This study is aimed at providing insight into the reasons for the uneven adoption of the use of computer based training in education and training. To achieve this goal, applied research directed at identifying the critical success criteria required for the introduction and sustained use of computer based training (CBT) and education (CBE) was undertaken. The research methodology for the study made use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) after Saaty (1990) and involved the construction and examination of a three-level hierarchical matrix of criteria associated with the introduction, and sustained usage of CBT. These three levels were comprised of a factor level (economics, policy, technology, pedagogy, organisation), an activities level (design, production, implementation, evaluation) and an interactive components level (hardware, software, personnel). The first phase of this study, involving 44 GET professionals, produced profiles detailing what these practitioners believed to be the critical criteria for the successful introduction and use of GET. These profiles were derived for three hypothetical scenarios representing successful small, medium and large scale developers/users of CBT. These profiles (defined as scenario matrix dominance profiles) showed a distinct evolutionary pattern from small scale CBT activities dominated by economic factors, to large scale GET operations dominated by organisational and policy factors. In the second phase of the study, interviews were conducted involving key individuals from the 19 organisations involved in the studyTs first phase of interviews. Individuals were asked to examine the CBT success criteria with respect to what influenced the development and use of CBT in their organisations. The data collected from these interviews was used to produce additional sets of actual matrix dominance profiles for the participating organisations. Each organisation's actual matrix dominance profile (representing the existing mix of influential criteria) was then compared with the corresponding derived scenario matrix dominance profiles (representing the ideal mix of critical criteria) from the first round of interviews. The examination and interpretation of the scenario matrix dominance profiles, and the subsequent comparisons with the actual matrix dominance profiles, provided a detailed insight into both individual success criteria and their inter-relationships with other criteria in the hierarchy. At the system level, this comparative analysis revealed that there were five key criteria identified as being important in contributing to the success of CBT. These five criteria are:
At the factor level: 1. Organisation - commitment at all levels of an organisation, 2.Economics - identifiable economic returns, 3.Policy - identifiable policy dictates concerning instructional technologies. At the activity level: 4. Adherence to instructional systems design principles with particular importance placed on Design and Implementation. At the component level: 5. Personnel - skilled professional staff. The results of this study would suggest that it is the lack of attention to (or the inability to address) these key elements that is inhibiting the introduction and use of CBT technologies on a much wider scale. Further, it would appear that these critical success criteria, in association with the remaining identified criteria, need to be addressed in a multidisciplinary framework ( eg. instructional design, human resource management, training and economic management) in order to significantly increase the use of CBT as a teaching and training strategy. The study concludes with the discussion of potential research areas which could expand upon the findings of this examination of GET success criteria and promote the more effective use of CBT in industry and education.


For a first-order lag process with dead-time models (FOPDT) under step load disturbances, optimal parameters of proportional and integral (PI) controller are obtained through numerical optimization based on minimizing the integrated time and absolute error (ITAE), or maximizing the integral gain. The optimizations are under constrains of sensitivity functions. Then, the tuning formulas for PI controllers are adjusted according to parameters from numerical fittings of optimized values within a large scope of the ratio of the inertia time to the dead-time of processes. Finally, the process information is acquired from closed-loop tests of a two-channel relay and the process is approximately modeled with a FOPDT model in order to achieve parameter auto-tuning of controllers. The approach proposed is proved to be effective according to simulation results.


By exploiting the specialist capabilities of each classifier, a combined classifier may yield results which would not be possible in a single classifier. We propose to combine fingerprint and speaker verification decisions using a functional link network. This is to circumvent the non-trivial trial-and-error and iterative training effort as seen in backpropagation neural networks which cannot guarantee global optimal solutions. In many data fusion applications, as individual classifiers to be combined would have attained a certain level of classification accuracy, the proposed functional link network can be used to combine these classifiers by taking their outputs as the inputs to the network. The network is used to combine the fingerprint and speaker verification decisions with much improved receiver operating characteristics performance as compared to an optimal weighting method.


Split products of complement component 3 (C3) and complement component 4 (C4) derived from activation of the alternative and classical complement pathways were measured in untreated outpatients, 20 with Crohn's disease and 19 with rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated levels of the d split product of C4 (C4d) were observed in 12 of 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 9 of 20 patients with Crohn's disease. Levels of the d split product of C3 (C3d) were increased in 14 of 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 6 of 20 Crohn's disease patients. The median values of C4d and C3d were significantly increased in both groups of patients. C3d concentrations correlated positively with C4d levels (rs = 0.51-0.56, p less than 0.005). The complement activation was not reflected in reduced plasma levels of native C3 and C4. The data indicate activation of the classical complement pathway in both rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.


Background In old field systems, the common woodlouse may have an indirect effect on a nursery web spider. Woodlice and nursery web spiders feed in different food chains, yet previous work demonstrated that the presence of woodlice is correlated with higher predation success by nursery web spiders upon their grasshopper prey. This finding suggested a new hypothesis which links two seemingly disparate food chains: when woodlice are present, the spider predator or the grasshopper prey changes their location in the vegetative canopy in a way that increases their spatial overlap and therefore predation rate. However, warming temperatures may complicate this phenomenon. The spider cannot tolerate thermal stress, meaning warming temperatures may cause the spider to move downwards in the vegetative canopy or otherwise alter its response to woodlice. Therefore, we would expect warming and woodlice presence to have an interactive effect on predation rate. Methods We conducted behavioral experiments in 2015, 2017, and 2018 to track habitat domains—the use of the vegetative canopy space by grasshoppers and spiders—in experimental cages. Then, we used three models of spider movement to try to explain the response of spiders to woodlice: expected net energy gain, signal detection theory, and individual-based modelling. Results Habitat domain observations revealed that spiders shift upward in the canopy when woodlice are present, but the corresponding effect on grasshopper prey survival was variable over the different years of study. Under warming conditions, spiders remained lower in the canopy regardless of the presence of woodlice, suggesting that thermal stress is more important than the effect of woodlice. Our modelling results suggest that spiders do not need to move away from woodlice to maximize net energy gain (expected net energy gain and signal detection theory models). Instead spider behavior is consistent with the null hypothesis that they move away from unsuccessful encounters with woodlice (individual-based simulation). We conclude that mapping how predator behavior changes across biotic (e.g. woodlouse presence) and abiotic conditions (e.g. temperature) may be critical to anticipate changes in ecosystem dynamics.


Monitoring sensors in storage spaces are generally located out in the open and thus are checking conditions in the general air space of the storage area. In cases where a collection is packaged or boxed however, collection items are entirely within a secondary climate system which whilst related to the ambient conditions, is also modified by a number of factors: the buffering effects of the packaging or boxing materials, the construction of the storage enclosure and the thermostatic and humidistatic properties of the collection material itself. It is felt that since these are the actual conditions collection items are stored in, then it is these which conservators should be most concerned with. Research has been carried out at the National Archives of Australia to examine the variations between ambient storage conditions and those within storage containers. This has revealed that there is a significant difference between the two sets of conditions; inside a storage container is always less variable than outside.


In this paper, a valuation approach that modifies traditional discounted cash flow (DCF) methodology is presented to incorporate the option premium of expansion flexibility while evaluating a flexible manufacturing system investment. Expansion flexibility allows for changing the production capacity in response to deviations in demand, while disregarding the assumption that management makes an irrevocable decision based on its future market expectations. Expansion flexibility provides a key strategic advantage by avoiding the large financial commitment at the initial investment stage and enabling investment in a phased manner according to the changes in market conditions. The aim of this paper is to present a thorough valuation methodology that accounts for both the benefits of keeping the option to expand alive and the loss of market share to competing firms if the expansion investment were delayed. In this paper, the value of expansion flexibility is computed using sequential exchange options. The proposed method employs an analytic approximation scheme for valuing American exchange options on dividend-paying assets. A numerical example demonstrates the application of the valuation framework. The options approach that incorporates the expansion flexibility option into the analysis results in a higher value than the standard DCF approach, which ignores the value of the option to expand. We also perform sensitivity analyses to see whether the expansion option increases in value in cases of high uncertainty where management can respond flexibly to new market information, and where the investment analysis ignoring flexibility yields a marginally positive net present value. The results of the proposed valuation framework are presented in comparison with a previous model that ignores the opportunity cost of delaying expansion investment.


Based onmaterial from theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, this paper examines the development of perfect and passive periphrases out of copular and possessive clauses, tracing the interaction between agreement marking, reanalysis and grammaticalisation. It has previously been claimed that reanalysis was triggered in contexts with zero-morphology. However, I demonstrate that zero-exponence did not play a decisive role in the reanalysis of these periphrastic schemas and the subsequent loss of agreement acrossthe-board. Instead, the gradual decline of overt agreement correlates with a higher degree of grammaticalisation as a natural consequence of it. The data point to a gradient cline from least to most grammaticalised patterns: passives with be or become, which remain closest to copular clauses, followed by be-perfects and then have-perfects, the most highly entrenched periphrastic schema.


In comparsion with treatment with the low cost antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug bevacizumab (Avastin), the more expensive alternatives aflibercept (Eylea) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) are not cost effective for diabetic macular edema, a new study has found.1

Aflibercept and ranibizumab are 20 to 30 times more expensive than bevacizumab, which is approved for the treatment of cancer and is frequently repackaged for off label treatment of retinal vascular disease.

Diabetic macular edema (DME), which is caused by the swelling of the retina's macula because of abnormal blood vessel growth, is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetic retinopathy. VEGF stimulates the growth of these abnormal blood vessels, and anti-VEGF drugs, administered by intravitreal injection, …


: This study examines a resource-sharing problem involving multiple parties that agree to use a set of capacities together. We start with modeling the whole problem as a mathematical program, where all parties are required to exchange information to obtain the optimal objective function value. This information bears private data from each party in terms of coefficients used in the mathematical program. Moreover, the parties also consider the individual optimal solutions as private. In this setting, the concern for the parties is the privacy of their data and their optimal allocations. We propose a two-step approach to meet the privacy requirements of the parties. In the first step, we obtain a reformulated model that is amenable to a decomposition scheme. Although this scheme eliminates almost all data exchange, it does not provide a formal privacy guarantee. In the second step, we provide this guarantee with a differentially private algorithm at the expense of deviating slightly from the optimality. We provide bounds on this deviation and discuss the consequences of these theoretical results. We also propose a novel modification to increase the efficiency of the algorithm in terms of reducing the theoretical optimality gap. The study ends with a numerical experiment on a planning problem that demonstrates an application of the proposed approach. As we work with a general optimization model, our analysis and discussion can be used in different application areas including production planning, logistics, and network revenue management.


Crosstalk Cancellation in Structured Light Free Space Optical Communication Dmitrii Briantcev Free-space optics (FSO) is an unlicensed communication technology that uses the free space as a propagation medium to connect two communicating terminal wirelessly [1]. It is an attractive solution to the last-mile connectivity problems in communication networks, mainly when installing optical fibers is expensive or unavailable. A possible idea to increase the throughput of wireless optical links in free space is to use spatial multiplexing (SMM) [2]. Optical beam distortion due to propagation through a turbulent channel is one of the main factors limiting performance of such a system. Therefore, overcoming the effect of turbulence is a major problem for structured light optical communication in free space. Usually, this problem is approached by using adaptive optics systems and various methods of digital signal processing (DSP) on the receiver side [3–5]. Recently, an idea of optical channel pre-compensation to mitigate inter-modal crosstalk was proposed [6] and experimentally validated [7]. Such a method, if implemented, will allow the use of entirely passive receivers or, in the case of full-duplex transmission, increase throughput. Here, the performance of a zero-forcing precoding technique to mitigate the effects of an optical turbulence in a Laguerre Gaussian mode based SMM FSO is investigated. Equally, details on a close to reality simulation of the atmospheric turbulence and beam propagation are provided.


According to the soft-switching pulsed SAW (Submerged arc weld) weld power supply based on the double closed-loop constant current control mode, a small signal mathematic model of main circuit of soft-switching SAW inverter was established by applying the method of three-terminal switching device modeling method, and the math-ematic model of double closed-loop phase-shift control system circuit was established by applying the method of state-space averaging method. Dynamic performance of the inverter was analyzed on base of the established math-ematic model, and the tested wave of dynamic performance was shown by experimentation. Research and experimentation show that relation between structure of the power source circuit and dynamic performance of the controlling system can be announced by the established mathematic model, which provides development of power supply and optimized design of controlling parameter with theoretical guidance.


INTRODUCTION: Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has shown promise in differentiating acute tubular necrosis (ATN) from other types of acute kidney injuries (AKIs) in cirrhosis, particularly hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). However, NGAL is not currently available in clinical practice in North America. METHODS: Urinary NGAL was measured in a prospective cohort of 213 US hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis (161 with AKI and 52 reference patients without AKI). NGAL was assessed for its ability to discriminate ATN from non-ATN AKI and to predict 90-day outcomes. RESULTS: Among patients with AKI, 57 (35%) had prerenal AKI, 55 (34%) had HRS, and 49 (30%) had ATN, with a median serum creatinine of 2.0 (interquartile range 1.5, 3.0) mg/dL at enrollment. At an optimal cutpoint of 244 μg/g creatinine, NGAL distinguished ATN (344 [132, 1,429] μg/g creatinine) from prerenal AKI (45 [0, 154] μg/g) or HRS (110 [50, 393] μg/g; P < 0.001), with a C statistic of 0.762 (95% confidence interval 0.682, 0.842). By 90 days, 71 of 213 patients (33%) died. Higher median NGAL was associated with death (159 [50, 865] vs 58 [0, 191] μg/g; P < 0.001). In adjusted and unadjusted analysis, NGAL significantly predicted 90-day transplant-free survival (P < 0.05 for all Cox models) and outperformed Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score by C statistic (0.697 vs 0.686; P = 0.04), net reclassification index (37%; P = 0.008), and integrated discrimination increment (2.7%; P = 0.02). DISCUSSION: NGAL differentiates the type of AKI in cirrhosis and may improve prediction of mortality; therefore, it holds potential to affect management of AKI in cirrhosis.


Achalasia is a progressively worsening primary motility disorder of the esophagus, characterised by a lack of peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The management of this disease aims to palliate symptoms by improving gastric emptying and reducing the pressure gradient. Nonetheless, approximately 5% of patients will progress to end-stage disease with the development of a massively dilated and tortuous megaesophagus. Esophagectomy for the treatment of end-stage achalasia remains a controversial topic and has been recommended as a last resort by the 2018 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus guidelines. We describe a patient with end-stage achalasia who had exhausted conventional therapy and was successfully managed with an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, followed by a review of current practice regarding the management of this difficult problem.


p66Shc regulates both steady-state and environmental stress-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Its deletion was shown to confer resistance to oxidative stress and protect mice from aging-associated vascular disease. This study was aimed at verifying the hypothesis that p66Shc deletion also protects from diabetic glomerulopathy by reducing oxidative stress. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic p66Shc knockout (KO) mice showed less marked changes in renal function and structure, as indicated by the significantly lower levels of proteinuria, albuminuria, glomerular sclerosis index, and glomerular and mesangial areas. Glomerular content of fibronectin and collagen IV was also lower in diabetic KO versus wild-type mice, whereas apoptosis was detected only in diabetic wild-type mice. Serum and renal tissue advanced glycation end products and plasma isoprostane 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α levels and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were also lower in diabetic KO than in wild-type mice. Mesangial cells from KO mice grown under high-glucose conditions showed lower cell death rate, matrix production, ROS levels, and activation of NF-κB than those from wild-type mice. These data support a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of diabetic glomerulopathy and indicate that p66Shc is involved in the molecular mechanism(s) underlying diabetes-induced oxidative stress and oxidant-dependent renal injury.


Lower bounds on the depth of Boolean networks that can compute reliably in the presence of randomly occurring failures are proved. A bound is also given on the reliability that error-tolerant networks can achieve: this bound implies a limit strictly smaller than 1/2 on the failure probability per gate that can be tolerated. The results improve upon recently published bounds of N. Pippenger (ibid., vol.IT-34, p.194-7, 1988) on the depth of error-tolerant formulas and extend the bounds to the case of reliable computation by networks. >


Advances in organic chemistry now make it possible for computer-controlled instruments to synthesize new and unnatural genes. When these genes are inserted into bacterial plasmids they can code for the over-production of new, synthetic enzyme proteins. One use for these new enzymes is as catalysts for the production of only a single one of the possible optical isomers of unnatural chemicals--a technology required for the synthesis of purer and safer drugs. The article describes attempts to use this new technology to design a new enzyme which recognizes a -CH2 -COO- side chain instead of the -CH3 side chain recognized by the naturally evolved enzyme. One of the new designs is shown to enable the construction of a new enzyme which is at least as catalytically active as the natural enzyme, and in which the substrate specificity has been shifted 10(7)-fold in favour of the new target molecule. Thus, given a firm understanding of the structural properties of a natural enzyme, which determine its efficiency as a catalyst, it can be manipulated to accept a new substrate and it is reasonably hopeful that useful products will be cheaply available from the redesign of natural proteins.


Abstract The LIMS experiment on Nimbus 7 has provided new results on the stratospheric water vapor distribution. The data show 1) a latitudinal gradient with mixing ratios that increase by a factor of 2 from equator to ±60 degrees at 50 mb, 2) most of the time there is a fairly uniform mixing ratio of 5 ppmv at high latitudes, but more variation exists during winter, 3) a well-developed hygropause at low to midlatitudes of the lower stratosphere 4) a source region of water vapor in the upper stratosphere to lower mesosphere that is consistent with methane oxidation chemistry, at least within the uncertainties of the data, 5) an apparent zonal mean H2O distribution that is consistent with the circulation proposed by Brewer in 1949, and 6) a zonal mean distribution in the lower stratosphere that is consistent with the idea of quasi-isentropic transport by eddies in the meridional direction. Limits to the use of the data in the refinement of our understanding of the stratospheric water vapor budget are noted.


OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of NGX-4010, a high-concentration capsaicin dermal patch (capsaicin 640 microg/cm(2), 8%) in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive NGX-4010 or control patch in a 4-week, double-blind study. This was followed by an open-label extension phase (up to 48 weeks total) where patients could receive up to three additional treatments no sooner than 12 weeks after initial treatment. The primary efficacy variable was mean change from baseline in mean morning and evening numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) scores.

RESULTS
During days 8-28 after the double-blind treatment, NGX-4010 patients had a mean change in NPRS scores from baseline of -32.7% compared with -4.4% for control patients (P = 0.003). Mean NPRS scores decreased from baseline during week 1 in both treatment groups, remained relatively stable through week 12 in NXG-4010 patients, but returned to near baseline during weeks 2-4 in controls. Mean change in NPRS scores from baseline during weeks 2-12 was -33.8% for NGX-4010 and +4.9% for control recipients. A similar decrease in NPRS scores from baseline was maintained with subsequent NGX-4010 treatments, regardless of the number of treatments received. Transient increases in application site pain were adequately managed with analgesics. No increases in application site reactions or adverse events were observed with repeated treatments. No patients discontinued the study due to an adverse event.

CONCLUSION
NGX-4010 is a promising topical treatment for PHN patients, which appears to be tolerable, generally safe, and effective.


We developed a mobile ward round system based on openEHR for the use on smartphones and tablet computers using the Android platform which integrates and uses NFC to explore new ways of computer interaction, data processing and workflows in the medical world. Based on the automatic patient identification via NFC using the mobile device, physicians can easily view recent ward round results and edit/add information without manually selecting the patient from a list. The application mainly shows new ideas and possibilities to improve medical workflows and usability and how mobile devices can make use of existing frameworks and backend services. Relying on the openEHR standard, physicians are not limited to a certain ward round document anymore but can define their own ward round templates by means of the openEHR templates and archetypes.


Three-dimensional reefs and beds created predominately by the native Angasi Oyster or Flat Oyster (Ostrea angasi) were once common across its range in Australia's southern coastal waters but were lost during the mid-late 1800s and early 1900s due to a combination of destructive fishing practices, overfishing and changes to estuarine conditions. Despite the continued presence of low densities of individuals and cessation of commercial fishing, reefs structures and their associated communities have shown little signs of natural recovery. Since 2014, a range of oyster reef restoration projects have commenced in Australia, guided by international restoration protocols that prioritise the re-establishment of the keystone species on artificial stable substrates placed in locations where natural oyster reefs have previously existed. These projects invariably need clear and realistic goals and objectives for restoration, which are aided by the use of a reference ecosystem as a model or target, for the local oyster reef ecosystem being restored, yet few reference sites exist. Reefs, established by Angasi, are absent from much or all of its geographical distribution, and the ecosystem has been poorly studied to date; hence, the application of restoration target ecosystems will largely depend on deriving a model based on historical descriptions and observation of what remains. Here, we develop an interim reference model to help set restoration objectives and recommended procedural framework for Angasi reef restoration based on available knowledge of the ecology, biology and aquaculture of the keystone species. We use the Port Phillip Bay oyster reef restoration project as a case study for using the reference model to guide interventions and evaluate the progress of recovery.


Abstract. This paper describes the development of a web application to facilitate the management and processing of geoid models in the ISG collection as well as of additional information available in the ISG website (mainly projects, services and publications). The ISG service pays significant attention to metadata and data interoperability from published geoid models. As a result, the possibility of creating a database with all necessary information for describing geoid models has been considered. PostgreSQL was chosen as the database for the implementation to take advantage of PostGIS geographic processing functions for developing a Database Management System for the resources available inside the ISG service catalogue (including geoid products, software, publications, etc.). The project's web development environment is Django, a web framework which is supported by the PostgreSQL database back-end and which makes it easier to integrate new applications or processing services into the website. A model solution for raster data integration using a PostGIS database back-end named Django-raster has also been investigated as part of the implementation, provided also that it is possible to take advantage of the vast Django community. The Django-raster model allows for the storage of datasets as tiles in the database, their exposure as a Tiled Map Services (TMS), and allows as well raster map algebra operations. TMS services will be utilized to share the geoid models and metadata included in the open access archive using a WebGIS, created with OpenLayers.


Mathematical biology is an interdisciplinary area that focuses on the application of mathematics to biology systems. Mathematical biology spans all levels of biological organization and biological function, from the configuration of biological macromolecules to the entire ecosphere over the course of evolutionary time. The International Conference on Mathematical Biology 2007 provides the opportunity to bring together the people, projects and issues from all over the world to share experiences and examine the challenge of applying mathematics to biological problems.


The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxidized soybean oils on the growth performance, metabolic oxidative status and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old female broiler chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments with six replicates (cages) of 10 birds each. The dietary treatments comprised of a basal diet supplemented with 4% of: nonoxidized (fresh) soybean oil (control treatment, SNX); lowly-oxidized soybean oil (SLX) (oil heated for 10h at 200°C); moderately-oxidized soybean oil (SMX) (oil heated for 18h at 200°C); or highly-oxidized soybean oil (SHX) (oil heated for 30h at 200°C). Diets and water were offered ad libitum. The experiment was lasted 21d.The growth performance of broilers, determined from 1 to 14 d and from 1 to 21 d of age, was not affected by the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Broilers fed oxidized soybean oils presented higher corticosterone serum levels compared with those fed non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels onday14 and 21 (p<0.05), and lower total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and totalsuperoxide dismutase (T-SOD) values on day 21were obtained in the liver of broiler fed oxidized oils relative to those fed the non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Broilers fed the highly-oxidized soybean oil had higher (p<0.05) MDA levels in the jejunum on day 21 compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Chickens fed moderatelyand highlyoxidized soybean oil presented lower (p<0.05) T-SOD activity inileal mucosa compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Ileal mRNA expression of claudin-1 tended to be down regulated by the dietary addition of oxidized oils (p=0.056). The mRNA expression of interleukin-22 (IL-22) of broilers fed moderately-oxidized and highlyoxidized soybean oil was higher (p<0.05), and the mRNA expression of occludin and catalase was lower (p<0.05) than those fed nonoxidized soybean oil. However, the morphology of the jejunal and ileal mucosa was not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary oxidized oil treatments. It was concluded that oxidized oils may cause oxidative stress by reducing intestinal and liver antioxidant capacity; increase intestinal permeability by reducing mRNA expression levels of tightjunction proteins claudin-1 and occludin; and cause inflammation by increasing mRNA expression level of the inflammation-related factor IL-22.


This paper describes the first of two experiments examining the safety and usability of the Siemens Ali-Scout navigation system, an in- vehicle interface that provides turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance. A total of 54 drivers varying in age drove an instrumented car to four destinations, twice using the Ali-Scout and, subsequently once using experimenter verbal guidance. Subjects were tested in the afternoon, at rush hour, and in the evening. There were no crashes or near misses using the Ali-Scout, but there were four critical incidents where drivers changed lanes in response to navigation voice instructions without checking traffic. Excluding the turns into destinations, the turn error rate was 8 percent, and uncertainties occurred at an additional 13 percent of the turns. Most of the errors and uncertainties occurred in autonomous mode in which only the distance and direction to the destination were shown, not turn-by-turn guidance. Driving performance measures summarized in this paper include the mean speed while moving, and the standard deviations of throttle, speed, and lateral position. The first three of these measures were more sensitive to interface differences than the standard deviation of lateral position, a measure of lane variability. Generally, there were significant differences due to age, subject destination, and section within destination for these measures. Subject differences were quite pronounced, with variability measures for the best and worst subject in each age-sex group differing by 2:1 to 3:1. The results suggest that the collection of variables sensitive to navigation interfaces is large, posing challenges for the development of a simple standard safety assessment.


In some real systems, e.g., distributed sensor networks, individual agents often need to form coalitions to accomplish complex tasks. Due to communication and computation constraints, it is infeasible for agents to directly interact with all other agents to form coalitions. Most previous coalition formation studies, however, overlooked this aspect. Those studies did not provide an explicitly modeled agent network or assumed that agents were in a fully connected network, where an agent can directly communicate with all other agents. Thus, to alleviate this problem, it is necessary to provide a neighborhood network structure, within which agents can directly interact only with their neighbors. Toward this end, in this paper, a self-adaptation-based dynamic coalition formation mechanism is proposed. The proposed mechanism operates in a neighborhood agent network. Based on self-adaptation principles, this mechanism enables agents to dynamically adjust their degrees of involvement in multiple coalitions and to join new coalitions at any time. The self-adaptation process, i.e., agents adjusting their degrees of involvement in multiple coalitions, is realized by exploiting a negotiation protocol. The proposed mechanism is evaluated through a comparison with a centralized mechanism (CM) and three other coalition formation mechanisms. Experimental results demonstrate the good performance of the proposed mechanism in terms of the entire network profit and time consumption. Additionally, a brief survey of current coalition formation research is also provided. From this survey, readers can have a general understanding of the focuses and progress of current research. This survey provides a classification of the primary emphasis of each related work in coalition formation, so readers can conveniently find the most related studies.


The article examines the figurative situla found in tomb 244 of the necropolis of Montebelluna-Posmon (TV - Italy), one of the most recent discoveries of Situla Art, datable to the end of the VI century BC. The study focuses above all on the spinning scene which presents a unique subject for Situla Art and very rare in European protohistory: a pregnant woman. This scene allows us to shed light on the meaning of the entire story which, in the hypothesis, expresses, through the respective signs of power, the areas of competence of the two fundamental components – husband and wife – of a high-ranking family of the Venetians of the foothills band.


ABSTRACT Until relatively recently, in countries such as the U.S.A. and U.K., individuals could only opt for "single race" categories with which they identified. However, in the 2000 decennial census, respondents in the U.S. were able to choose more than one racial category, while in 2001, a "Mixed" box (with further subcategories) was provided in the England and Wales census for the first time. But the very success of this racial project in these countries has spawned a number of questions for policy-makers and academics who theorize, enumerate and study the experiences of multiracial people. With demographic changes such as generational change, who counts as multiracial or mixed race? This question has yet to receive significant attention. Although mixing is becoming more commonplace, the question of who counts as multiracial is far from straightforward, especially as we look down the generational pipeline.


This paper describes the first report on the development, characterization, and applications of a prototype amperometric biosensor for free sialic acid (SA). The sensor was constructed by the coimmobilization of two enzymes, i.e., N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase and pyruvate oxidase, on a polyester microporous membrane, which was then mounted on top of a platinum disk electrode. The SA biosensor operation was based on the sequential action of the two enzymes to ultimately produce hydrogen peroxide, which was then detected by anodic amperometry at the platinum electrode. The surface of the platinum electrode was coated with an electropolymeric layer to enhance the biosensor selectivity in the presence of interfering oxidizable species. Optimization of the enzyme layer composition resulted in a fast and steady current response in phosphate buffer pH 7.2 at 37 degrees C. The limit of detection was 10 microM, and the response was linear to 3.5 mM (r = 0.9987). The prepared SA biosensors retained approximately 85% of their initial sensitivity after 8 days and showed excellent response reproducibility (CV = 2.3%). Utilization of a third enzyme, sialidase, expanded the scope of the present SA biosensor to determine bound sialic acid as well. The merits of the described biosensor allowed its successful application in determining SA in biological and pharmaceutical samples. The obtained results indicated that the presented SA biosensor should be a useful bioanalytical tool in several biological and clinical applications such as screening of SA as a nonspecific tumor marker as well as monitoring of tumor therapy.


Application specific printed electronic circuits (ASPECs) are the corresponding term with application-specified ICs for printed electronics. The same as any new technology, printed electronics is suffering from some restrictions in design and process technology aspects. An important stage in the ASPEC design is the final wiring of the organic thin-film transistor arrays or gate arrays to customize it to implement any specific target application that fits in their structure. In this paper, we evaluate two additive manufacturing technologies: aerosol jet using Optomec M3D and electrohydrodynamic printer using superfine inkjet. Both techniques are based on direct-writing of the pattern corresponding to any individual circuit being fabricated (digital printing) enabled by the mask-free noncontact deposition of materials. Finally, these structures will be compared with the corresponding photolithography mask technology. Some parameterized test vehicles, with different instantiations for the variation of line widths and separations, have been designed to be wired using the target technologies. These test vehicles have been fabricated at the Centre for Process Innovation by a five masks lithography and subtractive patterning technology. Results show that both direct printing technologies are feasible for the fabrication of the gate-array customization, thus allowing individual personalization of every circuit what can produce added value functionalities at low cost such as the equivalent effect of having an ROM memory which final contents could be customized at home by using low-cost digital printing technologies. Further interactions between transistor bulk and wiring technologies can improve the obtained performance in order to end up in an industrialized process.


The Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcy reorganizations represent the culmination of a sea-change in corporate restructuring practice that has occurred largely over the course of just the past decade. A bankruptcy reorganization has traditionally been effectuated though a chapter 11 plan of reorganization, with elaborate requirements for disclosure, creditor voting, and allocation of stakes in the reorganized debtor entity's new capital structure among creditors and owners. Such an internal boot-strap reorganization, though, is on the decline, and many reorganizations are now accomplished through a relatively expeditious going-concern sale of the debtor's business and assets to a third-party purchaser, with a subsequent distribution of the proceeds to creditors and shareholders in accordance with their relative priority rights. What Chrysler and GM vividly illustrate is that there actually is no clean, clear distinction between reorganization by "plan" and reorganization by "sale" - through the wonders of sophisticated transaction engineering, each can be the precise functional equivalent of the other. The acute danger this presents, and that actually came to pass in the GM case, is that a nominal "sale" structure can be used to effectuate a purely internal boot-strap reorganization that distributes the value of the reorganized debtor entity among creditors in a manner that indisputably contravenes their relative priority rights in the debtor's assets. Indeed, when examined in the context of an even longer historical perspective on corporate reorganizations, one can readily discern that what came to pass in GM (and that the Second Circuit's Chrysler opinion fully sanctions) is precisely that which the Supreme Court prohibited in a series of decisions in the late 1800s and early 1900s that formed the basis for chapter 11's codification of creditors' priority rights in corporate reorganizations. Contrary to the received wisdom regarding the implications of Chrysler and GM, their combined effect foretells the literal death of the fundamental distributive principles that are the essence of bankruptcy law and that have been the bedrock of bankruptcy reorganizations for at least a century. Moreover, no one (and particularly not the judges presiding over those cases) seems to appreciate that fact! Amazingly, we find ourselves in the midst of a sub silentio destruction of the very core of bankruptcy reorganization law.


Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate current direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic customers' ability to interpret and comprehend test results and to determine if honest brokers are needed. Method: One hundred and twenty-two customers of the DTC genetic testing company 23andMe were polled in an online survey. The subjects were asked about their personal test results and to interpret the results of two mock test cases (type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis), where results were translated into disease probability for an individual compared to the public. Results: When asked to evaluate the risk, 72.1% correctly assessed the first case and 77% were correct on the second case. Only 23.8% of those surveyed were able to interpret both cases correctly. χ2 and logistic regression were used to interpret the results. Participants who took the time to read the DTC test-provided supplemental material were 3.93 times (p = 0.040) more likely to correctly interpret the test results than those who did not. The odds for correctly interpreting the test cases were 3.289 times (p = 0.011) higher for those who made more than USD 50,000 than those who made less. Survey results were compared to the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) phase 4 cycle 3 data to evaluate national trends. Conclusions: Most of the subjects were able to correctly interpret the test cases, yet a majority did not share their results with a health-care professional. As the market for DTC genetic testing grows, test comprehension will become more critical. Involving more health professionals in this process may be necessary to ensure proper interpretations.


Power system voltage security assessment is generally applied by considering the power system loadability surface. For a large power system, the loadability surface is a complicated hyper-surface in parameter space, and local approximations are a necessity for any analysis. Unfortunately, inequality constraints due to for example generator overexitation limiters, and higher codimension bifurcations, makes the loadability surface non-smooth. In this paper we intend to deeper investigate under which conditions the power system loadability boundary will have no visible corner at an intersection of a saddle-node bifurcation part and a switching loadability limit part of the boundary. We propose that such points are called Tangential Intersection Points.


The bulk of the book is the clinical part which contains several chapters and sub-chapters on clinical aviation medicine with detailed guidance, written by Medical Examiners for Medical Examiners, on how to examine aircrew and how to determine their fitness for flight, especially in cases where the medical requirements are not fully met. Focussing on cardiology, ophthalmology, otology, neurology, psychology and psychiatry, Principles and Practice of Aviation Medicine provides an in-depth discussion of many diseases and medical conditions, frequently encountered in aeromedical practice, with emphasis on how they relate to the demands of contemporary aviation, both with regard to airline pilots and private pilots. Throughout particular consideration is given to how and when flexibility can be applied to the medical certification. Also the physiological foundation for flight, the physiology of the sensory organs, exposure to cosmic radiation, the preventative aspects of aviation medicine, the role of medical factors in accident investigation, and passenger health issues are covered.


The majority of human intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs) are CD8+ T cells that use the T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha/beta. Previous studies have shown that iIELs isolated from segments of small intestine or colon contain one or several dominant alpha/beta T cell clones. It is not known whether these clones expand only locally in response to a particular antigen or whether they are widely distributed throughout the intestine. To address this question, iIELs were purified from near the proximal and distal margins in a series of intestinal resections for noninflammatory diseases. TCR-beta expression was then assessed by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification, analysis of N-region length, and DNA sequencing. The previously described oligoclonal expansion of iIELs was confirmed in each sample. Identical dominant clones were identified in the proximal and distal samples from most cases, including samples taken from sites as distant as the transverse and sigmoid colon or rectum. Distinct clones were found in only one case with samples from the terminal ileum and transverse colon. These results demonstrate that a relatively small number of widely dispersed T cell clones comprise the majority of cells in the human intestinal mucosa.


QATAR University held its Annual Research Forum and Exhibition in Doha last week. It was aimed at sharing with the larger community what has been going on in the campus covering live research demonstrations, poster presentations, sharing of graduate experiences as well as international seminars and panel discussions. The two-day event themed Research Transformation through the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Social Innovations was well organised.

Qatar always does this in style and puts education on a high pedestal. Well known for its World Innovation Summit for Education, Qatar has been at the forefront in moving the global agenda on education beyond its shores. It is a shining example in the region if not internationally.

Education Conference 2019 with the theme, Education Makes a Difference, was also being held at the same time. It also focused on issues and the concept of identity, its preservation and how to defend it, since these are being attacked around the world.

This made my involvement as a panellist with other colleagues from Jordan, Italy and two student researchers from Qatar, moderated by a Qatari academic, more unique and exciting.


Objectives This study sought to increase government, civil society and media attention to the tobacco e poverty connection in Bangladesh, particularly as it relates to bidi-dependent livelihoods. Data sources This study consisted of a literature review that examined the socioeconomic impacts of tobacco farming, the working conditions of tobacco workers and the impact of tobacco on consumers, and a primary research study among bidi workers and users. The research included in-depth and semistructured interviews and focus group discussions among bidi workers and a closed-ended quantitative survey among bidi users. line. The of bidi and children, classified unpaid assistants, who long in environments. Bidi are primarily low-income earners who spend up to 10% of their daily income on bidis; the average proportion of income spent on bidis decreased as income increased. If bidi expenditures were reduced and spent instead on food or local transportation, many higher value jobs could be created. This could also mean better health and nutrition for those currently engaged in bidi work. Tobacco control the but the conditions of the poorest of the poor. If we are to improve the lives of the poor, we must address the root causes of poverty, which include the production and use of


This article looks at the interface between the design of courtrooms and the notion of participatory justice. In contrast to a vision of judicial space as neutral, this article argues that understanding the factors which determine the internal design of the courtroom is crucial to a broader and more nuanced understanding of judgecraft. The use of space in the courtroom has changed significantly since custom-built courthouses first appeared, and these changes often reflect struggles for territory. In this article I focus on the ways the role of the spectator has been marginalized within the court and led to the demise of the notion of `public' trial. This has been achieved through a series of design guides which ensure that participants in the trial are isolated and surveyed. The origins of these guides can be traced to the mid-Victorian era in which the public were often conceived of as threatening and `dirty'.


The world is becoming an immense critical information infrastructure, with the fast and increasing entanglement of utilities, telecommunications, Internet, cloud, and the emerging IoT tissue. This may create enormous opportunities, but also brings about similarly extreme security and dependability risks. We predict an increase in very sophisticated targeted attacks, or advanced persistent threats (APT), and claim that this calls for expanding the frontier of security and dependability methods and techniques used in our current CII. Extreme threats require extreme defenses: we propose resilience as a unifying paradigm to endow systems with the capability of dynamically and automatically handling extreme adversary power, and sustaining perpetual and unattended operation. In this position paper, we present this vision and describe our methodology, as well as the assurance arguments we make for the ultra-resilient components and protocols they enable, illustrated with case studies in progress.


The goal of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is to identify the best subset of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that strongly influence a certain trait. State of the art GWAS comprise several thousand or even millions of SNPs, scored on a substantially lower number of individuals. Hence, the number of variables greatly exceeds the number of observations, which also is known as the p≫n problem.
This problem has been tackled by using Bayesian variable selection methods, for example stochastic search variable selection (SSVS) and Bayesian penalized regression methods (Bayesian lasso; BLA and Bayesian ridge regression; BRR). Even though the above mentioned approaches are capable of dealing with situations where p≫n, it is also known that these methods experience problems when the predictor variables are correlated. The potential problem that linkage disequilibrium (LD) between SNPs can introduce is often ignored.
The main contribution of this study is to assess the performance of SSVS, BLA, BRR and a recently introduced method denoted hybrid correlation based search (hCBS) with respect to their ability to identify quantitative trait loci, where SNPs are partially highly correlated. Furthermore, each method's capability to predict phenotypes based on the selected SNPs and their computational demands are studied. Comparison is based upon three simulated datasets where the simulated phenotypes are assumed to be normally distributed.
Results indicate that all methods perform reasonably well with respect to true positive detections but often detect too many false positives on all datasets. As the heritability decreases, the Bayesian penalized regression methods are no longer able to detect any predictors because of shrinkage. Overall, BLA slightly outperformed the other methods and provided superior results in terms of highest true positive/ false positive ratio, but SSVS achieved the best properties on the real LD data.


BACKGROUND
Lifestyle modifications have been recommended as the initial treatment strategy for lowering high blood pressure (BP). However, evidence for the efficacy of exercise and weight loss in the management of high BP remains controversial.

METHODS
One hundred thirty-three sedentary, overweight men and women with unmedicated high normal BP or stage 1 to 2 hypertension were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise only; a behavioral weight management program, including exercise; or a waiting list control group. Before and following treatment, systolic and diastolic BPs were measured in the clinic, during daily life, and during exercise and mental stress testing. Hemodynamic measures and metabolic functioning also were assessed.

RESULTS
Although participants in both active treatment groups exhibited significant reductions in BP relative to controls, those in the weight management group generally had larger reductions. Weight management was associated with a 7-mm Hg systolic and a 5-mm Hg diastolic clinic BP reduction, compared with a 4-mm Hg systolic and diastolic BP reduction associated with aerobic exercise; the BP for controls did not change. Participants in both treatment groups also displayed reduced peripheral resistance and increased cardiac output compared with controls, with the greatest reductions in peripheral resistance in those in the weight management group. Weight management participants also exhibited significantly lower fasting and postprandial glucose and insulin levels than participants in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Although exercise alone was effective in reducing BP, the addition of a behavioral weight loss program enhanced this effect. Aerobic exercise combined with weight loss is recommended for the management of elevated BP in sedentary, overweight individuals.


Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common postoperative complications following cardiac surgery. Recent evidence suggests that postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) may be more 'malignant' than previously thought, associated with follow-up mortality and morbidity. To evaluate the long-term survival of POAF versus No-POAF cohorts following coronary bypass surgery, the current meta-analysis with reconstructed individual patient data was performed. Electronic searches were performed using six databases from their inception to August 2014. Relevant studies with long-term survival data presented for POAF versus No-POAF were identified. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and analysed according to predefined clinical endpoints. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) significantly favoured higher survival in No-POAF over POAF (HR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19-1.37; I(2) = 96%; P < 0.00001). Individual patient data of 69 518 patients were available for inverted Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. Analysis of aggregate data using Kaplan-Meier curve methods for POAF versus No-POAF groups determined survival rates at the 1-year (95.7 vs 98%), 2-year (92.3 vs 95.4%), 3-year (88.7 vs 93.9%), 5-year (82.6 vs 89.4%) and 10-year (65.5 vs 75.3%) follow-up. Other complications including 30-day mortality, strokes, respiratory failure, pneumonia and hospitalization were significantly higher in the POAF group. New-onset AF following coronary bypass surgery is associated with significantly higher risk of mortality in short- and long-term follow-up. Current evidence suggests the need for stricter surveillance and monitoring of POAF following coronary bypass surgery.


Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-benzoquinone) is a phenolic compound found in the fruits of Embelia tsjeriam-cottam and is responsible for the medicinal properties of the plant Thus the fruits are harvested at a large scale before maturity leading to depletion of population. Since the chemical constituents of medicinal plants are directly associated with the harvesting time, a study was conducted in different forest areas of Chhattisgarh, India, to standardize the harvesting time of Baividang fruits on the basis of their embelin content during 2005-08. The embelin content was determined by RP-HPLC and varied from 1.09 to 5.21% (w/w). The immature fruits collected in October contain an average of 1.67% embelin whereas mature fruits collected in December on an average contain 4.64% embelin. On the basis of our findings it can be concluded that fruits should be harvested after attaining maturity to get better quality produce and also to maintain the sustainability of plant.


African Studies Review, Volume 59, Number 3 (December 2016), pp. 107–114 Nic Cheeseman is an associate professor in the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford. He is the co-editor of the collections Our Turn to Eat (LIT Verlag, 2010) and the Routledge Handbook of African Politics (2013) and the co-author of "Rethinking the 'Presidentialism Debate': Conceptualizing Coalitional Politics in Cross-Regional Perspective" (Democratization 21 [1], 2014), which won the inaugural Comparative Area Studies Award from the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA). His monograph, Democracy in Africa, was published in 2015 by Cambridge University Press. Cheeseman is also the editor of the journal African Affairs and an advisor to, and writer for, Kofi Annan's African Progress Panel. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com John Harbeson is a professor emeritus of political science at the City University of New York and a professorial lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University. He is the author of numerous books and articles and most recently the co-editor of Africa in World Politics: Engaging a Changing Global Order (Westview Press, 2013). He was USAID's Regional Democracy and Governance Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa from 1993 to 1995. E-mail: email@example.com Nelson Kasfir is a professor of government emeritus at Dartmouth College. He writes frequently on Ugandan and African politics and currently is writing a book on governance of civilians by rebels in Uganda. He is the co-author of a chapter on the Ugandan Parliament in Joel Barkan's Legislative Power in Emerging African Democracies (Lynne Rienner, 2009) and co-editor of Rebel Governance in Civil War (Cambridge, 2015). E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


(A) STM topographic image of FePc molecules on silicene/ZrB2 (17.53 nm x 8.71nm; Vset = -1 V, Iset = 0.5 nA). The cross-shaped molecules adsorb at the edges of the stripeddomains. The linear nature of these domains enables the creation chains of molecules on thesurface. The frontier molecular orbital can also be observed. In the inset, white lines havebeen added between the silicene 'up' atoms to highlight the lattice and purple lines mark thebinding angle. (B) Same topographic image at positive bias (Vset = +1 V, Iset = 0.5 nA). Themolecules now have a triangular profile, and the domain boundaries, as well as kinks thatappear when a domain boundary shifts to a neighboring row of Si 'up' atoms, are more clearlyresolved. (C) dI/dV map of a FePc molecule bound upon a silicene domain boundary taken at-0.7 V shows that the feature observed is the frontier orbital of the FePc molecule. (D) Lobesof the dI/dV map plotted over topographic image of the molecule show the lobes align withthe molecule (Vset= -0.7V, Iset=0.5 nA).


Plasmalogens, which contain a vinyl ether bond, are major phospholipids of the plasma membranes of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac myocytes. These lipids, in contrast to other phospholipids, have been reported to be targets of HOCl/HOBr generated by myeloperoxidase, with elevated levels of the products of these reactions (alpha-chloro/alpha-bromo aldehydes and unsaturated lysophospholipids) having been detected in human atherosclerotic lesions. The reason(s) for the targeting of this lipid class, over other phospholipids, is poorly understood, and is examined here. It is shown that HOCl and HOBr react with a model vinyl ether (ethylene glycol vinyl ether) 200-300-fold faster ( k = 1.6 x 10 (3) and 3.5 x 10 (6) M (-1) s (-1), respectively) than with aliphatic alkenes (models of phospholipids). True plasmalogens react ca. 20-fold slower than the models. Chloramines and bromamines (from reaction of HOCl/HOBr with primary amines and alpha-amino groups) also react with vinyl ethers, unlike aliphatic alkenes, with k = 10 (-3)-10 (2) M (-1) s (-1) for chloramines (with the His side chain chloramine being the most reactive, k = 172 M (-1) s (-1)) and k = 10 (3)-10 (4) M (-1) s (-1) for bromamines. The bromamine rate constants are typically 10 (5)-10 (6) larger than those of the chloramines. Intermolecular vinyl ether oxidation by phospholipid headgroup bromamines can also occur. These kinetic data indicate that plasmalogens are significantly more susceptible to oxidation than the aliphatic alkenes of phospholipids, thereby rationalizing the detection of products from the former, but not the latter, in human atherosclerotic lesions.


Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is an organic water soluble hydrate former, which is used in gas separation, storage and transportation processes using gas hydrate technology. Gas hydrates or clathrate hydrates are solid crystalline compounds, which are formed from combination of water and small guest molecules. Clathrate hydrates can form crystalline structures I (sI), II (sII) and H (sH), where each structure is composed of a certain number of cavities formed by water molecules. The cooperation of two large and small guest molecules are normally required for the formation of structure II with heavy molecules or structure H. Heavy molecules occupy large cavities while small molecule(s) (called help gas) fill the remaining cavities. Tetrahydrofuran can form structure II with or without the presence of a help gas. Most of phase equilibrium data for tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrates have been reported for the tetrahydrofuran + methane, tetrahydrofuran + carbon dioxide, tetrahydrofuran + nitrogen and tetrahydrofuran + hydrogen systems. A preliminary study shows that some of experimental data reported in the literature are not in good agreement, which require studying their reliability. In this work, we report new phase equilibrium data for clathrate hydrates of tetrahydrofuran + carbon dioxide and tetrahydrofuran + nitrogen. The experimental data were generated using an isochoric pressure-search method. The new equilibrium data are compared with the corresponding experimental data reported in the literature to study the reliability of the literature data.


: Purpose: The purpose of this research is to find a method that enables fast testing of new intralogistics process concepts - delivery of parts to the assembly site under the conditions of variable factory layout. Design/Methodology/Approach: A new method of analyzing the intralogistics process under the conditions of layout change was proposed, using own, original idea of creating a flow model using the concept of a reference process. Findings: The result of this research is the methodology for analysing and modelling intralogistics processes fast. The methodology uses a mechanism for automatic generation of routes for logisticians – suppliers of parts containers for the assembly site. Practical Implications: This methodology has a practical goal – to reduce the time of simulation modeling. It is dedicated to production engineers and Lean specialists. Originality/Value: This methodology is original - it presents an approach based on the so-called Reference processes - does not multiply other methods described in the literature.


Volume 0, X Protocol Reference Manual describes the X Network Protocol, which underlies all software for Version 11 of the X Window System. This fourth edition is updated for R6 and can be used with any release of X. Contents are divided into three parts: Part One provides a conceptual introduction to the X Protocol. It describes the role of the server and client and demonstrates the network transactions that take place during a minimal client session. Part Two contains an extensive set of reference pages for each protocol request and event. It is a reformatted and reorganized version of the X Consortium's Protocol specification. All material from the original document is present in this manual, and the material in the reference pages is reorganized to provide easier access. Each protocol request or event is treated as a separate, alphabetized reference page. Reference pages include the encoding of requests and replies. Part Three consists of several appendices describing particular parts of the X Protocol, along with several reference aids. Note: This fourth edition does not contain the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual (ICCCM) or the X Logical Font Description Convention (XLFD). This material will be included in an upcoming O'Reilly book.


Since John Locke, regnant conceptions of personhood in Western philosophy have focused on individual capabilities for complex forms of consciousness that involve cognition such as the capability to remember past events and one's own past actions, to think about and identify oneself as oneself, and/or to reason. Conceptions of personhood such as this one qualify as cognition-oriented, and they often fail to acknowledge the role of embodiment for personhood. This article offers an alternative conception of personhood from within the tradition of phenomenology of the body. The article presents a phenomenological analysis of joint musical activity in dementia care and outlines an intercorporeal conception of personhood based on this analysis. It also provides a philosophical basis for the idea that others can hold us in personhood and it questions a strict one-body-one-person logic that has pertained in much personhood debate.


The ability to monitor the communicative success of its utterances and, if necessary, provide feedback and repair is useful for a dialog system. We show that in situated communication, eyetracking can be used to reliably and efficiently monitor the hearer's reference resolution process. An interactive system that draws on hearer gaze to provide positive or negative feedback after referring to objects outperforms baseline systems on metrics of referential success and user confusion.


The exploitation of efficient earth-abundant electrocatalysts in a wide pH range is crucial for the practical application of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); but it still remains challenging. Here we demonstrate novel self-supported hierarchical MoS2/CoS2 nanotube arrays as efficient pH-universal electrocatalysts, where Co metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are used as a precursor and sacrificial template to form one-dimensional CoS2 nanotubes surrounded by vertically aligned two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets. Owing to the achievement of a unique hollow architecture with abundant exposed edges and accelerated reaction kinetics, the self-supported MoS2/CoS2 heterostructure exhibits a superior HER catalytic performance with long-term durability in acidic, neutral and alkaline electrolytes. Impressively, it delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials of 90 mV in acidic media and 85 mV in alkaline media and small Tafel slope values of 30 mV dec−1 in acidic media and 34 mV dec−1 in alkaline media, respectively. Our first-principles calculations reveal that the strong interfacial interactions between MoS2 and CoS2 increase the electronic states at S–S edges and dramatically reduce the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen and the energy barrier for water dissociation. Overall, this work offers an exciting avenue for the rational design of hollow heterogeneous catalyst arrays by MOF-engaged interfacial engineering for scalable hydrogen generation.


Boson condensation in topological quantum field theories (TQFT) has been previously investigated through the formalism of Frobenius algebras and the use of vertex lifting coefficients. While general, this formalism is physically opaque and computationally arduous: analyses of TQFT condensation are practically performed on a case by case basis and for very simple theories only, mostly not using the Frobenius algebra formalism. In this paper, we provide a way of treating boson condensation that is computationally efficient. With a minimal set of physical assumptions, such as commutativity of lifting and the definition of confined particles, we can prove a number of theorems linking Boson condensation in TQFT with chiral algebra extensions, and with the factorization of completely positive matrices over ${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}$. We present numerically efficient ways of obtaining a condensed theory fusion algebra and $S$ matrices; and we then use our formalism to prove several theorems for the $S$ and $T$ matrices of simple current condensation and of theories which upon condensation result in a low number of confined particles. We also show that our formalism easily reproduces results existent in the mathematical literature such as the noncondensability of five and ten layers of the Fibonacci TQFT.


Fuel poverty can be defined as 'the inability to afford adequate warmth in the home' and it is the result of the combination of three factors: low household income, lack of energy efficiency and high energy bills. Within this context, the present research is aimed at characterizing, for the first time, the housing stock of fuel-poor households in the Autonomous Region of Madrid. Fuel poverty incidence was established and households were divided into six different groups according to their relative position regarding fuel and monetary poverty. The housing stock of each group is characterized and those households most in need are identified. These results enable energy retrofitting priorities to be established, focusing on the needs of the different household groups and accounting for their housing stock characteristics. This allows Spanish energy retrofitting policies to be assessed for their capability of tackling fuel poverty and makes it possible to suggest some improvements.


In complexes where the energy difference between the high and low spin state of the metal is of the order of k(_b)T, temperature can be used to induce a spin crossover transition (SC). In some cases, at very low temperatures, irradiation can induce excitation to a meta-stable high spin state. At low temperatures, this Light-Induced Excited Spin-State Trapped (LIESST) state is generally long lived, enabling structural examination. The results presented herein refer to a wide range of iron(II) spin crossover materials which have been structurally studied in both thermal and light induced states. These fall into three categories; mononuclear, dinuclear and polymeric. The mononuclear complexes studied include FeL[H(_2)B(Pz)(_2)](_2) L = 2,2'-bipyridine (1) and 1,10-phenanthroline (2), of which 2 was found to undergo a change in symmetry in addition to the change in spin state, leading to a novel light induced polymorphism that has not been previously seen. Two dinuclear compounds with step transitions have been examined. While {[N(CN)(_2)](FeBpl)(_2)}(PF(_6))(_3) undergoes a gradual transition, the transitions in [Fe(Btz)(NCS)(_2)](_2)Bpmd are abrupt and the latter also undergoes LIESST but with a rapid relaxation that has not been observed previously with any other technique. While the origin of this relaxation is uncertain, the structure of this excited state has been studied under constant irradiation. The largest structural study of three dimensional SC materials has been carried out, including bimetallic polymers with [Au(CN)(_2)], [Ag(CN)(_2)]-, [Ag(_2)(CN)(_3)]- and [Pd(CN)(_4)](^2-) bridging ligands. These anionic bridges have been shown to enhance cooperativity between iron centres leading to abrupt transitions and hysteresis. These materials have been shown to undergo LIESST, crystalline state allosterism, and thermo-chromism. Such multi-property materials have a high potential for technological applications.


tainly pointed to the atrophic kidney as the leading suspect. The history of polyuria (nocturia) at the onset of the patient's symptoms, however, would suggest the possible role of increased aldosterone secretion. The values of serum sodium and potassium would therefore be of some interest. The malignant phase of the disease is against primary aldosteronism,' but would appear not to be completely inconceivable or incompatible.! The finding of a small adrenal adenoma in " slightly heavy " adrenals is therefore of some interest in a hypertensive patient, even in the presence of proved renal artery disease. I raise this point because primary aldosteronism can easily be missed if a diligent search is not made for evidence of potassium depletion with autonomous adrenal secretion of excessive aldosterone. Difficulties arise only in cases with hypokalaemia, normal serum sodium, and increased aldosterone secretion in association with obvious renal artery disease when definite proof of the participation of the kidney is lacking. Particular attention to the degree of cellularity and granularity of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the smaller kidney might have been an important clue in this particular case, except that prior diuretic therapy had been given. In primary aldo-steronism the juxtaglomerular apparatus might appear inactive because of increased aldosterone production from a tumour. Of course, the finding of an adrenal adenoma in a hypertensive patient does not justify the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, but neither should the finding of renal artery stenosis always convict the kidney.-I am, etc., Toronto, Canada. E. CARL ABBOTT.


We present a compilation of radio-echo sounding (RES) measurements of five radar systems (AWI, BAS, CReSIS, INGV and UTIG) around the EPICA Dome C (EDC) drill site, East Antarctica. The aim of our study is to investigate the differences of the various systems in their resolution of internal reflection horizons (IRHs) and bed topography, penetration depth, and capacity of imaging the basal layer. We address the questions of the compatibility of existing radar data for common interpretation, and the suitability of the individual systems for reconnaissance surveys. We find that the most distinct IRHs 5 and IRH patterns can be identified and transferred between most data sets. Considerable differences between the RES systems exist in range resolution and depiction of the bottom-most region. Considering both aspects, which we judge as crucial factors in the search for old ice, the CReSIS and the UTIG systems are the most suitable ones. In addition to the RES data set comparison we calculate a synthetic radar trace from EDC density and conductivity profiles. We identify ten common IRHs in the measured RES data and the synthetic trace. Then we ::: We :::: then : conduct a sensitivity study for which we remove certain 10 peaks from the input conductivity profile. As a result the respective reflections disappear from the modeled radar trace. In this way, we establish a depth conversion of the measured travel-times of the IRHs. Furthermore, we use these sensitivity studies to investigate the cause of observed reflections. The identified IRHs are assigned ages from the EDC's time scale. Due to the isochronous character of these conductivity-caused IRHs, they are a means to extend the Dome C age structure by tracing the IRHs along the RES profiles. 15


Fourteen patients with Crohn's disease underwent operation at our department. Twelve were males and 2 were females, with a mean age of 28 years. The lesions were found in the small intestine in 5 patients, in the small and large intestines in 5 and in the large intestine in 4. The indications for laparotomy were stenosis in 43%, intractability in 43% and others in 14%. Stenosis was most commonly indicated in the small intestinal lesions, and intractability in the large intestinal lesions. For 12 patients, resection of the involved intestine was carried out, however for another 2, partial resection of the involved intestine was performed to avoid short bowel syndrome. Postoperative recurrence rate, in the cases where the involved intestine was totally resected, was 40% in the small intestinal lesions, 33% in the small and large intestinal lesions and 0% in the large intestinal lesions. Postoperative quality of life for most patients was excellent or good, and hematological status at follow-up showed an almost normal range. From these results, in patients with Crohn's disease, it was thought that the operation should be performed soon after medical treatment has failed.


Rapid penetration of diesel engines is expected in North America because of their better fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Diesel engine components, particularly cylinder heads, are made of cast irons and replacing them with aluminium alloys could result in a significant weight reduction and consequently better fuel efficiency. Aluminum alloys for diesel engine applications need to withstand higher operating temperatures and pressures as compared to conventional 3xxx based alloys that lose strength above 150oC. This paper presents selected results pertaining to alloy development with improved high temperature performance based on the modified 356 composition. Such alloys with engineered chemical composition and properly designed heat treatment could have improved properties at temperatures up to 250oC. The advanced thermal analysis techniques including dilatometer analysis were used to determine the effect of alloying additions on thermal characteristics including aging kinetics and its impact on casting service performance. Selected structure analysis results including XRD and TEM/EDX as well as elevated temperature tensile testing are presented.


Increasingly intense competition among companies in the industrial motor manufacturer of motorcycles in Indonesia has caused the decline in the level of customer and product purchases, and the profitability of most companies motorcycle manufacturer in Indonesia. It is also experienced by PT Astra Honda Motor in its motorcycle product as a market leader in the motorcycle industry. To re-gain more new customers while maintaining old customers, and obtain the level of purchases of Honda motorcycles and high profitability in the company, the need for efforts to improve the customer buying decision, because the purchase decision is a major factor in increasing sales and profitability. In this study, we use differentiation, promotion, and positioning as an independent variable to be studied how they affect purchasing decisions. The results showed that the coefficient of determination shown in the Adjusted R Square of 0.704, which means that its influence purchasing decisions can be explained by the three independent variables in this research that differentiation, promotion, and positioning of 70.4%, and the remaining 29.6% can be explained by other variables outside the model of this research. Partially based on the results of t test variables in this study has positive and significant in which promotion has the biggest influence on purchase decisions , while positioning has the smallest influence on purchase decisions. Keywords : Differentiation, Promotion, Positioning, Purchase Decision


Although two-handed input can improve both efficiency and quality of user interaction, it is not commonly adopted as it requires additional input devices. In this paper we propose two-handed interaction on standard hardware - notebooks with external mouse - and for a common task - 2D scrolling. We introduce four techniques that leverage the built-in touchpad as a dedicated scrolling device for the non-dominant hand, for scenarios in which the mouse is used in parallel for object selection and manipulation tasks. The techniques implement relative scrolling, flicking, absolute positioning and token-based input on the touchpad. We present an empirical evaluation of these techniques in a task that simulates activities such as retouching of photos, or interaction with maps, in which users often switch between mouse interaction and scrolling. The results show initially best performance with relative scrolling as a familiar mapping, but strong learning effects for all techniques. Users had difficulty with absolute mapping of touchpad input due to a tendency to clutching and finger repositioning, but we observed that these problems are compensated when a token is used as absolute input device.


This paper presents a new methodology for evaluating the economic sustainability of countries' energy systems. The aim of the work is to improve the support tools for policy makers as the scale and complexity of the global energy industry demands a country-by-country approach to managing change. The proposed participatory analytic network process model was applied to the five largest energy consumers in the European Union, namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK plus Turkey - a candidate for the European Union. The criteria used for the evaluations were selected from the economic dimension of the energy indicators for sustainable development. Results show that the best performer country is the UK followed by France, Turkey, Germany, Spain and Italy. Finally, we want to highlight that the methodology is able to grant participated decisions through a multi-expert traceable and transparent assessment process.


Introduction Prompt appropriate antibiotics for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) reduces mortality, length of stay and adverse events. Antibiotic choice is directed by the CURB-65 score and clinical judgement.1 Admission is recommended for most CURB-65 ≥2.1 Recent national data showed an unexplained non-compliance of 40% (>2000 patients) with CAP antibiotic guidelines using CURB-65 scores alone. Antimicrobial misuse and resistance are a global concern. We investigated compliance with our Trust CAP guidelines and used an early warning score (EWS)2 to quantify clinical judgement. Methods Data were collected retrospectively for adults attending the emergency department with CAP4 over 4 months. The CURB-65 and the Trust's EWS (Physiological Observations Track and Trigger system – POTTS)2 were calculated at presentation. A POTTS score of 2 triggers escalation of care. Prescriptions were compliant when the initial antibiotic concurred with the Trust guideline. Patients receiving broader spectrum agents than recommended were 'over-treated'. Admission was noted. Results (Table 1) Of 77 patients with CAP, 11 (14%) received 'compliant' antibiotics (Table 1). 38 (49%) patients were over-treated, 25 (66%) of whom had POTTS ≥2, though 15 (60%) of these patients had low severity CURB-65 of 0–1. Of 49 patients with POTTS ≥2, 27 (55%) had a CURB-65 of 0–1, 26% a CURB-65 of 2. 44% and 68% of those with a CURB-65 of 0 or 1 were admitted, with higher average POTTS than those discharged. Conclusion The majority of patients incorrectly prescribed broad spectrum antibiotics had a CURB-65 score that failed to categorise them as sick enough to warrant them despite an EWS≥2. Hospital admission demonstrated similar findings. Over half of those with an elevated EWS had a low severity CURB-65. We did not collect outcome data but the 'over-treatment' and admission appear appropriate. Prompt, effective and empiric antimicrobials for septic patients give better clinical outcomes. Seemingly non-compliant antimicrobial prescriptions may have punitive implications for Trusts. We suggest that CURB-65 under-recognises sepsis syndrome and thus the EWS should be included and further validated in CAP guidelines and audits. Reference BTS CAP guidelines RJ Oakey, V Slade. Physiological observation track and trigger system. Nursing Standard. 2006;20:48–54


In the series of 91 samples of human heart obtained from fetuses at develo pmental weeks 17-28 and formed without major defects and minor anomalies, the relief of the sinus part (SP) of the interventricular septum (IVS) was studied on the side of right ventricle (RV). Myocardial trabeculae carneae (MTC) were found in SP in 96.7% of the cases. MTC, associated with the IVS myocardium along their entire length (parietal MTC). were twice as frequent as bridge-like MTC. MTC were predominantly concentrated at the posterior corner of the RV; these were e xclusively bridge-like MTC. Most frequently, MTC were absent near the IVS membranous region. An individual anatomical variability of the relief of the RV in the fetal heart was demonstrated. Depending on the number, anatomical type and mutual position of the MIC, three variants of the SP relief were distinguished: hypertrabecular, hypotrabecular and intermediate. From week 17 to week 28 of the intrauterine life, the hearts of the fetuses may differ in the form of MTC, however their number and the anatomical type within a particular variant of the SP remained constant The existence of the parietal longitudinal MTC on the right side of the IVS SP is proposed to be one of the hallmarks of the anatomically "normal" (ordinarily formed) heart in the human fetuses.


This paper presents a simple all-weather sky radiance model (diffuse component). The model development was motivated by the intention to find a balance between the model's simplicity and ease of use on the one side and predictive capability on the other side. To develop the model, measured data collected at the microclimatic monitoring station of our institute (the Department of Building Physics and Building Ecology of the Vienna University of Technology) was deployed. To formulate the model, a formalism based on the concept of irradiance coefficient was used. Irradiance coefficient denotes, in percentage, the fraction of global horizontal irradiance attributable to a distinct sky patch. Thus, the developed model can be used to estimate the contributions of a set of discrete sky patches toward the overall global horizontal irradiance. The irradiance coefficient is estimated as a function of a number of salient variables related to sky Clearness Factor (an original function of the sky Clearness Index), angular distance of the observed patch from the sun patch, and observed patch altitude. The performance of the resulting model was assessed against a separate set of measurements. The comparison displayed good agreement.


Summary. The haemostatic effect of by‐passing agents such as activated prothrombin complex concentrates (aPCC) and recombinant factor VIIa is inadequate in some patients with severe haemophilia and high‐responding inhibitors. Theoretically, this could be due to antibody reactivity to procoagulant proteins other than the deficient factor. To evaluate this hypothesis, immunoglobulin (Ig) fractions from six multi‐transfused patients (three haemophilia A and three haemophilia B) were purified on protein A sepharose and then subjected to immunoaffinity chromatography on factor IX sepharose and factor VIIa sepharose. All three Ig fractions from the haemophilia B patients, but not commercially available Ig, contained antibodies that bound to both gels. None of the haemophilia A patients had antibodies to factor IX but all three had antibodies towards factor VIIa. The immunoaffinity purified antifactor IX and VIIa antibodies from the haemophilia B patients inhibited thrombin formation in vitro using Feiba® as active enzyme, but had no significant effect in the presence of NovoSeven®. In contrast, no inhibitory effect was observed with the antifactor VIIa antibodies from the haemophilia A patients. Cross‐reactivity to factor IX was seen for the antifactor VIIa antibodies from the patients with haemophilia B. Our findings show that antibody reactivity to other procoagulant factors such as factor VIIa exists in patients with high‐responding inhibitors and that these antibodies may have an inhibitory potential that correlates to the amount of active enzyme present. The characterization of the antibody profile may facilitate an optimal treatment with by‐passing agents in severe bleeding events.


The experiment was carried out on 160 commercial Pekin ducks, strain P55. At the day of hatching birds were sexed, marked individually, weighed and divided randomly into four equal groups (four sup-groups, each). From Day 1 to Day 21 all birds received the same commercial feed, while from 4th to 8th week of rearing were fed in the following feeding groups: control, fed with commercial feed and experimental: with 15 %, 25 % and 30 % inclusion of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). At 8th week of rearing from every group five males and five females were selected semi-randomly, slaughtered conventionally and slaughter yield, carcass composition and physicochemical meat characteristics were evaluated. Results from this study showed that Pekin ducks can be fed on diets containing up to 25 % DDGS without any significant decrease in slaughter yield, muscles contents and breast meat quality. Higher DDGS level (30 %) caused significant (P<0.05) decrease in final body weight and slaughter yield of females, however, the percentage of skin with subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat contents were lower (P<0.05).


Background: Tailored interventions. One potential novel intervention is orthotic under-garments (OUG Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neuro-developmental disorder frequently presenting sensory-motor impairments. The complexity and diversity of ASD typically calls for individualized).
Aim: To explore the feasibility and effect of OUG as a supplementary therapeutic modality on motor, sensory capabilities and behavior of a child with ASD. Participant: A five years and eight months old child with ASD that presents hypotonia, poor postural control and coordination, a significant motor delay, severe sensory modulation problems, and unusual behaviors.
Procedure: Motor, sensory and behavioral evaluations were performed pre (Pre-I) and after (Post-I) a four months intervention: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2), The Short Sensory Profile (SSP), therapists' reports and parental interviews served as a behavior and emotion evaluation.
Results: Motor function has improved (PDMS-2 percentile <1 Pre-I vs. Post-I 3). Sensory function has improved (Total SSP score 136 Pre-I vs. Post-I 102). Therapeutic and parental reports indicated a decrease of atypical behaviors, improvement in self-confidence and better social participation.
Conclusion: According to the current case report, the OUG was found to be useful in improving sensory-motor functions and emotional behaviors of a child with ASD. Our findings provide a possible support to the introduction of orthotic undergarment as a part of individually tailored physical therapy interventions for the child with ASD.


We describe our experience with the use of a single non-myeloablative preparative regimen in stem-cell transplantation (NST) in 37 heavily pretreated patients > or =55 years. The conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine, low-dose busulfan, and antithymocyte globulin. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade III-IV and chronic GVHD developed in 15.6% and 44.4% of cases, respectively. With a median follow-up period of 22 (range 3-113) months, the 1-year overall survival and disease-free-survival were 55% and 53%, respectively, while the overall non-relapse mortality was 35%. In conclusion, reduced intensity stem cell transplantation is feasible and effective in patients > or =55 years. Age per se, should no longer be considered as a contra-indication to stem cell transplantation.


Abstract Technical progress has engendered a broad spectrum of methods to image cardiac structure, function, and metabolism. Frequently, the imaging tools available provide complementary information. Therefore, methods to integrate image information from differ-ent modalities into one common coordinate system are increasingly receiving attention also in cardiology. Currently available technology includes software-based image fusion as well as hardware-based regis-tration of datasets. The latter capitalizes on so-called hybrid cameras combining detectors of different mo-dalities in one gantry. Hardware-based image fusion is, to date, anatomically more accurate than the soft-ware-based methodology. However, the anatomic ac-curacy of both approaches is still far from perfect. This is, in particular, due to artifacts caused by respiratory movements also affecting the heart. The clinical po-tential of correlative imaging of the heart includes an improvement of accuracy in diagnosing hemody-namically significant coronary artery disease using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This is due to the possibility to correct myo-cardial scintigraphy for attenuation artifacts using registered X-ray computerized tomographic (CT) im-ages. The visualization of coronary anatomy and myo-cardial perfusion in one imaging session using hybrid systems combining CT with positron emission tomo-graphy (PET) or SPECT is also an interesting option. Nevertheless, larger clinical trials investigating its usefulness are still missing. The possibility to match structure with radioactivity concentration is essential for approaches to image the molecular composition of atherosclerotic plaques and their stability.


We propose an asymmetric-MOSFET-based six-transistor (6 T) SRAM cell to alleviate the conflicting requirements of read and write operations. The source-to-drain and drain-to-source characteristics of access transistors are optimized to improve writability without sacrificing read stability. The proposed technique improves the writability by 9%-11%, with iso read stability being compared with a conventional 6 T SRAM cell based on symmetric-MOSFET access transistors in 45-nm technology.


Canopy-forming seaweeds are important coastal ecosystem engineers that sustain diverse multi-trophic assemblages. Their losses, with the subsequent reduction in habitat complexity, have been documented across many parts of the world and are often attributed to climate change and other anthropogenic factors. The general aim of the present study was to understand the repercussions of the decline of the canopy-forming alga Fucus serratus L. at its retreating southern range edge in the diversity and food-web linkages of intertidal assemblages. Few studies have attempted to document changes in benthic food webs following canopy loss. We examined the differences among southern locations situated at different distances from the range margin: those at the very edge, where F. serratus experienced a dramatic decline during recent years (marginal locations), and those where F. serratus is still dominant (central locations). Comparisons were made among locations situated at the same latitude and sharing a recent history of F. serratus dominance. Trophic relationships were analyzed using natural abundances of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. We report clear changes in the structure of benthic assemblages and lower trophic positioning of some consumers, suggesting an overall shrinkage of the food web length at the contracting range edge of F. serratus, which will transfer to higher trophic levels. Under present and future climatic scenarios, shifts in the distribution of coastal ecosystem engineers could entail a reorganization of local natural assemblages and food webs. More attention should be given to measure how much these shifts can modify the whole coastal food webs and their functioning.


This paper presents a game theory approach to the constrained state estimation of linear discrete time dynamic systems. In the application of state estimators, there is often known model or signal information that is either ignored or dealt with heuristically. For example, constraints on the state values (which may be based on physical considerations) are often neglected because they do not easily fit into the structure of the state estimator. This paper develops a method for incorporating state equality constraints into a minimax state estimator. The algorithm is demonstrated on a simple vehicle tracking simulation.