Supercapacitors combine efficient electrical energy storage and performance stability based on fast electrosorption of electrolyte ions at charged interfaces. They are a central element of existing and emerging energy concepts. A better understanding of capacitance enhancement options is essential to exploit the full potential of supercapacitors. Here, we report a novel hierarchically structured N-doped carbon material and a significant capacitance enhancement for a specific ionic liquid. Our studies indicate that matching of the electrode material and the ionic liquid specifically leads to a constant normalized resistance of the electrode material (voltage window up to ±1 V vs. carbon) and a significant enhancement of the specific capacitance. Such effects are not seen for standard organic electrolytes, non-matched ionic liquids, or non-N-doped carbons. A higher N-doping of the electrode material improves the symmetric full cell capacitance of the match and considerably increases its long-term stability at +3 V cell voltage. This novel observance of enhanced specific capacitance for N-doped carbons with matched ionic liquid may enable a new platform for developing supercapacitors with enhanced energy storage capacity.


From the perspective of clean production process, this paper summarizes the present research status of green cooling machining at home and abroad and analyzes the problems of coolant cooling during machining metal materials in traditional method and. The green cutting process tests using water vapor for cooling lubricant were done and the single-factor method was used. The cutting tests for the high-temperature alloy GH4169, titanium alloy TC4 and stainless steel Cr12 were done by the carbide cutting toolsunder th condition of distilled water, emulsion, water vapor for cooling lubricant and dry cutting. These tests results showed that in same process parameters, main cutting force Fc can be reduced by about 30%, 26% and 22% respectively when using water vapor for cooling lubricant than using dry cutting, distilled water and emulsion, while the cutting temperature T can be decreased by about 12%, 6% and 3% respectively.


This paper presents an experimental study on the development of a cyclogyro-based flying robot with a new variable angle of attack mechanism. A cyclogyro is a flying machine supported in the air by power-driven rotors that rotate about a horizontal axis, like the paddle-wheels of a steamboat. Machines of this type have been designed by some companies but there has been no record of any successful flights. Our design starts with a new variable angle of attack mechanism with an eccentric (rotational) point in addition to a rotational point connecting to a motor. The main feature of the mechanism with the eccentric rotational point is the ability to change attack of angles in accordance with the wing positions (as determined by the rotational angles of the cyclogyro) without actuators. The design parameters (wing span, the number of wings, and eccentric distance) of the flying robot are determined through a series of experiments. Experimental results show that the cyclogyro-based flying robot with the new variable angle of attack mechanism is capable of generating sufficient lift force for flying.


A seismic zone that has been a persistent source of seismicity for at least two centuries contains most of the known earthquakes in southeastern Pennsylvania and is named the Lancaster seismic zone (LSZ) from the county it approximately occupies. The LSZ is identified by new epicenters for known and previously unknown earthquakes obtained from a systematic search of newspapers covering one and a half centuries of the preinstrumental period (1750 to 1900). The new preinstrumental epicenters and reliable instrumental epicenters indicate that the LSZ is about 50 km long and spans the belt of allochthonous Appalachian crystallines between the Great Valley and the Martic Line, an early Paleozoic suture. The LSZ also bridges across the Newark-Gettysburg Triassic Basin. The overall level and character of seismicity on the LSZ has been uniform at least since 1800; nevertheless, three bursts can be identified. The latest burst started in the middle 1960's. The 23 April 1984 Martic earthquake ( MbLg = 4.1) is the largest in this burst and resembles in size the largest events in the other bursts. The 1984 event is located in the southernmost portion of the LSZ. Hypocenter distribution and first-motion data from several locally recorded events in the 1984 sequence suggest a seismogenic fault in a narrow depth range centered at 4.5 km. The inferred rupture dips steeply east with reverse and right-lateral movement consistent with ENE horizontal maximum compression. The Rockhill Jurassic dike and associated faults strike NNE and may control the geometry of the 1984 rupture and the overall distribution of seismicity in the LSZ .


Background For years, we have been looking for effective immunosuppressive regimens, but tolerability of the drug is important too. Otherwise patients cannot tolerate the drug and the incidence of death, graft loss or premature treatment withdrawal will increase. New therapeutic approaches have been developed such as calcineurin inhibitors for mTOR inhibition. Our study aimed to increase the understanding of immunosuppression and adverse effects. Purpose The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the short- and long-term safety profile of immunosuppressive regimes evaluated in the original study. In this current analysis, data from only a single centre were used, consisting of data from 185 kidney transplant recipients previously enrolled in the core study, between February/2008 to May/2010. These patients were followed for two years post-transplant. Materials and methods This study is a retrospective safety analysis data from a larger open-label, randomised, multicentre study titled "Planned randomised conversion from tacrolimus to sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen in de novo kidney transplant recipients", previously approved by our local ethics committee. Of 169 patients evaluated at month 3, 160 met the criteria for intervention. Of these 60 patients converted to sirolimus and 60 kept on initial tacrolimus-based maintenance therapy, as earlier randomised. The 41 patients who did not meet the month 3 criteria for the core protocol interventional plan were considered a non-criteria group and were also followed for 12 months. Results Biochemical and haematological parameters were recorded at fixed time visits (month 3, month 12 and month 24) from groups (SRL versus TAC), including haemoglobin g/dL (M3:12.8 ± 1.61 × 13.1 ± 2.02; M12:13.6 ± 2.47; X14.1 ± 1.64; M24:13.41.83 ± X14 ± 1.69), leukocytesN/mm3 (M3:6938 ± 3218 × 64912789 ±; M12:6811 ± 2434X6011 ± 1985; M24:7622 ± 2902X7598 ± 2378), urine protein to creatinine ratio (M3: 0.3 ± 0.8X 0.1 ± 0.21; M120.3 ± 0.6X0.2X0.6; M24:0.5 ± 0.3 ± 8), creatinine mg/dL (M3: 1.30 ± 0.33X1.25 ± 0.30; M12:1.29 ± 0.33X1.27 ± 0.35; M24:1.33 ± 0.41X1.25 ± 0.35), clearance mL/min/m2 (M3; M12; M24) cholesterol mg/dL (M3:17542 ± X179 ± 35; M12:225 ± 47X190 ± 43; M24:221 ± 53X187 ± 54) and cholesterol fractions, including LDL mg/dL, (M3:97 ± 35 × 102 ± 30; M12:134 ± 38 × 112 ± 34; M24:131 ± 39 × 108 ± 34) were collected. Conclusions At the moment, the current study showed that biochemical and haematological values did not differ statistically, however, cholesterol fractions showed differences between immunosuppression regimes. In addition, all adverse events (serious or not) reported at medical records were evaluated, according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event v.4. The incidence of infections and gastrointestinal disorders pre- and post-conversion was collected. This information will be explored at greater depth. No conflict of interest.


A20 Introduction. A significant proportion of the population, including cancer patients, use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is unclear whether utilization differs among cancer survivors compared to others and if quality of life or perceived health differs between users and non-users of complementary therapies. This study examined supplement use and complementary therapy use among a cohort of women, about one-third of whom had a history of cancer at baseline enrollment.
 > Methods and Population. Data were analyzed from women enrolled in a prospective cohort study at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland to evaluate biomarkers of disease. Baseline data were collected in 2003; a follow-up questionnaire was subsequently administered in 2006 that ascertained data on CAM use in the previous year, self-rated health and quality of life. Women were provided with a list of 40 supplements and 24 therapies plus an "other" category to specify. Of the 734 women who enrolled in the cohort, 511 participated at both time points. Among these 511 women, 194 (38.0%) reported being diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) at baseline. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression methods were conducted comparing CAM use and the associations between CAM use and self-rated health among the 194 cancer survivors to the 347 women without a history of cancer.
 > Results. Among the 194 cancer survivors in the cohort, 21.1% reported the use of supplements and 35.7% reported the use of therapies. The most common types of supplements reported were specific vitamins and multivitamins. The most common forms of complementary therapies reported were prayer (36%), massage therapy (25%), meditation (10%), and acupuncture (8%). There were no statistically significant differences between the use of supplements or therapies among the cancer survivors compared to the group of women without a history of cancer. Self-rated health was not statistically significantly different between cancer survivors and women without cancer: 61% rated their health as excellent or very good compared to 67%, respectively (p=0.4). Self-rated health, change in health over the past 12 months (better, worse, same), and degree of pain did not differ significantly between users and non-users of complementary therapies among cancer survivors or those with no history of cancer.
 > Conclusions. The findings from this study suggest that women diagnosed with cancer do not utilize CAM more often than women without a history of cancer. Further, the results show that there are no statistically significant relationships between CAM use and self-rated overall health, change in health, or pain. Further data analyses are being conducted to examine the associations between the individual types of CAM and self-rated health and quality of life.


Abstract Manganese(II) monosulphide crystallizes into three different polymorphs (α-, β-, and γ-MnS). Out of these, α-MnS, also known as mineral alabandite, is considered the most stable and is widespread in terrestrial materials as well as in extraterrestrial objects such as meteorites. In this study, a low-temperature antiferromagnetic state of α-MnS was investigated using macroscopic magnetic measurements as induced and remanent field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetizations and magnetic hysteresis. Both natural alabandite and synthetic samples show: (1) Néel temperatures in a narrow temperature range around 153 K, and (2) a rapid increase of the magnetization around 40 K. An anomalous magnetic behavior taking place at about 40 K was previously ascribed to the magnetic transition from a high-temperature antiferromagnetic to a low-temperature ferromagnetic state documented for non-stoichiometric α-MnS slightly enriched in manganese. However, our detailed microscopic observations and, in particular, oxidation experiments indicate that the anomalous magnetic behavior around 40 K is caused by the presence of an oxide layer of ferrimagnetic hausmannite (Mn3O4) on the surface of α-MnS rather than being an intrinsic property of nearly stoichiometric α-MnS.


The cutting stiffness has notable influence on the sugarcane cutting quality, so great importance should be laid on enhancing the cutting stiffness when designing the cutting device. Based on cutting mechanism analysis, this paper proposes a new design of cutting device to increase the cutting stiffness by properly adding an auxiliary support bar and builds up 3D model of it. Then combining of virtual simulation analysis and physical experiment, it compares and analyzes the different stiffness and cutting quality with support bar in various support position or without it. The result shows that the new design with properly mounted support bar can raise 15.30% of the cutting stiffness, and consequently improve the sugarcane cutting quality distinctly.


Three sets of ten time histories each were developed to represent the ground motions for each of the three return periods. All of the time histories are provided as pairs of fault-normal and fault-parallel components. The ground motion time histories are provided in two forms: unmodified, and spectrally modified to match the probabilistic response spectra. The unmodified time histories can be scaled to match the probabilistic response spectra at a specified period, such as the first mode period of the structure being analyzed, while leaving the shape of the response spectrum unmodified. This approach preserves the particular characteristics of the individual time history, together with the peaks and troughs of its response spectrum. These individual characteristics are modified in the spectrally matched time histories, resulting in a suite of ten time histories (for a given return period) that all have the same response spectrum for a given component (fault normal or fault parallel) that follows the smooth shape of the probabilistic response spectrum.


: Multiple skin neoplasms at one site (MUSK IN A NEST), initially referred to as a collision tumor, describes the occurrence of two or more benign or malignant neoplasms that are adjacent or intermingled at the same cutaneous site. A mononeoplastic cutaneous tumor refers to a single tumor at any cutaneous site. Two, three, four, five, and six tumors at the same site are described as dineoplastic, trineoplastic, tetraneoplastic, pentaneoplastic, and hexaneoplastic cutaneous tumors, respectively; the prefixes are based on the numerical multiplier used by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). MUSK IN A NEST can be classified based upon their mechanism of pathogenesis–either being composed of mixed clones of cells (clonalium, which has three subtypes: collision, colonization, and combination) or the same clone of cells that has undergone clonal evolution (clonalidem, which has one subtype: biphenoty-pic). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)-associated MUSK IN A NEST can be observed with either benign tumors, malignant tumors, or both. Nevi and seborrheic keratoses are the most common benign tumors associated with BCC; melanoma in situ and invasive melanoma are the most commonly reported malignant tumors associated with BCC. The definitive etiology of BCC-associated MUSK IN A NEST remains to be established– whether the development of the BCC at that site occurs as a direct or indirect consequence of the coexisting neoplasm or whether the occurrence of the BCC and the other neoplasm is merely the result of a coincidental juxtaposition of the tumors.


Fluorinated gases like CF4, C2F6, SF6, NF3, F2 by on-site generation can be used by the semiconductor and photovoltaic industry for etching silicon wafers and (PE)CVD chamber cleaning. Avoidance of the emission of the gases CF4, C2F6, SF6 and NF3 is required because they have a high global warming effect and high atmospheric life-time. In this work a comparison is made of the carbon footprint from the use of these gases in chamber cleaning. The carbon footprint is calculated as the total greenhouse gas emissions over the whole life-cycle of the gases. The steps in the life cycle are the following: production of the compounds, transportation, distribution in the fab (connection of cylinders), use in the process, abatement to destroy the unreacted gases and take-back of cylinders. Emissions from each step can be direct (from emission of the fluorinated gases) or indirect (from energy use). Preliminary results (excluding SF6 onsite recycling), partly based on best guesses, indicate that the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions are dominated by rest emissions of the fluorinated gases after abatement in the usage phase, followed by fugitive emissions during downtime of the abatement system and cleaning of the not completely empty returned cylinders. The use of on-site generated F2 turns out to be clearly in advantage over the other fluorinated compounds because F2 has a global warming potential of zero. Possible improvement options to minimize the use and emission of fluorinated gas are (1) strict procedure for connection of cylinders, (2) complete usage or reliable abatement of the gas from the bottle, (3) the recovery or reliable abatement of unused gases from the process and (4) good end-point detection of the process.


The chaotic repeater is proposed for long-haul chaotic communications. The physical model of all optical chaotic semiconductor laser repeater is presented. The synchronization of chaos repeater system is theoretically demonstrated. Chaos synchronization of a transmitter, a repeater and a recoverer is numerically achieved. Relationships of synchronization error and synchronization time with the system feedback coefficient are analyzed. Application of the repeater system is numerically simulated in chaotic laser communications. Chaotic communications and synchronization error analysis with a sinusoidal modulation signal of frequency 0.2GHz and a digital signal of 0.2Gb/s rate are given respectively to illustrate that chaotic repeater can improve the decoding quality in chaotic laser communications. The repeater bandwidth, chaotic communications with a high rate digital signal of 20Gb/s and synchronization error are analyzed respectively. Numerical results of a sinusoidal modulation signal of bandwidth from 0.1 to 20GHz, and a digital signal of modulation bandwidth from 0.1 to 20Gb/s are obtained, and numerical relationship of synchronization error to the modulation frequency is also shown. The system parameter mismatch is also numerically analyzed.


Abstract Morphological tasks use large multi-lingual datasets that organize words into inflection tables, which then serve as training and evaluation data for various tasks. However, a closer inspection of these data reveals profound cross-linguistic inconsistencies, which arise from the lack of a clear linguistic and operational definition of what is a word, and which severely impair the universality of the derived tasks. To overcome this deficiency, we propose to view morphology as a clause-level phenomenon, rather than word-level. It is anchored in a fixed yet inclusive set of features, that encapsulates all functions realized in a saturated clause. We deliver MightyMorph, a novel dataset for clause-level morphology covering 4 typologically different languages: English, German, Turkish, and Hebrew. We use this dataset to derive 3 clause-level morphological tasks: inflection, reinflection and analysis. Our experiments show that the clause-level tasks are substantially harder than the respective word-level tasks, while having comparable complexity across languages. Furthermore, redefining morphology to the clause-level provides a neat interface with contextualized language models (LMs) and allows assessing the morphological knowledge encoded in these models and their usability for morphological tasks. Taken together, this work opens up new horizons in the study of computational morphology, leaving ample space for studying neural morphology cross-linguistically.


The association of ADP-ribosylation factor-like 15 (ARL15) rs6450176 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid profiles has never been studied in the Chinese population. The present study was undertaken to detect the association of ARL15 rs6450176 SNP and several environmental factors with serum lipid levels in the Jing and Han populations. Genotypes of the SNP were determined in 726 unrelated subjects of Jing national- ity and 726 participants of Han nationality. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the SNP in Jing but not in Han were different between males and females (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05; respectively). The G allele carriers in Han had lower serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels, and higher ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the G allele non-carriers (P < 0.05-0.01). The G allele carriers in Jing had lower serum TC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ApoA1, ApoB levels and higher ApoA1/ApoB ratio than the G allele non-carriers (P < 0.05 for all). Subgroup analyses showed that the G allele carriers had lower TC and LDL-C levels in Han males; lower LDL-C and ApoB levels in Han females; lower ApoB levels and ApoA1/ApoB ratio in Jing males; and lower LDL-C levels in Jing females than the G allele non-carriers (P < 0.05-0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum TC, LDL-C, ApoB levels and the ApoA1/ApoB ratio in Han; and TC, HDL-C and ApoA1 levels in Jing were correlated with the genotypes of the ARL15 rs6450176 SNP (P < 0.05-0.001). Serum lipid parameters were also associated with several environmental factors in both ethnic groups. These findings indicated that there may be a racial/ethnic- and/or sex-specific association of the ARL15 rs6450176 SNP and serum lipid levels.


ABSTRACT A laboratory colony of human body lice was experimentally infected by feeding on rabbits made artificially bacteremic with a green fluorescent protein-expressing Bartonella quintana. B. quintana was detected in the gut and feces until death but not in the eggs. The life span of the lice was not modified. The rabbit model should provide valuable clues to the role of lice in the transmission of B. quintana.


In this paper we calculate the heat capacity that would be required for the mythological Greek god Zeus to be able to comfortably hold a, hypothetical, `stationary lightning bolt'. Known properties of lightning and the human pain threshold were used to model the specic heat capacity required to elevate Zeus' hand temperature, from ambient to the upper limit of pain. In order for Zeus to be able to hold the lightning bolt, the calculated specic heat capacity that his hand must have was 3:33 * 10^10 J Kg-1 K-1


With the continuing growth in the amount of genetic data, members of the bioinformatics community are developing a variety of data-mining applications to understand the data and discover meaningful information. These applications are important in defining the design and performance decisions of future high performance microprocessors. This paper presents a detailed data-sharing analysis and chip-multiprocessor (CMP) cache study of several multithreaded data-mining bioinformatics workloads. For a CMP with a three-level cache hierarchy, we model the last-level of the cache hierarchy as either multiple private caches or a single cache shared amongst different cores of the CMP. Our experiments show that the bioinformatics workloads exhibit significant data-sharing - 50-95% of the data cache is shared by the different threads of the workload. Furthermore, regardless of the amount of data cache shared, for some workloads, as many as 98% of the accesses to the last-level cache are to shared data cache lines. Additionally, the amount of data-sharing exhibited by the workloads is a function of the total cache size available - the larger the data cache the better the sharing behavior. Thus, partitioning the available last-level cache silicon area into multiple private caches can cause applications to lose their inherent data-sharing behavior. For the workloads in this study, a shared 32 MB last-level cache is able to capture a tremendous amount of data-sharing and outperform a 32 MB private cache configuration by several orders of magnitude. Specifically, with shared last-level caches, the bandwidth demands beyond the last-level cache can be reduced by factors of 3-625 when compared to private last-level caches.


Point cloud data plays an significant role in various geospatial applications as it conveys plentiful information which can be used for different types of analysis. Semantic analysis, which is an important one of them, aims to label points as different categories. In machine learning, the problem is called classification. In addition, processing point data is becoming more and more challenging due to the growing data volume. In this paper, we address point data classification in a big data context. The popular cluster computing framework Apache Spark is used through the experiments and the promising results suggests a great potential of Apache Spark for large-scale point data processing.


This paper presents a microelectromechanical test device and calibration method for finding torsional piezoresistive coefficients for micro sensing applications. The test device consists of a slider-crank connected to two torsional legs. The slider-crank creates torsional stress in the legs which causes a change in the electrical resistance through the legs. A model that predicts the effects of a scissor hinge on the slider-crank is presented. Torsional stresses in the legs are calculated and the legs are discretized into long parallel resistors and the stresses applied to each resistor. Assuming a second-order piezoresistance, an optimization is then done to find the piezoresistive coefficients by changing them until the model prediction fits the test data. These coefficients can be used to predict angular displacement from resistance measurements in fully integrated torsional sensors.


Despite the wide adoption of entrepreneurship programmes by higher education institutions, little is known about how such programmes help students cultivate rationality in decision making. This is surprising, since individuals are bounded rational and prone to systematic biases in high-risk business processes, including entrepreneurship. This article suggests that entrepreneurship programmes should include curricula that furnish awareness of the cognitive mechanisms involved in biased decision making with financial risk. In support of our proposition, this article builds on data from a laboratory-based money games experiment in which students who enrol in entrepreneurship programmes are compared with students who do not in their risk behaviour. We show when, why and how students suffer from specific biases – namely, the prior gain effect and the degree-of-risk effect – that are relevant in environments characterised by high financial risk, and specifically in entrepreneurship. These insights challenge the adequacy of entrepreneurship programme curricula in addressing bounded-rational decision making, as topics such as risk and biased decision making are often overlooked. Second, we discuss possible ways to create such awareness in entrepreneurship learning and education.


Digestion of calvarial bone by osteoclasts depends on the activity of cysteine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is unknown, however, whether these enzymes act simultaneously or in a certain (time) sequence. In the present study, this was investigated by culturing mouse calvarial bone explants for various time intervals in the presence or absence of selective low molecular weight inhibitors of cysteine proteinases (E‐64, Z‐Phe‐Tyr(O‐t‐Bu)CHN2 or CA074[Me]) and MMPs (CI‐1, CT1166, or RP59794). The explants were morphometrically analyzed at the electron microscopic level. All proteinase inhibitors induced large areas of nondigested demineralized bone matrix adjacent to the ruffled border of actively resorbing osteoclasts. The appearance of these areas proved to be time dependent. In the presence of the cysteine proteinase inhibitors, a maximal surface area of demineralized bone was seen between 4 and 8 h of culturing, whereas the metalloproteinase inhibitors had their maximal effect at a later time interval (between 16 and 24 h). Because different inhibitors of each of the two classes of proteolytic enzymes had the same effects, our data strongly suggest that cysteine proteinases attack the bone matrix prior to digestion by MMPs. In line with the view that a sequence may exist were differences in the amount of proteoglycans (shown with the selective dye cuprolinic blue) in the subosteoclastic demineralized areas induced by the inhibitors. In the presence of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor, relatively high levels of cuprolinic blue precipitates were found, whereas this was less following inhibition of metalloproteinases. These data suggested that cysteine proteinases are important for digestion of noncollagenous proteins. We propose the following sequence in the digestion of calvarial bone by osteoclasts: after attachment of the cell to the mineralized surface an area with a low pH is created which results in dissolution of the mineral, then cysteine proteinases, active at such a low pH, digest part of the bone matrix, and finally, when the pH has increased somewhat, MMPs exert their activity.


In using the snare for the removal of aural polypi, it often has to be rethreaded several times during a single sitting, a procedure which is always more or less tedious or annoying. I have devised a loop with the ends of the wire twisted so that it may be inserted into any snare with a single open canula with very little trouble. A piece of malleable steel wire No. 36 or 40 (about a foot in length for the Blake snare) is doubled and twisted (best in a small lathe, holding the loop end between the fingers), leaving the loop of any desired size. These loops are so very easy to make that they are inexpensive, and may be made up and kept on hand in sufficient numbers to have them always ready. 32 West Adams Avenue.


This paper describes the results of studies of the machining performance and the Indentation hardness and fracture toughness of different silicon nitride materials as part of an effort to better define the optimum machining conditions for bearing components. This work builds on prior efforts by two of the authors, Gardos and Hardisty (1993) who formulated a simple relationship between diamond grinding performance of silicon nitride bearing balls and a wear equation first detailed by Evans and Wilshaw (1976). The goal of this present work was to determine the general applicability of such a relationship, i.e., could simple indentation studies be used to define finishing conditions for different silicon nitride materials? The availability of such a simple test would reduce the time required for developing an acceptable process when a supplier changes his formulation, or when a new material becomes available. Quicker development of optimum finishing conditions would eventually result in a lower-cost product for users. The initial study by Gardos and Hardisty (1993) was based on limited data taken at a fixed set of conditions. This study expanded the range of conditions evaluated and the number ofceramic materials studied in an effort to define the universality of the relationship between grinding wear, hardness, and toughness. This study has shown that no simple relationship like that first envisioned by the authors exists. The results showed that the grinding wear of the individual silicon nitride materials increased at different rates as a function of load. Because of the differences found in the load dependence of grinding rates, no simple relationship between hardness, fracture toughness, and grinding rate could be found that fit the data over the range of conditions studied. This work is part of an ARPA funded effort to provide a tribological performance database on ceramic-bearing materials, including their grinding and finishing properties, and their interaction with standard bearing steels.


The teaching profession both in this country and internationally is, with few exceptions,
dominated by women as it has traditionally been seen as a 'suitable' job for women. However, a
look at the statistics reveals that despite the large number of women in the profession, they are
greatly under-represented in positions of management in higher education (HE). Thus this
under-representation of women continues to be a matter of some concern. The background of
this paper identifies the status of women managers within the higher education sector. The
leadership styles typically adopted by women managers are then discussed. These styles are
taken into further analysis in order to find out whether any such styles are of use in terms of
filling the leadership gaps in higher education. In this context, this paper examines the literature
relating to gender, leadership styles and higher education in order to explore how the leadership
qualities of women managers will have a contribution towards the higher education sector.


There is an increasing demand for goal-oriented conversation systems which can assist users in various day-to-day activities such as booking tickets, restaurant reservations, shopping, etc. Most of the existing datasets for building such conversation systems focus on monolingual conversations and there is hardly any work on multilingual and/or code-mixed conversations. Such datasets and systems thus do not cater to the multilingual regions of the world, such as India, where it is very common for people to speak more than one language and seamlessly switch between them resulting in code-mixed conversations. For example, a Hindi speaking user looking to book a restaurant would typically ask, "Kya tum is restaurant mein ek table book karne mein meri help karoge?" ("Can you help me in booking a table at this restaurant?"). To facilitate the development of such code-mixed conversation models, we build a goal-oriented dialog dataset containing code-mixed conversations. Specifically, we take the text from the DSTC2 restaurant reservation dataset and create code-mixed versions of it in Hindi-English, Bengali-English, Gujarati-English and Tamil-English. We also establish initial baselines on this dataset using existing state of the art models. This dataset along with our baseline implementations will be made publicly available for research purposes.


Participation in democracy, in today's digital and datafied society, requires the development of a series of transversal skills, which should be fostered in higher education (HE) through critically oriented pedagogies that interweave technical data skills and practices together with information and media literacies. If students are to navigate the turbulent waters of data and algorithms, then data literacies must be featured in academic development programmes, thereby enabling HE to lead in the development of approaches to understanding and analysing data, in order to foster reflection on how data are constructed and operationalised across societies, and provide opportunities to learn from the analysis of data from a range of sources. The key strategy proposed is to adopt the use of open data as open educational resources in the context of problem and research-based learning activities. This paper introduces a conceptual analysis including an integrative overview of relevant literature, to provide a landscape perspective to support the development of academic training and curriculum design programmes in HE to contribute to civic participation and to the promotion of social justice.


In many technological applications of structured metallic alloys, hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a major concern as it can penetrate in most metals, degrade their properties and lead to premature failures. Despite numerous efforts in the past decades during which many microscopic mechanisms were proposed, a clear understanding of H embrittlement mechanisms has not been achieved yet. Since HE processes occur on an atomic-scale, the exact mechanisms leading to HE are not easily identified experimentally. One possible improvement would be to use atomic-scale simulations to try to capture details of deformation and fracture processes at the atomic level, enabling the investigation of relevant microscopic mechanism. In such context, the goal of this PhD work is to understand and quantify H interactions with defects like vacancies, dislocations and cracks in fcc metals through multi-scale modeling. The study is organized in four main parts. In the first part, we employed first principle calculations (based on density functional theory) to describe H interaction with a vacancy in Nickel. More specifically, the segregation energies of multiple H atoms in a single and di-vacancies were computed. Two characteristic energies were found which clarify the experimental peaks observed in Thermal Desorption Spectra in the literature. The equilibrium concentrations of H-vacancy clusters was then evaluated, under conditions relevant to HE and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of Ni based alloys (nuclear industry),by Monte Carlo simulations and a thermodynamic model developed from our DFT data. In the second part, we quantified the trapping effect of vacancies on H diffusion in Nickel. With DFT computed jump barriers, related to H trapping and detrapping in vacancies, we employed accelerated Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations to evaluate the H diffusion coefficient as a function of vacancy concentration and temperature. In the third part, we studied the diffusion of H-vacancy clusters in Ni, based on the combination of DFT and a statistical method. DFT calculations of vacancy jump barriers were performed for clusters containing from one to six H inside the vacancy. With these computed barriers and previous calculated concentrations of H-vacancy clusters, a simple stochastic model similar to the KMC procedure was developed to estimate the diffusion coefficient of H-vacancy clusters as a function of H concentration and temperature. In the last part, we studied the interaction of hydrogen with a blunted crack tip in Aluminum by combined EAM (semi-empirical interatomic potential) and DFT calculations. Embedded atom method (EAM) potential simulations were performed to evaluate the H effect on dislocation emission from a blunted crack tip under mixed mode loading. This phenomenon can be understood by the H induced change of the unstable stacking fault energy (γus ) in Rice's model. Therefore, DFT and EAM calculations of γus were performed including the effects of H and of the mixed mode loads. It is shown that the effect of the load perpendicular to the glide plane is very strong, contrary to the effect of sub-surface H, which is negligible


In the field of optical interconnecting network and in super fast photonic computing system, the tree architecture and optical nonlinear materials can play a significant role. Nonlinear optical material may find important uses in optical switching. Optical switch using nonlinear material makes it possible for one optical signal to control and switch another optical signal through nonlinear interaction in a material. In this communication such materials have been successfully exploited to design an all-optical tree-net architecture, which can be utilized for time division multiplexing scheme in all-optical domain.


The permanent scatterers (PS) technique is a multi-interferogram algorithm for DInSAR analyses developed in the late nineties to overcome the difficulties related to the conventional approach, namely, phase decorrelation and atmospheric effects. The successful application of this technology to many geophysical studies is now pushing toward further improvements and optimizations. A possible strategy to increase the number of radar targets that can be exploited for surface deformation monitoring is the adoption of parametric super-resolution algorithms that can cope with multiple scattering centres within the same resolution cell. In fact, since a PS is usually modelled as a single pointwise scatterer dominating the background clutter, radar targets having cross-range dimension exceeding a few meters can be lost (at least in C-band datasets), due to geometrical decorrelation phenomena induced in the high normal baseline interferograms of the dataset. In this paper, the mathematical framework related to higher-order SAR interferometry is presented as well as preliminary results obtained on simulated and real data. It is shown how the PS density can be increased at the price of a higher computational load.


There is limited debate on what "ubiquity" in ubiquitous computing implies, in particular in regard to technological affordances connecting people. The aim of this article is to explore the question: What is the role of technologically embedded assumptions in the cultivation of interaction ubiquity at work? Distinguishing between the embedded support for managing ongoing interaction relationships—as opposed to a series of interaction encounters—and the support for prioritizing interactions—as opposed to priorities per se—yields four analytical categories of affordances: connectors, filters, mediators, and coordinators. These four categories are illustrated through four case studies of mobile working. The author argues that successful cultivation of interaction ubiquity at work relies critically on a portfolio approach wherein the technology is seen as playing a more active role in the management of interaction beyond the simple standardized technical connection.


Dye-sensitized solar cell provides a precisely and economically reliable alternate concept of present day energy crisis. DSSC have emerged as the next generation of photovoltaic devices, offering several advantages, including moderate light to conversion efficiency, low cost, flexible and easy fabrication. DSSC have many components that have to be optimized, are a mesoporous titania layer adsorbed with dye molecule, electrolyte and a counter electrode. In this work we focused on making polymer based counter electrodes for DSSC application. We made counter electrodes with PEDOT:PSS incorporated with MWCNTs and compared with the standard platinum counter electrode. The optical transmittance of the counter electrodes is studied to examine their possibility for use as transparent counter electrodes for DSSC application.


There is an evidence of the increasing intensity as well as occurrence frequency of the so‐called central Pacific (CP) El Niño events since the 1990s. We examine whether such an increase in the frequency of CP El Niño may be a manifestation of natural climate variability. A control simulation of the Kiel Climate Model, run for 4200 years with the present values of greenhouse gases, exhibit large variations of the occurrence frequency of the CP El Niño versus the eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño. A model simulates to some extent changes in the occurrence ratio of CP and EP El Niño in comparison with the observations. Therefore, we can not exclude the possibility that an increasing of occurrence frequency of CP El Niño during recent decades in the observation could be a part of natural variability in the tropical climate system.


Arrays are the ubiquitous organization for indexed data. Throughout programming language evolution, implementations have laid out arrays contiguously in memory. This layout is problematic in space and time. It causes heap fragmentation, garbage collection pauses in proportion to array size, and wasted memory for sparse and over-provisioned arrays. Because of array virtualization in managed languages, an array layout that consists of indirection pointers to fixed-size discontiguous memory blocks can mitigate these problems transparently. This design however incurs significant overhead, but is justified when real-time deadlines and space constraints trump performance.
 This paper proposes z-rays, a discontiguous array design with flexibility and efficiency. A z-ray has a spine with indirection pointers to fixed-size memory blocks called arraylets, and uses five optimizations: (1) inlining the first N array bytes into the spine, (2) lazy allocation, (3) zero compression, (4) fast array copy, and (5) arraylet copy-on-write. Whereas discontiguous arrays in prior work improve responsiveness and space efficiency, z-rays combine time efficiency and flexibility. On average, the best z-ray configuration performs within 12.7% of an unmodified Java Virtual Machine on 19 benchmarks, whereas previous designs have two to three times higher overheads. Furthermore, language implementers can configure z-ray optimizations for various design goals. This combination of performance and flexibility creates a better building block for past and future array optimization.


Twenty-two cervical carotid artery bifurcations were evaluated in 11 patients using a high-resolution computed tomographic (eT) technique with image reformation per mitting display of the bifurcation anatomy. Arteriography was also done in eight of the patients, two of whom subsequently underwent carotid endarterectomy. The CT study showed patency of the proximal internal carotid artery in every case and depicted significant stenosis of four vessels. Thrombus within a large ulcer was seen in one vessel on CT, but another shallow ulcer found on angiography was missed. Although the data are limited, this preliminary experience suggests a possible role for this technique in carotid bifurcation screening and indicates further investigation may be worthwhile.


Abstract McCunn, R, Weston, M, Hill, JKA, Johnston, RD, and Gibson, NV. Influence of physical maturity status on sprinting speed among youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1795–1801, 2017—The relative age effect is well documented with the maturation-selection hypothesis the most common explanation; however, conflicting evidence exists. We observed the birth date distribution within an elite junior soccer academy. The influence of physical maturity status on anthropometric variables and sprinting ability was also investigated. Annual fitness testing was conducted over an 8-year period with a total of 306 players (age: 12.5 ± 1.7 years [range: 9.7–16.6 years]; stature: 156.9 ± 12.9 cm; mass: 46.5 ± 12.5 kg) drawn from 6 age categories (under-11s to under-17s) who attended the same Scottish Premiership club academy. Measurements included mass, stature, maturity offset and 0–15 m sprint. Odds ratios revealed a clear bias toward recruitment of players born in quartile 1 compared with quartile 4. The overall effect (all squads combined) of birth quartile was very likely small for maturity offset (0.85 years; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.44–1.26 years) and stature (6.2 cm; 90% CI, 2.8–9.6 cm), and likely small for mass (5.1 kg; 90% CI, 1.7–8.4 kg). The magnitude of the relationship between maturity offset and 15-m sprinting speed ranged from trivial for under-11s (r = 0.01; 90% CI, −0.14 to 0.16) to very likely large for under-15s (r = −0.62; −0.71 to −0.51). Making decisions about which players to retain and release should not be based on sprinting ability around the under-14 and under-15 age categories because any interindividual differences may be confounded by transient inequalities in maturity offset.


The prion protein (PrP) genotypes of four German meat breeds of sheep were examined in relation to their scores for muscle mass, conformation, wool quality, daily liveweight gain and ultrasonic measurements of the depth of back muscle and back fat. The dataset included 912 genotyped German texel sheep among 10,383 recorded sheep, 474 genotyped Suffolk sheep among 4079 recorded sheep, 271 genotyped German white-headed mutton sheep among 3393 recorded sheep, and 99 genotyped German black-headed mutton sheep among 1642 recorded sheep. The model included the fixed effects of PrP genotype, herd, year and season, test day, sex, rearing method, the regression coefficient of average age, and the random additive genetic effect of the animal. In all four breeds there were no statistically significant associations between these performance traits and the occurrence of ARR alleles and the ARR/ARR genotype except for the depth of back muscle and the daily liveweight gain of German black-headed mutton sheep; however, in this breed, the interpretation could be affected by the small number of animals involved. All the genotyped sheep had significantly better performance traits than the non-genotyped sheep.


This paper describes the process of a coil launcher parameters selection. Objective function Θ was defined and crucial variables were sought. The electro-mechanical system consisting of a copper coil and a ferromagnetic core was designed. Displacement of the core was computed. The magnetic force and coil inductance were calculated in many core position in relation to solenoid. Simulations were done by means of Finite Elements Method (FEM). The model parameters were being changed and the best system geometry was sought. In order to achieve better legibility, the research results were shown in the graphs. Selection process turned out to be very complex. In order to determine the best device parameters, the currents thermal effects should be taken into consideration. As the final conclusion some constructional conceptions of the magnetic launcher were proposed. The research will be continued to improve the coil launcher optimization process. The aim of future investigations is to achieve greater magnetic force and lower inductance of the electro-mechanical system.


Abstract. This paper reports on geolocation accuracy of image products generated from Precision Image Processing (PIP) system developed for CAS-500 Satellite images. CAS-500, launched on 22 March, 2021, will be used mainly for land monitoring and 1:5000 scale mapping over the Korean Peninsula. For this purpose, ground control points (GCPs) and a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) have been collected over the Peninsula and integrated into the PIP for the generation of precision image product in an automated manner. The goal of this paper is to analyze the geolocation accuracy of image products generated from the PIP. Target geolocation accuracy of the PIP was set as 2 pixel RMSE using the internal GCP DB and DTM. Since CAS-500 images were not distributed yet, the analysis was performed using 13 KOMPSAT-3A satellite images, having similar specifications to CAS-500. The result showed that the accuracy of precise sensor models were about 1.797 pixels in South Korea and 1.907 pixels in North Korea. The accuracy of orthoimages were about 1.24 meters in South Korea and 1.59 meters in North Korea. Overall, the geolocation over North Korea was not as good as that over South Korea. It was judged that the quality of GCPs and DTM over North Korea affected the geolocation accuracy and, however, the accuracy gap was not too severe. The PIP system should produce image products within the targeted geolocation accuracy when CAS-500 delivers high resolution images over the Korean Peninsula.


Background Based on existing studies, there is no conclusive evidence as to whether and why paternal age matters for birth outcomes. Methods We used Finnish population registers on 106 652 children born 1987–2000. We first document the unadjusted association between paternal age and the risk of low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) and preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation). Second, we investigate whether the unadjusted association is attenuated on adjustment for child's, maternal and parental socioeconomic characteristics. Third, by adopting a within-family design which involves comparing children born to the same father at different ages, we additionally adjust for unobserved parental characteristics shared between siblings. Results The unadjusted results show that being born to a father aged 40+, as opposed to a father aged 30–34, is associated with an increased risk of LBW of 0.96% (95% CI 0.5% to 1.3%) and to a younger father (<25) with a 1% (95% CI 0.6% to 1.3%) increased risk. The increased risk at younger paternal ages is halved on adjustment for the child's characteristics and fully attenuated on adjustment for child/parental characteristics. The increased risk at paternal ages 40+ is partially attenuated on adjustment for maternal characteristics (β=0.62%; 95% CI 0.13% to 1.1%). Adjustment for unobserved parental characteristics shared by siblings further attenuates the 40+ coefficient (β=0.4%; 95% CI −0.5% to −1.2%). Results for preterm delivery are similar. Conclusions The results underscore the importance of considering paternal age as a potential risk factor for adverse birth outcomes and of expanding research on its role and the mechanisms linking it to birth outcomes.


We study the interstellar Na I $\lambda \lambda 5890, 5895$ (Na D) absorption-line doublet in a nearly-complete sample of $\sim$9900 nearby Seyfert 2 galaxies, in order to quantify the significance of optical AGN activity in driving kpc-scale outflows that can quench star formation. Comparison to a carefully matched sample of $\sim$44,000 control objects indicates that the Seyfert and control population have similar Na D detection rates ($\sim 5-6%$). Only 53 Seyferts (or 0.5% of the population) are found to potentially display galactic-scale winds, compared to 0.8% of the control galaxies. While nearly a third of the Na D outflows observed in our Seyfert 2 galaxies occur around the brightest AGN, both radio and infrared data indicate that star formation could play the dominant role in driving cold-gas outflows in an even higher fraction of the Na D-outflowing Seyfert 2s. Our results indicate that galactic-scale outflows at low redshift are no more frequent in Seyferts than they are in their non-active counterparts, that optical AGN are not significant contributors to the quenching of star formation in the nearby Universe, and that star-formation may actually be the principal driver of outflows even in systems that do host an AGN.


The clinical application of intravenous angiography to study the cervicocerebrovascular system using the digital video subtraction system described in a companion article is reported. About 0.75 ml/kg of a standard 76% iodine contrast solution is injected into an antecubital vein using a power injector. Then 15-20 exposures of the head and neck region at a 1/sec rate are made on the image intensifier. The images are recorded by a high performance video system and the output signal is digitized for subsequent computer manipulation. The subtraction images of these vessels produced by the computer show the vessels clearly, even though they contain very low concentrations of contrast media. Standard exposure factors of 75-80 kVp, 9-10 msec at 800-1,000 mA are used. Clinically pertinent features of the data alteration and flow through the system and the step-by-step computer procedures used to achieve and analyze the various forms of subtracted images are described. Five experimental and clinical cases demonstrate appropriate applications to cervicocerebrovascular disease: (1) evaluating the effects of surgical and medical therapy on atherosclerosis; (2) providing a screening angiographic test for patients with asymptomatic bruits and/or positive noninvasive studies; (3) evaluating patients who have significant generalized vascular disease either precluding or presenting hazardous contraindications to transarterial catheterization; (4) evaluating significantly aged patients in whom standard angiography has higher risk; and (5) evaluating currently asymptomatic patients who are medically at higher risk for developing atherosclerotic lesions. Numerous examples of the various types of image manipulations are presented: (1) linear subtraction; (2) logarithmic subtraction; (3) alterations of electronic contrast enhancement (map slope); (4) the usefulness of a series of angiographic images; and (5) the importance of multiple projections with this technique.


The paper focuses on the artistic work of Moses Levy (Tunis, 1885 Viareggio, 1968), painter and printmaker active in Italy, Tunisia and Paris. A peculiar figure of cosmopolitan painter, whose father was British and the mother Italian, and whose art eludes attempts at univocal classification. On the contrary, it remains emblematic of the fruitfulness made possible by the encounter between different artistic traditions, as well as the reciprocal enrichment offered by the plurality of cultures. Deeply linked by birth to the Jewish community in Tunis, he moved to Italy at a very young age, where he came into contact with the major exponents of the Tuscan school of painting around the turn of the century, starting with Giovanni Fattori. Constantly commuting between the two shores of the Mediterranean, he became an example of dialogue between different worlds, between his African roots, his Tuscan upbringing, his French-speaking culture and his stays in Paris, where he met Chagall and Picasso and could not fail to find a natural identification with Matisse's pure rhythms and solar charge. A regular exhibitor at the Salons Tunisiens, in 1936 he was a co-founder of the Le Quatre group and later one of the promoters of the École de Tunis. Thus, the local artists saw in Levy the master who had been able to promote the birth of a modern art that was representative of Tunisian culture and people, but free from any easy Orientalist stereotype or folkloric flavour.


Stating the faith in the form of fundamental articles has, historically, provided an important strategy by which the identity and continuity of the Church has been expressed. The issue underlying this ecclesiological context of fundamental articles concerns the truth of the one-in-Christ bond in Christianity. However discussion of fundamental articles of the faith has, from the Post-Reformation period, tended to occur as somewhat disconnected from wider concerns to do with the belief, discipleship and mission of the Church. One result is that important issues and motives implicit in the attempt to articulate the fundamental articles of Christianity remain undisclosed and undeveloped. By means of a multi-level approach - contemporary relevance (Part One), historical development (Part Two), case studies (Part Three) and systematic inquiry (Part Four) - this thesis develops an understanding of fundamental articles which shows how the theme is enmeshed within and contributes to the dynamic of Christian faith in the Church. The resources for this inquiry are drawn from an extensive, but hitherto largely unexamined treatment, of the theme of fundamental articles in Anglicanism. The Protestant tradition of speaking about fundamental articles of faith is found to offer an important medium through which the reality of being one-in-Christ can be identified, communicated and strengthened. In this way the tradition proves a valuable means for uncovering and examining the purpose(s) of stating the faith. The problematic role of fundamental articles in Anglican self- understanding reveals itself as an instance of a more general, controversial and unfinished task in theology to state the truth of God's creating and redeeming love. The thesis thus draws attention to the significance of fundamental articles for expressing the nature and form of ecclesial faith and discipleship. A positive rationale emerges for a more intensive and discerning engagement with the fundamental articles tradition as a strategy by which theology can serve the mission of the Church.


ABSTRACT Sound is a political question of which the antagonisms of noise pollution are a concrete embodiment. The discourses of noise pollution tend to postulate noise as a toxin that is produced by our industrial societies and is difficult either to contain or even define precisely. Composer R. Murray Schafer contrasts this toxin with a sustaining nature, but ecological thought of the past decade suggests that nature is, in fact, unnatural. The field recordings of Chris Watson and Francisco López suggest that this natural perversity can indicate a new mode of sonic ecological sustainability.


Distant Relative is a reconstruction; somewhere between schoolroom, cinema, and court of law. It is a site of shared and elusive personal histories.

Since 2014, British moving image and performance artist Michelle Williams Gamaker has been developing 'fictional activism': the restoration of people of colour performing in 20th century British and Hollywood studio films from marginalised characters to central figures, who return in her works to challenge the fictional injustices to which they have been historically consigned.

Distant Relative marks a chapter in this exploration, with a focus on Williams Gamaker's self-confessed obsessive journey into the life of Hollywood film star Sabu, whom she first came across as a teenager in Black Narcissus (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1947).

Sabu was 'discovered' in 1936 by anthropologist filmmaker Robert Flaherty who, after gathering footage in a maharajah's palace, brought the 12-year-old son of a mahout from Mysore to Hollywood. Flaherty cast him in Alexander Korda's Elephant Boy (1937), which catapulted Sabu to international stardom. Sabu went on to major roles such as Abu in The Thief of Bagdad, 1940 and Mowgli in The Jungle Book, 1942. He became a household name,appearing on stamps and tea sets, endorsing cereals, starring at the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair and featuring in lifestyle magazines on both sides of the Atlantic.

Williams Gamaker is fascinated by the tension between construction and illusion in the studio system fiction machine, that offered a controlled colonial vision of the British Raj and its people, including the casting of white British actors in the roles of Indians. Sabu in effect became the go to actor for such films: the studios now had someone authentic who didn't need to be 'blacked up'.

Michelle Williams Gamaker's short film, The Eternal Return, the third film in her Dissolution trilogy, premieres at Tintype. It posits a now-struggling Sabu in 1952 as he supports his family by performing – once more with a troupe of elephants – in Tom Arnold's Christmas Circus in Haringey Arena. With the inclusion of British Pathe footage of circuses in 1950s and 60s Britain and their bizarre parading of tame beasts as 'exotic entertainment', the film shows the indignity Sabu felt by being similarly deployed. The film thus explores the notion of success in the absence of agency as it imagines the resentment of an individual for whom the price of prosperity was to be typecast. In Sabu's case, this was the conflation of his background and his career that imposed a seemingly inescapable relationship with elephants; the animals recur throughout his filmography. It also highlights how, in spite of his extraordinary fame, Sabu was always the sidekick and never the lead or love interest.

Also in the exhibition is a selection of Williams Gamaker's collection of Sabu paraphernalia: a small part of the vast array of crockery and teapots (so-called Sabuware), posters, photographs and cigarette cards still in circulation. Williams Gamaker hopes to be the world's largest collector of these items, fully aware that this compulsion is as problematic as the objects themselves. But her archive aims to consolidate into one place an individual distributed for consumption. A large textile, a collage of press photos from the 1950 paternity case Sabu fought, casts the star in a more problematic light, further muddying the water.

In January 2018, Williams Gamaker made a pilgrimage of sorts to Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, the cemetery to the stars also known as the Disneyland of Death. In brown taffeta cocktail dress and stilettos, she located in the 300-acre site Sabu's grave: no.1, Lot 482, in the Sheltering Hills plot. There she began to paint her nails gold while in private commune with the star.

Shortly afterwards she was commandeered by security and ordered to leave. Having come so far, it was at this point Williams Gamaker protested with: '…it's just that I'm a distant relative'. Once uttered, these words made perfect sense.


Soil contaminated with hydrocarbons (HC) in all over the world is a recurring problem arising from distribution, storage and illegal connections. A wide range of methods are used in all the world like remediation with biological and physicochemical treatments, however, for the purpose of reducing time and increasing the scope of new technologies that have proven its viability in experimental laboratory tests later tested implemented on field are necessary. One of the main advantages of electroremediation processes (ER) is the relatively short implementation time as well as its ease of removing contaminants in highly heterogeneous soils with low permeability. In this chapter, the ER process is described starting from the laboratory scale, determining the supporting electrolyte used, through the choice of material of the electrodes as well as its configuration; finally pilot‐scale implementation and fieldwork.


We have prepared recombinant cDNAs encoding chimaeras between human preproinsulin (sp.B.C.A., for B-, Connecting- and A-peptides) and a thermostable mutant of green fluorescent protein (GFPS65T,V163A, GFP*). The subcellular localization of the expressed chimaeras was monitored in living insulin-secreting INS-1 beta-cells by laser scanning confocal microscopy. When GFP* was fused at the immediate N-terminus of the B-chain (sp.[GFP*].B.C.A.myc) two distinct patterns of fluorescence were apparent. In 1530/1740 cells examined, fluorescence was confined to a reticular, exclusively extranuclear structure, and closely co-localized with the endoplasmic reticulum marker, calreticulin. However, 210/1740 (12.1%) of cells displayed punctate fluorescence, which partially co-localized with the trans-Golgi network marker, TGN 38, and with the dense core secretory granule marker, phogrin. Since secretion of GFP* fluorescence into the medium could not readily be measured, we prepared a chimaera in which firefly luciferase was fused at the C-terminus of proinsulin (sp.B.C.A.myc.[Luc]). This chimaera displayed a distribution closely similar to that of sp.[GFP*].B.C.A. myc, but with a lower proportion (15/310, 4.8%) of the cells showing clear punctate distribution. At substimulatory glucose concentrations (3 mM) secretion of sp.B.C.A.myc.[Luc] could not be detected (rate of release into the medium identical with that of the cytosolic Renilla reniformis luciferase), indicating that the chimaera did not enter the constitutive secretory pathway. However, elevated (30 mM) glucose stimulated the release of the sp.B.C.A.myc. [Luc] luciferase chimaera, without a detectable effect on R. reniformis luciferase release. These data suggest that fusion of insulin, and the much larger photoproteins GFP* and luciferase, leads predominantly to misfolding and retention in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, the properly folded chimaeras are apparently still correctly targeted to the regulated, rather than the constitutive, secretory pathway. These chimaeras should therefore be valuable tools to monitor the exocytosis of insulin in real time.


We analyze a model of anomaly discovery. Consistent with existing evidence, we show that the discovery of an anomaly reduces its magnitude and increases its correlation with existing anomalies. One new prediction is that the discovery of an anomaly reduces the correlation between deciles 1 and 10 for that anomaly. Using data for 12 well-known anomalies, we find strong evidence consistent with this prediction. Moreover, the correlation between deciles 1 and 10 of an anomaly becomes correlated with the aggregate hedge-fund wealth volatility after the anomaly is discovered. Our model also sheds light on how to distinguish between risk- and mispricing-based anomalies.


probably have been even better. Finally, the study has failed to measure the most important outcome of a campaign of this type-an assessment of changes in attitude and behaviour related to home safety. This study has shown that together with one to one health education the results of the campaign were impressive. We believe that both activities are essential in mass media health promotion. Such an approach was always intended by Mr Dan Cook and his team from the BBC continuing education unit. They must be congratulated for all their preparatory work in motivating health professionals region by region to enhance the campaign.


In this study, carbonate system properties were measured in the western Ross Sea (Antarctica) over the 2005–2006 and 2011–2012 austral summers with the aim of analysing their sensitivity to physical and biogeochemical drivers. Daily Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) sea ice concentration maps, obtained prior to and during the samplings, were used to analyse the sea ice evolution throughout the experiment periods. Monthly means and 8-day composite chlorophyll concentration maps from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite at 4-km resolution were used to investigate inter-annual and basin scale biological variability. Chlorophyll-a concentrations in surface waters estimated by MODIS satellite data contribute to descriptions of the variability of carbonate system properties in surface waters. Mean values of carbonate system properties were comparable across both investigated years; however, the 2012 data displayed larger variability. Sea ice melting also had a pivotal role in controlling the carbonate system chemistry of the mixed layer both directly through dilution processes and indirectly by favouring the development of phytoplankton blooms. This resulted in high pH and ΩAr, and in low CT, particularly in those areas where high chlorophyll concentration was shown by satellite maps.


In this work, a simple dichlororesorufin-based colorimetric and fluorescent probe R-Hg with the recognition receptor of carbonothioate was designed, synthesized, and exploited to determine mercury ions in aqueous solution and living cells as well as in zebrafish. After a series of analytical tests, probe R-Hg showed some excellent characteristics, such as ultrasensitivity, high selectivity, and good water solubility. The probe solution exhibited a very large fluorescence enhancement (about 150-fold) upon addition of Hg2+. Additionally, probe R-Hg exhibited excellent sensitivity, which could quantificationally detect Hg2+ at the nanomolar level, and the detection limit was 0.49 nM. Moreover, probe R-Hg could be used as a "naked-eye" probe for monitoring Hg2+, because the color of its solution transformed remarkably from yellow into pink with the participation of Hg2+. Importantly, probe R-Hg has potential application value and has been successfully applied to the determination of Hg2+ in practical water sa...


ABSTRACT Bacillus cereus G9241 was isolated from a welder with a pulmonary anthrax-like illness. The organism contains two megaplasmids, pBCXO1 and pBC218. These plasmids are analogous to the Bacillus anthracis Ames plasmids pXO1 and pXO2 that encode anthrax toxins and capsule, respectively. Here we evaluated the virulence of B. cereus G9241 as well as the contributions of pBCXO1 and pBC218 to virulence. B. cereus G9241 was avirulent in New Zealand rabbits after subcutaneous inoculation and attenuated 100-fold compared to the published 50% lethal dose (LD50) values for B. anthracis Ames after aerosol inoculation. A/J and C57BL/6J mice were comparably susceptible to B. cereus G9241 by both subcutaneous and intranasal routes of infection. However, the LD50s for B. cereus G9241 in both mouse strains were markedly higher than those reported for B. anthracis Ames and more like those of the toxigenic but nonencapsulated B. anthracis Sterne. Furthermore, B. cereus G9241 spores could germinate and disseminate after intranasal inoculation into A/J mice, as indicated by the presence of vegetative cells in the spleen and blood of animals 48 h after infection. Lastly, B. cereus G9241 derivatives cured of one or both megaplasmids were highly attenuated in A/J mice. We conclude that the presence of the toxin- and capsule-encoding plasmids pBCXO1 and pBC218 in B. cereus G9241 alone is insufficient to render the strain as virulent as B. anthracis Ames. However, like B. anthracis, full virulence of B. cereus G9241 for mice requires the presence of both plasmids.


Canada, as a country with a small, open economy, faces the immediate challenge of learning to shape dynamic comparative advantage in the emerging international economy. About 75 % of Canada's trade linkages are with the United States, and a very large component of the Canadian experience of « globalization » is driven by North American economic integration. This integration is taking place in the absence of institutions and policy mechanisms to promote and manage science, technology, and innovation relations on a continental scale. Bilateral s & T arrangements centered on the United States presently characterize the North American innovation System. Circumstances in North America pose three sets of challenges to Canadian s & T policy. 1) Science and technology are increasing in importance in international trade, environmental, and social/cultural matters. This means that Canada must learn to improve its management of an increasingly internationalized domestic s & T System. 2) Canada must cultivate mutually beneficial bilateral s & T relationships with its two partners in NAFTA, Mexico and the United States. 3) Canada must identify where its interests lie in the development and governance of trilateral and international rules and arrangements for science, technology, and innovation.


OBJECTIVES
To determine the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the psychosocial health of people with disabilities and on the ability of people with disabilities in the affected area to live independently.

PARTICIPANTS
Transcribed conversations were analyzed for 56 survivors of Hurricane Katrina on the American Gulf Coast, all of whom were persons with disabilities or persons working with them.

METHOD
Semi-structured interviews were conducted either individually or in focus groups with participants. Qualitative analysis was undertaken using hermeneutic techniques.

RESULTS
Six major themes emerged: faith, incredulousness, blaming others or oneself, family adaptation and resiliency, and work and professional responsibility.

CONCLUSIONS
The resiliency of persons with disabilities to adapt to disasters can be better understood through factors such as these, providing an effective barometer of social capital that can help societies prepare for future disasters among those most vulnerable.


The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients seen in HIV clinics throughout nonurban Louisiana. A convenience sample of 273 patients from 8 areas in nonurban Louisiana were interviewed to obtain demographic, clinical and adherence information. Associations between demographic, clinical, and behavioral factors and nonadherence were examined. Ideally, non-adherence should not exceed 5% in patients for whom HAART was prescribed. Mean age was 38.6 years (range, 19-66), 29.3% were female, 60.1% were African American, 34.4% reported nonadherence to their HAART medication (defined as the subject's self-report of missing any doses of HAART medication in the prior week). In the prior month, participants reported the following behaviors: binge drinking (12.8%), problem drinking (12.8%), and illicit drug use (16.5%). Depression was found in 49.8% of the respondents. In logistic regression analysis, problem drinking odds ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]): 3.92 (1.69,9.09) was found to be associated with nonadherence. Demographic and behavioral factors such as illicit drug use and depression were not associated with nonadherence on multivariable analysis. Problem drinking was associated with lack of adherence to HAART over the past week. Interventions to treat problem drinking are needed and may improve adherence to medication for HIV-infected persons living in rural, town, and small-city areas.


Preface. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Approaches. A Hierarchical Approach to Evaluating the Significance of Soil Biodiversity to Biogeochemical Cycling M.H. Beare, D.C. Coleman, D.A. Crossley, P.F. Hendrix, E.P. Odum. Mutualism and Biodiversity in Soils P. Lavelle, C. Lattaud, D. Trigo, I. Barios. The Detritus Food-Web and the Diversity of Soil Fauna as Indicators of Disturbance Regimes in Agro-Ecosystems D.A. Wardle, G.W. Yeates, R.N. Watson, K.S. Nicholson. Microbial Population Dynamics. Patterns and Regulation of Mycorrhizal Plant and Fungal Activity E.B. Allen, M.F. Allen, D.J. Helm, J.M. Trappe, R. Molina, E. Rincon. Processes that Maintain Local Species Diversity of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi T.D. Bruns. Soil Microbial Diversity and the Sustainability of Agricultural Soils A.C. Kennedy, K.L. Smith. The Functional Significance of Microbial Biomass in Organic and Conventionally Managed Soils M.M. Wander, D.S. Hendrick, D. Kaufman, S.J. Traina, B.R. Stinner, S. Kehermeyer, D.C. White. Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Profiles as Measures of Soil Microbial Community Structure M.A. Cavigelli, G.P. Robertson, M.J. Klug. Discrimination of Microbial Diversity by Fatty Acid Profiles of Phospholipids and Lipopolysaccharides in Differently Cultivated Soils L. Zelles, R. Rackwitz, Q.Y. Bai, T. Beck, F. Beese. Effects of Previous Intensive Agricultural Management on Microorganisms and the Biodiversity of Soils J. Filser, H. Fromm, R.F. Nagel, K. Winter. Divergence of Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in Crop Production Systems J.W. Hendrix, B.Z. Guo, Z.-Q. An. Biodiversity and Species Redundancy among Litter Decomposers O. Andren, J. Bengtsson, M. Clarholm. The Role of Glutamine Synthetase in Regulation of Nitrogen Metabolism within the Soil Microbial Community G.W. McCarthy. Cellulose Degrading Fungi in Soil R.E.J. Boerner, J. Rebbeck. Decomposition and Nitrogen Release from Leaves of Three Hardwood Species Grown under Elevated O3 and/or CO2 L.R. Durrant, E. Canale-Parola, S.B. Leschine. Interpreting Soil Ciliate Biodiversity S.B. Bamforth. Soil Faunal Relationships. Measures of Nematode Community Structure and Sources of Variability among and within Agricultural Fields D.A. Neher, S.L. Peck, J.O. Rawlings, C.L. Campbell. Analysis of Nematode Trophic Structure in Agroecosystems: Functional Groups versus High Resolution Taxonomy R.W. Parmelee, P.J. Bohlen, C.A. Edwards. Relationships among Microarthropods, Fungi, and Their Environment J.N. Klironomos, B. Kendrick. The Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Invertebrates and Edaphic Properties in an Old Growth Forest Stand in Western Oregon C.E. Torgersen, J.A. Jones, A.R. Moldenke, M.P. LeMaster. Population Dynamics and Functional Roles of Enchytaeidae (Oligochaeta) in Hardwood Forest, and Agricultural Ecosystems P.C.J. van Vliet, M.H. Beare, D.C. Coleman. How Do Earthworms Affect Microfloral and Faunal Community Diversity? G.G. Brown: Earthworm Community Structure and Diversity in Experimental Agricultural Watersheds in Northeastern Ohio P.J. Bohlen, W.M. Edwards, C.A. Edwards. Earthworm Population Size, Composition, and Microbial Biomass: The Effect of Pastoral and Arable Management in Canterbury, New Zealand R.J. Haynes, P.M. Fraser, P.H. Williams. Leaf Litter Decomposition and Microarthropod Abundance along an Altitudinal Gradient C.M. Hoover, D.A. Crossley Jr.


Background: The heterodimeric GTR GTPase is a key regulator in the amino acid mediated TORC1 pathway. Results: The structure of Gtr1pGTP-Gtr2pGDP reveals a large conformational change in comparison with that of Gtr1pGMPPNP-Gtr2pGMPPNP. Conclusion: The heterodimeric GTR GTPase serves as a novel molecular switch regulating the Raptor binding affinity. Significance: The structural information leads to a better understanding of the regulatory mechanism of the GTR GTPase. The heterodimeric Rag GTPases consisting of RagA (or RagB) and RagC (or RagD) are the key regulator activating the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) in response to the level of amino acids. The heterodimer between GTP-loaded RagA/B and GDP-loaded RagC/D is the most active form that binds Raptor and leads to the activation of TORC1. Here, we present the crystal structure of Gtr1pGTP-Gtr2pGDP, the active yeast Rag GTPase heterodimer. The structure reveals that GTP-to-GDP conversion on Gtr2p results in a large conformational transition of this subunit, including a large scale rearrangement of a long segment whose corresponding region in RagA is involved in binding to Raptor. In addition, the two GTPase domains of the heterodimer are brought to contact with each other, but without causing any conformational change of the Gtr1p subunit. These features explain how the nucleotide-bound statuses of the two GTPases subunits switch the Raptor binding affinity on and off.


low pumps have been developed for classical applications in Engineering and medicine. They are vital instruments in areas such as Biology where the applications demand many such devices in miniaturized form to handle life saving fluids and drugs. The aim of this paper is to develop a new bio-mimic fluid pump, designed to achieve miniaturization in its size and volume. A new actuation technique is proposed which pumps the fluid based on the principle of flow due to pressure difference created by varying the cross-section of a flexible tube. The novelty and advantage being, no external pressurizing device is needed and the flow can be made bidirectional. This is in general not possible in normal or traditional pumps. Use of SMA wires as actuators helps in keeping the size and weight of the device as low as possible. The working principle of the device and the conceptual design are discussed. Mathematical model, relating the flow parameters required for controlling the device, and analytical results obtained from such relations are presented.


Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between body satisfaction, the amount of time spent on physical activity (PA), and body mass index (bMI) in a group of young adults. Methods. A sample of 527 students (351 females and 176 males) aged 19–24 years were recruited for analysis. Measures of height and weight were collected. Participants completed a questionnaire about PA performed during the previous seven days, intention of increasing PA levels, overall body satisfaction, their ideal bMI, and what parts of their bodies they were most dissatisfied with. Results. body satisfaction was associated with the amount of time spent on PA in both women and men. No relationship between time spent on PA and bMI was found. In women, lower levels of PA, lower body satisfaction, and a larger discrepancy between actual bMI and ideal bMI was observed when compared with men. The majority of women (85.7%) as well as men (78.4%) intended to increase their PA in the near future. Conclusions. body satisfaction grows together with increasing the amount of time spent on PA. Young adults are aware of the benefits of PA, but there is a gap between knowledge and practice, highlighting the need for programs that can motivate and educate on how to turn intentions into action. Along with promoting PA, focus on body satisfaction especially among women is also recommended.


Correspondent banking relationships connect banks and people across borders and are critical to finance and trade. They are a vital link between emerging markets and the broader global economy. Yet efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism have increased compliance requirements for banks. Difficulties adhering to these requirements and increased costs associated with them threaten the ability of banks to serve their customers, while also eroding the number and quality of correspondent banking relationships. A recent International Finance Corporation (IFC) survey shows that many banks are feeling the pressure of increased regulation and de-risking, and emerging market banks are bearing the brunt of it.


Phallogocentrism as cultural abuse of sex is a difficult issue that has been addressed by many modern Western feminist philosophers. By comparing their insights with those deriving from Chinese Confucianism and Daoism, I propose the concept of "affectionate respect" as an intellectual counterbalance to phallogocentrism. In this essay, I have discussed certain arbitrary fallacies based on masculine predominance and spotlighted the merits of being female in balancing emotion and reason, justice and fairness, and institutionally-biased powers and the human rights of innate dignity. To achieve gender justice and equality before God and under Heaven must be logically and morally extended to law and politics.


We consider dynamic co-occurrence data, such as author-word links in papers published in successive years of the same conference. For static co-occurrence data, researchers often seek an embedding of the entities (authors and words) into a lowdimensional Euclidean space. We generalize a recent static co-occurrence model, the CODE model of Globerson et al. (2004), to the dynamic setting: we seek coordinates for each entity at each time step. The coordinates can change with time to explain new observations, but since large changes are improbable, we can exploit data at previous and subsequent steps to find a better explanation for current observations. To make inference tractable, we show how to approximate our observation model with a Gaussian distribution, allowing the use of a Kalman filter for tractable inference. The result is the first algorithm for dynamic embedding of co-occurrence data which provides distributional information for its coordinate estimates. We demonstrate our model both on synthetic data and on author-word data from the NIPS corpus, showing that it produces intuitively reasonable embeddings. We also provide evidence for the usefulness of our model by its performance on an authorprediction task.


Social Security in the United States and in Europe is at a critical juncture. Through the essays assembled in Social Security Pension Reform in Europe , Martin Feldstein and Horst Siebert, along with a number of distinguished contributors, discuss the challenges facing Social Security reform in the aging societies of Europe. A remarkable range of European nations—Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Hungary—have implemented or are about to implement mixed Social Security systems that combine a traditional defined benefit of the pay-as-you-go system with an individual retirement account defined contribution of a capital-funded system. The essays here highlight the problems that the European pension reform process faces and how it differs from that of the United States. This timely volume will significantly enrich the debate on pension reform worldwide.


This article discusses two major revolutions in the history of humankind, namely, the Neolithic and the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic revolutions. The course of the first one is used as a general analogy to study the second, and the older one. This approach puts aside the issue of biological differences among the human fossils, and concentrates solely on the cultural and technological innovations. It also demonstrates the issues that are common-place to the study of the transition from foraging to cultivation and animal husbandry can be employed as an overarching model for the study of the transition from the Middle to the Upper Palaeolithic. The advantage of this approach is that it focuses on the core areas where each of these revolutions began, the ensuing dispersals and their geographic contexts.


Last term, the United States Supreme Court took a bold step away from a half century of jurisprudence by refusing to cite international law to interpret the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. In the past, the Court has tended to shield violent teen criminals from the toughest sentences, such as life without the possibility of parole, by using international law to find certain juvenile sentences unconstitutional. This practice made an end run around the democratic desire of the States to proportionately punish juvenile criminals. Despite this tendency to look to international law for guidance, however, in Miller v. Alabama (1) the Court nevertheless ignored the international community's stance against juvenile life without parole (JLWOP). Although facially this appears to be a laudable effort to return to a more democratic Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, this disregard is not a victory for state sovereignty. In Roper v. Simmons, (2) Graham v. Florida, (3) and Miller v. Alabama, the Court continually held that the law's harshest punishments are cruel and unusual with respect to juvenile offenders. In Roper, the Court removed the possibility of the death penalty for juvenile murderers and used international law as persuasive authority. (4) In Graham, the Court held that JLWOP for noncapital crimes also violated the Eighth Amendment, but the Court's logic depended more heavily on international law than it had previously in Roper. (5) Despite this international law precedent, the argument that international law prohibits tough sentences for juveniles completely disappeared in Miller. What happened? Put simply, the magic of stare decisis happened. The Court did not need international law because the argument's early successes had a lasting impact on juvenile sentencing jurisprudence. The Court infused the Eighth Amendment with foreign laws in Roper and Graham, both of which served as domestic precedent in Miller. Even though these opinions are detrimental to state sovereignty in juvenile sentencing, the full implication of the Roper-Graham-Miller pattern is far worse. Emboldened by the success of this subversive archetype, it will be no surprise when the "international law prevents..." argument reemerges to drive a new domestic cause. I. THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON: THE PROBLEMATIC INTERNATIONAL LAW ARGUMENT Using international law to interpret the Eighth Amendment, though not unconstitutional, undermines the rule of law. Some national charters require judges to use international law as an interpretive lens, (6) but United States federal judges have no such constitutional mandate. Because there are no limits to or guidelines for the use of international law, a judge may invoke it arbitrarily to promote his policy preferences. Under the Constitution, international law can be a source of law in appropriate instances, but when a judge or justice divines international law only when it conveniently supports his policy preferences, he is substituting his own judgment for that of the democratic legislature under the guise of legal interpretation. (7) The Constitution features three explicit references to international law or the law of nations. First, Congress has the power "[t]o define and punish ... Offences against the Law of Nations." (8) This enumerated power "grew out of the Founders' concern that the states might not adequately punish infractions of the law of nations (such as attacks on ambassadors)" and might individually precipitate international conflict. (9) Thus, where Congress establishes international law according to its legislative prerogative, the Court may adjudicate claims arising under such Congressional mandates. The second and third references concern treaties, or conventional international law. The President "shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties...." (10) Administrations of all political stripes have taken on obligations under conventional international law. …


Intercellular communication between plant cells for low molecular weight hydrophilic molecules occurs through plasmodesmata. These tubular structures are embedded in the plant cell wall in association with the plasmalemma and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Transmission electron microscopy has provided strong evidence to support the view that both the ER and plasmalemma are structurally continuous across the wall at these sites. In experiments to be described, the technique of fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching was used to examine the lateral mobility and intercellular transport capability of a number of fluorescent lipid and phospholipid analogs. These probes were shown by confocal fluorescence microscopy to partition in either the ER or plasmalemma. Results from these measurements provide evidence for cell communication between contiguous cells for probes localized predominantly in the ER. In contrast, no detectable intercellular communication was observed for probes residing exclusively in the plasmalemma. It was of particular interest to note that when 1-acyl-2-(N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-l,3-diazole)aminoacylphosphatidylcholine was utilized as a potential reporter molecule for phospholipids in the plasmalemma, it was quickly degraded to 1-acyl-2-(N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)aminoacyldiglyceride (NBD-DAG), which then appeared predominantly localized to the ER and nuclear envelope. This endogenously synthesized NBD-DAG was found to be capable of transfer between cells, as was exogenously incorporated NBD-DAG. Results from these investigations provide support for the following conclusions: (1) ER, but apparently not the plasmalemma, can form dynamic communication pathways for lipids across the cell wall between connecting plant cells; (2) the plasmodesmata appear to form a barrier for lipid diffusion through the plasmalemma; and (3) lipid signaling molecules such as diacylglycerol are capable of transfer between contiguous plant cells through the ER. These observations speak to issues of plant cell autonomy for lipid synthesis and mechanisms of intercellular signaling and communication.


We propose a top-down model for cash CLO. This model can consistently price cash CLO tranches both within the same deal and across different deals. Meaningful risk measures for cash CLO tranches can also be defined and computed. This method is self-consistent, easy to implement and computationally efficient. It has the potential to bring much pricing transparency to the cash CLO markets; and it could also greatly improve the risk management of cash instruments.


This paper describes the relationship between the ultrastructure of biological tissues and the observed macroscopic optical scattering properties. A summary of the tissue absorption spectrum is also presented. The scattering of soft tissues (liver, prostate, etc.) and fibrous tissues such as dermis are considered. The scattering of soft tissues is attribued to membranous structures and modeled as Mie scattering from spheres in the 0.2-2-μm diameter range, where membrane lipids occupy about 1-20% of the cellular volume and the refractive index mismatch is 1.46/1.35. The scattering of dermis is modeled as scattering from collagen fiber bundles in the 2.8-μm diameter range occupying 21% of the dermal volume and the refractive index mismatch is 1.38/1.35. The effects of a component of small-scale particle scattering in the Rayleigh limit is also considered. The models are compared with tissue values from the literature for the reduced scattering coefficient, μs(1-g), and the anisotropy, g. The models roughly match the absolute value and wavelength dependence of scattering in the 300-1100 nm wavelength range.


Objective. To compare laparotomy, laparoscopy and robotic surgery in the management of ovarian remnant syndrome. Design. Retrospective comparative study. Setting. Mayo Clinic Arizona and Mayo Clinic Rochester, USA. Population. Women who underwent surgical treatment for ovarian remnant syndrome. Methods. The clinical records of 223 patients with histologically documented residual cortical ovarian tissue excised at Mayo Clinic by laparotomy, laparoscopy or a robotic approach, from January 1985 through February 2009, were reviewed. Data collected included the patient's age, body mass index, previous medical and surgical history, symptoms, prior management of ovarian remnant syndrome, preoperative imaging study, intraoperative details, postoperative course, complications and follow‐up data. Main outcome measures. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Results. One hundred and eighty‐seven patients (83.9%) were operated by laparotomy, 19 (8.5%) by laparoscopy and 17 (7.6%) by a robotic approach. Estimated blood loss and length of stay were significantly lower in the robotic and laparoscopic groups compared with laparotomy (p < 0.01). After a mean follow‐up of 21.1 ± 32.4 months, the rate of pain improvement was 93.1, 94.4 and 71.4% for the laparotomy, laparoscopy and robotic surgery group, respectively. Conclusions. Robotic and laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of ovarian remnant syndrome offer advantages over laparotomy in terms of reduced blood loss, lower postoperative complications and shorter length of stay.


Water splitting is one of the most promising technology to solve the current energy and environmental issues. The high overpotential and sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) seriously hinders the energy conversion efficiency of the full water splitting. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop high-active and stable OER catalytic materials for improving the energy transfer efficiency and durability. In this work, we prepared the Ni(OH)2/stainless steel wire mesh (SSWM) self-supporting electrode by a simple one-step method. This in-situ growth method can accurate controllability for improving activity of the catalysts, efficaciously inhibit the self-aggregation of Ni(OH)2, and the obtained two-dimensional array of oriented nanosheets can quickly promote the acquisition of electrolytes and gas release. The integrated Ni(OH)2/SSWM electrodes possess prominent conductivity, abundant porous structure and high specific surface area. As OER catalysts, this obtained electrodes exhibit the relatively low overpotential of 223 mV and low Tafel slope of 25.2 mV dec at 10 mA cm. Moreover, the integrated Ni(OH)2/SSWM electrodes possess stable long-term performance (60 hours). Therefore, this research provides a novel strategy for large-scale production of highly active integrated OER electrodes.