The opioid overdose epidemic in North America remains among the most challenging public health issues of recent times. Sadly, all evidence points to a worsening of the epidemic,1 2 despite growing investment in responses that span policy and legislative changes, scale-up of evidence-based overdose interventions, and the implementation and evaluation of novel interventions. This has prompted concerns about what is and what is not being done to address this epidemic that has resulted in reductions in life expectancy in both the USA and Canada.

Given the well-described problem of the overprescribing of opioids for pain, governments and medical bodies have sought to reduce opioid prescribing through guideline development, physician education and monitoring efforts. While the rate of prescribing in the USA dropped from a high of 81.3 per 100 persons in 2012 to 58.5 per 100 persons in 2017,3 the death rate attributable to opioids continues to rise, and prescription opioid misuse has remained fairly stable since 2010.3 While this result may seem unexpected, it is not entirely surprising given observed transitions from prescription opioid to heroin use in the USA, as well as evidence from Canada indicating that many individuals acquire heroin or diverted opioids from drug markets when denied opioids from physicians.4 These dynamics are consistent with evidence from a range of settings indicating that when access to one substance is restricted, most individuals will transition to using an alternative, which in many cases will be more dangerous than standardised doses of prescription opioids.

While many have attributed the overdose crisis to opioid prescribing, this is an obvious oversimplification of this epidemic. There is now clear evidence of an increasing role of illicitly manufactured opioids, such as fentanyl and related analogues, in the continued rise in overdose deaths. In the USA, overdose deaths attributable to …


This article demonstrates some techniques for studying the age of oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) using the Disaster Monitoring Constellation 2 from the UK (UK-DMC 2) and Advanced Land Observing Satellite phased array L-band synthetic aperture radar (ALOS PALSAR) remote-sensing data at a private oil palm estate in southern peninsular Malaysia. Several techniques were explored with UK-DMC 2 data, namely (1) radiance, vegetation indices, and fraction of shadow; (2) texture measurement; (3) classifications, namely Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA) classification, maximum-likelihood classification (MLC), and random forest (RF) classification; (4) in terms of ALOS PALSAR data, the correlation of polarizations (i.e. horizontal transmitting and horizontal receiving (termed HH polarization) and horizontal transmitting and vertical receiving (termed HV polarization)) and the ratio of these polarizations to the age of oil palm trees. From the results, band 1 (near-infrared) of UK-DMC 2, fraction of shadow, and mean filter from the grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) demonstrated strong correlation of determination (R 2 = 0.76–0.80) with the age of oil palm trees, while the ALOS PALSAR HH polarization could correlate moderately strongly (R 2 = 0.49) with the age of oil palm trees. Adding fraction of shadow and UK-DMC 2 data using the RF method further improved the overall accuracy of age classification from 45.3% (MLC method) to 52.9%. This study concluded that texture measurement (GLCM mean) and fraction of shadow are useful for studying the age of oil palm trees, although discriminating variation in age between mature oil palm trees is difficult because the leaf area index development of mature oil palm trees stabilizes at about 10 years of age. Future studies should involve height information, because this has the potential to be used as one of the most important variables for studying the age of oil palm trees.


Deep Neural Network (DNN) models have continuously been growing in size in order to improve the accuracy and quality of the models. Moreover, for training of large DNN models, the use of heterogeneous GPUs is inevitable due to the short release cycle of new GPU architectures. In this paper, we investigate how to enable training of large DNN models on a heterogeneous GPU cluster that possibly includes whimpy GPUs that, as a standalone, could not be used for training. We present a DNN training system, HetPipe (Heterogeneous Pipeline), that integrates pipelined model parallelism (PMP) with data parallelism (DP). In HetPipe, a group of multiple GPUs, called a virtual worker, processes minibatches in a pipelined manner, and multiple such virtual workers employ data parallelism for higher performance. We also propose a novel parameter synchronization model, which we refer to as Wave Synchronous Parallel (WSP) to accommodate both PMP and DP for virtual workers, and provide convergence proof of WSP. Our experimental results on a given heterogeneous setting show that with HetPipe, DNN models converge up to 49% faster compared to the state-of-the-art DP technique.


The present study evaluated the effects of climate variability on maize (Zea mays L.) yield in Sri Lanka at different spatial scales. Biophysical data from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Sri Lanka for six major maize-growing districts (Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Hambantota, Moneragala, and Kurunegala) from 1990 to 2010 were analyzed. Simple linear regression models were fitted to observed climate data and detrended maize yield to identify significant correlations. The correlation between first differences of maize yield and climate (r) was further investigated at 0.50° grid scale using interpolated climate data. After 2003, significantly positive (p < 0.01) yield trends varied from 154 kg ha–1 yr–1 to 360 kg ha–1 yr–1. The correlations between maize yield and climate reported that five out of six districts were significant at 10% level. Rainfall had a consistent significant (p < 0.10) positive impact on maize yield in Anuradhapura, Hambantota, and Moneragala, where seasonal total rainfall together with high temperature ("hot-dry") are the key limitations. Further, the seasonal mean temperature had a negative impact on maize yield in Moneragala ("hot-dry"), the only district that showed high temperatures. Badulla district ("cold-dry") reported a significant (r = 0.38) positive correlation with mean seasonal temperature, indicating higher potential toward increasing temperatures. Each 1°C rise in seasonal mean temperature reduced maize yield by about 5% from 1990 to 2010. Overall, there was a reasonable correlation between district maize yield and seasonal climate in most of the districts within the maize belt of Sri Lanka.


Glutamate concentrations in plasma are 50-100 micromol/L; in whole brain, they are 10,000-12,000 micromol/L but only 0.5-2 micromol/L in extracellular fluids (ECFs). The low ECF concentrations, which are essential for optimal brain function, are maintained by neurons, astrocytes, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cerebral capillary endothelial cells form the BBB that surrounds the entire central nervous system. Tight junctions connect endothelial cells and separate the BBB into luminal and abluminal domains. Molecules entering or leaving the brain thus must pass 2 membranes, and each membrane has distinct properties. Facilitative carriers exist only in luminal membranes, and Na(+)-dependent glutamate cotransporters (excitatory amino acid transporters; EAATs) exist exclusively in abluminal membranes. The EAATs are secondary transporters that couple the Na(+) gradient between the ECF and the endothelial cell to move glutamate against the existing electrochemical gradient. Thus, the EAATs in the abluminal membrane shift glutamate from the ECF to the endothelial cell where glutamate is free to diffuse into blood on facilitative carriers. This organization does not allow net glutamate entry to the brain; rather, it promotes the removal of glutamate and the maintenance of low glutamate concentrations in the ECF. This explains studies that show that the BBB is impermeable to glutamate, even at high concentrations, except in a few small areas that have fenestrated capillaries (circumventricular organs). Recently, the question of whether the BBB becomes permeable in diabetes has arisen. This issue was tested in rats with diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance or with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Neither condition produced any detectable effect on BBB glutamate transport.


Background: Foot deformity associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN) contributes to joint instability, ulceration and amputation. This study reports the intrarater and inter-rater measurement precision and least significant change (LSC) of radiological measures of foot deformity in subjects with DM, PN, and foot related complications. Methods: Cuboid height, Meary's angle, calcaneal pitch and hindfoot-forefoot angle were measured from plain-film radiographs on 15 subjects with DM, PN, and foot-related complications. A foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with 23 years of experience (Rater 1) measured radiographs twice. A foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with 2 years of experience (Rater 2) and a radiologist in residency training (Rater 3) measured radiographs once. Root mean square standard deviation and LSC were calculated to determine measurement precision and the smallest change considered biologically real, not the result of chance. Results: Intrarater measurement precision was: 0.9 mm for cuboid height, 3 degrees for Meary's angle, and 2 degrees for calcaneal pitch and hindfoot-forefoot angle. Inter-rater measurement precision for rater 1 versus 2 and 1 versus 3 were: 1.7 and 1.6 mm for cuboid height, 4 degrees for Meary's angle, 2 degrees for calcaneal pitch, and 3 degrees for the hindfoot-forefoot angle. The LSC was less than or equal to: 4.7 mm for cuboid, 12 degrees for Meary's angle, 6 degrees for calcaneal pitch, and 8 degrees for hindfoot-forefoot angle. Conclusion: Cuboid height, calcaneal pitch, and hindfoot-forefoot angle measures can be completed with relatively good measurement precision.


As an emerging phenomenon, green human resource management (Green HRM or GHRM) means human resource management practices that enhance favorable environmental outcomes. Green HRM has become a widely accepted concept in today's business world. The growing concern for the environment worldwide and the determination of international standards and protocols for the management of the environment have established the need for companies to adopt environmental policies and programs. The organizational setting is shifting its sight from a traditional structure to a modern capacity-based system that is expected to explore green facets of business as the corporate world is going global. With this emerging concept, it has been observed that the extant literature has to be extended further from the HRM functions perspective. The objective of this review is to explore the association between GHRM and corporate environmental performance, highlight some GHRM practices, and the relevance of GHRM to organizations. The research followed the archival approach of the literature review. The contribution of this research lies in drawing together the extant literature in this regard; highlighting the different GHRM practices; suggesting some GHRM practices and in the end attempting to highlight some importance to organizations.


Mental workload is useful to evaluate performance of ship bridge teammates: a captain, a duty officer, a helmsman, and a pilot. The physiological indices, heart rate variability and nasal temperature, are good indices of the mental workload found in ship handling; however, it is best if we get response and evaluation results quickly on the spot. A recent study shows salivary amylase activity is reflected by the sympathetic nervous system. This paper proposes that salivary amylase activity shows a ship navigator's mental workload during ship handling.


: Fever is a proven factor in secondary brain damage and worsens outcome in neuro intensive care patients. However, large randomized studies have shown neuroprotective effects of induced hypothermia only in patients with cardiac arrest and in neonates with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Nevertheless, now there is an active search for alternative modes of temperature correction, which would have been effective in other groups of patients with brain damage. Moreover, new management techniques of body temperature are being created. In this paper we presented a series of 10 observations when the used cooling system was CoolGard/CoolLine. 5 patients underwent hypothermia, 5 patients normothermia . Hypothermia was used for cerebroprotection in 1 case and for the correction of resistance to the therapy of intracranial hypertension in 4 cases. Normothermia was used for correction of resistance to pharmacological treatment of fever. In all cases the target temperature was achieved, and only for 1 patient to achieve hypothermia additional external cooling was used. Patients with normothermia did not need sedation, because they have not developed discomfort and muscle tremor. 2 patients died, in one case was due to intracranial hypertension and hemotamponade of brain ventricular system. Cause of second death was pulmonary embolism. Thus, the CoolGard system effectively lowers the body temperature to the target values for neuro intensive care patients. Application of this system is relatively safe. However, the most dangerous are the thromboembolic complications, thus the daily ultrasound scanning of lower limb veins and the possible early use of low molecular weight heparins is crucial.


The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) UL25 protein (pUL25) is a minor capsid protein that is essential for packaging the full-length viral genome into preformed precursor capsid. It is also important in virus entry and recently has been implicated in the egress of the virus from the cell (Coller et al., 2007, Preston et al., 2008). The crystallographic structure of an N-terminally truncated form of pUL25 (residues 134-580) has been determined to 2.1 A, revealing a protein with a novel fold that consists mostly of a-helices and a few minor b-sheets (Bowman et al., 2006). An unusual feature of the protein is the presence of numerous flexible loops extending out from the stable core and its distinctive electrostatic distribution. Five of the extended loops contain unstructured regions, L1-L5, with three additional unstructured amino acids, L6, located at the carboxyl terminus of the protein (Bowman et al., 2006). Four potentially functional clusters of residues, C1-C4, were identified on the surface of the protein using evolutionary trace analysis (Lichtartge and Sowa, 2002).
To examine the function of the protein in relation to its structure, site-directed mutations were engineered into the UL25 gene in a protein expression plasmid. A series of mutant proteins was generated, each protein containing a deletion of the unstructured residues in one of the six regions, L1-L6. Another set of mutant proteins were constructed with each member containing substitutions of selected amino acids within one of the four potentially functional clusters, C1-C4, or substitutions of the three disordered amino acids in L6. The amino acid substitutions were generally to alanine, but in one case where the SIFT program predicted alanine would not affect the function of the protein an alternative residue was substituted. To determine the functional significance of the uncrystallised part of pUL25, residues 1-133, three deletion mutant proteins that spanned this region (pUL25D1-45, pUL25D1-59 and pUL25D1-133) were included in the study.
Although an existing UL25 null mutant, KUL25NS, was available at the beginning of the project for analysis of the mutant proteins, it had been made by the insertion of multiple stop codons in the UL25 ORF and as a result some UL25 sequences were still present within the virus genome. Consequently, during complementation assays recombination between the UL25 sequences in the KUL25NS genome and the transfected expression plasmid generated low levels of wild-type (wt) progeny virus. To improve the sensitivity of the assay, a new deletion mutant, ΔUL25MO, was created that lacked the entire UL25 gene. This mutant failed to form plaques in non-permissive Vero cells and grew well in the complementing cell line, 8-1. However, contrary to previously published work, electron microscopic (EM) analysis revealed that DNA-containing capsids as well as A- and B-capsids were present in the nuclei of both ΔUL25MO- and KUL25NS-infected cells. As expected, none of the progeny from ΔUL25MO-infected Vero cells expressing the wt pUL25 formed plaques on non-permissive cells. Of the 17 mutant UL25 proteins screened in the complementation assay, nine failed to complement the growth of ΔUL25MO in Vero cells.
Three of the non-complementing mutant proteins examined altered the phenotype of ΔUL25MO in a transient DNA packaging assay, allowing the mutant virus to package full-length genomes in U2OS cells co-infected with ΔUL25MO and a mammalian baculovirus vector containing the mutant UL25 gene. These results indicate that viral assembly was disrupted in these cells following DNA packaging. However, five of the mutant proteins did not change the pattern of DNA encapsidation of ΔUL25MO in this system, suggesting that the wild-type residues mutated in these proteins are critical for packaging virus DNA. To determine at which point in the virus growth cycle the post-packaging blocks occurred, EM was used to investigate the pattern of virus assembly in ΔUL25MO-infected cells expressing either of the three packaging-competent mutant proteins. In addition, fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis was performed to establish the distribution of virus DNA in these cells. The results showed that in ΔUL25MO-infected cells expressing two of the mutant pUL25s the C-capsids failed to exit the nucleus, whereas in cells expressing the third post-packaging mutant protein C-capsids were seen in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The FISH data confirmed the EM observations. These studies show that two regions of pUL25 are important for egress of the C-capsids from the nuclei. Since these two regions lie in close proximity to each other on the surface of the molecule they may represent a single functional interface of the protein. In addition, another region of pUL25 was identified that was essential for the interactions required for virus assembly after the C-capsids are released into the cytoplasm. The 62 carboxyl-terminal region of the UL36 gene product (pUL36) has previously been shown to contain a capsid-binding domain (CBD) that interacts with pUL25 (Coller et al., 2007). A GST-pull down assay was used to determine whether the mutations in the post-packaging mutant proteins disrupted the interaction of pUL25 with the CBD of pUL36. However, all of these mutant proteins and the wt pUL25 bound to the pUL36 CBD GST fusion protein.
In summary, three different classes of pUL25 mutants, each of which affect a different essential function of pUL25, have been identified, revealing that pUL25 is indeed a versatile viral protein. These mutants provide the first evidence that this DNA packaging protein is crucial for virus assembly at two different stages after DNA encapsidation, one in nuclear egress of C-capsids and the other in the assembly of the virus in the cytoplasm.


Since its secularization in the 1830s, Mission Santa Clara de Asís and its associated grounds have seen major transformations. These changes include the gradual abandonment of the mission by its native inhabitants, the Californio and early Anglo-American use of mission structures, as well as the founding and growth of Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara University) and the City of Santa Clara. Through the analysis of historic maps, photographs, and archaeological findings, this paper provides an overview of the far-reaching physical changes that have fundamentally altered the original mission-era landscape, including the mission churches, cemeteries, and neophyte village. Information is drawn from historical and archaeological investigations into the lives of Native Americans at Mission Santa Clara, as well as an ongoing project I am conducting with undergraduate students and faculty from the departments of Anthropology and Environmental Studies and Sciences to record historic structures and other features in a geographic information system, or GIS. The massive scale of landscape changes over the past two centuries provide important context from which to consider the implications of future development on the preservation and study of the physical remnants of Mission Santa Clara.


New therapeutic strategies are required for critical size bone defects, because the gold standard of transplanting autologous bone from an unharmed area of the body often leads to several severe side effects and disadvantages for the patient. For years, tissue engineering approaches have been seeking a stable, axially vascularized transplantable bone replacement suitable for transplantation into the recipient bed with pre-existing insufficient conditions. For this reason, the arteriovenous loop model was developed and various bone substitutes have been vascularized. However, it has not been possible thus far to engineer a primary stable and axially vascularized transplantable bone substitute. For that purpose, a primary stable silica-embedded nanohydroxyapatite (HA) bone substitute in combination with blood, bone marrow, expanded, or directly retransplanted mesenchymal stem cells, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2), and different carrier materials (fibrin, cell culture medium, autologous serum) was tested subcutaneously for 4 or 12 weeks in the sheep model. Autologous serum lead to an early matrix change during degradation of the bone substitute and formation of new bone tissue. The best results were achieved in the group combining mesenchymal stem cells expanded with 60 μg/mL rhBMP-2 in autologous serum. Better ingrowth of fibrovascular tissue could be detected in the autologous serum group compared with the control (fibrin). Osteoclastic activity indicating an active bone remodeling process was observed after 4 weeks, particularly in the group with autologous serum and after 12 weeks in every experimental group. This study clearly demonstrates the positive effects of autologous serum in combination with mesenchymal stem cells and rhBMP-2 on bone formation in a primary stable silica-embedded nano-HA bone grafting material in the sheep model. In further experiments, the results will be transferred to the sheep arteriovenous loop model in order to engineer an axially vascularized primary stable bone replacement in clinically relevant size for free transplantation.


In this work, Compressed Sensing (CS) is investigated as a denoising tool in bioimaging. The denoising algorithm exploits multiple CS reconstructions, taking advantage of the robustness of CS in the presence of noise via regularized reconstructions and the properties of the Fourier transform of bioimages. Multiple reconstructions at low sampling rates are combined to generate high quality denoised images using several sparsity constraints. We present different combination methods for the CS reconstructions and quantitatively compare the performance of our denoising methods to state-of-the-art ones.


Atmospheric mercury in Guilin was monitored systematically, the content ranged from 7.69 to 39.93ng/m3. In general, from industrial areas to hospital areas, to commercial areas, to garden greenbelt, to residential areas, to culture and education regions, the average value of atmospheric mercury content decreased successively, it ranged from 22.89 to 9.94 ng/m3. The atmospheric mercury content was influenced by temperature, height, rainfall and circulation of air. The result of the investigation shows that the atmospheric mercury mainly comes from the emission of gaseous mercury of industrial production and special service sector, automobile exhaust, point sources of mercury pollution and transport of gaseous mercury from distance.


Social immunity moderates the spread of pathogens in social groups and is especially likely in groups structured by genetic relatedness. The extent to which specific immune pathways are used is unknown. Here, we investigate the expression and social role of three functionally separate immune genes (pgrp-sc2, thaumatin, and defensin) during parental care in the beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. These genes reside in different immune pathways, allowing us to test whether specific components of the immune system are targeted for social immunity. To test for the evolution of specificity, we manipulated the influence of social context and timing on gene expression and quantified the covariance of maternal immune gene expression and offspring fitness. Larvae reduced expression of all three genes in the presence of parents. Parental pgrp-sc2 and thaumatin increased during direct parenting, while defensin was upregulated before larvae arrived. Parental expression of pgrp-sc2 and thaumatin responded similarly to experimental manipulation of timing and presence of larvae, which differed from the response of defensin. We found a positive covariance between maternal expression and offspring fitness for pgrp-sc2 and thaumatin but not defensin. We suggest that social immunity can involve specific genes and pathways, reflecting evolution as an interacting phenotype during parenting.


This paper attempted to study the properties of Slapper detonator non-energetic elements through exerting impact on them by Hopkinson Pressure Bar and evaluating the acceleration that samples received in accordance with one-dimensional stress wave theory. The results showed that the velocity pulse width could be controlled and acceleration pulse width be improved by varying the pulse shaper material and strike bar length. And the critical acceleration causing the failure of the initiator was closely connected with acceleration pulse width as well as acceleration amplitude. When the strike bar length were 126 mm, 190 mm, 270 mm and 460 mm, the acceleration pulse width were 58 μs, 93 μs, 130 μs and 160 μs, respectively, and the critical acceleration causing the failure of the initiator were about 240 000 g, 130 000 g, 74 000 g and 72 000 g, respectively. The accurateness and reliability of acceleration value was accredited to the methods of changing sampling frequency, smoothing velocity and acceleration curve, and fitting curve. The FEM analog simulation was also conducted by using the LS-DYNA finite element program. Good agreements were achieved between the acceleration curve and the simulation results.


PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To measure the impact of telenursing on patients discharged with ostomies resulting from cancer treatment.

DESIGN
Quasi-experimental design with surveys.

SETTING
Large tertiary care center in the southwestern United States.

SAMPLE
28 patients with cancer in two groups: traditional home health and home health plus telenursing.

METHODS
Recorded the number of home health and telenursing contacts, dates when ostomy self-care needs were met, supplies used, and distance traveled. Patients completed a satisfaction survey and Maklebusts Ostomy Adjustment Scale.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Type of care, costs, patient satisfaction, ostomy adjustment, and time to achieve ostomy self-care.

FINDINGS
Telenursing patients indicated higher satisfaction. The home health group averaged one more home health visit per patient (telenursing mean= three visits). Overall costs for both types of visits were about equal. The home health group used an average of four more pouches per patient, with increased cost of 52 dollars per patient. Telenursing patients believed that nurses had increased understanding of their problems, and they were more comfortable with what nurses told them about ostomy. Telenursing participants believed that telenursing made care more accessible; they preferred telemedicine rather than waiting for face-to-face visits but still believed that face-to-face visits were best.

CONCLUSIONS
Combining traditional home health and telenursing is feasible for supporting discharged patients with new ostomies and enhances traditional home health, resulting in increased satisfaction overall.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Oncology nurses should develop telenursing programs that include patient and family education regarding oncology issues.


Graphene, a well‐studied 2D material, is used to tailor the emission behavior of proximal light emitters by controlling the energy flow to modulate the related relaxation rates, with potentials in fields of biosensing and photovoltaics. Good interface between emitters and 2D materials are important to efficiently modulate the photon emission behavior. However, seamless integration of quantum light emitters and atomically thin materials is challenging due to fabrication limitation. In this paper, the utilization of laser nanoshaping approaches to "wrap" the atomically thin graphene on nanodiamond particles is reported. Compared with 2D layout, the 3D integration enhances the energy transfer by 45%. Furthermore, it is found that the energy transfer efficiency of nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers to the 3D graphene can reach a maximum value of 80% over a long distance (≈25 nm), under intense laser excitation. The authors' analysis indicates that the photon‐generated carrier density of graphene enhances the nonradiative decay rate of NV centers. Besides contributing new insight on the fundamentals of interactions between graphene and quantum emitters, the effort undertaken furthermore holds tremendous promise in developing the graphene‐based nano‐cavities for various applications ranging from sensing, to photovoltaics, to lasing, and to quantum communications.


Abstract The author examines the development of her thinking in regard to the value, the purposes, the process and the outcomes of teaching an undergraduate course in action research for the past 4 years. The emergent understandings were informed by recurrent hermeneutic cycles of interpretative readings of the formal written and oral feedback conducted with the students at the end of each year, the students' final action research projects submitted at the end of each course and personal field notes kept in journal writing. These sources have yielded rich longitudinal data that sheds light on the impact of a course for the learning of both its participants and the course professor. The article focuses on the actions that the author has undertaken in the design and implementation of the course as a result of her learning or on how action research 'of a second order' has informed the structure of 'first order' action research. The exploration has led the author to important insights regarding her role as course professor, issues of pedagogy, reflection, process and products of learning as they play out in an action research course at undergraduate level.


Marriage structure was studied in the city of Kiev and in two cities of the Sumy oblast, Shostka and Trostyanets. Ethnic affiliations and birthplaces of persons contracting marriage were analyzed as the main characteristics of population genetic diversity. The ethnic composition of persons contracting marriage and the proportions of mono- and interethnic marriages remained almost unchanged during one generation. The majority of the persons contracting marriage were Ukrainians (66-91%); among other ethnic groups, only Russians considerably contributed to ethnic diversity (up to 26%). During the period studied, coefficients of marital migration substantially decreased in Kiev (from 0.66-0.82 to 0.34) and Shostka (from 0.72 to 0.52) and changed only insignificantly in Trostyanets. Outbreeding was estimated based on the migration parameters, exogamy level, and marital migration distances. The outbreeding level in the Shostka population (100,000 people) was comparable with that for the considerably larger Kiev population (two million people); however, it was significantly higher than that for the Trostyanets population, the size of which was close to the size of the Shostka population. It is supposed that "migration stress" may unfavorably affect the adaptive genetic structure of the Shostka population.


Abstract We explored the attitudes toward older workers of African versus Portuguese managers, and how these managers make HRM decisions in scenarios involving younger versus older workers. To make cultural, social, and institutional explanations more robust, we also included two samples of students attending Portuguese universities: one sample comprising African students, the other comprising Portuguese ones. The main findings were: (a) a three-factor model (conscientiousness and performance; social capital and generosity; adaptability) of attitudes toward older workers emerged as satisfactory across the four samples; (b) in comparison with the Portuguese participants, African individuals expressed more positive attitudes toward older workers while, at the same time, discriminated against older workers more; (c) the findings were almost identical for both managers and students. Although African individuals showed more positive attitudes toward older workers than did the Portuguese, they made more discriminatory decisions in the HRM scenarios. We suggest that this contradiction may emerge from dualities characterizing Africa.


The Kalman Filter is a robust tool often employed as a process observer in Cyber-Physical Systems. However, in the general case the high computational cost, especially for large plant models or fast sample rates, makes it an impractical choice for typical low-power microcontrollers. Furthermore, although industry trends towards tighter integration are supported by powerful high-end System-on-Chip software processors, this consolidation complicates the ability for a controls engineer to verify correct behavior of the system under all conditions, which is important in safety-critical systems and systems demanding a high degree of reliability. Dedicated Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware can provide application speedup, design partitioning in mixed-criticality systems, and fully deterministic timing, which helps ensure a control system behaves identically to offline simulations. This dissertation presents a new design methodology which can be leveraged to yield such benefits. Although this dissertation focuses on the Kalman Filter, the method is general enough to be extended to other compute-intensive algorithms which rely on state-space modeling. For the first part, the core idea is that decomposing the Kalman Filter algorithm from a strictly linear perspective leads to a more generalized architecture with increased performance compared to approaches which focus on nonlinear filters (e.g. Extended Kalman Filter). Our contribution is a broadly-applicable hardware-software architecture for a linear Kalman Filter whose operating domain is extended through online model swapping. A supporting applicationagnostic performance and resource analysis is provided. For the second part, we identify limitations of the mixed hardware-software method and demonstrate how to leverage hardware-based region identification in order to develop a strictly hardware-only Kalman Filter which maintains a large operating domain. The resulting hardware processor is partitioned from low criticality software tasks running on a supervising software processor and enables vastly simplified timing validation.


Background and Purpose Iron catalyzes the formation of damaging reactive species during cerebral reperfusion. Brain iron concentration is highest at birth, so the brain of the asphyxiated newborn may be at increased risk of iron-dependent injury. We investigated whether the ferric iron chelator deferoxamine could reduce hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats. Because deferoxamine has concentration-dependent activities other than iron chelation, we measured brain deferoxamine levels and calculated deferoxamine phar-macokinetic parameters. Methods We produced hypoxic-ischemic injury to the right cerebral hemisphere of 7-day-old rats by right common carotid artery ligation followed by 2.25 hours of hypoxia in 8% oxygen. At 5 minutes of recovery from hypoxia the rats received 100 mg/kg deferoxamine mesylate or saline subcutaneously. Rats (saline, n=33; deferoxamine, n=38) were killed at 42 hours of recovery to assess early acute edema by measurement of hemispheric water content. Other rats (saline, n=31; deferoxamine, n=32) were killed at 30 days of age for morphometric determination of right hemisphere atrophy. In still other rats, we measured deferoxamine levels in blood and brain after hypoxia-ischemia. Results Deferoxamine significantly reduced right hemisphere injury as measured by early water content (P<.01) and later atrophy (P=.019). Deferoxamine brain levels peaked between 100 and 200 μmol/L at 40 to 60 minutes after injection and exceeded serum levels by ±70%. Conclusions Deferoxamine administered after induction of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia reduces injury in 7-day-old rats. Deferoxamine concentrates in the brain at levels between 100 and 200 μmol/L. At the concentrations achieved, deferoxamine might protect the brain through mechanisms unrelated to its ability to chelate iron.


Following ingestion of a mixed-macronutrient meal, blood glucose and triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations are elevated for approximately 2 and 8 hours, respectively, depending on factors such as the amount and type of food ingested. For many individuals who consume at least three meals per day, the majority of waking hours are thus spent in a postprandial state. Exaggerated postprandial glycaemia and triglyceridemia are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and so strategies to alleviate such perturbations are desirable (e.g. exercise and/or diet). An acute bout of endurance, resistance or high-intensity and interval exercise typically mitigates postprandial glucose and TAG responses to subsequent meals. Regular exercise training also facilitates adaptations that beneficially alter postprandial metabolism. The health benefits of various dietary protocols have been debated in research and in the media over recent decades. To complicate matters, these strategies may be beneficial for glucose metabolism but simultaneously impair TAG metabolism or vice versa. Finally, despite the finding that diet and exercise can independently alter postprandial metabolism, there are fewer investigations of their ability to act synergistically to achieve a prophylactic response on postprandial blood glucose and TAG concentrations. This may provide the basis for future public health guidelines and is an important consideration in the context of the current worldwide prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.


In this work, machining test was carried out in various machining conditions using ultrasonical vibration capable CNC machine. For work material, alumina ceramic (Al2O3) was used while for tool material diamond electroplated grinding wheel was used. To evaluate ultrasonical vibration effect, grinding test was performed with and without ultrasonic vibration in same machining condition. In ultrasonic mode, ultrasonic vibration of 20kHz was generated by HSK 63 ultrasonic actuator. On the other hand, grinding forces were measured by KISTLER dynamometer. And an optimal sampling rate for grinding force measurement was obtained by a signal processing and frequency analysis. The surface roughness of the ceramic was also measured using stylus type surface roughness instrument and atomic force microscope (AFM). Besides, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for observation of surface integrarity.


The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of activities, flows and waste in a company's production process. By performing a value stream analysis, non-value adding activities are identified in a production process and then the suggested improvements that can reduce lead times will be stated. The value-stream mapping identifies the flow of information and the flow of material in a production process and this provides the basis for the identification of non-value adding activities.We conducted the study at Lammhults Mobel AB in Lammhult Sweden, where the production flow of Spira-21 has been investigated. This to identify any non-value adding activities that affect the flow negative and consumes time and money in a non-value adding way.A reasonable approach for the project was taken by studying the methodologies and theories. We conducted interviews and site surveys at Lammhults Mobel AB where the flow of information and material in the production process were investigated. Then a current state map of the production flow is constructed and we were able to identify non-value adding activities. By studying our value-stream map and compare this with the theoretical background suggestions of improvement for reducing non-value adding activities will be done. These suggestions can answer our main question;How can non-value adding activities in the flow of material and information be reduced in order to reduce the lead-time of a company's production processThe proposed improvements that are developed includes, reduce storage. Implementing Lean tools, such as 5S, Kaizen and Kanban, and streamline production management and set demand for delivery of the company's suppliers to get a JIT system.Through implementation of proposals, unnecessary inventory, transportation and movements will decrees. There will be more effective management and production becomes more systematic. To consider this result, we believe the lead-time will be reduced and our purpose is achieved.


Abstract The past four decades have witnessed profound transformations in the Egyptian legal system and in the Egyptian legal profession. Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution now enshrines Islamic jurisprudence as the principle source of law, thus establishing an important symbolic marker at the heart of the state and opening avenues for Islamist activists to press litigation campaigns in the courts. Additionally, the Islamist trend gained prominence within the legal profession, a development that is particularly striking given the long and illustrious history of the Lawyer's Syndicate as a bastion of liberalism. Despite these significant shifts, however, Islamist litigation has achieved only limited legal victories. This article traces the political and socio-economic variables that underlie the Islamist trend in Egyptian law, and examines the impact of Islamist litigation in the Egyptian courts.


An update on the latest relevant journal articles. Mike Kirby, Visiting Professor, The Prostate Centre, London, adds a 'Message for the clinic'. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons


While solar flares are predominantly characterized by an intense broadband enhancement to the solar radiative output, certain spectral lines and continua will, in theory, exhibit flare-induced dimmings. Observations of transitions of orthohelium He i λ λ 10830 Å and the He i D3 lines have shown evidence of such dimming, usually followed by enhanced emission. It has been suggested that nonthermal collisional ionization of helium by an electron beam, followed by recombinations to orthohelium, is responsible for overpopulating those levels, leading to stronger absorption. However, it has not been possible observationally to preclude the possibility of overpopulating orthohelium via enhanced photoionization of He i by EUV irradiance from the flaring corona followed by recombinations. Here we present radiation hydrodynamics simulations of nonthermal electron-beam-driven flares where (1) both nonthermal collisional ionization of helium and coronal irradiance are included, and (2) only coronal irradiance is included. A grid of simulations covering a range of total energies deposited by the electron beam and a range of nonthermal electron-beam low-energy cutoff values were simulated. In order to obtain flare-induced dimming of the He i 10830 Å line, it was necessary for nonthermal collisional ionization to be present. The effect was more prominent in flares with larger low-energy cutoff values and longer lived in weaker flares and flares with a more gradual energy deposition timescale. These results demonstrate the usefulness of orthohelium line emission as a diagnostic of flare energy transport.


The recoil threshold of Direct Detection experiments limits the mass range of Dark Matter (DM) particles that can be detected, with most DD experiments being blind to sub-MeV DM particles. However, these light DM particles can be boosted to very high energies via collisions with energetic Cosmic Ray electrons. This allows Dark Matter particles to induce detectable recoil in the target of Direct Detection experiments. We derive constraints on scattering cross section of DM and electron, using XENONnT and Super-Kamiokande data. Vector and scalar mediators are considered, in the heavy and light regimes. We discuss the importance of including energy dependent cross sections (due to specific Lorentz structure of the vertex) in our analysis, and show that the bounds can be significantly different than the results obtained assuming constant energy-independent cross-section, often assumed in the literature for simplicity. Our bounds are also compared with other astrophysical and cosmological constraints.


Small quantities of amorphous content can have a profound influence on the properties of a material,
however their instability means that quantifying amorphous content over time is important for proving
the stability of a drug. Quantifying amorphous content in α-lactose monohydrate by solid state 13C CP
MAS NMR, has been carried out by use of proton saturation recovery relaxation and differentiating
between spectra by partial least squares (PLS), however these techniques have not proved sensitive on
their own, this work investigates their sensitivity in combination. Crystalline α-lactose monohydrate
and a rapidly quenched melt were combined to create a set of calibration mixes, whose spectra were
recorded using proton saturation recovery relaxations ranging from 2 to 60 seconds. This technique
showed a limit of detection of 0.17% (LOD = intercept + 3xSy/x), with a relaxation delay of 15 s and was
able to recognise amorphous materials generated by spray and freeze drying. The atmospheric effects
on the proton saturation recovery relaxation times of different amorphous lactose preparations were
investigated. This found that an oxygen atmosphere reduced the relaxation times, of amorphous
lactose that was prepared from a rapidly quenched melt. The loss of moisture from spray dried and
freeze dried samples to less than 1% removed the significance of this effect.
Lactose is an important excipient in pharmaceuticals and a key ingredient of confectionary, very little
research has been carried out in to the quantification of the isomers of different preparations of
amorphous lactose. This work quantifies the isomer content by Gas Chromatography with Flame
Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) using a DB-17 15m 0.53mm 1.00 μm column and derivatisation with N-
(trimethylsilyl)imidazole. [Continues.]


Glioblastomas display cellular hierarchies with self-renewing tumor-initiating cells (TIC), also known as cancer stem cells, at the apex. Although the TIC hypothesis remains controversial and the functional assays to define the TIC phenotype are evolving, we and others have shown that TICs may contribute to therapeutic resistance, tumor spread, and angiogenesis. The identification of TICs has been informed by the use of markers characterized in normal stem cells, but this approach has an inherent limitation to selectively identify TICs. To develop reagents that enrich TICs but not matched non-TICs or tissue-specific stem cells, we adopted Cell-Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (Cell-SELEX) to identify glioblastoma TIC-specific nucleic acid probes-aptamers-that specifically bind TICs. In this study, using Cell-SELEX with positive selection for TICs and negative selection for non-TICs and human neural progenitor cells, we identified TIC aptamers that specifically bind to TICs with excellent dissociation constants (Kd). These aptamers select and internalize into glioblastoma cells that self-renew, proliferate, and initiate tumors. As aptamers can be modified to deliver payloads, aptamers may represent novel agents that could selectively target or facilitate imaging of TICs.


SUMMARY Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is an inflammatory process caused by hypersensitivity due to inhalation of alergen agents, the process is characterized by inflammation of airways, mucus hypersecretion and obstruction. The onset of the disease is triggered by the surrounding where horses are stabled; often abundant organic dust of the hay, straw of bed, dust of the atmosphere, microorganisms contained in airway of the animals and the material of construction of the stable are important predisponent causes of RAO. The symtoms are due to airways inflammation caused by an type I hipersensitivity reaction in first moment, with the consecuent release of histamine and other pro-imflamatory agents, followed by a hipersensitivity reaction type III based on immune complex formation in situ with complement activation, and production of chemioatractants for neutrophils. This imflamatory process induces in other resident cells the activation of many genes using the NF-kB as common trancripcional factor. The diagnosis method for this alergic process is the broncheoalveolar lavage (BAL) followed by cytologic examination. In the case of RAO positive horses, the citology of BAL is characterized by a significant increase of neutrophils and in smaller percentage of eosinophils and mast cells. Administration of glucocorticoids sytemically or by inhalation, reduces the inflammation and obstruction of airways. The bronchodilators drugs also can be used to alleviate respiratory distress. The present work reviews the associated factors involved, the predisponent, the inmmunologic and molecular mechanisms associate to the disease, as well as diagnosis and treatment.


The seemingly never--‐ending Equitable Life litigation is finally over (although numerous investigations still continue). The case's inevitable collapse is evidence that in the post--‐Woolf era, largely pointless, ill--‐conceived and ludicrously expensive cases still occur. This case garnered attention from a number of parties for numerous reasons. It grabbed the media's attention due to the mammoth damages and costs involved. Policyholders attention concentrated on the £75 each of them loss due to the failed litigation. For company lawyers, however, the focus of the case concerned the extent of the auditors' and directors' liability – two issues that company law has struggled to adequately resolve for decades. In the first of a two--‐part article, Equitable Life's case against their auditors, Ernst & Young, will be examined.1 Before focusing on the issues involved, a reappraisal of the facts of the case and the litigation to date will be of aid.


As one of the most flamboyant and influential women of the late 18th century, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire was an icon of her time. Born Lady Georgiana Spencer, she married the fifth Duke of Devonshire in 1774; within a short space of time she had become the undisputed queen of fashionable society, adored by the Prince Regent, an intimate of Marie-Antoinette, an influential Whig hostess and a darling of the common people. Yet for all her aura of public glamour, Georgiana's personal life was fraught with suffering brought on by her compulsive gambling, which led to insurmountable debts and ignominy, and her search for love, which caused misery and exile. "Georgiana's World" is the illustrated version of Amanda Foreman's bestselling biography, "Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire", and brings a fresh perspective to her life and times. Filled with images of the people and places she actually knew, a series of special features explore such aspects of 18th-century life as aristocracy.


Travelers' diarrhea (TD) is the most common condition seen among people who are travelling, especially from developed to developing countries, its prevalence reaching almost 70%. Even though, in most cases, TD is a non-aggressive, self-limited disease and there are effective treatment methods available, prevention measures are worth being taken, because, by controlling the risk of infection and its post-infectious complications, the traveler's health would not be affected either during the trip, or after. TD prevention consists in three main types of measures, often requiring a combination of all of them adjusted to the destination and traveler's risk factors: education on food and beverage safety/hygiene, chemoprophylaxis and immunoprophylaxis. Because  bacterial infection is the most frequent cause of TD (up to 90%), it becomes rationale, not only for curative, but for prophylactic purposes too, the usage of a non-absorbable bactericide wide spectrum antibiotic like Rifaximin-α which also has a low rate of resistance patterns. Due to its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics advantages along with its favorable results from several clinical trials, Rifaximin-α is now probably the best and safest prophylactic (but curative, too) option in case of TD.


Attribution of natural disasters/collective misfortune is a widely-studied political science problem. However, such studies are typically survey-centric or rely on a handful of experts to weigh in on the matter. In this paper, we explore how can we use social media data and an AI-driven approach to complement traditional surveys and automatically extract attribution factors. We focus on the most-recent Chennai water crisis which started off as a regional issue but rapidly escalated into a discussion topic with global importance following alarming water-crisis statistics. Specifically, we present a novel prediction task of attribution tie detection which identifies the factors held responsible for the crisis (e.g., poor city planning, exploding population etc.). On a challenging data set constructed from YouTube comments (72,098 comments posted by 43,859 users on 623 relevant videos to the crisis), we present a neural classifier to extract attribution ties that achieved a reasonable performance (Accuracy: 81.34\% on attribution detection and 71.19\% on attribution resolution).


Inclusive Finance is a national development strategy to encourage economic growth through equal distribution of income, poverty alleviation and financial system stability. Financial literacy measures inclusive finance through access to financial services that will greatly help marginalized and low-income groups to increase their revenues, accumulate wealth, manage risks, and make efforts to get out of poverty. This study aims to examine the effect of financial literacy with the variable of knowledge, ability and attitude / behavior on the inclusive financial use of garbage bank in South Jakarta. Method used in this research is descriptive method of analysis with quantitative approach, by using primary data. The analytical method used is multiple regression analysis with the help of SPSS 15.0 analysis tool


In order to investigate the responses of leaf elongation rate (LER), turgor and osmotic adjustment (OA) during a short-term stress (7 hours) imposed by PEG6000 and a recovery phase, three durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) varieties [Inrat; MBB; and OZ ] were grown in aerated nutrient solutions. Leaf elongation kinetics of leaf 3 was estimated using LVDT. Turgor was estimated using a cell pressure probe; osmotic potential as well as total sugars and potassium (K) concentrations were estimated from expressed sap of elongation zone. Growth recovered rapidly and then stabilised at a lower value. A significant difference was found in % recovery of LER between the varieties. The cessation of growth after stress coincided with a decrease in turgor followed by a recovery period reaching control values in MBB and Inrat. A strong correlation (R = 0.83) between the reduction in turgor (∆ turgor) and % recovery of LER was found at 7 hours after stress. The difference in the partial recovery of LER between varieties was thus related to the capacity of partial turgor recovery. Partial turgor recovery is associated with sugar or K based OA which indicates its importance in maintaining high LER values under water deficit.


ABSTRACT Butyrate produced by gut microbiota has multiple beneficial effects on host health, and oligosaccharides derived from host diets and glycans originating from host mucus are major sources of its production. A significant reduction of butyrate-producing bacteria has been reported in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancers. Although gut butyrate levels are important for host health, oligosaccharide metabolic properties in butyrate producers are poorly characterized. We studied the metabolic properties of fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) and other prebiotic oligosaccharides (i.e. raffinose and xylooligosaccharides; XOSs) in gut butyrate producers. 1-Kestose (kestose) and nystose, FOSs with degrees of polymerization of 3 and 4, respectively, were also included. Fourteen species of butyrate producers were divided into four groups based on their oligosaccharide metabolic properties, which are group A (two species) metabolizing all oligosaccharides tested, group F (four species) metabolizing FOSs but not raffinose and XOSs, group XR (four species) metabolizing XOSs and/or raffinose but not FOSs, and group N (four species) metabolizing none of the oligosaccharides tested. Species assigned to groups A and XR are rich glycoside hydrolase (GH) holders, whereas those in groups F and N are the opposite. In total, 17 enzymes assigned to GH32 were observed in nine of the 14 butyrate producers tested, and species that metabolized FOSs had at least one active GH32 enzyme. The GH32 enzymes were divided into four clusters by phylogenetic analysis. Heterologous gene expression analysis revealed that the GH32 enzymes in each cluster had similar FOS degradation properties within clusters, which may be linked to the conservation/substitution of amino acids to bind with substrates in GH32 enzymes. This study provides important knowledge to understand the impact of FOS supplementation on the activation of gut butyrate producers. Abbreviations: SCFA, short chain fatty acid; FOS, fructooligosaccharide; XOS, xylooligosaccharide; CAZy, Carbohydrate Active Enzymes; CBM, carbohydrate-binding module; PUL, polysaccharide utilization locus; S6PH sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase.


Piezoelectric films using d15 shear-mode can be applied to many useful MEMS devices. The small displacement derived from the d15 shear-mode was directly observed by a SPM measurement. An isolated PZT(52/48) active part having a pair of driving Cu electrodes was processed in a 5 m-thick sputtering film. The displacement measurement of the active part and its FEM analysis suggested that the estimated d15 piezoelectric constant of the film was 590 pm/V. And, the d31 value of the film was -120 pm/V measured by a conventional cantilever method. The obtained piezoelectric constants of the PZT film are near those of bulk.


Forests play an important role in water and carbon cycles in semiarid regions such as the Mediterranean ecosystems. Previous research in the Chilean Mediterranean forests revealed a break point in 1980 in regional tree-ring chronologies linked to climate change. However, it is still unclear which populations and age classes are more affected by recent increases in drought conditions. In this study, we investigated the influence of recent variations in precipitation, temperature, and CO2 concentrations on tree growth of various populations and age classes of Nothofagus macrocarpa trees in Central Chile. We sampled 10 populations from five sites of N. macrocarpa through its whole geographic distribution in both Coastal and Andes ranges. We used standard dendrochronological methods to (i) group populations using principal component analysis, (ii) separate age classes (young, mature, and old trees), (iii) evaluate linear growth trends based on the basal area increment (BAI), and (iv) analyze the link between BAI and atmospheric changes using linear mixed-effects models. Results showed that young trees are more sensitive to climate variability. Regarding population grouping, we observed that all population clusters were sensitive to winter-spring precipitation, but only the Andes and Coastal populations were negatively correlated with temperature. The results of CO2 fertilization analyses were controversial and unclear. Since young trees from all population clusters reacted positively in the phase with an increase of atmospheric CO2 between 1980 and 2014, this behavior was not translated into growth for the last 15 years (2000–2014). However, it should be noted that the young trees of the highest elevation populations did not have a negative growth trend, so it seems that CO2 counteracted the negative effect of recent regional climate change (increase in temperature and precipitation decrease) in these population trees. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of climate variability over other ecological and physiological processes. Forests 2019, 10, 653; doi:10.3390/f10080653 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests Forests 2019, 10, 653 2 of 17


The methods of preparing organic monolayers on Si(111), the effects of electron-beam irradiation onto these monolayers, and the deposition of metal atoms over the irradiated areas have been investigated in order to develop a process of mass-scale production of nanometer-scale patterns on Si(111) wafer surfaces. The organic monolayers were fabricated on hydrogen-terminated Si(111) wafer surfaces using previously reported methods for the electrolysis of para-substituted benzenediazonium salts and the Grignard reaction with various alkyl moieties and reaction procedures. Using these electrolysis methods, partially well-defined two-dimensional monolayers were formed, which were, however, obscured by precipitated by-products. The Grignard reaction deposited homogeneous monolayer moieties of alkyl groups which were randomly arranged and are suitable for surface passivation. Electron-beam bombardment of the organic monolayers on Si(111) was performed in an atmosphere of O2 or H2O. The bombarded area was effectively oxidized in a well-controlled manner. By immersing the bombarded specimen into an aqueous NiSO4+(NH4)2SO4 solution, Ni was selectively impregnated only within the area of electron bombardment. Based on these results, application of organic monolayers for fabricating nanometer-scale monolayer patterns is proposed.


Capital inflows have underpinned the expansion of Australia's productive capacity for the past 200 years or more. Recently, there have been three noteworthy changes in the composition of these flows. First, most inflows to the mining sector are now direct funding from offshore, rather than reinvested earnings. Second, foreign investors have been more actively managing their holdings of Australian government debt securities. Third, regulatory reforms have led to changes in banks' short-term debt funding.


The purpose of this study was to determine computer and Internet use in agricultural extension by Extension Workers (EWs). This study used a descriptive-correlational design. Population for the study consisted of all extension workers (N = 320) in Isfahan Province, Iran. A stratified sampling technique and census was used to select EWs (n = 200). Overall, findings indicate that EWs have access to computers both at work and home. On average, they use computers approximately 6 – 8 hours per week and majority of them use the Internet on average of 1 – 4 hours per week. A majority of them reported "fair to high level" of skills in computer usage. For example, writing CDs, word processing, using computers for file management, and basic computer skills. However, extension agent's report "no to a low level" of skills relative to using excel, installing software, power point and micro soft access, Photoshop, statistical software, were the skills that EWs did not have. It was proved necessary to conduct a systematic assessment of training needs relative to computer and Internet use. Systematic training should be conducted in the areas that Extension Workers perceived to be less skill.


The rate of photosynthesis depends on the CO2 partial pressure near Rubisco, Cc, which is commonly calculated by models using the overall mesophyll resistance. Such models do not explain the difference between the CO2 level in the intercellular air space and Cc mechanistically. This problem can be overcome by reaction-diffusion models for CO2 transport, production and fixation in leaves. However, most reaction-diffusion models are complex and unattractive for procedures that require a large number of runs, like parameter optimisation. This study provides a simpler reaction-diffusion model. It is parameterized by both leaf physiological and leaf anatomical data. The anatomical data consisted of the thickness of the cell wall, cytosol and stroma, and the area ratios of mesophyll exposed to the intercellular air space to leaf surfaces and exposed chloroplast to exposed mesophyll surfaces. The model was used directly to estimate photosynthetic parameters from a subset of the measured light and CO2 response curves; the remaining data were used for validation. The model predicted light and CO2 response curves reasonably well for 15 days old tomato (cv. Admiro) leaves, if (photo)respiratory CO2 release was assumed to take place in the inner cytosol or in the gaps between the chloroplasts. The model was also used to calculate the fraction of CO2 produced by (photo)respiration that is re-assimilated in the stroma, and this fraction ranged from 56 to 76%. In future research, the model should be further validated to better understand how the re-assimilation of (photo)respired CO2 is affected by environmental conditions and physiological parameters.


This thesis deals with effects of climate on tree growth of the dominating conifer species, Picea abies (L) Karst. (Norway spruce) and Pinus sylvestris L (Scots pine), in central Norway and Fennoscandia. Both species are sampled along major environmental gradients, i.e. altitude and oceanicity, and growth responses to climate, i.e. temperature and precipitation, are examined along these gradients. Additionally, time is considered as an environmental gradient and temporal responses are carefully deciphered. Special attention is given to large-scale climate oscillation and their effect on tree growth. In the individual papers the specific aims have been to:1. identify climate variables (all seasons) with significant influence on radial tree growth of P. abies and P. sylvestris along major environmental gradients (Paper I-IV)2. identify if and how the growth response to climate has changed through time along these gradients (Paper I-IV)3. make interregional comparisons of P. sylvestris growth pattern across Fennoscandia from oceanic western Norway to continental eastern Finland (Paper III)4. analyse to what degree large-scale circulation patterns of air masses are registered in regional tree growth of both P. abies and P. sylvestris (Paper I, III and IV)5. discuss possible effects on radial tree growth of a predicted warmer climate (Paper I, III and IV)


This project presents the variable effective fundamental equivalent reactance capability of TCSC for enhancing the transient stability of power systems. For obtaining the varying effective fundamental equivalent reactance, two different controllers namely a speed deviation based Selftuning Fuzzy PID Controller and a nonlinear controller are used. To validate the performance of the control schemes, the simulation studies are carried out on a single machine infinite bus system using MATLAB/ SIMULINK software package. The results of computer simulation indicate that Selftuning Fuzzy PID controlled TCSC can not only improve the static stability of system, but also effectively damp power oscillation and enhance the transient stability of system when the power system suffers small disturbance and short circuit. In addition, it also illuminates that Self-tuning Fuzzy PID Controlled TCSC is more effective than nonlinear control, traditional PID control and fixed series compensation. Keywords— SMIB system, Transient Stability, Thyristor Controlled Series capacitor, Self-tuning Fuzzy PID Controller, Nonlinear controller, PID Controller, fixed series compensation


Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, and in part its effective diagnosis and treatment depend on the accurate delineation of the tumor. Human-centered segmentation, which is currently the most common approach, is subject to inter-observer variability, and is also time-consuming, considering the fact that only experts are capable of providing annotations. Automatic and semi-automatic tumor segmentation methods have recently shown promising results. However, as different researchers have validated their algorithms using various datasets and performance metrics, reliably evaluating these methods is still an open challenge. The goal of the Lung-Originated Tumor Segmentation from Computed Tomography Scan (LOTUS) Benchmark created through 2018 IEEE Video and Image Processing (VIP) Cup competition, is to provide a unique dataset and pre-defined metrics, so that different researchers can develop and evaluate their methods in a unified fashion. The 2018 VIP Cup started with a global engagement from 42 countries to access the competition data. At the registration stage, there were 129 members clustered into 28 teams from 10 countries, out of which 9 teams made it to the final stage and 6 teams successfully completed all the required tasks. In a nutshell, all the algorithms proposed during the competition, are based on deep learning models combined with a false positive reduction technique. Methods developed by the three finalists show promising results in tumor segmentation, however, more effort should be put into reducing the false positive rate. This competition manuscript presents an overview of the VIP-Cup challenge, along with the proposed algorithms and results.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to review risk factors used in the current Danish screening programme for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and the self-reported recognition of these risk factors among midwives, general practitioners (GP) and GPs in training.

METHODS
A survey of regional DDH referral guidelines was conducted through online regional guideline databases. Furthermore, risk factors used as referral criteria for DDH were compared across regions. Using an online survey, we asked midwives, GPs and GPs in training to identify which of six risk factors for DDH were currently featured as referral criteria for specialised DDH examination in the referral guidelines of their employment region. Answers were compared with the DDH referral guidelines of the responders' employment region.

RESULTS
We collected 178 survey responses and 11 local and regional DDH referral guidelines. Six risk factors were identified from referral guidelines (breech presentation, oligohydramnios, family history of DDH, clubfeet, twins and premature birth). Overall, correct answer percentages for currently used risk factors for DDH as specified in the corresponding regional guidelines were: 96% (breech presentation), 90% (family history of DDH), 66% (twins), 63% (premature birth), 34% (clubfeet) and 29% (oligohydramnios).

CONCLUSIONS
This study found variation in the referral criteria among Danish regional DDH referral guidelines and an overall high level of recognition for two out of six referral criteria but a low level of recognition for the remaining four.

FUNDING
The authors received no financial support for the research conducted in preparation of this article.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
not relevant.


Background:
 Quantitative EEG trend monitoring has shown high sensitivity in pilot studies for early detection of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal SAH. Little is understood, however, about its performance in the prospective clinical environment. We hypothesized that clinical confounders and mimics of ischemic EEG patterns may result in high false alarm rates.

 Methods:
 Patients undergoing EEG ischemia monitoring within 4 days of SAH were identified from a prospectively documented clinical database and evaluated for any EEG ischemic signs (EEG-IS) denoted by the clinical neurophysiologist (NPhys-EEG-IS), including deterioration by one grade in percent alpha variability (PAV) over 8 hours, >50% decrement in alpha-delta ratio (ADR) exceeding 1 hour, >10% decrement in ADR exceeding 5 hours, or new focal EEG slowing on the raw EEG. We separately performed a wholly computational retrospective assessment for EEG-IS (Comp-EEG-IS). DCI was retrospectively ascertained as an unexplained focal clinical or radiologic decline.

 Results:
 19 patients underwent EEG monitoring (median 10 days, IQR 9-11). Late epileptiform or rhythmic patterns emerged in 14 patients (74%). There was a strong trend towards NPhys-EEG-IS being associated with DCI (univariate OR 8.4, p=0.15), which persisted (multivariate OR 7.5, p=0.08) after adjusting for the association of Hunt-Hess grade >4 and DCI (multivariate OR 3.4, p=0.27). Of 11 patients (58%) with NPhys-EEG-IS alarms, 6 developed DCI (Se 86%, Sp 58%, PPV 55%). DCI was not associated with longer NPhys-EEG-IS alarm duration (5.0 vs. 4.8 alarm-days; NS). The Comp-EEG-IS method was problematic, resulting in multiple false alarms per patient-day; we identified several clinical variables contributing to false alarms.

 Conclusions:
 When applied purely quantitatively, published EEG trend analysis methods result in unacceptably high false alarm rates. Neurophysiologist integration of quantitative and raw EEG data modestly improves the predictive value of EEG ischemic signs and affords relatively high sensitivity. Better understanding of specific EEG signatures of confounding variables, and real-time integration of parallel clinical data are required for more accurate EEG DCI detection in clinical practice.


Indigenous peoples have begun a process of reasserting traditional knowledge and examining how it can be useful to the next generations and to a broader world as part of a decolonizing agenda. Indigenous Elders are the educators, storytellers, historians, language keepers, and healers of our communities. They sustain knowledge, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs held collectively within Indigenous communities and pass it on to the next generations. Through a storytelling methodology in a collaborative dialogue Elders shared with each other their stories about healers and healing practices, life experiences, and land-based perspectives, as well as history and language issues. Their stories illuminate a process of becoming whole within the ongoing challenges posed by colonization. In discussion of the film "How the Spirit Moves with Albert Desjarlais" the Sacred Stone Lodge, or Sweat Lodge, is explored as a place of healing and prayer. Elders descriptions, in concrete terms, of understandings gleaned from their years within their families, communities, languages, and traditions are discussed as transformative and decolonizing in verifying understandings of relationships to land, cosmos, and spiritual traditions embodies in their healing and ceremonial practices. Films referred to in this article can be accessed at www.ourelderstories.com


Three theoretical non-point water pollution (NPS) control schemes were tested repeatedly in experimental studies tax-subsidy scheme (K. Segerson, 1988), collective fining (Xepapadeas, 1991) and random fining (Xepapadeas, 1991). Camacho and Requate (2004) summarized results reported by Spraggon (2002), Vossler et al (2002), Cochard et al (2002), and Alpizar et al (2004) and replicated their experiments. This paper discusses similarity and differences among all the reported results and in particular the following two. First, both collective fining and random fining induce abatement under the target, their performance deteriorates over time and is relatively consistent over the replications. Second, tax-subsidy scheme induced abatement over the target, its performance is consistent over periods, but not over the replications.


PAUD teacher not only teach of science to children, but to must have skills in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship can teach with education and training. Skills will be better if always trained for increase abbility, so become expert. While entrepreneurship is someone who thinks creative and innovative to create new and value-added products for mutual interests. To be a successful entrepreneur, the main requirement that must be possessed is having a spirit and temperament. One's soul and temperament are influenced by skill. (1) Basic skills; a. Leadership skills, b. Team motivating skills and building strong teams (team building), c. Team organizing skills, d. Conflict coping skills, e. Communication skills, f. Business strategy planning skills, g. Skills to overcome difficulties become opportunities. (2) Special skills; a. Selling skills, and b. Technical skills (for production). To grow entrepreneurship and increase entrepreneurial activities for PAUD teachers, it is very important to establish an entrepreneurship education and training for PAUD teachers. The following types of entrepreneurship skills training include: 1). Craft skills, 2). Skills in the form of service delivery, 3). Skills in the form of agrarian, such as: agriculture, plantation, pertganti, fishery, 4). Trading skills, 5). Food industry skills, 6). Skills in the field of household needs, 7). Skills for making light medicines.


We study a Skyrme-type model with a quadratic potential for a field with S-2 vacua. We consider two flavors of the model, the first is the Skyrme model and the second has a sixth-order derivative term instead of the Skyrme term; both with the added quadratic potential. The model contains molecules of half Skyrmions, each of them is a global (anti)monopole with baryon number 1/2. We numerically construct solutions with baryon numbers one through six, and find stable solutions which look like beads on rings. We also construct a molecule with fractional Skyrmions having the baryon numbers 1/3 + 2/3, by adding a linear potential term.


Note: Proc. 18th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Sorrento, Italy, 4-10 October 2000, IAEA-CN-77 (THP2/19), p. 421 (2000) Reference CRPP-CONF-2000-037 Record created on 2008-05-13, modified on 2017-05-12


Background Bone is a common site of distant recurrence in women with early-stage breast cancer. Cancer cells are thought to stimulate osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, which releases growth factors and cytokines that promote tumor growth. RANK Ligand (RANKL) is the key mediator of osteoclast-induced bone destruction. In preclinical studies, RANKL inhibition reduced the incidence of bone and lung metastases, suppressed tumor progression, and prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. Effects were additive with hormonal, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies. Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody against RANKL, approved in the U.S. for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. In patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer, denosumab significantly improved bone metastasis-free survival (BMFS) compared to placebo. The D-CARE trial evaluates BMFS effects of denosumab in women with stage II or III breast cancer. Methods : Women with node-positive or locally advanced (T3 or T4) disease, and known hormone and HER-2 receptor status are eligible. Standard-of-care adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemo-, endocrine, or HER-2 targeted therapy, alone or in combination must be planned with curative intent. Women with a prior history of breast cancer (other than ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] or lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS]) or distant metastasis, oral bisphosphonate (BP) use within 1 year or any intravenous BP use are excluded. Patients are randomized 1:1 to receive denosumab 120 mg or placebo subcutaneously monthly for 6 mos, then every 3 mos, for a total of 5 yrs treatment. All patients receive vitamin D (≥ 400 IU) and calcium (≥ 500 mg) supplements. Primary endpoint of this event-driven trial is BMFS. Secondary endpoints include disease-free (DFS) and overall survival. The study is powered for both, BMFS and DFS. Safety, quality of life assessments and biomarkers are additional endpoints. The trial, sponsored by Amgen Inc. and registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01077154 began enrolling patients in June 2010. PG and DF are supported in part by the Avon Foundation, NY. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-01-03.


Short-time spectral changes in the speech signal are important for understanding noise-vocoded sentences. These information-bearing acoustic changes, measured using cochlea-scaled entropy in cochlear implant simulations [CSECI; Stilp et al. (2013). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133(2), EL136–EL141; Stilp (2014). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 135(3), 1518–1529], may offer better understanding of speech perception by cochlear implant (CI) users. However, perceptual importance of CSECI for normal-hearing listeners was tested at only one spectral resolution and one temporal resolution, limiting generalizability of results to CI users. Here, experiments investigated the importance of these informational changes for understanding noise-vocoded sentences at different spectral resolutions (4–24 spectral channels; Experiment 1), temporal resolutions (4–64 Hz cutoff for low-pass filters that extracted amplitude envelopes; Experiment 2), or when both parameters varied (6–12 channels, 8–32 Hz; Experiment 3). Sentence intelligibility was reduced more by replacing high-CSECI intervals with noise than replacing low-CSECI intervals, but only when sentences had sufficient spectral and/or temporal resolution. High-CSECI intervals were more important for speech understanding as spectral resolution worsened and temporal resolution improved. Trade-offs between CSECI and intermediate spectral and temporal resolutions were minimal. These results suggest that signal processing strategies that emphasize information-bearing acoustic changes in speech may improve speech perception for CI users. VC 2015 Acoustical Society of America. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.4906179]


It is generally believed that the liver rids the portal blood of many bacteria. There is little doubt that the liver is fully capable of this sterilizing action 1 when called upon in acute infections or ulcerative lesions of the gut. Nevertheless, there is considerable doubt that this action takes place in health and that bacteria are normally poured into the liver by way of the portal vein. A few years ago an attempt was made by me to prove or disprove the thesis that the portal vein normally carries bacteria. The cultures of portal blood which were taken at that time were sterile. The means of obtaining these early cultures were laborious and time consuming. It was necessary to carry out bacteriological sterility which was considerably more complicated than the mere drawing of blood from the portal vein during the course of an operative procedure. Interest in the problem


Electron-microscope and electron-microprobe observations of amphibolites from the Omachi Seamount in the Izu-Bonin frontal arc show that they contain micrometer-sized inclusions of omphacite ± kyanite, indicating eclogite facies metamorphism. The garnet-zoisite amphibolite was subjected to metamorphic conditions of 600–700 °C and ∼2 GPa in the early stage of metamorphism. These metabasites were subducted to a depth of ∼70 km beneath the Izu-Bonin arc and were exhumed together with serpentinite schist. Their intraoceanic unroofing was probably induced by backarc extension of the upper plate, whose axes were intersected and cooled by the newly formed Izu-Bonin subduction system. This intraoceanic exhumation associated with suprasubduction extension can be a modern analogue for ancient on-land eclogite terranes accompanied by ophiolites.


This paper describes a theoretical and experimental study for determination of the through-air system impulse response and insertion loss with different air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. Wide-band piezopolymer transducers (PVDF) are employed in both transmission and reception modes and their behavior assessed by means of mathematical modeling and experiment. Specifically, a linear systems approach, modified to include the influence of attenuation in the propagation medium, was used to design suitable PVDF transducers for wide-band operation in air. Suitable devices were then manufactured for determination of the transmission and reception response characteristics of piezocomposite and electrostatic transducers when operating in the air environment. A range of transducers was evaluated, including 1-3 connectivity composites of different ceramic volume fraction and mechanical matching conditions, in addition to electrostatic devices of varying design. To complement the investigation, relative performances for narrow-band operation are also presented under transmission and transmit-receive conditions. Despite the obvious measurement difficulties, good agreement between theory and experiment was observed and the methodology is shown to provide a convenient and robust procedure for comparison of through-air transducers operating in the frequency range 50 KHz to 2 MHz. Although highly resonant, the most effective composite transducers under consideration demonstrate an improvement in two-way insertion loss of 22.4 dB and 11.5 dB over a corresponding electrostatic pair, under narrow-band and wide-band operation, respectively.


Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic islet beta-cells by autoreactive cells and their mediators. Although its exact cause is not completely understood, it is well established that IDDM is associated with dysregulated humoral and cellular immunity, exemplified by altered production of and response to macrophage- and T cell-derived cytokines and a shift in T helper (Th) cell differentiation in favor of a pathogenic Th1 pathway. Th1 cytokines, including interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, induced islet beta-cell destruction directly by accelerating activation-induced cell death (apoptosis) and by up-regulating the expression of select adhesion molecules, Th1 cytokines facilitated the pancreatic homing of autoreactive leukocytes, hence enhancing beta-cell destruction. More recently, a role for Th2 cytokines in IDDM pathogenesis was described. Accordingly, local production of Th2 cytokines, in particular interleukin-10, accelerated beta-cell destruction by enhancing autoreactive cell infiltration of the pancreas (insulitis) through modulation of the release of other cytokines and by modulating the microvasculature. Whereas both Th1 and Th2 cytokines are present in peripheral T cells and in the pancreas in IDDM, the mechanism of action and the kinetics of a cell damage induced by Th1 and Th2 cytokines appeared to be distinct. Collectively, this supports the idea that IDDM is not an exclusive Th1-mediated disorder as was suggested, and that both Th1 and Th2 cells and their respective mediators participate and cooperate in inducing and sustaining pancreatic islet beta-cell destruction in IDDM.


Recent research has shown that developers spend significant amounts of time navigating around code. Much of this time is spent on redundant navigations to code that the developer previously found. This is necessary today because existing development environments do not enable users to easily collect relevant information, such as web pages, textual notes, and code fragments. JASPER is a new system that allows users to collect relevant artifacts into a working set for easy reference. These artifacts are visible in a single view that represents the user's current task and allows users to easily make each artifact visible within its context. We predict that JASPER will significantly reduce time spent on redundant navigations. In addition, JASPER will facilitate multitasking, interruption management, and sharing task information with other developers.


In mixture experiments, the factors under study are proportions of the ingredients of a mixture. The special nature of the factors in a mixture experiment necessitates specific types of regression models, and specific types of experimental designs. Although mixture experiments usually are intended to predict the response(s) for all possible formulations of the mixture and to identify optimal proportions for each of the ingredients, little research has been done concerning their I-optimal design. This is surprising given that I-optimal designs minimize the average variance of prediction and, therefore, seem more appropriate for mixture experiments than the commonly used D-optimal designs, which focus on a precise model estimation rather than precise predictions. In this paper, we provide the first detailed overview of the literature on the I-optimal design of mixture experiments and identify several contradictions. For the second-order, special cubic and the degree models, we present I-optimal continuous designs and contrast them with the published results. We also study exact I-optimal designs, and compare them in detail to continuous I-optimal designs and to D-optimal designs. One striking result of our work is that the performance of D-optimal designs in terms of the I-optimality criterion very strongly depends on which of the D-optimal design points are replicated.


Agricultural biotechnology presents opportunities for reducing poverty, food insecurity, child malnutrition, and natural resource degradation. Small farmers in developing countries are faced with many problems and constraints which biotechnology may assist. About 1.2 billion people, or one of every five humans, live in a state of absolute poverty, on the equivalent of US$1 a day or less. Modern biotechnology is not a silver bullet for achieving food security, but, used in conjunction with traditional knowledge and conventional agricultural research methods, it may be a powerful tool. Policies must expand and guide research and technology development to solve problems of importance to poor people. Research should focus on crops relevant to small farmers and poor consumers in developing countries, such as bananas, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, rice, maize, wheat, and millet, along with livestock. Labelling may also be needed to identify content for cultural and religious reasons or simply because consumers want to know about the contents of their food and the processes used to produce it. It is also urgent that global biosafety standards and local regulatory capacity be strengthened within developing countries.


The thermoelastic response obtained from an infra-red (IR) detector contains two components: the magnitude of the small stress induced temperature change caused by the thermoelastic effect and the phase angle of the temperature change relative to a reference signal generated by an application of a stress change. The phase angle is related to nonlinearity in the thermoelastic response and departures from the simple linear relationship that underpins thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA). The phase data could be used to make an assessment of temperature evolutions caused by viscoelastic behaviour resulting from damage and provide a basis for its evaluation. In the current paper the physics of other infra-red techniques used for non-destructive evaluation is used to better understand the nature of the thermoelastic response. The objective is to provide better exploitation of TSA by alternative processing of the IR measurements. Three case studies are presented that demonstrate the potential of the alternative processing for evaluating damage.


A combination of methods is proposed of predicting spacecraft trajectories that possibly include multiple maneuvers and/or perturbing accelerations, with greater speed, accuracy, and repeatability than were heretofore achievable. The combination is denoted the WeavEncke method because it is based on unpublished studies by Jonathan Weaver of the orbit-prediction formulation of the noted astronomer Johann Franz Encke. Weaver evaluated a number of alternatives that arise within that formulation, arriving at an orbit-predicting algorithm optimized for complex trajectory operations. In the WeavEncke method, Encke's method of prediction of perturbed orbits is enhanced by application of modern numerical methods. Among these methods are efficient Kepler s-equation time-of-flight solutions and self-starting numerical integration with time as the independent variable. Self-starting numerical integration satisfies the requirements for accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency (and, hence, speed). Self-starting numerical integration also supports fully analytic regulation of integration step sizes, thereby further increasing speed while maintaining accuracy.


The objective of this study was to determine whether there was a quantifiable improvement in learning outcomes by integrating course materials in a 4-year baccalaureate program, utilizing a knowledge repository with a conceptual map that spans a discipline. Two new models were developed to provide the framework for this knowledge repository. A design artifact, Constructivist Unifying Baccalaureate Epistemology (CUBE), was developed and tested and incorporates these models. This CUBE artifact incorporates a Semantic Web ontology and a W3C Resource Description Framework to create a concept space that offers a unified view of the discipline. The Knowledge Repository was modeled as an organic structure with the ability to evolve over time by incorporating a ranking/voting feature which enables students and faculty to add content to the knowledge base and collectively evaluate the relative weights of conceptual threads. Conceptual Clustering was used to create a concept map for traversing the Knowledge Repository. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Knowledge Repository, a triangulated research approach was used, which cross checked results with multiple data sources and utilized qualitative and quantitative methods to validate the test instruments. The analyses included: focus groups, semistructured interviews, a questionnaire, and a quantitative exam that measured knowledge spanning multiple courses. Four classes participated during two semesters with four faculty members, using control and treatment groups. The research contrasted conventional single course instruction versus an Integrated Knowledge Repository (IKR) approach to learning. There was an average increase of 25 points in scores on a comprehensive exam for students who used the Knowledge Repository. The results supported our main hypothesis, that "Students utilizing the IKR will develop a more complex understanding of the interconnected nature of the materials linking a discipline than those students who take conventional single topic courses".


This article describes the application of the total survey error paradigm to longitudinal surveys. Several aspects of survey error, and of the interactions between different types of error, are distinct in the longitudinal survey context. Furthermore, error trade-off decisions in survey design and implementation are subject to some unique considerations. Previous literature on total survey error mostly fails to explicitly consider uniquely longitudinal issues. We aim to show how uniquely longitudinal sources of error in surveys should be understood within the Total Survey Error framework and we provide examples of studies of some of the unique interactions between errors.


MAORY will be the multi-conjugate adaptive optics module for the ELT first light. Its main goal is to feed the high-resolution NIR imager and spectrograph MICADO.
The present Thesis address the MAORY system at the level of optical design and analysis.
MAORY is a complex science projects whose stakeholder is the scientific community. Its requirements are driven by the science cases which request high resolution and astrometric accuracy.
In an ideal world without atmospheric turbulence, MAORY optics must deliver diffraction-limited images with very low optical distortions.
The tolerance process is one of the most important step in the instrument design since it is intended to ensure that MAORY requested performances are satisfied when the final assembled instrument is operative.
The baseline is to operate wavefront sensing using six sodium Laser Guide Stars and three Natural Guide Stars to solve intrinsic limitations of artificial sources and to mitigate the impact of the sodium layer structure and variability.
The implementation of a laboratory Prototype for Laser Guide Star wavefront sensor at the beginning of the phase study of MAORY has been indispensable to consolidate the choice of the baseline of wavefront sensing technique.
The first part of this Thesis describes the results obtained with the Prototype for Laser Guide Star wavefront sensor under different working conditions.
The second part describes the logic behind the tolerance analysis at the level of MAORY optical design starting from definition of quantitative figures of merit for requirements and ending with estimation of MAORY performances perturbed by opto-mechanical tolerances.
The sensitivity analysis on opto-mechanical tolerance of MAORY is also a crucial step to plan the alignment concept that concludes the arguments addressed by this Thesis.