Two-dimensional ocean wave spectra are measured from ENVISAT ASAR wave mode cross spectra on a global scale. The measurement is performed using a parametric retrieval scheme, which makes use of prior information taken from numerical wave models. The Partition Rescale and Shift algorithm (PARSA) is based on a partitioning technique, which splits an a prior wave spectrum into its wave system components. Integral parameters of these systems, such as mean direction, mean wavelength, waveheight, and directional spreading are then adjusted iteratively to improve the consistency with the SAR observation. The method takes into account the full nonlinear SAR imaging process and uses a maximum a posteriori approach, which is based on statistical model quantifying the errors of the SAR imaging model, the SAR measurement, and the prior wave spectra. The method is applied to a global data set of ENVISAT ASAR data acquired during the CAL/VAL phase. The benefit of cross spectra compared to conventional symmetric image spectra is demonstrated.


A series of V2O5-Cr2O3/TiO2 catalysts with various chromium loadings prepared by the impregnation method were studied for Hg0 oxidation and NO reduction. The results indicate that Cr2O3-modified V2O5/TiO2 exhibited improved catalytic activity for both Hg0 oxidation and NO reduction. In fact, with the addition of 5% Cr2O3 to the V/Ti catalyst, the mercury oxidation efficiency increased significantly from 6.5% to 97% in the presence of O2 at 350°C, and its SCR performance also improved in the temperature range of 250°C to 400°C. To explore the effect of individual flue gas components on Hg0 oxidation, a series of activity tests were conducted over 1% Cr-V/Ti at 350°C, and it was found that O2 and HCl promote mercury oxidation, while SO2 and H2O exhibited a somewhat inhibitive influence. H2-TPR and XPS results indicated that the enhanced catalytic performance of V2O5-Cr2O3/TiO2 is attributable to the synergetic interactions between the two active phases.


Miniaturization continues in all kind of electronic assemblies and thus also in the different soldering processes. Not only consumer electronic assemblies become smaller, but also in other areas like automotive, industrial and medical parts reduce in size where functionality increases. No matter if products are assembled in high or small volumes soldering technology has to deal with finer pitch and higher accuracy of the soldering process. Small electronic assemblies contain mainly SMD components that are soldered with solder paste in a reflow oven. Traditional through hole soldering is replaced by surface mount devices nevertheless there are still some reasons to have through hole components instead of SMD's. The main two reasons are strength (reliability) and heat resistance. Some components like flex cables, LCD displays and other plastic parts just cannot withstand the high reflow temperatures of ~ 250 ºC for a longer time. In order to meet the high temperatures of reflow special high temperature resistant plastics are required; making the parts more expensive. This paper will discuss how this small through hole components can be soldered when assembled together with SMD's, either in a reflow oven or in a wave or selective soldering process.


In Serbia, unambiguous symptoms of ash dieback disease were for the first time observed in September 2015. Symptoms included dead shoots and occasionally small necrotic lesions in the bark accompanied by characteristic wood discoloration. Isolation of fungal cultures from symptomatic tissues of F. excelsior and F. angustifolia and their sequencing using the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA (ITS rDNA) as a marker confirmed the presence of the ash dieback pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.


Background: The nasolabial angle is the angle between the line drawn through the midpoint of the nostril aperture and a line drawn perpendicular to the Frankfort horizontal plane while intersecting subnasale. Previous analysis by the authors' department yielded closer ranges between men and women of 96 and 98 degrees, respectively. This study further refines the ideal nasolabial angle using the opinions of a highly select group of seasoned rhinoplasty surgeons. Methods: Lateral photographs of 10 men and 10 women of various ethnic backgrounds who had undergone a rhinoplasty were studied. The photographs were digitally altered to various angles. Members of the Rhinoplasty Society evaluated the photographs. Raters selected their top choice based on the most aesthetically pleasing nasolabial angle. In addition, they were asked to estimate the angle of the photograph they selected as most ideal. Data analysis was performed using the distribution of means of ideal nasolabial angle values. Results: Based on the 95 percent confidence interval for the ideal means, the ideal nasolabial angle would be 93.9 to 97.3 degrees for male subjects and 96.8 to 100.2 degrees for female subjects. Twenty-four raters provided angle estimations; the mean ± SD angle was 2.76 ± 2.49 degrees larger than the actual angle. Conclusions: The authors' results were consistent with their previous findings, indicating a much closer range of nasolabial angle between men and women than previously reported in the literature. The overestimation in the nasolabial angle versus actual may be one factor accounting for the difference between the authors' findings and the previously accepted standards.


OBJECTIVE
To study the presence of accessory sulcus (AS) in the embalmed cadaveric livers, and compare it with the normal liver.

METHODS
The present study was conducted on 40 embalmed cadaveric livers in the Department of Anatomy, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September to October 2007, in order to observe the presence and pattern of anomalous AS.

RESULTS
Out of the 40 liver specimens studied, we observed the presence of AS in only 2 specimens 5%. The AS was located in the inferior and posterior surfaces of the right lobes in 2 specimens.

CONCLUSION
The AS of the liver is a rare anomaly. Research studies had mainly described the diaphragmatic sulci in the liver, however there are no research reports on the presence of AS in the inferior surface of the right lobe of the liver. The presence of the AS may represent the deep course of the hepatic veins superficially, thus proving to be more beneficial to the hepatobiliary surgeons. The AS may be due to a developmental defect, or may be acquired as a result of pressure by any superficial structure. The precise anatomical knowledge of the AS may also be important for radiologists interpreting CT images of injected veins. The gross anatomical findings of anomalous AS in 2 liver specimens, and its clinical implications are being highlighted in the present study.


Recent financial sector crises and their resolution have raised new issues and provided additional experiences to draw on in the future. Banking sector problems in Russia, Turkey, and a few Latin American countries occurred within the context of highly dollarized economies, high levels of sovereign debt, severely limited fiscal resources, or combinations thereof. These factors have challenged the effectiveness of many of the typical tools for bank resolution. This publication focuses on the issues raised in systemic crises, not on the resolution of individual bank problems. Based on the lessons learned during the Asian crisis, it updates the IMF's work on the general principles, strategies, and techniques for managing these crises.


The Italian highway industry has undergone an institutional and regulatory reform through the last decade, characterised by changes in ownership and a new price cap framework. To assess the effect of the reforms on firms' performance, we use information on all the 20 Italian concessionaires over the 1992-2003 period and 1) estimate the technical progress in the industry, thereby providing a reference value for the X factor in the price cap formula; 2) assess the relative productivity of private vs. public concessionaires; 3) evaluate whether price cap regulation has induced firms to use resources efficiently, 4) determine the possible effect of the inclusion of the quality index in the price cap formula. We find that the introduction of a price cap regime does not increase firms' productivity whereas a sharp increase in maintenance costs is recorded, arguably due to the quality indicator in the price cap formula. Furthermore, firms appear to have gained from the privatisation process and from a technical progress occurred in the period. We also find high density economies and a steady and large increase in traffic. Overall, these results suggest that the X factor has been set too conservatively in past years which in turn explains the high profits recorded by franchisees under price cap regulation.


Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by a solvothermal synthesis method using sodium and ethanol. A sequence of pyrolysis, washing and purification steps was developed for the total removal of all by-products. The first pyrolysis step is essential to obtain graphitic forms of carbon while a washing and a second pyrolysis step further improved the graphenic structures obtained via the reduction of OH/COOH and C-O groups and the attendant increase in C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bonding (sp2 hybridization). Two purification processes were employed to remove sodium carbonate (by-product), i.e. vacuum filtration and centrifugation, but the latter produced a more stable GO product, typically with a few-layer (ca. 3 nm) stack and relatively long platelets (up to ca. 1.3 μm). The functionality of this GO was demonstrated by preparing composites of it with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). Some of the GO was arranged in flower-like domains dispersed in the PCL matrix. The crystalline content of PCL decreased on addition of GO, though the dynamic modulus of PCL increased and an electrical percolation at 0.5 vol% GO was obtained, manifest by a ∼104 increase in electrical conductivity (in an overall increase of ∼105 achieved at >1 vol%), more than sufficient for anti-static applications.


Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns affected various aspects of people's lives, including their mental health. Recent literature suggests a causal link between religiosity and mental health. Using data from an online survey, we investigate the role of religiosity in mediating the effect of Covid-19 on mental health. From February–March 2021, we conducted online surveys in the USA among 5178 individuals. These surveys elicited responses on (i) the incidence of Covid-19 infections among the respondents or their immediate social networks, (ii) religious beliefs and practices, and (iii) mental health. Employing the CESD scale, which tests for depression in clinical settings, we find that while the incidence of a Covid-19 infection is associated with significantly worse mental health, this negative association is significantly smaller for religious people. We posit that the mental health benefits of being religious emanate from the ability to participate in religious activities. Indeed, the ameliorative effect of religion is higher in low-strictness counties, where Covid-related lockdown policies were enforced less strictly, but not in high-strictness counties. We also document an increased uptake of online religious services, a substitute for in-person religious gatherings during the lockdown. Crucially, the ability to attend online religious services weakens the association between Covid-19 and worse mental health. Reference Details CWPE 2302 Published 6 January 2023


As cars become quieter the sound quality of components becomes more critical in the customer perception of car quality. This requires a need of new evaluation method for the specification of component sounds. Considering that high frequency noise plays an important roll for internal noise, the noise signals in the range from 7000Hz to 8000Hz are specially emphasized. Then the acoustic evaluation parameters, such as Sound Pressure Level, Sharpness and Steadiness have been evaluated. Judged from experiences and measuring results, an abnormal noise comes from Generator, through the exchange of Generator, Sound Pressure Level and sharpness were greatly improved. At the same time, subjective evaluation also indicated that there was no complaint any more in passenger compartment. Low Sound Pressure Level, sharpness can lead to perceived high product quality.


Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects Black adults. Greater social networks (SNs), or social connectedness, may lower the risk of CVD events. This study determined the association of SNs and incident CVD and tested mediation by depressive symptoms, hypertension control, and diabetes control. Methods and Results We used the Social Network Index at exam 1 (2000-2004) to develop a continuous standardized SN score and binary categories (high versus low) among participants in the Jackson Heart Study (n=4686; mean age, 54.8 years). Surveillance of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure events occurred after exam 1 (2005 for HF) until 2016. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated the association of SNs and CVD events by sex and tested the mediation of depressive symptoms, hypertension control, and diabetes control. Models adjusted for age, education, health behaviors, CVD comorbidities, and depressive symptoms. Among women, the SN score was associated with a lower hazard of stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure after full adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78 [95% CI, 0.64-0.95]; HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71-0.88]; and HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.66-0.92], respectively). SN scores were also associated with a lower hazard of coronary heart disease in men (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.75-0.94]) after full adjustment. High versus low SNs were associated with a lower hazard of coronary heart disease and heart failure among women after full adjustment. There was no evidence of mediation by depressive symptoms, diabetes control, and hypertension control. Conclusions Higher SNs may lower the risk of CVD events, especially in women.


OBJECTIVES
To compare retrograde filling cystometry at infusion rates of 5, 10, and 20 mL/min with diuresis cystometry for determination of an appropriate infusion rate and to confirm the reproducibility of measurements obtained by urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) and cystometry in female Beagles.

ANIMALS
Adult female Beagles.

PROCEDURE
Successive UPP and cystometry were performed by use of a water perfusion catheter on dogs anesthetized with propofol. Dogs randomly underwent each of the following at 1-week intervals: retrograde filling cystometry at 5, 10, and 20 mL/min, and diuresis cystometry. The maximum urethral pressure and closure pressure, functional and anatomic profile lengths, threshold pressure, threshold volume, and compliance were measured.

RESULTS
For each UPP variable, significant differences were found among dogs, but no significant differences were found in intra- or interstudy measurements for individual dogs. For retrograde filling cystometry, threshold pressure was not significantly different between a 5 and 10 mL/min infusion rate. Threshold pressure was significantly higher during retrograde filling cystometry at 20 mL/min, compared with 5 and 10 mL/min, and was associated with bladder wall damages. Threshold pressure was significantly lower during diuresis cystometry, compared with retrograde filling cystometries. Threshold volume and compliance were not significantly different among retrograde filling cystometries but were significantly higher during diuresis cystometry.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Retrograde filling cystometry at 20 mL/min leads to unacceptable sudden increase in threshold bladder pressure. Retrograde filling cystometry at 10 mL/min can be recommended in a clinical setting, shortening the anesthesia time. However, diuresis cystometry approximates physiologic bladder filling most accurately.


The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) considers computer aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) systems to be an important element of their advanced public transportation systems (APTS) program. In 1992 the Denver Regional Transportation District contracted with the Westinghouse Company (now TMSI) to equip their fleet of over 800 buses with AVL, using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to provide position data. The system to be installed also included CAD, which enables the dispatchers to see the positions of each bus in the fleet at all times. The FTA, through the Volpe Center, contracted with Sandia National Laboratories to perform a technical assessment of the AVL system. This paper describes both the methodology and some of the results obtained in that evaluation, which was performed in the summer of 1995, just prior to system acceptance. The evaluation looked at position accuracy under a variety of conditions, and in a variety of locations. Reliability of the data communications between the vehicles and dispatch center was measured as well.


Purpose: How Chinese people behave toward French Luxury Brands? Method: This paper is built on a deductive approach following three main hypotheses. Secondary datawere retrieved from books, studies and articles found in Halmstad library and several databases.Moreover, primary data were also collected through a questionnaire; which shapes the major lines ofour conclusions. Theoretical Framework: The frame of references follows our three hypotheses. First, the culturaldifferences between France and China are highlighted through concepts such as: Hofestede culturaldimensions, Mezirow's theory and Guanxi. Then, the Mianzi philosophy and the flying geeseparadigm are used to support the hypothesis that brands could be used as social markers. Finally,several theories about the country-of-origin effect are used to analyse the image of French products in China. Conclusion: The authors conclude that French luxury brands are considered on the Chinese south-eastcoast as a mark of high quality, prestige and fashion. These features partly motivate their purchasingdecision, whereas the country-of-origin itself is not a convincing argument. These brands, usuallyexpensive, are nowadays perceived by Chinese as a way to emphasis their wealth and thus socialstatus. This behaviour shows a growing individualism toward French luxury brands ownership in acountry historically ruled by collectivism. The contributions and further studies possible are finallyestablished at the end of this paper.


We detected a temporal change in propagation property of seismic wave associated with a magma intrusive event on 15 August 2015 of Sakurajima volcano, Japan. The propagation property, which is called transfer function (Green's function), has been monitored continuously since 12 September 2012 using an accurately-controlled seismic source (ACROSS) and seismic stations in Sakurajima volcano island. The change in the transfer function was calculated with 2-hour resolution. Large change is detected in the initial stage of the intrusive event, when the rate of crustal deformation was maximum. The amount of change associated with the intrusive event shows a spatial variation, depending on the location of the seismic stations. We calculated cross covariance between the transfer functions before and after the event. The cross covariances for the stations near the craters of 1914 Taisho eruption show larger reduction than those in the peripheral area even for the stations of comparable distance from the ACROSS source. The stations that show large reduction of cross covariance also show phase advance toward coda part, meaning velocity increase of the media. The amount of velocity increase is estimated to be about 1%. This indicates that the velocity increase is caused by the stress increase due to the magma intrusion. The stations in the peripheral area, which shows little reduction of cross covariance, also show little velocity change even in the same direction from the intrusion source. This may result from spatial variation of stress sensitivity of the medium in the volcanic body. The material near the Taisho craters of Sakurajima volcano is more sensitive to stress probably due to less compaction of eruption material.


Increasing evidence suggests that crosstalk between airway epithelial cells (AEC) and adjacent dendritic cells (DC) tightly regulates airway mucosal DC function in steady state. AEC are known to express multiple immmuno-modulatory factors, though detailed information on how this influences human DC function remains incomplete. We recently demonstrated using an in vitro coculture model that AEC alter differentiation of monocytes into DC in a manner that inhibits expression of potentially damaging Th2 effector function. In the current study, we have extended these findings to examine other aspects of DC function. Using micro-array technology we show that multiple genes important for immune surveillance are significantly over expressed in purified AEC-conditioned DC, compared to control DC. These findings were confirmed by quantitative real time PCR or flow cytometry in an independent sample set. In particular, AEC-conditioned DC showed selective upregulation of chemokines that recruit Th1 cells, but minimal change in chemokines linked to Th2 cell recruitment. AEC-conditioned DC were also characterized by enhanced expression of complement family genes (C1QB, C2, CD59 and SERPING1), Fcγ receptor genes (FCGR1A, FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR2C), signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 1 (SLAM), programmed death ligands 1 and 2, CD54 and CD200R1, relative to control DC. These findings suggest that AEC conditioning facilitates the capacity of DC to react to danger signals, to enhance leukocyte recruitment, especially of Th1 effector cells, and to interact with other immune cell populations while minimizing the risks of excessive inflammation leading to tissue damage.


A 35 years old female had been treated with steroids for bilateral scleritis. High fever appeared 9 months later since the onset of scleritis. Proteinuria, hematuria and elevation of serum creatinine were pointed out and she was sent to our hospital because of rapid deterioration of renal function. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. There was no finding of necrotizing vasculitis nor granuloma. Anti-human neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) was strongly positive in cytoplasmic pattern on admission, and then she was diagnosed as Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Methylprednisolone pulse therapy combined with anti-coagulant and anti-platelet agents was effective in improving of renal function and clinical symptoms. ANCA became negative one month later together with clinical improvements. Eye involvements as initial symptoms of WG have been reported in only 4 cases. She manifested rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis following scleritis 9 month later without typical respiratory tract involvement. This clinical course was considered as a rare case for WG. ANCA was considered to be a very useful tool for diagnosis and treatment of WG.


The UK government has been promoting innovation in the construction sector to improve the sustainability of the built environment. It has the potential and strength in developing construction research in design and engineering, but the impact of these processes seems to be slow in reaching the residential sector. While funding remains a major constraint research show that a number of detrimental issues including; organisation, risk, mind sets of the stakeholders, planning constraints,reluctance to accept change and the unexploited markets are major contributing factors. Most of these barriers can be overcome with research, development and information and knowledge transfer techniques. Educating all stakeholders can act as an accelerator for innovation. Given the large stock of existing dwellings, the situation is compounded, by issues related to climate change, to the point that this problem can no longer be ignored and requires an urgent response from all sectors involved.
This paper attempts to highlight some of the key issues that are important in accelerating innovation in the housing sector. It briefly looks at the process of innovation in housing and presents lessons learnt from two research projects. The drivers and barriers and the role played by the government are examined in relation to the housing context.


A method has been developed to assess the metabolism and mutagenic activation of carcinogens using human and rodent hepatocytes in vitro. A slicing technique which was especially useful for nonperfusable biopsy and resected surgical human liver tissue was used to prepare the hepatocytes. Metabolites of the model carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) produced by human and rat hepatocytes were similar and consisted primarily of 2-aminofluorene with ring hydroxylated products at the 1-, 3-, 5/9-, 7-, and 8-positions produced in addition to N-hydroxy-AAF. Sulphate and glucuronide conjugates of ring-hydroxylated metabolites and 2-aminofluorene were detected. Metabolism and cell-mediated Salmonella mutagenicity illustrated interindividual variation with human hepatocytes. Levels of metabolism and mutagenesis were generally higher with human hepatocytes compared to rat hepatocyte results. The increased levels of metabolism and mutagenesis of AAF by human hepatocytes compared to rat hepatocytes probably indicates a different sensitivity to hepatocarcinogenic effects of AAF on humans as compared to rats. Understanding differences and similarities between human and rodent carcinogen activation capabilities should be useful in the extrapolation of rodent carcinogenesis data to humans.


The 1915-1922 Armenian Genocide has been the subject of memoirs and historical accounts, most of them written by diasporic Armenians, but, unlike the Shoah, has not inspired much creative literature. It is therefore the more surprising that the latest fictional accounts should come from Ireland. Anyush (2014), the novel of Limerick-born Martine Madden, and a film called The Promise (2015) by the Irish director Terry George, both tell moving and impossible love stories which are a thin pretext for eliciting empathy for the sufferings of the Armenians and fighting the lack of recognition of the genocide. While giving a graphic description of the abuses at the hands of Turkish soldiers and of the nightmarish journey of the deportees starved to death, decimated by epidemics and herded through mountains and deserts with no precise destination except death, the two authors evoke memories of similar past and present actions in the world intended to annihilate an ethnic group with its language and culture. Writing about one group resonates against the histories of the others, in a sort of mise en abyme of blind human violence and ethnic hatred. The interest of Madden and George in the historical facts concerning this large Christian minority of the Ottoman Empire, much as it was inspired by compassion and a desire to denounce this still unrecognized massacre, may be due to a special sensitivity to the suppression of identity linked to a nationalist reading of the history of Ireland and more particularly of the Great Famine.


ABSTRACT The reported cost of a product frequently contains historical cost components that reflect past investments in productive capacity. We examine a setting wherein a firm makes a sequence of overlapping capacity investments. Earlier research has identified particular accrual accounting (depreciation) rules with the property that, on a per unit basis, the historical cost of a product captures precisely its marginal cost. Relative to this benchmark, we investigate and characterize the direction and magnitude of the bias in reported historical cost that results from alternative depreciation rules, including in particular straight-line depreciation in conjunction with partial direct expensing. In addition, we demonstrate that for a reasonable range of parameter specifications the resulting bias is rather small. Finally, we apply our framework to two specific settings. First, in a regulatory context, we establish the extent to which the accounting profit margin is indicative of a firm's pricing power in the product market. Second, we model an internal control scenario in which a manager's performance is evaluated using residual income, and identify the distortions in investment levels that result from the use of alternative depreciation rules. Copyright (c), University of Chicago on behalf of the Institute of Professional Accounting, 2009.


Recent years have been characterized by a further drop in real incomes of Russians and the spread of pessimism among them regarding their material situation (after a short-term growth of optimistic expectations during the presidential campaign). The current situation in Russia in this area can be described as "negative stabilization", because, although the decrease in the population's incomes has stopped, they have stabilized at a lower level than prior to the crisis of 2014–2016. Groups which differ in the dynamics of their material situation starting from 2014 also differ in the specifics of their composition and positions in the system of monetary and especially non-monetary inequalities. The higher an individual's place in the social hierarchy of life chances, the higher the likelihood of him being in an upward mobility group and the lower the chances of winding up in a group with downward mobility, and vice versa. For the evolution prospects of Russian society's stratification model this means an increasing polarization of the mass strata of the population. However, so far these processes proceed at a moderate pace and affect the "top" rather than the "bottom" of these strata. The most significant factors determining Russians' assessments of the dynamics of their material situation are their health, type of locus-control and planning horizon — personal characteristics that affect the ability of developing and implementing effective adaptation strategies. The high importance of personal factors for the dynamics of one's material situation indicates the crisis nature of modern Russian society, since for crisis societies personal qualities of an individual are more important for the vector of his mobility than structural factors or human and social capital.


When a patient is taken to theatre for a laparotomy, surprises can still be found despite modern investigative techniques. We present the case of two rare abdominal pathologies (an appendicoileal fistula and an intra-abdominal testis adherent to the vermiform appendix) being found simultaneously and review the literature on these topics.


This paper studies optimal switching on and off of the entire service capacity of an M/M/∞ queue with holding, running and switching costs. The running costs depend only on whether the system is on or off, and the holding costs are linear. The goal is to minimize average costs per unit time. The main result is that an average-cost optimal policy either always runs the system or is an (M, N)-policy defined by two thresholds M and N, such that the system is switched on upon an arrival epoch when the system size accumulates to N and is switched off upon a departure epoch when the system size decreases to M. It is shown that this optimization problem can be reduced to a problem with a finite number of states and actions, and an average-cost optimal policy can be computed via linear programming. An example, in which the optimal (M, N)-policy outperforms the best (0, N)-policy, is provided. Thus, unlike the case of single-server queues studied in the literature, (0, N)-policies may not be average-cost optimal.


Viral Cell Biology
Viruses must move out of their host cells before they can infect new ones. To make the break, newly created viruses form infectious virus particles by enshrouding themselves in the host cell's membrane, which eventually pinches off in a process called scission. For herpesviruses, this "budding" occurs in the inner nuclear membrane and requires a special protein tool, called a nuclear egress protein complex (NEC). Bigalke et al. asked whether the NEC itself tells the membrane to bud and pinch off, or whether it needs to recruit host-cell proteins to get the message across. Using only purified NEC and lipids, the authors found that NEC works alone, by forming a coat-like hexagonal array inside the budding membrane. This array forms a scaffold for the bud and helps the neck of the budding point narrow so scission occurs.

![Figure][1]

Herpesvirus virion

PHOTO: LINDA M. STANNARD/UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN/SCIENCE SOURCE

Nat. Commun. 10.1038/ncomms5131 (2014).

 [1]: pending:yes


We utilize the inverse proximity effect in superconductor-ferromagnet bilayer to generate lateral Josephson junctions. The weak link is created by a ferromagnetic NiFe strip across a superconductor Nb bridge due to the inverse proximity effect. The critical currents of the junctions were measured at different temperatures and magnetic fields. The junctions exhibit a modulation of the critical current in perpendicular magnetic field similar to a Fraunhofer interference pattern which proves the dc Josephson effect. The weak link region induced by the NiFe in Nb persists down to 2 K.


Among the artist's iron-based natural earth pigments, the so-called terra di Siena (raw sienna), terra di Siena bruciata (burnt sienna) and terra d'ombra (umber) have been among the yellow-brown and reddish-brown earth pigments most widely used by Italian and European painters since the Renaissance. We present the history of discovery, designation, and production of these famous pigments, their geological, lithological, and geochemical characterization, and the recognition of their genesis and places of origin, based on new geological field surveys, and on the critical analysis of textual documents and rock sample collections assembled during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In particular, the terra di Siena earth pigment exclusively originated at, and was extracted from, late Pleistocene paleo-lake basins surrounding the Monte Amiata volcano. This earth pigment consists of primarily lacustrine sediments composed of hydrated iron oxide (limonite/goethite) produced by biochemical authigenic precipitation from fresh waters rich in metal solutes.


During polyomavirus infection the capsid proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and transported into the nucleus were virion assembly occurs. Expression of the major capsid protein VP1 in Sf9 insect cells results in the accumulation of capsid-like particles in the nucleus, independent of the presence of the minor capsid proteins VP2 and VP3 or the viral DNA (Montross et al., J. Virol. 65, 4991-4998, 1991). Sf9 cells infected with baculovirus vectors expressing the polyomavirus minor capsid proteins VP2 and VP3 were examined. VP2 was myristylated in Sf9 cells, as seen during polyomavirus infection of mouse cells. Immunoprecipitation of lysates from co-infected cells demonstrated an association between VP1 and VP2. As determined by immunogold electron microscopy, when expressed alone VP2 was associated with membrane structures in the cytoplasm and VP3 was diffusely localized in the cytoplasm. When co-infected with a VP1 expressing baculovirus, both VP2 and VP3 became predominantly localized to the nucleus in association with capsid-like structures. Thus, the polyomavirus capsid proteins interact in vivo and alter their subcellular localization as a consequence.


We have designed a clearing house (CH) architecture that facilitates resource reservations over multiple network domains, and performs local admission control. Two key ideas employed in this design to make the CH scalable to a large user base are hierarchy and aggregation. In our model, we assume the network is composed of various basic routing domains which can be aggregated to form logical domains. This introduces a hierarchical tree of logical domains and a distributed CH architecture is associated with each logical domain to maintain the intra-domain aggregate reservations. The parent CH in the logical tree maintains the inter-domain reservation requests. Call setup time is reduced by performing advanced reservations based on statistical estimates of the call traffic across various links. We explore, with simulations, the efficiency of the CH-architecture in terms of resource utilization, call rejections and reservation setup time.


Smoke inhalation remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical and laboratory studies have re vealed numerous potentially toxic components of com bustion in the fire environment and in human tissue samples. However, the frequency and importance of the various compounds remains poorly understood. A new simple method to quantitatively measure volatile or ganic compounds (VOCs) in small samples of the blood of fire victims has been developed utilising the 'purge and trap' method of gas phase chromatography with flame ionisation detection using two columns. Thirty- three compounds were identified on the basis of the retention index method with acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. This method should permit a more complete investigation of the toxic volatile organic com pounds found in fire victims.


This report, commissioned by the Treasury, reviews the international and New Zealand evidence on trends in the distribution of earnings over the past 20 years. It assesses the international evidence on the strength of the various explanations for changes in the earnings distribution. It concludes with suggestions on how the trends in the earnings distribution in New Zealand might be further analysed. Considerable variation has occurred in trends in the distribution of earnings between industrialised economies, with English speaking countries showing the greatest increases in earnings inequalities, and European countries showing the least. The New Zealand evidence also shows a growth in earnings inequality, and indicates that this has been due to both growth in inequality in wage rates and in weekly hours of work. Trends in earnings inequalities together with changes in the distribution of employment appear to explain much of the movement in income inequality in New Zealand. The international literature has attributed changes in the distribution of earnings to labour supply side factors (eg, education, age, gender), demand side factors (eg, technological change, international trade), and institutional factors (eg, union effects, labour market regulation). The relative importance of these effects differs between countries. In the United States, where the most detailed analysis has taken place, about one third of the increase in overall earnings inequality can be explained by widening earnings differentials between education/experience groups; and another one-third by institutional factors, primarily declines in the value of minimum wages, and declines in union density. Possible (untested) explanations of the remaining increase include increasing returns to unobserved cognitive or inter-personal skills, and changing social norms. The evidence suggests that the growth in inequality between groups of workers with different levels of educational attainment and experience can be best explained by changes in the demand for and supply of skills. Changes in the relative demand for skill categories appear to be mainly explained by technological change.


We measure the magnetic susceptibility of ultrathin Co films with an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy grown on a vicinal Cu substrate. Above the Curie temperature the influence of the magnetic anisotropy can be investigated by means of the parallel and transverse susceptibilities along the easy and hard axes. By comparison with a theoretical analysis of the susceptibilities we determine the isotropic exchange interaction and the magnetic anisotropy. These calculations are performed in the framework of a Heisenberg model by means of a many-body Green's function method, since collective magnetic excitations are very important in two-dimensional magnets.


This paper explains concepts underlying a just-in-time production system. Just-in-time production systems as implemented by Toyota are pull systems in which 'kanban' convey the need to replenish the right inventory at the right time and in the right amount. In this paper, symbols from manufacturing are introduced to map resource flows in order to help distinguish traditionalfrom lean production processes. These symbols are then applied to construction. Ready-mix concrete provides a prototypical example of a just-in-time construction process. Ready-mix concrete is a perishable commodity, batched to specifications upon customer demand. This makes just-in-time delivery necessary. Based on data from industry case studies, alternative forms of vertical supply chain integration were investigated. The most common one is where the batch plant also delivers the mix to the contractor's project site. An alternative is for the contractor to haul the mix from the batch plant to the project site with their own revolving-drum trucks. One alternative is favored over the other depending on the amount of control the contractor wants in terms of on-time site delivery of concrete and the variability in the contractor's demand for concrete project after project. Insights can be gained from these two examples on how the construction industry has adopted a just-in-time production system for at least one part of the concrete supply chain. The examples provided will help the reader think through issues pertaining to the need for having information, materials, and time buffers at strategic locations in construction processes.


A mother's initiation of welfare receipt is a key event for understanding the dynamics of welfare receipt and the likely consequences of welfare reform legislation passed in1996. Using 28 years of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we examine trends in the number and duration of first welfare spells and in events and demographic characteristics associated with their initiation. We then estimate the extent to which state welfare benefit levels and economic conditions influence caseload dynamics and account for cohort trends. We find increases in the late 1980s both in the number of initial spells and in the duration of those spells. Young age, out‐of‐wedlock first births, and, in particular, never‐married status predict longer welfare receipt. However, trends neither in the frequency of these conditions and events nor in the welfare durations associated with them account for the increasing caseloads of the late 1980s.


Abstract Day treatment programs (DTP) for eating disorders are being recognised as having therapeutic benefits. However, research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of DTP to establish their validity. This article reports on the evaluation of a pilot DTP in an Australian mental health setting, which utilised an integrative approach combining evidence-based treatments such as dialectical-behavioural therapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy offered in a group-based setting. Comparison of pre- and post-treatment data outcome measures for eating disorder pathology and comorbid symptoms was undertaken. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated using qualitative methods. Results indicated a significant reduction in depressive symptoms post-treatment, along with a high degree of satisfaction with the treatment. Limitations of this study, along with the implications of the findings and directions for future research, are discussed.


Failure recovery in a multidatabase environment is addressed. It is shown that local autonomy considerations force the designer of a multidatabase system to trade off certain desirable properties to achieve reliability for transaction management. Representative techniques in the research literature are contrasted and compared. The author's approach to the problem is described.<<ETX>>


The flower fly genus Eosalpingogaster Hull, predator of the carminic acid producer cochineal (Dactylopiidae), is revised. Two new species are described (knutsonisp.n. and umbrasp.n.) and an identification key is provided for all known species. Diagnoses, illustrations, synonymies and distributional and biological data are given. Three new synonyms are proposed [texana Curran as jun.syn. of cochenillivora (Guérin‐Méneville); liposeta Fluke and dactylopianus Blanchard as jun.syn. of nigriventris (Bigot)] and two lectotypes are designated for cochenillivora (Guérin‐Méneville) and nigriventris (Bigot). Eosalpingogaster is elevated to full generic status based on adult morphological characters, biological data and a new phylogenetic analysis of molecular characters with genes 28S, 18S and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. All data, images and drawings are available online as an example of the utility of international standards for biodiversity informatics.


ABSTRACT We explore two unresolved methodological issues in the study of copula variation in African-American Vernacular English, assessing their quantitative and theoretical consequences via multiple variable rule analyses of data from East Palo Alto, California. The first is whether is- contraction and deletion should be considered separately from that of are. We conclude that it should not, because the quantitative conditioning is almost identical for the two forms, and a combined analysis offers analytical advantages. The second issue is whether the alternative methods that previous researchers have used to compute the incidence of "contraction" or "deletion" ("Labov Contraction and Deletion," "Straight Contraction and Deletion," "Romaine Contraction") fundamentally affect the results. We conclude that they do, especially for contraction. We also discuss implications of our analysis for two related issues: the ordering of contraction and deletion in the grammar, and the presence of age-grading or change in progress in East Palo Alto.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationships of concern with weight and shape, frequency of dieting, body mass index (weight/height2), and energy intake among 431 preadolescent and adolescent girls from a working-class New England suburb.

METHOD
A cross-sectional study design used self-report measures of concern with weight, frequency of dieting, and average dietary intake.

RESULTS
Approximately 30% of the girls in each age stratum were above the national age-standardized 85th percentile for body mass index (BMI). Body mass index was positively associated with concern about weight and shape (r = 0.46, p = 0.0001) and frequency of dieting (r = 0.49, p = 0.0001). Extreme concern with weight and shape was most common among the obese preadolescent and adolescent girls; however, dissatisfaction was also present among the underweight females. Fifty percent of the girls who were below the national age-standardized 15th percentile for BMI reported their ideal weight is less than their current weight, implying that among young women thinness is not adequate protection against dissatisfaction with weight and shape. Frequency of dieting was positively associated with concern about weight and shape (r = 0.53, p = 0.001) but not physical activity (r = -0.04, p = 0.36). Overall, we did not find strong evidence that dieters were eating less than their nondieting peers. Only among high school students was there a significant negative association between frequency of dieting and energy intake (r = -0.20, p = 0.01), suggesting that "dieting" may have a different meaning to preadolescents and adults.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that self-reported frequent dieting in preadolescent and young adolescent girls is more indicative of extreme concern with weight than of decreased energy intake. Furthermore, extreme concern with weight and shape is most common among the obese preadolescent and adolescent girls.


"Ecology and the Sacred" commemorates and advances the anthropology of Roy A. (Skip) Rappaport. Rappaport was an original and visionary thinker whose writings, like these essays, encompass ecological theory and method; ritual, the sacred, and the cybernetics of the holy; the structural study of social maladaptation or "the anthropology of trouble"; and a policy-engaged anthropology that addresses social complexity and structural disorders in modern contexts. The contributors, who are leaders in anthropological studies of the environment and of religion, address themes emerging from Rappaport's pioneering ethnography of Papua New Guinea through his engagement with contemporary social problems. In addition to presenting significant new ethnographic data and sharp critical perspectives, the collection demonstrates the essential holism of anthropology as represented by Rappaport's contributions and legacy.At a time when anthropology is fractured by debates over whether it is a science or a humanistic tradition, theoretical or applied, this festschrift testifies that a unified anthropology is both possible and necessary for the understanding of humanity and global transformations. The volume will be of interest not only to anthropologists, but to geographers, sociologists, scholars in science-studies, historians, and experts and practitioners in religious studies, as well.Ellen Messer is Visiting Associate Professor, Tufts University. Michael Lambek is Professor of Anthropology, University of Toronto.


The N-terminal segment (FR-H1) of the heavy chain (V(H)) of antibodies shows significant conformational variability correlating with the nature of the amino acids H6, H7 and H10 (Kabat H9). In this study, we have established a causal relationship between the local sequence and the structure of this framework region and linked this relationship to important biophysical properties such as affinity, folding yield and stability. We have generated six mutants of the scFv fragment aL2, covering some of the most abundant amino acid combinations in positions H6, H7 and H10 (according to a new consensus nomenclature, Kabat H9). For the aL2 wild-type (w.t.) with the sequence 6(Q)7(P)10(A) and for two of the mutants, the X-ray structures have been determined. The structure of the triple mutant aL2-6(E)7(S)10(G) shows the FR-H1 backbone conformations predicted for this amino acid combination, which is distinctly different from the structure of the w.t, thus supporting our hypothesis that these residues determine the conformation of this segment. The mutant aL2-6(E)7(P)10(G) represents a residue combination not occurring in natural antibody sequences. It shows a completely different, unique structure in the first beta-strand of V(H), not observed in natural Fv fragments and forms a novel type of diabody. Two V(H) domains of the mutant associate by swapping the first beta-strand. Concentration-dependent changes in Trp fluorescence indicate that this dimerization also occurs in solution. The mutations in amino acids H6, H7 and H10 (Kabat H9) influence the dimerization behavior of the scFv and its thermodynamic stability. All the observations reported here have practical implications for the cloning of Fv fragments with degenerate primers, as well as for the design of new antibodies by CDR grafting or synthetic libraries.


Mammalian systems can be a subject of cellular engineering in a similar way to bacterial cells. Our team decided to modify the existing mammalian cell signalling network of the innate immune response to bacterial infection. Binding of bacterial components (pathogen associated molecular patterns, or PAMPs) to a family of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) activates the cells of the immune system but an exaggerated response may lead to systemic inflammation and sepsis which is often fatal. We designed a feedback loop, which inhibits the signalling cascade at the weak spot – protein MyD88 – which is the consensus adaptor protein of the surface-expressed TLRs. A mathematical model of cell activation with an engineered feedback loop predicts a decrease of cellular activation after repeated stimulation of TLR. We have prepared 26 BioBricks for mammalian systems and deposited them into the BioBrick Registry at MIT. Mammalian cells transfected with the feedback loop construct performed as designed with a decrease in the cellular response upon repeated stimulation with PAMPs. Cell activation decreased without completely abolishing the responsiveness to the bacterial stimulus, therefore our engineered system represents an artificial type of immunotolerance. The Slovenian team was composed of seven undergraduate students of microbiology and biochemistry and five mentors from the National Institute of Chemistry and University of Ljubljana Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.


AbstractRecently, reports of delayed hemolytic anemia after treatment with artemisinin and its derivatives have emerged. Here we report two cases of delayed hemolytic anemia in a patient with severe falciparum malaria after treatment with oral artemether-lumefantrine (AL). The first patient, a 20-year-old Japanese male student, was diagnosed with falciparum malaria and was administered AL. As having a high parasitemia rate (20.6%) was the only severe malaria criterion met in this case and his general condition was stable, we continued with AL treatment. Despite disappearance of malarial parasites after 4 days of AL administration, a persistent fever remained. On days 13 and 16, a diagnosis of hemolytic anemia was made (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]: 1,466 U/L, hemoglobin [Hb]: 7.2 g/dL). A blood smear at that time revealed no parasites. He recovered naturally from delayed hemolysis. The second patient, a 27-year-old Japanese female student, was diagnosed with falciparum malaria (parasitemia: 4.5%) and treated initially with oral quinine hydrochloride and doxycycline. The following day, parasitemia increased to 7.9% and oral AL was initiated. She was discharged on day 4 after achieving parasite clearance and afebrility. However, on day 5, fever (body temperature > 38°C) recurred, and on day 11, a diagnosis of hemolytic anemia was made (LDH: 712 U/L, Hb: 8.8 g/dL). A follow-up confirmed that her condition improved gradually. AL treatment of severe malaria can cause delayed hemolytic anemia. Patients should be followed up for up to 4 weeks to detect signs of hemolysis and provide appropriate symptomatic treatment.


We consider the space-debris orbital inversion problem via the concept of Bayesian inference. The methodology has been put forward for the orbital analysis of solarsystem small bodies in early 1990's [7] and results in a full solution of the statistical inverse problem given in terms of a posteriori probability density function (PDF) for the orbital parameters. We demonstrate the applicability of our statistical orbital analysis software to Earthorbiting objects, both using well-established Monte Carlo (MC) techniques (for a review, see e.g. [13] as well as recently developed Markov-chain MC (MCMC) techniques (e.g., [9]). In particular, we exploit the novel virtualobservation MCMC method [8], which is based on the characterization of the phase-space volume of orbital solutions before the actual MCMC sampling. Our statistical methods and the resulting PDFs immediately enable probabilistic impact predictions to be carried out. Furthermore, this can be readily done also for very sparse data sets and data sets of poor quality providing that some a priori information on the observational uncertainty is available. For asteroids, impact probabilities with the Earth from the discovery night onwards have been provided, e.g., by [11] and [10], the latter study includes the sampling of the observational-error standard deviation as a random variable.


In many biology, chemistry and physics applications molecular simulations can be used to study material and process properties. The level of detail needed in such simulations depends on the application. In some cases quantum mechanical simulations are indispensable. However, traditional ab-initio methods, usually employing plane waves or a linear combination of atomic orbitals as a basis, are extremely expensive in terms of computational as well as memory requirements. The well-known fact that electronic wave functions vary much more rapidly near the atomic nuclei than in inter-atomic regions calls for a multi-resolution approach, allowing one to use low resolution and to add extra resolution only in those regions where necessary, so limiting the costs. This is provided by an alternative basis formed of wavelets. Using such a wavelet basis, a method has been developed for solving electronic structure problems that has been applied successfully to 2D quantum dots and 3D molecular systems. In other cases, it suffices to use effective potentials to describe the atomic interaction instead of the use of the electronic structure, enabling the simulation of larger systems. Molecular dynamics simulations with such effective potentials have been used for a systematic study of surface wettability influence on particle and heat flow in nanochannels, showing that the effects at the solid-gas interface are crucial for the behavior of the whole nanochannel. Again in other cases even coarse grained models can be used where the average behavior of several atoms is combined into a single particle. Such a model, refraining from as much detail as possible while maintaining realistic behavior, has been developed for lipids and with this model the dynamics of membranes and vesicle formation have been studied in detail. A disadvantage of molecular dynamics simulations with effective potentials is that no reactions are possible. Therefore a new method has been developed, where molecular dynamics is coupled with stochastic reactions. Using this method, both unilamellar and multilamellar vesicle formation, and vesicle growth, bursting, and healing are shown. Still larger systems can be simulated using other methods, like the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. However, as shown for nanochannels, these methods are not always accurate enough. But, exploiting again that the finest level of detail is often only needed in part of the domain, a hybrid method has been developed coupling molecular dynamics, where needed for accuracy, and direct simulation Monte Carlo, where possible in order to speed up the calculation. Further development of such hybrid simulations will further increase molecular simulation's scientific role.


By using orthogonal-field alternating gel electrophoresis (OFAGE), field-inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE), and contour-clamped homogeneous field gel electrophoresis (CHEF), we have clearly resolved 11 chromosomal bands from various Candida albicans strains. OFAGE resolves the smaller chromosomes better, while FIGE, which under our conditions causes the chromosomes to run in the reverse order of OFAGE, is more effective in separating the larger chromosomes. CHEF separates all chromosomes under some conditions, but these conditions do not often resolve homologs. The strains examined are highly polymorphic for chromosome size. Fourteen cloned Candida genes, isolated on the basis of conferral of new properties to or complementation of auxotrophic deficiencies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and three sequences of unknown function have been hybridized to Southern transfers of CHEF, FIGE, and OFAGE gels. Four sets of resolvable bands have been shown to be homologous chromosomes. On the basis of these data, we suggest that C. albicans has seven chromosomes. Genes have been assigned to the seven chromosomes. Two chromosomes identified genetically have been located on the electrophoretic karyotype.


Mindfulness has become a phenomenon with widespread appeal in many Western countries. Like yoga, it has an Eastern religious origin, but through a long history it has been transformed and adapted to new cultural and social contexts. While the majority of research on mindfulness has been conducted within the health sciences, the aim of this article is to investigate the distribution, meaning and function of this practice through quantitative mapping and qualitative interviews with 16 mindfulness providers in the city of Aarhus in Denmark. The analysis reveals not just a booming phenomenon, but also a field characterized by diversity in terms of authority claims, motivations and uses. The discussion focuses on whether mindfulness can be seen as a religious practice or as a typical expression of an individualized and secularized technique.


This volume focuses on the recent changes in education and training policy, mainly in the UK. The considerable developments of past years and the ways in which they have affected both education and training are examined. The contributors analyse the methods by which we educate our workforce, and look closely at the kind of training now offered to those in work.
The chapters in this reader cover:
. the role of the state
. how economic factors influence education
. national education and training policy
. the political factor.
Other countries including Germany are looked at, and there is reflection on the ways in which the 'new' industry led qualifications such as NVQs have fared. There is careful analysis as to how much the political climate of the time influenced developments.
There is thorough research to back up claims made throughout the book, and many practical examples are referred to. What emerges is an incisive examination of current trends in education and the workplace.


Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among renal transplant recipients with a functioning transplant. The prevalence and severity of CVD in renal transplant recipients are related to numerous factors, most shared with the general population and others specific to transplant recipients, including effects of kidney dysfunction and immunosuppressive drugs. Modern immunosuppressive regimens have allowed a decrease in the dose of corticosteroids, which markedly increase cardio-vascular risk. However, each of the 3 agents commonly used as the base for immunosuppressive regimens, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and sirolimus, may contribute significantly to 1 or more cardio-vascular risk factors that are already of substantial concern in this population. Cyclosporine has been associated with the greatest hypertensive effect; tacrolimus, with the greatest impact on diabetes and glycemic control; and sirolimus, with the greatest impact on lipid profiles. This review highlights the major causes of CVD in renal transplant recipients, with particular attention to hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, and evaluates the contribution of immunosuppressive agents to cardiovascular risk.


This paper describes a content enabling system that provides deep semantic search and information access to large quantities of distributed multimedia data for both experts and general public. It provides with a language independent search and dynamic classification features for a broad range of data collected from several sources in a number of culturally diverse languages. This system is part of the Online Police Station, launched by the Italian Minister of the Interior in 2006. The Online Police Station uses a virtual reality interface to provide general information and online assistance. Citizens can download forms, make complaints, receive advice and/or report events of an illegal nature. Police specialists can monitor criminal trends to ensure that responses are appropriately focused, and that scarce resources are more effectively employed against criminality. Online Police Station was voted as the Most inspiring good practice for creative solutions to common challenges, at the European eGovernment Awards 2007.


Abstract Policy directives in agriculture have long been concerned with encouraging low producing farmers to retire – with limited success. From a healthy ageing perspective, the choice to remain on the farm into advancing years could appear a desirable policy outcome. Yet as farmers age, many with little prospect of inter-generational succession, there is growing concern that some farm families are beginning to experience extraordinary isolation, reduced health and quality of life, and increasing vulnerability with seemingly no choice but to stay on the farm and soldier on. The John Richards Initiative in Aged Care in Rural Australia hosted a forum on 'ageing farmers', where the issues of healthy ageing and the barriers to retirement were discussed from three different perspectives – the demographic and economic drivers of structural ageing in the farm sector, the cultural and identity issues underlying retirement choices of farmers and the health and wellbeing implications of ageing on-farm. This article brings these diverse and interdisciplinary viewpoints together to explore the challenges and options for ageing farmers, where the question may be shifting from concerns about 'who will run the farm' to 'who will be there to take care of me'?


We analyze the asymptotic average and effective throughputs of a multiuser diversity scheme for a secondary multiuser network consisting of multiple secondary users (transmitters) and one secondary receiver. Considering a transmit power adaptation strategy at the secondary users to satisfy the instantaneous interference constraint at the primary receiver, the secondary receiver selects the $k$-th best secondary user for transmission, namely, the one with the $k$-th highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We use extreme value theory to show that the $k$-th highest SNR converges uniformly in distribution to an inverse gamma random variable for a fixed $k$ and large number of secondary users. We use this result to derive closed-form asymptotic expressions for the average and effective throughputs of the $k$-th best secondary user.


Introduction: In contrast to varicella zoster virus (VZV) primary infection, VZV vaccination does not seem to provide lifelong immunity against varicella. Because more people get vaccinated every year, the development of sensitive serological test systems for the detection of protective anti-VZV IgG will become important in the future. Methods: We have previously developed a novel VZV line assay based on 5 different recombinant VZV antigens. In this study, we compared this novel assay with a commercially available glycoprotein enzyme immunoassay (RIDASCREEN VZV IgG) in detecting anti-VZV IgG of children with previous varicella infection and VZV vaccination. Results: One hundred twenty-five children were included in this study, 72 with a history of varicella infection and 53 with VZV vaccination. Both assays detected anti-VZV IgG antibodies in both study groups with similar sensitivities. The VZV line assay revealed striking differences in the anti-VZV IgG composition against the VZV open reading frames, 4, 14 and 49, between both study groups, indicating that wild-type varicella infection causes a more diverse immune response against VZV than does vaccination. The exploitation of these results enabled the discrimination of both study groups with a sensitivity of 0.93 and a specificity of 0.83, indicating that the serologic differentiation of children with previous varicella infection and VZV vaccination might be possible. Conclusion: The VZV line assay enables the detection of anti-VZV IgG with sensitivities comparable to glycoprotein enzyme immunoassays and might be suitable for the serologic discrimination between children with a history of varicella infection and VZV vaccination.


For the non-destructive inspection of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lasers can be used to generate ultrasonic waves. It is important to optimize the wavelength of the laser to ensure the intense excitation of a usable propagating mode. Real CFRP components used in the construction of airplanes and automobiles are often coated with several types of resin to protect against weathering. These resin layers change the excitation of the ultrasonic waves. Thus, the optimum laser wavelength may be changed by the coating resin. In this paper, we investigated the excitation of ultrasonic waves in a resin-coated CFRP plate using different laser wavelengths. We conducted experiments to convert the laser wavelength using periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) devices. By injecting mid-infrared laser to a coated sample, we observed excited ultrasonic waves using a laser Doppler vibrometer. We found that transparent resins significantly increase the amplitude of the first-arriving longitudinal wave. Furthermore, when the laser was strongly absorbed in the surface layer, the excitation of longitudinal waves was suppressed. These results were clarified by a one-dimensional model of the thermal generation of ultrasonic waves. We concluded that a laser passing through a resin layer is a viable candidate for the effective inspection of coated CFRP by laser ultrasonic waves.


The objective of this research is the determination of length scale propagation in the average indoor cubicle environment associated with displacement ventilation. The presentation involves an extended analysis on experimental data taken in a cubicle sized room involving both a simplified ventilation technique and thermal occupant. A room of dimensions six by eight foot, similar to an office cubicle, is designed for optimal optical access while utilizing boundary conditions similar to those in a typical office environment. To simplify the flow, furniture is excluded from the setup. A heated manikin (no breathing effects) is introduced with seventeen heating zones set to the corresponding skin temperature of an average person. The combination of the ventilation and thermal buoyancy simulates the flows associated with displacement ventilation. Such a velocity database is useful both for CFD validation as well as turbulence model selection which was the initial thrust of the experiments. Research includes an analysis of three component Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements along the inlet of an isothermal ventilation system as it interacts with the buoyancy affects of the standing thermal occupant. From the PIV database, two-point correlations are computed and the integral lengths extracted. The propagation of length scales in both the streamwise and crosswise directions from the square foot floor inlet to occupant standing height are presented for consideration in addition to the turbulence moments of the flow.© 2006 ASME


The numbers of organ transplants performed in China and the speed with which organs become available has raised international concern about the source of organs. It is publicly declared that organs come from executed criminals and that consent is given. However, there are allegations of an even more macabre scenario—that prisoners are systematically subjected to surgery specifically to remove their organs for transplantation. In this essay I explore the plausibility of this claim against our knowledge of doctors' complicity with the events leading to the holocaust and the practicalities of contemporary organ transplantation. Organ transplantation has increased in China at a


The alternation of light and dark periods on a daily or seasonal time scale is of utmost importance for the synchronization of physiological and behavioral processes in the environment. For the last 2 decades, artificial light at night (ALAN) has strongly increased worldwide, disrupting the photoperiod and its related physiological processes, and impacting the survival and reproduction of wild animals. ALAN is now considered as a major concern for biodiversity and human health. Here, we present why insects are relevant biological models to investigate the impact of ALAN. First the phenotypic responses to ALAN and their underpinning mechanisms are reviewed. The consequences for population dynamics, and the community composition and functioning are described in the second part. Because ALAN provides new and widespread selective pressure, we inventory evolutionary changes in response to this anthropogenic change. Finally, we identify promising future avenues, focusing on the necessity of understanding evolutionary processes that could help stakeholders consider darkness as a resource to preserve biodiversity as well as numerous ecosystem services in which insects are involved.


1. Several forms of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase have been purified from the uteri of immature rabbits. The isolation procedure involved the extraction of total uterine protein from a whole tissue homogenate using high salt concentrations. The RNA polymerases were partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and resolved into three species of enzyme which have been designated RNA polymerases A, B and C. These enzymes have been further purified by chromatography on phosphocellulose and by glycerol density gradient sedimentation. 2. The two major species of RNA polymerase, namely A and B, have been extensively characterised. Both enzymes sediment slightly faster than E. coli RNA polymerase in glycerol gradients suggesting a molecular weight in the range of 500,000 - 600,000. RNA polymerase A is more active in low concentrations of salt, although it can utilise both Mg++ and Mn++ efficiently, RNA polymers.se B is more active in high concentrations of salt with, Mn++ rather than Mg++ present as the divalent cation. RNA polymerase A is insensitive to the action of the toxin amanitin which specifically inhibits RNA polymerase B at similar concentrations. However, RNA polymerase A is more susceptible to thermal treatment than is RNA polymerase B. The template specificities of both enzymes have also been investigated. 3. A third species of enzyme, designated RNA polymerase 0, has been partially purified and characterised. This enzyme may be cytoplasmic in origin or may be 'soluble' with the result that it is leached out readily from the nuclei. RNA polymerase C has some properties similar to those of enzymes A and B and some which are intermediate between the two major enzyme species. 4. Two RNA polymerase activities have been identified in isolated nuclei; one has been equated with RNA polymerase A while the other has been equated with RNA polymerase Bo In vitro incubation of oestradiol with uteri has shown that the stimulation of RNA polymerase activities in isolated nuclei is only slight when compared with the activities measured in nuclei obtained from uteri treated with oestradiol vivo. 6. When measuring the endogenous RNA polymerase activities of isolated nuclei, prior treatment of the rabbits with oestradiol had a profound effect on the transcriptional capacity. Within 30-45 min after hormone treatment, the activity of RMA polymerase B was considerably increased. This activity decreased towards control levels at 1-2h before exhibiting a second increase of activity at about 3h. From 1h after oestradiol treatment, RNA polymerase A activity in the isolated nuclei was also increased and reached a plateau by about 4h. Both activities have been shown to be sensitive to the action of actinomycin D. 7. Treatment of the animals with amanitin prior to oestradiol inhibited the hormone-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase A as well as totally inhibiting RNA polymerase B. However, when amanitin was administered after the early enhancement of RNA polymerase B, the ocstradiol-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase A was retained. Treatment of the animals with cycloheximide prior to oestradiol did not affect the stimulation of RNA polymerase B but prevented the oestradiol-induced enhancement of RNA polymerase A. However, when cycloheximide treatment was delayed until after the early stimulation of RNA polymerase B, the activity of RNA polymerase A was stimulated. This suggested that stimulation of RNA polymerase A activity was dependent on protein synthesis subsequent to the hormone-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase B. 9. Since some indications were obtained of an effect of cytoplasm from oestradiol-treated rabbit uteri on the MA polymerase activity in nuclei, attempts were made to concentrate any such components. It was found that a fraction of the cytoplasm isolated from uteri treated with oestradiol for 30 rain was capable of stimulating RMA polymerase A activity in nuclei isolated from control animal uteri. 10. The isolated RNA polymerases from immature rabbit uteri do not show any increase in activity in response to oestradiol irrespective of the time of treatment with hormone. No fractions from cytoplasm treated with hormone have been shown to possess any stimulatory activity for either RNA polymerase A or B. It is possible that the observations of increased RNA polymerase activities in isolated nuclei result from changes in the transcriptional machinery rather than being due to alterations in the RNA polymerases per se.


The promigratory molecule L1CAM is overexpressed in various tumors, often representing an unfavorable prognostic marker. Recently, we identified L1CAM expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells accounting for chemoresistance and increased cell migration. Thus, the present study aims at further elucidating the role of L1CAM in a larger cohort of PDAC specimens including precursor lesions and metastasis. L1CAM expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in tissues of 123 patients including tissues of 110 primary PDACs, 15 lymph node metastases and 14 liver metastases. The immunohistochemical analyses revealed L1CAM expression in 92.7% of primary PDACs, 80% of lymph node metastases and 100% of liver metastases. Furthermore, we have investigated PDAC precursors, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions, revealing a significant increase of L1CAM expression with the PanIN grade (6.4 and 6.8% in PanIN 1A and B, 35% in PanIN 2 and 20% in PanIN 3). The elevated expression of L1CAM already found in PanINs points to a role of L1CAM quite early in tumorigenesis of PDAC. Furthermore, its broad expression in primary tumors as well as in metastases of PDAC patients provide a rationale to further explore the value of L1CAM as a therapeutic target in the treatment of this highly malignant tumor.


Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is an emerging technology, not only as a prototyping technology, but also to manufacture complete products. Gravity Separation Spirals (GSS) are used in the mining industry to separate slurry into different density components. Currently, spirals are manufactured using moulded polyurethane on fibreglass substructure, or injection moulding. These methods incur significant tooling cost and lead times making them difficult to customise, and they are labour-intensive and can expose workers to hazardous materials. Thus, a 3D printer is under development that can print spirals directly, enabling mass customisation. Furthermore, sensors can be embedded into spirals to measure the operational conditions for predictive maintenance, and to collect data that can improve future manufacturing processes. The localisation of abrasive wear in the GSS is an essential factor in optimising parameters such as suitable material, print thickness, and infill density and thus extend the lifetime and performance of future manufactured spirals. This paper presents the details of a wear sensor, which can be 3D printed directly into the spiral using conductive material. Experimental results show that the sensor can both measure the amount of wear and identify the location of the wear in both the horizontal and vertical axes. Additionally, it is shown that the accuracy can be adjusted according to the requirements by changing the number and spacing


Inflammatory peptides display different types of post-transcriptional modifications, such as C-terminal amidation, that alter their biological activity. Here we describe the structural and molecular dynamics features of the mast cell degranulating peptide, eumenine mastoparan-AF (EMP-AF-NH(2)), found in the venom of the solitary wasp, and of its carboxyl-free C-terminal form (EMP-AF-COO(-)) characterized by a reduced activity. Circular dichroism indicates that both peptides switch from a random coil conformation in water to a helical structure in TFE and SDS micelles. NMR data, in 30% TFE, reveal that the two peptides fold into an alpha-helix spanning most of their length, while they differ in terms of molecular rigidity. To understand the origins of the conformational flexibility observed in the case of EMP-AF-COO(-), a 5 ns MD simulation was carried out for each peptide, in an explicit water/TFE environment. The results show that the two peptides differ in an H-bond between Leu14 NH(2) and the backbone carbonyl of Ile11. The loss of that H-bond in EMP-AF-COO(-) leads to a significant modification of its structural dynamics. In fact, as evidenced by essential dynamics analysis, while EMP-AF-NH(2) exists mainly as a rigid structure, EMP-AF-COO(-) presents two helical stretches that fluctuate in some sort of independent fashion. We conclude that the diverse biological activity of the two peptides is not simply due to the reduction of the net positive charge, as generally suggested, but also to a structural perturbation of the amphipathic alpha-helix that affects their ability to perturb the cell membrane.


Lhamo, the popular folk opera of Tibet is a genre in which the contested politics of the Tibetan diaspora and the People's Republic of China are displayed. This essay notes the practice of the art by the Tibetan refugee community in India and beyond, where it evokes nostalgia for a lost existence and the struggle for a return to the Tibetan Buddhist homeland. Meanwhile the art has been redeveloped in the People's Republic of China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution and used to support Chinese claims to Tibet. Lhamo presents a case study of a particular art and how it can be articulated to different political and economic ends.


Paw preference and paw frequency was studied in female rats. Paw preference was assessed using a modified version of food reaching task in quadrupedal position. Of 68 rats, 56 (82.4%) were right-handed, 7 (10.3%) were left-handed, and 5 (7.4%) were mixed-handed. There were significantly more right-handers than left-handers. The distribution of right minus left (L) paw reach (R + L = 50) was not U-shaped, it was J-shaped like in humans. Estrus cycle was a significant factor influencing the right-paw entry scores: most of left-handers were in estrus and proestrus, most of left-handers were in estrus, and most of mixed-handers were in postestrus. In right- and non-right-handers, the frequency of right-paw usage (right-hand skill) increased linearly with testing days, but the frequency of left-hand usage (left-hand skill) did not show significant changes with the successive testing days. Controlling for body weight and estrus only accentuated these results. It was concluded that distribution of hand preference in rats is J-shaped and there is a right-sided population bias in handedness in rats like in humans. The results suggested that motor learning in paw skill is mainly involved the left brain in right- and mixed-handed rats, not the right brain: only the left brain has the inbuilt capacity for motor learning in female rats. Such an asymmetric cognitive control in an animal model may have a major impact in many aspects of biology in respect to normal functioning, superior talents, and disease (see Geschwind, 1985).


Background Epigenetic variants have been shown in recent studies to be important contributors to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we report a 2-step study of discovery followed by replication to identify DNA methylation alterations associated with SLE in a Chinese population. Using a genome-wide DNA methylation microarray, the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, we compared the methylation levels of CpG sites in DNA extracted from white blood cells from 12 female Chinese SLE patients and 10 healthy female controls. Results We identified 36 CpG sites with differential loss of DNA methylation and 8 CpG sites with differential gain of DNA methylation, representing 25 genes and 7 genes, respectively. Surprisingly, 42% of the hypomethylated CpG sites were located in CpG shores, which indicated the functional importance of the loss of DNA methylation. Microarray results were replicated in another cohort of 100 SLE patients and 100 healthy controls by performing bisulfite pyrosequencing of four hypomethylated genes, MX1, IFI44L, NLRC5 and PLSCR1. In addition, loss of DNA methylation in these genes was associated with an increase in mRNA expression. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the hypomethylated genes identified in the microarray study were overrepresented in the type I interferon pathway, which has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE. Conclusion Our epigenetic findings further support the importance of the type I interferon pathway in SLE pathogenesis. Moreover, we showed that the DNA methylation signatures of SLE can be defined in unfractionated white blood cells.


Abstract : This report presents the results of an experimental investigation of soil-structure interaction and its effect on the pressure transmitted to a horizontally buried flat plate. The primary objective of this effort was to determine the validity and range of applicability of an analytical arching theory developed to predict the pressures developed on a flat plate buried horizontally in a cohesionless soil. Static and dynamic tests up to 500 psi peak overpressures were conducted in a 2 ft. diameter cylindrical test tank having an adjustable bottom which permitted variations in depth of burial to plate width ratios from 0.5 to 3.0. The tank bottom housed a long rectangular rigid plate supported by springs which allowed the plate to deflect vertically under load. These springs could be changed to investigate the effect of support stiffness on plate pressure. All tests were conducted on two sands, one with smooth rounded grains (Minnesota sand) and one with angular grains (Wabash sand), at various values of relative density. In all tests, data were recorded for overpressure, plate pressure, and plate deflection. The results indicate that greater arching develops as the burial depth of a given size plate is increased. The amount of arching developing over the plate is affected by the relative density as well as the type of soil and stiffness of the plate supports. In general, for a given air pressure more load was transmitted to the buried plate in the dynamic tests than in the comparable static tests. (Author)


The key benefits of cloud services, such as low cost, access flexibility, and mobility, have attracted users worldwide to utilize the deep learning algorithms for developing computer vision tasks. Untrusted third parties maintain these cloud servers, and users are always concerned about sharing their confidential data with them. In this paper, we addressed these concerns for by developing SecureDL, a privacy-preserving image recognition model for encrypted data over cloud. Additionally, we proposed a block-based image encryption scheme to protect images' visual information. The scheme constitutes an order-preserving permutation ordered binary number system and pseudo-random matrices. The encryption scheme is proved to be secure in a probabilistic viewpoint and through various cryptographic attacks. Experiments are performed for several image recognition datasets, and the achieved recognition accuracy for encrypted data is close with non-encrypted data. SecureDL overcomes the storage, and computational overheads occurred in fully-homomorphic and multi-party computations based secure recognition schemes.


OBJECTIVE: • To evaluate the results of miniperc vis-a-vis standard PNL in the treatment of stones of 1-2 cm in size. Miniperc may represent a reasonable procedure in patients with nonbulky urolithiasis offering a similar outcome as standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) with advantage of reduced morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • 55 procedures including 27 miniperc and 28 standard PNL were performed for renal stones 1-2 cm in size. Pediatric patient, active urinary tract infection, renal malformation, uncorrected coagulopathy and morbid obesity patients were excluded from the study. • The parameters studied were demography, operative time, postoperative analgesic requirement, hemoglobin drop, complications and stone clearance. RESULTS: • Mean tract size was 18.2 ± 2 F (15-20) and 26.8 ± 2 F (24-30), P value <0.0001 in the miniperc and standard PNL, respectively. Holmium LASER and pneumatic lithotripter were the main energy sources used in miniperc and standard PNL, respectively. • Miniperc operative time was longer than that of standard PNL (45.2 ± 12.6 vs 31 ± 16.6 min, P= 0.0008 respectively). • Conversely, there was an advantage of miniperc over standard PNL in terms of a significantly reduced hemoglobin drop (0.8 ± 0.9 vs 1.3 ± 0.4 gram%, P= 0.01), analgesic requirement (55.4 ± 50 vs 70.2 ± 52 mg tramadol, P= 0.29) and hospital stay (3.2 ± 0.8 vs 4.8 ± 0.6 days, P ≤ 0.001), respectively. • Intra- operative conversion of the procedure into a tubeless PNL was significantly more in the miniperc group (P ≤ 0.001). The miniperc and standard PNL group had clearance rates of 96% and 100%, respectively at 1 month follow up. CONCLUSIONS: • This study demonstrated significant advantages of the miniperc procedure in terms of reduced bleeding leading to a tubeless procedure and reduced hospital stay. • The stone free rates and the complications were similar in either group.


The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Tang-Shen-Jiao-Nang (TSJN), a Chinese medicine used to treat diabetes mellitus, on insulin resistance and hypertension in fructose-fed rats (FFR). Sixweek-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either normal rat chow (control) or a fructose-rich chow (FFR) for 6 wk. For the last 2 or 4 wk of a 6-wk period of either diet, the rats were treated by gavage with gum arabic solution as a vehicle (control or FFR) or TSJN (800 mg/kg/d; FFR+TS), and then we performed the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique to estimate insulin sensitivity. Systolic blood pressure was measured weekly for 6 wk. At the end of the glucose clamp, the soleus muscle was dissected out for determination of muscle fiber composition by ATPase methods. Systolic blood pressure was elevated at 2 wk after the start of the fructose-rich chow feeding and persisted thereafter throughout the study. Systolic blood pressure during the glucose clamp in the FFR group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Although there was no effect on systolic blood pressure in rats treated with TSJN for the last 2 wk of their 6-wk diet, those treated with TSJN for the last 4 wk of their 6-wk diet had lower systolic blood pressure than did the rats in the FFR group. The average rate of glucose infusion during the glucose clamp, as a measure of insulin sensitivity (M value), was significantly lower in the FFR than in the controls (10.9 ± 0.6 and 15.4 ± 0.4, mg/kg/min, for FFR and controls, respectively; p < 0.01). Treatment with TSJN for 2 wk significantly improved the M value compared to that of the control level (15.1 ± 0.5 mg/kg/min). The composite ratio of type I fibers in the soleus muscle was significantly decreased in the FFR compared to controls (75.0± 1.7 and 81.7± 1.5%, for FFR and controls, respectively; p< 0.01), and treatment with TSJN for 2 wk led to a recovery composite ratio of type I fiber to the same level as that of the control group (78.7±1.7% in FFR+TS). The M value was significantly correlated with the compositions of type I and type II fibers (for type I fibers, r= 0.45, p < 0.01, for type II fibers, r= -0.44, p< 0.05). These results suggest that the Chinese medicine TSJN may improve insulin resistance, lower the systolic blood pressure, and modulate muscle fiber composition in hypertensive and insulin-resistant fructose-fed rats. (Hypertens Res 2000; 23:101-107)


The use of phytoremediation is an emerging technology as an environmentally friendly and a low cost technology for the treatment of different kind of wastewaters. Application of phytoremediation techniques for the treatment of domestic wastewater was inadequately reported. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate the locally available wetland plants for the possible application of the treatment of domestic wastewater. Four different aquatic macrophytes, Ipomoea aquatica, Limnocharis flava, Monochoria vaginalis and Colocasia spp were evaluated for the treatment of domestic wastewater generated from student's cafeteria in the University. The root dipping technique was practiced for the study. Seventy five liter Styrofoam boxes were used and experiment was arranged according to the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The water quality parameters such as Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD), Total Solids(TS), Total Suspended Solids(TSS), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen(TKN), Orthophosphate, Electrical Conductivity(EC) and pH were monitored to evaluate the treatment efficiency of different plants and the fresh weight gain of the plants were also determined at the end. The average COD removal efficiency, 68.39% was the highest in the system of Limnocharis flava, while lowest 36.77% was observed in the Colocasia sp. system. TS, TSS, TKN, removal efficiencies were highest in the treatment system of Limnocharis flava, while TDS is removed efficiently by Ipomoea aquatica. During the study period pH was initially increased from 5.5 to 6.5 at the 6 th day and it was constant until the end of the study in all aquatic plant systems and control units. The highest weight gain was observed in the Limnocharis flava and Ipomoea aquatica. According to the results Limnocharis flava is the most suitable plant for the treatment of domestic wastewater. Nevertheless, Ipomoea aquatica was also considerably removed different pollutants present in the domestic wastewater. Colocasia sp. did not show any progress in the treatment of pollutants in the study wastewater. Therefore, the treatment system with Limnocharis flava and Ipomoea aquatica could be recommended for the removal of pollutants present in the domestic wastewater as an effective, environmental friendly and low cost treatment system.


Based on the average atom model, the statistical values of valence electron structure (VES) parameters Δρ′, σ of homophase interface and heterpphase interface had been calculated in Cu-Zn alloy. VES parameters can characterize properties of interface bonding. The effect of Zn in the Cu matrix on the interface strengthening was discussed by the Δρ′ and σ. The calculation results showed that Δρ′ and σ values of homophase interface and heterophase interface of alloy phase were bigger than ones of Cu matrix. It was the essence of interface strenghening. The heterophase interface value σ was smaller compared with the homophase interface value σ under different Zn contents (weight percent). It was the reason that the stability of matrix was superior to that of between matrix and solid solution.


The Boltzmann machine algorithm and the error back propagation algorithm were used to learn to recognize the place of articulation of vowels (front, center or back), represented by a static description of spectral lines. The error rate is shown to depend on the coding. Results are comparable or better than those obtained by us on the same data using hidden Markov models. The authors also show a fault tolerant property of the neural nets, i.e. that the error on the test set increases slowly and gradually when an increasing number of nodes fail.<<ETX>>