The globular cluster (GC) specific frequency (SN), defined as the number of GCs per unit galactic luminosity, represents the efficiency of GC formation (and survival) compared to field stars. Despite the naive expectation that star cluster formation should scale directly with star formation, this efficiency varies widely across galaxies. To explore this variation, we measure the z-band GC specific frequency ( ) for 43 early-type galaxies (ETGs) from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Fornax Cluster Survey. Combined with the homogeneous measurements of in 100 ETGs from the HST/ACS Virgo Cluster Survey from Peng et al., we investigate the dependence of on mass and environment over a range of galaxy properties. We find that behaves similarly in the two galaxy clusters, despite the clusters' order-of-magnitude difference in mass density. The is low in intermediate-mass ETGs (−20 < Mz < −23) and increases with galaxy luminosity. It is elevated at low masses, on average, but with a large scatter driven by galaxies in dense environments. The densest environments with the strongest tidal forces appear to strip the GC systems of low-mass galaxies. However, in low-mass galaxies that are not in strong tidal fields, denser environments correlate with enhanced GC formation efficiencies. Normalizing by inferred halo masses, the GC mass fraction, η = (3.36 ± 0.2) × 10−5, is constant for ETGs with stellar masses , in agreement with previous studies. The lack of correlation between the fraction of GCs and the nuclear light implies only a weak link between the infall of GCs and the formation of nuclei.


BACKGROUND
Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) combined with time-of-flight (TOF) MS is the most informative analytical approach for chemical characterization of the complex food volatilome. Key analytical features include separation power and resolution enhancement, improved sensitivity, and structured separation patterns from chemically correlated analytes.

OBJECTIVE
In this study, we explore the complex extra-virgin olive oil volatilome by combining headspace (HS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME), applied under HS linearity conditions to GC×GC-TOF MS and featuring hard and soft ionization in tandem.

METHOD
Multiple analytical dimensions are combined in a single run and evaluated in terms of chemical dimensionality, method absolute and relative sensitivity, identification reliability provided by spectral signatures acquired at 70 and 12 eV, and dynamic and linear range of response provided by soft ionization.

RESULTS
Method effectiveness is validated on a sample set of oils from Picual olives at different ripening stages. Ripening markers [3,4-diethyl-1,5-hexadiene (RS/SR), 3,4-diethyl-1,5-hexadiene (meso), (5Z)-3-ethyl-1,5-octadiene, (5E)-3-ethyl-1,5-octadiene, (E, Z)-3,7-decadiene and (E, E)-3,7-decadiene, (Z)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-pentenal, (Z)-2-pentenal, 1-pentanol, 1-penten-3-ol, 3-pentanone, and 1-penten-3-one] and quality indexes [(Z)-3-hexenal/nonanal, (Z)-3-hexenal/octane, (E)-2-pentenal/nonanal, and (E)-2-pentenal/octane] are confirmed for their validity in HS linearity conditions.

CONCLUSIONS
For the complex olive oil volatilome, the proposed approach offers concrete advantages for the validation of the informative role of existing analytes while suggesting new potential markers to be studied in larger sample sets.

HIGHLIGHTS
The accurate fingerprinting of volatiles by HS-SPME operating in HS linearity conditions followed by GC×GC-TOF MS featuring tandem ionization gives the opportunity to improve the quality of analytical data and reliability of results.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the status of anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience among individuals with COVID-19, and their interrelationships to provide a scientific basis for developing psychological intervention strategies for these patients.

METHODS
A total of 126 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital were recruited in this study. A comprehensive survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the self-rating depression scale, and the Chinese version of the psychological Connor-Davidson resilience scale; a questionnaire-based survey was conducted.

RESULTS
Significant differences in anxiety scores were observed among COVID-19 patients with different education levels and the number of immediate family members. The differences in depression scores were noted among patients of different age groups, and marital statuses were also significant. The total psychological resilience score and the scores of all dimensions are negatively correlated with anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the patient's gender, the number of immediate family members, and the psychological resilience dimensions are associated with the severity anxiety of patients. Patient age and psychological resilience are associated with the depression level of patients.

CONCLUSION
Patients with COVID-19 exhibit elevated levels of both anxiety and depression. Notably, psychological resilience emerges as a protective factor against the development of anxiety and depression.


In this study, the uptake of fluoride by raw diatomite and diatomite activated by heat treatment was investigated. Influential parameters such as contact time, pH and adsorption isotherm were also studied. The results showed that the diatomite heated to 500 oC performed better than other heat treatment products and the equilibration time needed for fluoride removal by the adsorbents was reached at 60 min. Results revealed that the capacity of the adsorbents for removing fluoride is independent of the pH when the pH is higher than 4. The adsorption isotherm of the 500 oC treated diatomite showed its Langmuir behavior. The maximum adsorption capacity of raw diatomite and 500 oC calcinated diatomite are 2.253 and 4.162 mg/g, respectively. Based on the results it can be concluded that the diatomite appears to be an economical and environmentally friendly material for defluoridation of water.


As chip design becomes more and more complex and alternative lithography technologies like EBDW get broader usage, the challenges increase with respect to all parts of the entire process. For exposure data preparation, we want to introduce a novel solution that offers new approaches to a user-friendly GUI, to exposure simulation, project definition and control, combined with proven kernels for data post-processing, fracturing and Proximity Effect Correction. This new solution has been implemented to run in an efficient 64 bit parallel computing environment and is called ePlace (eBeam Direct Write and Mask Data Preparation Layout Console). ePlace has the ability to process layout data of (in principle) unlimited size, given in various formats (GDSII, OASIS, DXF, CIF and others) and distributed over multiple files and hierarchies. Data post-processing capabilities include common Boolean functions (AND, OR, XOR, and Negation) as well as sizing, scaling, translation, rotation and overlap removal. Processed data can be fractured and formatted for e-beam writers (e.g. Vistec Shaped Beam (SB) tools). For Proximity Effect Correction both dose variations and newly developed geometry correction (EPC) algorithms are available and a simulation engine provides fast and precise results for exposure pattern predictions. In addition to the standard shape exposure, ePlace supports the latest Cell Projection (CP) feature of current Vistec's SB series as well as the upcoming Vistec Multi-Beam-Tool.


ABSTRACT Novichoks, also known as A-series agents, are nerve agents developed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Once obscure chemicals, they garnered a great deal of attention after their employment in the attempted assassinations of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in 2018 and of Alexei Navalny in 2020. Novichok agents were not originally featured in the schedules of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which are intended to support the treaty's verification regime and declaration requirements. However, following the Skripal incident, the CWC schedules were amended to include Novichok agents. Furthermore, precursors for their synthesis were added to the Australia Group's (AG) list of chemical-weapons precursors. In this article, we evaluate the recent revisions of the CWC schedules and the AG precursors list, identify the remaining weaknesses of both lists, and make recommendations for further amendments. We recommend strengthening the coverage of the CWC schedules by adding families of Novichok agents with guanidine branches. This is particularly important in light of the Navalny incident, since that incident appears to have involved a guanidine-bearing Novichok agent currently not covered by the CWC schedules. We also propose an approach to the control of Novichok precursors by the CWC and the AG based on families of chemicals rather than individually enumerated chemicals.


Groundwater supplies approximately half of the total global domestic water demand. It also complements the seasonal and annual variabilities of surface water. Monitoring of groundwater fluctuations is mandatory to envisage the composition of terrestrial water storage. This research provides an overview of traditional techniques and detailed discussion on the modern tools and methods to monitor groundwater fluctuations along with advanced applications. The groundwater monitoring can broadly be classified into three groups. The first one is characterized by the point measurement to measure the groundwater levels using classical instruments and electronic and physical investigation techniques. The second category involves the extensive use of satellite data to ensure robust and cost-effective real-time monitoring to assess the groundwater storage variations. Many satellite data are in use to find groundwater indirectly. However, GRACE satellite data supported with other satellite products, computational tools, GIS techniques, and hydro-climate models have proven the most effective for groundwater resources management. The third category is groundwater numerical modeling, which is a very useful tool to evaluate and project groundwater resources in future. Groundwater numerical modeling also depends upon the point-based groundwater monitoring, so more research to improve point-based detection methods using latest technologies is required, as these still play the baseline role. GRACE and numerical groundwater modeling are suggested to be used conjunctively to assess the groundwater resources more efficiently.


Late in 1990, Congress passed a statute that confers on the district courts "supplemental jurisdiction" over a universe of claims that the courts otherwise would, or might, be unable to hear. Essentially, 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) authorizes the courts to exercise jurisdiction over claims that are part of the same case or controversy, under Article III of the Constitution, as a claim within the court's original jurisdiction. It explicitly grants jurisdiction over claims that involve the joinder or intervention of additional parties, thereby authorizing what had been dubbed pendent party jurisdiction and some forms of ancillary jurisdiction. It also codifies traditional pendent jurisdiction and versions of ancillary jurisdiction that applied to claims among the original parties. In so providing, Congress recognized that,Supplemental jurisdiction has enabled federal courts and litigants to take advantage of the federal procedural rules on claim and party joinder to deal economically - in single rather than multiple litigation - with related matters .... Moreover, the district courts' exercise of supplemental jurisdiction, by making federal court a practical arena for the resolution of an entire controversy, has effectuated Congress's intent in the jurisdictional statutes to provide plaintiffs with a federal forum for litigating claims within original jurisdiction.It enacted § 1367 to provide the federal courts with statutory authority to hear claims lacking an independent basis of subject matter jurisdiction because the Supreme Court had cast doubt on the courts' authority to do so, absent congressional authorization.Section 1367(b) then curtails the power described in (a) by providing, as to civil actions in federal court solely by virtue of diversity jurisdiction, that district courts shall not have supplemental jurisdiction over specific varieties of claims there enumerated, when the exercise of such jurisdiction would be inconsistent with the jurisdictional requirements of § 1332. Subsection (c) sets forth the circumstances in which courts may decline to exercise their supplemental jurisdiction and (d) tolls the statute of limitations for claims that are dismissed.A good deal of scholarly writing already has addressed the strengths and weaknesses of this deceptively simple supplemental jurisdiction statute. I will not here attempt any exhaustive review of the many arguments about its meaning, virtues and vices that pertain to civil actions commenced in federal court or that pertain whether actions are commenced in federal court or arrive there through removal from state court. Although I make some observations that apply to those situations, especially with respect to contexts involving Rule 19 joinder and Rule 24 intervention, my focus is the interplay between the supplemental jurisdiction statute and the removal statutes, in particular 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1447. The issues that are posed by this interaction have received very little attention from commentators. What's worse, they appear to have received virtually no attention from Congress, despite the fact that removed cases now constitute approximately 12% of the federal docket, or 25,000 cases per year.


Natural climate variation, such as that caused by volcanoes, is the basis for identifying anthropogenic climate change. However, knowledge of the history of volcanic activity is inadequate, particularly concerning the explosivity of specific events. Some material is deposited in ice cores, but the concentration of glacial sulfate does not distinguish between tropospheric and stratospheric eruptions. Stable sulfur isotope abundances contain additional information, and recent studies show a correlation between volcanic plumes that reach the stratosphere and mass-independent anomalies in sulfur isotopes in glacial sulfate. We describe a mechanism, photoexcitation of SO2, that links the two, yielding a useful metric of the explosivity of historic volcanic events. A plume model of S(IV) to S(VI) conversion was constructed including photochemistry, entrainment of background air, and sulfate deposition. Isotopologue-specific photoexcitation rates were calculated based on the UV absorption cross-sections of 32SO2, 33SO2, 34SO2, and 36SO2 from 250 to 320 nm. The model shows that UV photoexcitation is enhanced with altitude, whereas mass-dependent oxidation, such as SO2 + OH, is suppressed by in situ plume chemistry, allowing the production and preservation of a mass-independent sulfur isotope anomaly in the sulfate product. The model accounts for the amplitude, phases, and time development of Δ33S/δ34S and Δ36S/Δ33S found in glacial samples. We are able to identify the process controlling mass-independent sulfur isotope anomalies in the modern atmosphere. This mechanism is the basis of identifying the magnitude of historic volcanic events.


Quantitative analysis of the time courses of fluorescence anisotropy changes due to the binding of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase to the dissociable cytoplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase covalently labelled with fluorescent dye was carried out. The behaviour of the aldolase-dehydrogenase system seems to be consistent with a cyclic reversible model characterized by the formation and dissociation of complexes of both the monomeric and the dimeric forms of dehydrogenase with aldolase, and rapid equilibrium between the free monomeric and dimeric forms of dehydrogenase. The half-life time of the formation of dimeric dehydrogenase-aldolase complex at the concentration of the enzymes expected to exist in the cell (i.e. in the micromolar range) is some minutes, and the time needed for equilibration between the aldolase-bound dimeric and monomeric forms of dehydrogenase is a few minutes as well. Consequently, one may expect that both the formation and the dissociation of this heterologous enzyme complex have physiological relevance.


The paper examines the interconnection between matrix modeling and accounting informational systems (AIS) and highlights the role of these systems in the true and fair reporting of economic activities. The author shows that such systems make it possible to present the functional fragments of knowledge in information modeling systems and gives a definition of the accounting information systems in the context of modern economic development. The article focuses on designing a concept of a knowledge-based economy and identifying the role of accounting in this process. It shows the accounting system reliability depends on such information system which would make it possible to fully report the data about business activity of an entity. Information technology has crucially changed this very important area of accounting. Modern accounting is more dynamic and influential in making economic decisions. That is why the understanding of accounting science and its influence on accounting processes is changing. This in turn imposes new requirements on professional education and training of accountants. It is evident that the period of data input is now significantly shorter, starting with processing banking information and invoices. Thus the practice of accounting is impossible in its conventional form which calls for the fundamental change of thinking in many areas of accounting. The article discusses the state of national accounting system and its compliance with the international accounting practices under conditions of globalization. The author gives the arguments on how to assess the accounting process adequacy by means of situational matrix modeling (HMM) in the structure of the accounting information system.


This thesis develops a new daily metric to measure the level of polarization in the American public, by exploiting the discourse used in political news articles. Due to frequency discrepancies, formal comparison of the invented method to previous measurements of polarization is not possible. The metric shows that, in contrary to popular belief, the trend in polarization seems to decrease till 2009 after which the trend evolves in a cyclical pattern. The volatility of the metric declines, indicating an increasing stability over time. Having daily estimates for polarization, a vast array of potential uses to determine the causes and effects of changing polarization is unlocked. Demonstrated as an application is the "election cycle effect", seeking to determine if the year after a presidential election yields different changes in polarization compared to the other years. Formal testing shows that for the total sample, this is the case. Author T.A. Kloosterboer Student Number 483863tk Supervisor Dr. V. Spinu First Reader Dr. G.D. Granic Date October 22, 2018 * Contact – firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com Erasmus University Rotterdam | Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands


The expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a specific property of the brain capillary endothelium that constitutes the blood-brain barrier. We report here the detection of GGT, not only in endothelial cells, but also in pericytes, demonstrating that a brain capillary-specific pericyte population exists. We raised antibodies to GGT using a porcine brain microvessel GGT-protein-A (staphylococcal protein A) fusion protein as antigen which was expressed in Escherichia coli. The immunohistochemical analysis of the subcapillary distribution of GGT in porcine brain cortex and cerebellum sections by both light and electron microscopy revealed the expression of GGT in the capillary-adjacent pericytes in addition to the GGT-positive endothelial layer. We confirmed these data for cultured porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes. GGT immunofluorescence could be detected in both cell types in culture. Endothelial cells exhibited a weak staining, whereas pericytes were strongly positive for GGT. Due to the high phagocytotic activity of pericytes and their location on the abluminal surface of the microvessels, we propose a possible protective or detoxifying function of GGT in cerebrovascular pericytes.


This paper takes the long view on the development of strategy as a profession, from the 1950s to today. We identify strategy as a structurally precarious profession, subject to cyclical demand and shifts in organizational power. This precariousness has increased with the secular shift towards more open forms of strategy-making, with more transparency inside and outside organizations and more inclusion of different actors internally and externally. We analyse four forces – organizational, societal, cultural and technological – driving the evolution of strategy as a profession and discuss implications for the future of strategy work, for effective strategies, for strategy's professional bodies and for strategy research.


This study identifies and analyzes statistically significant overlaps between selective sweep screens in anatomically modern humans and several domesticated species. The results obtained suggest that (paleo-) genomic data can be exploited to complement the fossil record and support the idea of self-domestication in Homo sapiens, a process that likely intensified as our species populated its niche. Our analysis lends support to attempts to capture the "domestication syndrome" in terms of alterations to certain signaling pathways and cell lineages, such as the neural crest.


Almost all statistical and machine learning methods in analyzing brain networks rely on distances and loss functions, which are mostly Euclidean or matrix norms. The Euclidean or matrix distances may fail to capture underlying subtle topological differences in brain networks. Further, Euclidean distances are sensitive to outliers. A few extreme edge weights may severely affect the distance. Thus it is necessary to use distances and loss functions that recognize topology of data. In this review paper, we survey various topological distance and loss functions from topological data analysis (TDA) and persistent homology that can be used in brain network analysis more effectively. Although there are many recent brain imaging studies that are based on TDA methods, possibly due to the lack of method awareness, TDA has not taken as the mainstream tool in brain imaging field yet. The main purpose of this paper is provide the relevant technical survey of these powerful tools that are immediately applicable to brain network data.


Recent studies on celiac disease (CeD) have shown the role of gut microbiota alterations in CeD pathogenesis. Whether this alteration in the microbial community is the cause or effect of the disease is not well understood, especially in adult onset of disease. The first-degree relatives (FDRs) of CeD patients may provide an opportunity to study gut microbiome in pre-disease state as FDRs are genetically susceptible to CeD. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we observed between the disease condition (CeD), pre-disease (FDR) and control subjects. However, differences were observed at the level of amplicon sequence variant (ASV), suggesting alterations in specific taxa between pre-diseases and diseased condition. Duodenal biopsies showed higher differences in ASVs compared to faecal samples indicating larger disruption of microbiota at disease site. Increased abundance of specific Helicobacter ASVs were observed in duodenum of CeD when compared to FDR (p < 0.01). In case of fecal samples CeD microbiome and Actinomyces. In addition, predicted functional metagenome showed reduced ability of gluten that ecosystem level diversity measures (except in the duodenum) were not significantly different is characterized by reduced abundance of beneficial taxa such as Akkermansia, Ruminococcus degradation by CeD faecal microbiota in comparison to FDRs and controls.


Advances in seismics acquisition and processing and the widespread use of 4D seismics have made available reliable production‐induced subsurface deformation data in the form of overburden time‐shifts. Inversion of these data is now beginning to be used as an aid to the monitoring of a reservoir's effective stress. Past solutions to this inversion problem have relied upon analytic calculations for an unrealistically simplified subsurface, which can lead to uncertainties. To enhance the accuracy of this approach, a method based on transfer functions is proposed in which the function itself is calibrated using numerically generated overburden strain deformation calculated for a small select group of reference sources. This technique proves to be a good compromise between the faster but more accurate history match of the overburden strain using a geomechanical simulator and the slower, less accurate analytic method. Synthetic tests using a coupled geomechanical and fluid flow simulator for the South Arne field confirm the efficacy of the method. Application to measured time‐shifts from observed 4D seismics indicates compartmentalization in the Tor reservoir, more heterogeneity than is currently considered in the simulation model and moderate connectivity with the overlying Ekofisk formation.


It has long been argued that reflection is an essential element of lifelong learning and professional development, however pharmacy in the UK is still at an early stage in promoting the use of reflection for learning and professional practice development. This study presents an analysis of pharmacists' written reflection on their consultation skills after a communication skills learning programme. The main themes were categorised into reflection on the Calgary‐Cambridge model of the consultation as well as reflective learning and development. Participants tended to reflect on their consultation in terms of negative events (omissions or difficulties) and positive events (where they could see that they had used a particular communication skill and it worked). Pharmacists appear to have reached a 'deeper understanding' of their communication skills in practice by writing reflectively and have demonstrated a reflective approach to practice which in turn is likely to benefit patient care.


Part I Fluorinated Compounds A method has been developed for the extraction, concentration, and determination of two unique fluorinated compounds from the sediments of Lake Ontario. These compounds originated from a common industrial landfill, and have been carried to Lake Ontario by the Niagara River. Sediment samples from the Mississauga basin of Lake Ontario have been evaluated for these compounds and a depositional trend was established. The sediments were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and then underwent clean-up, fractionation, solvent exchange, and were concentrated by reduction under nitrogen gas. The concentrated extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry. The depositional profile determined here is reflective of the operation of the landfill and shows that these compounds are still found at concentrations well above background levels. These increased levels have been attributed to physical disturbances of previously deposited contaminated sediments, and probable continued leaching from the dumpsite. Part II Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the most common method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from various matrices. Mass discrimination of high-boiling compounds in gas chromatographic methods is well known. The use of high-boiling injection solvents shows substantial increase in the response of late-eluting peaks. These solvents have an increased efficiently in the transfer of solutes from the injector to the analytical column. The effect of I-butanol, I-pentanol, cyclopentanol, I-hexanol, toluene and n-octane, as injection solvents, was studied. Higher-boiling solvents yield increased response for all PAHs. I-Hexanol is the best solvent, in terms of P AH response, but in this solvent P AHs were more susceptible to chromatographic problems such as peak splitting and tailing. Toluene was found to be the most forgiving solvent in terms of peak symmetry and response. It offered the smallest discrepancies in response, and symmetry over a wide range of initial column temperatures. ii


In this second part, several pioneering works by leading Austromarxist intellectuals are presented. The article begins with Otto Bauer's seminal book on the Nationality Question, which was also an early contribution to the analysis of the most recent developments of capitalism. Rudolf Hilferding's work on Finance Capital provided the first major contribution towards a systematic analysis of the new phenomena of big corporations and high finance. These and other works are placed in their context, insofar as they were seen by the Austromarxists as contributions to the analysis and understanding of the transformations of capitalism, before and after WWI. These thinkers consequently sought to bring the same ardour and rigour to the task of explaining the causes and consequences of the Great Depression unfolding in the aftermath of 1929. Certain major works of the Austromarxists (some still unpublished) took up this challenge. The article concludes with a brief overview of the debates about a left alternative to the politics of austerity during the great depression of the period.


Background and objectives: In 68 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), blood pressure (BP) lowering was obtained by using drugs of different classes. We have investigated whether BP lowering by any of the major drug classes is effective in reducing the cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: A total of 55 RCTs (195 267 individuals) were suitable for drug-class meta-analyses. Risk ratios and their 95% confidence intervals of seven fatal and nonfatal outcomes were estimated by a random-effects model. Results: Twelve RCTs (48 898 patients) compared a diuretic with no treatment. SBP/DBP differences of about −12/–5 mmHg were accompanied by significant reductions of all outcomes, including mortality. The same results were obtained by limiting analyses to eight RCTs using low-dose diuretics. Separate analyses for thiazides, chlorthalidone and indapamide (all low dose) showed each subclass was associated with significant reduction of some major outcome. Five RCTs (18 724 patients; SBP/DBP difference –10.5/–7 mmHg) showed beta-blockers significantly reduced stroke, heart failure and major cardiovascular events. In RCTs comparing calcium antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) with placebo smaller SBP/DBP differences were achieved, mostly because in the majority of these later RCTs the antihypertensive drug and placebo were added on a background treatment with other antihypertensive agents. Nonetheless, significant reductions of stroke, major cardiovascular events, cardiovascular and all-cause death were obtained with calcium antagonists (10 RCTs, 30 359 patients); stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and major cardiovascular events by ACE inhibitors (12 RCTs, 35 707 patients); and stroke, heart failure and major cardiovascular events by ARBs (13 RCTs, 65 256 patients). Conclusion: BP lowering by all classes of antihypertensive drugs is accompanied by significant reductions of stroke and major cardiovascular events. This supports the concept that reduction of these events is because of BP lowering per se rather than specific drug properties. However, evidence of risk reduction of other events and particularly mortality was obtained so far with some drug classes only. As a result of marked differences in the trial design, total cardiovascular risk, SBP/DBP differences and statistical power, comparisons of meta-analyses of different drug-specific placebo-controlled RCTs appear unwarranted.


The treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rapidly evolving. Targeted agents (TAs) have demonstrated impressive single agent activity and therefore have been replacing chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). Despite their efficacy, the optimal use of the current TAs remains challenging. Perhaps the major dilemma is whether these drugs are best used in sequence or in combinations. Most patients tolerate TA well, notably early during treatment; however, a substantial number discontinue therapy because of toxicities. Therefore, the reasons for discontinuation and, subsequently, the preferred sequence of these agents become critical issues. Although TA monotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of CLL, residual disease, acquired resistance, suboptimal durability of response in patients with high-risk disease, indefinite treatment duration, and decreased compliance over time are issues of concern. To address these challenges, an increasing number of studies are evaluating different combinations of TAs; however, these studies have been mostly small single arm trials in heterogeneous patient populations using different methods for response assessment. A number of questions remain regarding the predictive value of minimal residual disease (MRD) status, durability of response, fixed treatment durations, and importantly, criteria for selection of patients for the optimal combinations. Medical comorbidities, performance status, prior therapies, and disease risk profile are fundamental in determining the treatment plan for each individual patient. Furthermore, utilizing prognostic and predictive markers along with monitoring MRD can guide the development of individualized, better-tolerated, time-limited, and potentially curative chemo-free treatment regimens.


Some smart antenna systems need calibration, which measures the transmitter/receiver circuit path gains for each antenna and compensate the differences. Compensation is usually done in baseband using complex number multiplications. We propose efficient compensations for some time division duplex (TDD) smart antenna systems that use the channel reciprocity for downlink beamforming, and show that the number of arithmetic operations can be significantly reduced.


Young people, I believe, are the future of every society because they are the ones who will inherit our mistakes and who can potentially drive the change that we all aspire to, through their ideas, creativity and belief. Yet all too often they are marginalised, disregarded, even demonised. In Tanzania, 50% of the population is under the age of 18 years but they are rarely given a voice. This thesis reports on an experiment aimed at giving a voice to a group of marginalised young people in Northern Tanzania – former street children living in the town of Moshi, being cared for by an organisation called Mkombozi. The aim of the research was to investigate whether participatory radio converged with new ICTs, such as mobile telephony and the internet, could be effective communication tools to enable Mkombozi strengthen its youth empowerment and community engagement agenda and thereby help it move from being a 'provider' of services to a 'facilitator' that helps the community to bring sustainable change. The four young people who took part in the experiment were given free rein to make a radio programme about street children, backed by my technical expertise as a radio journalist. The programme was broadcast on a regional radio station and the audience was invited to take part in a live discussion using the phone, text messages and email. The results showed this to be an effective way of empowering the participants by giving them a voice to articulate their hopes and dreams, by inspiring them with self-confidence and selfrespect and by allowing them to formulate their own demands for a better life. The programme they made provoked an overwhelming audience response, which connected the street children through dialogue with the community and engaged them in finding solutions to the issues themselves. Subsequently, there was a widespread consensus on the need for more participatory youth programming and investigation into how these communication tools might be developed further in order to find sustainable solutions at the grassroots level rather than through a 'top-down' approach. 3 Empowering Tanzanian youth


This study investigates the well-researched relationship between migration and the formation of human capital in the source region using a novel instrument: the existence of a local train station. We make use of Chinese panel data and of the fact that the decision to build a new train station is taken by the central government and unrelated to characteristics of a rural village receiving the station. As an intermediate result we find that train stations are negatively related to migration outflows, thus indicating that the facilitation of local employment through economic integration outweighs the reduction of migratory costs. Investigating variation within villages over time in the instrumental variables approach for the central research question, we see a positive effect of out-migration on educational attainment in the source region. Additional results suggest that the effect is stronger for male and young stayers.


Novel techniques for the power efficient synthesis of sum-of-product computations are presented. Simple and efficient heuristics for scheduling and assignment are described. Different partly static cost functions are proposed to drive the synthesis tasks. The proposed cost functions target the power consumption either in the buses connecting the functional units with the storage elements or inside the functional units. The partly static nature of the proposed cost functions reduces the time of the synthesis procedure. Experimental results from different relevant digital signal processing algorithmic kernels prove that the proposed synthesis techniques lead to significant power savings.


Probabilistic circuits (PCs) are a tractable representation of probability distributions allowing for exact and efficient computation of likelihoods and marginals. There has been significant recent progress on improving the scale and expressiveness of PCs. However, PC training performance plateaus as model size increases. We discover that most capacity in existing large PC structures is wasted: fully-connected parameter layers are only sparsely used. We propose two operations: pruning and growing, that exploit the sparsity of PC structures. Specifically, the pruning operation removes unimportant sub-networks of the PC for model compression and comes with theoretical guarantees. The growing operation increases model capacity by increasing the size of the latent space. By alternatingly applying pruning and growing, we increase the capacity that is meaningfully used, allowing us to significantly scale up PC learning. Empirically, our learner achieves state-of-the-art likelihoods on MNIST-family image datasets and on Penn Tree Bank language data compared to other PC learners and less tractable deep generative models such as flow-based models and variational autoencoders (VAEs).


: Background: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are able to establish balance between self-renewal and differentiation, thereby maintain the spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of different doses of Testosterone on SSCs colony formation. Materials and Methods: The cells were isolated from testes of prepubertal lambs by two-step enzymatic digestion and then purified by differential platting. The cells were cultured for 13 days in 4 groups: Control [DMEM containing antibiotic (1%) and FBS (5%)]; and Treatment groups 1, 2 and 3 (DMEM+Testosterone 60, 120 and 240 µg/ml, respectively). The culture media was changed every 72 h. Identification of SSCs was performed by immunocytochemistry staining against PGP9.5. Finally, following the evaluation of percentage for viability rate of SSCs immediately after isolation and also the number and surface areas of the colonies on days 5, 9 and 13 after the beginning of culturing by invert microscopy, the analyses were made using statistical tests. Results: The percentage for viability rate of SSCs after isolation was 86.77±3.63%. The decrease in the number and surface areas of spermatogonial colonies in Treatment groups 2 and 3 were significant compared to Control and Treatment group1 ( P <0.05). Furthermore, colony number and surface area were significantly increased at day 13 compared to those of the days 5 and 9 ( P <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Testosterone has no effect on colony induction of SSCs in vitro. Increasing the Testosterone dose decreases the colony number and surface area of SSCs.


In the study, we consider the methods for optimizing the configuration of the network structure of enterprises based on the theory of fuzzy sets. These methods allow customizing the value chain in such a way as to maximize the likelihood of the success of a joint project to create innovative products. A strategic decision to change the configuration of the network structure is made based on an analysis of deviations of the generalized capabilities from the generalized requirements for the enterprise and its closest neighbors along the value chain. This optimization principle allows changing the configuration, taking into account the interests of participants in the network structure as a whole. We have formulated the task of developing tools for enterprise engineering based on intelligent decision support technologies and multi-agent systems. The approach to justifying decisions in the conditions of lack and incompleteness of the initial data on the basis of soft models is an alternative to existing traditional methods. The proposed network structure optimization model will allow effective strategic planning, supporting flexible management mechanisms at the strategic and operational levels. The research results show that it is possible to improve the efficiency of interaction between enterprises united by common goals by using services that allow enterprises to find information about their potential partners.


The secure hash algorithm (SHA)-3 has been selected in 2012 and will be used to provide security to any application which requires hashing, pseudo-random number generation, and integrity checking. This algorithm has been selected based on various benchmarks such as security, performance, and complexity. In this paper, in order to provide reliable architectures for this algorithm, an efficient concurrent error detection scheme for the selected SHA-3 algorithm, i.e., Keccak, is proposed. To the best of our knowledge, effective countermeasures for potential reliability issues in the hardware implementations of this algorithm have not been presented to date. In proposing the error detection approach, our aim is to have acceptable complexity and performance overheads while maintaining high error coverage. In this regard, we present a low-complexity recomputing with rotated operands-based scheme which is a step-forward toward reducing the hardware overhead of the proposed error detection approach. Moreover, we perform injection-based fault simulations and show that the error coverage of close to 100% is derived. Furthermore, we have designed the proposed scheme and through ASIC analysis, it is shown that acceptable complexity and performance overheads are reached. By utilizing the proposed high-performance concurrent error detection scheme, more reliable and robust hardware implementations for the newly-standardized SHA-3 are realized.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree and amount of movement of the abutment tooth and denture base influenced by the direct retainer of distal extension removable partial denture and the location of functional loading, then to suggest direct retainer design with minimal adverse effect and with optimum functional loading location for residual tissue. The displacement of the abutment tooth and inclination of the denture base were determined, with 30 N as work load utilizing simulation model and strain gauge system, about two types of direct retainers with mesial or distal rest and nine loading points on denture base. Displacement and inclination was determined with the one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's multiple test was performed. The results revealed that type of direct retainer influenced on the magnitude rather than direction of the abutment tooth displacement. The distal displacement of abutment tooth was significantly less in Type M clasp (with mesial rest and connection) than in Type D clasp (with distal rest and connection) (p<0.05). The location of loading points influenced both of the magnitude and direction of the abutment tooth and denture base movement. Posterior and lingual loading resulted in significantly distal displacement of abutment tooth (p < 0.05).


Clusters of galaxies probe the large-scale distribution of matter and are a useful tool to test the cosmological models by constraining cosmic structure growth and the expansion of the Universe. It is the scaling relations between mass observables and the true mass of a cluster through which we obtain the cosmological constraints by comparing to theoretical cluster mass functions. These scaling relations are, however, heavily influenced by cluster morphology. The presence of the slight tension in recent cosmological constraints on Ω m and σ 8 based on the CMB and clusters has boosted the interests in looking for possible sources for the discrepancy. Therefore we study here the effect of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback as one of the major mechanisms modifying the cluster morphology influencing scaling relations. It is known that AGN feedback injects energies up to 10 62 erg into the intracluster medium, controls the heating and cooling of a cluster, and re-distributes cold gas from the centre to outer radii. We have also learned that cluster simulations with AGN feedback can reproduce observed cluster properties, for example, the X-ray luminosity, temperature, and cooling rate at the centre better than without the AGN feedback. In this paper using cosmological hydrodynamical simulations we investigate how the AGN feedback changes the X-ray morphology of the simulated systems, and compare this to the observed Representative XMM - Newton Cluster Structure Survey (REXCESS) clusters. We apply two substructure measures, centre shifts ( w ) and power ratios (e.g. P 3 / P 0 ), to characterise the cluster morphology, and find that our simulated clusters are more substructured than the observed clusters based on the values of w and P 3 / P 0 . We also show that the degree of this discrepancy is affected by the inclusion of AGN feedback. While the clusters simulated with the AGN feedback are in much better agreement with the REXCESS L X − T relation, they are also more substructured, which increases the tension with observations. When classified as non-relaxed or relaxed according to their w and P 3 / P 0 values, we find that there are no relaxed clusters in the simulations with the AGN feedback. This suggests that not only global cluster properties, like L X and T, and radial profiles should be used to compare and to calibrate simulations with observations, but also substructure measures like centre shifts and power ratios. Finally, we discuss what changes in the simulations might ease the tension with observational constraints on these quantities.


This long-awaited companion volume to The Literature of the Sages, First Part (Fortress Press, 1987) brings to completion Section II of the renowned Compendia series, published cooperatively with Van Gorcum of Amsterdam. The Literature of the Sages, Second Part, explores the literary creation of thousands of ancient Jewish teachers, the often- anonymous Sages of late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Essays by premier scholars provide a careful and succinct analysis of the content and character of various documents, their textual and literary forms, with particular attention to the ongoing discovery and publication of new textual material. Incorporating groundbreaking developments in research, these essays give a comprehensive presentation published here for the first time. This volume will prove an important reference work for all students of ancient Judaism, the origins of Jewish tradition, and the Jewish background of Christianity.


The universal learning network (ULN) which is a superset of supervised learning networks has been already proposed. Parameters in ULN are trained in order to optimize a criterion function as conventional neural networks, and after training they are used as constant parameters. In this paper, a method to alter the parameters depending on the network flows is presented to enhance representation abilities of networks. In the proposed method, there exists two kinds of networks, the first one is a basic network which includes varying parameters and the other one is a network which calculates the optimal varying parameters depending on the network flows of the basic network. It is also proposed in this paper that any type of networks such as fuzzy inference networks, radial basis function networks and neural networks can be used for the basic and parameter calculation networks. From simulations where parameters in a neural network are altered by fuzzy inference networks, it is shown that the networks with the same number of varying parameters have higher representation abilities than the conventional networks.


This article aims to outline the early development of a King's College London dental spinout company, Reminova, formed to commercialize a novel clinical method of caries remineralization: electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralization (EAER). This method is being developed to address the unmet clinical need identified by modern caries management strategies to keep enamel "whole" through remineralization of clinical caries as a form of nonoperative caries treatment for initial-stage and moderate lesions. A progressive movement within dentistry is shifting away from the restorative-only model, which, it is suggested, has failed. The high prevalence of initial-stage caries across populations provides a significant opportunity to prevent restorations and reduce repeat restorations over a patient's lifetime. Reminova has set out to provide a method to repair lesions without drilling, filling, pain, or injections. The article outlines the rationale for and the chronological stages of the technology and company development. It then outlines corroborative evidence to show that EAER treatment can, in this preliminary in vitro investigation, remineralize clinically significant caries throughout the depth of the lesion as measured by Knoop microhardness and corroborated by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the presented data show that EAER-treated enamel is harder than the healthy enamel measured nearby in each sample and is very similar in appearance to healthy enamel from the subjective interpretation made possible by scanning electron microscopy imagery. The data presented also show that this more "complete" remineralization to a high hardness level has been achieved with 2 remineralizing agents via in vitro human tooth samples. The broad clinical potential of this new treatment methodology seems to be very encouraging from these results. Reminova will strive to continue its mission, to ensure that, in the future, dental teams will not need to drill holes for the treatment of initial-stage and moderate caries lesions.


In recent years, infrared sounders on board satellites have demonstrated their capabilities to detect and
measure atmospheric ammonia (NH3). The retrieval of NH3 total columns from satellite-based
measurements remains, however, challenging due to the large variability both in terms of NH3
columns and measurements sensitivity. We present here a new flexible and robust NH3 retrieval
algorithm from the measurements of IASI. The method is an extension of the method presented
recently in Van Damme et al. (2014), based on the calculation of a spectral index (HRI) from the
level1C radiances. The difference lies in the conversion of the HRI to a NH3 column. Indeed, instead
of using two-dimensional look-up tables (LUT), the conversion of the HRI relies now on a neural
network (NN), offering therefore a lot more flexibility since a neural network can easily cope with
hundreds of input parameters. We describe the major improvements of the NN-based method over the
other retrieval methods developed so-far. We next derive the first global distributions and compare the
impact of different averaging procedures on these distributions. We assess the impact of the use of
variable NH3 vertical distribution on the retrieved total column (this is a unique feature of the new
retrieval method) on a global scale. We will show with different example applications and comparison
with models how the NN-based HRI method will provide a further step in a better assessment of the
NH3 atmospheric budget, its spatial distributions and long-term trends.


The effect of dissimilar welding of 7050/2024 aluminum alloy on mechanical properties and microstructure were analyzed and investigated. The post-welding heat treatments of weldments were carried out and recorded for microstructure, tensile test, hardness and fracture surface in different conditions. The experimental results indicate that the post-welding heat treatment, filler metal chose can increase the mechanical properties. The microstructure and fracture surface of dissimilar welding can evaluate the distribution of precipitation strengthening phase in fusion zone, heat affected zone and its fracture type.


Birefringence of a polymer is caused by polymer chain orientation during an injection-molding, extrusion processing or heat drawing. Birefringence of polymers degrades the performance of optical devices that require focusing by lenses or maintaining the polarization state of incident light. Optical polymers which exhibit no birefringence with any orientation of polymer chains are desirable to realize high performance optical devices that handle polarized light. In this study we demonstrate the random copolymerization method for synthesizing the zero-birefringence polymers in which positive and negative birefringence homopolymer are blended. We synthesize a polymer that exhibits no orientational birefringence with any orientation degree in a system that is composed of Methyl methacrylate/Styrene/Benzyl methacrylate.


The University of Victoria Libraries and the IMP librarian can help you throughout the research cycle. This guide will point you to a range of relevant and useful tools and links.


Avionic thermal management is quickly becoming the limiting factor of aircraft performance and reliability, particularly prevalent with ageing airframes. While the increasing power density of avionic components requires a greater heat removal capacity for a given geometric module size, supplementary generation of cooling airflow is detrimental to engine and aircraft performance. This paper looks at improving the heat removal efficiency of forced convection cooled avionic modules by reducing the thermal resistance between the avionic component and module heat exchanger. The implementation of two-phase high thermal conductivity materials, such as Vapour Chamber Heat Spreaders (VCHS), embedded within the avionic module chassis act to improve heat exchanger isothermalisation, improving the effective heat transfer area. A bespoke test rig has been manufactured to experimentally compare a pure aluminium and embedded VCHS avionic chassis for heat removal capability. When considering a single circuit card, a direct mass flow rate reduction of between 22% and 65% is achieved with embedded VCHS over a pure aluminium chassis. Base plate isothermalisation is improved by 9%, generating a reduction in component temperature of 8% to 12%. As the number of heat sources increase, the performance improvements decrease. When testing with three circuit cards mass flow rate savings are reduced to between 14% and 26%. The concluding performance characteristic of the embedded VCHS avionic base plate is the insensitivity to the way thermal energy is coupled to it. Across all testing, the localised heat removal was never further than 3.5% from the averaged plate performance.


Abstract. The paper introduces a new technique based upon the use of block-Kriging and of Kalman filtering to combine, optimally in a Bayesian sense, areal precipitation fields estimated from meteorological radar to point measurements of precipitation such as are provided by a network of rain-gauges. The theoretical development is followed by a numerical example, in which an error field with a large bias and a noise to signal ratio of 30% is added to a known random field, to demonstrate the potentiality of the proposed algorithm. The results analysed on a sample of 1000 realisations, show that the final estimates are totally unbiased and the noise variance reduced substantially. Moreover, a case study on the upper Reno river in Italy demonstrates the improvements in rainfall spatial distribution obtainable by means of the proposed radar conditioning technique. Keywords: Rainfall, meteorological radar, Bayesian technique, block-Kriging, Kalman filtering


Cytokines, in addition to their participation in immune and inflammatory processes, play an important role in synaptic plasticity, neoneurogenesis, and cognitive functions. In our work, we aimed to clarify the role of the transforming growth factor-&bgr; (TGF-&bgr;), which is recognized as a multifunctional cytokine, in memory processes. Behavioral experiments were carried out in rats using step-through passive avoidance test. The results obtained showed that the learning of animals after treatment with SB431542, a selective inhibitor of TGF-&bgr; receptors, was impaired, which indicated a significant memory deterioration. Nevertheless, the memory of rats remained at the control level when TGF-&bgr; and SB431542 were coadministered. Thus, the role of TGF-&bgr; in memory retrieval after the passive avoidance test was revealed: memory in rats was weakened if the TGF-&bgr; signaling pathway was inhibited during learning. Evidently, successful consolidation of at least some types of memory requires a normal level of TGF-&bgr;, indicating the modulation of cognitive functions by cytokines under normal physiological conditions.


Recent years have seen an experimental deluge interrogating the relationship between bacterial growth rate, cell size, and protein content, quantifying the abundance of proteins across growth conditions with unprecedented resolution. However, we still lack a rigorous understanding of what sets the scale of these quantities and when protein abundances should (or should not) depend on growth rate. Here, we seek to quantitatively understand this relationship across a collection of Escherichia coli proteomic data covering ≈ 4000 proteins and 36 growth rates. We estimate the basic requirements for steady-state growth by considering key processes in nutrient transport, cell envelope biogenesis, energy generation, and the central dogma. From these estimates, ribosome biogenesis emerges as a primary determinant of growth rate. We expand on this assessment by exploring a model of proteomic regulation as a function of the nutrient supply, revealing a mechanism that ties cell size and growth rate to ribosomal content.


The effects of out-of-the-window cues on learning a straight-in landing approach and a level 360" turn by novice pilots on a flight simulator have been investigated. The treatments consisted of training with and without visual cues as well as density of visual cues. The performance of the participants was then evaluated through similar but more challenging tasks. It was observed that the participants in the landing study who trained with visual cues performed poorly than those who trained without the cues. However the performance of those who trained with a faded-cues sequence performed slightly better than those who trained without visual cues. In the level turn study it was observed that those who trained with the visual cues performed better than those who trained without visual cues. The study also showed that those participants who trained with a lower density of cues performed better than those who trained with a higher density of visual cues.


Background of the study : Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is strongly associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Relatively few non-invasive diagnostic tests are available that can reveal the evidence of atherosclerosis before the development of symptoms. One such simple, cost effective diagnostic test is Ankle Brachial Index. Since, there is a need to validate palpatory method of Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) measurement, the study was conceived. Aim of the study: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of palpatory method with gold standard doppler method in measuring ABI. Materials and methods : This comparative study was conducted in Cardiac catheterization laboratory of Tertiary Care Center, North India, among 62 subjects who were selected purposively. ABI was measured using both palpatory and doppler method and were compared using Bland-Altman plot and diagnostic test evaluation method. Results: Majority of subjects were males (95%). The most prevalent risk factor was hypertension (53%). Bland-Altman plot revealed that there was an agreement between palpatory and doppler ABI measurements. ABI measured using palpatory method had an excellent sensitivity of 100% and acceptable specificity of 89.66%. The positive predictive value was 40% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusion: Palpatory method for measuring ABI could be used to rule out PAD cases. Key words: Ankle brachial index, palpatory method, doppler method


In Brazil, the development of gullies constitutes widespread land degradation, especially in the state of South Mato Grosso, where fighting against this degradation has become a priority for policy makers. However, the environmental and anthropogenic factors that promote gully development are multiple, interact, and present a complexity that can vary by locality, making their prediction difficult. In this framework, a database was constructed for the Rio Ivinhema basin in the southern part of the state, including 400 georeferenced gullies and 13 geo-environmental descriptors. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the processes controlling the variability in gully development. Susceptibility maps were created through four machine learning models: multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA), logistic regression (LR), classification and regression tree (CART), and random forest (RF). The predictive performance of the models was analyzed by five evaluation indices: accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SST), specificity (SPF), precision (PRC), and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC curve). The results show the existence of two major processes controlling gully erosion. The first is the surface runoff process, which is related to conditions of slightly higher relief and higher rainfall. The second also reflects high surface runoff conditions, but rather related to high drainage density and downslope, close to the river network. Human activity represented by peri-urban areas, construction of small earthen dams, and extensive rotational farming contribute significantly to gully formation. The four machine learning models yielded fairly similar results and validated susceptibility maps (ROC curve > 0.8). However, we noted a better performance of the random forest (RF) model (86% and 89.8% for training and test, respectively, with an ROC curve value of 0.931). The evaluation of the contribution of the parameters shows that susceptibility to gully erosion is not governed primarily by a single factor, but rather by the interconnection between different factors, mainly elevation, geology, precipitation, and land use.


ABSTRACT "Bridge-mixing" was proposed earlier to explain why different combustibles might be ignited simultaneously during flashover. Different fuel vapors gasified from those combustibles were ignited by thermal radiation first. Thermal feedback from flames above the combustibles would then ignite the solid. This point is further studied in this article by bench-scale tests with a cone calorimeter. Sample cubes of two materials with different ignition temperatures were tested at a high thermal radiative heat flux of 70 kWm−2. Materials selected are polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The two sample cubes were placed on the cone tray at different separation distances. In this way, different mixing of gasified fuel vapors released from the plastics can be achieved. Those two combustibles were found be ignited simultaneously at shorter separation distances. This might explain why combustible items of different ignition temperatures appear to be ignited at roughly the same time during flashover for some scenarios. On the basis of this study, the mixing of gasified fuel vapors from different combustibles by the fire-induced airflow is a key factor in igniting each item. Geometry of the rooms, combustibles, and ventilation provisions are important factors affecting simultaneous ignition.


Many signal processing applications are concerned with estimating signal parameters with high accuracy from sensor array measurements. To obtain accurate location estimates, knowledge of the array response is required. Most estimation techniques are sensitive to perturbations in the array model and array calibration is often necessary. The authors discuss the issue of generating the array response parameterization from a finite number of noise-contaminated calibration vectors. An estimation technique based on local parametric modeling of the array response is proposed. The potential improvement using the suggested scheme rather than an ideal array model is demonstrated on real data collected from a full-scale hydroacoustic array. It is shown that, by applying the proposed technique together with a standard direction-of-arrival estimation procedure, a significant reduction in estimation bias can be obtained.<<ETX>>


ABSTRACT The control of mRNA degradation and translation are important aspects of gene regulation. Recent results suggest that translation repression and mRNA decapping can be intertwined and involve the formation of a quiescent mRNP, which can accumulate in cytoplasmic foci referred to as P bodies. The Pat1 protein is a key component of this complex and an important activator of decapping, yet little is known about its function. In this work, we analyze Pat1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae function by deletion and functional analyses. Our results identify two primary functional domains in Pat1: one promoting translation repression and P-body assembly and a second domain promoting mRNA decapping after assembly of the mRNA into a P-body mRNP. In addition, we provide evidence that Pat1 binds RNA and has numerous domain-specific interactions with mRNA decapping factors. These results indicate that Pat1 is an RNA binding protein and a multidomain protein that functions at multiple stages in the process of translation repression and mRNA decapping.


The phenomenon seen in domains more than one is termed as Language Hybridization. Many languages have multiple dialects that tend to differ in the phonology concept. The Arabic language that is spoken in contemporary time can be more properly described as varieties having a continuum. The modern and standard Arabic language consists of twenty eight consonant phonemes along with six phonemes that might also be eight vowel in most of the modern dialects. Every phonemes have a contrast between non-emphatic consonants and uvularized or emphatic consonants. Few of the phonemes have also found to get coalesced into various other modern dialects whereas on the other hand, the new phonemes have already been introduced via phonemic splits or borrowing. The phonemic length and quality that applies to both consonants and vowels at the same time. There have been research that analyses how multicultural society in Australia gets operated only with a particular form of language generated in some linguistic environments. The scripts of English Language tend to have the capability of merging with other language that are native of a place for making it a complete new variety. The process is termed as Romanization. The hybrid or amalgamation of languages within the linguistic framework can be classified and characterized that makes its standardization easy. This paper aims to do a complete research on the linguistics of Arabic phonology.


The study was conducted to address the issue of consumers' willingness to pay for inclusion of cassava flour in bread in Lagos State. The data were collected randomly from a sample of 300 respondents in the state through the use of a well structured questionnaire. The contingent valuation method was adopted to estimate both the mean willingness to pay of consumers and the factors that affect their willingness to pay and these were analyzed using the bivariate probit model. The most significant model was the 10percent cassava flour inclusion as it has the highest number of significant variables (eight) followed by 20percent cassava flour inclusion with seven significant variables and 30 and 40percent cassava flour inclusion with six significant variables each. The factors that influenced consumers' willingness to pay for CCW bread were the respondent's age, gender, respondents' awareness, married respondents, respondents with head position,and bread share which is the proportion of respondents income spent on bread to total income. The mean willingness to pay for bread with an inclusion of cassava flour at 10, 20, 30, and 40percent cassava flour inclusion were ?172.70, ?165.00, ?154.07, and ?142.78 respectively for initial bid while the mean willingness-to-pay at 10, 20, 30, and 40percent cassava flour inclusion were ?180.20, ?150.41, ?143.35, and ?127.36 respectively for subsequent bid. Arising from the result of this study, birth control policies were recommended among respondents in the study area.


After more than 25 years of empirical investigation, the analysis of works council effects on establishment productivity is still an active field of economic research. I present first evidence for works council regression coefficients along the unconditional log labour productivity distribution in Germany. The highest (lowest) coefficients were found at the bottom (top) of the distribution, which suggests that works councils have the most beneficial effects at low levels of productivity. Importantly, coefficients are positive at each productivity level. The results shed light on a classical theoretical argument concerning moderating factors for the productivity effect of employee participation.


BACKGROUND
The clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with a familial history (FHx) via pedigree analysis are unclear.Methods and Results:We conducted a prospective observational study of 514 consecutive Japanese patients with DCM. FHx was defined as the presence of DCM in ≥1 family member within 2-degrees relative based on pedigree analysis. The primary endpoint was a composite of major cardiac events (sudden cardiac death and pump failure death). The prevalence of FHx was 7.4% (n=38). During a median follow-up of 3.6 years, 77 (15%) patients experienced a major cardiac event. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified FHx as independently associated with major cardiac events (hazard ratio [HR] 4.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04-9.19; P<0.001) compared with conventional risk factors such as age, QRS duration, and left ventricular volume. In the propensity score-matched cohort (n=38 each), the FHx group had a significantly higher incidence of major cardiac events (HR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.25-16.13; P=0.022). In addition, the FHx group had a higher prevalence of a diffuse late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) pattern than the no-FHx group (32% vs. 17%, P=0.022).

CONCLUSIONS
DCM patients with FHx had a worse prognosis, which was associated with a higher prevalence of a diffuse LGE pattern, than patients without FHx.


Characterization of extra-solar planetary systems requires surveying for planets around hundreds of thousands of nearby stars of all types, with different metalicities, environments (star cluster and multiple star systems), ages etc. Space missions such as SIM, NGST and TPF will identify many of these systems. However, these missions need ground-based surveys to find candidates to improve their efficiency and provide complementary work. Among these surveys, Doppler radial velocity (RV) surveys, which have detected almost all of ~ 100 known planetary systems, will continue to be the most efficient for detecting planets. Though the cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy has demonstrated high sensitivity and good efficiency for observing thousands of stars, (limited to late F,G, K and M type), it would be tremendously challenging to search for hundreds of thousands of stars since this would require more than 2 orders of magnitude improvement in observing efficiency. New techniques with high throughput and multi-object capability for high precision RV surveys are crucial in solving this problem. Here we introduce a new technique based on a multi-object fixed-delay interferometer with a first order grating postdisperser which provides the potential for all sky radial velocity surveys for planets. This kind of instrument is a combination of a fixed-delay interferometer with a moderate resolution post-disperser. Doppler measurements are conducted by monitoring stellar interferometric fringe phase shifts instead of absorption line centroid shifts as in the echelle. High Doppler sensitivity is achieved by optimizing the optical delay in the interferometer and reducing photon noise by measuring multiple fringes over a broadband realized by the post-disperser. Since the resulting Doppler sensitivity is independent of the dispersion power of the post-disperser, the whole instrument can be designed for multiple objects, high throughput, and high Doppler sensitivity, while the instrument can be made very compact, thermally and mechanically rigid, and low-cost compared to the echelles. Its superior stability and simple instrument response allow its easy adaptation to other wavelengths such as UV and IR. Once a multi-object instrument of this type, with possible UV, visible and near-IR instrument channels, is coupled with a wide field telescope (a few degree, such as Sloan and WIYN), it will produce hundreds of fringing spectra to allow simultaneous searching for planets around late type F, G, and K stars in the visible, early type B and A-type stars, and white dwarfs in UV and late M-dwarfs in near-IR. The first light observations of our prototype interferometer at the Hobby-Eberly 9m and Palomar 5m telescopes in 2001 have demonstrated that this new technique can approach high Doppler precision mainly determined by photon statistics (Ge et al. 2001; van Eyken et al. 2001; Ge et al. 2002). For instance, a stellar intrinsic Doppler precision of ~ 3 m/s has been achieved with a wavelength coverage of ~ 140 Å and S/N ~ 120 per pixel. The overall short-term Doppler measurement error is ~ 9 m/s. This is mainly caused by low fringe contrast (or visibility) of the iodine absorption lines (~ 2.5% vs. ~7% in stellar lines) for wavelength calibration. Recent observing at the KPNO 2.1-m telescope demonstrated good instrument throughput and increased wavelength coverage. The total detection efficiency including the sky, telescope and fiber transmission losses, the instrument and iodine transmission losses and detector quantum efficiency is 3.4% under 1.5 arcsec seeing conditions. This efficiency is already comparable to all of the echelle spectrometers for planet detection.


Global economy, trade and other human activities are affected by the behaviour and the psychology of the individuals [1–3]. Knowing the influential factors, which contribute to the perception, behaviour and psychology, a positive reinforcement to the economic cycle could be possible [2,4,5]. Human behaviour is affected by a wide set of factors, some of them being the social and environmental conditions. The expression of behaviour is frequently reflected as wishes, desires and preferences which drive to everyday choices and actions. Scientists have already described the influence of the environmental conditions, especially weather, on the psychology and behaviour via conscious and subconscious functions [6–9]. The essential datasets for the analysis of weather influence on human life are the meteorological data, along with archives of medical registries, psychiatric hospital databases, and police stations' records [9–17] or structured questionnaires completed by individuals in open public spaces [18–20]. The major drawback of those datasets is that are fragmented and more or less biased by several known and unknown factors [9,21,22] such as the unknown physical, mental and psychological conditions of interviewees along with their acclimatization level when we referred to structured questionnaires [7,23]. An essential part of individuals' lifestyle (as a part of their behaviour) is the choice of summer vacation destinations. It is known that tourism, especially summer tourism, can be described by the Triple S (Sun, Sea and Sand), which is an abundant feature of the Mediterranean region [24,25]. Many of the major tourism factors for the triple S depend on weather and local climate. Tourist decision making with respect to the destination choice could be supported by specific indices such as, among others, the Tourism Climate Index (TCI) developed by Mieczkowski [26], the Climate Index for Tourism [27] and the ClimateTourism/Transfer-Information-Scheme [25,28,29]. Further, the application of new tools and applications such as Decision Support Systems (DSS) takes into account distinct criteria in a decision making process about preliminary ratting destinations [30]. DSS are usually refers to demand-oriented systems such as destination management or consumer-oriented travel-counselling systems [31]. A DSS is usually built to support the solution of a certain problem or to evaluate an opportunity, through the design of computer models and the simulation of real-life experiences [32]. DSSs continue to improve the quality of decisions by standardizing the process and logic information managers' choices and making the criteria for determining appropriate outcomes systematic [33]. To investigate the relation between the outdoor thermal conditions and the individuals' desires related to the summer holidays, we examined the searching frequency of specific keywords as retrieved by the Google Trends service and the values of human thermal index Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) during the simultaneous time period. The summer holidays terms, thereafter keywords, were a set of famous summer holiday destinations over Mediterranean Sea and northern coastal European regions, accompanied by some very common words linked with the summer. The results indicate a clearly positive relation between the searched keywords and the PET values.


The early career of Sverre Fehn, the influential Norwegian architect, is marked by the designs of pavilions which were constructed shortly after each other for two major competitions: The Norwegian Pavilion for the World Exposition in Brussels (1956–1958) and The Nordic Pavilion at the Giardini site of the Venice Biennale (1958–1962). This paper studies the process which led from design to construction for both pavilions, identifies structural changes during that process, and investigates the causes and effects of such changes. A study of Fehn's hand-drawn sketches and photos of models, made throughout the design and construction stages, reveals that despite functional and formal similarities the two pavilions' development process and the changes which they underwent are noticeably different. The pursuit of 'abstract space' during the competition stage for the Brussels Pavilion was tested by considerations of construction only later on, creating a critical tension in the project. Not only did the organisation of structural components change significantly during the design process but the logic of construction underwent a complete transformation. Nevertheless, this transition between different iterations of the Brussels Pavilion suggested an alternative approach for the Venice Pavilion in which the initial thought of construction became a projection, rather than an abstract imitation of built reality. The spatial intention and construction-related considerations of the Venice Pavilion were addressed by a 'synergetic' structural principle, implicit in the competition scheme. This unprecedented feature significantly enlarged the 'space of possibility' of the roof structure, which provided for adaptation to indeterminacies without compromising the initial design intentions. Changes in the design of the Brussels and Venice Pavilions, therefore, differ in the ways in which they evolved from design to completion: sequential and abrupt, vs. gradual and continuous. This sheds light on a critical shift in the work of an influential architect and the way he approached design indeterminacies, rather than forcing them into submission.


A fundamental question regarding language is whether it has evolved through adaptation (Pinker & Bloom, 1990, Jackendoff & Pinker, 2005, Pinker & Jackendoff, 2005) or is a byproduct of a single genetic mutation (Hauser et al., 2002, Fitch et al., 2005, Chomsky & Berwick, 2015). The analogy between language evolution and biological evolution goes back to Darwin and has been applied frequently to this domain, in particular as an explanation of language change (e.g. Yang, 2000, Niyogi & Berwick, 2009). However, while there have been many attempts to build evolutionary models that model language change in terms of selection, fewer attempts have been made to formalize neutral models of evolution (cf. Baxter et al., 2009, Kauhanen, 2017, Newberry et al., 2017). In this work, I address the question of whether sound change is better explained in terms of adaptation for communication purposes or in terms of stochastic processes. The starting points of my dissertation are the last three chapters of Labov (1994), where functionalist explanations of sound change are ruled out on the basis of empirical investigations: as the Neogrammarians put it, sound change is essentially a mechanical and phonetically determined process. The need to write a dissertation on a scientific debate which appeared settled after Labov's contributions arises after the emergence of a new 'functionalist' wave, inspired by information theory and by mixed-effect regression models. The recent works of Piantadosi et al. (2011), Kaplan (2011), Cohen Priva (2012), Graff (2012), Wedel et al. (2013), Bouchard-Côté et al. (2013), Dautriche et al. (2017), and Mahowald et al. (2018) provide arguments in favor of functional pressures on language change, which in some cases (Sóskuthy, 2013, Cohen Priva, 2017) are presented as solutions to the actuation problem in Weinreich et al. (1968). Two parallel strategies will be adopted to address this question. On the one hand, I will use historical data in every circumstance in which they are needed to determine the behavior of a model of sound change and to test the predictions of existing models. On the


H+ modulated charge-transfer in photoexcited covalent polyoxometalate-bodipy conjugates is described. The hybrid organic/inorganic molecular photoactive dyads are based on Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs, where KM = [PM11O39] and M = Mo or W) covalently grafted via an organotin linker to a bodipy (BOD) photosensitizer. The relative potentials of the photosensitizer and POM are aligned such that light-induced electron transfer from BOD to POM is permitted for the polyoxomolybdate KMoSn[BOD] but not effective for the polyoxotungstate analogue KWSn[BOD]. In both cases, the addition of acid shifts the redox potential of the POM only, to increase the driving force for electron transfer. This leads to charge-separation being switched on for KWSn[BOD] in the presence of acid. The addition of acid to KMoSn[BOD] accelerates charge-separation by an order of magnitude (from 2 ns to 200 ps) and is accompanied by a deceleration of charge recombination, leading to a charge-separated state lifetime of up to 1.3 μs. This behaviour is consistent with proton coupled electron transfer, which has previously been observed electrochemically for POMs, but this study shows, for the first time, the impact of protonation on photoinduced electron transfer.


This research focuses on applying littoral vulnerability assessment (LVA) into the coastal management process of Barbados, W. I. using a multipurpose rapid assessment technique, making the most of limited data and process knowledge. The conceptual and theoretical components of coastal vulnerability assessment set the context on which the LVA process is built. Three environmental sensitivity indices (ESIs) have been developed to using to a selection of the variables to characterise the coastline. Seventy four coastal locations are described according to the following ESIs: - Wave Exposure Index, Coastal Sensitivity Index, and Beach Aesthetic Index. These respectively represent the coastline being 92% being sheltered 64% having a high to very high sensitivity to oil pollution and 51% being of good to very good aesthetic quality Factor and cluster analyses were used to develop Coastal Vulnerability and Degree of Risk Indices. Twenty three coastal segments were analysed of which 52% were considered to be high to very highly vulnerable to erosion and potential storm wave damage. The south coast's most vulnerable locations are Casuarina, Dover and St Lawrence while west coast locations are Fitts Village, Paynes Bay and Sandy Lane. The highest degrees of risk locations identified were Casuarina, St. Lawrence. Batts Rock. Dover and Carlisle Bay. The research has also interpreted case studies using GIS and available socio economic information to quantify property vulnerability based on potential economic loss value. These results show that 88% of the coast is fully urbanized, with 63% being used in tourism infrastructure and having the greatest land value. The thesis also includes the construction of LVA profile model, which is intended to: 1) contribute to the formulation of future coastal management policies in Barbados and 2) provide an easy to implement monitoring procedure for small islands embarking on coastal management initiatives. The research demonstrates the use of scientifically valid yet inexpensive methods of quantitative shoreline monitoring and assessment, which could be of practical value in the coastal management of Small Island Developing States.


In mainland Southeast Asia, plans for extensive hydropower development and regional power
trade are increasingly underway with implications for transboundary water governance. This paper
maps out the context, drivers, tools and arenas of water and electricity decision making, and
examines the linkages and disjunctures between regional electricity and water governance frameworks.
In the Lower Mekong Basin, transboundary water governance has been shaped by the
intergovernmental Mekong River Commission. Meanwhile, planning of regional power trade is
being shaped by the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) program. These regional institutions are
founded upon and interact with national institutions, and are molded by historical circumstances,
regional geopolitics, and present day development pathways. Linkages between electricity governance
and water governance, whilst generally weak and replete with power asymmetries, are
identified including Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment
tools. Disjunctures include state sovereignty and limited overlapping actors between electricity
and water governance arenas. We argue that furthering deliberative tools that build upon existing
linkages could catalyze greater interaction and contestation within arenas, and thus closen integration
of regional water and electricity governance arrangements. The goal would be informed
and democratized decision-making on meeting electricity demand whilst sustaining the multiple
benefits that the region's rivers' provide.
Keywords: Mekong River, Water Governance, Electricity Governance, Southeast Asia


Wagle, Sameer, Anh Bui, Philip L. Ballard, Henry Shuman, John Gonzales, and Linda W. Gonzales. Hormonal regulation and cellular localization of fatty acid synthase in human fetal lung. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 21): L381–L390, 1999.—Fatty acid synthase (FAS; EC 220.127.116.11) supplies de novo fatty acids for pulmonary surfactant synthesis, and FAS gene expression is both developmentally and hormonally regulated in the fetal lung. To further examine hormonal regulation of FAS mRNA and to determine the cellular localization of FAS gene expression, we cultured human fetal lungs (18–22 wk gestation) as explants for 1–4 days in the absence (control) or presence of glucocorticoid [dexamethasone (Dex), 10 nM] and/or cAMP agents (8-bromo-cAMP, 0.1 mM and IBMX, 0.1 mM). FAS protein content and activity increased similarly in the presence of Dex (109 and 83%, respectively) or cAMP (87 and 111%, respectively), and responses were additive in the presence of both hormones (230 and 203%, respectively). With a rabbit anti-rat FAS antibody, FAS immunoreactivity was not detected in preculture lung specimens but appeared in epithelial cells lining the tubules with time in culture. Dex and/or cAMP markedly increased staining of epithelial cells, identified as type II cells, whereas staining of mesenchymal fibroblasts was very low under all conditions. With in situ hybridization, FAS mRNA was found to be enriched in epithelial cells lining the alveolar spaces, and the reaction product increased in these cells when the explants were cultured with the hormones. The increased FAS mRNA content in the presence of Dex and/or cAMP is primarily due to increased stabilization of mRNA, although Dex alone increased the transcription rate by ,30%. We conclude that hormonal treatment of cultured human fetal lungs increases FAS gene expression primarily by increasing stability of the message. The induction of FAS during explant culture and by hormones occurs selectively in type II epithelial cells, consistent with the regulatory role of this enzyme in de novo synthesis of fatty acid substrate for surfactant synthesis in perinatal lungs.


Despite the increasing popularity of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models in energy-economy-environment analyses, Polish data still provide a modest disaggregation of energy-related sectors. Hence, CGE modellers need to disaggregate corresponding products and industries on their own – to not only obtain more detailed insights, but also avoid the problem of an "aggregation bias". The aim of this paper is to test for such a bias in Poland's case using a small open economy, CGE model called GEMPOL, with an in-house split of energy sectors. Three alternative versions of the model are calibrated and solved. The first version includes energy sectors in their original breakdown. The second version includes their in-house split, with particular values of Armington elasticities derived directly from "parent" sectors. In the third version, Armington elasticities are increased in order to reflect the higher degree of international competition for smaller sub-products. Through a simulation shock, imposed under comparative-statics mode, an exogenous energy efficiency improvement is modelled. Finally, the results obtained from all the variants of the model are compared. It turns out that the simulation results produced by both aggregations and all three specifications of the model are similar from the macroeconomic perspective, but they vary significantly between different aggregations at the sectoral level.


Research in the field of medicine suggests that abnormal pressure and glucose levels are a major cause of several critical complaints. A retinal image provides a snapshot of what is happening inside the human body. In particular, the state of the retinal vessels has been shown to reflect the cardiovascular condition of the body. Retinal images provide considerable information on pathological changes caused by local ocular disease which reveals diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Computer-aided analysis of retinal image plays a central role in diagnostic procedures. However, automatic retinal segmentation is complicated by the fact that retinal images are often noisy, poorly contrasted, and the vessel widths can vary from very large to very small. In this paper, we place focus to implement automate segmentation approach based on graph theoretical method. The scope of this paper is to provide blood vessels regional information by the measure of median filter algorithm. We proposed a novel computational approach for the segmented vascular structure as a vessel segment graph and solve the problem to identify vessels as the one of the findings of blood vessels in the graph given a set of constraints such as CRAE and CRVE. These measurements are found to have good correlation with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Moreover, these require the accurate extraction of distinct vessels from a retinal image and a classification method is used to reveals the optimization problem and evaluate it on a real-world dataset of retinal images.


Background and Aim: Celiac disease (CD) is a T cell–mediated chronic autoimmune enteropathy occurring in genetically susceptible individuals, and manifested by a permanent intolerance to gluten-containing products. CD commonly presents in children as failure to thrive and malabsorption or after screening high-risk groups such as people with diabetes. Almost half of adult patients with CD have a body mass index (BMI) >25 at diagnosis. Classic symptoms like diarrhea are less common in obese patients. Few children have been reported with CD and obesity. Because many children with newly diagnosed CD are identified by screening high-risk groups, obesity is more common than previously suspected. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity at diagnosis in children with CD and to describe the clinical characteristics of this group. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 143 patients with CD diagnosed between 1986 and 2003 at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Data collected included patient's age, sex, ethnicity, presenting signs and symptoms, BMI, celiac antibody titers, small-intestinal biopsy results, and follow-up weight 1 year after initiating a gluten-free diet (GFD). Results: Seven of the 143 (5%) patients had BMI >95th percentile. The most common presenting symptoms among obese patients were abdominal pain, diabetes, and diarrhea. Symptoms improved in all of the patients on a GFD. BMI decreased in 4 (50%), increased in 2 (25%), and was not available in 1 patient at 1 year after starting on GFD. Conclusions: Obesity is more common in children with CD than previously recognized. In the appropriate clinical setting, CD must be considered even in obese children.