A coronary artery-to-left ventricular fistula is a rare finding; to the best of our knowledge, a total of only 35 cases have been reported. Only 5 cases of a generalized arterio-systemic fistula with three vessel involvement have been reported in the literature. We describe another case involving all major coronary arteries. A review of the literature is presented and the data of the reported cases are analyzed. A 55 year old woman was examined because of recurrent chest pain which had persisted for 2 years. On physical examination, the only abnormal finding was a fourth heart sound. Exertional chest pain, a positive exercise stress test, and the results of a lactate extraction study suggested severe myocardial ischemia. Thallium myocardial scintigraphy showed no evidence of a perfusion defect. Cardiac catheterization revealed an irregular left ventricular endocardial pattern (Thebesian veins). Selective coronary angiography showed communicating fistulae of all three major coronary arteries with the left ventricular cavity. We assume that this vascular anomaly causes a coronary steal phenomenon and subsequent myocardial ischemia.


Abstract Pre-service teachers who had completed their practicum or student teaching and in-service teachers in their first 3 years of teaching (n = 218) completed open-ended surveys about their beliefs and fears of school violence and rated their fears for such acts as use of weapons and the likelihood of those acts about their fears about schools and school violence. There were significant differences between pre-service and in-service teachers in their rankings of fearful events and the perceived likelihood of these events using t-tests to compare the groups. The informants reported being most afraid of guns or other weapons or other forms of dangerous violence (hostage taking, an outside stranger coming in and threatening their students, and so on). These fears were significantly correlated with their beliefs in the likelihood that these events would happen. Open-ended questions revealed that pre-service teachers tended to be more afraid for their personal safety and personal failure in a crisis situation and in-service classroom teachers tended to be more afraid for their students' safety. The implications for teacher education and preparing teachers to address school violence are discussed.


Graph representation learning (GRL) has recently drawn a lot of attention due to its advantage in solving various machine learning tasks on graphs/networks, ranging from drug design to recommendation systems. One typical GRL approach is graph embedding, the purpose of which is to learn a map that encodes or represents network elements as points in a low-dimensional vector space so that downstream machine learning methods can be easily implemented. Initially, most graph embedding algorithms learn such a map independently from subsequent machine learning tasks. Therefore, they have limitations in solving supervised machine learning tasks on networks. Later, a great deal of graph convolutional networks (GCNs) have been proposed to learn node representations in an end-to-end manner based on different information aggregation mechanisms. By treating network structure as a computational layer in a GCN, the associated information of nodes with higher-order proximity can be aggregated by increasing the number of layers (i.e., depth) of the GCN. As a consequence, the computational overhead will increase and the representations will be projected towards a steady state. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a multi-channel graph convolutional network (MCGCN) that allows higher-order information aggregation by enriching the number of input channels. Based on the notion of Katz index, our model can further achieve an arbitrary order of information aggregation without increasing the computational overhead. Comprehensive experiments on several benchmark networks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture by comparing it with the-state-of-art GRL methods in terms of node classification and computational efficiency.


Abstract The future of the nation and the Danish welfare state is one of the most important political issues today. The transition in neoliberal governance from welfare state to security state, the ongoing securitization of global and European mobility, the restructuring of public services and the re‐scaling of political and economic power has made the debate around the welfare state central. In this article I take an approach to the welfare nation state that is based on the practices and narratives of everyday life. The argument is that narrative practices in everyday life constitute a central sphere inviting studies of the struggle over the welfare community and meaning. The empirical material draws on two recent research projects that include narratives and perspectives from minority and majority population in Denmark. By analysing different perspectives on the nation the article intends to open up for both shared narratives on the welfare state but also differences in the ongoing struggle over the right to the nation.


Title devised by Library staff.
Slide used for the presentation: "A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim" by Dr. Alice S. Kandell and Hope Cooke, Library of Congress, March 13, 2010. Webcast available at: http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4912
Forms part of: Dr. Alice S. Kandell Collection of Sikkim Photographs (Library of Congress).
Also represented in LOT 14034-1, pg. no. 006 (color reference copy).
Gift; Dr. Alice S. Kandell; 2010; (DLC/PP-2010:106).


Adolescent suicide is the leading cause of death among South Korean (Korean) youth. Despite great efforts being made towards suicide prevention in Korea, the suicide rate has not decreased significantly. There is an urgent need for a new adolescent suicide prevention strategy. This paper describes the seriousness of the issue of adolescent suicide in Korea, evaluates its current management by the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and further recommends a new suicide prevention programme that integrates national/social involvement (State Suicide Intervention Committee, suicide posts' monitoring, parental divorce information sharing and Adolescence Mental Health Promotion Foundation), school-based programmes (continuous monitoring system, psychology consultation team and mental health educational curricula) and family-based programmes (parental education and family-school communication). In addition, genetic analysis, biochemical tests and psychological disease registration are the indispensable elements that aid in suicidal behaviour prevention and prediction.


CD36 expressed in multiple cell types regulates inflammation, vascular function, and innate immunity. Specifically, CD36 in microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) signals to elicit inflammation and causes EC death. This study investigated roles for EC-CD36 on acute stroke pathology in normal and obese conditions. Obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HD) selectively increased CD36 expression in ECs, not in monocytes/macrophages, in the post-ischemic brain. Mice deficient CD36 in ECs (ECCD36−/−) showed reduced injury size and vascular permeability in normal conditions. While control mice fed a HD developed obesity and aggravated stroke injury, ECCD36−/− mice were resistant to develop an obesity phenotype. Subjecting ECCD36−/− mice to stroke resulted in reduced injury size and BBB disruption. Moreover, the mice had reduced MCP-1 and CCR2 gene expression, resulting in reduced monocyte trafficking with improved survival and acute motor function. Reduced MCP-1 and CCR2 expression was still evident in ECCD36−/− mice subjected to severe stroke, suggesting that monocyte trafficking is an infarct-independent metabolic effect associated with specific EC-CD36 deletion. Our findings demonstrate the importance of EC-CD36 in developing vascular comorbidities and suggest that targeting EC-CD36 is a potential preventative strategy to normalize vascular risk factors, leading to improved acute stroke outcomes.


The dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride (CT) by Fe(II) associated with goethite in the presence of transition metal ions was investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) were used to characterize the chemical states and crystal phases of transition metals on solid phases, respectively. CT was dechlorinated to chloroform (CF) by 3 mM Fe(II) in 10 mM goethite (25.6 m2 L(-1)) suspensions. The dechlorination followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and a rate constant (k(obs)) of 0.036 h(-1) was observed. Transition metal ions have different effects on CT dechlorination. The addition of Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) lowered the k(obs) for CT dechlorination, whereas the amendment of 0.5 mM Cu(II) into the Fe(II)-Fe(III) system significantly enhanced the efficiency and the rate of CT dechlorination. The k(obs) for CT dechlorination with 0.5 mM Cu(II) was 1.175 h(-1), which was 33 times greater than that without Cu(II). Also, the dechlorination of CT by surface-bound iron species is pH-dependent, and the rate constants increased from 0.008 h(-1) at pH 4.0 to 1.175 h(-1) at pH 7.0. When the solution contained Cu(II) and Fe(II) without goethite, a reddish-yellow precipitate was formed, and the concentration of Fe(ll) decreased with the increase in Cu(II) concentration. XPS and XRPD analyses suggested the possible presence of Cu2O and ferrihydrite in the precipitate. Small amounts of aqueous Cu(I) were also detected, reflecting the fact that Cu(II) was reduced to Cu(I) by Fe(II). A linear relationship between k(obs) for CT dechlorination and the concentration of Cu(II) was observed when the amended Cu(II) concentration was lower than 0.5 mM. Moreover, the k(obs) for CT dechlorination was dependent on the Fe(II) concentration in the 0.5 mM Cu(II)-amended goethite system and followed a Langmuir-Hinshelwood relationship. These results clearly indicate that Fe(II) serves as the bulk reductant to reduce both CT and Cu(II). The resulting Cull) can further act as a catalyst to enhance the dechlorination rate of chlorinated hydrocarbons in iron-reducing environments.


Since the 1970s, Sahrawi refugees have depended upon humanitarian assistance and political support offered by a variety of secular and faith-based non-governmental organizations. In this article I explore the ways in which Sahrawi refugees' political representatives (the Polisario Front) have mobilized religiously-related claims to maximize diverse short- and long-term benefits both inside and outside the camps. In light of the contemporary geopolitical context, including localized concerns regarding 'Islamism' and 'terrorism' in North Africa, I argue that notions of 'secularism' and 'religious tolerance' have been invoked during interactions with different non-Sahrawi audiences to demonstrate the 'ideal' nature of the Sahrawi camps. In particular, the presence and activism of American evangelical humanitarians are invoked by the Polisario Front to demonstrate the 'ideal' nature of the camps as spaces of 'religious tolerance' and 'inter-faith dialogue'. However, the presence of evangelical humanitarians equally has the potential to create an irreconcilable rupture not only with other, non-evangelical donors (including 'secular' Spanish 'Friends of the Sahrawi'), but also between the Polisario and the very refugees which this organization purports to represent. I conclude the article by arguing that rather than creating a dialogic process between refugees and both secular- and faith-based humanitarians, maintaining the appearance of 'religious tolerance' is ultimately founded upon a system of repress-entation which purposefully centralizes certain groups, identifiers and dynamics whilst simultaneously displacing and marginalizing the potential for debate and contestation.


Abstract:The following comparison of Cicero's Verrines with Barack Obama's 2008 campaign rhetoric reveals the parallelism between these candidates' stylistic responses to the challenges of novitas, as they turn obstacle into advantage and transform change into tradition. Through similar stylistic means, these candidates demonstrate their unique ability to preserve their respective political communities thanks to their positions as both outsiders and insiders who possess "double vision." Cicero's distinctive rhetoric of novitas, which is an enduring contribution to republican politics, is a model for the campaigns of outsider candidates like Obama who seek to sustain, not break with, the classical republican tradition.


The solid-state bonding of metals, e.g. diffusion bonding, friction welding, and inertial welding, is finding increasing use in the fabrication of structural components. A summary is presented of recent progress toward the development of nondestructive techniques to monitor the quality of such bonds. Emphasis is placed on the characterization of a particular microstructural origin of bond weakness, a distributed array of microcracks in the bond plane. Included is a discussion of theories for the interaction of ultrasound with such distributed defects, results of model experiments designed to validate the theories, and applications of techniques based on the resulting understanding to fracture studies of bonded surfaces and to inspection of aircraft engine turbine rotors.<<ETX>>


Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) is a highly researched insect neuropeptide that induces the mobilization of carbohydrates and lipids from the fat body at times of high physical activity, such as flight and locomotion. As a naturally occurring ligand, AKH has undergone quite a number of amino acid changes throughout evolution, and in some insect species multiple AKHs are present. AKH acts by binding to a rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor, which is related to the vertebrate gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. In the current study, we have cloned AKH receptors (AKHRs) from seven different species, covering a wide phylogenetic range of insect orders: the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera); the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera); the honeybee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera); the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera); and the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera). The agonistic activity of different insect AKHs, including the respective endogenous AKHs, at these receptors was tested with a bioluminescence-based assay in Chinese hamster ovary cells. All receptors were activated by their endogenous ligand in the nanomolar range. Based on our data, we can refute the previously formulated hypothesis that a functional AKH signaling system is absent in the beneficial species, Apis mellifera. Furthermore, our data also suggest that some of the investigated AKH receptors, such as the mosquito AKHR, are more selective for the endogenous (conspecific) ligand, while others, such as the locust AKHR, are more promiscuous and can be activated by AKHs from many other insects. This information will be of high importance when further analyzing the potential use of AKHRs as targets for developing novel pest control agents.


OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS
Presbycusis is the most prevalent cause of hearing-loss in the older, but pathogenesis is not well-know. The premise of this study is that hyperlipemia increase risk of age-related hearing-loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
180 patient more than 65 years-old were studied. All patients had bilateral hearing-loss and no renal, neurological, thyriod or middle-ear pathology. We explored serum levels of cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. We performed tonal audimetry in all patients.

RESULTS
The 71% of patients has hypercholesteremia and the highest serum levels were detected in 65-69 years-old men (mean media 5,27). Patients with hypercholesteremia had worse hearing-loss than patients with normal lipid serum levels (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS
Our study sugest that hypercholesteremia are associated to age-related hearing-loss, possibly by an atherosclerosis mechanism.


U-V deposits in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation in Montezuma Canyon, San Juan County, exhibit zoning that is interpreted as a result of metal transport by diffusion. The concentric zones consist of a brown nonmineralized core, an olive- gray mineralized shell, and a gray nonmineralized outer zone. The brown zone is Fe stained, porous sandstone commonly containing abundant carbonaceous material. The curved mineralized layer completely encloses the brown zone and is composed of oxidized U-V minerals that impregnate sandstone. The gray zone is light-gray sandstone tightly cemented with calcite and commonly freckled with limonitic specks. Formation of the deposits most likely took place during Late Cretaceous or early Tertiary time when the ore-bearing sandstones were deeply buried and saturated with connate waters. The concentration of organic material in the brown zone suggests that this zone was once saturated with a reducing solution containing soluble organic compounds like alcohols and aldehydes derived from the organic material. The gray zone, on the other hand, was probably saturated with an oxidizing solution containing U and V. Where these 2 solutions were in contact, oxidation-reduction reactions took place that caused the precipitation of low-valent U and V minerals. The ellipsoidal shape of the ore layer and the lack of any exit or entrance for flowing solutions indicates that the dissolved metals moved through the gray zone by diffusion and were precipitated at the periphery of the reducing zone. Recent weathering and oxidation have altered the primary low-valent minerals to high-valent forms without noticeable leaching of the ore metals.


The mechanism of fragmentation in the chemical ionization mass spectra of thermally demethylated choline esters has been investigated using various deuterated analogs of acetylcholine as models. The reagent gases employed included CH4, C2H4, NH3 and N2H3. Prominent [MH]+ or [M2H]+ ions were observed respectively in all cases. A 1,3-hydrogen rearrangement in the acetyl portion followed by loss of ketene was seen in CH4 chemical ionization spectra, as well as cleavage of the CH2N bond after protonation on the nitrogen. Alpha cleavage produced ions analogous to the m / z 58 ion which is found as the base peak in the electron impact spectra of demethylated choline esters. A major difference between the fragmentation after electron impact and chemical ionization was seen in the m/z 72 region. The McLafferty rearrangement observed after electron impact was not found after chemical ionization. Rather, a mechanism involving protonation of the carboxyl group followed by simple cleavage of the CH2O bond was consistent with the present results for the variously labelled analogs and reagent gases. Finally, in the chemical ionization mass spectra of demethylated acetylcholine little retention of the H+ or 2H+ was found in the observed fragment ions.


The study aimed to develop and evaluate an immediate-release tablet dosage form of Linagliptin. Different concentrations (ranges 5-10%) of super-disintegrants, Croscarmellose sodium (CCS), and Sodium starch glycolate (SSG) were used to prepare nine tablet dosage forms (F1 to F9) through the direct compression method. The compatibility of the formulations was evaluated by FTIR to reveal any possible drug-excipient interactions and it was proved to be compatible with all formulations. Precompression (bulk density, tapped density, Carr's index, Hausner's ratio, and angle of repose) and post-compression parameters (weight variation, hardness, thickness, and friability) were analyzed for all tablets and the results were found satisfactory as well as within limits as per USP guidelines. All the formulated batches (F1 to F9) exhibited disintegration of tablets within 2 minutes, where formulation F9 represented the lowest disintegration time (51±3 sec) which was also found significantly better than the marketed product (310±5 sec). In terms of drug dissolution, 90% of drug release was observed for all nine formulations within 45 minutes and formulation F9 (5% CCS and 5% SSG) illustrated the rapid and highest dissolution rate compared to the marketed one's, 100% drug release at 20 minutes and 91.77 % drug release at 30 minutes successively. The respective data sets of drug release were mathematically fitted to several kinetic models and for all formulations, drug release pattern obeyed first-order kinetics amongst those, formulation F2 (r2= 0.98), F4 (r2= 0.99), F5 (r2= 0.98), and F9 (r2= 0.97) were found to be best fitted in this kinetic norm. Based on disintegration time and dissolution data comparison to a brand leader market product, F9 was experienced as the best formulation. Furthermore, it was observed that if SSG and CCS were combined, then these two parameters were more improved compared to their separate uses. Thus, incorporation of the optimum amount of super-disintegrants in a formulation showed rapid swelling, faster disintegration as well as ease of dissolution of tablet dosage forms.


Airway-centered interstitial fibrosis (ACIF) is a rare interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown cause characterized by chronic cough and progressive dyspnea and history of inhaled exposure. There is progressive peribronchiolar distribution of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis with bronchiolar metaplasia. The majority of patients are non-responsive to corticotherapy and prognosis is poor. We describe two female patients, 65 and 66 years, presenting with chronic dry cough and progressive dyspnea. They were non-smokers, farmers and with a history of inhaled exposure to birds. Pulmonary function tests showed a moderate obstructive pattern in one case and moderately decreased CO diffusion in both patients. Chest radiographs revealed diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed reticular fibrosis and disperse ground glass infiltrates in one case and sparing the upper lobes in the other. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed an increase in lymphocytes and neutrophils in one case. The diagnosis was made by surgical biopsy revealing pericentrilobular lesions and linfoplasmocitary infiltrate compatible with ACIF. Treatment with oral steroids for 12 months in both patients. In one case the disease progressed with worsening symptoms, pulmonary function tests and CT imaging even after combined immunosuppression with Azathioprine. In the other case the patient9s symptoms and CT imaging improved. These cases had similar clinical, radiological and pathological features as most of the few cases reported in literature. Both were non-smokers but had been exposed to birds. However, disease progression varied considerably as one patient improved but the other worsened even after combined immunosuppression.


This paper presents an analysis of the Irish food innovation system. The research was conducted as part of a larger project aimed at developing a research commercialisation toolbox to assist public research organisations and universities improve technology transfer and commercialisation of publicly funded food research. Ireland's food innovation system (FIS) is discussed for the first time to identify key actors, agencies and knowledge flows that contribute to food innovation nationally. Following a section in which a FIS is defined, an overview of the food industry and its research activities are presented to provide context for the current research and the discussion that follows. The methodology adopted for this research is then outlined with identification and discussion of the key actors in the FIS the focus of the next section. The main findings of the research are then presented, followed by conclusions and an outline of future research to be conducted on the Irish FIS.


This paper presents a sliding-mode approach for fault-tolerant control of a civil aircraft, where both actuator and sensor faults are considered. For actuator faults, a controller is designed around a state-feedback sliding-mode scheme where the gain of the nonlinear unit vector term is allowed to adaptively increase at the onset of a fault. Unexpected deviation of the switching variables from their nominal condition triggers the adaptation mechanism. The controller proposed here is relatively simple and yet is shown to work across the entire "up and away" flight envelope. For sensor faults, the application of a robust method for fault reconstruction using a sliding-mode observer is considered. The novelty lies in the application of the sensor fault reconstruction scheme to correct the corrupted measured signals before they are used by the controller, and therefore the controller does not need to be reconfigured.


Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is required for mammary gland development and promotes the growth of breast cancer metastases within bone. However, there are conflicting reports of the prognostic significance of its expression in primary breast cancers. To study the role of PTHrP in early breast cancer, the effect of conditional deletion of PTHrP was examined in the context of neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis. Loss of PTHrP resulted in a higher tumor incidence. Transcriptional profiling of the tumors revealed that PTHrP influenced genes relevant to heterotypic cell signaling, including regulators of monocyte recruitment. Immunohistochemical analysis of human breast cancers revealed that PTHrP expression was associated with both HER-2/neu expression and macrophage infiltration in preinvasive ductal carcinoma in situ. The gene expression signature associated with loss of PTHrP expression in vivo correlated with poorer outcome in human breast cancer. Together, these data indicate that loss of PTHrP accelerates mammary tumorigenesis possibly by a non-cell-autonomous tumor suppressor pathway.


In terms of the stochastic process of quantum-mechanical version of Markov chain Monte Carlo method (the MCMC), we analytically derive macroscopically deterministic flow equations of order parameters such as spontaneous magnetization in infinite-range (d(= ∞)-dimensional) quantum spin systems. By means of the Trotter decomposition, we consider the transition probability of Glauber-type dynamics of microscopic states for the corresponding (d + 1)-dimensional classical system. Under the static approximation, differential equations with respect to macroscopic order parameters are explicitly obtained from the master equation that describes the microscopic-law. In the steady state, we show that the equations are identical to the saddle point equations for the equilibrium state of the same system. The equation for the dynamical Ising model is recovered in the classical limit. We also check the validity of the static approximation by making use of computer simulations for finite size systems and discuss several possible extensions of our approach to disordered spin systems for statistical-mechanical informatics. Especially, we shall use our procedure to evaluate the decoding process of Bayesian image restoration. With the assistance of the concept of dynamical replica theory (the DRT), we derive the zero-temperature flow equation of image restoration measure showing some 'non-monotonic' behaviour in its time evolution.


Abstract : The intelligence community is faced with an extensive amount of data. Software programs are being developed to examine this issue of data overload and to develop solutions, The responsibility of making the final software decision lies on the analyst, therefore, the interface is the key to linking the intelligence data to the processing and results, If the interface is difficult and complex, the software will be less likely to be used. A methodology must be created which can objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the interface, This methodology will also measure the improvements in the interface's effectiveness that result when various changes are made to the original software interface, Value focused thinking (VFT) is a proven methodology that can be applied to this problem, VFT provides an objective methodology to identify the values of an organization, Its hierarchical structure is well suited for handling multi-objective problems, such as identifying the values of software interfaces, The values can be measured and put to a common scale, allowing their contribution to the overall objective to be evaluated, By assigning quantifiable measurements to the components, the multi-objective goal can be evaluated and insight can be provided to the decision makers involved with the intelligence software, VFT was applied to determine what is valued in software's interface to members of the intelligence community, With these values identified, a software that is under development was evaluated against the hierarchy, This provided insight into where improvements could be made to the interface that would provide the greatest benefit, The VFT process also allows for the decision maker to continually reevaluate the software against the hierarchy, enabling continual improvement on the interface while maintaining the values of the intelligence community.


Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a clinical symptomatology involving both motor and non-motor symptoms. Motor complications associated with long-term dopaminergic treatment include motor fluctuations and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), which may have a major impact on the quality of life. The clinical features and onset time of motor complications in the disease course are heterogeneous, and the etiology remains unknown. Objective: We aimed to identify genomic variants associated with the development of motor fluctuations and LID at 5 years after the onset of PD. Methods: Genomic data were obtained using Affymetrix Axiom KORV1.1 array, including an imputation genome-wide association study (GWAS) grid and other GWAS loci; functional variants of the non-synonymous exome; pharmacogenetic variants; variants in genes involved in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs; and expression quantitative trait loci in 741 patients with PD. Results: FAM129B single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10760490 was nominally associated with the occurrence of motor fluctuations at 5 years after the onset of PD [odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8–4.8, P = 6.5 × 10−6]. GALNT14 SNP rs144125291 was significantly associated with the occurrence of LID (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 2.9–10.3, P = 7.88 × 10−9) and was still significant after Bonferroni correction. Several other genetic variants were associated with the occurrence of motor fluctuations or LID, but the associations were not significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusion: This study identified new loci associated with the occurrence of motor fluctuations and LID at 5 years after the onset of PD. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.


The degree to which reef fish are associated with parhcular reef characteristics has been the subject of much debate. It is increasingly clear that the strength of the relationship between reef fish and their habitat may be dependent on the scales at which the reef habitat is categorised. Consequently, scale must be explicitly incorporated into any investigation of fish and habitat association. I addressed the problem of scale by examining changes in the composition of a guild of blennioid fishes (comprising 13 species in the families Tripterygiidae and Blenniidae) relative to the scale at which their habitat was defined. Correspondence Analysis was used to display differences in guild structure At large, geographical scales, characteristic blenniold assemblages could be detected. Changes in gulld structure were due partly to differences in numerical dominance of a set of generalist species and, to a lesser extent, species composition. At broad scales, the blennioid assemblage displayed speciesspecific depth patterns and association with macroalgal cover. A core group of species was found at all depths, while others were restricted in depth and biogenic habitat type. The degree of shelter provided by topographic features characterised the blennioid assemblage at fine scales, and habitat specialisation became apparent at this scale The patterns detected in this survey indicate scales at which questions about processes generating these patterns may be profitably addressed. 1 conclude that the incorporation of more than 1 scale in ecological studies is useful for reducing ambiguity and for generating a future research program of hypotheses.


Understanding the processes driving formation and maintenance of latitudinal clines has become increasingly important in light of accelerating global change. Many studies have focused on the role of abiotic factors, especially temperature, in generating clines, but biotic factors, including the introduction of non‐native species, may also drive clinal variation. We assessed the impact of invasion by predatory fire ants on latitudinal clines in multiple fitness‐relevant traits—morphology, physiological stress responsiveness, and antipredator behavior—in a native fence lizard. In areas invaded by fire ants, a latitudinal cline in morphology is opposite both the cline found in museum specimens from historical populations across the species' full latitudinal range and that found in current populations uninvaded by fire ants. Similarly, clines in stress‐relevant hormone response to a stressor and in antipredator behavior differ significantly between the portions of the fence lizard range invaded and uninvaded by fire ants. Changes in these traits within fire ant‐invaded areas are adaptive and together support increased and more effective antipredator behavior that allows escape from attacks by this invasive predator. However, these changes may mismatch lizards to the environments under which they historically evolved. This research shows that novel biotic pressures can alter latitudinal clines in multiple traits within a single species on ecological timescales. As global change intensifies, a greater understanding of novel abiotic and biotic pressures and how affected organisms adapt to them across space and time will be central to predicting and managing our changing environment.


New usage models and applications for technology products, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, created a need for computers to "see" the outside, physical world. We refer to this as "computer vision". As these usage models and markets evolve, higher quality imaging systems are needed to enable better optical performance. Consumer expectations for thinner devices and better-quality images contribute to the increased demand for high quality imaging and drive up the complexity of manufacturing these optical systems. As complexity increases, so do manufacturing challenges. For example, the use of lower cost materials adds to part-to-part variation, and high failure rates (scrap) make it difficult for manufacturers to deliver these complex optics systems at scale.


Few-Shot Learning (FSL) is essential for visual recognition. Many methods tackle this challenging problem via learning an embedding function from seen classes and transfer it to unseen classes with a few labeled instances. Researchers recently found it beneficial to incorporate task-specific feature adaptation into FSL models, which produces the most representative features for each task. However, these methods ignore the diversity of classes and apply a global transformation to the task. In this paper, we propose Global and Local Feature Adaptor (GLoFA), a unifying framework that tailors the instance representation to specific tasks by global and local feature adaptors. We claim that class-specific local transformation helps to improve the representation ability of feature adaptor. Global masks tend to capture sketchy patterns, while local masks focus on detailed characteristics. A strategy to measure the relationship between instances adaptively based on the characteristics of both tasks and classes endow GLoFA with the ability to handle mix-grained tasks. GLoFA outperforms other methods on a heterogeneous task distribution and achieves competitive results on benchmark datasets.


Density fluctuation structures of supercritical carbon dioxide along the isothermal and isochoric lines were observed with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). All the scattering intensities in the low-Q range were well described with the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) equation. It was confirmed that there exists a locus where the OZ correlation length and scattering intensity at Q=0 exhibit extrema on the isothermal lines: this locus, named the ridge, was interpreted as the boundary by which the supercritical state is divided into liquidlike and gaslike phases. In order to clarify the difference of the fluctuation structure between the liquidlike and the gaslike phases, a real-space molecular distribution was obtained with a reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method. Number density distributions of CO2 molecules at all measured states were calculated with the real-space molecular distributions obtained. In addition, the statistical parameters of the number density distributions, the standard deviations, and the skewnesses, were examined. The standard deviations of the number density distributions almost coincide with the results of the OZ analysis. On the other hand, the skewnesses, which describe the asymmetric nature of the number density distribution, clearly showed a difference between the two phases: the skewness became negative in the liquidlike phase, positive in the gaslike phase, and almost zero at the nearest state to the ridge in all isotherms. It was proved with simple equations of statistical mechanics that the skewness is described as the first differential of the magnitude of the density fluctuation with respect to the pressure. We conclude that the skewness, obtained with a RMC analysis for SANS data, is an important structural parameter distinguishing between the liquidlike and gaslike phases.


OBJECTIVES
To measure prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in household contacts of children with acute S aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), determine risk factors for S aureus colonization in household contacts, and assess anatomic sites of S aureus colonization in patients and household contacts.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

SETTING
St Louis Children's Hospital Emergency Department and ambulatory wound center and 9 community pediatric practices affiliated with a practice-based research network.

PARTICIPANTS
Patients with community-associated S aureus SSTI and S aureus colonization (in the nose, axilla, and/or inguinal folds) and their household contacts.

OUTCOME MEASURES
Colonization of household contacts of pediatric patients with S aureus colonization and SSTI.

RESULTS
Of 183 index patients, 112 (61%) were colonized with methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA); 54 (30%), with methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA); and 17 (9%), with both MRSA and MSSA. Of 609 household contacts, 323 (53%) were colonized with S aureus: 115 (19%) with MRSA, 195 (32%) with MSSA, and 13 (2%) with both. Parents were more likely than other household contacts to be colonized with MRSA (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.63). Methicillin-resistant S aureus colonized the inguinal folds more frequently than MSSA (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.41), and MSSA colonized the nose more frequently than MRSA (odds ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.19 to 2.56).

CONCLUSIONS
Household contacts of children with S aureus SSTI had a high rate of MRSA colonization compared with the general population. The inguinal fold is a prominent site of MRSA colonization, which may be an important consideration for active surveillance programs in hospitals.


A pot experiment was carried out with strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch) cvv. Oso Grande and Camarosa in sand culture to investigate the effects of foliar application of 4 mM KH2PO4to plants grown both at high NaCl concentration (35 mM) supplied via roots and in complete nutrient solution. Treatments were (1) nutrient solution (C); (2) nutrient solution + 4 mM KH2PO4 as a foliar application (C+Fo); (3) nutrient solution + 35 mM NaCl (C+S); and (4) nutrient solution + 35 mM sodium chloride + 4 mM KH2PO4as a foliar application twice weekly (C+S+Fo). The plants grown at high NaCl had less dry matter, fruit yield, and chlorophyll content than those grown in normal nutrient solution for both cultivars. Foliar KH2PO4sprays ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on plant growth and fruit yield. Water use by plants decreased with elevated NaCl and increased with foliar KH2PO4 sprays. Membrane permeability increased with high NaCl and was reduced by KH2PO4 sprays. Sodium concentration in plant tissues increased in both cultivars in the high NaCl treatment. Concentrations of P and K were in the deficient range in plants grown at high NaCl and these deficiencies were corrected by foliar KH2PO4.


This paper describes the development of a scooter supporting the mobility of older people. The scooter is equipped with a drive assistance system and a special scooter navigation system. The drive assistance system consists of a velocity controller, a steering controller, and a collision avoidance system. In this paper it is demonstrated how the challenging control and steering tasks are modified to increase safety for older people. A special scooter navigation system is presented, to support elderly people in navigating on a safe route through the city using sidewalks, pedestrian lights and crosswalks. For extended positioning requirements a hybrid positioning system was developed combining GPS, WLAN, and inertial sensor data. By combination of these technical improvements it is demonstrated how older people are able to preserve their self-determined and independent life. Usability research was done with focus groups in order to become familiar with global user demands and expectations towards a mobility assistance system. Results show that the system components are expected to assist the user in navigation, steering and speed control rather than to take complete control on the driving situation.


Globally there is a growing interest in the design and implementation of preventive gender-based violence programs that target men. This article seeks to extend literature on the impact of father training programs on fathers' attitudes about parenting and gender-based violence, by using a case study from a father-training program in Turkey for men with children of ages 3-6 and 7-11 years old. The paper finds modest improvement in fathers' approaches and attitudes towards democratic parenting, violence and gender equality. The evidence of moderate effectiveness of the intervention programme aligns with the subset of other systematic research studies in the literature. Even though the programme impact is limited, the intervention is successful for two reasons (i) in recruiting men for a parenting program, in a country where cultural and social pressures to adhere to the conventional masculinity is a norm, (ii) in learning lessons and evolving the parenting intervention programme by gaining new advocates by conducting corporate-wide projects, seminars on fatherhood and gender equality for keeping fatherhood discussion alive, forming local father networks to sustain learning outcomes after programme implementation, alongside the Father Support Programme.


This paper integrates aspects of both generative theory and variationist sociolinguistics. To compare the structure of two varieties of French (Acadian French and Laurentian French), I adapt the comparative sociolinguistics approach to compare the syntactic structure of these varieties. Specifically, I focus on the effects of a single linguistic constraint across multiple sociolinguistic variables. I argue that such a comparison provides insights into the underlying grammatical structures of the varieties under comparison, differences that may have remained hidden otherwise. To illustrate the approach, I focus on a single constraint, sentential polarity, and I analyze its effects on two sociolinguistic variables, yes/no questions and future temporal reference. Results show that the polarity constraint is operative in Laurentian French for both variables, but inoperative in Acadian French. To account for this difference, I argue that Laurentian French negative structures involve a negative head above the tense phrase while Acadian French does not.


: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous complication that may present after elective foot surgery. Because of the frequency with which DVT occurs in the elderly patient, as well as in the podiatric surgical population, the podiatrist should be acquainted with this entity. A review of the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and the role of podiatry in the management of DVT is discussed in this paper.


Over the past two decades, the arts in America have experienced an unprecedented building boom, with more than sixteen billion dollars directed to the building, expansion, and renovation of museums, theaters, symphony halls, opera houses, and centers for the visual and performing arts. Among the projects that emerged from the boom were many brilliant successes. Others, like the striking addition of the Quadracci Pavilion to the Milwaukee Art Museum, brought international renown but also tens of millions of dollars of off-budget debt while offering scarce additional benefit to the arts and embodying the cultural sector's worst fears that the arts themselves were being displaced by the big, status-driven architecture projects built to contain them. With Building for the Arts, Peter Frumkin and Ana Kolendo explore how artistic vision, funding partnerships, and institutional culture work together—or fail to—throughout the process of major cultural construction projects. Drawing on detailed case studies and in-depth interviews at museums and other cultural institutions varying in size and funding arrangements, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Atlanta Opera, and AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Frumkin and Kolendo analyze the decision-making considerations and challenges and identify four factors whose alignment characterizes the most successful and sustainable of the projects discussed: institutional requirements, capacity of the institution to manage the project while maintaining ongoing operations, community interest and support, and sufficient sources of funding. How and whether these factors are strategically aligned in the design and execution of a building initiative, the authors argue, can lead an organization to either thrive or fail. The book closes with an analysis of specific tactics that can enhance the chances of a project's success. A practical guide grounded in the latest scholarship on nonprofit strategy and governance, Building for the Arts will be an invaluable resource for professional arts staff and management, trustees of arts organizations, development professionals, and donors, as well as those who study and seek to understand them.


The supplementary motor area (SMA) is believed to contribute to higher-order aspects of motor control. To examine this contribution, we employed a novel cycling task and leveraged an emerging strategy: testing whether population trajectories possess properties necessary for a hypothesized class of computations. We found that, at the single-neuron level, SMA exhibited multiple response features absent in M1. We hypothesized that these diverse features might contribute, at the population level, to avoidance of 'population trajectory divergence' – ensuring that two trajectories never followed the same path before separating. Trajectory divergence was indeed avoided in SMA but not in M1. Network simulations confirmed that low trajectory divergence is necessary when guidance of future action depends upon internally tracking contextual factors. Furthermore, the empirical trajectory geometry – helical in SMA versus elliptical in M1 – was naturally reproduced by networks that did, versus did not, internally track context.


Many cases of male factor infertility are idiopathic, but 30–40% of cases may have exces- sive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their semen. The origins of endogenous ROS are leukocytes and immature spermatozoa, and external causes are various. On the contrary, seminal plasma contains various antioxidants. Low levels of ROS are essential for the fertilization process, but excessive levels of ROS lead to oxidative stress and can have harmful effects such as lipid peroxidation of a membrane, sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation, and apoptosis on the fertile capacity. In order to evaluate oxidative stress appropriately, ROS is measured by the chemiluminescence method with neat semen and quantification of 8-OH-2′-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma. Antioxidant potential is often measured using total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay. The oxidation-reduction potential measured by a MiOXSYS analyzer is a novel, easier, quicker, and less expensive technology to measure oxidative stress. In order to minimize oxidative stress and improve clinical outcomes, sperm-sorting methods, life- style modifications, shortening the ejaculatory abstinence, and treatments such as oral antioxidants, varicocelectomy, and testicular sperm extraction are taken into account. As a future prospect, proteomics, metabolomics, and genomics are still developing areas that have the potential to discover new findings and highly sensitive biomarkers.


ichael H. G. Duits niversity of Twente ESA+ Institute of Nanotechnology epartment of Science & Technology hysics of Complex Fluids Group ost Box 217 nschede, 7500AE he Netherlands Abstract. We studied the dynamics of two types of intracellular probe particles, ballistically injected latex spheres and endogenous granules, in tumor cell lines of differerent metastatic potential: breast tumor cells MCF-7 malignant, MCF-10A benign and pancreas adenocarcinoma PaTu8988T malignant, PaTu8988S benign . For both tissue types and for both probes, the mean squared displacement MSD function measured in the malignant cells was substantially larger than in the benign cells. Only a few cells were needed to characterize the tissue as malignant or benign based on their MSD, since variations in MSD within the same cell line were relatively small. These findings suggest that intracellular particle tracking IPT can serve as a simple and reliable method for characterization of cell states obtained from a small amount of cell sample. Mechanical analysis of the same cell lines with atomic force microscopy AFM in force-distance mode revealed that AFM could distinguish between the benign and malignant breast cancer cells but not the pancreatic tumor cell lines. This underlines the potential value of IPT as a complementary nanomechanical tool for studying cell-state-dependent mechanical properties. © 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.3257253


Abstract Optimum irrigation reservoir operation is a significant issue for water management decision makers. In this study, we used 4 different datasets of monthly amounts of water to be released from the Eleviyan irrigation reservoir in Iran as inputs in a data mining model; "if–conditional" operating rules were determined as outputs. Operating rules derived from data mining and rules obtained from an optimization model were in high concordance, especially between the 2 datasets from the preconstruction period, with differences in only 12 of 252 instances (252 months) used to compare the 2 methods. Operating rules determined for the preconstruction period using the data mining method were also consistent with optimum operating rules determined either by optimization or Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, we concluded that the decision tree subtechnique of data mining is an appropriate method for determining meaningful operating rules for the reservoir. [Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Lake and Reservoir Management to view the supplemental file.]


Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Malaysia. Increases in economic growth, disposable income and leisure time, political stability, and aggressive tourism campaigns, among other factors, have fueled the significant growth of tourism. This research reviews the problems and prospects of Bumiputra travel agent in the era of globalization. The future outlook is bright for Bumiputra travel agent and it is expected to maintain a high rate of growth well into the next century. Based on the researcher observation, Bumiputra travel agents have a big potential to improve their performance. Government played a big role in the development and growth of travel agent. They helped travel agent to experience continuous improvement by organizing international events and other important festivals. This is really significant with the growth of travel agent.
This study will cover several aspects starting from the problems aroused from the travel agency itself, competitors, customers, airlines, prospects of Bumiputra travel agent, which subsequently, will conclude the performance level of Bumiputra travel agent among others. This research was conducted to scan the situation faced by Bumiputra travel agent. Hopefully, this research can provide some suggestions, actions or ides in identifying the ways that continuously improve the performance of Bumiputra travel agent. It also will assist Bumiputra travel agent to react towards the problem that was being traced while cooperating with customers, tour operators, and others.


This paper proposes a novel music information retrieval system (music genre and music mood classification system) based on two novel features and a weighted voting method. The proposed features, modulation spectral flatness measure (MSFM) and modulation spectral crest measure (MSCM), represent the time-varying behavior of a music and indicate the beat strength. The weighted voting method determines the music genre or the music mood by summarizing the classification results of consecutive time segments. Experimental results show that the proposed features give more accurate classification results when combined with traditional features than the octave-based modulation spectral contrast (OMSC) does in spite of short feature vector and that the weighted voting is more effective than statistical method and majority voting.


The purpose of this study is to understand the current status of the establishment of "general health education curriculum" by technical institutes and universities in Taiwan. A questionnaire survey method was used. A total of 75 questionnaires were sent and 41 were returned; the valid return rate was 54.7%. The result showed that the courses on general health can be categorized into four groups: physiological, psychological, nutritional, and fitness health. Group the curriculum by academic fields, and the natural sciences are the course offered by most schools. Group the curriculum by subjects, and courses offered by non-medical institutes focused mostly on psychological and lifestyles (health psychology), while that of the medical-related institutes offer most curriculums in health management (health promotion, health-related physical fitness), health and exercise, medicine and lifestyles (healthcare and life) and nutrition.


ABSTRACT This study documents for the first time tidal bundling in a lower Paleozoic sheet sandstone from the cratonic interior of North America, providing insights into the hydrodynamics of ancient epicontinental seas. The Jordan Sandstone (Upper Cambrian) in the Upper Mississippi Valley contains large-scale planar tabular cross-sets with tidal-bundle sequences, which were analyzed in detail at an exceptional exposure. Tidal-bundle sequences (neap-spring-neap cycles) were delineated by foreset thickening-thinning patterns and composite shale drapes, the latter of which represent accumulations of mud during the neap tides of neap-spring-neap tidal cycles. Fourier analysis of the bundle thickness data from the 26 measurable bundle sequences revealed cycles ranging from 15 to 34 bundles per sequence, which suggests a semidiurnal or mixed tidal system along this part of the Late Cambrian shoreline. We extend the tidal interpretation to widespread occurrences of the same facies in outcrops of lesser quality, where the facies is recognizable but too few bundles are exposed for tidal cycles to be measured. By doing so, this study shows that tidally generated deposits have a significant geographic and temporal extent in Upper Cambrian strata of central mid-continent North America. The deposition and preservation of tidal facies was related to the intermittent development of shoreline embayments during transgressions. The tidally dominated deposits filled ravined topographies that were repeatedly developed on the updip parts of the shoreface. Resulting coastal geomorphologies, accompanied perhaps by larger-scale changes in basinal conditions and/or configuration, led to changes in depositional conditions from wave-dominated to tide-dominated. Outcrops of the Jordan Sandstone tidal facies in the Upper Mississippi Valley represent the farthest inboard recorded transmission of ocean-generated tides in the Laurentian epicontinental seas, demonstrating that tidal currents were significant agents in the transport of sand along the far cratonic interior shorelines of Cambrian North America. The results of this study improve the facies-level understanding of the genesis of sheet sandstones. Furthermore, tidalites documented here occur in a specific position within a sequence stratigraphic architecture for the Jordan Sandstone. This provides a framework to compare these ancient deposits and processes to younger (e.g., Carboniferous) epicontinental systems where stratal and sediment dynamics are better documented.


The ica operon encoding polysaccharide intercellular adhesion, which facilitates biofilm formation in staphylococci, has been extensively studied in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Based on in silico analysis, we suggest the following functional model for Ica proteins in S. capitis. IcaA is responsible for polysaccharide synthesis. IcaA and IcaD complete transferring the growing sugar chain to the cell surface; IcaB is a deacetylase, with the same function as IcaB of S. epidermidis. IcaC mainly modifies the synthesized glucan by acetylation. We also examined the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin on phenotypic biofilm expression and transcription of biofilm-related genes, using isolates representing the two subspecies of Staphylococcus capitis and different biofilm and resistance phenotypes. On induction with erythromycin, biofilm density was strongly elevated in two erythromycin-resistant S. capitis, but not in three susceptible isolates. In the representative erythromycin-resistant S. capitis subsp. urealyticus, there were significant upregulations of the icaA gene and its positive regulator sarA on transition to the stationary phase without erythromycin induction. There were also significant increases in the transcription levels of icaA, rsbU and sigB corresponding to a very strong biofilm phenotype in the stationary phase on erythromycin stress. In contrast, the representative erythromycin-susceptible S. capitis subsp. capitis displayed upregulation only of altE on entry into the stationary phase with erythromycin induction, but this change was not associated with enhancement of biofilm production. These findings suggest that the two subspecies of S. capitis adopt different pathogenesis and survival strategies to adapt to a hostile environment.


Background: Type III 3-methylglutaconic aciduria (OPA 3) is a neuro-ophthalmologic syndrome consisting of early-onset bilateral optic atrophy. Since Costeff described the phenotype of 19 patients in 1989, several reports described approximately 50 patients, but most of them lack details about neuro-ophthalmic phenotype. Our aim was to characterize the clinical neuro-ophthalmic phenotype of this syndrome. Methods: Nine patients underwent meticulous visual function history and medical documents' review. Results of best-corrected visual acuity (VA), color vision, visual field (VF), ocular motility, pupillary reaction, slit-lamp, and dilated fundus examinations were recorded. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed whenever possible. Results:: The average VA was 1.4 ± 0.8 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. Poor vision was the presenting symptom in 5 patients. Six patients had decreased VA and variable degrees of optic atrophy. Humphrey VF testing of 7 patients revealed generalized depression in 5 and a cecocentral defect in 2. All patients demonstrated dysmetric saccades. Four patients had strabismus, 3 with exotropia, and one with esotropia. Seven patients had nystagmus. Ocular motility abnormality is possibly the result of cerebellar atrophy that was found in MRI studies of our patients. OCT of the retina was possible in 6 patients and revealed retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning as well as average retinal thinning. Three patients, in whom ganglion cell layer–inner plexiform layer (IPL) measurement was possible, also showed diffused thinning. Conclusions: This study compiled data regarding neuro-ophthalmic manifestation of OPA 3 Type III patients. Contrary to established literature, poor vision was the presenting symptom in only 50% of our patients. This is the first report of OCT findings in 3MGA patients. The results demonstrated diffused thinning of the RNFL and ganglion cell complex-IPL with correlation to VA, which is in contrast to OPA1 patients in whom the most severe thinning is at the level of the papillomacular bundle. Average retinal thinning was identified at second and third decades of life, possibly resulting from early ganglion cell loss. These results may contribute to visual prognosis, and OCT may help monitor experimental therapies.


This paper investigates the use of voting as a conflict-resolution technique for data analysis in robot programming. Voting represents an information-abstraction technique. It is argued that in some cases a voting approach is inherent in the nature of the data being analyzed: where multiple, independent sources of information must be reconciled to give a group decision that reflects a single outcome rather than a consensus average. This study considers an example of target classification using sonar sensors. Physical models of reflections from target primitives that are typical of the indoor environment of a mobile robot are used. Dispersed sensors take decisions on target type, which must then be fused to give the single group classification of the presence or absence and type of a target. Dempster-Shafer evidential reasoning is used to assign a level of belief to each sensor decision. The decisions are then fused by two means. Using Dempster's rule of combination, conflicts are resolved through a group measure expressing dissonance in the sensor views. This evidential approach is contrasted with the resolution of sensor conflict through voting. It is demonstrated that abstraction of the level of belief through voting proves useful in resolving the straightforward conflicts that arise in the classification problem. Conflicts arise where the discriminant data value, an echo amplitude, is most sensitive to noise. Fusion helps to overcome this vulnerability: in Dempster-Shafer reasoning, through the modeling of nonparametric uncertainty and combination of belief values; and in voting, by emphasizing the majority view. The paper gives theoretical and experimental evidence for the use of voting for data abstraction and conflict resolution in areas such as classification, where a strong argument can be made for techniques that emphasize a single outcome rather than an estimated value. Methods for making the vote more strategic are also investigated. The paper addresses the reduction of dimension of sets of decision points or decision makers. Through a consideration of combination order, queuing criteria for more strategic fusion are identified.


In this research, we investigate if and how more photos than a single headshot can heighten the level of information provided by persona profiles. We conduct eye-tracking experiments and qualitative interviews with variations in the photos: a single headshot, a headshot and images of the persona in different contexts, and a headshot with pictures of different people representing key persona attributes. The results show that more contextual photos significantly improve the information end users derive from a persona profile; however, showing images of different people creates confusion and lowers the informativeness. Moreover, we discover that choice of pictures results in various interpretations of the persona that are biased by the end users' experiences and preconceptions. The results imply that persona creators should consider the design power of photos when creating persona profiles.


The economic impact of privatisation is hard to assess. This paper extends the analysis of Florio (2004) in four directions. It argues that a welfare assessment of privatisation must include an evaluation of the performance of public enterprises in light of their originally broad set of objectives including, for example, the promotion of employment. It highlights the importance of financial pressure, independently of privatisation, in improving the performance of public firms. It goes on to discuss the potential role of supranational institutions in bringing about this pressure, and identifies the relevance of the 1976 IMF intervention in the UK. International empirical evidence is then presented in support of Florio's argument that privatisation was not decisive in improving labour productivity. Finally, the paper argues that institutional differences across countries make cross-country analyses of privatisation problematic.


Permanent magnet synchronous motors are efficient motors which have widespread applications in electric industry due to their noticeable features. One of the interesting applications of such motors is in underwater vehicles. In these cases, reaching to minimum volume and high torque of the motor are the major concern. Design optimization can enhance their merits considerably, thus reduce volume and improve performance of motors. In this paper, a new method for optimum design of a five-phase surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor is presented to achieve minimum loss and magnet volume with an increased torque. A multi-objective optimization is performed in search for optimum dimensions of the motor and its permanent magnets using particle swarm optimization. The design optimization results in a motor with great improvement regarding the original motor. Finally, finite element analysis is utilized to validate the accuracy of the design.


Summary form only given: This paper presents a model for active distribution systems expansion planning based on Genetic Algorithms, where Distributed Generation (DG) integration is considered together with conventional alternatives for expansion, such as, rewiring, network reconfiguration, installation of new protection devices, etc. The novel approach of planning DG integration together with network expansion is a requirement for the modern active distribution network. However, the uncertainties related to DG power generation and load response growth must be taken into account in order to plan a safe system at a minimum cost. Thus, two different methodologies for uncertainties incorporation through the use of multiple scenarios analysis are proposed and compared. The multiple objectives optimization algorithm applied in the model takes into account the costs of reliability, losses, power imported from transmission, and network investments.


Reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) eliminates many epigenetic modifications that characterize differentiated cells. In this study, we tested whether functional differences between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-COPD fibroblasts could be reduced utilizing this approach. Primary fibroblasts from non-COPD and COPD patients were reprogrammed to iPSCs. Reprogrammed iPSCs were positive for oct3/4, nanog, and sox2, formed embryoid bodies in vitro, and induced teratomas in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice. Reprogrammed iPSCs were then differentiated into fibroblasts (non-COPD-i and COPD-i) and were assessed either functionally by chemotaxis and gel contraction or for gene expression by microarrays and compared with their corresponding primary fibroblasts. Primary COPD fibroblasts contracted three-dimensional collagen gels and migrated toward fibronectin less robustly than non-COPD fibroblasts. In contrast, redifferentiated fibroblasts from iPSCs derived from the non-COPD and COPD fibroblasts were similar in response in both functional assays. Microarray analysis identified 1,881 genes that were differentially expressed between primary COPD and non-COPD fibroblasts, with 605 genes differing by more than twofold. After redifferentiation, 112 genes were differentially expressed between COPD-i and non-COPD-i with only three genes by more than twofold. Similar findings were observed with microRNA (miRNA) expression: 56 miRNAs were differentially expressed between non-COPD and COPD primary cells; after redifferentiation, only 3 miRNAs were differentially expressed between non-COPD-i and COPD-i fibroblasts. Interestingly, of the 605 genes that were differentially expressed between COPD and non-COPD fibroblasts, 293 genes were changed toward control after redifferentiation. In conclusion, functional and epigenetic alterations of COPD fibroblasts can be reprogrammed through formation of iPSCs.


Initial treatment with the monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody alemtuzumab induces responses in the majority of patients with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL). In eligible patients, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an option to consolidate hematological remissions. Here, we report our experience with 10 patients who received allo-HSCT against T-PLL. Notably, 3 patients with complete remission at transplantation and durable full-donor chimerism relapsed at months 12, 59, and 84 after transplantation, respectively. This relapse was associated with rapid progressive leukemia in 1 patient and extralymphatic lymphoma growth in the other 2. Despite CD52 positivity at relapse, alemtuzumab retreatment, donor lymphocyte infusions, and/or chemotherapy including salvage therapy, allo-HSCT yielded a transient partial response, only. Alemtuzumab induction and consolidative allo-HSCT enabled prolonged disease-free survival in these patients but failed to procure cure.


The firestorm of controversy over the recent vote in Switzerland to ban the building of minarets on mosques highlights the perilous and contentious state of Islamic community, culture, and religion in Europe. Finding reliable and current research and resources on the many threads that informs the debate surrounding the European Islamic community, Western perceptions, and the tensions between factions can be difficult. Jessica Adamick offers a comprehensive and up to date survey of resources that can aid reference and collection development librarians when working in this subject area. Adamick received her MLS from the School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University Bloomington, with a specialization in Digital Libraries in May 2009 and currently works as the Ethics Clearinghouse Librarian at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is working on a National Science Foundation-funded project to build the Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse Beta (ESENCe--www.ethicslibrary.org), a subject repository on the responsible conduct of research. Adamick developed her interest in the topic of Islam in Europe when she studied in Amsterdam as an undergraduate. She subsequently explored the topic at Earlham College, where she graduated with a BA in Women's Studies in 2007.--Editor Over the last three decades, events involving the conflict between European Muslims and secular or Christian European states have been highly visible. Protests of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses dominated the media in 1989, following a denied appeal by the United Kingdom Action Committee on Islamic Affairs for the British government to ban the book's release. Also in 1989, the Affaire du Foulard ("the Headscarf Affair") began in Creil, France, when three Muslim girls wearing headscarves were sent home from school. A national controversy ensued that led to the passing of a law in 2004 that banned obvious signs of religious affiliation in French schools. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, debates that associated Islam with violence became widespread. The murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by Dutch Muslim Mohammed Bouyeri and the Al-Qaeda bombing of trains in Madrid only fueled the flames of the heightened rhetoric. In response to these events and their political aftermath, there has been an enormous increase in publications on the topic of Islam in Europe. This annotated guide includes relevant, informative, authoritative, and influential reference sources, databases, periodicals, books, and websites that focus on Islam in Europe during the last three decades. Readers should note that in addition to this guide, several comprehensive bibliographies have been published on the subject: Jochen Blaschke's Muslims in Europe: A Bibliography (Berlin: Edition Parabolis, 2002), Robert Goehlert's Muslims in Contemporary Europe: A Guide to Selected Resources in English (Bloomington: Center for the Study of Global Change, Indiana Univ, 2006), and Jurgen Jensen's Africans in Europe: A Bibliography, Interethnische Beziehungen und Kuhurwandel, Vol. 51 (Munster: Lit, 2002). None of these, however, are annotated. It should also be noted that the current political environment in much of Europe supports the conflation of Islam with Islamic fundamentalism and the conception of all Muslims in Europe as immigrants. Researchers should be aware that some of the materials available reflect this confusion, and they should find sources that account for the level of diversity among Muslims in Europe. Several methods and tools were employed in the identification and selection of the items for this guide. Reference sources were located by browsing the shelves of Indiana University Bloomington libraries and using standard reference sources such as American Reference Books Annual, Booklist, Choice, College & Research Libraries, and Reference & User Services Quarterly. Books were identified using Choice, Public Library Catalog, WorldCat, and book reviews in scholarly journals, and were selected on the basis of their relevancy, their citation count according to Arts and Humanities Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index, the number of library holdings, favorable reviews, reputation of the publisher, and date published. …


This chapter argues that the key to understanding both plurality and pluralism is to account for their entanglement without assuming that the former entails the latter, or that the latter is always justified when the former exists. I argue here that a complex notion of authority, in which both reasons and relationships determine the existence and justification of authority, can clarify the relations between plurality and pluralism by pointing to a mode of subject-centred analysis and evaluation that does not presume either plurality's justification nor pluralism's analytical purchase. When both authority's reasons and relationships are pluralised vis-a-vis the subjects of those reasons and relations, the very existence and justification of authority depends on the ways in which plural claims and receptions of authority interact, as well as on the impact of such interaction on the values that pluralism might carry. Such a view of authority should sound a note of caution for those who explore, evaluate or endorse the claims to authority made by various phenomena of legal plurality that are the objects of the present collection on global legal pluralism; for it raises a set of concerns about both the plausibility of such claims, their evaluation in relation to each other, and the potential for plurality of claims and invocations of authority to exist without pluralism itself being justified – for there to be space between plurality and pluralism.


Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) infection may cause mild pancytopenia characterized by transient and spontaneous recovery in healthy subjects. Severe aplastic anemia associated with PVB19 infection in patients without an underlying disease has been described in a number of reports. Here, a previous healthy, 10-year-old girl with severe aplastic anemia associated with PVB19 infection is described. The patient underwent bone marrow transplantation from her HLA-identical sibling resulting in complete recovery. PVB19 infection should be considered as one of the causes of aplastic anemia in patients without an underlying disease.


Sucrose catabolism by Streptococcus mutans is initiated by a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase reaction that produces sucrose 6-phosphate the latter is then cleaved by a sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase reaction that yields glucose 6-phosphate and fructose. We have examined the regulation of the sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase and found that it was synthesized constitutively whereas sucrose phosphotransferase activity was inducible. However, the levels of both sucrose phosphotransferase and sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase were repressed when fructose was used as a growth substrate. The specific activity of sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase in permeabilized cells was approximately 30 mmol/min per mg (dry weight of cells), and it had an apparent Km for sucrose 6-phosphate of 0.3 mM. analysis of a mutant that was missing sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase activity revealed that its ability to hydrolyze sucrose was reduced.


Abstract Control of weeds in cultivated crops is a pivotal component in successful crop production allowing higher yield and higher quality. In rice‐growing regions worldwide, weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea Rosh.) is a weed related to cultivated rice which infests rice fields. With populations across the globe evolving a suite of phenotypic traits characteristic of weeds and of cultivated rice, varying hypotheses exist on the origin of weedy rice. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity and possible origin of weedy rice in California using 98 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and an Rc gene‐specific marker. By employing phylogenetic clustering analysis, we show that four to five genetically distinct biotypes of weedy rice exist in California. Analysis of population structure and genetic distance among individuals reveals diverse evolutionary origins of California weedy rice biotypes, with ancestry derived from indica, aus, and japonica cultivated rice as well as possible contributions from weedy rice from the southern United States and wild rice. Because this diverse parentage primarily consists of weedy, wild, and cultivated rice not found in California, most existing weedy rice biotypes likely originated outside California.


Background—Aortic stenosis (AS) leads to variable stress for the left ventricle (LV) and consequently a broad range of LV remodeling. The aim of this study was to describe blood flow patterns in the ascending aorta of patients with AS and determine their association with remodeling. Methods and Results—Thirty-seven patients with AS (14 mild, 8 moderate, 15 severe; age, 63±13 years) and 37 healthy controls (age, 60±10 years) underwent 4-dimensional-flow magnetic resonance imaging. Helical and vortical flow formations and flow eccentricity were assessed in the ascending aorta. Normalized flow displacement from the vessel center and peak systolic wall shear stress in the ascending aorta were quantified. LV remodeling was assessed based on LV mass index and the ratio of LV mass:end-diastolic volume (relative wall mass). Marked helical and vortical flow formation and eccentricity were more prevalent in patients with AS than in healthy subjects, and patients with AS exhibited an asymmetrical and elevated distribution of peak systolic wall shear stress. In AS, aortic orifice area was strongly negatively associated with vortical flow formation (P=0.0274), eccentricity (P=0.0070), and flow displacement (P=0.0021). Bicuspid aortic valve was associated with more intense helical (P=0.0098) and vortical flow formation (P=0.0536), higher flow displacement (P=0.11), and higher peak systolic wall shear stress (P=0.0926). LV mass index and relative wall mass were significantly associated with aortic orifice area (P=0.0611, P=0.0058) and flow displacement (P=0.0058, P=0.0283). Conclusions—In this pilot study, AS leads to abnormal blood flow pattern and peak systolic wall shear stress in the ascending aorta. In addition to aortic orifice area, normalized flow displacement was significantly associated with LV remodeling.


Background C-arm cone beam CT (CBCT) with selective intra-arterial contrast injection combined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is currently used for the evaluation and treatment planning of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). In some instances an AVM will derive its blood supply from more than one main cervical artery (carotid and/or vertebral artery) and a single-vessel injection will not adequately demonstrate the entire AVM nidus. Methods Three patients with cerebral AVM in whom the entire nidus could not be visualized by injection of a single cervical artery are reported. CBCT dataset acquisition was performed by intra-arterial contrast injection in the ascending thoracic aorta through a 5 F pigtail catheter. The injection of diluted iodinated contrast agent (35%) lasted 22 s at a rate of 8 ml/s for a total volume of 176 ml (61.6 ml of contrast agent). The dataset was then processed using standard reconstruction methods. Results Contrast injection in the ascending aorta during a single CBCT acquisition provided a volumetric dataset adequate for subsequent radiosurgical treatment planning. Conclusion This is a safe and effective angiographic technique for the acquisition of volumetric datasets using CBCT that are suitable for treatment planning of intracranial AVMs deriving their blood supply from more than one major cervical artery. This technique allows imaging of the entire AVM nidus during a single CBCT acquisition.


The meltinglike transition of ${\mathrm{Na}}_{30}$ is studied by orbital-free density-functional molecular dynamics simulations. The potential energy surface of ${\mathrm{Na}}_{30}$ is sampled by simulated annealing and regular quenchings performed along the dynamical trajectories. Both the ground-state structure and low-energy structural excitations are found to exhibit substantial polyicosahedral ordering. The most relevant feature of the potential energy landscape for the melting problem is the existence of many different structural isomers within an energy range of $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$/atom, resembling that of a glassy system (yet the structures have a high symmetry). The liquid phase is accessed gradually, with some isomerizations observed at a temperature as low as $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, while melting can be considered complete above approximately $200\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The different dynamical mechanisms that allow the smooth opening of phase space available to the system as a function of temperature are identified and discussed. They can be classified in two different categories: (a) those that allow the exploration of isomers similar to the ground state, involving mainly surface isomerizations and surface melting, and leaving the structure of the cluster core unchanged; and (b) those associated with a more substantial structural change, more similar to the usual solid-solid phase transition in bulk phases; the structure of the cluster core changes only in this second type of transition. Mechanism (a) results in surface melting of the corresponding isomer upon heating; at that stage, mechanism (b) acts to transfer some excess energy from the surface to the core region, so that the surface melting is transiently avoided. Even in the fully developed liquid state, there are important differences from the bulk liquid due to the presence of the surface.


On February 5, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the ranks of the elite teams in National Football League history, celebrating their fifth Super Bowl victory. From an unspectacular 7-5 start, to completing the greatest playoff run ever, to the fairy tale ending of Jerome Bettis's Hall of Fame career and the vindication of Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the 2005 season was not only one for the thumb, but "truly one for the ages." "One for the Thumb" is a collection of the best stories about the fabled franchise by local and national sportswriters, and former players. It covers the team's history from Art Rooney Sr.'s purchase of the NFL franchise in 1933 for $2,500 to their Super Bowl XL victory. From their frustrating early days as the Pirates, Steagles, and Card-Pitts, through their four Super Bowl wins in the 1970s, to the fateful day in 2004 when they selected Ben Roethlisberger as the eleventh overall pick in the draft, "One for the Thumb" captures the essence of the team whose identity is forever linked with the spirit of the hardworking, blue-collar city it represents. From immortals Bobby Layne, Ernie Stautner, and John Henry Johnson, to Chuck Noll, Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Greene, Rocky Bleier, and Neil O'Donnell, to current greats Troy Polamalu, Jerome Bettis, Ben Roethlisberger, and Bill Cowher, "One for the Thumb" is the definitive anthology of the Pittsburgh Steelers - a must-read for all fans of the team and the game of football.


Minimally invasive CT colonography has been embraced by radiologists and patients alike. As the technique evolves, its use is shifting from specialized academic centers to community hospitals and private practices. That transition is focusing increased attention on reimbursement, clinical efficacy, and interpretation issues. Computer-aided detection for CTC could affect all three.


ABSTRACT Costa, A.K.R.; Pereira, L.C.C.; Costa, S.F.S.; Leite, N.R; Flores-Montes, M.J., and Costa, R.M., 2016. Spatiotemporal variation in salinity during drought years in an Amazonian estuary (Taperaçu), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 48–52. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This study investigated the spatial and temporal variation in salinity in an Amazonian estuary (Taperaçu). Data were collected in the field every three months between April 2012 and March 2015. During each field campaign, CTDs were used to collect data over a 25-hour period at three fixed stations, in the upper, middle and lower estuary. Precipitation data were obtained from INMET (Brazilian Institute of Meteorology). March to May were the months of highest precipitation (around 1000–1400 mm), although 2012 and 2013 were considered to be drought years in eastern Amazonia (annual precipitation < 1800 mm). While the Taperaçu does not have any direct fluvial input, it is connected to the Caeté Estuary through the Taici creek and is connected to adjacent wetlands. Salinity varied considerably between seasons, peaking in the dry season (in particular, in December) in the lower sector of the estuary (40). During the rainy season, salinity reached values of less than 10 in the upper estuary. The drought years (2012–2013) were characterized by higher salinity in comparison with more typical years (2014–2015). These results indicate that the minor estuaries of the Amazon coast, such as the Taperaçu, may contribute to the understanding of the influence of atypical climatic periods on hydrological variables (such as salinity), and their implications for the local biological communities.


In the area of public administration adn/or non-profit organizations, it is complicated to evaluate, an above all to quantify, activities.
As classic closed questions are not always pertinent when we want to gather opinons and attitudes, the introduction of some open questions aids in gathering such infomation. Therefore, the combined use of both types of questions allows on to deal with complex porblems and to dscover their multiple facets.
In this paper we present a methodology that allows a typolgy of subjects to be cosntructed from threir answers to closed questions, in order to then describe this typology using the information that is gathered, in paticular the answers to the open questions. Our presentation is based on the results obtained in a survey of Spanish judges carried out in the year 2002. This survey contained the open question "in your opinion, vhat makes a good judge?"


Abstract Continental-scale economic analysis suggests that changes in climate conditions are associated with lower agricultural net revenue in sub-Saharan Africa. Specific locations, however, may not reflect this overall trend due to variation in baseline climate, soils, and socioeconomic factors that are difficult to model at large scales. The economic effect of changes in climate conditions on agricultural revenue in particular places in sub-Saharan Africa remains largely unknown. To test this effect, we study an area of West Africa with high climate variation over a small geographic area. We find that higher temperatures and precipitation lower agricultural revenues in the more important rainy season but increase revenues in the less important cool, dry season.


The aim of the present study was to develop a pictorial presence scale using self-assessment-manikins (SAM). The instrument assesses presence sub-dimensions (self-location and possible actions) as well as presence determinants (attention allocation, spatial situation model, higher cognitive involvement, and suspension of disbelief). To qualitatively validate the scale, think-aloud protocols and interviews (n = 12) were conducted. The results reveal that the SAM items are quickly filled out as well as easily, intuitively, and unambiguously understood. Furthermore, the instrument's validity and sensitivity was quantitatively examined in a two-factorial design (n = 317). Factors were medium (written story, audio book, video, and computer game) and distraction (non-distraction vs. distraction). Factor analyses reveal that the SAM presence dimensions and determinants closely correspond to those of the MEC Spatial Presence Questionnaire, which was used as a comparison measure. The findings of the qualitative and quantitative validation procedures show that the Pictorial Presence SAM successfully assesses spatial presence. In contrast to the verbal questionnaire data (MEC), the significant distraction–effect suggests that the new scale is even more sensitive. This points out that the scale can be a useful alternative to existing verbal presence self-report measures.


In the planning phase of a project, traffic network designers have a lot of choices to make when
designing junctions in urban networks. The traffic network designers base the design choices, among
others, on design guidelines for junctions. These design guidelines contain a set of rules based on
rules of thumb and decision diagrams. The main criteria for these rules and decision diagrams are
traffic flow and safety. A check is usually performed for costs and local criteria while guidelines for
emissions, noise and fuel consumption barely exist (Bezembinder, 2013; CROW, 2012). However, the
environment is becoming a more important subject nowadays. And policies are more and more
based on minimizing the five most important (negative) external effects of traffic: congestion, traffic
safety, global warming, air pollution and noise pollution.
Research of Bezembinder is aimed to develop new junction design rules for urban traffic networks in
the Netherlands, reckoning with those policy objectives. The research described in this document
aims to contribute to the research of Bezembinder by developing an emission modelling approach
which can determine emissions values of isolated junctions. In the research of Bezembinder a
junction model is used that produces macroscopic static flow data. An emission model that is able to
use these data should be connected to the junction model to calculate emission values of different
junction designs. With the results the junction designs should be compared to each other.
Furthermore, the approach should not be calculation capacity and calculation time consuming
because it has to be used in a network situation. Therefore, the objective of this research is:
The objective of this research is to develop a static macroscopic junction emission model which
produces results that can be used to compare different junction designs on policy relevant emission
substances.


The magnetic, the magneto-optical and the optical properties of Ni2MnIn alloy films with significantly different atomic orders (from nearly single-crystalline to amorphous) were investigated. The crystalline Ni2MnIn alloy films are a ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 325 - 330 K, while the amorphous phase is not ferromagnetically-ordered (at least, above 293 K). The diagonal and the off-diagonal components of the dielectric function for the crystalline alloy were experimentally determined for the first time. The nature of interband excitations in the optical spectra of the ordered phase is discussed in terms of the band structures of Ni2MnSn. The analyses of changes in the electron energy structure of Ni2MnIn alloy, caused by the structural disordering, are performed using the results of optical study. An annealing at 750 K for 2 hrs of the amorphous film restores its crystallinity (B2 phase) and also the ferromagnetic order.


An intersection of events has led to a massive increase in the amount of medical data being collected from patients inside and outside the hospital. These events include the development of new sensors, the continuous decrease in the cost of data storage, the development of Big Data algorithms in other domains and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act's $20 billion incentive for hospitals to install and use Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. The data being collected presents an excellent opportunity to improve patient care. However, this opportunity is not without its challenges. Some of the challenges are technical in nature, not the least of which is how to efficiently process such massive amounts of data. At the other end of the spectrum, there are policy questions that deal with data privacy, confidentiality and ownership to ensure that research continues unhindered while preserving the rights and interests of the stakeholders involved. This thesis addresses both ends of the challenge spectrum. First of all, we design and implement a number of methods for automatically discovering groups within large amounts of data, otherwise known as clustering. We believe this technique would prove particularly useful in identifying patient states, segregating cohorts of patients and hypothesis generation. Specifically, we scale a popular clustering algorithm , Expectation-Maximization (EM) for Gaussian Mixture Models to be able to run on a cloud of computers. We also give a lot of attention to the idea of Consensus Clustering which allows multiple clusterings to be merged into a single ensemble clustering. Here, we scale one existing consensus clustering algorithm, which relies on 3 EM for multinomial mixture models. We also develop and implement a more general framework for retrofitting any consensus clustering algorithm and making it amenable to streaming data as well as distribution on a cloud. On the policy end of the spectrum, we argue that the issue of data ownership is essential and highlight how the law in the United States has handled this issue in the past several decades, focusing on common law and state law approaches. We proceed to identify the flaws, especially the fragmentation, in the current system and make recommendations for a more equitable and efficient policy stance. The recommendations center on codifying the policy stance in Federal Law and allocating the property rights of the data to both the healthcare provider and the patient. Acknowledgments This thesis would …


Abstract There is considerable uncertainty regarding the future development of life expectancy that leads to significant change in many fields of the insurance market. Pricing annuity products and mortality-linked securities seem primary goals of actuarial literature. At the same time, the valuation of non-hedgeable liabilities (as technical provisions for contracts where risk is not entirely borne by the policyholders) and the estimation of capital requirement appear very important issues in Solvency II framework. In this context, we propose a model based on Risk Theory in order to evaluate the capital requirement for mortality and longevity risk. We assume a life portfolio characterized by traditional and with-profit products divided in several homogeneous generations of contracts. Each cohort includes equal contracts that differ only by the insured sum with the aim to consider the effect of variability coefficient. Some assumptions allow to obtain closed formulae for the exact characteristics of demographic profit distribution regardless of contract types (i.e either with survival or death benefits). Furthermore Monte-Carlo methods provide the simulated distribution of mortality and longevity profit for each generation. Some case studies show the moments and the capital requirements for different life portfolios. Finally, further research will regard both the aggregation effect between several generations and a valuation of liabilities consistent to Solvency II context.