This study analyzes Wal-Mart's pricing practices and its influence on competitors' input cost transmission. Previous attempts to analyze Wal-Mart's pricing strategy in the United States have been limited by the company's refusal to provide scanner data to third party research firms such as AC Nielsen. This is the first study to observe Wal-Mart's prices over an extended period of time. Using weekly-store level price data between 2001 and 2006 that government officials collected in 12 Mexican cities, I find that Wal-Mart adjusts its prices 1/3-3 times slower to wholesale price increases than other retailers and responds 5-7 times faster to wholesale price decreases than its competitors. This evidence is robust to the comparison of Wal-Mart to other hypermarkets that offer "every day low prices" and to potential endogeneity of Wal-Mart's location choices. All retailers respond asymmetrically to wholesale cost changes. However, retailers other than Wal-Mart respond twice as fast to wholesale price increases than to decreases, while Wal-Mart behaves in the opposite way. I find no evidence that proximity to a Wal-Mart supercenter or the level of competition affects the speed of price adjustment of retailers.


This paper describes the adaptation and application of a neural network system for the automatic detection of metaphors. The LSTM BiRNN system participated in the shared task of metaphor identification that was part of the Second Workshop of Figurative Language Processing (FigLang2020) held at the Annual Conference of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL2020). The particular focus of our approach is on the potential influence that the metadata given in the ETS Corpus of Non-Native Written English might have on the automatic detection of metaphors in this dataset. The article first discusses the annotated ETS learner data, highlighting some of its peculiarities and inherent biases of metaphor use. A series of evaluations follow in order to test whether specific metadata influence the system performance in the task of automatic metaphor identification. The system is available under the APLv2 open-source license.


Somatic cell count (SCC) is of economic importance in dairy production as it directly influences the revenue from the sale of milk. The current study was carried out to determine the economic value of SCC in South African Holstein and Jersey cattle, in order to establish its relative emphasis in breeding objectives. Bulk-tank SCC was calculated from individual cow test-day SCC for 183 Jersey and 209 Holstein herds that participated in the national milk recording scheme in 2012. SCC premium schemes of the two major milk buyers in the country were used, and herds belonged to either a concentrate-fed or pasture-based production system. The economic value of SCC was determined as the simulated change in profit per cow per year, following a 1% increase in individual bulk-tank SCC. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) are based on log10 transformed SCC (somatic cell score, SCS); therefore the final economic value was expressed in South African rand (ZAR) per SCS. Relative economic values, standardized to the value of protein, were used to compare the relative importance of SCS with other objective traits. An increase in SCS by one unit resulted in decreases in profit ranging from ZAR 491.48 to ZAR 1795.57 per cow per year, depending on the breed, production system and payment system. Economic value was nearly double in the Holstein compared with the Jersey, as well as in the concentrate-fed system relative to the pasture-based system. SCS was among the most important traits in the breeding objective, its value ranging from 26% to 118% compared with the most important trait, protein. High relative emphasis should therefore be placed on SCS in breeding objectives for Holstein and Jersey cattle in South Africa. Keywords : Relative economic value; somatic cell score; breeding objectives


This trade book on neuroeconomics presents the latest findings from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics. It seeks to explain one of the central puzzles in financial behavior: why individual and professional investors alike so persistently fail to learn from their own mistakes. 'Your Money and Your Brain' combines the findings of neuroimaging labs around the world with empirical studies in behavioral finance and case studies of actual decisions by both retail and professional investors. The book is organized around the theme of the emotions aroused by financial decision-making - among them, greed, confidence, surprise, regret and happiness. Each chapter concludes with practical recommendations on how individuals and investment firms can improve their financial decision-making.


This study was designed to examine the letter-processing skills of prelingually deaf and hearing students recruited from five different orthographic backgrounds (Hebrew, Arabic, English, German, and Turkish). Participants were 128 hearing and 133 deaf 6th-7th graders. They were tested with a same/different paradigm that assessed their ability to process letters under perceptual and conceptual conditions. Findings suggest that the letter-processing skills of deaf readers from some orthographic backgrounds may be underdeveloped in comparison to hearing counterparts. The finding that such letter-processing deficits were restricted to readers of some but not all of the tested orthographies warrants the conclusion that prelingual deafness, per se, does not impede the development of effective letter processing. Evidence for this study is discussed with reference to potential orthography-inherent and educational factors that may explain the existence of letter-processing deficits found in some of the prelingually deaf readers examined in this study.


The use of names and terms of Indian origin bears witness to encounters of Iranian-speaking Manichaeans with Indian religious traditions and cultures, but the importance of an impact of Indian religions on Manichaeism is still subject of scholarly discussions. This paper focuses on Buddhist and Indian elements in Manichaean onomastics. Recent research in the context of the project *Iranisches Personennamenbuch* has provided, for the first time, a complete collection of proper names in the Iranian Manichaean texts from the Turfan region. The transmitted Iranian, hybrid, and non-Iranian names of Manichaean and non-Manichaean historical persons, literary, and mythological figures reflect the ethnic, religious, and multilingual diversity of the peoples along the Silk Roads. The results of this study enable us to analyse the various influences in Manichaean onomastics. Here this refers to proper names of Indian origin, loan-translations, Buddha and Bodhisattva names, names from the Buddhist tradition, and the like. This paper shall show which Indian names occur in Iranian Manichaean texts and how they have been adapted to the Manichaean context.


The ensemble of structures generated by molecular mechanics (MM) simulations is determined by the functional form of the force field employed and its parameterization. For a given functional form, the quality of the parameterization is crucial and will determine how accurately we can compute observable properties from simulations. While accurate force field parameterizations are available for biomolecules, such as proteins or DNA, the parameterization of new molecules, such as drug candidates, is particularly challenging as these may involve functional groups and interactions for which accurate parameters may not be available. Here, in an effort to address this problem, we present ParaMol, a Python package that has a special focus on the parameterization of bonded and nonbonded terms of druglike molecules by fitting to ab initio data. We demonstrate the software by deriving bonded terms' parameters of three widely known drug molecules, viz. aspirin, caffeine, and a norfloxacin analogue, for which we show that, within the constraints of the functional form, the methodologies implemented in ParaMol are able to derive near-ideal parameters. Additionally, we illustrate the best practices to follow when employing specific parameterization routes. We also determine the sensitivity of different fitting data sets, such as relaxed dihedral scans and configurational ensembles, to the parameterization procedure, and discuss the features of the various weighting methods available to weight configurations. Owing to ParaMol's capabilities, we propose that this software can be introduced as a routine step in the protocol normally employed to parameterize druglike molecules for MM simulations.


In this paper, a new controller design for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system subjected to frequency oscillation stabilization is proposed. The technique of overlapping decompositions is used to obtain the design subsystem embedded with the inter-area oscillation mode. The designed controller has the structure of a second-order lead/lag compensator. Automatically, the parameters of the controller are tuned based on a tabu search (TS) algorithm. The designed controller is installed in a three-area longitudinal interconnected power system. Consequently, the simulation results are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed controller.


Communication in the internet today is transient by default. Because of this, whenever an application needs to store data even for a moment, its provider needs to develop an application-specific solution, which is often done using client-server models. This is costly at scale, and generally requires users to concede control over the data they generate to allow application providers to generate revenue from the collected data to finance the operation of these servers. This also leads to a lock-in effect, which is prohibitive for new applications entering a market. To solve these issues, we propose persistent streams, an application-agnostic communication protocol that includes ephemeral and persistent storage and is able to handle both discrete as well as continuous (streaming) data. Including storage into the communication path removes the need for application servers completely. Even though the protocol relies on (cloud) servers as transmission and storage proxies, we expect the emergence of new storage technologies like non-volatile main memory to alleviate some issues this introduces. We also show the general applicability of this solution using different kinds of applications as examples. Overall, persistent streams have the potential to greatly reduce the burdens on application providers while also enabling users to exercise increased control over their data.


What explains the context sensitivity of some (apparent) beliefs? Why, for example, do religious beliefs appear to control behaviour in some contexts but not others? Cases like this are heterogeneous, and we may require a matching heterogeneity of explanations, ranging over their contents, the attitudes of agents and features of the environment. In this paper, I put forward a hypothesis of the last kind. I argue that some beliefs (religious and non-religious) are coupled to cues, which either trigger an internal representation or even partially constitute the beliefs. I show that such coupling will give rise to the context-sensitivity, without entailing that religious believers take a different attitude to belief content.


We use high-speed imaging to investigate the movement of a floating sphere pulled horizontally along a water surface. The model sphere is 10 cm in diameter and has half of the water density resulting in a half-submerged static sphere. By varying the pulling force, we investigate the flow dynamics in the subcritical Reynolds number range, of Re ≈ 2 × 104 to 2 × 105. We characterize three hydrodynamic regimes with the increase in the pulling force, to which we refer to as: low Froude number, Fr   1.2 regimes. In the low Fr regime, the sphere moves with little disturbance of the water surface and the drag is close to half of the drag on a fully submerged sphere. In the intermediate Fr regime, a pronounced wave pattern is developed which together with the dipping of the sphere below the water level leads to an increase in the drag force. Based on a potential flow approximation for the downward force on the sphere moving along the surface, we derive a semiempirical relation for the sphere dipping as a function of the Froude number. Finally, in the high Fr regime, the sphere movement switches to a mode of periodic dipping below and surfacing above the water surface. The periodic vertical motion portrays a decrease in the average drag force.


Onion has economically important crop in the study area. However, its low production is due to poor soil fertility management. Thus, the present study was initiated to determine the optimal rate of blended fertilizer required for onion production. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years during 2018 and 2019 at farmer's field Tselemti district, the experiment had 8 treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were 7 levels of NPSB (25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 kg  ha-1), recommended rate of N and P (105 N and 92 P2O5 kg ha-1), and a basal application of top dress N at rate of 69 kg ha-1 were applied for except the plot received recommended NP. The study results showed the application of blended fertilizer not significantly affected most of the crop parameters tested. However, they had a numerical difference among the treatments; since the highest (41157 kg ha-1) and lowest (32650 kg ha-1) marketable yields were obtained from a plot treated by 250 kg ha-1 plus a basal application of top dress N at rate of 69 kg ha-1 and from plots that received 50 kg ha-1 plus a basal application of top dress N at rate of 69 kg ha-1, respectively. Therefore, experiment for onion production should carry out on omitting trial of blended fertilizer in the study area.

 Key words: Blended fertilizer, onion, omitting trail, recommended NP.


In assessing the ecological conditions and classification of urban soils, data about soil biota should be taken into account. The environment of urban territories is characterized by significant changes compared to their surrounding environments. It is established that the algal flora of urban soils lose their zonal features and features associated with the edification influence of higher plants. Specific biotopes with a definite species structure are formed in urboecosystems. Fifty 50 algae species have been recorded in the soils of the Henichesk urboecosystems (Kherson region, Ukraine): Cyanoprocaryota – 21, Chlorophyta – 13, Charophyta – 2, Eustigmatophyta – 1, Xanthophyta – 11, Bacillariophyta – 2. Among dominant and subdominant species were Cyanoprocaryota and Chlorophyta. The other phyla were represented by Klebsormidium dissectum, K. flaccidum, Hantzschia amphioxys, Eustigmatos magnus, Botrydiopsis eriensis. Compared with the surrounding environment, the urbanized flora of Henichesk has a low species richness, and is characterized by prevalence of Cyanoprocaryota and Chlorophyta species. The coefficient that takes into account the percentage of preservation of species richness in a particular urban area compared to the background indicators of species richness can be used to evaluate the urban transformation of soil biota. The degree of degradatory changes in the composition of living organisms and the direction of these changes depends on the specificity and intensity of exploitation of the territory of the urban ecosystem. The most diverse composition of algae species within the the city of Henichesk was noted in the recreational, residential, and transport zones, in comparison with the industrial zone and the zone of special use. Different functional areas of the city are distinguished not only by the algae species richness, but also by the composition of dominants. Among the dominants and subdominants of the recreational and transport zones were species of different phyla. The dominants and subdominants of the residential and industrial zones were Cyanoprocaryota species, in the zone of special use – representatives of Chlorophyta. The distribution of species richness of algae along the soil profile in the city acquires an atypical character. The species richness increases not in the most superficial layers of soil, but in the lower, aphotic parts of the soil profile. The soil biota, on the one hand, depends on the ecological conditions of soil, and on the other as a result of its life activity, changes the ecological functions of the soil, strengthening or weakening them. The reduction in the species richness of the soil algae of the urboecosystem Henichesk shows the limitations of ecological functions of urban soils. It is established that changes in the composition of algae in soils of urban ecosystems are one of the indicators of the presence and severity of transformation processes. These processes occur with the soil biota and soil as a whole under the conditions of urban ecosystems and can be used as indicators in the environmental assessment of urban soils, in the development and subsequent examination of ways to reduce negative expression of urbanization.


In the title process, which improves productivity and wastewater clarity, paper is prepd. from pulp slurries contg. 0.1-1.5% solids and 0.01-0.5% (based on solids) highly-branched, high-mol.-wt. copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride (I) with 0.1-3.0 mol% crosslinking monomers. A slurry of 0.8% fibers (wastepaper) contg. 0.02% I copolymer with 0.1 mol% triallylmethylammonium chloride had dewatering time (250 mL filtrate) 5.1 s and gave a sheet contg. 97.5% solids, vs. 5.7 and 95.2, resp., with I homopolymer, and 6.5 and 93.1, resp., with no polymer. [on SciFinder (R)]


Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to address a research gap by providing a comprehensive survey of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) as international institutional investors and clarifying the definition of SWFs. By doing so, this paper aims to provide a balanced set of policy prescriptions towards SWFs. Design/methodology/approach - – This paper conducted a comprehensive survey of world major 24 SWFs with assets under management of 500 million USD between 2008 and 2012. Key dimensions include objectives, funding and governance, asset allocation and investment activities. Findings - – SWFs are planning institutions with management direction. They present great variety in terms of funding mechanism, governance, asset allocation and investment strategies, but they in essence pursue financial returns. It is not evident that SWFs are primarily motivated by political objectives and distinctively different from other international institutional investors. Difficulty in interpreting SWFs should not lead to the imposition of constraints on SWFs. Research limitations/implications - – More in-depth and dynamic analysis of SWFs requires better data access. For such a purpose, case studies and longitudinal studies should be adopted, with particular emphasis on comparing SWFs with different types of financial institutional investors as well as typical state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and multinational enterprises. Practical implications - – This study is trying to demystify SWFs based on a comprehensive survey. As a result, this paper may assist investors, policy-makers and regulators to gain a better understanding of SWFs, their investment behaviours and rationales behind. Social implications - – SWFs like other long-term capital is important for economic and job growth. To attract long-term investments, creating an open, unbiased and welcoming investment environment is the key. Originality/value - – The contribution of this paper is that we provide a deeper understanding of the strategy and empirics of SWF operations. First, after a clearer definition of the phenomenon of SWFs, we can explain their investment strategies and behaviour as firms. Second, we can derive rational policy prescriptions, and third, we can propose a research agenda that will further deepen our understanding of SWFs and the appropriate policy prescriptions.


Objectives: DiabCare India 2011 was a cross-sectional study in patients with diabetes mellitus, undertaken to investigate the relationship between diabetes control, management and complications in a subset of urban Indian diabetes patients treated at referral diabetes care centres in India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicentre (330 centres) survey in 6168 diabetes patients treated at general hospitals, diabetes clinics and referral clinics across India. Patient data, including medical and clinical examination reports during the past year were collected during their routine visit. The patients' and physicians' perceptions about diabetes management were recorded using a questionnaire. Results: A total of 6168 subjects with diabetes (95.8% type 2), mean age 51.9 ± 12.4 years and mean duration of diabetes, 6.9 ± 6.4 years were included. Mean HbA1c was 8.9 ± 2.1% and the mean fasting (FPG), post prandial (PPG) and random (RBG) plasma glucose levels were 148 ± 50 mg/dl 205 ± 66 mg/dl and 193 ± 68mg/dl respectively. Neuropathy was the most common complication (41.4%); other complications were: Foot (32.7%), eye (19.7%), cardiovascular (6.8%) and nephropathy (6.2%). The number of diabetic complications increased with mean duration of diabetes. Most (93.2%) of the patients were on oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) and 35.2% were on insulin (±OADs). More than 15% physicians felt that the greatest barrier to insulin therapy from patient's perspective were pain and fear of using injectable modality; 5.2% felt that the greatest barrier to insulin therapy from physician's perspective was the treatment cost; 4.8% felt that the major barriers to achieve optimum diabetic care in practice was loss to follow-up followed by lack of counselling (3.9%) and treatment compliance (3.6%). Conclusion: DiabCare India 2011 has shown that type 2 diabetes sets in early in Indians and glycaemic control is often sub-optimal in these patients. These results indicate a need for more structured intervention at an early stage of the disease and need for increased awareness on benefits of good glycaemic control. It cannot be overemphasized that the status of diabetes care in India needs to be further improved. (ClinTrials.gov identifier: NCT01351922)


This study aimed to assess the seasonal and ecological variation of chemical and nutritional values of locally preferred fodders in Gandaki River Basin (GRB) areas. The study was conducted in four altitudinal gradients viz. <400m, 400-800m, 800-1200m and 1200–1600m altitude above sea level in different looping seasons: rainy, spring and winter seasons. The most important five species of fodder trees Artocarpus lakoocha, Ficus roxburghii, Thysanolaena maxima, Ficus semicordata and Bauhinia purpurea were selected based on farmers' preferences in nutritional values. Fodder samples comprised young leaves, old leaves and young twigs that were taken in July, September and December. It was revealed that nutritive value is not very much influenced by altitude but it is strongly influenced by lopping seasons. Among Thysanolaena maxima, Artocarpus lakoocha, Ficus roxburghii and Bauhinia purpurea the cellulose contents were significantly different (p<0.001) with seasons but there was no significant variation with altitudes. Similarly, Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) contents in Thysanolaena maxima, Ficus roxburghii and Bauhinia purpurea were found significantly different with seasons. Ficus roxburghii fodder tree was found significantly different in Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), ADF, Cellulose and Potassium content with seasons. Similarly, fodder tree Bauhinia purpurea was found significant on Dry matter (DM), Crude fibre (CF), NDF, ADF, cellulose, tannin and potassium with seasons. The study hinted how careful planning of species selection and prudent decision in scheduling looping and feeding fodder trees can help improve animal metabolism, health, growth and productivity.


There had been a research of antibacterial extract of white pumpkin leaves ( Lagenaria cineraria ) activity towards some pathogen bacteria. The objective of the study was to present the antibacterial activity of extract of white pumpkin leaves, commonly called Lagenaria siceraria , against some 8 pathogen bacteria such as ( Escherichia coli, Vibrio sp, Streptococcus mutants, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella thypi, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis). The research was conducted by extracting the white pumpkin leaves and using 96% ethanol liquid. Afterwards the screening test was performed using microbe test and ethanol extract of white pumpkin leaves with 0,5% concentration and 1 % (b/v) with negative control of disc piper. It was found that the 0,5% concentration could prevent 4 pathogen bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutants, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis . After conducting the screening test followed by the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) test and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, in which the result was the ethanol extract of white pumpkin leaves with 0,5% concentration could prevent 4 pathogen bacteria which was obtained from screening test 2 % concentrationagainst extract of white pumpkin leaves that are able to kill 4 pathogen bacteria. Another test was performed with inhibitory test through agar diffusion method so that some blocking pathogen bacteria to screening result ( Escherichia Coli, Streptococcus mutants, Staphylococcus Aurous, and Staphylococcus Epidermidises ) against 0,5%, 1% and 2 % concentration. Moreover the  chloramphenicol is as positive control. The result which was obtained respectively was the biggest obstacle zone diameter towards Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutants, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were 2,2 cm; 4,1 cm; 2,43 cm and 3,73 cm.


Brucellosis, caused by the bacteria Brucella abortus, is an infectious disease of cattle, bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus elephus). The Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) is the last known reservoir of the disease in the lower 48 states. Recent cases of the disease in cattle herds of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have been attributed to exposure from wild elk and have brought increased focus on management and eradication of the disease from wildlife populations. Elk management programs within the three states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming differ in response to the disease. Efforts to manage the disease within the GYA are greatly influence by management actions taken within individual states. The differing management actions and the potential influence on brucellosis management and possible eradication are discussed.


The temptation to mark out new lines in the field of psychiatry is one that assails all who write on this many-sided subject, and every writer yields to it, the difference being mainly in the completeness of the surrender. One must classify indeed to write at all, and classification is an alluring and agreeable exercise. Yet I shall indulge in it only to a very limited extent, even though there are few barriers as yet erected in the neuronic territory to keep us from wandering at will. Classifications have, furthermore, contributed much to neurologic and psychologic gaiety, which, in itself, is perhaps a good thing. With all possible respect, one may liken the classifications to a flock of geese, each one of which, however, is to its particular proprietor, a beautiful swan. Beside the enjoyment to be gotten out of classifications, there is a more substantial good. Doubtless each


A scheduling approach using genetic algorithms (GA) was presented to optimize multiple projects for quality project period performance with resource constraints. The model of the approach and key parameters of the algorithm including chromosome encoding and decoding, fitness computation, initial population, selection and crossover were conducted. A precedence feasible list was used in the chromosome encoding and decoding operation to reduce search space. An efficient crossover method was developed to avoid the procedure of chromosome recovery. A comparison was made between the algorithm and a heuristic scheduling method with an example. The result validates the superiority of the approach.


This piece explores the many kinds of quantitative claims that researchers and commentators regularly make about race and policing. Everyone agrees that there are enormous racial gaps in U.S. rates of stops, arrests, searches, and use of force. But there are dramatically conflicting claims as to why. Policing is hard to study, but the problem isn't just the data shortcomings with which the literature has long struggled. It's confusion about what questions we should be asking. Different kinds of numerical comparisons and research designs often imply sharply differing conceptions of what racial equality in policing means. These normative premises often go unstated, such that readers may easily miss these differences. The overarching objective of this Article is to highlight the connection between the normative and the empirical. I identify plausible conceptions of racial equality in policing and assess which empirical methods can best test those conceptions. The Article gives particular attention to how researchers should address two important research questions. The first is whether criminal conduct differences explain policing disparities. Empirical researchers as well as casual commentators typically purport to address this question either by comparing racial groups' shares of police interactions to their shares of crime, or by comparing two groups' ratio of police interactions to their ratio of crimes. Using examples and mathematical proofs, I show that neither of these comparison types answers the key question whether people with like criminal conduct are being treated the same way. These comparisons generally overcorrect for racial differences in criminal conduct, misleadingly masking the size (or even reversing the apparent direction) of disparities in policing of people with the same conduct. Second, I examine how researchers should investigate the effects of racial discrimination — a morally important and legally central question, but one that poses serious causal inference challenges. I review several methods in the current literature, which offer useful insights but have substantial limitations, and critique the recently dominant "hit-rate" approach, which relies on faulty normative and empirical premises. Instead, I propose supplementing existing tools with a new approach: the use of "testers."


Abstract Low maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy is associated with childhood asthma and a trial is required to test whether increasing maternal vitamin E intake reduces childhood asthma. This study investigated whether such a trial is possible using food to increase vitamin E intake. Three soup varieties with enhanced vitamin E content (16–19 mg/can) from food ingredients were developed. Near identical retail versions (vitamin E 1–4 mg/can) acted as placebo. In a pilot double‐blind randomized controlled trial, pregnant women were randomized 1:1 to enhanced or placebo soups (three tins/week) from 12 weeks gestation to delivery. Vitamin E intake was quantified at 12, 20, and 34 weeks gestation. Qualitative interviews were conducted. 59 women were randomized (29 enhanced, 30 placebo), 28 completed the trial, (15 enhanced, 13 placebo). In women completing the trial, vitamin E intake of the placebo group remained unchanged; 7.09 mg/d (95% CI 5.41–8.77) at 12 weeks, 6.41 mg/d (5.07–7.75) at 20 weeks, and 6.67 mg/d (5.38–7.96) at 34 weeks gestation; vitamin E intake of the enhanced group increased from 6.50 mg/d (5.21–7.79) at 12 weeks to 14.9 mg/d (13.3–16.4) at 20 weeks and 15.2 mg/d (12.9–17.5) at 34 weeks, P < 0.001. Qualitative interviewing provided clear guidance on improving adherence. Although 31 women withdrew at median 19 weeks gestation (interquartile range 16–25), the intervention was consumed by women for 80% of weeks between 12 and 34 weeks gestation and for 63% of weeks between 12 weeks gestation and delivery. In a pilot double‐blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) it is possible to increase maternal vitamin E intake using food ingredients, a further food product is required to improve adherence.


This paper describes a small research project undertaken in a technical college in Qatar on the use of iPads in the classroom. iPads were trialed for a semester each in mathematics and physics classes. Students completed pre- and post-surveys. Classroom observations were carried out and interviews were conducted with both faculty (n=3) and students (n=19). Over 80% of students reported positively on the iPad as being 'helpful' to 'very helpful' for learning new things and course materials, for increasing their interaction with online course materials and getting course information and for exploring additional material related to course topics. Faculty perceptions of iPad use in class were also positive.


The subject of this thesis is order and transport in interacting disordered low-dimensional systems, namely Luttinger liquids and thin superconducting films. The disorder is produced by point impurities in Luttinger liquids and by magnetic dots in thin films. In the second chapter we consider the influence of dissipation on the transport properties of a Luttinger liquid. In the presence of a single impurity we find an exponential suppression of the conductance as a function of applied voltage and temperature at sufficiently low voltages and temperatures. In the third chapter we study a Luttinger liquid in the presence of two impurities and of an external magnetic field. The magnetic field splits the electrons with respect to their spin. We show that this system exhibits spin-filtering effect due to the resonance tunneling effect, which can also be achieved in this particular case, similarly to the case without the field. By tuning a single parameter, one may reach the resonance points when the transmission of spins with one spin-direction is dominating at low temperatures and voltages. The fourth chapter is related to the question of the competition of a periodic and random potential in a Luttinger liquid. The periodic potential alone produces a Mott-insulating state at sufficiently small amount of quantum fluctuations, measured by the interaction parameter K. The random potential alone leads to the Anderson-insulating state for small values of K. In the presence of both potentials and when the interaction is short-ranged, we do not find an intermediate Mott-glass phase, contrary to some studies. The fifth chapter deals with a thin superconducting film with a magnetic dot placed on top of it. We calculate the configurations of vortex-antivortex ground states for such system, finding a diversity of vortex-antivortex states as a function of parameters of the dot. The sixth chapter studies a thin superconducting film covered by magnetic dots of random magnetization. We show that this system is a realization of the two-dimensional XY model with random phase shifts. The latter model helps us to determine the phase diagram of our system.


Representative results from simulated, laboratory and physiological studies are presented, demonstrating the ability to extract important features of dynamic behavior from dense scattering media. These results were obtained by analyzing a time series of image data. Investigations on the human forearm clearly reveal the ability to identify and correctly locate principal features of the vasculature. Characterization of these features using linear and nonlinear time-series analysis methods can produce a wealth of information regarding the spatio-temporal features of the dynamics of vascular reactivity.


An effective Collaborative Intrusion Detection Network (CIDN) allows distributed Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSes) to collaborate and share their knowledge and opinions about intrusions, to enhance the overall accuracy of intrusion assessment as well as the ability of detecting new classes of intrusions. Toward this goal, we propose a distributed Host-based IDS (HIDS) collaboration system, particularly focusing on acquaintance management where each HIDS selects and maintains a list of collaborators from which they can consult about intrusions. Specifically, each HIDS evaluates both the false positive (FP) rate and false negative (FN) rate of its neighboring HIDSes' opinions about intrusions using Bayesian learning, and aggregates these opinions using a Bayesian decision model. Our dynamic acquaintance management algorithm allows each HIDS to effectively select a set of collaborators. We evaluate our system based on a simulated collaborative HIDS network. The experimental results demonstrate the convergence, stability, robustness, and incentive-compatibility of our system.


Mentoring of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) in postsecondary education settings can be a beneficial support to enhancing their educational and social experiences. The authors report on a mentoring program undertaken at one regional American university and the qualitative research study they engaged in to determine what made the mentoring program effective and how the current program should evolve. Data were collected via focus group discussions involving the mentoring partners (college students both with and without disabilities), professors, parents, and a staff member from the disability services office. The study identified several key components for creating and improving effective mentoring partnerships on a university campus. These include (1) providing mentoring orientations and faculty training; (2) developing effective systems for communicating and collaborating across stakeholders; (3) promoting the establishment of co-equal relationships among mentoring partners; (4) maintaining high expectations for students with ID; (5) using mentors as resources to professors and establishing natural supports in the college classroom; (6) encouraging independence; (7) prioritizing fun and socializing; and (8) staying focused on the big picture of inclusion. The authors concluded that the study provided insight into the strengths of effective mentoring support programs while simultaneously placing a spotlight on potential challenges and drawbacks.


Article abstract-Modern neuroimaging can disclose epileptogenic lesions in many patients with partial epilepsy and, at times, display the coexistence of hippocampal atrophy in addition to an extrahippocampal lesion (dual pathology). We studied the postoperative seizure outcome of 64 patients with lesional epilepsy (median follow-up, 30 months) and considered separately the surgical results in the 51 patients with a single lesion and in the 13 who had dual pathology. In patients with a single lesion, 85% were seizure free or significantly improved (Engel's class I-II) when the lesion was totally removed compared with only 40% when there was incomplete resection (p < 0.007). All three patients with dual pathology who had both the lesion and the atrophic hippocampus removed became seizure free. In contrast, only 2 of the 10 patients with dual pathology undergoing surgery aimed at the lesion or at the hippocampus alone became seizure free (p < 0.05), although 4 of them showed significant improvement (Engel's class II). We conclude that the outcome in patients with single epileptogenic lesions is usually dependent upon the completeness of lesion resection. In patients with dual pathology, surgery should, if possible, include resection of both the lesion and the atrophic hippocampus. NEUROLOGY 1997;48: 437-444


Genus Salvia is one of important genera belonging to family lamiaceae. Most of reported biological activities of Salvia usually attributed to its volatile oil. The chemical composition of essential oil from Salvia lavandulifolia was analyzed by GC/MS. A total of sixty seven components were identified in the oil of S. lavandulifolia representing 95.78% of the total oil. β-caryophyllene (11.87%), spathulenol (8.13%), neomenthol (7.75%), pulegone (6.97%), hexadecanoic acid (6.85%), germacrene-D (5.70%), bicyclogermacrene (4.53%), caryophyllene oxide (3.97%) and humulene (3.29%) were found to be the major constituents. The oil showed no antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities in a concentration up to 200 and20 µg/mL, respectively. It displayed a weak antimalarial activity (47 % inhibition) against P. flaciparium .The oil exhibited anti-inflammatory activity adopting iNOS inhibition assay with IC 50 of 30 µg/mL, but there is no cytotoxicity demonstrated by the oil at tested concentration of 100 µg/mL. Keywords : S. lavandulifolia , essential oil, antimalaria, antimicrobial, antiinflammtory, anticancer.


The fate of radioactive methylglyoxal- bis -guanylhydrazone (methyl-GAG-C14) has been studied in the mouse, rat, dog, and monkey following single parenteral and oral doses.

One-half and 2 hours after parenteral administration in mice, radioactivity was present in all tissues and organs examined but was predominant in the liver, small and large intestines with contents, kidneys, and urine. Expired CO2 collected for 24 hours contained no radioactivity.

Following parenteral dosage at several levels, two-thirds of the radioactivity was recovered in the urine and less than one-fifth in the feces after 48 hours. The liver contained less than 0.5% of the radioactivity by this time. In contrast, three-fourths of the radioactive dose was recovered in the feces 24 hours following oral administration.

In rats, similar results were obtained on the excretion of radioactivity except after 48 hours, rat liver contained more radioactivity than mouse liver. A significant amount of radioactivity was not excreted in rat bile. In both rodent species, more than 48 hours were required for approximately complete recovery of the radioactive dose in the urine and feces.

Following parenteral administration of a single dose of methyl-GAG-C14 in dogs, the urinary excretion of radioactivity is much more protracted than in rodents with only one-half of the dose recoverable in 72 hours. This protraction in urinary excretion of radioactivity was not as pronounced in the monkey which excreted less than one-half of the radioactive dose in 24 hours following parenteral administration.

Urine samples were analyzed by paper chromatography, high-voltage paper electrophoresis and ion-exchange column chromatography on Bio-Rex 70 to characterize the molecular species of the C14. In all cases, the excreted radioactivity was identified as methyl-GAG. Thus, methyl-GAG was excreted unaltered in the animals studied.


This review summarises a survey of about 70 empirical studies on proposed African monetary unions published during the past fifteen years. Four main strands are outlined in four tables. They include the: (i) West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), (ii) East African Monetary Union (EAMU), (iii) Southern African Monetary Union (SAMU) and (iv) African Monetary Union (AMU). A number of concerns are apparent from the feasibility and/or desirability of potential monetary unions. They are variations in: empirical strategies, selection of variables, considered periodicities and sampled countries. The Hegelian dialectics are used to establish selective expansion as the predominant mode of monetary integration. Some studies make the case for strong institutions and pegs as alternatives to currency unions. The employment of cluster analysis, distinguishing shocks from responses in the examination of business cycle synchronisation and the disaggregation of panels into sub-samples provide more subtle policy implications.


BACKGROUND
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend immunizing susceptible high-risk groups, such as hemodialysis patients, against hepatitis B virus. However, hemodialysis patients may not develop seroprotective antibodies despite receiving high doses of the vaccine. Recent reports indicate that combined vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis A viruses may improve the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy individuals, but the effectiveness of this strategy in hemodialysis patients is unknown.

STUDY DESIGN
Prospective randomized controlled trial.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
Hepatitis B virus-seronegative hemodialysis patients with undetectable antibody levels at baseline.

INTERVENTION
Intramuscular administration of Twinrix (inactivated hepatitis A virus [720 ELISA units] and purified hepatitis B virus surface antigen [20 μg]; GlaxoSmithKline) and Engerix-B (purified hepatitis B virus surface antigen [20 μg]) at 0, 1, and 6 months plus Engerix-B, 40 μg, at month 2 (intervention arm) or Engerix-B, 40 μg, at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months (control arm). Both groups received a total dose of 160 μg of hepatitis B antigen.

OUTCOMES
The primary outcome was the difference in seroprotection rates at 7 months, defined by antibody titers >10 mIU/mL. The secondary outcome was frequency of adverse events.

MEASUREMENTS
Antibody response at months 3 and 7.

RESULTS
96 patients were enrolled, and 73 completed the investigation. At 3 months, there was no difference in the groups' seroprotection rates (25% vs 27%; P = 0.4). At the completion of the vaccination series, using per-protocol analysis, 27 of 40 (68%) and 16 of 33 (49%) had antibody titers >10 mIU/mL in the treatment and control groups, respectively (P = 0.05; RR, 1.4; absolute abatement, 19%). Intention-to-treat analysis showed 58% and 38% seroprotection rates in the treatment and control groups, respectively (P = 0.02; RR, 1.5; absolute abatement, 20%). There was no difference in adverse events.

LIMITATIONS
Lack of evidence of long-term protection.

CONCLUSION
Vaccination of hemodialysis patients with a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B regimen resulted in a statistically significant and clinically important improvement in seroprotection against hepatitis B virus compared with hepatitis B monovalent vaccine.


This article presents a new approach to measure the fluid velocity using the flow-induced vibration of a microcantilever. The gas flow sensor was fabricated using the microfabrication technology and mounted on a printed circuit board for experimental evaluation. For signal processing, a Wheastone bridge circuit was prepared. The experimental measurement of the fluid velocity was performed in the wind tunnel. The flow-induced vibration of the microcantilever was firstly visualized. Based on the power spectrum analysis, the vibrating frequency was constant at 1.173 kHz, independently of the inlet velocity. It is completely different from the conventional flow-induced vibration proportional to the inlet velocity. The peak-to-peak voltage outputs corresponding to the air velocities of 3, 4, 5 and 6 m/s were measured.


Transcription of multimedia data sources is often a challenging automatic speech recognition (ASR) task. The incorporation of visual features as additional contextual information as a means to improve ASR for this data has recently drawn attention from researchers. Our investigation extends existing ASR methods by using images and video titles to adapt a recurrent neural network (RNN) language model with a long-short term memory (LSTM) network. Our language model is tested on transcription of an existing corpus of instruction videos and on a new corpus consisting of lecture videos. Consistent reduction in perplexity by 5–10 is observed on both datasets. When the non-adapted model is combined with the image adaptation and video title adaptation models for n-best ASR hypotheses re-ranking, additionally the word error rate (WER) is decreased by around 0.5% on both datasets. By analysing the output word probabilities of the model, it is found that both image adaptation and video title adaptation give the model more confidence in the choice of contextually correct informative words


A decade ago, two-parameter Burr Type X distribution was introduced by Surles and Padgett [14] which was described as Generalized Rayleigh Distribution (GRD). This skewed distribution can be used quiet effectively in modelling life time data. In this work, Bayesian estimation of the shape parameter of GRD was considered under the assumption of non-informative prior. The estimates were obtained under the squared error, Entropy and Precautionary loss functions. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to compare the performances of the Bayes estimates with that of MLEs. It was observed that the estimate under the Entropy loss function is more stable than the estimates under squared error loss function, Precautionary loss function and MLEs.


The bleeding patterns of severe von Willebrand's disease (VWD) adversely affect quality of life, and may be life threatening. There is a presumed role for prophylaxis with VWF‐containing concentrates, but data are scarce. The von Willebrand Disease Prophylaxis Network (VWD PN) was formed to investigate the role of prophylaxis in clinically severe VWD that is not responsive to other treatment(s).Using a retrospective design, the effect of prophylaxis was studied. Availability of records to document, or reliably assess, the type and frequency of bleeding episodes prior to, and after, the initiation of prophylaxis was required. Annualized bleeding rates were calculated for the period prior to prophylaxis, during prophylaxis and by primary bleeding indication defined as the site accounting for more than half of all bleeding symptoms. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test of differences in the medians was used. Sixty‐one subjects from 20 centres in 10 countries were enrolled. Data for 59 were used in the analysis. The median age at onset of prophylaxis was 22.4 years. Type 3 VWD accounted for the largest number (N = 34, 57.6%). Differences in bleeding rates within individuals during compared with before prophylaxis were significant for the total group (P < 0.0001), and for those with primary bleeding indications of epistaxis (P = 0.0005), joint bleeding (P = 0.002) and GI bleeding (P = 0.001). The effect of prophylaxis was similar among those age < 18 years and those ≥18. One person developed an inhibitor during treatment. We conclude that prophylactic treatment of VWD is efficacious.


Graduate recruitment and selection differs from other contexts in that graduate applicants generally lack job-related experience. Recent research has highlighted that employers are placing increasing value on graduates being work ready. Work readiness is believed to be indicative of graduate potential in terms of long term job performance and career advancement. A review of the literature has found that current graduate recruitment and selection practices lack the rigour and construct validity to effectively assess work readiness. In addition, the variety of interchangeable terms and definitions articulated by employers and academics on what constitutes work readiness suggests the need to further refine this construct. This paper argues that work readiness is an important selection criterion, and should be examined systematically in the graduate assessment process, as a construct in itself. The ineffectiveness of current assessment methods in being able to measure work readiness supports the need to develop a specific measure of work readiness that will allow more effective decision practices and potentially predict long term job capacity and performance.


This paper highlights archival evidence and dramaturgic mythemes in order to reconsider the historiographical issues related to the XVIIth-century theatrical reception of El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra outside of Spain. Among the crossroads of theatrical practices alive in XVIIth-century Naples, Don Juan underwent a rapid process of assimilation and transformation. The chronology of its Neapolitan debut at the Teatro di San Bartolomeo is re-examined in this paper, while unfolding some new and possible scenarios interweaving history and dramaturgy, the stage and the historical political events of the Kingdom of Naples during the first decades of the XVIIth century. This study examines the Mediterranean basis consolidating the myth of Don Juan – the character with «feet made of wind» (Garboli) – and defining its dramaturgic status all around Europe.


AbstractSlip resistance is an essential parameter when dimension stones are used as inner and outer floorings. Declaration of performances of stones and their surface finishes (sawn, honed, polished, hammered, flamed, sandblasted, or brushed) in relation to conditions (wet or dry) in Conformite Europeenne (CE) marking is essential for pedestrian safety. In this study, 130 samples taken from 81 stone types belonging to 13 types of petrographic families were tested according to the EN 14231 Standard, taking different finishes into consideration, during a ten-year period in the Marble Laboratory of Politecnico di Torino (Italy). A high number of pendulum friction tests (1,560) were conducted on 780 samples, and more than 7,000 readings were taken. On the basis of the obtained results, significant relations were found between the tested petrographic families and the types of finishes. A high correlation between open porosity, quartz content, and slipperiness of the stones with honed surface finishes was found...


It is very likely that in 10 years time, invasive prenatal diagnostic tests like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) will join the club of forgotten obstetric procedures like vaginal breech delivery and rotational forceps delivery. In 1968, Henry Nadler1 and his team were the fi rst to report prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 from full karyotyping of cultured amniocytes obtained by amniocentesis. Over the next 40 years, both amniocentesis and CVS became commonplace diagnostic tools to obtain fetal cells for antenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities in high-risk pregnant mothers. The methods of screening and identifying the high-risk mother have changed over time. Initially, invasive testing methods like amniocentesis and CVS were offered to women of advanced maternal age (typically women above 35 years). It was soon realised that age was a poor screening method for fetal chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down syndrome, that most deliveries occurred in mothers aged less than 35, and while their individual risk is lower, this group makes a signifi cant contribution to missed diagnoses. Various screening tests were therefore introduced. The most sensitive and most recommended is the fi rst trimester combined screen (FTS), which includes ultrasound-measured fetal nuchal translucency and serum biochemistry at 11 to 14 weeks gestation. The FTS detects 85% to 90% of all fetuses with Down syndrome but has a signifi cant false positive rate (3% to 5%). These 3% to 5% of pregnant mothers require invasive diagnostic tests to confi rm the diagnosis, which will be truly positive in only 3% to 4% of these screenpositive women.


The Comparative analysis of the efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of the mussels meat has been carried out, using enzymatic preparations with proteolytic action called "Protozim", "Flavoenzyme" and "Pancreatine". Complexes of fermentolyzates of the mussels meat with zink have been obtained by the reaction of chelating. Prepared fermentolyzates and their complexes with zink have been determined by physicochemical methods. Composition of amino acids has been determined in fermentolyzates and in their complexes with zink has been characterized the content of zink. The valuation of molecular-mass distribution of peptide fractions of fermentolyzates and their complexes with zink has been given.


This present study is concerned with developing a new alloy system which is capable of forming a metallic glass on rapid solidification of the melt, rather than modifying a known glass forming composition, and assessing its glass forming ability. Iron (Fe) was chosen as the solvent element because it is significantly cheaper than the base elements found in some other metallic glasses and does not require the addition of large quantities of expensive alloying elements to enable vitrification. A ternary system using carbon (C) and boron (B) was studied initially as these metalloids are known to aid glass formation in other systems. Manganese and molybdenum were selected as secondary alloying additions in order to determine if they would have an effect on the Fe-C-B alloy with the best glass forming ability. A combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and secondary ion mass spectroscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of as-cast and rapidly solidified alloys. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the thermal behaviour of the alloys. The ability of the iron-based alloys to form a glass on rapid solidification from the melt could not be predicted by observation of the as-cast microstructure or through computational methods. It was found that vitrification of the ternary system was only possible for compositions which were close to a eutectic point and that stabilisation of the supercooled liquid was caused by competition for nucleation between austenite and metastable phases, rather than between primary equilibrium solidification products. Of the ternary compositions where an amorphous phase was produced it was concluded that Fe\(_{80.9}\)C\(_5\)B\(_{14.1}\) had the best glass forming ability (GFA). It was determined that the addition of manganese and/or molybdenum to the base composition generally had the effect of improving the GFA through the increased complexity of the system making it more difficult for recrystallisation to occur. Of the multi-component alloys it was concluded that Fe\(_{60.9}\)Mn\(_{10}\)Mo\(_{10}\)C\(_5\)B\(_{14.1}\) had the best GFA as it had the highest values for each of the parameters used to describe GFA. It is believed that this is due to competition between the austenite and alpha stabilisers (manganese and molybdenum respectively) causing enhanced stability of the supercooled liquid.


The paper shows an extremely greater danger of aerogenic doses of carcinogenic substances entering with smoking products than that of an aerogenic load in the industrial centers. The individual and population risks of cancer due to smoking of the Ukraine's common cigarettes and the economic damage caused by the treatment of this number of patients to the country have been calculated. For a full assessment of the carcinogenic risk of tobacco smoke, it is necessary to determine all its carcinogenic constituents, their precursors, and possible transformation groups at high temperatures.


-As the penetration of distributed energy resources (DER) in existing conventional grid increases leading to the distributed generation (DG) concept. The use of full scale dynamic simulation to analyze load variation, the frequency and voltage of the power system in DG provides complex tasks to researchers and planners such as huge computational time. This paper introduces modeling approach for power distribution systems using dynamic-RMS method for the electrical part in combination with differential equations to describe the behavior of the mechanical part of the power system. This innovative approach allows the simulation of DG running with a complex load flow including network transmission lines, transformers and losses. The simulation results illustrate this approach has superior advantages in comparison with normal full scale dynamic model since it is faster and needs less computational resources.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the validity, reliability, and sensitivity of a published chronic pain index by completion of a questionnaire in Finnish by owners of dogs with chronic signs of pain caused by osteoarthritis.

ANIMALS
61 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis.

PROCEDURES
Validity, internal consistency, and repeatability testing of the questionnaire were evaluated by completion of questions in Finnish by owners of 61 dogs; the questionnaire was named the Helsinki chronic pain index (HCPI). Sensitivity testing of the questionnaire was determined from data of 2 smaller groups of dogs treated with carprofen (n = 17) or placebo (17). Owners completed the questionnaire 5 times during a 16-week period. Psychometric properties of the HCPI were evaluated.

RESULTS
Principal component analysis yielded only a single stable component, indicating that the HCPI was best explained as an 11-item single construct index of chronic pain. Changes in the HCPI correlated well with change in quality of life and with change in the mobility visual analogue scale (r = 0.72 and r = 0.67, respectively), indicating a high predictive validity. Internal consistency (Cronbach A value = 0.82) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84 for items and 0.92 for the HCPI) were high. Changes in scores (from baseline to treatment and back to no treatment) between the carprofen treatment group and placebo control group were significant, indicating high sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The Finnish version of the HCPI provided a valid, reliable, and responsive tool for assessment of response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis.


OBJECTIVES
Recently, research has focused on understanding the needs of persons with early-onset dementia and their family caregivers who often experience stigmatic beliefs. However, to date, research has not provided a thorough and deep understanding of the stigma formation process and its implications for this population. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the stigma formation process as experienced by family members as informal caregivers of persons with early-onset dementia, and professionals as formal caregivers who are involved in the development, management and provision of services.

METHOD
We conducted three focus groups with 16 participants, including spouses of a person with early-onset dementia and professionals. The focus groups' transcripts were analysed following a thematic analysis procedure.

RESULTS
Results indicated that both family members and professionals encounter stigmatic experiences because of their association with younger persons with dementia. Lack of knowledge emerged as the main antecedent and emotional burden as the main consequence of stigma.

CONCLUSION
Stigmatic experiences emerged as a pervasive and complex phenomenon among formal and informal caregivers of persons with early-onset dementia, suggesting the need to developing a comprehensive and integrated approach to reduce them at the individual, professional and societal levels.


s, field observations, preliminary results, new ideas and exchange of opinions, book reviews. NJE aims to create a platform for scientists, planners, developers, managers and everyone involved in promoting Namibia's sustainable development. An Editorial Committee ensures that a high standard is maintained. ISSN: 2026-8327 (online). Articles in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.


Background: The "Hygiene Hypothesis" was postulated by David Strachan in 1989 to explain for the rapid 20th century increase in allergic diseases such as asthma. In this hypothesis, children from developed countries living in ultra-hygienic environments and avoiding exposure to viruses, bacteria, and parasites, especially helminthes, have an increased risk of atopic disorders. Materials & Methods: Research and online content related to cancer hygiene hypothesis is highlighted and to illustrate key themes. Guidelines for meaningful participation in DOC activities for people with diabetes, families, health care providers, and industry are provided. Results: The lack of worms leads to failure of stimulation of mucosal Th2 responses. These infections exert their effect through critically altering T-helper (Th)1/Th2 regulation, and it is postulated that, thus, they protect against atopy and asthma, through the induction of Th1 regulatory response. It is now also recognized that this "hygiene hypothesis" concept applies to a wider range of chronic inflammatory diseases than atopy and asthma, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cancer. Conclusion: Here we discuss the major implications of these findings for the association between microorganisms and cancer, and also between some immune pathologies, like autoimmune diseases, and cancer.


ABSTRACT The transition to parenthood is associated with declines in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and increases in light PA (LPA). One potential mechanism for this change in PA that occur at the onset of parenthood is housework. We examined housework load and PA levels of three cohorts of couples across 12 months recruited from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada between January 2007 and December 2011. Participants (N = 314; 102 not expecting a child, 136 expecting first-child, 76 expecting second child) completed baseline demographics and 7-day accelerometry, followed by assessments at 6 and 12 months. Hierarchical linear regression assessed the association between PA, housework, and perceptions of partner's workload. New fathers' but not new mothers' housework was positively related to their LPA at 12 months. Perceptions of partners' workload were positively related to new mothers LPA, and negatively related to new fathers MVPA at 12 months. Mediation analysis determined if perceived behavioral control accounts for the relationship between the discrepancy in housework between partners' PA. Results suggest that if a woman perceives their partner to do more housework their own PA increases, whereas for men their PA decreases. These findings highlight the importance of the division of housework on PA for both mothers and fathers.


Mutations of LAMB2 typically cause autosomal recessive Pierson syndrome, a disorder characterized by congenital nephrotic syndrome, ocular and neurologic abnormalities, but may occasionally be associated with milder or oligosymptomatic disease variants. LAMB2 encodes the basement membrane protein laminin β2, which is incorporated in specific heterotrimeric laminin isoforms and has an expression pattern corresponding to the pattern of organ manifestations in Pierson syndrome. Herein we review all previously reported and several novel LAMB2 mutations in relation to the associated phenotype in patients from 39 unrelated families. The majority of disease‐causing LAMB2 mutations are truncating, consistent with the hypothesis that loss of laminin β2 function is the molecular basis of Pierson syndrome. Although truncating mutations are distributed across the entire gene, missense mutations are clearly clustered in the N‐terminal LN domain, which is important for intermolecular interactions. There is an association of missense mutations and small in frame deletions with a higher mean age at onset of renal disease and with absence of neurologic abnormalities, thus suggesting that at least some of these may represent hypomorphic alleles. Nevertheless, genotype alone does not appear to explain the full range of clinical variability, and therefore hitherto unidentified modifiers are likely to exist. Hum Mutat 31:992–1002, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Collective behavior affords several advantages to fish in avoiding predators, foraging, mating, and swimming. Although fish schools have been traditionally considered egalitarian superorganisms, a number of empirical observations suggest the emergence of leadership in gregarious groups. Detecting and classifying leader-follower relationships is central to elucidate the behavioral and physiological causes of leadership and understand its consequences. Here, we demonstrate an information-theoretic approach to infer leadership from positional data of fish swimming. In this framework, we measure social interactions between fish pairs through the mathematical construct of transfer entropy, which quantifies the predictive power of a time series to anticipate another, possibly coupled, time series. We focus on the zebrafish model organism, which is rapidly emerging as a species of choice in preclinical research for its genetic similarity to humans and reduced neurobiological complexity with respect to mammals. To overcome experimental confounds and generate test data sets on which we can thoroughly assess our approach, we adapt and calibrate a data-driven stochastic model of zebrafish motion for the simulation of a coupled dynamical system of zebrafish pairs. In this synthetic data set, the extent and direction of the coupling between the fish are systematically varied across a wide parameter range to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of transfer entropy in inferring leadership. Our approach is expected to aid in the analysis of collective behavior, providing a data-driven perspective to understand social interactions.


In this paper, we study the effect of packet losses in Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication on string stability of a platoon of vehicles employing a Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) system. Such vehicles employ a Constant Time Headway Policy (CTHP) and utilize communicated information of the acceleration of preceding vehicle in the string. This communication is subject to packet losses in a realistic wireless system and we model the packet loss phenomenon as a binomial random process characterized by a packet reception probability. We assume that the platoon is homogeneous and derive the inverse relationship between the minimum string stable time headway and the packet reception probability. Numerical simulations corroborate the results presented in this paper.


Academics and professionals who aim to understand and plan for aging societies are most often younger than study participants and the benefactors of social programs themselves. However, the appropriateness of such intergenerational practice is beginning to be questioned. It has been suggested that only older people should conduct research, consult on and plan programs for older people. To understand the benefits and pitfalls of such an approach, research encounters between younger and older people will be used as examples from which to explore the question: what happens when individuals attempt to reach across age and generational boundaries? Situating age and generation as organizing principles, insights will be gleaned from the anthropological insider–outsider debate, linguistic work on age-based differences, and emotional associations and identification across age and generational boundaries. This paper argues that the ways older and younger people relate to each other may hold the potential for connection and/or conflict between the generations. Results suggest that age and generation be considered one of the many social locations that may impact the research process and outcomes. Researchers and policy makers of all ages must begin to reflect on their involvement with age and generational boundaries.


The mycalesine butterfly genus Heteropsis Westwood, 1850 (Satyrinae: Mycalesina) has recently been conceived to be represented in three major palaeotropical regions (Madagascar, Africa and Asia), but there has been no formal taxonomic treatment covering this entire group. Studies aimed at understanding the evolutionary success of Mycalesina in the Old World tropics have been hampered by the lack of both a robust phylogeny and a stable nomenclature for this satyrine subtribe. Here, we present a well‐supported molecular phylogeny based on 10 genes and 133 exemplar taxa, representing almost all known species groups of Heteropsis (s.l.), and including all but four known species in Madagascar. We also combine sequences of the exemplars with a morphological matrix of 428 characters. The widespread 'Heteropsis clade' is confirmed as monophyletic, but lineages in different geographic regions also form endemic and well‐supported clades with deep divergences among them. Here we establish this group as comprising three genera, Heteropsis (Malagasy region only), Telinga Moore, 1880 (Asia), and Brakefieldia gen.n. (Africa). We recover the genera Telinga and Brakefieldia as sisters with high support. Each genus is taxonomically characterized and a revised synonymic checklist is appended with new combinations and some changes in rank. With a well‐resolved topology and updates to the taxonomy of the group, researchers are now in a position to explore the drivers of the spectacular radiation of the group, notably in Madagascar, where the highest phenotypic and species diversity occurs.


Introduction: The clinical relevance of bacterial types identified in small bowel aspirate cultures during diagnostic evaluation of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is unclear. Aim: The main purpose of this study was to assess associations between risk factors for upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) or coliform SIBO and SIBO diagnosis by culture. Materials and Methods: Small bowel aspirates were cultured in patients with suspected SIBO, defined as ≥104 colony-forming units/mL coliform or ≥105 colony-forming units/mL UAT bacteria. History was reviewed for risk factors and potential SIBO complications. Symptoms, quality of life, psychological traits, and laboratory values were assessed. We compared groups by 2-sample t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and the Fisher exact test. Overall associations of primary and secondary endpoints with type of bacterial overgrowth were assessed by analysis of variance F-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Fisher exact tests. Associations of risk factors with type of overgrowth were explored using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Among 76 patients, 37 had SIBO (68% coliform, 33% UAT) and 39 did not. Conditions (P=0.02) and surgery (P<0.01) associated with decreased gastric acid were associated with SIBO. In multinomial logistic regression, conditions of decreased acid was associated with UAT SIBO [odds ratio (OR), 5.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-33.3]. Surgery causing decreased acid was associated with UAT [OR, 9.5 (1.4-106)] and coliform SIBO [OR, 8.4 (1.6-86.4)]. Three patients with discontinuous small bowel had coliform SIBO [OR, 17.4 (1.2-2515)]. There were no differences in complications, overall symptoms, quality of life, or psychological traits. Conclusions: Conditions or surgeries associated with decreased gastric acid are associated with SIBO diagnosis by culture.


A patient with transient ischemic attacks from occlusion of a left common carotid artery was treated with common carotid endarterectomy immediately followed by superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass. Subsequent angiography demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm formation at the anastomotic site. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this complication occurring in a human being.


To improve the effect of the gene immunization against Hantaan virus, we constructed the eukaryotic expression vector pTARGET-hans(ISS) containing Hantaan Virus S gene coding region and CpG motif by cloning S gene segment with CpG motif into eukaryotic expression vector pTARGETTM. After conformed by enzyme analysis, the recombinant expression vector pTARGET-hans(ISS) was transferred into Vero-E6 cells by electroporation and the transient expression of Hantaan virus nucleocapsid protein was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA). In some transferred Vero-E6, the green fluorescence was showed, thus we can conclude that the eukaryotic expression vector pTARGET-hans(ISS) was successfully constructed and expressed in vitro, which will lay a foundation for further animal vaccination.


OBJECTIVE
AlcoholEdu for College is a 2- to 3-hour online course for incoming college freshmen. This study was the first multicampus trial to examine effects of AlcoholEdu for College on alcohol-related problems among freshmen.

METHOD
Thirty universities participated in the study. Fifteen were randomly assigned to receive AlcoholEdu, and the other 15 were assigned to the control condition. AlcoholEdu was implemented by intervention schools during the summer and/or fall semester. Cross-sectional surveys of freshmen were conducted at each university beginning before the intervention in spring 2008/2009; post-intervention surveys were administered in fall 2008/2009 and spring 2009/2010. The surveys included questions about the past-30-day frequency of 28 alcohol-related problems, from which we created indices for the total number of problems and problems in seven domains: physiological, academic, social, driving under the influence/ riding with drinking drivers, aggression, sexual risk taking, and victimization. Multilevel Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine intent-to-treat and dosage effects of AlcoholEdu for College on these outcomes.

RESULTS
Multilevel intent-to-treat analyses indicated significant reductions in the risk for past-30-day alcohol problems in general and problems in the physiological, social, and victimization domains during the fall semester immediately after completion of the course. However, these effects did not persist in the spring semester. Additional analyses suggested stronger AlcoholEdu effects on these outcomes at colleges with higher rates of student course completion. No AlcoholEdu effects were observed for alcohol-related problems in the other four domains.

CONCLUSIONS
AlcoholEdu for College appears to have beneficial short-term effects on victimization and the most common types of alcohol-related problems among freshmen. Universities may benefit the most by mandating AlcoholEdu for College for all incoming freshmen and by implementing this online course along with environmental prevention strategies.


The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Array Radiometer represents a promising new approach to microwave atmospheric sounding from geostationary orbit based on passive interferometry. One of the major concerns about the feasibility of this new concept is related to the ability of the sensor to cope with the failure of one or several of its single receivers/antennas. This letter shows that the inclusion of a small percentage of additional antennas significantly reduces the degradation of radiometric resolution caused by such receiver failure. Impact of antenna failure is analyzed, taking into account two test images with very different spatial harmonic content. A tradeoff analysis of several array topologies is performed so as to minimize the number of additional antennas while keeping worst case radiometric error within a reasonable level


This research investigated the relationship between eco-certification and the willingness to pay (WTP) for environmentally friendly branded products. The research was originated in Canada, where Essoussi and Linton (2010) compared products with an recycled component and tested what the impact was for different product groups on consumers' WTP. This research is an important part of a widely international investigation to environmentally friendly products. The main reason for it is that there is a significant increase of interest in natural environment because legislation in many countries aims at diverting disposed product from waste dumps to consumers.
The main aim of this research was to see if an interest in environmentally friendly products concerns appears to lead to the feeling that environmental certification is important. This was done by asking respondents the maximum price they would pay for a branded and recycled products. The same question was asked about branded and recycled products with an eco-certificate, so that those two variables can be compared.
230 students from the University of Twente were asked to fill in a questionnaire about environmentally friendly products. The participant were first year bachelor students from four different bachelor programs: Business Administration, International Business Administration, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design. The surveys were conducted in January and February 2011.
Results indicated that people are WTP more for branded and recycled products with an eco-certificate vs. non-certificated branded and recycled products. This counts for five of the six product groups. Only for Xerox white paper, respondents would not pay a price premium for an eco-certificate. Another result, which is similar to the study of Essoussi and Linton (2010), is that the consumers' WTP price premium for recycled products with an eco-certificate is product specific. Also the level of functional risk of recycled products with an eco-certificate has statistically proven that it is of influence on WTP. This means that products perceived with a low level of risk, like for example white paper (relatively low cost, no harm for the customer) are statistically different compared to products containing a high level of risk, like for example a car tire.
This project has taken an initial step to see if environmental interest leads to the feeling that environmental certification is important. It can be concluded that eco-certification plays a significant role on the six tested product groups. Still, the main reasons or argumentation for buying eco-certificated products over regular recycled products needs to be further investigated, not only by asking the respondents the maximum price premium they want to pay, but also look for motivation why they want to pay more for a certificated product. Also psychological related items needs to be further understand, and at the same time companies must be convinced what kind of contribution and advantage eco-certification can produce towards environmentally friendly products.


A large body studies into individual differences in second language learning has shown that success in second language learning is strongly affected by a set of relevant learner characteristics ranging from the age of onset to motivation, aptitude, and personality. Most studies have concentrated on a limited number of learner characteristics and have argued for the relative importance of some of these factors. Clearly, some learners are more successful than others, and it is tempting to try to find the factor or combination of factors that can crack the code to success. However, isolating one or several global individual characteristics can only give a partial explanation of success in second language learning. The limitation of this approach is that it only reflects on rather general personality characteristics of learners at one point in time, Wander Lowie, Marijn van Dijk, Huiping Chan, Marjolijn Verspoor 128 while both language development and the factors affecting it are instances of complex dynamic processes that develop over time. Factors that have been labelled as "individual differences" as well as the development of proficiency are characterized by nonlinear relationships in the time domain, due to which the rate of success cannot be simply deduced from a combination of factors. Moreover, in complex dynamic systems theory (CDST) literature it has been argued that a generalization about the interaction of variables across individuals is not warranted when we acknowledge that language development is essentially an individual process (Molenaar, 2015). In this paper, the viability of these generalizations is investigated by exploring the L2 development over time for two identical twins in Taiwan who can be expected to be highly similar in all respects, from their environment to their level of English proficiency, to their exposure to English, and to their individual differences. In spite of the striking similarities between these learners, the development of their L2 English over time was very different. Developmental patterns for spoken and written language even showed opposite tendencies. These observations underline the individual nature of the process of second language development.


Objective: Pediatric hospitals must consider staff, training, and direct costs required to maintain a pediatric specialized transport team, balanced with indirect potential benefits of marketing and referral volume. The effect of transitioning a unit-based transport team to an external service on the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is unknown, but information is needed as hospital systems focus on population management. We examined the impact on PICU transports after transition to an external transport vendor. Methods: Single-center retrospective review performed of PICU admissions, referrals, and transfers during baseline, post-, and maintenance period with a total of 9-year follow-up. Transfer volume was analyzed during pre-, post-, and maintenance phase with descriptive statistics and statistical process control charts from 1999 to 2012. Results: Total PICU admissions increased with an annual growth rate of 3.7%, with mean annual 626 admissions prior to implementation to the mean of 890 admissions at the end of period, P < .001. The proportion of transport to total admissions decreased from 27% to 21%, but mean annual transports were unchanged, 175 to 183, P = .6, and mean referrals were similar, 186 to 203, P = .8. Seasonal changes in transport volume remained as a predominant source of variability. Annual transport refusals increased initially in the postimplementation phase, mean 11 versus 33, P < .03, but similar to baseline in the maintenance phase, mean 20/year, P = .07. Patient refusals were due to bed and staffing constraints, with 7% due to the lack of transport vendor availability. Conclusion: In a transition to a regional transport service, PICU transport volume was maintained in the long-term follow-up and total PICU admissions increased. Further research on the direct and indirect impact of transport regionalization is needed to determine the optimal cost–benefit and quality of care as health-care systems focus on population management.


—Sensor networks can bene fi t greatly from location-awareness, since it allows information gathered by the sensors to be tied to their physical locations. Ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) transmission is a promising technology for location-aware sensor networks, due to its power ef fi ciency, fi ne delay resolution, and robust operation in harsh environments. However, the presence of walls and other obstacles presents a signi fi cant challenge in terms of localization, as they can result in positively biased distance estimates. We have performed an extensive indoor measurement campaign with FCC-compliant UWB radios to quantify the effect of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) propagation. From these channel pulse responses, we extract features that are representative of the propagation conditions. We then develop classi fi cation and regression algorithms based on machine learning techniques, which are capable of: (i) assessing whether a signal was transmitted in LOS or NLOS conditions; and (ii) reducing ranging error caused by NLOS conditions. We evaluate the resulting performance through Monte Carlo simulations and compare with existing techniques. In contrast to common probabilistic approaches that require statistical models of the features, the proposed optimization-based approach is more robust against modeling errors.


Between June 1997 and September 1999, we performed transurethral unroofing (TUUR) in three patients with hematospermia that recurred repeatedly for one year or more. Patient 1 (48 years old) and Patient 2 (59 years old) were diagnosed as having müllerian duct cysts that communicated with the left ejaculatory duct, and Patient 3 (36 years old) as an ejaculatory duct obstruction with the right ejaculatory duct dilation. A mixture of water-soluble contrast medium and indigocarmine blue dye was injected into the cysts and the ejaculatory duct cavity after incision of the vas deferens in Patients 1 and 3, and by cyst puncture under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance in Patient 2. Then the urethra was incised between the bladder neck and the verumontanum using a Collins' hot knife electrode, and spouting of the dye from the incision was judged to indicate successful unroofing. In Patient 2, safe and simple TUUR was possible by identifying the cyst location and its distance from the knife electrode under TRUS guidance. Hematospermia resolved after surgery in all three patients and there has been no recurrence for 1.3-3.5 years (mean: 2.6 years). Thus, TUUR was effective for treating chronic hematospermia caused by müllerian duct cyst and ejaculatory duct obstruction. For safe and reliable performance of this treatment, TRUS guidance and injection of the dye into the cyst and ejaculatory duct cavity can be recommended.


ABSTRACT In this paper, we characterise the scaling of energy spectra, and the interscale transfer of energy and enstrophy, for strongly, moderately and weakly stably stratified two-dimensional (2D) turbulence, restricted in a vertical plane, under large-scale random forcing. In the strongly stratified case, a large-scale vertically sheared horizontal flow (VSHF) coexists with small scale turbulence. The VSHF consists of internal gravity waves and the turbulent flow has a kinetic energy (KE) spectrum that follows an approximate k−3 scaling with zero KE flux and a robust positive enstrophy flux. The spectrum of the turbulent potential energy (PE) also approximately follows a k−3 power-law and its flux is directed to small scales. For moderate stratification, there is no VSHF and the KE of the turbulent flow exhibits Bolgiano–Obukhov scaling that transitions from a shallow k−11/5 form at large scales, to a steeper approximate k−3 scaling at small scales. The entire range of scales shows a strong forward enstrophy flux, and interestingly, large (small) scales show an inverse (forward) KE flux. The PE flux in this regime is directed to small scales, and the PE spectrum is characterised by an approximate k−1.64 scaling. Finally, for weak stratification, KE is transferred upscale and its spectrum closely follows a k−2.5 scaling, while PE exhibits a forward transfer and its spectrum shows an approximate k−1.6 power-law. For all stratification strengths, the total energy always flows from large to small scales and almost all the spectral indicies are well explained by accounting for the scale-dependent nature of the corresponding flux.


A study of the cyclical changes in the distribution of testis lipids in the pike reveals a sequence of events comparable with that occurring in seasonal birds. These events include the post-nuptial appearance of cholesterol-positive lipid material which accumulates within the seminiferous lobules, and its subsequent gradual disappearance. A lipid cycle occurs also in the lobule walls, where apparently fibroblasts, in the absence of a true secretory interstitium, become glandular and probably take on an endocrine function. These 'lobule boundary cells' seasonally accumulate cholesterol-positive cytoplasmic lipids which suddenly become depleted at the time of the annual pre-spawning assembly. The pike differs from wild birds in the 'timing' of such rhythmical activity. In birds, despite a rapid post-nuptial interstitial regeneration, the tubule cholesterol lingers until spermatogenesis begins during the following late winter or spring. In the poikilothermous pike, on the other hand, the next spermatogenesis begins almost immediately (in June, when the temperature of the water is still rising). It continues without interruption while the length of day and later the temperature decrease, until the testis reaches its maximum size in December. 'Lobule boundary cells' start to become lipoidal in September, at a time of high temperature but decreasing day-length. The cells are fully charged by December. Both tubules and gland-cells now become inactive. Then in April at the spring period of increasing day-length, and immediately a iter water temperature starts to rise, the boundary cells begin to secrete and the prespawning assembly occurs. This is followed by the shedding of spermatozoa later in the month or early in May. The only period of true inactivity is at the height of spermatogenesis during mid-winter and early spring.


We report here electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) observed upon oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons with different potentials for oxidation to the radical cations (D+•) and tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) in MeCN/ benzene solutions. In this system, with TPrA as a coreactant, ECL is generated by reaction of D+• with the free radical intermediate produced upon oxidation of TPrA. ECL was observed from three out of the eight compounds studied. On the basis of the energetic criterion for ECL, the potential for oxidation of the intermediate free radical, Pr2N(CH)Et, was found to be about -1.7 V vs SCE. By studying the fluorescence quenching of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by TPrA, the standard potential for oxidation of TPrA to TPrA+• was estimated as 0.9 V vs SCE.


Both the increased complexity of integrated circuits, resulting in six or more levels of integration, and the increasing use of flip-chip packaging have driven the development of integrated circuit (IC) failure analysis tools that can be applied to the backside of the chip. Among these new approaches are focused ion beam (FIB) tools and processes for performing chip edits/repairs from the die backside. This paper describes the use of backside FIB for a failure analysis application rather than for chip repair. Specifically, we used FIB technology to prepare an IC for inspection of voided metal interconnects (''lines'') and vias. Conventional FIB milling was combined with a super-enhanced gas assisted milling process that uses XeF{sub 2} for rapid removal of large volumes of bulk silicon. This combined approach allowed removal of the TiW underlayer from a large number of Ml lines simultaneously, enabling rapid localization and plan view imaging of voids in lines and vias with backscattered electron (BSE) imaging in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Sequential cross sections of individual voided vias enabled us to develop a 3-d reconstruction of these voids. This information clarified how the voids were formed, helping us identify the IC process steps that needed tomore » be changed.« less


For some years already, there has been a plethora of research initiatives throughout the world that have deployed diverse experimentation facilities for Future Internet technologies research and development. While access to these testbeds has been sometimes restricted to the specific research community supporting them, opening them to different communities can not only help those infrastructures to achieve a wider impact, but also to better identify new possibilities based on novel considerations brought by those external users. On top of the individual testbeds, supporting experiments that employs several of them in a combined and seamless fashion has been one of the main objectives of different transcontinental research initiatives, such as FIRE in Europe or GENI in United States. In particular, Fed4FIRE project and its continuation, Fed4FIRE+, have emerged as "best-in-town" projects to federate heterogeneous experimentation platforms. This paper presents the most relevant aspects of the integration of a large scale testbed on the IoT domain within the Fed4FIRE+ federation. It revolves around the adaptation carried out on the SmartSantander smart city testbed. Additionally, the paper offers an overview of the different federation models that Fed4FIRE+ proposes to testbed owners in order to provide a complete view of the involved technologies. The paper is also presenting a survey of how several specific research platforms from different experimentation domains have fulfilled the federation task following Fed4FIRE+ concepts. TYPE OF PAPER AND


We present Neural Marionette, an unsupervised approach that discovers the skeletal structure from a dynamic sequence and learns to generate diverse motions that are consistent with the observed motion dynamics. Given a video stream of point cloud observation of an articulated body under arbitrary motion, our approach discovers the unknown low-dimensional skeletal relationship that can effectively represent the movement. Then the discovered structure is utilized to encode the motion priors of dynamic sequences in a latent structure, which can be decoded to the relative joint rotations to represent the full skeletal motion. Our approach works without any prior knowledge of the underlying motion or skeletal structure, and we demonstrate that the discovered structure is even comparable to the hand-labeled ground truth skeleton in representing a 4D sequence of motion. The skeletal structure embeds the general semantics of possible motion space that can generate motions for diverse scenarios. We verify that the learned motion prior is generalizable to the multi-modal sequence generation, interpolation of two poses, and motion retargeting to a different skeletal structure.


Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the value, based on true-positive and false-positive rates, of various auditory brain stem response (ABR) indices in discriminating patients with brain stem lesions from patients with cochlear lesions. Design A factorial design was used in this retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to analyze the performance of 32 patients with brain stem lesions and 33 patients with cochlear involvement for the absolute latency of wave V; the 1-111, 111-V, and I-V interwave intervals; the interaural latency difference and 'the V/I amplitude ratio. Analyzed in the same manner were four combinations of ABR indices. Results Based on the ROC curves, the clinically most valuable index was the I-V interval, but overall the individual indices showed only moderate sensitivity to brain stem pathology. By combining several indices, the sensitivity to brain stem involvement was improved. However, as expected, the overall false-positive rate also increased. Conclusions There is a diagnostic advantage to using more than one ABR index in evaluating patients suspected of having brain stem involvement.