The Karnik–Mendel algorithm is used to compute the centroid of interval type-2 fuzzy sets, determining the switch points needed for the lower and upper bounds of the centroid, through an iterative process. It is commonly acknowledged that there is no closed-form solution for determining such switch points. Many enhanced algorithms have been proposed to improve the computational efficiency of the Karnik–Mendel algorithm. However, all of these algorithms are still based on iterative procedures. In this paper, a direct approach based on derivatives for determining the switch points without multiple iterations has been proposed, together with mathematical proof that these switch points are correctly determining the lower and upper bounds of the centroid. Experimental simulations show that the direct approach obtains the same switch points, but is more computationally efficient than any of the existing (iterative) algorithms. Thus, we propose that this algorithm should be used in any application of interval type-2 fuzzy sets in which the centroid is required.


Two middle aged Caucasian women with no previous history of thyroid or any other disease developed typical subacute thyroiditis (SAT) with minimal thyroidal radioactive iodine uptake. A few months after restoration of euthyroidism and discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy, they developed mild hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease (GD), as judged by the increased diffuse thyroidal radioactive iodine uptake. Both of them were genetically predisposed to the above diseases since they had the certain HLA haplotypes for SAT and GD. Also they developed antithyroglobulin antibodies during the period of GD. We hypothesize that genetic background and the increased load of Tg or other autoantigens released from the distracted damaged thyroid gland due to SAT triggered the development of GD a few months later.


History of distance learning dates back to the late 1960's. However with the advent of the Internet it was repositioned as a major tool for course delivery so that students who are physically prevented from attending class room settings can undertake learning within a setting of their choice aligned with a pace that they can easily cope with. Marketing of distance learning programmes is a diversified business activity in many universities and the School of Construction and property Management (SCPM)utilises the tool predominantly in delivering Masters Courses and PhD sessions over the Internet. Although structural and organisational aspects of DL courses facilitatedby computer mediated communication (CMC) have been dealt with in literature, the degree to which these tools satisfying social aspects of a classroom setting (e.g.guidance and support, body language, feedback, interactions with other learners etc.,)has not received adequate consideration in existing literature. This paper therefore investigates the extent to which the distant learning tools address the wider aspects of supporting a classroom situation during its operation so that appropriate improvements can be made in utilising these tools to attract more students for the relevant construction disciplines. The objective of the paper is to disseminate the preliminary findings out of literature review based on a Teaching and Learning Quality Improvement Scheme (TLQIS)project at SCPM.


This thesis aims to explore the design process of incorporating elements of presence and interactivity in order to measure brand awareness in outdoor advertising. The paper starts out with a description of research related to the field. It then goes through the process of the construction of two kinds of prototypes; one traditional and one interactive advertisement. Two prototypes which are exposed to twelve participants in order to measure a difference in brand recall between them. The result of this measurement is then presented and followed with a discussion. In the end we conclude that the implementation of interactivity and presence when designing for interactive advertisement can in some ways be used to increase brand recall. It may however also lead to the loss of secondary text-based information that is better received through traditional advertisement.


Global enterprises have met challenges in managing and leading multi-site projects, working in virtual teams, sharing knowledge and utilizing new communication technology. Several claims stress that conventional face-to-face practices form an essential part of successful project co-working, but this is often impossible in globally dispersed projects. New information and communication technology solutions are needed for converting collaborative actions into virtual ones. We introduce a framework for analyzing and developing work activities in multi-site projects. Four areas of work are distinguished: personal work, work with people, project/team work, and knowledge work. The framework is used for studying the interaction between an individual and his/her work environment. Our interest is to help multi-site projects to successfully collaborate in distributed circumstances. The framework was tested by analyzing two case projects at Nokia. This paper presents our findings of the framework's usefulness to guide organizational and team development and characterizes R&D work in multi-site circumstances at Nokia.


Background: Stroke is a serious problem faced by society. This disease brings not only health problems to individuals suffering from it, but also a serious economic burden to patients and their families. Moreover, it reduces social benefits and the labor force. Therefore, it is important to think about the efficient control and prevention of this disease. It is well known that hypertension is the main cause of stroke. In Bao Shan District, located in Shanghai, China, a community-based prevention program has been in place since 1995. The program is trying to reduce the number of stroke patients and the costs to treat them, mainly by hypertension control and treatment.
Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to show the data, describe the results and give a cost-benefit analysis of the program according to data from 1995 to 1997.
Methods: The data is calculated by using the method of cost-benefit analysis.
Results: According to the cost-benefit analysis of the program, because the incidence of stroke goes down after the hypertension prevention work is taken, the16 patients will not face economic loss because of stoke after the prevention. This is the biggest benefit of this community-based program. The input of this program is RMB 293,573 and the output is RMB 1,062.204; the ratio of cost and benefit is: cost: benefit=1:3.57. (The official currency of the People's Republic of China; RMB/USD currency exchange rate is 1: 0.1473).
Conclusion: The economic burden and the Cost-Benefit Analysis can provide important data to the medical and public health departments in order to make the pertinent prevention policy.


Biobased production of furfural has been known for decades. Nevertheless, bioeconomy and circular economy concepts is much more recent and has motivated a regain of interest of dedicated research to improve production modes and expand potential uses. Accordingly, this review paper aims essentially at outlining recent breakthroughs obtained in the field of furfural production from sugars and polysaccharides feedstocks. The review discusses advances obtained in major production pathways recently explored splitting in the following categories: (i) non-catalytic routes like use of critical solvents or hot water pretreatment, (ii) use of various homogeneous catalysts like mineral or organic acids, metal salts or ionic liquids, (iii) feedstock dehydration making use of various solid acid catalysts; (iv) feedstock dehydration making use of supported catalysts, (v) other heterogeneous catalytic routes. The paper also briefly overviews current understanding of furfural chemical synthesis and its underpinning mechanism as well as safety issues pertaining to the substance. Eventually, some remaining research topics are put in perspective for further optimization of biobased furfural production.


We study the stability properties of a class of time-varying nonlinear systems. We assume that non-strict input-to-state stable (ISS) Lyapunov functions for our systems are given and posit a mild persistency of excitation condition on our given Lyapunov functions which guarantee the existence of strict ISS Lyapunov functions for our systems. Next, we provide simple direct constructions of explicit strict ISS Lyapunov functions for our systems by applying an integral smoothing method. We illustrate our constructions using a tracking problem for a rotating rigid body.


Chronic liver diseases pose a substantial health burden worldwide, with approximately two million deaths each year. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—valine, leucine, and isoleucine—are a group of essential amino acids that are essential for human health. Despite the necessity of a dietary intake of BCAA, emerging data indicate the undeniable correlation between elevated circulating BCAA levels and chronic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, circulatory BCAAs were positively associated with a higher cholesterol level, liver fat content, and insulin resistance (IR). However, BCAA supplementation was found to provide positive outcomes in cirrhosis and HCC patients. This review will attempt to address the contradictory claims found in the literature, with a special focus on BCAAs' distribution, key signaling pathways, and the modulation of gut microbiota. This should provide a better understanding of BCAAs' possible contribution to liver health.


Data hiding is a major issue of concern while exchanging secret information in an untrusted network. Reversible data hiding plays a vital role in secure secret data transmission. For many applications such as medical image processing and military application every bit of data is important .Even a small amount of distortion is unacceptable and any change can affect the intelligence of the image. RDH-EI is the process of hiding secret information in a cover medium and the lossless extraction of the same ensuring increased payload capacity, better protection and better visual quality of the recovered image. This paper presents a survey on various data hiding techniques and related works.


Introduction: Menopause is associated with an increase in visceral fat and obesity and is the leading risk factor for insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent evidence suggests that retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is not an independent determinant of IR and its role in human glucose metabolism is not well clarified. We examined RBP4 and its association with IR, cardiometabolic and kidney parameters in obese postmenopausal women with and without T2DM.Methods: Basic anthropometric, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure (BP) were determined in 50 obese diabetic and 50 obese non-diabetic sedentary postmenopausal women, and compared with 50 healthy normal weight controls.Results: Higher levels of RBP4 were observed in obese individuals, as compared with normal weight group (p=0.033). However, we did not find significant difference between obese non-diabetic and obese-diabetic individuals (p=0.583). Serum RBP4 did not correlate with anthropometric measurements or any indicator of glucose metabolism in diabetic group, whereas RBP4 correlated with creatinine (r=0.416, p=0.003), eGFR (r= -0.304, p=0.032) and triglycerides (r=0.484, p<0.001). In obese non-diabetic group, correlations were observed with fasting glucose (r=0.346, p=0.014), insulin (r=0.292, p=0.038), HOMA-IR (r=0.329 p=0.020), HbA1c (r=0.326, p=0.021), creatinine (r=0.399, p=0.004), eGFR (r= -0.389, p=0.005), HDL-c (r= -0.316, p=0.025), triglycerides (r=0.461, p<0.001), and systolic BP (r=0.286, p=0.044). In multiple regression analysis, triglycerides (Beta=0.302, p<0.001) and eGFR (Beta= -0.188, p=0.015) were independent predictors of RBP4.Conclusions: Serum RBP4 is not increased in obese type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women, but is associated with triglycerides and eGFR independently of diabetes.


The Acanthocephala is a phylum of obligate endoparasitic animals comprising four classes (Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, Eoacanthocephala and Polyacanthocephala), although the phylogenetic interrelationships of these classes still remains unresolved. To investigate phylogenetic relationships of major acanthocephalan groups, we characterized the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of two palaeacanthocephalan species Centrorhynchus aluconis and Prosthorhynchus transversus (representing two different families of the order Polymorphida), and Polyacanthorhynchus caballeroi (the first mitogenomic representative of the class Polyacanthocephala) and used these new sequences for phylogenetic analyses, along with 32 platyzoan mtDNAs, including 10 additional acanthocephalans. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences for 12 protein‐coding genes with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods supported monophyly of Acanthocephala. Within the phylum, Archiacanthocephala was positioned as the sister to the clade containing all three other acanthocephalan classes, with the polyacanthocephalan species P. caballeroi nested within Eoacanthocephala. This result contradicts morphology‐based classification systems that treated polyacanthorhynchids as one of the palaeacanthocephalan families, and instead suggests Polyacanthocephala is a member of Eoacanthocephala. Within the Palaeacanthocephala, Polymorphida monophyly was strongly supported and this is inconsistent with nuclear rDNA‐based molecular hypotheses that suggest non‐monophyly.


The aim of this investigation was to define the in vitro conditions necessary to support cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism in rat cultured hepatocytes, such that this system could then be used as an in vitro model in the study of cytochrome P450-mediated cytotoxicity.

Maintenance of P450-dependent enzyme activities in culture was not affected by supplementation of culture medium with haem, but was markedly influenced by the age and sex of the hepatocyte donor animal.

Induction in primary culture by phenobarbitone and beta-naphthoflavone was investigated, and found to be quantitatively and qualitatively different to the induction observed in vivo, hepatocytes in culture being particularly refractive to induction by phenobarbitone. The maintenance in primary culture of a range of enzyme activities was determined following treatment of rats in vivo with isoniazid and dexamethasone, in addition to phenobarbitone and beta-naphthoflavone, and in general, there was good maintenance of the induced activities. The activities were chosen as possible selective substrates for the different induced isozymes, with a view to using the activity profiles to characterise different classes of inducer; however, although selective induction was observed with isoniazid, beta-naphthoflavone and dexamethasone, all the chosen activities were induced by phenobarbitone.

The final part of this work involved determining cytotoxicity in vitro, following induction of P450 in vivo with phenobarbitone and beta-naphthoflavone. Seven known hepatotoxins were investigated, and the results obtained agreed well with available in vitro and in vivo literature data.

In summary, a range of constitutive and induced enzyme activities were maintained at high levels in hepatocytes cultured for twenty-four hours from adult male rats, and an induction in vivo/hepatocyte culture protocol shown to be a viable in vitro model for the study of metabolism-mediated toxicity, as an alternative to induction and detection of toxicity in vitro.

NB. This ethesis has been created by scanning the typescript original and may contain inaccuracies. In case of difficulty, please refer to the original text.


It is widely recognized that an "African green revolution†will require greater use of inorganic fertilizers. Often†made comparisons note that fertilizer use rates in Africa are just 10–20% of those in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Most attempts to explain relatively low†adoption of fertilizer assume yield responses to inorganic fertilization warrant higher application rates and hypothesize that observed use rates are limited by market†based factors. Another explanation may be that application rates are low because African yields are less responsive to inorganic fertilizer than yields in other regions, and less responsive than analysts perceive. Examining the case of Zambia, we evaluate whether yield response to fertilizers could explain adoption and application rates. A model of yield response is constructed and a combination of estimators is employed to mitigate potential biases related to correlation between fertilizer use and unobserved heterogeneity as well as stochastic shocks. Results indicate higher fertilization rates would be marginally profitable or unprofitable in many cases given commercial fertilizer and maize prices. Phosphoric fertilizer is particularly unprofitable on acidic soils, which are common in Zambia and other areas of sub†Saharan Africa. We propose feasible recommendations for diversifying the current government strategy to enhance crop productivity.


In 7 anesthetized dogs, vascular resistance was measured by a mercury manometer connected distally to a constant rate pump with perfusion pressure as the indication of vascular resistance. Blood taken from right carotid artery was pumped at a constant rate into left vertebral artery. Intravenous injection of nicardipine (NC) 1, 5, 10 and 20 ILg/kg produced a greater reduction of vascular resistance of vertebral artery than .that of femoral artery. While l ILg/kg exhibited a greater vasodilation in the vertebral artery than in the femoral artery, the mean arterial pressure was not markedly affected. When 175mg/kg was given po, the spontaneous activity of mice diminished (p<0.01). The acute LD60 0f NC in mice = iv 25, ig 332, and ip 123 mg/kg.


Cripto-1 (CR-1) protein function differs according to cellular or extracellular expression. In this study, we explore the significance of cell surface CR-1 expression in human melanoma cells. Cell surface CR-1-expressing human melanoma cells (CR1-CS+) were selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and grown in vitro and in vivo in nude mice to study their growth characteristics. The CR1-CS+ melanoma cells were found to express increased levels of Oct4, MDR-1 and activated c-Src compared with cells lacking this subpopulation (CR1-CS−) or unsorted cells, used as control. CR1-CS+ show reduced proliferation rates and diminished spherical colony formation compared with control cells when cultured in vitro. Orthotopic injections of CR1-CS+ in nude mice formed slow growing tumors with histologic variability across different areas of the CR1-CS+ xenografts. CR-1-expressing cells from first generation CR1-CS+ tumors showed significantly increased tumor-forming rate and aggressiveness following subsequent transplants in nude mice. These data demonstrate that within a heterogeneous melanoma cell population there resides a slow proliferating, cell surface CR-1-expressing subpopulation capable of giving rise to a fast growing, aggressive progeny that may contribute to disease recurrence and progression.


Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab has delivered a survival benefit of ≥3 years in a subset of metastatic melanoma patients. After participating in the registration trial, patients were treated with this agent in routine practice. Toxicity and efficacy of agents in "real world" settings may differ from trials. The present study aimed to evaluate, with respect to toxicity and outcome, all patients treated with ipilimumab to date at the Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto, Canada). Patients treated with ipilimumab between 2008 and 2013 were identified, and patient characteristics (age, gender, tumour burden, oncogenic mutation status, number of treatments received and toxicities from treatment) were collected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated from the commencement of ipilimumab treatment. Associations between clinical characteristics and outcome or toxicity were assessed. Between 2008 and 2013, 129 patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma were treated. Since, during this period, ipilimumab was approved in the second line setting, ipilimumab was delivered in the second or subsequent line in all patients, and 70% did not receive any further anticancer therapy. Immune-related toxicities were observed, the onset of which varied from 1 to 162 days. The majority resolved within 6 weeks of the final treatment, with the exception of endocrinopathies and bowel related toxicity. The median PFS and OS were 2.83 and 8.44 months, respectively. No pre-treatment factor independently predicted toxicity. The number of infusions (4 vs. ≤3) and presence of toxicity were significantly associated with superior survival. The onset of toxicity secondary to ipilimumab could occur later than previously reported. Toxicities were manageable, but required long-term vigilance.


The authors investigated how luminaire type and spacing affect task contrast and visibility in unobstructed office spaces. The Lumen-Micro program was used to calculate visibility levels in a model open office space as a function of luminaire candlepower distribution, fixture spacing, and illuminance level. Three representative luminaires were parametrically examined: a lensed troffer, a high-performance parabolic, and a high-performance uplight. Small differences in average task visibility levels were observed for the different luminaires and fixture spacings examined, but the differences were slight compared to variability within an installation. The study indicates that if the location of the task is not known a priori, then it is not possible to achieve consistently high visibility levels throughout a space without resorting to lighting solutions that are intrinsically inefficient.<<ETX>>


The global Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weakness of healthcare systems including laboratory systems and is a call to action for unprecedented collaboration and partnerships to deal with the global crisis. The United States (U.S.) President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) establishes the global HIV/AIDS treatment agenda in alignment with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets to achieve epidemic control related to enhanced testing, treatment, and viral suppression. A strategic PEPFAR priority area recognizes that large-scale collective efforts and sharing of resources bear greater potential impact for lasting change than any single organization or entity can achieve alone. An important vehicle utilized within the global public health context is the public-private partnership (PPP) model whereby multiple international organizations forge unified project charters to collectively reach mutually agreed goals. While touted as an ideal mechanism to synthesize resources and maximize gain in numerous applications, little is known from a seasoned stakeholder perspective regarding PPP implementation and sustainability issues. The purpose of this research is to holistically examine perceptions of PPP model sustainability related to inputs and impacts among a collective network of stakeholders experienced with PEPFAR workforce development, laboratory-system strengthening project implementation. Interviews were conducted with frontline stakeholders from public and private sector organizations based in the US and select PEPFAR-supported priority countries. Analysis revealed three dominant themes: PPP impacts, keys of successful collaboration, and logistical challenges and opportunities to enhance sustainability of PPP outcomes in the future.


Web services composition is a complex and error-prone process, but there are no effective verification mechanisms among the existing composition specifications. Based on the semantics of web services ontology language OWL-S, a formal description and modeling method using Hierarchical Colored Petri nets(HCPN) for web services composition processes is proposed. In the method, the control and data flow information of web services composition process model which is described by the OWL-S can be transformed into HCPN model, with the ease of simulation and verification. On the other hand, the state space explosion problem can be transfered into the memory limit of computer which is not a serious problem now. With the help of CPN-Tools, the established HCPN model can be simulated dynamicly, the dynamic behaviors of the model can be obtained, and the correctness and effectiveness of web services composition can be verified. The method can be used to analyze and verify complex systems. An instance of hospital services is given to illustrate the modeling and analysis of the service composition process with HCPN.


This article studies the western bourgeois home, and argues that its social construction as a familiar, autonomous, safe, private haven is predicated not only upon the exclusion of undesired social elements (anomie, homelessness, social conflict, etc.) but also upon the exclusion of undesired natural elements (cold, dirt, pollution, sewage, etc.). Using the domestication of water in the western world as a vehicle, the article analyses the historical-geographical process through which nature became scripted as 'the other' to the bourgeois home, and explains the contribution of this separation to the conceptual construction of the home as a distinct and autonomous 'space envelope', supposedly untouched bysocio-natural processes. This analysis identifies an inherent contradiction: despite the intense efforts at 'othering' and excluding nature from the premises of the home, the function and familiarity of this space is increasingly dependent upon the production of nature. Although the complex set of socio-natural networks, pipes and cables that carry clean, produced, commodified nature inside and pump bad, metabolized nature outside the bourgeois home remain visually excluded, it is this same excluded socio-nature that constitutes the material basis upon which the familiarity of the home is constructed. Thus, in a simultaneous act of need and denial, the bourgeois home remains the host of the elements that it tries to exclude. This contradiction surfaces at moments of crisis (such as power cuts, burst mains and water shortage) when familiar objects acquire uncanny properties. At such moments, the continuity of the social and material processes that produce the domestic space is unexpectedly foregrounded, bringing the dweller face to face with his/her alienation, within his/her most familiar environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]


2D materials have been attracting more and more attention for energy storage devices including supercapacitors and batteries because of their unique physical and chemical properties induced by dimensional reduction. The aim of research presented in this thesis was to develop a deep understanding of devices' electrochemical performance with 2D materials and address some of the challenges currently faced by the printed 2D electronics field. 2D δ-MnO2 nanosheets which shows high theoretical specific capacitance were firstly studied as electroactive materials for micro-supercapacitors in this thesis. A printable water-based δ-MnO2 nanosheet ink was developed to demonstrate the possibility of inkjet printing 2D nanosheets. However, the poor electronic conductivity of δ-MnO2 nanosheets limits the devices electrochemical performance like power density. To improve the electronic conductivity of δ-MnO2 nanosheets, defect engineering of MnO2 nanosheets by atomic-level substitutional doping of 3d metal ions (Fe, Co and Ni) was investigated. Heterostructures constructed from different 2D nanosheet building blocks show promise for energy storage applications, since materials with different properties can be combined. Such 2D heterostructures were fabricated by inkjet printing MXene and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets into a stacking structure. Enhancing power density and cycling life are crucial for a good battery. Due to the distinct electronic properties, shortened ion diffusion paths and more active site capability, an inkjet printed 2D materials heterostructure as cathode for a lithium-ion battery was studied in detail.


Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies were formally addressed on the international stage 18 years ago at the First International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Removal in Amsterdam. The first commercial application of CCS technologies was deployed by Statoil in 1996 at the Sleipner gas field in the North Sea. Widespread deployment of large-scale CO2 sequestration efforts can only proceed if storage permanence is assured. The current definition of storage permanence is that 99% of injected CO2 remain securely confined after 100 years (see Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan, 2007, available at http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/refshelf/project%20portfolio/2007/2007Roadmap.pdf). However, storage permanence cannot be assured without development of reliable and highly accurate leakage monitoring, plume detection and monitoring, and volume accounting technologies.


Physiological models represent a useful form of knowledge, but are both difficult and time consuming to generate by hand. Further, most physiological systems are incompletely understood. This paper addresses these two issues with a system that learns qualitative models from physiological signals. The qualitative representation of models allows incomplete knowledge to be encapsulated, and is based on Kuipers' approach used in his QSIM algorithm. The learning algorithm allows automatic generation of such models, and is based on Coiera's GENMODEL algorithm. We describe experiments using the learning system on data segments obtained from six patients during cardiac bypass surgery. Useful model constraints were obtained, representing both general physiological knowledge and knowledge particular to the patient being monitored. The effects of varying parameters for front-end signal processing, and varying fault tolerance levels for the subsequent learning by GENMODEL are also discussed.


Titanium (Ti)-based materials is the most appropriate choices for the applications as orthopedic and dental implants. In this regard, ultrafine-grained (UFG) titanium with an enhanced mechanical properties and surface energy has attracted more attention. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes grown on the titanium could enhance bone bonding, cellular response and are good reservoirs for loading drugs and antibacterial agents. This article investigates gentamicin loading into and release from the TiO2 nanotubes, grown on the UFG compared to coarse-grained (CG) titanium substrate surfaces. Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) was employed to produce the UFG structure titanium. TiO2 nanotubes were grown by the anodizing technique on both UFG and CG titanium substrate surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging confirmed TiO2 nanotube growth on the surface. The UV-vis spectroscopy analysis results show that the amount of gentamicin load-release in the anodized UFG titanium sample is higher than that of CG one which can be explained in terms of thicker TiO2 nanotube arrays layer formed on UFG sample. Moreover, the anodized UFG titanium samples released the drug in a longer time than CG (1 day for the UFG titanium vs. 3 h for the CG one). Regarding wettability analysis, anodized UFG titanium sample showed more enhanced hydrophilicity than CG counterpart. Therefore, the significantly smaller grain size of pure titanium provided by the ECAP technique coupled with appropriate subsequent anodization treatment not only offers a good combination of biocompatibility and adequate mechanical properties but also it provides a delayed release condition for gentamicin.


The objectives were to map genomic regions associated with quantitative
trait loci (QTL) to anthracnose leaf blight (ALB) in tropical maize, and
to determine the effects of the loci on resistance to the pathogenic fungus
Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.). QTL analysis to ALB was carried out in a
population of F2:3 progenies resulting from the cross between the contrasting
lines LR 04-2 and LS 95-1. Seventeen QTL were located by mapping analysis by
composite interval on eight chromosomes. Four QTL mapped on chromosomes
9 (1 QTL) and 10 (3 QTL) were the most stable, detected in at least two experiments,
and represented the most part of the phenotypic variation (27.7 to
54.3%) of resistance. The majority of QTL mapped were associated to specific
severity evaluations/development stage of maize growth, and may explain the
quantitative inheritance of resistance of tropical maize to ALB.


Transform-domain digital audio watermarking has a performance advantage over time-domain watermarking by virtue of the fact that frequency transforms offer better exploitation of the human auditory system (HAS). In this paper, an innovative watermarking scheme for audio signal based on double insertion of the watermark in DWT-DST domain of the host signal is proposed. We are using a gray scale logo image as watermark instead of randomly generated Gaussian noise type watermark. Subjective and objective tests reveal that the proposed watermarking scheme maintains high audio quality and is simultaneously highly robust to different attacks, including MP3 compression, low-pass filtering, amplitude scaling, additive Gaussian noise, reacquisition, cropping, sampling, high pass filtering. Comparison of the proposed algorithm with similar techniques such as Cox et al and Dhar et al, shows the superiority of the proposed scheme in term of robustness and imperceptibility.


Objective To examine the expression and value of the smoothelin marker in control cases, to standardize the working method, and to analyze its application in pathologic staging process of problematic transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) cases. Material and Methods Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on tumor-free bladder wall sections, tumor-free large bowel sections, TURBTs with unequivocal tumor stage, and TURBTs with equivocal stage. The IHC staining of muscularis mucosa (MM), muscularis propria (MP), and blood vessels was evaluated semiquantitatively. Results Smoothelin IHC staining pattern ranged from negative (30% to 67% cases) to 2+ (0% to 15% cases) in MM and from 1+ (10% to 50% cases) to 3+ (9% to 48% cases) in MP. When compared on the same slide, the smoothelin expression of MP showed a stronger staining intensity than the one of the MM in all the analyzed cases. Blood vessel muscle cells stained in a constant intensity as the MM (r = 0.9808; r = 0.9604). Smoothelin determined restaging of 33% of the problematic TURBT cases. Conclusion Smoothelin is an IHC marker that shows differential staining between coexistent MM and MP; however, variations in staining intensity and pattern may occur, aspects that can be influenced by different technique variables. We recommend using this marker as a diagnostic tool in problematic TURBT cases only when there is sufficient experience in control cases with this antibody.


Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of a contrarian investment strategy focusing on frequently traded large-cap US stocks. Previous criticisms that losers' gains are not due to overreaction but due to their tendency to be thinly traded and smaller-sized firms than winners are addressed. Design/methodology/approach - – Portfolios based on past performance are constructed and it is examined whether contrarian returns exist. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Fama and French three-factor model and the Carhart's (1997) momentum portfolio are used to test whether excess returns are feasible in a contrarian strategy. Findings - – The results show an asymmetric performance following portfolio formation. Although both, winners and losers portfolios, have gains during holding periods, losers outperform winners at all times, and with a differential of up to 29.2 per cent 36 months after portfolio formation. Furthermore, the loser and the winner portfolios' alphas are significant, suggesting that the CAPM and the multifactor models are unable to explain return differentials between winners and losers. Our evidence supports two main conclusions. First, stock market overreaction still holds for a sample of large firms. Second, this is robust to the Fama and French's (1993, 1996) three-factor model and Carhart's (1997) momentum portfolio. Findings emphasize the relevance of a contrarian strategy when rebalancing investment portfolios. Practical implications - – Portfolio managers can improve stock returns by selling past winners and buying previous loser large-cap US stocks. Originality/value - – This paper is the first, to the authors' knowledge, to examine frequently traded large-cap US stocks to avoid infrequent trading and size concerns.


The constant miniaturization and steady performance improvement of electronics devices have generated innovative ideas such as internet of thing (IoT), which also includes devices with integrated energy sources. The high performance is conceived by the high density of the devices on a chip leading to a high density of interconnects, to connect these devices to outside world. Since the size and the pitch of the interconnects have decreased, the current density in interconnect has increased, posing challenges on the existing copper pillar interconnect technology, such as intermetallic compound formation and electro-migration resulting in open circuit. The challenges are forecasted to increase on further down scaling due to bridging of the solder between pillars. Moreover, the environmental pollution and the threat of vanishing of fossil fuel have prompted to find cheap and efficient alternating energy sources and energy storage systems. Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers have unprecedented electrical, mechanical and thermal properties, high resistance to corrosion and high surface area have been proposed for the solution of above mentioned challenges. In this thesis, vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) have been grown by direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (dc-PECVD) at complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible temperatures for on chip application. In addition, the catalyst to grow VACNFs is deposited using innovative low-cost polymer–Pd nanohybrid colloidal solutions by an effective coating method. Also, due to controllable DC behavior and good mechanical reinforcement properties of solder- CNFs, the solderable micro-bumps of VACNFs have been shown to potentially yield the acceptable electrical resistances. Moreover the CNFs bumps can be made in submicron size range, which can comply with further down scaling of interconnect. In addition, advanced CNF based adhesives, produced by coating CNFs with low temperature polymers, have been investigated as alternating anisotropic conducting film for anisotropic connection, using a thermo-compression bonding. The shearing strength of the bonded chip qualifies the MIL-STD-883 standards of bonding strength in microelectronics devices. Further, supercapacitor are the energy storage devices having high energy density, and high power density due to quick intake and release of charges and long cycles life of about 1 million. On-chip integrated solid-state parallel-plate capacitor and supercapacitor are demonstrated based on VACNFs. The preliminary capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor and supercapacitor are 10-15 nF/mm2 and 10 μF/mm2, respectively. The profile of parallel plate capacitor is below 10 micrometers, which enables integration even in advance 2.5 and 3D heterogeneous packaging. The on-chip capacitor can work as decoupling capacitor to resolve the energy fluctuation related issues and also power up devices on the chip. Then, along with other properties, high aspect ratio and ease of fabrication, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered as potential electrode material for future high performance supercapacitor. The CNTs are directly grown on electrospun CNFs giving the specific capacitance of 92 F/g, i.e twice the capacitance of bare CNFs. Finally, a complete energy storage device coin-cell supercapacitor is made by directly growing VACNFs on the current collector and the capacitance is 15 times higher than the capacitance without CNFs. Thus such supercapacitor is suitable to be combined with harvester to collect energy to the level of operating power of the devices and can provide durable solution to the frequent change of battery in the devices mounted at sensitive or airborne locations.


The core protocols in the Internet infrastructure play a central role in delivering packets to their destination. The inter-domain routing with BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) computes the correct paths in the global Internet, and DNS (Domain Name System) looks up the destination addresses. Due to their critical function they are often attacked: the adversaries redirect victims to malicious servers or networks by making them traverse incorrect routes or reach incorrect destinations, e.g., for cyber-espionage, for spam distribution, for theft of crypto-currency, for censorship [1, 4-6]. This results in relatively stealthy attacks which cannot be immediately detected and prevented [2, 3]. By the time the attacks are detected, damage was already done. The frequent attacks along with the devastating damages that they incur, motivates the deployment of cryptographic defences to secure the Internet infrastructure. Multiple efforts are devoted to protecting the core Internet protocols with cryptographic mechanisms, BGP with RPKI and DNS with DNSSEC. Recently the deployment of these defences took off, and many networks and DNS servers in the Internet already adopted them. We review the deployed defences and show that the tradeoffs made by the operators or developers can be exploited to disable the cryptographic defences. We also provide mitigations and discuss challenges in their adoption.


OBJECTIVE
The aging population generally has greater need for analgesics and is best served by having as many good therapeutic options as possible. Geriatric analgesia requires special consideration of age-associated physiologic changes that can affect drug dosing. The study of extended-release (ER) oxymorphone in older (≥ 65 years of age) versus younger (18-40 years of age) male and female volunteers was described.

METHODS
In this multiple-dose, parallel-group, open-label trial, healthy volunteers received a single oral dose of 20 mg oxymorphone ER on day 1, followed by a 48-hour washout period, then two oral doses of 20 mg oxymorphone ER tablets every 12 hours from day 3 to day 8, and a single oral dose of 20 mg oxymorphone ER on day 9. Naltrexone was administered each day to the subjects.

RESULTS
The elderly had significantly higher plasma levels of oxymorphone, 6-OH-oxymorphone, and oxymorphone-3-glucuronide than the younger group (1.36-fold higher area under the concentration versus time curve [AUC] and 1.45-fold higher C(max)) when they were treated with a single dose (20 mg) of oxymorphone. Steady-state AUC and C(max) also were higher in the older group. Following adjustment for body weight, AUC values for oxymorphone and its metabolites were about 40 percent higher and the mean C(max) values were 30-35 percent higher in the older group compared to the younger group.

CONCLUSION
The results of the current study of an ER formulation revealed no pharmacokinetic features that would preclude dosing in the elderly. As with any drug and any age group (but particularly the elderly), oxymorphone ER should be initiated at lower doses in elderly compared to younger patients and titrated to optimal level.


MODIGLIANI Lunch Debate Session 1 - Friday November 30, 2012THE DEVICE THERAPY TRIALISTS WORKSHOPChairpersons: Gaetano DE FERRARI, Pavia, ITA - Ileana PINA, New York, USAWebcast: Tariq AHMAD, Durham, USADevice trial methodology, regulatory and implementation issuesAdvances in interventional medical devices are increasingly affecting cardiovascular therapy, just as pharmacological innovation did the generation before. Yet, designing and conducting a device trial is challenging and drug trial designs may not necessarily be applied fully to device trials.➢ Although there is increasing recognition that this development process substantially differs from that for drugs, how much device trial methodology may deviate from drug trial methodology is a matter of discussion.➢ Regulation works differently for drugs, devices, and procedures, and there are wide international variations. Although progressively moving toward some alignment, currently, in Europe, industry needs only to fulfill the (light) criteria of "CE" mark before approval.General sale of devices may be permitted on the basis of proof of safety, rather than of efficacy or effectiveness. In any case, reimbursement claims may require collecting evidence in outcome cost-effectiveness trials. Regulators and commercial bodies should seek consensus.➢ Innovation is led by device industry which is facing the economic challenge of bringing innovation to the market in a very competitive environment. Multi sponsored trials and the cooperation with public funders may be instrumental in improving knowledge production for a better device therapy.➢ Interpretation of trial results, and consequently therapy adoption, is another challenge. The strength of evidence is not necessarily the main driver for adoption. Coronary angioplasty in stable CAD is widely adopted while, despite evidence for a beneficial effect of device therapy in heart failure, only a minority of eligible patients is currently offered these options.➢ Beyond trials aimed at evaluating safety, effectiveness and approval, trials that establish the value of a therapy and hence support utilization in clinical practice are most needed.The aim of this session is to contribute to identifying and promoting innovative, cooperative and practical solutions that may help filling the gaps between device and drug trials, between CE mark and FDA regulations and between generating evidence and practical implementations.Session program:How much one could deviate from "randomized - controlled" trials?• Non randomized and/or non-blinded trials: When can they be trusted, what can help them to be "acceptable"?Speaker: Stuart POCOCK, London, GBR• Options of and alternatives to the "control group" in device trialsSpeaker: William T. ABRAHAM, Columbus, USA• Industry perspectiveSpeakers: Rob KIEVAL, CVRx, USA - Holger WOEHRLE, ResMed, GERApprovability issues: Pathway to a more global device approval processSpeaker: Ileana PINA, New York, USAPost approval and registry studies. Advantages and limitations in complementing trial evidence base and improving therapy adoptionSpeaker: Ileana PINA, New York, USADiscussant: Roxana MEHRAN, New York, USAComparative effectiveness studies. How they may help decision makers and support utilization in clinical practice?Speaker: Rita REDBERG, San Francisco, USADiscussant: Kenneth STEIN, Boston Scientific, USA


Additive manufacturing is acknowledged as a key enabling technology, although its adoption is still constrained to niche applications. A promising area for this technology is the production of electrical machines (EMs) and/or their main components (e.g. magnetic cores, windings, heat exchangers, etc.) due to the potential of creating lightweight, highly efficient rotating motors, suitable for applications requiring a low moment of inertia. This work investigates the readiness of metal additive manufacturing, specifically Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), applied to the field of EMs to bridge the gaps of how to use this technological approach in this field. A soft magnetic material featuring high silicon content (Fe-5.0%w.t.Si) has been developed for LPBF and a rotor has been 3D-printed for a switched reluctance machine. The printed rotor was assembled into a conventionally laminated stator and the performance of the whole machine was evaluated. Its performance was compared against an identical machine equipped with a laminated rotor of the same dimensions made of conventional non-oriented silicon steel. A comparative study was carried out through both finite element simulations and experimental tests. The efficiency of the two machines was assessed together with the principal electrical and mechanical quantities under several operating conditions.


Abstract. Talus slopes are a widespread geomorphic feature in the Alps. Due to their high porosity a gravity-driven internal air circulation can be established which is forced by the gradient between external (air) and internal (talus) temperature. The thermal regime is different from the surrounding environment, leading to the occurrence of permafrost below the typical permafrost zone. This phenomenon has mainly been analysed by field studies and only few explicit numerical modelling studies exist. Numerical simulations of permafrost sometimes use parameterisations for the effects of convection but mostly neglect the influence of convective heat transfer in air on the thermal regime. In contrast, in civil engineering many studies have been carried out to investigate the thermal behaviour of blocky layers and to improve their passive cooling effect. The present study further develops and applies these concepts to model heat transfer in air flows in a natural-scale talus slope. Modelling results show that convective heat transfer has the potential to develop a significant temperature difference between the lower and the upper parts of the talus slope. A seasonally alternating chimney-effect type of circulation develops. Modelling results also show that this convective heat transfer leads to the formation of a cold reservoir in the lower part of the talus slope, which can be crucial for maintaining the frozen ground conditions despite increasing air temperatures caused by climate change.


Several applications of an explicitly invertible transformation are reported. This transformation is elementary and therefore all the results obtained via it might be considered trivial; yet the findings highlighted in this paper are generally far from appearing trivial until the way they are obtained is revealed. Various contexts are considered: algebraic and Diophantine equations, nonlinear Sturm–Liouville problems, dynamical systems (with continuous and with discrete time), nonlinear partial differential equations, analytical geometry, functional equations. While this transformation, in one or another context, is certainly known to many, it does not seem to be as universally known as it deserves to be, for instance it is not routinely taught in basic University courses (to the best of our knowledge). The main purpose of this paper is to bring about a change in this respect; but we also hope that some of the findings reported herein — and the multitude of analogous findings easily obtainable via this technique — will be considered remarkable by the relevant experts, in spite of their elementary origin.


One of the co-ordination difficulties of remote agile teamwork is managing the progress of development. Several technical factors affect agile development progress; hence, their impact on progress needs to be explicitly identified and co-ordinated. These factors include source code versioning, unit testing (UT), acceptance testing (AT), continuous integration (CI), and releasing. These factors play a role in determining whether software produced for a user story (i.e. feature or use case) is 'working software' (i.e. the user story is complete) or not. One of the principles introduced by the Agile Manifesto is that working software is the primary measure of progress.

In distributed agile teams, informal methods, such as video-conference meetings, can be used to raise the awareness of how the technical factors affect development progress. However, with infrequent communications, it is difficult to understand how the work of one team member at one site influences the work progress of another team member at a different site.

Furthermore, formal methods, such as agile project management tools are widely used to support managing progress of distributed agile projects. However, these tools rely on team members' perceptions in understanding change in progress. Identifying and co-ordinating the impact of technical factors on development progress are not considered.

This thesis supports the effective management of progress by providing a computer-based holistic approach to managing development progress that aims to explicitly identify and co-ordinate the effects of the various technical factors on progress. The holistic approach requires analysis of how the technical factors cause change in progress. With each progress change event, the co-ordination support necessary to manage the event has been explicitly identified.

The holistic approach also requires designing computer-based mechanisms that take into consideration the impact of technical factors on progress. A progress tracking system has been designed that keeps track of the impact of the technical factors by placing them under control of the tracking system. This has been achieved by integrating the versioning functionality into the progress tracking system and linking the UT tool, AT tool and CI tool with the progress tracking system.

The approach has been evaluated through practical scenarios and has validated these through a research prototype. The result shows that the holistic approach is achievable and helps raise awareness of distributed agile teams regarding the change in the progress, as soon as it occurs. It overcomes the limitations of the informal and formal methods. Team members will no longer need to spend time determining how their change will impact the work of the other team members so that they can notify the affected members regarding the change. They will be provided with a system that helps them achieve this as they carry out their technical activities. In addition, they will not rely on static information about progress registered in a progress tracking system, but will be updated continuously with relevant information about progress changes occurring to their work.


New microscale techniques have become available to assist urban designers in better water management. Urban water management has focused on two different areas: stormwater, and water supply. The focus of stormwater management is shifting towards Low-Impact Development, which emphasizes better management of urban stormwater through reductions in postdevelopment runoff by increasing onsite infiltration. Water supply planning has been enhanced by the emergence of the field of end-use demand management; the focus of much of which has been on outdoor irrigation. Implementation of these two objectives requires evaluation of processes at smaller scales in order to focus on changes being contemplated at a parcel level. A modeling approach is presented which incorporates decentralized options for management of both stormwater and urban water supply. Management options that can be evaluated with this approach include restrictive irrigation policies and rainwater harvesting. A simpler model based upon SCS (Soil Conservation Service) hydrology is then calibrated to the more complex model using a commercially available nonlinear solver. A method for calculation of costs to the consumer and evaluation of total system cost is presented.


The teaching of Afro-Latin partner dance forms including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha and Kizomba, routinely encourages participants to perform their gender within a rigid paradigm of heteronormative power-relations. Although many dancers are challenging the conventions of male-leading and female-following, through initiatives such as queer-tango and same-sex ballroom dance, there is virtually no evidence of social-dance role-reversal within mixed-sex couples ie. women leading men. This article is a case study of a role-swap Kizomba course run in the city of Leeds in the UK, which aimed to challenge the twin taboos of men-following-women and women-leading-men in Afro-Latin social partner dance. It aimed to discover whether, if provided with the opportunity, social dancers were open to dance-role reversal within a heterosexualised context. The course was conceived as a socially-practice artwork. This study draws data from: questionnaires completed by dancers who attended the classes; ethnographic observation of the process and its outcomes; interviews with members of the larger Kizomba dancing community. The results of the role-swap course confounded the expectations from the literature review, with both female and male participants demonstrating an openness to learning non-traditional roles. This case study advocates the potential for creative interventions within existing communities of practice as a means to challenge conventions of social relations within those contexts.


In current practice, glass shear walls are frequently used to cover wide surfaces in facades. There, a multitude of restraints can be found, depending on specific aesthetic, architectural and structural requirements. Typical practical examples can in fact take the form of linear adhesive joints, metal frames or mechanical point fixings, etc. From a practical point of view, as a result, it is clear that compared to idealized boundary conditions the actual restraints should be properly taken into account. In this research paper, the shear buckling response of glass shear walls is assessed by means of Finite-Element (FE) simulations and analytical methods. The role of (i) linear adhesive joints, (ii) metal frames with interposed adhesive joints or (iii) point mechanical connectors on the theoretical buckling resistance of these panels is first assessed (e.g. in the form of fundamental buckling shapes and Euler's critical loads). Analytical fitting curves of general applicability are proposed, so that classical formulations derived from shear buckling theories could be used. Subsequently, the actual shear buckling resistance is also assessed, e.g. by taking into account the effects of possible initial geometrical imperfections, damage in glass or in the adopted restraints. This goal is achieved by means of accurate but computationally efficient FE models able to reproduce (via mechanical connectors, surface-to-surface interactions, etc.) the desired mechanical effect of restraints, as well as any possible local damage in them. As shown, rather close agreement is found with a past normalized buckling curve in use for ideally simply supported glass shear walls. It is thus expected, in view of further investigations and full-scale experimental validation, that the current research outcomes could provide a useful theoretical background for the implementation of standardized buckling design methods.


A plea for direct physician participation in executions is presented by Sandeep Jauhar in a New York Times Op-Ed (" Why It's OK for Doctors to Participate in Executions "—April 21, 2017). Jauhar's article is not a discussion of the ethics of capital punishment. He describes his own opposition "as a matter of principle, as a doctor." However, since capital punishment is legal in 31 states, with required physician participation in several, he acquiesces to a utilitarian stance rather than the principled approach he acknowledges is expected of a physician in this circumstance.


Financial abuse by a family member is the most common form of abuse experienced by older Australians, and early intervention is required. National online surveys of 228 chief executive officers and 214 aged care service providers found that, while they were well placed to recognize financial abuse, it was often difficult to intervene successfully. Problems providers encountered included difficulties in detecting abuse, the need for consent before they could take action, the risk that the abusive family member would withdraw the client from the service, and a lack of resources to deal with the complexities inherent in situations of financial abuse.


Introduction: Several studies have correlated the diabetic status with increased cancer risk and worse cancer prognosis, while metformin (MET) use is associated with a better prognosis. MET could display antitumor effects by modifying systemic metabolism, e.g. by decreasing of blood glucose, insulin and IGF1 levels, or by affecting cancer cell metabolism and proliferation, e.g. through AMPK activation and inhibition of protein/lipid synthesis. Preliminary findings of the PRIME-net retrospective study, conducted on 445 Italian pts, suggested that the addition of MET to EVE and/or SSAs provides clinical benefit in diabetic patient with advanced pancreatic NETs. Methods: To exclude the possibility that the "time-on-treatment bias" could affect our results, with the risk that an early interruption of EVE or SSA-therapy due to early disease progression may result in lower pt exposure to these drugs and a consequently lower incidence of diabetes in poor responders, a sensitivity analysis on the PRIME-net study population was performed. The analysis considered only diabetics at baseline (BD), thus excluding pts who developed on-treatment diabetes as an adverse event (AE). All statistical tests were two-tailed and p-values Results: Out of 445 pts, 237 were diabetics. Of them, 179 had baseline diabetes (BD) while 57 developed on-treatment diabetes as an adverse event. Among pts with BD, 80 (44.7%) received MET, while 99 (55.3%) were not treated with MET, but received other treatments including insulin. mPFS was 24.7 mo in pts with BD and 15.1 mo in normoglycemic ones (HR 0.70, 95%CI 0.55-0.91; p=0.007). In pts on MET therapy, mPFS was 43.7 mo (HR vs normoglycemic pts 0.52, 95%CI 0.36-0.76, p=0.0006), while it was 20.8 mo in pts not receiving MET (HR vs normoglycemic pts 0.87, 95%CI 0.65-1.17, p=0.37). Conclusions: This sensitivity analysis confirms results emerged from the main analysis, thus demonstrating a mPFS advantage in diabetic patients with advanced pNETs patients receiving MET in combination with EVE and/or SSAs. Prospective investigations are ongoing to test the antitumor activity of MET in combination with everolimus and SSAs in normoglycaemic pts with advanced pNETs. Protocol number INT 85/15, approved by Ethical committee of fondazione IRCCS Istituto Tumori Milano on 15 June 2015. Citation Format: Sara Pusceddu, Claudio Vernieri, Massimo Di Maio, Femia Daniela, Natalie Prinzi, Riccardo Marconcini, Francesca Spada, Sara Massironi, Alberto Bongiovanni, Maria Pia Brizzi, Davide Campana, Antongiulio Faggiano, Dario Giuffrida, Gianfranco Delle Fave, Sara Cingarlini, Francesca Aroldi, Lorenzo Antonuzzo, Rossana Berardi, Laura Catena, Roberto Buzzoni, Filippo de Braud. Impact of metformin on progression-free survival in diabetic patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) receiving everolimus and/or somatostatin analogues: A sensitivity analysis of the PRIME-NET (pancreatic multicentric, retrospective, italian metformin) study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-256. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-256


Backround: Depression is a growing health problem all over the world and the age group that shows the most increase are the adolescents.Aim: The aim of this study was to describe adolescents' experiences of depression.Method: The method used in this study is a literature study which includes compiled research about the experience of depression in adolescents and has brought out themes of similarities.Results: Findings show that adolescents perceive and experience a great deal of feelings such as fear and loneliness in relation to depression. They suffer from the struggles of daily life and most of them express fears of being seen as mentally ill and therefor being perceived as different. Adolescents express the need of turning to something to help them cope with these strong feelings that depression brings forward. Isolation, distraction and self-harm are some of the examples of ways that adolescents describe in trying to cope with their depression. Findings also show that adolescents wish to be treated as unique individuals and for the carers to listen to their stories.Conclusion: Care given to adolescents with depression needs to be more patient-focused so that the adolescents' own experiences and perceptions get more attention during treatment. Our conclusion is that more research is needed, focusing on the adolescents' own experiences of depression.


BACKGROUND
 Radiomics can improve the accuracy of traditional image diagnosis to evaluate extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC); however, this is limited by variations across radiologists, subjective evaluation, and restricted data. A radiomics-based particle swarm optimization and support vector machine (PSO-SVM) model may provide a more accurate auxiliary diagnosis for assessing differentiation degree (DD) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) of ECC.

 OBJECTIVE
 The objective of our study is to develop a PSO-SVM radiomics model for predicting DD and LNM of ECC.

 METHODS
 For this retrospective study, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 110 patients with ECC who were diagnosed from January 2011 to October 2019 were used to construct a radiomics prediction model. Radiomics features were extracted from T1-precontrast weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using MaZda software (version 4.6; Institute of Electronics, Technical University of Lodz). We performed dimension reduction to obtain 30 optimal features of each sequence, respectively. A PSO-SVM radiomics model was developed to predict DD and LNM of ECC by incorporating radiomics features and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. We randomly divided the 110 cases into a training group (88/110, 80%) and a testing group (22/110, 20%). The performance of the model was evaluated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

 RESULTS
 A radiomics model based on PSO-SVM was developed by using 110 patients with ECC. This model produced average AUCs of 0.8905 and 0.8461, respectively, for DD in the training and testing groups of patients with ECC. The average AUCs of the LNM in the training and testing groups of patients with ECC were 0.9036 and 0.8889, respectively. For the 110 patients, this model has high predictive performance. The average accuracy values of the training group and testing group for DD of ECC were 82.6% and 80.9%, respectively; the average accuracy values of the training group and testing group for LNM of ECC were 83.6% and 81.2%, respectively.

 CONCLUSIONS
 The MRI-based PSO-SVM radiomics model might be useful for auxiliary clinical diagnosis and decision-making, which has a good potential for clinical application for DD and LNM of ECC.


Background. Echocardiography is a reliable procedure for the diagnosis of the isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (INVM). We studied the demographics and clinical characteristics of echocardiographically diagnosed INVM.Methods. We analyzed two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiograms in 16,623 consecutive patients from June 2000 to February 2005.Results. There were 99 INVM patients (68 males) with a prevalence was 0.6% (0.7% in males, 0.5% in females). Ten male patients had left ventricular dysfunction. Twenty-nine male patients and 10 female patients had mitral valve prolapse. Of 95 INVM patients, 38 male patients and 20 female patients had thoracic deformity, and 18 male patients and 7 female patients had thoracic deformity and mitral valve prolapse.Conclusions. Echocardiographically diagnosed INVM is not an uncommon disease. Left ventricular function is almost normal in many patients (86.9%). Thoracic deformity and/or mitral valve prolapse are often associated with INVM.


This article is devoted to interstitial Cajal cells (syn. telocytes, interstitial pacemaker cells, IPC). First those cells were discovered by C.R Cajal in the muscle coat of the gut in 1893. Nowadays they have revealed in all parts of digestive systems (from esophagus to rectum), urinary and biliary tracts, prostate, liver, the walls of arteries and lymphatics, as well Fallopian tube, myometrium, mammary glands. Characteristic ultrastructural features are elongated spindle shape, length from 40 to 100 μm, the thickness of 0.2-0.5 μm, the presence of 2-5 processes. Length of them rangingfrom tens to hundreds of micrometers, some of them have secondary and tertiary branching, forming a three-dimensional network. IPC having spontaneous electrical (pacemaker) activity are cause to contraction of smooth muscle cells. Depending on the location of IPC have different morphological and ultrastructural characteristics. Characteristic immunohistochemical markers are CD117, CD34, S100, vimentin. IPC replay to acetylcholine, norepinephrine, estrogen, progesterone, and nitric oxide by influence ofcorresponding receptors. IPC have specific gap junctions with lymphocytes, basophiles, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells and dendritic cells. Grave pathology of those cells are forming gastrointestinal stromal tumors.


An association between opiate smoking and acute severe asthma is recognised but a relationship with COPD is not clearly established and limited to case reports. Anecdotally there is limited knowledge about the pulmonary effects of heroin smoking amongst drug users, drug service workers and healthcare professionals. To examine this relationship we studied a convenience sample of 41 heroin smokers who presented to our service with respiratory symptoms and were diagnosed with COPD. All completed spirometry and underwent a CT scan while 20 had alpha-1-antitrypsin level measured and 9 had DLco measured. Visual emphysema extent was recorded by two thoracic radiologists with a third adjudicating where there was a more than 1 point difference in grading. Emphysema was assessed in both lungs at 3 levels (cranial, middle and caudal) with grade 1 representing 1–5% emphysema, 2 = 6–25% emphysema, 3 = 26–50%, 4 = 51–75% and 5 >75% emphysema. Mean age at presentation was 40.7 (SD 5.4) years with all subjects aged 50 years or younger and 18/41 (44%) were younger than 40 years. Mean pack years cigarette smoking was 27 (19) and subjects had smoked heroin for 14.8 (6.6) years. Mean pre-bronchodilator FEV1 was 0.99 (0.52) L; 29.9 (17.6)%predicted and FEV1/FVC was 0.36 (0.13). Nine subjects had moderate (GOLD stage II), 7 severe (GOLD stage III) and 25 had very severe (GOLD stage IV) COPD. DLco was 41 (23)%predicted in the 9 subjects and alpha-1-antitrypsin level was normal in the 20 subjects who had it measured. Twenty nine CT scans were high resolution and suitable for detailed analysis. 28/29 (97%) subjects had at least grade 1 upper lobe emphysema and mean upper lobe emphysema extent (average of the 2 upper lobe scores) was 3.0 (1.4) with 15/29 (52%) subjects having grade 3 emphysema or worse. Overall emphysema extent (average of all 6 scores) was 2.5 (1.1). Moderate bronchiectasis was seen on only 3 scans and no subject had severe bronchiectasis. The other 12 CT scans could not be precisely graded but all had been reported as showing emphysema (2 mild, 2 moderate, 1 moderate to severe and 7 severe). Heroin smoking is associated with very early onset severe COPD with predominant emphysema. This is an important public health message needing dissemination to heroin smokers, drug service workers and healthcare professionals.


Simulation provides a learning environment suitable for procedures that require repetition without adding to patient risk.1–3 The Heartworks TEE (transoesophageal) Simulator by InventiveMedical is readily available to anaesthesia trainees at our centre. It allows navigation between 20 standard echocardiographic views. It consists of a high-end software loaded computer and screen, a mannequin and a dummy probe. The display consists of a 3D model of the heart, the probe position and an ultrasound image. The echo image and heart model will vary corresponding to alterations in probe orientation. This is called the haptic interface.4

This prospective, observational study was designed to evaluate the educational benefit of the Heartworks TEE Simulator as an adjunct to teaching anaesthesia trainees basic TEE. The hypothesis stated that a 1:1 trainee to instructor TEE simulation session would produce a significant improvement in post-test multiple choice questionnaire scores compared with pretest scores.

Twenty-two anaesthesia trainees undertaking their cardiothoracic anaesthesia module completed a presession multiple choice questionnaire; this lasted for 30 min. Thirty computer-based multiple choice questions with single best answer, including video clips of the …


The main result of this updated release is the formal proof that 2019-nCoV coronavirus is partially a SYNTHETIC genome. We proof the CONCENTRATION in a small région of wuhan New genome (300bp) of 3 different régions from HIV1 ENVELOPPE gene and 3 others from HIV2 and SIV (ENV and POL RT). All this is remarkable and bears the mark of a desire for organization of a human nature: LOGIC, SYMETRIES.
In this article, we demonstrate also that there is a kind of global human hosts adaptation strategy of SARS viruses as well as a strategy of global evolution of the genomes of the different strains of SARS which have emerged, mainly in China, between years 2003 first SARS genomes and the last 2019 COVID-19 Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, complete genome.
This global strategy, this temporal link, is materialized in our demonstration by highlighting stationary numerical waves controlling the entire sequence of their genomes.
Curiously, these digital waves characterizing the 9 SARS genomes studied here are characteristic whole numbers: the "Fibonacci numbers", omnipresent in the forms of Nature, and which our research for several decades has shown strong links with the proportions of nucleotides in DNA.
Here we demonstrate that the complexity and fractal multiplicity of these Fibonacci numerical waves increases over the years of the emergence of new SARS strains.
We suggest that this increase in the overall organization of the SARS genomes over the years reflects a better adaptation of SARS genomes to the human host.
The question of a link with pathogenicity remains open.
However, we believe that this overall strategy for the evolution of the SARS genomes ensures greater unity, consistency and integrity of the genome.
Finally, we ask ourselves the question of a possible artificial origin of this genome, in particular because of the presence of fragments of HIV1, HIV2 and SIV retroviruses.


This paper describes the design, construction, and performance analysis of the Eclipse, a redundantly actuated six-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism intended for rapid machining. The Eclipse is a compact mechanism capable of performing five-face machining in a single setup while retaining the advantages of high stiffness and high accuracy characteristic of parallel mechanisms. We compare numerical and algebraic algorithms for the forward and inverse kinematics of a class of the Eclipse and formalize the notion of machine tool workspace. We also develop a simple method for the first-order elasto-kinematic analysis of parallel mechanisms that is amenable to design iterations. A complete characterization of the singularities of the Eclipse is given, and redundant actuation is proposed as a solution. The Eclipse case study demonstrates how diverse analytical tools originally developed in a robotics context can be synthesized into a practical design methodology for parallel mechanisms.


Abstract The Red Sea arm of the triple junction in northeastern Ethiopia provides an opportunity to investigate rift-forming processes at divergent boundaries. In an attempt to study the subsurface, especially the distribution and role of melt in the rifting process, we carried out a high-precision gravity survey with a mean-square error of 0.011 mgal, assisted by differential global positioning system measurements. The profile is 162 km long and strikes ENE–WSW across the southern part of the Red Sea rift at a latitude of approximately 11.75° N. Modelling of the Bouguer anomaly, constrained by a priori information, showed detailed in-rift variations in the crustal structure and the distribution of melt beneath the rift axis. Our interpretation suggested that the process of continental break-up is governed by crustal stretching and rifting accompanied by the emplacement of melt into the lower crust above a lower density upper mantle. In addition, we interpreted the thickness of the crust beneath this part of the rift axis to be 25 km. The subsurface distribution of density beneath the profile shows that the south-central part of the Red Sea rift has modified thinned crust, intruded by high-density material, which resembles the crust formed during seafloor spreading.


Ultrasonic imaging is a mature medical technology. It accounts for one in four imaging studies and this proportion is increasing. Wave propagation, beam formation, the Doppler effect and the properties of tissues that affect imaging are discussed. The transducer materials and construction of the probes used in imaging are described, as well as the methods of measuring the ultrasonic field. The history of ultrasonic imaging is briefly reviewed. The pulse-echo technique is used for real-time grey-scale imaging and the factors that limit the spatial and temporal resolutions are considered. The construction and performance of transducer arrays are discussed, together with the associated beam steering and signal processing systems. Speckle and scattering by blood are introduced, particularly in the context of the observation of blood flow by means of the Doppler effect and by time-domain signal processing. Colour flow imaging, and the colour coding schemes used for velocity and power imaging, are explained. The acquisition and display of three-dimensional images are discussed, with particular reference to speed and segmentation. Specialized imaging methods, including endoluminal scanning, synthetic aperture imaging, computed tomography, elasticity imaging, microscanning, contrast agents, and tissue harmonic imaging, are reviewed. There is a discussion of issues relating to safety. Conclusions are drawn and future prospects are considered.


Due to the environmental constraints and the limitations on blasting, ripping as a ground loosening and breaking method has become more popular in both mining and civil engineering applications. Because of the technological advances in dozer manufacturing techniques, more powerful dozer types are available today. Thus, the ground, previously classified as non-rippable, has become rippable. As a consequence, a more applicable rippability classification system is needed which considers both equipment properties as well as rock properties in all applications. This paper is part of a complementary research work and presents the development of a previously published grading rippability classification system by the application of fuzzy set theory. The integrated rippability classification system considers the combined utilization of the rock and equipment properties, as well as expert opinion. Fuzzy set theory was chosen mainly because it deals well with uncertainty in the choice of variables. Although there are apparent sharp or discontinuous boundaries in existing classification systems, practically most of the factors involved in the ripping process are less well defined and boundaries are more blurred (or fuzzy) or uncertain in nature. Also by means of fuzzy logic it is possible to eliminate bias or subjectivity. The validity of the proposed system was checked by the comparison against existing classification systems and direct ripping production values obtained at studied sites. It is seen that by means of fuzzy logic, the uncertainties are reduced and biased usage of the final ratings that appear in alternative systems are efficiently dealt with. Keywords: Fuzzy set theory, rock rippability, rippability classification system, direct ripping, fuzzy inference system.


Perianal Crohn's Disease (PCD) remains a refractory phenotype of Crohn's Disease (CD)1. Despite initial demonstration of the benefit of infliximab (IFX) in PCD over 20 years ago2, it remains clear how IFX treatment can be optimised for PCD patients3. In this retrospective observational study, a cohort of PCD patients based at St Mark's Hospital was reviewed to understand their disease-journeys whilst on treatment with IFX.

 A cohort of 59 patients with PCD on treatment with IFX as of January 2020 were identified from a prospective database of IFX treated patients. Twenty-seven patients were classed as fluctuating IFX levels and underwent disease-journey analysis. Detailed qualitative analysis of individual patients journeys were carried out to correlate IFX levels, where available, to C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Examinations Under Anaesthetic (EUA). These journeys were then graphed as a timeline for each of these patients.

 Four disease-journeys have been selected to exemplify key learning points in the management of PCD.
 Graph 1: Improving drainage and reducing inflammatory burden with EUA can help to recover IFX levels and regain disease control. This suggests a well-timed EUA can have a synergistic effect on treatment with IFX.

 Graph 2: In a subgroup of patients, optimised medical therapy with IFX alone remains adequate to perianal fistula healing.

 Graph 3: Patients may benefit from temporary dose escalations with IFX to recapture response and to improve disease burden.

 Graph 4: Some patients require longer periods of dose-escalated therapy as seen in this graph & higher IFX levels may be required for radiological healing.

 These cases highlight interesting learning points and can help to manage complicated PCD patients. Further work is needed to determine how significant the link is between improvement in IFX levels post-EUA and how this correlates with the overall clinical picture of the patient.

 1. Sahnan K, Adegbola SO, Fareleira A, Hart A, Warusavitarne J. Medical-surgical Combined Approach in Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease (CD): Doing it Together. Curr Drug Targets. 2019;20(13):1373–1383.
 2. Present DH, Rutgeerts P, Targan S, et al. Infliximab for the treatment of fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med 1999;340:1398–405.
 3. Kotze PG, Shen B, Lightner A, Yamamoto T, Spinelli A, Ghosh S, Panaccione R. Modern management of perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease: future directions. Gut. 2018 Jun;67(6):1181–1194.


This work presents an approach for storm water erosivity index modelling in the absence of measurement in an urban area, in a sub-humid climate. In torrential storms, floods, loaded with sediments, obstruct storm water drainage. With the aim of estimating the amount of sediment that can be deposited on a stretch of road, adjacent to the study area, the erosivity index is determined from a count of 744 rain showers recorded over a period of 19 years. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) of Wischmeier and Smith is applied, where only the index of erosivity is calculated; it is based on the intensity of the rain starting the process of erosion in the basin. Functional relations are required between this factor and the explanatory variables. A power type regression model is reached, making it possible to bring a decision-making aid in absences of measurements.


Flood is a major peril in UK and Europe and as such, the realistic and statistically consistent simulation of its driving force, the precipitation, is of particular importance. Statistical coherence of precipitation simulations is even more important in the context of aggregate flood risk and corresponding extreme
economic losses because these are result of the interplay between local intensities, spatial clustering and areal coverage of precipitation footprints. This interplay is further complicated by the fact that rainfall fields are spatially heterogeneous and non-stationary when considered at short time scales. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce a novel modeling approach to large scale - high resolution precipitation simulations which is computationally feasible for thousands annual realizations under the current climate conditions. The model preserves the rainfall patterns at large scales and incorporates anisotropic downscaling localized in space and time to preserve the non-stationary nature of the local precipitation variability. The entire simulation process is conducted in the domain of a Gaussian copula in order to deal with the inherent spatial heterogeneity of rainfall fields.


The results of pyelonephritis treatment in 48 pregnant patients are analyzed. Twenty-three patients were administered routine antibacterial therapy, in 25 ones plasmapheresis was added to it. Immunity status of all the patients was examined. Antibiotic therapy was conducive to improvement of the patients' status, to a reduction of the renal inflammation severity, though it did not completely eliminate immunodeficiency signs. B lymphocyte and immunoglobulin levels persisted reduced. Plasmapheresis promoted a more swift elimination of clinical and laboratory signs of pyelonephritis and virtually completely liquidated immunodeficiency.


Objective A robust association between polymorphisms in the non-major histocompatibility complex gene ERAP1 and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in several populations was recently identified. The aim of the current study was to determine the level of association of ERAP1 polymorphisms with spondyloarthritis (SpA) in French/Belgian populations with particular attention to genotype–phenotype correlations. Methods We studied 734 independent SpA cases and 632 controls from two European cohorts. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs27044, rs17482078, rs10050860, rs30187 and rs2287987 were genotyped, and case-control association analyses were carried using PLINK 1.07 software. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes were estimated with Haploview. Analysis was first carried out in SpA as a whole group, and then separately in AS and non-radiographic SpA (non-AS) patients. Results Consistent with previous studies conducted in AS, rs30187 was the most significantly associated SNP with SpA (p=0.008 in the French, and p=6.46×10−4 in the Belgian cohorts). In the combined cohorts, this SNP was associated with both AS and non-AS (Pcombined= 3.9×10−5 and Pcombined= 0.005, respectively). A similar trend was observed with other SNPs. The rs17482078/rs10050860/rs30187-CCT haplotype was significantly associated with increased risk of SpA in both cohorts (Pcombined= 9.08×10−4), including AS and non-AS (Pcombined=6.16×10−4 and Pcombined=0.049, respectively), whereas the -TTC haplotype was associated with reduced risk of SpA, including AS and non-AS (Pcombined=2.36×10−7, Pcombined= 5.69×10−6 and Pcombined= 2.13×10−4, respectively). Conclusions This is the first study to show an association between several polymorphisms located in ERAP1 and SpA as a whole. Our findings demonstrate consistent association of the same SNPs and haplotypes with both AS and non-AS subtypes of SpA.


Remote sensing instruments are heavily used to provide observations for both the operational and research communities. These sensors do not provide direct observations of the desired atmospheric variables, but instead, retrieval algorithms are necessary to convert the indirect observations into the variable of interest. It is critical to be aware of the underlying assumptions made by many retrieval algorithms, including that the retrieval problem is often ill posed and that there are various sources of uncertainty that need to be treated properly. In short, the retrieval challenge is to invert a set of noisy observations to obtain estimates of atmospheric quantities. The problem is often complicated by imperfect forward models, by imperfect prior knowledge, and by the existence of nonunique solutions. Optimal estimation (OE) is a widely used physical retrieval method that combines measurements, prior information, and the corresponding uncertainties based on Bayes's theorem to find an optimal solution for the atmospheric state. Furthermore, OE also allows the relative contributions of the different sources of error to the uncertainty in the final retrieved atmospheric state to be understood. Here, we provide a novel Python library to illustrate the use of OE for inverse problems in the atmospheric sciences. We introduce two example problems: how to retrieve drop size distribution parameters from radar observations and how to retrieve the temperature profile from ground-based microwave sensors. Using these examples, we discuss common pitfalls, how the various error sources impact the retrieval, and how the quality of the retrieval results can be quantified.


Phase purity and crystallinity of diamond films grown by hot filament chemical vapor deposition on ISO-grade K10 cemented carbide [94.2 wt % (w/o) WC-5.8 w/o Co] were studied by Raman spectroscopy as a function of substrate temperature, gas phase composition, and substrate pretreatments. High-quality diamond films were grown using 0.5% CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2} in a rather narrow range of substrate temperatures (750 to 760 C). In all the deposited coatings, the first-order Raman band of diamond is detected at 1337 cm{sup {minus}1}. This fact indicates that a 2 GPa residual compressive stress is present in the diamond phase. The linewidth of the diamond Raman peak increases with deposition temperature. This effect has been ascribed to a higher density of defects in diamond crystallites. It has been observed that Co removal from the substrate surface by wet chemical etching before deposition is less effective than a careful selection of deposition parameters to reduce the codeposition of nondiamond carbon phases. This finding has been attributed to the fast diffusion of the binder from the bulk to the substrate surface, even for the etched substrates.


Objective: The aim was to research Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) related genes and functions for postoperative recovery and complications and prevention.
Methods: E-GEOD-18179 was used to screen Differently Expressed Genes (DEGs) between SCI samples and controls. Adjacency matrix was constructed as gene co-expression network. Sub-network was identified based on spearman correlation coefficient. Assortativity coefficient was calculated to represent the relationship among nodes. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment was processed and guilt-byassociation was undertaken.
Results: Total 129 DEGs were obtained and Adjacency matrix with 129 × 129 genes was constructed. There into, TYROBP and MIA were with weight of 0.9695. Total 129 genes were enriched in 127 GO terms, such as molecular function and catalytic activity. K terms and related AUC values were obtained. The guilt-by-association node degrees AUCs were generated. In addition, the optimal list genes were obtained, such as JUN and PTK2B. Finally, optimal GO terms were obtained, such as regulation of signal transduction, positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process and cellular component organization.
Conclusion: Screened genes including JUN, PTK2B, CCND1 and ADAM8 might be potential genes for SCI postoperative recovery and complications and prevention.


We present a new approach to the approximation of equilibrium solutions to nonlinear rational expectations models that applies to any order of approximation. The approach relies on a particular version of Taylor series approximations of the differential version and on a scalar perturbation of the support of the entire history of shocks. The resulting solution for any order can always be directly cast in a linear state-space form, permitting the solution to be used for many practical applications such as forecasting, estimation, and computing impulse responses. Using the approach, we show that there cannot be multiple solutions in any order of approximation if the associated first-order approximate solution is determinate. Our approach can be used simply to verify key propositions of the earlier literature, to extend its range of applications, and to resolve puzzles left by it. While the paper only provides an explicit solution up to a third-order approximation, extensions to any higher order approximations are straightforward.


Air-deck ratio plays a decisive role in blasting engineering. Researchers have conducted extensive work to study the optimal air-deck ratio. But consensus has not been achieved. Especially slotted charge blasting, the study on it just starts. For its complicated physical process in blasting, it is difficult to perform theoretical analysis to obtain the law between blasting result and air-deck ratio. The numerical simulation method is adopted to study the effect of different air-deck ratio on stress distribution at first. And then laboratory tests are carried out to validate the simulation results. The conclusion may be drawn that good directional fracture could be obtained with air-deck ratio 33.3% ~ 50%. The achievement could provide reference for blasting engineering.


The objective of this study is to evaluate the difference of the soil water management in mango orchards between the varieties of "Irwin" in Japanand "Nam Dok Mai" inThailand. Field observations were conducted in mango orchards in Okinawa, Japan and Phrao, Thailand to clarify the water management practices. Measurement of the hourly soil water content in Phrao indicated that the irrigation was scarce and the volumetric water content in the soil was maintained almost constant. in the flowering season. This can be the farmers' practice for flower induction. After the flowering season, irrigation was frequent in order to produce the large fruit. In the harvest season, the soil water content was relatively high because of frequent irrigation and rainfall. In Okinawa, the volumetric water content was maintained at the same level in a relatively deep layer. The result at the5 cmdepth indicated that the farmer carefully controlled the soil water content. In the flowering season, the soil water content was relatively low. While the orchard was managed empirically, the volumetric water content near the soil surface was maintained over 25% during the harvest season. This result indicates that the farmer performed the good soil water management to enhance mango fruit quality even without technical measurement. A numerical model describing the soil water and heat transfers was introduced to predict the farmer's empirical soil water management in Okinawa. Using the meteorological data in March 2010, the irrigation regime was predicted using the simulated soil water content. In the flowering season, the farmer irrigated when the soil surface water content reached 14%. Based on this criterion for the empirical soil water management, the simulation result indicated that the farmer irrigated four times in this period. The numerical model presented here can be useful for evaluating the differences in water management practices of local farmers.


Suffix arrays encode the lexicographical order of all suffixes of a text and are often combined with the Longest Common Prefix array (LCP) to simulate navigational queries on the suffix tree in reduced space. In space-critical applications such as sparse and compressed text indexing, only information regarding the lexicographical order of a size-b subset of all n text suffixes is often needed. Such information can be stored space-efficiently (in b words) in the sparse suffix array (SSA). The SSA and its relative sparse LCP array (SLCP) can be used as a space-efficient substitute of the sparse suffix tree. Very recently, Gawrychowski and Kociumaka [11] showed that the sparse suffix tree (and therefore SSA and SLCP) can be built in asymptotically optimal O(n) space with a Monte Carlo algorithm running in O(n) time. The main reason for using the SSA and SLCP arrays in place of the sparse suffix tree is, however, their reduced space of b words each. This leads naturally to the quest for in-place algorithms building these arrays. Franceschini and Muthukrishnan [8] showed that the full suffix array can be built in-place and in optimal running time. On the other hand, finding sub-quadratic in-place algorithms for building the SSA and SLCP for general subsets of suffixes has been an elusive task for decades. In this paper, we give the first solution to this problem. We provide the first in-place algorithm building the full LCP array in O(n log n) expected time and the first Monte Carlo in-place algorithms building the SSA and SLCP in O(n + b log2 n) expected time. We moreover describe the first in-place solution for the suffix selection problem: to compute the i-th smallest text suffix. In order to achieve these results, we show that we can quickly overwrite the text with a reversible and implicit data structure supporting Longest Common Extension queries in polylogarithmic time and text extraction in optimal time: this structure is strictly more powerful than a plain text representation and is of independent interest.


Graphene, which is a recently discovered single-atom-thick planar sheet of carbon atoms perfectly arranged in a honeycomb lattice, has great potential in biosensing owing to its extraordinary electrical, physical, and optical properties. In this work, we demonstrate a graphene based biosensor to electrically detect E. coli bacteria with high sensitivity and specificity. The large-sized graphene film was grown by chemical vapor deposition and functionalized with anti-E. coliantibodies and passivation layer. Significant conductance increase of the graphene device was observed after exposure to E. coli bacteria at a concentration as low as 10 cfu/mL, while no significant response was triggered by high concentration of the another bacterial strain. In addition, this biosensor was employed to detect the glucose induced metabolic activities of the bound E. coli bacteria in real time. This simple, fast, sensitive, and label-free nanoelectronic biosensor, in principle, could serve as a high throughput platform for detection of any pathogenic bacteria, and for functional studies or screening of antibacterial drugs.