Research was carried out on isolating and identification of a virus in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with the Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome (uveomeningeal encephalitis). Results were negative. It was not possible to detect any virus causing the disease in this case. This resarch was the first such study carried out in Brazil.


Abstract In the current data-driven science era, it is needed that data analysis techniques has to quickly evolve to face with data whose dimensions has increased up to the Petabyte scale. In particular, being modern astrophysics based on multi-wavelength data organized into large catalogues, it is crucial that the astronomical catalog cross-matching methods, strongly dependant from the catalogues size, must ensure efficiency, reliability and scalability. Furthermore, multi-band data are archived and reduced in different ways, so that the resulting catalogues may differ each other in formats, resolution, data structure, etc, thus requiring the highest generality of cross-matching features. We present C 3 (Command-line Catalogue Cross-match), a multi-platform application designed to efficiently cross-match massive catalogues from modern surveys. Conceived as a stand-alone command-line process or a module within generic data reduction/analysis pipeline, it provides the maximum flexibility, in terms of portability, configuration, coordinates and cross-matching types, ensuring high performance capabilities by using a multi-core parallel processing paradigm and a sky partitioning algorithm.


We use small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements to provide a detailed picture of the non-linear dynamics of the long chains in a model polystyrene blend. By a weighted subtraction of SANS measurements from two otherwise identical blends with different deuteration fractions, we isolate the single-chain form factor of the long-chain component of a model blend flowing through a 4 : 1 contraction–expansion flow. Complementary flow-birefringence also provides a measure of chain deformation on finer length-scales. In addition, higher flow Weissenberg numbers than in previous studies on monodisperse melts were achieved, leading to greater anisotropy in the measured single-chain structure factor. The short residence time inside the slit means that the chains are still oriented in the flow direction as they enter the contraction exit, leading to a rapid reversing flow. We compare these data to a simple generalisation of a non-linear tube model. Our model predictions are entirely ab initio, with all model parameters being determined from independent equilibrium measurements. The model shows very good agreement with the experimental data across the full range of length-scales for the contraction entrance and subsequent relaxation within the slit. However, there is conspicuous disagreement between theory and experiments at the contraction exit, in both the SANS and birefringence predictions, which we attribute to the reversing flow that occurs in this region.


Interactive narrative is a blossoming field, with new systems and approaches being developed each year. However, despite this burgeoning array of designs, little work has been done in empirically evaluating and comparing them (Weyhrauch 1997; Nelson and Mateas 2005; Magerko 2007). Such a comparison is complicated by the fact that different systems are used to create different narratives; it is difficult to differentiate between the authored content and the system capabilities in an empirical setting. This paper proposes a comparative analysis approach to determining the strengths and weaknesses of interactive narrative systems. Such a comparison is a positive first step towards understanding and evaluating current and future interactive narrative systems.


ABSTRACT Analyzing the 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents, this study examines the impact of open adoption, demographics, and other factors on adopted children's mental health, delinquent behavior, and family relationships. Specifically, we compare findings for youth in private and public (i.e., foster care) adoptions and identify key similarities and differences between predictors of children's well-being across these two types of adoption. We find that youth in open foster care adoptions are more likely to receive an attachment disorder diagnosis than those in closed foster care adoptions but are also more likely to have family relationships characterized by trust and adoptive parents' willingness to recommend adoption to others. Further, we find children in both public and private adoptions who are older at placement are more likely to have posttraumatic stress disorder diagnoses. For children in private adoptions, no statistically significant predictors affected youths' delinquency outcomes or family relationships, with the exception of parents of private adoptees in households characterized by lower levels of poverty indicating they would be more likely to recommend adoption to others. The implications of the key findings are discussed with regard to service provision for multiple types of adoptive families.


The effect of ammonium chloride (systemic acidosis) and probenecid on the distribution of DMO in intraocular and cerebrospinal fluids has been studied. These drugs increased the level of DMO in intraocular fluids so that DMO was found in excess of plasma levels at plasma levels which normally result in a deficit of DMO in intraocular fluids. Their action seemed to be explained in part by a blocking of the secretion out of DMO at the ciliary process and perhaps an increased diffusion in the posterior segment of the eye. Probenecid may well affect the distribution of DMO in cerebrospinal fluid. It appears that the use of the partition of DMO between compartments as an indication of pH should be substantiated by another method for each set of experimental conditions.


The similar fact rule in Singapore - as with the law on any evidence law doctrine that can be found in both our Evidence Act and the common law - has required clarification for some time. This note, which discusses the latest local decision on the similar fact rule, considers if that decision is compatible with the Evidence Act and the various conceptualisations underlying the doctrine.


Background and Objectives: Marital burnout shows that couples are bored and tired of marriage. Identifying factors causing marital burnout are important to enrich marital life. Therefore, the aim of this study has been to predict marital burnout based on personality traits and sexual intimacy in nurses. Materials and Methods: In this correlational study 159 married female nurses working in three selected private hospitals in Tehran in 2014 were chosen by stratified random sampling. To collect data, we used Gordon Personality Inventory (GPI), Sexual Intimacy Inventory (SII) and Couple Burnout Scale (CBS). Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and inter-multiple regression analysis. Results : Results of the data analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between marital burnout, sexual intimacy and personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness (P<0.05), but there was not a significant relationship between agreeableness and openness (P>0.05). Also, results of the analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between sexual intimacy and personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness (P<0.05) but it did not have a significant relationship with openness (P>0.05). In general, results of the regression showed that personality traits and sexual intimacy specify %41.6 of marital burnout. Conclusion: According to the research results, training and counseling sexual intimacy and personality traits may prevent marital burnout.


Audio-driven one-shot talking face generation methods are usually trained on video resources of various persons. However, their created videos often suffer unnatural mouth shapes and asynchronous lips because those methods struggle to learn a consistent speech style from different speakers. We observe that it would be much easier to learn a consistent speech style from a specific speaker, which leads to authentic mouth movements. Hence, we propose a novel one-shot talking face generation framework by exploring consistent correlations between audio and visual motions from a specific speaker and then transferring audio-driven motion fields to a reference image. Specifically, we develop an Audio-Visual Correlation Transformer (AVCT) that aims to infer talking motions represented by keypoint based dense motion fields from an input audio. In particular, considering audio may come from different identities in deployment, we incorporate phonemes to represent audio signals. In this manner, our AVCT can inherently generalize to audio spoken by other identities. Moreover, as face keypoints are used to represent speakers, AVCT is agnostic against appearances of the training speaker, and thus allows us to manipulate face images of different identities readily. Considering different face shapes lead to different motions, a motion field transfer module is exploited to reduce the audio-driven dense motion field gap between the training identity and the one-shot reference. Once we obtained the dense motion field of the reference image, we employ an image renderer to generate its talking face videos from an audio clip. Thanks to our learned consistent speaking style, our method generates authentic mouth shapes and vivid movements. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our synthesized videos outperform the state-of-the-art in terms of visual quality and lip-sync.


In this paper, the problem of adaptive stabilization of an underwater navigator with unknown parameters both in the state vector-field and the input vector-field has been considered. By employing the control Lyapunov function method and parameter projection techniques, a direct adaptive controller is designed to complete the globally adaptive stability of the navigator. Simulations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.


In this paper we propose a content-dependent spatio-temporal watermarking scheme for digital videos. Content dependency is achieved by incorporating the hash of the video sequence into the watermark. The video sequence is treated as a 3-dimensional spatio-temporal signal for the purposes of video hash computation and watermark embedding and detection. Our experiments show that the video hash algorithm has good discriminating power and robustness against various attacks. The watermark is also shown in the experiments to have good robustness against a variety of attacks, in particular when the watermark is copied from one video sequence to another.


Objective. A randomized controlled observer-blind trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of action observation as an add-on treatment to the standard rehabilitation of upper-limb function, early after stroke. Methods. Stroke survivors (N = 102) were consecutively recruited from 13 centers 30 days (±7) after a first-ever stroke and randomly assigned to the experimental (EG) or control group (CG). EG participants watched video footage of daily routine tasks (actions) carried out with the upper limb in order to prepare to imitate the presented action. At the end of each sequence, a therapist prompted the patient to perform the same movement for 2 minutes, providing help when needed. Static images without animals or human beings were shown to the CG. At the end of each sequence, the CG executed movements that simulated the shoulder and elbow joint mobilization activities performed by the EG. Results for the Fugl-Meyer test, Frenchay Arm test, Box and Block test (BBT), Modified Ashworth Scale, and Functional Independence Measure Motor items were recorded before treatment (T0), after 4 weeks of treatment (T1), and at the follow-up visit 4 to 5 months after the conclusion of treatment (T2). Results. An improvement over time was appreciated on all measures of impairment and functional ability with both treatment programs. A Time × Treatment interaction emerged from the generalized estimating equations analysis of BBT, showing significant T0–T1 and T0–T2 differences in favor of EG. Conclusion. This multicenter trial endorses the use of action observation in upper-extremity rehabilitation, along with a role for the mirror neuron system in poststroke recovery.


An interactive presentation is intended to support lecturers that need to enhance presentation expressions and gather real-time feedback from audiences while delivering their presentations. Our objective is to improve the efficiency of bi-directional communication between a lecturer and a large audience in presentations using a real-time questionnaire that the result is displayed on a shared screen in real-time while gathering answers. The real-time questionnaire is based on a hybrid interactive presentation system that is collaboration between the traditional presentation supporting system and a web application. To gather feedback from audiences at presentations, our system provides the web application that delivers presentation slides to audiences and provides a feature of creating annotations and answering the questions on delivered presentation slides. The result of an experiment for evaluating performance of our system showed that the features of the real-time questionnaire have high performance scalability.


In response to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and the ensuing public health crisis, thousands of higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide have had to grapple with rapid pivots to emergency remote online learning modalities with relatively little time to prepare, and the need to maintain these modalities continues to extend longer than most institutions anticipated. However, this is not the first time HEIs have had to enact an emergency switch to online learning in a time of crisis, and there is perhaps much to be learned from examining the experiences of institutions that have been through this before. Resilient pedagogy is an emerging field in education, but it is intrinsically tied to online learning in a crisis insofar as it describes the ability to intentionally and effectively shift instructional tactics given a change in environment or context. Using a case study approach, this paper explores indicators of resilient pedagogy in emergency pivots to online learning following crisis situations—including the COVID-19 pandemic—in the United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. The data informing this research are qualitative, derived from interviews with faculty members and students in each higher education context.


In molecular dynamics, molecular mechanics and quantum mechanics for a complicated system, most of the numerical calculations are at the Lennard-Jones potential. So, effective treatment of Lennard-Jones potential shows an important role. This paper presents an effective algorithm for the optimization of Lennard-Jones potential. The algorithm is a genetic-based algorithm associated with the owerful discrete gradient method and the correct choice of initial coordinates. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the present algorithm and new bestresults for 39,40,42,48,55,75,76,97 atoms were found. These results might be used to study the structure of spherical viruses and molecules.


Nursing care of the severe closed head injured patient has two primary goals: (1) the prevention of secondary brain injury associated with intracranial hypertension, and (2) the prevention of complications associated with immobility. This study examined the effects of six body position changes, performed as part of routine nursing care interventions, on the cerebrovascular status of 18 severely head injured patients. These changes included turning and positioning in bed, head rotation, range of motion exercises, and raising and lowering of the head of the bed. All subjects had baseline mean intracranial pressures of ≤ 15 mm/Hg, and cerebral perfusion pressures of ≥ 50 mm/Hg. Over 200 observations of the effects of position changes on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), mean intracranial pressure (MICP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were recorded and analyzed. With the exception of the intervention raising the head of the bed, all position changes produced increases in HR, MABP, MICP, and CPP. Typically, the physiologic changes were transient and showed recovery toward baseline values in oneminute postintervention measurements. The results of this study suggest that passive position changes may be performed safely upon severe closed head injured patients with baseline MICPs ≤ 15 mm/Hg, provided CPPs are maintained above 50 mm/Hg throughout each position change and provided multiple fractures do not preclude these position changes.


Introduction: Bell's palsy is a ubiquitous lower motor disorder primarily affecting facial symmetry. The onset of the disease is acute mainly and idiopathic. The line of treatment for Bell's palsy includes steroids, antiviral drugs and physical therapies. Ardita is a vatananatmaja vyadhi which simulates Bell's palsy in clinical presentation. The treatment principles of Ardita chikitsa can be effectively adopted in successfully managing Bell's palsy. Materials and Methods: The present study reports the case of a 49-year-old female patient with symptoms of facial asymmetry and right-sided numbness for 15 days. The case was reported to OPD of Panchakarma, Alva's Ayurveda Medical College, Moodbidri, Karnataka, India. The treatment adopted included sthanika abhyanga, pottali sveda and Marsha nasya, along with internal medicines during the hospital stay. During the follow-up period, sthanika abhyanga, panasa patra sveda, shiropichu and pratimarsha nasya, along with internal medicines, were advised. Result: Patient observed relief in numbness by 4th day of treatment. Marked improvement was noted in eye closure (90%), forehead frowning, and eyebrow rise on the 11th day. 100% relief was noted at the end of 2 months of follow-up. Conclusion: The treatment principles enumerated in Ayurveda have a high success rate in effectively managing Bell's palsy. It not only fastens the pace of recovery but also could help decrease the chance of recurrence.


Near infrared (NIR) light induced photodynamic antibacterial therapy (PDAT) is a promising antibacterial technique in rapid in situ disinfection of bacterially infected artificial implants due to its penetration ability into tissues. However, the lower oxygen content in vivo may restrict the yields of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus reducing the antibacterial efficacy of PADT significantly. Herein, liposome encapsulated photosensitizers (PS), IR780 and perfluorohexane (PFH), have been constructed on the surface of Ti implants via a covalent linkage to overcome this issue. Thanks to the high oxygen capacity of PFH, more ROS can be generated during NIR irradiation regardless of the low content of oxygen in vivo. As a result, in vitro tests demonstrated that 15 minutes of 808 nm near-infrared irradiation could achieve a high antibacterial efficacy of 99.62% and 99.63% on the implant surface against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. By contrast, the PDAT system without PFH modification shows a lower antibacterial efficacy (only 66.54% and 48.04%, respectively). In addition, this enhanced PDAT system also possesses great biocompatibility based on the in vitro and in vivo subcutaneous assays. This surface system makes it possible for rapid bacteria-killing in artificial implants that have been implanted in vivo under local conditions with lower oxygen content.


In the modern world, computing is essential in all aspects of manufacturing activity. Computers have brought to life terms like artificial intelligence, and have played a critical role in reinvention of manufacturing industry. In continuing quest to decrease the interval time between conceptualization of a product, information technology has been fused with manufacturing practice. This paper describes the use of expert system shell to develop a rule-based expert for an auto wire bond machine fault diagnosis system for hi-tech semiconductor industry. The main aim of the expert fault diagnosis system is to diagnose the problem of auto wire bond machine. In semiconductor industry, production equipment and machine have depended heavily on the use of human expertise for maintenance and it is costly. Without an expert system, his/her experience is lost when human is unavailable. With the developed expert system, the diagnosis process for the auto wire bond machine is standardized and accuracy will be increased compared to the conventional way. Therefore, the quality of products that are produced will improve. The constrains values for the fault diagnosis are based on design data and experience of the engineer. The expert fault diagnosis system is to improve bonding quality by reducing the production yield loss.


In studies involving subclinical events, times of events are often subject to interval censoring since their occurrence is only detected at inspection times. When individuals are event‐free at an initial time and a single follow‐up inspection is made, current status data are obtained. In many settings, however, the population comprised a susceptible and a nonsusceptible subpopulation, where only susceptible individuals will go on to experience the event. Then interest often lies primarily in identifying prognostic variables for susceptibility, and secondarily in the event time distribution among the susceptible individuals. We give a simple mixture model that facilitates estimation of the proportion of susceptible individuals, covariate effects on the odds of susceptibility, and the event time distribution under a current status observation scheme. Asymptotic relative efficiency of maximum likelihood estimators is considered based on the Fisher information for a variety of settings. EM algorithms are proposed for parametric, weakly parametric, and nonparametric estimation of the event time distribution. The methods are applied to motivating studies examining an immunological response to low molecular weight heparin in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Diamond crystallization in Mg-R2O3-C systems (R = Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) was studied at 7.8 GPa and 1800 °C. It was found that rare-earth oxide additives in an amount of 10 wt % did not significantly affect both the degree of graphite-to-diamond conversion and crystal morphology relative to the Mg-C system. The effect of higher amounts of rare-earth oxide additives on diamond crystallization was studied for a Mg-Sm2O3-C system with a Sm2O3 content varied from 0 to 50 wt %. It was established that with an increase in the Sm2O3 content in the growth system, the degree of graphite-to-diamond conversion decreased from 80% at 10% Sm2O3 to 0% at 40% Sm2O3. At high Sm2O3 contents (40 and 50 wt %), instead of diamond, mass crystallization of metastable graphite was established. The observed changes in the degree of the graphite-to-diamond conversion, the changeover of diamond crystallization to the crystallization of metastable graphite, and the changes in diamond crystal morphology with increasing the Sm2O3 content attested the inhibiting effect of rare-earth oxides on diamond crystallization processes in the Mg-Sm-O-C system. The crystallized diamonds were studied by a suite of optical spectroscopy techniques, and the major characteristics of their defect and impurity structures were revealed. For diamond crystals produced with 10 wt % and 20 wt % Sm2O3 additives, a specific photoluminescence signal comprising four groups of lines centered at approximately 580, 620, 670, and 725 nm was detected, which was tentatively assigned to emission characteristic of Sm3+ ions.


An intersex animal is one possessing the characteristics of both sexes. Intersex animals, also called pseudohermaphrodites or hermaphrodites, are classified on the basis of their gonads. Pseudohermaphrodites possess the gonads of one sex but the secondary sex characteristics and external genitalia of the opposite sex. Female pseudohermaphrodites have ovaries but phenotypically have a masculine appearance. Male pseudohermaphrodites possess testes while having mixed or female external genitalia. Less common than pseudohermaphrodism is true hermaphrodism, wherein both testicular and ovarian tissue is present in various combinations. A testis may be found on one side in combination with an ovary on the contralateral side, an ovatestis (both testicular and ovarian tissue found in a single gonad) only may be present, or an ovatestis may be paired with a testis or ovary. Problems associated with intersex animals are not unique to intersexes but can be found in animals with normal chromosomal karyotypes. This chapter will review briefly the etiology of intersexuality and it will discuss the diagnosis and management of those problems associated with the intersex animal.


The parasitic copepod Salmincola stellatus Markewitsch, 1936 is reported from the Sakhalin taimen Parahucho perryi which were collected in Primorye (Amgu River and Velikaja Kema River, october, 1998), near the type locality of this species copepod. The copepods were allocated in the buccal cavity of the fishes. Morphological peculiarities of female, host specific, geographical distribution of this poorly studied copepod species are briefly discussed. Description were based on the original material. S. stellatus was not found on the species of the another salmonid genera--Brachymystax, Hucho, Oncorhynchus, Salvelinus, Thymallus.


This article examines the legal methodology that courts have to employ when they construe domestic law in accordance with European Union directives. It demonstrates that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has set up autonomous 'European methodological rules'. These rules apply together with national legal methods. The relationship between both regimes can be described with the concepts of overlapping, intervention, and Europeanization from the inside. The article thus holds that the doctrine of consistent interpretation possesses a hybrid methodology. The reanalysis of the CJEU's case law offers answers to some unresolved questions. The article shows how consistent interpretation affects national principles of interpretation. It demonstrates the extent to which domestic judges are required to depart from traditional methods of construction and to what extent European methodological rules broaden the limits of the judicial function as accepted under national law. The contra legem limit is defined, and some of its misinterpretations in legal scholarship are highlighted.


Intracellular recordings were made from locus coeruleus neurones in slices cut from rat pons and superfused in vitro. Membrane currents were recorded with a single‐electrode switch‐clamp amplifier. Opioids, enkephalin analogues or morphine, caused a concentration‐dependent potassium current, which had a maximum value of about 300 pA at ‐60 mV. The opioid‐sensitive potassium conductance was independent of membrane potential between ‐60 and ‐130 mV, but became less as the membrane potential was changed from ‐60 to ‐30 mV. The opioid outward current was reduced by quinine (100 microM‐1 mM) and barium (30 microM‐2 mM), but not by 4‐aminopyridine (100 microM‐1 mM) or tetraethylammonium (10 mM). A potassium current with similar properties flowed for several seconds after a burst of action potentials; this appeared to result from calcium entering the neurone during the action potentials. The alpha 2‐adrenoceptor agonists noradrenaline and clonidine caused a concentration‐dependent potassium conductance increase which had the same maximum value as that caused by opioids in the same neurones. Experiments in which an opioid and an alpha 2‐adrenoceptor agonist were superfused together indicated that the same potassium conductance is increased by both agonists.


Earth levees were constructed in the 1960's as flood protection around the suburb of Invermay, located immediately north of Launceston's CBD. In 2007 an upgrade program was begun by Launceston City Council (LCC) to provide 1 in 200 year flood protection, meaning that about 5km of levee have to be re-aligned and raised, with the new levee alignment partially over virgin ground and partially over pre-consolidated ground. This paper presents the results of testing and analysis to determine the spatially variable undrained shear strength profiles of the compressible Launceston Silt foundation. Relationships between undrained and drained shear strength were used to predict strength increase caused by preconsolidation, with good agreement with in situ measurements. The analysis allowed development of an innovative stability model that has vertical interfaces between foundation zones of different strengths.


Abstract Anonymous communications networks enable individuals to maintain their privacy online. The most popular such network is Tor, with about two million daily users; however, Tor is reaching limits of its scalability. One of the main scalability bottlenecks of Tor and similar network designs originates from the requirement of distributing a global view of the servers in the network to all network clients. This requirement is in place to avoid epistemic attacks, in which adversaries who know which parts of the network certain clients do and do not know about can rule in or out those clients from being responsible for particular network traffic. In this work, we introduce a novel solution to this scalability problem by leveraging oblivious RAM constructions and trusted execution environments in order to enable clients to fetch only the parts of the network view they require, without the directory servers learning which parts are being fetched. We compare the performance of our design with the current Tor mechanism and other related works to show one to two orders of magnitude better performance from an end-to-end perspective. We analyse the requirements to actually deploy such a scheme today and conclude that it would only require a small fraction (<2.5%) of the relays to have the required hardware support; moreover, these relays can perform their roles with minimal network bandwidth requirements.


Aconitase catalyzes the second reaction of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the reversible conversion of citrate and isocitrate. Escherichia coli has two isoforms of aconitase, AcnA and AcnB. Acetylomic studies have identified acetylation at multiple lysine sites of both E. coli aconitase isozymes, but the impacts of acetylation on aconitases are unknown. In this study, we applied the genetic code expansion approach to produce 14 site-specifically acetylated aconitase variants. Enzyme assays and kinetic analyses showed that acetylation of AcnA K684 decreased the enzyme activity, while acetylation of AcnB K567 increased the enzyme activity. Further in vitro acetylation and deacetylation assays were performed, which indicated that both aconitase isozymes could be acetylated by acetyl-phosphate chemically, and be deacetylated by the CobB deacetylase at most lysine sites. Through this study, we have demonstrated practical applications of genetic code expansion in acetylation studies.


Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) operation relies upon a mapping
mechanism that is used by ingress/egress Tunnel Routers (xTR) to
forward traffic over the LISP network. The ability of dynamically
discovering the Map-Resolver and Map-Server entities that provide such
mapping services is meant to facilitate global LISP operation
(automatic discovery of Map-Resolvers and Map-Servers). This document
specifies a BGP Extended Communities attribute that can be used to
dynamically discover LISP Mapping Systems of different domains.


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study was to describe the facial bone changes around single implants for immediate placement and provisionalization following tooth extraction in the maxillary anterior.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The data between 2008 and 2013 were collected retrospectively. Superimposed facio-palatal cross-sectional CBCT images for the implants were derived from preoperative and postoperative radiographs via standardized CBCT processes. Horizontal and vertical facial measurements on the implants were identified at preoperative and approximately 1-year postoperative follow-ups. Correlation coefficient for those parameters was evaluated.

RESULTS
A total of 12 single implants in 12 patients were included in this study. The mean loading period was 13.3 months (range 12-15 months). The median data of preoperative bone thickness 0.54 mm (A), preoperative vertical bone level 1.46 mm (B), postoperative bone thickness 1.77 mm (C), postoperative vertical bone level 1.08 mm (D), horizontal distance from outer surface of preoperative facial bone to implant surface 2.08 mm (E), horizontal gap distance 1.41 mm (E-A), horizontal bone resorption -0.26 mm (E-C), and vertical bone resorption -0.25 mm (B-D) were obtained. The data at the implant platform level (IPL) were selected for the horizontal measurements. Spearman's analysis demonstrated statistically significant correlations between B and D, C and E, E and E-A, and B and E-C (P < 0.01). Significant correlations between C and B, D, and E-A were also found, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Immediate placement and provisionalization of single implants procedure in the maxillary anterior showed excellent outcomes with the small facial bone alterations around the implants. Neither preoperative facial bone thickness nor horizontal gap distance influenced the amount of facial bone resorptions.


Amongst 38 farming systems prevalent in the western Uttar Pradesh region, sugarcane–livestock– cereals–fodder has been found the major system being followed by a majority of the farmers. It has been found that sugarcane farmer keeps in general two dairy animals, largely for household milk consumption. The major income source of farmers in the area has been found sugarcane (58 per cent), followed by livestock and cereal crops. The study has revealed that marginal farmers take highest credit, while large farmers take minimum credit. It has also been observed that facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) is being availed by only 21 per cent farmers. Farming activity-wise analysis has revealed that sugarcane provides maximum employment, followed by livestock and wheat. In terms of income, the study has observed that a family worker earns Rs 41,270 per year in the study area, which is much lower than that in Punjab (Rs 74,080/year). The study has suggested that a combination of technology, policy and institutional innovations is needed for improvement in productivity and profitability of crops and livestock in the area.


High severity wildfires impact hillslope processes, including infiltration, runoff, erosion, and sediment delivery to streams. Wildfire effects on these processes can impair vegetation recovery, producing impacts on headwater and downstream water supplies. To promote forest regeneration and maintain forest and aquatic ecosystem functions, land managers often undertake active post‐fire land management (e.g., salvage logging, sub‐soiling, re‐vegetation). The primary objective of our study was to quantify and compare sediment yields eroded from (a) burned, (b) burned and salvage logged, and (c) burned, salvage logged, and sub‐soiled plots following the 2015 Valley Fire in the northern California Coast Range. We distributed 25 sediment fences (~75 m2 contributing area) across four hillslopes burned at high severity and representative of the three management types. We collected eroded sediment from the fences after precipitation events for 5 years. We also quantified precipitation, canopy cover, ground cover, and soil properties to characterize the processes driving erosion across the three management types. Interestingly, during the second year after the fire, sediment yields were greater in the burned‐only plots compared with both the salvage logged and sub‐soiled plots. By the third year, there were no differences in sediment yields among the three management types. Sediment yields decreased over the 5 years of the study, which may have occurred due to site recovery or exhaustion of mobile sediment. As expected, sediment yields were positively related to precipitation depth, bulk density, and exposed bare soil, and negatively related to the presence of wood cover on the soil surface. Unexpectedly, we observed greater sediment yields on the burned‐only plots with greater canopy closure, which we attributed to increased throughfall drop size and kinetic energy related to the residual canopy. While these results will aid post‐fire management decisions in areas with Mediterranean climates prone to low intensity, long duration rainstorms, additional research is needed on the comparative effects of post‐fire land management approaches to improve our understanding of the mechanisms driving post‐fire erosion and sediment delivery.


AIMS
The aim of the study was to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of indinavir, define the relationship between the pharmacokinetics of indinavir and ritonavir, and to identify the factors influencing the pharmacokinetics of indinavir alone or when given with ritonavir.

METHODS
HIV-1-infected patients being treated with an indinavir-containing regimen were included. During regular visits, 102 blood samples were collected for the determination of plasma indinavir and ritonavir concentrations. Full pharmacokinetic curves were available from 45 patients. Concentrations of indinavir and ritonavir were determined by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed effect modelling (NONMEM).

RESULTS
The disposition of indinavir was best described by a single compartment model with first order absorption and elimination. Values for the clearance, volume of distribution and the absorption rate constant were 46.8 l h(-1) (24.2% IIV), 82.3 l (24.6% IIV) and 02.62 h(-1), respectively. An absorption lag-time of 0.485 h was detected in patients also taking ritonavir. Furthermore this drug, independent of dose (100-400 mg) or plasma concentration, decreased the clearance of indinavir by 64.6%. In contrast, co-administration of efavirenz or nevirapine increased the clearance of indinavir by 41%, irrespective of the presence or absence of ritonavir. Female patients had a 48% higher apparent bioavailability of indinavir than males.

CONCLUSIONS
The pharmacokinetic parameters of indinavir were adequately described by our population model. Female gender and concomitant use of ritonavir and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors strongly influenced the pharmacokinetics of this drug. The results support the concept of ritonavir boosting, maximum inhibition of indinavir metabolized being observed at 100 mg.


This study examines the determinants of income diversification of farm households in the United States. Farm households allocate their time between farm and off-farm activities to help stabilized household income (consumption). What characterizes those households who engage in off-farm activities? Is there any pattern over time? Using 1999, 2003 and 2007 farm-level data from the USDA's Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), this study estimates intensity of off-farm income (or income diversification). The results show that older operators, full owners, and small farms have higher intensity of off-farm income in total household income. In contrast, dairy farms, vertically coordinated farms and farms located in the Southern and Pacific regions have lower intensity of off-farm income. In other words, household incomes of these farms are less likely to be diversified.


Lime stabilization is a common procedure currently used in road construction. This technique is particularly attractive for improving the subgrade material for low-volume unpaved or low-cost paved roads. Selection of the proper concentration of lime for stabilization of clays is primarily based on achieving a target pH value. A number of parameters—such as the interaction between the mineralogy of the clay materials and the additives in the presence or absence of moisture, construction methods, and curing processes—significantly affect the performance of stabilized clays. If the selected concentration of additives is not adequate to ensure shortand long-term strength and durability, the stabilization will be ineffective, and pavement rehabilitations, requiring costly repairs and road closures, will be necessary. Many state highway agencies supplement this design process with other tests to ensure that proper strength, stiffness, and durability can be achieved. The most common parameter considered for this purpose is the unconfined compressive strength of laboratory-prepared specimens that are cured for several days and subjected to capillary moisture conditioning for several additional days. This procedure is perceived as time-consuming to implement. To establish whether the stabilization method is effective in field construction projects, this paper addresses some shortcomings in the current protocols. Several accelerated testing methods that could potentially minimize the time required for soil specimen preparation, curing, conditioning, and testing to complete the stabilizer design process are evaluated. From this study, the most appropriate method was found to be backpressure saturation.


It is widely assumed that the distortion characteristics of the cochlea are uniform across its length, or at least across some portion of its length. For each distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) input/output (I/O) function across frequency, there is a corresponding cochlear I/O function defined over the cochlear source region. An assumption of distortion invariance is adopted such that these cochlear I/O functions are identical across tonotopic place, which is testable in the sense that a single nonlinear function should adequately describe the set of DPOAE I/O functions across frequency. If so, the differences in measured DPOAE I/O functions across frequency are produced by differences in the forward stimulus transmission to the generation site, and reverse DP transmission back to the ear canal. The absolute transfer-function magnitude is not determined by this technique, but the spectral shapes across frequency and between ears are determined. The role of middle-ear functioning is implicit in the I/O functions because of its controlling influence on these transfer functions. Results have been obtained using the average DPOAE I/O functions measured in a population of healthy ears [Gorga et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 2128-2135 (2000)], and support the hypothesis of cochlear-distortion invariance. The measured forward and reverse transfer functions have a general bandpass characteristic, and a more narrow-band structure with similarities to the behavioral threshold curve.


The following are citations selected by title and abstract as being related to AI, resulting from a computer search on the BRS retrieval system of the Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI) database produced by University Microfilms International.


ABSTRACT  Civil society organizations deliver frames in a press release as a way of communication that voicing  ideology through media advocacy to approach policy makers or the public as well as to stimulate debate and construct a meaning. FITRA selected as research subject by considering their activeness in the media. This research puspose is to comprehend how FITRA consider Indonesia budget transparency issues and their Frame development process through press releases. The press releases colected from 2010 until 2014, analyzed using Bendford and Snow Framing concept: collective action frame. Result shows FITRA frames their press releases by raising unaccountable state budget planning, the welfare of lame, bad examples of leadership, budget politicization, poor government performance and  lack of budget transparency and public participation.  FITRA blames leadership, executive, legislative and political functions. Identification shows people and the country as victims. Solutions carried by FITRA are improved regulation, affirmative action and incentives, budget rationalization and relocation, improving state revenues and reduce the country's debt, budgets monitoring and evaluation, transparency and public participation, PNS rationalization and improvement of the standard used for the state budget. FITRA's Framing react to the government's solution. FITRA also urge people to be critical to the budget policy and invites the public to participate in the budgeting process, especially the supervision of budgeting and realization. Keywords: collective action frame, media advocacy, pers release, social movement


Toward obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of factors governing activation and/or function during visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we have compared active disease (pre-treatment) versus post-chemotherapy immune response in VL patients by means of ex vivo staining with different cell markers. Our results show that during active disease, the frequency of T cells positive for CD25, CTLA-4 and CD45RO was significantly lower in VL patients compared with healthy controls, whereas cells staining positive for Annexin V and CD95 were significantly higher. In all cases, chemotherapy was able to restore these frequencies to normal levels. Interestingly, significant differences in the frequency of CD18 and in the frequency of CD45RO-positive cells were observed in the CD81 T cell subset. These two frequencies were also significantly higher in bone marrow when compared with peripheral blood, suggesting a possible compartmentalization of certain CD81 T cell populations during active disease. Given that CD81 T cells have been shown to play an essential role in immunity to infection with Leishmania, our data indicate that the lower frequency of CD181 and CD45RO1 lymphocytes in the bone marrow CD81 T cell subset may be considered a biomarker of acute VL.


The present study was undertaken to examine the value addition and supply chain management for women-led Aman seed business. Data were collected from sixty women and six intermediaries who are randomly selected. It reveals that Aman seed production was profitable and the value addition per hectare was Tk.21981 whereas the farmer earned TlL 11213 depending on seed preserved. The BCR was greater than one, which also indicated profitability. The value addition by seed company, dealer, retailer and Bepari were Tk.3203, Tk.1426, Tk.1800 and Tk.5365 per tonne respectively. Seventy one percent seed was sold at home. Most of the farmers received information and technical support from RDA. To reduce the inefficiency in the supply chain a PPP model was suggested. For better development of women entrepreneurs, provision of logistical support, strategy and policy formulation and well coordination among GO, NGO and private organization is necessary to make the seed business viable.


In wireless networks, portable terminals are usually powered by battery, and they communicate through the free-space spectrum. Therefore, both the transmission power and bandwidth are scarce resources. Artificial power capture is a simple and effective method to exploit the transmission bandwidth to give a higher throughput, but it may consume a larger mean transmission power because some packets are transmitted at higher power. In this paper, we analyze the mean power consumption of artificial power capture, and formulate two capture control problems which regulate the mean power consumption and the throughput. The analysis reveals that, although some packets are transmitted at higher power, artificial power capture has a smaller mean power consumption than the case without capture when the traffic is sufficiently heavy. This is because artificial power capture can significantly increase the probability of successful transmission at heavy traffic, and hence the mean power consumed for successfully transmitting a packet is smaller.


Impaired arm-hand performance is a serious consequence of stroke that is associated with reduced self-efficacy and poor quality of life. Task-oriented arm training is a therapy approach that is known to improve skilled arm-hand performance, even in chronic stages after stroke. At the start of this project, little knowledge had been consolidated regarding taskoriented arm training characteristics, especially in the field of technology-supported rehabilitation. The feasibility and effects of technology-supported client-centred task-oriented training on skilled arm-hand performance had not been investigated but to a very limited degree. Reviewing literature on rehabilitation and motor learning in stroke led to the identification of therapy oriented criteria for rehabilitation technology aiming to influence skilled arm-hand performance (chapter 2). Most rehabilitation systems reported in literature to date are robotic systems that are aimed at providing an engaging exercise environment and feedback on motor performance. Both, feedback and engaging exercises are important for motivating patients to perform a high number of exercise repetitions and prolonged training, which are important factors for motor learning. The review also found that current rehabilitation technology is focussed mainly on providing treatment at a function level, thereby improving joint range of motion, muscle strength and parameters such as movement speed and smoothness of movement during analytical movements. However, related research has found no effects of robot-supported training at the activity level. The review concluded that a challenge exists for upper extremity rehabilitation technology in stroke patients to also provide more patienttailored task-oriented arm-hand training in natural environments to support the learning of skilled arm-hand performance. Besides mapping the strengths of different technological solutions, the use of outcome measures and training protocols needs to become more standardized across similar interventions, in order to help determine which training solutions are most suitable for specific patient categories. Chapter 4 contributes towards such a standardization of outcome measurement. A concept is introduced which may guide the clinician/researcher to choose outcome measures for evaluating specific and generalized training effects. As an initial operationalization of this concept, 28 test batteries that have been used in 16 task-oriented training interventions were rated as to whether measurement components were measured by the test. Future research is suggested that elaborates the concept with information on the relative weighing of components in each test, with more test batteries (which may lead to additional components) and by adding more test properties into the concept (e.g. psychometric properties of the tests, possible floor- or ceiling effects). Task-oriented training is one of the training approaches that has been shown to be beneficial for skilled arm-hand performance after stroke. Important mechanisms for motor learning that are identified are patient motivation for such training, and the learning of efficient goaloriented movement strategies and task-specific problem solving. In this thesis we operationalize task-oriented training in terms of 15 components (chapter 3). A systematic review that included 16 randomized controlled trials using task-oriented training in stroke patients, evaluated the effects of these training components on skilled arm-hand performance. The number of training components used in an intervention aimed at improving arm-hand performance after stroke was not associated with the post-treatment effect size. Distributed practice and feedback were associated with the largest post-intervention effect sizes. Random practice and use of clear functional training goals were associated with the largest follow-up effect sizes. It may be that training components that optimize the storage of learned motor performance in the long-term memory are associated with larger treatment effects. Unfortunately, feedback, random practice and distributed practice were reported in very few of the included randomized controlled trials (in only 6,3 and 1 out of the 17 studies respectively). Client-centred training, i.e. training on exercises that support goals that are selected by the patients themselves, improves patient motivation for training. Motivation in turn has proven to positively influence motor learning in stroke patients, as attention during training is heightened and storage of information in the long-term memory improves. Chapter 5 reports on an interview of 40 stroke patients, investigating into training preferences. A list of 46 skills, ranked according to descending training preference scores, was provided that can be used for implementation of exercises in rehabilitation technology, in order for technologysupported training to be client-centred. Chapter 6 introduces T-TOAT, a technology supported task-oriented arm training method that was developed together with colleagues at Adelante (Hoensbroek, NL). T-TOAT enables the implementation of exercises that support task-oriented training in rehabilitation technology. The training method is applicable for different technological systems, e.g. robot and sensor systems, or in combination with functional electrical stimulation, etc. To enable the use of TTOAT for training with the Haptic Master Robot (MOOG-FCS, NL), special software named Haptic TOAT was developed in Adelante together with colleagues at the Centre of Technology in Care of Zuyd University (chapter 6). The software enables the recording of the patient's movement trajectories, given task constraints and patient possibilities, using the Haptic Master as a recording device. A purpose-made gimbal was attached to the endeffector, leaving the hand free for the use and manipulating objects. The recorded movement can be replayed in a passive mode or in an active mode (active, active-assisted or activeresisted). Haptic feedback is provided when the patient deviates from the recorded movement trajectory, as the patient receives the sensation of bouncing into a wall, as well as feeling a spring that pulls him/her back to the recorded path. The diameter of the tunnel around the recorded trajectory (distance to the wall), and the spring force can be adjusted for each patient. An ongoing clinical trial in which chronic stroke patients train with Haptic-TOAT examines whether Haptic Master provides additional value compared to supporting the same exercises by video-instruction only. Together with Philips Research Europe (Eindhoven,Aachen), the T-TOAT method has been implemented in a sensor based prototype, called Philips Stroke Rehabilitation Exerciser. This system included movement tracking sensors and an exercise board interacting with real life objects. A very strong feature of the system is that feedback is provided to patients (real-time and after exercise performance), based on a comparison of the patient's exercise performance to individual targets set by the therapist. Chapter 7 reports on a clinical trial investigating arm-hand treatment outcome and patient motivation for technology-supported task-oriented training in chronic stroke patients. It was found that 8 weeks of T-TOAT training improved arm-hand performance in chronic stroke patients significantly on Fugl-Meyer, Action Research Arm Test, and Motor Activity Log. An improvement was found in health-related quality of life. Training effects lasted at least 6 months post-training. Participants reported feeling intrinsically motivated and competent to use the system. The results of this study showed that T-TOAT is feasible. Despite the small number of stroke patients tested (n=9), significant and clinically relevant improvements in skilled arm-hand performance were found. In conclusion, this thesis has made several contributions. It motivated the need for clientcentred task-oriented training, which it has operationalized in terms of 15 components. Four of these 15 components were identified as most beneficial for the patient. A prioritized inventory of arm-hand training preferences of stroke patients was compiled by means of an interview study of 40 subacute and chronic stroke patients. T-TOAT, a method for technology-supported, client-centred, task-oriented training, was conceived and implemented in two target technologies (Haptic Master and Philips Stroke Rehabilitation Exerciser). Its feasibility was demonstrated in a clinical trial showing substantial and durable benefits for the stroke patients. Finally, the thesis contributes towards the standardization of outcome measures which is necessary for charting progress and guiding future developments of technology-supported stroke rehabilitation. Methodological considerations were discussed and several suggestions for future research were presented. The variety of treatment approaches and the various ways of support and challenge that are offered by existing rehabilitation technologies hold a large potential for offering a variety of extra training opportunities to stroke patients that may improve their arm-hand performance. Such solutions will be of increasing importance, to alleviate therapists and reduce economic pressure on the health care system, as the stroke incidence is increasing rapidly over the coming decades.


Order and asymmetry in jammed systems by Zhusong Li Adviser: Mark D. Shattuck Granular matter is composed of particles that are big enough that thermal effects may be neglected. We studied both granular flow and granular statics using numerical simulation. In granular flow, we simulated 2D granular flow in a hopper. A hopper is a container with an opening at the bottom. Simulated disks are placed in the hopper with the bottom closed and then released. We developed a new tangential force model to simulate hopper flow, that matches experiments and shows that the output flux is proportional to the bottom opening size to the 3/2 power. We also see clogging or jamming and estimate the jamming probability. We applied our force model to a 2D rotating drum simulation and studied the statistics of avalanches. In many systems, from earthquakes to plastic deformations the avalanche size probability F (I) is a power-law in avalanche size I. We find F (I) ∝ I for our system. We also find that the scaled average avalanche shape is parabolic as predicted by mean-field theoretical models. In many systems, we would like to measure the degree of crystallization. Q6 is a v common order metric used to detect hexagonal symmetry, and it works very well in mono-disperse systems. However, when we consider bi-disperse and poly-disperse systems, and other non-hexagonal lattices, Q6 is not as useful. We developed a new order metric, Voronoi entropy, based on Voronoi tessellation and information theory. The main idea of the Voronoi entropy is to detect and quantify unique Voronoi polyhedrons. Voronoi entropy can successfully find lattice order in bi-disperse crystal and other structures like simple cubic, body-centered-cubic, for which Q6 is not sensitive. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of binary Lennard-Jones systems to model the crystallization process during heating and cooling protocols in metallic glasses. We measured the minimum cooling rate R c to crystallize a liquid and the minimum heating rate R h to crystallize a glass formed prepared using a fast quench at rate Rp. We find: (1) R ∗ h > R ∗ c in all systems. (2) The asymmetry ratio R h/R ∗ c increases as R ∗ c increases. (3) The critical heating rate R ∗ h(Rp) has an intrinsic contribution R h(∞) and protocol-dependent contribution R ∗ h−R ∗ h(∞) that increases with decreasing preparation cooling rates Rp. We show all of these findings are in agreement with classical nucleation theory.


Many business organisations put a lot of effort in raising their performance levels in the three dimensions of sustainability - i.e., people, planet, and profit. It is therefore important to measure and weight the effects of their efforts. In this report a framework is presented that is helpful in analysing the social, environmental, and economic activities of a business firm or chain. This framework is based on Wood's (1991) model of corporate social performance. However, it is enriched by incorporating contributions by other significant scientific studies in the fields of corporate social performance and business ethics. Furthermore, based on a review of the scientific literature, suggestions for operationalising the framework are offered.


Background Assessment of pain is a challenge in neonatal setting. Visual, behavioural and physiological pain scales are not always reliable in premature infants. Few studies with limited sample size have been published on the reliability and efficacy of Skin Conductance Algesimeter (SCA) in monitoring pain in infants and children. Aim To identify the clinical usefulness of SCA as a reliable and valid measure of pain intensity and stress response in preterm infants. Methods Parents of all preterm infants admitted to the neonatal unit were invited to participate in the study. The usefulness of SCA was compared with simultaneous measurement of 'Premature Infant Pain Profile' (PIPP) and 'Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scores during invasive and/or painful procedures. Results 85 measurements were recorded. PIPP and FLACC scores started low, increased during the procedure and decreased afterwards. For all SCA measurements, there was an increase in score pre-pro and a decrease in score pro-post. However, the standard deviation for variations was wider for some measurements than for others. Paired t-test comparing Delta pre-pro with Delta pro-post for all measurements {PIPP, FLACC, Area (small) and Peaks/sec} individually showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). For Area (small), there was no significant correlation between SCA data and PIPP/FLACC scores. Conclusions SCA, PIPP and FLACC scores increased during the painful procedures. Although the SCA, PIPP and FLACC data is mathematically correlated, at a clinical level, the correlation is too imprecise to use the SCA to predict or measure behavioural responses to noxious stimuli in neonates.


The effect of denervation on avian muscle α‐spectrin was examined in fast and slow muscles. Using immunofluorescence, the surgically denervated fast‐twitch posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) exhibited a significant increase in spectrin antigen associated with the sarcolemma and within the sarcoplasm compared with the contralateral innervated control muscle. Using gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting, we found a two‐ to three‐fold increase in the levels of spectrin in the denervated PLD over that found in the innervated PLD. These levels were comparable to those found previously in slow and dystrophic muscle. The intrafiber distribution of spectrin is similar between the denervated PLD and the slow‐tonic anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD). When spectrin was examined in dystrophic PLD muscle, denervation was found to have no effect. These results support our hypothesis that the concentration of spectrin within muscle fibers reflects the physiological state of those fibers. Changes in spectrin concentration may be a useful probe to study the various alterations in physical parameters found among fast, slow, dystrophic, and denervated fibers.


This study aims to analyze the level of technical efficiency of fertilizer use, describe the distribution of technical efficiency based on the characteristics of farmers, and analyze the determinant factors that affect the use of fertilizers in smallholder oil palm plantations in Sekernan District, Muaro Jambi Regency. The type of research used is descriptive quantitative research. The analytical method used to calculate the efficiency value of farmers is using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method with the input approach of Variable Return to Scale assumptions. This research was conducted in two villages, namely Gerunggung Village and Bukit Baling Village in Sekernan District, Muaro Jambi Regency and carried out from June 2022 to July 2022. The results showed that based on DEA analysis there were 9 farmers who farmers.The distribution of farmers' were technically efficient and there were as many as 48 technically inefficient. Technical efficiency based on farmer characteristics is found in farmers who have a land area of 1.5 to 4.5 ha with a percentage of 90 percent, with an age range of 50 to 54 years with a percentage of 33.4 percent, have experience in farming for 9 to 14 years and 27 to 32 years with their respective percentages of 33.4 percent, and the length of education 6 to 8 years of 66.67 percent. Based on the tobit regression analysis, the factors (determinants) that affect the technical efficiency of oil palm farming, the variable FFB price, length of education and farmer's age have a significant value of more than 0.05 or no significant effect on the technical efficiency of fertilizer use. As for the variable price of fertilizer, farming experience, land area has a significance smaller than alpha 0.05 which means it has a significant impact on the technical efficiency of using oil palm fertilizer in Sekernan District, Muaro Jambi Regency. However, simultaneously all independent variables have a significant effect on the confidence level of 0.05.


Background. The World Health Organization is revising the classification of common mental disorders in primary care for ICD-11. Major changes from the ICD-10 primary care version have been proposed for: (i) mood and anxiety disorders; and (ii) presentations of multiple somatic symptoms (bodily stress syndrome). This three-part field study explored the implementation of the revised classification by primary care physicians (PCPs) in five countries. Methods. Participating PCPs in Brazil, China, Mexico, Pakistan and Spain were asked to use the revised classification, first in patients that they suspected might be psychologically distressed (Part 1), and second in patients with multiple somatic symptoms causing distress or disability not wholly attributable to a known physical pathology, or with high levels of health anxiety (Part 2). Patients referred to Part 1 or Part 2 underwent a structured diagnostic interview. Part 3 consisted of feedback from PCPs regarding the classification. Results. In Part 1, anxious depression was the most common disorder among referred patients. PCPs assigned the highest severity ratings to anxious depression, and the next highest to current depression; current anxiety was rated as least severe. Considerable overlap was found between bodily stress syndrome (BSS) and health anxiety (HA). The psychiatric interview recorded higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders diagnoses among patients with BSS than did PCPs. PCPs' satisfaction with the revised classification was high. Conclusions. Results generally supported the inclusion of the new categories of anxious depression, BSS and HA for ICD-11 PHC and suggested that PCPs could implement these categories satisfactorily.


Purpose of review With the expanding use of new technology in the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa), the financial burden on the healthcare system and the individual has been important. Robotics offer many potential advantages to the surgeon and the patient. We assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of robotics in urological surgery and performed a comparative cost analysis with respect to other potential treatment modalities. Recent findings The direct and indirect costs of purchasing, maintaining, and operating the robot must be compared to alternatives in treatment of localized PCa. Some expanding technologies including intensity-modulated radiation therapy are significantly more expensive than robotic surgery. Furthermore, the benefits of robotics including decreased length of stay and return to work are considerable and must be measured when evaluating its cost-effectiveness. Summary Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery comes at a high cost but can become cost-effective in mostly high-volume centers with high-volume surgeons. The device when utilized to its maximum potential and with eventual market-driven competition can become affordable.


Introduction Although most countries and healthcare systems worldwide have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, some groups of the population may be more vulnerable to detrimental effects of the pandemic on mental health than others. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise evidence currently available from systematic reviews on the impact of COVID-19 and other coronavirus outbreaks on mental health for groups of the population thought to be at increased risk of detrimental mental health impacts. Materials and methods We conducted a systematic review of reviews on adults and children residing in a country affected by a coronavirus outbreak and belonging to a group considered to be at risk of experiencing mental health inequalities. Data were collected on symptoms or diagnoses of any mental health condition, quality of life, suicide or attempted suicide. The protocol for this systematic review was registered in the online PROSPERO database prior to commencing the review (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=194264). Results We included 25 systematic reviews. Most reviews included primary studies of hospital workers from multiple countries. Reviews reported variable estimates for the burden of symptoms of mental health problems among acute healthcare workers, COVID-19 patients with physical comorbidities, and children and adolescents. No evaluations of interventions were identified. Risk- and protective factors, mostly for healthcare workers, showed the importance of personal factors, the work environment, and social networks for mental health. Conclusions This review of reviews based on primary studies conducted in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic shows a lack of evidence on mental health interventions and mental health impacts on vulnerable groups in the population.


It is now well established that running animals' mass centers exhibit the characteristics of a Spring Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) in the sagittal plane (Blickhan and Full, 1993). What control policy accomplishes this collapse of dimension by which animals solve the "degrees of freedom problem" (Bernstein, 1967)? How valuable might this policy be to gait control in legged robots?


Background Interferon (IFN) signature has been reported in definite systemic sclerosis (SSc) but it has not been characterised in early SSc (EaSSc). We aim at characterising IFN type I signature in SSc before overt skin fibrosis develops. Methods The expression of 11 IFN type I inducible genes was tested in whole-blood samples from 30 healthy controls (HCs), 12 subjects with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), 19 patients with EaSSc, 7 patients with definite SSc without cutaneous fibrosis, 21 limited cutaneous SSc and 10 diffuse cutaneous SSc subjects. The correlation between IFN activity in monocytes, B cell activating factor (BAFF) mRNA expression and type III procollagen N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) serum levels was tested. Results In all the SSc groups, higher IFN scores were observed compared with HC. An IFN score ≥7.09 discriminated HCs from patients with SSc (sensitivity=0.7, specificity=0.88, area under receiving operating characteristic (AUROC)=0.82); the prevalence of an elevated IFN score was: HC=3.3%; RP=33.3%, EaSSc=78.9%, definite SSc=100%, limited cutaneous SSc=42.9%, diffuse cutaneous SSc=70.0%. In monocytes an IFN score ≥4.12 distinguished HCs from patients with fibrotic SSc (sensitivity=0.62, specificity=0.85, AUROC=0.76). Compared with IFN-negative subjects, IFN-positive subjects had higher monocyte BAFF mRNA levels (19.7±5.2 vs 15.20±4.0, p=2.1×10−5) and serum PIIINP levels (median=6.0 (IQR 5.4–8.9) vs median=3.9 (IQR 3.3–4.7), p=0.0004). Conclusions An IFN type I signature is observed in patients with SSc from the earliest phases of the disease, even before overt skin fibrosis. The presence of IFN type I signature in monocytes is correlated with BAFF mRNA expression and serum PIIINP levels, supporting a contribution in the pathogenesis and progression of SSc.


In recent years, dramatic river flooding occurred in the city of Prague causing the raising of the river water level more than 8 m and the inundation of the lower parts of the city. The disaster resulted in numerous casualties and damages of buildings and infrastructures. Prior disaster analysis showed that the city was not well prepared for facing the disasters. A digital training could be a powerful tool for increasing knowledge and awareness of the citizens and providing training facilities about response to such disasters. A special Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), therefore, has been developed focused on flooding in Prague offering educational material in crisis flooding. Dedicated technologies have been developed such as a flooding alert and a nonverbal communication language based on icons. The MOOC enables participants to train the new technologies. Participants can also play roles in the crisis management team to increase the sensitivity of the complexity of a flooding crisis and its measurements. The first prototype of the MOOC was tested on a group of students of the Technical Universities of Prague and Delft. The test results will be reported.


The tractions that cells exert on a gel substrate from the observed displacements is an increasingly attractive and valuable information in biomedical experiments. The computation of these tractions requires in general the solution of an inverse problem. Here, we resort to the discretisation with finite elements of the associated direct variational formulation, and solve the inverse analysis using a least square approach. This strategy requires the minimisation of an error functional, which is usually regularised in order to obtain a stable system of equations with a unique solution. In this paper we show that for many common three-dimensional geometries, meshes and loading conditions, this regularisation is unnecessary. In these cases, the computational cost of the inverse problem becomes equivalent to a direct finite element problem. For the non-regularised functional, we deduce the necessary and sufficient conditions that the dimensions of the interpolated displacement and traction fields must preserve in order to exactly satisfy or yield a unique solution of the discrete equilibrium equations. We apply the theoretical results to some illustrative examples and to real experimental data. Due to the relevance of the results for biologists and modellers, the article concludes with some practical rules that the finite element discretisation must satisfy.


The chorioretinal junction comprises the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane (BM), and adjacent choroidal capillaries. Its significance lies in its ability to support the retina mechanically and metabolically. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to record the senescent changes affecting all the constituents of the chorioretinal junction in 40 histological specimens across the whole spectrum of the adult age range. This study included light microscopy, with hematoxylin and eosin and PAS stains, and fluorescent microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was done using antibodies against neurofilament, synaptophysin, S-100, and collagen IV. The descriptive microanatomy was corroborated by morphometry. The amount of melanin and lipofuscin granule and drusens were noted. The ratio of thickness of BM to capillary diameter reduced from 1:6 or less in the 2nd decade to 1:3 in the 10th decade. Complete hyalinization of intercapillary pillars was seen in the 10th decade. The accumulation of lipofuscin with age was documented with the diminution in the size of epithelial cells. The subepithelial accumulation of drusen was first noted in the specimen from the late 60s. We have described all senescent changes in the chorioretinal junction chronologically. Similar changes are found in a more pronounced form in age-related macular degeneration. These data might serve as a reference baseline for clinicians and pathologists.


Nanostructured Tin oxide thin films were deposited on the Si (111) substrate using pulsed laser deposition technique at different substrate temperatures (200, 300,400 and 500 °C) in an oxygen pressure (5*10 -1 mbar). The structure and morphology of the as-deposited films indicate that the film crystallinity and surface topography are influenced by the deposition temperature by changing from an almost amorphous to crystalline nanostructure and rougher topography at a higher substrate temperature. Hall Effect has been studied to estimate the type of carriers, from the result we deduced that the SnO2 thin films are n-type.


The effect of dietary methionine (Met) levels on endogenous N and amino acids (AA) flows at different part of the digestive tract of growing goats was determined using a (15)N isotope dilution technique. Three goats (25 ± 2.5 kg) were fitted with the ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulae and allocated to three dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The dietary treatments consisted of a total mixed ration containing three levels of Met (0.15%, 0.25% and 0.35%) respectively. It was found that at 0.15% Met level, the lowest flow in endogenous N and total AA at the duodenum and ileum occurred. The endogenous N secretion contributed to 26% and 23% of the duodenal and ileal total N flows, respectively, and the proportions were not affected by the dietary Met levels. The duodenal and ileal flows of endogenous total AA were 11.1, 11.8, 11.3 g/d and 2.9, 3.9, 4.1 g/d respectively. The average real digestibility of N was 65%, 87% and 95% in the forestomach, intestine and whole digestive tract respectively.


The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is a common manifestation of a wide range of disease. This review provides a structured approach to the investigation of the patient with a pleural effusion. This should allow an accurate diagnosis to be made with the minimum number of invasive and time-consuming investigations.


Background: The aim of the study was to compare albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) in the morning urine sample with the 24-hour urinary albumin excretion in diabetic patients by using facilities available in Iran, also determining correlation between them and day to day variation of ACR. Methods: In this 8-month long cross-sectional study conducted in the year ending on 20 March 2006 in Zanjan, a 24-hour collected urine sample and 2 single morning samples were evaluated for measuring albumin by use of immune-turbidometry in 201 outpatients afflicted with diabetes mellitus type 2. The correlation coefficient of ACR in single samples and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion samples were assessed by use of Pearson correlation statistical test, and the regression analysis and its diagnostic function in diagnosing of micro-albuminuria. Results: Fifty one out of 201 patients (25.40%) had micro-albuminuria and 8 (4%) were afflicted with macro-albuminuria. The correlation coefficient of ACR was maximally 81% (P<0.0001) and the regression equation obtained was, at the best, 24-hour urinary albumin excretion= 8.526 + (the second day ACR * 0.891). The correlation coefficient in micro-albuminuric patients was statistically significant only with respect to the second day ACR (0.50). Using the usual second day ACR cut-off of 30 mg/g, the sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 93.80%, respectively, for patients under 40 years of age (19), 47.90% and 83.30%, respectively, for 40 years, and more, of age (182) were obtained. Conclusion: Until more assessment of other available laboratory kits is made, the morning urine albumin/creatinine ratio test will not be an acceptable alternative for measuring 24-hour urine albumin in diagnosis of micro-albuminuria in diabetic patients in Iran.


This paper presents a novel design approach by applying gradient optimization with fuzzy step-sizing techniques to the design of a digital permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo drive. The servo specifications and design variables are specified and analyzed to formulate a controller optimization problem. The servo responses are then fed back to evaluate the overall system performances, which can be expressed as objective functions with respect to the servo control parameters. According to the objective functions and design specifications, the servo control parameters can be properly tuned toward their optimal values by using the proposed optimization techniques. In order to improve the convergent rate of the optimization process, a fuzzy-logic based step-size tuning strategy is presented. Because of the nonlinear property of the digital servo drives, the tuned servo control parameters may be only optimal for a particular operating point, therefore, once the optimum design is achieved, the proposed fuzzy optimizing controller can perform as an intelligent tuner for on-line gain adaptation under different loading conditions. The proposed fuzzy optimization servo tuner has been realized under a PC-MATLAB-based environment with an on-line controlled digital PMSM servo drive. Simulation and experimental results indicate that the control parameters of a digital PMSM servo drive can be optimized for its dynamic responses under various load conditions.


For over a decade, a complex and layered 'global justice assemblage' of local, national, and international political and institutional actors have cooperated or contended with each other on the pressing questions of how to define and how to bring justice to the northern Ugandan conflict. This assemblage consists of representatives of domestic and international criminal courts, (donor) governments, lawyers, local and international NGOs, UN, EU and AU agencies, military commands, and local peace activists. They have each, in collaboration or contestation, upheld a particular 'frame' of the protracted civil war between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda; cast blame and accountability in specific ways, and justified divergent institutional responses. It is for the purpose of describing, explaining, and understanding the actors, interests, and voices within this 'global justice assemblage' as pertains to the case of Uganda that the four articles that comprise this dissertation, although distinct in the topics that each one addresses, are nevertheless bound together into a coherent whole. Transcending a local-global divide, the four articles that form the body of this dissertation lend insight into how the above-described assembly of actors became involved in 'governing' the conflict in northern Uganda. By drawing on a critical discursive approach to violent conflict, this dissertation empirically examines the discursive and institutional alliances, shifts and effects that have characterized this assembly's governing trajectory between 2005 and 2015. Four main questions guided the research: 1. What discourses have been produced and distributed regarding the northern Uganda conflict? 2. Which of these discourses have been translated into judicial and military practices? 3. How are these judicial and military practices playing out locally? 4. How and why are particular signifying discourses and regulatory practices politically functional? To answer these questions I made use of an interpretive epistemology and an embedded case study design that investigates a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within its real-life context. I conducted field research in both Uganda, as well as closer to home, such as in The Hague and Brussels. My units of analysis in this embedded case study design were individuals, groups, institutions, and social interactions, while my sources of evidence were documents, archival records, in-depth interviews, focus groups discussions and direct observation. I took a grounded theory approach to collecting and analysing my evidence.


In this paper, evapotranspiration (ET) and leaf area index (LAI) were used to calibrate the SWAT model, whereas remotely sensed precipitation and other climatic parameters were used as forcing data for the 6300 km2 Day Basin, a tributary of the Red River in Vietnam. The efficacy of the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) parameter sensitivity and optimization model was tested with area specific remote sensing input parameters for every Hydrological Response Units (HRU), rather than with measurements of river flow representing a large set of HRUs, i.e., a bulk calibration. Simulated monthly ET correlations with remote sensing estimates showed an R2 = 0.71, Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency NSE = 0.65, and Kling Gupta Efficiency KGE = 0.80 while monthly LAI showed correlations of R2 = 0.59, NSE = 0.57 and KGE = 0.83 over a five-year validation period. Accumulated modelled ET over the 5-year calibration period amounted to 5713 mm compared to 6015 mm of remotely sensed ET, yielding a difference of 302 mm (5.3%). The monthly flow at two flow measurement stations were adequately estimated (R2 = 0.78 and 0.55, NSE = 0.71 and 0.63, KGE = 0.59 and 0.75 for Phu Ly and Ninh Binh, respectively). This outcome demonstrates the capability of SWAT model to obtain spatial and accurate simulation of eco-hydrological processes, also when rivers are ungauged and the water withdrawal system is complex.


Fair resource allocation in high-speed networks such as the Internet can be viewed as a constrained convex program. Kelly, Maulloo and Tan (see Journal of the Operational Research Society, vol.49, p.237-52, 1998) have shown that an unconstrained penalty function formulation of this problem can be used to design congestion controllers that are stable. We examine the question of providing feedback from the network such that the congestion controllers derived from the penalty function formulation lead to the solution of the original unconstrained problem. This can be viewed as the decentralized design of early congestion notification (ECN) marking rates at each node in the Internet to ensure global loss-free, socially-optimal operation of a fluid model of the network.


This paper outlines a model of community collaborative research in which the linguist aligns documentary research with the needs and linguistic capacities of a community that is trying to reverse language shift. The linguist working on a grammar of the language responds to community topics and questions as they arise. At the same time, the writing of the grammar crucially involves members of the community as assistants. We discuss one project of this type, where the goal is the production of a grammar designed for use both by linguists and members of the community. This follows in the growing tradition of writing high quality reference grammars which can be used by speakers of that language (c.f. Valentine 2001). A community reference grammar for Inuktitut has as its primary goal that the grammar be broad ranging in topics, extending beyond the pages of inflectional paradigms which characterize most grammars of this language. Issues such as WH questions and how quantifiers are used will be included. A second goal is that the grammar be of immediate and direct use to the community. In order to ascertain that the grammar is readable and therefore useable by members of the community, the linguist must obtain feedback from language professionals (translators, language teachers, curriculum developers) within the community. This is done through the internet, where draft sections of the grammar are posted. Assistants have been hired to serve as readers and liaison to the other interested members of the community. This has two secondary purposes. Errors or omissions in the discussion are caught; the online drafts serve as a catalyst for discussion about language within the community and on the radio. A linguist is unlikely to be aware of what language professionals within the community actually need and want to know at any particular moment. In one recent case the linguist was asked to identify a set of elements. These elements are possessive suffixes which have a complex set of portmanteau features, including a) person and number of possessor, b) number of possessum and c) case. There is also some slight variation within the community. The question led to a draft entry on this topic, which is being read by the liaison assistants. In this manner, the construction of a reference grammar is one intersecting piece in the overall community effort to reverse language shift.


From studies of the effects of drugs on a gamut of physiological regulations or upon the diseased organism, modern pharmacology has increasingly turned to investigations of drug effects on discrete biochemical systems and their intrinsic control mechanisms at the level of ultrastructure. It seems apparent that drugs also affect mechanisms and conditions through which complex behavioral systems are regulated and organized. This approach, in fact, is relatively recent. Pharmacologists can now begin to make considered inferences about the role of biochemical changes in maintaining, enhancing or inhibiting various kinds of learning, remembering and forgetting, and various ways of perceiving, reacting and feeling. This development, which may or may not be timely in view of the current status of basic knowledge of the factors which regulate behavior, nevertheless comprises an approach-psychopharmacology-which embraces a number of biological sciences and behavioral disciplines. No text adequately introduces or instructs those interested in current developments. For this reason, the somewhat loosely organized format of the published symposium for all its hazards (such as the recording for all time of garrulous ramblings which are inherent in the informal banter surrounding even scientific discussions) is nevertheless appropriate. For the student who wants insight into problem areas under current investigation in psychopharmacology, this well-edited volume is a fine introduction, and its scope makes the book indispensable to experts in the field. Sponsored by the Ciba Foundation, the symposium was to discuss the limitations and role of animal behavior studies in psychopharmacology, in an attempt both to evaluate methodology and report new findings. The participants represent a sampling of expertise in the field and the topics are relevant: the behavioral analysis of drug action; neurophysiological and biochemical correlates of behavioral effects; effects of environmental, genetic, and experiential factors; and consideration of such problems as extrapolation from animals to man. Many crucial problems, questions and views are presented and the volume may be recommended not as an original source but as an excellent entree to characteristic approaches and problems in psychopharmacological research. DANIEL X. FREEDMAN


8-10 October 1997 An Introduction to Cardiorespiratory Epidemiology. Venue: Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart & Lung Institute, London. Contact: Conference Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, England (Tel: 0171 351 8172 (international +44 171 351 8172); Fax: 0171 376 3442 (international +44 171 351 3442)).


Background: Healthcare is shifting to value-based payment models. Two percent of Medicare reimbursements are currently linked to value measures including the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) hospital satisfaction survey. The purpose of this study was to determine if HCAHPS survey results are correlated with validated legacy outcome measures after total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 84 patients undergoing elective total shoulder arthroplasty. Baseline 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index (WOOS) questionnaires were completed at the time of enrollment. ASES and WOOS scores were collected at 3-months and 1-year post-operatively. Patients were contacted to complete the HCAHPS survey postoperatively. HCAHPS results and baseline functional scores were evaluated for an association with improvements in legacy outcome measures after surgery. Results: HCAHPS scores were higher among males than females (P=0.04). Age, SF-12 physical component scores, SF-12 mental component scores, and pre-operative symptom severity were not associated with HCAHPS results. HCAHPS scores were not correlated with ASES (r=0.09, P=0.44) or WOOS scores (r=−0.17, P=0.13) at one year after surgery. HCAHPS was also not correlated with the absolute improvement in ASES (r=−0.02, P=0.85) or WOOS scores (r=−0.08, P=0.48) from pre- to one year post-operatively. Conclusions: The HCAHPS score, a measure of satisfaction and a determinant of Medicare quality-based reimbursement, showed no correlation with functional outcome measures at one year after total shoulder arthroplasty. Thus, HCAHPS patient satisfaction survey may not be aligned with functional outcomes valued by patients. Further consideration is warranted regarding the assessment of quality, and in turn reimbursements, with survey results.


Cryptography is the universal tool to protect the privacy of data. Today's cryptography still requires encrypted data to be decrypted before it can be searched. We propose here an alternative way of protecting the privacy of data through dispersion of a compressed version of the original data that can be searched without recovering the original data. Our scheme compresses the original data and then generates several chunks that are stored at different nodes. The chunks are stored in the form of an index. To search for a string, we convert the string into chunks with the same scheme and then have each site consult its index in order to obtain a list of all possible positions where the search string might be found. These local results are then sent to the user who performs a logical intersection to find all likely positions in the original, where the search string might be located in the text. The user can then decrypt only those parts or records to obtain all parts or records where the search strings. Our scheme has no false negatives (all occurrences of the search string will be found). We show that the precision becomes close to 100% for longer strings using a corpus consisting of texts in the English language. We also show that the chunks are somewhat, but not quite similar to random bit streams, and that each individual stream has less information content than a typical English language stream of the same length.


paper, the estimation of R=P(Y < X), when X and Y are two generalized inverted exponential random variables with different parameters is considered. This problem arises naturally in the area of reliability for a system with strength X and stress Y. The estimation is made using simple random sampling (SRS) and ranked set sampling (RSS) approaches. The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of R is derived using both approaches. Assuming that the common scale parameter is known, MLEs of R are obtained. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the estimators obtained using both approaches. . The properties of these estimators are investigated and compared with known estimators based on simple random sample (SRS) data. The comparison is based on biases, mean squared errors (MSEs) and the efficiency of the estimators of R based on RSS with respect to those based on SRS. The estimators based on RSS is found to dominate those based on SRS.


Bike share systems are a unique opportunity to encourage active transportation within a public transportation framework. Bike share has the potential to deliver an array of benefits to communities, including reduced emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and parking needs, as well as increasing residents' participation in healthful exercise. However, the benefits of bike share are often not equitably distributed among the diverse populations of the cities in which they have been implemented: statistics indicate a possibility of a lack of equitable system access for low-income and/or minority (LIM) populations in North America, as these populations are overwhelmingly underrepresented among bike share users. The current system enables users to check out a bike using a credit or debit card, which is restrictive to LIM individuals who may not have such accounts. Today many system operators attempt to rectify this rift by working with local financial institutions to help potential users obtain debit or credit cards. However, less attention has been directed towards many other issues inherent in the system, which when combined create a product that fails many LIM users. These users face other financial constraints such as additional fees that increase exponentially after the first 30 minutes, and the lack of a fare structure competitive with transit. One of the most fundamental problems is that docking stations are placed in attractive, multi-use neighborhoods and commercial corridors with vibrant economies and public spaces; areas where decades of social and financial pressure have minimized the presence of LIM residents. Contemporary ridership forecasting models for bike share are based on current patterns of bicycle use, and generally assume a negative correlation between ridership and prevalence of non-white population. Concerns regarding security while bicycling can also act as a barrier for bike share use by the LIM community, as these communities can have much poorer bicycle infrastructure and higher incidences of crime. Educational barriers such as language differences and lack of cycling knowledge or skills combine to make it difficult for LIM community members to understand the system, enroll in the system, or use the system easily. Hours of operation are also typically not supportive of non-traditional shift hours, and hardware prevents users from bringing along children or cargo. Barriers to equitable access to bike share must be met with thoughtful analysis and policy adjustments to ensure that, as this new opportunity for public active transportation spreads in the United States, all citizens may benefit. This report responds to a study by Fehr & Peers in 2014 that was the first iteration of planning for the new Sacramento Area bike share system. Using this study as a starting point, this report aims to explore how system equity barriers could be removed so that all residents of Sacramento, regardless of ethnicity or income status, could enjoy the benefits of bike share.