Chromosomal rearrangements that lead to recombination suppression can have a significant impact on speciation, and they are also important for breeding. The regions of recombination suppression in wheat chromosome 5B were identified based on comparisons of the 5B map of a cross between the Chinese Spring (CS) variety of hexaploid wheat and CS-5Bdic (genotype CS with 5B substituted with its homologue from tetraploid Triticum dicoccoides) with several 5B maps of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. In total, two regions were selected in which recombination suppression occurred in cross CS × CS-5Bdic when compared with other maps: one on the short arm, 5BS_RS, limited by markers BS00009810/BS00022336, and the second on the long arm, 5BL_RS, between markers Ra_c10633_2155 and BS00087043. The regions marked as 5BS_RS and 5BL_RS, with lengths of 5 Mb and 3.6 Mb, respectively, were mined from the 5B pseudomolecule of CS and compared to the homoeologous regions (7.6 and 3.8 Mb, respectively) of the 5B pseudomolecule of Zavitan (T. dicoccoides). It was shown that, in the case of 5BS_RS, the local heterochromatin islands determined by the satellite DNA (119.2) and transposable element arrays, as well as the dissimilarity caused by large insertions/deletions (chromosome rearrangements) between 5BSs aestivum/dicoccoides, are likely the key determinants of recombination suppression in the region. Two major and two minor segments with significant loss of similarity were recognized within the 5BL_RS region. It was shown that the loss of similarity, which can lead to suppression of recombination in the 5BL_RS region, is caused by chromosomal rearrangements, driven by the activity of mobile genetic elements (both DNA transposons and long terminal repeat retrotransposons) and their divergence during evolution. It was noted that the regions marked as 5BS_RS and 5BL_RS are associated with chromosomal rearrangements identified earlier by С-banding analysis of intraspecific polymorphism of tetraploid emmer wheat. The revealed divergence in 5BS_RS and 5BL_RS may be a consequence of interspecific hybridization, plant genetic adaptation, or both.


After having been sidelined and overwhelmed several times, the gathering momentum of liberalism and social democracy in China today may constitute the most profound change in Chinese intellectual development since the mid-nineteenth century. However, it is a daunting task for both liberalism and social democracy to win the minds of the majority of Chinese intellectuals by breaking down the barriers of state socialism, nationalism, and cynicism. It is not easy to determine the political persuasions or ideological beliefs of many intellectuals in contemporary China: Are they liberals, socialists, or nationalists? One can easily find devotees of liberalism, socialism, or nationalism among intellectuals in modern and contemporary China; the problem lies in the heterogeneous nature of their ideological beliefs and political persuasions. As a pattern, many of these intellectuals are, or intend to be, liberals, socialists, and nationalists at the same time, without fully understanding the tensions or contradictions between these different ideologies. One consequence is repeated bewilderment at many historical junctures, when such elite display political precariousness and ideological bankruptcy. These intellectuals may subscribe to liberal and democratic values, but in the end cannot resist the seduction of state socialism and nationalism. The combination of these three political beliefs has actually formed a hierarchy in the ideological structure of progressive Chinese intellectuals in modern times. Nationalism came first, followed by socialism and liberalism in order of relative importance. It is impossible to find any influential political or intellectual leaders in modern China who are not nationalist. The strong commitment of the elite to nationalism has not only eventually led to the prevalence of state socialism over any other brands of socialism, but has also set a clear limit on the development of liberalism. There is now a real possibility that liberalism will prevail over both nationalism and state socialism in China.


Billions of user-shared images are generated by individuals in many social networks today, and this particular form of user data is widely accessible to others due to the nature of online social sharing. When user social graphs are only accessible to exclusive parties, these user-shared images are proved to be an easier and effective alternative to discover user connections. This work investigated over 360 000 user shared images from two social networks, Skyrock and 163 Weibo, in which 3 million follower/ followee relationships are involved. It is observed that the shared images from users with a follower / followee relationship show relatively higher similarities . A multimedia big data system that utilizes this observed phenomenon is proposed as an alternative to user- generated tags and social graphs for follower/followee recommendation and gender identification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt in this field to prove and formulate such a phenomenon for mass user-shared images along with more practical prediction methods. These findings are useful for information or services recommendations in any social network with intensive image sharing, as well as for other interesting personalization applications, particularly when there is no access to those exclusive user social graphs.


Cardiac hypertrophy is often associated with the activation of signaling pathways that perpetuate altered calcium efflux and influx. One gene that is upregulated and contributes to altered intracellular calcium concentrations and worsening contractility during cardiac hypertrophy is the Sodium Calcium Exchanger ( Ncx1 ). Molecular studies implicate histone deacetylases (HDACs) in possibly regulating the expression of this gene. Our recent work reveals that HDAC1, HDAC5 and Sin3a interact and are recruited to the Ncx1 promoter through the Nkx2.5 transcription factor. Interestingly, we observed greater associated/interaction of the HDAC1-HDAC5/Sin3a repressor complex upon broad HDAC inhibition. Taken together, we hypothesized that HDAC inhibition, stabilizes an HDAC1-HDAC5/Sin3a repressor complex during cardiac hypertrophy. We addressed this hypothesis by treating isolated adult cardiomyocytes with class specific HDAC inhibitors since HDAC1 is a Class I HDAC and HDAC5 is a Class IIa HDAC. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) revealed a greater association of repressor complex molecules in the presence of Entinostat, a Class I HDAC inhibitor compared to both non-treated control and TSA, a broad HDAC inhibitor (n=3). These works show enhanced recruitment Sin3a (co-repressor) at the proximal promoter of NCX1 as demonstrated by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) (n=3). To test whether these observations translated into in vivo models, we subjected mice to transaortic constriction (TAC) to induce hypertrophy. In this model, Co-IP revealed results that similar to our in vitro studies with greater immuno- detection of repressor complex component, Sin3a after immune-precipitation with HDAC1. Furthermore, our ChIP data showed a greater PCR product amplification of proximal Ncx1 promoter, from experimental groups that were subjected to Entinostat (n=3). Our cumulative data suggests that Class I HDAC inhibition stabilizes a repressor complex on the Ncx1 promoter that hinders hypertrophy- mediated Ncx1 upregulation. Class specific HDAC inhibition may be useful in the stabilization and repression of aberrantly expressed genes that contribute to poor clinical outcomes in cardiac hypertrophy.


Cluster headache (CH), a primary neurovascular headache syndrome, is characterized by recurrent, unilateral, short-lasting attacks of excruciating pain in the temporal and/or orbital region. The pain is considered one of the most severe pain conditions known to humans. Compared with the general population, first-degree relatives of probands with CH have a significantly increased risk of the same disorder. However, there seems to be no clear mode of inheritance, suggesting that both genetic and environmental factors are of importance, with the pathophysiology being multifactorial. Despite the genetic influence of the disease, a low prevalence and small pedigrees complicate the feasibility of genetic studies. To date, only genetic studies with limited sample sizes have been performed, but results have indicated an association with the HCRTR2 gene, which is involved in the regulation of chronobiological rhythms. Collaborative multicenter studies on large clinically well-defined materials are needed to reach a better understanding of the complex genetic background of CH.


Legumes are important food and cash crops in developing countries. In Tanzania, more than half the farmers grow several species of grain legumes which include common bean, groundnut, pigeonpea, cowpea, chickpea, peas and soybean. However, productivity of all grain legumes is still low and far below potential and this has impacted on profitability. The aim of this study was to contribute to improved bean profitability facts for income and food security in Tanzania. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents from the four divisions in Babati district (Babati, Gorowa, Mbugwe and Bashnet). The first stage involved a purposive selection of two divisions from the four divisions mentioned. The second stage entailed the selection of six wards from the two divisions, using purposive sampling technique; four from Bashnet division and two from Babati division. The fourth stage entailed purposive selection of 9 villages from the six wards basing on bean production dominance. Then the final stage employed systematic sampling technique to select 200 bean farmers from the nine villages. Primary data was collected from the field using a structured interview schedule method. Secondary data were obtained from published literature from Babati District Council, Sokoine National Agricultural Library and Egerton University main library. Smallholder farmers' gross margin as a proxy of profitability was analysed using Gross Margin Analysis procedure. Moreover, Multiple Regression Analysis approach was used to analyse factors affecting on-farm farmers' gross margin. The study results showed that, at farm level, a gross margin of TZS 133,710.20/= (US$63.67) and TZS 307,283.70/= (US$146.33) for local and improved variety respectively was generated per acre per season. Moreover, age of respondents; gender; yield; selling price (farm-gate price); access to credit; and off-farm income affected the gross margin realized by smallholder farmers. Keywords: Improved variety, Babati, VSLA, common bean, profitability


In this thesis we investigate disturbances in Power Line Communications that influence data throughput of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based transmissions.
We found that data throughput is degraded not only because of low layer problems such as noise or interferences, but also because of high layer problems such as data packet size and the usage of a repeater in between a transmitter and a receiver.
The first low layer problem considered in this thesis is Narrow-band Interference (NBI). We proposed an NBI model that is based on statistical properties. We proposed a QPSKOFDM coded modulation that performs well to combat the NBI. We also designed a new simple block code, called permutation code plus (PC+), to be concatenated with a Reed-Solomon (RS) code. Our proposed concatenated error-control code has a lower decoding
complexity than the concatenation between RS and Convolutional Code (CC), used in the G3-PLC technology - one of the current OFDM based PLC technologies, while providing
comparable error rate level (or performance), for hard decision decoding, in combating the NBI.
The second low layer problem of interest in this thesis is impulsive noise (IN). We proposed a way to turn a parametric threshold based IN mitigation scheme into a nonparametric one. We proposed a new simple IN mitigation scheme, called replacement
scheme, which delivers a better performance than the known clipping scheme. We also showed that our proposed joint clipping-replacement-nulling scheme delivers the best performance
among all simple IN mitigation schemes. Furthermore, we introduced a new idea of combining existing simple IN mitigation schemes. This new combined scheme has a property that cannot be found in the traditional joint IN mitigation scheme, such as the
clipping-nulling scheme. It guarantees to deliver the best performance of its individual combined schemes. Beside non-iterative IN mitigation schemes mentioned before, we proposed modifications on the Mengi-Haring iterative IN mitigation scheme that improve significantly the error rate level.
We investigated G3-PLC technology performance based on a field trial test conducted
in Hamburg (Germany), and identified the high layer problems mentioned before, that inuence its data throughput. We found that in order to have a good data throughput,
big size packet transmission must be used instead of small packet size transmission. We also found that the location of a repeater in between a transmitter and a receiver plays an important role. The lack of knowledge to find a good location for a repeater results in
data throughput degradation.


ABSTRACT Drawing on the narratives of women and men who have domestic or international migration experiences, this study explores the gendered impacts of migration on small-scale farming in rural Ha Tinh province in Vietnam. The paper investigates men's and women's migration experiences, their influence on agricultural production, and impact on their livelihoods after migration. The findings show that households use various strategies to sustain agricultural production in the absence of some members. Women's increased economic independence through labor migration has not necessarily lead to their increased management roles in agriculture, but they are increasingly challenging stereotypical images of rural women. While migration can be a catalyst for men to transform their livelihoods, it can also widen gaps in social and economic statuses among men.


This paper gives an overview of methods proposed for implementing multi-valued logic in CMOS and then describes Intrinsity's patented Fast14reg Technology as a mature methodology for silicon implementation of multi-valued logic. To the authors' knowledge, no previous method of implementing multi-valued logic has been demonstrated with a design of the complexity of a microprocessor core. Fast14 Technology is based upon three fundamental characteristics including the use of (1) footed NMOS transistor domino logic, (2) multi-phased overlapping clocks, and (3) 1-of-N encoding of MVL signals. To provide additional opportunities for power optimization, the concepts of null value and mutex properties are introduced, presenting additional challenges for MVL representation and synthesis.


Ti-based alloys are extensively used in aerospace and other advanced engineering fields due to their high strength and toughness, light weight, excellent corrosion resistance and ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Since these alloys are hard to machine, there is an obvious demand to develop simulation tools in order to analyse the material's behaviour during machining and thus optimise the entire machining process. The deformation processes in machining of Ti-alloys are typically characterized by high strains and temperatures. A Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique is a commonly used experimental method to characterize a material`s behaviour at high strain rates; a stress-strain relation of the material is derived from the obtained experimental data. A computational study on a three-dimensional finite element model of the SHPB experiment is performed to assess various features of the underlying mechanics of deformation processes at high-strain and -strain-rate regimes. In the numerical analysis, an inhomogeneous deformation behaviour is observed in the workpiece at the initial stages of compression contrary to a standard assumption of stress and strain homogeneity in the specimen.


The potential for short-range sex pheromone communication by the egg parasitoid wasp Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) was investigated in closed arena bioassays. Males of this parasitoid showed more antennal drumming and more frequent mounting behaviour on 1- to 2-d-old virgin females compared with 8-d-old virgin females. Male copulation attempts were fewer with previously mated females than with virgin females. Males courted and made copulation attempts with 1- to 2-d-old female cadavers, but not with male cadavers or with female cadavers rinsed in organic solvents of different polarities. Male attraction to female cadavers was re-established by treating cadavers with acetone extracts of females, but not with ether or hexane extracts. In experiments using female cadavers dissected into head, mesosoma, and gaster, and then reassembled using one unwashed body section and two body sections washed in acetone, males were attracted only to the reassembled cadavers with an unwashed mesosoma. These findings suggest that (1) courtship behaviour in males of T. brochymenae is triggered by a short-range sex pheromone produced by females; (2) the age and the physiological condition of females (virgin/mated) influence pheromone release or production; (3) the female's mesosoma is the source of the sex pheromone; and (4) polar components of the sex pheromone play a major role in influencing male behaviour. Our results suggest that quasi-gregarious egg parasitoids are selected for short-range rather than long-range sex pheromones.


Management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) spans a quite broad spectrum of items including: patient assessment and monitoring, patient education, life style recommendations, treatment strategies, and others. For this reason is difficult to cover all these aspects in only one session and therefore the present review will be focused on therapeutic aspects, trying to raise the most relevant ones from a practical point of view. Thus, I will discuss specific issues regarding to the general management of the disease, treatment of specific manifestations and finally recommendations for prevention of cardio-vascular complications. Firstly, regarding to the general management, antimalarial use in lupus will be considered. Nowadays, antimalarials should be indicated as soon as the diagnosis of lupus is done, given that they have shown beneficial effects on clinical activity, damage prevention, thrombosis or lipid levels. Among them efficacy-toxicity trade off favours the use of hydroxichloroquine but other agents as chloroquine or quinacrine are potential options in some circumstances. Sun protection is another common general measure in lupus patients but correct sun protector indication and usage and tailored patient selection should be considered. Glucocorticoids are used also very often in these patients; however potential side effects should not be forgotten and for this reason optimization of its use must be always borne in mind using sparing agents when needed and trying to use the lowest possible dose from the beginning. Furthermore, recent off-glucocorticoid protocols for the management of lupus nephritis have been proposed with good preliminary results. Finally, recommendations about vaccination and vitamin D monitoring and supplementation are reviewed. With respect to specific clinical scenarios, refractory lupus nephritis, skin manifestations, arthritis, thrombocytopenia and CNS involvement are discussed. General management of lupus nephritis (LN) has been clarified in the recently published EULAR and ACR guidelines for the treatment of LN. However, no definitive rules are given for refractory cases. To this regard two principal options come out: rituximab and anti-calcineurins and main literature data of both alternatives are discussed. Sun protection, antimalarials and topical steroids are the mainstay of treatment of cutaneous lupus, but in refractory cases multiple types of treatments are used without a definitive consensus about which are the best options in each situation. An effort is performed to give the clues to individualize the therapeutic place of each agent (when possible) as well as the role of biologics, mainly Belimumab, in this scenario. Unresponsive lupus arthritis is another common situation. If methotrexate or leflunomide fail, biologics would be the option. To this regard, either rituximab and belimumab seem to be effective but not head to head comparisons exist. Rituximab accumulates more clinical experience but belimumab offers a higher level of scientific evidence and it has not to be used off-label. Regarding to the case of thrombocytopenia not responding to standard care, recent data for not forgetting the option of splenectomy, the evidence of the efficacy of Rituximab and the potential utility of the new thrombopoetin stimulating agents, are discussed. The last specific scenario considered is CNS involvement. In this case the standard of care consists on high dose of GC usually in combination with immunosupresants (mainly iv ciclophosphamide) and in selected cases adjunctive measures as plasmapheresis. or IVIG No definitive evidence exists about how to treat unresponsive patients although a relative good experience has been obtained with rituximab. Finally, a summary of the main recommendations for prevention of cardiovascular complications is presented including the different therapeutic goals for blood pressure or serum lipid levels and the main therapeutic interventions. Disclosure of Interest J. Calvo Alén Consultant for: GSK, Lilly and MSD DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.6200


Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are nontoxic, can be functionalized with ligands, and preferentially accumulate in tumors. We have developed a 13.56-MHz RF-electromagnetic field (RFEM) delivery system capable of generating high E-fleld strengths required for noninvasive, noncontact heating of GNPs. The bulk heating and specific heating rates were measured as a function of NP size and concentration. It was found that heating is both size and concentration dependent, with 5 nm particles producing a 50.6 ± 0.2°C temperature rise in 30 s for 25 μg/mL gold (125 W input). The specific heating rate was also size and concentration dependent, with 5 nm particles producing a specific heating rate of 356 ± 78 kW/g gold at 16 μg/mL (125 W input). Furthermore, we demonstrate that cancer cells incubated with GNPs are killed when exposed to 13.56 MHz RF-EM fields. Compared to cells that were not incubated with GNPs, three out of four RF-treated groups showed a significant enhancement of cell death with GNPs (p <; 0.05). GNP-enhanced cell killing appears to require temperatures above 50°C for the experimental parameters used in this study. Transmission electron micrographs show extensive vacuolization with the combination of GNPs and RF treatment.


Free-space IR transmission provides high bandwidth and good security with small-sized and low-cost links, for instance, for high- bit-rate wireless LANs. Some robustness against shadowing is achieved using diffuse channels, but disadvantages are high path loss and multipath propagation. We use ray-trace simulation software to analyze IR channels in realistic office rooms. Simulations are performed to test the methods and to specify the bandwidth and power budget requirements of diffuse links. Both diffuse and specular reflections as well as shadowing effects due to furniture are considered. Based on the study, novel Monte Carlo ray-tracing software, such as ASAP (Advanced System Analyses Program), are suitable for analyzing the multipath dispersion and the optical power budget of infrared links in realistic indoor environments. The simulations also reveal the benefits of quasidiffuse link configurations, which are composed of multibeam transmitters with restricted beam divergences as well as of detectors with narrow fields of view. For implementation of multibeam transmitters we design an array- type diffractive element that modifies the beams of a 2-D vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array. A single element providing the largest 50-deg illumination angle is fabricated for demonstration. The measured diffraction efficiency is in fair agreement with the calculated one after considering the properties of the real VCSEL beam.


OBJECTIVE
Patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) have characteristic lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary glands with a previously reported predominance of Vkappa-bearing B cells and produce a variety of autoantibodies, indicating that there is a humoral autoimmune component in this syndrome. This study was undertaken to determine whether there are primary deviations of immunoglobulin V gene usage, differences in somatic hypermutation, defects of selection, or indications for perturbances of B cell maturation in SS.

METHODS
Individual peripheral B cells from patients with SS were analyzed for their Ig V gene usage, and the findings were compared with results in normal controls.

RESULTS
Molecular differences, as reflected by findings in the nonproductive Vkappa repertoire of the patients, were identified by an enhanced usage of Jkappa2 gene segments and a lack of mutational targeting toward RGYW/WRCY sequences compared with controls. A greater usage of Vkappa1 family members and a reduced frequency of Vkappa3 gene segments in the productive repertoire suggested differences in selection, possibly driven by antigen. Overall positive selection for mutations, especially for replacements in the complementarity-determining region and for mutations in RGYW/WRCY, similar to that found in controls, was detected.

CONCLUSION
Disturbances of strictly regulated B cell maturation, during early B cell development as indicated by prominent Jkappa2 gene usage and during germinal center reactions as indicated by a lack of targeting of the hypermutation mechanism, might contribute to the emergence of autoimmunity in SS.


The Box Plot Experiment in Grossbeeren was set up in 1972 to investigate diverse fertilization strategies within an irrigated vegetable crop rotation system for three different soils. Here we report on the long-term effects of applying different organic amendments and mineral N fertilizer levels to soils on the content of: (1) microbially decomposable carbon (Cdec); and (2) microbial biomass carbon (Cmic). We determined the Cdec content of soils that were covered with a vegetable crop rotation, and established that the differences between treatments with and without organic amendments corresponded very well to those found under arable crop rotations. Under the given experimental conditions, leaving the crop residues on the field generated an optimum level of soil organic matter content. When we compared the Cdec content of the soils after applying different organic amendments as based on the C input, we found them to be similar. 10 t ha − 1 yr − 1 farmyard manure (FYM) has been reported to be sufficient to generate an optimum level of organic matter in arable soils. Here we show that this effect can also be transferable to other organic amendments if the C input is used as the reference base. Regarding Cmic content, we obtained a linear relationship for the differences of Cdec between treated plots which were influenced by different C input and the controls. This relationship did not differ with soil type. Therefore, we assumed that Cdec may be regarded as a permanently present substrate for the nutrition of microorganisms regardless of soil type.


In the quest of finding the ideal polymer optical fiber (POF) for Bragg grating sensing, we have fabricated and characterized an endlessly single mode microstructured POF (mPOF). This fiber is made from cyclo-olefin homopolymer Zeonex grade 480R which has a very high glass transition temperature of 138 °C and is humidity insensitive. It represents a significant improvement with respect to the also humidity insensitive Topas core fibers, in that Zeonex fibers are easier to manufacture, has better transmittance, higher sensitivity to temperature and better mechanical stability at high temperature. Furthermore, Zeonex has very good compatibility with PMMA in terms of dilatation coefficients for co-drawing applications. The Zeonex mPOF has a core and cladding diameter of 8.8 µm and 150 µm, respectively, with a hole to pitch ratio of 0.4 and a minimum propagation loss of 2.34 ± 0.39 dB/m at 690.78 nm. We have also inscribed and characterized fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in Zeonex mPOFs in the low loss 850 nm spectral band.


The Poor Rural Communities Development Project (PRCDP) is located in the Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The objective of the PRCDP is to reduce poverty in Western China, through a participatory, and multisectoral attack on absolute poverty, in an extremely resource-deficient area, covering the worst affected upland areas of several inland provinces. Poor rural communities would design, and implement activities to improve agricultural productivity, and access to infrastructure. However, construction works in relation to some components, particularly infrastructure development, will involve land acquisition and housing demolition, thus resettlement is expected. This resettlement policy framework sets the guidelines to minimize as possible negative impacts on the project affected people (PAP), and provides the following measures in compliance with the Country's resettlement regulations, and the Bank Operational Directive on involuntary resettlement. All affected assets will be compensated at their full replacement cost, without any deduction for depreciation; Compensation payments will be made before the acquisition of land and assets; Compensation rates were negotiated with the governments of the affected areas, and representatives of the PAP; All affected persons who lose assets before the Project cut-off date, will be assisted in their efforts to restore their standards of living without discrimination on the basis of their tenure status. Compensation entails fixed rates, but will be adjusted by the actual inflation rate as of October 2004 to the time when the compensation is actually paid. Given that the subcomponents will be used, managed, and maintained by the villages, those subcomponents thus belong to the villages, and no ownership transfer of land used is required. Therefore, no land acquisition fees are required to be paid by PRCDP. However, if the land use affects some contracted households, the villages should take some mitigation measures, such as redistribution of the contracted land, providing the affected households with replacement land. Most villages have some cultivated land in reserve. The amount of reserve land is much greater than the potential loss of land for the PRCDP; so the reserve land can be allocated to the affected households. Special measures will apply to vulnerable groups, such as the disabled, households headed by women, elderly people, and/or ethnic minorities. Consultations with PAP should be conducted, and, grievance mechanisms will be in place should conflict occur.


This article presents a non-linear modelling framework to capture the intricate dynamics of social systems. Within this framework it is possible to capture both gradual and abrupt transitions in social systems. In the context of social dynamics, the relevance of self-organising behaviour and complexity theory are highlighted. Social systems are essentially complex structures capable of self-organisation, exhibiting a rich variety of features like bifurcation, hysteresis and multiple equilibria. Conventional linear approach is too simplistic a framework to capture and deal with such phenomena. A number of specific models are discussed. These describe the qualitative changes in a variety of social systems they simulate and also explain the forces that govern their evolutionary behaviour.


Source water apportionment studies using the dual isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen have revolutionized our understanding of ecohydrology. But despite these developments—mostly over the past decade—many technical problems still exist in terms of linking xylem water to its soil water and groundwater sources. This is mainly due to sampling issues and possible fractionation of xylem water. Here we explore whether or not leaf water alone can be used to quantify the blend of rainfall event inputs from which the leaf water originates. Leaf water has historically been avoided in plant water uptake studies due to the extreme fractionation processes at the leaf surface. In our proof of concept work we embrace those processes and use the well‐known Craig and Gordon model to map leaf water back to its individual precipitation event water sources. We also employ a Bayesian uncertainty estimation approach to quantify source apportionment uncertainties. We show this using a controlled, vegetated lysimeter experiment where we were able to use leaf water to correctly identify the mean seasonal rainfall that was taken up by the plant, with an uncertainty typically within ±1‰ for δ18O. While not appropriate for all source water studies, this work shows that leaf water isotope composition may provide a new, relatively un‐intrusive method for addressing questions about the plant water source.


Abstract : The Frame Representation Language (FRL) is an experimental language written to explore the use of frames as a knowledge representation technique. The term 'frame' as used in FRL was inspired by Minsky's (75) development of frame theory. FLR extends the traditional Property List representation scheme by allowing properties to have comments, defaults and constraints, to inherit information from abstract forms of the same type, and to have attached procedures triggered by adding or deleting values, or if a value is needed. We introduce FRL with the aid of a simple example: WHOSIS, a database of Al person's names, addresses, interests, and publications. A second section contains an abridged manual describing FRL's most-used commands and conventions. (Author)


In brief, this license authorizes each and everybody to share (to copy, distribute and transmit) the work under the following conditions, without impairing or restricting the authors' moral rights: Attribution: The work must be attributed to its authors. OASIcs aims at a suitable publication venue to publish peer-reviewed collections of papers emerging from a scientific event. OASIcs volumes are published according to the principle of Open Access, i.e., they are available online and free of charge.


Private security services are gaining importance in the general provision of security. This Policy Brief argues that what we are seeing is not simply the transfer of security functions or responsibilities from the public sector to the private sector, but an overall expansion in both private and public security. Against this background, the paper examines the provision of security as a commodity, which can give rise to different ethical dilemmas related to accountability, transparency and other issues of 'good governance'.


A 30 cm long solid-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with immobilized and discrete Ag nanoparticles was used to obtain forward-propagating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 2 microM Rhodamine 6G (R6G) aqueous solution filled in the cladding air channels. The intensity distributions of characteristic Raman vibrational bands of silica and R6G in PCF were mapped for the first time to our knowledge by hyperspectral Raman imaging. We show that the measured SERS intensity arises exclusively from the forward-propagating core mode as a result of evanescent-field interaction with R6G in the innermost ring of the cladding air channels.


The concept of the "silver economy" is one of the complex response trials to the challenges of ageing societies. Its key objective is to bring goods and services to meet the needs of older people through gerontechnology. Article approximates relationships between technology and the ageing of the population and the main features of silver economy and gerontechnology. It is supplemented by examples of support efforts to promote gerontechnology including: (1) documents and strategic programs, (2) network organizations and clusters, (3) research and development institutions. Essay draws attention to the development of solutions such as: strategies for innovation, welfare clusters, regional silver economy networks, research institutions such as "agelab" and cultural institutions "medialab". Study indicates potential directions for further research.


Community detection has become a crucial task in social network mining. Detecting communities summarizes interactions between members for gaining deep understanding of interesting characteristics shared between members of the same community. In this research, we propose a novel community detection algorithm for the purpose of revealing and analyzing hidden similar behavior of online users. The proposed algorithm is based mainly on similar members' actions rather than the structure similarity only for the aim of detecting communities that are closely mapped to the underlying behavioral communities in real social networks. First, leaders of the social network are discovered, then, communities are detected based on those leaders. The idea is grounded on the assumption that communities could be formed around people with great influence. Extensive experiments and analysis show the ability of the proposed algorithm to successfully detect real‐world communities with improved accuracy. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1213. doi: 10.1002/widm.1213


Eye gaze is an important and widely studied non-verbal resource in co-located social interaction. When we attempt to support tele-presence between people, there are two main technologies that can be used today: video-conferencing (VC) and collaborative virtual environments (CVEs). In VC, one can observe eye-gaze behaviour but practically the targets of eye-gaze are only correct if the participants remain relatively still. We attempt to support eye-gaze behaviour in an unconstrained manner by integrating eye-trackers into an Immersive CVE (ICVE) system. This paper aims to show that while both ICVE and VC allow people to discern being looked at and what else is looked at, when someone gazes into their space from another location, ICVE alone can continue to do this as people move. The conditions of aligned VC, ICVE, eye-gaze enabled ICVE and co-location are compared. The impact of factors of alignment, lighting, resolution, and perspective distortion are minimised through a set of pilot experiments, before a formal experiment records results for optimal settings. Results show that both VC and ICVE support eye-gaze in constrained situations, but only ICVE supports movement of the observer. We quantify the mis-judgements that are made and discuss how our findings might inform research into supporting eye-gaze through interpolated free viewpoint video based methods.


Urban areas consume huge amounts of water and produce much wastewater, which deteriorate the aquatic environment and exhaust the country's freshwater resources. Water reuse from sewage and wastewater is recognized as a good option for securing water. There are several kinds of processes for improving the water quality. Nutrient removal is very important for water reuse, especially in water supply for outdoor use, to prevent water quality deterioration via eutrophication. Moreover, low cost and easy maintenance should be considered for nutrient removal. In this study, red mud and BauxsolTM, a mixed mineral powder made of physicochemically modified red mud residue generated by the Bayer process for alumina refineries, was used for the removal of nitrate and heavy metals in artificial solution, and of phosphate in final effluent, from a sewage treatment plant in Dae-gu, Republic of Korea. Nitrate removal by red mud showed little efficiency while heavy metal removal showed high efficiency. The concentrations of the total phosphate in the effluent and treated water were 1.51 and 0.14 mg/L, respectively, which represent about 90.7% removal. Before and after the treatment, the pH was maintained at a neutral range of 6.5-7.2. BauxsolTM also showed a high heavy metal removal capacity. Therefore, BauxsolTM in powder and pellet form can be applied individually or mixed with soil to improve water quality for water reuse.


The United States has a complex governmental public health system. Agencies at the federal, state, and local levels all contribute to the protection and promotion of the population's health. Whether the modern public health system is well situated to deliver essential public health services, however, is an open question. In some part, its readiness relates to how agencies are funded and to what ends. A mix of Federalism, home rule, and happenstance has contributed to a siloed funding system in the United States, whereby health agencies are given particular dollars for particular tasks. Little discretionary funding remains. Furthermore, tracking how much is spent, by whom, and on what is notoriously challenging. This review both outlines the challenges associated with estimating public health spending and explains the known sources of funding that are used to estimate and demonstrate the value of public health spending.


This paper presents a new parallel output LLC DC/DC converter for electric vehicle. There are a high voltage battery for the power train of the vehicle and a low voltage battery for the vehicle electric system in the electric vehicle. The new LLC converter with the input voltage compensation is proposed for the high voltage input and the low voltage output DC/DC converter to charge the low voltage battery from the high voltage battery. The proposed circuit has two LLC converters with the series input voltage from the battery for the power train and the parallel output low battery voltage for the vehicle electric system. Also, the input series voltage compensation capacitor is used for balancing the input current in the two LLC converters. The proposed converter has an equal electric stress of the semiconductor parts and the reactive components, high efficiency and good heat dissipation. Features of the proposed circuit are verified with a simulation result.


A three-stage Clos-network switch with input queues is attractive for practical implementation of a large-capacity packet switch. A scheme that configures the first, second, and third stages in that sequence by performing iterative matchings based on random selections is called the staged random scheduling scheme. Despite the usefulness of such a switch, the literature provides no analytical formula that can accurately calculate its throughput. This paper develops a formula to calculate the throughput analysis of the staged random scheduling scheme for one and multiple iterations used in an input-queued Clos-network switch under uniform traffic. This formula can be used to verify simulation models for very large switches. The introduced derivation considers the processes of the selection scheme at each stage of the switch. The derived formula is used in numerical evaluations to show the throughput of large switch sizes. The results show that the staged random scheduling scheme with multiple iterations for a Clos-network switch with VOQs without internal expansion approaches 100% throughput under uniform traffic. Furthermore, evaluations of the derived formulas are used in a practical application to estimate the number of iterations required to achieve 99% throughput for a given switch size. In addition, the staged random scheduling scheme in an input-queued Clos-network switch is modeled and simulated to compare throughput estimations to those obtained with the derived formulas. The simulation results support the correctness of the derived formulas.


ABSTRACT A heretofore undocumented example of aragonite botryoid formation on the sea floor is described from shallow-water Wolfcampian (Permian) phylloid algal mounds in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. The cores of these mounds consisted of botryoidal aragonite masses that stood in low relief on the sea floor. The upward growth and coalescence of these masses created a solid, anastomosing framework of inter-botyroid and internal cavities that were simultaneously filled with marine sediment and aragonite fan cements. The resulting inorganic boundstone became the substrate for later phylloid algal mound development. Subsequent algal colonization and contemporaneous aragonite precipitation also resulted in the development of a mixed inorganic-organic facies wherein algal blades are encas d in marine aragonite. Former aragonite constitutes from 50-85% of the total mound rock. The core facies of these inorganic "reefs" are texturally and, most probably, genetically similar to the many Paleozoic mudmounds throughout the world known variously as Waulsortian mounds. Stromatactis reefs, and zebra limestones. The former marine aragonite is represented by divergent-radial mosaics of coarsely crystalline calcite pseudospar that commonly are replaced by ferroan "baroque" dolomite. This pseudospar occurs as ray-crystals and composite crystals with included relicts of the precursor fibrous aragonite. This species of calcite is distinct from the radiaxial-fibrous mosaics that commonly replace acicular carbonate fabrics. Mineralogic stabilization of the aragonite to calcite via paramorphic inversion is believed to have occurred in the subaerial environment, with recrystallization to pseudospar occurring in the subsurface. Unresolved problems include the mechanics of fabric-retentive stabilization diagenesis of this aragonite, and the apparent anomaly of aragonite abundance in contrast to Holocene reefs, in which Mg-calcite is the dominant cement mineralogy.


The ACTH receptor melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2-R) is a G-protein-coupled receptor principally expressed in the adrenal cortex and the adipocyte, where it stimulates steroidogenesis and lipolysis respectively. The coding region of the murine gene is encoded by a single exon, although three upstream non-coding exons have been documented, one of which is incorporated by alternative splicing in adrenal cells. We have detected a novel transcript in adipocytes, which includes a previously unidentified 86 bp exon upstream of the coding region. This transcript appears with slower kinetics during a time course of differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and is much more highly expressed in these cells and murine adipose tissues than in the Y1 murine adrenocortical cell line, also it is undetectable in murine foetal testes. Inclusion of this exon extends the 5 0 UTR to 468 bp and introduces three upstream open reading frames. These are typical features of mRNAs under translational control and imply that the MC2-R gene is regulated both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally during adipogenesis.


Statistical sub-pixel detection via the adaptive matched filter (AMF) has been shown to improve the molecular imaging sensitivity and specificity of optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging. Applied to multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT), AMF assumes that the spatially-varying tissue spectra follow a multivariate Gaussian distribution, that the spectrum of the target molecule is precisely known and that the molecular target lies in "low probability" within the data. However, when these assumptions are violated, AMF may result in considerable performance degradation. The objective of this work is to develop a robust statistical detection framework that is appropriately suited to the characteristics of MSOT molecular imaging. Using experimental imaging data, we perform a statistical characterization of MSOT tissue images and conclude to a detector that is based on the t-distribution. More importantly, we introduce a method for estimating the covariance matrix of the background-tissue statistical distribution, which enables robust detection performance independently of the molecular target size or intensity. The performance of the statistical detection framework is assessed through simulations and experimental in vivo measurements and compared to previously used methods.


Unintentional childhood injuries are a significant public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Effective supervision reduces child injury risk, yet older siblings may be less effective than adults in preventing supervisee injury. This study examined self-reported caregiver expectations and beliefs regarding sibling supervision, and sixth-grade students' self-reported experiences with sibling supervision, among families in rural Uganda. One hundred forty-four caregivers and 206 students were recruited to complete self-report questionnaires assessing parental expectations and student experiences with sibling supervision. Binary logistic regression assessed predictors of supervisee injury history. Caregivers in 82% of households expected children under Age 2 to be supervised by older siblings on a daily basis. Frequency and duration of expected sibling supervision increased with supervisor age. Students endorsed supervising younger siblings in 5 risky situations an average of 13 times total in the past week. Approximately half of students and supervisees experienced at least 1 medically attended injury in the past year. Student history of injury increased supervisee risk of injury 2.25 times. Students endorsed corporal punishment as an effective disciplinary strategy at higher rates than caregivers. Sibling supervision is a widespread practice in rural Uganda, and supervisee injuries are common. Interventions to improve supervision may reduce child injury risk.


Connecting different renewable energy sources (RESs) to the electrical grids is presently being urged to fulfill the enormous need for electric power and to decrease traditional sources' ecological related issues, the so-called hybrid systems. Unfortunately, these hybrid systems suffer from the possible negative environmental impacts of the wind gusts in wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) that may degrade the overall system performance. Additionally, various severe faults may disconnect some RESs from the hybrid system, like three-phase faults. In this paper, the static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) is considered for both improving the performance of a hybrid system, contains WECS and photovoltaics (PVs) against wind gusts and maintaining the continuous operations of RESs during three-phase fault occur at the point of common coupling (PCC) between the RESs and the grid. The STATCOM is stimulated by two PI controllers regulating the reactive power flow between the STATCOM and the hybrid system at PCC and, consequently, regulating the voltage at PCC. A metaheuristic optimizer optimally schedules these two PI controllers based on whale optimization algorithm (WOA). The impartial comparison between the WOA dynamic performance and the particle swarm optimization as another optimization algorithm verifies the efficiency of the WOA for the near-optimal gain scheduling of the PI controller gains.


A constitutional Suit, like any other Suit, must satisfy certain conditions, and while there are common and general conditions applicable to all types of Suits, there are special conditions that are only relevant to a constitutional Suit due to its special nature. Therefore, this article covers the admissibility conditions of a constitutional Suit in the Islamic judicial system. This article will analyse these conditions in the Islamic judicial system. Furthermore, there are a number of requirements that a plaintiff must establish in order to have standing before courts in the Islamic system, namely, capacity, actuality of plea, and condition of interest.


The most common form of periodontal disease is chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD). CIPD, a multifactorial disease, begins with a microbial infection on tooth surfaces, followed by a host mediated destruction of adjacent tissues. It is well accepted in medicine that inflammation plays a contributory role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interventional therapy to reduce CVD risk includes reducing sources that are contributing to the burden of systemic inflammation. Medical health care providers who care for patients with the systemic diseases potentially affected by oral inflammation, including those with known risk factors, must alter existing examination protocols to include realistic, time-efficient screening for oral inflammation and then appropriate referral to dental providers for definitive diagnosis and therapy. A system to screen patients for the potential for having oral inflammation may be the most realistic option to achieve the best overall wellness for our patients by integration and collaboration. Condensed abstract: The most common form of periodontal disease is chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD). Medicine has long recognized that increased levels of systemic inflammation play a role in the development and progression of many of the chronic diseases. A medical screening medical/dental collaborative checklist should include the medical conditions that are potentially affected by oral inflammation. The two-way relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases suggests that there are distinct patient categories that would benefit from medical screening for potential oral inflammation.


In the combustion engineering, to decrease pollution and increase production efficiency, and to optimally keep solid burning material amount constant in a burner online, it needs a smart method to detect the amount variation of the burning materials in a high temperature environment. This paper presents an online machine vision system for automatically measuring and detecting the burning material amount inside a burner or a boiler. In the camera-protecting box of the system, a sub-system for cooling is constructed by using the cooling water circulation techqique. In addition, the key and intelligent step in the system is to detect the pile profile of the variable burning material, and the algorithm for the pile profile tracing was studied based on the combination of the gey level (color) discontinuity and similarity based image segmentation methods, the discontinuity based sub-algorithm is made on the quaternion convolution, and the similarity based sub-algorithm is designed according to the region growing with multi-scale clustering. The results of the two sub-algoritms are fused to delineate the final pile profile, and the algorithm has been tested and applied in different industrial burners and boilers. The experiements show that the proposed algorithm works satisfactorily.


As the development of large-scale offshore wind farms (OWFs) amplifies due to technological progress and a growing demand for renewable energy, associated footprints on the seabed are becoming increasingly common within soft-bottom environments. A large part of the footprint is the scour protection, often consisting of rocks that are positioned on the seabed to prevent erosion. As such, scour protection may resemble a marine rocky reef and could have important ecosystem functions. While acknowledging that OWFs disrupt the marine environment, the aim of this systematic review was to examine the effects of scour protection on fish assemblages, relate them to the effects of designated artificial reefs (ARs) and, ultimately, reveal how future scour protection may be tailored to support abundance and diversity of marine species. The results revealed frequent increases in abundances of species associated with hard substrata after the establishment of artificial structures (i.e., both OWFs and ARs) in the marine environment. Literature indicated that scour protection meets the requirements to function as an AR, often providing shelter, nursery, reproduction, and/or feeding opportunities. Using knowledge from AR models, this review suggests methodology for ecological improvements of future scour protections, aiming towards a more successful integration into the marine environment.


The authors have carried on an investigation of humoral immunity in 64 patients with thyrotoxicosis of different degrees. It was found that patients with different degrees of thyrotoxicosis had an elevated level of immunoglobulins and that autotransfusion of UV irradiated blood considerably normalized the content of immunoglobulins in blood serum, especially in patients with mild and mean degrees of thyrotoxicosis.


A great deal of research has examined the efficacy of variable message signs (VMS) to induce driver behavior changes, improve safety conditions, and decongest the traffic network. However, there is little literature regarding the most effective ways to display this information on VMS. Furthermore, none of the previous contributions have concentrated on analyzing what impact flashing VMS have on drivers by using real traffic data. This article seeks to bridge this gap, analyzing the effect of incorporating intermittent light stimulation to messages on drivers' behavior on a Chilean highway, using vehicle-by-vehicle data obtained in a non-intrusive way. In order to do so, an experiment was carried out to measure the responses of drivers when faced with two types of messages: (1) those intended to induce a speed reduction and (2) those aimed at generating lane changes. From the statistical models we obtained several insights. Our results show that flashing messages may increase the effectiveness of VMS depending on environmental and traffic conditions. In particular, for speed moderation messages, we found 12 significant effects, showing, for example, that a flashing message is most effective in the hours of darkness, with low congestion, small spacing, and low average speeds. Additionally, it has a more significant impact on experienced drivers. On the other hand, for lane change messages, we found five significant effects, showing that flashing messaging reduces its effectiveness in situations where a high cognitive load is required, such as in high flow and high average speeds. No particular effects were identified in either case for specific vehicle types.


We study the nonlocal non-Markovian effects through local interactions between two subsystems and the corresponding two environments. It has been found that the initial correlations between two environments can turn a Markovian to a non-Markovian regime with extra control on the local interaction time. We further research the nonlocal non-Markovian effects from two situations: without extra control, the nonlocal non-Markovian effects only appear under the condition that two local dynamics are non-Markovian–non-Markovian (both of the two local dynamics are non-Markovian) or Markovian–non-Markovian, but not under the condition of Markovian–Markovian; with extra control, the nonlocal non-Markovian effects can occur under the condition of Markovian–Markovian. It shows that the function of correlations between two environments has an upper bound, which makes a flow of information from the environment back to the global system beginning finitely earlier than that back to one of the two local systems, not infinitely. Then, we proposed two special ways to distribute classical correlations between two environments without initial correlations. Finally, from numerical solutions in the spin star configuration, we found that the self-correlation (internal correlation) of each environment promotes the nonlocal non-Markovian effects.


Authors are often faced with the decision of whether to maximize impact or minimize costs when publishing the results of their research. For example, to potentially improve impact via increased accessibility, many subscription-based journals now offer the option of paying a fee to publish open access (i.e., hybrid journals), but this solution excludes authors who lack the capacity to pay to make their research accessible. Here, we tested if paying to publish open access in a subscriptionbased journal benefited authors by conferring more citations relative to closed access articles. We identified 146,415 articles published in 152 hybrid journals in the field of biology from 2013-2018 to compare the number of citations between various types of open access and closed access articles. In a simple generalized linear model analysis of our full dataset, we found that publishing open access in hybrid journals that offer the option confers an average citation advantage to authors of 17.8 citations compared to closed access articles in similar journals. After taking into account the number of authors, journal impact, year of publication, and subject area, we still found that open access generated significantly more citations than closed access (p < 0.0001). However, results were complex, with exact differences in citation rates among access types impacted by these other variables. This citation advantage based on access type was even similar when comparing open and closed access articles published in the same issue of a journal (p < 0.0001). However, by examining articles where the authors paid an article processing charge, we found that cost itself was not predictive of citation rates (p = 0.14). Based on our findings of access type and other model parameters, we suggest that, in most cases, paying for access does confer a citation advantage. For authors with limited budgets, we recommend pursuing open access alternatives that do not require paying a fee as they still yielded more citations than closed access. For authors who are considering where to submit their next article, we offer additional suggestions on how to balance exposure via citations with publishing costs.


Durability is the most pressing issue preventing the efficient commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stationary and transportation applications. A big barrier to overcoming the durability limitations is gaining a better understanding of failure modes for user profiles. In addition, durability test protocols for determining the lifetime of PEMFCs are important factors in the development of the technology. These methods are designed to gather enough data about the cell/stack to understand its efficiency and durability without causing it to fail. They also provide some indication of the cell/stack's age in terms of changes in performance over time. Based on a study of the literature, the fundamental factors influencing PEMFC long-term durability and the durability test protocols for both PEMFC stationary and transportation applications were discussed and outlined in depth in this review. This brief analysis should provide engineers and researchers with a fast overview as well as a useful toolbox for investigating PEMFC durability issues.


Much of the debate surrounding Direct-to-Consumer Advertising (DTCA) of pharmaceuticals centers on whether DTCA conveys useful information to consumers or indiscriminately increases requests for the advertised medication. By identifying how DTCA changes the shape of the demand curve for antidepressants, we seek to infer the promotional objectives of manufacturers. Using data from the 1996-2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we find that advertising shifts the demand curve for antidepressants outward and rotates it counter-clockwise. DTCA increases the probability that an individual will initiate use of antidepressants, particularly when out-of-pocket medication costs are low, but does not necessarily increase utilization levels among those already taking antidepressants. This is consistent with a promotional campaign that seeks to alert consumers to the product's existence, but conveys no real information that would allow them to learn their true match with the product.


Defensive islanding is an efficient way to avoid catastrophic failures and wide area blackouts. Power system splitting especially for large scale power systems is a combinatorial explosion problem. Thus, it is very difficult to find an optimal solution (if one exists) for large scale power system in real time. This paper proposes to utilize the computational efficiency property of binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) to find some efficient splitting solutions in limited timeframe. The solutions are optimized based on a cost function considering the balance between real power generation and consumption, the relative importance of customers, the capacities of distribution and transmission systems, and possibility of region to be impacted, etc. The solutions not only provide the lines to cut but also the corresponding load shedding information in each island. Simulations with large scale power system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.


By elaborating a Bourdieusian methodological framework, this thesis explores the temporalities of working lives in two different empirical settings. First, in portraits of people's careers featured in contemporary newspapers, and second, for two different kinds of workers associated with the banking industry in London. These two workforces consist of a group of people in their early and mid-careers who are involved in the 'core' activities of banks and a group of cleaning workers in the subcontracted 'periphery' of the banking industry. In regard to these empirical settings this thesis explores the interconnectedness between economic structures and individual working life temporalities. It does so by considering in particular two pervasive processes, namely individualisation and precarisation and it shows that these processes both operate at the level of time and narrative.

The analysis of career portraits shows that such portraits of (usually unknown) people's career in newspapers have a role model function and they serve as a technique of individualisation as they convey an individualised understanding of working lives, an individualisation which is in alignment with the neoliberal values of self-determination and individual autonomy. While career portraits enact de-temporalised and de-socialised notions of individual agency, my analysis of the two workforces in banking provide evidence for the socially and economically grounded nature of individual agency, in particular with regard to people's work biographies and their working futures. It is shown that although individualised understandings of work biography were an important feature among the group of people in their early and mid-careers in banking, the precariousness of the working conditions of cleaners force many of these workers to 'stabilise the present' whilst future plans and ambitions remain out of individual reach. However, in recent years, many of the cleaning workers have joined trade unions aiming to collectively improve their future.


Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Persoon, a popular medicinal edible mushroom, owns a long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine and also in other oriental countries. Along with this, its several bioactive compounds have been evolved into food supplements. Meanwhile, this present investigation aimed at extracting bioactive components from fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus using two different solvents and evaluating its in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative efficacy. Chemical analysis showed extracts were rich in phenol, flavonoids, and ascorbic acids while lesser amount of carotenoids were also detected in these extracts. Both extracts were able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (~76%) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) radicals (~81%) and also showed chelating activity (~73.05%). The ethanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (total antioxidant capacity 2.17 µg ascorbic acid equivalent/mg of extract) whereas methanolic extract showed moderate capacity (total antioxidant capacity 1.42 µg ascorbic acid equivalent/mg of extract). All extracts displayed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well (minimum inhibition concentration 1,575-2,750 µg/ml) although methanolic extract showed some selectivity towards bacterial strains. Apart from these, ethanolic fraction has found to exhibit potent cytotoxicity (IC50 403.12 µg/ml) towards lung adenocarcinoma cells. These studies thus provide the reference data that could support this mushroom as an easily accessible source of natural bioactive components. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Mushroom extracts have long been traditionally used as miracle medicine to treat an extensive range of ailments. These findings indicate the potential benefits of the Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Persoon extracts for the development of multi-target therapeutics as well as extraction with appropriate solvents also provide leads for the isolation of various principle compounds. The extracts thus could be used to treat oxidative stress-related disorders as they are found to contain antioxidant compounds like phenols and others and also they possessed good antimicrobial and anticancer activity.


The photoabsorption spectra near the Si 2p edges of SiH4 have been studied based on the multiple-scattering self-consistent-field method. Our theoretical calculations provide clear assignments of the inner-shell photoabsorption spectra. In comparison with high-resolution experimental spectra, the geometric structure of the Si 2p excited SiH4 * * is recommended as C2v symmetry.


The general purpose in this study was to determine the stresses in a wooden member subjected to combined beam and column action. What may be considered the specific purpose, as it relates more directly to the problem of design, was to determine the particular stress that obtains at maximum load which, for combined loading, does not occur simultaneously with maximum stress.


The continual attempts of FASB to revise and regularize the accounting treatment of derivatives positions in a firm's accounting statements has led to the recent Financial Accounting Standard No. 133. The use of hedge accounting procedures, which is generally highly desired by firms engaged in hedging with derivatives, may now require that the hedge be "highly effective." the meaning of this term, however, is not fully specified. And, given both the versatility of derivatives and the "noise" (or "basis risk") that can affect the relationship between the market for a derivative instrument and its underlying, it is not surprising that difficult cases can be found. Kawaller describes the "highly effective" criterion of the new rule and considers how it should best be applied.


Zvosec and Smith have reported that agitation is common in patients who present with c-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) toxicity. Previously, many clinicians would be aware that people withGHBtoxicity typically present with sedation, respiratory depression, and, potentially, coma if severely intoxicated. The authors' finding that agitation is common in patients with GHB toxicity should alert physicians to other previously unreported potential clinical manifestations of GHB intoxication or to consider intoxication with other agents that cause agitation, such as amphetamine derivatives. However, the data the authors have presented from their observational study do not support their conclusion that agitation is common in people with GHB toxicity.


We use the 3-D FinROSE chemistry transport model (CTM) and Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) observations to study connections between atmospheric dynamics and middle atmospheric NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) distribution. Two cases are considered in the northern polar regions: (1) descent of mesospheric NOx in February–March 2009 after a major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) and, for comparison, (2) early 2007 when no NOx descent occurred. The model uses the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational data for winds and temperature, and we force NOx at the model upper altitude boundary (80 km) with ACE-FTS observations. We then compare the model results with ACE-FTS observations at lower altitudes. For the periods studied, geomagnetic indices are low, which indicates absence of local NOx production by particle precipitation. This gives us a good opportunity to study effects of atmospheric transport on polar NOx. The model results show no NOx descent in 2007, in agreement with ACE-FTS. In contrast, a large amount of NOx descends in February–March 2009 from the upper to lower mesosphere at latitudes larger than 60 N, i.e. inside the polar vortex. Both observations and model results suggest NOx increases of 150–200 ppb (i.e. by factor of 50) at 65 km due to the descent. However, the model underestimates the amount of NOx around 55 km by 40–60 ppb. According to the model results, chemical loss of NOx is insignificant during the descent period, i.e. polar NOx is mainly controlled by dynamics. The descent is terminated and the polar NOx amounts return to pre-descent levels in mid-March, when the polar vortex breaks. The break-up prevents the descending NOx from reaching the upper stratosphere, where it could participate in catalytic ozone destruction. Both ACE-FTS observaCorrespondence to: S.-M. Salmi (email@example.com) tions and FinROSE show a decrease of ozone of 20–30 % at 30–50 km from mid-February to mid-March. In the model, these ozone changes are not related to the descent but are due to solar activation of halogen and NOx chemistry.


In the absence of widely accepted education standards for parents of children after liver transplantation (LTx), the content and structure of parental training are influenced by health care practitioners' (HCP) individual knowledge and assessment of the relevance of its contents. This study examines the hypothesis that expectations towards training differ between HCPs and parents, and that the quality of parental training affects the job-satisfaction of HCPs. Attitudes towards disease-specific education were assessed by tailor-made questionnaires in HCPs (n = 20) and parents of children with chronic liver disease or after LTx (n = 113). These were supplemented by focused interviews in n = 7 HCPs and n = 16 parents. Parents were more satisfied with current counseling than HCP. Language barriers and low parental educational background were perceived as obstacles by 43% of HCPs. The quality of parental knowledge was felt to have a strong influence on HCPs job satisfaction. The expectations towards the content of disease-specific education largely overlap but are not synonymous. HCP and parents agreed with regards to the importance of medication knowledge. Parents rated the importance about the meaning of laboratory values and diagnostic procedures significantly higher (3.50 vs. 2.85, p < 0.001 and 3.42 vs. 2.80, p < 0.001) than HCPs. Parents and HCPs would prefer a structured framework with sufficient staff resources for disease-specific counseling.


Abstract The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 provides the legislative framework for the creation of new national parks in Scotland. The Act sets out four aims for the Scottish National Parks, one of which is the promotion of sustainable economic and social development in the parks. This aim is particularly important as it reflects a contemporary view of national parks as working areas. In order to inform the evolving policy debate, the Scottish Executive commissioned research to review best practice with respect to the provision of new industrial and commercial facilities in national parks in England and Wales. This article considers the findings of the research and highlights lessons that can be drawn in order to inform the on-going national parks debate in Scotland. It concludes that positive and assertive planning and management policies are entirely appropriate in order to promote the provision of high quality and innovative industrial and commercial premises in the Scottish National Parks so as to meet the objectives relating to the sustainable economic and social development of the designated areas.


Joint instability and limb shortening due to septic destruction of the hip may not be correctable by reduction, fusion, or total joint arthroplasty. In these circumstances, a unique Ilizarov pelvic support osteotomy combined with reconstructive angular correction and lengthening of the limb can ameliorate Trendelenburg gait, restore knee alignment, and correct leg length discrepancy. Surgical reconstruction includes double-level femoral osteotomy resulting in 3 fragments (proximal, middle, and distal). Typically, the proximal osteotomy is a complex valgus-extension-derotation proximal femoral intertrochanteric or subtrochanteric osteotomy with adduction of the proximal fragment and proximal-medial translation of the distal segment to form a new weight-bearing surface between the pelvis and proximal femur (pelvic support). Distal osteotomy at the level of femoral diaphysis or distal metaphysis is used for gradual lengthening and angular correction of the position of the distal fragment to restore limb length and mechanical axis as well as correct associated angular deformity of the knee joint. This article describes the rationale and basic principles of Ilizarov pelvic support osteotomy and limb reconstruction using circular external fixation for septic destruction of the hip with an illustrative case example.


In view of reforms implemented in health care systems in many countries, both developed or developing, and especially in view of the implementation of the Sistema Unico de Saude - SUS (Single Health System) in Brazil, the author presents some aspects of the reform process in the German Health Care System. Special attention is given to the various mechanisms employed in Germany to keep health care costs stable in the system in relation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), mainly through the adoption of measures to rationalize use of medical technologies. Some aspects related to the broad bargaining process between the Medical Boards and the funds providing health care services are discussed, with a view towards elaboration of parameters for assessing medical performance, particularly in relation to utilization of medical technological resources. Finally, the author briefly discusses the impact of such measures in producing changes in medical performance standards.


We investigate the rupture process of the 26 January 2001 Bhuj, India, M w 7.6 earthquake through inversion of teleseismic broadband body waves. This earthquake ranks as one of the most important recent events due to its occurrence within a stable continental interior, where such events are rare. The Bhuj earthquake occurred on a moderately dipping blind thrust fault within an ancient failed rift. About 70% of the seismic moment released in the earthquake was confined to a very small area (∼375 km2) surrounding the hypocenter and at depths below 12 km. The static stress drop of the Bhuj earthquake is anomalously high (∼20 MPa). The source time history of the event indicates very rapid onset to the moment release and most likely high slip velocities within the deep asperity. This suggests that some of the damage near the epicenter may have been caused by anomalously high-frequency ground motions. The teleseismic data also indicate the presence of a second area of large slip in the shallow part of the Bhuj fault, although the depth extent of this shallow large-slip area is not resolved. Comparisons of the predicted ground motions with observed intensities suggest that substantial slip occurred in the upper 10 km of the fault in order to explain the distribution of high intensities to the west and northwest of the fault. The upper surface layers near the Bhuj fault consist of unconsolidated, low-rigidity sediments and alluvium. The upper ∼ 10 km of the Bhuj fault may therefore be in a conditionally stable region that normally deforms through aseismic creep and can sustain seismic rupture only when dynamically stressed by rupture of the high-strength deep asperity. We suggest that this deep asperity may be related to a lithologic anomaly of ultramafic composition.


Studies of multinational performance have moved from linear, to quadratic and to cubic relationships but despite this seeming increase in sophistication, the empirical evidence has remained contradictory. The hypothesized performance relationships of multinationality have typically been driven by assumed trade-offs between underlying cost/benefit functions. However, this paper argues that cost/benefit trade-offs associated with international expansion are shaped by industry specific conditions that systematically confound the performance outcomes of multinationality. Whereas prior studies often have been confined to a focus on manufacturing and smaller cross-sectional samples, this study analyses the multinational performance outcomes across a comprehensive industry-wide dataset during 1996-2000. The analyses show positive multinational performance relationships in manufacturing and knowledge-based service industries whereas capital-based service industries have negative performance relationships. These results support the proposed heterogeneity in multinational performance effects across industry contexts.


Abstract : The article describes in detail the process of pulse-arc welding of aluminum alloys in the presence of argon as a shielding gas. Parameters of the process are specified. Equipment for a typical welding station is described. It is suggested that regular automatic and semi-automatic machines can be used with only minor modifications, mainly to achieve better feed of the consumable electrode. Sections of the article are devoted to the practice and technique of forming welded seams in various attitudes. Types of electrode wire and care in its storage and use are outlined. The control of parameters of welding is emphasized. Particular attention is devoted to use of the process in the building of ship superstructures. Advantages of the pulse-arc method over customary methods are listed together with a cost comparison of various types of welding. (Author)


A new flux based on NaCl – CaCl2 – CaF2 – Na3AlF6 was developed for the gas welding of aluminium and its alloys. The flux was generated by the application of the Hadamard multivariate chemical composition model. The model uses a 8 x 8 matrix and a full factorial analysis to generate several compositions within given ranges of the constituent flux elements. Mechanical and field tests were carried out on weldments made with the flux. The tensile strength, Izod impact strength and hardness of the all – weld metal were 310MPa, 5.35J and 100BHN. The weld deposition efficiency was 90.3%.The new flux and two popular commercial fluxes were given to five expert aluminium welders to use for three months, and were requested to rate the performances. The results showed that there was an agreement between the responses of the welders that the new flux performed better than the commercial versions available in Nigeria.


This study reports a novel electrostatic vertical comb-drive micro-actuator (VCA) driven by the photovoltaic effect that results from the incident light. The vertical comb electrodes are composed of pn-junction structures (named PN-combs). The VCA with PN-combs can be driven by the photovoltaic effect and/or reverse electrical bias. The VCA with PN-combs was fabricated on an epitaxial silicon wafer and successfully driven by intensity-modulated laser light and reverse bias. The combination of the photovoltaic effect and reverse bias can further increase the mechanical scan angle of the VCA. Experiments demonstrate the feasibility of four driving methods, including optical driving, optical driving with DC reverse bias, electrical driving and electrical driving with DC photovoltaic voltage.


Moments are quantities that can be calculated either directly from empiric observations or from model equations that describe observed time-dependent events. The analysis of empirically obtained moments provides insight into the mean duration and into the time profile of the underlying processes. The rules of their assessment and analysis are the same for pharmacokinetic and for pharmaceutical observations. Examples are given that show the power of moment analysis in pharmacokinetic experiments in vivo and in pharmaceutical dissolution testing in vitro. The method can be used for evaluation of in vivo/in vitro correlations in biopharmaceutics.


The purpose of this study was to examine how women's career stage and Ubuntu (collectivist) values relate to their cognitive ambidexterity when pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives in multicultural South Africa. In this study individual cognitive ambidexterity was operationalised as using effectual and causal logic. More than three hundred businesswomen from diverse backgrounds were surveyed. The results revealed that career stage, self-efficacy and Ubuntu collectivism are important in women's ambidexterity. Mature, efficacious women in their late career stage draw on their diverse networks and use effectual affordable loss, flexibility and causation when pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives. In contrast, younger, early-career women are more likely to use pre-commitment to ensure support from stakeholders. Women with Ubuntu values use their relationship skills to draw on resources from their networks and use ambidexterity (effectual and causal logic) in their entrepreneurial endeavours. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial women who develop their cognitive ambidexterity and draw on both effectual and causal approaches when initiating entrepreneurial initiatives are more likely to experience successful outcomes. These mental approaches can be developed by means of awareness, training and mentoring. This study extends the literature on women's entrepreneurial decision-making in a culturally diverse society, demonstrating the influence of cultural values and career stage on effectual and causal logic.


User authentication is a critical security requirement for accessing resources in cloud computing systems. A text-based password is a standard user authentication way and it is still extensively used so far. However, textual passwords are difficult to remember, which forces users to write it down and compromise security. In recent years, graphical user authentication methods have been proposed as an alternative way used to verify the identity of users. The most critical challenges cloud-computing users face is to post their sensitive data on external servers that are not directly under their control and that can be used or managed by other people. This paper proposes a question-based hybrid graphical user authentication scheme for portable cloud-computing environments. The proposed scheme comprises advantages over both recognition- and recall-based techniques without storing any sensitive information on cloud servers. The experimental study and survey have been conducted to investigate the user satisfaction about the performance and usability aspects of the proposed scheme. The study results show that the proposed scheme is secure, easy to use, and immune to potential password attacks such as brute force password guessing attacks and shoulder surfing attacks


The shape evolution of epitaxially grown InAs/GaAs(001) quantum dots after the controlled removal of material by an in situ etching gas is investigated by atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy. The presence of {137} facets on the surface of partially etched quantum dots and the appearance of small two-dimensional islands for long etching times indicate the reversal of the shape transition that occurs during growth. This reversibility impressively confirms that both the growth process and the etching process are dominated by thermodynamic factors. We find that the evolution of the quantum dots is not determined by direct etching but is mainly caused by the etching of the wetting layer and the subsequent diffusion of In atoms from the quantum dots onto the bare GaAs, thus rewetting the substrate.


This thesis analyses the changing social and economic relationships from 1858 to 1914 between Scottish universities and local, regional and national communities. The thesis focuses on educational success and failure, testing whether and in which ways the Scottish universities were forming relationships with the community that assisted them in meeting society's demands. The subject has relevance not only to historical debates concerning the formation of British elites and their effects on economic performance but also to present day questions regarding the relationships between universities, business and the wider community. The methodology of the research includes a biographical analysis of community activity in the universities using benchmark years to identify the changing involvement of major social groups (such as the business and professional classes), their attitudes to educational development, and the impact of their involvement on the universities. This makes it possible to discover how far reforms of the university government in 1858 and 1889 made a real difference, and in particular how far significant new mechanisms emerged which led to sustained relationships between the universities and the community. The universities became successfully involved with other educational institutions in their locality and farther afield. In this individual and voluntary activity played an important role. The University Courts and General Councils allowed for the vocalising of reformist dissent and acted as a means to allow professional and other business and commercial interests to become involved in university and educational affairs. This casts new light on the debate concerning university relations with industry; it can be seen that the university authorities were cut off neither from the industrial nor commercial sectors of the community nor from the growing professional groups. In addition, new structures and attitudes allowed for joint consultation between universities and with the central authorities. However, by the end of the period delegation of authority to principals may have limited the breadth and depth of consultation on policy. On public occasions the universities were a means for Scottish society to participate in ceremony and ritual; while this was mainly restricted to the middle and upper classes it allowed for the interaction of social groups which at other times had little contact with each other. In the gathering of philanthropic funding the universities showed their ability to target successfully specific social and economic groups. In addition they were the recipients of large amounts of gifts; quantifying the latter allows for a positive re-appraisal of the levels of support from sections of the community. Partly as a result the universities appear mainly in a positive light to their contemporaries, at the end of the period, after a series of alterations to their administrations, finances and curicula.


This article analyzes and evaluates the implementation of poverty alleviation program run by Zakat Collector (BAZ) in Bandung Mucipality. Just like other zakat collectors in Indonesia, BAZ of Bandung Mucipality has various development programs for poverty alleviation, including what is to be called revolving fund project. The aim of revolving fund project is to support the poor to run micro business. Based on fieldwork in Bandung, this article exmanines the problems and difficulties faced by the zakat collector in running development-oriented project and how poverty alleviation are still hard to reach. In evaluating the implementation of poverty alleviation program in Bandung, this article highlights five aspects, including communication, human resource, disposition, bureaucratic structures, and social-economic condition. This article concludes that one of the problems faced by zakat collector is ineffectiveness of communitation between zakat collectors in District and Sub-District levels, as well as lack of capacity among the staff in sub-district level in providing technical assistance for zakat beneficiaries. Keywords: zakat, qardhul hasan, poverty avaliation, revolving fund


To determine whether short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) serve as reservoir hosts for the Lyme disease spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) and the agent of human babesiosis (Babesia microti), we examined nymphal ticks that had fed as larvae on shrews collected from 3 enzootic sites in coastal Massachusetts for evidence of infection by either or both of these agents. Xenodiagnosis indicated that 11 of 14 shrews were infected by B. burgdorferi. One of 3 piroplasm-infected shrews also infected ticks with B. microti. In a site where the piroplasm is endemic, 11 of 17 shrews showed patent parasitemias by thin blood smears. Of these, 4 had parasitemias exceeding 40%. Few immature ticks infested shrews, however, suggesting that B. brevicauda, although abundant in some endemic sites and serving as a competent reservoir, would contribute minimally to the population of infected nymphs.


The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for acute surgical-site infection (SSI) after total joint arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with nonbiologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). We performed a retrospective study of all consecutive total hip (THA) and total knee (TKA) arthroplasties performed during a 5-year period (THA 81; TKA 339). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify SSI risk factors. Of the patients undergoing THA or TKA, 24 cases (5.7%) developed a superficial incisional SSI requiring the use of antibiotics and three cases (0.7%) developed an organ/space SSI necessitating surgical treatment to remove the artificial joint prosthesis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of biologic DMARDs [P = 0.0007, odds ratio (OR) = 5.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.07–15.61] and longer RA duration (P = 0.0003, OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.04–1.14) were the only significant risk factors for acute SSI. Furthermore, an analysis that individually evaluated major agents (n > 10) adjusted for disease duration indicated that tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers increased the risk of SSI (infliximab P = 0.001, OR = 9.80, 95% CI 2.41–39.82; etanercept P = 0.0003, OR = 9.16, 95% CI 2.77–30.25). We found that the use of infliximab or etanercept and longer disease duration were associated with an increased risk of acute SSI in RA patients. Prospective studies are thus needed to determine the safety of biologic DMARDs in the perioperative period.


Abstract Lately lawyers and medical professionals pay more attention too the process of minor patient healthcare. The research shall address the issues of legal relationship between minor patients and medical professionals, consent to treatment of minor patients and communication problems including the scope of information which the doctor can provide to the minor patient's relatives to protect themselves and patients. Legislation prescribes that the information provided by the medical professional to the minor patient must be not only easy-to-understand, but also be consistent with the patient's age maturity. However, in Latvia, for example, there are no guidelines that specify how medical professionals can determine the patient's maturity. In the course of provision of medical services to the minor persons legal disputes involving communiucation failures between the minor patients, their relatives, legal representatives and the doctors arise increasingly frequently. The research will look into issue of communication problems in healthcare. The aim of the research is to provide insight into challenges of legal relations betweem minor patients and medical professionals and communication problems in healthcare.


When the membrane components of Xg(a+) erythrocytes were separated by electrophoresis and immunoblotted with an anti-Xga of human origin, two diffuse bands of approximate Mr 22,000-25,000 and 26,500-29,000 were stained. These reactive components were not evident in membranes from proteinase-treated Xg(a+) erythrocytes. Neuraminidase treatment of erythrocytes before immunoblotting resulted in one diffuse Xga-reactive band, the leading edge of which had a slightly increased mobility corresponding to a decrease in Mr of approx. 1500. These results suggest that the membrane components that carry Xga are sialoglycoproteins. A genetic relationship exists between Xga and the antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody 12E7. An immunochemical comparison of the structures that carry the Xga and 12E7 antigens demonstrated that they differ in Mr and in the way in which they are modified by neuraminidase. This is in accord with evidence that Xga and 12E7 are the products of two separate structural loci.