The paper first surveys recent estimates of the appropriate yen dollar exchange rate that have been proposed in the literature. Most of the more careful estimates suggest that the yen was substantially undervalued against the dollar in early 1985 when it began its steep ascent and some of the estimates suggest that further appreciation from today's strong level is warranted. ; We then turn to the adjustment process. First, we present evidence that a narrowing of Japan's record trade surplus has already started to occur, particularly in real terms. Next, we show that external adjustment has been slower than would have been predicted by a simple econometric model, if Japanese trade. We then explore several possible explanations for this predictive failure in the recent period, including the slower pass-through of exchange rate changes to Japanese export prices than in the past, and the slow pass-through of terms-of-trade gains to consumer prices. Evidence is also presented that Japanese exporters adjust prices asymmetrically in response to yen depreciations and appreciations. ; Next, we use a simple model to analyze the oft-stated claim that too much yen appreciation in a short period of time may actually be counter-productive. The model shows that this outcome is possible, but we argue that for an economy with Japan's structure it is unlikely. ; Finally, we analyze what role fiscal policy can play in the adjustment process. MCM simulation results suggest that a Japanese fiscal expansion would be much less effective in fostering a reduction in both the U.S. and Japanese trade imbalances than would a U.S. fiscal contraction. However, a Japanese fiscal expansion could have an important impact on domestic demand in Japan and on trade with the developing countries.


Mutants of Klebsiella aerogenes W70 were isolated that had gained the ability to utilize the uncommon pentose D-arabinose as their sole source of carbon and energy. In contrast to the D-arabinose-negative, parent strain, these mutants were found to be either constitutive for certain enzymes of the L-fucose catabolic pathway or inducible for such enzymes when incubated in the presence of D-arabinose. The mutants used L-fucose isomerase to convert D-arabinose to D-ribulose, which is an intermediate and inducer of the ribitol catabolic pathway. The D-ribulokinase of the ribitol pathway was then induced. This enzyme catalyzed the phosphorylation of D-ribulose at the 5-carbon position. Mutants that were negative for D-ribulokinase could still dissimilate D-arabinose slowly by using all three enzymes, the isomerase, kinase, and aldolase, of the L-fucose pathway. Using condition negative mutants, we were able to demonstrate that the natural induction of the L-fucose pathway enzymes by L-fucose required the activity of a functional L-fucose isomerase and a functional L-fuculokinase but not an L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase. A metabolic intermediate, L-fuculose-1-phosphate, was thereby shown to be a probable inducer of at least the isomerase and kinase of the L-fucose catabolic pathway. Similar experiments, with D-arabinose-positive mutants, which were induced for the L-fucose pathway enzymes upon incubation with D-arabinose, revealed that the activities of the L-fucose isomerase and the L-fuculokinase were also required for the induction of the L-fucose enzymes. These D-arabinose-positive mutants apparently produced an altered regulatory protein that accepted both L-fuculose-1-phosphate and D-ribulose-1-phosphate as inducers. Examination of constitutive mutants revealed that L-fucose isomerase and L-fuculokinase were both synthesized constitutively, with the aldolase apparently under separate control.


The issues surrounding raised levels of metal ions in the blood following large head metal-on-metal total hip replacement (THR), such as cobalt and chromium, have been well documented. Despite the national popularity of uncemented metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) THR using a large-diameter femoral head, few papers have reported the levels of metal ions in the blood following this combination. Following an isolated failure of a 44 mm Trident-Accolade uncemented THR associated with severe wear between the femoral head and the trunnion in the presence of markedly elevated levels of cobalt ions in the blood, we investigated the relationship between modular femoral head diameter and the levels of cobalt and chromium ions in the blood following this THR. A total of 69 patients received an uncemented Trident-Accolade MoP THR in 2009. Of these, 43 patients (23 men and 20 women, mean age 67.0 years) were recruited and had levels of cobalt and chromium ions in the blood measured between May and June 2012. The patients were then divided into three groups according to the diameter of the femoral head used: 12 patients in the 28 mm group (controls), 18 patients in the 36 mm group and 13 patients in the 40 mm group. A total of four patients had identical bilateral prostheses in situ at phlebotomy: one each in the 28 mm and 36 mm groups and two in the 40 mm group. There was a significant increase in the mean levels of cobalt ions in the blood in those with a 36 mm diameter femoral head compared with those with a 28 mm diameter head (p = 0.013). The levels of cobalt ions in the blood were raised in those with a 40 mm diameter head but there was no statistically significant difference between this group and the control group (p = 0.152). The levels of chromium ions in the blood were normal in all patients. The clinical significance of this finding is unclear, but we have stopped using femoral heads with a diameter of ≤ 36 mm, and await further larger studies to clarify whether, for instance, this issue particularly affects this combination of components.


Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is considered as one of the key threats to livestock industries worldwide. This investigation reported the circulation and detection of FMDV in sheep, goats and cattle at different regions of Bangladesh and the major risk factors for occurrence of the Foot and Mouth Disease. For this, clinical samples were collected from tongue epithelium, tissue from inter digital space, saliva, feces and milk from sheep, goats and cattle suspected to be infected with FMDV. Four different areas of Bangladesh were selected for sample collection (Savar, Sirajganj, Bandarban and Chittagong). During the study period, all samples were subjected to RNA extraction followed by conventional one step RT-PCR amplification of the VP1 gene, which is the most variable region of FMDV genome. FMD positive isolates were subjected to multiplex RT-PCR using specific primer sets to differentiate FMDV serotypes. There is limited epidemiological data in Bangladesh defining the circulation of FMD virus in sheep and goats population. A total of 145 outbreaks from sheep (90) and goats (55) were reported at Savar area during winter, 2016. Morbidity rate was found 20% and 18.19% in sheep and goats respectively. Whereas, mortality rate was 2.22% and 1.81% in sheep and goats respectively. Detection of circulating FMDV serotypes and disease monitoring of animals entering Bangladesh are crucial components for an effective national FMDV control program in Bangladesh.


This paper presents the open learning object repository and collaborative authoring platform LeMill (http://lemill.net), which has over 7,500 members and over 8,500 reusable learning resources (situation in October 30th, 2009), all created by the community members. The design of LeMill has tackled numerous challenges that hinder the authoring and sharing of educational resources by communities of teachers. This paper describes the research-based design process that was used to solve these challenges. The information architecture of LeMill scaffolds authors toward collaboration and sharing. The licensing scheme encourages reusing and remixing of educational content. In order to make LeMill easy to learn and use we have avoided technical terminology and complicated metadata forms in the user interface. As an open community we have also tackled multicultural and multilingual issues. In this paper, we present the information architecture and design of LeMill, including the technical solutions. We believe that our design solutions will contribute to the goal of creating an open educational resource ecosystem.


Let $\Omega$ to be one of $\X^{N+1},C[0,1],D[0,1]$: a product of Polish spaces, space of continuous functions from $[0,1]$ to a subset of $\mathbb{R}^d$, and space of RCLL (right-continuous with left limits) functions from $[0,1]$ to $\mathbb{R}^d$ respectively. We consider the existence of a probability measure $P$ on $\Omega$ such that $P$ has the given marginals $\alpha$ and $\beta$ and satisfies some other convex transport constraints, which is given by $\Gamma$. The main application we have in mind is the martingale optimal transport problem with when the martingales are assumed to have bounded volatility/quadratic variation. We show that such probability measure exists if and only if the $\alpha$ average of so-called $G$-expectation of bounded uniformly continuous and bounded functions with respect to the measures in $\Gamma$ is less than their $\beta$ average.
As a byproduct, we get a necessary and sufficient condition for the Skorokhod embedding for bounded stopping times.


We present new high angular resolution images of the compact non-thermal radio source 4C 39.25 obtained from VLBI observations at λ1.3cm, λ7mm, and λ3mm wavelengths. These maps and Gaussian model-fits show that the milli-arcsecond to sub-milliarcsecond structure of 4C 39.25 consists of a complex bent core-jet structure with embedded moving and stationary VLBI components. Facilitated by the small observing beams and high angular resolutions obtained at mm-wavelengths, we measured the relative positions of the jet components with an accuracy of a few hundred micro-arcseconds. This allows the detailed followup of the ongoing merging process of a westward superluminally moving component (b_) with a stationary component a_, located at ~2.9 mas east of the putative core d_. In contrast to the other components of the structure with steeper spectra, the westernmost component d_ exhibits an inverted spectrum peaking between λ7mm and λ3mm, thus further supporting its identification as the VLBI core, self-absorbed at longer wavelengths. From two VLBI maps obtained nearly simultaneously at λ7mm and λ1.3cm, we made the first spectral index map of 4C 39.25 in this wavelength regime. The main characteristics of the spectral index distribution of the jet are pronounced changes of the spectral index between orientations parallel and transverse to the jet axis. Near the merging components a_ and b_ the spectral index steepens with increasing separation from d_. However, in the bridge of emission c_, which connects d_ with a_ and b_, the spectral index gradient has a direction transverse to the jet axis, suggesting a frequency dependent jet curvature and edge-brightening. A brief discussion of this behaviour within current jet models is presented.


Denotational semantics is presented as a valuable theoretical tool, having many applications including language design, compiler generation and program analysis. In particular, a method is described for deriving a concise and useful functional representation of a program using a denotational definition of the source language's semantics. Our aim is to translate a given program into a compact functional representation to facilitate its evaluation on functional hardware. The /spl lambda/-expressions are first translated into Turner's combinator code (D. Turner, 1979). We choose to use a fixed set of combinators as the resulting code is more amenable to analysis and there are many inherent advantages such as lazy evaluation and once only evaluation of reducible sub-expressions. Semantic algebras relating to static semantics and the store algebra are "unfrozen" so they can be partially evaluated. The reduction machine that performs the evaluation includes simplification rules that allows a more compact functional representation (denotation) to be reached. If desired, some or all of the program arguments can be supplied to produce a new denotation (result) using the same reduction machine.


OBJECTIVE
Identification of the role of oxidative stress in the development of disorders that occur in hemorrhagic stroke (HS, post-traumatic intracerebral hematoma), and the study of the effects of Mexidol on neurological and cognitive deficits in HS with an analysis of the relationship between the therapeutic effects of the drug in HS with its antioxidant effect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was carried out on mature outbred male rats weighing 260-280 g. HS was created by destruction of the brain tissue in the area of the capsula interna, with the introduction of blood into the site of injury. On the 1st, 7th, and 14th days after HS modeling, death, neurological deficits (McGrow scale, rotating rod), convulsive manifestations, and cognitive impairment were recorded in rats; blood plasma and homogenates of the cerebral cortex of rats. Mexidol was administered after the HS operation: first at a dose of 150 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, for 3 days and then 75 mg/kg, orally (from the 4th to the 14th day).

RESULTS
Mexidol in rats with HS significantly increases the survival rate of animals, reduces the manifestations of neurological deficits according to the McGrow scale (playpen movements, paresis of 1-4 limbs, paralysis of the lower limbs, lateral position), eliminates individual motor convulsive manifestations, restores impaired coordination of movements (rotating rod test) and improves, impaired HS, learning and memory processes. Mexidol normalizes the concentration of TBA-active products in the blood of animals and homogenates of the cerebral cortex of rats, both a day and 7 days after HS modeling.

CONCLUSION
The data obtained indicate the involvement of oxidative stress as a chain of pathogenesis in the development of disorders in HS and the ability of Mexidol to alleviate neurological deficits, convulsive manifestations and cognitive impairment in HS, which is accompanied by a decrease in oxidative stress. All this justifies the importance of the use of Mexidol in patients with hemorrhagic stroke, posttraumatic intracerebral hematoma and determines the features of its therapeutic effects.


Moving-Least Squares (MLS) surfaces are a popular way to define a smooth manifold surface from a set of unorganized points without normals. In this paper we present a formulation of MLS surfaces that sheds light on shortcomings of the original technique proposed by Levin, which is based on a two-step minimization procedure. We show that there are cases intrinsic to the geometry of the underlying surface from which the points are sampled where Levin's projection fails to find an adequate fit. These shortcomings occur regardless of sampling density or the amount of noise. Our formulation solves this problem by directly fitting a local approximating function to the surface using a unified minimization scheme. We present a modification of Levin's original proof that can be directly adapted to our unified approach. Consequently, this suggests our method can be used to create different families of MLS surfaces, depending on the function space used for the fit. This allows specific priors to be used in the approximation, leading to better reconstructions. We present experimental results that show our technique performs adequately in a wide range of conditions.


analyzing the point cloud that is measured on the feature. To that end, a geometric feature is fitted to the point cloud and the results are assessed to see whether the fitted features lies within the specified tolerance limits or not. Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) use feature fitting algorithms that incorporate least square estimates as a basis for obtaining minimum, maximum, and zone fits. However, a comprehensive set of algorithms addressing the fitting procedure (all datums, targets) for every tolerance class is not available. Therefore, a Library of algorithms is developed to aid the process of feature fitting, and tolerance verification. This paper addresses linear, planar, circular, and cylindrical features only. This set of algorithms described conforms to the international Standards for GD&T. In order to reduce the number of points to be analyzed, and to identify the possible candidate points for linear, circular and planar features, 2D and 3D convex hulls are used. For minimum, maximum, and Chebyshev cylinders, geometric search algorithms are used. Algorithms are divided into three major categories: least square, unconstrained, and constrained fits. Primary datums require one sided unconstrained fits for their verification. Secondary datums require one sided constrained fits for their verification. For size and other tolerance verifications, we require both unconstrained and constrained fits Mechanical Engineering Master's Defense Development and Verification of a Library of Feature Fitting Algorithms for CMMs


1. The literature review covers the incidence of lameness in dairy cows and the predisposing management factors associated with lameness. Housing in relation to lameness and the nutritional causes of lameness, with particular reference to laminitis, are discussed. The genetic basis of lameness and the relationships between locomotion and hoof trimming are also reviewed. An outline of hoof structure, function and formation is given to enable a better understanding of the processes involved in hoof lameness. 2. In Experiment 1 two groups of 24 cows were offered 2 levels of concentrate from out-of-parlour feeders (7 kg/day versus 11 kg/day), plus silage ad libitum, during weeks 3 to 22 of lactation. Locomotion scores and rates of clinical incidence of lameness indicated that the high level of concentrate increased lameness. However, there were no significant effects on hoof shape. 3. In Experiment 2 the effects of protein level (161 g/kg crude protein versus 198 g/kg crude protein) and Dutch hoof trimming (trimmed versus untrimmed) on four groups of 12 cows were examined, during weeks 3 to 26 of lactation. Metabolisable energy intakes and the concentrate to silage ratios v/ere maintained at the same level for all four treatments. Trimming and the high protein level significantly increased locomotion score and clinical incidence of lameness. Trimming also increased hoof growth and reduced heel bulb hardness. No relationships between lameness and various blood parameters were found. There were indications that lame cows did not perform as well as those who were not lame. 4. In Experiment 3 the effects of concentrate to silage ratio (38:62 versus 63:37) and Dutch hoof trimming (trimmed versus untrimmed) on four groups of 12 cows were investigated, during weeks 3 to 26 of lactation. The high concentrate to silage ratio significantly increased locomotion score and trimming reduced locomotion score although not significantly. Higher incidences of clinical lameness in the high concentrate to silage ratio and untrimmed treatments were found. The high concentrate to silage ratio significantly reduced the hardness of the abaxial wall and sole, and as in Experiment 2 trimming increased hoof growth. Again there were indications that poor locomotion and lameness were associated with losses in production. 5. Behaviour was observed during three 24 hour periods in each of the three feeding trials. Negative correlations between time spent feeding and positive correlations between lying time and locomotion score were found. The number of social interactions decreased as locomotion score increased. 6. These experiments indicated that high levels of concentrate and protein, and high concentrate to silage ratios resulted in poorer locomotion and higher incidences of clinical lameness. Trimming appeared to improve locomotion, although its benefits in correcting hoof shape and weight distribution were not long term due to its effect of increasing hoof growth. Hoof shape and hoof hardness were also related to locomotion and lameness.


In this Article, I critically examine the assumption that the Social Security system faces a financing crisis and that the government can avert the crisis only by acting now to cut benefits or to raise taxes. The best conclusion we can draw from the current evidence is that the system is not doomed and that it is not necessary to institute immediate changes. We should, of course, continue to monitor the situation closely to determine whether future changes become necessary. This conclusion is further strengthened by the likelihood that any changes the government makes to the Social Security system today will be regressive, harming the middle class and the least fortunate in order to forestall a crisis that may never occur or that future progressive changes in policy will be able to address.


BACKGROUND: To study the epidemiology to tuberculosis (TB) in Barcelona, Spain from 1987 to 1995, analyzing the influence of HIV infection and the impact of control measures. PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: All cases detected by the Barcelona Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program were included in the study of the evolution of TB incidence according to different variables. The impact of HIV infection was analyzed through the attributable risk per cent (AR), and control measures through the evolution of the rate of treatment compliance, contact studies, and diagnostic delay. RESULTS: We detected 8,942 patients, 23.2% of whom were found through the active epidemiological surveillance system, representing an average annual incidence of 60.4/100,000. The incidence peaked in 1991 (68.7/100,000) and slowly declined to 55.7/100,000 in 1995. Men showed higher incidence (RR: 2.74; CI 95%: 2.62-2.87), particularly among the young (25-34 years olds), 53.3% of whom were HIV (+). The AR for HIV was 92.7%. In this period there was an increase in TB HIV (+), IVDU, and prisoners. Treatment compliance (80.8% in 1987 to 93.8% in 1995) and contact studies (3.2 studies/case in 1995) evolved favorably, unlike but diagnostic delay (35 days in 1995) did not. CONCLUSIONS: The Active Epidemiological Surveillance System has affored us a clear view of the actual situation regarding TB in Barcelona, Spain. Despite the HIV epidemics and the high number of IVDU, the evolution of TB has shown a steady decline due to improvement in control measures.


Pterins, heterocyclic compounds widespread in biological systems, accumulate in the skin of patients suffering from vitiligo, a chronic depigmentation disorder. Pterins have been previously identified as good photosensitizers under UV‐A irradiation. In this work, we have investigated the ability of pterin (Ptr), the parent compound of oxidized pterins, to photosensitize the oxidation of tyrosine (Tyr) in aqueous solutions. Tyr is an important target in the study of the photodynamic effects of UV‐A radiation because it is oxidized by singlet oxygen (1O2) and plays a key role in polymerization and cross‐linking of proteins. Steady UV‐A irradiation of solutions containing Ptr and Tyr led to the consumption of Tyr and dissolved O2, whereas the Ptr concentration remained unchanged. Concomitantly, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was produced. By combining different analytical techniques, we could establish that the mechanism of the photosensitized process involves an electron transfer from Tyr to the triplet excited state of Ptr. Mass spectrometry, chromatography and fluorescence were used to analyze the photoproducts. In particular, oxygenated and dimeric compounds were identified.


The cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27 is one of the most frequently dysregulated tumour suppressor protein in human cancers. A reduction in the level of cellular p27 is frequently due to increased proteasome-dependent degradation. Recently, studies show that the macrocyclic octapeptide argyrin A induced an increase in cellular p27 levels by preventing the turnover of the protein via inhibition of proteasome function.
In order to investigate this interesting biological property, this project embarked on the total synthesis of argyrin A, a naturally occurring macrocyclic peptide originally isolated from myxobacteria Archangium gephyra. Argyrin A is a non-ribosomal octapeptide containing four standard amino acids and three unusual amino acid-based subunits.
The synthesis of these three unusual amino acid components was established. In particular, a novel generic synthetic route to access the optically pure N-Fmoc-4-methoxy-tryptophan and analogues thereof was developed. Key features of the synthetic route include the use of chiral Strecker amino acid synthesis and mild conditions to hydrolyse α-amino nitrile to α-amino acid.
Furthermore, the total synthesis of argyrin A and analogues was accomplished by the application of modern solid-phase chemistry and macrocyclisation strategies. This platform technology will enable the robust total chemical synthesis of a focused library of argyrin analogues, which will facilitate a comprehensive SAR study.
Additionally, the synthesised argyrin A and analogues thereof comprising unique tryptophan analogues were tested in a cytotoxicity assay against HCT-117 human colon cell line. The results showed that all synthetic argyrin derivatives display growth inhibitory effects at nanomolar concentrations. The best result was obtained for the argyrin A and (5-methoxy-Trp4)argyrin with GI50 value at 1.8 and 3.8 nM, respectively. In summary, it became apparent that the methoxy group at 4- or 5-position of tryptophan-5 residue is essential for the biological activity of argyrin.


The realization of commercial photonic devices based on three-dimensional optical metamaterials is challenged by large absorptive losses as well as complex and costly fabrication. Metasurfaces—two-dimensional metamaterials—have been introduced to overcome these major challenges. They provide simple, compact, and power efficient solutions to problems of immense importance in photonics design. In addition to the strong potential of metasurfaces to enable next generation optical devices, their reduced dimensionality also allows for new physical effects which do not have volumetric counterparts. Furthermore, various technologies are presently emerging to provide modulation of metasurface response using mechanical, electrical, or optical control. Although the general purpose of these approaches is to obtain tunable versions of static metasurfaces, recent studies have uncovered that the impact of dynamic metasurfaces far exceeds tunability alone and comprises new physical effects such as Lorentz nonreciprocity. Here we start with reviewing recent developments of static metasurface devices and their applications. Then we discuss the burgeoning area of dynamic metasurfaces and demonstrate current evolving technologies to achieve time-varying properties and their conceivable applications.


When a complex task has to be performed by multiple systems, it imposes functional dependencies between the states and outputs of the systems. These functional dependencies create a system of 'virtually' interconnected subsystems, even though they may be physically separated. The component subsystems within the overall system we call 'functionally related systems', since nature of the task of the system is defining functional relations between the system components. This dissertation deals with motion control design for functionally related systems. The design is based on identifying functions to be executed within a task and design of control to make these functions follow their references. The main goal is to obtain unit control distribution matrix in the function space and enforce a desired dynamics for each of the identified functions. However, the decoupling is not based on physical separation, but rather on the functions. By transforming the configuration space dynamics of the controlled system to the function space, it is shown that by properly selected transformation one can obtain the desired structure of the dynamics in the function space which has identity control distribution matrix. This was done by projecting the configuration space velocities to the function space by the function Jacobian matrix, and having transformation of the control signals from the function space back to the configuration space by a right pseudoinverse of the function Jacobian matrix. In the presented approach, any right pseudoinverse of the function Jacobian matrix can be used. A weighted pseudoinverse is proposed in this dissertation; thus, a weighting matrix can arbitrarily be selected. While any appropriate control method can be used for control input synthesis in the function space, three control methods were employed in this dissertation. These are disturbance-observer-based control, sliding mode control, and control based on the equivalent control estimation. All these methods provide stable and robust control in the function space. The proposed approach for control design is tested in experiments and simulations. Experimental results on a piezoelectric walker showed that nanometric precision positioning can be achieved. In experiments for tasks including two pantograph manipulators, results validated the presented approach allowing simultaneous grasping force and motion control. Simulation results for different tasks including different robotic manipulators and for the formation control of mobile robots showed the potential of our proposed methods in some other interesting scenarios as well.


Building on collaborative work with Stefan Baums, Ching Chao-jung, Hannes Fellner and Georges-Jean Pinault during a workshop at Leiden University in September 2019, tentative readings are presented from a manuscript folio (T II T 48) from the Northern Tarim Basin in Northwest China written in the thus far undeciphered Formal Kharoṣṭhī script. Unlike earlier scholarly proposals, the language of this folio cannot be Tocharian, nor can it be Sanskrit or Middle Indic (Gāndhārī). Instead, it is proposed that the folio is written in an Iranian language of the Khotanese-Tumšuqese type. Several readings are proposed, but a full transcription, let alone a full translation, is not possible at this point, and the results must consequently remain provisional.


Magnetic halogen doped MoX2 (X = S and Se) monolayers influenced the electronic structure of graphene through a proximity effect. This process was observed using state-of-the-art calculations. It was found that the substitution of a single chalcogen atom with a halogen atom (F, Cl, Br, and I) results in n-type doping of MoX2. An additional electron from the dopant is localized on binding orbitals with the nearest Mo atoms and leads to the formation of magnetism in the dichalcogenide layer. Detailed analysis of halogen doped MoX2/graphene heterostructures demonstrated the induction of spin polarization in graphene near the Fermi energy. Significant spin polarization near the Fermi energy and n-type doping were observed in the graphene layer of MoSe2/graphene heterostructures with MoSe2 doped with iodine. At the same time, fluorine-doped MoSe2 does not cause n-doping in graphene, while spin polarization still takes place. The possibility for the detection of the arrangement of the halogen impurities at the MoX2 basal plane even with the graphene layer deposited on top was demonstrated through STM measurements which will be undoubtedly useful for the fabrication of electronic schemes and elements based on the proposed heterostructures for their further application in nanoelectronics and spintronics.


Advance in network technology leads to the design of new protocols and services. In order to assure successful communication among those new products, testing and validation activities for conformance and interoperability play an important role in the development and deployment of them. In this paper, we introduce the Platonis platform, a platform for validating and experimentation of new protocols and services. It will, in particular, focus on WAP protocols and services but is expected to be general enough to be used for other protocols and services such as those of GPRS, UMTS, and wired networks.


Purpose
Most state-of-the-art approaches for the analysis of the process of travel decision-making follow Woodworth's neo-behaviouristic S–R (stimulus–response) or S–O–R (stimulus–organism–response) model. However, within this model, scholars primarily focus on the S–R relationship, investigating specific decisions by describing or explaining an outcome as the result of an input of several stimuli. There is a lack of investigation into the "O" dimension of the S–O–R model. This paper aims to contribute towards closing of this gap by conceptually and holistically expanding existing models with new perspectives and components.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors base the conceptual process on a subjective/interpretative research paradigm, by combining outcomes from different theories and concepts into a new, more holistic approach; and challenging this approach by seeking counterarguments as well as supportive arguments at three conferences and workshops.

Findings
The paper expands the body of literature by positing a generic conceptual operationalization model focusing on the organism ("O") domain of decision-making. To achieve this, and further to operationalize the S–O–R model, the paper proposes to integrate an M–O–A (motivation–opportunity–ability) approach.

Originality/value
The analysis of the body literature reveals that there is still a lack of analytical and especially workable models/approaches for the analysis of the process of tourist decision-making. The paper contributes to that discussion by offering an alternative and generic operationalization of the tourist decision-making process by inducing a theoretical framework from the deductions gleaned from a number of existing theories.


images of the heart at first trimester, can successfully assess normality vs abnormality heart findings at first trimester. Methods: 133 fetuses with increased NT (above 95th percentile) weeks' gestation were referred to a tertiary center for echocardiography at 11 to 14 weeks gestation, carried out with abdominal multifrequency linear probes of 15 MHz and 7MHz (Siemens Acuson Sequoia) and a multifrequency convex probe 7.5 MHZ (Aloka Prosound SSD 5500) A first cardiac scan was carried out by two trained operators using B-mode and colorflow mapping with studied presets. Cardiac anatomy was identified as normal vs abnormal in order to rule out major CHD.; suspicious cases were classified as abnormal. When pregnancy continued, fetuses were subsequently examined at 20 and 32 w.g. Postnatal echocardiographic confirmation was obtained in the delivered fetuses Results: 17/133 abnormal cardiac structures were detected by the first operator scan and diagnosed as major CHD by expert echocardiographers (8 AVSD, 1 TGA, 4 DORV, 1 HLH, 1Coa, 1PA, 1Ectopia cordis in BodyStalk anomaly) One case of false negative at first level scan was subsequently diagnosed as malaligned VSD by fetalcardiologist. No false positive cases were reported Conclusions: At time of nuchal translucency scan, high-frequency abdominal probes with specific setting offered diagnostic Bmode and color-flow mapping images. This promising powerful diagnostic tool allowed trained operators to obtain appropriate heart images for excluding mayor CHD at 12–14 weeks' gestation.


Did breakthroughs in core processes during the Industrial Revolution tend to generate further innovations in downstream technologies? Here a theoretical model examines the effect of a political shock on a non-innovating society in which there is high potential willingness to cooperate. The result is regional specialization in the innovation process by degree of cooperation. tests with a zero-inflated Poisson specification indicate that 116 important innovations between 1700 and 1849 may be grouped into three categories: (1) General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) tended to be generated in large states with standardized languages following transition to pluralistic political systems; (2) GPTs in turn generated spillovers for their regions in technologies where cooperation was necessary to integrate distinct fields of expertise; (3) however, GPTs discouraged downstream innovation in their regions where such direct cooperation was not required.


Deals with the concept of how to orchestrate a consistent CSR strategy consolidating many diverse social initiatives started within a business group. The CSU-CCA Group (CSU-CCA) is one of the leading retailing businesses in Central America. The Group includes the Corporacion de Supermercados Unidos (CSU), a supermarket chain, and the Corporacion de Companias Agroindustriales (CCA), in charge of fresh- and private-label product storage and distribution for CSU supermarkets. The CSU-CCA Group was involved in several social programs for both its personnel and other members of the communities in which it operated. Some of these programs were institutionalized, while others were not. In some cases, the Group's involvement had stemmed from a personal initiative driven by one of its employees or managers, although the programs were not aligned to company strategies. By mid-2002, the Group made a corporate decision to articulate its social engagements within its business strategy as a means of becoming more effectively involved in the communities in which it operated. Accordingly, in May 2002, the Corporate Affairs Department (CAD) was created to oversee corporate social responsibility issues and external communications with stakeholders. The CAD reported to the CSU-CCA Board Chairman. Discusses the role of Manuel Zuniga, Corporate Affairs Department Director and Social Responsibility Committee member, who, at the next meeting, will need to propose an overall CSR strategy for the Group, including a recommendation as to which social ventures to support and which not to. He would also need to answer other questions: How should the company draw away from the programs it would no longer support while preventing the alienation of those in charge of them? How should CSU-CCA develop future programs? How should it go about raising personnel awareness of, and commitment to, social programs?


Solar air heaters are widely used for drying and space heating applications and usually have flat absorber plate for solar energy collection which makes it simple in construction and hence requires little maintenance. However, they generally exhibit low thermal performance owing to high thermal losses from the absorber plate and poor heat carrying capacity of air, which is the working fluid. Hence, there is a dire need to develop an efficient flat plate solar air heater. In this paper a two dimensional numerical analysis is conducted to evaluate the effect of notched ribs on the heat transfer augmentation of solar air heater. The design parameters that influence the performance of collector in the presence of ribs are the longitudinal pitch, geometry and dimensions of the ribs. The relative roughness pitch of is varied as 8, 10, 12 and 14 and the rib height is fixed at 1.4mm. The analysis is carried out at a constant heat flux input of 1000W/m2 for different Reynolds number conditions ranging from 8000 to 24000. The maximum increase in the Nusselt number was found to be about 1.88 times as compared to the smooth duct. The increase in thermal enhancement factor which indicates the thermohydraulic performance of the collector in the presence of ribs is found to be in the range of 1.27–1.45


All too often modules and courses are developed, re-written and revalidated with little student involvement in the process. As with many universities ours is now placing an increasing emphasis on the 'student voice', with student representatives, student panels and module evaluations. This research intends to ultimately use the findings to evaluate course delivery, structure and student self efficacy. However, this paper will present some interim findings from a longitudinal study on the transformative nature of higher education and explore the interplay between students' prior experiences and the development of new frames of reference, as they seek to find meaning in their first year of study (Mezirow, 2000).

The paper explores the connection between the perhaps questionable concept of self esteem and the students' perceived control in their first few months at university (Stupnisky et al 2007). The students are on three very different undergraduate courses, but all three have professional links or endorsement and the students start placements within the first term. The paper explores questionnaire results obtained from over ninety students at the start and end of their first term on their self esteem and perceived control related to both their academic and placement experiences. This data is enriched by further in-depth semi structured interviews with ten students, which allows for a closer examination of the transformative process and factors that directly impact on the way students construct both academic and vocational 'meaningful knowledge and skills' (Choy, 2009:66).


A new measurement method for through-the-wall detection of life signs is proposed hereinafter. The method analyzes the phase modulation that a sinusoidal signal, generated by means of a proper continuous-wave microwave transceiver, undergoes when reflected by the chest periodic displacement associated with breathing. It takes advantage of a suitable spatial smoothing decorrelation strategy applied to the traditional algorithm for MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC), mandated to single out the spectral components of the received phase signal. With respect to other measurement solutions, already available in the literature and exploiting either the traditional discrete-time Fourier transform, or matched filters, or standard singular value decomposition, the proposed method assures competitive performance in detecting the respiratory activity from the received microwave signal and effective noise/clutter rejection. The results of several tests both in simulated and actual scenarios, i.e., people behind walls in a furnished room, prove the efficacy and reliability of the method also in the presence of critical measurement conditions such as low signal-to-noise ratios and chest displacement associated with shallow breathing.


We present VIsible Multi-Object Spectrograph (VIMOS) observations of a galaxy quintuply imaged by the Frontier Fields galaxy cluster RXC J2248.7-4431 . This sub-, high- galaxy has been recently discovered by Monna et al. (2013) using dropout techniques with the 16-band HST photometry acquired as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH). Obtained as part of the CLASH-VLT survey, the VIMOS medium-resolution spectra of this source show a very faint continuum between 8700 a and 9300 a and a prominent emission line at 8643 , which can be readily identified with Lyman- at . The emission line exhibits an asymmetric profile, with a more pronounced red wing. The rest-frame equivalent width of the line is , relatively well constrained thanks to the detection of the UV continuum, which is rarely achieved for a sub- galaxy at this redshift. After correcting formagnification, the star formation rate (SFR) estimated from the Ly line is SFRLyyr and that estimated from the UV data is SFRUVyr. We estimate that the effective radius of the source is kpc, which implies a star formation surface mass density yrkpc and, using the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation, a gas surface mass density pc. Our results support the idea that this magnified, distant galaxy is a young and compact object with luminosity at , when the Universe was just 1 Gyr old, with a similar amount of mass in gas and stars. In the spirit of the Frontier Fields initiative, we also publish the redshifts of several multiply imaged sources and other background objects, which will help improving the strong-lensing model of this galaxy cluster. This work is based on data collected at ESO VLT (prog.ID 186.A-0798) and at NASA HST.


ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Solanum tuberosum, center pivot, variable rate applications, ET, evapotranspiration, crop rotations SUMMARY. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are grown extensively throughout the Pacific northwestern United States as a high value crop in irrigated rotations with other row crops such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and both field and sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Center pivots are the predominant irrigation systems. Soil texture ranges from coarse sands to finer textured silt loams and silts and can vary within one field, particularly in fields with hilly topography. Site specific management is being evaluated as an approach to help to optimize inputs (water, seed, agricultural chemicals) to maintain or enhance yield and reduce potential negative environmental impacts from these farming systems. Currently, variable rate fertilizer application technology and harvest yield monitoring equipment are commercially available for potato. Variable rate seeding and variable rate irrigation water application technologies are developed but not fully commercialized and variable rate pesticide application equipment is in development. At the Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Prosser, Wash., we have a team of research scientists, interested individuals from local industry, and other key organizations (e.g. local conservation districts) who are working together to evaluate different site specific technologies, improve the ability to use available tools, and to improve decision- making ability by conducting research both on farm and in research plots.


An experiment was conducted at Holetta and Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centers dairy herd in 2011 to evaluate the number of embryos collected per super-ovulated donor cow, estrus rate (ER) and pregnancy rate (PR) of recipient cows/heifers after embryo transfer. For super-ovulation treatment a total of 19 Holstein Friesian (HF) x Boran crossbred cows were selected as embryo donors and treated with super-ovulation hormones. For embryo recipient about 113 females of pure Boran and Holstein Friesian x Boran crossbred cows and heifers synchronized with estrous synchronization hormones. Out of 52 cows and heifers in estrous after estrous synchronization 34 of them used as embryo recipient out of which 23 females received fresh embryos and 11 frozen embryos. All data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Chi-square test. Results from super ovulation response indicated that out of 19 cows super-ovulated 15 (79%) cows responded to super-ovulation treatment. A total of 31 embryos collected out of which 23 embryos (77%) were transferable and the rest were not suitable for transfer. Mean number of embryo collected per donor was 2.07. Results from recipient estrous synchronization indicated that the overall recipient ER to estrous synchronization was 46% and significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by body condition score (BCS) while the effect of synchronization protocols, parity and breed were not significant. The overall recipient PR to embryo transfer was 20% and significantly influenced by BCS (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the number of embryo obtained per super-ovulated donor in present study is low. Moreover recipient PR to embryo transfer was also very low. The poor PR of recipient females to embryo transfer could be attributed to high early embryonic mortality. Further research is required to investigate the possible cause of low number of embryo per donor cows and the poor PR of recipient females to embryo transfer.


1. 1. Intracellular recordings have been made from a variety of phasic motor neurones during expression of the motor programme for backward swimming in Galathea strigosa .

2. 2. Fast flexor motor neurones (FFs) are driven by a large depolarization mediated by chemical synapses and are inhibited in the interburst interval.

3. 3. Fast extensor motor neurones (FEs) are driven by a barrage of unitary EPSPs during the extension phase and may receive unitary synaptic inhibition while the flexors are active.

4. 4. FFs all have similar spike thresholds and fire bursts of spikes super-imposed upon the depolarized peak of the input. FEs show a gradation in spike threshold which is correlated with soma size. The largest FEs (type 2) have higher thresholds than smaller FEs (type 1), and fire fewer spikes.

5. 5. The phasic inhibitor motor neurone to flexor muscles (FI) is driven by complex central pathways and fires a single spike shortly following flexion.

6. 6. The extensor inhibitor (El) appears to receive the same depolarization as do the FFs, but has a low spike threshold and thus fires on the rising phase of the depolarization. Spiking in EI is terminated by unitary IPSPs which occur in phase with FF activity and which may have the same origin as the interburst inhibition seen in the FEs.


Traumatic injuries to dentition can initiate either a resorptive or calcific pulpal response. In the sequelae of calcific degeneration, the clinical crown frequently becomes discolored, requiring an aesthetic correction to restore the tooth to its natural color. Four potential solutions are currently available to achieve this goal. The learning objective of this article is to describe the etiology of calcific metamorphosis, discuss the four potential solutions, and present the responses of endodontists polled as to the treatment indications. While the posterior dentition may experience the identical pathologic response to trauma and crown discoloration, this article focuses on the restoration of the anterior dentition. Several cases are presented to illustrate the four treatment modalities, and recommendations for follow-up of traumatic injuries are indicated.


Objective. Intraarticular (IA) corticosteroid injections are broadly used in knee osteoarthritis (OA); however, the best corticosteroid agent is not well defined. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) and methylprednisolone acetate (MA) injections in knee OA. Methods. Patients with symptomatic knee OA and Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III were randomized to receive 40 mg of IA TH or MA. Evaluations were performed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. The primary outcome was a change in the patient's assessment of pain by visual analog scale from baseline to Week 4. Secondary outcomes included a global assessment of the disease by patients and physicians, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lequesne index (LI), and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OMERACT-OARSI) criteria of response. Generalized estimating equations were used in statistical analysis. Results. The intention-to-treat population included 100 patients; 50 in each study arm. A significant improvement in pain was observed at Week 4 for both groups (p < 0.0001), with no difference between them (p = 0.352). This improvement was sustained up to Week 24. A significant improvement from the baseline was observed for both the patient's and the physician's global assessments, WOMAC questionnaire, and LI, with no differences between the groups. Improvements in the secondary outcomes were sustained during the study. The OMERACT-OARSI criteria of response was achieved by 74% and 72% of patients in the TH and the MA groups, respectively. Conclusion. Both IA therapies are equally effective, and improvement in pain and function can be sustained for up to 24 weeks. Controlled-trials.com identifier: ISRCTN15077843.


This study defines various fiscal indicators for different analytical purposes, adjusting for the distorting effect of creative accounting. It presents these indicators using the example of Hungary. The study abandons the general view that an identical balance is produced from the two traditional definitions of the general government deficit, as deficit indicators resulting from the flow of funds calculated as the balance of revenues and expenditures (above the line) and changes in financial assets and liabilities (below the line) may vary. Firstly, the treatment of the loss of contributions transferred to private pension funds causes a difference, as in contrast to a tax cut, this does not constitute a flow of funds, but nevertheless increases the amount of public debt. Secondly, while accrualbased accounting is justified for defining assets and liabilities, accrual-based and cash-flow recording may be applied in relation to flow of funds, depending on which is more appropriate for estimating the effect or fiscal impulse on the economy. Accrual-based accounting adjusts fluctuations in cash-flow recording, but it identifies the economic impact only if there are neither liquidity constraints nor unexpected fiscal measures in the economy. In this case namely, the economic agents do not react to cash-flow fluctuations. If, however, the economic agents are either subject to liquidity constraints or unexpected measures are taken, they are also affected by the sudden changes in cash-flows. Contrary to conventions, the study draws a distinction between the two types of deficit indicators through the introduction of different terms. It continues to define the indicator identifying flow of funds as deficit, while it terms changes in assets and liabilities as a financing requirement. On the one side, the indicator defined as deficit constitutes the basis of the calculation of the impact on the economy and external balance ('impulse'). The composition of this fiscal impulse plays a decisive role, particularly the impulse on households and changes in indirect taxes. On the other side, the analysis of the financing requirement – that is, changes in assets and liabilities – provides the basis for determining which revenues and expenditures are deemed to be temporary and which are of a permanent ('underlying') nature. The study determines the categories of the augmented deficit, indicating flow of funds, and the augmented financing requirement, measuring changes in financial assets and liabilities, on the basis of the IMF method for filtering the effects of creative accounting. Statistical recording, namely, needs to be augmented with the financial requirement of organisations conducting quasi-fiscal operations and the simultaneously accumulating quasi-fiscal debt. The 'one-off' capital transfer related to the subsequent assumption of this quasi-fiscal debt needs to be filtered out. In our experience, the augmented deficit has advantage of being consistent in a macroeconomic sense and methodologically more stable than the statistical deficit, as the latter frequently requires revisions. Naturally, the actual figures of the augmented deficit may change to a certain degree, as the analytical adjustments need to augment data with estimates in the case of the quasi-fiscal operations and creative accounting. As a favourable change in relation to the data requirement, from 2010 theofficial budget accounting includes public investments which are statistically recorded as private investments.


— In multi-label learning, each instance in the training set is associated with a set of labels, and the task is to output a label set whose size is unknown a priori for each unseen instance. In this paper, this problem is addressed in the way that a neural network algorithm named BP-MLL, i.e. Backpropagation for Multi-Label Learning, is proposed. It is derived from the popular Backpropagation algorithm through employing a novel error function capturing the characteristics of multi-label learning, i.e. the labels belonging to an instance should be ranked higher than those not belonging to that instance. Applications to two real-world multi-label learning problems, i.e. functional genomics and text categorization, show that the performance of BP-MLL is superior to those of some well-established multi-label learning algorithms.


AbstractDespite conventional assumptions, a different pattern of alliances and incompatible political ideologies, Iran has been among the few countries in the world that has maintained close and continuous relations simultaneously with both South and North Koreas, forging a surprising web of complex connections on the Korean Peninsula for some decades. This research argues that the peculiarity in Iran's interactions with the two Koreas can be attributed to a pragmatist approach that has strived to balance the dominant systemic factor and the secondary yet influential domestic variable. This is done in order to achieve the intended foreign policy goals according to each party's relative status and capabilities within the international system. To substantiate this argument, the study probes major developments in Tehran's bilateral relations with Seoul and Pyongyang, focusing particularly on five distinctive periods from the early steps to establish official ties before the 1970s to the past decade when the multi-faceted connections between the Iranians and Koreans reached an all time high. The research also briefly discusses the recent issue of Iran's sanctions and their implications for bilateral relations between the Persian Gulf country and the Republic of Korea.Key Words: Iran, Korea, Middle East, East Asia, Persian Gulf, Korean Peninsula, Energy, Exports, Imports, Arms Sales, Economic SanctionsINTRODUCTIONEarly history when the Iranians first encountered people from the Korean Peninsula dates back at least to the seventh century during the last decades of the Sassanid Persia and the rule of the Shilla dynasty in the two respective regions. The initial contact took place mainly through formal trade and private business activities along the Silk Road, with China serving as a bridge between them.1 A couple of centuries later, an abrupt wave of migration forced by the Mongol invaders compelled groups of skilled people from the Iranian plateau to reside on the Korean Peninsula. Some of these people continued to live on the peninsula after the Mongols were kicked out. They gradually integrated into Korean society, as it was the case for many early Iranian immigrants to western China around the late seventh century.Some classic works written by Iranians also contain various descriptions about the Koreans and the unique circumstances of the Korean Peninsula in ancient times.2 For instance, around the midninth century (when beyond Chinese and Japanese frontiers), hardly more than a dozen people in the world really knew or actually cared about the existence of Koreans, the Iranian renowned geographer, Abulqasim Ibn-Khordadbeh, provided a fair explanation about the location of the unified Shilla in his book, Kitab al-Masalik wa alMamalik (The Book of Roads and Kingdoms). In fact, Ibn-Khordadbeh's book is the first non- Asian reference to Korea recorded in history.3 For various and well-known historical developments in both regions, however, the earlier frequent contacts between people from the two nations came to a halt by the fourteen century.In addition to such a unique historical background, Iran's relationship with the Korean Peninsula in modern times is a distinguished element in the international relations of the two regions. In fact, Tehran has established multifaceted connections with Koreans in both parts of the peninsula, making Iran one of the few countries in the world that has maintained close and continuous relations simultaneously with both Seoul and Pyongyang for many decades. More importantly, an astonishing web of complex interactions between Iran and the Korean Peninsula in past decades has overcome conventional assumptions, a different pattern of alliances and incompatible political ideologies with which each party is associated. How could all this be possible? What crucial factor or probable factors have played a role in shaping the contours of bilateral relations between the Iranians and Koreans over the past five decades? …


Nocardia organisms were cultured from the sputum of 11 patients at the central hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe, over a 12 month period. Pulmonary nocardiosis was diagnosed in one further patient on the basis of direct microscopy. Among the nine patients available for follow up, pulmonary nocardiosis was considered to be the major clinical problem in six. The patients usually presented with a chronic pulmonary infection with fever and cough without evidence of dissemination of underlying systemic disease. The chest radiograph showed consolidation in any part of the lung, and this was seen to extend slowly over several months. Prolonged diagnostic delay was a frequent problem. Haemoptysis, alcohol abuse, and empirical treatment for tuberculosis commonly featured in the history. Treatment with sulphonamides was generally successful in those patients who complied. Nocardiosis is a treatable lung disease that may be more common in developing countries than is currently recognised.


Background Worldwide, office employees have experienced two novel phenomena during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: working from home and reductions in their salaries. These phenomena have majorly impacted the lives of individuals as well as their families. The present study aims to measure the perceived stress levels among employees during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Pakistan.

 Methodology A cross-sectional approach was used to collect data from a sample of 385 employees working in three different IT-oriented private organizations. A semi-structured, Likert-scale questionnaire was used, containing the 10-item inventory from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). A sociodemographic profile, working parameters, and frequency of PSS inventory were presented in the descriptive analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was made to compare the stress levels of the two groups resulting from their workloads and reductions in salary.

 Results An elevated perceived stress level (50.9%) was observed among the employees, showing a significant relationship with salary reduction and home work engagement (p<0.005). A strong negative correlation was observed (-0.860) for the salary reduction with PSS.

 Conclusion Working from home and reductions in salary caused increased perceived stress levels of the employees working in private organizations. Salary reductions proved to be a strong stressor, causing economic disruption and inability to cope with financial burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic.


We have seen that the nominal power of single Wind Energy Converter Systems has been steadily growing up and reaching power ratings close to 10 MW. In the power conversion stage, we found that the medium-voltage power converters are replacing the conventional low-voltage back-to-back topology. Due to this reason the Matrix Converters interfaced have appeared as a promising solution for Multi-MW WECSs due to their characteristics such as modularity, reliability and the capability to reach high nominal voltages. In 2009-10, the country imported 159.26 million tons of crude oil which amounts to 80% of its domestic crude oil consumption and 31% of the country's total imports are oil imports. The growth of electricity generation in India has been hindered by domestic coal shortages and as a consequence, India's coal imports for electricity generation increased by 18% in 2010. So in this paper I try to develop fuzzy-logic based control strategy to capture maximum wind energy and reduce harmonics for proposed wind generation system and then develops fuzzy control for indirect matrix converter under steady-state and dynamic conditions. With these assumptions finally try to validate the proposed wind generation system in simulation environment to validate the developed control algorithms under various balanced /unbalanced conditions. Finally evaluate the performance of the developed wind generation system and its controls under various balanced/unbalanced wind conditions. During investigating details the robustness of the steady-state and dynamic performance of the developed system under various balanced/unbalanced conditions using simulation software I presents the experimental performance evaluation of the developed matrix converter prototype with wind emulator.


Many perceptual experiments show that human talkers provide more intelligible visual speech than synthetic talkers. This inferiority of synthetic visual speech might be due to a lack of finer modeling of the parts of the face that are important to lipreading or that some parts of the face that are not generally considered as relevant to visual speech or as not visible in face-to-face communication, might actually provide some information, which humans are capable of decoding. This information might therefore not be modeled accurately in the synthetic speaker. In this paper, we provide evidence from Arabic that some sounds, which are not known as visible, might be recognized correctly visually. We performed a lipreading recognition experiment on Arabic, where a set of consonant-vowel stimuli were presented as visual-only speech and participants were asked to report what they recognized. The resulting consonant confusion matrix shows that some of these pharyngeals were, to some extent, well discriminated. Results are discussed based on the category of phonemes and the vowel context.


Little is known about how patterns of cell proliferation and arrest are generated during development, a time when tight regulation of the cell cycle is necessary. In this study, the mechanism by which the developmental signaling molecule Wingless (Wg) generates G(1) arrest in the presumptive Drosophila wing margin is examined in detail. Wg signaling promotes activity of the Drosophila retinoblastoma family (Rbf) protein, which is required for G(1) arrest in the presumptive wing margin. Wg promotes Rbf function by repressing expression of the G(1)-S regulator Drosophila myc (dmyc). Ectopic expression of dMyc induces expression of Cyclin E, Cyclin D, and Cdk4, which can inhibit Rbf and promote G(1)-S progression. Thus, G(1) arrest in the presumptive wing margin depends on the presence of Rbf, which is maintained by the ability of Wg signaling to repress dmyc expression in these cells. In addition to advancing the understanding of how patterned cell-cycle arrest is generated by the Wg signaling molecule during development, this study indicates that components of the Rbf/E2f pathway are targets of dMyc in Drosophila. Although Rbf/E2f pathway components mediate the ability of dMyc to promote G(1) progression, dMyc appears to regulate growth independently of the RBF/E2f pathway.


This study was aimed to determine the antibacterial potency of honey and Noni juice to Staphylococcus aureus and the effect of giving honey and Noni juice to decrease the number of Staphylococcus aureus on chicken carcasses. Benefits of this study were to inform the public about the benefits of using honey and Noni juice as an antibacterial material to Staphylococcus aureus and also as a natural preservative for chicken carcasses. The method used was a sensitivity test Kirby Bauer diffusion method. This study consisted of 6 treatments with 5 replications, which were P0 as a control, honey (P1), Noni juice (P2), mixture of honey and Noni juice in ratio of 1:1 (P3), 1:2 (P4) and 21 (P5). The results showed that honey and Noni juice has antibacterial potency to Staphylococcu s aureus and could decrease the number of Staphylococcus aureus on chicken carcasses.


Stingless bees collect plant resins and make it into propolis, although they have a wider range of use for this material than do honey bees (Apis spp.). Plebeia spp. workers employ propolis mixed with wax (cerumen) for constructing and sealing nest structures, while they use viscous (sticky) propolis for defense by applying it onto their enemies. Isolated viscous propolis deposits are permanently maintained at the interior of their colonies, as also seen in other Meliponini species. Newly-emerged Plebeia emerina (Friese) workers were observed stuck to and unable to escape these viscous propolis stores. We examined the division of labor involved in propolis manipulation, by observing marked bees of known age in four colonies of P. emerina from southern Brazil. Activities on brood combs, the nest involucrum and food pots were observed from the first day of life of the marked bees. However, work on viscous propolis deposits did not begin until the 13th day of age and continued until the 56th day (maximum lifespan in our sample). Although worker bees begin to manipulate cerumen early, they seem to be unable to handle viscous propolis till they become older.


Abstract Effective conservation requires an understanding of the genetic interactions among populations and individuals of a species, particularly those with fragmented, isolated distributions. Alnus maritima (seaside alder) is a rare tree species with an extremely fragmented distribution of highly isolated populations in the Delmarva Peninsula, Georgia, and Oklahoma. We conducted a mating system study to estimate the outcrossing rate, inbreeding coefficient, biparental inbreeding rate, and correlation of paternity in progeny from a Georgia and an Oklahoma population to investigate the effects of isolation on the A. maritima mating system. Data from nine microsatellite loci showed similarly high multilocus outcrossing rates in both populations (tm  =  0.94). Individual tree outcrossing rates were also high (tm  =  0.873–1.047). There was no significant biparental inbreeding in either population, but there was significantly higher correlated paternity in the Oklahoma population. Results showed the high outcrossing expected for a wind-pollinated, monoecious species that can promote the maintenance of genetic variation detected in A. maritima seed pools and standing populations. Likewise, pollen flow among Oklahoma populations may promote maintenance of regional genetic variation. However, despite the genetic diversity in the seed pool generated by A. maritima's highly outcrossed mating system, failure of new individuals to be recruited into populations from seed presents an obstacle that will need to be considered when developing conservation strategies for this rare species.


The MET proto-oncogene encodes a 190-kDa disulfide-linked heterodimeric receptor (p190 alpha beta) whose tyrosine kinase activity is triggered by the hepatocyte growth factor. The mature receptor is made of two subunits: an alpha chain of 50 kDa and a beta chain of 145 kDa, arising from proteolytic cleavage of a single-chain precursor of 170 kDa (pr170). In a colon carcinoma cell line (LoVo), the precursor is not cleaved and the Met protein is exposed at the cell surface as a single-chain polypeptide of 190 kDa (p190NC). The expression of the uncleaved Met protein is due to defective posttranslational processing, since in this cell line (i) the proteolytic cleavage site Lys-303-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Ser-308 is present in the precursor, (ii) p190NC is sensitive to mild trypsin digestion of the cell surface, generating alpha and beta chains of the correct size, and (iii) the 205-kDa insulin receptor precursor is not cleaved as well. p190NC is a functional tyrosine kinase in vitro and is activated in vivo, as shown by constitutive autophosphorylation on tyrosine. The MET gene is neither amplified nor rearranged in LoVo cells. Overlapping cDNA clones selected from a library derived from LoVo mRNA were sequenced. No mutations were present in the MET-coding region. These data indicate that the tyrosine kinase encoded by the MET proto-oncogene can be activated as a consequence of a posttranslational defect.


The chromosomal pepN gene encoding lysyl-aminopeptidase activity in Lactococcus lactis has been identified in a lambda EMBL3 library in Escherichia coli by using an immunological screening with antiserum against a purified aminopeptidase fraction. The pepN gene was localized and subcloned in E. coli on the basis of its expression and hybridization to a mixed-oligonucleotide probe for the previously determine N-terminal amino acid sequence of lysyl-aminopeptidase (P. S. T. Tan and W. N. Konings, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56:526-532, 1990). The L. lactis pepN gene appeared to complement an E. coli strain carrying a mutation in its pepN gene. High-level expression of the pepN gene in E. coli was obtained by using the T7 system. The overproduction of the 95-kDa aminopeptidase N could be visualized on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and immunoblots. Cloning of the pepN gene on a multicopy plasmid in L. lactis resulted in a 20-fold increase in lysyl-aminopeptidase activity that corresponded to several percent of total protein. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5' region of the pepN gene allowed a comparison between the deduced and determined amino-terminal primary sequences of aminopeptidase N. The results show that the amino terminus of PepN is not processed and does not possess the characteristics of consensus signal sequences, indicating that aminopeptidase N is probably an intracellular protein. The intracellular location of aminopeptidase N in L. lactis was confirmed by immunogold labeling of lactococcal cells.


Last spring, I taught a graduate course in the study of curriculum. The course involved studying the historical construction of curriculum and uncovering the various curricular perspectives that continue to influence curriculum practices today. This was the first time I had taught the course and I was surprised by the kind of learning that transpired. Through our discussions, readings and explorations, suffering in education became apparent. Suddenly, it was there before us and it could not be denied any longer. This suffering showed itself in the many different kinds of realizations that we discovered in our shared inquiry. For some students it was the first time they had noticed the hidden, instrumental values influencing the institution of schooling, such as the interests to control, sort and objectify children, as well as the over-emphasis on order and certainty and how this renders experience lifeless and dull. They realized that schools have the potential, as Dewey warned, "to cramp and deaden" (1929). Many were angry at this discovery. Others expressed despair and a profound sense of sadness at the state of education today, its existence in a world that seems hopelessly bent on its own destruction.


Disparity between control and ownership rights gives rise to the risk of tunneling by the controlling shareholder. This disparity is prevalent in many emerging market economies and present in some developed countries. At the same time, international investors come from different countries whose home markets are characterized by varying degrees of control-ownership disparity. This paper studies whether this difference in investors' home countries affects their portfolio choice in an emerging market. It combines two unique data sets on ownership and control in business groups, and investor-stock level foreign investment in Korea. A key finding is that, investors from low-disparity countries disfavor highdisparity stocks in Korea, but investors from high-disparity countries are indifferent. Moreover, investors from low-disparity countries became averse to disparity only after the Asian financial crisis. These results suggest that the nature of corporate governance in international investors' home countries affects their portfolio choice abroad, and therefore that these investors should not be lumped together in analyses of their portfolio choice.


Abstract Resultative predicates have the aspectual effect of telicizing an atelic activity verb. The function of the postverbal constituent in accomplishments has been taken to be one of providing an end point to the activity, or of a constituent that "measures out" the event denoted by the activity verb. In either case, it delimits the event by providing it with boundaries. Looking at resultative predicates, we observe that they are subject to the requirement that they denote a bounded scale. This requirement is argued to be empirically superior to an alternative restriction stating that the resultative must be a stage-level predicate. The boundedness requirement furthermore provides direct evidence against an approach that treats the resultative as an end point, and supports the claim that it is an event measure. One piece of evidence concerns the 'make + NP+Adjective' construction, in which the adjective denotes the final stage or end point in a change of state, exactly as in the resultative construction. In contrast to the resultative, however, the adjective can be unbounded, as it is not an event measure in this case. We argue that the boundedness requirement on resultative predicates follows directly from treating it as an event measure, since a measure must be bounded as a matter of conceptual necessity.


Sensor node localization is the basis for the entire wireless sensor
 networks. Because of restricted energy of the sensor nodes, the location
 error, costs of communication and computation should be considered in
 localization algorithms. DV-Hop localization algorithm is a typical
 positioning algorithm that has nothing to do with distance. In the isotropic
 dense network, DV-Hop can achieve position more precisely, but in the random
 distribution network, the node location error is great. This paper summed up
 the main causes of error based on the analysis on the process of the DV-Hop
 algorithm, aimed at the impact to the location error which is brought by the
 anchor nodes of different position and different quantity, a novel
 localization algorithm called NDVHop_Bon (New DV-Hop based on optimal
 nodes) was put forward based on optimal nodes, and it was simulated on
 Matlab. The results show that the new proposed location algorithm has a
 higher accuracy on localization with a smaller communication radius in the
 circumstances, and it has a wider range of applications.


ABSTRACT:We two Australian public historians recently published a history of memorials in Santiago, Chile, to the victims of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, Narrow but Endlessly Deep: The Struggle for Memorialisation in Chile since the Transition to Democracy. Our different upbringings and experiences (one a migrant from Cuba, the other Anglo-Australian) produced disagreements as to how we should interpret the memorializations. In particular, the foundational narratives of Cuba and Australia in which we were raised affected our differing interpretations. The article explains these differing foundational narratives and then cites examples of textual disagreements and how we resolved them. We believe that this challenging interrogation of lifetime values improved the monograph and may offer insights for other cross-cultural collaborations.


ABSTRACT In recent years, research-methods literature mainly addressing controlled clinical trials has arisen regarding explanatory and pragmatic treatment trials. Explanatory trials tend to examine causal mechanisms and questions of efficacy and value internal validity (creating optimal study conditions) over generalizability (using study results to understand treatment effects in real-life patient populations). In contrast, pragmatictrials value "external relevance" (generalizability) of study results over "internal elegance" so that clinicians and health policymakers can better understand how treatments might impact their patients and policies.This review draws inspiration from these contrasting explanatory and pragmatic perspectives and develops them for clinical and research pertaining to idiopathic physical symptoms and related syndromes (eg, somatization disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome). Explanatory and pragmatic perspectives are used to examine these idiopathies with regard to causation, case definition, labels, and treatment. It is concluded that idiopathic symptom syndromes are fundamentally pragmatic clinical and research challenges. For epidemiologic and methodologic reasons, the complex explanations for these syndromes remain largely elusive. Even so, scientific and clinical pragmatism offers the opportunity to reduce disagreement between competing medical disciplines and between clinicians and affected patients with regard to irreconcilable etiologic questions and to remain evidence-based in the care of patients.


The Cooperative for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry, originally the brain-child of a group of West German and Swiss investigators, has met a growing need for the standardization of psychiatric case-material on the European mainland. The original German version (reviewed in Psychological Medicine 10 (1980), 386) has now been adopted and translated into French and is widely used in francophonic countries. Its value for teaching and communication is apparent. Its research potential has still to be demonstrated, but Anglo-American workers who use their own instruments should clearly familiarize themselves with the system.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of a Cannabis sativa oil in the management of patients diagnosed with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS).

DESIGN
Prospective, open-label, single-arm pilot study.

SETTING
University hospital.

SUBJECTS
Seventeen patients with diagnosed BMS were included.

METHODS
Subjects were treated for 4 weeks with a full cannabis plant extract, which was prepared from standardized plant material (cannabis flos) in specialized pharmacies by means of Romano-Hazekamp extraction and was diluted in oil (1 g of cannabis in 10 g of olive oil). The primary outcome was the change in pain intensity (assessed by the visual analog scale, Present Pain Intensity scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Oral Health Impact Profiles) at the end of the protocol and during the succeeding 24 weeks; the neuropathic pain was also investigated with a specific interview questionnaire (DN4-interview [Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions]). Levels of anxiety and depression were considered as secondary outcomes, together with reported adverse events due to the specified treatment.

RESULTS
Subjects showed a statistically significant improvement over time in terms of a clinical remission of the oral symptoms. Levels of anxiety and depression also changed statistically, displaying a favorable improvement. No serious reactions were detailed. None of the patients had to stop the treatment due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot evaluation, the C. sativa oil provided was effective and well tolerated in patients with primary BMS. Further bigger and properly defined randomized controlled trials, with different therapeutic approaches or placebo control, are needed, however.


Background Medicine is a profession that carries certain risks. One risky area of practice is the emergency department. Emergency physicians diagnose and treat a high volume of patients, and are also responsible for preparing reports for forensic cases. In this study, we aim to investigate emergency physicians' legal-administrative problems and reveal their level of understanding on forensic cases. Methods An electronic questionnaire form was prepared after the approval of an ethical committee. This form was sent to the residents, specialists and academicians of emergency medicine by e-mail. The physicians were asked to fill out the form online. All the gathered data was analyzed. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequency percentages with mean and standard deviation. Chi-square tests were used to compare the groups. Correlation between number of complaint cases and age, sex, career, institution, and duration of service in emergency department were investigated. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 294 physicians participated in the questionnaire. According to the questionnaire, 170 of the physicians were reported to the patient communication units due to medical malpractice. Mean number of compliant reports was 3.20±3.5. 29 of the physicians received administrative penalties. 42 of the physicians were judged in the court for medical malpractice. 1 physician was fined 5000 Turkish Liras as a result of these judgments. Conclusion We found that the number of complaint reports is negatively correlated with duration of service in emergency medicine and age. There was a significant difference between number of complaint reports and career (p<0.05). The physicians' level of awareness on forensic cases was found to be insufficient. Lack of legislation knowledge may be an important cause of complaint reports concerning emergency physicians, who have a high load of patients. Thus, we think that increasing the frequency of post-graduate education sessions and periodical reviews might be beneficial.


This paper aims to model rent performance of shopping centers in a cluster with the use of hedonic regression models. The current literature about shopping center rent or sales performance focuses on stand-alone shopping centers. To date, no research has examined the determinants of rent performance of shopping centers in a cluster context, in which the clustering effects may play important roles in explaining rent performance. Synthesizing clustering effects and elements of the traditional and contemporary theory for shopping center researches, an empirical framework is formulated for exploring the rent performance of shopping centers in a shopping cluster. Three groups of variables are employed in the hedonic shopping center rent models: shopping center's characteristics, shopping center owner's management expertise, and clustering and competitive factors such as relative size, relative location, and mix of the cluster. The methodology of this study differs substantially from that of previous studies on shopping center performance. This study focuses on a cluster of shopping centers at the microlevel. The unit of analysis is the shopping center in a shopping district rather than retail units agglomerating in a single shopping center. With more than thirty-three clustering shopping centers, Orchard Road/Scotts Road in Singapore is a good case for this study. Data for shopping centers along Orchard Road/Scotts Road span the years 1995-2005.


Exfoliated transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) are attractive light-harvesting materials for large-area and inexpensive solar energy conversion given their ability to form highly tolerant heterojunctions. However, the preparation of large-area heterojunctions with these materials remains a challenge toward practical devices, and the details of photogenerated charge carrier harvesting are not well established. In this work, we use all solution-based methods to prepare large-area hybrid heterojunction films consisting of exfoliated semiconducting 2H-MoS2 flakes and a perylene-diimide (PDI) derivative. Hybrid photoelectrodes exhibited a 6-fold improvement in photocurrent compared to that of bare MoS2 or PDI films. Kelvin probe force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transient absorption measurements of the hybrid films indicate the formation of an interfacial dipole at the MoS2/organic interface and suggest that the photogenerated holes transfer from MoS2 to the PDI. Moreover, performi...


The unusual solution behavior of a series of N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidones has been exploited for efficient flocculation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles in aqueous dispersions. These pyrrolidones are surface-active low vapor pressure solvents of increasing industrial interest. The lower alkyl chain length pyrrolidones are completely miscible with water but aqueous solutions of higher alkyl chain length exhibit lower consolute temperatures (LCT), some close to ambient temperatures. It is shown here that pyrrolidones at concentrations and temperatures close to phase separation are outstanding reversible flocculants for graphite and coal suspensions. Flocculation with these surfactant solvents can be more effective than commercial polymeric flocculants and is reversible by manipulating the phase behavior. Furthermore, flocculation by alkyl pyrrolidones results in bigger and more compact flocs than those formed with high molecular weight polymers. In some instances, the dispersed colloidal particles were compacted into a single floc with ∼35% solid content. The flocculation efficiency of these compounds correlates with their phase behavior and is discussed in detail.


Agencies tasked with managing public resources must decide how to distribute those resources, drawing on their expertise while also weighing input from the public. This paper evaluates whether agencies respond to the salience of major events by mitigating risk closer in time and space to those events. We test for this manifestation of risk salience using the case of fuels management on public lands in the western U.S. We find that wildfire risk reduction projects are placed close to fires that are close to human populations. This occurs particularly where citizens have more political efficacy, as proxied for by income and educational attainment. This evidence of the effects of risk salience suggests that the public shapes agency behavior in ways that may not be optimally responsive to risk.


Conduction blocks have important advantage over spinal blocks for unilateral low extremity surgery in children. The complexity of innervation compared with upper limb is more apparent than real and a good understanding of fascial diffusion spaces is as essential as it is of neural pathways. Useful techniques can be classified into two groups, proximal blocks and distal blocks. Beside emergency situations, proximal blocks are usually performed under light general anaesthesia, with the aid of a neurostimulation. The most used proximal blocks are the femoral block, the sciatic nerve block and to a lesser degree the lumbar plexus direct blockade. Distal blocks can complete a non quite satisfactory proximal block, or be effected so as to obtain analgesia in a limited area (in a cooperative vigil patient). Some of these consist of several anaesthetic subcutaneous infiltrations for which no costly material nor special dexterity are required. A judicious choice among the main available techniques allows an excellent analgesia with a very low cost and almost no risks.


This study aimed to examine whether professional-centred training improves consultation outcomes.
Using a pre- and post-data collection design, immediately after consultations, professionals and patients completed a consultation review sheet which was coded for the level of agreement on issues discussed and decisions made. Patients also completed the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ). Pre-training results were fed back to the professionals to provide an objective measure of current practice. Training day one comprised 10 minutes' observation of videoed consultations of each professional in order to identify strengths and training needs. Each professional identified key areas of their consultation that they felt needed further development. Training day two centred on goal setting and negotiating agendas as these were identified as priority areas requiring more skills.
Data from 110 baseline and 73 follow-up consultations were collected. The HCCQ showed no significant difference between baseline and follow up. Non-parametric tests indicated that the level of agreement on decisions had improved (Mann-Whitney U = 951; p = 0.002; 2 = 3.67; df = 2; p = 0.026). The number of consultations where complete disagreement occurred between the patient and professional, on decisions made, reduced from 17% at baseline to 11% at follow up. It was concluded that professional-centred training can be effective in improving patients' perceptions of the consultation, and in increasing patient/professional agreement on recall of decisions made.


Early promotion of the British government's private finance initiative (PFI) suggested that everyone would benefit. The initiative is an extension of the government's contracting out policy. A hospital requiring new operating theatres or a scanner must seek competitive tenders from private sector companies both to build and to run these facilities. Under the initiative, an NHS trust does not purchase a scanner, it signs a contract to purchase, say, 1200 scans a year for 10 years. The NHS does not own the scanner so the cost of purchasing the equipment does not appear as a public expenditure. The result, so the enthusiasts predicted, would be that politicians could take credit for higher capital spending, doctors and patients could move from semiderelict buildings to modern facilities, and construction companies in the doldrums of a property recession would have extra work. The initiative would substitute private finance for public funds, and the NHS would have the use of more and newer hospitals, scanners, and incinerators.

But life is full of illusory free lunches. The initiative will not bring new money to the NHS. The services provided by privately financed capital …


Introduction The High-Fidelity (HiFi) interface is an emerging transfemoral interface technology. However, no comparison of this interface to traditional transfemoral interface designs is currently available. The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of the HiFi system on gait and perceived disability compared with a traditional socket design in a subject with transfemoral amputation. Methods The subject was first tested with a traditional ischial containment socket, then fit with the HiFi system, and tested again after a 30-day accommodation period. Three-dimensional motion analysis was performed using an 8-camera Vicon Motion Capture system. The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire v2.0 and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis index were administered at initial and secondary testing to evaluate perceived disability. A one-way analysis of variance and Fischer's least significant difference were used to determine statistical difference between conditions. The level of significance for all tests was set at P ⩽ 0.05. Results Notable results included an increase in self-selected gait velocity, prosthetic hip adduction, and hip extension. Reductions in lateral center of mass deviation during gait and in perceived disability was also shown with use of the HiFi condition. Discussion This study analyzed the effects of the HiFi Interface System on biomechanical parameters of gait and perceived disability compared with a baseline IRC condition in this elderly subject with history of TF amputation. Several improvements and markers of increased stability with use of the HiFi were noted. Perceived disability was also greatly improved comparatively. Conclusions The HiFi Interface System presented some biomechanical advantages to traditional IRC socket designs in this case, which may allow for increased stability in patients utilizing a TF prosthesis. Further research with larger samples is warranted.


For classification problems, Bayesian networks are often used to infer a class variable when given feature variables. Earlier reports have described that classification accuracies of Bayesian networks achieved by maximizing the marginal likelihood (ML) were lower than those achieved by maximizing the conditional log likelihood (CLL) of a class variable given the feature variables. However, the reports stated no reason why CLL outperformed ML. Differences between the two scores' performances in those earlier studies might depend on their respective learning algorithms: they were approximate learning algorithms, not exact ones. The present study compared the classification performances of Bayesian networks with exact learning using ML and those with approximate learning using CLL. Results demonstrate that the performance of Bayesian networks achieved by maximizing ML is not necessarily worse than that achieved by maximizing CLL. However, the results also show that classification accuracies with exact learning by ML are much worse than those by other methods when the class variable has numerous parents and few children. To resolve this difficulty, this study proposed exact learning augmented naive Bayes (ANB) using Markov blanket feature selection. Some comparison experiments demonstrated that the proposed method outperforms the other methods.


Material appearance hinges on material reflectance properties but also surface geometry and illumination. The unlimited number of potential combinations between these factors makes understanding and predicting material appearance a very challenging task. In this work, we collect a large-scale dataset of perceptual ratings of appearance attributes with more than 215,680 responses for 42,120 distinct combinations of material, shape, and illumination. The goal of this dataset is twofold. First, we analyze for the first time the effects of illumination and geometry in material perception across such a large collection of varied appearances. We connect our findings to those of the literature, discussing how previous knowledge generalizes across very diverse materials, shapes, and illuminations. Second, we use the collected dataset to train a deep learning architecture for predicting perceptual attributes that correlate with human judgments. We demonstrate the consistent and robust behavior of our predictor in various challenging scenarios, which, for the first time, enables estimating perceived material attributes from general 2D images. Since our predictor relies on the final appearance in an image, it can compare appearance properties across different geometries and illumination conditions. Finally, we demonstrate several applications that use our predictor, including appearance reproduction using 3D printing, BRDF editing by integrating our predictor in a differentiable renderer, illumination design, or material recommendations for scene design.


The debate on hydrosalpinx and impaired IVF outcome has mainly focused on the best treatment before IVF and on functional surgery as an alternative treatment. We would like to initiate a debate on the possible reasons why the outcome is impaired. We know that salpingectomy is effective in terms of improved birth rates after IVF, but we do not know exactly why. The main focus is on embryotoxic properties of the hydrosalpinx fluid, which include micro-organisms, endotoxins, cytokines, oxidative stress and lack of nutrients. The endometrial receptivity may be reduced as an effect of disturbed expression of the cytokine cascade, which is essential for implantation. The presence of excessive fluid in the uterine cavity may also be a mechanical hindrance to implantation. We believe that the hydrosalpinx fluid is of crucial importance, but the actual mechanism of action needs to be clarified.