One of the crucial research issues in an IoT-based system is how to manage the huge amount of data transmitted by the potentially large number of sensors that form the system. Prior research has focused on centralized cloud-based "Big Data" architectures for collecting, collating and analyzing the data. However, most of these scenarios accumulate thousands of petabytes in a short period of time, increasing the demand for more storage, and also slowing down speed of data analysis. Hence for real-time scenarios, e.g., agricultural crop tracking, traffic management, etc., such an approach would be impractical. Moreover, depending on the context in which the data is generated and is to be used, only a fraction of the data would be needed for analysis. Therefore, the challenges are to determine which data to keep and which to discard for both short term and long term usage, and define the contextual parameters along which this filtering is to be done. Hence one key problem addressed in this paper is how to define what data the user needs so that filtering algorithms can be defined to extract the data needed. To that end, in this paper, we present a goal driven, context-aware data filtering, transforming and integration approach for IoT-based systems. We propose a data warehouse-based data model for specifying the data needed at particular levels of granularity and frequency, that drive data storage and representation (aligned with the Semantic Sensor Network ontology). Throughout our paper, we illustrate our ideas via a realistic running example in the smart city domain, with emphasis on traffic management, and also present a proof of concept prototype.


Author(s): Lam, Diane Phuong N | Advisor(s): Stacy, Angelica M | Abstract: Representations, such as figures and drawings, are aspects of biology that are key to learning, teaching, and communicating scientific ideas. While many studies have investigated undergraduate students' abilities to interpret representations generated by science experts, much remains to be understood about how student-generated representations (i.e., drawings) can support learning. Prior research suggests that theoretical mechanisms to explain how drawing aids learning may parallel those that explain how self-explanation aids learning, an area of educational research that has been extensively studied. As such, this research draws from the self-explanation literature to explore the similarities and differences between the use of drawing and self-explaining as independent study strategies for learning about the cardiovascular system (CVS) from text. We found that students who were asked to draw as they studied the CVS text performed better than students asked to self-explain on multiple learning measures. Their mental models, as interpreted from their drawings of the system, were significantly more accurate, and their responses to questions about structures and pathways within the system were more accurate. Further analyses of self-explanations and drawings revealed that the number of goal-oriented self-explanations a student generated was a significant predictor of their assessment scores, especially on questions about functions. Meanwhile, the number of passage-specific images a learner generated in their drawing was predictive of assessment scores, especially on questions about structures. Finally, findings from case studies identified attributes of self-explanations and drawings that may make them more meaningful for learning, such as self-explaining for the purposes of understanding how parts of the system connect together, and drawing to highlight the main ideas of the text. Findings from this study suggest that drawing is generally more effective than self-explanation for learning about the CVS, and should be promoted as a useful strategy for learning biology from text.


This paper is about gestures made by a car-mechanic during a single extended episode of work. Some of these gestures are recurrent and appear to be parts of a repertoire of communicative forms with which this man responds to understanding tasks that routinely occur in his work; others appear to be abstracted from instrumental actions that he has recently completed. Both types of gesture reveal the specific stance and knowledge that the body making them has acquired in its day-to-day coping, the body's being-in-the-world. Gestures thus articulate the grasp that hands have of their life-worlds.


For improving the performance of acorn starch (AS) based bio-adhesive, AS graft glycidyl methacrylate (AS-g-GMA) adhesive was prepared in this paper. The properties of the AS-g-GMA adhesive were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement. The bonding strength of the plywood bonded by AS-g-GMA adhesive was measured according to Chinese National Standards methods to evaluate its water resistant. FTIR results indicated that GMA was grafted on the AS successfully. The bonding strength of the plywood bonded by AS-g-GMA adhesive showed lower curing temperature, better bonding strength, and water resistance comparing with that of control. The water resistant could reach type II grade (63°C water bath 3h) plywood requirement when the glycidyl methacrylate adding amount was 6% based on AS.


Functionally important regions of sensory maps are overrepresented in the sensory pathways and cortex, but the underlying developmental mechanisms are not clear. In the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH), we recently showed that paw innervating Mrgprd+ non-peptidergic nociceptors display distinctive central arbor morphologies that well correlate with increased synapse transmission efficiency and heightened sensitivity of distal limb skin. Given that peripheral and central arbor formation of Mrgprd+ neurons co-occurs around the time of birth, we tested whether peripheral cues from different skin areas and/or postnatal reorganization mechanisms could instruct this somatotopic difference among central arbors. We found that, while terminal outgrowth/refinement occurs during early postnatal development in both the skin and the DH, postnatal refinement of central terminals precedes that of peripheral terminals. Further, we used single-cell ablation of Ret to genetically disrupt epidermal innervation of Mrgprd+ neurons and revealed that the somatotopic difference among their central arbors was unaffected by this manipulation. Finally, we saw that region-specific Mrgprd+ central terminal arbors are present from the earliest postnatal stages, before skin terminals are evident. Together, our data indicate that region-specific organization of Mrgprd+ neuron central arbors develops independently of peripheral target innervation and is present shortly after initial central terminal formation, suggesting that either cell-intrinsic and/or DH local signaling may establish this somatotopic difference.


Traditionally, frequency and time domain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) systems have been used for mineral prospecting, often in parts of the world with little environmental electromagnetic disturbance. However, the increased focus on hydrogeological investigations in many parts of the world has led to a growing interest in the possibility of using airborne systems for such purposes, even in densely populated areas (Sengpiel and Siemon 1998). This raises questions about the resolution capabilities of AEM systems and their sensitivity to disturbing influence from ambient electromagnetic noise and the presence of man-made structures such as power lines, buried cables, and fences. The data quality of earlier AEM systems was such that they were mainly used as "bump detectors" capable of indicating the presence of good conductors. Quantitative interpretation of the data was often not warranted (Huang and Fraser 1999). Traditionally, helicopterborne frequency-domain electromagnetic (HEM) data have been processed to produce iso-resistivity maps using lookup-tables, and transformations of the apparent resistivity and the centroid depth obtained from the table lookup have been used to produce pseudosection images. With the general improvement of HEM systems quantitative interpretation has become an option (Sengpiel and Siemon 1998). In general, the objectives of a hydrogeophysics survey are; detection of non-permeable boundaries of a potential aquifer, often coinciding with the clay-sand boundaries, discernment of internal structure in the aquifer and mapping of near-surface capping clays reducing the vulnerability of the aquifer. This paper presents quantitative analyses using one-dimensional (1D) models of the resolution capabilities of a modern HEM system with 5 frequencies. Because a frequency domain ground system equivalent to the HEM system does not exist we have chosen a profile oriented, multi-electrode DC geoelectrical system (CVES) with a comparable depth penetration and compared the resolution capabilities of the HEM system to that of the CVES system for a number of hydrogeologically relevant models.


Single molecule biophysics experiments have enabled the observation of biomolecules with a great deal of precision in space and time, e.g. nucleic acids mechanical properties and protein-nucleic acids interactions using force and torque spectroscopy techniques. The success of these experiments strongly depends on the capacity of the researcher to design and fabricate complex nucleic acid scaffolds, as the pertinence and the yield of the experiment strongly depend on the high quality and purity of the final scaffold. Though the molecular biology techniques involved are well known, the fabrication of nucleic acids scaffold for single molecule experiments still remains a difficult task. Here, we present new protocols to generate high quality coilable double-stranded DNA and RNA, as well as DNA and RNA hairpins with ~500-1000 bp long stems. Importantly, we present a new approach based on single-stranded DNA's annealing and show, using magnetic tweezers, that it is more efficient to generate complex nucleic acid scaffolds in larger amount and at higher purity than a standard PCR-digestion-ligation approach. The protocols we describe here enable the design of any sort of complex nucleic acid scaffold for single molecule biophysics experiments and will therefore be extremely valuable to the community.


Waqf has two dimensional meaning; the spiritual dimension that is taqarrub to Allah and the social dimension as the source of Islamic financial for the welfare of the people. Waqf disputes can be caused by several reasons; waqf land is not accompanied with a pledge; waqf is done on the basis of mutual trust so it has no legal proof and ownership. Currently, the choice to use the court is less effective in resolving disputes. Hence, the public ultimately chooses non-litigation efforts as a way to resolve the disputes. Mediation process is preferred by many as it is viewed to be the fairest way where none of the two parties wins or loses (win-win solution). It is also fast and cheap. This study is intended to examine how to solve waqf dispute with mediation model according to the waqf law, and how the application of mediation in the Religious Courts system


Small sub-alpine glacial lakes are often targeted as Holocene paleoclimate archives, but their evolution as landforms and depositional basins is understudied. At June Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California (USA), bathymetry, surface sediment composition, and seismic stratigraphy are studied to assess the modern sedimentary system and gain insight into the basin's origins. A basin-wide seismic survey reveals sublacustrine morphological features that attest to the role of ice in scouring the June Lake basin, including a prominent abraded bedrock shoal and an adjacent overdeepened depression. The seismic survey reveals four acoustically distinct stratigraphic units that reflect the history of sedimentation following glacial scouring. The youngest of these is represented in the recovered lacustrine core records as hemipelagically deposited, organic-rich, laminated diatomaceous oozes alternating with coarse tephra beds. The organic-rich oozes are characterized by low carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope values and occur in profundal areas of the modern lake floor. These sediments suggest an algae-dominated productivity regime and preservation of organic matter at depth. With no perennial streams entering June Lake, surface-sediment grain-size distribution and geochemistry are controlled by water depth and basin morphology. Additional modern facies types include poorly sorted coarse detrital landslide deposits below steep basin walls and volcaniclastic sandy gravel in windward littoral areas. These data provide a modern facies model for sedimentation in ice-scoured, hydrologically closed sub-alpine lakes and a baseline for future paleoclimate studies using June Lake sediment cores.


Monodispersive ZnO nanoparticles each with a hexagonal wurtzite structure are facilely prepared by the hightemperature organic phase method.The UV-visible absorption peak of ZnO nanoparticles presents an obvious blue-shift from 385 nm of bulk ZnO to 369 nm.Both the real part and the image part of the complex permittivity of ZnO nanoparticles from 0.1 GHz to 10 GHz linearly decrease without obvious resonance peak appearing.The real parts of intrinsic permittivity of ZnO nanoparticles are about 5.7 and 5.0 at 0.1 GHz and 10 GHz respectively,and show an obvious size-dependent behavior.The dielectric loss angle tangent(tan 5) of ZnO nanoparticles with a different weight ratio shows a different decreasing law with the increase of frequency.


More and more full‐text daily newspapers are becoming available online. This increase in supply, led by the English‐speaking press, whose language is spoken or at least read by the largest number of people, is linked to several factors. The first of these, naturally, is the development of processing capability which enables large volumes of data to be stored and increases the speed of processing; secondly there is the introduction of new technologies in the newspaper business (photocomposition etc.) which has facilitated the formation of this type of databank. In presenting the online availability of full‐text daily newspapers, the author first identifies the characteristics of the international market, then defines the different components of the reader/newspaper relationship and finally provides a survey, by country, of the titles available throughout the world, analysing the differences between hosts.


Fungi and their toxins have an impact on the hygienic standards and market value of corn ( Zea Mayas L.) in Burkina Faso. Though effective, other pesticides have been shown to be harmful. This study aims to aid in the management of corn diseases by assessing the effectiveness of bio-fungicide formulations. In this study, the blotter method was used to assess the antifungal activity at doses of 0.5% (5 g/kg) and 1% (10 g/kg) of powdered formulations of Cymbopogon giganteus (F1) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (F2) essential oils on the fungal flora of a corn sample. Untreated controls were also observed. The results of this study demonstrated that Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus , which could produce aflatoxin, were more susceptible to the 0.5% dose at F1 than at F2. Though Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus sp. were resistant to 0.5% of F1 and 0.5% of F2, while Fusarium sp. was resistant to 0.5% of F1. All of the above fungi were vulnerable to 1% of F1 and F2. Therefore, these two formulations could be utilized successfully to combat the decline in the hygienic, nutritional, and market value of corn in Burkina Faso caused by aflatoxin contamination and other toxins produced by these fungi. However, it would be important to evaluate the synergistic effect of these biofungicide formulations in situ and on a large scale.


After injections of horseradish peroxidase into the central tegmental field of the midbrain reticular formation and centrum medianum of the thalamus in the cat, labelled neurons were found in the nucleus of solitary tract, cuneate and gracile nuclei, spinal nuclei of trigeminal nerve, external nucleus and brachium nucleus of inferior colliculus, nuclei of the lemniscus lateralis in the area pretectalis, nucleus of the posterior commissure and stratum intermediale of the superior colliculus and in reticular structures of medulla and pons. It is concluded that midbrain reticular formation receives the main input from visceral and the centrum medianum from the somatic sensory nuclei.


Background Over the last years, the differentiation and activation of MDSC under tumor conditions has been studied extensively. Various tumor-derived factors have been identified in promoting the accumulation of this suppressive cell population. Recent findings determined the two alarmins S100A8 and S100A9 as important factors in the differentiation of MDSC during tumor conditions. However, little is known about the S100A8/A9 driven expansion and activation, as well as the relevance of these cells in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Objectives We therefore analyzed the mechanisms involved in S100A8/A9 driven MDSC accumulation and their functional importance in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods To investigate the effect of S100A8/A9 on MDSC differentiation, bone marrow cells from wild type (wt), S100A9 knockout (A9ko) and S100A9 transgenic (A9tg) mice were analyzed. Accumulation of MDSC and their phenotypical characterization was performed by FACS analysis and functional characterization including arginase activity, NO- and ROS-production and T cell proliferation assays. The role of S100A8/A9 and MDSC in arthritis was investigated using the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Accumulation of MDSC in different organs was analyzed by FACS and systemic S100A8/A9 levels were measured by ELISA. Ex vivo functional analysis of purified MDSC was performed to assess the potential of these MDSC to inhibit T cell responses. Results Our in vitro studies reveal that, in the presence of S100A8, myeloid progenitor cells differentiate to immature cells that phenotypically as well as functionally resemble MDSC. These cells are characterized by co-expression and up-regulation of arginase activity, NO- and ROS-production, and exhibit strong suppressive effects on the proliferation of both CD4- and CD8-positive T cells. Furthermore, accumulation of MDSC by extracellular S100A8 was found to be mediated via the Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway. In addition, lack of intracellular S100A8/A9 results in a decreased number of MDSC as well as a reduced suppressive activity of these cells, implying a dual role of these proteins for MDSC differentiation and function. Investigating the role of S100A8/A9 and MDSC in a mouse model of CIA, a clear correlation between disease scores, MDSC numbers and systemic S100A8/A9 levels was observed. Furthermore, disease activity was reduced in wt and A9tg mice compared to A9ko mice and was in line with an increased accumulation of MDSC in the lymph nodes. Next to an enhanced suppressive activity of MDSC isolated from lymph nodes of wt and A9tg mice, these MDSC promoted the accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg) whilst suppressing the differentiation of TH17 cells. In contrast, MDSC isolated from lymph nodes of A9ko mice had no effect on Treg differentiation and did not inhibit TH17 emergence. Conclusions Our in vitro results clearly show a S100A8/A9 dependent accumulation of cells that phenotypically as well as functionally resemble MDSC also under non-tumor conditions. In vivo data strongly support the importance of these findings. By influencing MDSC accumulation and function, S100A8/A9 is critically involved in regulating the disease outcome in rheumatoid arthritis, implying an important role of S100A8/A9 derived MDSC in regulating immune reactions during autoimmune diseases. Disclosure of Interest None declared


In particle acceleration by stimulated emission of radiation(PASER), efficient interaction occurs when a train of micro-bunches has periodicity identical to the resonance frequency of the medium. Previous theoretical calculations based on the simplified model have only considered the energy exchange in the boundless condition.Under experimental conditions, however, the gas active medium must be guided by the metal waveguide. In this paper, we have developed a model of the energy exchange between a train of micro-bunches and a gas mixture active medium in a waveguide boundary for the first time, based on the theory of electromagnetic fields, and made detailed analysis and calculations with Math CAD. The results show that energy density can be optimized to a certain value to get the maximum energy exchange.


1. Setting the Frame: The Apartheid Years After narrowly securing victory in South Africa's 1948 all-white elections Prime Minister Dr Daniel Malan and his Afrikaner-dominated National Party quickly set about the task of instituting a range of laws and decrees that would deepen existing legalised racism and form the foundation for what became known world-wide as the apartheid system. The impetus for these developments came from three main sources: the need to secure the support of those sectors of white society, specifically the white working class and farmers, who were threatened by industrialisation and further capitalist development; the need to meet the new demands of such economic development through the increased exploitation of the dominant black labour force (McKinley 1997: 13-14); and crucially the need to ensure complete political and administrative control of the state in order to manage and suppress rising resistance from the oppressed black majority. (1)) Laws such as the Population Registration Act (providing a national roll according to racial classification) and the Group Areas Act (demarcating all land use according to race) laid the core foundation for the soon-to-follow ideologically saturated securitisation of the apartheid state and society that effectively criminalised any opposition to the apartheid state and socio-economic order. In order to provide some kind of ideological justification and 'moral' legitimation for the move to institutionalise their racial fascism, the National Party sought to equate political and social opposition with ideologies such as communism and liberalism. As one leading National Party politician put it in 1948: On the one hand we have nationalism, which believes in the existence, the necessary existence, of distinct people's, distinct languages, nations, and cultures, and which regards the fact of the existence of these people and these cultures as the basis of its conduct. On the other hand we have liberalism, and the basis of its political struggle is the individual with his so-called rights and liberties ... This doctrine of liberalism which stands for equal rights for all civilised human beings ... is almost the same as the ideal of communism (Bunting 1969: 196). (2)) Not surprisingly given this discursive equation of basic human rights and liberties with an enemy ideology, 'liberalism-communism', the National Party soon passed the Suppression of Communism Act in 1950. The Act gave the apartheid state the legal basis on which to ban all organisations, protests and publications that were deemed 'communist', alongside banning, detaining and/or restricting those seeking any "political, industrial, social or economic change" (Bunting, 1969: 199). This was quickly followed by: the Criminal Laws Amendment Act of 1953 (outlawing all protest/gatherings not approved by the state); the Public Safety Act of 1953 (allowing states of emergency for up to twelve months as well as associated detentions without trial); and, the Riotous Assemblies Act of 1956 (criminalising 'intimidation' related to strikes/stayaways/pickets, the joining of a non-state approved union and incitement to public violence). Following the banning of the Communist Party of South Africa in 1950 (under the Suppression of Communism Act) the two main liberation movements; the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) were banned in 1961. As a result, these organisations embarked on campaigns of underground (illegal) armed struggle and began to mobilise support both inside and outside South Africa. Even though none of the subsequent acts of armed struggle--which consisted mostly of limited acts of sabotage on apartheid state infrastructure--represented a serious military or political threat to the apartheid state, it gave the apartheid state the excuse to enact further repressive legislation. The 1960s saw three more pieces of related legislation being passed to complete the circle: the Internal Security Act of 1963 (allowing for various types of preventative detention and interrogation of political-social activists); the Civil Defence Act of 1966 (providing for the seizure of both people and property during states of emergency or threats of emergency); and, the Terrorism Act of 1967. …


OBJECTIVE
To clinically evaluate the pain intensity during the week following initial placement of three different orthodontic aligning archwires.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A consecutive sample of 75 patients requiring upper and lower fixed orthodontic appliances were alternately allocated into three different archwires (0.014-inch superelastic NiTi, 0.014-inch thermoelastic NiTi or 0.014-inch conventional NiTi). Assessments of pain/discomfort were made on a daily basis over the first 7-day period after bonding by means of visual analog scale and consumption of analgesics. The maximum pain score was recorded. The possible associations between age, gender, degree of crowding, and teeth irregularity and the pain intensity were also examined. Demographic and clinical differences between the three groups were compared with chi-square test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found in the pain intensity when the three aligning NiTi archwires were compared (P  =  .63). No significant differences in pain perception were found in terms of gender, age, lower arch crowding, and incisor irregularity. The intake of analgesics was the least in the superelastic NiTi group.

CONCLUSION
The three forms of NiTi wires were similar in terms of pain intensity during the initial aligning stage of orthodontic fixed appliance therapy. Gender, age, and the degree of crowding have no effect on the perceived discomfort experienced by patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.


Classical time and frequency domain analysis was performed on short-term heart rate variability (HRV) signal suitable for clinical trials. The indices derived from both methods were used to study the diagnostic ability of HRV non-invasively. Study considered HRV signals derived from ECG recordings obtained from PhysioNet database. The population under study consisted of 8 normal subjects (control group), 9 arrhythmic patients and 12 patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) class III and IV. The derived HRV indices were statistically tested using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The ability of ROC to discriminate between normal and abnormal patient population was determined by studying the area under the ROC curve.


Introduction: Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is characterised as a birth defect or congenital anomaly which occurs in one in every 500-700 births globally. This research study explores the subjective, phenomenological experiences of eight women with CL/P using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to determine how women experience and manage living with CL/P and to consider implications for counselling psychology. Quantitative and qualitative studies indicate the overall low psychological impact of being born with CL/P, but also show disparities and contradictions. This author was born with CL/P.

Method: Ethical approval was obtained. Semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions were used. Eight women born with CL/P were recruited using purposive sampling. Participant accounts of their lived experiences were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews took 73 to 120 minutes, (mean 90 minutes).

Analysis Four themes were identified: 'The threatened self' explores the complexity inherent in the development of identity; 'being different to others' explores interpersonal experiences of participants; 'facing challenges' explores challenges and 'wishing things had been better' explores experiences which participants share as a means of acting as advocates for others.

Discussion: My research supports existing CL/P literature. 'Wishing things had been better' has not been explored previously. I found that meaning-making is important for individuals with CL/P.

I consider that it would be beneficial for CL/P to be conceptualised as a long-term condition requiring psychological support, and if adult CL/P should have improved access to support, including psychological, for key life events. I designed a check-list of issues to consider when working with a client with CL/P.

This research has demonstrated that women's experiences of living with CL/P are multi-faceted and demonstrates a duality of experience in which being born with and living with CL/P throughout life may be thought of as both 'not a problem' and 'a problem' at different stages of life.


Gouty tophus of the tarsal tunnel is a rare cause of posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome. We present a case of acute posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome due to gouty tophus that required early tarsal tunnel release in order to avoid irreversible nerve damage. The presence of background neuropathy resulted in a less favorable result than expected. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level V: Case report


Within the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model, the geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs) in tokamaks derived by Winsor et al (1968 Phys. Fluids 11 2448) belong to the continuous spectrum, characterised by unbounded non-square integrable eigenfunctions (delta functions) at the singular surfaces (Goedbloed 1975 Phys. Fluids 18 1258). The eigenfunctions of the MHD continua in cylindrical as well as toroidal plasmas include, in addition, components that exist outside the singular surfaces and have singularities of type ψ − ψ 0 − 1 or ln ψ − ψ 0 , where ψ is a flux function that labels the magnetic surfaces, and ψ = ψ 0 defines the singular surface (Pao 1975 Nucl. Fusion 15 631). Using a large aspect ratio approximation of tokamak plasmas it is shown in this paper that the GAMs indeed include such singular components. Hence, in addition to the non-square integrable m = 0 and m = 1 components of the plasma flow and of the density and pressure perturbations at the GAM surface, the GAM continua also include accompanying m = 0 and m = 1 singular components varying as ( ψ − ψ 0 ) − 1 . This gives the m = 0 and m = 1 components of each GAM in the continuum radially extended profiles and a global character also within ideal theory. To the same order in the expansion, effects of a finite aspect ratio and a non-circular plasma cross section on the GAM frequency are also calculated, and we recover the dependence on inverse aspect ratio and Shafranov shift of the real GAM frequency previously calculated within gyrokinetic theory by Gao (2010 Phys. Plasmas 17 092503). Furthermore, while the dominating shaping effect on the GAM frequency comes from plasma elongation, as shown previously, it is shown in this paper that there is a higher-order triangularity effect that can also be significant. The calculated triangularity effect predicts a nearly linearly increasing GAM frequency with increasing triangularity, a phenomenon observed also in the TCV tokamak.


Normative logics offer descriptions on expected behavior of agents inside a system. Norm implementation in MAS is rarely discussed and in practice, introducing norms triggers indirect impacts on the behavior of agents. In order to obtain some experience, we implemented OperettA norms using 2APL agents in a firefighter simulation. In this article, we propose a comprehensive overview of the issues encountered when implementing the different norm aspects in agents.


A novel coupled path planning and energy management problem for a hybrid unmanned air vehicle is considered, where the hybrid vehicle is powered by a dual gas/electric system. Such an aerial robot is envisioned for use in an urban setting where noise restrictions are in place in certain zones necessitating battery only operation. We consider the discrete version of this problem, where a graph is constructed by sampling the boundaries of the restricted zones, and develop a path planning algorithm. The planner simultaneously solves the path planing along with the energy mode switching control, under battery constraints and noise restrictions. This is a coupled problem involving discrete decision making to find the path to travel, and determining the state of charge of the battery along the path, which is a continuous variable. A sampling based algorithm to find near optimal solution to this problem is presented. To quantify the efficacy of the solution, an algorithm that computes tight lower bounds is also presented. The algorithms presented are verified using numerical simulations, and the average gap between the feasible solutions (upper bounds) and the lower bounds are, empirically, shown to be within 15% of each other.


Cells release into the extracellular environment diverse types of membrane vesicles of endosomal and plasma membrane origin called exosomes and microvesicles, respectively. These extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent an important mode of intercellular communication by serving as vehicles for transfer between cells of membrane and cytosolic proteins, lipids, and RNA. Deficiencies in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for EV formation and lack of methods to interfere with the packaging of cargo or with vesicle release, however, still hamper identification of their physiological relevance in vivo. In this review, we focus on the characterization of EVs and on currently proposed mechanisms for their formation, targeting, and function.


An Experimental Test of the Use of Microwave Attenuation to improve Rainfall Estimates in Urban Areas, and hence to Enhance Flood Warning.

Data was collected from microwave and radar links and a number of telemetered tipping bucket raingauges. The adjacent relief map of the catchment area, shows the position of the links (white lines) together with the locations of the rainguages (blue dots). View larger image

Four links were set up, three dual-frequency and one single-frequency. The shorter links to the west cover Bolton's town centre. The link to the east is a link to the UK Met Office Hameldon Hill C-band weather radar. Not only does this pass along the valley of the River Irwell, but, being radial from the radar, enables estimates of the effects of attenuation on radar data to be estimated. Data were also available from a number of telemetered tipping bucket raingauges most of which belong to North West Water and the Environment Agency. The Met Office also installed two automatic weather stations (marked by red crosses).


Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy with only a 9% five-year survival rate in the United States. A hallmark of PDAC is the dramatic infiltration of fibroblasts and immune cells to the cancer site, which form a complex tumor microenvironment. This extensive stromal remodeling composes the majority of the tumor volume and plays a critical role in both cancer initiation and maintenance. Therefore, there is a profound need to better understand the unique relationships between tumor cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells in order to better predict how this balance might be favorably shifted for clinical applications. Arguably, the most defining molecular characteristic of PDAC is oncogenic KRAS, a mutation that has been observed in >90% of assayed tumors. Because KRAS operates at the apex of many molecular pathways that impact extracellular signaling, our group is interested in exploring the impact that modulating PDAC's oncogenic Kras activity has on stromal cells. To this end, we have used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to assess transcriptional changes in murine tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) directly cocultured with murine PDAC cells harboring a doxycycline-inducible oncogenic KrasG12D cassette. The benefit of using scRNAseq is that we can detect changes in cellular activity not only more immediately than would be possible at the protein level, but also with single-cell resolution, giving us the sensitivity to parse out subpopulations of TAMs with varied phenotypes. We conducted these experiments in parallel with identical cultures that also included murine cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to examine whether or not the presence of CAFs affected TAM transcription synergistically with or independent of epithelial oncogenic Kras. By comparing our cells to a manually curated list of common myeloid markers, we observed three distinct TAM phenotypes: regardless of Kras activity status, one TAM phenotype was present in all cultures that included CAFs and two other TAM phenotypes were found in all groups where CAFs were absent. Differential gene expression analysis of TAM populations cultured with or without KrasG12D yielded 241 significant genes when CAFs were also present in the system, but only one differentially expressed gene, Actb, when CAFs were excluded. When differential gene expression analysis was then done between TAMs grown with or without CAFs but across the same KrasG12D activity context, 19 genes were significant in the context of KrasG12D depletion and 278 genes were significant when KrasG12D was present. In summary, our data have begun to dissect the intricacies of the PDAC tumor microenvironment by stressing the impact that both oncogenic Kras and fibroblast invasion have on TAM activity. We hope that continued research into this intercellular network will allow for more precise therapeutic opportunities that consider the pancreatic tumor in its entirety. Citation Format: Katelyn Donahue, Yaqing Zhang, Veerin Sirihorachai, Stephanie The, Arvind Rao, Marina Pasca di Magliano. Using single-cell RNA sequencing to assess the impact of pancreatic oncogenic Kras on macrophage gene expression in vitro [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr A10.


This research aims to demonstrate how economic and social impacts may be evidenced by the Statement of Added Value (SAV). To accomplish the objective of the research, a model of Statement Added Value was made and then an empirical research was done by means of a case study. The main changes suggested to the SAV current model were the separation of the cooperative act and the noncooperative act regarding information based on revenues and inputs, and the disclosure of the price differential paid to information acquired from the input member, one of the returns offered by cooperatives omitted in current accounting. Furthermore, this work suggests the inclusion of items related to the remuneration of director and employee educational assistance, insertion of information on fines and offenses committed by the cooperative, inclusion of socio-economic contributions made by the cooperative associates and technical and educational assistance items provided to members. The completion of the case study attested to the possibility of preparing the SAV proposal for agricultural cooperatives based on available financial information, as well as quantifying the socioeconomic impact in the region in which the agricultural cooperatives are inserted, demonstrating benefits to cooperative, society and government agencies.


We analyzed characteristics and concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions based on fixed routine collection of atmospheric particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) samples in Harbin during August 2008 and May 2009. The samplers we sampling is produced by Wuhan Tianhong Intelligent Instrument, we analyzed the water-soluble inorganic ions by using Ion Chromatographic (IC, DX120, Diana, USA) and Indicative Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES, Model 5300, Perkin Elmer, USA). The research showed that: SO42-, NO3-, NH4+ were the top three concentrated of the water-soluble inorganic ions ,the average concentrations were 10.3 μg/m3, 5.8 μg/m3, 8.2 μg/m3 respectively during sampling. Ca2+ was higher in the particulate > 2.5μm, while SO42- and NH4+ were higher in the particulate < 2.5μm, the correlation analysis inferred that the main form of SO42- in atmospheric particle was ammonium sulfate.


The importance of translational regulation in tumorigenesis and metastasis is increasingly appreciated. We have leveraged polyribosomal profiling to prospectively and functionally define translational regulatory programs underlying the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), one of the early manifestations of metastasis, in breast epithelial cells. Our approach identified scores of mRNAs both enriched and depleted from polyribosomal fractions in mesenchymal cells as compared to their epithelial counterparts. Computational analysis of the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs enriched in polysomal fractions derived from the mesenchymal state revealed enrichment of a distinct GU-rich cis-element within these mRNA transcripts. Strikingly, while relative representation of these GU-rich-containing transcripts at the level of bulk mRNA were generally decreased in mesenchymal cells, the protein encoded by each of these mRNAs was dramatically increased. 3′ UTRs from affected transcripts conferred similar regulation upon a fluorescent reporter gene dependent upon the presence of the GU-rich element within the 3′ UTR sequence. Several of the translationally upregulated transcripts were necessary and/or sufficient for the EMT program. We next identified the CELF1 protein as a common regulator of these mRNA transcripts, demonstrating direct binding of the CELF1 protein to affected transcripts dependent upon the presence of the GU-rich element within their 3′ UTRs. CELF1 was itself necessary and sufficient for EMT in several distinct in vitro models as well as for metastatic colonization in vivo. Analysis of publicly available transcriptomic data revealed no increase in the relative expression of CELF19s regulatory targets or CELF1 itself in human breast cancer. We demonstrate that the CELF1 gene product is itself post-translationally regulated during EMT, and that CELF1 protein, but not mRNA, is significantly overexpressed in human breast cancer tissues and correlates with disease progression. Cumulatively, our data present a distinctive model of gene regulation, invisible to traditional transcriptional profiling, in which the CELF1 protein serves as a central node controlling translational activation of the EMT program and ultimately tumor metastasis in human breast cancer. Citation Format: Arindam Chaudhury, Natee Kongchan, Joseph M. Fachini, Lukas M. Simon, Tao Wang, Sufeng Mao, Daniel G. Rosen, Michael M. Ittmann, Susan G. Hilsenbeck, Chad A. Shaw, Joel R. Neilson. CELF1 is a central node in post-transcriptional regulatory programs underlying EMT and metastasis in breast epithelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B58.


Increasing the aqueous solubility of insoluble drugs is of major importance for the estimation by spectrophotometric technique. Various techniques have been employed to enhance the aqueous solubility of poorly water soluble drugs. Hydrotropic solubilization is one of them. In the present study, sodium benzoate was chosen as hydrotrope to enhance the solubility of Lornoxicam for its spectrophotometric estimation in their marketed formulation. Preliminary solubility of Lornoxicam, spectral study, method development and its validation was done as per ICH guidelines. Solubility study of Lornoxicam displayed a signifi cant increment in the solubility due to 10% solution of sodium benzoate which will be suffi cient to extract the drug from its dosage form. The sample solution has shown the λ max at 376 nm and obeys the lambert beer law in the concentration range of 5-25 μg/ml with a correlation coeffi cient of 0.999. The accuracy of the method was proved by recovery study with mean recovery of 99.87. Precision study also shows no signifi cant deviation from the mean value. A limit of detection and limit of quantitation result indicates the sensitivity of the method with the values 1.02 μg/ml and 3.39 μg/ml simultaneously. Hence, the methodology can be used safely and effectively for the routine estimation of Lornoxicam in the bulk drug and marketed formulation. Key words: Hydrotropic solubilization, sodium benzoate, spectrophotometric estimation, validation.


Padmaja Hospital incorporates the latest technology and medical equipment in patient care which enhances the quality of care and helps the doctors treat patients efficiently. We offer cutting-edge state-of-the-art technology for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, many of which were pioneered by our own researchers and clinicians https://padmajahospital.in


In order to study the influence of mining-induced fractures field on gas drainage,the paper adopts software of numerical simulation COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate gas drainage of coal seam under the condition of high-strength underground mining. The main aspects can be seen as the following: (1) In the case without considering the fractures, gas drainage in single hole, the gas pressure distribution showed a funnel-type distribution in space along the drainage holes around. (2) The orientation and direction of fractures play a major role on the flow field of gas. In the region that exits fractures, the distribution of gas pressure has a clear fluctuation and adjustment.(3) The numerical simulation of coal seam gas drainage that considered the fracture of coal mining, was closer to the true gas flow.


We observe that even when the system throughput is relatively stable,end users of media-streaming applications do not necessarily experience smooth throughput, due to the unsynchronized window adjustments triggered by random congestion indications. We analyze and evaluate the negative impact of random window adjustments on smoothness, short-term fairness, and long-term fairness. We further propose an experimental congestion avoidance mechanism, namely TCP(/spl alpha/, /spl beta/, /spl gamma/, /spl delta/), based on coordinated window adjustments. The flow-level smoothness is enhanced significantly for media-streaming applications, without a cost on fairness and responsiveness. Responsiveness is even boosted when bandwidth is underutilized.


Abstract. Doppler lidars are frequently operated in a mode referred to as arc scans, wherein the lidar beam scans across a sector with a fixed elevation angle and the resulting measurements are used to derive an estimate of the n minute horizontal mean wind velocity (speed and direction). Previous studies have shown that the uncertainty in the measured wind speed originates from turbulent wind fluctuations and depends on the scan geometry (the arc span and the arc orientation). This paper is designed to provide guidance on optimal scan geometries for two key applications in the wind energy industry: wind turbine power performance analysis and annual energy production prediction. We present a quantitative analysis of the retrieved wind speed uncertainty derived using a theoretical model with the assumption of isotropic and frozen turbulence, and observations from three sites that are onshore with flat terrain, onshore with complex terrain and offshore, respectively. The results from both the theoretical model and observations show that the uncertainty is scaled with the turbulence intensity such that the relative standard error on the 10 min mean wind speed is about 30 % of the turbulence intensity. The uncertainty in both retrieved wind speeds and derived wind energy production estimates can be reduced by aligning lidar beams with the dominant wind direction, increasing the arc span and lowering the number of beams per arc scan. Large arc spans should be used at sites with high turbulence intensity and/or large wind direction variation.


A 5-year-old male developed painless enlargement of the left breast and was found to have a soft, mobile, and nontender swelling that was excised. Histological examination revealed a galactocele, which is a very rare cause of breast enlargement in male infants and children.


Safety barrier-based management systems are widely adopted because of the advantages coming from the barrier approach. Different methods are available to implement it and the Bow-tie is one of the most recognized methodology. The Bow-tie method allows the risk analyst to have, in a single shot, the complex picture about the relations linking threats, preventive barriers, top events, mitigative barriers, consequences, and escalation factors. From this perspective, without a proper reference, there are significant possibilities to misuse the method and create confusion about the right role of each component of a Bow-tie diagram. This work intends to support the approach of the guidelines developed by the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), to drive the analyst in the proper usage of the method, avoiding to misinterpret key elements like the human errors or the barrier failures, and helping in a congruent definition of the elements, thus resulting in a high-quality risk analysis and in a sound barriers management.


Background and aims: Aggression with physiological arousal can lead to worsening hypertension. The use of non-medical and cognitive approaches can help to reduce these effects. This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention on aggression in women with hypertension.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done with a pretest-posttest control group for a month in 2013. Statistical population were women with hypertension who admitted to
22 Bahman hospital of Masjed-Soleyman that informed consent. Samples were 40 women with hypertension who were randomly selected and divided into two groups of 20 people testing and control. Stress management cognitive behavioral training in 10 sessions of 60 minutes (twice a week) in the experimental group was provided. This intervention was generally content: Identify rational self-talk and replace rational thought, learning types coping style, diaphragmatic breath practice and muscle relaxation, mental imagery training and anger management and problem solving skills and stress management.The assessment tool was Ahvaz Aggression questionnaire. Data using SPSS software through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and Pearson, were analyzed.
Results: In this study, 40 women with an average age of 35.03 years with hypertension were enrolled. There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of age, marital status and occupation (P>0.05). The results showed that stress management teaching intervention based on cognitive behavioral approach was significant on reducing aggression in the experimental group (P>0.0001).
Conclusion: Stress management training can be used as a model for intervention to reduce aggression in the women with hypertension.


Introduction: Present pandemic situation has determined using methods of distance education at organisations of higher education including medical universities. Aim of this study was to examine medical students' attitude to transition to distance forms of education for a period of pandemic. Materials and methods. The authors conducted a questionnaire of 129 students about their attitude to distance education, assessment of its positive and negative characteristics and suggestions for improvement of the model implemented during two first weeks. Results: In 2002 at Research University an implementation of distance education technologies started. The website of distance education (WoDE) http://sdo.pimunn.net is essential to students. In March 2020 the University switched to full distance learning model due to COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire among students allowed to reveal positive aspects of distance education: reduction of time and cost for moving between university campuses and clinical bases (55,2% of students), comfort of learning in habitual home environment (60,9%), opportunity of daily schedule planning (66,9%), stress level reduction (37,9%), self-discipline, opportunity of copying and reviewing of studying material (59,7%). Among disadvantages was limitation in using Conclusions: Despite significant experience of e-learning and regulatory framework of application of distance education technologies, their using always was considered in a comprehensive manner with traditional intramural education and such transition leads to adaptation of electronic educational environment to new conditions.


Guerrilla Government: Political Changes in the Southern Sudan during the 1990s. By Oystein H. Rolandsen. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, 2005. Pp. 201; 2 maps; 3 tables. £15.95/euro 20/SEK 200 paper. After 1983, when Sudan descended into civil war, the major force representing the south was the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army (SPLM/A), led by John Garang. In Guerrilla Government, Oystein H. Rolandsen (Horn of Africa advisor for Norwegian People's Aid) considers the SPLM/A in the 1990s and scrutinizes an event that many SPLM/A supporters have regarded as a watershed, namely, the National Convention of 1994, which called for the construction of a "New Sudan." Noting that this convention was unique for trying to establish "a liberal civil government in a war-zone" (p. 14), Rolandsen sets out to understand why the convention took place, who influenced it, and what practical effects it had on governance within SPLM/A-controlled regions. The National Convention came out of a reform process that started within the SPLM/A in 1991, when Garang-a highly autocratic but pragmatic leaderrealized that change was imperative. Two critical events of 1991 prompted this realization. First, the Soviet-backed Mengistu regime of Ethiopia collapsed, thereby removing a major source of logistical and military assistance for the SPLM/A. The SPLM/A was forced to shift its cross-border centers to Kenya and Uganda and to cultivate ties with Western donors and foreign NGOs, particularly those associated with Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS). second, officers within the SPLM/A attempted to overthrow Garang, citing objections to his dictatorial style and to his refusal to support southern secession. They also resented what they perceived as ethnic Dinka hegemony within the movement. The coup failed but led to factional splintering and to some heavy internal fighting. With the SPLM/A thus weakened and divided, Garang began to promote reform as a tactical move to consolidate support among southern Sudanese and potential foreign supporters. The National Convention occurred in 1994 after a year's planning, and involved 516 delegates who took what one SPLM/A supporter called the "first step towards democratic rule" in the South. "Compared to the existing state of affairs," Rolandsen writes, "the legal reforms adopted at the National Convention were, if not radical, at least extensive. Some fourteen laws or collections of laws were to be drafted-everything from "The New Sudan Penal Code" to "The New Sudan Traffic Act" (p. 116)." Proposed reforms also called for the organization of a National Liberation Council that could function as a legislative assembly and for a judiciary combining lower "traditional" chiefs courts and higher "modern" SPLM-directed courts. At the convention Garang stressed the idea of "New Sudan," but left the political status of this entity purposely vague. The term was capable of suggesting a reformed but territorially intact Sudan (the scenario favored by foreign observers) or an independent southern Sudan, separated from the Khartoum-dominated north (the scenario favored by many war-weary, rankand-file supporters of the SPLM/A). For historians of Africa, one of the most intriguing aspects of this book is its commentary on the continuities of indirect rule as established by the British colonial regime during the Anglo-Egyptian period. …


A model in which heterogeneous agents form firms is described and empirically tested. Each agent has preferences for both income and leisure and provides a variable input ('effort') to production. There are increasing returns to cooperation, and agents self-organize into productive teams. Within each group the output is divided into equal shares. Each agent periodically adjusts its effort level to maximize its welfare non-cooperatively. Agents are permitted to join other firms or start up new firms when it is welfare maximizing to do so. As a firm becomes large, agents have little incentive to supply effort, since each agentOs share is relatively insensitive to its effort level. This gives rise to free riders. As free riding becomes commonplace in a large firm, agents migrate to other firms and the large firm declines. It is demonstrated analytically that there exist Nash equilibrium effort levels within any group, but these are (1) Pareto-dominated by effort configurations that fail to be individually rational, and (2) dynamically unstable for sufficiently large group size. The out-of-equilibrium dynamics are studied by an agent-based computational model. Individual firms grow and perish, there is perpetual adaptation and change at the micro-level, and the composition of each firm at any instant is path-dependent. However, at the aggregate-level stationary firm size, growth rate and lifetime distributions emerge. These are compared to data on U.S. firms. In particular, the power law character of empirical firm size distributions is reproduced by the model. Log growth rates are distributed as a double exponential distribution, while the standard deviation in growth rates scales (decreases) with firm size, both in agreement with recent empirical analyses. Constant returns obtain at the aggregate level, in contrast to the increasing returns of the micro-level. A portrait of this agents-within-firms economy is developed by analyzing typical firm life cycles, typical agent careers, and through cross-sectional analysis. The model parameterization is systematically investigated. Right-skewed size distributions are robust to a variety of alternative specifications of preferences, compensation, interaction structure, and bounded rationality. The role of residual claimants within firms is briefly explored. Finally, it is argued any theory of the firm based on microeconomic equilibrium is unlikely to explain the empirical data on firm sizes, growth rates, and related aggregate regularities.


Bearing in mind the increase of human population, development of new technologies and intensive care of human health, new challenges for scientists appeared. In the fields of fermented food based on various milks modern trends are going to production of so called functional food, which has health promoting activity besides nutritional value. Autochthonous cheeses manufacturing within the Balkan area has very long tradition. These cheeses are produced without using any known starter culture. Therefore, studying all aspects of such cheeses manufacturing is very important. This approach will assure continuation of traditional way of cheeses manufacturing at the original places where they are originally produced. Moreover, research of this kind will open possibility for introduction of autochthonous cheeses production at either semi-industrial or industrial level or their presentation on different markets. The laws on patenting, brand protection or geographical origin declaration are giving the possibilities for protection of autochthonous cheeses. It is not unrealistic to expect that such products will accept on European and other markets. Therefore, the strategy is established to develop the technological process for autochthonous cheese production in the region of mountain Zlatar. The developed technology will be based on the use of starter cultures, which will be constructed of specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB will be isolated from specific localities on Zlatar, characterized at the molecular genetics level and used for construction of starter cultures.


The water supply industry is faced with three phenomena of great importance: the aggressiveness, corrosion, and incrustation of water distribution systems (WDS), which are primarily due to the low alkalinity of water sources and the addition of chemicals used in water treatment processes, which require pH adjustments during the last stage of the treatment process before going into the WDS. This article presents the results of using Ca(OH) 2 and NaOH with doses between 2 and 20 mg L −1 and NaHCO 3 and Na 2 CO 3 between 10 and 250 mg L −1 to adjust the pH of water treated from the Cauca River, which is located in Cali, Colombia, using stabilisation indices normally used in water treatment plants for pH monitoring processes and to better predict the behaviour of water in the WDS. The results indicate that for the case of the surface water source studied, which exhibits low alkalinity levels, the evaluated alkalising agents, with the exception of NaHCO 3 , can create conditions that lead to the precipitation of a~protective calcium carbonate film. Because the pH values that guarantee an adequate pH adjustment are higher (8.7–9.0) than those specified by the Colombian water code and because other international rules indicate that these values do not compromise the health of consumers, it is advisable to review and adjust the code in this respect.


ABSTRACT Internet Addiction (IA) constitutes an excessive Internet use behavior with a significant impact on the user's well-being. Online flow describes the users' level of being absorbed by their online activity. The present study investigated age-related, gender, and flow effects on IA in adolescence. The sample comprised 648 adolescents who were assessed twice at age 16 and 18 years. IA was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test and online flow was assessed using the Online Flow Questionnaire. A three-level hierarchical model estimated age-related, gender, and online flow effects on IA symptoms and controlled for clustered random effects. IA symptoms decreased over time (for both genders) with a slower rate in males. Online flow was associated with IA symptoms and this remained consistent over time. Findings expand upon the available literature suggesting that IA symptoms could function as a development-related manifestation at the age of 16 years, while IA-related gender differences gradually increase between 16 and 18 years. Finally, the association between online flow and IA symptoms remained stable independent of age-related effects. The study highlights individual differences and provides directions for more targeted prevention and intervention initiatives for IA.


Legislation to allow assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia in the United Kingdom has moved one step closer to being implemented, with the publication of a House of Lords select committee report last week. The report on Joel Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill called for the issue to be debated early in the next session of parliament. This bill will not go any further as parliament is being dissolved for the UK general election, to be held on 5 May.

Although the committee was divided on whether the law should be changed, it recommended that a future bill on the issue should be considered by a committee of the whole house. The new bill is likely to apply only in England and Wales, as Lord Joffe recommended. This is a step forward from the last …


Antibiotics, in addition to killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, may also affect the mechanism of host defence in many ways. Such effects may be clinically relevant especially in the case where an impairment of immunological function can be seen. We, therefore, decided to study the influence of penicillin G, cefotaxim, ceftazidime, streptomycin, and lincomycin on the function of phagocytes by using the macrophage adherence assay and the macrophage spreading assay. We also followed the concentrations of neopterin and interferon gamma (IFN gamma) in the plasma of mice treated with the above mentioned antibiotics. Changes in adherence of peritoneal macrophages were seen in mice treated with therapeutic doses of penicillin G and cefotaxim, after 2 h of incubation. Cefotaxim and streptomycin in the usual therapeutic dose and ceftazidime in a fourfold higher dose influenced the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to spread on a glass surface. The same was seen with lincomycin when administered in the therapeutic dose and in a fourfold higher dose. In all the mice treated with antibiotics the concentration of IFN gamma was higher than in the control mice, while the reverse was seen concerning neopterin release, with an exception in mice treated with streptomycin.


Background.Haemorrhoidal disease (HD) is de�ned as the symptomatic enlargement and/or distal displacement of anal cushions and is one of the most common proctological diseases. Sclerotherapy (ST) with 3% polidocanol foam induces an in�ammatory reaction with sclerosis of the submucosal tissue and consequent suspension of the haemorrhoidal tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety of ST with 3% polidocanol foam for the treatment of symptomatic second-and third-degree HD. Methods.A total of 66 patients with symptomatic second- and third-degree HD underwent a single ST session between March 2017 and July 2018. A visual analogue scale score was used to assess postoperative pain and patient satisfaction. The symptoms severity and anal continence were investigated through a self-reported questionnaire and Vaizey score, respectively, at baseline, at 4 weeks and after 1 year. Results. Fifty-seven out of 66 patients were male (86.3%), and the mean age was 52 (29-75; SD ± 12) years. The mean operative time was 4.5 (2-6; SD ± 1.23) minutes. No intraoperative complications and no drug-related side effects occurred. The overall success rate was 78.8% (52/66 patients) after a single ST session and 86% after two ST sessions (57/66 patients). The mean treatment effect, obtained comparing preoperative and T5 symptom scores in each patient, showed a mean change of 7.88 (p<0.001). All patients resumed their normal daily activities the day after the procedures. Conclusions.ST with 3% polidocanol foam is a safe, cost-effective and repeatable conservative treatment. Haemorrhoidal Disease = HD; Sclerotherapy = ST; Rubber band ligation = RBL; In�ammatory bowel disease = IBD; Visual analogue scale = VAS


The police say brutal things. Research has documented how officers, when amongst themselves, talk about people in derogatory ways or openly fantasize about the use of excessive violence. In the literature, such backstage talk is in general analyzed in two ways: It is understood as proof of how the police really think – as evidencing police (im)morality or misconduct. Alternatively, scholars argue that police officers' transgressive talk is a warped yet nevertheless meaningful and meaning-generating way for them to deal with their, at times, harsh profession. Certainly, both these means of analysis resonate with the empirical material of this article – an empirical material stemming from an ethnographic study of two Danish detective units. Yet, as this article argues, simply applying this analytical twofold would risk misrepresenting or, perhaps rather, overinterpreting the indeed brutal things the Danish detectives said. While some of the detectives' language could/should be understood as representing police immorality or reflecting their troublesome profession, this article proposes a counterintuitive reading, namely that their vicious words were, paradoxically, often analytically ordinary. They were examples of "bullshitting" (Frankfurt 2009) – a genre of offensive talk yet, nevertheless, a genre with no specific internal nor intended meaning to it. Therefore, although (police and others') bullshit is extremely evocative, and thus includes the risk of drawing the ethnographer in, one should be cautious about taking it too seriously. At least when it came to these Danish detectives, their vicious words habitually had little purchase on their general perceptions or practices. Their words were certainly distasteful but, really, just bullshit.


A new forecasting model, solved for Bayesian Perfect Equilibria, is introduced. It, along with several alternative models, is tested on data from the European Union. The new model, which allows for contingent forecasts and for generating confidence intervals around predictions, outperforms competing models in most tests despite the absence of variance on a critical variable in all but nine cases. The more proximate the political setting of the issues is to the new model's underlying theory of competitive and potentially coercive politics, the better the new model does relative to other models tested in the European Union context.


The paper explores possible metallization schemes to form simultaneous ohmic contacts to n-type and p-type silicon carbide contacts. Silicon carbide has shown promise in revolutionizing the power electronics market due to its increased switching speed, compact design, and higher temperature tolerance when compared to Silicon, the market standard. With the continuing development of silicon carbide technology, higher efficiency in future electric vehicles can be achieved by employing this new technology. This paper discusses theoretical contact formation between metals and semiconductors along with a proposed experiment to create a Ni/Al metallization scheme on both n and p-type contacts simultaneously on a silicon carbide wafer. The original purposed experiment was not able to be carried due to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, the contact formation process and testing procedure are discussed in order to carry out the experiment.


Abstract
 The aim of this study was to examine breeding objectives and the impact of production systems and breed types on dairy cattle performance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A total of 64 research studies published between 1980 and 2018 were used for qualitative analysis (qualitative synthesis) of farmers', scientists' and institutional dairy trait preferences. Meta-analysis was conducted to examine the production and reproduction performance of dairy cattle in smallholder and large-scale dairy production systems. Most data used were from smallholder farmers (60%), with the remainder from large-scale farms. Linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate marginal means of production and reproduction traits for different breed types in both production systems. Overall, the results showed that there was a higher emphasis on breeding for improved fertility, increased milk yield and disease resistance. Milk content (fat and protein percentages), temperament, body conformation and total milk cell count (a mastitis indicator) were rarely mentioned in published literature, mainly because of milk pricing policies being volume based. Frequency and multivariate analyses (cluster data analysis) for desirable animal traits suggested that multiple breeding objectives are needed, based on the perceived goals of different farmers and institutions towards genetic improvement for production, reproduction, disease resistance and functional and animal welfare traits. Regardless of the breed type, commercial large-scale farms had a higher milk yield (2857.0 ± 233.3) compared with smallholder dairy farms (2419.8 ± 617.39). Estimated marginal means for lactation milk yield of the three breed types Holstein-Friesian, non-Holstein-Friesian dairy breeds (Jersey, Guernsey, Red Dane, Brown Swiss and Ayrshire) and cross-breds (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) were 3148.5 ± 433.00, 2995.6 ± 456.36 and 1771.1 ± 328.52, respectively. Significantly shorter age at first calving and shorter calving intervals were observed in large-scale farms in comparison to smallholder farms (p < 0.05). No significant differences were noted for age at first calving, calving interval, days open and number of services per conception between the breed types. In conclusion, the present study suggests that (i) improvement of dairy cattle has focused on reproduction, production and disease resistance traits, reflecting the breeding objectives of farmers, scientists and institutions involved in dairy production; (ii) genetics plays a large role in increased dairy productivity in SSA and (iii) future dairy research should emphasise on the interactions between improved feeding, disease control and genetics at a production level to inform profitable combinations of dairy traits.


HISTORY AND FINDINGS An asymptomatic 70-year-old man was found to have a tumor in the region of the left adrenal gland, having undergone cadaveric kidney transplantation 23 years ago. Two years before this a right nephrectomy had been performed for a renal cell carcinoma. There was no left kidney because of agenesis. 14 years after the kidney transplantation a metastasis of the renal cell carcinoma was identified in the thyroid gland. After its resection no further metastases had been discovered. INVESTIGATIONS Laboratory tests were unremarkable. But a tumor was detected in the left adrenal gland by computed tomography. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE The left adrenal gland was successfully resected. Its histology confirmed a second metastasis of the renal cell carcinoma 23 years after renal transplantation, but no other metastases were found. CONCLUSIONS Kidney transplantation can be successfully performed even in patients with pre-existing carcinoma. A late metastasis of a renal carcinoma may occur. Close long-term follow-up of the patients is therefore essential.


Laced Reinforced Concrete T-beams which are used inclined continuous reinforcement of two layers on each side of the beam have been studied in this research. The inclination angles of lacing reinforcement with respect to the longitudinal reinforcement are 45 o and 60 o respectively. Laced Reinforced Concrete T-beams of cross sectional dimensions (300mm * 80mm) flange and (150mm * 220mm) web have been used. Results have shown that specimens with lacing reinforcement are more ductile than beams without lacing ( conventional vertical stirrups) and the ductility factor of laced reinforced beams ranges from 1.94 to 9.44, while it is 1.46 for unlaced ( stirrups) beams. Also, the support rotation of laced reinforced concrete beams are about six times higher than that of conventional reinforcement. It has been shown that the lacing reinforcement of 60 o inclination angle with respect to longitudinal reinforcement has more stiffness i.e. less deflection than lacing reinforcement of 45 o inclination angle with respect to longitudinal reinforcement, while the strength capacity of the first type above is about 14% more than that of 45 o inclination angle. The study of effect of diameter size of lacing reinforcement shows that lacing reinforcement of 8mm diameter has less deflection about 15% than that of 6mm diameter, also the ultimate load of first type above is more about 3% than other type. The results show that beams with lacing reinforcement are stiffer than beams with conventional stirrup reinforcement.


Solar energy is the most viable renewable energy resources in the world. This paper presents a battery charging-discharging control strategy with MPPT for photovoltaic (PV) power generation system. If the PV power generation sources produce more energy than the requirement the loads, the surplus energy can be used either to charge the battery or to provide a dump load (electric heater or electrolysis-hydrogen). If the amount of energy demanded by the loads is higher than the production of the PV power generation sources, the control strategy determines the battery will release energy to cover the load requirements until the battery is fully discharged. This paper explains the strategy developed and shows the control block diagram of photovoltaic power generation system.


Paleoclimate proxy data cover large sections of the Earth's past dynamics and hold information that is crucial to improve climate models on timescales from decades to millennia.

The heterogeneous origins of the proxy data e.g. from marine or terrestrial archives, biologically growing or proxies resulting from (inorganic) sedimentation processes amplify reconstruction uncertainty due to proxy specific challenges such as record sparsity, age uncertainty and sampling time irregularity.

The attribution of proxy variability to different climate parameters, such as temperature or precipitation is necessary for most model-data intercomparisons. This is, however, complicated by the time-scale dependent and mostly unknown signal-to-noise ratio and underdeterminacy and short overlapping periods in the calibration to modern-day data.

We investigate the agreement between terrestrial paleoclimate proxy records in Asia using linear and nonlinear time series analysis methods to identify potential archive-dependent biases and local vs. regional climate variability. While a single archive or proxy is unlikely to capture climate
variability sufficiently well in time and space, we aim to identify archive-proxy combinations that improve the representation of annual to centennial timescales and separate temperature from precipitation variability.


Objective. The study was designed to determine the association between self-reported asthma and the risk, persistence and severity of panic attacks among adults in the community. Method. Data were drawn from waves 1 and 2 of the Baltimore site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study (N=2768), which included self-report information on asthma, treatment for asthma and panic attacks in 1981 and 1982. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios comparing the prevalence of panic attack at baseline and follow-up by asthma status at baseline. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between self-reported asthma status and the number of panic symptoms during a panic attack. Results. Self-report asthma was associated with significantly increased likelihood of having panic attacks at baseline (1981) (12·1% v. 7·3%, P<0·05) and of having panic attacks at both baseline and follow-up (15·9% v. 7·3%, P<0·05), compared to those without asthma at baseline. Adults receiving treatment for asthma at baseline had an increased risk of incident panic attacks at follow-up (OR=2·65 (1·11, 6·34)) and at baseline and follow-up (OR=5.88 (2·21, 15.62)), though untreated asthma did not appear to increase risk of incident panic at follow-up. Similarly, the risk of panic at follow-up was not increased among those with asthma at baseline who did not report asthma at follow-up, compared with those without asthma at baseline. Treated asthma was associated with having more panic symptoms during panic attacks, compared to those without asthma (P<0·001). Conclusion. These findings are consistent with and extend previous results suggesting that self-reported asthma is associated with an increased risk of panic attacks among adults in the general population, and that there is a consistent relation between severity and persistence of asthma and panic attacks. The lack of association between remitted asthma and panic attack may reveal a need for further research to determine whether asthma may be a causal risk factor for panic attacks, or whether a third factor (genetic or environmental) may be associated with increased risk of the co-occurrence of asthma and panic attacks. Replication of these results using alternative methodology with corroborative data on asthma and panic attacks is needed next.


RATIONALE
Intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergo several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures every day. The prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of pain related to these procedures are not well known.

OBJECTIVES
To assess self-reported procedural pain intensity versus baseline pain, examine pain intensity differences across procedures, and identify risk factors for procedural pain intensity.

METHODS
Prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter, multinational study of pain intensity associated with 12 procedures. Data were obtained from 3,851 patients who underwent 4,812 procedures in 192 ICUs in 28 countries.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Pain intensity on a 0-10 numeric rating scale increased significantly from baseline pain during all procedures (P < 0.001). Chest tube removal, wound drain removal, and arterial line insertion were the three most painful procedures, with median pain scores of 5 (3-7), 4.5 (2-7), and 4 (2-6), respectively. By multivariate analysis, risk factors independently associated with greater procedural pain intensity were the specific procedure; opioid administration specifically for the procedure; preprocedural pain intensity; preprocedural pain distress; intensity of the worst pain on the same day, before the procedure; and procedure not performed by a nurse. A significant ICU effect was observed, with no visible effect of country because of its absorption by the ICU effect. Some of the risk factors became nonsignificant when each procedure was examined separately.

CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of risk factors for greater procedural pain intensity identified in this study may help clinicians select interventions that are needed to minimize procedural pain. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01070082).


A program of shallow drilling, trenching, outcrop mapping, and seismic-reflection acquisition in southern Illinois, just north of the New Madrid seismic zone, has produced the most comprehensive documentation to date of Quaternary-age faulting in the northern Mississippi embayment. Detailed structural cross-sections over five northeast-trending faults that continue from the Fluorspar Area fault complex southward into the embayment (Massac County, Illinois) indicate narrow grabens into which latest Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene sediments were dropped and protected from erosion. The bounding faults were active during Neogene through middle Pleistocene time; in the deepest graben, the Late Miocene-Pleistocene-age Mounds Gravel is downthrown 150 m. Notably, definitive faulting of Wisconsinan loess or Holocene alluvium is not observed at any site, which would indicate that the faults have been inactive for at least 55 ka (basal loess ages) to 128 ka (youngest Illinoian age). Seismic profiles reveal that faults in Quaternary sediments penetrate Paleozoic bedrock, thus indicating that these are tectonic faults and not products of landsliding, solution collapse, or other merely near-surface processes. The faults exhibit vertical to steeply dipping normal and occasional reverse displacements that outline a variety of structures, including a series of narrow grabens. Tilting or folding of strata associated with faulting is also locally observed. At one site, observed faulting is superimposed over a prominent bedrock anticline, which may itself be a result of the Quaternary deformation that created the steep normal and reverse faults. Our results indicate that shallow sediment and bedrock faulting extends beyond the localized fault zones, implying that Quaternary deformation of the northern Mississippi embayment is more pervasive than formerly believed. The trend of Quaternary-age structures in southern Illinois is in line with the northeast-trending New Madrid seismic zone and is parallel to other geologically active features in the region, such as the Commerce geophysical lineament; the lack of observed Holocene movement, however, suggests that the faults in our study area are not currently active and thus may not contribute to seismic hazard. We propose a dynamic structural model that suggests a mechanism by which seismicity and active (Holocene) faulting have shifted within the central Mississippi Valley (away from the Fluorspar Area fault complex) over the last several 10,0009s of years.


Abstract The crystal chemistry of londonite, a rare Cs-bearing mineral [ideal chemical formula: (Cs,K) Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28; a = 7.3098(2) Å at 300 K, space group P4̅3m] from the granitic pegmatites of the Antsongombato Gem Mine, Betafo district, Madagascar, has been reinvestigated by means of wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and single-crystal neutron diffraction at 300 and 20 K. Single-crystal anisotropic structural refinement at 300 K gave a final agreement index R1 = 0.0479 for 32 refined parameters and 416 unique reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). The analysis of the difference-Fourier maps of the nuclear density discounts the presence of hydroxyl groups, as wrongly reported in some of the previous studies. The structural refinements and the chemical analyses suggested that: the tetrahedral 4e site (at x ~ 0.258) is mainly occupied by Be, but a low amount of B (~3%) likely occurs; the tetrahedral 12h site (at x ~ 0.248) is mainly occupied by B, but a significant fraction of Be (~12%) is present; the octahedral 4e site (at x ~ 0.361) is fully occupied by Al; and the 1a site (at x = 0, with CN = 12) is mainly occupied by Cs, with Rb and K. The significantly high amount of B2O3 (~50 wt%) and Cs+Rb(CsO2+RbO2 ≥ 8 wt%) makes the synthetic counterpart of londonite of interest as a potential neutron absorber or a potential host for nuclear waste.


Keeping deposition temperature and oxygen pressure constant at 300°C and 4.0×10-2Pa, respectively, deposition of ZnO thin films with c-axis oriented (002) hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure was achieved by pulsed filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (PFCVAD) system at various negative substrate bias on Si(100). The surface morphology was characterized using AFM, and crystallographic structure was studied by means of X-ray diffraction. Based on the biaxial strain model, Strain properties of the ZnO films were investigated by calculation from XRD data. The calculated results revealed that the as-deposited ZnO films exhibited only tensile stress and the tensile stress increased with the elevation of the negative substrate bias. Occurrence of the tensile stress is suggested to be the result of relatively high deposition temperature and the improved deposition rate by elevating the negative substrate bias. It provides a potential method to control the intrinsic stress in the ZnO films by modulation of deposition temperature and the negative substrate bias of PFCVAD system.


Rajbari district of Bangladesh, have been studied and possible health effect were estimated. The experiment has been done by using gamma ray spectrometry system consisting of a HPGe detector coupled with MCA and associate electronics. The average natural radioactivities of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K have been measured as 29.03±5.67 Bq/kg, 50.91±10.17 Bq/kg and 535.32±89.19 Bq/kg respectively. To estimate health effect due to the activity of those radionuclides, the radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), external hazard index (H ex ), absorbed dose rate (D) and effective dose have been calculated and compared to the world average values. The results are also compared with the literature values reported for other regions of the world and found that the soil of the study area are not hazards by the radiation and does not pose any harmful effect to the environment. The outcome of this study may provide valuable information about radiation hazard and also may take part in the monitoring of environmental radioactivity. Jahangirnagar University Environmental Bulletin, Vol.2, 1-8, 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jueb.v2i0.16324


Th e biota of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi of diff erent plant-geographical regions of Israel was analyzed. Th ese areas diff er in climatic conditions. A total of 350 species from 16 orders, 52 families, and 117 genera were recorded; among them 5% are endemic to the Levant. Th e highest species richness was found in the Mediterranean area. Species diversity of other areas with more arid climatic conditions were much poorer in comparison with species diversity found in the more humid and cooler Mediterranean region. Saxicolous lichens were the most common species. However, in the Sudanian penetration area, terricolous lichens dominated. Among phytogeographic elements, temperate species were dominant. However, the Sudanian penetration area was characterized by the dominance of Mediterranean and subcontinental species. Most of the lichens studied were xerophytic and photophytic species. Th ey dominated all plant-geographical areas of Israel. In the Mediterranean region, mesophytic lichens were also common.


East Natuna Basin is a back-arc basin that has big potentiality of hydrocarbon reserves. Ithas potential gas recoverable resources around 46 TCF (IHS Database). The largest field in this basin, Natuna D-Alpha field, had high carbon dioxide (CO2)content problems, around 72% (Dunn P.A, et all 1996). East Natuna Basin has source rocks in coals and carbonaceous shales Gabus, Barat and Arang formations with the Gabus Formation considered the most important with Middle Miocene to Lower Pliocene Terumbu Formation as the primary reservoir. The main seal in the basin is provided by the Pliocene-Quaternary Muda Formation. The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Carbon Sequestration is a relatively new concept with the first commercial example was Weyburn Field, Canada in 2003. CCS is a process of capturing waste carbon dioxidefrom large point sources, such as fossil fuel power plants, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally an underground geological formation. This methodology is one of technologies to reduce gas emission. It will be useful to be applied in field with high CO2 content. This paper will briefly discuss the potentiality of Terumbu Formation as the CO2 storage in East Natuna Basin. A brief explanation and comparison with the worldwide on-going project Carbonate CO2 storage will be shown based on reservoir properties andprinciple on sedimentology. Keyword: East Natuna, CO2 Emission, Carbon Capture Storage (CCS), Terumbu Formation


Transient salinity associated with increased dispersion of clays is arguably one of the most economically important soil constraints in Australia because it occurs on land that is regularly cropped. However, this issue is rarely studied. This paper examines the occurrence of transient salinity on agricultural land in the south-west of Western Australia and the factors causing it. We analysed four soil datasets from the region, collected at scales varying from the entire south-west to a single paddock. A variety of soil parameters were correlated with increased electrical conductivity (EC1:5). The most significant relationships were invariably with measures of exchangeable sodium (Na+; 53–85% of variance accounted for), and this factor appears to be most responsible for transient salinity. Another parameter correlated with increased EC1:5 was alkalinity. This has been associated with the increased dispersion of kaolinite and consequent decreases in soil hydraulic conductivity; kaolinite is the most common clay mineral in the south-west of Western Australia. Other factors correlated with increased EC1:5 were increasing clay, increasing depth in the soil profile and decreasing rainfall. These factors are environmental indicators of transient salinity. Affected soils might be ameliorated by application of agents to increase soil hydraulic conductivity, such as gypsum and/or elemental sulfur.


Climatic conditions should not hinder nutrient release from decomposing leaf-litter (mineralization) in the humid tropics, even though many tropical forests experience drought lasting from several weeks to months. We used a dry-season irrigation experiment to examine the effect of seasonal drought on nutrient concentrations in leaf- fall and in decomposing leaf-litter. In the experiment, soil in two 2.25-ha plots of old-growth lowland moist forest on Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panama, was watered to maintain soil water potential at or above field capacity throughout the 4-month dry season. Wet-season leaf-fall had greater concentrations of nitrogen (N, 13.5 mg g -1 ) and calcium (Ca, 15.6 mg g -1 ) and lower concentrations of sulfur (S, 2.51 mg g -1 ) and potassium (K, 3.03 mg g -1 ) than dry-season leaf-fall (N = 11.6 mg g -1 , Ca = 13.6 mg g -1 , S = 2.98 mg g -1 , K = 5.70 mg g -1 ). Irrigation did not affect nutrient concentrations or nutrient return from forest trees to the forest floor annually (N = 18 g m -2 , phosphorus (P) = 1.06 g m -2 , S = 3.5 g m -2 , Ca = 18.9 g m -2 , magnesium = 6.5 g m -2 , K = 5.7 g m -2 ). Nutrient mineralization rates were much greater during the wet season than the dry season, except for K, which did not vary seasonally. Nutrient residence times in forest-floor material were longer in control plots than in irrigated plots, with values approximately equal to that for organic matter (210 in control plots vs 160 in irrigated plots). Calcium had the longest residence time. Forest-floor material collected at the transition between seasons and incubated with or without leaching in the laboratory did not display large pulses in nutrient availability. Rather, microorganisms immobilized nutrients primarily during the wet season, unlike observations in tropical forests with longer dry seasons. Large amounts of P moved among different pools in forest-floor material, apparently mediated by microorganisms. Arylsulfatase and phosphatase enzymes, which mineralize organically bound nutrients, had high activity throughout the dry season. Low soil moisture levels do not hinder nutrient cycling in this moist lowland forest.


The article is viewing basic notions of the Internet of the Future: Internet services, Internet of things and cloud computing. Due to advances in technology and the rapid growth of online services, social networks and mobile applications a significant number of new and inventive web-based service models have been introduced. There are many discussions and definitions of the Web 3.0, some resources claim to work according to that concept definitions. Although online resources and services are having an impact on more traditional way of doing business, there are new technological issues raised by the Internet of Services and Internet of Things aspects with their influence on customer interactions. In this paper also resources for Internet of Services customers are explained. Author is focused on the applicability of Internet of Services and Internet of Things for the business purposes under the new concept - social web of things as another step of globalization.


: Connective tissue dysplasia is a systemic process that modifies the clinical picture and course of an acquired pathology. To search additional criteria for differential diagnosis, connective tissue metabolic parameters were studied in patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis and nosocomial pneumonia. A significant excess of the parameters of free urinary oxyproline and serum glycosaminoglycans was found in patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis.


Hard X-ray electron spectroscopic study of iodine 1s and 2s photoionization of iodomethane (CH3I) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) molecules is presented. The experiment was carried out at the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility in Japan. The results are analyzed with the aid of relativistic molecular and atomic calculations. It is shown that charge redistribution within the molecule is experimentally observable even for very deep levels and is a function of the number of electron vacancies. We also show that the analysis of Auger spectra subsequent to hard X-ray photoionization can be used to provide insight into charge distribution in molecules and highlight the necessity of quantum electrodynamics corrections in the prediction of core shell binding energies in molecules that contain heavy atoms.


Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph data allow us to study the solar transition region (TR) with an unprecedented spatial resolution of 0.″33. On 2013 August 30, we observed bursts of high Doppler shifts suggesting strong supersonic downflows of up to 200 km s−1 and weaker, slightly slower upflows in the spectral lines Mg ii h and k, C ii 1336, Si iv 1394 Å, and 1403 Å, that are correlated with brightenings in the slitjaw images (SJIs). The bursty behavior lasts throughout the 2 hr observation, with average burst durations of about 20 s. The locations of these short-lived events appear to be the umbral and penumbral footpoints of EUV loops. Fast apparent downflows are observed along these loops in the SJIs and in the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, suggesting that the loops are thermally unstable. We interpret the observations as cool material falling from coronal heights, and especially coronal rain produced along the thermally unstable loops, which leads to an increase of intensity at the loop footpoints, probably indicating an increase of density and temperature in the TR. The rain speeds are on the higher end of previously reported speeds for this phenomenon, and possibly higher than the free-fall velocity along the loops. On other observing days, similar bright dots are sometimes aligned into ribbons, resembling small flare ribbons. These observations provide a first insight into small-scale heating events in sunspots in the TR.