The title 'Creating democratic citizenship through drama education' may initially lead the reader into thinking this would be a practical guide to teaching citizenship through drama. However, it is a collection of writings written over 25 years, containing predominantly the theory and philosophy of using drama as a way of teaching and learning. It would be suitable as support for undergraduate students on teacher training courses focusing on Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils.

The synopsis on the back cover is accurate in terms of identifying its intentional target reader as being one who is specifically interested in drama and drama education. It also highlights the book's intention to describe the place of drama in the curriculum and the importance and functionality of the theatre, which is achieved. Another aspect that I considered when I reviewed this book was whether it truly addressed the issue of democratic citizenship and whether this could be achieved, as it says, through drama.
The book is divided into three sections: Making Sense of Drama, The Argument for Drama and Pro-Social Pedagogy. The selected papers have been chosen to highlight Neelands' 'journey of his practice and thinking over the past twenty five years' (xxiv). The introduction gives an overview, integrating and emphasising the historical context in which the Neelands' papers were written. The introduction addresses the approach and reasoning to using drama, highlighting the role of a teacher as a facilitator encouraging the pupils to talk rather than being teacher led.

As the first two chapters in the book were lesson exemplars I found them the most engaging: Chapter 1 Beowulf, a sample lesson in Section 1, and Chapter 11, The Arrival, in Section 3. The lesson in Chapter 1 is not suitable for the generalist undergraduate primary school teacher but demands a specialist drama undergraduate or somebody who has experience and a lot of confidence. However, Neelands does direct the reader to the adapted version of Beowulf from which this lesson was created for the reader to investigate further. Chapter 11, The Arrival, could be suitable for the general practitioner of upper primary and above, but as with Chapter 2 the practitioner would have to be very confident. Chapter 11 concentrates on oral history researched by the children. It is a practical guide including the required key resources for the activities. The children, through small activities, which are part of a whole, focus on families, communities, highlighting citizenship and encouraging global awareness. The children are encouraged to enthuse and empathise with other people's differing perspectives and opinions, giving credibility to the title of the book.

In contrast, the other chapters in the book are predominantly theory. For example, Chapter 3 identifies what drama is and what drama aims to achieve, highlighting the difficulties teachers may encounter. It attempts to define the relationship between the learner and the teacher, and the relationship between story, play and language development. Neelands describes the importance of story and play in the development of Key Stage 1 children's language development, leading to the natural progression of role-play in Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. It makes links to the National Curriculum of England and Wales (HMI 1988) and the HMI (1985) document Drama 5–16. Unfortunately, the concept of democracy and citizenship is tenuously linked in the very last sentences of the last paragraph.

Another example of the theoretical grounding can be found in Chapter 6. It is supported by a number of references, although as this is a historical journey they are from 1914 to 1993. Again, it is suitable for an undergraduate student interested in drama as technical language is used and prior knowledge is required. There is an emphasis on the Euro-American theatre and the 'growing tide of criticism of the educational drama tradition' (79).

Considering the aim of the book was to create democratic citizenship, it is surprising that this is not discussed or defined in detail. It is only really addressed in the last section, Pro-Social Pedagogy. This section contains four chapters, one of which is The Arrival that I mentioned earlier, and is the most interesting and purposeful; relating more with society and democracy. As this is a collection of Neelands' writings over 25 years it is not unexpected that the last section is more up to date and relevant to today's perception of democracy and citizenship.

Overall, I was slightly disappointed with the collection of writings as they failed to address fully the practical or the theory side of drama, or the issue of democratic citizenship. The book attempts to address too wide a focus and does not do any one area justice. However, I would suggest that the editor of the book has given the reader an introduction to Neelands' writing, highlighting Neelands' extensive experience, and would lead the reader to further writings of specific interest by Neelands.


The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans relies on a good source of nitrogen for healthy growth. One of the most important sources of this nitrogen is from nitrate. A. nidulans can assimilate the nitrogen from nitrate via the action of its nitrate reductase enzyme. This enzyme requires a molybdenum-pterin containing cofactor for its activity. In A. nidulans, there are six loci known to be involved in synthesis of the Mo-cofactor - the so-called cnx genes. This work reports on the isolation and characterization of the cnxABC locus. cnxABC was found to consist of one gene containing an intron which separates two domains which encode one bifunctional protein. The two regions, namely cnxA and cnxC (each of which are able to phenotypically repair cnxA and cnxC fungal mutants respectively) show a high degree of homology with the two protein products of moaA and nioaC. of Escherichia coli, as well as with two proteins encoded by genes isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana - cnx2 and cnx3. Nitrate is also shown to act as an inducer of cnx ABC mRNA synthesis. If cnx ABC plays a similar role to its homologues, it has its function at the early stages of Mo-pterin biosynthesis, ie. conversion of guanosine into precursor Z, which is then converted to the molybdopterin which is incorporated into the Mo-cofactor. Mo-co is a universal molecule which is found in various enzymes throughout the species. Research into the synthesis of this cofactor will provide results which will prove to have important consequences in the understanding of the action of various important enzymes within many species.


Introduction: Human nose influences facial aesthetics and soft tissue harmony. Owing to uniqueness of nasal morphological characteristics, due consideration to it during treatment plan is essential. Present study aims at assessing nasal index in the Maharashtrian population and its correlation with age, gender and type of malocclusion. Materials and Methods: A sample of 410 patients was selected out of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment at the department to assess various nasal parameters. Data thus obtained was divided in groups depending on age, gender and type of malocclusion and subjected to suitable statistical analyses. Results: Mean nasal index in males was 79.08 ± 8.21 while in females was 76.65 ± 9.87 which did not differ significantly with respect to gender and age (P > 0.05). Mean nasal index differ in respect to type of malocclusion in sagittal plane and was found to be highest in patients' records pertaining to skeletal Class III malocclusion, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Nasal index did not show significant correlation with facial index and dorsum base ratio (P > 0.05 for both). Conclusions: Mean nasal index in Maharashtrian male is 79.08 ± 8.21 and in females is 76.65 ± 9.87 (mesorrhine nasal type). The mean nasal index was found to be reduced in Class II malocclusion cases as compared to Class I and Class III malocclusion. The facial index, nasal index and dorsum base ratio also did not show statistically significant correlation.


Plague is apparently receding from India, but whether this recession heralds its final disappearance from the subcontinent or is merely a phase in its secular trend or is perhaps due to the effect of control measures is a matter for consideration. On the correct assessment of the present position will depend the nature of the steps to be taken now or in the future. Among the factors considered in this assessment are the possible existence of endemic plague foci in India, the clinical forms of the disease encountered, the relative frequency and epidemiology of urban and rural plague, seasonal variations in prevalence, and the likelihood of resistance offleas to insecticides.


Metabolic syndrome and related complications are a major challenge for health providers of present era. Metabolic syndrome with key characters of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia are the outcomes of faulty diet and habits. Since there are no such pharmacological agents which can reverse this condition more importance is being given to diet and lifestyle modifications. Traditional medicinal systems like Ayurveda gives equal importance for food and nutrition in both health and diseased conditions. Concept of Pathya - apathya for each and every disease is unique to Ayurveda where the macro and micronutrient principles were selected rationally for each disease conditions. These very principles can be adopted along with dietary supplements for curbing modern lifestyle disorders, more over there is mentioning of similar conditions in classics under a board term of Santharpanajanya Vikaras. Materials and methods: Thorough literary search done on various classical Ayurvedic texts for various diet and dietary preparations and online bases for their pharmacological properties from Ayurvedic and modern perspective and enlisted the dietary supplements. Results: Selected three major ingredients for the macro nutrient principles carbohydrate, protein and fat suggestive for MS from Sthoulya Prakarana and their properties are critically reviewed. Conclusion: There is enough scope of research in Ayurvedic dietary supplements for obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.


Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic infection caused by human polyomaviruses such as the JC virus. It usually occurs as a severe complication of immunosuppression in patients with primary disorders of the immune system or secondary impairment of immune function, for example, after iatrogenic states of immunosuppression. PML usually takes a rapidly progressive course and advances to death within 1 to 18 months. Today, PML is mainly seen in AIDS, while previously it was typically found in patients with granulomatous, neoplastic, or infectious diseases. In granulomatous diseases particularly, PML is thought to occur as a result of iatrogenic states of immunosuppression, but it is also seen in patients aggressively treated with immunosuppressive agents for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 2 PML progresses to death in most of these patients even after withdrawing immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore additional therapy, aimed at supporting a more rapid restoration of immune function his warranted.


While cool chain management is an effective method of extending the market life of horticultural produce, the technology is either not available or too expensive to be utilized in many less developed tropical countries. Extending the market life by reducing ethylene levels around produce could provide a viable alternate technology to temperature control. This study examined the effect of ethylene in the storage environment at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 ?L/L on the retention of visual quality of cucumber, golden squash, bitter melon, green bean, pak choy, choy sum, parsley held at the tropical ambient temperature of 30 °C at high relative humidity. Reducing atmospheric ethylene from 1 ?L/L progressively increased the market life of all produce. The extension in market life in 0.001 ?L/L was about 13 days for cucumber, 9 days for golden squash and 3 days for green bean. Market life extension was 1-2 days for bitter melon, coriander, parsley and pak choy but this represents an approximate doubling of market life at 1 ?L/L and is considered commercially worthwhile in many developing countries. As a comparison, all produce were similarly held at the ambient temperature of 20 °C and the market life of six vegetables held at 30 °C in 0.001 ?L/L was greater than produce held at 20 °C in 1 ?L/L ethylene while the seventh had a similar market life. Thus, maintaining a low ethylene atmosphere at 30 °C was equivalent to reducing the storage temperature by at least 10 °C. Minimising ethylene accumulation around produce marketed at tropical temperatures was therefore found to generate a meaningful extension in market life.


It was hypothesized that maize steep liquor, which is high in crude protein, could replace soybean meal in supplementation strategies in lamb production systems. Therefore, the effects of replacing soybean meal with maize steep liquor at 0%, 33%, 66% and 100% on a dry matter (DM) basis on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics were assessed in feedlot lambs. Thirty-two Santa Ines intact male lambs, with an average initial weight of 21.0 ± 2.3 kg, were assigned to a completely randomized block design with four treatments and eight replicates. Intake of DM, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and total digestible nutrients were not affected by the diets. However, the intake of crude protein (CP) was reduced by 0.2 g/day for each 1% increase in the replacement level of soybean meal with maize steep liquor. Replacement of soybean meal with maize steep liquor in the diets did not affect the apparent digestibility of nutrients with the exception of CP, which decreased by 14.1 g/kg DM for each 1% increase in the replacement level of soybean meal. Similar trends were observed for average daily gain, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield and cold carcass yield. From these results, soybean meal could be replaced by up to 100% with maize steep liquor in finishing diets for feedlot lambs. Keywords: Alternative feed, by-product, digestibility, intake, performance


Traditional research methods adopt normal distributions as a pattern of the stock market behavior. This paper utilized POT model of extreme value theory, and GPD distribution which can give more accurate description on tail distribution of financial returns/losses. EVT and POT techniques are applied to a series of daily losses of the RTS index (RTSI) over a 15-year period (1995-2009), RTSI is total index of 50 largest Russian stocks. The focus is on the use of proposed methods to asses tail related risk providing a modeling tool for modern risk management. (New York Science Journal 2010; 3(6):102-107). (ISSN 1554 - 0200).


The amino acid at position 160 of the ligand-binding subunit, alpha 1, is an important determinant of agonist and antagonist binding to the glycine receptor. Exchange of the neighboring residues, phenylalanine at position 159 and tyrosine at position 161, increased the efficacy of amino acid agonists. Whereas wild-type alpha 1 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes required 0.7 millimolar beta-alanine for a half-maximal response, the doubly mutated (F159Y,Y161F) alpha 1 subunit had an affinity for beta-alanine (which was more potent than glycine) that was 110-fold that of the wild type. Also, gamma-aminobutyric acid and D-serine, amino acids that do not activate wild-type alpha 1 receptors, efficiently gated the mutant channel. Thus, aromatic hydroxyl groups are crucial for ligand discrimination at inhibitory amino acid receptors.


The paper analyses the family life courses of sons and daughters from families with low socioeconomic status and at high risk to offend. For this Dutch cohort (N=522), born on average in 1932, register and archive data on offending and family-life events from age 18 to 50 years are investigated. We discuss different mechanisms of how parental criminality may affect demographic behaviours, such as marriage and parenthood. As these demographic behaviours are interlinked, and as their ordering is meaningful, we apply a holistic approach by using sequence and cluster analysis to construct family-life courses. Findings indicate four family-life trajectories that are almost similar for the sons and daughters, although criminal fathers appear to affect sons' and daughters' trajectories differently. Daughters' family-life trajectories seem directly affected by father's offending whereas sons' trajectories are only affected by their own juvenile offending.


The level of awareness about ocean wave energy as a viable source of useful energy has been increasing recently. Different concepts and methods have been suggested by many researchers to harvest ocean wave energy. This paper reviews and compares the efficiencies and power performance of different wave energy converters. The types of analyses used in deriving the reported efficiencies are identified, and the stage of the power conversion processes at which the efficiencies were determined is also identified. In order to find a common way to compare the efficiencies of different technologies, the hydrodynamic efficiency in relation to the characteristic width of the wave energy converters and the wave resource potential are chosen in this paper. The results show that the oscillating body systems have the highest ratio in terms of the efficiency per characteristic width, and overtopping devices have the lowest. In addition, with better understanding of the devices' dynamics, the efficiencies of the newer oscillating water column and body systems would increase as the potential wave energy level increases, which shows that those newer designs could be suitable for more potential locations with large variations in wave energy potentials. At last, discussion about the cost of ocean wave energy is presented as well.


Pathogenic Burkholderia--Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei--are causative agents of glanders and melioidosis, severe infectious diseases of man and animals. They are regarded as potential agents of bioterrorism. The existing bacteriological and immunological methods of identification of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are not efficient enough for the rapid diagnosis and typing of strains. Described in the paper are molecular methods of detection of the agents by PCR, hybridization and strain typing made on the basis of bacterial total cell protein profiles, RAPD, ribotyping as well as of plasmid and DNA microrestriction analyses.


Ever-increasing interest in oceanography and marine biology and their relevance to global environmental issues creates a demand for authoritative reviews summarising the results of recent research. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review has catered to this demand since its founding by the late Harold Barnes fifty years ago. Its objectives are to consider, annually, the basic areas of marine research, returning to them when appropriate in future volumes; to deal with subjects of special and topical importance; and to add new subjects as they arise. The favourable reception accorded to all the volumes shows that the series is fulfilling a very real need: reviews and sales have been gratifying. The fifty-second volume follows closely the objectives and style of the earlier volumes, continuing to regard the marine sciences—with all their various aspects—as a unity. Physical, chemical, and biological aspects of marine science are dealt with by experts actively engaged in these fields. The series is an essential reference text for researchers and students in all fields of marine science and related subjects, and it finds a place in libraries of not only marine stations and institutes, but also universities. It is consistently among the highest ranking impact factors for the marine biology category of the citation indices compiled by the Institute for Scientific Information. [Book Synopsis]


Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a data model that represents information about web resources using triples. Triples represent data at the atomic level using three components: subject, predicate and object. The structure of RDF data is defined by a schema language RDFS. RDF data storage can be classified into five categories: Native, Relational, Object-Oriented, Object-Relational and Expert System. Of these, Native and Relational have been the dominant approaches. The problem with all current RDF storage approaches is that none adequately represent the semantics of the RDFS with their underlying storage architecture. In this thesis, a more semantic storage approach is introduced using Information Network Model Database (INMDB) which addresses this problem. To support our claim, we store the English version of the DBPedia RDF dataset in INMDB. The results show that INMDB offers a more semantic way to store and query structured RDF data.


The sixth complement component (C6) has a common charge polymorphism, C6A and C6B, with similar gene frequencies in all major populations. In addition, C6B2 is also found in Japanese populations at a frequency of about 6%. Sequence analyses of the coding region of three human and ape C6 alleles indicated four nonsynonymous and three synonymous changes in C6*B2 relative to C6*A, suggesting that a recombination event occurred between C6*B2 and C6*A to give rise to C6*B. Sequence variation in a 3.86 kb region encompassing exon 3, where the causal base change of the common C6 polymorphism is found, indicated that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were in extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD), with little differentiation among populations. Sliding window estimates of two test statistics for neutrality revealed significant values in a subregion where the replacement coding polymorphism resides, in all three human populations. These results raise the possibility that the two common C6 alleles in human populationsw are maintained by balancing selection.


Biomarkers which allow for identification of the underlying aetiology of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are of prognostic importance. In addition to the amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated tau pathology, genetic factors such as apolipoprotein E (APOE)-e4 and neuroinflammation may have additional roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the influence of APOE-ɛ4 status, neuroinflammation as measured by high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and their interaction effect on cortical thickness in MCI. We hypothesised that the interaction between APOE-ɛ4 and HMGB1 would result in a more widespread pattern of cortical thinning compared with either one factor alone.

Fifty-two individuals (27 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 25 controls) were recruited from a tertiary neurological centre. MCI was clinically diagnosed using the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association workgroup (NIA-AA) criteria.1 They had a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score of 0.5 and had no other disease that could account for their cognitive deficits. Subjects with active systemic inflammatory states including infections, recent surgery or acute strokes and those receiving anti-inflammatory or cancer treatment were excluded as they could affect the levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). This study was approved by the SingHealth Institutional Ethics Review Board and written informed consent was obtained for all.

Blood samples were collected from all subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood with QIAamp DNA Blood Maxi Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Genotyping for apolipoprotein E (APOE) was performed as described previously.2 Subjects with at least a single copy of …


Received opinion holds that it would be more efficient, hence more economical, to compress and thus dissolve the holdings of the Warburg Institute Library into an overarching university library system. This essay argues two points: first, that we should not be automatically persuaded by the popular and largely unexamined goal of efficiency; and second, that the Library indeed requires its own space but that that space must now be reconceived. In line with Aby Warburg's belief that the past should engage the present by expanding and refreshing it, the Warburg Institute Library's rare and singular collections are less about the books and more about the uniqueness of the content and what it does. This essay proposes that what makes the Library vital to today's networked epistemology is the insights that its volumes provide to the varieties of human ordering, organization, formatting, and categorization—visibly exhibited in the spatial arrangement of its holdings. As its users have long felt, the Warburg is more than a library: it is a complex physical space demonstrating the formal evolution or framing of human thought. The Warburg should thus be reconceived as a "house museum" (à la, perhaps, the Soane Museum in London) along these lines.


The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a great challenge to the treating physicians. The paucity of newer effective antimicrobials has led to renewed interest in the polymyxin group of drugs, as a last resort for treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections. There is a dearth of information on the pharmacological properties of colistin, leading to difficulties in selecting the right dose, dosing interval, and route of administration for treatment, especially in critically-ill patients. The increasing use of colistin over the last few years necessitates the need for accurate and reliable in vitro susceptibility testing methods. Development of heteroresistant strains as a result of colistin monotherapy is also a growing concern. There is a compelling need from the clinicians to provide options for probable and possible colistin combination therapy for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in the ICU setting. Newer combination drug synergy determination tests are being developed and reported. There are no standardized recommendations from antimicrobial susceptibility testing reference agencies for the testing and interpretation of these drug combinations. Comparison and analysis of these reported methodologies may help to understand and assist the microbiologist to choose the best method that produces accurate results at the earliest. This will help clinicians to select the appropriate combination therapy. In this era of multidrug resistance it is important for the microbiology laboratory to be prepared, by default, to provide timely synergistic susceptibility results in addition to routine susceptibility, if warranted. Not as a favour or at request, but as a responsibility.


As far as we know, no Open Source program has been certified for security—until now. Although some people believed that it was not possible for an Open Source program to receive a security certification, we have proven otherwise by obtaining a Common Criteria security certification for SuSE SLES 8 SP3. With the increasing use of Open Source in general and Linux in particular within government and commercial environments, security of Open Source products is of increasing importance and as a result the demand for the security evaluation of Linux is evident. It is also generally believed that security certifications are time consuming and can take years to accomplish. We were able to obtain the Common Criteria certification of Linux in a few months. The presentation will cover our experience and the technical challenges associated with this Linux evaluation. In particular, we will discuss the enhancements we made to SLES 8 SP3 including the Linux kernel to support CAPP audit requirements. In addition the business advantages of the evaluation for Open Source software will be covered.


What is the organizational basis of responsiveness under conditions of crisis? In this essay we examine a trading room that was damaged in the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. What did the crisis reveal about the social practices and the technological tools of trading? Drawing on ethnographic field research prior to September 11th, we show how the heterarchical (as opposed to hierarchical) organization of the trading room contributed to innovation on an ongoing basis. Drawing on our subsequent observations in the relocated trading room and focus group discussions with executives in other World Trade Center financial firms, we show that similarly heterarchical features contributed to innovation in response to crisis. Under conditions of radical uncertainty, one cannot know in advance what resources one will need, or even know in advance what might be a resource. Laterally distributed intelligence and a tolerance of multiple registers of valuation and interaction provide generative structures of resourcefulness where the replicative redundancy of contingency planning confronts its limits. We conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of our findings on innovation, location and responsiveness for the changing urban geography of finance and the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan.


Counterfeiting, which is defined as illegally copying genuine goods with a brand name, is a widespread phenomenon and is imposing a huge cost on owners of trademarks. Yet, consuming counterfeit products is not prosecuted in the UK, whereas it is in Europe or in the USA. Why is it so? In this paper, we look at how the entry of a counterfeiter affects the legal firm's pricing and advertising strategies and profits. The rationale for focusing on price and advertising is in fact straightforward. First, it is probably the high margin, that is, the difference between the price and the (comparatively very low) production cost that makes counterfeiting financially attractive. Second, the high willingness-to-pay by consumers is driven by the brand image or reputation, and this asset is notably built through advertising. Third, public enforcement of property rights is often lax and not all legal firms can afford private enforcement policies. In a nutshell, our results are as follows: First, we obtain that counterfeiting affects negatively pricing and advertising strategies before and after entry occurs. Second, we show that under no circumstances counterfeiting can be welcomed by a legal firm, that is, for all parameter values, counterfeiting reduces the profits of the owner of the genuine product. Finally, however, we show that there are circumstances under which consumer benefits from this illegal trade (the decrease in the price of the genuine good compensates the decrease in the brand reputation of this good). Such a result can rationalize non fining consumers of fake products.


This work concerns the study of the variations of the climatic parameters in an urban area bordering a green area. The problem of the great urbanization of the territory led to the registration of high temperatures in the cities during the summer. Such a phenomenon, called a "heat island", is caused by the employment of those materials used for the urbanization of the territory, which have different responses to the solar radiation that influence the naked soil or on a soil with vegetation. Actually, the presence of a green area in a territory strongly urbanized changes its environmental parameters and those of a bordering zone. In particular, it is possible to record the variation of air and soil temperature and the variation of the wind speed and direction. It has been studied in a typical urban context, in which a green area is surrounded by an urbanized area consisting of buildings, car parks and totally asphalted streets. Then the effect of different types of vegetation on the urban area climate was evaluated, with the help of numerical analysis, and, moreover, the influence area of a specific green area on the bordering urban context has been studied. The computational model employed is the software ENVI-MET, which successfully reproduces the interaction among urban surfaces, the vegetation and the atmosphere. The outcomes achieved help to understand how a green area modifies a city climate, making an area climatically more benign both from the point of view of city inhabitants and also from the energetic point of view.


We report on a new framework for preparing high-refractive index polymeric materials which combines the selective thiol radical mono-addition to phenyl-acetylene derivatives with hyperbranched architectures. Using this strategy we have synthesized a series of linear and hyperbranched polyvinyl sulfide (PVS) materials, employing different dithiol (A2 and A′2) and di- and trialkyne (B2 and B3) monomers. The process requires only a simple radical initiator, such as AIBN, in lieu of expensive or toxic catalysts and this chemistry produces polymers in high yield (up to 96%) and high molecular weight (up to 123 000 g mol−1). The polymers are optically transparent, thermally stable (up to 420 °C) and readily form high-quality films. The end group composition of the hyperbranched materials can be easily adjusted by changing the A2/B3 feed ratio. The sulfur incorporation and conjugation resulting from thiol–yne coupling with selective mono-addition results in materials with high refractive indices in the visible and IR region (nD = 1.68–1.75) and optical dispersions as low as 0.004. Moreover, we demonstrate that the hyperbranched architecture produces materials with better performance in terms of light reflection and chromatic dispersion compared to linear structures.


In the single authored, expert voice that is this book's unique strength, Arnold Katz provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological and biophysical basis of cardiac function, beginning with structure and proceeding to biochemistry, biophysics, and pathophysiology in arrhythmias, ischemia, and heart failure. Emphasis is on the interrelationships of basic processes among the cell, cardiac muscle function, and the biophysics of contractile and electrical behavior. This edition includes new material on cell signaling and molecular biology.


The positive relationship between spatial ability and mathematical skills is a classical result in developmental and cognitive psychology. Given this correlational relationship, researchers have tried to establish whether spatial training can increase mathematical ability. Such research has provided mixed results. In this study, we analysed the effects of two types of spatial training and handedness on primary school children's arithmetical ability. The participants were pre-tested on a test of arithmetic and assigned to one of three groups: (a) one hour of mental rotation and translation training, (b) one hour of mental translation training only, or (c) a no-contact group. The results showed no significant difference between training groups and a significant interaction between training group and category of handedness. Interestingly, only extremely right-handed children in the mental rotation and translation group seemed to benefit from the training. These outcomes suggest that any spatial training needs to include mental rotation activities to be effective, and that the relationship between spatial training and achievement mathematics appears to be moderated by handedness.


Recent ceilings placed on temporary duty (TDY) have engendered concerns that contingency-related TDY may be impinging on non-contingency-related TDY to the detriment of Air Force training. Accordingly, this report seeks to ascertain how much noncontingency TDY the Air Force needs to maintain requisite levels of readiness. After examining Air Force records and interviewing relevant personnel, the authors conclude that errors have in fact arisen in the recording of TDY and that contingency operations may indeed be compromising non-contingency-related efforts. The authors therefore recommend that the TDY tracking system be improved and that levels of non-contingency-related activities be increased.


The various stages of T cell development are typically characterized by the expression level of the two coreceptors, CD4 and CD8. During the CD4+CD8+ (double-positive, DP) stage of development, thymocytes that perceive a low avidity signal through the TCR go on to differentiate (positive selection), and ultimately down-regulate one coreceptor to express either CD4 or CD8. Alternatively, thymocytes that perceive a high avidity signal down-regulate both coreceptors and are induced to die via apoptosis (negative selection). However, it has recently been suggested that positively selected thymocytes may also partially down-regulate both coreceptors before up-regulating the one coreceptor that is ultimately expressed. This would imply that coreceptor down-regulation (dulling) is not a consequence of commitment to the death pathway. To explore this possibility, we have utilized an in vitro assay to demonstrate that dulling occurred in response to both positive and negative selecting ligands in vitro, was not a result of nonspecific membrane perturbation, was not dependent on the type of APC, and occurred before death in vitro. Furthermore, when thymocyte apoptosis was blocked, CD4 and CD8 were down-regulated in response to TCR stimulation. These data suggest that dulling in response to TCR ligation is distinct from death, and support a model in which DP dulling occurs during both positive and negative selection. The biological implications of this phenomenon are discussed.


The quantity and quality of political opinion polling are sources of concern for electoral democracies worldwide. A significant number of countries regulate polling by embargoing publication in the latter stages of the election period, or by mandating disclosure of key information about each poll. Such regulation, however, is rare in common law systems, where 'free speech' arguments tend to hold sway, sublimating concern for the deliberative health of political discourse. This article examines the issue, comparing regulation and case law internationally in light of the evolution, benefits and pathologies of opinion polling. A distinction can be made between polling on issues, which permit us all to reflect on the positions of fellow citizens on substantive issues, and the almost endless stream of polling on voting intentions, which offers little from a deliberative perspective. We recommend regulation to ensure disclosure, at the point of publication, of key information about each opinion poll (eg who conducted it, the wording of questions and margins of error), as well as a campaign-period embargo on publishing electoral opinion polling.


Muscle biopsy is an important diagnostic tool in the investigation of children with neuromuscular disorders. This report presents the experience with paediatric muscle biopsies during a 5-year period at a routine pathology laboratory. A total number of 58 cases were included, and indications, microscopical findings, and final histopathological diagnoses were recorded. A total of 21 biopsies were from females (36%) and 37 biopsies from males (64%); 53% of the cases were from children under 2 years of age. Major pathological findings were found in 30% comprising muscular dystrophy, neurogenic atrophy, and congenital and metabolic disorders, even in cases with vague clinical manifestations. These findings confirm the high diagnostic yield of muscle biopsies, especially as new techniques have been introduced such as immunohistochemistry. Muscle pathology is difficult and emphasizes the importance of this service being undertaken by specialized laboratories with an experienced staff. Microscopical examination of muscle biopsies should be based on adequate clinical information, demonstrating the necessity of close contact between pathologists and referring physicians.


A 26-year-old woman developed seizures and psychiatric disorders after having been in coma with encephalitis for a protracted period at age 11. Seizures were psychomotor, minor motor, and major motor with auras of fear, panic, and olfaction. The patient hallucinated, had paranoid ideas, was depressed, and attempted suicide. Medical and psychiatric treatment with anticonvulsants and tranquilizers was ineffective. Depth and surface EEG recordings revealed bilateral discharge abnormality in temporal, frontal, and thalamic areas. Lesions were placed in the temporal and orbitofrontal area bilaterally for the psycho-motor-psychic seizures and in the left thalamus for the minor motor seizure. The seizures were relieved without the incapacitating complications that occur with standard lobotomy and temporal lobe resection. Improvement of the psychic component of the seizures is believed due to interrupting seizure discharging circuitry in the temporal and frontal areas. The term temporofrontal seizures is proposed for the anatomic designation of psychomotor-psychic seizures.


We present antenna system using a circular polarization selective surface (CPSS) to realize a circular polarization (CP) equivalent to the widely used linear polarization (LP) gridded or dual-gridded reflector (DGR). The CPSS is realized by a multilayer stack of nonresonant anisotropic meander line surfaces, achieving a very wide bandwidth. The CPSS reflection and transmission dyadics are computed using full-wave simulations for all angles of incidence and design frequencies applicable, and the doubly curved reflector surface shapes are optimized in the TICRA POS software. The data are input to the TICRA tools software framework for antenna-system level radio frequency (RF) simulations. A planar CPSS sample was first manufactured and tested to demonstrate the adequacy of the selected multilayer design. A doubly curved reflector demonstrator based on the same technology and with a projected aperture of 750 mm was then designed, manufactured, and tested at Ku-band. While promising, the experimental results emphasize the difficulty of producing an electrically large multilayer doubly curved surface with RF performance equivalent to the original flat design and recommendations are provided to improve further the implementation of the proposed design.


Aiming at observing cosmic gamma rays in the energy region beyond several tens of TeV, a water-Cherenkov-type muon detector (MD) array was built under the Tibet air shower (AS) array.
The Tibet AS+MD array, which possess high sensitivity to gamma rays beyond 10 TeV, has been operated since 2014. We performed analysis of gamma rays from the Geminga PWN using data
collected by the Tibet AS+MD array. We report on the gamma-ray energy spectrum beyond 10 TeV and the morphology of >10 TeV gamma rays.


Spinel-type Co3O4 finds applications in a wide range of fields, including clean energy conversion, where nanostructured Co3O4 may provide a cost-efficient alternative to platinum- and iridium-based catalysts for electrocatalytic water-splitting. We here describe a novel strategy in which basic cobalt carbonate - a precursor to Co3O4 - is precipitated as sheet-like structures and microspheres covered with fine surface protrusions, via ammonium carbonate decomposition at room temperature. Importantly, these mild reaction conditions enable us to employ bio-inspired templating approaches to further control the mineral structure. Rod-like tobacco mosaic viruses (TMV) were used as biotemplates for mineral deposition, where we profit from the ability of Co(ii) ions to mediate the ordered assembly of the virus nanorods to create complex tubular superstructures of TMV/ basic cobalt carbonate. Calcination of these tubules is then achieved with retention of the gross morphology, and generates a hierarchically-structured solid comprising interconnected Co3O4 nanoparticles. Evaluation of these Co3O4 materials as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) demonstrates that the activity of Co3O4 prepared by calcination of ammonia diffusion-grown precursors in both, the absence or presence of TMV exceeds that of a commercial nanopowder.


BACKGROUND
Pressure ulcers (PUs) are injuries to the skin and underlying tissues that occur most commonly over bony prominences, such as the hips and heels as a result of pressure and shear forces. PUs cause pain, discomfort, longer hospital stays, and decreased quality of life. They are also very costly to treat and consume substantial parts of healthcare budgets. PUs are largely preventable, and education targeted at patients and their carers is considered important.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of patient and/or lay carer education on preventing pressure ulceration in at-risk people, in any care setting.

SEARCH METHODS
In June 2019 we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase; Ovid PsycINFO and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched clinical trials registries for ongoing and unpublished studies.  There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that recruited people of any age at risk of pressure ulceration, and RCTs that recruited people who informally care for someone at risk of pressure ulceration.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently performed study selection, data extraction, 'Risk of bias' assessment, and GRADE assessment of the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS
We included 10 studies with 11 publications (2261 participants analysed). Seven targeted their intervention at people at risk of ulceration and measured outcomes on these at risk people; two targeted those at risk and their family carers and measured outcomes on the at risk people cared for by their families; and one targeted lay carers only and measured outcomes on the at risk people they cared for. There were two main types of interventions: the provision of information on prevention of pressure ulcers, and the use of different types of education programmes. Provision of information on the prevention of pressure ulcers Three studies (237 participants) reported data for this comparison: two provided information directly to those at risk and their carers, and the third provided information to lay carers. As data could not be pooled we present individual study data. The evidence for primary outcomes is of very low certainty (downgraded twice for study limitations and twice for imprecision). We are uncertain whether the combined use of a self-instruction manual and one-to-one patient training and counselling versus a self-instruction manual alone reduces the proportion of at risk people developing a new PU (risk ratio (RR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 1.18), or whether carer self-instruction and one-to-one counselling versus self-instruction alone reduces the proportion of at risk people developing a new PU (RR 2.05, 95% CI 0.19 to 21.70). We are uncertain whether the use of home-based training, compared with routine ward-based training, reduces the proportion of at risk people developing a new PU (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.02). One study explored the secondary outcome patient knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention; however, as usable data were not provided, we were unable to carry out further analysis, and no effect estimate could be calculated. Educational programmes on the prevention of pressure ulcers Seven studies (2024 participants analysed) provided data for this comparison. In all studies the intervention was aimed at people at risk of ulceration. Risk of pressure ulceration One secondary report of an included study reported the primary outcome as time to PU development or occurrence and three studies and one secondary report of an included study reported this as the proportion of at risk people developing a new PU. One study reported the secondary outcome grade of PU and five studies and one secondary report of an included study reported on patient knowledge. There is low certainty evidence of there being no clear difference in the proportion of participants developing a new PU between use of a pressure ulcer prevention care bundle (PUPCB) and standard care: HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.33 (downgraded twice for imprecision). One secondary report of an included study explored whether individualised PU education and monthly structured telephone follow-up reduces the mean time to PU occurrence. Not all participants in this study developed a pressure ulcer, therefore the mean time to pressure ulcer occurrence could not be calculated from the data. We are uncertain whether the following three interventions reduce the proportion of at risk people developing a new PU as we assessed the certainty of evidence as very low: individualised PU education and monthly structured telephone follow-up (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.30), education delivery (RR 3.57, 95% CI 0.78 to 16.38), (downgraded twice for risk of bias and twice for imprecision); and computerised feedback and one-to-one consultations (no clear data provided), (downgraded twice for risk of bias and once for indirectness). Grade of pressure ulcer There is low certainty evidence that use of a PU prevention care bundle may make no difference to the severity of new PU development when compared with standard care. Patient knowledge We are uncertain whether the following interventions improve patient knowledge: enhanced educational intervention and structured follow-up (mean difference (MD) 9.86, 95% CI 1.55 to 18.17); multi component motivational interviewing/self-management with a multi component education intervention (no clear data provided); Spinal Cord Injury Navigator programme (no clear data provided); individualised PU education and monthly structured telephone follow-up (no clear data provided); computerised feedback (no clear data provided), structured, patient-centric PU prevention education event (MD 30.15, 95% CI 23.56 to 36.74). We assessed the certainty of the evidence for this outcome as low or very low (downgraded for risk of bias, imprecision, or indirectness).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We are uncertain whether educational interventions make any difference to the number of new PUs that develop, or to patient knowledge based on evidence from the 10 included studies, which we assessed as of low or very low certainty due to problems with risk of bias, serious imprecision and indirectness. The low certainty of evidence means that additional research is required to confirm these results.


Nanostructured ceramic coatings has excellent properties, their industrial application depends not only on their fabrication but also on their precision grinding technology, so it is necessary to study the material removal mechanism in grinding of nanostructured ceramic coatings. This paper presents experimental results on how the grinding processes parameters affect the grinding force ratio and specific grinding energy as well as surface roughness in precision surface grinding of nanostructured WC/12Co (n-WC/12Co) coating and also presents SEM observations of surface and subsurface of n-WC/12Co coating ground under different grinding conditions. Furthermore this paper discusses the material removal mechanism in grinding of n-WC/12Co coatings and gives priority to inelastic deformation instead of brittle fracture, which provides theoretical basis for the precision grinding of nanostructured ceramic coating.


Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common among 30% of American adults. Former and current smokers are at higher risk for NAFLD compared to never smokers. The ratio of urine caffeine metabolites to caffeine intake—namely, urine caffeine metabolite indices—has previously been used as a proxy for CYP1A2 activity, which is one of the main liver metabolizing enzymes. CYP1A2 activity is associated with NAFLD progression. No studies to our knowledge have examined the associations of liver enzymes, smoking intensity, and secondhand smoke (SES) with CYP1A2 activity (using caffeine metabolite indices) across smoking status. We analyzed national representative samples from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Interestingly, even within a normal range, several liver enzymes were associated with caffeine metabolite indices, and patterns of many of these associations varied by smoking status. For instance, within a normal range, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in never smokers and bilirubin in current smokers were inversely associated with 1-methyluric acid and 5-acetylamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil (URXAMU). Furthermore, we observed a common pattern: across all smoking statuses, higher AST/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) was associated with 1-methyluric acid and URXAMU. Moreover, in current smokers, increased lifelong smoking intensity was associated with reduced caffeine metabolite indices, but acute cigarette exposure as measured by SES levels was associated with increased caffeine metabolite indices among never smokers. In summary, commonly used liver enzyme tests can reflect the CYP1A2 activity even within a normal range, but the selection of these enzymes depends on the smoking status; the associations between smoking and the CYP1A2 activity not only depend on the intensity but also the duration of tobacco exposure.


Fundamental geodynamic changes from vertical tectonics to lateral subduction occurred during the Neoarchean, yet detailed processes related to this transition and initiation of modern-style subduction remain enigmatic. Successive Neoarchean magmatic rocks including both plume-derived komatiites and subduction-related supracrustal and intrusive rocks appeared and preserved key information on the late Archean geodynamic changes in the Western Shandong Province granite-greenstone belt (WSP), North China Craton. In this study, whole-rock geochemical and Sm-Nd isotopic data and zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes are reported for early Neoarchean supracrustal and intrusive rocks for the WSP. Temporally, the early Neoarchean magmatic movements in the WSP can be subdivided into two stages, including the early stage (2.77–2.69 Ga) and the late stage (2.69–2.60 Ga). Spatially, from southwest to northeast, intrusive rocks with similar ages define three belts (A, B, and C). Early stage tholeiitic and enriched meta-basalts were plume-related, representing oceanic crust opening from a pre-early Neoarchean continent. Slab subduction at least initiated at ca. 2.74 Ga and generated various Neoarchean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites, quartz diorites, and arc-related volcanic rocks and mafic intrusions. Episodic emergence of meta-basaltic rocks and/or mafic intrusions with depleted εHf(t) values and low (La/Yb)N ratios indicates frequent slab break-offs during ca. 2.70–2.68 Ga, 2.66–2.64 Ga, and 2.62–2.60 Ga due to a relatively hotter mantle and regional heating by mantle plume. Secular geochemical changes of mafic and felsic rocks in this study outline roles of slab subduction in contributions of cooling the mantle, secular mantle refertilization, and crustal growth.


"Mind-Forg'd Manacles" explores attitudes towards and treatments for madness in the age before the mass asylum and the emergence of the psychiatric profession. It aims to show how vernacular culture and Christian doctrine had traditionally offered explanations of insanity and how these views were displaced by the secularizing mind of the Enlightenment. It explores early social policy towards the insane and how this led to the piecemeal development of lunatic asylums. It also looks at the theoretical and practical aspects of psychiatric therapies.


This book was written for the thousands of IT professionals-from CIOs to circuit-switched telecom engineers-who are now responsible for deploying and maintaining secure VoIP networks. The book explains the impact on your VoIP network of PSTN, SIP, H.323, firewalls, NAT, encryption, and the regulatory environment. Coverage includes evaluation, design, integration, and management of VoIP networking components, including IP telephones, gateways, gatekeepers, registration servers, media servers, and proxy servers. Throughout the book, the authors rely on their extensive real-world experience to provide readers with practical applications and solutions.


We introduce Augmented Math, a machine learning-based approach to authoring AR explorable explanations by augmenting static math textbooks without programming. To augment a static document, our system first extracts mathematical formulas and figures from a given document using optical character recognition (OCR) and computer vision. By binding and manipulating these extracted contents, the user can see the interactive animation overlaid onto the document through mobile AR interfaces. This empowers non-technical users, such as teachers or students, to transform existing math textbooks and handouts into on-demand and personalized explorable explanations. To design our system, we first analyzed existing explorable math explanations to identify common design strategies. Based on the findings, we developed a set of augmentation techniques that can be automatically generated based on the extracted content, which are 1) dynamic values, 2) interactive figures, 3) relationship highlights, 4) concrete examples, and 5) step-by-step hints. To evaluate our system, we conduct two user studies: preliminary user testing and expert interviews. The study results confirm that our system allows more engaging experiences for learning math concepts.


A three year review of the surgical findings at Laparotomy for uterine fibroids at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was carried out from 1 st January 2001 to 31 st December 2003. Surgical Operation for uterine fibroid represents 21.6% of all major gynaecological operations carried out during the period under review. Fifty percent of the patients were aged 30 – 39 years. The finding of 172 (56.2%) of patients in the low parity group is suggestive that uterine fibroid plays a role in the process of spontaneous conception. A palpable abdominal swelling represents the commonest symptom of uterine fibroid in this study and as was present in sixty nine point nine. Other factors found to be associated with uterine fibroid are the numbers, size, location and associated pelvic inflammatory disease, which are common in low resource countries. 218 (71.2%) of patients with uterine fibroids had associated pathology of either adnexae or surrounding viscera. This finding put additional responsibility on the clinician for thorough counselling during the clinic attendance because these will contribute to possibility of infertility in such patients. In those patients who desire further child bearing discussion must include the possibility of assisted reproductive procedures to complement the result of restorative surgery. Keywords : surgical findings, laparatomy, uterine, fibroid The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13(2) 2006: 27-30


In this paper, time optimal trajectory tracking of redundant planar cable-suspended robots is investigated. The equations of motion of these cable robots are obtained as a system of second order differential equation in terms of path parameter s using the specified path. Besides, the bounds on the cable tensions and cable velocities are transformed into the bounds on the acceleration and velocity along the path. Assuming bang-bang control, the switching points in s 2 ― s plane are obtained. Then the cable tensions are found in terms of path parameter and, subsequently, versus time. The proposed approach is validated and the effect of the number of superfluous cables on the value of minimum time is studied. The next notable challenges include time optimal path planning of cable-suspended robots. By developing a hybrid genetic algorithm and bang-bang control approach, the minimum motion time from initial state to final one and also the corresponding path can be found. The optimum path is the one that minimizes traveling time from initial state to final one, while not exceeding the cable tensions and cable velocities limits, without collision with any obstacles.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether any of 4 parameters used as evaluation methods in the pediatric clerkship at Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, could predict a student's performance, as measured by the final grade.

DESIGN
A retrospective study in which the following data were collected: (1) a record of the diagnoses and total number of patients seen during the rotation, (2) clinical performance grade, (3) the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) pediatric shelf test score, (4) case presentation grade, and (5) the final clerkship grade for overall performance.

SETTING
Third-year pediatric clerkship in the 1987-1988 academic year at Children's National Medical Center, the George Washington University School of Medicine.

RESULTS
A total of 128 students had complete data. Correlations among the clinical parameters, ie, number of patients seen, clinical grade, case grade, and the NBME shelf test score were all statistically nonsignificant. In addition, multiple regression modeling of NBME test scores, using measures such as clinical grade, average case grade, and number of patients seen, was unsuccessful, with only clinical performance entering the regression model. In contrast, modeling of the final clerkship grade resulted in explaining almost 80% of the variation on a student's final grade (R2 = 0.79). Variables submitted to the model were number of patients seen, clinical grade, average case presentation grade, and ordered examination score. Last, a highly significant relationship (chi 2 = 15.98, P < .001) was noted between students receiving a final grade of honors and an "A" on their case grade.

CONCLUSIONS
Results confirmed that there is no single best predictor of performance on a pediatric clerkship. While there was only a weak correlation between each single measure and the final grade, together these accounted for 80% of the variation in students' scores. Based on the study data, the use of varied evaluative methods to determine a student's final grade is recommended.


Background: A model of in vitro cultured mature cardiomyocytes is essential to fabricate disease models
and research drug responses. Over the past years, research has been done into the use of gelatin based
hydrogel scaffolds for the culturing of cardiomyocytes. However, pristine gelatin based hydrogel scaffolds
lack conductivity, which is present in human cardiac tissue. Here, a method to fabricate a conductive
gelatin based hydrogel scaffold is discussed.
Method: Gelatin tyramine has been mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes to achieve a higher
conductivity of the hydrogel. To investigate the effect of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the conductivity
of the hydrogel, a conductivity measurement is done with a four point probe. To investigate the
effect of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the maturity of the cardiomyocytes, the RNA expression
of the gene encoding connexin 43 is measured with qPCR and the expression of the connexin 43 protein
is imaged with immunostaining. The orientation of �-actinine strands has also been investigated.
Results and discussion: It has been found that the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes did not
show a positive correlation to the conductivity of the scaffolds. It is expected that this is due to the lack of
a network formed by the multi-walled carbon nanotubes, causing the formation of electrical double layers
at the interfaces between the carbon nanotubes and the gel. With regard to the effect of the presence of
carbon nanotubes on the maturity of the cultured cardiomyocytes it is hard to draw a concrete conclusion
due to the fashion in which the cardiomyocytes are cultured, as multiple cardiomyocytes are present on
top of each other.
Conclusion and recommendations: During the scope of this master thesis, a design for the fabrication
of thin gelatine based hydrogel layers has been optimized. For further optimization it is recommended to
apply an electric field over the hydrogels with carbon nanotubes during the curing of the hydrogels, to
allow the carbon nanotubes to align. This would form a network of carbon nanotubes in the gel, causing
less electrical double layers to be formed.
For the fabrication of the thin hydrogel layers it is recommended to use a PMMA mold for reproducibility.


Investing in real estate through investment funds in many highly developed countries is extremely profitable and is becoming a viable alternative to investment in stocks. Investment funds allocating capital to real estate are also present in Poland. However, the Polish market is relatively underdeveloped. There are only a few funds of this type available, and capitalisation of these funds does not exceed a few hundred million zlotys. There are no REIT type investment funds, in their traditional form, on the Polish market, because of the missing legislation. However, an act is being prepared, which aims at regulating the functioning of REITs in Poland and facilitating a dynamic development of this form of capital allocation for individual investors.The aim of the first part of the article will be to present the current state of the Polish investment fund market, with funds allocating capital to real estate. Capitalisation of these funds, rates of return and possible reasons for the poor development of the Polish real estate investment funds market will be presented. The second part of the article will present the main provisions of the act, which is being prepared and aims at regulating the functioning of REIT funds in Poland, and the act's objectives according to its authors.


In recent disaster relief operations, short take-off and landing aircrafts began to excel. To enable the large fixed wing aircrafts to take off in a shorter distance, we designed a new high lift aided device. The design principle is different from conventional ones. According to formula of lift, lift is proportional to air density. Pressure wave high lift aided de- vice is the lift-promoting system functioning by using pressure wave to increase the air density around wings. This article shows the mechanic design and the lift-promoting efficiency calculation. The calculation is based on a simplified model of Boeing 747-400. Since the take-off process is a variable acceleration motion, it is difficult to confirm the distance an aircraft need to reach take-off speed. We turned to study the extra take-off weight at the original take-off speed. We found that with the help of this device, the maximum take-off weight has increased 2.62%. And the take-off weight increment is proportional to the amplitude and frequency of the device. The author's conclusion is that although the increase is not much, the benefit is obvious. It could be more efficient if the amplitude and frequency are enhanced.


We study the quantum dynamics of the Bose-Hubbard model on a ladder formed by two rings coupled by the tunneling effect. By implementing the Bogoliubov approximation scheme, we prove that, despite the presence of the inter-ring coupling term, the Hamiltonian decouples in many independent sub-Hamiltonians H-k associated with momentum-mode pairs +/- k. Each sub-Hamiltonian H-k is then shown to be part of a specific dynamical algebra. The properties of the latter allow us to perform the diagonalization process, to find the energy spectrum and the conserved quantities of the model, and to derive the time evolution of important physical observables. We then apply this solution scheme to the simplest possible closed ladder, the double trimer. After observing that the excitations of the system are weakly populated vortices, we explore the corresponding dynamics by varying the initial conditions and the model parameters. Finally, we show that the inter-ring tunneling determines a spectral collapse when approaching the border of the dynamical-stability region.


Biphenyl contains a direct bond between two phenyl functional groups, and the dihedral angle between the two phenyl groups has been discussed in terms of electronic and steric stabilization. Facile rotation about the C–C bond between the two phenyl components is expected to occur at high temperatures. Here, we report observations of the rotational dynamics of a biphenylene dirotor in a crystalline state in a novel molecular gyrotop. The structure and rotational dynamics of the rotor exhibit remarkable temperature dependence. In accordance with the amplification of the angular displacement of biphenylene inside a crystal with increasing temperature, the birefringence of the single crystal decreased.


Hyperreality is a critical theory of postmodernism. The negative impacts of hyperreality are visible in our media and literature fields and it is a threat to contemporary society in association with reality and its copies. Illusions of reality are always formed, and they pretend as the originals. Jean Baudrillard through his book Simulacra and Simulation, originally published in French in 1981 and translated to English in 1983 traces out the fake realities that are promoted by media and literature. He is a well-known critic of postmodernism, his theory of hyperreality is better applicable in postmodern literature and media. People are living in a world where they are always confused with reality and blended reality, even the reality is suppressed under fantasies and illusions, these imaginations often control the world. Media and literature are always influenced by hyperreality, films, advertisements, news, social media, etc. represent artificial realities so that the present world cannot realize the truth and originality. People admire fictional heroes and superficial characters in both media and literature. The kids and youngsters are under the influence of modern technology and communication, IT revolution always accelerated to cope with an imaginative world. Technology created a new world order where people find simulacra are more comfortable and attractive to live with. Hyperreality would gradually lead the people to chaos and confusion, as a result, everything will lose its own identity, originality, and essence.


In 2015-2016, a six-month long experiment was carried out in the ZEB Living Lab, one of the first houses in Norway planned to reach net zero emission throughout its lifetime. By means of qualitative experiments, social scientists evaluated how six groups of occupants impacted the zero emission building, and how the zero emission building impacted its occupants in different ways. Data were collected through direct observation, diaries and interviews before, during and after the stay. In this paper, we take a closer look at the sensor data from the detailed monitoring system, generated during each group's 25-day long residing's. We find that despite the experiment being a controlled environment with many shared household characteristics, occupancy is determined by diverse factors, and the users' preferences and attitudes influence energy consumption. All major household appliances were the same, but the time of use, frequency, duration and type of use differed. The study contributes to increasing understanding of user behaviour and energy use in low energy houses. Providing occupancy profiles is valuable, in light of the increasing amount of local renewable energy production. These datasets can be used as input in energy simulation and planning of zero-emission neighbourhoods.


Hybrid fuzzing, combining symbolic execution and fuzzing, is a promising approach for vulnerability discovery because each approach can complement the other. However, we observe that applying hybrid fuzzing to kernel testing is challenging because the following unique characteristics of the kernel make a naive adoption of hybrid fuzzing inefficient: 1) having indirect control transfers determined by system call arguments, 2) controlling and matching internal system state via system calls, and 3) inferring nested argument type for invoking system calls. Failure to handling such challenges will render both fuzzing and symbolic execution inefficient, and thereby, will result in an inefficient hybrid fuzzing. Although these challenges are essential to both fuzzing and symbolic execution, to the best of our knowledge, existing kernel testing approaches either naively use each technique separately without handling such challenges or imprecisely handle a part of challenges only by static analysis. To this end, this paper proposes HFL, which not only combines fuzzing with symbolic execution for hybrid fuzzing but also addresses kernel-specific fuzzing challenges via three distinct features: 1) converting indirect control transfers to direct transfers, 2) inferring system call sequence to build a consistent system state, and 3) identifying nested arguments types of system calls. As a result, HFL found 24 previously unknown vulnerabilities in recent Linux kernels. Additionally, HFL achieves 15% and 26% higher code coverage than Moonshine and Syzkaller, respectively, and over kAFL/S2E/TriforceAFL, achieving even four times better coverage, using the same amount of resources (CPU, time, etc.). Regarding vulnerability discovery performance, HFL found 13 known vulnerabilities more than three times faster than Syzkaller.


A persistent issue in numerical cognition research is how the format of
numerical information influences numerical processing. The format-independent
view postulates that information from various formats (e.g. '3' or 'three') is
represented in a uniform numerical code and that format should thus have no
influence on number manipulation. The format-specific view assumes separate
representational pathways for arabic digits and number words, which come into
play during number processing as well as manipulation. Five experiments were
undertaken with methods ranging from behavioural measures of reaction time to
more refined measures of cognitive processes such as eye-tracking and eventrelated
 potentials (ERPs). In each experiment, effects of format were investigated
at different levels of mathematics experience, in order to examine how the
processing of numbers might differ in this regard. The first three experiments focused on basic number processing and
processing differences that can occur for arabic digits, number words and
quantifier words. In Experiment 1, a modified counting Stroop task was
employed to investigate cognitive interference of arabic digits and number words.
Participants took longer to respond on incongruent trials (e.g. 4 4 4; how many
numbers are present? Correct response: '3') relative to neutral (e.g. * * *;
Correct response: '3') and congruent (e.g. 3 3 3; Correct response: '3') trials.
Individuals with high mathematics experience showed greater interference on
digit trials, whereas no effect of mathematics experience was found for word trials
(e.g. three three; respond '2'). This suggests that the influence of format on
number processing can be regulated by mathematics experience.
Experiment 2 investigated this effect further by considering numerical (e.g.
5 2; which number is higher?) and physical size (e.g. 5 2; which number is
physically bigger?) comparisons of digit and word stimuli. For both formats,
participants responded faster on trials with a large numerical distance (e.g. 2 7)
compared to trials with a small numerical distance (e.g. 2 3) suggesting that
specific number meanings are accessed spontaneously from digits and number
words, however the size congruity effect only occurred for digit stimuli.
Individuals with greater mathematics experience showed an overall advantage for
numerical comparison, regardless of format. Based on the findings from Experiments 1 and 2, Experiment 3 modified
the counting Stroop task (Experiment 1) to investigate if mathematics experience
can be related to the processing of quantifier words (e.g. many, few, each).
Stimuli were presented as either specific (e.g. both both; correct response '2') or
general (e.g. some some) quantifier words and participants were required to
count the items on-screen. While the effects were minimal in comparison with
Experiment 1, any effects related to the congruity of the stimuli only emerged for
the highly mathematics experienced participants, suggesting the involvement of
number experience in quantifier word processing, and in turn for extracting
number meaning from language in general. As the first three experiments demonstrated format-specific effects in
basic number processing, the second part of the thesis investigated these effects
for more advanced numerical processing such as arithmetic. The second part of
the thesis also employed more refined measures of cognitive processing (eyetracking
 and event-related potential [ERP] technology) to investigate effects that
might not be evident from behavioural data alone. Experiment 4 employed eye
tracking technology to compare effects of problem size, operation and format at
different levels of mathematics experience. Fixation patterns supported the
format-specific view of number processing by suggesting that in comparison with
digit-format, word-format impeded the use of direct memory retrieval in
arithmetic, an effect that seemed to be more pronounced for individuals with low
mathematics experience. Eye-tracking data also supported behavioural data as
well as self-report data that have been noted in reports on strategy use in
arithmetic. From this, inferences were made regarding the degree to which
surface format influences subsequent calculation processes and how this might be
moderated by mathematics experience. Experiment 5 investigated the interaction between the encoding and
answer-retrieval stages in digit- and word-format arithmetic by separating the
presentation of the first operand and the rest of the equation in a true–false
verification task (e.g. '3' and 'x 4 = 12'; correct response 'true'). Before each test
block, participants were told which operation was to follow (addition or
multiplication). ERP findings suggested that operands presented in the same
format were encoded in the same way, with effects of operation only emerging
during the second part of the equation, after participants had seen the operation
sign ('+' or 'x'). Regardless of format, the High Maths group showed greater left
anterior potentials for multiplication than addition, suggesting an advantage for
arithmetic fact retrieval. In the final chapter of the thesis the findings are discussed in relation to
existing theoretical accounts on the influence of format in numerical cognition,
with specific focus on the benefit of considering mathematics experience in this
regard.


Awell-known result in the Bayesian inventory management literature is: If lost sales are not observed, the Bayesian optimal inventory level is larger than the myopic inventory level (one should "stock more" to learn about the demand distribution). This result has been proven in other studies under the assumption that inventory is perishable, so the myopic inventory level is equal to the Bayesian optimal inventory level with observed lost sales. We break that equivalence by considering nonperishable inventory. We prove that with nonperishable inventory, the famous "stock more" result is often reversed to "stock less," in that the Bayesian optimal inventory level with unobserved lost sales is lower than the myopic inventory level. We also prove that making lost sales unobservable increases the Bayesian optimal inventory level; in this specific sense, the famous "stock more" result of other studies generalizes to the case of nonperishable inventory.

When the product is out of stock, a customer may accept a substitute or choose not to purchase. We incorporate learning about the probability of substitution. This reduces the Bayesian optimal inventory level in the case that lost sales are observed. Reducing the inventory level has two beneficial effects: to observe and learn more about customer substitution behavior and (for a nonperishable product) to reduce the probability of overstocking in subsequent periods.

Finally, for a capacitated production-inventory system under continuous review, we derive maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) of the demand rate and probability that customers will wait for the product. (Accepting a raincheck for delivery at some later time is a common type of substitution.) We investigate how the choice of base-stock level and production rate affect the convergence rate of these MLEs. The results reinforce those for the Bayesian, uncapacitated, periodic review system.


Most electrokinetic microfluidic devices currently require high voltages (>50 V) to generate sustained electric fields. However, two long-standing limitations remain, namely: (i) the resulting electrolysis of water produces bubbles, forcing electrodes to be placed in reservoirs outside the channels, and (ii) direct integration with low-voltage microelectronics cannot be achieved. A further limitation is the lack of spatial control within the microchannel. This work presents a method to achieve low-voltage (/spl les/1 V) electrokinetic transport using micropatterned Ag-AgCl electrode arrays, which allows spatial flow control within microchannels. We demonstrate bidirectional electrophoretic control of microparticles within microfluidic channels using /spl plusmn/1 V.


Research into sound-symbolism has shown that people can consistently associate certain pseudo-words with certain referents; for instance, pseudo-words with rounded vowels and sonorant consonants are linked to round shapes, while pseudowords with unrounded vowels and obstruents (with a noncontinuous airflow), are associated with sharp shapes. Such sound-symbolic associations have been proposed to arise from cross-modal abstraction processes. Here we assess the link between sound-symbolism and cross-modal abstraction by testing dyslexic individuals' ability to make sound-symbolic associations. Dyslexic individuals are known to have deficiencies in cross-modal processing. We find that dyslexic individuals are impaired in their ability to make sound-symbolic associations relative to the controls. Our results shed light on the cognitive underpinnings of sound-symbolism by providing novel evidence for the role —and disruptability— of cross-modal abstraction processes in sound-symbolic effects.


In developing countries located in tropical and subtropical regions, the use of ornamental plant species in constructed wetlands (CWs) could add benefits to the treatment of wastewater. This paper presents a study on the efficiency of using plants of economic importance in South Mexico ( Heliconia stricta, Heliconia psittacorum and Alpinia purpurata ) within an anaerobic digester horizontal subsurface CW system for treating domestic wastewater. The CW with H. psittacorum showed the highest level of removal of biochemical oxygen demand (48%), chemical oxygen demand (64%), total phosphorus (39%) and total nitrogen (39%). This species and H. stricta (which showed slightly lower percentages of removal) may be a viable alternative to using macrophytes in CW in tropical areas such as Chiapas, Mexico.


Gene therapy for hypertension is needed for the next generation of antihypertensive drugs. Current drugs, although effective, have poor compliance, are expensive and short-lasting (hours or one day). Gene therapy offers a way to produce long-lasting antihypertensive effects (weeks, months or years). We are currently using two strategies: a) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN) and b) antisense DNA delivered in viral vectors to inhibit genes associated with vasoconstrictive properties. It is not necessary to know all the genes involved in hypertension, since many years of experience with drugs show which genes need to be controlled. AS-ODN are short, single-stranded DNA that can be injected in naked form or in liposomes. AS-ODN, targeted to angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT1-R), angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin converting enzyme, and ss1-adrenergic receptors effectively reduce hypertension in rat models (SHR, 2K-1C) and cold-induced hypertension. A single dose is effective up to one month when delivered with liposomes. No side effects or toxic effects have been detected, and repeated injections can be given. For the vector, adeno-associated virus (AAV) is used with a construct to include a CMV promoter, antisense DNA to AGT or AT1-R and a reporter gene. Results in SHR demonstrate reduction and slowing of development of hypertension, with a single dose administration. Left ventricular hypertrophy is also reduced by AAV-AGT-AS treatment. Double transgenic mice (human renin plus human AGT) with high angiotensin II causing high blood pressure, treated with AAV-AT1-R-AS, show a normalization of blood pressure for over six months with a single injection of vector. We conclude that ODNs will probably be developed first because they can be treated like drugs for the treatment of hypertension with long-term effects. Viral vector delivery needs more engineering to be certain of its safety, but one day may be used for a very prolonged control of blood pressure.


Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate visual function outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for visual loss and to determine a VP shunt survival curve over time. Methods: A retrospective medical record review was performed of all new IIH patients first evaluated at our institution who underwent VP shunt placement over a 7-year period (2004–2010). There were 2 primary outcome measures: the first being visual acuity (VA) and the second being shunt survival. Patients who received VP shunt for visual loss were included in the visual outcome analysis, and all patients who received VP shunt for any reason were included in the shunt survival analysis. Results: Of the 338 new patients with IIH, 19 patients (6%) met the inclusion criteria and 17 underwent VP shunt for visual loss and 2 for headaches. Average follow-up was 21.2 months (range, 5–1,342 days). Of the 17 patients who had VP shunt for visual loss, 5 patients had optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) surgery before VP shunt, and 1 patient had bilateral ONSF surgery after VP shunt. Median VA before shunt was 20/200 in the worse eye (range, 20/20 to NLP) and 20/40 in the better eye (20/20 to HM). Median VA after shunt was 20/60 in the worse eye (20/20 to lumboperitoneal) and 20/30 in the better eye (20/20 to 20/800). The improvement in VA was statistically significant in both worse eyes (P = 0.002, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) and better eyes (P = 0.028). The mean automated visual field (AVF) mean deviation (MD) of available AVFs before shunt was 223.36 dB (range, 233.38 to 27.01 dB) for the worse eye (n = 11) and 219.66 dB (230.11 to 25.91 dB) for the better eye (n = 11). Mean AVF MD deviation of available AVFs after shunt was 220.68 dB (232.13 to 23.97 dB) for the worse eye (n = 11) and 216.35 dB (232.13 to 21.00 dB) for the better eye (n = 11): this improvement was not significant (P = 0.27, P = 0.26, respectively). Independent masked record reviews by 3 neuro-ophthalmologists showed that 9 (53%) patients improved, 5 (29%) unchanged, 1 (6%) worsened, and 2 (12%) were indeterminate. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a persistent steady decrease of functioning VP shunts over the entire period of 36 months with 80%, 65%, and 48% of VP shunts functioning without replacement, removal, or revision at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Conclusion: VP shunts improve or stabilize most IIH patients presenting with severe progressive visual loss or those with visual loss refractive to medical treatment and ONSF. Survival analysis shows persistent decrease of functioning shunts over time.


Research for new physics is currently one of the main tasks of particle physics, looking for new particles having high masses (energy frontier) or very feebly interacting (intensity frontier). The SHiP experiment has been proposed in 2015 to search for hidden particles at the intensity frontier. It is designed to be located in a new beam dump facility, receiving 400 GeV protons from the CERN SPS accelerator. A total of 2× 1020 protons on target is expected to be collected in five years of data taking. The experiment plans to explore a wide domains of couplings and masses for light long-lived exotic particles. Their decays in a 50 m long vacuum vessel can be reconstructed in a background free environment, allowing for a high sensitivity of the experiment. Moreover, the experiment is suitable to reconstruct tau neutrino interactions, with expected yields orders of magnitude larger than previous experiments. This provides interesting possibilities of study such as the first observation of ν̄τ , the measurement of ντ and ν̄τ cross-sections with high statistics and the exploration of the charm content of the nucleon. Ancillary measurements to validate the Monte Carlo predictions have been performed in July 2018, and their analysis is currently ongoing.


Through the three-point bending test on the specimens of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete (SFHSC) and plain high strength concrete (HSC) with the size of 100 mm×100 mm×515 mm, the effects of influencing factors including the fiber volume fraction (ρf) and relative notch depth (a/W) upon the fracture energy and the work of applied force (gravity and external force) were studied. The results show that the effect of ρf upon the fracture energy is more obvious; the variation tendencies for the increment ratio of the fracture energy and that of the work of applied force are different under different factors; the fracture energy is dependent on the work of external force. Based on the test results, the formula was established for calculating the fracture energy.


We demonstrated that the expression of 14-3-3 gamma was lower in uterine leiomyomas compared to the adjacent normal myometrium. Here, we show that 14-3-3 gamma promoter is methylated more in leiomyomas than myometrium. The level of 14-3-3 gamma protein in leiomyomas did not change in respect to age, size, location, or the type of leiomyoma. ER-alpha, ER-beta, and PR proteins were also higher in leiomyomas and the level of these proteins negatively correlated with the level of 14-3-3 gamma protein. These results suggest that the hypermethylation of the 14-3-3 gene promoter accounts for the decreased 14-3-3 gamma in leiomyomas and that such a low level of expression may be involved in the pathogenesis of leiomyomas. Down-regulation and gene hypermethylation of the 14-3-3 gamma in uterine leiomyoma


Selective noise amplifiers are characterized by large linear amplification to external perturbations in a particular frequency range despite their global linear stability. Applying a stochastic forcing with increasing amplitude, the response undergoes a strong nonlinear saturation when compared to the linear estimation. Building upon our previous work, we introduce a predictive model that describes this nonlinear dynamics, and we apply it to a canonical example of selective noise amplifiers: the backward-facing step flow. Rewriting conveniently the stochastic forcing and response in the frequency domain, the model consists in a mean flow equation coupled to the linear response to forcing at each frequency. This coupling is attained by the Reynolds stress, which is constructed by the integral in frequency of the independent responses. We generalize the model for a response to a white noise forcing d-correlated in space and time restricting the flow dynamics to its most energetic patterns calculated from the optimal harmonic forcing and response of the flow. The model estimates accurately the response saturation when compared to direct numerical simulations, and it correctly approximates the structure of the response and the mean flow modification. It also shows that the response undergoes a selective process governed by the nonlinear gain, which promotes a response structure with an approximately single frequency and wavelength in the whole domain. These results suggest that the mean flow modification by the Reynolds stress is the key nonlinearity in the saturation process of the response to white noise.


Decision trees are well-known due to their ease of interpretability. To improve accuracy, we need to grow deep trees or ensembles of trees. These are hard to interpret, offsetting their original benefits. Shapley values have recently become a popular way to explain the predictions of tree-based machine learning models. It provides a linear weighting to features independent of the tree structure. The rise in popularity is mainly due to TreeShap, which solves a general exponential complexity problem in polynomial time. Following extensive adoption in the industry, more efficient algorithms are required. This paper presents a more efficient and straightforward algorithm: Linear TreeShap. Like TreeShap, Linear TreeShap is exact and requires the same amount of memory.


A vast number of national parks and protected areas throughout the world have been established in the customary territories of indigenous peoples. In many cases these conservation areas have displaced indigenous peoples, undermining their cultures, livelihoods, and self-governance, while squandering opportunities to benefit from their knowledge, values and practices. This book makes the case for a paradigm shift in conservation from exclusionary, uninhabited national parks and wilderness areas to new kinds of protected areas that recognize indigenous people's conservation contributions and rights. It documents the beginnings of such a paradigm shift and issues a clarion call for transforming conservation in ways that could enhance the effectiveness of protected areas and benefit indigenous peoples in and near tens of thousands of protected areas worldwide.


This study deals with one of the topics of Baroque theater such as the presence and defense of the woman reader on stage. As there are many examples of women reading a book in painting, the same scenes can be found in theater, an artistic mode of expression which keeps a very close relationship with painting. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide as many examples as possible where the image of a reading woman or where female speech constitute the main issues on stage settings. The result can be seen in the large number and importance of the data found that is a starting point for a much broader compendium in which the genuine interest of women by culture can be observed. Moreover, this issue has a broader scope that leads us to a reflection on justice, freedom and conscience related to the importance of the female reader, as well as an evidence of social education at that time.


Abstract. Evapotranspiration is usually estimated in remote sensing from single temperature value representing both soil and vegetation. This surface temperature is an aggregate over multiple canopy components. The temperature of the individual components can differ significantly, introducing errors in the evapotranspiration estimations. The temperature aggregate has a high level of directionality. An inversion method is presented in this paper to retrieve four canopy component temperatures from directional brightness temperatures. The Bayesian method uses both a priori information and sensor characteristics to solve the ill-posed inversion problem. The method is tested using two case studies: 1) a sensitivity analysis, using a large forward simulated dataset, and 2) in a reality study, using two datasets of two field campaigns. The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the Bayesian approach is able to retrieve the four component temperatures from directional brightness temperatures with good success rates using multi-directional sensors (Srspectra≈0.3, Srgonio≈0.3, and SrAATSR≈0.5), and no improvement using mono-angular sensors (Sr≈1). The results of the experimental study show that the approach gives good results for high LAI values (RMSEgrass=0.50 K, RMSEwheat=0.29 K, RMSEsugar beet=0.75 K, RMSEbarley=0.67 K); but for low LAI values the results were unsatisfactory (RMSEyoung maize=2.85 K). This discrepancy was found to originate from the presence of the metallic construction of the setup. As these disturbances, were only present for two crops and were not present in the sensitivity analysis, which had a low LAI, it is concluded that using masked thermal images will eliminate this discrepancy.


In this work, we present a novel method to learn a local cross-domain descriptor for 2D image and 3D point cloud matching. Our proposed method is a dual auto-encoder neural network that maps 2D and 3D input into a shared latent space representation. We show that such local cross-domain descriptors in the shared embedding are more discriminative than those obtained from individual training in 2D and 3D domains. To facilitate the training process, we built a new dataset by collecting ≈ 1.4 millions of 2D-3D correspondences with various lighting conditions and settings from publicly available RGB-D scenes. Our descriptor is evaluated in three main experiments: 2D-3D matching, cross-domain retrieval, and sparse-to-dense depth estimation. Experimental results confirm the robustness of our approach as well as its competitive performance not only in solving cross-domain tasks but also in being able to generalize to solve sole 2D and 3D tasks. Our dataset and code are released publicly at https://hkust-vgd.github.io/lcd.