ABSTRACT In Chile, there is a little information about child and youth poly-victimization in a national representative sample. The aim of this study was to investigate the lifetime prevalence of victimization and poly-victimization in a large Chilean community sample of children and youth aged 12– 18 years. The sample consisted of 19,648 children and youth (M = 14.72, SD = 1.52), 49.7% males, and 50.3% females, recruited from 699 secondary schools in 15 regions from Chile. The Spanish version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire was applied, assessing six aggregate categories of childhood victimization (conventional crimes, caregiver, peer and sibling, witnessed and indirect, sexual, and electronic victimization). Descriptive analyzes were conducted to establish the prevalence of six types of victimizations and poly-victimization. Odds ratios were used to estimate differences between the genders and age groups. A total of 91.8% males and 93.8% females reported at least one type of victimization in their lifetimes. Females were generally more exposed to victimization than males and older youth were more exposed to victimization than early youth. Results indicated that exposure to multiple types of victimization was very common, indeed, the most victimized group (polivictims) reported 14 or more types of victimization in their lifetimes. This study provided a more general view of the child and youth victimization in Chilean population and new information on the epidemiology of victimization in the international context.


Preconcentration of aqueous solution of aromatic compounds was successfully carried out with an extraction capillary packed with a bundle of polymer-coated filaments. The extracted analytes were sequentially eluted with a flow of pure water using programmed temperature elevation of the extraction capillary. The results clearly suggest that the polymer-coated fiber-packed capillary could be employed as a sample preparation medium for the analysis of aqueous matrices. The fraction of interest could be transferred to conventional microcolumn liquid chromatography (LC) allowing a heart cutting analysis of aqueous matrices. Stability of the fiber-packed capillary was confirmed with pure water as the mobile phase at elevated temperatures.


: An experience with treatment of 321 patients allowed the authors to substantiate expedience of graded performing different reconstructive procedures, such as transposition of catyloid cavity, pelvic osteotomy after Hiary, femur osteotomy, endoprosthesis. These operations allow postponement of the time of articulation replacement and minimization of revision procedures.


Classical multi-resolution image processing using wavelets provides an efficient analysis of image characteristics represented in terms of pixel-based singularities such as connected edge pixels of objects and texture elements given by the pixel intensity statistics. Curvelet transform is a recently developed approach based on curved singularities that provides a more sparse representation for a variety of directional multi-resolution image processing tasks such as denoising and texture analysis. The objective of this research is to develop a multi-class classifier for the automated classification of Gleason patterns of prostate cancer histological images with the utilization of curvelet-based texture analysis. This problem of computer-aided recognition of four pattern classes between Gleason Score 6 (primary Gleason grade 3 plus secondary Gleason grade 3) and Gleason Score 8 (both primary and secondary grades 4) is of critical importance affecting treatment decision and patients' quality of life. Multiple spatial sampling within each histological image is examined through the curvelet transform, the significant curvelet coefficient at each location of an image patch is obtained by maximization with respect to all curvelet orientations at a given location which represents the apparent curved-based singularity such as a short edge segment in the image structure. This sparser representation reduces greatly the redundancy in the original set of curvelet coefficients. The statistical textural features are extracted from these curvelet coefficients at multiple scales. We have designed a 2-level 4-class classification scheme, attempting to mimic the human expert's decision process. It consists of two Gaussian kernel support vector machines, one support vector machine in each level and each is incorporated with a voting mechanism from classifications of multiple windowed patches in an image to reach the final decision for the image. At level 1, the support vector machine with voting is trained to ascertain the classification of Gleason grade 3 and grade 4, thus Gleason score 6 and score 8, by unanimous votes to one of the two classes, while the mixture voting inside the margin between decision boundaries will be assigned to the third class for consideration at level 2. The support vector machine in level 2 with supplemental features is trained to classify an image patch to Gleason grade 3+4 or 4+3 and the majority decision from multiple patches to consolidate the two-class discrimination of the image within Gleason score 7, or else, assign to an Indecision category. The developed tree classifier with voting from sampled image patches is distinct from the traditional voting by multiple machines. With a database of TMA prostate histological images from Urology/Pathology Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the classifier using curvelet-based statistical texture features for recognition of 4-class critical Gleason scores was successfully trained and tested achieving a remarkable performance with 97.91% overall 4-class validation accuracy and 95.83% testing accuracy. This lends to an expectation of more testing and further improvement toward a plausible practical implementation.


: Internet of Things (IOT) has emerged as an efficient technical support for the biological researchers. Present study has been focused on four applications of IOT used for wildlife monitoring; location tracking, habitat, in situ observation, and behavioral studies. IOT based monitoring unit for wildlife studies mainly includes sensing, communication, software and relative hardware components.


In recent times, the application of artificial intelligence in facilitating, capturing, and restructuring Big data has transformed the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of diseases, a field known as precision medicine. Big data has been established in various domains of medicine for example, artificial intelligence has found its way into immunology termed as immunoinformatics. There is evidence that precision medicine tools have made an effort to accurately detect, profile, and suggest treatment regimens for thyroid dysfunction using Big data such as imaging and genetic sequences. In addition, the accumulation of data on polymorphisms, autoimmune thyroid disease, and genetic data related to environmental factors has occurred over time resulting in drastic development of clinical autoimmune thyroid disease study. This review emphasized how genetic data plays a vital role in diagnosing and treating diseases related to autoimmune thyroid disease like Graves' disease, subtle subclinical thyroid dysfunctions, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hypothyroid autoimmune thyroiditis. Furthermore, connotation between environmental and endocrine risk factors in the etiology of the disease in genetically susceptible individuals were discussed. Thus, endocrinologists' potential hurdles in cancer and thyroid nodules field include unreliable biomarkers, lack of distinct therapeutic alternatives due to genetic difference. Precision medicine data may improve their diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities using artificial intelligence.


Juvenile papillomatosis (JP) is an infrequently seen benign proliferative lesion in women younger than 30 years. Herein, we present different clinical manifestations of histopathologically proven JP of the breast, in addition to magnetic resonance and sonographic imaging features of these cases. Patient 1 exhibited nipple discharge and papillary carcinoma accompanied after the operation. Patient 2 presented with a giant mass with cystic and numerous solid nodular components that filled the entire right breast. Patient 3 exhibited cystic areas in a well-circumscribed hypoechoic solid mass besides ahypoechoic mass with indistinct borders, which was evaluated as multifocal JP.


Estimation of long‐term exposure to air pollution levels over a large spatial domain, such as the mainland UK, entails a challenging modelling task since exposure data are often only observed by a network of sparse monitoring sites with variable amounts of missing data. The paper develops and compares several flexible non‐stationary hierarchical Bayesian models for the four most harmful air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, and PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, in England and Wales during the 5‐year period 2007–2011. The models make use of observed data from the UK's automatic urban and rural network as well as output of an atmospheric air quality dispersion model developed recently especially for the UK. Land use information, incorporated as a predictor in the model, further enhances the accuracy of the model. Using daily data for all four pollutants over the 5‐year period we obtain empirically verified maps which are the most accurate among the competition. Monte Carlo integration methods for spatial aggregation are developed and these enable us to obtain predictions, and their uncertainties, at the level of a given administrative geography. These estimates for local authority areas can readily be used for many purposes such as modelling of aggregated health outcome data and are made publicly available alongside this paper.


A wide variety of network applications require the use of reliable multicast protocols to disseminate data from one source to a potentially large number of receivers simultaneously. We focus on multicast in single channel multi-access wireless networks and consider Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) based error control algorithms. We propose a simple NACK based method, called overlapped NACKs, that exploits the physical nature of the transmitted NACK signals in order to achieve a high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) even in the presence of NACK collisions. As an example, we apply the proposed method to Bluetooth, quantify its reliability and compare the achievable throughput with respect to the multi-unicast case and to an ACK based protocol. Results show that the overlapped NACK method has the potential to substantially increase the throughput over the ACK based protocol and provides good reliability.


Literature, like food, is, in Terry Eagleton's words, "endlessly interpretable," and food, like literature, "looks like an object but is actually a relationship." So how much do we, and should we, read into the way food is represented in literature? Reading Food explores this and other questions in an unusual and fascinating tour of twentieth-century Japanese literature. Tomoko Aoyama analyzes a wide range of diverse writings that focus on food, eating, and cooking and considers how factors such as industrialization, urbanization, nationalism, and gender construction have affected people's relationships to food, nature, and culture, and to each other. The examples she offers are taken from novels (shosetsu) and other literary texts and include well known writers (such as Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, Hayashi Fumiko, Okamoto Kanoko, Kaiko Takeshi, and Yoshimoto Banana) as well as those who are less widely known (Murai Gensai, Nagatsuka Takashi, Sumii Sue, and Numa Shozo). Food is everywhere in Japanese literature, and early chapters illustrate historical changes and variations in the treatment of food and eating. Examples are drawn from Meiji literary diaries, children's stories, peasant and proletarian literature, and women's writing before and after World War II. The author then turns to the theme of cannibalism in serious and popular novels. Key issues include ethical questions about survival, colonization, and cultural identity. The quest for gastronomic gratification is a dominant theme in "gourmet novels." Like cannibalism, the gastronomic journey as a literary theme is deeply implicated with cultural identity. The final chapter deals specifically with contemporary novels by women, some of which celebrate the inclusiveness of eating (and writing), while others grapple with the fear of eating. Such dread or disgust can be seen as a warning against what the complacent "gourmet boom" of the 1980s and 1990s concealed: the dangers of a market economy, environmental destruction, and continuing gender biases. Reading Food in Modern Japanese Literature will tempt any reader with an interest in food, literature, and culture. Moreover, it provides appetizing hints for further savoring, digesting, and incorporating textual food.


The Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium is held in honor of Professor Albert Tester, who, at the time of his death in 1974, was Senior Professor of Zoology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. The faculty and students of the Department of Zoology proposed an annual symposium of student research papers as a means of honoring, in a continuing and active way, Dr. Tester's lively encouragement of student research in a broad range of fields within marine biology. Papers reporting original research on any aspect of science are solicited from students at the university and these papers are presented at the symposium, which takes place during the spring semester. Income from contributions to the Albert L. Tester Memorial Fund of the University of Hawai'i Foundation is used to provide prizes for the three best papers, judged on quality, originality, and importance of research reported, as well as the quality of the public presentation. Judges include Department of Zoology faculty members and the previous year's student award winners. In addition, a distinguished scholar from another university or research institution is invited to participate in the symposium as a judge and to present the major symposium address. In 2004 the distinguished visitor and judge was Dr. Philip J. Motta, professor of biology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.


The hemostasis state was assessed by routine tests and TEG in 169 patients on long term aspirin therapy. According to TEG results all the patients were divided into three groups: normo-, hypo- and hypercoagulation. The aspirin therapy was interrupted in normo- and hypercoagulation groups, but the surgery was not postponed. In cases of hypocoagulation the aspirin therapy was also interrupted and the surgery was postponed for 3-5 days until TEG results normalized. Also the frequency of intracranial hemorrhagic complications was analyzed in every group. The results showed that despite the method used the hypocoagulation group had the highest rate of postoperative hemorrhage complications. Thromboelastography enables to assess hemostasis state in neurosurgical patients on long term aspirin therapy promptly and effectively.


The X-ray structure of ammonium decavanadate hexahydrate was redeter- mined at a low temperature (100 K) in order to locate the hydrogen sites and to study the hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen atoms were assigned to the appropriate atomic group, NH4 + cations, and water molecules, missing to the best of our knowledge in the literature. A kappa refinement was performed to estimate the experimental atomic charges. These charges were used to generale the electrostatic potential on the molecular surfaces of decavanadate polyanions isolated from the influence of the crystal lattice. Comparisons with previous theoretical (ab initio) calculations were made and are also discussed.


This paper proposes a new technique to analyze the electricity and transport sectors within a single integrated framework to realize an environmentally and economically sustainable integration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the electric grid, considering the most relevant planning uncertainties. The method is based on a comprehensive robust optimization planning that considers the constraints of both the electricity grid and the transport sector. The proposed model is justified and described in some detail, applying it to the real case of Ontario, Canada, to determine Ontario's grid potential to support PHEVs for the planning horizon 2008-2025.


Recent studies in humans and other model organisms have demonstrated that structural variants (SVs) comprise a substantial proportion of variation among individuals of each species. Many of these variants have been linked to debilitating diseases in humans, thereby cementing the importance of refining methods for their detection. Despite progress in the field, reliable detection of SVs still remains a problem even for human subjects. Many of the underlying problems that make SVs difficult to detect in humans are amplified in livestock species, whose lower quality genome assemblies and incomplete gene annotation can often give rise to false positive SV discoveries. Regardless of the challenges, SV detection is just as important for livestock researchers as it is for human researchers, given that several productive traits and diseases have been linked to copy number variations (CNVs) in cattle, sheep, and pig. Already, there is evidence that many beneficial SVs have been artificially selected in livestock such as a duplication of the agouti signaling protein gene that causes white coat color in sheep. In this review, we will list current SV and CNV discoveries in livestock and discuss the problems that hinder routine discovery and tracking of these polymorphisms. We will also discuss the impacts of selective breeding on CNV and SV frequencies and mention how SV genotyping could be used in the future to improve genetic selection.


The sickness absence records of employees in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria were examined over a period of three years. The health records of the hospital workers showed a preponderance of junior and intermediate workers. An overall proportion of absentee workers was 15.8% with an average of 3 spells of sickness per year per absentee while the duration of sickness per absentee was 5.6 days per year. The younger employees less than 35 years of age and those with short duration of employment with the hospital have significantly higher spells and duration of sickness absence than others. While a lower spell of sickness and duration of sickness absence were observed among nurses, senior employees especially doctors had no records of sickness absenteeism in any of the 3 years of study.


Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, perceptions and practices of HIV-infected mothers regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and infant feeding. Design: A cross-sectional study design was applied. Setting: The study was undertaken at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein. Subjects: A total of 100 mother–infant pairs that were still in hospital after the delivery of the baby were included. All mothers were HIV-infected. Outcome measures: Sociodemographic information, medical history, and knowledge, perceptions and practices related to infant feeding in the context of HIV were noted. Results: The median age of mothers was 31 years, and most mothers reported anti-retroviral therapy (ART) use (93.0%). The median CD4 cell count was 383 cells/mm3, and median haemoglobin level was 11.4 g/dl. Most mothers planned to breastfeed their infant(s) (70.0%). A large percentage of the mothers reported that they did not know or were not aware of the fact that HIV can be transmitted to an infant via breastfeeding (43.0%). Only half of the mothers had been shown how to either breastfeed or formula feed by healthcare staff (depending on their choice). Conclusion: The knowledge, perceptions and practices related to infant feeding were inadequate in mothers included in this study. Providing scientifically based, unbiased information is fundamental during counselling on infant feeding to ensure the success of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programmes. If women feel confident in their acquired knowledge, they are more likely to be self-empowered and make informed decisions related to infant feeding.


A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the three tillage systems and three corn plant populations on selected soil physical properties and yield components of sweet corn for Serdang soil series ( Typic Paleodults ) at the Research Farm of University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Malaysia. The experimental design was a 2×3 factorial treatments based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) for soil analysis and a 3×3 factorial treatment based on RCBD for yield and yield components of sweet corn ( Zea mays ) analysis with three replications. The three tillage systems were moldboard plow followed by once disc harrowing (MPD), disc plow followed by once disc harrowing (DPD) and rotary cultivator (RC) only, as control on soil physical properties at two depths of 0-10 cm and 20-30 cm; and also their effects on yield and selected yield components of sweet corn at the three seeding rates (or seed spacing of 20, 30 and 40 cm). The results showed that the measured soil physical properties at the two depths of the plots (before tillage operation) were homogeneous at three plots and the two depths. Although WI was higher and resistance to penetration (RP) was lower in RC plot at the upper layer, however this condition had negative influence on crop yield. The highest value of crop yield at any given seed spacing occurred in DPD plot and decreased in MPD and RC plots, respectively. Interaction effects of the two factors, tillage and planting density were found to be significant on row length of kernels on cob corn, yield of sweet corn and total weight of dry matter.


As a multifaceted construct, personality is like a mountain. It may take on different shapes when looking from different perspectives – far or near, high or low, outside or inside. Its view may be colored when looking through different lenses. The current personality literature is primarily built on the "insider's views", as it heavily relies on self-reports of personality. However, the (implicit) assumption in the literature that changes in self-reported personality reflect "true" trait changes disregards several critical limitations of the self-report method, such as blind spots and self-representation motives (e.g., Paulhus & Vazire, 2007; Vazire, 2010; Vazire & Carlson, 2011). This dissertation investigated the multifaceted nature of personality in a developmental framework. By complementing self-reports with personality judgments from multiple knowledgeable informants, this dissertation takes us one step closer to the core of personality and its development. This dissertation was guided by models derived from adult literature with predominantly cross-sectional design, such as the Self-Other Knowledge Asymmetry Model (the SOKA model; Vazire, 2010) and self-verification theory (Swann, 2011). It was investigated whether these models could generalize to personality development from late childhood to young adulthood. Specifically, Chapter 2 examined the temporal consistency of personality from late childhood to young adulthood as perceived from multiple perspectives. In two longitudinal studies, we consistently found mean-level change and rank-order stability of personality to depend on the judge in meaningful ways, suggesting that personality its development are at least partly socially constructed. These results confirmed and expanded the predictions from the SOKA model (Vazire, 2010) to describe youth personality development. Chapter 3 examined the utility of each perspective in predicting future personality and life outcomes (e.g., internalizing and externalizing problems, educational and occupational achievement, and relationship quality). Results supported the unique insights of close others regarding adolescent's personality by showing that personality reported by parents and friends predicted future personality and various life outcomes over and above self-reported personality. Consistent with the SOKA model, this was especially true for the highly visible and evaluative traits (i.e., conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness). Based on self-verification theory (Swann, 2011), which posits the beneficial effects of self-other personality agreement, Chapter 4 and 5 investigated the longitudinal implications of interjudge (dis-) agreement regarding adolescents' personality on their adjustment. Chapter 4 examined the association between self-other agreement on personality profile and later self-esteem development, using longitudinal data spanning 18 years. Chapter 5 examined the associations between self-other agreement on personality traits and later internalizing problems using Response Surface Analysis. Results suggested that the implication of self-other personality agreement may depend on the type of agreement, the target-judge dyads, and targets' gender and developmental stage (i.e., early vs. late adolescence). This dissertation used comprehensive longitudinal datasets and the state-of-the-art statistical techniques to shed light on some basic and important questions regarding the structure and development of youth personality. Multi-informant studies are crucial for a more accurate understanding of the temporal consistency of personality and the influences of personality traits, social perceptions, and social consensus on individuals' success across the lifespan.


This study estimates marginal rates of return to investment in schooling in 12 countries. Significant systematic nonlinearity in the marginal rate of return is found. In particular, the marginal rate of return is increasing significantly at low levels of education, and decreasing significantly at high levels of education. This may help explain why estimates of the return to schooling are often considerably higher when instrumenting for education.


This paper presents an effective method for placement of DG units in multiphase distribution networks based on system voltage profile. The approach consists of utilizing the positive sequence voltage ratio Vcollapse/Vno-load to identify the weakest three-phase bus for the installation of DG units. DG ratings are determined by evaluating their impacts on voltage profile, grid losses and maximum loading factor while considering the voltage limits at all buses. Detailed simulations are performed for the placement and sizing of a doubly fed induction generator (DIFG) in the IEEE multiphase 34 node test feeder using DIgSILENT PowerFactory software. The impacts of DIFG on voltage profile, active power loss and voltage stability margin are highlighted. Finally, simulation results indicate that voltage limits should be considered as a constraint for the methods of DG placement.


OBJECTIVE
The methods used to diagnose and classify ovarian cancer have changed over the past decade. We used hospital registry data to assess the incidence, treatment durations and hospital costs of ovarian cancer in Switzerland.

METHODS
We carried out a retrospective analysis of a hospital registry covering all inpatient care episodes in Switzerland between 1998 and 2012. Ovarian cancer incidence was assessed by identifying patients with a first ovarian cancer diagnosis as the main reason for hospital stay after an event-free period. We assessed the duration and cost of ovarian cancer treatment sequences as well as the evolution of hospital patient volume over time.

RESULTS
The average age-adjusted incidence rate was 14.6 per 100,000 women per year between 2004 and 2012. This rate is substantially higher (+35.5%) than the corresponding rate published by the National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration (NICER). Hospital patient volume was low in most cases, with more than 40% of patients treated in hospitals with fewer than 20 cases per year. However, the share of patients treated in hospitals with more than 30 cases per year has increased substantially since 2009.

CONCLUSIONS
We found a substantial difference between the ovarian cancer incidence estimate based on hospital registry data and the corresponding estimate by NICER. The reasons for this substantial difference should be carefully explored. A case-wise comparison could determine whether the difference is due to over- or under-reporting in one of the two registries. The low ovarian cancer patient volume in many hospitals is in conflict with the numbers required for certified specialised cancer centres. The recent increase in patient volume in specialised cancer centres, however, might reflect a growing understanding of the needs and requirements of comprehensive cancer care.


This study provides insight into how social relationship factors influence on electronic Word-of-Mouth (EWOM) behaviors in social networking sites. By using the sample from Taiwan and Vietnam college students - who spend more time on social networking sites, we investigate these determinants of EWOM behaviors such as social capital, trust and interpersonal influences, and compare the results between Taiwanese and Vietnamese samples. Simple regression analysis was utilized to examine the three hypotheses through a questionnaire designed on the Likert seven-point scale. The results indicated that bonding social capital and interpersonal influence have positively significant influence on EWOM behaviors, and there are different about some factors between Taiwan and Vietnam. Taiwan consumers are found to have more bonding social capital, trust and normative influence than Vietnam counterparts do.


Twenty four-hour averaged concentrations of ambient PM10 were collected in Taiyuan, China from April 2001 to January 2002. A sum of 14 chemical species in PM10 was analyzed and a combined receptor model (PCA/MLR-CMB) was applied to this speciation data to determine the contributions of major source categories. On stage 1, two factors were extracted by Principle Component Analysis/Multiple Linear Regression (PCA/MLR), while some unknown sources were excluded from the model as un-extracted factors. Each factor might contain more than one actual source categories and was identified as extracted complex source (EC-source). The actual source categories contained in each EC-source were investigated according to the factor loadings and emission inventory. On stage 2, the two EC-sources were separately used as new receptors, and their corresponding actual sources were apportioned by Chemical Mass Balance (CMB). Although near colinearity existing in some source profiles, a total of eight sources were still well estimated: resuspended dust (about 26%), coal combustion (about 18%), cement dust (about 5%), steel manufacture (about 12%), soil dust (about 7%), vehicle exhaust (about 13%), secondary sulfate (about 12%) and secondary nitrate (about 4%). The combined model resolved 97% of PM10 mass concentrations and the evaluation analysis showed the results obtained by the combined model were reasonable.


DynSem is a domain-specific language for concise specification of the dynamic semantics of programming languages, aimed at rapid experimentation and evolution of language designs. DynSem specifications can be executed to interpret programs in the language under development. To enable fast turnaround during language development, we have developed a meta-interpreter for DynSem specifications, which requires minimal processing of the specification. In addition to fast development time, we also aim to achieve fast run times for interpreted programs.
 In this paper we present the design of a meta-interpreter for DynSem and report on experiments with JIT compiling the application of the meta-interpreter on the Graal VM. By interpreting specifications directly, we have minimal compilation overhead. By specializing pattern matches, maintaining call-site dispatch chains and using native control-flow constructs we gain significant run-time performance. We evaluate the performance of the meta-interpreter when applied to the Tiger language specification running a set of common benchmark programs. Specialization enables the Graal VM to JIT compile the meta-interpreter giving speedups of up to factor 15 over running on the standard Oracle Java VM.


The field of exoplanet science has matured over the past two decades with over 3500 confirmed exoplanets. However, many fundamental questions regarding the composition, and formation mechanism remain unanswered. Atmospheres are a window into the properties of a planet, and spectroscopic studies can help resolve many of these questions. For the first part of my dissertation, I participated in two studies of the atmospheres of brown dwarfs to search for weather variations. To understand the evolution of weather on brown dwarfs we conducted a multiepoch study monitoring four cool brown dwarfs to search for photometric variability. These cool brown dwarfs are predicted to have salt and sulfide clouds condensing in their upper atmosphere and we detected one high amplitude variable. Combining observations for all T5 and later brown dwarfs we note a possible correlation between variability and cloud opacity. For the second half of my thesis, I focused on characterizing the atmospheres of directly imaged exoplanets. In the first study Hubble Space Telescope data on HR8799, in wavelengths unobservable from the ground, provide constraints on the presence of clouds in the outer planets. Next, I present research done in collaboration with the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) team including an exploration of the instrument contrast against environmental parameters, and an examination of the environment of the planet in the HD 106906 system. By analyzing archival HST data and examining the near-infrared colors of HD 106906b, we conclude that the companion shows weak evidence of a circumplanetary dust disk or cloud. Finally, I measure the properties of the low mass directly imaged planet 51 Eridani b. We combined published J , H spectra with updated LP photometry, new K1, K2 spectra, and MS photometry. The new data confirms that the planet has redder than similar


Assimilating real-time sensor data into simulations is an effective approach for improving predictive abilities. However, integrating complex simulation models, e.g., discrete event simulation models and agent-based simulation models, is a challenging task. That is because classical data assimilation techniques, such as Kalman Filter, rely on the analytical forms of system transition distribution, which these models do not have. Sequential Monte Carlo methods are a class of most extensively used data assimilation algorithms which recursively estimate system states using Bayesian inference and sampling technique. They are non-parametric filters and thus can work effectively with complex simulation models. Despite of the advantages of Sequential Monte Carlo methods, simulation systems do not automatically fit in data assimilation framework. In most cases, it is a difficult and tedious task to carry out data assimilation for complex simulation models. In addition, Sequential Monte Carlo methods are statistical methods developed by mathematicians while simulation systems are developed by researchers in particular research fields other than math. There is a need to bridge the gap of theory and application and to make it easy to apply SMC methods to simulation applications. This dissertation presents a general framework integrating simulation models and data assimilation, and provides guidance of how to carry out data assimilation for dynamic system simulations. The developed framework formalizes the data assimilation process by defining specifications for both simulation models and data assimilation algorithms. It implements the standard Bootstrap Particle Filtering algorithm and a new Sensor Informed Particle Filter, (SenSim) to support effective data assimilation. The developed framework is evaluated based on the application of wildfire spread simulation, and experiment results show the effectiveness of data assimilation. Besides the framework, we also developed an open source software toolkit named as Data Assimilation Framework Toolkit to make it easy for researchers to carry out data assimilation for their own simulation applications. A tutorial example is provided to demonstrate the data assimilation process using this data assimilation toolkit. INDEX WORDS: Data Assimilation, Sequential Monte Carlo methods, particle filter, simulation, sensor, general framework,toolkit SEQUENTIAL MONTE CARLO BASED DATA ASSIMILATION FRAMEWORK AND TOOLKIT FOR DYNAMIC SYSTEM SIMULATIONS


Background : Senggugu (Clerondendron serratum Spreng) is known in gurah practice because of it's mucolytic effect. Besides that, according to earlier research Senggugu can also be used as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. Clerodendron serratum Spreng will be absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted in vivo. Kidney is the main excretion organ; this is why it is often damaged by toxin substances. The purpose of this research is to determine the changes in Balb/c mice's kidney histological appearance after the administration of Clerodendron serratum Spreng root bark extract gradually for 14 days.
Method : This was a experimental study using the post test only group design. The samples were 24 Balb/c mice with specific criteria and were divided into 4 groups ramdomly, 6 mice each. The control group (K) received no Clerodendron serratum Spreng, while the experimental group P1, P2, and P3 were given the Clerodendron serratum Spreng extract in gradual dose respectively 1; 1,5; 2 g/kg weight of mice in 14 days.
Results : There were proximal tubule damage due to edema in almost every group, extend from mild to severe. The outcome of Kruskal-Wallis Test showed significant differences among all groups (p=0,001). The outcome of Mann-Whitney test between K-P1 group were (p=0.019), between K-P2 group were (p=0,019), between K-P3 group were (p=0,04), between P1-P2 group were (p=0,046), between P1-P3 group were (p=0,020) and between P2-P3 group were (p=0,020).
Conclusion : There were difference in Balb/c mice's kidney histological appearance between the administration and absence of Clerodendron serratum Spreng extract, where the proximal tubules were seen to be destructed due to edema in accordance with the increasing doses..
Keywords : Clerodendron serratum Spreng, Balb/c mice, proximal tubule


Developing software for high-dependable space applications and systems is a formidable task. With new political and market pressures on the space industry to deliver more software at a lower cost, optimization of their methods and standards need to be investigated. The industry has to follow standards that strictly set quality goals and prescribes engineering processes and methods to fulfill them. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate if current use of the standards from the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) is cost efficient and if there are ways to make the process leaner while still maintaining quality and to analyze if their verification and validation (V&V) activities can be optimized. This paper presents results from two industrial case studies of companies in the European space industry that are following ECSS standards in various V&V activities. The case studies reported here focus on how ECSS standards are used by the companies, how that affects their processes and, in the end, how their V&V activities can be further optimized.


Learners frequently do not care about the strategies they use to improve their vocabulary mastery. On the other hand, a strategy is important in learning and increasing for both vocabulary and knowledge. Therefore, the objective of this research is to find out the strategies that the students adopt to improve their vocabulary mastery. A survey method was used in this research. A questionnaire was used based on Vocabulary Learning Strategy Questionnaires (VLSQ) that is designed by Schmitt's Taxonomy. It consisted of 25 items. Data were analyzed by using descriptive analysis. The results showed that the students in this survey are medium strategy users and the metacognitive strategy is the strategy the students of Academy of Foreign Language of Sinema Yogyakarta mostly adopt to improve their vocabulary mastery. It is followed by memory, determination, social (discovery), cognitive and the least is social (consolidation). In the context of English as Foreign Language students, it is suggested to the students and other readers to balance the five strategies in applying them both in learning and in improving their vocabulary mastery.


Six kaolin samples from the Lower Tertiary Huber Formation near Wrens, Georgia were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis, and magnetic susceptibility to characterize the Ti-bearing phases. Selected samples were treated with 5 M NaOH to remove kaolinite and concentrate the Ti-bearing phases for additional analysis. TiO2 content in the bulk fraction ranges from 1.2 to 5.4 wt. %. There are at least three Ti-bearing phases, including anatase, rutile, and a poorly defined nanocrystalline form. Anatase is most abundant and is commonly found with 010 faces in association with kaolinite edge and basal faces. The nanocrystalline form occurs at 0–1 wt. %, and rutile occurs in trace amounts. Bulk XRD analysis correlates well with the bulk TiO2 chemical measurements. Average anatase unit-cell parameters are a = 0.37908 ± 0.0002 nm and c = 0.951 ± 0.001 nm. These parameters indicate an approximate chemical formula of Fe3+0.05Ti4+0.95O1.95(OH)0.05.The distribution of TiO2 content as a function of depth may be useful to obtain original grain-size variations associated with relative sea-level changes responsible for the deposition of the Huber Formation. Evidence for original depositional sediment properties can be seen in the occurrence of pseudomorphic replacement of micas and fecal pellets by kaolinite. Additional evidence for post-depositional changes includes the sub-micrometer euhedral character and low Fe content of the anatase (relative to soil-derived anatase). These observations for the Huber Formation are consistent with a previously published theory for kaolin genesis that includes biomineralization of originally coarser-grained aluminosilicates into a kaolinite-rich ore body.


Assessing the ecological risks of toxic chemicals is most often based on individual-level responses such as survival, reproduction or growth. Such an approach raises the following questions with regard to translating these measured effects into likely impacts on natural populations. (i) To what extent do individual-level variables underestimate or overestimate population-level responses? (ii) How do toxicant-caused changes in individual-level variables translate into changes in population dynamics for species with different life cycles? (iii) To what extent are these relationships complicated by population-density effects? These issues go to the heart of the ecological relevance of ecotoxicology and we have addressed them using the population growth rate as an integrating concept. Our analysis indicates that although the most sensitive individual-level variables are likely to be equally or more sensitive to increasing concentrations of toxic chemicals than population growth rate, they are difficult to identify a priori and, even if they could be identified, integrating impacts on key life-cycle variables via population growth rate analysis is nevertheless a more robust approach for assessing the ecological risks of chemicals. Populations living under density-dependent control may respond differently to toxic chemicals than exponentially growing populations, and greater care needs to be given to incorporating realistic density conditions (either experimentally or by simulation) into ecotoxicological test designs. It is impractical to expect full life-table studies, which record changes in survival, fecundity and development at defined intervals through the life cycle of organisms under specified conditions, for all relevant species, so we argue that population growth rate analysis should be used to provide guidance for a more pragmatic and ecologically sound approach to ecological risk assessment.


A seven-component upper ocean ecosystem model of nitrogen cycling calibrated with observations at Bermuda Station "S" has been coupled to a three-dimensional seasonal general circulation model (GCM) of the North Atlantic ocean. The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the role of upper ocean biological processes in controlling surface chemical distributions, and to develop approaches for assimilating large data sets relevant to this problem. A comparison of model predicted chlorophyll with satellite coastal zone color scanner observations shows that the ecosystem model is capable of responding realistically to a variety of physical forcing environments. Most of the discrepancies identified are due to problems with the GCM model. The new production predicted by the model is equivalent to 2 to 2.8 mol m−2 yr−1 of carbon uptake, or 8 to 12 GtC/yr on a global scale. The southern half of the subtropical gyre is the only major region of the model with almost complete surface nitrate removal (nitrate<0.1 mmol m−3). Despite this, almost the entire model is nitrate limited in the sense that any addition of nitrate supply would go predominantly into photosynthesis. The only exceptions are some coastal upwelling regions and the high latitudes during winter, where nitrate goes as high as ∼10 mmol m−3.


This article presents the findings of a small qualitative study of child-inclusive mediation concerning parenting arrangements after separation. Fourteen parents who had undertaken child-inclusive mediation, and a comparison group of 19 parents who had engaged in mediation without their children being involved, were asked about the outcomes of the mediation process. The parents had all undertaken mediation through Family Relationship Centres in communities with low to average incomes and levels of educational attainment. While participants in both groups reported positive benefits from the mediation process, child-inclusive mediation did not prove to be more beneficial in terms of improving the parental relationship or the likelihood of resolving the dispute. Only 5 parents out of 14 in the child-inclusive group felt that mediation had helped them to resolve some or all of the issues that they went with, compared with 13 out of 19 in the comparison group. Only 4 of the 14 parents in the child-inclusive group, compared with 11 of 19 parents in the comparison group, thought that their relationship with their ex-partner had improved as a consequence of the mediation. The best predictor of resolution overall was not the parents' mediation group, but their levels of acrimony, conflict, and cooperation. Nonetheless, parents perceived that there were benefits from the involvement of children in the process other than achieving better outcomes in terms of dispute resolution, and the experience of having the children seen by a child consultant was generally positive. However, child-inclusive mediation could also lead to disappointment when raised expectations were not fulfilled.


Many catalyst materials have been tried to synthesize ultra-long carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by extending catalyst lifetime and delaying growth termination. We propose a time-controlled, variable composition iron-molybdenum catalyst system, where the diffusion of molybdenum (as a thin layer reservoir) is mediated by the alumina underlayer, to reach and to slowly alloy with the Fe catalyst on the surface during the thermal process. This technique enhanced both the catalytic activity and the catalytic lifetime to grow CNT carpets with heights up 5 mm, compared to a maximum of approximately 1.5 mm for a regular sample (without Mo reservoir). Moreover, the CNT height increased with the thickness of the Mo thin layer reservoir for thicknesses from 10 nm to 30 nm. We discuss this new growth mechanism using high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM) images of cross-section lamellas and Rutherford Back Scattering (RBS) analysis to show the increasing alloying of Mo with Fe. Overall, the proposed technique of mediated diffusion of Mo to the surface with subsequent progressive alloying with the Fe catalyst, besides enhancing CNT height, could allow the one-step synthesis of CNT carpets with regions of different heights based on patterning these regions with different thicknesses of the Mo reservoir during sample preparation.


Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses are known to play a role in increased resistance of plants against soilborne pathogens. Mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not yet well understood. This work investigates possible roles of endoproteolytic activities in bioprotection of Pisum sativum roots by Glomus mosseae against Aphanomyces euteiches. First, it is demonstrated that bioprotection occurs only in pre-mycorrhizal plants. Second, endoproteolytic activities were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively during AM symbiosis, in plants infected with either zoospores or mycelium of A. euteiches, and in mycorrhizal plants infected with the pathogen. In mycorrhizal symbiosis a progressive increase in endoproteolytic activities was observed following root colonization by G. mosseae. By contrast, in roots inoculated with A. euteiches, a drastic increase in endoproteolytic activities was observed which was correlated with the amount of pathogen occurring in roots. Qualitative differences were seen among the endoproteolytic activities detected in roots inoculated with zoospores or mycelium. The constitutive as well as mycorrhizal and pathogen-induced activities were further characterized as 'trypsin-like' serine endoproteases. Interestingly, in a situation of bioprotection, only low levels of the activities normally associated with the infection by A. euteiches were detected, suggesting that the synthesis of these proteins is directly linked to the growth or virulence of the pathogen.


We show that emulsion droplets stabilized by branched copolymers and Laponite clay discs can be assembled into supracolloidal fibers with control of the fiber composition and length. Upon drying they transform into a light-weight highly porous nanocomposite material. We demonstrate that the fibers made from emulsion droplets can be used to release volatile compounds in a time-controlled manner.


The Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway is one of the key signalling pathways orchestrating intricate organogenesis, including the development of neural tube, heart and skeletal muscle. Yet, insufficient mechanistic understanding of its diverse roles is available. Here, we show the molecular mechanisms regulating the neurogenic, cardiogenic and myogenic properties of Hh signalling, via effector protein Gli2, in embryonic and adult stem cells.
In Chapter 2, we show that Gli2 induces neurogenesis, whereas a dominant-negative form of Gli2 delays neurogenesis in P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, a mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell model. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Gli2 associates with Ascl1/Mash1 gene elements in differentiating P19 cells and activates the Ascl1/Mash1 promoter in vitro. Thus, Gli2 mediates neurogenesis in P19 cells at least in part by directly regulating Ascl1/Mash1 expression.
In Chapter 3, we demonstrate that Gli2 and MEF2C bind each other's regulatory elements and regulate each other's expression while enhancing cardiomyogenesis in P19 cells. Furthermore, dominant-negative Gli2 and MEF2C proteins downregulate each other's expression while imparing cardiomyogenesis. Lastly, we show that Gli2 and MEF2C form a protein complex, which synergistically activates cardiac muscle related promoters.
In Chapter 4, we illustrate that Gli2 associates with MyoD gene elements while enhancing skeletal myogenesis in P19 cells and activates the MyoD promoter in vitro. Furthermore, inhibition of Hh signalling in muscle satellite cells and in proliferating myoblasts leads to reduction in MyoD and MEF2C expression. Finally, we demonstrate that endogenous Hh signalling is important for MyoD transcriptional activity and that Gli2, MEF2C and MyoD form a protein complex capable of inducing skeletal muscle-specific gene expression. Thus, Gli2, MEF2C and MyoD participate in a regulatory loop and form a protein complex capable of inducing skeletal muscle-specific gene expression.
Our results provide a link between the regulation of tissue-restricted factors like Mash1, MEF2C and MyoD, and a general signal-regulated Gli2 transcription factor. We therefore provide novel mechanistic insights into the neurogenic, cardiogenic and myogenic properties of Gli2 in vitro, and offer novel plausible explanations for its in vivo functions. These results may also be important for the development of stem cell therapy strategies.


We consider the problem of feature selection for unsupervised anomaly detection (AD) in time-series, where only normal examples are available for training. We develop a method based on exchangeability martingales that only keeps features that exhibit the same pattern (i.e., are i.i.d.) under normal conditions of the observed phenomenon. We apply this to the problem of monitoring a Windows service and detecting anomalies it exhibits if compromised; results show that our method: i) strongly improves the AD system's performance, and ii) it reduces its computational complexity. Furthermore, it gives results that are easy to interpret for analysts, and it potentially increases robustness against AD evasion attacks.


Two assembly modes have been constructed between double-strand DNA-protected silver nanoclusters (AgNCs-dsDNA) and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 main capsid protein L1, respectively, which are well defined by CsCl gradient centrifugation, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The co-assembly leads to a large emission increase of AgNCs-dsDNA attributed to an assembly-induced luminescence enhancement (AILE), and vice versa in disassembly; however, the post-assembly does not. Therefore, a new approach to monitoring the assembly/disassembly of HPV virus-like particles (VLPs) is established accordingly. The study not only presents an AILE phenomenon for silver nanoclusters but also affords an easily performed fluorescence approach to evaluate HPV VLP assembly/disassembly directly, which could be extended to other kinds of metal nanoclusters protected by DNA as well as a kinetic study on the assembly of other species of virus.


The reference wave vector for both scalar and vectorial formulations of the paraxial Helmholtz equation is determined by using various strategies which aim at the optimization of different features of the approximated solution. It turns out that all optimization schemes yield similar results, i.e., an overall optimization of the paraxial Helmholtz equation. A detailed analysis of a benchmark example shows that the reference wave vector must be adapted continuously during beam propagation. However, the required evaluation is so efficient that the additional numerical effort can be neglected.


Pectins are natural polysaccharides, which show great potential in drug delivery systems. Pectins are made of several structural elements the most important of which are the homogalacturonan (HG) and type I rhamnogalacturonan (RG-I) regions. Pectin HG regions consist of poly-galacturonic acid residues, which can be partially methyl-esterified. Pectins with a low degree of methyl esterification (DM) < 50% are known as low methoxyl (LM) pectins and are of particular interest in drug delivery as they can form gels with calcium ions (Ca2+), which has potential applications especially in nasal formulations. An outstanding example, of a delivery using pectin is now utilised (PecSys®) in a nasal product recently approved for commercial sale.The stability (in terms of molar mass, viscosity and gel strength) of pectin formulations potentially plays an important role in their behaviour and functional properties in a wide range of applications and, therefore, any changes over time must be understood. Pectin depolymerise after prolonged storage periods and the rate of depolymerisation is greater at elevated temperatures (40 °C). This results in a decrease in the strength for LM pectin gels; although this decrease in gel strength does not appear to have a detrimental effect on the release of a model drug.


Among the Persian historiographical works written in the Ottoman Empire, the Hasht bihisht (The Eight Paradises) is probably the most important and is often considered a milestone in the development of Ottoman historiography. The first purpose of this article is to provide detailed descriptions of the three oldest extant manuscripts of the work, which Mehmed SUKRU (in his article in Der Islam more than eighty years ago) states are the autographs. These manuscripts are Esad Efendi No. 2197, Nuruosmaniye No. 3209, and Ayasofya No. 3541. The second purpose of this article is to examine the possibility of the existence of the "original wording" of the work. This article addresses the question of whether we need a critical edition of the work, or we already have the "original wording."


Automation of industrial activities is one of the most essential needs in recent years since the operator has smaller role in the process. Creation of the various robotic systems in the different industries causes relaxing the operators from working in hard positions, increases the accuracy, efficiency and velocity in the process and decreases the wastage and price of product. In this paper, the study on melting station and continuous casting line in Mobarakeh Steel Complex is provided. The needs for elimination of difficulties and increasing the automation level of steel slabs casting line with checking the all stations from robotic and automation point of view for stations with the capability of automation system necessitates a suitable robotic system. In this case, selected robot should be able to support the velocity, accuracy, load capacity and other characteristics. Considering the sensitive conditions around the electric arc furnace (E.A.F), a suitable sampling robot with 3-degree freedom in which all three joints moves in revolute form (RRR) has been designed.


Proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 has been shown to be elevated in the sera of ovarian carcinoma patients. The aim of the study was to examine the levels and cellular origin of IL-18, IL-18 binding protein, and IL-18 receptor in normal and cancerous ovarian tissues. Ovarian tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemical staining for IL-18, IL-18BP, and IL-18R and mRNA of these cytokines was analyzed with semiquantitative PT-PCR. IL-18 levels were significantly higher in cancerous ovarian tissues (P = 0.0007), IL-18BP levels were significantly higher in normal ovarian tissues (P = 0.04), and the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP was significantly higher in cancerous ovarian tissues (P = 0.036). Cancerous ovarian tissues expressed significantly higher IL-18 mRNA levels (P = 0.025), while there was no difference in the expression of IL-18BP mRNA and IL-18R mRNA between cancerous and normal ovarian tissues. IL-18 and IL-18BP were expressed dominantly in the epithelial cells of both cancerous and normal ovarian tissues, while IL-18R was expressed dominantly in the epithelial cells of cancerous ovarian tissues but expressed similarly in the epithelial and stromal cells of normal cancerous tissues. This study indicates a possible role of IL-18, IL-18BP, and IL-18R in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.


Salamandra algira is one of the southernmost species of the genus , and most of its ecology remains poorly known. We studied the microhabitat conditions of the sites occupied by several populations of S. algira along an altitudinal gradient, and the use of water bodies for reproduction. The microclimate conditions were analysed at six sites in northern Morocco: one site in Beni Snassen massif ( S. algira spelaea ), two in the Middle Atlas and central Rif mountains ( S. algira splendens ), and three in the western Rif mountains and Peninsula Tingitana ( S. algira tingitana ), where a viviparous population also occurs. The microclimate was characterized using temperature and relative humidity data loggers for a period of two years. We also measured the surface area and depth of the water bodies where we found S. algira larvae. Our results showed an autumn-winter reproductive period for all ovoviviparous populations studied . In most of the aquatic habitats examined, larvae appeared between November and March, although this period could extend to May at higher altitudes. Larval abundance and their size variability did not correlate with water body size or microclimate conditions. The decrease in the number of larvae per water body coincided with the existence of suitable conditions for post-metamorphic dispersal. Salamandra algira occurred in regions with moist conditions (annual average relative humidity greater than 64 %) and with mean annual temperatures of 13.6-18.6 °C, but populations were largely segregated along a gradient of humidity, with some showing higher and more constant values than others. The viviparous population occurs in a region with maritime influence and greater microclimate stability than the other sites studied.


This article presents Scenario of Automation and the networking of academic libraries are still in their formative stages. The reasons for, prerequisites of, and benefits of networking are given. Networking systems at the national and local levels are described, as are the salient features of INFLIBNET, which has been functioning since 1988. There are also three metropolitan networks, viz., DELNET, CALIBNET, and BONET. The libraries of the three metropolitan cities are already reaping the benefits of networking. The constraints of networking in Indian academic libraries are explained. The conclusion is that major information library networks such as INFLIBNET should have a more realistic and time–bound programme.


Enzalutamide is one of the options for treating patients with castration-resistant or metastatic prostate cancer. However, a substantial proportion of patients become resistant to enzalutamide after a period of treatment. Cells in these tumors typically exhibit increased proliferative and migratory capabilities, in which N-cadherin (CDH2) appear to serve an important role. In the present study, by up- and downregulating the expression of CDH2, the possible effects of CDH2 on the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP were investigated. Male sex hormone-sensitive LNCaP cells treated with 10 µM enzalutamide were named LNCaP enzalutamide-resistant (EnzaR) cells. Reverse transcription-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure CDH2, E-cadherin, α-SMA, Snail and Slug expression. Transfection with the pCMV-CDH2 plasmid was performed for CDH2 upregulation, whilst transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-CDH2 was performed for CDH2 downregulation. MTT and Cell Counting Kit-4 assays were used to evaluate the proportion of viable cancer cells. Subsequently, gap closure assay was performed to evaluate the migratory capability of both LNCaP and LNCaP EnzaR cell lines. CDH2 expression was found to be increased in LNCaP EnzaR cells compared with that in LNCaP cells. CDH2 overexpression increased cell viability and migration in both LNCaP and LNCaP EnzaR cell lines. By contrast, the opposite trend was observed after CDH2 expression was knocked down. CDH2 expression also showed a high association with that of four epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, which was confirmed by western blotting. Based on these results, it was concluded that knocking down CDH2 expression using siRNA transfection mediated significant influence on LNCaP EnzaR cell physiology, which may be a potential therapeutic option for prostate cancer treatment.


: The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) axis has emerged as a major therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 mediates its key insulinotropic effects via a G-protein coupled receptor expressed on β -cells and other pancreatic cell types. The insulinotropic activity of GLP-1 is terminated via enzymatic cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-4. Until recently, GLP-1-derived metabolites were generally considered metabolically inactive; however, accumulating evidence indicates some have biological activity that may contribute to the pleiotropic effects of GLP-1 independent of the GLP-1 receptor. Recent reports describing the putative effects of one such metabolite, the GLP-1-derived nonapeptide GLP-1(28-36) amide, are the focus of this review. Administration of the nonapeptide elevates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and activates protein kinase A, β -catenin, and cAMP response-element binding protein in pancreatic β -cells and hepatocytes. In stressed cells, the nonapeptide targets the mitochondria and, via poorly defined mechanisms, helps to maintain mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular adenosine triphosphate levels and to reduce cytotoxicity and apoptosis. In mouse models of diet-induced obesity, treatment with the nonapeptide reduces weight gain and ameliorates associated pathophysiology, including hyperglycemia, hyperinsu-linemia, and hepatic steatosis. Nonapeptide administration in a streptozotocin-induced model of type 1 diabetes also improves glucose disposal concomitant with elevated insulin levels and increased β -cell mass and proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest some of the beneficial effects of GLP-1 receptor analogs may be mediated by the nonapeptide. However, the concentrations required to elicit some of these effects are in the micromolar range, leading to reservations about potentially related therapeutic benefits. Moreover, although controver-sial, concerns have been raised about the potential for incretin-based therapies to promote pancreatitis and pancreatic and thyroid cancers. The effects ascribed to the nonapeptide make it a potential contributor to such outcomes, raising additional questions about its therapeutic suitability. Notwithstanding, the nonapeptide, like other GLP-1 metabolites, appears to be biologically active. Increasing understanding of such noncanonical GLP-1 activities should help to improve future incretin-based therapeutics.


NSVS 14256825 is the second discovered sdOB+dMeclipsing-binary system with an orbital period of 2.65 h. This special binary was reported to contain circumbinary planets or brown dwarfs by using the timing method. However, different results were derived by different authors because of the insufficient coverage of eclipse timings. Since 2008, we have monitored this binary for about 10 yr using several telescopes and 84 new times of light minimum were obtained with high precision. It is found that the O − C curve has been increasing recently and it shows a cyclic variation with a period of 8.83 yr and an amplitude of 46.31 seconds. The cyclic change cannot be explained by magnetic activity cycles of the red dwarf component because the required energy is much larger than that radiated by this component in one whole period. This cyclic change detected in NSVS 14256825 could be explained by the light-travel time effect via the presence of a third body. The lowest mass of the third body is determined to be 14.15Mjup which is in the transition range between planets and brown dwarfs. The substellar object is orbiting around this evolved binary at an orbital separation of around 3AU with an eccentricity of 0.12. These results indicate that NSVS 14256825 is the first sdOB-type eclipsing binary consisting of a hierarchical substellar object. The detection of a close-in substellar companion to NSVS 14256825 will provide some insights on the formation and evolution of sdOB-type binaries and their companions.


Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins are key signalling molecules in metazoans, implicated in various cellular processes. Increased research in the field has resulted in the accumulation of STAT sequence and structure data, which are scattered across various public databases, missing extensive functional annotations, and prone to effort redundancy because of the dearth of community sharing. Therefore, there is a need to integrate the existing sequence, structure and functional data into a central repository, one that is enriched with annotations and provides a platform for community contributions. Herein, we present STATdb (publicly available at http://statdb.bic.nus.edu.sg/), the first integrated resource for STAT sequences comprising 1540 records representing the known STATome, enriched with existing structural and functional information from various databases and literature and including manual annotations. STATdb provides advanced features for data visualization, analysis and prediction, and community contributions. A key feature is a meta-predictor to characterise STAT sequences based on a novel classification that integrates STAT domain architecture, lineage and function. A curation policy workflow has been devised for regulated and structured community contributions, with an update policy for the seamless integration of new data and annotations.


We present a method for extracting depth information from a rectified image
pair. Our approach focuses on the first stage of many stereo algorithms: the
matching cost computation. We approach the problem by learning a similarity
measure on small image patches using a convolutional neural network. Training
is carried out in a supervised manner by constructing a binary classification
data set with examples of similar and dissimilar pairs of patches.

We examine two network architectures for learning a similarity measure on image
patches. The first architecture is faster than the second, but produces
disparity maps that are slightly less accurate. In both cases, the input to the
network is a pair of small image patches and the output is a measure of
similarity between them. Both architectures contain a trainable feature
extractor that represents each image patch with a feature vector. The
similarity between patches is measured on the feature vectors instead of the
raw image intensity values. The fast architecture uses a fixed similarity
measure to compare the two feature vectors, while the accurate architecture
attempts to learn a good similarity measure on feature vectors.

The output of the convolutional neural network is used to initialize the stereo
matching cost. A series of post-processing steps follow: cross-based cost
aggregation, semiglobal matching, a left-right consistency check, subpixel
enhancement, a median filter, and a bilateral filter.

We evaluate our method on the KITTI 2012, KITTI 2015, and Middlebury stereo
data sets and show that it outperforms other approaches on all three data sets.


The CCR5 receptor and its ligands CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 contribute to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. We have shown that smooth muscle CCR5 mediates vasoconstriction in human blood vessels that is antagonised by maraviroc, an anti-HIV drug. Maraviroc is reported to have low affinity for rodent CCR5. Therefore, our aim was to pharmacologically characterise vasoconstrictor responses to the selective CCR5 ligand CCL4 in the human CCR5 knock-in mouse, to determine whether human CCR5 is activated by the endogenous mouse ligand CCL4. Concentration-response curves to human CCL4, mouse CCL4 and control agonists phenylephrine and U-46619 were constructed in aorta from wild type and human CCR5 knock-in animals, set up in wire myographs. Responses were expressed as a per cent of the response to 100 mM KCl. Data were analysed to determine potency (pD2) and maximum response (EMAX %KCl). Values were expressed as mean±SEM and n-values are the number of mice. Responses to phenylephrine and U-46619 were not different between the two groups. The potency of human CCL4 was not different (knock-in pD2=9.59±0.23, n=10; wild type pD2=9.12±0.36, n=4) but the maximum response in the human CCR5 knock-in mouse aorta was significantly greater (EMAX=26.1±6.0%) than control (EMAX=8.0±2.3%) (p<0.05). Importantly, responses were obtained to the endogenous ligand, mouse CCL4, in the human knock-in animal (knock-in pD2 8.98±0.34, EMAX=16.4±5.4% n=8) as well as wild type (pD2=10.46±0.16, EMAX=14.3±8.2%, n=5). These data support the use of the human CCR5 knock-in mouse in further studies to evaluate the potential of maraviroc in atherosclerosis.


Phlox paniculata Lyon ex Pursh 'Eva Cullum' plants were grown under seven photoperiods following 0 or 15 weeks of 5 °C to determine the effects of photoperiod and cold treatment on flowering. Photoperiods were a 9-hour day extended with incandescent lamps to 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, or 24 hours; an additional treatment was a 9-hour day with a 4-hour night interruption (NI). Noncooled plants remained vegetative under photoperiods ≤13 hours; as the photoperiod increased from 14 to 24 hours, flowering percentage increased from 20 to 89. Flowering of noncooled plants took 73 to 93 days. Flowering percentage was 19, 50, or 100 when cooled plants were held under photoperiods of 10, 12, or ≥13 hours or NI, respectively. Time to flower in cooled plants progressively decreased from 114 to 64 days as the photoperiod increased from 10 to 24 hours. Reproductive cooled plants had at least three times more flowers, were at least 50% taller, were more vigorous, and developed seven or eight more nodes than did noncooled plants. Photoperiod had no effect on height of flowering plants.


BACKGROUND
Eosinophils are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of corneal lesions in ocular allergies. The regulation of chemokine production in corneal cells by the Th2 cytokine, interleukin 4 (IL-4), was examined in order to investigate its role in ocular allergies.

METHODS
Pure cultures of human corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes were exposed to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or IL-4. 24 hours after exposure, culture supernatants were removed and concentrations of IL-8 and RANTES were quantified by ELISA assay.

RESULTS
Simultaneous addition of IL-4 inhibited TNF-alpha induced IL-8 production in both corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes. TNF-alpha and IL-4 synergistically stimulated the production of RANTES in keratocytes.

CONCLUSION
Differential regulation of chemokine production from corneal cells by IL-4 may play a role in the selective recruitment of predominantly eosinophils to the ocular surface in ocular allergies.


Two inductorless wideband low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) fabricated in a 65-nm CMOS process are presented. By using the gain-enhanced noise-canceling technique, the gain at noise-cancelling condition is increased, while the input matching is maintained. The first work is a common-source LNA with resistive shunt feedback. It achieves a maximum power gain of 10.5 dB, a bandwidth of 10 GHz, a noise figure (NF) of 2.7-3.3 dB, and an IIP3 of -3.5 dBm. The power consumption is 13.7 mW from a 1-V supply, and the area is 0.02 mm 2. The second work is a common-gate LNA. It achieves a maximum power gain of 10.7 dB, a bandwidth of 5.2 GHz, a NF of 2.9-5.4 dB, and an IIP3 of -6 dBm. The power consumption is 7 mW from a 1-V supply, and the area is 0.03 mm 2. Experimental results demonstrate that the first LNA shows the largest bandwidth, and the second LNA has the lowest power consumption among the inductorless wideband LNAs.


The acute onset and/or rapid increase in size and number of multiple seborrheic keratoses associated with internal malignancy is called sign of Leser-Trélat. Although some authors reject its existence, there are more than 80 well-documented case reports in the literature. Here, we report a 75-year-old man who presented with abrupt appearance of multiple seborrheic keratoses without any suspicious symptom of cancer. The screening for malignant neoplasms let us detect a rectal adenocarcinoma that was in a curative stage. This case-report illustrates a true sign of Leser-Trélat, and proves that these patients must be appropriately investigated for underlying malignancy.


One of the characteristics of object-oriented software is the complex dependency that may exist between classes due to inheritance, association and aggregation relationships. Hence, where to start testing and how to define an integration strategy are issues that require further investigation. This paper presents an approach to define a test order by exploiting a model produced during design stages (e.g., using OMT, UML), namely the class diagram. Our goal is to minimize the number of stubs to be constructed in order to decrease the cost of testing. This is done by testing a class after the classes it depends on. The novelty of the test order lies in the fact that it takes account of: (i) dynamic (polymorphism) dependencies; (ii) abstract classes that cannot be instantiated, making some testing levels infeasible. The test order is represented by a graph showing which testing levels must be done in sequence and which ones may be done independently. It also provides information about the classes involved in each level and how they are involved (e.g., instantiation or not). The approach is implemented in a tool called TOONS (testing level generator for object-oriented software). It is applied to an industrial case study from the avionics domain.


This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Nina Danino.
In Stabat Mater (1990, 8 mins) Nina Danino draws influence from French feminist theory and her Mediterranean Catholic upbringing to investigate female subjectivity and desire, with a particular attention to the immediate and unmediated voice. Laments sung by her mother bookend a recitation by Danino herself of fragments from the famous Molly Bloom soliloquy at the end of James Joyce's Ulysses, while a handheld camera captures a torrent of images including a luscious blue sky, palms, a statue of the Virgin, roses and a satellite dish.
Stabat Mater, dir. Nina Danino, 1990, 8 mins.
Jennifer (2015, 72 mins) also shows concern with the sacred, with voice and with silence. In this portrait of an enclosed Carmelite nun, Danino explores what it might mean to live a contemplative life in the 21st century following the legacy of St Teresa, whose writings and representation in Bernini's famous statue Ecstasy of St. Teresa Danino previously explored in her 1992 film Now I Am Yours. Founder of the Discalced Carmelites and known for her visionary creativity, St Teresa also wrote The Way of Perfection, a practical guide to prayer and community life, which the nuns still use and which is quoted in the film. We are led to consider the difficulties and rewards of those like Jennifer who feel called upon to undertake a life dedicated to prayer and work – what St. Teresa calls a 'sublime endeavour'.


Integrated circuit technology has evolved from micro-controllers and discrete components to fully integrating a large system on a single chip (SoC). Today, verification is the most expensive component in the design cycle in term of cost and time. This cost is estimated to consume about 70% to 80% of the total design effort. The verification cost is expected to increase for SoC designs. This is mainly due to the increase in complexity and to the shrinking of the product design cycle. For example, the color TV took over 10 years to sell 1 million units, while the DVD player took just over a year. This shrinking of the design cycle is going to put more pressure on increasing designer productivity which is affected directly by the cost of verification. For these reasons, verification of complex designs is becoming a bottleneck in the process of producing integrated SoC systems. This tutorial provides an overview of emerging directions in formal verification and a discussion of new tools being developed in industry and research directions to enable automated verification of next generation systems on a chip. The tutorial will begin with a comprehensive overview of techniques for formally verifying complex designs. It will include the fundamental theory, applicability to different types of VLSI designs, as well as the performance and limitations of various approaches. The focus will be on Formal methods and will include both equivalence checking and property checking. Formal equivalence checking methods (between RTL and gate levels) incorporated into industry tools will be described, as well as new techniques for checking the equivalence between electronic system languages (such as SystemC) and RTL. The basics of property checking techniques in existing tools will be described, including the basics of model checking, and search algorithms that automatically show the correctness/violation of a property. Limitation and benefits of both SATisfiability and automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) based bounded model property checking (BMC) will be described. In order to deal with complexity, powerful model abstractions which can be automatically generated from static analysis of the RTL descriptions will be introduced. These include functional partitioning, static slicing and antecedent conditional slicing. These techniques can be used with existing tools to reduce their CPU and memory requirements while producing exactly the same results. This would be of particular interest to verification engineers and designers


14-3-3 proteins are ubiquitous in eukaryotes associated with many fundamental functions in signal transduction pathways and cell cycle regulation. Protein kinase C comprises a large family of serine/threonine protein kinases that are involved in cell growth and differentiation. Different protein kinase C isozymes have distinct roles in signal transduction pathways; protein kinase C epsilon is of particular interest because its overexpression leads to oncogenic transformation. The 14-3-3 protein has been reported to regulate the activity of protein kinase C, although the nature of its effect is equivocal. In this study we report the differential activation of various protein kinase C isoforms by 14-3-3 zeta protein. The classical isozymes show approximately a twofold activation, protein kinase C delta shows no significant increase in activity, whereas protein kinase C epsilon, another novel isozyme, is highly activated. This activation shows strong positive cooperativity with a Hill coefficient of 6.1 +/- 0.2.


The nuclear decay characteristics of 225Ac (Eα = 5-8 MeV, linear energy transfer (LET) = ∼100 keV/μm, t1/2 = 9.92 days) are well recognized as advantageous for the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors; however, suitable chelation systems are required, which can accommodate this radiometal. Since 225Ac does not possess any suitable low-energy, high abundance γ-ray emissions for nuclear imaging, there is a clear need for the development of other companion radionuclides with similar coordination characteristics and comparable half-lives, which can be applied in diagnostics. H4picoopa was designed and executed as a high-denticity ligand for chelation of [225Ac]Ac3+, and the complexation characteristics have been explored through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, solution thermodynamic stability studies, and radiolabeling. The ligand shows highly favorable complexation with La3+ (pM = 17.6), Lu3+ (pM = 21.3), and In3+ (pM = 31.2) and demonstrates effective radiolabeling of both [225Ac]Ac3+ and [111In]In3+ ions achieving quantitative radiochemical conversions (RCCs) under mild conditions (RT, 10 min), accompanied by high serum stability (>97% radiochemical purity (RCP) over 6 days). A bifunctional analogue of H4picoopa was synthesized and conjugated to the Pip-Nle-CycMSHhex peptide for targeting of MC1R positive melanoma tumors. In vivo single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and biodistribution studies of the 111In-radiolabeled bioconjugate in mice bearing B16-F10 tumors showed good radiotracer stability, although improved tumor targeting could not be achieved for imaging purposes. This work highlights H4picoopa as a very promising platform for application of [225Ac]Ac3+ and [111In]In3+ as a theranostic pair and allows great versatility for the incorporation of other directing vectors. The logical synthetic approach reported here for bifunctional H4picoopa, involving an azide-functionalized covalent linker and CuI-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition, allows for ease of optimization of bioconjugate pharmacokinetics and will be valuable for further radiopharmaceutical applications moving forward.


As an adaptation to life in a world with predictable daily changes, most eukaryotes and some prokaryotes have endogenous circadian (approximately 24 h) clocks. In plants, the circadian clock regulates a diverse range of cellular and physiological events from gene expression and protein phosphorylation to cellular calcium oscillations, hypocotyl growth, leaf movements, and photoperiod-dependent flowering. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), as in other model organisms, such as Drosophila (Drosophila melanogaster) and mice, circadian rhythms are generated by molecular oscillators that consist of interlocking feedback loops involving a number of elements. CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1) and LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYLS (LHY) are closely related single myb transcription factors that have been identified as key elements in the Arabidopsis oscillator. Research in other model organisms has shown that posttranslational regulation of oscillator components plays a critical role in the generation of the approximately 24-h cycles. To examine the role of posttranslational regulation of CCA1 and LHY in the Arabidopsis oscillator, we generated transgenic plants with tagged CCA1 and LHY under the control of their own promoters. We have shown that these tagged proteins are functional and can restore normal circadian rhythms to CCA1- and LHY-null plants. Using the tagged proteins, we demonstrate that CCA1 can form both homodimers and heterodimers with LHY. Furthermore, we also show that CCA1 is localized to the nucleus in vivo and that there is no significant delay between the translation of CCA1 and its translocation to the nucleus. We discuss our findings in the context of the functioning of the Arabidopsis oscillator.


Metropolitan area networks (MANs) are well suited to serve as broadband multiplexers for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, to facilitate enterprise networking and to support future wireless personal communication systems. We propose and analyze a novel reservation arbitrated (RA) access method which provides isochronous voice transport over dual-bus MANs while enabling statistical multiplexing among voice calls. In combination with a new cyclic capturing (CC) mechanism, RA access allows stations to capture and reserve isochronous voice channels in a fair and distributive manner. This paper presents the RA access protocol, derives an analytical model for general waste-free voice reservation protocols, and analyzes the performance of RA access by computer simulations validated by analytical calculations. To assess the actual voice quality, simulation results based on a real voice signal are also presented. Results indicate that RA access offers significant improvements in channel utilization, as compared to prearbitrated (PA) access, while providing an acceptable quality of service. Therefore, RA access offers an efficient voice transport mechanism for existing switched multimegabit data service (SMDS) networks employing the IEEE 802.6 protocol, as well as emerging ATM/MAN-based broadband networks.


Theoretical models for the description of microdialysis outflow:inflow (O/I) ratio for 3H2O and [14C]ethanol were developed, taking into account the nutritive fraction of total blood flow in muscle. The models yielded an approximately exponential decay expression for the O/I ratio, dependent on the physical dimensions of a linear probe (length and radius), the flow rate through the probe, muscle blood flow (including the nutritive fraction) and the diffusion coefficients for the tracer in the probe and muscle. The models compared favourably with experimental data from the constant‐flow perfused rat hindlimb. Estimates of the nutritive fraction of total blood flow from experimental data were determined by minimizing the error between model and experimental data. The nutritive fraction was found to be 0.22 ± 0.04 under basal perfusion conditions. When 70 nm noradrenaline (norepinephrine) was included in the perfusion medium, the nutritive fraction was 0.91 ± 0.06 (P < 0.05). The inclusion of 300 nm serotonin, decreased the nutritive fraction to 0.05 ± 0.01 (P < 0.05). This model can be applied to the determination of nutritive fraction of skeletal muscle blood flow in physiologically relevant microvascular conditions such as during exercise and in disease states.


Manufacturing scheduling is an optimization process that allocates limited manufacturing resources over time among parallel and sequential manufacturing activities. This allocation must obey a set of rules or constraints that reflect the temporal relationships between manufacturing activities and the capacity limitations of a set of shared resources. The allocation also affects a schedule's optimality with respect to criteria such as cost, lateness, or throughput. The globalization of manufacturing makes such optimization increasingly important. To survive in this competitive market, manufacturing enterprises must increase their productivity and profitability through greater shop floor agility. Agent-based manufacturing scheduling systems are a promising way to provide this optimization.


Drawing from the work of Andrew Dobson, two notions of citizenship in civil society can be distinguished: environmental citizenship, which focuses on environmental rights and seeks to redefine the relationship between the state and the citizen; and ecological citizenship, which goes beyond a rights-based notion of citizenship to advocate the fair usage of ecological space across international borders. Using civil society initiatives to conserve forests, this article argues that these two notions of citizenship should be seen as overlapping in that civil society groups seek to work through national and international law to reduce the ecological footprint of some countries on others. The article concludes by drawing a distinction between the environmental state and the ecological state.


In this paper, the results of blast optimization studies for rock units of celestite open pit mine located in Sivas-Ula region have been presented and discussed. An extensive two years research programme was carried out to determine the optimum blasting conditions for five different rock units of this mine. Initially, the digging difficulty classifications of rock units had been done according to the current classification systems by using the results of field and laboratory studies. Then for gypsum, anhydride and celestite units, the optimum blasting conditions were obtained by trial-and-error method considering the applied blasting model and rock properties. Loader and/or primary crusher performances and unit cost were taken into consideration in order to analyse blast efficiency. In addition, to predict specific charge for practical purposes, an empirical formula was developed depending on two rock properties (unit weight and toughness) obtained easily and also some relationships between specific charge and rock properties were established by using multiple regression analysis.


I develop an analytically tractable model that integrates the risk-shifting problem between bondholders and shareholders with the moral hazard problem between shareholders and the manager. The presence of managerial moral hazard exacerbates the risk-shifting problem. An optimal contract binds shareholders and the manager. The exibility of this contract allows shareholders to relax the incentive constraint of the manager when a good pro tability shock is drawn. Hence, the optimal contract ampli es the upside thereby increasing shareholder appetite for risk-shifting. Moreover, some empirical studies nd a positive relation between risk-shifting and leverage, while others studies nd a negative relation. The model predicts a non-monotonic relation between risk-shifting and leverage and has the potential to reconcile this empirical evidence. Implications for capital structure, business cycles and executive compensation are also considered. JEL Classi cation: D86


This paper assesses the adverse affects of globalization within the economical, domestic, political and cultural domain in the lives of Indian women. It scrutinizes the implications of liberalization within decentralized and formal sector, consumerexpenditure patterns, commodity and goods market and commercial advertizing. It highlights the plight of rural and tribal women in the wake of new economic policies leading to illiteracy, poverty, unjust wages, violence, health hazards, domestic labor and debasement of women. It brings to light how the government fails in devising a gender sensitive advancement program. The paper also discusses how the commercial advertizing weaves the myth of the new Indian women based on a distortion of actual women's exploitation under globalization while concurrently and congruently strengthening culturally stereotypical notions of gender. It stresses on how globalization has strengthened existing patriarchies and spawned neo forms of oppression ultimately setting up new challenges for feminist struggle in India.


Robots are employed in variety of applications and are available in a wide range of configurations. The need to respond to the environment without using the nervous system's efferent pathways has initiated a new interaction system that can boost and speed up the human sensor-effector system. To maximize human and machine interaction, Human Threading TM technique has been developed to merge the observations made in human cognitive system, neuro-anatomical structures, finite state machines and their associated relationships. The Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is used to create a robust communication system that can interpret human intentions and cognitive emotions reflected by appropriate brain signals into control signals for robotic manipulations. Efficient brain- computer interfaces use efficient neural signal recording devices that are able to record neural signals continuous over long periods of time through Positron Emission Tomography (PET), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), functional Near-Infrared Imaging (fNIR), Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electrocorticographic (ECoG) methods. The paper presents critical review of the brain-computer interface system and robotics for manufacturing applications.


The spread of early farming across Europe from its origins in Southwest Asia was a culturally transformative process which took place over millennia. Within regions, the pace of the transition was probably related to the particular climatic and environmental conditions encountered, as well as the nature of localized hunter–gatherer and farmer interactions. The establishment of farming in the interior of the Balkans represents the first movement of Southwest Asian livestock beyond their natural climatic range, and widespread evidence now exists for early pottery being used extensively for dairying. However, pottery lipid residues from sites in the Iron Gates region of the Danube in the northern Balkans show that here, Neolithic pottery was being used predominantly for processing aquatic resources. This stands out not only within the surrounding region but also contrasts markedly with Neolithic pottery use across wider Europe. These findings provide evidence for the strategic diversity within the wider cultural and economic practices during the Neolithic, with this exceptional environmental and cultural setting offering alternative opportunities despite the dominance of farming in the wider region.


Objective: To study and analyse the pattern of injuries among non-fatal road traffic crash victims.
Design: Retrospective analytical study.
Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi over a six-month period from February to July 2004.
Subjects: Road traffic crashes victims treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi during the period under study.
Results: One thousand four hundred and twenty four victims of road traffic crashes were treated over a sixmonth period. The male: female ratio was 3:1 and the pedestrians were the majority (69.7%). The commonest injuries were fractures (69.0%) and the tibia/fibula being the most fractured bones (30.3%). Age group 15-44 years was the most affected (81.9%). There was one incidence of a ruptured eye in a passenger.
Conclusion: Road traffic injuries are a major cause of death and disability globally with disproportionate number occurring in the developing countries. The most affected age group 15-44 years lead to double tragedy to these countries with loss of productive man-hours and expenditure incurred to treat them.


H1 histones were examined in testes and somatic organs from mice and rabbits. They were extracted from washed chromatin by aqueous 5% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid and analyzed by several electrophoretic systems as well as column chromatography employing Bio-Rex 70. In each species the testicular H1 population contains at least two components that are scarce or absent in the somatic organs examined. The unusual testicular species do not appear to be phosphorylated derivatives. The studies in this and the accompanying report [Seyedin, S.M., & Kistler, W.S. (1979) biochemistry 18 (preceding paper in this issue) confirm that marked changes from the isomatic type H1 population are associated with spermatogenesis in mice, rabbits, and rats. However, in terms of electrophoretic and chromatographic behavior, the pattern of change in species specific.