Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) with a few hundred extremely simple processors represent a paradigm shift for highly parallel computations. We use this emergent GPU architecture to provide a first demonstration of the feasibility of real time ML decoding (in software) of a high rate space-time block code that is representative of codes incorporated in 4th generation wireless standards such as WiMAX and LTE. The decoding algorithm is conditional optimization which reduces to a parallel calculation that is a natural fit to the architecture of low cost GPUs. Experimental results demonstrate that asymptotically the GPU implementation is more than 700 times faster than a standard serial implementation. These results suggest that GPU architectures have the potential to improve the cost / performance tradeoff of 4th generation wireless base stations. Additional benefits might include reducing the time required for system development and the time required for configuration and testing of wireless base stations.


The RNA‐binding protein HuR (human antigen R) associates with numerous transcripts, coding and noncoding, and controls their splicing, localization, stability, and translation. Through its regulation of target transcripts, HuR has been implicated in cellular events including proliferation, senescence, differentiation, apoptosis, and the stress and immune responses. In turn, HuR influences processes such as cancer and inflammation. HuR function is primarily regulated through posttranslational modifications that alter its subcellular localization and its ability to bind target RNAs; such modifications include phosphorylation, methylation, ubiquitination, NEDDylation, and proteolytic cleavage. In this review, we describe the modifications that impact upon HuR function on gene expression programs and disease states. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1372. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1372


Purpose Although normal function of the lacrimal gland is essential for vision (and thus for human well-being), the lacrimal gland remains rather poorly understood at a molecular level. The purpose of this study was to identify new genes and signaling cascades involved in lacrimal gland development. Methods To identify these genes, we used microarray analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of developing (embryonic) and adult lacrimal glands. Differential data were validated by quantitative RT-PCR, and several corresponding proteins were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. To evaluate the role of NOTCH signaling in lacrimal gland (LG) development, we used the NOTCH inhibitor DAPT and conditional Notch1 knockouts. Results Our microarray data and an in silico reconstruction of cellular networks revealed significant changes in the expression patterns of genes from the NOTCH, WNT, TGFβ, and Hedgehog pathways, all of which are involved in the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our study also revealed new putative lacrimal gland stem cell/progenitor markers. We found that inhibiting Notch signaling both increases the average number of lacrimal gland lobules and reduces the size of each lobule. Conclusions Our findings suggest that NOTCH-, WNT-, TGFβ-, and Hedgehog-regulated EMT transition are critical mechanisms in lacrimal gland development and morphogenesis. Our data also supports the hypothesis that NOTCH signaling regulates branching morphogenesis in the developing lacrimal gland by suppressing cleft formation.


Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen transmitted by ixodid ticks. This bacterium colonizes myeloid and nonmyeloid cells and causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis--an important immunopathological vector-borne disease in the USA, Europe and Asia. Recent studies uncovered novel insights into the mechanisms of A. phagocytophilum pathogenesis and immunity. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying events by which the immune system responds to A. phagocytophilum infection, how this pathogen counteracts host immunity and the contribution of the tick vector for microbial transmission. We also discuss current scientific gaps in the knowledge of A. phagocytophilum biology for the purpose of exchanging research perspectives.


Randomly-oriented and textured (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 (BCZT) ceramics are prepared by a hot-pressing (HP) method. The phase structure, microstructure, and electrical properties are systematically investigated. Structural analysis shows a decrease in tetragonality of the hot-pressed samples. The orientation of the as-processed ceramics is studied by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction, revealing an increase in texture of the hot-pressed textured BCZT ceramics. Microstructure characterization demonstrates that the hot-pressing can greatly improve the densification of the BCZT ceramics. Dielectric constant measurement obeys a modified Curie–Weiss law. The relaxor-like behavior is decreased in hot-pressed samples. The Curie temperatures of the hot-pressed BCZT (BCZT-HP) and the hot-pressed BCZT with texture templates (BCZT-T-HP) ceramics are greatly increased to 76 °C and 90 °C, respectively. The optimum piezoelectric properties for the BCZT-HP and BCZT-T-HP ceramics are d33 = 510 pC N−1, kp = 44%, d31 = −182 pC N−1, k31 = 23% and d33 = 580 pC N−1, kp = 49%, d31 = −204 pC N−1, k31 = 31%, respectively. Therefore, the BCZT-HP and BCZT-T-HP ceramics are promising lead-free piezoelectric ceramics which can be used in higher temperature than their counterparts prepared by conventional sintering.


In this paper, we propose a novel spatial multiplexing (SM) scheme for transmission over flat-fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels, which allows simple maximum-likelihood decoding at the receiver with small feedback information. We begin with a real-valued representation of the complex-valued system model, and show that we can achieve orthogonality between transmitted signals by applying a proper rotation to transmitted symbols. Compared with other closed-loop methods, the proposed scheme significantly reduces the processing complexity at both transmitter and receiver as well as the feedback overhead. We also combine the proposed orthogonalization method with antenna-selection techniques, and then discuss a criterion based on the minimum Euclidean distance between received vectors for selecting the optimal subset of multiple transmit antennas. Using geometrical properties of the receive constellations, we also present a simple antenna-selection metric for the proposed SM systems. Simulation results demonstrate that our SM system performs close to the optimum closed-loop system with much-reduced complexity


Offset-based response time analysis of tasks scheduled with fixed priorities has demonstrated to be a powerful tool to analyze many task models with different kinds of timing constraints, like regular periodic tasks, suspending tasks, distributed systems, tasks with varying priorities, multi frame models, etc. Offset-based analysis techniques are capable of performing a global schedulability analysis in distributed systems, as opposed to the less efficient techniques that consider each processing or communication resource as independent. In this paper we extend the offset-based schedulability analysis techniques to system with EDF (earliest deadline first) scheduling, using analytical techniques that are similar to those developed for fixed priority scheduling. With this new analysis, we now have a complete set of techniques to perform the analysis of different task models in distributed heterogeneous systems, i.e., processors and communication networks having either fixed priority or EDF schedulers.


This study investigated the concentrations of Ni and Fe in 18 vegetables (12 fruit types and 6 leafy types) and their habitat topsoils collected from three farming sites in Peninsular Malaysia. The levels of Ni and Fe are all significantly (P<0.05) higher in the leafy vegetables than those in the fruit vegetables. It is found that the Ni levels in the vegetables are highly correlated with the three geochemical and non-resistant fractions of the habitat topsoils. This indicated that Ni geochemical fractions in the habitat topsoils are considered readily and potentially bioavailable to the vegetables. The Fe levels in the vegetables are highly correlated with the 'acid-reducible' fraction of the habitat topsoils, indicating the Fe transfer of this geochemical fraction is likely to occur to the vegetables. The positive relationships indicated the potential of edible vegetables as good biomonitors of Ni pollution in the habitat topsoils. For the health risk assessment, all the target hazard quotient values for Ni and Fe in the 18 vegetables investigated in both adult and children are all below 1.00. This indicated that there was no non-carcinogenic risk of Ni and Fe to the consumers for both adults and children.


In this paper, a new principle of a smart sensor is proposed, based on three different magnetic effects or operational modes, using the same sensor topology, which consists of a magnetic wire as sensing core, two coils as excitation or search means, and two electric contacts at the ends of the magnetic wire. The magnetic effects currently involved are magnetostriction, magneto-impedance and re-entrant flux reversal. Operating the sensor in these three different modes separately and sequentially, one can obtain the response of the sensor related to three different physical quantities, such as stress, temperature, and field. This paper refers to the first experimental results based on this principle, thus initiating the research work in this field. It has been experimentally observed that the total output of the sensor in each one of the three different modes is equal to the product of each corresponding physical quantity function concerned, provided that a given threshold of the ambient field and preloaded stress is used to bias the sensing element. Therefore, the three unknown parameters of stress, temperature, and field can be determined from a 3/spl times/3 matrix equation. Other magnetic effects may also be involved. Furthermore, other physical quantities may also be determined, such as position, pressure, load, etc.


A b s t r act: In order to assess the damage and recovery rate of intertidal habitats after the 1991 Gulf War oil spill, intertidal surveys were carried out between November 1991 and November 1992 in the Dawhat ad-Dafi and Dawhat al-MusalJamiya area of the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast. Interim results from these surveys show that the number of species and the number of individuals has increased but they are still lower on the oil-impacted shores than on the control sites. Over this period recolonisation into previ ously oiled zones has occurred on the more active shores where the tar has been broken up by physical action. The soft-sediment shores have developed extensive algal mats while the upper zones remain heavily tarred preventing recolonisation by typical fauna. Juveniles of the crab Cleistostoma dotillifonne and the polychaete Perinereis vancaurica have been found settling and Jiving in heavily oiled substrates. Recruitment of species with planktonic larvae is occurring successfully. There is no evidence of lower shore contamination.


Genetic tools and especially genetically encoded fluorescent reporters have given a special place to optical microscopy in drosophila neurobiology research. In order to monitor neural networks activity, high speed and sensitive techniques, with high spatial resolution are required. Structured illumination microscopies are wide-field approaches with optical sectioning ability. Despite the large progress made with the introduction of the HiLo principle, they did not meet the criteria of speed and/or spatial resolution for drosophila brain imaging. We report on a new implementation that took advantage of micromirror matrix technology to structure the illumination. Thus, we showed that the developed instrument exhibits a spatial resolution close to that of confocal microscopy but it can record physiological responses with a speed improved by more than an order a magnitude.


Present study involved analyzing antioxidant properties and free fatty acid (FFA) of Herbal Sandesh. Sandesh was prepared under standard procedure and the above mentioned herbs were incorporated in the Herbal Sandesh @ 1%, 2%, and 3% and combination of Ashwagandha and Tulsi 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% in the form of extract in treatments. Effect of different level and herbs ratio and sensory scores for all attributes were highly acceptable for Sandesh A2B2 made with 96 % Chhana, 2.0% Ashwagandha and 2.0% Tulsi extract. The products were tested to find the antioxidant properties were measured by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) assay method and free fatty acid percentage (FFA) were measured by titration method. The sample (A3B3)showed promising results as the percentage of antioxidant activity was 43.80 (maximum) and the percentage of free fatty acid (% Oleic acid) was 0.31 (minimum) obtained for the formulation containing Ashwagandha 3%, Tulsi 3 % which considered as best sample Sandesh among other samples. It can be concluded that herbs possessed antioxidant properties and the levels of herbal treatment had a positive effect on antioxidant activity and they were effective in delaying oxidation in Sandesh, hence they can be used as sources of natural antioxidants.


Problem statement: Evaluation, an important step in educational settings, is usually understood as a process to measure what students know or what they have learned. A variety of methods can be used for assessment and tests are one of the most important and widely-used. While being tested, one may learn or retrieve previously learned information via some mental processes that work on the memory. This phenomenon is called the "testing effect." Despite some disadvantages, tests can also be used as learning materials. So, we will present our study on the testing effect in the classroom setting. Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the testing effect occurs in a classroom setting while using a test consisting of multiple choice and matching questions and a worksheet that summarizes the topic, and also to examine the effects of feedback and time. Methods: In this study, the testing effect was investigated in a college chemistry course, and 98 pre-service science teachers participated. A pretest, post-test, control group research design was followed to investigate the testing effect. A pre-test that has 100 short-answer questions was performed and students were grouped according to scores from that test. Seven groups (six experimental and one control) were constituted with the requirement that each group had the same average score on the pre-test. An intervening test was applied to four groups (two of them received feedback immediately after the test), a worksheet that summarizes the topic was studied by two groups and one group (control group) had no additional activity. The same pre-test was applied as a post-test to determine final retention. Three groups received this post-test a day later,


Background: The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing annually and patient mortality is high. Coronary artery calcification is a predictor of coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular events, which are the main cause of death in type 2 diabetes patients, may be preventable by addressing risk factors associated with coronary artery calcification. We examined the relationships between coronary artery calcification, lipid profiles, and apolipoprotein levels. Methods: We calculated the coronary calcium scores (CCS) of 254 subjects with type 2 diabetes (113 males, 141 females) via multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). Height, body weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, c-peptide, lipid profile and apolipoprotein were assessed concurrently. Results: In patients with type 2 diabetes, Agatston score and apolipoprotein A-1 were significantly negatively correlated in both males and females (males P = 0.015, females P = 0.021). The negative correlation between Agatston score and apolipoprotein A-1 was retained for the entire patient sample after adjustments for age and sex (P = 0.022). Stepwise multiple regression anaylses with the Agatston score as the dependent variable indicate that apolipoprotein A-1 is a independent predictor (β coefficient = -0.047, 95%CI = -0.072 ~ -0.021, P < 0.001) of coronary artery calcification. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that apolipoprotein A-1 is a useful independent indicator of coronary artery calcification. (Korean Diabetes J 33:485-493, 2009)


Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle plays a vital role in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Chapter 2 of this thesis develops an immunofluorescence microscopy method to generate novel information in human skeletal muscle on the effect of physiological stimuli on GLUT4 localisation, translocation to the plasma membrane and total protein content. Chapter 3 shows that training-induced increases in total GLUT4 protein content are driven by increases in the number of large and size of smaller intracellular GLUT4 storage clusters in human skeletal muscle. In chapter 4 the method successfully demonstrates GLUT4 translocation 30 min following glucose ingestion and 30 min after the start of moderate intensity cycling exercise in humans. GLUT4 translocation after glucose ingestion is transient and modest in comparison to the exercise response. Chapters 5 and 6 report no changes in GLUT4 translocation following an 80 min hyperinsulinaemic-isoglycaemic clamp in rats and a 2 h hyperglycaemic clamp in humans despite elevated rates of whole body glucose disposal in both experiments. This immunofluorescence method will be a valuable analytical tool in future studies investigating the mechanisms behind changes in muscle glucose uptake in response to obesity, age-related chronic diseases and therapeutic interventions including diet and exercise.


In this paper, an exergetic optimization has been developed to determine the optimal performance and design parameters of a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector. A detailed energy and exergy analysis has been carried out to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters, exergy components, and exergy efficiency of a typical PV/T air collector. The thermal and electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector include solar cell temperature, back surface temperature, outlet air temperature, open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current, maximum power point voltage, maximum power point current, etc. An improved electrical model has been used to estimate the electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector. Furthermore, a new equation for the exergy efficiency of a PV/T air collector has been derived in terms of design and climatic parameters. A computer simulation program has been also developed to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector. The results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experimental measurements noted in the previous literature. Moreover, the simulation results obtained in this paper are more precise than the one given by the previous literature, and the new exergy efficiency obtained in this paper is in good agreement with the one given by the previous literature. Finally, exergetic optimization has been carried out under given climatic, operating, and design parameters. The optimized values of inlet air velocity, duct length, and the maximum exergy efficiency have been found. Parametric studies have been also carried out. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


We report a novel lateral cavity surface emitting laser based on sub-wavelength high-index-contrast grating with in-plane resonance and surface-normal emission. The device is fabricated on a simple commercial wafer without the distributed Bragg reflector and it needs no wafer bonding. It exhibits a side mode suppression ratio of 23.0 d B and a high output power of 5.32 m W at 1552.44 nm. The specific single mode lasing agrees well with the band edge mode calculation of the grating. In 3D simulation, we observe obvious light output from the grating.


Introduction Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common musculoskeletal problems affecting the adult population and can cause significant pain and disability. Large tears often require surgical repair but repair failure remains a significant clinical problem with failure rates reported as high as 94%.4 Hence, there is a growing need for an effective clinical solution. Implanted scaffolds are an increasingly popular option to improve the biomechanical properties and native repair process. Over 20 scaffolds are commercially available and these are derived from mammalian tissue, synthetic polymers or a combination thereof. Despite increasing scaffold use, several concerns regarding their efficacy, safety, biocompatibility and mechanism of action remain. In this in vitro study we have assessed the interactions of human tenocytes from rotator cuff tear patients with 8 commercially available scaffolds. We hypothesise that there will be a difference in cell adhesion and proliferation between the 8 scaffolds. By using diseased human tenocytes, we hypothesise that this in vitro model will more accurately represent human rotator cuff cell response in vivo. In the absence of comparative clinical studies, this model may provide surgeons with information to help them select the most appropriate scaffold for their patients. Methods Tenocytes were extracted from tissue biopsies taken from 2 patients with large-massive rotator cuff tears who were undergoing subacromial decompression surgery. Tenocytes were seeded onto the prepared scaffolds and incubated in supplemented growth media for 28 days.3 Initial cell attachment was assessed using AlamarBlue® assay on day 1. Cell proliferation was measured using AlamarBlue® assay every 3 days over the 28-day period. Results Finely meshed X-Repair and Poly-Tape scaffolds demonstrated the greatest cell attachment at day 1 (p < 0.05). Other scaffolds performed similarly, with no significant difference. Abstract 95 Figure 1 Cell proliferation over 28 days GraftJacket demonstrated statistically increased rate of cell proliferation, particularly during the first 2 weeks. Cell proliferation on all scaffolds was similar after 28 days. Discussion Initial cell attachment was greatest on synthetic scaffolds with straight, regularly oriented, and densely packed fibres. The parallel orientation and dimensions of these synthetic fibres mimic those of native collagen tendon fibres and may account for increased initial cell attachment. Cell proliferation during the first 2 weeks was greatest on non-crosslinked, non-irradiated, human-derived dermis, GraftJacket. These results confirm favourable outcomes from several clinical studies that used GraftJacket to augment rotator cuff repair.1,2,5 Cell proliferation appeared to be similar on all scaffolds after 28 days, most likely due to cell confluence on the substratum. In terms of biological versus synthetic materials, no clear trend was observed in terms of cell proliferation, but factors such as scaffold structure, collagen source, polymer type and industrial processing techniques could be suggested as possible modulators of cell attachment and growth. References 1 Barber, et al. Arthroscopy. 2012;28:8–15 2 Bond, et al. Arthroscopy. 2008;24:403–409 3 Chard, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1987;46:385–390 4 Galatz, et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86:219–224 5 Wong, et al . J Shouler Elbow Surg. 2010;19:104–9


This paper is devoted to the analysis of the impact of chaos-based techniques on block encryption ciphers. We present several chaos based ciphers. Using the well-known principles in the cryptanalysis we show that these ciphers do not behave worse than the standard ones, opening in this way a novel approach to the design of block encryption ciphers.


Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for many hospital-acquired infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. We have previously identified A. baumannii thioredoxin A protein (TrxA) as a virulence factor with a multitude of functions including reduction of protein disulfides. TrxA plays an important role in resistance to oxidative stress facilitating host immune evasion in part by alteration of type IV pili and cell surface hydrophobicity. Other virulence factors such as outer membrane vesicles (OMV) shed by bacteria have been shown to mediate bacterial intercellular communication and modulate host immune response. To investigate whether OMVs can be modulated by TrxA, we isolated OMVs from wild type (WT) and TrxA-deficient (ΔtrxA) A. baumannii clinical isolate Ci79 and carried out a functional and proteomic comparison. Despite attenuation of ΔtrxA in a mouse challenge model, pulmonary inoculation of ΔtrxA OMVs resulted in increased lung permeability compared to WT OMVs. Furthermore, ΔtrxA OMVs induced more J774 macrophage-like cell death than WT OMVs. This ΔtrxA OMV-mediated cell death was abrogated when cells were incubated with protease-K-treated OMVs suggesting OMV proteins were responsible for cytotoxicity. We therefore compared WT and mutant OMV proteins using proteomic analysis. We observed that up-regulated and unique ΔtrxA OMV proteins consisted of many membrane bound proteins involved in small molecule transport as well as proteolytic activity. Bacterial OmpA, metalloprotease, and fimbrial protein have been shown to enhance mammalian cell apoptosis through various mechanisms. Differential packaging of these proteins in ΔtrxA OMVs may contribute to the increased cytotoxicity observed in this study.


The cardiac electrophysiology (EP) problem is governed by a nonlinear anisotropic reaction‐diffusion system with a very rapidly varying reaction term associated with the transmembrane cell current. The nonlinearity associated with the cell models requires a stabilization process before any simulation is performed. More importantly, when used in a 3‐dimensional (3D) anatomy, it is not sufficient to perform this stabilization on the basis of isolated cells only, since the coupling of the different cells through the tissue greatly modulates the dynamics of the system. Therefore, stabilization of the system must be performed on the entire 3D model. This work develops a novel procedure for the initialization of reaction‐diffusion systems for numerical simulations of cardiac EP from steady‐state conditions. We exploit surface point correspondence to establish volumetric point correspondence. Upon introduction of a new 3D anatomy with surface point correspondence, a prediction of the cell model steady states is derived from the set of earlier biophysical simulations. We show that the prediction error is typically less than 10% for all model variables, with most variables showing even greater accuracy. When initializing simulations with the predicted model states, it is demonstrated that simulation times can be cut by at least two‐thirds and potentially more, which saves hours or days of high‐performance computing. Overall, these results increase the clinical applicability of detailed computational EP studies on personalized anatomies.


We propose a method to protect the privacy of search engine users by decomposing the queries using semantically related and unrelated distractor terms. Instead of a single query, the search engine receives multiple decomposed query terms. Next, we reconstruct the search results relevant to the original query term by aggregating the search results retrieved for the decomposed query terms. We show that the word embeddings learnt using a distributed representation learning method can be used to find semantically related and distractor query terms. We derive the relationship between the obfuscity achieved through the proposed query anonymisation method and the reconstructability of the original search results using the decomposed queries. We analytically study the risk of discovering the search engine users' information intents under the proposed query obfuscation method, and empirically evaluate its robustness against clustering-based attacks. Our experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately reconstruct the search results for user queries, without compromising the privacy of the search engine users.


Treating arteries as thin-walled prestressed elastic tubes with a narrowing (stenosis) and blood as an inviscid fluid, we study the propagation of weakly nonlinear waves in such a fluid-filled elastic tube by employing the reductive perturbation method in the long wave approximation. It is shown that the evolution equation of the first-order term in the perturbation expansion may be described by the conventional Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation. The evolution equation for the second-order term is found to be the linearized KdV equation with a nonhomogeneous term, which contains the contribution of the stenosis. A progressive wave type solution is sought for the evolution equation, and it is observed that the wave speed is variable, which results from the stenosis. We study the variation of the wave speed with the distance parameter τ for various amplitude values of the stenosis. It is observed that near the center of the stenosis the wave speed decreases with increasing stenosis amplitude. However, sufficiently far from the center of the stenosis stenosis amplitude becomes negligibly small.


Tour guiding is much-practised and yet little-studied, particularly within the museum sector. Consequently, we have little understanding of the nature of guided tours and this results in untested assumptions forming the basis of training and practice. Because of this lack of knowledge, we cannot capitalise on the opportunities that tours present for museums to engage with their publics; nor can we counteract the challenges which their design and delivery present for the contemporary museum. This article uses detailed studies of guides-in-practice to show that tours are highly interactive pursuits, as opposed to the somewhat pre-scripted 'lectures' that they are often considered to be. As such, this paper intends to respecify what a tour is, how guides are trained and managed, and how electronic museum guides are designed and deployed.


In embedded system development, multi-tasks design is often used on real-time OS or interrupt driven environment. The multi-task programming development gives many advantages for developers. However, tasks should be carefully designed and analyzed to grantee that all concurrently running tasks run without missing timing requirements, also known as deadline. In this research, we investigate different types of real-time scheduling schemes and list their advantages and disadvantages. To be more realistic with real-time scheduling, we performed with a real-time kernel simulator and car-like robot and it's fuzzy logic control simulator. Based on these simulation we suggest the proper usage of real-time scheduling


Structural features of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a that are required for binding to the light-harvesting proteins of Rhodospirillum rubrum were determined by testing for reconstitution of the B873 or B820 (structural subunit of B873) light-harvesting complexes with BChl a analogues. The results indicate that the binding site is very specific; of the analogues tested, only derivatives of BChl a with ethyl, phytyl, and geranylgeranyl esterifying alcohols and BChl b (phytyl) successfully reconstituted to form B820- and B873-type complexes. BChl analogues lacking magnesium, the C-3 acetyl group, or the C-13(2) carbomethoxy group did not reconstitute to form B820 or B873. Also unreactive were 13(2)-hydroxyBChl a and 3-acetylchlorophyll a. Competition experiments showed that several of these nonreconstituting analogues significantly slowed BChl a binding to form B820 and blocked BChl a-B873 formation, indicating that the analogues may competitively bind to the protein even though they do not form red-shifted complexes. With the R. rubrum polypeptides, BChl b formed complexes that were further red-shifted than those of BChl a; however, the energies of the red shifts, binding behavior, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra were similar. B873 complexes reconstituted with the geranylgeranyl BChl a derivative, which contains the native esterifying alcohol for R. rubrum, showed in-vivo-like CD features, but the phytyl and ethyl B873 complexes showed inverted CD features in the near infrared. The B820 complex with the ethyl derivative was about 30-fold less stable than the two longer esterifying alcohol derivatives, but all formed stable B873 complexes.


Strategic Sports Event Management-Guy Masterman 2014-05-16 The hosting of sports events – whether large international events, or smaller niche events – can have a significant and long-lasting impact on the local environment, economy and society. Strategic Sports Event Management provides students and event managers with an insight into the strategic management of sports events of all scales and types, from international megaevents to school sports. Combining a unique conceptual framework with a practical, step-by-step guide to planning, organising, managing and evaluating events, the book explains the importance of adopting a strategic approach, showing how to implement strategies that lead to successful outcomes over the short and long-term. This fully revised and updated third edition uses international case studies in every chapter, from the NBA and NFL to Formula One and the English Premier League, offering real-world insight into both larger and smaller events. In addition, woven throughout the book are a series of in-depth studies of the London Olympic Games, the ultimate sporting event and an important point of reference for all practising and aspiring event managers. The book covers every key aspect of the sports event management process, including sports organizations, such as the IOC, FIFA and IAAF, and their interactions with event partners, the media and promoters short-term and longterm benefits of the planning process event impact and legacy operational functions including finance, ticketing, transport, venues, IT, human resources, and security marketing and communications, including social networking and new media the bidding process research and evaluation. Strategic Sports Event Management is the leading sports event management textbook and is now accompanied by a companion website containing a range of additional teaching and learning features. The book is important reading for all students of sport management or event management, and all practising event managers looking to develop their professional skills..


Conventional on-premise installations of ERP are now rapidly being replaced by ERP as service. Although ERP becomes more accessible and no longer requires local infrastructure, current selection methods do not take full advantage of the provided agility. In this paper we present AMES (Agile Method for ERP Selection), a novel method for ERP selection which better utilizes the strengths of service oriented ERP. AMES is designed to shorten lead time for selection, support identification of essential system requirements, increase learning during the selection process and increase control over the subsequent ERP implementation. These properties of the method will help user organizations to make better and faster decisions when selecting ERP.


The aim of this study was to detect the effect of drum-drying parameters on certain physical and chemical properties of apple puree powder. Optimum drying conditions were determined using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The qualities of apple puree powder products were investigated in terms of water activity, pH, color, phenolics, antioxidant activity and sensory properties. Apple puree (13 Bx°) and maltodextrin (10 DE) were used as the raw material and carrier agent, respectively. Steam pressure, rotational speed and the puree/maltodextrin ratio were chosen as variable parameters. The effects of three of the parameters mentioned were found to be statistically significant: water activity, pH, and the a* and b* parameters of the powders (P< 0.05). In this study, the results showed that the optimum drying parameters and the highest desirability could be obtained for a treatment using a 60/40 apple puree/malodextrin ratio at 3.5 bar steam pressure and a 1 rpm drum rotation speed.


This work presents development of an effective non-linear mathematical model for dynamic analysis of Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) cantilever actuators undergoing large bending deformations under AC excitation voltages. As the IPMC actuator experiences dehydration (solvent loss) in open environment, a model has been proposed to calculate the solvent loss due to applied electric potential following Cobb-Douglas production method. D'Alembert's principle has been used for the derivation of the governing equation of motion of the system. Generalized Galerkin's method has been followed to reduce the governing equation to the second-order temporal differential equation of motion. Method of multiple scales has been used to solve the non-linear equation of motion of the system and dehydration effect on the vibration response has been demonstrated numerically.


The human erythrocyte membrane contains at least four different PAS-staining sialic acid-rich glycoproteins. The major sialoglycoprotein, which carries blood group M or N antigen activity, has been extensively characterized. The Ss antigens are located on a minor sialoglycoprotein, which also has "N' activity. The amino acid sequence at positions 1 and 5 of these glycoproteins correlates with the presence of M or N antigen activity. Little is known about the other minor sialoglycoproteins (beta and gamma). Membranes from erythrocytes of type (En(a-)Fin lack the major MN-active sialoglycoprotein; those from S-s-erythrocytes lack normal Ss-active sialoglycoproteins, although they contain an abnormal component that may be an altered Ss glycoprotein. Mk Mk cells lack both the MN- and Ss-active glycoproteins. These sialoglycoprotein-deficient cells are found in apparently healthy individuals. The sera of individuals with sialoglycoprotein-deficient cells may contain antisialoglycoprotein antibody, which has properties similar to those of auto-anti-Pr. Miltenberger Class III, IV, and VI erythrocytes have abnormal Ss-active sialoglycoproteins. Component beta appears altered in Miltenberger Classes I and II. These abnormalities may account for the unique serological properties of Class I, II, III, IV, and VI erythrocytes. Membranes from erythrocytes of type EnU K/Mk, Miltenberger Class V, and Ph contain abnormal sialogylcoproteins that may result from fusion of the genes that give rise to the Mn-and Ss-active sialoglycoproteins. If this is so, then the genes giving rise to the MN and Ss glycoproteins must be adjacent on the same chromosome.


BACKGROUND:
The needs of people with dementia and their carers are inadequately addressed at all key points in the illness trajectory, from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. The EVIDEM (Evidence-based Interventions in Dementia) research and development programme (2007–12) was designed to help change this situation within real-life settings.
OBJECTIVES:
The EVIDEM projects were (1) evaluation of an educational package designed to enhance general practitioners' (GPs') diagnostic and management skills; (2) evaluation of exercise as therapy for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); (3) development of a toolkit for managing incontinence in people with dementia living at home; (4) development of a toolkit for palliative care for people with dementia; and (5) development of practice guidance on the use of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005.
DESIGN:
Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods from case studies to large database analyses, including longitudinal surveys, randomised controlled trials and research register development, with patient and public involvement built into all projects.
SETTING:
General practices, community services, third-sector organisations and care homes in the area of the North Thames Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network local research network.
PARTICIPANTS:
People with dementia, their family and professional carers, GPs and community mental health team members, staff in local authority social services and third-sector bodies, and care home staff.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Dementia management reviews and case identification in general practice; changes in behavioural and psychological symptoms measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI); extent and impact of incontinence in community-dwelling people with dementia; mapping of pathways to death of people with dementia in care homes, and testing of a model of collaborative working between primary care and care homes; and understandings of the MCA 2005 among practitioners working with people with dementia.
RESULTS:
An educational intervention in general practice did not alter management or case identification. Exercise as a therapy for BPSD did not reduce NPI scores significantly, but had a significant positive effect on carer burden. Incontinence is twice as common in community-dwelling people with dementia than their peers, and is a hidden taboo within a stigma. Distinct trajectories of dying were identified (anticipated, unexpected and uncertain), and collaboration between NHS primary care and care homes was improved, with cost savings. The MCA 2005 legislation provided a useful working framework for practitioners working with people with dementia.
CONCLUSIONS:
A tailored educational intervention for general practice does not change practice, even when incentives, policy pressure and consumer demand create a favourable environment for change; exercise has potential as a therapy for BPSD and deserves further investigation; incontinence is a common but unrecognised problem for people with dementia in the community; changes in relationships between care homes and general practice can be achieved, with benefits for people with dementia at the end of life and for the UK NHS; application of the MCA 2005 will continue to improve but educational reinforcements will help this. Increased research capacity in dementia in the community was achieved. This study suggests that further work is required to enhance clinical practice around dementia in general practice; investigate the apparent beneficial effect of physical activity on BPSD and carer well-being; develop case-finding methods for incontinence in people with dementia; optimise working relationships between NHS staff and care homes; and reinforce practitioner understanding of the MCA 2005.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
EVIDEM: ED-NCT00866099; EVIDEM: E-ISRCTN01423159.
FUNDING:
This project was funded by the Programme Grants for Applied Research programme of the National Institute for Health Research.


Aedes aegypti is the vector of Dengue Haemorhagic fever. One of the method to prevent the spread of dengue fever is vector control. Principal activity to control this vector might decrease their population as transmitter of disease. One way of controlling mosquitoes vectors is using a bioinsecticide from basil leaf. Basil leaf extract has bioinsecticide effect to Aedes aegypti because basil leaf has some active compounds, such as Flavonoid, Saponin, Tannin and essential oils. These compound are toxic to mosquitoes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of basil leaf (Ocimum basilicum L.) extract as mosquito coil against Aedes aegypti. The design of this study is xperimental study with 450 subjects of Aedes aegypti. Subjects were divided into six groups. They were 0% (negative control), 25%, 50%. 70%, 90% extract and Transfluthrin 0,03% (positive control). Each group contained 25 mosquitoes. Observation were carried out for 60 minutes with 10 minutes intervals and three times of repetition. The Data were analyzed by probit to calculate the value of Lethal consentration. The result of Probit Analyze showed that LC50 was at a concentration of 41,81% and LC90 was at concentration of 101.66%. The results showed that the extract of basil leaf (Ocimum basilicum L.) effective as Aedes aegypti bioinsecticide in mosquito coil. Keyword : Aedes aegypti, Mosquito coil, Ocimum basilicum L


At the end of World War I, the AIF senior Catholic chaplain, Fr Tom King, whose dedicated service had been honoured by his being invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, by HM King George V at Buckingham Palace, was further honoured when His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV, created him a Domestic Prelate at St Peter's in Rome. But barely had Monsignor King returned to London when he was notified by the Administrative Headquarters of the Australian Imperial Force, that a Roman Catholic chaplain, Fr Thomas J. O'Donnell, was being held under close arrest in Dublin, charged with 'disloyalty towards the Sovereign'. A Victorian by birth, in his adopted State, Tasmania, Fr O'Donnell was well known as an outspoken, colourful figure. Full of boundless enthusiastic energy, he was rarely distant from controversy. His outbursts of wrath against any person or authority who offended his sense of justice were a delight to journalists. He was a believer in the fairness of conscription for overseas service, and was one of the chief Catholic advocates in support of the 'yes' party in the conscription referenda campaigns. Today, such an indefatigable spotlighted campaigner, although a delight for TV audiences, would be a nightmare for Church or Army administrators. What they thought then can only be guessed. His own Archbishop approved his application for a military chaplaincy, but the Chaplain-General (RC), Archbishop Mannix, declined to appoint him--until his hand was forced by Fr O'Donnell's enlisting in the AIF as a private soldier? As a military chaplain O'Donnell proved a brave, diligent and compassionate front-line pastor. Indeed, during the battle of the Hindenburg Line, he was cited and recommended for the Military Cross for distinguished service at a battalion aid-post during the battle. When the aid-post came under fire and the battalion medical officer was wounded, the chaplain took charge of treating the wounded. As with many other officers and men recommended for gallantry awards, his was denied. Upon the cessation of hostilities, Fr O'Donnell, in common with many other Empire soldiers, applied for and was granted leave to visit relatives in the British Isles--in his case, Ireland. He also wished to make a presentation of a pistol which had once belonged to John Mitchel. Mitchel, a member of the Young Ireland movement involved in the 1848 abortive rebellion, had been sentenced to fourteen years transportation but escaped from Van Diemen's Land to the United States. Fr O'Donnell, wearing the uniform of an officer of the AIF (without his Roman collar), presented the pistol to Mr Arthur Griffith, President of Sinn Fein in the dining room of the Gresham Hotel, Dublin. By making the presentation publicly at a time when Ireland was in a state of revolutionary ferment, Fr O'Donnell attracted the attention of the Irish Special Branch. The Alleged Offence Fr O' Donnell toured Ireland, where he met and was entertained by various military and civilian friends and notables. While visiting Killarney he attended religious services and stayed in a local hotel. An English junior officer, 2/Lieutenant S. Chambers of the King's Regiment, who was staying in the same hotel as O'Donnell, alleged that on 10 October 1919 the offence was committed in conversation with a civilian in the hotel dining room. This officer was holding a conversation with a civilian gentleman and was talking in a very loud tone ..., he uttered violently disparaging remarks about H.M. the King, the Royal Family, Mr Lloyd George, and the whole British Government. I rose and asked him to desist; whereupon he asked me what 'damn business of mine was his conversation'. I was supported by two civilian gentlemen, who for obvious reasons do not wish their names to appear. The Officer in question Captain O'Donnell ceased his utterances and shortly afterwards left the room. He appears to be an Australian R. …


Introduction Patients with refractory chronic migraine have poor quality of life. Intravenous infusions are indicated to rapidly 'break the cycle' of pain. Lidocaine infusions may be effective but evidence is limited. Methods The records of 832 hospital admissions involving continuous multiday lidocaine infusions for migraine were reviewed. All patients met criteria for refractory chronic migraine. During hospitalization, patients received additional migraine medications including ketorolac, magnesium, dihydroergotamine, methylprednisolone, and neuroleptics. The primary outcome was change in headache pain from baseline to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes measured at the post-discharge office visit (25–65 days after treatment) included headache pain and the number of headache days, and percentage of sustained responders. Percentage of acute responders, plasma lidocaine levels, and adverse drug effects were also determined. Results In total, 609 patient admissions met criteria. The mean age was 46±14 years; 81.1% were female. Median pain rating decreased from baseline of 7.0 (5.0–8.0) to 1.0 (0.0–3.0) at end of hospitalization (p<0.001); 87.8% of patients were acute responders. Average pain (N=261) remained below baseline at office visit 1 (5.5 (4.0–7.0); p<0.001). Forty-three percent of patients were sustained responders at 1 month. Headache days (N=266) decreased from 26.8±3.9 at baseline to 22.5±8.3 at the post-discharge office visit (p<0.001). Nausea and vomiting were the most common adverse drug effects and all were mild. Conclusion Lidocaine infusions may be associated with short-term and medium-term pain relief in refractory chronic migraine. Prospective studies should confirm these results.


Despite some inherent risks, foreign direct investment (FDI) is for some the preferred method of investment. The rising number of bilateral investment reaties governing FDI is merely reflective of this investment vehicle's popularity. Since the early-nineteenth century, developed countries have sought to gain protection for investors engaging in these investment opportunities. One such protection, the Hull Doctrine, requires national governments to fully compensate investors in cases of unlawful expropriation. Until World War II, when developing countries began applying their own domestic eminent domain law to foreign investors, the Hull Doctrine was considered binding, customary international law. This Note analyzes the effects of recent trade treaties, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and assesses whether these treaties' inclusion of the Hull standard re-establishes the doctrine as a twenty-first century customary international norm.


This paper deals with metamodel-based optimization of plated steel beams. The first part of the article explains the principle of the metamodel-based optimization approach and also provides basic information on incorporated sub-methods such as design of experiments (DOE), mathematical approximation methods and mathematical optimization methods. Since optimized sections tend to be slender and thus susceptible to buckling, special attention is paid to the buckling evaluation. Both linear and nonlinear buckling analyses are employed. The nonlinear buckling analysis addresses detrimental influence of imperfections on the limit load by introducing equivalent geometric imperfections into the finite element (FE) model. The shapes and magnitudes of these imperfections are based on recommendations for plated beams given in Eurocode 3 (EC3). The practical part of the article illustrates the approach on step by step basis using an example of spreader beam weight optimization. It is shown that simple metamodels can efficiently substitute the FE model in optimization, thereby making the process very fast. The parametric FE models are developed in the Ansys Parametric Design Language (APDL). The governing algorithm, as well as most of the mathematical sub-methods, is realized in the Matlab software.


: Up to now there has been a general consensus in the literature that the development of the comatose state is attended with the appearance on the EEG of high amplitude slow activity. The article shows that the acute period of coma is not always associated with this regularity. A large part of the EBG presents low amplitude irregular activity with occasional rapid fluctuations. In some cases there are phenomena characteristic of the physiological nocturnal sleep. The data obtained make it possible to consider the role of different synchronizing and desynchronizing cerebral systems in the genesis of electrical activity in the period of coma and are of certain interest in terms of studying the neurophysiological mechanisms of comatose states.


A supply chain network (SCN) is a complex nonlinear system involving multiple entities. The policy of each entity in decision-making and the uncertainties of demand and supply (or production) significantly affect the complexity of its behavior. Although several studies have presented information about the measurement of chaos in the supply chain, there has not been an appropriate way to control the chaos in it. In this paper, the chaos control problem is considered for a SCN with a time-varying delay between its entities. The innovation of this paper is the more comprehensive modeling, analysis, and control of chaotic behavior in the system. The proposed model has a control center to determine the orders of entities and control their inventories. Customer demand is modeled as an unknown exogenous disturbance. A robust H∞ control method is designed to control its chaotic behavior in terms of a certain linear matrix inequality technique that can be readily solved using the MATLAB LMI toolbox. By using this technique and calculating the maximum Lyapunov exponent, decision parameters are determined in such a way that the behavior of the SCN is stable.


Abstract The disturbance associated with nest monitoring raises concerns about the validity of the estimated nest success and the well-being of the populations under study. Observer activity may attract or deter predators to or from bird nests, thus decreasing or increasing nest success. Results of previous studies related nest success to frequency of nest visits or estimated survival over rechecking intervals of different length. Such studies usually cannot reveal the underlying mechanism through which predation rate is influenced, because the timing of predation remains unknown. I measured, using data loggers, the exact survival times of 747 nests of 11 songbird species in fragmented woodland in the Czech Republic in 2001–2003 and analyzed the temporal relationship between predation and observer visits. I found only a short-term observer effect that lowered the hazard of predation during 2 h after a visit but did not appreciably affect the overall nest success. The timing of nest visits and the short duration of the effect imply that predators were deterred from the nests directly by the observer's presence, rather than by long-lasting cues (scent trails, damage to vegetation), and that diurnal predators (mainly corvids) responded to observer presence. This effect was consistent across years but differed between species groups. Deterrence of avian predators was profitable for a heterogeneous "warbler" group of species with limited nest-defense ability (model-averaged hazard ratio: 0.38; 95% confidence interval: 0.12–1.25), but it had little effect on thrushes (Turdus spp.; 1.01; 0.28–3.68). I support the view that predation on songbird nests is not increased by repeated observer visits, especially in situations where nest densities and background human disturbance are high.


Python has become the de-facto language for training deep neural networks, coupling a large suite of scientific computing libraries with efficient libraries for tensor computation such as PyTorch or TensorFlow. However, when models are used for inference they are typically extracted from Python as TensorFlow graphs or TorchScript programs in order to meet performance and packaging constraints. The extraction process can be time consuming, impeding fast prototyping. We show how it is possible to meet these performance and packaging constraints while performing inference in Python. In particular, we present a way of using multiple Python interpreters within a single process to achieve scalable inference and describe a new container format for models that contains both native Python code and data. This approach simplifies the model deployment story by eliminating the model extraction step, and makes it easier to integrate existing performance-enhancing Python libraries. We evaluate our design on a suite of popular PyTorch models on Github, showing how they can be packaged in our inference format, and comparing their performance to TorchScript. For larger models, our packaged Python models perform the same as TorchScript, and for smaller models where there is some Python overhead, our multi-interpreter approach ensures inference is still scalable.


Last year we received trom S. C. I. W. van Musschenbroek, Ex-Resident of Menado, a large collection of Mammalia and Birds; and among them the following species of the genus Mus of Celebes. Four species are new to science and another species is new to the Celebian Fauna.
It should here be observed, that the different authors, describing new species of Mice, have not paid attention enough to the nature of the fur which is nevertheless of special importance. For instance, Mus speciosus and Mus argenteus, both described and figured by Temminck, Fauna japonica, 1843, p. p. 51 and 52, tab. 15, may be very easily confounded. Reading the descriptions one would think them to be the same species, the only difference being the longer tail of Mus argenteus. But in studying the types found in the Leyden Museum, it is evident that Temminck has omitted to remark that the fur of Mus argenteus consists of woolly hair only, that of Mus speciosus on the other hand of hair which is woolly and spinous. In fact, in the latter species the woolly hairs of the upper and lower parts of the body are mixed with numerous flexible spines: on the back they are slate-coloured near the base, rusty towards the tip, on the belly they are entirely white; the woolly hairs being here slate-coloured near the base and for the rest of a pure white.


Objective: Patients at the end of their life typically endure physical, emotional, interpersonal, and spiritual challenges. Although physicians assume a clearly defined role in approaching the physical aspects of terminal illness, the responsibility for helping their patients' spiritual adaptation is also important. Methods: This article (1) describes the terms and definitions that have clinical utility in assessing the spiritual needs of dying patients, (2) reviews the justifications that support physicians assuming an active role in addressing the spiritual needs of their patients, and (3) reviews clinical tools that provide physicians with a structured approach to the assessment and treatment of spiritual distress. Results: This review suggests that physicians can and should be equipped to play a key role in relieving suffering at the end of life. Significance of results: Physicians can help their patients achieve a sense of completed purpose and peace.


An equation describing the reconstructed holographic images of objects in any state of motion is obtained starting from consideration of the effect of motion on coherence. The equation explicitly shows the dependence of the reconstruction on both the total displacement and the form of the law of motion. Applications to the measurement of motion for the special cases of vibration, constant velocity motion, and their combination are presented together with several experimental results. In particular the theory is shown to be valid for both double exposure and time average exposure methods of displacement, distortion, and vibration analysis.


Streptomyces cattleya, S. fradiae and S. griseus produced different amounts of growth when cultured sequentially through sporulation, vegetative and antibiotic production media. Only S. griseus grew well on all three types of medium. Streptomyces cattleya grew poorly on both sporulation and vegetative media. Growth was 1.6 and 8.0 mg/1/h respectively. For all three species, biomass yield in the final antibiotic production medium was dependent on amount of inoculum. Antibiotic yields were obtained only from production media. Under slow growth conditions L-cysteine and L-valine supplementation stimulated S. cattleya beta-lactam production, giving 1000 micrograms/ml beta-lactam equivalents compared with 45 micrograms/ml beta-lactam equivalents for no supplementation. For aminoglycosides the agar well diffusion bioassay was more sensitive towards the hydrochloride than the neutral salt. Paper chromatography confirmed the main antibiotic classes. RF values for replicate samples indicated aminoglycoside homogeneity and beta-lactam heterogeneity.


This article presents an approach to computing economic capital and to pricing bond insurance portfolios. Because bond insurers face losses that are highly correlated and dependent on the business cycles, we enhance the Merton structural approach by incorporating business cycles using a Markov switching model. The authors use several risk measures from the insurance literature and explore their impact on calculation of a bond insurer's economic capital. They show how the insurer's characteristics and insured bond portfolio affect its economic capital and analyze the marginal impact of adding a new bond insurance contract to an existing portfolio. Such analysis is useful when setting the premium for a new insurance contract. Overall, the premium will be highly dependent on the measure used to compute capital at risk.


This paper discusses the relationship between Indigenous information and knowledge on the Information disciplines in three parts. Part one, describes the impact of colonisation on Indigenous peoples. Part two discusses the value of Indigenous knowledge and why it should be included in the curricula of the Information disciplines (Information Studies, Information Management & Information Systems). Finally, in part three, the author presents Indigenous Information theory to demonstrate how Indigenous information contributes to our understanding of ways of knowing. The paper uses examples that are reflective of Māori perspectives, and the terms information and knowledge are used interchangeably as in Indigenous knowledge systems they are not always distinguished from each other.


This paper analyzes technical efficiency in China's banking system by large banks and small city banks as well as the pre-WTO and post-WTO accession periods. Using an unbalanced panel dataset for 63 banks over 1997–2006 and employing the stochastic frontier function approach, the empirical results reveal that the new entrants, small city banks, experienced a slightly higher efficiency score than incumbent large banks, on average. Compared with the pre-WTO accession period, the efficiency score is found to have improved significantly after entry into the WTO as a result of the competition effect. This competition effect is particularly relevant for small city banks. Finally, determinants of X-inefficiency are examined.


The use of antimicrobial compounds can be an effective approach to control Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods, but it can also be limited by cost, restrictions on concentrations in foods, and potential changes to organoleptic properties. Combinatorial approaches that produce additive or synergistic effects allow for reductions in individual antimicrobial concentrations while achieving the same level of control. The present study determined the MIC and MBC of an antimicrobial compound when used alone or in binary combinations against L. monocytogenes in growth media adjusted to pH values 7.4 and 5.5 and characterized interactions as synergistic, additive, or antagonistic. Inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were defined as changes in L. monocytogenes counts of ≤1.0 or ≥3.0 log CFU/mL compared with the starting inoculum, respectively. Individually, lauric arginate (LAE), hydrogen peroxide (HP), and ε-polylysine (EPL) inhibited L. monocytogenes growth at the lowest concentrations when applied alone in broth adjusted to pH 7.4. Similarly, LAE, EPL, and HP had the lowest MBCs in broth adjusted to both pH levels. The inhibitory efficacy of both caprylic acid and sodium caprylate (SC) increased at the lower pH, with reductions in MICs of >98%. In total, 35 and 19 additive or synergistic inhibitory and bactericidal combinations were identified at pH values 7.4 and 5.5, respectively. Combinations of acidified calcium sulfate with lactic acid (ACSL) and SC were among the most synergistic inhibitory groupings at both pH levels, whereas EPL+LAE were the most effective bactericides at pH 7.4. Combinations of SC with EPL or ACSL were also among the most effective bactericides at pH 5.5. These data serve as a foundation for developing more effective antimicrobial approaches for the control of L. monocytogenes in foods with different pH levels.


Advanced fibre-reinforced polymer composites have seen a rapid increase in use in aircraft structures in recent years due their high specific strength and stiffness, amongst other properties. The use of postbuckling design, where lightweight structures are designed to operate safely at loads in excess of buckling loads, has been applied to metals for decades to design highly efficient structures. However, to date, the application of postbuckling design in composite structures has been limited, as today's analysis tools are not capable of representing the damage mechanisms that lead to structural collapse of composites in compression. The currently running four-year European Commission Project COCOMAT [1] is addressing this issue, and aims to exploit the large strength reserves of composite aerospace structures through a more accurate prediction of collapse.

A methodology has been developed to analyse the collapse of composite structures that is focused on capturing the critical damage mechanisms. One aspect of the methodology is a global-local analysis technique that uses a strength criterion to predict the initiation of interlaminar damage in intact structures. Another aspect of the approach was developed for representing the growth of a pre-existing interlaminar damage region, and is based on applying multi-point constraints in the skin-stiffener interface that are controlled using fracture mechanics calculations. A separate degradation model was also included to model the in-plane ply damage mechanisms of fibre fracture, matrix cracking and fibre-matrix shear that uses a progressive failure approach. The complete analysis methodology was implemented in MSC.Marc v2005r3 using several user subroutines, and has been validated with a range of experimental tests, including fracture mechanics coupons [2], single-stiffener specimens [3] and multi-stiffener curved panels [4].

The developed methodology was used to design and analyse fuselage-representative composite panels in various pre-damaged configurations. Two panel designs were investigated, D1 and D2, which both consisted of a curved skin adhesively bonded to blade-shaped stiffeners. For the D1 panel, the pre-damage applied was a full-width skin-stiffener debond created using a Teflon insert in the adhesive layer, whilst the D2 panel was investigated with Barely Visible Impact Damage (BVID). For both panels, parametric studies were conducted using the developed methodology in order to recommend a damaged configuration suitable for experimental testing. For the D1 panel, a 100 mm length debond was selected, and the location of the damage was investigated, whilst for the D2 panel both the location and the representation of damage was varied. Based on these parametric studies, two pre-damaged configurations of the D1 panel and one pre-damaged D2 configuration were selected for experimental testing.

The selected pre-damaged configurations were manufactured by Aernnova Engineering Solutions and manufactured at the Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as part of the COCOMAT project. Following manufacture, panel quality was inspected with ultrasonic and thermographic scanning and panel imperfection data was measured using the three-dimensional (3D) optical measurement system ATOS. During the test, measurements were taken using displacement transducers, strain gauges, the 3D optical measuring system ARAMIS, and optical lock-in thermography. Under compression, the panels developed a range of buckling mode shapes, and the progression of damage was monitored leading to structural collapse.

In comparison with the experimental results, the analysis methodology was shown to give accurate predictions of the load-carrying behaviour, damage development and collapse load of both panels. The results demonstrated the capability of the developed tool to capture the critical damage mechanisms leading to collapse in composite structures. The advanced analysis methodology also allowed for damage to be used as a design parameter in postbuckling structures, either in the comparative analysis context of a design procedure, to assess the damage tolerance of a design, or as pre- and post-test simulations of intact and pre-damaged structures. More broadly, the results demonstrated the potential of postbuckling composite structures, and the large strength reserve available in the postbuckling region. The success of the developed analysis methodology and the potential of postbuckling composite structures have application for the next generation of lightweight aerospace structures.


Context. Time–distance helioseismology is the method of the study of the propagation of waves through the solar interior via the travel times of those waves. The travel times of wave packets contain information about the conditions in the interior integrated along the propagation path of the wave. The travel times are sensitive to perturbations of a variety of quantities. The usual task is to invert for the vector of plasma flows or the sound–speed perturbations separately. The separate inversions may be polluted by systematic bias, for instance, originating in the leakage of vector flows into the sound–speed perturbations and vice versa (called a cross-talk). Information about the cross-talk is necessary for a proper interpretation of results.
Aims. We introduce an improved methodology of the time-distance helioseismology which allows us to invert for a full 3D vector of plasma flows and the sound–speed perturbations at once. Using this methodology one can also derive the mean value of the vertical component of plasma flows and the cross-talk between the plasma flows and the sound–speed perturbations.
Methods. We used the Subtractive Optimally Localised Averaging method with a minimisation of the cross-talk as a tool for inverse modelling. In the forward model, we use Born approximation travel-time sensitivity kernels with the Model S as a background. The methodology was validated using forward-modelled travel times with both mean and difference point-to-annulus averaging geometries applied to a snapshot of fully self-consistent simulation of the convection.
Results. We tested the methodology on synthetic data. We demonstrate that we are able to recover flows and sound–speed perturbations in the near-surface layers. We have taken the advantage of the sensitivity of our methodology to entire vertical velocity, and not only to its variations as in other available methodologies. The cross-talk from both the vertical flow component and the sound–speed perturbation has only a negligible effect for inversions for the horizontal flow components. Furthermore, this cross-talk can be minimised if needed. The inversions for the vertical component of the vector flows or for the sound–speed perturbations are affected by the cross-talk from the horizontal components, which needs to be minimised in order to provide valid results. It seems that there is a nearly constant cross-talk between the vertical component of the vector flows and the sound–speed perturbations.


Follicular malignant melanoma (FMM) is an exceedingly rare variant of melanoma. Only 8 cases have been reported in the literature thus far. Often bland on physical examination, FMM shows a striking histologic pattern, with atypical melanocytes sometimes consuming the entire follicle and extending into the dermis. Criteria have been suggested to help distinguish FMM from lentigo maligna melanoma; however, no clear criteria distinguish this cancer clinically. FMM cannot be distinguished from follicular metastases of melanoma based on histology, requiring close clinical correlation and detailed history taking on the part of the practitioner. In this publication, we present a case of FMM and a review of the literature. A 59-year-old man was incidentally found to have a small flesh-colored papule on the arm during a skin cancer screening. Biopsy revealed atypical melanocytes extending from the follicular infundibulum into the reticular dermis. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the melanocytic origin of the neoplasm. The patient underwent wide local excision with 2-cm margins. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative for melanoma. We present this case to highlight an unusual type of melanoma and illustrate how it may be distinguished from other neoplasms.


In a social network, rumor containment is vital, as the diffusion of a rumor will bring terrible results. Precautionary measure can be used to control rumor propagation: Anticipating the spread of a rumor, one can (1) select a set of trustworthy people (TP) in the network, (2) alert the TP about the rumor, and (3) ask the TP to protect their neighbors by sending out alerts. In this paper, we study the problem of how to select the least number of TP, satisfying the requirement that the entire network is protected by the alerts that the TP send. We propose an asymmetric trust (AT) information propagation model. Under this model, we study the Least Number TP Selection (LNTS) problem, establish its NP-hardness and reformulate it as a minimum submodular cover problem. As a result, the Greedy Algorithm is a constant-factor approximation algorithm. Using real-world data, we evaluate the performance of the Greedy Algorithm, and compare it with other algorithms. Experimental results indicate that the Greedy Algorithm performs the best among its competitors.


We have synthesized a series of copolymers containing both positively charged (amine, guanidine) and hydrophobic side chains (amphiphilic antimicrobial peptide mimics). To investigate the structure-activity relationships of these polymers, low polydispersity polymethacrylates of varying but uniform molecular weight and composition were synthesized, using a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) approach. In a facile second reaction, pendant amine groups were converted to guanidines, allowing for direct comparison of cation structure on activity and toxicity. The guanidine copolymers were much more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans compared to the amine analogues. Activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis in the presence of fetal bovine serum was only maintained for guanidine copolymers. Selectivity for bacterial over mammalian cells was assessed using hemolytic and hemagglutination toxicity assays. Guanidine copolymers of low to moderate molecular weight and hydrophobicity had high antimicrobial activity with low toxicity. Optimum properties appear to be a balance between charge density, hydrophobic character, and polymer chain length. In conclusion, a suite of guanidine copolymers has been identified that represent a new class of antimicrobial polymers with high potency and low toxicity.


The genetic mechanisms driving normal brain development remain largely unknown. We performed genomic and immunohistochemical characterization of a novel, fatal human phenotype including extreme microcephaly with cerebral growth arrest at 14–18 weeks gestation in three full sisters born to healthy, non‐consanguineous parents. Analysis of index cases and parents included familial exome sequencing, karyotyping, and genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. From proband, control and unrelated microcephalic fetal cortical tissue, we compared gene expression of RNA and targeted immunohistochemistry. Each daughter was homozygous for a rare, non‐synonymous, deleterious variant in the MKL2 gene and heterozygous for a private 185 kb deletion on the paternal allele, upstream and in cis with his MKL2 variant allele, eliminating 24 CArG transcription factor binding sites and MIR4718. MKL1 was underexpressed in probands. Dysfunction of MKL2 and its transcriptional coactivation partner, serum response factor (SRF), was supported by a decrease in gene and protein expression of PCTAIRE1, a downstream target of MKL2:SRF heterodimer transcriptional activation, previously shown to result in severe microcephaly in murine models. While disruption of the MKL2:SRF axis has been associated with severe microcephaly and disordered brain development in multiple model systems, the role of this transcription factor complex has not been previously demonstrated in human brain development.


Large-scale science and engineering is frequently done through the interaction of collaborating groups, heterogeneous computing resources, information systems, and instruments, all of which are geographically and organizationally dispersed. The overall motivation for "Grids" is to enable the routine interactions of these resources to enhance this type of large-scale science and engineering, and thus substantially increase the computing and data handling capabilities available to science and engineering projects. However, even if this environment works in every other way, it will not be viable if it is constantly disrupted by hackers and their kin. Distributed applications are potentially more vulnerable than conventional scientific problem solving environments because there are substantially more targets to attack in order to impact a single application. Much of the overall security of Grids is inherited from the security of the underlying systems. There are, however, some security considerations at the Grid level that are independent of the underlying systems, and we focus on this latter aspect.


An antenna consisting of a U-slotted rectangular microstrip patch stacked with another patch of a different size on a separate layer is presented and its performance results are investigated. An equivalent circuit model of this stacked patch design structure is also presented based on an extended cavity model to predict the input impedance. The theoretical input impedance is evaluated from this circuit model and the experimental results support the validity of the model. In this case, stacking with a simple patch adds another resonance to the antenna thus providing a wider bandwidth. The dimension of the top patch is optimised to achieve ultra wide bandwidth. A maximum impedance bandwidth of 56.8% is achieved using this structure, and the return loss |S11| of the antenna is less than –10 dB between 3.06 and 5.49 GHz and the radiation patterns are found to be relatively constant throughout the band. A coaxial feed with Gaussian modulated pulse is used for this antenna.


The U.S. Navy is looking for methods to maximize the survivability of combat ships during battle conditions. A shipboard power distribution system is a stiff isolated power system that is vulnerable to voltage sags, which arise due to faults or pulsed loads, which can cause interruptions of critical loads. A series voltage injection type flywheel energy storage system (FESS) is used to mitigate voltage sags and maximize the survivability of the ship. The basic circuit consists of an energy storage system, power electronic interface, and a series injection transformer. In this case, the energy storage system consists of a flywheel coupled to an induction machine. The stored energy is used for sag correction for the critical load. Indirect field-oriented control (IDFOC) with space-vector pulsewidth modulation (SVPWM) is used to control the induction machine. Sinusoidal PWM is used for controlling the power system side converter. This paper presents the modeling, simulation, and analysis of a FESS with a power converter interface using PSCAD/EMTDC.


It is desirable yet challenging to synthesize a highly ordered holey carbon nitride material with excess nitrogen atoms for a sustainable solar H2 evolution. Herein, we report the development of directed highly ordered nitrogen-rich honeycomb-like mesoporous carbon nitride nanosheets by using a novel synthetic approach for this purpose. The unique formation route, surface structure and charge carrier dynamics of the two dimensional holey nanosheets are comprehensively monitored and confirmed by SAXS, HRTEM, AFM, BET, XPS and TRPL analyses. Non-stoichiometric high nitrogen content mesoporous nanosheets with the final stoichiometry of g-C3N4.5 acquiring a high specific surface area (382 m2 g−1), remarkable pore size (7.2 nm) and sheet thickness ∼5–6 nm are realized in this first report. This elegant material possesses unique low band-gap energy (2.42 eV). Remarkably, the as-synthesized g-C3N4.5 NSs exhibit a record high photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 8180 μmol g−1 h−1 under the present light irradiation (420 ≤ λ ≤ 510 nm) condition. The apparent quantum efficiency is found to be as high as 27.14% at 420 nm and retains its photocatalytic activity for longer consecutive catalytic cycles. Bigger pore size and pore volume, and thin walls leading to shortening of the path length of exciton pairs, efficient charge separation and the prolonged average life time of the charge carriers, and lone electron pairs associated with the excess nitrogen content are found to be the reasons behind the excellent visible light driven water splitting reaction.


In this paper, using high tensile strength and yield strength of hot-rolling acid washing thin steel sheet instead of cold-rolling steel sheet as the vehicle frame is investigated. The high pure and finer grain steel can be obtained by deep deoxidation technology, deep desulfurization technology, low nitrogen and microalloy-technology of Boron/Niobium/Titanium. High yield strength (σs>340 MPa) and high specific elongation hot-rolling thin steel sheet have been produced in the EAF-CSP short flow product line. The mechanical property, shape, surface quality and tolerance of steel sheet after hot-rolling can be controlled by optimizing joining-casting-rolling and controlling-rolling-cooling technology. Based on the forming test, cold-bending test, welding test and fatigue test results, it can be seen that cold-bending property, forming ability and fatigue strength of hot-rolling acid washing steel sheet is better and meet the product requirement of vehicle frame. This investigation can resolve the fracture problems of QUANSHUN vehicle, improve the working life, provide reliable automobile and reduce the production cost.


Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) derived from the TEM-1 beta-lactamase were first identified in the USA in outbreak strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the middle to late 1980s, together with the SHV-5 ESBL. The TEM-10, TEM-12 and TEM-26 enzymes have remained in US hospitals, but have been joined by other ESBLs that are variants of the SHV-1 broad-spectrum beta-lactamase. In the most recent surveys from hospitals in the eastern part of the USA, the most prominent ESBLs have been the SHV-7 and SHV-12 enzymes. In Canada, a wider variety of ESBLs has been identified, with multiple members of the TEM, SHV and CTX-M classes being represented in surveillance isolates. SHV-type and CTX-M ESBLs have appeared in many Canadian isolates, with an outbreak of CTX-M-14-related enzymes from Calgary, but limited TEM-derived ESBLs. Surprisingly, few CTX-M ESBLs have yet been reported in the USA, in contrast to the rest of the world, where the CTX-M enzymes have become a predominant ESBL family.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the response of serum ghrelin and PYY to oral glucose and steamed-bread load and their relationships to insulin and glucose in nonobese and obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS
Ten obese subjects (Male: waist > or =90 cm, Female: waist > or =80 cm) and eleven nonobese subjects with type 2 diabetes were given oral glucose load and steamed-bread challenge in 2 consecutive days after blood glucose was controlled. The serum levels of ghrelin, PYY, insulin and glucose were measured with routine methods.

RESULTS
(1) Either in oral glucose or steamed-bread load tests, both fasting serum PYY and ghrelin levels of obese subjects were significantly lower than those of nonobese subjects. After taking glucose or steamed-bread, all subjects were observed the increase of PYY and ghrelin levels, which reached the peak at 30 min and 60 min respectively. However, there were no significant difference found between nonobese and obese group at 30 min, 60 min and 120 min (P=NS). (2) In all subjects, fasting serum PYY, ghrelin concentrations were inversely associated with waist circumferences and BMI but not WHR. (3) No correlations were observed between serum PYY and insulin, glucose at any time points. The ghrelin and insulin levels showed a correlation at 0 min (r = -0.591, P = 0.005), however, no correlations were found at any other time points. When comparing PYY, ghrelin AUC with the AUC of insulin and glucose, no correlations were found. (4) Ghrelin level was positively correlated with QUICKI, however, no correlation between PYY concentrations and QUICKI was noted.

CONCLUSIONS
In the subjects with type 2 diabetes, both PYY and ghrelin respond differently to glucose and bread, athough the calories are similar. PYY and ghrelin levels are inversely related to waist and BMI but not WHR. It is fasting ghrelin not PYY negatively associated with fasting insulin and positively with QUICKI.


Block copolymer nanocomposites are materials with interesting structures and properties. The control of their morphology can be obtained during processing, and anisotropic structures may be oriented in one or two directions, affecting both the copolymer domains and nanoparticle alignments. In this work monoand bioriented films of SEBS copolymer and its nanocomposites containing nanoclays, carbon nanotubes and silica nanoparticles were prepared by blown tubular film extrusion, by controling the air pressure inside the bubble, and other processing parameters. The structure of the materials was evaluated by SAXS and their tensile properties were tested. The bioriented samples have balanced mechanical properties, and the nanoparticles may promote faster biorientation of the copolymer domains by cooperative motion during processing.


The square kilometer array (KM2A) is the main array of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), which is the most sensitive gamma-ray detector for energies above a few tens of TeV. We are developing a software pipeline based on the experimental data, Monte-Carlo simulations and the pointing track of the arrays. The pipeline is able to perform 3D (sky images at different energies) fits of KM2A data, similar to those used for Fermi-LAT and DAMPE gammaray analysis. This 3D likelihood analysis could fit source models of arbitrary morphology to the sky images, and get energy spectra information and detection significances simultaneously. The analysis with this software could give consistent results with those using traditional method.


There is currently a growing interest in improving the retention levels of undergraduate students on STEM related programmes. Students' prior knowledge of mathematics is a key factor in predicting whether they will succeed in engineering or not. A poor grasp of key mathematical skills typically leads to students failing to achieve the learning outcomes of technical modules. Consequently, mathematics is often the focus of engineering education research. A decline in core mathematical skills; the lowering of entry requirements and the diversity of the student cohort, all contribute to the need for a more comprehensive learning support system. Today's students are immersed in an increasingly technological world and are willing to adapt to new technological advances. In order to increase engagement and retention rates a pedagogical shift from the more traditional hierarchical approach to learning to one that embraces the use of technology as a tool to enhance the student learning experience is required. This paper outlines a study being undertaken in the College of Engineering and Built Environment at the Dublin Institute of Technology to create an on-line platform of resources which allows first year engineering students to consolidate and reinforce the mathematical knowledge required to succeed in engineering. By including the student as co- creator of these resources a deeper learning experience is achieved.


Targeted drug delivery systems have distinct advantages over conventional dosage forms. In the present approach, flexible liposomal drug carriers (transferosomes) were formulated and their physicochemical properties were studied compared with conventional liposomal and niosomal formulae. Lipid vesicles composed of lecithin, cholesterol, span 60, and sodium deoxycholate (SDC) were prepared by thin film hydration method. Photodynamic treatment of subcutaneous Ehrlich tumor using prepared and pharmaceutically studied hydrogel containing 1% hydrophilic toluidine blue (TB) loaded transferosomes was evaluated. The results showed that transferosomes containing both span 60 and SDC were of the highest entrapment efficiency (> 82%), particle size (1.36 µm) and released 52% of its content within 2 hours. The in vivo study on BALB/C mice showed that there was a marked increase in the survival time and decrease in the tumor size in mice group treated with transferosomal (span 60 and SDC) hydrogel for 1h followed by irradiation with 90J/cm2 from 650 nm diode laser twice weekly compared with animals treated with free TB and irradiated only. Furthermore, there was a marked deep necrosis of tumor cells, which may be attributed to the deep penetration of TB through skin layers. These findings suggest the use of TB loaded transferosomes in topical targeted photodynamic treatment of skin tumors.


Aiming to compare women's satisfaction regarding the experience of childbirth in three care models, a descriptive and quantitative research was conducted in two public hospitals in the city of Sao Paulo, the first promoting the traditional obstetric model or typical model and the second was the intra and extra-hospital birth center. The sample consisted of 90 puerperal women, 30 of each model. The comparison between the results with the care provided by health professionals, the quality of care and reasons for satisfaction and dissatisfaction, the recommendation of the services received, the sense of security in the process and the suggestions for improvements of the services, showed that the women were more satisfied with the extra-hospital birth center model o care, coming after the intra-hospital birth center and finally the traditional obstetric model of care. It was concluded that women are satisfied with the birth centers , indicating the need of these services to receive more support from the SUS.


Background: Despite the successes of testing campaigns in South Africa, many people still do not know their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, and the number of new infections remains high. Delayed access to testing is a contributing factor in this regard. Utilising less conventional health settings to test for HIV, such as optometry practices, could help increase the opportunities to test for HIV. Aim: To investigate the potential of the optometry environment as a possible contributor to capacity building for HIV testing and counselling services. Setting: Three optometry practices in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Methods: A survey design approach was used with participants ( n = 30) completing a researcher-designed 16-item questionnaire. Results: The results showed that the optometry environment was generally perceived as conducive for possible HIV testing, as the majority of participants felt that testing for HIV at an optometry practice would be more convenient (90%; n = 27), compared to testing at a clinic, with a clear preference for testing for HIV at an optometry practice as opposed to a clinic (93%; n = 27). Conclusion: The results of this study seem to illustrate a willingness within the optometry patient population to be receptive to the possibility of screening for HIV. However, while optometry falls within the ambit of primary health services for vision and eye health, the profession is yet to produce a guideline document detailing the exact scope of practitioners with regard to systemic health screenings. As such, HIV screening is not specified at present.


Abstract In this paper, we introduce the notion of complex product structures on hom-Lie algebras and show that a hom-Lie algebra carrying a complex product structure is a double hom-Lie algebra and it is also endowed with a hom-left symmetric product. Moreover, we show that a complex product structure on a hom-Lie algebra determines uniquely a left symmetric product such that the complex and the product structures are invariant with respect to it. Finally, we introduce the notion of hyper-para-Kähler hom-Lie algebras and we present an example of hyper-para-Kähler hom-Lie algebras.


Tactics are the part of the military problem solving, which attempts to address situations that arise in a concrete context and in a specific geographical area. It is about learning to perceive both the more stable geographical conditions in the working area as well as taking into consideration the effects of climate and weather and how the squad and their systems are affected and how an opponent could try to exploit these conditions and turn them to his advantage. The idea in tactical training is therefore to be able to master both the battlefield environment with its limitations and possibilities and the combat that is conducted there. Friction is used as a concept in several discussions about military activities. The geography with its sometimes channelling terrain and various landscape elements can constitute serious obstacles in trying to carry out all the tasks and abilities expected of a unit. Geography, Climate and Weather can thus be regarded as frictions in a military operation. This should also be possible to train in simulators and systems for war gaming.


textabstractTort law and regulation are two distinctive tools for a society to control dangerous
activities and provide market participants with incentives to internalize the external
costs of their harmful activities. Tort law is a traditional way to fulfill this purpose
by means of threatening potential tortfeasors with possible liability. Since victims and
injurers are private parties and tortious actions are private lawsuits initiated by victims
and ruled by judges, tort law is recognized by economists as a kind of market-oriented
way to control harmful activities without too much intervention from the state.
Regulation, to the contrary, is made by public authorities with a clear intention to
intervene in market activities such as inducing compliance with relevant regulatory
standards by sanctions or levying a tax on polluters. Nevertheless, regulation is still a
prevalent tool to control externalities in a modern society.


Knowledge Production in Migration Studies In this session we will focus on the practices that, speaking of migrations, transform an event into a research topic and interests that stand behind it. The production and circulation of knowledge on migration has a differing logic in the areas of politics, public life and the academic world. The crucial question is what types of migration are discursively produced as normal or deviating social process and how different discursive fields interfere. Migrations Policymaking Theoretical concepts and research findings are re-defined in the political sphere and thus shape contemporary migration events. Political players have usually only slight understanding for broader than a national perspective - to be part of the administration of the nation state also means in some way believing in this "real fiction" or at the very least acting pragmatically in line with it. We welcome contributions critically analyzing migration policies, in particular their making, background ideas and assumptions and legitimization discourses.


Doubtlessly, mathematics is one of the most important subjects in education from K to 12 levels especially for students interested in eventually pursuing undergraduate studies in the fields of science and technology. As it has been argued in mathematics education research, not only the content, but also the form in which students learn is important for mathematics learning. Particularly, an inquiry approach permeates through the mathematics curriculum of several countries around the world. Additionally, the use of technology to learn mathematics has been increasing in the last decades, requiring teachers and professionals in education to constantly explore and learn new possibilities or affordances in the classroom. The purpose of this paper is to initiate a discussion about the possible and complex forms of interaction among students, teacher, mathematical tasks, and the electronic tablet (iPad2) in an inquiry learning environment. An experience from a grade 10 classroom is used as a context to exemplify these interac-