Vibratory impact mode alignment of the being as-sembled parts is analysed in the presented paper. The dy-namical model was made, which represents the interaction between movable body and supporting base during the oblique impact. Applying the model of the interaction, the influence of parameters of the dynamic system and vibra-tory excitation on the process of the impact mode interde-pendent alignment of the being assembled parts was ana-lysed. The movably based body has characteristic of dif-ferent modes of impact displacement, which depend on the excitation frequency, part-to-part pressing force and on displacement and angular rigidity. The alignment duration dependences on system and excitation parameters were defined. The parameters' sets area, of the part-to-part pressing force versus angular rigidity of the body, was de-fined, as reliable alignment by impact mode is taking place.


Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is ubiquitous in the Indian public sphere. At last count, he was endorsing more than 25 brands, from computers and cars to vegetable oil, facial creams, noodles, and cream biscuits. However, this ubiquity, rather than hurting SRK's image, helps to make him the quintessential pan-Indian male. Because he is everywhere, for everyone, endorsing every role and every brand, SRK progressively comes to stand for the desires and aspirations of the whole Indian nation. He becomes one of the few symbols that can represent the idea of India in the minds of audiences. Because India is an extremely heterogeneous nation—divided along the lines of language, race, regional communities, religion, class, and caste—pan-Indian symbols such as SRK are especially valuable to the marketing community. This article explores the construction of SRK as a master Indian symbol and more generally, the use of celebrity endorsements in the construction of a national imaginary.


Caspases are well known proteases in the context of inflammation and apoptosis. Recently, novel roles of pro-apoptotic caspases have been reported, including findings related to the development of hard tissues. To further investigate these emerging functions of pro-apoptotic caspases, the in vivo localisation of key pro-apoptotic caspases (-3,-6,-7,-8, and -9) was assessed, concentrating on the development of two neighbouring hard tissues, cells participating in odontogenesis (represented by the first mouse molar) and intramembranous osteogenesis (mandibular/alveolar bone). The expression of the different caspases within the developing tissues was correlated with the apoptotic status of the cells, to produce a picture of whether different caspases have potentially distinct, or overlapping non-apoptotic functions. The in vivo investigation was additionally supported by examination of caspases in an osteoblast-like cell line in vitro. Caspases-3,-7, and -9 were activated in apoptotic cells of the primary enamel knot of the first molar; however, caspase-7 and -8 activation was also associated with the non-apoptotic enamel epithelium at the same stage and later with differentiating/differentiated odontoblasts and ameloblasts. In the adjacent bone, active caspases-7 and -8 were present abundantly in the prenatal period, while the appearance of caspases-3,-6, and -9 was marginal. Perinatally, caspases-3 and -7 were evident in some osteoclasts and osteoblastic cells, and caspase-8 was abundant mostly in osteoclasts. In addition, postnatal activation of caspases-7 and -8 was retained in osteocytes. The results provide a comprehensive temporo-spatial pattern of pro-apoptotic caspase activation, and demonstrate both unique and overlapping activation in non-apoptotic cells during development of the molar tooth and mandibular/alveolar bone. The importance of caspases in osteogenic pathways is highlighted by caspase inhibition in osteoblast-like cells, which led to a significant decrease in osteocalcin expression, supporting a role in hard tissue cell differentiation.


PURPOSE
Mechanical sag in the radiotherapy linear accelerator gantry and multi-leaf collimator (MLC) carriage effectively causes systematic deviations in the isocenter with respect to gantry angle. To minimize the impact of this error on treatment, a tolerance value of a 1-mm mechanical isocenter shift is commonly accepted for intensity-modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (QA). However, this tolerance value has not been firmly established for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatments. The purpose of this study is therefore to evaluate the impact of gantry and MLC carriage sag on VMAT clinical performance.

METHODS
A published dataset of Elekta and Varian sag measurements served as a starting point for the investigation. Typical sag profiles were chosen and modeled as continuous isocenter deviations in three dimensions. The data were then incorporated into existing Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine protocol, extended for radiotherapy plans via a "beam-splitting" algorithm. Three treatment sites were investigated in parallel: head and neck, prostate, and prostate with surrounding lymph nodes. Monte Carlo-simulated dose distributions were obtained for varying magnifications of the modeled sag. The resulting dose distributions, including that for no error, were compared qualitatively and quantitatively, against multiple metrics.

RESULTS
The dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for all plans exhibited a decrease in planning target volume (PTV) dose uniformity with increasing sag magnification, whereas dose to organs at risk exhibited no coherent trend. The prostate plan was shown to be the most vulnerable to mechanical sag across all considered metrics. However, all plans with peak isocenter deviation less than 1 mm were well within typical cutoff points for each metric.

CONCLUSIONS
All avenues of investigation presented substantiate the commonly accepted tolerance value of a 1-mm peak isocenter shift in annual linac QA.


Home- and community-based services (HCBS) have been advocated as a mechanism to delay institutionalization and reduce health care costs for the growing senior population. Studies of costs to date have found little evidence of cost savings from HCBS. However, HCBS can be thought to have two main benefits: delaying institutionalization and improving quality of life. Since cost and quality of life can be considered simultaneously in a cost-effectiveness analysis, an exploratory study was conducted to examine the relative cost-effectiveness of a high-dosage (i.e., high-intensity) HCBS intervention (i.e., 1915c Medicaid waiver) compared to a lower-dosage HCBS intervention (i.e., in-home aide service) using quality-adjusted life years as the measure of effectiveness. Findings indicated that high-dosage HCBS is not a cost-effective alternative. The low-dosage alternative allows for greater equity through provision of service to a larger pool of individuals in need.


We present a new method of quantifying a galaxy's accretion history from its integrated spectrum alone. Using full spectral fitting and calibrated regularization techniques we show how we can accurately derive a galaxy's mass distribution in age-metallicity space and further separate this into stellar populations from different chemical enrichment histories. By exploiting the fact that accreted lower mass galaxies will exhibit an offset to lower metallicities at fixed age compared to the in-situ stellar population, we quantify the fraction of light that comes from past merger events, that are long since mixed in phase-space and otherwise indistinguishable. Empirical age-metallicity relations (AMRs) parameterized for different galaxy masses are used to identify the accreted stellar populations and link them back to the progenitor galaxy's stellar mass. This allows us to not only measure the host galaxy's total ex-situ mass fraction (facc), but also quantify the relative amount of accreted material deposited by satellite galaxies of different masses, i.e. the accreted satellite mass function in analogy to the subhalo mass function. Using mock spectra of present-day, early-type galaxies with total stellar mass ∼109 − 1012 M⊙ from the EAGLE simulation suite we demonstrate that our method can recover the total accreted fraction to within $\approx 38 \%$, the stellar mass of the most massive accreted subhalo to within $\approx 56 \%$ and the slope of the accreted satellite mass function to within $\approx 17 \%$ of the true values from the EAGLE merger trees. Future application of this method to observations could potentially provide us accretion histories of hundreds of individual galaxies, for which deep integrated light spectroscopy is available.


Due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the quality of the electrode-scalp contact is an important factor in EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). For this reason, the impedance between each individual electrode and the scalp is measured prior to each EEG recording session. In order to obtain high quality EEG signals and accurate performance, the impedance has to be low (below 5K Ohms). Typically, researchers have reduced the electrode-scalp impedance by performing time-consuming electrode adjustments prior to the data acquisition stage. In this paper, we utilize the electrode-scalp impedance information to remove the EEG artifacts caused by high impedance electrodes in order to enhance the signal quality during the signal processing stage. Our proposed method is based on the independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm, which is used to decompose the EEG signals into independent components. The electrode-scalp impedance is employed to automatically distinguish irrelevant components from event-related components. The experimental results show that our method can effectively remove artifacts and enhance the BCI performance compared to the scenario where no artifacts were removed, and the scenario in which irrelevant independent components were removed manually based on prior knowledge.


The growth of molecular modelling and free-energy calculations for drug discovery and development have provided a platform for the work undertaken in this thesis. The known affinity of certain metals for biological targets, such as gold/thiol affinity, has guided this research on the characterisation of interactions involved in both protein function inhibition and non-canonical DNA sequence stabilisation. The ability to calculate microsecond timeframes of our biological targets has allowed for greater understanding of these mechanisms at a molecular level.
The research in this thesis is organised into two sections. The first part covers the mechanism of permeation and inhibition of AQP3 via a number of molecular dynamic
techniques, such as umbrella sampling and metadynamics. The effects of a Au(III) complex on the protein conformation of AQP3 upon metal binding were investigated using steered molecular dynamics. The pH induced gating mechanism of AQP7 and its effect on both water and glycerol permeation was studied to understand the protein conformational changes involved.
The second part investigates the stabilising effect of Au(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on G-quadruplex DNA structures. The metadynamics calculated free-energy
results were then compared to FRET melting assay results to determine the mechanism of interaction.
Throughout this work we have shown how the use of in silico methods can enhance our mechanistic knowledge and understanding of biological systems, helping validate
and explain experimental results, and vice versa. We have used state of the art molecular dynamics techniques, either rarely or not yet used for such complex systems, thus, furthering the knowledge of our group, and through published work, the wider scientific community


Space-time trellis codes provide both diversity gain and coding gain. There are two different design criteria proposed for spacetime trellis codes (STTCs), namely the rank and determinant criteria (RDC) and the Euclidean distance design criteria (EDC). In this paper, we present the performance of STTCs over Nakagami fading channels. Our results show that the STTCs designed for Rayleigh fading channels & Recian fading channels are also suitable for Nakagami fading channels. Nakagami fading channel models are considered more versatile than other channel models. In Gong et al. presented the performance of the STTCs over Nakagami fading channels. In this paper, we also present the performance of the STTCs designed using the EDC over Nakagami fading channels.


This dissertation explores the utility of applying the concept of the "brand" to literary and biographical studies via an exploration of the career of England's first printer of vernacular texts - William Caxton (active c.1473-1492). Presently, the brand is generally conceived as an interface between commerce and culture. Recent work by Naomi Klein and Celia Lury has suggested that the goal of the brand is to engender a lifestyle – or, rather, to become a culture unto itself. Generally, perhaps rightly, this view arouses considerable suspicion about the role of branding in everyday life. As tension between Art and Commerce (articulated by Pierre Bourdieu in The Rules of Art) is present in many aspects of literary criticism (particularly biography), it is common to find that figures like William Caxton often have their non-commercial activities marginalized on account of their business practices. My work seeks to address this problem by rejecting the either/or tension between Art and Commerce in favor of a new, more inclusive model centered on the brand. The brand, in contrast to the current, dominant paradigm, is a multi-faceted entity that operates in aesthetic and commercial spheres simultaneously. By using the brand as a model for biographical and historiographical studies, we are able to ascribe both of these aspects to an individual without negating the whole.

As Michael Saenger has observed: "The idea of an artless publisher may be as much of a myth as the idea of a noncommercial artist." Accordingly, I recognize the necessary interconnectedness of artistic and commercial production, and propose that we approach Caxton (and his legacy) as we would explore the evolution of any other brand. By addressing a figure, or a body of work, as a brand, we are free to remove the weight of critical wrangling over Art and Commerce, and, instead, focus on the interconnected nature of literary and commercial activities without prejudice. It is hoped that, in so doing, we will allow for more complete studies of literary publishers and printers like William Caxton.


This study analysed the seasonal and intradiurnal behaviour of fungal spores from Alternaria and Cladosporium on air samples collected in the city of Almeria (SE Spain), as well as the influence that meteorological parameters have on the concentration of these type of spores. Aerobiological sampling was made during four years (1998-2001) using a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. Spores of Alternaria and Cladosporium were detected throughout the year, reaching the highest concentrations from May to October. The diurnal patterns of these taxons reflected a presence similar of spores during a 24 h period, with values horary close to 4% of total sampling daily. The correlations show a positive association with temperature, hours of sunshine and accumulate rainfall, but negative with daily rainfall.


Among 130 children with recurrent secretory otitis media randomly selected from an allergy clinic, 110 (85%) had the following allergic disorders: allergic rhinitis, 72 (55.5%); asthma, 30 (23%); eczema, 4 (3%); allergic conjunctivitis, 2 (1.5%); and urticaria, 2 (1.5%). A history of fluctuating hearing loss was obtained at initial examination in 42 (32%). Audiograms showed moderate to marked hearing loss in 30 of 42 patients tested. Immunoglobulins were within normal bounds in 64 of 80 sera, with IgG levels below normal in eight patients. Follow-up varied from three months to nine years with 80% of patients improved with combined otologic and allergic treatment.


Software engineers, and more broadly computer scientists, must be able to communicate clearly to exchange ideas with team members and stakeholders, making writing an essential part of computer science education. The Writing Across the Curriculum initiative endeavours to engage students in writing and creating a community that supports writing and its teaching in every discipline. As part of this initiative, computer science (CS) instructors at a large public university added a weekly blogging assignment to their CSII course with four aims: (1) improve student learning of writing and CS concepts; (2) understand local variations among language speakers; (3) provide writing feedback at scale; and (4) combine writing-to-learn with disciplinary writing. In this paper, we present the design rationale for the blog assignment, as well as the results of an empirical study of how the assignment is perceived by students and teaching assistants. Using both quantitative and qualitative analysis, we tease apart the mixed perceptions of the students and the outcomes of our assignment aims. We discuss problems as well as potential opportunities for improving the assignment, and explore recommendations for those interested in teaching writing.


For several years, thin films of ferromagnetic materials with metallic spacer layers showing giant magnetoresistance (GMR) were the technological basis used in the read-heads
of hard disk drives. Similarly, tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR), which is an effect typically larger than giant magnetoresistance, occurs when the metallic spacer layers are
substituted by an insulating layer. Read-heads based on tunnelling magnetoresistance have been available to the consumer market for the last couple of years. Furthermore,
nonvolatile random access memories, also known as magnetic random access memory (MRAM) have also been possible thanks to the use of the tunnelling magnetoresistance
effect and have recently been introduced to the consumer market. These technological advances have been possible thanks to years of extensive study and optimization devoted to such effects. Following this logic, we arrive at the conclusion that an effect that produces higher magnetoresistance ratios but uses lower magnetic fields or even only electric currents is highly desired and could be useful for the design and fabrication of spintronic devices of tomorrow. In this thesis, the use of electron beam lithography (EBL) and a bilayer liftoff process to fabricate magnetic Ni nanostructures with constrictions in the range of 12 to 60 nm is reported. These structures were fabricated based upon the constricted nanowire (CNW) and nanobridge (NB) geometries. High control and reproducibility in the fabrication of such geometries have been achieved with the introduced bilayer liftoff process. This is
important because it provides the opportunity to study the statistics of the domain wall magnetoresistance (DWMR) effect and assess its reproducibility. Additionally, micromagnetic simulations of the fabricated structures were carried out and it was found that domain walls (DWs) with reduced widths down to 48 and 42.5 nm, can be achieved using the CNW and NB geometries, respectively. The magnetoresistance effect due to the presence of a DW has been estimated using dimensions achieved experimentally. Furthermore, the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effect
was obtained numerically and it was found to be smaller than DWMR. This opens the possibility of using the fabricated structures for more systematic studies of DWMR.


Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), also known as gut fermentation syndrome, is a rarely diagnosed medical condition in which the ingestion of carbohydrates results in endogenous alcohol production. The patient in this case report had fungal yeast forms in the upper small bowel and cecum, which likely fermented carbohydrates to alcohol. Treatment with antifungal agents allowed subsequent ingestion of carbohydrates without symptoms. He had been exposed to a prolonged course of antibiotics before this occurred. We postulate that the antibiotic altered his gut microbiome, allowing fungal growth. This diagnosis should be considered in any patient with positive manifestations of alcohol toxicity who denies alcohol ingestion. The aim of this case report was confirmation and treatment of ABS using a standardised carbohydrate challenge test followed by upper and lower endoscopy to obtain intestinal secretions to detect fungal growth. These fungi were speciated and antifungal sensitivity performed. This allowed the use of appropriate therapy. The patient was kept on a carbohydrate-free diet during the initial 6-week period of therapy. A single-strain probiotic for competitive inhibition of fungal growth was given to the patient. This probiotic was later replaced by a multistrain bacterial probiotic hoping that the multiple bacteria would inhibit fungi better than a single-strain. The beneficial role of probiotics in this condition has not been studied. The patient was rechallenged for endogenous alcohol production prior to reintroducing carbohydrates in his diet.


The presence of Candida in the gut is normal, but an overproduction may lead to serious health problems due to an imbalanced gut, causing gut-related symptoms such as bowel movement changes, excessive gas, etc. Some diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are associated with an overgrowth of Candida in the gastrointestinal tract. Several recent studies have shown that a prolonged candidiasis within the intestines is associated with Candida overgrowth syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome. A healthy digestive system relies on a good balance of bacteria that live in the gut, and an important role in maintaining this balance is having the ingested type of food. Candida overgrowth can be prevented first of all by healthy eating patterns, as susceptibility is increased by a high-sugar diet and diabetes or nutritional deficiencies causing a dysregulated immune system. In general, Candida-associated conditions have a high impact on performance. Recent research has shown an increasing interest in the Candida-related conditions and diseases.


Here we report the first application of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer for targeted proteomics. Employing an amine-specific isotopic labelling approach, the technique was validated using five randomly selected bovine serum albumin peptides differentially labelled at known ratios. An indirect benefit of the isotopic labelling technique is a significant enhancement of the a1 ion in tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of all peptides studied. Therefore, the a1 ion was selected as the fragment ion for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in all cases, eliminating tedious method development and optimization. Accurate quantification was achieved with an average relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5% (n = 5) and a detection limit of 14 amol. The technique was then applied to validate an important virulence biomarker of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, which was not accurately quantified using global proteomics experiment employing two-dimensional liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC/ESI)-MS/MS. Using LC/MALDI-MRM analysis of five tryptic peptides, the protein PHR1 was found to be upregulated in the hyphal (pathogenic) form of C. albicans by a factor of 7.7 +/- 0.8.


In this paper we analyse Stegdetect, one of the well-known image steganalysis tools, to study its false positive ratio. In doing so, we process more than 40,000 image files randomly downloaded from the internet using Google images, together with 25,000 images from the ASIRRA (Animal Species Image Recognition for Restricting Access) public corpus. The aim of this study is to help digital forensic analysts aiming to study a large number of image files during an investigation. The results obtained shows that the ratio of false positive generated by Stegdetect depends highly on setting the sensitivity value, and it is generally quite high. This should inform the forensic expert and help to better interpret results, particularly false positives. Additionally, we have provided a detailed statistical analysis for the obtained results to study the difference in 'difference in detection' between selected groups, close groups and different groups, of images. This method can be applied to any other steganalysis tools, which gives the analyst a better understanding of the results, especially when he has no prior information about the false positive ratio of the selected tool.


: Several kalihinol natural products, members of the broader isocyanoterpene family of antimalarial agents, are potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum , the agent of the most severe form of human malaria. Our previous total synthesis of kalihinol B provided a blueprint to generate many analogues within this family, some as complex as the natural product and some much simpli fi ed and easier to access. Each analogue was tested for blood-stage antimalarial activity using both drug-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains. Many considerably simpler analogues of the kalihinols retained potent activity, as did a compound with a di ff erent decalin sca ff old made in only three steps from sclareolide. Finally, one representative compound showed reasonable stability toward microsomal metabolism, suggesting that the isonitrile functional group that is critical for activity is not an inherent liability in these compounds.


What is a shale? In a recent presentation to the Geophysical Society of Houston, Rune Holt attempted to answer the question by listing three attributes of a shale: (1) clay minerals should constitute the load-bearing framework; (2) shales have nanometer pore sizes and nanodarcy permeability; (3) surface area is large, and water is adsorbed on surfaces or bound inside clay platelets. This is a good definition of shales, but perhaps a typical geophysicist may not know how to apply it in practice with typical data sets. In particular, a geophysicist often has no core data and is limited to well logs. This article describes how petrophysicists traditionally distinguish sands from shales using typical well logs in clastic sections. Only lean shales with minimal organic content are considered here.


Voltage sags are considered as one of the most detrimental power quality (PQ) disturbance due to their costly influence on sensitive loads. This paper investigates the voltage sag mitigation in distribution network following the occurrence of a fault. Two software are used in this work; the 1st is MATLAB R2017a for implementation of the Differential Evaluation (DE) algorithm to find the optimal location and size DG and while the 2nd software is CYME 7.1 for the distribution system modelling and analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested by implementing it on IEEE 33-bus system, and then it is applied to Al-Masbh distribution network in Baghdad city as a case study. The paper aims to enhance voltage profile, power loss reduction, and relieve distribution lines overloading, by optimal placement of distributed generation (DG). The results indicate the efficiency of the proposed method comparing with Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA).


Staphylococcus lugdunensis Endocarditis in a Patient Being Treated for Pyelonephritis Christopher M Peake 1 , Nicholas Faure-Walker 2 , Elli DeMertzi 2 1 St George's University Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, UK 2 Kingston Hospital, Galsworthy Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK ABSTRACT A 35 years old female with known chronic left pelvo-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction presented with recurrent pyrexia and left loin pain and was treated for pyelonephritis. She had a history of severe aortic valve (AV) regurgitation. After five days of broad spectrum antibiotics and a percutaneous nephrostomy, her fevers persisted. Staphylococcus lugdunensis was isolated from her blood culture and she was diagnosed with mitral valve endocarditis following an echocardiogram. She was transferred to a tertiary cardiothoracic unit where she underwent a mitral and aortic mechanical valve repair. After 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic treatment she was discharged without signs of infection but with poor cardiac function. S. lugdunensis is a virulent organism which is thought to be underdiagnosed and is associated with aggressive and destructive endocarditis. An awareness of the organism as well as prompt diagnosis and treatment with effective multi-disciplinary management is needed to avoid substantial morbidity in these patients. Whilst S. lugdunensis is known to cause invasive endocarditis, it has never been reported following pyelonephritis. The significance of this case is that despite receiving appropriate and timely treatment the patient was left with deteriorating cardiac function. This is an important reminder that this organism must be taken seriously when isolated in the context of infection. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 8(1):37-40 Keywords: Staphylococcus lugdunensis, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, heart valves, urinary tract


In order to make a highly integrated LSI, the circuits of patterned metal layers are constructed on a semiconductor-wafer as three-dimensional structure. In the processes of constructing three-dimensional circuits, the dielectric films that should be planarity before depositing patterned metal layers on it are made between the circuit layers. CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polish) is the most effective technology for planarizing semiconductor-wafer surfaces. For improving the functions and performance of a CMP machine, the various items such as polishing pressure, polishing pad, retainer ring, backing film and ingredients of slurry have to be taken into consideration. More efficient processing conditions for CMP and machine parameters to be designed are decided by know-how and knowledge obtained by repeating basic experiments. However, since it takes much time and manpower to get them via experiments, it is required to determine by computer analyses. Since pressure applied on a semiconductor-wafer surface is the most essential factor about the rate of mechanical polish, it is indispensable to obtain pressure distribution on the wafer-surface in order to estimate the rate. In this paper, pressure distribution given to the wafer-surface is computed by FEM (Finite Element Method) to estimate the polishing rate in order to determine optimum machine parameters to be design.


An electrical needle-size probe is developed to effectively assess one-dimensional spatial variability of laboratory soil specimens in high resolution. A calibration procedure is also presented to determine resistance from the measured complex impedance. The capability of the developed electrical needle probes to resolve interfaces and spatial variability is explored using sand specimens prepared by various conditions. The complex impedance is measured 0.2~0.5 mm for every specimen. Results show that the coefficient of variation increases as the size of the probe reaches the size of the particle while a very large ratio of probe size to grain size would decrease the detectability of local soil variations due to averaging effects and smoothening. The attainable spatial resolution depends on the needle diameter: submillimetric resolution is typically achieved in laboratory applications and it can be scaled for field applications. The local electrical parameters permit one to infer the soil porosity and the electrolyte conductivity.


Deep Learning models have become dominant in tackling financial time-series analysis problems, overturning conventional machine learning and statistical methods. Most often, a model trained for one market or security cannot be directly applied to another market or security due to differences inherent in the market conditions. In addition, as the market evolves through time, it is necessary to update the existing models or train new ones when new data is made available. This scenario, which is inherent in most financial forecasting applications, naturally raises the following research question: How to efficiently adapt a pre-trained model to a new set of data while retaining performance on the old data, especially when the old data is not accessible? In this paper, we propose a method to efficiently retain the knowledge available in a neural network pre-trained on a set of securities and adapt it to achieve high performance in new ones. In our method, the prior knowledge encoded in a pre-trained neural network is maintained by keeping existing connections fixed, and this knowledge is adjusted for the new securities by a set of augmented connections, which are optimized using the new data. The auxiliary connections are constrained to be of low rank. This not only allows us to rapidly optimize for the new task but also reduces the storage and run-time complexity during the deployment phase. The efficiency of our approach is empirically validated in the stock mid-price movement prediction problem using a large-scale limit order book dataset. Experimental results show that our approach enhances prediction performance as well as reduces the overall number of network parameters.


Module 1: Model design and structure Module 2: Building a financial model Module 3: learning to write simple macros Module 4: Risk and uncertainty Module 5: Forcasting techniques Module 6: Optimisation.


More than 40,000 enslaved Africans were brought to Amazonia between the late seventeenth century and the 1840s. By the second half of the nineteenth century their cultural and economic adaptation to the region had become very visible: the slaves acquired knowledge of Amazonian agriculture, learned the opportunities for collecting forest and river products, and forged bonds of kin and culture. When slavery was abolished in 1888, the freedmen took advantage of the gradual impoverishment of plantation areas to appropriate plots of land that had belonged to their former masters, creating numerous peasant communities. This implied not only re-configuring residential, work, and leisure spaces, but also crafting new narratives of owning and belonging to the land. Outside of plantations, groups of escaped slaves proliferated along the Amazon's tributary rivers. Like their enslaved counterparts, by the second half of the nineteenth century the runaways gradually abandoned the hard life of marronage. They maintained relations with itinerant merchants, missionaries, and political patrons to gain stability and establish themselves as autonomous rural producers. In the early 1900s local elites sought to buy the lands where the maroon-descendants lived in order to subject them to coerced labor. Some black peasants accommodated to the new situation but others resisted it by employing varied individual, collective, and confrontational strategies, which included participating in multi-racial protests against land privatization. Local modes of production and trade in Amazonia impinged upon the history of Afro-descendants in complex and contradictory ways. While under slavery the regional economy facilitated the conversion of slaves into peasants and the viability of marronage, in the early- to mid-twentieth century local elites perfected new ways of curbing peasant autonomy. In turn, black peasants tried to maintain themselves as autonomous producers, asserting their right not only to reside on the land and to cultivate it, but also to gather its resources freely.


Herein, we report a facile one pot synthetic protocol for the creation of C3N4–ZnS composite interfaces by the co-pyrolysis of a precursor mix containing zinc nitrate, melamine, and thiourea at 550 °C in air. The organic–inorganic semiconductor heterojunctions thus formed displayed increased absorbance in the longer wavelength region and facilitated broad absorption of visible light compared to pure ZnS, C3N4 and conventionally synthesized hybrid samples. The decreased emission intensity, increased photocurrent generation and decreased fluorescence lifetime revealed reduced exciton recombinations in the co-pyrolysed sample containing C3N4–ZnS heterostructures. The samples displayed sunlight driven photocatalytic reduction of nitrophenol as well as hydrogen generation (4 mmol g−1 h−1) by water splitting.


With the ubiquity of multicore hardware, concurrent and parallel programming has become a fundamental part of software development. If writing concurrent programs is hard, debugging them is even harder. The actor model is attractive for developing concurrent applications because actors are isolated concurrent entities that communicates through asynchronous message sending and do not share state, thus they avoid common concurrency bugs such as race conditions. However, they are not immune to bugs. This paper presents initial work on a taxonomy of concurrent bugs for actor-based applications. Based on this study, we propose debugging tooling to assist the development process of actor-based applications.


A total of 400 soundings along 15 profiles were obtained on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, N.W.T. with a monopulse radar equipment that was rebuilt according to a model of the US Geological Survey. The resulting data allowed maps to be compiled of the ice thickness for the glacier tongue, The radio echo-sounding data and englacial temperature measurements give some indication of the existence of stagnant ice in depressions of the glacier bed in the accumulation zone of White Glacier.


Centella asiatica (Umbelliferae) is commonly known asAsiatic Pennywort and has a wide range of use in ayurveda and in other traditional system of medicine, starting from brain tonic to antihypertensive, antitubercular etc. The main chemical constituents of the plant are saponins (brahmoside, asiaticoside etc.), alkaloids (hydrocotyline), bitter principle (vellarin) etc. In the present work, we have studied the preliminary phytoconstituents of the plant alongwith its In vitro antioxidant activity, antimicrobial andwound healing potential. In the all the studies, the ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant positive result as compared with that of standard.


Abstract. Whether or not shallow groundwater affects skin temperature (the temperature of soil surface) is important to detect depth and extent of shallow groundwater by dint of remote sensing and important for land surface modelling studies. Although few studies have been conducted to investigate that effect, they have yielded contradicting conclusions and they stopped in 1982. To determine that shallow groundwater affects skin temperature, we measured soil temperature at two different depths (5 and 10 cm) in seven places with variable water table depths every ten minutes and for six days. After that, we correlated the minimum, maximum and average daily temperatures to average groundwater depth. We also built a simple numerical model using a differential equations solver, Flex PDE, to simulate heat transfer into soil profile and used it to simulate groundwater effect on skin temperature. We found quite high negative correlation between the maximum and average daily soil temperature and groundwater depth. Contrarily, we could hardly find any correlation between the daily minimum temperature and groundwater depth. Numerical simulations, though simple, were useful in showing that groundwater shifted skin temperature curves up in the winter and down in the summer without affecting the shape of the curve. We conclude that shallow groundwater affects skin temperature directly by its distinctive thermal properties in the soil profile and indirectly by affecting soil moisture which in turn has many different and contradictory effects on skin temperature. This study recommends building a comprehensive numerical model that simulates the effect of shallow groundwater on skin temperature and on the different energy fluxes at land surface.


Globalization has triggered a rapid increase in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). However, research shows that only 17 percent of cross-border M&As create shareholder value. One of the main reasons for this poor track record is top management's lack of attention to nonfinancial aspects (e.g., sociocultural aspects) of M&As. With the rapid growth of Web 2.0 applications, online environmental scanning provides top executives with unprecedented opportunities to tap into collective web intelligence to develop better insights about the sociocultural and political--economic factors that cross-border M&As face. Grounded in Porter's five forces model, one major contribution of our research is the design of a novel due diligence scorecard model that leverages collective web intelligence to enhance M&A decision making. Another important contribution of our work is the design and development of an adaptive business intelligence (BI) 2.0 system underpinned by an evolutionary learning approach, domain-specific sentiment analysis, and business relation mining to operationalize the aforementioned scorecard model for adaptive M&A decision support. With Chinese companies' cross-border M&As as the business context, our experimental results confirm that the proposed adaptive BI 2.0 system can significantly aid decision makers under different M&A scenarios. The managerial implication of our findings is that firms can apply the proposed BI 2.0 technology to enhance their strategic decision making, particularly when making cross-border investments in targeted markets for which private information may not be readily available.


ABSTRACT Each year, thousands of children visit memorials and other heritage sites during family or school trips, yet heritage scholars possess little understanding of their experiences. Despite its absence from the scholarly literature, children's exploratory play at war memorials recurs frequently in the popular media. Extensive social media interest suggests that public sentiment, often emotional and vividly expressed, deserves study as a potential influence on children's experiences at these and other dark heritage sites. This paper provides new insights of behavioral expectations for children at memorials, based on content analysis of 150 comments on a viral social media post picturing children playing on the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, DC. Conducting a stance analysis of comments, we considered commenters' behavioral expectations, meanings they ascribed to memorials, and rationales for their intensely worded positions. Commenters shared several values: that memorials represented soldiers' sacrifice, veterans' service, general places for respect or to do what is right, or artistic value. Yet despite these shared rationales, many commenters expressed polarized opinions of children's play at memorials. Commenters also referenced memorials and battlefields worldwide. This study provides greater understanding of the cultural context of children's visits to memorials and other sites of painful heritage.


Context Economic decision models are seldom used in developing policies for the cost-effective control of invasive species that threaten natural ecosystems. However, their potential value is shown using an example of European rabbits damaging native vegetation in Australia. 					Aims To better define the problem of rabbit damage, provide a sound theoretical basis for implementing cost-efficient strategies for rabbit control and show how resources available for ecosystem protection can be most effectively applied. 					Methods A dynamic economic decision model was developed, incorporating the costs and effectiveness of three methods for controlling rabbits among native vegetation to consider alternative management strategies. A monetary value on native vegetation was set using the 'avoided' cost of replanting trees on roadsides and from field data we described how capacity of plant communities to regenerate improves if rabbit numbers are reduced. 					Key results Model outputs indicated the best combinations of methods for cost-effective rabbit control and showed how the highest benefits could be gained in protecting natural vegetation. 					Conclusions The model provided a framework for deciding how limited resources might be used to greatest benefit for protecting native vegetation. 					Implications This methodology could apply to other invasive species, provided that natural assets can be given a justifiable monetary value, control costs and effectiveness can be determined and the impact of the pests on assets can be modelled as dynamic population processes.


Several points must be made by way of a prologue to this discussion. It was not possible, in the case of Phedra, to give questionnaires to spectators before the show and briefly explain the purposes of my research to them. I had adopted this direct approach in my studies of audiences for the Sydney Theatre Company's Three Sisters directed by Richard Wherrett and for The Tempest directed by Neil Armfield at the Belvoir Street Theatre. I had previously used a similar method in my research on audiences for ltalo-Australian community theatre. Questionnaires for Phedra were placed on the seats of the Wharf Studio, which holds 140 people. The lack of contact with potential respondents had a negative effect on returns. Thus compare a 67% return on questionnaires distributed for Three Sisters and 62% for The Tempest with 19% for Phedra.


About 25% of the Milky Way globular clusters (GCs) exhibit unusually extended color distribution of stars in the core helium-burning horizontal-branch (HB) phase. This phenomenon is now best understood as due to the presence of helium-enhanced second-generation subpopulations, which has raised the possibility that these peculiar GCs might have a unique origin. Here we show that these GCs with extended HB are clearly distinct from other normal GCs in kinematics and mass. The GCs with extended HB are more massive than normal GCs and are dominated by random motion with no correlation between kinematics and metallicity. Surprisingly, however, when they are excluded, most normal GCs in the inner halo show clear signs of dissipational collapse that apparently led to the formation of the disk. Normal GCs in the outer halo share their kinematic properties with the extended HB GCs, which is consistent with the accretion origin. Our result further suggests heterogeneous origins of GCs, and we anticipate this to be a starting point for more detailed investigations of Milky Way formation, including early mergers, collapse, and later accretion.


Quantitative numerical analyses of interacting dilute Bose-Einstein condensates are most often based on semi-classical approximations. Since the complex-valued field-theoretic action of the Bose gas does not offer itself to the direct application of standard Monte Carlo techniques, simulations beyond their scope by now almost exclusively rely on quantum-mechanical techniques. Here we explore an alternative approach based on a Langevin-type sampling in an extended state space, known as complex Langevin (CL) algorithm. While the use of the CL technique has a long-standing history in high-energy physics, in particular in the simulation of QCD at finitebaryon density, applications to ultracold atoms are still in their infancy. Here we examine the applicability of the CL approach for a one- and two-component, three-dimensional non-relativistic Bose gas in thermal equilibrium, below and above the Bose-Einstein phase transition. By comparison with analytic descriptions at the Gaussian level, including Bogoliubov and Hartree-Fock theory, we find that the method allows computing reliably and efficiently observables in the regime of experimentally accessible parameters. Close to the transition, quantum corrections lead to a shift of the critical temperature which we reproduce within the numerical range known in the literature. With this work, we aim to provide a first test of CL as a potential out-of-the-box tool for the simulation of experimentally realistic situations, including trapping geometries and multicomponent/-species models.


Fiber-shaped solar cells have aroused intensive attention both academically and industrially due to their light weight, flexibility, weavability and wearability. However, low power conversion efficiencies have largely limited their applications. Herein, a novel fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cell is discovered to show a record power conversion efficiency of 10.00% that far exceeds all other fiber-shaped solar cells. It is created by the design of new fiber electrodes with a hydrophobic aligned carbon nanotube core that provides both high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength and a hydrophilic aligned carbon nanotube sheath that can effectively incorporate other active phases. The fiber-shaped solar cells show high flexibility and are demonstrated to power a pedometer.


Fifty years since the first successful human heart transplant from a non-heart beating donor, this concept of heart transplantation from donation after circulatory determined death (DCD) promises to be one of the most exciting developments in heart transplantation. Heart transplantation has established itself as the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure, with the opportunity to provide these patients with a near-normal quality of life. However, this treatment is severely limited by the availability of suitable donor hearts. In recent times, heart transplantation has been limited to using donor hearts from donors following brain stem death. The use of donor hearts from DCD had been thought to be associated with high risk and poor outcomes until recent developments in organ perfusion and retrieval techniques have shown that this valuable resource may provide an answer to the global shortage of suitable donor hearts. With established DCD heart transplant programmes reporting encouraging results, this technique has been shown to be comparable to the current gold standard of donation after brain death (DBD) heart transplantation.


The Tilecal is the barrel hadron calorimeter of ATLAS. An extensive R&D program was carried out in the last years and three full size prototype modules were produced and tested from 1996 to 1998. Following ATLAS internal reviews, the construction of the calorimeter started in 1998 and about 30% of the modules of the calorimeter are already constructed. We report on the experience on the mass production of the optical components and modules of the tile calorimeter.


This paper describes an Internet-enabled software model that could facilitate the development and utilization of nonlinear structural analysis programs. The software model allows users easy access to the analysis core program and the analysis results by using a web-browser or other application programs. In addition, new and legacy codes can be incorporated as distributed services and be integrated with the software framework from disparate sites. A distributed project management system, taking advantages of Internet and database technologies, is implemented to store and manage model information and simulation results. Nonlinear dynamic analysis and simulations of a bridge structure is performed to illustrate the facilities of the Internet-enabled software model.


Defect size of wall thinned pipe is measured by using Speckle Shearing Interferometry (SSI) and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) techniques. A wall thinned defect of a carbon steel pipe was typically caused by flow accelerated corrosion (FAC). As wall thinned pipe can cause a huge accident at the nuclear power plant (NPP), a wall thinned defect should be detected for structure safety. SSI is one of the optical nondestructive techniques and can provide to inspect in real-time and to measure on the whole visible area at a time. DIC is a kind of the visual testing method. This method which uses a stereo vision system can measure the deformation or strain/stress of a structure in 3D. In this paper, ASTM A106 Gr.B carbon steel pipe is used as specimen. When the pressure load is provided by the pressure pump, the out-of-plane deformation along the longitudinal direction of a pipe can be detected quantitatively. Both results of SSI and DIC experiments are compared.


Vibration detection can be performed by a meter, or a single channel spectrum analyzer. The former has quantified vibration amplitude levels since the 1950's, while the latter was able to implement the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) since the 1960's to break vibration down into its frequency components. Multiple channel FFT analyzers enabled the process of Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) determination, which has been an important tool in visualizing the vibration of the machine and its system, including the foundation and piping networks. The input for ODS is the phase-linked signal set from a group of accelerometers, moved over often hundreds of test points. The data is superimposed onto a CAD model, and then scaled-up vibrations are animated at frequencies of interest. This process provides valuable insights, but is time-consuming and therefore expensive each time it is applied by experts, and it is error-prone. An alternative method has been developed that is based on evaluation of high resolution/ high speed videos. The method provides information equivalent to a high-sensor-count ODS, by treating each pixel as an accelerometer, using the pixel's light intensity modulation to translate information embedded in the video into vibration motion able to be observed and interpreted by human investigators. This method is known by some as Motion-Amplified Video (MAV).


International trade law scholarship has offered different approaches for assessing how international trade law impacts domestic policy space for developing nations. However, much of this scholarship has failed to address the realities of how domestic policy implementation affects development policy space. This article argues for a policy implementation-based approach to assessing development policy space by analyzing India's response to two recent WTO disputes: India-Solar Cells (2013), and India-Export Related Measures (2018). In the India-Solar Cells dispute, the U.S. challenged India's inclusion of local content requirements in its National Solar Mission program. In India-Export Related Measures, the U.S. challenged India's export subsidies programs, including its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) policy. The WTO Appellate Body found that India's local content requirements in India-Solar Cells violated international trade law norms, while the WTO panel in India-Export Measures will adjudicate on the request for consultations in India-Export Related Measures in 2019.

In examining how domestic policy implementation impact policy space, this article fills an important gap in the existing literature, which has paid insufficient attention to the domestic policy context of industrial policy in the context of international trade disputes. I argue that key dimensions of industrial policy regimes shape how nations respond to WTO decisions by implementing alternate WTO-compliant policies: the policy goals, tradeoffs and viability of policy alternatives; the nature and size of industrial sectors; and the existence of broader policy transitions. The article analyzes aspects of policy regimes governing India's solar industrial policy and Special Economic Zones policy, and explores the nature of policy implementation and adaption in response to WTO adjudication in order to fully assess policy space in these sectors. The article concludes by suggesting the need to look beyond international law norms and WTO dispute resolution to the realities of the domestic policy landscape in order to provide a more complete account of how international trade law impacts development policy space.


Expressions of dissent by corporate directors might be a valuable attribute of good corporate governance indicating the existence of an active board, but dissent is not necessarily a sign of independence, and can be disruptive and ill-motivated. Notwithstanding the potential importance of directors' dissent, the subject has been largely neglected in the academic literature, also due to the scarcity of empirical or anecdotal evidence. We examine empirically dissent of directors—expressed either by voting against a resolution of the board, or by resigning from the board—using handpicked data from the Italian market. Differently from the few other works on this issue, we also consider dissent expressed by non-independent directors. After an overview of the existing literature on directors' dissent, we discuss the legal framework of dissent under Italian law. We then present our dataset and discuss some methodological issues. In our empirical analysis, we address four questions: (a) What are the topics that directors more often dissent on? (b) What are the characteristics of dissenting directors in terms of age, gender, education, compensation, and who appointed them, as well as in terms of the organization of the board (e.g., if the positions of President and CEO are separated)? (c) In what types of corporations is dissent more common, in particular with respect to economic performance? (d) What are the consequences of dissent in terms of cumulative abnormal returns and volatility of the shares? Based on the results of the analysis, we offer some conclusions and raise some policy questions.


For 3D lenticular display, a lenticular sheet is usually designed for a given LCD panel once an integer number of views is determined. However, this panel-dependent design is expensive because it cannot be used for LCD panels of different dimensions. To solve this problem, we propose a noninteger view multiplexing method when a lens covers a floating point number of sub-pixels. Meanwhile, to compensate the lenticular misalignment and inhomogeneity, we need to know the geometric relationship between LCD sub-pixels and lenticulars, which can be obtained from pattern images display. Hence, we also suggest a method to generate noninteger multiview pattern images. We prove that the proposed method can successfully display distortionless 3D images for a noninteger view system.


Embracing modern technology is one among very many ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs within Health care organizations. While the integration of information and health services potential benefits cannot be disputed, there are many challenges which affect its adoption, in fact, majority of organizations have abandoned their newly acquired system only to go back to their old manual system. This study sought to review the design, implementation and operation of Health Management Information System (HMIS) in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Nairobi County. Specific objectives were a) to determine the design criteria phase of HMIS at KNH, b) to assess the implementation of HMIS at KNH, and c) to evaluate the operation of HMIS at KNH. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study sample was 263 respondents who filled a structured questionnaire and 40 key informant interviewees. Data collected from the field was analyzed through the use of univariate and bivariate statistics. The study revealed that in the design phase, there was significant stakeholder involvement and this manifested through definition and identification of the KNH's HMIS, clear understanding of the purpose and process in the design requirements and thus an indication that the design criteria was observed during the HMIS implementation. In the implementation phase, the fmdings indicated that while the other attributes had a significance, gender did not have a significant association with HMIS implementation p=0.901. The fmdings indicated that the level of management and duration of employment were significantly associated with HMIS implementation at KNH. In the operation phase, respondents said the benefits of electronic HMIS were improved efficiency and reduced workload. More than half (53.1%) of health workers felt that the electronic HMIS in KNH had achieved its objectives which will lead to effective utilization of HMIS and better healthcare service delivery. Overall KNH had successfully implemented HMIS. In recommendation KNH in collaboration with the MOH need to come up with a standardized policy for implementing interventions, improve the current infrastructure, and develop a plan for monitoring and evaluation of the HMIS.


The mood-stabilising drugs lithium and valproic acid (VPA) are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects are not well understood at present. Both drugs have been suggested to attenuate inositol-based signalling: Lithium by depleting the intracellular pool of inositol via uncompetitive inhibition of Inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) and Inositol polyphosphate-1-phosphatase (IPPase), and VPA by inhibition of inositol de novo synthesis. The therapeutic time courses for lithium and VPA treatment suggest that the drugs exert their effects through changing gene expression. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that lithium sensitivity in the model system Dictyostelium discoideum (D.discoideum) is caused by changes in gene expression. Real-time PCR and motility assays were used to investigate whether (1) changes in gene expression can be observed in lithium-resistant mutants, (2) overexpression of IMPase and lno1 leads to lithium resistance, and (3) lithium and analogues of the bipolar drug VPA affect gene expression. I found that (1) loss of prolyl oligopeptidase (DpoA) in the lithium resistant LisA mutant or loss of a chromatin-remodelling factor (mutation remains to be confirmed) in the lithium resistant LisG mutant increased lno1 and IPP1 expression. (2) Overexpression of lno1 or IMPase led to resistance against lithium, and also VPA and the VPA-analogue VGD. (3) Lithium and VPA- analogues caused distinct changes in gene expression: Lithium treatment increased the expression of enzymes involved in inositol phosphate signalling, with the exception of IMPase VGD decreased the expression of IMPase, IPP1 and dpoA. In addition, the LisG mutant, which showed increased IPP1 expression, was found to be cross-resistant to VGD. The present study shows that lithium sensitivity in D.discoideum correlates with changes in gene expression and suggests that increase in lno1 and IPP1 expression may confer lithium resistance in D.discoideum.


. The balance of energy consumption, indoor environmental satisfaction and cost is a continuing challenge in the field of building energy efficiency research. Building transparent envelope play a key role in building energy-saving design. While in existing BIM system, the separation of component family and local supply chain hinders the integrated performance evaluation and design. This paper proposes a general sustainable performance optimization model for transparent envelope design from the product perspective. A performance data integrated BIM technique framework, linking BIM with multi-dimension performance data stored in external database, is introduced as the foundation of local supply chain based optimization process. A multi-objective optimization model for window components is constructed for the early design stage. Three comprehensive design targets in the engineering practice, energy consumption, life cycle cost and IEQ are evaluated and optimized, representing the concern from government, developer and occupant, respectively. Autodesk Revit as the technique platform, its internal material library and adaptive component system are directly integrated for model control and feedback. An optimization tool is developed as an individual plug-in for user interaction and performance visualization. As a case study, the multi-objective optimization process is applied to design a school building in China.


Detection of TBSA was attempted in pleural aspirates of 74 patients with tuberculous and 44 patients with nontuberculous pleural effusion by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. The results were disappointing with a test sensitivity of 67.6 percent and a specificity of 52.3 percent. In contrast, histologic examination of pleural biopsies gave a diagnostic sensitivity of 71.0 percent. Pleural biopsy remains a better investigational procedure for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion.


We report the new evidence of the chemical modification of κ-carrageenan to its ester form using decanoyl chloride and pyridine, and by systematically varying the reaction temperature in the range from 60°C to 90°C. It was found that the percentage of yield of carrageenan esters is increased with the increase of synthesis temperature. Such results are also confirmed by both Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and H NMR measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data showed that carrageenan esters are more thermally stable than κ-carrageenan. Carrageenan ester synthesised at 80°C is thermally more stable than all other carrageenan esters. Glass transition temperature (Tg) obtained by DSC analysis showed that the Tg values of carrageenan ester samples are lower than κ-carrageenan. The lowest Tg value, 83.15°C was obtained for the carrageenan ester sample synthesised at 90.0°C.


: The latest edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM-6) includes, for the first time, a methodology for estimating and predicting the average travel time distribution (TTD) of urban streets. Travel time reliability (TTR) metrics can then be estimated from the TTD. The HCM-6 explicitly considers five key sources of travel time variability. A literature search showed no evidence that the HCM-6 TTR model has ever been calibrated with empirical travel time data. More importantly, previous research showed that the HCM-6 underestimated the empirical TTD variability by 70% on a testbed in Lincoln, Nebraska. In other words, the HCM-6 TTR metrics reflected a more reliable roadway than would be supported by field measurements. This paper proposes a methodology for calibrating the HCM-6 TTR model so that it better estimates the empirical TTD. This calibration approach was used on an arterial roadway in Lincoln, Nebraska, and no statistically significant differences were found between the calibrated HCM-6 TTD and the empirical TTD at the 5% significance level. DOI: 10.1061/JTEPBS.0000451. This work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution


: Although nerve injury rarely accompanies wrist trauma or disease, the long-term functional result frequently depends more on resolution of the nerve deficit and symptoms than on resolution of the basic orthopedic pathology. The origins of nerve injury associated with orthopedic problems are reviewed, and a rational approach to their management is described.


Mutations in the gene NPHS2 are the most common cause of hereditary steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Its gene product, the stomatin family member protein podocin represents a core component of the slit diaphragm, a unique structure that bridges the space between adjacent podocyte foot processes in the kidney glomerulus. Dislocation and misexpression of slit diaphragm components have been described in the pathogenesis of acquired and hereditary nephrotic syndrome. However, little is known about mechanisms regulating cellular trafficking and turnover of podocin. Here, we discover a three amino acids-comprising motif regulating intracellular localization of podocin in cell culture systems. Mutations of this motif led to markedly reduced degradation of podocin. These findings give novel insight into the molecular biology of the slit diaphragm protein podocin, enabling future research to establish the biological relevance of podocin turnover and localization.


Nations stay together when citizens share enough values and preferences and can communicate with each other. Homogeneity amongst people can be built with education, teaching a common language to facilitate communication, but also by brute force such as prohibiting local cultures. Democracies and non-democracies have different incentives when it comes to choosing how much and by what means to homogenize the population. We study and we compare both regimes in a model where the size of countries and the degree of active homogenization is endogenous. We also offer some historical discussions of cases which illustrate our theoretical results.


Measuring rock stratum displacement in dam grouting process is very important. A new displacement system is designed, comprising a programmable microcontroller Atmega16, a new grating capacitive displacement sensor(GCDS), DS1302 real time clock chip and announciator etc. The system has high sampling rate of 9600 baud rate and can trap the displacement equal to 0.001 millimeter in one second. Equipped with mechanical conveyance system, the system can be applied to the civil engineer. The experiment results show the instrument can measure accurately the displacement value and alarm geologic disaster in time, which can conduct continuous and accurate monitoring and provide operation decisions for dam engineers.


Nowadays, Wireless Sensor Networks are emerging because of the technological developments in Wireless Communication. Wireless Sensor Networks are deployed mostly in open and unguarded environment. The key features of Wireless Sensor Networks are low power, lowmemory, low-energy scaled nodes. Security is a fundamental requirement for Wireless Sensor Network. Security is the main concern for everything whether it is for wired based network or wireless based network. Security in Wireless Sensor Network plays an important role in node communication. For Wireless Sensor Network so many security protocol available but some have some limitation. In this paper, our center of attention is security protocols for Wireless Sensor Network through this paper; we have to identify the security protocols and their limitation for Wireless Sensor Network.


Facilities management along with health care are two important aspects in controlling the spread of infectious diseases with regard to controlling the outbreak of global COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, with the increasing outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of examining the relationship between the built environment and the outbreak of infectious diseases has become more significant. The aim of the research described in this article is to develop effective infection control and mitigation measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic in the built environment. This study seeks to answer the question of how the facilities management industry can help reduce the transmission of coronavirus. For this purpose, an online survey questionnaire was distributed internationally from 8 April to 25 July, 2020 to collect data from various key stakeholders. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Various methods for the prevention and control of infectious diseases transmission are evaluated through this questionnaire-based survey with regard to their effectiveness for the healthy and safe built environment. These methods were categorized into three groups, including training protocols, operation and maintenance, and design and construction. The results show that all suggested methods have a positive effect on all types of buildings. These methods have an equal effect on low-risk buildings, while for high and very high-risk buildings, training protocols and design and construction measures have the greatest impact. In addition, training protocols and the measures in operation and maintenance will have the greatest effect on medium-risk buildings. The results can help in more rational decision making in relation to controlling the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in all types of buildings.


A new digital control technique for power factor (PF) correction is presented. The main novelty of the method is that there is no current sensor. Instead, the input current is digitally rebuilt, using the estimated input current in the current loop. The circuit measures the input and output voltage by means of low cost ad hoc analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Taking advantage of the slow dynamic behavior of these voltages, almost completely digital ADCs have been designed, leaving only a comparator and an RC filter in the analog part. Avoiding measuring current can provide a significant advantage compared to analog controllers and this also helps to reduce the total cost. The ultimate objective is to obtain a low-cost digital controller that can be easily integrated as an intellectual property (IP) block into a field-programmable gate array, or an application-specific integrated circuit. The experimental results show a reasonably high PF, despite not measuring the input current, and therefore the feasibility of the method.


In this paper, we propose a STF (space-time-frequency) coded OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) transmission scheme for fast fading channels. We propose a simple STF-OFDM transmission scheme with time diversity gain. This STF-OFDM transmission scheme is a simple method for improving performance of conventional SF-OFDM by means of the Hadamard transformation in the time domain. Also our STF-OFDM can be encoded and decoded with low complexity, because the Hadamard transformation can be performed without multiplication.


Abstract Dome growth at Soufrière Hills Volcano halted in early March 1998. After dome growth ceased, seismicity reduced significantly, but activity related to dome disintegration and degassing of magma at depth continued. A sustained episode of pyroclastic flows on 3 July 1998 marked the single largest collapse from March 1998 to November 1999. This led to a remarkable episode of dome collapses, low-energy explosions and ash-venting that resulted in the regular production of ash plumes, commonly reaching 1.5-6 km above sea level (a.s.l), but sometimes up to 11 km a.s.l., and the development of a small block-and-ash cone around the explosion crater. During the period of this residual activity, higher levels of activity occurred approximately every five to six weeks. This periodicity was similar to the cycles observed during active dome growth during 1995 to 1998, and probably had a similar cause. The relatively high level of observed activity caused continued concern regarding volcanic hazards and their potential to impact upon the resident population. Vigorous magma extrusion resumed in November 1999. The activity of the intervening period is attributed to the continued cooling and degassing of the dome, conduit and deep magma body, the impact of rising volcanic gases in the volcanic edifice, and limited magma flow in the conduit.


Detecting concept drift is a well known problem that affects production systems. However, two important issues that are frequently not addressed in the literature are 1) the detection of drift when the labels are not immediately available; and 2) the automatic generation of explanations to identify possible causes for the drift. For example, a fraud detection model in online payments could show a drift due to a hot sale item (with an increase in false positives) or due to a true fraud attack (with an increase in false negatives) before labels are available. In this paper we propose SAMM, an automatic model monitoring system for data streams. SAMM detects concept drift using a time and space efficient unsupervised streaming algorithm and it generates alarm reports with a summary of the events and features that are important to explain it. SAMM was evaluated in five real world fraud detection datasets, each spanning periods up to eight months and totaling more than 22 million online transactions. We evaluated SAMM using human feedback from domain experts, by sending them 100 reports generated by the system. Our results show that SAMM is able to detect anomalous events in a model life cycle that are considered useful by the domain experts. Given these results, SAMM will be rolled out in a next version of Feedzai's Fraud Detection solution.


Annual fuel use for long-haul truck rest period idling is estimated at 667 million gallons in the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory's CoolCab project aims to reduce heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) loads and resulting fuel use from rest period idling by working closely with industry to design efficient long-haul truck climate control systems while maintaining occupant comfort. Enhancing the thermal performance of cab/sleepers will enable smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective idle reduction solutions. In order for candidate idle reduction technologies to be implemented at the original equipment manufacturer and fleet level, their effectiveness must be quantified. To address this need, a number of promising candidate technologies were evaluated through experimentation and modeling to determine their effectiveness in reducing rest period HVAC loads. For this study, load reduction strategies were grouped into the focus areas of solar envelope, occupant environment, and conductive pathways. The technologies selected for a complete-cab package of technologies were "ultra-white" paint, advanced insulation, and advanced curtains. To measure the impact of these technologies, a nationally-averaged solar-weighted reflectivity long-haul truck paint color was determined and applied to the baseline test vehicle. Using the complete-cab package of technologies, electrical energy consumptionmore » for long-haul truck daytime rest period air conditioning was reduced by at least 35% for summer weather conditions in Colorado. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's CoolCalc model was then used to extrapolate the performance of the thermal load reduction technologies nationally for 161 major U.S. cities using typical weather conditions for each location over an entire year.« less


The site of the pulse regeneration in myelinated nerve is generally assumed to be the unmyelinated part of the axon membrane in thr Ranvier node. To check this, a micro-irradiation technique using laser pulses (lambda equals 347 nm, t equals 20 ns) was used to produce morphological lesions of about 1 mum diameter in various regions of the Ranvier node. The electro-physiological functions were monitored parallel to the irradiation. Depending on the localizing of the lesions two types of changes in these functions were observed: 1. If a definite site in the paranodal myelin sheath was damaged without affecting the axon, an action potential could no longer be elicited, although the resting potential as well as the stationary current-voltage behaviour remained unchanged. 2. A damage of the axon resulted in a break down of membrane potential and resistance. In most of the cases the excitability recovered after spontaneous or current induced restitution of the membrane resting potential and resistance. These observations indicate, that structures in the paranodal region are vital for the Na+-activation and inactivation. The membrane potential and stationary current-voltage behavior can be attributed to the axon membrane. A new hypothesis concerning the mechanism of the Na+-activation-inactivation process is suggested.


Questioned document examination is extensively used by forensic specialists for criminal identification. This paper presents a writer recognition system based on allographic features operating in identification mode (one-to-many). It works at the level of isolated characters, considering that each writer uses a reduced number of shapes for each one. Individual characters of a writer are manually segmented and labeled by an expert as pertaining to one of 62 alphanumeric classes (10 numbers and 52 letters, including lowercase and uppercase letters), being the particular setup used by the forensic laboratory participating in this work. A codebook of shapes is then generated by clustering and the probability distribution function of allograph usage is the discriminative feature used for recognition. Results obtained on a database of 30 writers from real forensic documents show that the character class information given by the manual analysis provides a valuable source of improvement, justifying the proposed approach. We also evaluate the selection of different alphanumeric channels, showing a dependence between the size of the hit list and the number of channels needed for optimal performance.


This paper investigates the decoding of turbo codes in impulsive symmetric α-stable (SαS) noise. Due to the nonexistence of a closed-form expression for the probability density function (pdf) of α-stable processes, numerical-based SαS pdf is used to derive branch transition probability (btp) for the maximum a posteriori turbo decoder. Results show that in Gaussian noise, the turbo decoder achieves similar performance using both the conventional and the proposed btps, but in impulsive channels, the turbo decoder with the proposed btp substantially outperforms the turbo decoder utilizing the conventional btp. Results also confirm that the turbo decoder incorporating the proposed btp outperforms the existing Cauchy-based turbo decoder in non-Cauchy impulsive noise, while the two decoders accomplish similar performance in Cauchy noise.


(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been shown to have cancer preventive activity in vitro and in vivo. We have previously shown that EGCG can undergo conjugation to cysteine to form 2'-cysteinyl-EGCG and 2''-cysteinyl-EGCG. Studies of thiol-conjugated metabolites of methamphetamine indicate that such metabolites are not detoxified but retain biological activity. Here, we examined the growth inhibitory, pro-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the cysteine metabolites of EGCG. Both compounds dose-dependently inhibited the growth of colon cancer and intestinal cell lines. Both metabolites prevented aberrant arachidonic acid release and nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Under cell culture conditions, 2''-cysteinyl-EGCG produced H2O2 at a faster rate than EGCG. The results of the present study show that cysteine conjugates of EGCG retain the growth inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and pro-oxidant activities of EGCG in vitro and may play a role in disease prevention in vivo. These results remain to be confirmed in vivo.


An actin-binding protein of M(r) 105,000 has been isolated from anuran amphibian intestinal mucosa. Polyclonal antibodies directed against chicken and pig intestinal villins and anti-porcine villin headpiece monoclonal antibody crossreact with the amphibian M(r) 105,000 protein. Furthermore, the latter possesses an NH2-terminal sequence that is very homologous to those of avian and mammalian villins. In addition, polyclonal antibodies directed against amphibian intestinal M(r) 105,000 protein crossreact with chicken and mouse intestinal epithelial cell villins. These data indicate that the amphibian intestinal M(r) 105,000 protein is immunologically and structurally related to villin, an actin-binding protein expressed in specific epithelial tissues in vertebrates. Morphological, immunocytochemical and immunoblotting techniques were then used to investigate the expression of villin during embryonic and larval intestinal development of Xenopus laevis. Villin is not found in the egg or the endoderm of the early embryo. It is first detected just before hatching in the apical domain of endodermal cells at a time when few surface microvilli are visible by transmission electron microscopy. In the newly hatched larva, villin accumulates as these cells differentiate. These results provide a detailed developmental profile of Xenopus intestinal villin expression and demonstrate that this protein is a useful marker for the presumptive intestinal endoderm.


About the series The aim of this series is to bring together important recent writings in major areas of philosophical inquiry, selected from a variety of sources, mostly periodicals, which may not be conveniently available to the university student or the general reader. The editor of each volume contributes an introductory essay on the items chosen and on the questions with which they deal. A selective bibliography is appended as a guide to further reading. About this volume The Philosophy of Action offers a selection of some of the best, most influential, and most accessible essays on the major contemporary issues in the philosophy of action. Topics addressed include intention, reasons for action, and the nature and explanation of intentional action. The contributors are all major figures in this area.


In the past decades several researches have been related to energy saving and emissions reduction. The technologies that exploit passive natural ventilation, like ventilated roofs and façades, have been recognized as the effective methods to provide energy saving and comfort. Ventilated façades represent dry assembled coating systems for buildings, traditionally made of panels in different materials. Very few ventilated façade systems with plaster finishes are already present on the building market. The potentiality of their design solution can be considered, e.g., when an historic building has to be recovered, since they can enhance the energy efficiency of building without changing its appearance. CFD simulations have been carried out by the authors in order to analyze the thermal energy behavior of a ventilated façade system with a plaster finishing and for comparing the benefits derived from its use to the corresponding unvented insulated façade. The ventilated façade shows a relevant energy saving thanks to the effect of ventilation: a reduction of 70% of heat flux was achieved, furthermore, a reverse conductance calculation showed relevant differences with the same calculated by thermo-physical material properties, since in this last calculation the heat and mass transport effect are not considered.


Educational organizations in private sector require strong corporate strategies. In order to get success in the globally competitive environment they must adopt the strategy of Corporate Social Responsibility. This study analyzed corporate social responsibility and its impact on private sector secondary schools in district North & South Delhi. For this purpose primary data were collected through five point Likert's scale. The questionnaire was fielded to private sector secondary school teachers in order to get data about the impact of corporate social responsibility on performance of secondary schools. The population of the study was 184 registered private sector secondary schools (140 boys and 44 girls) which included 900 teachers (who taught to class 10th students during session 2017-18) in district North & South Delhi. A sample of 280 teachers (140 male and 140 female) in 70 private sector secondary schools (35 for boys and 35 for girls) were selected through equal allocation sampling formula. Mean, Standard Deviation and t-test were applied for analyzing the data. The Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the variable effects. The result from the data indicated that all the four aspects of CSR have positive significant impact on the performance of secondary schools.


This research created a residential life cycle assessment (LCA) framework by comparing traditional wood home and a home built of a new building product called insulating concrete forms (ICF). This framework was utilized in analyzing the green building product labeling system and recommendations provided for improving the use of LCA in labeling of products. The framework case study results were evaluated for their potential for energy savings in the US. The national implications of using emerging and existing energy saving building products were quantitatively examined. This study quantitatively measured ICFs' performance through a comparative LCA of wall sections comprised of ICF and traditional wood-frame. The life cycle stages included raw materials extraction and manufacturing, construction, use and end of life for a 2,450 square foot house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Results showed that although building products such as ICFs are energy intensive to produce and thus have higher environmental impacts in the raw materials extraction and manufacturing phase, the use phase dominated in the life cycle. A residential LCA framework was created as part of this study and was utilized in evaluating the green product labeling system for building products.This study compared generic and green-labeled carpets, paints and linoleum flooring using the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) LCA database. The results from these comparisons were not intuitive and were contradictory in several impact categories with respect to the greenness of the product. Life cycle thinking, in theory, has the potential to improve the environmental impacts of labeling systems but databases currently are lacking in detailed information about products or sometimes provide conflicting information.The residential LCA case study showed the energy saving potential of an ICF home. The energy savings achieved when building products such as ICFs, windows and doors were used in projected new residential constructions was evaluated. A combination of strategies involving the use of ICFs, windows and doors were studied and the results compared with targets set by the McKinsey and Company and Architecture 2030.When ICFs, windows and doors were used as energy saving building products, the results showed that they might not be saving as much energy as expected and implementing each energy saving strategy on its own was not a solution to achieve the energy goals of the McKinsey report and Architecture 2030. A combination of strategies was the key to reaching end points set by the standards.


This article summarising some findings from a doctoral dissertation discusses European converts to Islam. It explores the conditions under which conversion leads to radicalisation and terrorist violence; it analyses recrudescent concomitances of causal mechanisms of this phenomenon. Furthermore, it explores possible pathways existing between conversion, radicalisation and terrorist violence; identifies key variables pertaining to causal pathways and processes; provides hypotheses regarding the radicalisation pathways, and establishes a typology that can serve as a basis for further studies. By dispelling stereotypes on European New Muslims (ENM) this research note offers a new, contextual approach to the issue under consideration. In doing so it invites the reader to reconsider the concepts of "convert", "radicalisation" and "potential"- concepts crucial for questioning the widely expressed assumptions that European converts to Islam are a homogenous "risk group" and a security threat.


Differential compaction occurs within many sedimentary settings, such as alluvial and deltaic deposition, but it is within the submarine fan environment where the process is most effective due to the very high depositional porosities of the muds found there. Additionally the grain size of siliciclastic sediments within the submarine fan environment varies rapidly both horizontally and vertically, and hence the effect of differential compaction control on the depositional geometry and arrangement needs to be examined and modelled. It is also important to ascertain the rate at which sediments compact when buried, and whether compaction is complete at the end of deposition or whether it requires additional time to achieve this state. Sea- floor topography can be created if the latter case is true, and could influence subsequent deposition. Alternatively, if sea-floor topography is not created, the major control upon subsequent deposition may be the compatibility of the underlying section. Both controls will favour deposition of successive coarse clastic units above areas of fine-grained sediments, i.e. sand above shale rather than sand above sand. The Palaeocene sediments of the Central North Sea In the Montrose - Arbroath area (Blocks 22/17 and 22/18) combined with outcrop studies In southern California and New Mexico, have been used to assess the control of differential compaction on sediment distribution in a deep-sea fan setting. Differential compaction affects the Montrose - Arbroath area on a variety of scales. Firstly, differential compaction of the entire Palaeocene section across the underlying Forties - Montrose High induces structure. At a smaller scale, differential compaction may form a considerable control upon the spatial distribution of submarine fan channels and lobes that form the reservoir section throughout the area, and therefore the areal distribution of the oilfields themselves. Finally differential compaction may effect the distribution pattern of individual turbidites within such channel systems, thus forming a fine control upon the distribution of sands and shales within the reservoir. Fieldwork on submarine fan deposits in southern California has highlighted further complications to differential compaction that need to be addressed during the modelling process. Sedimentary processes such as basal loading and slumping are highly common in such deposits, and both can effect the compactional process to differing degrees. Results obtained from the modelling of stratal patterns observed in New Mexico provide information on the timing of differential compaction. It is suggested that compaction of sediments, even during early burial, requires a time interval often greater than the period of deposition, resulting in post-depositional compaction and the production of near-surface overpressure.


This paper presents a study on the power conditioning features of hybrid powertrain, especially regarding diesel-electric locomotives. Equipped with an embarked energy buffer for diesel generator support and utility grid interface, such a locomotive can be considered as a plug-in series hybrid vehicle. The driveline inductive components, like generator and motor windings and capacitive components like dc link capacitors can be used to provide STATCOM functions, and the energy buffer can be used for short-term grid support. The co-action of power electronics circuitries and diesel generator gives a possibility to observe the locomotive as a mobile versatile power plant for special rolling stock and emergency supply. With high power levels ranging from few hundred kilowatts to several megawatts, the locomotives can participate in large-scale power conditioning at standstill, bringing revenues to the operators even "off-line".


This preliminary study investigates feasibility of a running speed based heart rate (HR) prediction. It is basically motivated from the assumption that there is a significant relationship between HR and the running speed. In order to verify the assumption, HR and running speed data from 217 subjects of varying aerobic capabilities were simultaneously collected during an incremental treadmill exercise. A running speed was defined as a treadmill speed and its corresponding heart rate was calculated by averaging the last one minute HR values of each session. The feasibility was investigated by assessing a correlation between the heart rate and the running speed using inter-subject (between-subject) and intra-subject (within-subject) datasets with regression orders of 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Furthermore, HR differences between actual and predicted HRs were also employed to investigate the feasibility of the running speed in predicting heart rate. In the inter-subject analysis, a strong positive correlation and a reasonable HR difference (r = 0.866, 16.55±11.24 bpm @ 1st order; r = 0.871, 15.93±11.49 bpm @ 2nd order; r = 0.897, 13.98±10.80 bpm @ 3rd order; and r = 0.899, 13.93±10.64 bpm @ 4th order) were obtained, and a very high positive correlation and a very low HR difference (r = 0.978, 6.46±3.89 bpm @ 1st order; r = 0.987, 5.14±2.87 bpm @ 2nd order; r = 0.996, 2.61±2.03 bpm @ 3rd order; and r = 0.997, 2.04±1.73 bpm @ 4th order) were obtained in the intra-subject analysis. It can therefore be concluded that 1) heart rate is highly correlated with a running speed; 2) heart rate can be approximately estimated by a running speed with a proper statistical model (e.g., 3rd-order regression); and 3) an individual HR-speed calibration process may improve the prediction accuracy.


A summary of the major political, economic, social and cultural developments in Africa since 1900. The impact of indigenous and foreign philosophies on industrialization, urbanizatiion and peasantization during the 20th century.


Educational aims To outline the rationale behind and key components of integrated respiratory care. To give an overview of different models of delivery of integrated respiratory care. To explore the benefits to patients with chronic respiratory disease. Summary Providing for the long-term needs of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sets new challenges for healthcare organisations in terms of structure and funding. Integrated respiratory care is a holistic patient-centred approach to long-term conditions encompassing: disease prevention and promotion of lung health; early diagnosis; monitoring and education; coordination of hospital and community care; and implementation of evidence-based guidelines. Models of integrated respiratory care may vary depending on local resources and needs. Key aspects include nurse-led care nearer to or in the patients' home, self-management support, flexible healthcare design that suits patient needs, effective information sharing, and access to specialist care. These interventions have the potential to improve self-care and understanding of disease, reduce the need for scheduled and unscheduled consultations and length of stay, and enhance patients' health-related quality of life.