With the development of China's futures market, investors' concept is maturing day after day, investors begin to trade from blind to the rational investment, programming trading system is also more and more getting the attention of investors. So programmed trading system can help investors to capture the law of profit and control the risk and position management plays an important role. In addition, using programmed trading system can help traders in the actual operation before using historical data to test operation method, can effectively reduce the cost of trial and error. This paper, by using Dalian corn futures price data as the research object, first elaborated the futures price and the reason for choosing grey model , secondly to grey GM (1, 1) model of the introduction and model are discussed, and thus constitute the futures price gray forecasting model, and using this model, the futures price reasonable prediction. Then using Dalian corn futures price data set up GM (1, 1) model, and applied the grey system tool analysis and model test, to predict the futures price. So it can be concluded that the grey system could be a forecasting model of the futures price.


We use microfabricated gel electrophoresis devices incorporating integrated on‐chip electrodes, heaters, and temperature sensors to measure diffusion and dispersion of single‐stranded DNA fragments in cross‐linked and uncross‐linked polyacrylamide gels. The microdevice format allows a complete set of diffusion and dispersion data to be collected in approximately one hour. These results are compared with corresponding data obtained in a macroscale DNA sequencer, and the effects of gel composition and initiation chemistry are explored. Although the diffusion and dispersion data exhibit similar qualitative trends both on chip and on the macroscale, the magnitudes of the coefficients measured in the microdevice are somewhat higher. This discrepancy is likely due to altered polymerization kinetics arising as a consequence of using a UV‐initiated polymerization chemistry to cast the on‐chip gels as opposed to the standard chemical polymerization employed on the macroscale. We also find that reductions in the magnitudes of diffusion and dispersion coefficients are achieved at higher polymer concentrations and at operating temperatures in the vicinity of 50°C. Finally, we find that cross‐linked polyacrylamide gels yield significantly lower diffusion and dispersion coefficients than linear polyacrylamide. These findings can be used to identify rational strategies to improve separation performance in both micro‐ and macroscale gel electrophoresis systems.


Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging public health problem with over forty-four million confirmed infections globally. Previous studies showed that stigma impedes response activities. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the perceived stigmatization of COVID-19 survivors among residents of Agege local government, Lagos State, Nigeria. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 333 consenting residents recruited from Agege local government using a multi-stage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on perceived stigmatization. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using Chi-square and logistic regression respectively.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.7 ± 13.6 years. The proportion of respondents with poor knowledge was 50.5% and awareness for COVID-19 was 95.2%. Television and radio were the two major sources of awareness for COVID-19. A higher likelihood of perceived stigmatization was found among those aged 25 – 49 years (aOR= 3.1, 95% CI = 1.4 – 6.7), ≥ 50 years (aOR= 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1 – 3.9) and married respondents (aOR= 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1 – 2.9). To reduce the effect of stigmatization, we recommend a holistic response plan designed with basic facts about COVID-19 using programmes targeting married respondents as well as the adults.


Introduction: Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is the herbal medicine that have antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and hypolipidemic activities. Lingzhi mushroom contain triterpenoid that reported has hypolypidemic activity by cholesterol syntesis inhibitor. Objectives: Determine the triglyceride profile on hypercholesterolemi rats by ethanol extract of lingzhi mushroom. Methods: There are 20 rats that were divided 4 groups. Group 1 was given standard diet. Group 2,3,4 were given high-fat diet then given standard diet and aquadest 2.5 ml/200mg body weight (for group 2), diet standar and ethanol extract of lingzhi mushroom 200, 400 mg/kg body weight (for group 3, 4). Results: After treatment, levels triglycerides in all groups decrease. The decreasing triglyceride levels did not significantly between groups 3, 4 with group 2 and group 1 (p>0.05). Conclusion: Administration ethanol extract of lingzhi mushroom did not affect on the level triglyceride in hipercholesterolemi rats.


In this paper, we propose a downlink multiple-input single-output (MISO) transmission scheme, which is assisted by an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) consisting of a large number of passive reflecting elements. In the literature, it has been proved that nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) can achieve the same performance as computationally complex dirty paper coding, where the quasi-degradation condition is satisfied, conditioned on the users' channels fall in the quasi-degradation region. However, in a conventional communication scenario, it is difficult to guarantee the quasi-degradation, because the channels are determined by the propagation environments and cannot be reconfigured. To overcome this difficulty, we focus on an IRS-assisted MISO NOMA system, where the wireless channels can be effectively tuned. We optimize the beamforming vectors and the IRS phase shift matrix for minimizing transmission power. Furthermore, we propose an improved quasi-degradation condition by using IRS, which can ensure that NOMA achieves the capacity region with high possibility. For a comparison, we study zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF) as well, where the beamforming vectors and the IRS phase shift matrix are also jointly optimized. Comparing NOMA with ZFBF, it is shown that, with the same IRS phase shift matrix and the improved quasi-degradation condition, NOMA always outperforms ZFBF. At the same time, we identify the condition under which ZFBF outperforms NOMA, which motivates the proposed hybrid NOMA transmission. Simulation results show that the proposed IRS-assisted MISO system outperforms the MISO case without IRS, and the hybrid NOMA transmission scheme always achieves better performance than orthogonal multiple access.


Understanding the issues surrounding decision making about medication treatments has important implications for public health, including improving the quality of care for patients with chronic conditions. This dissertation examines medication decisions in one chronic condition, rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Chapter one introduces the context of decision making about medications in RA. Guidelines recommend treating RA to the target (T2T) of low disease activity (LDAS) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). T2T requires regularly monitoring for moderate/high disease activity (MHDAS), and adjusting DMARDs at least every 3 months until the patient reaches LDAS. The chapter provides background on the challenges of implementing T2T, and summarizes chapters two through four.

Chapter two addresses delays in DMARD adjustment for patients with MHDAS. Survival analysis is used to examine the extent of delays in DMARD adjustments and whether delayed DMARD adjustment leads to delayed LDAS. Forty percent of RA patients with persistent MHDAS wait longer than 3 months to receive DMARD adjustment, and timely DMARD adjustment is associated with reaching LDAS sooner. There may be a need to reduce delays in DMARD therapy adjustment for many patients.

Chapter three examines patients' perspectives on medication decisions, exploring how feelings in response to events and information motivate decisions to accept or resist medications. Patients' feelings towards the benefits and dangers of medications, their identity as an ill person, the act of taking medication, and the decision process itself affect willingness to accept medications. Awareness of feelings motivating resistance to taking medications may allow physicians to better support patients confronting threatening information and difficult treatment decisions.

Chapter four compares patient joint assessments with physician joint assessments to examine their suitability for disease activity monitoring between visits. Although agreement on joint assessment items is modest, agreement on detection of MHDAS is better. Patient joint assessments may be useful for disease monitoring between visits, potentially reducing delays to DMARD adjustment.

This dissertation provides a multi-level view of treatment guideline implementation in RA. Understanding the interdependency of patient, provider, and system level factors in medication decisions is valuable for improving the quality of care for patients with chronic conditions.


Fatigue is prevalent in people with heart problems and negatively associated with physical and mental functions, and perceived performance and participation in activities of daily living. The two studies in this dissertation focused on chronic fatigue among post-cardiac arrest (CA) adults. The first study investigated fatigue-related problems in post-CA adults and energy conservation (EC) strategies used to resolve those problems. Using a qualitative descriptive design, it was found that CA survivors with moderate-to-severe fatigue, living in the community, more frequently reported problems in instrumental activities of daily living than basic activities of daily living. Also, the CA survivors used the EC strategy of "plan ahead" most frequently followed by seven other EC strategies. The second study examined the effectiveness of the clinical intervention strategies (Maximizing Energy [MAX] intervention) on reducing the severity and impact of fatigue, and the impact on activities and participation. A pre-post experimental study design was used. By participating in MAX intervention sessions, CA survivors with chronic fatigue learned EC strategies while solving two fatigue-related problems. The results showed that the MAX intervention was effective in significantly reducing the impact of fatigue and general fatigue of CA survivors. Future studies should include larger samples with a comparison group and random allocation, examine the effectiveness of different numbers of intervention sessions and different time intervals between tests, and include measures that are more sensitive to changes in fatigue, perceived performance and participation in daily activities. Lastly, because of the low survival rate following a CA, and the strict eligibility criteria for chronic fatigue in our study, we recommend a multi-site study to increase the potential for reaching an adequate number of participants in a reasonable length of time.


The aim of this paper is to introduce and solve new search problems in multiobjective state space graphs. Although most of the studies concentrate on the determination of the entire set of Pareto optimal solution paths, the size of which can be, in worst case, exponential in the number of nodes, we consider here more specialized problems where the search is focused on Pareto solutions achieving a well-balanced compromise between the conflicting objectives. After introducing a formal definition of the compromise search problem, we discuss computational issues and the complexity of the problem. Then, we introduce two algorithms to find the best compromise solution-paths in a state space graph. Finally, we report various numerical tests showing that, as far as compromise search is concerned, both algorithms are very efficient (compared to MOA*) but they present contrasted advantages discussed in the conclusion.


An interdisciplinary partnership between cognitive scientists, neuroscientists, college professors, and professional educators conducting research and implementing best practices in the classroom may potentially enhance the science of developing and nurturing the brain, the science of learning.  This article discussed three practical implications: (a) understanding and teaching with learning differences in mind; (b) recognizing student interest and motivation; and (c) assessing and building prior knowledge to influence positive outcomes. In conclusion, examples of current cohort model research and opportunities for collaboration between neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and classroom teachers are highlighted.


Purpose ? The purpose of this paper is to present an artificial homeostatic system whose parameters are defined by means of an evolutionary process. The objective is to design a more biologically plausible system inspired by homeostatic regulations observed in nature, which is capable of exploring key issues in the context of robot behaviour adaptation and coordination. Design/methodology/approach ? The proposed system consists of an artificial endocrine system that coordinates two spatially unconstrained GasNet artificial neural network models, called non-spatial GasNets. Both systems are dedicated to the definition of control actions in autonomous navigation tasks via the use of an artificial hormone and a hormone receptor. A series of experiments are performed in a real and simulated scenario in order to investigate the performance of the system and its robustness to novel environmental conditions and internal sensory disruptions. Findings ? The designed system shows to be robust enough to self-adapt to a wider variety of disruptions and novel environments by making full use of its in-built homeostatic mechanisms. The system is also successfully tested on a real robot, indicating the viability of the proposed method for coping with the reality gap, a well-known issue for the evolutionary robotics community. Originality/value ? The proposed framework is inspired by the homeostatic regulations and gaseous neuro-modulation that are intrinsic to the human body. The incorporation of an artificial hormone receptor stands for the novelty of this paper. This hormone receptor proves to be vital to control the network's response to the signalling promoted by the presence of the artificial hormone. It is envisaged that the proposed framework is a step forward in the design of a generic model for coordinating many and more complex behaviours in simulated and real robots, employing multiple hormones and potentially coping with further severe disruptions.


AIM
Aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale and Pentadiplandra brazzeana were tested for their possible androgenic activity in male Wistar rats.

METHODS
The aqueous extracts of the two plants were gavaged separately to 2 groups of rats at a similar dose of 600 mg middot kg(-1) middot day(-1) for 8 days. At the end of the treatment, the animals were killed and the blood, testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were collected for biochemical analysis.

RESULTS
The aqueous extract of Z. officinale significantly increased in the relative weight of the testis, the serum testosterone level, testicular cholesterol level and epididymal a-glucosidase activity. The aqueous extract of P. brazzeana significantly increased the weights of the testis, seminal vesicles and prostate. It also significantly increased the serum and testicular testosterone level. The fructose, alpha-glucosidase and cholesterol levels in P. brazzeana-treated rats were increased by 28 %, 35 % and 114 %, respectively.

CONCLUSION
The aqueous extracts of both P. brazzeana and Z. officinale have an androgenic activity, which seems to be more potent with P. brazzeana than with Z. officinale.


Double aortic arch (DAA) is a congenital anomaly inducing compressed trachea by vascular ring. This anomaly often leads to diagnosis after dyspnea have developed. Some patients who have severe tracheal stenosis shows serious dyspnea right after birth. We encountered 2 cases of DAA diagnosed and observed from their fetal period, followed by scheduled arterioplasty surgery. Case 1: The patient was introduced to our hospital at gestational age 30 weeks and 4 days due to indicated abnormal finding of three vessel trachea view. The patient could have been diagnosed to DAA by 9 signs observed in three vessel trachea view at that point. She was born in gestational age 36 weeks and 3 days by spontaneous delivery. Case 2: The patient was introduced to our hospital at gestational age 27 weeks 4 days because of the suspected right aortic arch and vascular ring by telemedicine. Because thin left aortic arch and 9 signs ware observed in three vessel trachea view, she was diagnosed to DAA. She was born in gestational age 37 weeks and 6 days by spontaneous delivery. Both cases determined diagnosis of DAA by contrast-enhanced CT. The ratio of cross-sectional area between trachea and vascular ring was calculated prenatal and postnatal. The ratios of postnatal were higher than prenatal in both cases (case 1: 0.018 to 0.165, case 2: 0.077 to 0.323). There were no respiratory symptoms in both cases but we performed surgery at 15 days and 23 days, respectively, because tracheal compression was strengthened by CT after birth.In our cases, it was considered that early diagnosis of DAA at fetal period and strict postnatal managements followed by scheduled arterioplasty could prevent severe complications of tracheal stenosis. The ratios of postnatal were higher than prenatal in both cases. These findings suggested that enlarged aorta by increasing cardiac output and enlarged trachea by started breathing after birth might worsen tracheal stenosis.


As growing amount of studies have focused on green human resources management (GHRM) practices that incorporate ecological thinking, these practices are expected to affect environmental impact of organizations. GHRM can help them achieve green corporate culture and enhance their performance. In this paper, GHRM practices as a bundle is taken into account instead of individual, which give numerous benefits to the organizations. This paper reviews the literature on the relationship between GHRM bundle practices and four dimensions of organization performance. This paper also proposes a conceptual model to exhibit the relationship between GHRM bundle practices and organization performance. Hence, manufacturing firms can identify an effective approach for applying GHRM practices that contribute to organizational performance.


Abstract Diagrams make wonderful templates for technical action. It follows that for scholars of science and technology they are both an object and a tool of study. The author explores this relationship in the first part of the article, focusing on one particularly effective format for communicating or retrieving complicated technological sequences: the chaîne opératoire, or procedural sequence. Today we usually think of a diagram as a graphic, but diagrammatic thinking is also frequently expressed in other forms, including text or hybrids of graphics and text. To illustrate this, the author compares the formulation and use of chaînes opératoires in two canonical Chinese agricultural treatises. The Qimin yaoshu (Essential Techniques for the Common People) by Jia Sixie, completed ca. 540 CE, was composed before printing was available and makes no use of graphics. The Nongshu (Agricultural Treatise) of 1313, authored by Wang Zhen, was published using woodblock print, a medium that facilitated Wang's copious use of graphics. The comparison between these classic treatises invites reflection on how the material techniques of inscription available to an author might influence their diagrammatic thinking. But the chaîne opératoire is good to think with at a more general level too. For historians, the matches or discrepancies between the chaîne opératoire they might draw up to map a technical operation, and the versions that they find in historical sources, suggest ways to think both about technology as a total social fact, and about differences between cultures of communication.


We present a full theoretical study of the graphene/MoS 2 interface, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) simulations. In particular, we show that contrary to previous theoretical predictions, the rotation angle between the layers has no influence on the global electronic properties of the interface, providing a careful choice of lattice vectors and supercells is made, in order to avoid artificial modifications in the electronic structure. However, small modifications of the local electronic properties do appear, as revealed by the calculated STM images. This result might be exploited in nanoelectronic devices by specific local contacting.


Numerical homogenization, i.e., the finite-dimensional approximation of solution spaces of PDEs with arbitrary rough coefficients, requires the identification of accurate basis elements. These basis elements are oftentimes found after a laborious process of scientific investigation and plain guesswork. Can this identification problem be facilitated? Is there a general recipe/decision framework for guiding the design of basis elements? We suggest that the answer to the above questions could be positive based on the reformulation of numerical homogenization as a Bayesian inference problem in which a given PDE with rough coefficients (or multiscale operator) is excited with noise (random right-hand side/source term) and one tries to estimate the value of the solution at a given point based on a finite number of observations. We apply this reformulation to the identification of bases for the numerical homogenization of arbitrary integro-differential equations and show that these bases have optimal recovery properties. In particular we show how rough polyharmonic splines can be rediscovered as the optimal solution of a Gaussian filtering problem.


The ages and masses of neutron stars (NSs) are two fundamental threads that make pulsars accessible to other sub-disciplines of astronomy and physics. A realistic and accurate determination of these two derived parameters play an important role in understanding of advanced stages of stellar evolution and the physics that govern relevant processes. Here I summarize new constraints on the ages and masses of NSs with an evolutionary perspective. I show that the observed P-Pdot demographics is more diverse than what is theoretically predicted for the standard evolutionary channel. In particular, standard recycling followed by dipole spin-down fails to reproduce the population of millisecond pulsars with higher magnetic fields (B > 4 x 10^{8} G) at rates deduced from observations. A proper inclusion of constraints arising from binary evolution and mass accretion offers a more realistic insight into the age distribution. By analytically implementing these constraints, I propose a "modified" spin-down age for millisecond pulsars that gives estimates closer to the true age. Finally, I independently analyze the peak, skewness and cutoff values of the underlying mass distribution from a comprehensive list of radio pulsars for which secure mass measurements are available. The inferred mass distribution shows clear peaks at 1.35 Msun and 1.50 Msun for NSs in double neutron star (DNS) and neutron star-white dwarf (NS-WD) systems respectively. I find a mass cutoff at 2 Msun for NSs with WD companions, which establishes a firm lower bound for the maximum mass of NSs.


The study of Health in All Policies (HiAP) is gaining momentum. Authors are increasingly turning to wide swathes of political and social theory to frame (Program) Theory Based (or Informed) Evaluation (TBE) approaches. TBE for HiAP is not only prudent, it adds a level of elegance and insight to the research toolbox. However, it is still necessary to organize theoretical thinking appropriately. A commentary on a recent Int J Health Policy Manag paper argued that the framing of context and causality were hard to establish. This paper argues that this is not the most pressing issue. Rather, it claims we need to go back to basics to establish an appropriate HiAP evaluation paradigm. Such a basic paradigm would hinge on an understanding of power.


ABSTRACT Background Feeding behavior is controlled by satiety mechanisms, which are affected by the extent of starch digestion, and thus resistant starch (RS) intake. Alterations in feeding behavior to changes in RS intake may depend on the adaptation of processes involved when shifting from starch digestion to fermentation or vice versa. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate how growing pigs adapt their feeding behavior in response to increasing and decreasing dietary RS concentrations. Methods Thirty-six groups of 6 pigs (25.4 ± 2.8 kg; Hypor Libra × Hypor Maxter; male:female, 1:1) were fed diets containing 50% high-amylose maize starch (high RS; HRS) or waxy maize starch (low RS; LRS). Over 28 d, diets were exchanged following a 5-step titration (25% per step) that was executed in the upward (LH) or downward direction (HL). Twelve groups received a control diet to correct for changes over time. Individual feeding behavior and total tract starch digestion and fermentation were evaluated. The response in each parameter to increasing dietary HRS inclusion was estimated through the use of linear regression procedures, and tested for titration direction and sex effects. Results Complete substitution of LRS with HRS increased the proportion of starch fermented, which was greater in LH pigs than in HL pigs (17.6% compared with 8.18%; P < 0.001), and decreased the feed intake (106 g/d; P = 0.021) and meal size (12.6 g; P < 0.001) of LH pigs, but not of HL pigs. In LH pigs, the size of the starch fermentation response positively correlated with the size of the feed intake response (r = 0.90, P < 0.001). Conclusions The attenuated response in starch fermentation in HL pigs indicates that pigs adapt more slowly to dietary supply of digestible starch than to RS, consequently resulting in fermentation of enzymatically digestible starch. Feed intake and feeding behavior only changed in pigs poorly adapting to RS, indicating that adequacy of adaptation, rather than RS itself, drives feed intake. These findings stress the importance of diet history for nutrient digestion and feeding behavior.


In Western societies, the impact of air pollution on residents' health is higher in less wealthy communities. However, it is not clear whether such an interaction effect applies to developing countries. The authors examine how the level of community development modifies the impact of air pollution on health outcomes of the Chinese elderly using data from the third wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey in 2002, which includes 7,358 elderly residents aged 65 or more years from 735 districts in 171 cities. The results show that, compared with a 1-point increase in the air pollution index in urban areas with a low gross domestic product, a similar increase in the air pollution index in areas with a high gross domestic product is associated with more difficulties in activities of daily living (odds ratio ¼ 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.83), instrumental activities of daily living (linear coefficient ¼ 0.98, 95% CI: 0.58, 1.37), and cognitive function (linear coefficient ¼ 2.67, 95% CI: 1.97, 3.36), as well as a higher level of self-rated poor health (odds ratio ¼ 2.20, 95% CI: 1.68, 2.86). Contrary to what has been found in the West, Chinese elderly who live in more developed urban areas are more susceptible to the effect of air pollution than are their counterparts living in less developed areas.


or sampling of an abscess could well influence the pathogens isolated. In a previous paper from the same department, Bateman et al3 reported three cases of liver abscess where Str milleri was isolated from pus and blood cultures. It is interesting that two of the patients did not respond adequately to penicillin antibiotics despite prolonged therapy, and the third failed to respond to co-trimoxazole. Two responded satisfactorily to clindamycin and a third to erythromycin. As Str milleri is sensitive to penicillin it seems odd that these patients responded only when agents with known broad-spectrum antianaerobic activity were given. Dr Moore-Gillon and others, in attempting to quote our results against the conclusion of our paper, failed to point out that obligate anaerobes were isolated from eight of 16 of our patients, with gas-liquid chromatography "positive for anaerobes" in pus from a ninth. In two there was no growth. Another four were receiving metronidazole at the time samples of pus were taken. Bacteroides was the most frequently isolated genus (in six of 16).


Fingerlings of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) of mean weight 2.15±0.01g were fed on earthworm meal as a substitute for a portion of fishmeal for 10 weeks to determine the effect on growth and nutrient utilization. The fish were fed isonitrogenous Diets (40% crude protein) containing 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 40%, and 0% earthworm meal. Greatest growth (50%) was observed in Diet 6 (40% fishmeal). This was followed by Diet 2 (15% earthworm) with weight gain of 43.73%. Best condition factor, food conversion and protein efficiency were recorded in Diet 6 followed closely by Diet 2. Analysis of body composition revealed similar results, with Diet 2 following closely Diet 6 in protein and fat contents. Diet 5 (40% earthworm meal) recorded the lowest values of all these parameters. From these results it could be concluded that Diet 2 can be a good substitute for a portion of fishmeal in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus but the cost-benefit analysis showed that the cost of producing earthworm meal diet is incomparably higher than that of producing equivalent diet using fishmeal as a protein source. Hence, replacing fishmeal with earthworm meal in tilapia diet may not be beneficial to farmers. Key Words: Substitution, Earthworm meal, Diet, Fishmeal, Nile tilapia


Meeting targets for green energy generation will involve marine renewables. To ensure that this development is environmentally sustainable, it is necessary to assess potential interactions between renewable energy arrays and marine organisms. One species that may be affected is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Salmon undertake extensive migrations which pass through Scottish coastal waters, where they may encounter renewable energy developments. To assess possible risks to migrating salmon, it is important to understand how many fish may encounter devices. This requires knowledge of how many migrating salmon pass through areas where renewables development is taking place, but there are few data available. One potential resource in Scotland is a historical archive of tagging study data. We use these data, in conjunction with an agent-based modelling approach, to simulate movements of fish around Scotland. This approach works by representing the coastal seas as a linear series of 'cells' corresponding to salmon fishery districts, and a parallel series of cells representing the salmon home rivers. At each time step, fish can migrate along the coast, or move into their home rivers. This model can be parameterised using data on coastal fishing effort, productivity of home rivers, and other factors, in order to explore potential influences on patterns of recaptures, and to test hypotheses about coastal movements of salmon.


Fear and anxiety are central human experiences. However, the relation between aspects of these aversive emotional states and brain function have previously been studied mostly in animals. To investigate human brain function during normal fear and anxiety, the present thesis employed positron emission tomography methodology in conjunction with activation and symptom provocation paradigms. Classical fear conditioning (i.e., the acquired ability of a neutral stimulus to induce stress after pairings with an aversive stimulus), trauma re-experience and panic anxiety were investigated.During the memory formation phase of fear conditioning, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), which is an index of neural activity, increased in the right prefrontal gyrus and decreased bilaterally in the superior temporal gyrus and the left hippocampus. After fear conditioning during the memory expression phase, increases in rCBF were evident bilaterally in the hypothalamus, the thalamus, the central grey of the midbrain, the cerebellum, the anterior cingulate cortex and in the left striatum and right prefrontal cortex, whereas rCBF decreased bilaterally in the amygdala, the prefrontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices. Hence, fear-related memory formation and expression involve both overlapping and unique cortical networks.In contrast to a neutral state, rCBF increased during an anxiety episode resulting from trauma re-experience in the left orbitofrontal cortex and bilaterally in the posterior cingulate and occipital cortices. Decreased rCBF was found in Brocas' area and in the left operculum, angular gyrus and secondary somatosensory cortex. During unexpected panic resulting from electric shock stimulation, as opposed to electric shocks without panic, rCBF decreased in the right orbitofrontal, prelimbic, anterior cingulate and temporal cortices.In accordance with numerous brain imaging studies, the present papers implicate anterior paralimbic and prefrontal structures in the functional neuroanatomy of symptomatic fear and anxiety.


Sonography of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract can reveal intra-mural tumours, Intra-mural hematoma, Lesions of Ampulla of Voter like benign and infiltrating mass lesions. Neoplastic lesion is usually a segment involvement, and shows irregularly thickened, hypo echoic and peristaltic wall with loss of normal layering pattern. It is usually a solitary stricture and has eccentric irregular luminal narrowing. It shows loss of normal Gut Signature. Enlargement of the involved segment seen Shouldering effect at the ends of stricture is most common feature. Enlarged lymphnodes around may be seen. Primary arising from wall itself and secondary are invasion from peri-Ampullary malignancy or distant metastasis. All these cases are compared and proved with gold standards like surgery and endoscopy. Some extra efforts taken during all routine or emergent ultrasonography examinations can be an effective non-invasive method to diagnose primarily hitherto unsuspected benign and malignant Gastro-Intestinal Tract lesions, so should be the investigation of choice.


The purpose of this study was to explore grade-level differences (7th, 8th, and 9th) among junior high school students' perceptions of the effects of participation in physical education (PE) class on individual environmental stress. The role of physical activity as a stress reduction tool has been well documented. However, physical activity as a stressful event in the school and PE environment has been less established, particularly in junior high school students. Study participants comprised 872 junior high school students, 585 males (67%) and 287 females (33%), enrolled in four junior high schools. Stratified by grade, 315 seventh-grade (228 males, 87 females; M = 1.28, SD = .448), 281 eighth-grade (204 males, 77 females; M = 1.27, SD = .447), and 276 ninth-grade (153 males, 123 females; M = 1.45, SD = .498) students responded. By grade level, significant differences (p < .05) were reported for five of the 12 scaling questions. In general, seventh graders were more likely to respond they could better handle stress after participating in PE class, to look forward to coming to their PE class, to report lower stress levels before arrival to PE class, and to report lower stress levels after participation in PE class than were eighth and ninth graders. Altogether, follow-up qualitative findings reported three major themes regarding the PE environment and stress. PE acted as a stress mitigation mechanism and an opportunity for social bonding. Qualitative findings also referenced classmates as a negative stress mechanism in the PE environment. Subscribe to TPE


The RHEOMETALTM process is a commercially used semi-solid process for production of high integrity cast components. The process differs from most other semi-solid casting processes in that temperature control is not necessary during processing and large amount of slurry with required solid fraction can be quickly produced. The simplicity of this process has led to a large commercial interest during the last year. This work is based on an investigation regarding the variation of as-cast mechanical properties for secondary Al-Si based alloys (~2.5 % Cu) with a Si content varying from 4.55 to 8.90 % using the RHEOMETALTM process. The purpose was to find the most suitable Al-Si alloy for rheocasting, in comparison with the common HPDC-alloy A380 (EN-AC46000). It was found that lower Si containing alloys exhibited better elongation but slightly lower yield strength. The alloy containing 5.39 wt% Si showed the highest ultimate tensile strength in this investigation. The lower Si containing alloys also demonstrated better feedability in the rheocasting process, which is contrary to what normally is found for normal liquid casting processes. Based on the results in this investigation it is recommended to use an alloy containing about 5-7 wt% Si for rheocasting purposes.


Outdoor advertising is currently undergoing a transformation as both the variety and popularity of digital platforms increases. This will inevitably involve significant changes in both the conception and production of advertising materials designed for digital platforms, including 'smartboards'. Notwithstanding the technological advantages of outdoor digital advertising platforms (such as the means to incorporate motion) in attracting the attention of audiences, as a consequence of the cost of this technology as well as logistical restrictions and strategic obstacles, it is expected that not all outdoor advertising supports will be digitalized. As explained by Creative Director David Thompson of Telling Stories:
With the rise of digital technology, one might expect more animation and moving image to be attracting our attention. The fact is however that many companies won't spend a lot of money on expansive and expensive alternatives because the production of posters is much less expensive to roll-out across tens, hundreds or thousands of spots. Perhaps the fact that there is not yet any concrete evidence that expensive high tech solutions offer an adequate Return on Investment (ROI) explains why it isn't happening. (Thompson, 2012).
Accordingly, traditional (reflective, print-based) materials and their (non-digital) platforms will continue to be widely used in outdoor advertising. It is necessary therefore, to recognise and exploit the unique characteristics of this medium in the design of the materials for non-digital platforms.
To provide both advertisers (sponsors) and creatives with a set of guidelines to maximise the effectiveness of both traditional materials and non-digital platforms, this project has attempted to identify the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of these traditional materials and platforms, as well as the extent to which these factors are shaped by the cultural environments and contexts in which they are employed.


Israeli Daniel Barenboim, one of the finest musicians of our times, and Palestinian Edward Said, eminent literary critic and leading expert on the Middle East, have been close friends for years. "Parallels and Paradoxes" is a series of discussions between the two friends about music, politics, literature and society, Barenboim and Said talk about, among other subjects, the differences between writing prose and music; the compromising politician versus the uncompromising artist; Beethoven as the ultimate sonata composer; Wagner (Barenboim is considered by many to be the greatest living conductor of his work); great teachers; and the power of culture to transcend national differences. Illuminating and deeply moving, "Parallels and Paradoxes" is an affectionate and impassioned exchange of ideas.


Abstract A unique data set was sampled by aircraft, ship, drift buoys and satellites in a strong storm event which occurred over the Norwegian Sea in March 2005 during the LOFZY field experiment. The atmospheric characteristics and the impact on the upper ocean are investigated. The storm field with winds up to 27 m s−1 was situated on the west-side of a low-pressure trough along the Norwegian coast and was marked by a sharp wind front. The entire system of trough, front and storm field was about 200 km wide, had a lifetime of 2 d in the area and advanced at 1–3 m s−1 SE-wards. Temperature contrast across the system was small, but wind contrast was remarkable and concentrated in a step-like front with 5–15 m s−1 difference over a distance of 3 km. The entire system was restricted to the lowest 2 km. It was accompanied by wide-spread rain and snow. Precipitation slightly surpassed evaporation (0.22 mm h−1). Surface heat fluxes amounted up to 400 W m−2. However, they cannot account for the observed sea surface temperature changes between −0.8 and +0.1 K within 6 h during the frontal passage. This is attributed to vertical mixing in the ocean caused by the frontal wind impact and superimposed to pre-existing mesoscale eddy circulations. The mixing acted on a temperature stratification in the uppermost 20–100 m which was opposite on both sides of the Norwegian Current


Abstract Increases in the density of exploited species on unfished reefs logically implies that some individuals are at least temporarily resident, or show fidelity to a particular area. We tagged snapper (Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider 1801)) in the Leigh Marine Reserve, New Zealand using visible implant fluorescent elastomer tags, recoverable by diver visual sightings without the need to recapture the fish. Batch tagging of snapper (n = 907) was done during an angling survey in June and December 1996, and individually coded tags were implanted by divers (n = 117) in January 1999. Snapper tagged during both programmes were recovered on irregular intervals from 1997 to 2000. There were 71 recoveries of batch tags within 500 m of their tagging sites, and these recoveries were still being made >3 years after tagging: Of individually coded fish, 49 (42%) were seen, sometimes repeatedly over several months, close to their respective tagging sites. These observations included snapper as small as 23 cm fork length, contradicting the commonly held impression that only large snapper take up long‐term residency on reefs. This preliminary evidence suggests that some snapper exhibit site fidelity to areas only a few hundred metres wide, and in the absence of fishing may occupy the same area for years.


Polyurethanes (PUs) are commonly used materials for medical devices. These devices are exposed repeatedly to radiation when patients undergo radiotherapy treatments. It has been found that peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and central venous catheters (CVCs) fail at an increased rate (14.7% and 8.8%, respectively) when radiated. Currently, little research is available on increased failure seen in conjunction with radiation, but complex in vivo environments within a human patient make it difficult to isolate effects of individual variables. This research investigated effects of radiation in an aqueous environment to determine whether radiation combined with a mimicked in vivo environment is sufficient to change PU devices. The following dose rates were used in this study: 3.2 Gy·min−1, 4.5 Gy·min−1, 44 Gy·min−1, and 833 Gy·min−1. Samples were characterized in four main ways: cellular response, physical changes, chemical changes, and mechanical changes. Results reveal normal cellular response at all dose rates, indicating dose rate does not alter cellular adhesion or proliferation, and biocompatibility of the material is not being altered. Results from physical, chemical, and mechanical effects confirm that varying dose rates alone do not initiate material changes, which negates the hypothesis that varying dose rates of radiation contribute to the complications in PICC and CVCs.


It has been reported that beta 2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms at nucleotide 46 (Arg16 to Gly) and nucleotide 79 (Gln27 to Glu) enhance and suppress receptor downregulation after prolonged exposure to a beta 2-agonist in vitro, respectively. To elucidate the role of these polymorphisms in bronchial asthma, the author studied the following three points: (1) the prevalence of these polymorphisms in the Japanese population, (2) whether these polymorphisms influence the clinical characteristics of asthma and (3) whether Arg16 to Gly polymorphism causes changes in baseline airway tone, methacholine airway responsiveness, and bronchoprotective and non-pulmonary effects of a beta 2-agonist after 2 weeks of regular, inhaled beta 2-agonist therapy in mild and moderate asthmatic patients. The allele frequencies of Gly16 and Glu27 in the Japanese healthy population were 0.49 and 0.09, respectively; both were significantly lower than those of Caucasians. The percentage of the Gly16/Gly genotype was significantly higher in moderate to severe asthma than in mild asthma (14.0 and 33.3%, respectively, p < 0.05). After regular inhaled salbutamol, a significant decrease of FEV1 (p < 0.05) and a significant increase of airway responsiveness (p < 0.02) were observed in the patients with Gly16/Gly. Although there were no significant changes in the bronchoprotective effect of salbutamol among the three genotypes, the increase in plasma cAMP induced by inhaled salbutamol was significantly attenuated in the patients with Gly16/Gly (p < 0.05). These results suggest a racial difference in the prevalence of beta 2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms that may be important modifiers of clinical characteristics of bronchial asthma.


We have applied different analytical techniques for studying the size and metal composition of nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles in tattoo inks. The morphology and size distribution of particles were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). These techniques allowed us to obtain size information on all particles in tattoo mixtures. Higher resolution characterization of the size distributions was achieved by means of asymmetric flow field fractionation (AF4) combined with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detection, which allowed for particle fraction separation and sizing. The high sensitivity and multi-elemental capability of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) enabled the off-line determination of the metal concentration of the particles in the AF4 fractions. Counting and sizing of particles were also performed by single particle (SP)-ICP-MS. The TEM images of the tattoo inks indicated the presence of individual particles and of aggregates and agglomerates of different shapes; carbon black was recognized in black inks and TiO2 in lighter shades. The DLS measurements showed that the inks were polydispersed with particles continuously distributed from tens to hundreds of nanometers (the Z-average hydrodynamic diameter range was 31–421 nm). The use of AF4 revealed the presence of two different fractions of particles in colored inks and one fraction in black inks, with mean sizes ranging from ca. 50 nm to ca. 400 nm. AF4 and off-line ICP-MS analyses of these fractions showed micronic and sub-micronic Al and Ti particles and Cu at the nanometer level (<100 nm). SP-ICP-MS analysis confirmed these latter findings: the inks contained nanosized materials of Cu (such as CuO or Cu-phthalocyanine), while Al (as Al2O3) and Ti (as TiO2) were detected as larger sized particles. Overall, this work confirms the power of different analytical techniques in detecting and characterizing NPs and microparticles in tattoo inks. We show that tattoo ink suspensions unquestionably contain NPs, suggesting the need for an assessment of how they interact with human skin as well as if they can penetrate the derma to reach the bloodstream.


Aiming at the problems of low success rate and slow learning speed of the DDPG algorithm in path planning of a mobile robot in a dynamic environment, an improved DDPG algorithm is designed. In this article, the RAdam algorithm is used to replace the neural network optimizer in DDPG, combined with the curiosity algorithm to improve the success rate and convergence speed. Based on the improved algorithm, priority experience replay is added, and transfer learning is introduced to improve the training effect. Through the ROS robot operating system and Gazebo simulation software, a dynamic simulation environment is established, and the improved DDPG algorithm and DDPG algorithm are compared. For the dynamic path planning task of the mobile robot, the simulation results show that the convergence speed of the improved DDPG algorithm is increased by 21%, and the success rate is increased to 90% compared with the original DDPG algorithm. It has a good effect on dynamic path planning for mobile robots with continuous action space.


At hydraulic structures (e.g. weirs, spillways), air-water transfer of atmospheric gases (e.g. oxygen) occurs by self-aeration along the chute and by flow aeration in the hydraulic jump at the downstream end of the structure. In this paper, experimental data are re-analysed and compared with a numerical method to predict the free-surface aeration. Aeration at hydraulic jumps is also examined and compared with existing correlations. Calculations of free-surface aeration and empirical correlations for hydraulic jump aeration are combined to predict the DO content downstream of weirs and spillways. Good agreement between calculations and prototype data is obtained. The results indicate that self-aeration might contribute to a large part of the oxygenation taking place at hydraulic structures for small water discharges. For large discharges, the reduction or the disappearance of free-surface aeration affects substantially the aeration efficiency.


"Pseudodiagnostic" patterns of information search were first classified by Doherty et al. (1979), predicated on their assertion that only the selection of data that allow for the calculation of Bayseian probability ratios may be considered rational. However, with the exception of Crupi et al. (2009), who have argued for an epistemological explanation loosely based on the de Finetti theorem of exchangeable probability assignments (see, eg., Heath and Sudderth, 1972), the Doherty et al. interpretation of information search patterns has gone unchallenged.
This thesis seeks to answer three questions: can people make reasonable inferences from probabilistic information; is there an identifiable common approach to information selection; and, if not Bayes' theorem, then what mathematics might underlie human decision-making?
A series of experiments demonstrate that people appear to select data not only for their ordinal values, but also to establish the relationships between them. However, since such a holistic approach to decision-making lies beyond the scope of the naive Bayes' classifier, an alternative expression for the calculation of likelihood ratios is presented. By rejecting the Kolmogorov axioms of classical statistics in favour of the von Neumann mathematical axioms of quantum mechanics, it is shown that not only may probabilistic information be reconceptualised as isomorphic representations of quantised and entangled statistical systems, but that it is only this approach which allows for the assumption free calculation of likelihood ratios. Further, the mathematical derivation demonstrates that Bayes' theorem is a special case of this more general quantum expression, applicable only where the conditional independence of data is guaranteed. Mathematical modelling, combined with the results of another experiment, is used to investigate the plausibility of this expression as an explanation for both information search patterns, and people's estimation of probability.
The nature of this "relational information theory" is both discussed and situated within the wider psychological field of mental models.


In order to determine the incidence of renal lithiasis in patients with renal tubular acidosis and the effect of therapy on further stone formation, we reviewed the clinical and laboratory manifestations, X-ray findings, and treatment of 48 patients with renal tubular acidosis who were seen at the Mayo Clinic during the years 1970-1980. Thirty-four patients (70%) had radiological evidence of renal lithiasis which was the presenting symptom in 23 (48%) patients. In every instance the calculi were multiple and, with one exception, bilateral. While receiving therapy, 19 patients with renal lithiasis were followed for longer than one year with sequential uroradiographic studies. Fifteen of these patients were treated with oral base alone and thirteen had no evidence of new stone formation or continued growth of existing stones during therapy. The two patients with X-ray evidence of continued stone formation admitted to poor compliance. Four patients received initial treatment with an oral phosphorus supplement. Three of these four patients had radiographic evidence of continued renal stone formation during three, five and eight years of phosphate therapy. We conclude renal lithiasis is a frequent complication of renal tubular acidosis, and adequate base replacement is effective therapy to stop continued stone formation while oral phosphate therapy alone is often ineffective.


This paper examines three aspects of the Twelfth Finance Commission recommendations. First, it looks at the most urgent issue for states, the FRBM legislation which they must enact if they are to qualify for the interest rate reduction on debt owed to the centre. The required revenue deficit target of zero by 2008-09 is unambiguously clear but the fiscal deficit requirement is not. The parameter values underlying the fiscal deficit correction path could be valued by states very differently from those assigned in the TFC report. The second issue addressed in the paper is the complex and ambiguous set of conditionalities relating the debt write-offs in year t to the reduction in the revenue deficit in year (t-1) relative to (t-2). These conditionalities also carry a fiscal deficit cap which could be sharply inconsistent with a fiscal deficit correction path fully in conformity with that prescribed by the TFC. These issues are illustrated with simulations for a sample state. Finally, the paper examines the equity attributes of the tax devolution and non-tax grants prescribed by the TFC. The formula adopted for determining tax shares of states assigns a greater weightage to distribution-neutral factors, and so reverses the trend since the Sixth Finance Commission towards increasing weightage for redistributional factors. The non-tax grants do not show an inverse relationship with per capita GSDP. Together, these suggest that the TFC has chosen to move away from equity as a guiding principle for its statutory flows, but the report does not make plain why it has chosen to do so.


The literature on undescended testis (UDT) mainly concentrates on the increased risks of infertility and development of germ cell tumours.1 Contemporary articles on pediatric testicular problems often poorly address this issue and sometimes neglect it. Not unexpectedly, there is not enough awareness among physicians or parents on this urological emergency; unfortunately in most cases, the diagnosis is deferred. Undescended testis also appears to be at higher risk for torsion compared to the normally descended testis; this issue is relatively poorly addressed. Gharbi and colleagues present an important review of this poorly appreciated topic,2 especially if the risk of torsion is 10 times higher for UDT.3 The risk of torsion in an UDT clearly needs to be made more evident to pediatric urologists and pediatricians, as approximately 2% of all males have UDT. The poor testis salvage rate in this series (40%) and in others (10%)4-5 reflects the late diagnosis resulting from lack of awareness of the risk of torsion in an UDT. This observation becomes even more relevant if the UDT is present in a severely handicapped child or in a child with intellectual disabilities, like Down's syndrome, where UDT can occur in up to 50% of children.6 Clinical symptoms mainly include the appearance of inguinal swelling and erythema described as a tender, firm mass palpated in the groin region. Abdominal pain can be present if the UDT is intra-abdominal. It is usually accompanied by inconsolable crying in infants, poor nutritional intake and occasional vomiting in older children and an empty ipsilateral hemiscrotum. The use of a Doppler ultrasound for the detection of torsion of an inguinal testis has been well-documented, but might be technically more challenging. The management of torsed testis is by immediate surgical exploration, regardless of the location of the testis. Following detorsion, the question is to mobilize the testis and perform scrotal orchidopexy or postpone this definitive surgical treatment. Another somewhat controversial point is whether prophylactic fixation of the contralateral testis is indicated. It is noteworthy that patients with a history of cryptorchidism who have undergone orchidopexy rarely present with acute scrotum due to torsion.7 It seems that evertion of the tunica vaginalis during orchidopexy for UDT, as well as division of the cremasteric fibers, is essential to decrease the risk of future torsion. On the other hand, others believe that orchidopexy of the contralateral testis represents an unnecessary intervention that could modify the anatomy and perhaps increase the risk of torsion.8 It is also important to note that because many reports mention the presence of a testicular tumour found at surgery, a high index of suspicion in patients 10 years and older necessitates the dosage of usual testicular tumour makers. With the modern tendency for earlier orchidopexy, we suspect that these figures cited from historical series have not been updated and probably represent an overestimation of the current incidence. This fact might be balanced by the current increased incidence of prematurity, a known risk factor for UDT. But in a recent report, Kokorowski and colleagues reported that in the last few years, only 50% of patients with UDTs operated on in the United States underwent surgery before the age of 2 years.9 Therefore, the prevention of testicular torsion in UDT must begin with an earlier diagnosis of the UDT and referral, and the waiting list for the orchidopexy should also be reasonable for the urologist. Finally, we all need to start reminding our referring pediatricians and ourselves that the parents of any child seen with an UDT need to be informed that the development of any tenderness associated with the UDT means an emergent consultation to an emergency room for evaluation; hopefully earlier care results in more salvage of UDTs that twist. When we increase the awareness of this entity among urologists and pediatricians, we should be able to improve testis salvage.


The concepts of automated negotiation and its two kinds of resource are introduced firstly. Secondly is the analysis of the demands for resource oriented automated negotiation. Thirdly is the rough design of framework of the whole environment, the user system, the three kinds of agents and their interaction. At last the detail design of negotiation, the most important one of those three kinds of agents, is provided to implement the learning ability from experience in automated negotiation.


Background: Drug-related crimes are known to form patterns of concentration, persistence and recurrence over space and time. Rapid and accurate identification of emerging hotspots constitutes a key element in policing effort to reduce drug-related crimes. However, most of the existing methods are less effective in pinpointing the hotspot locations or lack the capacity to detect emerging risks in near-real time.

Methods: A conceptual framework of a network-based geosurveillance method has been recently proposed for the purpose of monitoring elevated activities recorded at the disaggregate, micro-scale level of street addresses. It extends the notion of syndromic surveillance in epidemiology by introducing a flexible space-time search window that sweeps repeatedly along street networks as new incidents are reported. This paper applies this method for detecting emerging micro-scale drug hotspots and explores its validity as a means to aid hotspot policing. Empirical data are used for exploring the space-time signature of drug hotspots, while simulated data are introduced for testing the effectiveness of geosurveillance in detecting emerging hotspots accurately.

Results: Empirical analysis highlighted that drug hotspots do not conform to one specific pattern of space-time signature but rather consist of a mixture of recurrent hotbeds and one-off outbursts with a varying rate of growth and frequency. Performance test showed that network-based geosurveillance detects emerging drug hotspots more accurately than its conventional counterpart can. It is sensitive to both an early sign of slowly emerging risks as well as sudden outbursts of crime, and detects them without over- or under-representing their locations.

Conclusion: The results suggest that network-based geosurveillance offers an effective means to accurately detect emerging drug hotspots, thus enabling targeted intervention by the local law enforcement. Its capacity to give out early warning allows for a tactical solution of rapid and pinpointed intervention, whilst its ability to detect recurrent hotbeds facilitates a more strategic approach to change the environment and situations around those locations.


Immunocompromised individuals have an increased incidence of EBV-associated B cell lymphomas. The growth factors responsible for the unrestrained proliferation of these lymphomas have not yet been determined. In this study, spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines (SLCL) were derived without the addition of growth factors or virus from four patients with EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder. These cell lines were EBV transformed in vivo, and infection was verified through amplification of the viral gp220 gene. SLCL have an activated B cell phenotype (CD19+, CD21+, CD23+, CD38+, and CD40+) and produce IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and lymphotoxin-alpha. To determine whether these cytokines contribute to autonomous growth, neutralizing Abs for IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, a soluble TNFR:Fc fusion protein, and soluble IL-10R were used. These experiments established that, of the cytokines produced by SLCL, only IL-10 is an autocrine factor. IL-10 was produced by the majority of cells within each SLCL, and IL-10 secretion was concomitant with SLCL growth. Our findings demonstrate that IL-10 is utilized in the autonomous growth of EBV-related lymphomas and may be crucial in the development of lymphoproliferative disorder.


Conditions for existence and stability of stationary periodic solutions of uncertain periodic systems are addressed in this paper. Existence and harmonic performance are studied using integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) defined on the space of square integrable periodic functions. Stability is investigated using IQCs defined on the usual space of square integrable functions. The analysis results in criteria formulated as affinely parameterized operator inequalities. Methods of convex optimization are used to find feasible parameters. Two applications will be discussed. The first is harmonic analysis of an electronic circuit and the second involves estimation of the amplitude of a periodic disturbance in a nonlinear control system.


Interactive theorem proving is the modern way of formalizing mathematics using a computer as a proof assistant, helping solve simple tasks and keeping an order on the proofs. Still, it is a tedious task, as such mechanical proofs contain detail that humans do not want to see. When it comes to the verification of real world applications in software engineering, as required for the assurance of safety and security properties of embedded systems, the level of detail becomes even more annoying. In fact, it is a gargantuan task to prove a program correct or prove that an implementation conforms to its UML-specification. The sheer mass of proof obligations alone - apart from the hidden subtlety of such challenges - obstructs quality assurance of software artifacts with interactive theorem provers. This book draws a line to show up how far current cutting edge research has succeeded in tackling this long standing quest. Using examples from algorithm development, Java bytecode verification and UML state machine analysis the author introduces current trends in interactive theorem proving technology using Coq, Isabelle, and model checking.


Agriculture in Africa is not only exposed to climate change impacts but is also a source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). While GHG emissions in Africa are relatively minimal in global dimensions, agriculture in the continent constitutes a major source of GHG emissions. In Ghana, agricultural emissions are accelerating, mainly due to ensuing deforestation of which smallholder cocoa farming is largely associated. The sector is also bedevilled by soil degradation, pests, diseases and poor yields coupled with poor agronomic practices. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) thus offers a way to reduce the sector's GHG emissions and to adapt the sector to the adverse impacts of climate change. This study assesses the potential of CSA vis-a-vis conventional cocoa systems to enhance production, mitigate and/or remove GHG emissions and build resilience, in addition to understanding key determinants influencing CSA practices. Using a mixed methods approach, data was collected in Ghana's Juabeso and Atwima Mponua districts through semi-structured household questionnaires administered to 80 household heads of cocoa farms, two focus group discussions and expert interviews. A farm budget analysis of productivity and economic performance for both scenarios show that CSA practitioners had a 29% higher income per ha compared to the conventional farmers. Estimations using the FAO Ex-Ante Carbon-Balance Tool (EX-ACT) indicate CSA practices preserve forest resources without which the effect on carbon balance as presented by conventional farming would remain a source of GHG emissions. Farm tenure, age of farmers, location of farm, residential status and access to extension services were the main determining factors influencing CSA practices among cocoa farmers. An in-depth understanding of these indicators can help identify ways to strengthen CSA strategies in the cocoa sector and their contributions to climate change mitigation and resilience.


We estimate the impact of international trade on wages using data for French manufacturing firms. We instrument firm-level trade flows with firm-specific instrumental variables based on world demand and supply shocks. Both export and offshoring shocks have a positive effect on wages. Exports increase wages for all occupational categories while offshoring has heterogeneous effects. The impact of trade on wages varies across bargaining regimes. In firms with collective bargaining, the elasticity of wages with respect to exports and offshoring is higher than in firms with no collective bargaining. Wage gains associated with collective bargaining are similar across worker categories.


Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nowadays routinely grown in a thermal CVD setup. State-of-the-art plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD) growth, however, offers advantages over thermal CVD. A lower growth temperature and the growth of aligned freestanding single-walled CNTs (SWNTs) makes the technique very attractive. The atomic scale growth mechanisms of PECVD CNT growth, however, remain currently entirely unexplored. In this contribution, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to focus on the effect of applying an electric field on the SWNT growth process, as one of the effects coming into play in PECVD. Using sufficiently strong fields results in (a) alignment of the growing SWNTs, (b) a better ordering of the carbon network, and (c) a higher growth rate relative to thermal growth rate. We suggest that these effects are due to the small charge transfer occurring in the Ni/C system. These simulations constitute the first study of PECVD growth of SWNTs on the atomic level.


The meagre Argyrosomus regius, one of the largest sciaenidae in the world, is a valuable resource for fisheries and aquaculture. Despite its socioeconomic relevance, knowledge about population dynamics and wild stocks is still scarce, and conservation risks are associated with overexploitation. Two genetic distinct groups, one in the North Atlantic Ocean and one in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, were identified by previous studies. However, little is known about the genetic structure of the Atlantic group, where four important spawning areas have been identified. To assess if each spawning area is an independent breeding unit, the genetic diversity, populational structure, and demographic history of A. regius along the North–East and Eastern Central Atlantic coast were analyzed, using 15 microsatellite loci. Results corroborate the hypothesis tested, suggesting four genetic groups: a first group encompassing individuals from the Gironde spawning area, a second group encompassing individuals from the Tagus spawning area, a third group corresponding to individuals captured in the Algarve region, and a forth group gathering individuals from Morocco and Mauritania. This study reveals the need for specific fisheries management plans considering genetic structure information, and highlights the need for international cooperation.


AIM: To analyse the safety and effectiveness of natalizumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in a real clinical practice setting and according to the approved indications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with multiple sclerosis treated with natalizumab in our centre were evaluated. The clinical and radiological disease activity during the first year of treatment was analyzed in patients who received at least 12 doses of the drug. The data regarding moderate and severe adverse events in the entire study sample was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were included in the study, of which 110 had been previously treated with other drugs and 76 had received at least 12 doses of natalizumab. In this group, the annualized relapse rate was reduced by 89% compared to the preceding year and 80% of patients were free from relapses after one year of treatment. Nine percent of patients exhibited 3-month confirmed disability progression. At month 12, the mean number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on brain MRI was decreased by 99% compared to the pre-treatment MRI. During the first year of treatment, 76% of patients remained free from clinical activity and 33% remained free from both clinical and radiological disease activity. Twenty-nine percent of patients had at least one moderate or severe adverse event, which led to treatment discontinuation in 6%. Four percent of patients experienced immediate hypersensitivity reactions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that natalizumab is effective in reducing disease activity in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis and inadequate response to other therapies, with a favorable risk-benefit ratio.


Variability in the air-sea flux of freshwater (precipitation-evaporation (P-E)) and its connection to the observed freshening of the eastern half of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre over the period 1960 to present is investigated using atmospheric model reanalyses and observational data. Similar results are obtained from both the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research and ERA-40 reanalyses, each of which shows a major increase in P-E (primarily due to increased precipitation) in the gyre region in the mid-1970s, from about 0.10 m yr?1 to 0.27 m yr?1. This increase is supported by independent rain gauge observations recorded in Iceland, the Faeroes, and Ireland. When integrated over a box centered on the eastern gyre, the atmosphere to ocean freshwater flux in the period 1975–1989 is 4 × 1012 m3 greater than that in the earlier period 1960–1974. This increase is about twice as large as the freshwater excess associated with major advective events such as the Great Salinity Anomaly. The link between the increase in P-E and the two major modes of atmospheric variability in the region, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the East Atlantic Pattern (EAP), is investigated. The EAP is found to be the dominant cause of the increase, with the NAO only playing a minor role. The impact of the surface freshwater flux trend on sea surface salinity is also examined through comparison with hydrographic measurements at 60°N, which show freshening since the mid-1970s. The observed freshening can be largely explained as a direct response to changes in the air-sea freshwater exchange.


We present and validate a computed tomography (CT) metal artifact reduction method that is effective for a wide spectrum of clinical implant materials. Projections through low-Z implants such as titanium were corrected using a novel physics correction algorithm that reduces beam hardening errors. In the case of high-Z implants (dental fillings, gold, platinum), projections through the implant were considered missing and regularized iterative reconstruction was performed. Both algorithms were combined if multiple implant materials were present. For comparison, a conventional projection interpolation method was implemented. In a blinded and randomized evaluation, ten radiation oncologists ranked the quality of patient scans on which the different methods were applied. For scans that included low-Z implants, the proposed method was ranked as the best method in 90% of the reviews. It was ranked superior to the original reconstruction (p = 0.0008), conventional projection interpolation (p < 0.0001) and regularized limited data reconstruction (p = 0.0002). All reviewers ranked the method first for scans with high-Z implants, and better as compared to the original reconstruction (p < 0.0001) and projection interpolation (p = 0.004). We conclude that effective reduction of CT metal artifacts can be achieved by combining algorithms tailored to specific types of implant materials.


This article examines access to electronic books as provided on the Web sites of academic libraries in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Our goal was to discover the ways in which that access occurs and to analyze the merit of the various approaches. We found some common barriers to access, as well as many cases of exemplary access. Many libraries could improve access to e-books by providing guidance to the content of e-book packages, by including the word "book" in links from the homepage to the pages that provide e-books, by providing a one-step limit to e-books in the catalog, by explaining which types of resources are available through search structures outside the catalog, and by featuring e-books in library publicity and instruction.


OBJECTIVES
Pain treatment in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is performed in increasing numbers as an ambulatory procedure, is an important issue.Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as an ambulatory procedure, patients are often hospitalized due to pain and this increases opioid consumption and side effects caused by opioids. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of adding dexketoprofen trometamol to tramadol with patient controlled analgesia (PCA) in postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy pain treatment.

METHODS
40 patients in ASA I-II risk groups aged between 18-65 years were enrolled in the study and were randomized using closed envelope method. In Group TD 600 mg tramadol and 100 mg dexketoprofen trometamol, in Group T 600 mg tramadol was added to 100 ml 0.9% normal saline for PCA. 8 mg lornoxicam iv was given if VAS >40 in the postoperative period.

RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in terms of adverse effects (hypotension, bradycardia, sedation) but in Group T 4 patients complained of nausea and 3 complained of vomiting. Opioid consumption was lower and patient satisfaction was higher in group TD.

CONCLUSION
This study has shown that adding dexketoprofen trometamol to tramadol in patient controlled analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy lowers VAS scores, increases patient satisfaction and decreases opioid consumption.


The HIV-1 capsid protein makes up the core of the virion and plays a critical role in early steps of HIV replication. Due to its exposure in the cytoplasm after entry, HIV capsid is a target for host cell factors that act directly to block infection such as TRIM5 and MxB. Several host proteins also play a role in facilitating infection, including in the protection of HIV-1 capsid from recognition by host cell restriction factors. Through an unbiased screening approach, called HIV-CRISPR, we show that the Cyclophilin A-binding deficient P90A HIV-1 capsid mutant becomes highly-sensitized to TRIM5alpha restriction in IFN-treated cells. Further, the CPSF6-binding deficient, N74D HIV-1 capsid mutant is sensitive to restriction mediated by human TRIM34, a close paralog of the well-characterized HIV restriction factor TRIM5. This restriction occurs at the step of reverse transcription, is independent of interferon stimulation and limits HIV-1 infection in key target cells of HIV infection including CD4+ T cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. TRIM34 restriction requires TRIM5alpha as knockout or knockdown of TRIM5alpha results in a loss of antiviral activity. TRIM34 can also restrict some SIV capsids. Through immunofluorescence studies, we show that TRIM34 and TRIM5alpha colocalize to cytoplasmic bodies and are more frequently observed to be associated with infecting N74D capsids than with WT capsids. Our results identify TRIM34 as an HIV-1 CA-targeting restriction factor and highlight the potential role for heteromultimeric TRIM interactions in contributing restriction of HIV-1 infection in human cells.


The structure of the three dimensional Lie group SI(2,~) and its universal covering group G is surveyed in an explicit fashion with detailed computational and geometrical information on their exponential functions and one parameter groups. In particular, a new global parametrisation of the group G is given which allows a convenient description of the exponential function and its singularities. This information is applied to give a rather complete theory of infinitesimally generated subsemigroups both in SI(2) and in G. In this context we exihibit the exceptional role played by the semigroup SI(2) + of all Sl(2)-matrices with non-negative entries and the semigroup E + in G which is generated by one of the two cones in sl(2,~) containing the elements which give non-positive values to the CartanKilling form.


In today's world, social media has become a vital part among new generations of digital natives. Past researches have proven that majority of teenagers in Generation Z is more or less affected by their addiction or daily usage of social media platforms. In expansion of the researches, this research paper aims to find out whether Generation Z, aged between 6 to 23 years old are different in behavior because of their experiences in YouTube. Specifically, our research explores the factors of YouTube as a social platform affect the behavior of Generation Z in terms of their attitude, personalities, mentality, lifestyle, values and belief. Likewise, our research paper uses Social Cognitive theory developed by Albert Bandura to explain the phenomena of the impact of YouTube towards behavioral change in Generation Z. Few research objectives were also developed in this research paper to find out whether our target respondents is dedicated in the usage of YouTube, the factors of YouTube that they are attracted to and the behavior effect that they experienced from the social platform. Thus, this research is carried out to investigate the impact of social media (YouTube) towards the behavioural change of Generation Z in Subang Jaya. The independent variables which affect the behavioural change of Generation Z are YouTube content and YouTubers' influences. This research aim is to investigate the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. A total of 262 sets of questionnaire had been distributed to the Form 4 students in 9 secondary schools of Subang Jaya to obtain the data. Reliability Test, Pearson's Correlation Analysis, Independent Sample t-Test had been used to analyse the result. The major findings of this research are YouTubers' influences have significant relationship with the behavioural change of Generation Z and there is also a significant difference between YouTube influences and respondents' gender. However, there is no significant relationship between YouTube content and behavioural change of Generation Z and respondents' gender also has no significant difference with YouTube content. Managerial implication, limitations of this research and recommendations for future research have been provided.


In the course of a sondage dug in the rock shelter of J3, in the Jaizkibel mountains (at the north-western tip of Guipuzcoa), the body of a adult man was located buried inside a shell midden. This shell midden had not been disturbed and presented internal stratigraphy features. In any case, the outer edge of the shell midden does show some interesting interdigitation with the adjacent habitational layers, with evidence of different stages of occupation. Within the shell midden itself, under the individual buried there, it was possible to observe layers without any ceramics, whereas the layers covering said individual included ceramic fragments. This individual has been dated to 8300 BP and therefore corresponds to a Mesolithic context.


Objectives. To define different subgroups of suicide attempters according to age at onset of suicide attempts. Methods. Participants were 229 suicide attempters (147 females; 82 males) admitted to a general hospital in Madrid, Spain. We used admixture analysis to determine the best-fitting model for the age at onset of suicide attempts separated by sex. Results. The best fitted model for the age at onset of suicide attempts was a mixture of two gaussian distributions. Females showed an earlier age at onset of suicide attempts in both Gaussian distributions (mean ± S.D.) (26.98 ± 5.69 and 47.98 ± 14.13) than males (32.77 ± 8.11 and 61.31 ± 14.61). Early-onset female attempters were more likely to show borderline personality disorder than late-onset female attempters (OR = 11.11; 95% CI = 2.43–50.0). Conclusions. Age at onset of suicide attempts characterizes different subpopulations of suicide attempters.


Infection with HIV, and oftentimes coinfection with TB, complicates the care of severely malnourished children in sub-Saharan Africa. These superimposed infections challenge clinicians faced with a population of malnourished children for whose care evidence-based guidelines have not kept up. Even as the care of HIV-uninfected malnourished children has improved dramatically with the advent of community-based care and even as there are hopeful signs that the HIV epidemic may be stabilizing or ameliorating, significant gaps remain in the care of malnourished children with HIV. Here we summarize what is currently known, what remains unknown, and what remains challenging about how to treat severely malnourished children with HIV and TB.


The aim of this paper was to estimate the effect of moisture and temperature on the flexural properties of the epoxy filled with single and hybrid carbon nanofillers (CNTs and CNFs) and to reveal the most environmentally stable NC. Water absorption at 70 °C until equilibrium moisture content and heating at 70 °C for 4 weeks were followed by freezing at -20 °C for 8 weeks. Microstructural characterization of optical images revealed homogeneous dispersion of all carbon nanofillers in the epoxy resin at microscale. Positive nanofiller effects were found for sorption, flexural and thermophysical characteristics of the epoxy resin. The most environmentally stable NC was epoxy filled with 0.1 wt. % of CNTs/CNFs hybrid, which had the lowest effect of temperature and moisture on mechanical characteristics, along with the lowest equilibrium water content and diffusivity.


The regulation of insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine (tyr) phosphorylation is a key step in the control of insulin signaling. Augmented IR tyr dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) may contribute to insulin resistance. To investigate this possibility in hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance, primary cultured rat adipocytes were rendered insulin-resistant by chronic exposure (18 h) to 15 mmo/l glucose combined with 10(-7) mol/l insulin. Insulin-resistant adipocytes showed a decrease in insulin sensitivity and a maximum response of 2-deoxyglucose uptake, which was associated with a decrease in maximum insulin-stimulated IR tyr phosphorylation in situ. To assess tyr dephosphorylation, IRs of insulin-stimulated permeabilized adipocytes were labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP and chased for 2 min with unlabeled ATP in the presence of EDTA. In a nonradioactive protocol, insulin-stimulated adipocytes were permeabilized and exposed to EDTA and erbstatin for 2 min, and IRs were immunoblotted with anti-phosphotyrosine (pY) antibodies. Both methods showed a similar diminished extent of IR tyr dephosphorylation in resistant cells. Immunoblotting of four candidate IR-PTPs demonstrated no change in PTP1B or the SH2 domain containing phosphatase-2 (SHP-2), whereas a significant decrease in leukocyte antigen-related phosphatase (LAR) (51 +/- 3% of control) and an increase in PTP-alpha (165 +/- 16%) were found. Activity of immunoprecipitated PTPs toward a triple tyr phosphorylated IR peptide revealed a correlation with protein content for PTP1B, SHP-2, and LAR but a decrease in apparent specific activity of PTP-alpha. The data indicate that decreased IR tyr phosphorylation in hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance is not due to enhanced dephosphorylation. The diminished IR tyr dephosphorylation observed in this model is associated with decreased LAR protein content and activity.


Feminist activists and women's studies scholars have referred to moments where women understand the impact of sexism on their lives as clicks. Karl Rahner's account of witness will help us identify why such clicks are theological. In turn, analysis of these clicks in conversation with feminist epistemology will illuminate what it will require to become hearers of the Word. A feminist theology of testimony calls us to facilitate theological inclusion and the development of theological subjects.


This issue of the Bibliography includes items published from 2014 to 2020. The form of entries reflects the order and punctuation conventions of ISBD (M): International Standard Bibliographic Description for Monographic Publications, rev. ed. (s.l.: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 2002. — http://www.ifla.org/VII/s13/pubs/isbd_m0602.pdf). English translations or paraphrases of titles have been supplied.


Colloidal solutions of CdSewere prepared in fatty acidat room temperature. The prepared samples were coated with CdS, ZnS semiconductors shells. Absorption and fluorescencespectrum were measured. From absorption spectra the diameter of CdSe QDs and energy bandgap were calculated using hyperbolic approximation and some empirical equations. The diameter ofQDs were less than (2)nm and increase with ageing time reaching to 5 nm. CdSe QDs coated with moresemiconductors shells (CdSe/CdS,CdSe/ZnS, CdSe/CdS/ZnS) were prepared too. Also the system CdSe / CdS / ZnS / PVP[Core / shell / shell / shell] were prepared, that increase fluorescenceintensitywith more diluted by fatty acid. Finally, quantum confinement increase when the number of semiconductor shells increase.  2015 Trade Science Inc. INDIA


I provide a philosophical perspective on the characteristics of data-centric research and the conceptualization of data that underpins it. The transformative features of contemporary data science derive not only from the availability of Big Data and powerful computing, but also from a fundamental shift in the conceptualization of data as research materials and sources of evidence. A relational view of data is proposed, within which the meaning assigned to data depends on the motivations and instruments used to analyze them and to defend specific interpretations. The presentation of data, the way they are identified, selected and included (or excluded) in databases and the information provided to users to re-contextualize them are fundamental to producing knowledge - and significantly influence its content. Concerns around interpreting data and assessing their quality can be tackled by cultivating governance strategies around how data are collected, managed and processed.Keywordsdata philosophy; data history; data-centric research; inference; data management; data curation; modelling.


Molecular phylogenetics is a standard tool in modern biology that informs the evolutionary history of genes, organisms, and traits, and as such is important in a wide range of disciplines from medicine to palaeontology. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction involves assumptions about the evolutionary processes that underlie the dataset to be analysed. These assumptions must be specified in forms of an evolutionary model, and a number of criteria may be used to identify the best-fitting from a plethora of available models of DNA evolution. Using many empirical and simulated nucleotide sequence alignments, Abadi et al.1 have recently found that phylogenetic inferences using best models identified by six different model selection criteria are, on average, very similar to each other. They further claimed that using the model GTR+I+G4 without prior model-fitting results in similarly accurate phylogenetic estimates, and consequently that skipping model selection entirely has no negative impact on many phylogenetic applications. Focussing on this claim, I here revisit and re-analyse some of the data put forward by Abadi et al. I argue that while the presented analyses are sound, the results are misrepresented and in fact - in line with previous work - demonstrate that model selection consistently leads to different phylogenetic estimates compared with using fixed models.


ABSTRACT The early response to a homologous rotavirus infection in mice includes a T-cell-independent increase in the number of activated B lymphocytes in the Peyer's patches. The mechanism of this activation has not been previously determined. Since rotavirus has a repetitively arranged triple-layered capsid and repetitively arranged antigens can induce activation of B cells, one or more of the capsid proteins could be responsible for the initial activation of B cells during infection. To address this question, we assessed the ability of rotavirus and virus-like particles to induce B-cell activation in vivo and in vitro. Using infectious rotavirus, inactivated rotavirus, noninfectious but replication-competent virus, and virus-like particles, we determined that neither infectivity nor RNA was necessary for B-cell activation but the presence of the rotavirus outer capsid protein, VP7, was sufficient for murine B-cell activation. Preincubation of the virus with neutralizing VP7 antibodies inhibited B-cell activation. Polymyxin B treatment and boiling of the virus preparation were performed, which ruled out possible lipopolysaccharide contamination as the source of activation and confirmed that the structural conformation of VP7 is important for B-cell activation. These findings indicate that the structure and conformation of the outer capsid protein, VP7, initiate intestinal B-cell activation during rotavirus infection.


The subjective quality of life (QOL) can reflect differences in perceptions of residents and their true state of life. Taking Dehui City of northeast China as a case, based on 482 questionnaires from urban and rural residents, this paper evaluated the subjective QOL from three views, i.e. the attitude of residents to the objective material conditions where they live in, the satisfaction with various emotional relationships and the degree of concern about future unpredictable conditions. The purpose of this paper is to compare the subjective QOL of urban and rural residents and find out the key influencing factors, which will help the government to make precise measures to narrow the gap between urban and rural development in China. The results showed that the overall satisfaction of urban and rural residents in Dehui City with the basic living conditions, emotions and unknown conditions is generally higher. However, there are significant differences between urban and rural residents about the satisfaction with the basic living conditions and the degree of concern about unknown conditions. The subjective QOL of most rural residents is not ideal, and the degree of satisfaction of urban residents and rural residents who live near the urban center of Dehui and the provincial capital Changchun is slightly higher than those of the rural areas in northwestern Dehui. Social security, diversification of family income, improvement of regional environment, and family economic foundation are important factors in improving the subjective QOL of urban residents, while social security and regional environmental improvement have positively promoted the subjective QOL of rural residents.


Mitochondria are the energy factories of cells, and their functions are closely related to cell homeostasis. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) is a newly discovered mechanism for regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. When unfolded/misfolded proteins accumulate in mitochondria, the mitochondria release signals that regulate the transcription of certain proteins in the nucleus, thereby inducing the correct folding or degradation of proteins in mitochondria. Many studies have also shown that an abnormality of mtUPR is closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases. Here, we summarized the pathways regulating mtUPR signaling and reviewed the research progress on mtUPR in diseases. Finally, we summarized the currently identified agonists and inhibitors of the mtUPR and discussed the potential of the mtUPR as a therapeutic target for diseases.


Far too many working Americans do not have ready access to a guaranteed lifetime income stream as part of their 401(k) plan. While a growing number of employers have taken steps to increase retirement plan participation and savings through the use of auto-enrollment and auto-escalation of contributions, very few have taken steps to increase the likelihood that an employee's retirement savings will last throughout their lifetime. The authors posit that the allocation of matching employer contributions to a guaranteed lifetime income solution will not only ensure a small degree of retirement certainty and security for employees, but may further encourage consideration of such solutions beyond the employer's match, thereby reducing the extent to which retirees will be left to manage both investment and longevity risk on their own.


In the last few years the Indian banking sector has shown remarkable resilience and has managed to meet the challenges of being financial service providers in a globalised competitive environment. They are striving hard to meet ever-growing customer needs and also reaching out to the unbanked sectors of the economy in order to bring about socio economic development. The use of technological innovation by banks has helped them to improve on their business processes, thus resulting in lower financial and management costs. The recent Domestic and international economic developments have impacted the asset quality of both public and private sector banks in the country although they have maintained their profitability. In this context this paper attempts to analyse and compare the key banking indicators of these banks using statistical tools with a view to providing an insight into how these banks can bring in competitive advantage in a challenging business environment.


Ultrasound contrast imaging (UCI) aims to detect flow changes in the vascular bed that can help differentiate normal from diseased tissues thus providing an early screening tool for diagnosis or treatment monitoring. Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs), used in UCI, are microbubbles that scatter ultrasound non-linearly. To date the signal processing research has successfully subtracted signals from the linear response of tissue (linear signals), but, in general, has not provided a sensitive detection that is specific to the UCA signal. This paper develops a method for the temporal and spectral estimation of linear and non-linear ultrasound echo signals. This technique is based on non-parametric methods for coarse estimation, followed by a parametric method within a Bayesian framework for estimation refinement. The results show that the pulse location can be estimated to within ±3 sample points accuracy for signals consisting of ≈ 80 sample points depending on the signal type, while the frequency content can be estimated to within 0.050 MHz deviations for frequencies in the 1 to 4 MHz range. This parametric spectral estimation achieved a 5-fold improvement in the frequency resolution compared with Fourier-based methods, and revealed previously unresolved frequency information that led to over 80% correct signal classification for linear and non-linear echo signals.