcast signals on a single wavelength using light-injected optical sources and bidirectional transmission in a single fiber. The optical sources for downstream and upstream baseband data are Fabry-Perot laser diode (FPLD) at the central office and a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) at each optical network unit, respectively. The broadband light source (BLS) for the downstream is implemented by using mutually injected FPLDs. The transmission experiment shows that the error-free operation for baseband data and a high-quality broadcast signal with 3-dB CNR margin can be obtained.


This paper describes an innovative receiver architecture for the satellite-based Automatic Identification System (AIS). The receiver performance has been fully validated in the presence of the typical satellite channel characteristics. In particular, it is shown that the devised receiver provides an excellent performance against the noise, as well as a large resilience against message collisions, Doppler shift, and delay spread.


Objective. To analyze prophylaxis using the CORRONA (COnsortium of Rheumatology Researchers Of North America) Gout Registry according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines, and to evaluate whether differences in disease characteristics influenced prophylaxis. Methods. All patients with gout in the CORRONA Gout Registry between November 1, 2012, and November 26, 2013, were included. They were divided into 2 groups: "receiving prophylaxis" versus "not receiving prophylaxis" at the time of enrollment. Patients having a flare at time of visit were excluded. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the factors associated with prophylaxis. Results. There were 1049 patients with gout available for analysis. There were 441 patients (42%) receiving prophylaxis and 608 (58%) not receiving prophylaxis. The most common drugs used for prophylaxis were colchicine (78%) and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (32%). Prophylaxis drug combination was used by 45 patients (10.2%). Patients in the "receiving prophylaxis" group were more likely to have a gout duration of ≤ 1 year (n = 68, p < 0.001), ≥ 1 flare in the year previous to enrollment (p < 0.001), ≥ 1 healthcare uses in the last year [Emergency Department (p = 0.029); outpatient visit to primary care, rheumatologist, or urgent care clinic (p < 0.001)], have tophi (p < 0.001), report pain > 3 (p = 0.001), and have disease activity > 10 (p < 0.001) compared with patients in the "not receiving prophylaxis" group. Conclusion. Forty-two percent of patients with gout in the CORRONA Gout Registry were receiving prophylaxis. Prophylaxis was significantly more common in patients with a higher disease burden and activity, which is in agreement with the ACR guidelines. Our study highlights disease characteristics influencing prophylaxis and furthers our knowledge on current use of flare prophylaxis.


Multiprotocol label switching has become a key technology in today's Ip technology for service providers and corporations that prefer to use remote connectivity. Enterprise are attracted towards service providers which provide MPLS VPNs. It has large number of customers due to the certain advantages over other VPN technologies like Frame Relay and ATM. Due to the unique features possessed by MPLS VPN, such as VoIP by Cos, scalable bandwidth, voice and data on a single platform through various sources, today MPLS VPN has become the leading technology IP technology. The main objective of this thesis was to develop an understanding of the nature of MPLS VPN technology. The MPLS VPN technology is described briefly, and a network scenario is illustrated to examine the different communication protocols. The practical part was carried out in a GNS3 simulator. For the practical purpose, 3700 series router is used.


Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol and the University of Bristol Department of Computer Science are engaged in an initiative to explore the design, technology and use of wearable computers. We describe a way of connecting a wearable computer to companion devices such as displays or cameras using near-field radio technology. The short-range nature of near-field radio allows relatively high data rates (300 kbps-1 Mbit), low power consumption and the interpretation of gestures as configuration requests.


713 Background: The FOLH1 gene encodes prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells and on endothelial cells in the neovasculature of solid tumors, including RCC. PSMA has been used as a target for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radioligand therapy. We utilized a database of molecularly profiled RCC tumors to evaluate associations with FOLH1 expression. Methods: NextGen sequencing of DNA (592-gene/whole exome) and RNA (whole transcriptome) was performed for RCC patient specimens (n=1765) through Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ). FOLH1-High/Low expression were defined as ≥75th/<25th-percentile of RNA transcripts per million (TPM). Angiogenic, T-effector, and Myeloid expression signatures were calculated using previously defined gene sets (McDermott, 2018). Immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironments (TMEs) was estimated using MCP-Counter (Becht, 2016). Tumor cell PD-L1+ expression (≥2+, ≥%5; SP142) was assessed by IHC. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated from time of tissue collection or therapy start. Results: FOLH1 expression was similar between sexes (71% male/29% female, 11.2 vs. 11.3 median TPM, p=0.54) and was not correlated with patient age at time of profiling (median 63 years, range 1-90+, spearman = 0.02, P=0.42). FOLH1 expression was significantly higher in clear cell RCC (ccRCC; 71.1% prevalence) compared to non-ccRCC tumors (19.0 vs 3.3 TPM, P<0.001). FOLH1 expression varied by specimen site (45% kidney/55% metastatic, 13.6 vs. 9.9 TPM, P<0.001), with notably lower expression in lymph nodes (5.3 TPM, P<0.001, 8.2% prevalence). FOLH1 expression was strongly correlated with angiogenic gene expression compared to T-effector and myeloid signatures (spearman = 0.76 vs 0.33 and 0.20, respectively, each P<0.001), with similar correlation strength observed for endothelial cell abundance in TMEs (spearman = 0.76 vs. 0.04-0.50 for immune cell types, P<0.001). PD-L1+ IHC frequency was numerically lower yet not significantly different in FOLH1-High compared to -Low tumor among ccRCC (10 vs. 17%, P=0.07), but was similar among non-ccRCC (31 vs 32%, P=0.95). For patients stratified by median FOLH1 expression, no difference in overall survival from time of tissue sampling was observed for ccRCC (HR 1.2, P=0.57) or non-ccRCC cohorts (HR 0.77, P=0.59), while FOLH1-High was associated with numerically longer cabozantinib time-on-treatment (223 vs. 61 days, HR 0.60, P=0.08). Conclusions: We observed differential patterns of FOLH1 expression by histology and tumor site. FOLH1 expression was strongly correlated with angiogenic gene expression and distinct differences in TME composition, including endothelial cell abundance . FOLH1 gene expression was positively correlated with increased duration of anti-angiogenic treatment. Additional studies are needed to test the efficacy of PSMA-based diagnostics/therapeutics in RCC.


SUMMARY

10 M ≥ 6.7 earthquakes ruptured 1000 km of the North Anatolian fault (Turkey) during 1939–1992, providing an unsurpassed opportunity to study how one large shock sets up the next. We use the mapped surface slip and fault geometry to infer the transfer of stress throughout the sequence. Calculations of the change in Coulomb failure stress reveal that nine out of 10 ruptures were brought closer to failure by the preceding shocks, typically by 1–10 bar, equivalent to 3–30 years of secular stressing. We translate the calculated stress changes into earthquake probability gains using an earthquake-nucleation constitutive relation, which includes both permanent and transient effects of the sudden stress changes. The transient effects of the stress changes dominate during the mean 10 yr period between triggering and subsequent rupturing shocks in the Anatolia sequence. The stress changes result in an average three-fold gain in the net earthquake probability during the decade after each event. Stress is calculated to be high today at several isolated sites along the fault. During the next 30 years, we estimate a 15 per cent probability of a M ≥ 6.7 earthquake east of the major eastern centre of Ercinzan, and a 12 per cent probability for a large event south of the major western port city of Izmit. Such stress-based probability calculations may thus be useful to assess and update earthquake hazards elsewhere.


Globally, banana and plantain is the fourth most important crop in terms of food value. In some Central American and Asian countries banana production has become a major source of export earnings. Some countries, especially the Francophone West Africa, have acknowledge its commercial importance and capitalized on the special relationship accorded them by the Lome Convention to produce and export bananas to France and other EU markets concomitantly. The endemic banana quality problems reported by customers in the EEC and other markets around the world are scarring, bruising, knife injuries, crown rots, sooty mould, finger rots, speckling, under-peel discoloration, etc. These defects are complete turn-offs to the end users and have a significant negative impact on consumer satisfaction and sales volume. The objective of this research is to study the origin of these defects, from the plantation through the packaging station to the market place, and to implement strategies aimed at alleviating them. The reject conveyor sampling analysis (RCSA) and Eight Quality Control Check Points (8QCCPs) models were utilized.


Superplastic extrusion of axial forcing and radial flowing under different conditions was adopted to form a turbo-rotor, using hot-press sintered compact of zirconia (3Y)-toughened alumina composite that was prepared at 1450 °C for 1 hour with relative density of higher than 96%. Subsequent superplastic extrusion was attempted at temperature of 1500 °C-1650 °C. The results indicate that 3Y-ZrO2 plays an important role as a second-phase pinning agent and inhibits grain growth. The material shows good deformability and potential of near-net-shape forming. Comparing with undeformed sample, extruded sample was observed apparent coarsening in grain size and the remaining mechanical properties after deformation are not improved, irrespective of improved density. The dominating deformation mechanism is grain sliding and rotation accommodated with zirconia coordinated deformation.


Introduction: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the mainstay of surgical treatment for male stress urinary incontinence. Although urethral erosions are a known complication, their temporal distribution and optimal management have not been well characterized. We seek to evaluate the timing, etiologies, and management of urethral erosions in primary AUS implantations. Materials and Methods: 1802 male patients underwent AUS procedure at Mayo Clinic (Rochester) from 1983 to 2011, including 1082 primary placements. Of primary placements, 63 had a urethral erosion of their device requiring explanation and were included in our analysis. All cases of urethral erosion were confirmed at the time of explantation through cystoscopy and direct visualization. At our institution, explantation is typically performed without primary urethral repair. Results: There were 63 cases (5.8%) of urethral erosions of primary AUS devices during the study time frame. The median age at AUS implantation was 74 years (interquartile range [IQR] 68–77 years) and median time to explantation was 21 months (IQR 5–59 months). The temporal trend of AUS erosions demonstrates a peak in the 1st year, with a gradual tapering of cases thereafter, persisting beyond 10 years. Three of 36 (8.3%) patients with follow-up developed a urethral stricture. Overall, 32/63 patients (51%) underwent salvage AUS reimplantation at a median of 7.1 months (IQR 3.1–12.9 months). Conclusions: Urethral erosions tend to occur early (within 1–2 years), with gradual tapering over time. However, continued vigilance is needed after AUS placement to decrease late erosions. These data can be used for counseling and to help guide follow-up care of patients with AUS.


1. The weight of active specimens of Helix pomatia L. undergoes continual fluctuation, the changes from day to day being often of very great magnitude and presenting the appearance of an irregular rhythm. 2. The animals tend to aestivate at the times when their weight is low. 3. The weight fluctuations are not responses to varying environmental conditions. 4. The weight fluctuations are seen in animals given water but no food, and are not seen in those given food but no water. They are therefore due primarily to variations in the water content of the animals. 5. The amplitude of the fluctuations is greater in fed than in fasting animals. 6. Similar fluctuations, but of somewhat smaller amplitude, occur in snails kept in air saturated with water vapour.


Recent developments in microfabrication technology have enabled the manufacture of semiconductor devices in which the carriers scatter very infrequently over typical device lengths. Transport of this kind is termed ballistic, and under such conditions, coherent quantum interference phenomena become an increasingly important part of the conduction process. In particular, the conductors of such devices now assume the role of electron waveguides. Most previous attempts at modelling quantum ballistic transport have been based on one-dimensional models. However, relatively little was known about the true nature of wavepacket propagation in real structures where diffraction from apertures or around obstacles could occur. This thesis presents the first theoretical study of quantum ballistic transport in a two-dimensional quantum waveguide network. The study specifically concentrates on modelling the Aharonov-Bohm effect in ring structures, which is an exclusively quantum-mechanical effect. The method of investigation was to numerically solve the two-dimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation for an idealised ring structure using a computer algorithm which incorporated several novel techniques. One-dimensional calculations show that one can expect a modulation depth of 100% in the oscillations in the magneto-resistance characteristic of such rings. Present oscillation amplitudes measured experimentally however fall far short of this figure, typically being about 0.1% of the background resistance in metal rings and about 10% in rings formed in the two-dimensional electron gas at a heterojunction interface. Computer simulation of wavepacket propagation in these latter structures clearly show a multi-mode structure in the wavefunction across the conductors of realistically-sized rings. It is shown that it is the transmission of more than one mode at the exit of the ring which is a major factor in reducing the amplitude of the magneto-resistance oscillations. Good agreement between the average magneto-resistance oscillation amplitude in the simulated and experimental characteristics for a ring formed at a heterojunction was obtained. The two-dimensional model can therefore be regarded as a major improvement on earlier one-dimensional models. Evidence suggesting a damping of the magneto-resistance oscillations as a result of the direct action of the magnetic field acting on the conductors is also found. It is estimated that the approximate cut-off field would be about 0.5 Tesla for the particular device modelled, which is consistent with experimental observations of a decline in the oscillation amplitude in the range 0.5-1.0 Tesla. A modification of the basic ring structure to achieve larger magneto-resistance oscillations by constricting the exit of the ring is proposed and computer simulation of wavepacket propagation through this structure shows that a substantial increase in modulation depth can be expected. The techniques developed in this thesis have therefore been able to successfully model existing quantum interference devices and also assess the likely improvement in performance of a hypothetical device. These techniques could a be applied to the modelling of wavepacket propagation in other types of sub-micron quantum-interference devices where transport can be considered to be ballistic.


OBJECTIVE
To establish an association between different types and degrees of neurological involvement and lower urinary tract dysfunctions and their symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The studied group comprises 84 patients with multiple sclerosis with an average of 42.1 years in whom neurological and urological functional involvement had been evaluated. Neurological involvement had been evaluated using Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score; urinary tract dysfunctions have been diagnosed by urodynamic examinations and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using the micturition questionnaire.

RESULTS
1) An association between neurological involvement and lower urinary tract dysfunctions: detrusor hyperreflexia depends on the degree of pyramidal system involvement and the presence of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia depends on overall disability and the degree of pyramidal system involvement. 2) An association between lower urinary tract dysfunctions and LUTS: obstructive symptoms depend on the presence of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. 3) An association between neurological involvement and LUTS has not been established.

CONCLUSION
An association between neurological involvement, lower urinary tract dysfunctions and their symptoms has been found. Based on this knowledge, it is possible to simplify the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in certain groups of patients.


The these days, natural business world of fast emulation and growth. Many peripatetic companies is service area also feel the emulation. They compete to give service which with quality, because service quality in business world are " price to be paid" by company so that remain to survive and quality of good steward mean will arise satisfaction. of cutomer. Pursuant to the situation hence researcher later; then do research with title " Analyse the Quality Of Service At Sengkaling Aerobic and of Fitness Malang Center". This research is research of survey. Target of this research that is to know the quality of service at aerobic sengkaling and of fitness Malang center. In this research of analyzer used to know the quality of service that is 1) diagram analysis of kartesius 2) analysis make an index to satisfaction of cutomer. From analysis result which have been conducted with diagram analysis of kartesius that is that there is two variable which need to be improved the by performance of that is at energy variable listen carefully and attention, while to three other variable have
very good. Result of analysis make an index to satisfaction of cutomer that is there is two variable which the was value of below/under 1, that is energy variable listen carefully with IKP 0,965 and attention variable with IKP 0,987 mean company performance [at] this variable not yet gratified cutomer while to three other variable of cutomer have felt very satisfied that is reliability variable with IKP 1,122 , guarantee variable with IKP 1,177 , and direct evidence variable with IKP 1,128. totalizing as a whole cutomer lick lips with company performance with IKP 1,072. Pursuant to above research result, suggested by company can improve performance at two variable that is energy listen carefully and attention while to three expected by other variable of company can maintain his performance.


Arctic sea ice is a very dynamic environment which is currently suffering a rapid decline in extent and thickness. These changes will affect the distribution and magnitude of biogeochemical processes occurring in the ice matrix and the water column such as photosynthetic carbon fixation. Besides the phytoplankton in the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice algae contribute to primary production, but our knowledge about their activity, especially in the central basins, is still limited. Of special interest for future predictions of the Arctic carbon cycle is the question which factors are limiting primary productivity in the ice, and if the sea ice retreat has positive or negative consequences for Arctic productivity.
This study provides recent data from the central Arctic, collected during August and September 2011 on board of the RV Polarstern (TransArc 2011). Net primary productivity (NPP) was measured using the 14C method in a range of ice types and features sampled along a transect from Atlantic to Pacific waters, including annual and multiyear ice flows and surface melt ponds. In addition, transparent exopolymers (TEP), particulate organic carbon (POC) and inorganic nutrients were determined.
The preliminary results show high spatial variability of NPP rates for the ice (7-24 mg C m-2 d-1) and the water column mixed layer depth integrated (1,8-333 mg C m-2 d-1) with remarkable differences between the Atlantic and the Pacific influenced waters. However, TEP concentrations in sea ice (254-1293 µg Xeq L-1) are significantly higher than in the water column. In addition, algal aggregates found in the melt ponds show very high activities and great concentrations of TEP. Regarding the nutrients, nitrate and phosphate concentrations are lower in the ice compared to the water column indicating a possible nutrient limitation for sea ice algae. Furthermore, the very low N:P ratio (~2 for the ice and ~8 for the water column) points to a general nitrogen limitation.
These results contribute to broaden our understanding of the biogeochemical and ecological processes taking place in the Central Arctic at the end of the ice melt season and
will help to estimate the contribution of sea ice to the carbon budget of the Arctic Ocean.


We introduce an automatic segmentation framework that blends the advantages of color-, texture-, shape-, and motion-based segmentation methods in a computationally feasible way. A spatiotemporal data structure is first constructed for each group of video frames, in which each pixel is assigned a feature vector based on low-level visual information. Then, the smallest homogeneous components, so-called as volumes, are expanded from selected marker points using an adaptive, three-dimensional, centroid-linkage method. Self descriptors that characterize each volume and relational descriptors that capture the mutual properties between pairs of volumes are determined by evaluating the boundary, trajectory, and motion of the volumes. These descriptors are used to measure the similarity between volumes based on which volumes are further grouped into objects. A fine-to-coarse clustering algorithm yields a multiresolution object tree representation as an output of the segmentation.


Abstract. A large-scale field campaign was carried out on the ebb-tidal delta (ETD) of Ameland Inlet, a basin of the Wadden Sea in the Netherlands, as well as on three transects along the Dutch lower shoreface. The data have been obtained over the years 2017–2018. The most intensive campaign at the ETD of Ameland Inlet was in September 2017. With this campaign, as part of KustGenese2.0 (Coastal Genesis 2.0) and SEAWAD, we aim to gain new knowledge on the processes driving sediment transport and benthic species distribution in such a dynamic environment. These new insights will ultimately help the development of optimal strategies to nourish the Dutch coastal zone in order to prevent coastal erosion and keep up with sea level rise.
The dataset obtained from the field campaign consists of (i) single- and multi-beam bathymetry; (ii) pressure, water velocity, wave statistics, turbidity, conductivity, temperature, and bedform morphology on the shoal; (iii) pressure and velocity at six back-barrier locations; (iv) bed composition and macrobenthic species from box cores and vibrocores; (v) discharge measurements through the inlet; (vi) depth and velocity from X-band radar; and (vii) meteorological data. The combination of all these measurements at the same time makes this dataset unique and enables us to investigate the interactions between sediment transport, hydrodynamics, morphology and the benthic ecosystem in more detail. The data provide opportunities to calibrate numerical models to a high level of detail. Furthermore, the open-source datasets can be used for system comparison studies. The data are publicly available at 4TU Centre for Research Data at https://doi.org/10.4121/collection:seawad (Delft University of Technology et al., 2019) and https://doi.org/10.4121/collection:kustgenese2 (Rijkswaterstaat and Deltares, 2019). The datasets are published in netCDF format and follow conventions for CF (Climate and Forecast) metadata. The http://data.4tu.nl (last access: 11 November 2020) site provides keyword searching options and maps with the geographical position of the data.


This study examined possible differences in total gray and white matter brain content in bipolar patients and healthy individuals, and their relationship with age. 22 DSM-IV bipolar patients and 22 healthy controls underwent a 1.5-tesla Spoiled Gradient Recalled Acquisition (SPGR) MRI. Evaluators blind to patients' identities measured total brain, gray and white matter volumes using a semi-automated software. No differences were found for total brain volume, gray matter or white matter volumes between bipolar patients and healthy controls (MANCOVA, age as covariate, p > 0.05). Age was inversely correlated with total gray matter volume in patients (r = –0.576, p = 0.005), but not in controls (r = –0.193, p = 0.388). Our findings suggest that any existing gray matter deficits in bipolar disorder are likely to be localized to specific brain regions, rather than generalized. The inverse correlation between age and brain gray matter volumes in bipolar patients, not present in healthy controls, in this sample of mostly middle-aged adults, could possibly indicate more pronounced age-related gray matter decline in bipolar patients, and may be of potential relevance for the pathophysiology of the disorder.


1Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510630, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China Background: Circular RNA circSKA3 plays an oncogenic role in breast cancer, while its role in glioblastoma (GBM) is unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of circSKA3 in GBM. Methods: Differential expression of circSKA3 and miR-1 in GBM and adjacent non-cancer tissue samples were analyzed by RT-qPCR. GBM cells were transfected with circSKA3 expression vector or miR-1 mimic, followed by RT-qPCR to explore the potential crosstalk between them. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was carried out to assess the role of circSKA3 in regulating the methylation of miR-1 gene. The role of circSKA3 and miR-1 in regulating GBM cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Results: We found that circSKA3 was upregulated in GBM and inversely correlated with miR-1 across GBM tissues. High expression levels of circSKA3 and low expression levels of miR-1 were significantly correlated with the poor survival of GBM patients. In GBM cells, overexpression of circSKA3 increased the methylation of miR-1 gene and decreased the expression of miR-1. CCK-8 assay showed that overexpression of circSKA3 reduced the inhibitory effects of miR-1 on cell proliferation. Conclusion: Therefore, circSKA3 may downregulate miR-1 through methylation in GBM to promote cancer cell proliferation.


The present article is based on partial results obtained in the extension project Building Pathways to Sustainability, whose main objective is to create conditions for the participation of children in overcoming the social and environmental problems and build sustainable societies, with reference to the neighborhoods where they reside. The project is a realization of the Pro-Rectory of Extension of the Federal Fluminense University (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in partnership with the Genesis – Environmental Education Center (CEAG), with support of Alliance Française of Niterói. In 2009, the project was selected for presentation at UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, in Bonn, Germany. In 2010, the project was among the 100 best practices in Education for Sustainability UNO-HABITAT. We show how by adopting a methodology based on the components of empowerment of children – from São Gonçalo and Itaboraí – children are overcoming the naturalized view of environmental problems, strengthening selfesteem and organizing small projects and campaigns. Evidently, they are isolated and do not promote structural changes, but they mark the beginning of a process that should extend until they have the skills and information necessary to intervene in the structural causes and thus help build urban spaces with greater equity, social justice, democratic empowerment and sustainability. Our hope with this report is to contribute to the development of new experience in this area, especially from the university extension. It's necessary to carry out integrated activities of research and extension to create spaces where children together with adults participate in the process of building new cities.


Conditional independence of treatment assignment from potential outcomes is a commonly used but nonrefutable assumption. We derive identified sets for various treatment effect parameters under nonparametric deviations from this conditional independence assumption. These deviations are defined via a conditional treatment assignment probability, which makes it straightforward to interpret. Our results can be used to assess the robustness of empirical conclusions obtained under the baseline conditional independence assumption.


Termed a "climate-energy contribution", the carbon tax was introduced in France in 2014 to price energy-related CO2 emissions not covered by the European emissions trading scheme. Its ramp-up is likely to accelerate, at least as far as the rate is concerned, calling for an initial assessment of its actual effects. Such an evaluation is what this edition of Information & Debates provides, concentrating on the sectors most concerned. Evaluating the impact of the tax is not just a matter of comparing emissions before and after the tax came into force, but requires a comparison of the emissions observed over the period with the evolution of a "counterfactual" scenario representing the hypothetical trajectory that emissions would have followed in its absence. In the first part, we look at the contextual elements needed to understand how the price signal of carbon affects economic actors by way of energy prices. In the second and third parts we then evaluate the impacts of the tax by taking an ex ante approach and an ex post approach respectively. The ex-ante approach is based on calculating price and tax elasticities. It is carried out indi-rectly by comparing the carbon tax with an increase in the prices of fossil fuels. Although this raises the question of transmission from the one to the other, it has the advantage of not requiring a temporal distance in relation to the introduction of the tax. The results suggest that the carbon tax led to a reduction in emissions from the transport sector of between 0.6 and 1.7 Mt of CO2 in 2017. Taxation of heating oil for its part reduced emissions from the heating of buildings by 0.7 Mt CO2. For transport and fuel oil, the method leads to the prediction that by the end of the five-year period the tax should lead to a reduction in emissions of between 3 and 5.7 Mt of CO2 compared to 2017. These various estimates likely to be a minimum, since it seems that consumers are more responsive to a price increase resulting from higher taxes than to one induced by a change in the price of fossil raw materials. The ex post approach is based on the "synthetic control" method, and involves reconstructing France's hypothetical emissions from a group of comparable countries that have not introduced a carbon tax during the period. This approach produces a direct evaluation in that the impact of the tax is estimated is implemented over the period the tax has been in force. Applied to France over the period 2014-2017, it does not allow a robust conclusion to be drawn as to the impact of the introduction of the carbon tax on emissions from the transport or building heating sector over the period concerned. This result may be explained by the small number of observations currently available since the introduction of the tax.


A prototype instrumented tripod system designed for quantifying physical processes in muddy surfzone and nearshore regions was tested on tidal flats north of the Amazon River mouth. Physical data (i.e. wave characteristics, current velocities, suspended-sediment concentrations and seabed characteristics) recorded during a 15-hr deployment at 1- 3.5 m water depth on this energetic, non-barred, fine-grained deposit demonstrate the value of this system to make field observations of sediment dynamics over an underconsolidated cohesive boundary. Significant sediment transport is occurring via resuspension of fine-grained particles and aggregates by wave-induced velocities up to 100 cm sec -1 . Tidal currents (0-35 cm sec -1 ) are shorenormal with a low-frequency (residual) component advecting material alongshore. Physical data are supported by simultaneous coring which allows documentation of reworking for the uppermost seabed over a semi-diurnal tidal cycle. A fluid-mud layer (< 10 cm) thick covers the "seabed" and changes in density and thickness with varying benthic shear stress, Muddy deposits accumulating in this setting are composed of physically stratified laminations of silt/clay (µ - to cm-scale).


We consider two competing supply chains, each consisting of supplier, a manufacturer, and a retailer. The suppliers exert effort to improve product quality, and the retailers sell products competitively. Each manufacturer chooses one of the three strategies: forward integration, backward integration, or no vertical integration. We seek for a subgame perfect Nash equilibrium and study the resulting market structure. Moreover, we characterize the effect of vertical integration on profitability, product price, and quality in a competitive setting. Existing literature has shown that, when manufacturers consider only forward integration, they may choose not to vertically integrate in equilibrium. In contrast, we find that, when both forward and backward integration options are considered, disintegration cannot be an equilibrium outcome. In this case, both manufacturers either forward or backward integrate, and the degree of product perishability, cost of quality, and how much consumers value quality are critical for the chosen direction of integration. Furthermore, competition increases attractiveness of backward integration relative to forward integration. We show that, while integrating backward unilaterally is always beneficial, unilateral forward integration can harm a manufacturer's profitability. Finally, vertical integration can result in a better quality product sold at a lower price.


AIM
Occupational therapists frequently undertake the role of practice educator contributing to the development of the future workforce, however, little is known about how they effectively perform this role. This study aimed to elucidate students' perspectives on what makes an excellent practice educator.

METHOD
Documentation for 124 Practice Excellence Commendations nominations by Queensland occupational therapy students for Queensland Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Collaborative awards between 2008 and 2011 were analysed. These were based on students' experiences on long block placements (five weeks or more) in their later years of undergraduate or masters' entry study. Written nominations addressing five selection criteria were de-identified and responses to each of these compiled. One independent coder and the two lead authors read the transcripts, identified coding categories and reached consensus regarding emerging themes using standard content and thematic analysis techniques.

RESULTS
Providing the 'just right' challenge was the overarching theme that symbolised excellence in practice education from students' perspectives. Three themes emerged that enabled practice educators to provide student support needed to balance the challenges of learning on placement; (i) valuing a reciprocal relationship; (ii) facilitating learning opportunities and experiences; and (iii) encouraging autonomy and independence.

CONCLUSION
Findings provided insights into student perceptions about how excellent practice educators facilitated their learning while on placement. These insights can be used to inform practice educators who wish to enhance their supervision skills. Future research should focus on how the attributes of practice educators positively influence student learning outcomes.


We focus on the dramatic decrease in the snow cover on the Japan Sea side of Central Japan in the late 20th century. Using a regional climate model, a control experiment (CTL) was conducted, and it accurately simulated the dramatic decrease in maximum snow depth (SNDmax) between the 1980s and the 1990s. We then conducted a pseudo climate simulation (PCS) in the 1990s, which assumes the mean atmospheric fields in the 1990s and the perturbation from the mean atmospheric fields in the 1980s. The PCS method is expected to evaluate only the impacts of changes in the mean atmospheric fields on the snow cover changes. The PCS simulates the decreases in SNDmax over the coastal area, which are comparable to the changes simulated by the CTL. On the other hand, changes in SNDmax are negligible in the PCS over the mountainous area, where the slight increases in SNDmax are simulated by the CTL. Therefore, the changes in the mean atmospheric fields, especially, the mean temperature rise, are main factors of the snow cover decrease over the coastal area, while changes in both the mean atmospheric fields and the perturbation contribute to the snow cover changes over the mountainous area.


Background Consistent and compelling evidence demonstrates that social and economic adversity has an impact on health outcomes. In response, many health care professional organizations recommend screening patients for experiences of social and economic adversity or social risks—for example, food, housing, and transportation insecurity—in the context of care. Guidance on how health care providers can act on documented social risk data to improve health outcomes is nascent. A strategy recommended by the National Academy of Medicine involves using social risk data to adapt care plans in ways that accommodate patients' social risks. Objective This study's aims are to develop electronic health record (EHR)–based clinical decision support (CDS) tools that suggest social risk–informed care plan adaptations for patients with diabetes or hypertension, assess tool adoption and its impact on selected clinical quality measures in community health centers, and examine perceptions of tool usability and impact on care quality. Methods A systematic scoping review and several stakeholder activities will be conducted to inform development of the CDS tools. The tools will be pilot-tested to obtain user input, and their content and form will be revised based on this input. A randomized quasi-experimental design will then be used to assess the impact of the revised tools. Eligible clinics will be randomized to a control group or potential intervention group; clinics will be recruited from the potential intervention group in random order until 6 are enrolled in the study. Intervention clinics will have access to the CDS tools in their EHR, will receive minimal implementation support, and will be followed for 18 months to evaluate tool adoption and the impact of tool use on patient blood pressure and glucose control. Results This study was funded in January 2020 by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health. Formative activities will take place from April 2020 to July 2021, the CDS tools will be developed between May 2021 and November 2022, the pilot study will be conducted from August 2021 to July 2022, and the main trial will occur from December 2022 to May 2024. Study data will be analyzed, and the results will be disseminated in 2024. Conclusions Patients' social risk information must be presented to care teams in a way that facilitates social risk–informed care. To our knowledge, this study is the first to develop and test EHR-embedded CDS tools designed to support the provision of social risk–informed care. The study results will add a needed understanding of how to use social risk data to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/31733


[1] The spectral induced polarization (SIP) signature of soil contaminated with organic pollutant was studied. Using a flow column experiment, the effect of crystal violet (CV, a polar organic pollutant) on the temporal change of the SIP response over a broad frequency range (1 mHz to 45 KHz) was determined. Complimentary measurements were used to determine the effect of CV on the chemical composition of both the pore water and the solid surface. In addition, analysis of the experimental results was carried out by using both chemical complexation and induced polarization models. Our results shows that adsorption of CV to the mineral surface resulted in release of inorganic ions to the soil solution, increasing the solution electrical conductivity and therefore also the real part of the complex conductivity. Despite the increase in the real part of the complex conductivity, the imaginary part of the complex conductivity decreased with increasing concentration of adsorbed CV. Using the Revil induced polarization model, we were able to show that the contribution of the adsorbed CV to the polarization of the soil is negligible, and that the main process affecting the polarization is the decrease in the density of the inorganic surface species. The results of this study can be used to better interpret SIP signature of soils contaminated by organic compounds.


The Advanced Concepts in Electronic Structure (ACES) III software is a completely rewritten implementation for parallel computer architectures of the most used capabilities in ACES II, including the calculation of the electronic structure of molecular ground states and excited states, and determination of molecular geometries and of vibrational frequencies using many‐body and coupled cluster methods. To achieve good performance on modern parallel systems while simultaneously offering a software development environment that allows rapid implementation of new methods and algorithms, ACES III was written using a new software infrastructure, the super instruction architecture comprising a domain‐specific language, super instruction assembly language (SIAL), and a sophisticated runtime environment, super instruction processor (SIP). The architecture of ACES III is described as well as the inner workings of SIAL and SIP. The execution performance of ACES III and the productivity of programming in SIAL are discussed. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2011 1 895–901 DOI:10.1002/wcms.77


This paper is a study of the grammatical construction needs done (formed by need/want/like + past participle) which can currently be attested in a number of English varieties. Despite this relatively widespread distribution, little attention has been paid to the usage as well as features of this construction until recent years. This being so, this study aims at filling this gap in the literature. For this purpose, on the one hand, the sociogeographical distribution of the construction is examined in order to comprehend in which English varieties and by which type of English speakers needs done is used. On the other hand, its morphosyntactic characteristics are analysed in an attempt to ascertain what type of construction it is, specifically whether it is a passive, a middle or something different. The latter goal is achieved by means of comparing the needs done construction with passives and middles, two constructions which most closely resemble needs done according to Murray & Simon (1999) and Whitman (2010), among others. Taking into account that only a few investigations have revolved around the construction's morphosyntactic characteristics and that their results are not consistent with one another I collected my own data through an acceptability test responded by 68 speakers of English. The analysis of results shows that the main similarities between passives and needs done are related to register, meaning, type of subject and the acceptability of by-phrases, whereas middles share with needs done the meaning of the construction and their compatibility with forphrases. The most significant differences concern need and the participle; in particular, findings from this study reveal that need is the (main) verb in the construction and can assign theta roles; thus, need takes a verbal participle as its complement, a position that can be filled also by a nominal. I conclude this paper by arguing that differences between the three constructions are more significant than similarities and, therefore, the needs done construction should be considered neither a passive nor a middle, but an independent construction which has its own features. I base this conclusion on my finding that some of the needs done construction's properties may be shared by the above mentioned structures, but others are crucially different.


Clq nephropathy (Clq N) is an infrequent disease and only about 100 cases have been reponed. It is defined by a pattern of immunofluorescense (IF) with dominant or co-dominant complement Clq with electrondense deposits in the mesangium, without clinical or serological features of Lupus Nephritis. The most common histopathological findings of ClqN are focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and Minimal Change Disease. We repon a 17 year-old male patient with an isolated selective Proteinuria found in a routine study. He had normal renal function and urine culture was negative. Serum lipids, liver enzymes an complement were all normal. Serum antinuclear and anti-DNA antibodies, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), HIV, Hepatitis B and C serology, were negative. Renal and abdominal ultrasonography was normal. The histopathological study revealed segmental glomerular sderosis, moderate increase of mesangial matrix, Bowmann capsule adhesions and fucsinophil deposits in mesangium. The IF was positive (dominant) for Clq (+++) and IgA, IgG, IgM, C3++, all of them with a granular mesangial distribution. Ultrastructural findings were pedicelar effacement and paramesangial electrondense deposits. Tubular reticular inclusions (TRI) were not found. Remission of Proteinuria was reached after 18 months of treatment with enalapril and losartan. The patient remains with normal renal function. Clinical findings, negative serology for Lupus, light microscopy IFwith dominant positivity for Clq, absence of TRI and paramesangial electrondense deposits in electron microscopy lead us to the diagnosis of ClqN. A poor response to steroid therapy was described in ClqN. Thus it was worthwhile to differentiate it from lupus nephritis, that is responsive to steroids


Background: The intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) can be classified as traumatic and spontaneous. The frontal and temporal lobes are classic sites for traumatic ICH, which are less commonly affected by spontaneous episodes. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is the most accurate radiological method for demonstrating the acute lesion of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Both types are of high density, but traumatic bleeding is more frequently multifocal, in this study we are dealing with traumatic type of intracerebral hematoma. Aim of the study is to identify the accuracy and performance of CT scan in diagnosis and evaluation of intracerebral hemorrhage. Patients and methods: 60 patients were examined, their ages range from 30-70 years with means age 48 years old, they were 36 males (60%), and 24 females (40%). Results: Our study reveals, the male patients (36 patients) were more affected than female patients (24 patients). Most affected age group in our study was 60-70 years old, 18 patients (30%) with no gender difference. Acute ICH was more than other ICH types, patients with acute ICH were 24 patients (40%) 15 male patients and 9 female patients, patients with subacute ICH were 20 patients (33%) and patients with chronic ICH were 16 patients (27%). In our study, the RTA was the most causative mechanism of ICH, 27 patients with RTA were seen in our study (45%), followed by shell injury which were 24 patients (40%) and then the fall from hight (FFH) which were 9 patients (15%). The most common CT feature noted in our study is the brain edema and it is seen in 27 patients (45%). Basal ganglia were most affected brain region (45%) of cases. Conclusion: CT is available, rapid imaging modality in the diagnosis of ICH, so it is suitable for diagnosis and evaluation of ICH as emergency cases in casualty department and it is valuable in evaluation of traumatic I.C.H. especially in acute stages.


Introduction Aortic valve calcification (AVC) has been proposed as the main force driving progression of aortic stenosis. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) can reproducibly quantify AVC and correlates well with echocardiographic measures of severity. However, contrast-enhanced CT presents the opportunity to quantify AVC whilst also providing important information about spatial distribution of calcium and non-calcific thickening of leaflets. Methods CT scans of 113 consecutive patients assessed for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary were analysed. Contrast-enhanced CT images were reconstructed in the short-axis plane of the aortic valve to measure valve dimensions, quantify AVC (volume, mm3) and document spatial distribution of calcium. Three methods were compared for defining the radiodensity threshold above which calcium was detected and a scoring system was applied to describe calcium distribution. Results AVC can be detected using contrast-enhanced CT and is likely to benefit from a threshold adjusted according to contrast load. Males were found to have higher AVC volume than females (mean 1069mm3 vs. 817.7 mm3, p=0.0058), even when adjusted for annular diameter (p=0.0435). The non-coronary cusp was the most heavily calcified cusp (p<0.001) and a correlation was seen between increasing cusp calcification and progressive involvement of the free edge tending toward a complete arc of calcium. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced CT allows for quantification of AVC and the optimal method must now be validated against non-contrast CT. Contrast CT provides valuable additional information about valve anatomy and AVC location which are likely to contribute to the haemodynamic severity of aortic stenosis.


A large number of hormones, neurotransmitters and other signal substances utilize adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) as an intracellular second messenger. Cyclic AMP regulates a number of different cellular processes such as cell growth and differentiation, ion channel conductivity, synaptic release of neurotransmitters, and gene transcription. The principle intracellular target for cAMP in mammalian cells is the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The fact that this broad specificity protein kinase mediates a number of discrete physiological responses following cAMP-engagement, has raised the question of how specificity is maintained in the cAMP/PKA system. Here we will describe features of this signaling pathway that may contribute to explain how differential effects of cAMP may be contributed to features of the PKA signaling pathway.


Abstract Musk thistle is an invasive weed that is widely distributed throughout much of North America, including grasslands in temperate climates of the midwest USA. A series of laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of various environmental factors on germination of musk thistle seeds. In temperature-fluctuation experiments, seed germination was greater than 65% in both alternating (30/20 C) and constant (20 or 25 C) temperature regimes with an 8-h day but less (33%) in warmer regimes (35/20 C). Germination of musk thistle seeds was 37% in alternating temperature regimes of 30/20 C in total darkness, but less than 67% in pots in the greenhouse. Differences of 10 and 15 C between day and night temperatures resulted in 91 and 75% maximum germination of musk thistle, respectively. Increasingly dryer soils reduced germination of musk thistle seeds from 35% (−0.03 MPa) to 0% (−1.2 MPa), whereas saline soils (> 80 mM) reduced maximum germination to less than 10%. Musk thistle seeds collected from populations in a bare-ground area had 96% germination, which was greater than that of seeds collected from populations growing in a perennial grass pasture (71%). A residence time (i.e., period that seeds remained on the parent plant) of 9 to 12 wk after capitulum maturity resulted in seeds germinating more quickly than those dispersed earlier. Overall, reduced light levels, cool and fluctuating temperatures, and amount of time seeds remained in residence are some of the most important factors that contribute to germination of musk thistle seeds. Information on germination dynamics of musk thistle seeds provides an understanding of the interactions that affect this process and underscores the importance of timely management strategies in temperate grasslands. Nomenclature: Musk thistle, Carduus nutans L. CRUNU.


This is a Terminal Evaluation of a UN Environment/Global Environment Facility (GEF) project co-implemented with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 6 countries: Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe in the Atlantic Ocean, and Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles within the Indian Ocean. The project consisted of 4 components: 1. national pilot Integrated water resources management (IWRM) demonstration project in each of the six countries; 2. national and regional IWRM indicator framework; 3. policy and institutional reforms; and 4. capacity building and communication. The evaluation was undertaken to assess project performance and determine the degree of achievement of results, outcomes, including their sustainability, and progress towards impacts, as well as recommendations for follow-up activities.


A new line of research for feature selection based on neural networks has recently emerged. Despite its superiority to classical methods, it requires many training iterations to converge and detect informative features. The computational time becomes prohibitively long for datasets with a large number of samples or a very high dimensional feature space. In this paper, we present a new efficient unsupervised method for feature selection based on sparse autoencoders. In particular, we propose a new sparse training algorithm that optimizes a model's sparse topology during training to pay attention to informative features quickly. The attention-based adaptation of the sparse topology enables fast detection of informative features after a few training iterations. We performed extensive experiments on 10 datasets of different types, including image, speech, text, artificial, and biological. They cover a wide range of characteristics, such as low and high-dimensional feature spaces, and few and large training samples. Our proposed approach outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in terms of selecting informative features while reducing training iterations and computational costs substantially. Moreover, the experiments show the robustness of our method in extremely noisy environments.


A simplified algorithm for calculating time response of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is presented. The algorithm considers the time course of avalanche processes for the general case of position-dependent double-carrier multiplications including the dead space effect. The algorithm is based on a discrete time setting ideally suited for computer modeling and can be applied to any APD structure. It gives a fast and accurate estimation of the time and frequency response of APDs. As an example, the present method is applied to InP-InGaAs separate absorption, grading, charge, and multiplication (SAGCM) APDs. The variation of multiplication pain with bias voltage and 3-dB electrical bandwidth at different multiplication gain obtained using the new algorithm show good agreement with experimental results. The algorithm can be used to study temperature dependence of APD characteristics and can be easily extended to calculate the excess noise factor.


Pakistan has sufficient production capacity of caustic soda to cater the needs of the local industry. Presently, Pakistan has four major plants with production capacity around 435,000 mega ton per year of caustic soda of various grades. Textile industry of Pakistan is the major consumer of produced high grade caustic soda; as the presence of any impurities especially dissolved salts and metals is unfavorable for wet processing of cotton. This study investigates the performance of three different local brands of caustic soda intended for use in textile wet processing of cotton fabric specifically for mercerization process. The brands were selected based on their purity grades. The selected caustic soda samples were chemically analyzed for the presence of impurities. Twenty seven cotton fabric samples (nine samples of each brand) were prepared by mercerization in slack state. The cotton fabric samples were tested for changes in surface morphology, tensile strength (warp and weft), tear strength, air permeability and K/S (Colour Strength). The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) to ascertain the statistical equivalence within and between the tested brands. The results showed no significant differences across the tested brands at a 95% confidence level except for air permeability and K/S in blue shade.


Future wireless systems will need to support multirate traffic. The distribution of traffic influences both the optimal placement of base stations and consequently the system performance. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to solve the multirate-traffic CDMA base station placement problem using a standard binary integer programming (BIP) solver. This approach allows the designer to find optimal base station configurations for a multi-code (MC) CDMA system with the consideration of traffic demand of users, coverage, transmitter power limits and signal-to-interference (SIR) performance. Furthermore, the model can be modified to find the optimal code allocation to the users in an existing system. With the advancement in computing power, proposed model can potentially be used to design practical systems


Since its introduction to Malaya by the British in the 18th century, the English language spoken in Malaysia has developed to become a local variety of English which we call Malaysian English (MalE). The purpose of this study is to identify and compare the intonation patterns used by MalE speakers when asking wh-questions and yes/no-questions. Twelve Malaysian speakers of the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese and Indian) were recorded reading a list of questions and participating in an information gap activity. Analysis on the initial and final boundary tones indicates that Malaysian speakers of English almost consistently begin yes/no-questions at a level tone and end with rising tone. For wh-questions, some differing patterns emerge: Malay speakers began the questions at a level tone, ending with a falling tone, Chinese speakers had high initial boundary tone and either rising or falling final boundary tones and Indian speakers produced rising or level initial boundary tones and rising final boundary tones. From a perception test which was conducted to determine if the ethnicity of the speakers could be identified from their speech, listeners were able to identify speakers who share the same ethnicity as their own, but not the ethnicity of other ethnic groups. While certain intonation patterns distinctive to the different ethnic groups have been identified, some of these features are not reliably observable, which suggests a convergence. Further, there were more rising final boundary tones when ending wh-questions in MalE by the three ethnic groups compared to British English and American English, despite the differences. The rise of systematic linguistic patterns of MalE spoken across the three major ethnic groups supports Gut"s (2007) Norm Orientation Hypothesis, which states that such patterns emerge when speakers of a local variety accept the endonormative rather than an exonormative norm. In other words, MalE may be shifting from the nativisation phase to the endonormative stabilisation phase of Schneider"s (2007) theory for the development of new Englishes.


High efficient white polymer light-emitting diodes (WPLEDs) were fabricated with blue- fluorescent polymers(PFO) and yellow- phosphorescent polymers(PFCz2-NPYIrm5) blending as light emitting layer, and a water/alcohol-soluble polymer poly [(9,9-bis(3′-((N,N-dimethyl)-N-ethylammonium)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene) - 4,7-(2,1,3- benzoselenadiazole)]dibromide(PFN) as electron injection layer. The structure of the devices used here is: ITO/PEDOT-PSS(40nm)/PVK(30nm)/PFO: PFCz2-NPYIrm5 (60nm)/PFN(20nm)/Ba(4nm)/Al(120nm). When the doping concentration of PFCz2-NPYIrm5 was 1% and PFN film thickness was about 20nm, the EL emissions from the host and the guests were observed simultaneously and the efficient white light emission with coordinates of (0.34,0.32) was achieved. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 4.8% and luminous efficiency of 6.6cd/A was obtained at 8.5V.


The nanofiber based filtering media, made up of fibers of diameter less than 1000 nm, have been discovered as new filtering media for effective filtrations. The present study has been made of the influence of various process parameters on the fibrillation characteristics of Lyocell fibers which focuses on how the Lyocell fiber changes with the intensity of beating. Meanwhile the drainage properties and media properties of Lyocell fiber with different beating degree are characterized. The results show that the length, diameter, distortion and degree of fibrillation of Lyocell fiber changes obviously by beating, and a mass of nano-fibril appeared after intensive beating. The Lyocell fiber is cut off rapidly at first, and then fibrillateion starts to appear during the process of beating. At the same time, comparing with the length of the fiber, the beating degree of Lyocell fiber is more sensitive to the degree of fibrillation. What's more, the drainage time of Lyocell fiber with strongly beating is over ten times than that of the original or ratherish beaten one; Comparing with the media made from original or light beaten pulp, media thickness made from the strongly beaten fiber decreases almost two times, tensile strength increases nearly four times, and air permeability decreases about seventy times.This study has shed some light on the major properties of Lyocell fiber and paves the way for further application of Lyocell fiber in filed of high precision filtration media.


Three different simulation tools were used to simulate a low energy terraced house in the south of Sweden. The software tools all use dynamic models to calculate, for example, the energy demand for heating and the indoor temperatures. The aim of this paper is to discuss the relative importance to the annual energy demand of different energy aspects of a Swedish low-energy house. Both measured and simulated values are considered and compared. The focus is on the impact of choice of software, the habits of the tenants, and the relative impact of different design parameters such as ventilation rates. The measured values for total electricity demand range from about 6000 kWh to over 12 000 kWh, the average demand being 8020 kWh. The annual predicted total energy demand using three different simulation software tools deviated by about 2%. The energy use deviation due to airflow control was about 10%, and the deviation due to differences in heat exchanger efficiency was about 20% and the deviation in annual energy use due to differences in internal gains due to differences in tenant habits, assumed in the models, was 7%. Furthermore, when comparing the predicted energy use during the design process of the low-energy building with actual measurements after the tenants have moved in, these differ about 50% in average for this specific case. Practical application: Building energy simulation software is often used to make predictions of how different construction materials, design principles and operation influence the energy balance and indoor thermal comfort. It is therefore important that the output of these software tools is trustworthy and accurate. This paper discusses the importance of accurate input data during the design process in order to achieve a valid prediction of energy use with emphasis on tenants' behaviour. It was shown that the deviations in a parametric study were larger than the deviations in the comparison between the results from the three simulation tools. This indicates a need for more accurate models for modelling tenant behaviour and habits rather than more accurate building component models.


This exercise started from a hunch that it would be useful to break out of the somewhat enclosed discourses in the respective fields of media and art to see if there were useful experiences and even lessons by assuming that participation and co-creation was taking place across art, design, architecture and media. There are reasons from an institutional perspective to think that this is interesting - the Robert Gordon University encompasses both Gray's School of Art and Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment and has an emerging University wide focus on Creative Industries. Nationally Creative Scotland is in partnership with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to deliver the ArtWorks Scotland, a national professional development initiative for artists working in participatory settings. Its one of 5 parallel projects across the UK. And of course Moving Targets is a major initiative focused on Knowledge Exchange around new media audiences. But what we are looking to do is to bring the distinctive perspective of the practitioner, building on the culture of practice-led research, to explore similarities and differences across art, design and media engaged in participation and co-creativity. We are going to suggest that there are a few key similarities, but that there are also a couple of points where some specific experiences that need to be shared to inform future practice.


The paper reports on the outcomes of a Department of Culture, Museums and Sport (DCMS) funded project which provided resources for three groups of teachers in different subjects and age phases to have some time where they were freed from their teaching responsibilities, and also given time to meet together with other teachers to share ideas. The idea underpinning the project was to explore a model of continuing professional development for teachers which was different in approach to recent Department for Education and Skills (DfES) 'strategy' and training based approaches.The three groups of teachers (primary science, secondary history and secondary science) met together with curriculum tutors from the local School of Education to explore ideas about how to develop innovative approaches in aspects of their subject teaching. In addition to funding four days of supply cover for the teachers involved to meet, the teachers were also given at least two days of supply cover during the course of the project to develop their ideas. Towards the end of both academic years, the groups met again to share their ideas. The paper describes the outcomes of the project and the teachers' perceptions of the process issues and problems involved in pedagogical innovation. The paper also considers some of the broader issues arising from the project, in terms of how to make the most effective use of teachers' time, in an era when there are many competing demands on this finite resource.


Results of randomized, placebo-controlled trials with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram suggest that this agent is safe and effective for the treatment of depressive disorders. We investigated the safety and efficacy of citalopram in the treatment of Chinese patients with depressive disorders. An 8-week, open-label, multicenter study evaluated the safety and efficacy of citalopram in the treatment of patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of depressive disorder or depressive episode of bipolar disorder. Efficacy measures included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). A total of 6080 patients (2553 men, 3527 women) (mean age 40.9 ± 15.6 years, range 18 ‐ 92) participated in the study. Mean HAMD scores decreased significantly (p<0.001) after 2 weeks of treatment and at all subsequent study visits. Endpoint analyses showed that 89.9% of the patients demonstrated a clinical response, defined as a �50% reduction in HAMD scores. The mean daily dose of citalopram at endpoint was 23.65 mg. Nausea (7.6%), headache (3.7%) and dry mouth (2.9%) were the most frequently reported adverse events. Patients with bipolar depression and comorbid obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) received a higher mean daily dose (26.4 and 27.7 mg, respectively), while patients with comorbid physical disorders received a lower dose (21.9 mg) than patients with simple depressive disorder. The results of this 8-week open-label study suggest that citalopram is safe and effective in the treatment of depression in Chinese patients. Limitations is an open-label and uncontrolled.


The global aim of our studies was to obtain more information about the mechanisms involved in the action of the hydrophobic surfactant components, with a special attention for SP-B. To reach this goal, many different assays and devices were used, including a pressure driven captive bubble surfactometer (CBS), a spreading trough and an atomic force microscope. The thesis starts with a general overview about the function and structural variation of the surfactant proteins (chapter 1). It is described that the activity and structure of the hydrophobic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C is very conserved among species throughout evolution, while more variation exists for that of SP-A and SP-D.
Aim i) of the thesis research was to obtain knowledge about the effect of SP-B and SP-C on the surface activity of spread films. This study, described in chapter 2, was done using the CBS, an apparatus that allows accurate determination of surface tension under dynamic conditions [24,25,26]. Surfactant components were spread at the air/liquid interface of an air-bubble, which was subsequently repeatedly compressed and expanded, thereby mimicking the breathing cycle. In this way information can be obtained on the role of individual surfactant components. Both SP-B and SP-C activity depended on the concentration of the proteins. Differences in surface dynamics between both proteins were found when lipid vesicles were omitted from the subphase.
Aim ii) was to investigate the role of cholesterol in surfactant. The effect of cholesterol on surface tension was examined by CBS, using spread lipid films containing SP-B and/or SP-C (chapter 3). It was shown that a cholesterol content of 10 mol% is optimal for surfactant activity in films containing SP-B, but not in films containing both SP-B and SP-C, or SP-C alone. Furthermore, differences in network structures were seen between films containing and those lacking cholesterol, as visualized by AFM.
Aim iii) was to investigate which surfactant components are responsible for the formation of protrusions upon monolayer compression towards low surface tensions (described in chapter 4). The appearance of compressed films containing saturated phospholipids plus native bovine SP-B was visualized by AFM. These films had similar appearance as those containing synthetic peptides based on the 25 N-terminal amino acids of SP-B. Protrusion height of lipid films containing SP-B1-25 peptide, however, was lower than that found for films containing native SP-B. It was further shown that the number of protruded layers depends on whether the phospholipids contain an unsaturated fatty acyl chain, and on whether the unsaturated acyl chain is present in phosphatidylcholine or in phosphatidylglycerol.
Aim iv) was to label a surfactant component and determine its distribution in a model of ARDS. In chapter 5 a method to label SP-B covalently at specific sites with the fluorophore Bodipy FL CASE is described. Using an array of techniques, fluorescently labeled SP-B was characterized and subsequently compared to the native protein. For instance, in a glass spreading trough mimicking dichotomic lung anatomy labeled SP-B spread on top of an aqueous surface and lowered surface tension independent of trough geometry. Since Bodipylabeled SP-B was shown to have retained its biophysical activity, it was supplemented to bovine lung surfactant extract and this was administered to rats in a model of ARDS (chapter 6). In this way the distribution of exogenous surfactant during surfactant replacement therapy was determined at the alveolar level. It was found that the majority of administered surfactant reached underinflated (dystelectatic) as well as aerated (open) alveoli, but hardly spread into severely damaged and collapsed (atelectatic) alveoli. The thesis is concluded with a summarizing discussion.


Otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media) is characterised by an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear behind an intact tympanic membrane, without the symptoms or signs of acute infection. Serous otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss in children in the developed world. Hearing loss may be affected speech, cognitive, and psychological development of the childeren. In addition, otitis media with effusion is not only seen in children, this sign may present with signs of nasopharyngeal diseases. For this reason, especially in childhood otitis media with effusion should be treated by early diagnosis.


This is a descriptive study about the formation of nurses regarding to the drug phenomenon. It was conducted with last periods students of Nursing Schools from five Federal Educational Institutions in southern Brazil. It presents and discusses Nursing students´ attitudes and beliefs about care, when facing the drug phenomenon. The data collection happened from October 2003 to February 2004, with intentional sample constituted of 105 students. An instrument was applied to them, with a scale asking about nurses´ attitudes and beliefs regarding to alcoholism and drugs. The study showed that the students understand knowledge about the drug phenomenon as fundamental to the profession, and they incorporate the care of people involved with psychoactive substances, as nurses´role. The study also showed clearly a disarticulation between theory and practice, course´s contents centered on medical and moral models, and interpersonal communication difficulties.


Conventional dual phase (DP) steel (0.08C-0.81Si-1.47Mn-0.03Al, wt. %) was manufactured by the laboratory simulation of strip casting. The effect of holding temperature and time on microstructure evolution was studied using a quench-deformation dilatometer. Microstructures were observed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the nose temperature of ferrite phase field is around 650 °C. The kinetics of ferrite formation is fast within the first 100 s of holding at this temperature, and then formation of ferrite continues at a slower rate until it reaches the fraction corresponding to that defined by the lever rule. 70~80 % ferrite was obtained after holding at 650 °C for 100~900 s. Some Widmänstatten ferrite was also observed probably because of a large prior austenite grain size and quenching after holding. In addition, austenite-to-ferrite transformation kinetics is fitted well using Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation. The Avrami exponent for ferrite formation was approximately 1 for both 650 and 670 °C holding temperatures, which means rapid ferrite transformation. It deduces that the ferrite formation obeys a linear growth behavior, which is associated with a decrease in amount of nucleation sites.


We study the drivers behind the increasing households' credit scores since the onset of the pandemic. We argue that the main driver is falling credit card utilization. This effect is most visible for households with the lowest credit scores; these households saw the highest increases in credit scores and the largest decreases in credit card utilization. We also show that the forbearance programs shielded individual households' credit scores from significant credit score penalties. However, given the relatively low share of the population enrolled in these programs, these programs were not a significant driver of the increasing credit scores. Our findings provide important guidance to policy makers and lenders about the causes of the recent credit score increase and on expectations of how credit scores may change once the extraordinary policy initiatives from the pandemic recede.


Media discourse, and in particular programmes such as talkshows, are certainly practices that have extended, enriched, and often taken to the limits, conversation as a speech event. The number of possibilities arising from conversational practice have certainly found a new dimension in the context of the mass media, and on TV in particular (cf. Vande Berg et al. 1991 and 1998). In this article I describe tabloid talkshows as one type of speech event. I focus on the description of the turn-taking organisation in tabloid talkshows by comparing their characteristics to those outlined by Sacks et al. (1974) for conversation. In order to carry out such comparison, I first propose a review and, consequently, a reform of the 14 features listed by Sacks et al. in their article 'A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking in conversation'. The results show that there are differences between both types of interaction.


This study aimed to synthesize the scientific literature published in articles about forms of institutionalized violence that occur during childbirth. It is an integrative review conducted in SCIELO, SCOPUS, PUBMED and LILACS bases using the descriptors "Childbirth AND" Parturition "AND" Obstetric "AND" Violence ". 13 articles were selected after meeting the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. Five categories emerged from the studies´ analysis: institutional violence in the power relationships; institutional violence to the female body; institutional violence through communication; institutional violence in the form of service; and institutional violence as a violation of rights. Although the scientific literature on the subject be improving, a number of studies is still incipient and with a low level of scientific evidence.


BACKGROUND
Nigeria accounts for only 2% of the world's population, but contributes up to 10 % of the global estimates of maternal deaths. The study assesses the utilization of antenatal and delivery services by women of reproductive age in Afon community.

METHODOLOGY
It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that collected both quantitative and qualitative data using semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGD). Interviews were house-hold based. FGD had two homogenous groups. Data was analysed using Epi-info version 3.5.1 software package. Level of statistical significance was set at p <0.05.

RESULTS
There was a high level of utilization of antenatal/delivery services in the community. Barriers to utilization of ANC/delivery services include lack of money, distance from health facility, long waiting time, poor attitude of health workers and no permission from husbands. Level of education and employment status were significantly associated with utilization of ANC/delivery services.

CONCLUSION
Girl-child education and women empowerment are required to improve utilization of services. Ante-natal care providers need to be trained to improve quality of care in the discharge of their duties.


Among 2403 ticks (Ixodes ricinus) tested in 1985 for Borrelia 328 (13.6%) were carriers (adults about 20%, nymphs about 10%, larvae about 1%). The highest prevalence of infected ticks was among adult ticks in the Isar region north of Munich (33.8%). Among 9383 persons whose serum had been examined by fluorescence serology in 1985 and 1986, 1035 (11%) had raised Borrelia-specific IgG and/or IgM antibodies greater than or equal to 1:64. In 18.7% only IgM antibodies were demonstrated. Among 375 proven cases there were 78 with erythema migrans, 211 with neurological signs, 48 with Lyme arthritis and 36 with acrodermatitis. Seasonal incidence peaks were in June-August for erythema migrans, July-September for neurological signs, with no clear-cut seasonal peaks with Lyme arthritis and acrodermatitis. The incubation time for 80% of cases of each abnormality was 5-29 days for erythema migrans, 20-59 for neurological signs and 2-8 months for Lyme arthritis. Erythema migrans was most frequent among those aged 30-60 years, neurological signs among children and juveniles up to 20 years and those aged 40 to 70 years, Lyme arthritis among those aged 30-60 years, and acrodermatitis among those aged 40-80 years. Significantly more women than men developed acrodermatitis.


The article considers how burial evidence might contribute to the undestarnding of gender, i.e. the socio-cultural construction of sexual difference, as a dynamic aspect of identity in a Roman province, with a particular focus on women. This subject has hitherto received limited attention and its potential is too great to explore fduly in a short paper. Given this costraint, the article indicates possibilities and problems rather than to offer definitive conclusions. Its emphasis lies on Roman Britain, but similar questions could be applied to other parts of the Roman world.


This paper will examine the work of cotton master, Charles Hill, who started a worker funded health and funeral savings society. Hill started his cotton mill in Alingsas in 1862 and by 1866 had 72 employees, 60 of whom were female. Although he was a British patriarch he can be considered to be a social and political pioneer as the fund he started was open to both sexes from its start in 1862. This was a unique event in Alingsas. This can be shown by the example of "Alingsas health and funeral savings society", which did not allow women membership until 1927, unless they were married to a previous member. This paper will examine what motives Charles Hill had for this unusual and pioneering act of gender equality in a patriarchal society. By using general probability reasoning, this paper shall attempt to establish what kind of a patriarch Charles Hill was in respect to his Swedish piers and examine if his patriarchal behavior based on an idealistical philosophy or was he forced to carry out these actions in order to keep his employees? This paper will also show that unlike many other health societies of the period, this one served it members for over 100 years until it was amalgamated into a larger scheme in 1975.


The proliferation of database-driven web sites (or web-databases) has brought upon a plethora of applications where both Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Data (QoD) are of paramount importance to the end users. In our previous work, we have proposed Quality Contracts, a comprehensive framework for specifying multiple dimensions of QoS/QoD; we have also developed user-centric admission control and scheduling algorithms in web databases, whose goal is to maximize overall system performance. In this work, we turn our attention to the user side of the equation. Specifically, we propose to demonstrate how the adaptation of Quality Contracts (QCs) by the users can lead to vastly different performance results, both from the user point of view (i.e., user satisfaction) and also from the system point of view. Towards this, we propose to structure our demo in the form of an interactive game, where participants will be playing the role of users continuously adapting their QCs over time, while "playing" against system-generated users, who follow predetermined QC adaptation policies. Finally, we also propose to illustrate the effect of different admission control and scheduling policies.


The systematic Langmuir probe measurements for a weakly magnetized plasma have been carried out in the Linear Magnetized Plasma Device for different magnetic fields. By comparing the ion current density of probes with different sizes, the sheath thickness can be evaluated. It is found that while the ratio of cylindrical probe's dimension to ion Larmor radius is not more than 2, the model of probe for non-magnetized plasma is still applicable.


The first belemnites to appear in New Zealand are Eobelemnopsis robustus n. gen et. sp. and E. mackayi (Stevens 1965a); by definition they mark the base of the Temaikan Stage (Late Toarcian) in New Zealand. A sparse fauna of passaloteuthid belemnites appears with Eobelemnopsis and extends through the early part of the Early Temaikan (Late Toarcian-?Early Aalenian). Two genera present (cf. Dactyloteuthis and Brevibelus) are known from Europe, one (Hastateuthis) is new and apparently endemic to New Zealand; one possible passaloteuthidine (? Early Toarcian) and two megateuthidine forms (Late Toarcian) are also present. Hibolithes catlinensis (Hector 1878) appears in the latest Early Temaikan (?latest Aalenian) and extends through the Middle and Late Temaikan, disappearing in the later Late Temaikan (Late Bathonian). Cylindroteuthis appears briefly in the Late Temaikan (Late Bathonian). Three short-ranging taxa (Hibolithes herangiensis n. sp., H. opuatiaensis n. sp., and Pachybelemnopsis gribbonensis n. sp.) are present in the latest Temaikan (Late Bathonian and Early Callovian). Pachybelemnopsis annae (Challinor 1979a) appears in the latest Temaikan (Middle Callovian) and extends into the overlying Early Heterian (Oxfordian) Stage. Dicoelitids (Conodicoelites flemingi Stevens 1965a, C. orakaensis Stevens 1965a) appear in the middle Late Temaikan (late Middle Bathonian) and range up into the Early Heterian (Callovian-Oxfordian). Two new species of Dicoelites are present in the latest Temaikan (Early and Middle Callovian). The Early and Middle Jurassic succession of belemnites in New Zealand is similar to that of Europe where passaloteuthids appear first, followed by mesohibolitids and then dicoelitids. However the appearance of mesohibolitids with the earliest passaloteuthids in New Zealand does not occur in Europe. While some of the same genera appear in both regions no species is common to both.


I argue and demonstrate in this essay that interconnected systems of science and technology, or technoscience, existed long before the late nineteenth century, and that eighteenth-century chemistry was such an early form of technoscience. Based on recent historical research on the early development of carbon chemistry from the late 1820s until the 1840swhich revealed that early carbon chemistry was an experimental expert culture that was largely detached from the mundane industrial worldI further examine the question of the internal preconditions within the expert culture of carbon chemistry that contributed to its convergence with the synthetic-dye industry in the late 1850s. I argue that the introduction of new types and techniques of organic-chemical reactions and organic substances in this experimental expert culture, along with the application of chemical formulae as paper tools for modeling reactions as well as the chemical constitution and structure of substances, enabled academic chemists to make specific, novel contributions to chemical technology and industry in the second half of the nineteenth century.


We consider trails to be a document type of growing importance, authored in abundance as locative technologies become embedded in mobile devices carried by billions of humans. As these trail documents become annotated by communities of users, the resulting data sets can provide support for a host of services. In this paper we describe our sociotechnical exploration of the devices, scenarios, and end-user interactions that will come into play as these tools become widespread. We couch this work in a discussion of the sociological impact of a shift from hyperlinks to "hyperties" -- links that bridge the gap between computational media and physical world interactions. We describe a prototype hardware device for location and other sensor data capture. This device links to a complementary website for querying, sharing, and distributing the resulting route datasets. The web application allows users to find related community members via shared attributes of their contributed or annotated routes. These attributes may be generated in part by route analysis performed by systems for activity identification and classification.


Social network analysis and social network visualizations can provide a meaningful statistical and topological understanding of latent communities. However, the majority of current visualization approaches just represent sub-communities as clusters of closely related nodes in a node-link diagram and embed limitations to represent overlapping communities and multi-layer community structure frequently found from modern complex networks. We argue that visualizations based on points of interest can provide a better solution to represent overlapping latent sub-communities. We present two visualization systems, SuperVIBE and ContextForces, which implement this approach. These systems operate by creating two-dimensional latent spaces by means of grouping nodes using external variables not presented in the graph and by offering an interactive visualization to filter and map in these latent spaces. Understanding which latent groups are most central to a variety of topics and providing visual clues to the individuals critical to those groups provides a mechanism to explore and discover overlapping latent communities.