OBJECTIVE
Psychiatric stigma is a major barrier to the recovery of persons with serious mental illnesses. This study tested the efficacy of an innovative peer-run photography-based intervention, called antistigma photovoice, which targets self-stigma and promotes proactive coping with public stigma.

METHODS
A total of 82 individuals with serious mental illnesses enrolled at a university-based recovery center were randomly assigned to the antistigma photovoice program or to a wait-list control group. Mixed-effects regression models were used to examine the impact of photovoice on self-stigma, coping with stigma, empowerment, perceived recovery, self-efficacy, and depression.

RESULTS
Participation in the photovoice intervention was associated with significantly reduced self-stigma, greater use of proactive coping with societal stigma, greater increase in a sense of community activism, and perceived recovery and growth.

CONCLUSIONS
The photovoice intervention demonstrated promise for reducing self-stigma and enhancing proactive coping with prejudice and discrimination.


Abstract. In Brazil, coffee production has great economic and social importance. Despite this fact, there is still a shortage of information regarding its spatial distribution, crop management and environment. The aim of this study was to carry out spectral monitoring of coffee lands and to characterize their environments using geotechnologies. Coffee fields with contiguous areas over 0.01 km2 within a 488.5 km2 region in the south of Minas Gerais state were selected for the study. Spectral data from the sensors OLI/Landsat 8 and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission from 2014 to 2015 were obtained, as well as information on production areas, surface temperature, vegetation indexes, altitude and slope, were gathered and analyzed. The results indicate that there is great variation in the NDVI and NDWI values, with means ranging from 0.21 to 0.91 (NDVI) and 0.108 to 0.543 (NDWI). The altitude ranged from 803 to 1150 m, and the surface temperature from 20.9°C to 27.6°C. The altitude and the surface temperature distribution patterns were correlated with the vegetation indexes. The slope classes were very homogeneous, predominantly with declivities between 8 to 20 %, characterized as wavy relief. This study made possible the characterization and monitoring of coffee lands and its results may be instrumental in decision-making processes related to coffee management.


A novel configuration for a super-wide impedance planar antenna is presented based on a 2 × 2 microstrip patch antenna (MPA). The antenna comprises a symmetrical arrangement of four-square patches that are interconnected to each other with cross-shaped high impedance microstrip lines. The antenna array is exciting through a single feedline connected to one of the patches. The proposed antenna array configuration overcomes the main drawback of conventional MPA of narrow bandwidth that is typically <5%. The antenna exhibits a super-wide frequency bandwidth from 20 GHz to 120 GHz for S11<−15 dB, which corresponds to a fractional bandwidth of 142.85%. The antenna's performance of bandwidth, impedance match, and radiation gain were enhanced by etching slots on the patches. The slotted microstrip patch essentially acts like a left-handed capacitance to exhibit metamaterial properties over a given frequency range. With the inclusion of the slot the maximum radiation gain and efficiency of the MPA have increased to 15.11 dBi and 85.79% at 80 GHz, which show an improvement of 2.58 dBi and 12.54%, respectively. The dimension of each patch antenna is 30 × 30 mm2. The results show that the proposed MPA is useful for various communications existing and emerging systems such as ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, RFID systems, massive multiple-output multiple-input (MIMO) for 5G, and radar systems.


Abstract The reliability study of k-out-of-n systems is of interest both from theoretical and practical points of view. Applications of such models can be seen in many real-world phenomena, including telecommunication, transmission, transportation, manufacturing, and services. A probabilistic study of a real-world k-out-of-n system often helps to develop an optimal strategy for maintaining high system-level reliability. There are many investigations devoted to the reliability-centric analysis of such systems. We consider a mathematical model of a repairable k-out-of-n system that works until k of its n components have failed. During the system's life cycle, its components are repaired with the help of a single repair facility. It is supposed that the components' lifetimes have an exponential distribution and their repair times have a general distribution. The proposed model is intended to be applied to the description of operation of unmanned rotorcraft high-altitude platforms and to be validated with the help of an experimental prototype. For the considered system, we propose an algorithm for calculation of the reliability function, and for special cases, k = 2 and k = 3, its closed-form representation is given. A numerical investigation is performed for special cases. The obtained results are a first step toward the sensitivity analysis of reliability characteristics of k-out-of-n systems to the shape of the repair time distributions of their components.


OBJECTIVES
Ghrelin, a natural ligand of the growth-hormone secretagouges receptor is the peptide known because of its growth hormone (GH)-releasing as well as orexigenic actions. THE AIM of the study was to examine the relationship between ghrelin levels and age, weight, glucose metabolism markers, GH, IGF-1 and androgens in men.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The study included 19 healthy men aged 16-73 yrs, mean 46,8 +/-18,5 (mean +/- SD). The height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the study subjects were assessed and serum concentration of fasting ghrelin, leptin, GH, IGF-1, glucose, insulin, estradiol, testosterone and DHA-S were measured.

RESULTS
The negative correlation between age and serum ghrelin levels (r=-0,52; p<0,04) in men was found. In men under 30 years old serum ghrelin levels were significantly higher compared to men over 60 years old (p<0,02). Serum ghrelin levels in men were significantly lower compared to healthy women aged 43,5 +/- 12 years old (p<0,008). Serum insulin levels correlated negatively with ghrelin levels (r= -0,87; p<0,0006) and serum testosterone concentrations correlated with ghrelin levels (r= 0,69; p<0,00006).

CONCLUSION
Our findings demonstrate that the serum ghrelin levels in men decline with age, is lower than in women and correlate negatively with fasting insulin levels. We demonstrated, for the first time, that serum testosterone levels in men correlate with total ghrelin levels.


There is mounting evidence that organic or inorganic enrichment of aquatic environments increases the risk of infectious diseases, with disease agents ranging from helminth parasites to fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens. The causal link between microbial resource availability and disease risk is thought to be complex and, in the case of so-called "opportunistic pathogens," to involve additional stressors that weaken host resistance (e.g., temperature shifts or oxygen deficiencies). In contrast to this perception, our experiment shows that the link between resource levels and infection of fish embryos can be very direct: increased resource availability can transform benign microbial communities into virulent ones. We find that embryos can be harmed before further stresses (e.g., oxygen depletion) weaken them, and treatment with antibiotics and fungicides cancels the detrimental effects. The changed characteristics of symbiotic microbial communities could simply reflect density-dependent relationships or be due to a transition in life-history strategy. Our findings demonstrate that simple microhabitat changes can be sufficient to turn "opportunistic" into virulent pathogens.


In recent times there have been paradigm shift in the management of finance on project sites, especially the retention money that client usually release to the contractor after the end of defect liability period. Improper management of retention money often results into crisis on site among client and professionals which can lead to delay in project completion. It is against this background that this study was centered on managing construction project retention fee in residential building projects in Nigeria. A random sampling technique was adopted in carrying out the study, while population size of 100 residential building projects was used.
Also, a structured questionnaire in Likert Scale 1-5 was used for data collection. Parameters for scope of retention fee, challenges of retention practice, impact of retention fee on projects, and model for managing retention money were generated using Building informatics generated parameter. Mean Item Score was used to generate the agreement index for parameters obtain from influencing the retention fee management process, while Factor Analysis in Regression Analysis of SPSS software was used to generate factors for a suitable fee management model by reducing the factors to their minimum Coefficients and Eigen Values. The building informatics generated model if adopted could assist in managing retention money on residential building projects.


Backgrounds Atherosclerosis of vertebrobasilar artery is a major cause of the ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation. Vertebral artery ostium stenosis (VAOS) is occasionally observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke in anterior or posterior circulation. However, VAOS as a risk for stroke recurrence, especially for the posterior circulation stroke, has not been well studied. This study was performed to determine long-term outcome and clinical significance of VAOS in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods As a prospective observational study of single stroke center registry, we studied risk of recurrent stroke and vascular outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients with VAOS, recruited consecutively from December 2007 to December 2010. VAOS was defined as more than 50% stenosis of either vertebral artery ostium on a contrast-enhanced MRA. Vascular risk factors and long-term outcome including recurrent stroke, cardiovascular event, vascular mortality, or all-cause mortality were investigated. Results Of 773 acute ischemic stroke patients, underwent contrast-enhanced MRA, 149 (19.2%) had more than 50% VAOS (age, 70±10 years). All patients had intensive medical treatment and 11 patients underwent angioplasty and stenting. During 327 patient-years of follow-up (mean, 2.2 years), there were 8 ischemic (3 in posterior circulation, 5 in anterior circulation), 5 hemorrhagic, and 2 unknown stroke. The annual rate of events were 1.36% for posterior circulation ischemic stroke, 3.64% for all ischemic stroke, 5.91% for all stroke, 1.36% for vascular death, and 9.55% for all cause mortality. Symptomatic VAOS, concomitant stenosis of other vertebrobasilar arteries or carotid arteries, or stroke subtype was not associated with long-term outcome. Conclusions Long-term outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients with more than 50% VAOS was favorable on intensive medical treatment and selective angioplasty and stenting. Vertebral artery ostium stenosis may not be a major risk factor for the recurrent ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation.


The subject of the use of social media has renewed interest because of the impact that it had on the last U.S. presidential election and the impact that social media networks will have on subsequent elections. As guides in the information world, it is thus important that librarians be well versed in social media. This has called attention to the relevance and urgency of incorporating social media use into the academic library, both as a marketing tool and as an instruction tool. Social Media for Communication and Instruction in Academic Libraries is an essential reference source that offers guidance in using social media in academic libraries and in instruction with a special emphasis on assessment and evidence-based practice. Featuring research on topics such as digital libraries, marketing, and web analytics, this book is ideally designed for librarians, administrators, educators, managers, information technology specialists, professionals, researchers, and students.... Download ebook, read file pdf Social Media for Communication and Instruction in Academic Libraries


Several factors are involved in the development of colon cancer. These factors are characterized by complexity and uncertainty. The system is very complex to analyze using classical mathematical methods. Statistical analysis techniques are used. Due to the complexity of the system, these studies remain in the domain of the probable and the uncertain. A technique based on the principles of artificial intelligence is proposed. The principles of fuzzy inference are applied to the analysis of these factors. The proposed system makes it possible to take care of these incertitude's inherent to the input variables. The result will be as accurate as possible. Just randomly set the input variables to instantly read the result at the output. This can be a tool to predict and prevent the occurrence of this type of cancer.


The EC H&CD system of ITER tokamak is an essential tool for all the phases of ITER operation. Different levels of EC power are required through all the plasma discharge: up to 6.7 MW for assisting the breakdown and burn through, up to 20 MW for current drive and saw‐teeth control from the equatorial launcher and up to 20 MW for NTM stabilization from the upper launchers. The assistance to breakdown and burn through is characterized by a very low (if not negligible) RF power absorption by the plasma. A significant level of stray radiation may also arise from partial absorption due to non‐optimal plasma parameters and/or wrong injected polarization. The stray power radiated in the vacuum chamber is estimated as a first step toward mitigating potential harmful consequence to in‐vessel structures and diagnostics. Power loading of the chamber walls (peek power and average power density for straight beam propagation in the empty chamber) and diffuse stray radiation effects are simulated to infer suitable strate...


The importance of minimizing the impact that chemical processing has on the environment is growing, with an increased appreciation of the need to reduce pollution and the depletion of our finite environmental resources. Optimal use of material, energy and consequent waste management can be recognised as important factors for environmental protection. In the case of minimising waste there are two approaches, the traditional approach aims at reducing waste at the end of the pipeline, for example, decreasing emission by catalytic incineration of exhaust fumes. The second approach is based on minimising waste at the source. In this case, innovative procedures have to be employed to change both the method and the technology used throughout the production cycle. The miniaturisation of chemical reactors offers many fundamental and practical advantages of relevance to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry, who are constantly searching for controllable, information rich, high throughput, environmentally friendly methods of producing products with a high degree of chemical selectivity. Indeed, for pharmaceutical companies an informatics-based approach, that micro reactor chemistry can uniquely deliver, may be the trigger for a step change in processes. This review explores how miniaturisation may revolutionise chemical synthesis, highlighting in particular the environmental benefits of this new technology, which include solvent free mixing, in situ reagent generation and integrated separation techniques. Furthermore, the possibility of preparing the chemicals in the required volume at point of use, negates the need to store and transport hazardous materials.


In this paper we first study where food purchases are made by SNAP recipients in comparison to eligible and ineligible non-SNAP recipients. Particularly, we analyze whether SNAP recipients use retail food outlets which generally have lower prices and how far they travel to purchase food. We next compare the timing of shopping decisions between SNAP recipients and SNAP eligible non-recipients. We study whether SNAP recipients make a higher percentage of their food purchases at one time close to the receipt of SNAP benefits and how is local food geography related with the timing of purchases by SNAP recipients.


A floristic phytogeography of arid regions of northwestern China is outlined in this paper. Most researches of floristic cataloging and phytogeography of families and genera were started since 1980. We propose that Central Asia, as a natural region, should be regarded as a distinct unit to study, namely combining northwestern China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as one unit. Local research is not sufficient or holistic for study of plant floristics and evolutionary history. We address the significance and potential of molecular phylogeny and biogeography of families and genera. Linking geological and palaeoclimate events, especially the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplift and the Tethys retreat in the historical floristic phytogeography and vegetation, is suggested as they are the main dynamics of Central Asian aridification.


Quantum mechanical computations is conducted using DFT (Density Functional Theory) and PM3 (Parameterized Model 3), also, using DFT of (B3LYP) with a 6-311++G (d, p) with G09 application. These molecular three components include structure, electronic charge density and energetic characteristics of chosen phytomedicine compounds. The impact of functional groups on physical characteristics were studied using myricetin, linebacker, and flavone because of their chemical structures. For phytomedicine compounds, we utilized quantum mechanical simulations to estimate bond length, energy, vibration(vib.) modes, charge density and mechanical properties (cruelty, strength, stiffness, for the measurements of the lengths and energy of the bonds). Herzberg convention is used to look for the connections between the frequencies of similar modes which was used. IR absorption of the highest vibration frequencies modes of 3N-6 was measured and assigned for all species. Physical parameters were also calculated these include: heat of production, amount of energy, atomic electronic charge density, dipole moment and (E gap) (E = ELUMO-EHOMO). For three phytomedicine molecules, quantum chemical properties were combined. This software also computed and evaluated the electronic charge density distribution on atoms of 3 molecules. The equilibrium geometries of all three molecules were studied.


A range of resources exist to support overweight and obese personnel with their weight management efforts in the Royal Navy (RN). However, the high prevalence of personnel with excess weight in the RN suggests that these resources may be insufficient. Web-based weight loss interventions may be particularly well-suited for addressing the problem of overweight and obesity in the RN, as they may provide flexible and easily accessible support that can be accessed in users' own time. This thesis presents an evaluation of the first web-based weight loss intervention for overweight and obese RN personnel. A systematic review and meta-synthesis of 17 studies was conducted to explore overweight and obese adults' perceptions and experiences of behavioural weight management interventions. The review indicated several factors that overweight and obese people perceived as affecting their weight management efforts, which if addressed, could improve the credibility of weight management interventions. A survey study with 1030 RN personnel identified there was some interest in using a web-based weight loss intervention in the RN, particularly among obese personnel and female personnel. A qualitative study with 21 overweight and obese RN personnel identified participants' perceived barriers and facilitators within the Naval environment that were related to their weight management efforts. These findings were used to inform modifications to an existing web-based weight loss intervention. A second qualitative study explored 14 overweight and obese personnel's perceptions and experiences of using the modified web-based weight loss intervention. Further modifications to the intervention were undertaken in light of the results from this study. A final feasibility study aimed to evaluate the possibility of trialling and implementing the modified web-based weight loss intervention among 43 overweight and obese RN personnel according to the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. It was estimated that the uptake of the intervention was 6% and it had a moderate effect on weight loss among users, despite not being implemented as intended. This thesis identified a number of suggestions for improving overweight and obese RN personnel's engagement with web-based weight management interventions. These include the need for interventions to promote autonomous motivation among overweight and obese personnel to manage their weight, and interventions at the organisational level to change perceptions around weight management in the RN.


A bstract . Rawa Tripa is a peat forest area in Nagan Raya Subdistrict, Aceh Province with diverse ecological benefits as well as high content of carbon that plays an important role in minimizing the effect of greenhouse gas on earth. Yet, the preservation of ecosystem in the region is currently threatened due to the reduction of peat land cover area and other environmental damages. One of the causes of the reduction of the total area of the region is the plantation production activity done by several oil-palm plantation companies operating in the area of Rawa Tripa. In relation to the current environmental damages, a number of parties and stakeholders in Aceh Province have taken an initiative to take a joint action to save Rawa Tripa and one of the actions taken is done through a community-based approach. The community-based environmental movement has been regarded as an alternative solution to solve a number of environmental problems. Community approach which is also known as partnership-based approach or community participation in maintaining the natural resource preservation and management. Various constraints founded in supporting the effectiveness of this community-based environmental protection movement are, among other things, the lack of joint commitment to maintain the preservation of this area, and the parties with different interests and paradigm in managing the natural resources in Rawa Tripa. The factors which can support the successful of the environmental movement are the harmonious ideas and agendas of the parties implementing the movement or action and the high level of local community participation.


Abstract. In this study, mixing ratios of NO2 (XNO2) and HCHO (XHCHO) in the free troposphere are derived from two multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) data sets collected at Zugspitze (2650 m a.s.l., Germany) and Pico Espejo (4765 m a.s.l., Venezuela). The estimation of NO2 and HCHO mixing ratios is based on the modified geometrical approach, which assumes a single-scattering geometry and a scattering point altitude close to the instrument altitude. Firstly, the horizontal optical path length (hOPL) is obtained from O4 differential slant column densities (DSCDs) in the horizontal (0°) and vertical (90°) viewing directions. Secondly, XNO2 and XHCHO are estimated from the NO2 and HCHO DSCDs at the 0° and 90° viewing directions and averaged along the obtained hOPLs. As the MAX-DOAS instrument was performing measurements in the ultraviolet region, wavelength ranges of 346–372 and 338–357 nm are selected for the DOAS analysis to retrieve NO2 and HCHO DSCDs, respectively. In order to compare the measured O4 DSCDs and moreover to perform some sensitivity tests, the radiative transfer model SCIATRAN with adapted altitude settings for mountainous terrain is operated to simulate synthetic spectra, on which the DOAS analysis is also applied. The overall agreement between measured and synthetic O4 DSCDs is better for the higher Pico Espejo station than for Zugspitze. Further sensitivity analysis shows that a change in surface albedo (from 0.05 to 0.7) can influence the O4 DSCDs, with a larger absolute difference observed for the horizontal viewing direction. Consequently, the hOPL can vary by about 5 % throughout the season, for example when winter snow cover fully disappears in summer. Typical values of hOPLs during clear-sky conditions are 19 km (14 km) at Zugspitze and 34 km (26.5 km) at Pico Espejo when using the 346–372 (338–357 nm) fitting window. The estimated monthly values of XNO2 (XHCHO), averaged over these hOPLs during clear-sky conditions, are in the range of 60–100 ppt (500–950 ppt) at Zugspitze and 8.5–15.5 ppt (255–385 ppt) at Pico Espejo. Interestingly, multi-year-averaged monthly means of XNO2 and XHCHO increase towards the end of the dry season at the Pico Espejo site, suggesting that both trace gases are frequently lifted above the boundary layer as a result of South American biomass burning.


A gregarine parasite of the flea beetles, Phyllotreta undulata and P. atra is reported and described as Gregarina phyllotretae Hoshide 1953. Gregarine infection was observed in all localities investigated during the study. Infection in the P. undulata population was always higher than that in the P. atra population. Maximum infections of both insects were recorded in August. Measurements of trophozoites, sporadins and syzygy forms of G. phyllotretae, new hosts, distribution, occurrence and prevalence in Turkey are reported in this paper.


This article is designed as an informative and comprehensive literature review about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) that causes the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome(AIDS) and the implications of AIDS on the practice of optometry. This article is divided into three sections: the first section describes the effect of the virus upon the body's immune system and reports current statistics regarding the spread and mortality rate of AIDS. The second section is a practitioner's guide on how to detect the particular signs and symptoms of the more common ocular diseases affecting AIDS patients. The third section describes the transmissibility of the HIV from patient to practitioner, or from patient to patient via the optometric office.


A method for reducing the size and cost of optical system for precision measurement based on the Levitation Mass Method (LMM) is proposed. In the LMM, a mass levitated using a pneumatic linear bearing with sufficiently small friction is made to collide with the object being tested. The velocity and acceleration of the mass are measured using a compact optical interferometer. The size of the optical system can be drastically reduced by using a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), in which several optical elements are arranged on a planar surface of a silica or semiconductor substrate. Several applications of the PLC to precision measurement will be discussed.


A large variety of biomolecules such as lipids, DNA, carbohydrates and proteins exist inside cells. Every biomolecule fulfills a different type of function and it is highly relevant to study these functions to eventually understand the development of certain diseases. In order to study the role of a single protein, it is necessary to selectively mark this protein inside cells. The interest in methods that can be used for the site-selective modification of biomolcules has increased tremendously over the past few years. For example, by selectively modifying a protein of interest with a fluorescent label inside cells or organisms, it is possible to learn more about its function, localization and interactions with other molecules. A frequently used method for the visualization of proteins is to fuse a second, fluorescent protein to the protein of interest. However, this fluorescent protein is large and might interfere with the function of the protein of interest. Therefore, scientists started searching for chemical reactions that can be used to couple a small dye to a protein in a very controlled manner. In addition to fundamental research, the siteselective modification of proteins is also important for therapeutic applications, e.g. in the development of biopharamceuticals. The biostability of a pharmaceutical protein can be improved by the attachment of certain molecules. A high level of control of the attachment is important in order to avoid interference with the binding of the protein to its target and hence influencing the therapeutic effect of the protein. Classical methods for protein modification involve attachment via natural functionalities such as the amine of the lysine residue or the thiol of the cysteine residue. These methods are slowly being replaced by chemical reactions that are highly selective, functional under physiological conditions, and are non-toxic. These reactions are called biorthogonal reactions. One of the most popular bioorthogonal reactions is the reaction of an azide with a cyclooctyne, called strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (known as SPAAC or copper-free click chemistry). This reaction inspired many researchers to search for more reactions that can be used for the labeling of proteins and other biomolecules. Chapter one gives an overview of the application of bioorthogonal reactions in fundamental as well as applied research. Chapter two describes the genetic encoding of the new unnatural amino acid bicyclononyne-lysine (BCN-lysine). The pyrrolysyl-tRNA and a mutant of the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase from Methanosarcina mazei were used to site-specifically incorporate BCN-lysine into GFP in response to the amber stop codon. A Forster resonance energy transfer assay was used to study the kinetics of the reaction of BCNmodified GFP with azido- or tetrazine-containing fluorogenic dyes and was compared to an amino acid harboring a plain cyclooctyne moeity. BCN was shown to react approximately 10 times faster with azidotetramethylrhodamine than plain cylcooctyne. The reaction with tetrazine was 80 times faster and is one of the fastest bioconjugation reactions reported so far. BCN-lysine could also be incorporated into proteins inside mammalian cells and could be used for fast protein labeling inside cells. We have developed a new bioconjugation reaction based on the reaction of quinones with cyclootynes, which is called strain-promoted oxidation-controlled cyclooctyne–1,2-quinone cycloaddition (SPOCQ). In Chapter three we characterize this reaction and show its application for the labeling of peptides and proteins. 1,2-quinones can be generated by oxidation from the corresponding catechols, which can be used as an activatable bioconjugation reaction. The reaction between 1,2-quinones and BCN was shown to be much faster (k = 496 ± 70 M-1s-1) than the reaction of BCN with azides (strain-promoted azide-alyne cycloaddition, SPAAC). In chapter four we studied hydrogel formation using the SPOCQ reaction. 4- armed star-PEG-BCN and 4-armed star-PEG containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (star-PEGDHPA) were mixed and upon the addition of the oxidizing agent hydrogels formed almost instantaneously. When the enzyme, mushroom tyrosinase, was used as the oxidizing agent gelation times could be tuned from seconds to several minutes by using different concentrations of the enzyme. By using an excess of the star-PEG-BCN polymer for hydrogel formation, we showed that hydrogels could be formed and simultaneously functionalized with azido-compounds because of the large difference in rate constants between the SPAAC and SPOCQ reactions. In chapter five, we aimed to prepare a new vaccine formulation against bacterial infections by decorating surfaces of bacteria with Fc fragments, which is the tail of an antibody that activates the immune system, using bioorthogonal chemistry. The surface of Staphylococcus aureus were functionalized with azidogroups by culturing the bacteria in the presence of D-azidoalanine. D-Azidoalanine incorporation was validated using a fluorescent cyclooctyne-dye. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed facile incorporation of the azido-groups. An enzymatic as well as chemical approaches was used to modify the Fc protein with a cyclooctyne moiety. The latter method resulted in a higher labeling efficiency showing approximately 80% functionalization of Fc protein based on gel-shift assay analysis. Cyclooctyne-functionalized Fc fragments could not yet be coupled to the bacteria yet, because the reaction is most likely sterically hindered by cell-wall glycopolymers that are present in the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. Chapter six introduces a tagless workflow for the enrichment of proteins for mass spectrometry-based proteomics to study protein-protein interactions (PPIs). GFP, either fused to the N- or C-terminus of a protein of interest, is a frequent tag for the enrichment of a single protein and its interactors. We aimed to develop an alternative strategy for fusion tag-based enrichment protocols by combining amber suppression technology and bioorthogonal chemistry. Azido-phenylalanine (azF) was first genetically encoded into the model protein mCherry-GFP. We then tested the efficiencies of copper-catalyzed and copper-free click chemistry for the labeling and enrichment of this model protein from cell lysate. Protein precipitation was observed with the copper-catalyzed click chemistry, whereas incubation with azadibenzocyclooctyne-functionalized agarose beads resulted in selective enrichment of azido-tagged mCherry-GFP from cell lysate. Testing the feasibility of our novel enrichment strategy for studying interactomes, we incorporated azF at position 211 into methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 3 (MBD3), a member of the Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complex. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that MBD3 could be selectively enriched with two of its known interactors. This finding shows that direct enrichment of a protein of interest and its interactors is feasible. Based on this result, we hypothesize that MS-data from experiments with different mutants, each containing one azF at another position, might be combined for the complete identification of all PPIs.


The effectiveness of a small team of hunting dogs for removing feral pigs was examined in relation to group size of feral pigs encountered and the population density of pigs being hunted. Hunting dogs were successful on 88% of occasions of catching or cornering solitary pigs when encountered. This rate of success rapidly declined as the group size of encountered pigs increased, with the mean maximum number of pigs that could be caught or cornered in any one encounter estimated to be about one pig per dog. The sex ratio of mature pigs obtained from a hunted sample showed a significant bias ( X*2 = 4.3,d.f. = 1, P< 0.05) towards catching more males (M: F = 1.6: 1.0). One team of hunting dogs removed 22 of an estimated 79 pigs inhabiting a 94-km*2 area at a rate of 0.6 pigs h-*1 in 35 h of hunting. It is concluded that hunting with dogs is an effective way for removing residual pigs after densities have been reduced by other forms of control.


Salvage excavations in the 1970s uncovered a sizeable commoner occupation at Great Zimbabwe, as well as evidence for the early construction of an elite stonewalled enclosure. As a result of these excavations, we can revise somewhat the chronology of Great Zimbabwe. The most important changes are the extension of Period IVa, lasting from AD 1285±10 to 1395±10, and the appearance of P, P/Q and Q-coursed walling in Period IVa. The small Nemanwa palace was built in P/Q and first dates to Period IVa, as does the Outer Perimeter Wall, and both were linked to the growth of the Zimbabwe state. Period IVb represents the floruit of Great Zimbabwe, while Period IVc encompasses the occupation after the political elite moved north to become the well-known Mutapa dynasty. After the move north, the Mutapa established a masungiro ritual centre at Great Zimbabwe, perhaps to maintain territorial rights in the face of Torwa expansion.


Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. The unprecedented challenges worldwide implore the urgent development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Globally, pharmacists have been delivering important public health services as part of the COVID-19 response. It remains to be seen what role they will play once a vaccine is available. This review examines herd immunity and the potential role of the pharmacy profession in mass vaccination against COVID-19, particularly within the Australian context. Aim: A literature review was conducted to review the global development of COVID-19 vaccines, and the Australian healthcare workforce capability and existing policy for mass vaccination and the potential role of the pharmacist. Method: ScienceDirect, Scopus, The National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Wiley Online Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant literature using keywords COVID-19, vaccines, immunisation, herd immunity, pandemic, pharmacist and Australian healthcare. Results: A large portion of the literature was journal articles, and information from governmental and international bodies such as the World Health Organisation were often referenced. Over 20 million Australians need to be immunised through vaccination or acquire immunity through natural infection for the country to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19. When examining state and territory pandemic plans, pharmacists are underutilised. Modifying legislation to allow pharmacists to administer approved COVID-19 vaccines will enable a trained and skilled workforce to be deployed to increase the rate of mass vaccination. Conclusion: In preparation for a successful COVID-19 vaccine, the Australian Government must consider various elements in their vaccination policy. This includes the estimated herd immunity threshold, methods of vaccine delivery, vaccine clinic locations, staffing arrangements and training, and strategies for vaccine prioritisation. Pharmacists can and should play a key role in the roll out of mass COVID-19 vaccination.


The country of Indonesia is not only the world largest Muslim country but also has a diverse culture and history. This paper will try to answer the question of how the historical context and political environment have contributed to shaping the relationship between Islam and (secular) democracy in Indonesia today. By examining remnants of the country's colonial past, independence from the Dutch in the late 40's, through the authoritarian regime of Sukarno and The "New Order Administration" and how these periods of the country's existence have helped shape the socio-religious environment of contemporary Indonesia. By looking at how the socio-religious context interacted with political context of the country during its modernizing transformation after the colonial period, I suggest that the Islam found in Indonesia, exists in a variety of ways but cannot be looked at without taking the historical context into consideration. As a consequence of large diversity among Indonesians both ethnically and religiously, Islam was never a united political force as in other countries. But how does the contemporary political environment affect religious identity construction for contemporary Indonesians? With the socio-religious climate in Indonesia one of dynamism, active participation and as it contains the largest Muslim populous in the world as well as one of the largest growing economies, Indonesia and the relationship between Islam and democracy is of increasing global importance.


Background In Ontario, Canada, the patient-centred medical home is a model of primary care delivery that includes 3 model types of interest for this study: enhanced fee-for-service, blended capitation, and team-based blended capitation. All 3 models involve rostering of patients and have similar practice requirements but differ in method of physician reimbursement, with the blended capitation models incorporating adjustments for age and sex, but not case mix, of rostered patients. We evaluated the extent to which persons with mental illness were included in physicians' total practices (as rostered and non-rostered patients) and were included on physicians' rosters across types of medical homes in Ontario. Methods Using population-based administrative data, we considered 3 groups of patients: those with psychotic or bipolar diagnoses, those with other mental health diagnoses, and those with no mental health diagnoses. We modelled the prevalence of mental health diagnoses and the proportion of patients with such diagnoses who were rostered across the 3 medical home model types, controlling for demographic characteristics and case mix. Results Compared with enhanced fee-for-service practices, and relative to patients without mental illness, the proportions of patients with psychosis or bipolar disorders were not different in blended capitation and team-based blended capitation practices (rate ratio [RR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82–1.01; RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.96–1.17, respectively). However, there were fewer patients with other mental illnesses (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.99; RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85–0.94, respectively). Compared with expected proportions, practices based on both capitation models were significantly less likely than enhanced fee-for-service practices to roster patients with psychosis or bipolar disorders (for blended capitation, RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90–0.93; for team-based capitation, RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.93) and also patients with other mental illnesses (for blended capitation, RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.92–0.95; for team-based capitation, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.92–0.94). Interpretation Persons with mental illness were under-represented in the rosters of Ontario's capitation-based medical homes. These findings suggest a need to direct attention to the incentive structure for including patients with mental illness.


This LibGuide accompanies Dr. Katrinell M. Davis's Fall 2018 Social Classes and Inequality (SYD 3530) course, providing various resources to assist throughout the course.


The effect of WO3 additions on the sintering ability and electrical properties of Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 ferroelectric ceramics (PZT 95/5) was investigated. Pure and W-doped PZT 95/5 ceramics were prepared by the usual ceramic technique from raw oxides. The bulk density, microstructure, electrical properties of ceramics as a function of WO3 content were characterized. The results showed that the WO3 addition was benefit for the sintering densification of PZT, and the ceramics with 2.0 mol% WO3 addition exhibited the maximum value for the density (7.8 g/cm3) at a sintering temperature of 1250 °C. Moreover, piezoelectric constant (d33), relative dielectric constant (εr), dielectric loss (tanδ) and ferroelectric hysteresis loop of PZT 95/5 ceramics at the sintering temperature of 1250 °C all altered regularly with the change of WO3 doping level, whose optimum values were all obtained by doping 2.0 mol% WO3. The best values obtained for these parameters were: d33 = 65 pC/N, εr =314, tanδ = 0.028, Pr = 24.80 µC/cm2 and Ec = 1890 V/mm, respectively. These results show that tungsten doped Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 ferroelectric ceramics can be hopefully used for the pulsed power devices.


Models have played an important role in scientific research for a long time. The crop models try to simulate the functioning of the atmosphere-soil-plant system with the help of computers. These models can be effective tools in research, education and solving agricultural and environmental protection related problems. The 4M package includes a crop model and several accessories that help to operate the model. The 4M crop model is a daily-step, deterministic model that simulates the water and nutrient balance of the soil, the soil-plant interactions and the plant development and growth. To mention some examples: (1) The package can be used in education to carry out 'zero-cost' virtual agricultural experiments and to challenge and enhance the system oriented thinking of the students. (2) In research it can be used for designing experiments and estimating the present and future characteristics of the investigated system. (3) In practical applications the package can be used to prepare agro- technological advise (fertilization, irrigation, etc.) for farmers, and to carry out economical analyses on farm level.


Abstract With increasing availability of consumer data and rapid advancement and application of technologies, online retailers are gaining better knowledge of customers' shopping behavior and preferences. Thus more and more retailers are providing personalized product assortment to better match the needs of customers and generate more sales. In this article, we study a two-stage revenue management model. In the first stage, the retailer decides non-personalized price discounts for each product. In the second stage (upon the arrival of customers), the retailer offers a personalized assortment to each type of customer. Based on this assortment, the customer then makes a purchase decision according to the Multinomial logit choice model. We employ a robust approach for the joint discounts and personalized assortment optimization problem in order to handle data uncertainty from estimating customer preferences and distribution of different customer segments. We analyze the structural properties of the problems and propose efficient computational methods to solve the problems with/without a cardinality constraint on the assortment. In certain cases, our algorithm converges at a superlinear rate. When there is a cardinality constraint on the assortment, we find that the retailer should offer greater discounts as the constraint becomes more restrictive. We also discuss the value of our robust solution and the extension of when the customer discount sensitivity function is also uncertain. Finally, our extensive numerical study shows that the solutions under the robust approach perform very well when compared to the one assuming accurate information, and are robust when there is uncertainty.


To getting the desirable therapeutic treatment for cancer, the efficacy and the reduction of toxicity of anticancer drugs are to be improvised. Although many of the drugs are in hydrophobic characteristics, the polymeric miceller delivery system would be the potential way for the targeted delivery and the effective treatment of metastasis. The present study was documented that the hydrophobic drug, etoposide was encapsuled with the biodegradable block co polymer mPEG-PCL which further conjugated with the cell adhesion peptides YIGSR and EILDV peptides for targeting the laminin and fibronectin receptors respectively. The results revealed that the conjugated micelles having the affinity towards the tumour cells, thereby increase in cytotoxicity as well as anti -metastatic effects observed from the cell l ine studies using B16F10 melanoma cells. Interestingly, the study confirmed that the YIGSR peptide conjugated etoposide has more cytotoxic effects than the other Pentapeptide EIDLV conjugated etoposide. Also, to understand the predictable drug release in physiological conditions, the in-vitro release study was carried out with PBS at pH 7.4, observed the significant difference between the peptide conjugated micelles and the non-conjugated micelles. Further, lyophilization studies were carried out with different cryoprotectants / different ratios and the redispersibil ity index was calculated, observed that the single cryoprotectant was not retained the original particle size than the combinations. Overall, etoposide loaded-conjugated miceller formulations proved higher efficacy and reduced the toxicity in the treatment of cancer cells than the non -conjugated miceller formulations.


Hydrochemical indicators are widely used for assessment of groundwater chemistry. They were established mainly for mineral water in order to understand their origin and chemical classification. In the case of fresh water, they are used occasionally because quality classifications are based on concentrations of individual components and physical properties in relation to the permissible standards established for water intended for human consumption. Natural in Polish climate, bicarbonate-calcium and bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters are commonly used for drinking. In many places, ions emitted from pollution outbreaks have already caused chemical changes of water and it is often the first symptom of their contamination. The author has evaluated the scope and trends of these changes in the groundwater of the Holy Cross region in Poland using the bicarbonate and calcium-magnesium indicators.


OBJECTIVE
To verify if the reference values of Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis of North American individuals are similar to the ones of Brazilian individuals presenting no craniofacial anomalies. The study also aimed to identify craniofacial alterations in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) patients in relation to individuals without clinical characteristics of the disease through this cephalometric analysis.

METHODS
It were used 55 lateral cephalograms consisting of 29 for the control group of adult individuals without clinical characteristics of OSAHS and 26 apneic adults. All radiographs were submitted to Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis through Radiocef Studio 2.0. The standard values of this analysis were compared, by means of z test, to the ones obtained from the control group and these were compared to values from apneic group through Student's t test.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences between values obtained from control group and standard values. On the group of OSAHS patients it was observed a decrease on the dimensions of upper airways and an increase on the soft palate length.

CONCLUSIONS
The standard values of Sleep Apnea analysis can be used as reference in Brazilian individuals. Besides, through lateral cephalograms it was possible to identify craniofacial alterations in OSAHS patients.


The design and preliminary data of a novel microoptoelectromechanical systems variable optical attenuator (VOA) driven by a pair of V-beam electrothermal actuators is described. This VOA deploys a face-to-face arranged pair of 45/spl deg/ tilted mirrors in front of two coaxially aligned lensed fibers to form retro-reflection planar light path for attenuation. The initial insertion loss is 0.7 dB at 1550 nm and the maximum dynamic range of attenuation is 50 dB, respectively. The polarization-dependent loss is measured as 0.15 dB at 20-dB attenuation. The dynamic attenuation deviation is less than /spl plusmn/0.36 dB at 20-dB attenuation with respect to 20-G shock of periodical mechanical vibration at 1 K Hz, in which it complies with requirements of the Telcordia GR1221 regulations.


The IRS estimates that more than 20 percent of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) payments are made in error. By matching the Current Population Survey (CPS) to tax return data, this paper finds that a large portion of the overpayments went to families with children. Depending on the exact measure used, only 11 to 13 percent of EITC recipients lacked children in their household at the time they received the EITC. While some of these erroneous payments to households with children are received by households with incomes above EITC eligibility levels, many of these ineligible families with children are likely to be quite similar to eligible EITC families.


Leptin is closely related to obesity and its complications. In order to determine serum levels of this hormone in children and adolescents, and its associations to age, gender, socioeconomic status, nutritional anthropometrical status and dietary intake, 166 children and adolescents (91 normal and 75 obese, aged 2 to 15 years), from low socioeconomic status were assessed. A socioeconomic evaluation (Grafffar-Mendez C method), dietary intake (24 hour recalls), anthropometrical assessment and leptin by ELISA were performed. Normal or eutrophic was defined as weight for height (W/H) or Body mass index (BMI) and fatty area between 10 t h and 90 t h percentile. Obesity when indicators were over 90 t h percentile. Leptin was significantly higher in obese than in normal, without differences by gender or age. Leptin percentile distribution showed 11,53 pg/L and 24,29 Hg/L as 90th percentile for normal and obese children, respectively. There was a tendency to inverse correlation among leptin, fat dietary intake and waist-thigh ratio. Excessive fat intake was associated to lower serum leptin. Results suggest that obese children had leptin resistance, independently of age and gender. It is recommended to develop nutritional education programs regarding obesity and dietary intake in order to prevent and control infantile obesity.


We report on the formation of a complete band gap for spin waves in a two-dimensional magnonic crystal consisting of a periodic hole lattice. We go beyond the partial band gaps observed so far in that we apply a magnetic field perpendicular to the permalloy thin film. We explore the relevant geometrical parameters using micromagnetic simulations. In nanopatterned devices we obtain complete band gaps of up to 1.4 GHz. The magnetostatic forward volume waves addressed here overcome in particular spin-wave localization effects. These effects have led to complicated and highly anisotropic miniband formation or Bragg reflection in in-plane fields for a long time. We demonstrate how direct band-gap tailoring via geometrical lattice symmetries becomes possible in nanostructured magnetic antidot lattices.


IIS provides the core services for hosting Web servers, Web applications, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint services. To learn how to manage Web applications running on IIS and perform advanced administration tasks, you need practical hands-on advice from an expert who has years of experience working with IIS. William Stanek is such an expert. By reading this book and working step by step through the essential tasks discussed, you can learn to: Manage ISAPI and CGI applications Configure ASP, ASP.NET, and .NET Framework settings Create and configure custom IIS applications Customize settings for application pools Start, stop, and recycle worker processes Maintain application health and performance Enhance Web server security and permissions Configure handler mappings and authentication Install and use Active Directory Certificate Services Monitor and optimize IIS performance Manage IIS backups and metabase configurations This book is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to manage Web applications and perform advanced administration of IIS 7.0 and IIS 7.5. Inside, you'll find comprehensive overviews, step-by-step procedures, frequently used tasks, documented examples, and much more. One of the goals is to keep the content so concise that the book remains compact and easy to navigate while at the same time ensuring that the book is packed with as much information as possible--making it a valuable resource.


ABSTRACT To the Editor:— Dr. Barrett says our cases do not fit the accepted criteria for hypogammaglobulinemia, which is quite rare. We took pains to show that they are not true hypogammaglobulinemia (i.e., they do respond to antigens and they have isohemagglutinins), which is why we clearly labeled this a "variant" in our subtitle; and that this is much more common than the classic case. Since the original writing, I have found 15 more cases in my own practice and Dr. Spencer has found 6 more in his.The variety of symptoms in these patients, to which Dr. Barrett objects, is one of our main points. Classic cases all included some form of pneumonic infection (Good and Mazzitello, Dis Chest, 29:9-35 [Jan.] 1956). Most of our cases did not. Dr. Barrett says "They claim that these children then had less allergy, fewer viral respiratory infections, etc." Most of these infections


Background: We sought to determine whether a combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and the nutraceutical α-lipoic acid (ALA) regulates blood pressure, endothelial function, and proteinuria in diabetic patients with Stage I hypertension. Methods: A total of 40 diabetic patients with Stage I hypertension were treated in a crossover double-blinded manner. Patients were administered quinapril ([QUI] 40 mg/d) for 8 weeks or QUI + ALA (600 mg/d) for 8 weeks. Measurements included blood pressure, 24-hour collection of urinary albumin, and endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Results: There was a change of metabolic parameters in both study groups after 8 weeks of therapy. In comparison to baseline, the 24-hour urinary albumin significantly decreased by 30% in the QUI group (P = .018, time comparison) and 53% in QUI + ALA group (P < .005, time and group comparison). Also, when compared with baseline, FMD significantly increased by 58% in QUI group (P < .005, time comparison) and by 116% in QUI + ALA group (P < .005, time and group comparison). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduced significantly by 10% with QUI treatment. There was no further blood pressure reduction when patients were administered both QUI and ALA. Conclusions: In diabetic patients with hypertension, QUI reduces blood pressure, proteinuria, and improves endothelial function. Moreover, this effect is strongly potentiated with a combination of QUI and ALA. These results may attenuate the progression of vascular pathophysiology seen in patients with a combination of diabetes and hypertension.


The effect of student-reported teacher-student relationship quality (TSRQ) on academic motivation and achievement was investigated among a sample of 690 academically at risk elementary students (52.8% male). Measures of TSRQ, achievement, and motivation were collected annually for 3 consecutive years, beginning when participants were in grade 2 (24.8%) or grade 3 (74.6%). Child-reported conflict was stable across the 3 years, whereas warmth declined. Boys and African American students reported greater conflict than did girls and Caucasian and Hispanic students. Girls and African American students reported higher warmth than boys and non-African American students. Using path analysis, the authors tested the hypothesis that measures of student motivation in Year 2 mediated the effects of conflict and warmth in Year 1 on reading and math achievement in Year 3. Child-perceived conflict predicted cross-year changes in teacher-rated behavioral engagement, which, in turn, predicted cross-year changes in reading and math achievement. Math competence beliefs also mediated the effect of child- perceived warmth on math achievement. Effects controlled for stability of measures across time, the within-wave association between measures, and baseline measures of IQ and economic adversity. Implications of findings for improving the academic achievement of students at-risk for school failure are discussed.


Recent advances in recurrent neural nets (RNNs) have shown much promise in many applications in natural language processing. For most of these tasks, such as sentiment analysis of customer reviews, a recurrent neural net model parses the entire review before forming a decision. We argue that reading the entire input is not always necessary in practice, since a lot of reviews are often easy to classify, i.e., a decision can be formed after reading some crucial sentences or words in the provided text. In this paper, we present an approach of fast reading for text classification. Inspired by several well-known human reading techniques, our approach implements an intelligent recurrent agent which evaluates the importance of the current snippet in order to decide whether to make a prediction, or to skip some texts, or to re-read part of the sentence. Our agent uses an RNN module to encode information from the past and the current tokens, and applies a policy module to form decisions. With an end-to-end training algorithm based on policy gradient, we train and test our agent on several text classification datasets and achieve both higher efficiency and better accuracy compared to previous approaches.


Malware is a major threat to organisations. It affects business continuity and induces risks to organisations. Current anti-malware solutions are challenged to keep the risks at bay. When a malware manages to penetrate an organisation's defences, there is a need to quickly contain the malware and to keep control over the organisation's IT assets before the risk escalates. In such incident, incident responders need to effectively carry out their containment plan. An ineffective containment plan will induce greater risks. Such infiltration can spread like a biological epidemic outbreak. These epidemic-like outbreaks can be modelled using mathematical models. However there are no models to assess the effectiveness of incident response plan. Additionally, there are many variable considerations that the incident response plan would need to factor in. This research paper proposes the use of an agent-based model to model containment response plan to minimise the impact of a malware outbreak.


Hexanuclear coordination cages of the formula [(C5Me4R)M(C7H3NO 4)]6 (M = Rh, Ir; R = Me, H) were obtained by stepwise reaction of [(C5Me4R)M(μ-Cl)Cl]2 with, first AgOAc and then pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid. Crystallographic analyses show that the cages adopt a distorted octahedral geometry with the pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates functioning as dianionic bridging ligands, each of which connects three different (C5Me4R)M fragments. The cages act as exoreceptors for large alkali metal cations K+ and Cs+, as well as NH4+, but show low affinity for Na+. Crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic analyses indicate that two metal ions can be coordinated to the surface of the cages. The respective binding sites comprise three carbonyl O-atoms from the bridging pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate ligands. Novel supramolecular architectures were obtained by reacting the dinuclear macrocycle [(cymene)Ru(μ-C12H12O4)(H 2O)]2 with different N-donor ligands. A tetranuclear assembly was obtained with 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, whereas hexanuclear complexes were formed with 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)triazine and 1,3,5-tris(4-pyridylethynyl)benzene. The reaction with 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrine, on the other hand gave tetra- or octanuclear complexes, depending on the stoichiometry that was employed. The 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)triazine complex was shown to act as a host for polycyclic aromatic compounds such as pyrene, triphenylene and coronene. A hexanuclear coordination cage has been formed by self-assembly of three elongated [(cymene)Ru(μ-C14H10O6)] 2 dinuclear macrocycles and two equivalents of 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)triazine. The twisted coordination prism with a height of 3.5 A (bottom to top) could be untwined by addition of coronene to – for half-sandwich complex-based cages – unprecedented size of 10.8 A (bottom to top). Crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic analyses indicate that two coronene molecules can be encapsulated inside this cage.


Abstract. The ionosphere is a dynamic layer which generally changes according to radiation emitted by the sun, the movement of the earth around the sun, and sunspot activity. Variations can generally be categorized as regular or irregular variations. Both types of variation have a huge effect on radio wave propagation. In this study, we have focused on the seasonal variation effect, which is one of the regular forms of variation in terms of the ionosphere. We examined the seasonal variation over the ZONG station in Turkey for the year 2014. Our analysis results and IRI-2012 present different ideas about ionospheric activity. According to our analysed results, the standard deviation reached a maximum value in April 2014. However, the maximum standard deviation obtained from IRI-2012 was seen in February 2014. Furthermore, it is clear that IRI-2012 underestimated the VTEC values when compared to our results for all the months analysed. The main source of difference between the two models is the IRI-2012 topside ionospheric representation. IRI-2012 VTEC has been produced as a result of the integration of an electron density profile within altitudinal limits of 60–2000 km. In other words, the main problem with regard to the IRI-2012 VTEC representation is not being situated in the plasmaspheric part of the ionosphere. Therefore we propose that the plasmaspheric part should be taken into account to calculate the correct TEC values in mid-latitude regions, and we note that IRI-2012 does not supply precise TEC values for use in ionospheric studies.


We study the scenario of multicasting multi-view video content, recorded in the video plus depth format, to a collection of heterogeneous clients featuring Internet access links of diverse packet loss and transmission bandwidth values. We design a popularity-aware joint source-channel coding optimization framework that allocates source and channel coding rates to the captured content, such that the aggregate video quality of the reconstructed content across the client population is maximized, for the given packet loss and bandwidth characteristics of the clients and their view selection preferences. The source coding component of our framework features a procedure for generating a view and rate embedded bitstream that is optimally decodable at multiple data rates and accounts for the different popularity of diverse video perspectives of the scene of interest, among the clients. The channel coding component of our framework comprises an expanding-window rateless coding procedure that optimally allocates parity protection bits to the source encoded layers, in order to address packet loss across the unreliable client access links. We develop an optimization method that jointly computes the source and channel coding decisions of our framework, and also design a fast local-search-based solution that exhibits a negligible performance loss relative to the full optimization. We carry out comprehensive simulation experiments and demonstrate significant performance gains over competitive state-of-the-art methods (based on H.264/AVC and network coding, and H.264/SVC and our own channel coding procedure), across different scenario settings and parameter values.


Efforts to satisfy global energy demand and improve food security while simultaneously taking action to mitigate climate change pose many key challenges for the world. In this study, the Applied Dynamic Analysis of the Global Economy (ADAGE), a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, is applied to examine the impact of oil price on biofuel expansion, and subsequently, on food supply/price, land use change and climate mitigation potential, when both first and second generation biofuel feedstocks are considered. The results indicate despite a continued increase in land productivity and energy efficiency, increases in population and economic growth lead to a global increase in agriculture production, rising food, agriculture, biofuels, and energy prices, and land conversion from the other four land types to cropland in the REF scenario from 2010 to 2040. Oil price plays an important role in biofuel expansion. Globally, higher oil price leads to the expansion of biofuel production, increasing its share in total liquid fuel consumption in the private transportation sector. Consequently, more land is allocated for biofuel production, reducing global agriculture output and increasing agricultural consumption prices. Although emissions from land-use change increase, the overall emissions including fossil fuel emissions decreases. Regions display different patterns on biofuel expansions, land-use change, prices for food/agriculture and energy/biofuels, and GHG emissions.


Background The Epithelial Na+ Channel (ENaC) plays a central role in control of epithelial surface hydration and vascular volume. Similar to other ion channels, ENaC activity is regulated, in part, by cortical cytoskeleton. Besides, the cytoskeleton is an established target for small G proteins signaling. Here we studied whether ENaC activity is modulated by changes in the state of the cytoskeleton and whether cytoskeletal elements are involved in small G protein mediated increase of ENaC activity. Methods and Findings First, the functional importance of the cytoskeleton was established with whole-cell patch clamp experiments recording ENaC reconstituted in CHO cells. Pretreatment with Cytochalasin D (CytD; 10 µg/ml; 1–2 h) or colchicine (500 µM; 1–3 h) to disassembly F-actin and destroy microtubules, respectively, significantly decreased amiloride sensitive current. However, acute application of CytD induced rapid increase in macroscopic current. Single channel measurements under cell-attached conditions revealed similar observations. CytD rapidly increased ENaC activity in freshly isolated rat collecting duct, polarized epithelial mouse mpkCCDc14 cells and HEK293 cells transiently transfected with ENaC subunits. In contrast, colchicine did not have an acute effect on ENaC activity. Small G proteins RhoA, Rac1 and Rab11a markedly increase ENaC activity. 1–2 h treatment with colchicine or CytD abolished effects of these GTPases. Interestingly, when cells were coexpressed with ENaC and RhoA, short-term treatment with CytD decreased ENaC activity. Conclusions We conclude that cytoskeleton is involved in regulation of ENaC and is necessary for small G protein mediated increase of ENaC activity.


Virtual reality welding simulations have been, and continue to be, a trend in welding training programs. The goal of this study was to examine the use of virtual reality simula tions as an assessment tool for existing welders. This study used a virtual reality welding simulator, VRTEX® 360, to assess the existing skills of experienced and trained novice welders. This study also used the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process to perform simple and complex welds. Performance was evaluated through a quality score, which was based on the following five welding parameters: arc length, position, work angle, travel angle, and travel speed. The virtual reality welding simulator was able to evaluate performance, but it could not distinguish between experienced and trained novice welders. On average, experienced welders as a group scored 10 quality points higher than trained novice welders. Welding experience also had a large to very large effect on the quality score for each weld type. One identified trend for both experienced and trained novice welders was as weld difficulty increased, the quality score decreased. It is recommended that industries use virtual reality simulators to evaluate welders for ensur ing highquality welding in production practices.


Shape memory polymers are a promising class of stimuli-responsive materials that have dual-shape capability. This kind of materials can recover their shape in a predefined way from temporary shape to desired permanent shape when exposed to an appropriate stimulus. In the development and extensive application of synthetic shape memory polymers on textile industrials, the thermal and hygrothermal effects of wool materials have attracted considerable attention. In this article the fundamental concept of the shape memory polymers and the fundamental aspects of the shape-memory effect were reviewed. The thermal and hygrothermal effects of wool materials were also summarized to discuss the shape memory behavior of wool materials. Besides the effects of synthetic shape memory polymers on the thermal and hygrothermal of the woven wool fabrics were introduced to show the shape memory behavior of treated wool further.


The performance of state corporations in Kenya has not been as expected, as demonstrated by reports of unrelenting financial and managerial woes. In an attempt to reign on the poor performance, the government has developed policies on how to manage the state corporations, with emphasis on self-sustainability. The requirement to be self-sustaining demands that state corporations continuously innovate, improve themselves and competitively market their products and services, which in essence is intrapreneurship. This study analysed the prerequisites and outcomes of intrapreneurship in state corporations in Kenya. Using the theory of intrapreneurship, the study conceptualised the constructs of the prerequisites as encouragement by the management; rewards and communality; training and development; enabling work environment; organisational intrapreneurial orientation; individual motivation; individual competence; and individual intrapreneurial orientation. The outcomes of intrapreneurship that were studied were employee perceptions of job satisfaction, customer satisfaction and financial performance. To accomplish this, the study adopted an explanatory survey design and selected a disproportionate stratified sample from the population of state corporations in Kenya. The respondents were 182 employees in the state corporations. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlations, analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression. The information is presented in charts, tables and narratives. This study found that though the prerequisites of intrapreneurship were evident to varying degrees in all state corporations, the scores differed significantly among the organisations. Further, there was a significant relation between the prerequisites and the outcomes of intrapreneurship. The results of this research indicated that the key prerequisites of intrapreneurship, which have significant deterministic influence over the outcomes, were individual motivation; enabling work environment; organisational intrapreneurial orientation; rewards and communality; and individual intrapreneurial orientation. The study concluded that some prerequisites had an antecedent effect on other prerequisites. Thus, for intrapreneurship to take place and the outcomes envisaged to be accomplished, the staff should be motivated to act intrapreneurialy, and there should be an enabling work environment in the organisation. The variability in the outcomes that was accounted for by the prerequisites suggested that there are other factors, beyond the scope of this study that have an effect on the outcomes. These findings contribute to intrapreneurial theory by showing that various prerequisites of intrapreneurship do not have a direct impact on the outcomes but rather have an antecedent effect on the prerequisites. The study recommends that there is need to establish reward systems for innovative undertakings. Training programs to build and strengthen intrapreneurship should be implemented in state corporations since they will contribute towards an enabling work environment for intrapreneurship. The study also provides guidance to managers interested in motivating their employees to undertake intrapreneurial activities. The results also give direction to employees by offering them different scenarios that lead to job satisfaction, customer satisfaction and financial performance. For future research, it was recommended that objective measures on financial performance be utilized in similar studies. An assessment of the efficacy of intrapreneurial programs in state corporations could also be investigated in order to give clear links to improved performance.


Geobacter sulfurreducens, generally considered to be a strict anaerobe, is a predominant microbe in subsurface environments, where it utilizes available metals as electron acceptors. To better understand the metabolic processes involved in the metal‐reduction capability of this microbe, the proteins expressed by cells grown anaerobically with either fumarate or ferric citrate as electron acceptor were compared. Proteins were separated by 2‐DE under denaturing or nondenaturing conditions, and proteins varying in abundance with a high level of statistical significance (p<0.0001) were identified by peptide mass analysis. Denaturing 2‐DE revealed significant differences in the relative abundance of the membrane proteins OmpA and peptidoglycan‐associated lipoprotein, several metabolic enzymes, and, in addition, superoxide dismutase and rubredoxin oxidoreductase. Nondenaturing 2‐DE revealed elevated catalase in cells grown with ferric citrate. These results suggest that, in addition to adjustments in membrane transport and specific metabolic pathways in response to these two different electron acceptors, distinct differences exist in the oxidative environment within the cell when fumarate or soluble ferric citrate is provided as electron acceptor. Although an anaerobe, G. sulfurreducens appears to have alternate mechanisms for dealing with reactive oxygen species in response to increased intracellular soluble iron.


: A highly repetitive centromeric Fringilla coelebs PstI (FCP) element was cloned and sequenced. The FCP tandem repeats with unit 505 or 506 nt accounted for about 0.9% of the entire genome and had 57% GC. Direct genomic sequencing with FCP-specific primers and ThermoFidelase 2A revealed the consensus sequence and the five most common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the FCP unit. FCP may be transcribed and may play a role in spatial arrangement of the genome.


A Strategy for Redeveloping and Revitalizing Houston Presbyterian Cursillo Kristin M. Huffman Doctor of Ministry School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary 2010 Since 1997, Houston Presbyterian Cursillo (HPC) has been a beautiful and effective tool that God has used to help transform many people's lives. However, in the past few years, HPC has begun to show signs of decline and waning interest. The goal of this ministry focus paper is to explore and enhance the effectiveness of Houston Presbyterian Cursillo in order to increase the lasting transformation of participants as evidenced by personal spiritual growth and missional servanthood. My hope is to help HPC begin the process of redevelopment and revitalization. This paper contains three major sections. The first section tells the story of Cursillo from its origins and describes the current context of HPC. It examines the structure of HPC in the three phases of the movement: Pre-Cursillo, the Weekend, and the Fourth Day, and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of HPC, drawing significant insight from the results of a survey of HPC administered for this project. The second section studies the biblical and theological foundations of Cursillo: personal spiritual transformation and the call to be part of bringing about God's Kingdom on earth, showing that the movement is grounded in the mission and purposes of God, applicable to every time and culture. Finally, in an effort to see more definitive change in participants of Cursillo and in the movement itself, the third section suggests a strategy and process for incorporating changes in the ministry of the HPC. Houston Presbyterian Cursillo has a unique and valuable ministry that must not be lost. It is hoped that the changes offered in this paper will help HPC continue helping people learn how to live as transformed followers of Jesus and be part of changing the world for Christ. Content Reader: Stephen D. Bryant, D.D.


A generation of Indian law scholars has roundly, and rightly, criticized the Supreme Court's invocation of the political question doctrine to deprive tribes of meaningful judicial review when Congress has acted to the detriment of tribes. Similarly, many Indian law scholars view the plenary power doctrine — that Congress has expansive, virtually unlimited authority to regulate tribes — as a tool that fosters and formalizes the legal oppression of Indian people by an unchecked Federal government. The way courts have applied these doctrines in tandem has frequently left tribes without meaningful judicial recourse against breaches of the federal trust responsibility or intrusions upon tribal interests and sovereignty. Furthermore, there is a troubling inconsistency in the courts' application of these doctrines to questions of inherent tribal sovereignty. For example, courts consider congressional abrogation of a treaty a kind of political question beyond the reach of the judiciary. At the same time, challenges to the inherent, or aboriginal, authority of tribes are deemed justiciable. The Court's approach represents a kind of "heads I win; tails you lose" application of the political question and plenary power doctrines in Indian affairs.This paper proposes that rather than facing a rigged coin toss in the courts, tribes should be able to avail themselves of the political question and plenary power doctrines to have Congress rather than the courts decide questions of inherent tribal authority. Under current precedent, the Court has aggrandized its own power in Indian affairs through the theory of implicit divestiture, which holds that the Court may find tribes divested of inherent powers even without Congressional action. This Article argues that whether inherent tribal authority endures and which sovereign powers tribes exercise are political rather than judicial questions given the current landscape of plenary power, political question, and implicit divestiture doctrines in Indian law. Under this reading of the Court's Indian law precedent, unless the Supreme Court reexamines these fundamental assumptions, the Supreme Court should treat questions challenging inherent tribal authority in much the same way it treats questions raised by tribes challenging congressional exercise of the Indian affairs power: as political questions that do not present justiciable controversies. This argument builds upon the author's earlier work assessing the comparative institutional competency of Congress and the courts with regard to questions of inherent tribal authority and proposes a fundamental shift in the conception of the plenary power doctrine and the political question doctrine's application in federal Indian law. Scholars have traditionally rejected and critiqued both the plenary power and the political question doctrines in Indian affairs because they leave a discrete and insular minority vulnerable to political whims. The critique has generally envisioned the Court as a counter-majoritarian bastion standing between the tyranny of the majority and the tribes. However, in recent decades, the Court has been the instrument for eroding inherent tribal authority, primarily without the input of Congress. This paper challenges long-held assumptions about these fundamental doctrines of federal Indian law and poses important questions about the role of the courts and the Congress, and the future of inherent tribal sovereignty.


Abstract
This paper describes a qualitative and quantitative investigation into the location of the motoneurons innervating the extra-ocular muscles of the rat. Injections of horseradish peroxidase, bisbenzimide, propidium iodide and DAPI-primuline were made either in one or simultaneously in two muscles. Unlike those of the cat, rabbit and monkey, the motoneurons which make up the oculomotor nucleus of the rat are not arranged in spatially separate subgroups belonging each to its corresponding extra-ocular muscle, but instead allow a high degree of superposition among the motor pools which they compose. The motoneurons innervating the lateral rectus and inferior oblique muscles are all homolateral; those of the medial and inferior rectus muscles are mainly homolateral with a few contralateral exceptions; and those of the superior rectus, levator palpebrae and superior oblique muscles are mainly contralateral with a small minority of homolateral exceptions. As well as from the main motor pools with which they are associated, the medial rectus, inferior rectus, superior rectus, levator palpebrae, superior oblique and lateral rectus muscles all receive innervation from motoneurons lying among the fibres of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis. All these observations are supported by quantitative data.


INTRODUCTION
Chagas disease is a parasitosis considered a serious problem of public health. In the municipality of Barcarena, Pará, from 2007 to 2014, occurred the highest prevalence of this disease in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE
To analyze the disease distribution related to epidemiological, environmental and demographic variables, in the area and period of the study.

METHODS
Epidemiological and demographic data of Barcarena Health Department and satellite images from the National Institute For Space Research (INPE) were used. The deforestation data were obtained through satellite image classification, using artificial neural network. The statistical significance was done with the χ2 test, and the spatial dependence tests among the variables were done using Kernel and Moran techniques.

RESULTS
The epidemiological curve indicated a disease seasonal pattern. The major percentage of the cases were in male, brown skin color, adult, illiterate, urban areas and with probable oral contamination. It was confirmed the spatial dependence of the disease cases with the different types of deforestation identified in the municipality, as well as agglomerations of cases in urban and rural areas. Discussion: The disease distribution did not occur homogeneously, possibly due to the municipality demographic dynamics, with intense migratory flows that generates the deforestation.

CONCLUSION
Different relationships among the variables studied and the occurrence of the disease in the municipality were observed. The technologies used were satisfactory to construct the disease epidemiological scenarios.


Claudins are transmembrane proteins constituting one of three tight junction protein families. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), disease activity–dependent changes in expression of certain claudins have been noted, thus making certain claudin family members potential therapy targets. A study was undertaken with the aim of exploring expression of claudins in human disease and two different animal models of IBD: dextrane sulfate sodium–induced colitis and adoptive transfer model of colitis. The expression of sealing claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-4, and claudin-8, and pore-forming claudin-2 in humans and rodents has been evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Claudins were expressed by epithelial and cells of mesodermal origin and were found to be situated at the membrane, within the cytoplasm, or within the nuclei. Claudin expression by human mononuclear cells isolated from lamina propria has been confirmed by Western blot and flow cytometry. The claudin expression pattern in uninflamed and inflamed colon varied between species and murine strains. In IBD and both animal models, diverse alterations in claudin expression by epithelial and inflammatory cells were recorded. Tissue mRNA levels for each studied claudin reflected changes within cell lineage and, at the same time, mirrored the ratio between various cell types. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that 1) claudins are not expressed exclusively by epithelial cells, but by certain types of cells of mesodermal origin as well; 2) changes in the claudin mRNA level should be interpreted in the context of overall tissue alterations; and 3) both IBD animal models that were analyzed can be used for investigating claudins as a therapy target, respecting their similarities and differences highlighted in this study.


This study presents an analysis of 2 216 European higher education institutions (HEIs) from 27 countries. It investigates determinants of participation in the European Union's Framework Programme for research and innovation (EU FP), Horizon 2020, and empirically assesses how influential network position affects the chances of applying for and receiving funding in collaborative projects. Having a strong, influential network position in collaborative EU research is found to affect participation in H2020 greatly – suggesting 'closed clubs', to the detriment of less influential HEIs. Greater access to resources and capabilities significantly strengthens the effect of network position on EU FP participation


Providing location-aware services to mobile users comes with an inherent service-degrading data management problem for which the location-aware linkcell-based data management method was developed as a solution. Context-aware services are often viewed as generalizations of location-aware services; thus, many context-aware application systems necessarily inherit the data management problems associated with any subsumed location- aware subsystems. Despite their potential to solve these problems, linkcell-based methods have not been previously examined for use in context-aware applications. This article explores how linkcell-based methods may be incorporated into context-aware applications to support the provision of context-aware services to mobile business users. The article begins by reviewing the essentials of linkcell-based data management. Next it decomposes a prototypical context-aware system into its essential components and then contemplates how the linkcell method may be reformulated to support the data management requirements associated with providing context-aware mobile business services.


A good method for dispersing Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in LDPE matrix by melt processing technique had been developed. The surface of MWNTs was modified by HNO3, then, treated with γ-aminopropyltriethoxy Silane. The surface-modified MWNTs homogeneous LDPE composites with 0-0.35 mass fraction MWNTs loading had been evaluated for electrical conductivity. The composites' electrical conductivity (σDC) was improved for the good dispersion of MWNTs in LDPE matrix. The values of σDC obeyed a percolation power law with MWNTs concentration threshold 0.10 mass fraction. 10-2 s/cm conductivity for 0.15 mass fraction MWNTs loading indicated that the composites could be used as lightweight electrostatic shielding materials.


During the nineteenth century the position of women in music grew throughout
Europe, and Ireland was no exception. In Dublin, women went from participating in
the city's musical culture as performers to participating as teachers, composers,
organisers, performers and writers.
In the first half of the century, private music teachers such as Mrs Allen
represented women's first steps into promoting Irish music. With the re-organisation
of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 1856, women were given a new outlet for
their talents as students and teachers. The employment and fair treatment of Fanny
Robinson, as the Royal Irish Academy of Music"s first female teacher, set a
precedent for equal treatment of women in the music profession. The Royal Irish
Academy of Music continued to employ women as teachers, such as Mrs Scott-
Ffennell, Margaret O"Hea and Edith Oldham. The nineteenth century saw Dublin's
first female composers, Fanny Robinson, Elena Norton and Annie Patterson,
publishing and performing their music. Women began writing about music as a
means of improving music education and public understanding. One of the greatest
outcomes of the promotion of music by women was the founding of the Feis Ceoil by
Annie Patterson and its organisation and promotion by Patterson and Oldham. The
musical culture of Dublin was given a means through which it could develop while
reviving native Irish music.
This thesis evaluates the contribution made by women to music in nineteenth
century Dublin and examines the areas they were involved in, how they were
perceived and how their important work has been neglected and often forgotten in
accounts of music from that period. It argues their worthiness of an important place
in Ireland's music history.


Suspended nanostructures play an important role in enhancing the performance of a diverse group of nanodevices. However, realizing a good arrangement and suspension for nanostructures of various shapes remains a significant challenge. Herein, a rapid and simple method for fabricating wafer-scale, highly uniform, well-arrayed suspended nanostructures via nanowelding lithography is reported. Suspended nanostructures with various shapes (nanowires, nanoholes, nanomesh, and nanofilms) and materials (gold, silver, and palladium metals) were employed to demonstrate the applicability of our method. Moreover, gas sensors and thermoacoustic speakers with suspended nanowires outperformed those with unsuspended nanostructures. The proposed method is expected to help advance the development of future nanodevices based on suspended nanostructures.


The effect of strychnine and atropine on the amplitude of the evoked potentials (EP) of the cerebral cortex was studied. It was shown, that both drugs increased amplitude of the EP. When we used strychnine, increased amplitude of the EP determined modification of the electrical resistance and current sources of the electrical field of the EP. Atropine did not change electrical resistance and in this case only electrical current sources determined modification of the EP.


We propose a chaos synchronization detection method combined with an extension neural network to diagnose the state of wind turbine blades. On the basis of a large-scale wind power generation system architecture, a 100 W small-scale wind power generation system simulation platform was first constructed and then a programmable logic controller (PLC) collected vibration sensor information. Through Ethernet and IEC 61850 communication protocols, the measured vibration signals were synchronously transmitted to a remote human–machine interface constructed by LabVIEW to facilitate remote real-time monitoring and analysis. We examined the identification of four different states of wind turbine blades: the normal state, blade rupture, blade screw fly-off, and abnormal blade inclination angle. On the basis of vibration signals in different states, a dynamic error scatter diagram was constructed by the chaos synchronization detection method, and chaos eye coordinates were extracted as eigenvalues for the identification of various state models. Finally, through the extension neural network, the four different states were identified. The measured results show that the proposed method can identify the states of wind turbine blades, and the identification accuracy rate of the proposed method was as high as 88.75%. Therefore, the proposed method effectively detects abnormal vibration signals of wind turbines and identifies different types of blade faults in real time.


For image recognition and labeling tasks, recent results suggest that machine learning methods that rely on manually specified feature representations may be outperformed by methods that automatically derive feature representations based on the data. Yet for problems that involve analysis of 3d objects, such as mesh segmentation, shape retrieval, or neuron fragment agglomeration, there remains a strong reliance on hand-designed feature descriptors. In this paper, we evaluate a large set of hand-designed 3d feature descriptors alongside features learned from the raw data using both end-to-end and unsupervised learning techniques, in the context of agglomeration of 3d neuron fragments. By combining unsupervised learning techniques with a novel dynamic pooling scheme, we show how pure learning-based methods are for the first time competitive with hand-designed 3d shape descriptors. We investigate data augmentation strategies for dramatically increasing the size of the training set, and show how combining both learned and hand-designed features leads to the highest accuracy.


Wealth management products (WMPs) in China are investments that offer fixed rates of return well above regulated interest rates for deposits and are often used to fund investments in sectors where bank credit is restricted. They are typically actively managed by banks, with other firms commonly used as 'channels', but few are recorded on banks' balance sheets. A key concern about such products is the moral hazard created by a history of banks bailing out unguaranteed WMPs.


Comparision between kriging and Inverse Distance weighing methods has been done to prepare predicted soil maps. The study area of Poshtkouh rangelands are located in the southern slopes of the Shirkouh mountains, Yazd province, Iran. Analysis of 112 soil samples was done using randomized-systematic method to depths 0-30 cm and 30-80 cm, and map of soil sample point was prepared. Kriging, Point-kriging, Normal Distance Weighing and Inverse Distance Weighing techniques were used to predict soil factor. Significance of these techniques was tested by cross validation test (MAE and MBE). Results suggest that in all depths and soil factors, kriging method is the best except soil organic matter.


A total of 21 four weeks old Nara males divided into 3 groups as A-non-caponized, B-chemically and C-surgically caponized birds having 7 males each. The birds were caponized at 4 weeks of age and reared on individual cages up to 16 weeks of age to assess the body weight gain, hematological traits and blood cholesterol concentration. The weight gain was significantly increased in caponized birds compared to non-caponized birds (p<0.01). However, surgically caponized birds gained the highest body weight. Total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration were significantly reduced in caponized birds compared to non-caponized birds (p<0.01). Testis weight of group A and B at 16 weeks of age were 19.20 and 2.58 g/bird respectively. The highest enlargement of liver and spleen was found in group- C followed by group-A and B. Adrenal gland weight of A, B and C were 0.14, 0.21 and 0.26g/bird respectively (p<0.01). Reduced comb, wattle and head of caponized birds were observed compared to the non-caponized birds. Caponization is the most suitable technique to have maximum meat from chicken. However, surgically caponization may be the best technique for maximum growth.