Background: Elderly individuals experience a complex array of physiological, psychological, and social changes in their lives, which challenges their ability to participate in meaningful occupations, and can result in a diminished sense of well-being. In previous work, we proposed a broader perspective that takes into account the contribution of hope and playfulness –protective personality characteristics – to participation and well-being among the elderly. A pilot study was designed to explore this notion and examined the relationship between playfulness, hope, well-being, and participation, while accounting for cognitive decline and negative emotions.
Methods: Forty six participants with mean age of 78.4 years (SD = 7.3), of which 78.3% were women and 21.7% men, were interviewed using standardized questionnaires measuring participation, well-being, sense of hope, cognitive status, playfulness and emotional status.
Results: Moderate to high correlations were found between playfulness and hope and both well-being and participation. The correlation coefficient range was r = 0.47–0.70 (p < 0.05). In addition, participation correlated with cognitive and emotional status, while well-being correlated only with emotional status (r = 0.72; p < 0.01). Statistical analysis demonstrated that while playfulness and hope differed among individuals with and without depressive symptoms, they did not affect participants' cognitive status.
Conclusions: The results presented here support the importance of traits such as having a sense of hope and playfulness and their role as resilient factors that may contribute to elderly well-being and participation.


It is well known that the perturbed stress field beneath valleys can result in roof instabilities in shallow underground coal and stone mines. Quantitatively predicting the magnitude of these stress perturbations, particularly beneath complicated three-dimensional (3D) topography, has not become commonplace in mine planning, perhaps due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of the problem. Here we utilize 3D digital elevation models and the 3D boundary element method (BEM) approach to efficiently calculate the pre-mining topographically perturbed stress field in the vicinity of the Carroll Hollow coal mine in eastern Ohio. We find that regions of elevated compressive stress in the mine correspond to areas in which cutter roof failure is a common source of roof instability. Furthermore, both the magnitude and inclination of the principal stresses calculated from the 3D topographic BEM model are found to be consistent with observed failure distributions within the mine. We propose that the approach outlined in this study can be efficiently applied to the mine planning process in order to mitigate or avoid potentially hazardous mining conditions. & 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Borges recognized the cracking facade of modernity and the fragility of its monist absolutisms, its commitment to linearity, and its faith in historical progress.  By disavowing the ability of time to be contained within any collective structure of representation, Borges both refutes modernist conceptions of time and offers insight into recent theories of contemporaneity.  A contemporaneous reading of Borges opens lucid temporal relationships, challenges assumptions about the affinities between the self and time, allows for the existence of multiple temporal antimonies, and ultimately reveals the contemporaneous relationship between individual sensations of time of the collective structural composition of temporality.


We report the records of three nests of Straight-billed Reedhaunter, Limnoctites rectirostris, in southernmost Brazil. For each nest, we collected information about the biometry, spatial localization within the patch (border or inland) and cardinal orientation of the incubation chamber. Information on number of eggs and reproductive success is also presented. All nests were found early in September. The three nests were situated on the edge of patches and guided incubation chamber opening between north and east. All results are discussed. The information presented herein extends the scarce knowledge about the breeding biology of the Straight-billed Reedhaunter.


Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic liver disorder that can progress to cirrhosis. Up to now, there is no established treatment for this disease. Methods: We randomly assigned 55 adults with NAFLD to receive Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) 60 mg daily (30 subjects) or vitamin E 800 unit daily (25 subjects) for 3 months to assess the effect of CoQ10 versus vitamin E on BMI, ALT, AST, ALK-P, PT, Bilirubine, ALB, Ferritin, TG, Total Cholestrol, FBS, Serum Insuline, LDL, HDL, Total Anti Oxidant Capacity (TAC) before and after intervention. Results: In CoQ10 group there was a significant improvement in AST, ALT, TAC (P value<0.0001), Ferritin, Total bilirubin, GGT (p value<0.01), HDL (p value<0.05). In vitamin E group there was a significant improvement in AST, ALT, TAC, Ferritin, GGT, HDL (p value<0.01). There was not significant improvement in FBS, Insulin resistance and other lipid profile in both groups. Conclusion: Our study assigned that 60 mg CoQ10 is effective on improvement of noninvasive liver parameters in NAFLD. We suggest longer duration treatment and with larger dosage. We also suggest a large study with biopsy control for the assessment the effect of CoQ10 in NAFLD.


Metabolic changes at around the time of birth are crucial for life. Here we review the energy utilization in the myocardium, emphasizing ketone body metabolism. Before birth, glucose and lactate are the major energy substrates for the myocardium. Long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) are normally not available as an energy substrate for the fetal heart; however, when LCFA are supplied artificially in near-term fetal lambs, they are readily oxidized. Hence the myocardium has no limitation to its ability to use LCFA before birth. After birth, lactate remains an important energy source for the myocardium, whereas the contribution of glucose to myocardial energy production decreases despite an increase in the supply of glucose. The oxidation of ketone bodies increases after birth in relation to an increase in supply. However, ketone bodies account for only 7% of left ventricular oxygen consumption. The supply and contribution of LCFA to the myocardium increases after birth; the oxidation of LCFA accounts for most of the left ventricular oxygen consumption. Hence the role of ketone bodies in myocardial metabolism is limited. However, there are interesting observations on interference between the uptake of different substrates and the release of ketone bodies, which might have consequences for our interpretation of ketone body utilization.


Many books upon surgical subjects must be considered as academic in their design; technical procedures are described, and often beautifully illustrated, as they may be performed upon the operative surgery body, so that the inexperienced reader might scarcely recognize the operation when.he first saw it performed upon the living subject. The same sort of criticism applies to the recording of results, which may be misleading rather than informative. The outstanding feature of Cancer of the Face and Mouth, by Blair, Moore, and Byars of St. Louis, is that it avoids the academic approach and is essentially a true clinical record. Here we find no revolutionary ideas of treatment but an admirable common-sense attitude to the whole subject, without undue bias towards any particular aspect. For the most part the book consists of a well-annotated photographic record of the progress of typical, and real, cases from the time of the original diagnosis to the ultimate result. Such photographs carry conviction to the reader in a way that academic description cannot do; but, lest the clarity of the technical aspects should suffer as a result, the latter half of the book, under the heading " Operative Technique," is occupied by a large series of plates with clear line drawings illustrating the successive stages 6f the treatment of the actual cases portrayed in the first section. In this manner the reader gets almost as clear a conception of the whole case as if he had been present during the treatment. This ig obviously of great value to the young surgeon who is confronted with his earlier cases in this important branch. In view of the large number of illustrations the text is not very extensive, but it is nevertheless adequate and always presents a well-balanced view. In addition to the face and mouth proper there are chapters on the maxillary antrum and the salivary glands, while plastic reconstruction of course receives attention. The role of irradiation in the treatment of these growths is carefully assessed, and a chapter on "Follow-up Statistics" gives the initiate a good idea of what may be achieved by the various forms of treatment. It is therefore a book well worth perusal, and then keeping for valuable reference when the difficult or unusual case


While financially advantageous, outsourcing key steps, such as testing, to potentially untrusted Outsourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) companies may pose a risk of compromising on-chip assets. Obfuscation of scan chains is a technique that hides the actual scan data from the untrusted testers; logic inserted between the scan cells, driven by a secret key, hides the transformation functions that map the scan-in stimulus (scan-out response) and the delivered scan pattern (captured response). While static scan obfuscation utilizes the same secret key, and thus, the same secret transformation functions throughout the lifetime of the chip, dynamic scan obfuscation updates the key periodically. In this paper, we propose ScanSAT: an attack that transforms a scan obfuscated circuit to its logic-locked version and applies the Boolean satisfiability (SAT) based attack, thereby extracting the secret key. We implement our attack, apply on representative scan obfuscation techniques, and show that ScanSAT can break both static and dynamic scan obfuscation schemes with 100 percent success rate. Moreover, ScanSAT is effective even for large key sizes and in the presence of scan compression.


Biochemically, interleukin-6 belongs to the class of four-helical cytokines. The cytokine can be synthesised and secreted by many cells. It acts via a cell surface-expressed interleukin-6 receptor, which is not signalling competent. This receptor, when complexed with interleukin-6, associates with the signalling receptor glycoprotein 130 kDa (gp130), which becomes dimerised and initiates intracellular signalling via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription and rat sarcoma proto oncogene/mitogen-activated protein kinase/phosphoinositide-3 kinase pathways. Physiologically, interleukin-6 is involved in the regulation of haematopoiesis and the coordination of the innate and acquired immune systems. Additionally, interleukin-6 plays an important role in the regulation of metabolism, in neural development and survival, and in the development and maintenance of various cancers. Although interleukin-6 is mostly regarded as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, there are numerous examples of protective and regenerative functions of this cytokine. This review will explain the molecular mechanisms of the, in part opposing, activities of the cytokine interleukin-6.


CASE
We present the case of a 40-year-old man with a fracture to the superior angle of the scapula who was treated nonoperatively for 10 months-leading to a symptomatic nonunion. The patient underwent reconstruction of the nonunion for a painful shoulder and was followed clinically for 3 years. He demonstrated major improvement in function and symptoms.

CONCLUSION
Nonunions of the scapular superior angle can be effectively managed with surgical reconstruction.


Even though the management of large projects has been studied for many years, the track record is still poor, especially for those projects developing complex systems. This thesis studies projects such as these and attempts to find clues as to why some succeed while others do not. Among the challenges, is the specific yet basic need to create a shared understanding in a group of hundreds engineering specialists with their own ideas (biases) of how things actually work. Further, complex development projects are likely to change, especially those projects involved with new technologies that should be state of the art when they hit the market after several years of development time. Thus, there is a need for a tool that can be used to adapt to changes. An important part of this thesis is the evaluation of different diagram systems that have been used in different development projects. These diagrams function as a device to create a shared understanding of the project and enable those involved to maneuver the project through changes. The evaluation focuses on what the diagrams can express and how easy it is to understand their content. In terms of expressiveness, one of the three evaluated models: the Anatomy Model, answers the largest number of questions relevant to the total project manager. In terms of ease of use, the evaluation shows that the Anatomy did not only answer more questions relevant to the total project manager, but was also easier to maneuver through compared to the alternative models. The thesis concludes that when working with complex development projects, a model like the anatomy provides the project manager with a simple tool that can be used to maneuver through changes and create a communal understanding. Such a simplified model addresses more questions that are relevant to the project manager and is easier to update than the traditional tools that are suggested in most literature.


Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a transmembrane protein that signals from the ER and contributes to the generation of an active spliced form of the transcriptional regulator X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1). XBP1 is required for the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into plasma cells, and IRE1 also participates in this differentiation event. A study in this issue of the JCI reveals, quite unexpectedly, that IRE1 is also required early in B lymphocyte development for the induction of the machinery that mediates Ig gene rearrangement.


Indonesian is known for having a relatively simple morphological and syntactic structure. This is especially true of local varieties of the language, where contrast between categories found in Standard Indonesian is neutralized. In the Indonesian variety spoken in Riau Province, there is almost no morphological marking of grammatical categories and there is relatively free word order. Gil (1994, 2003, 2005b) develops a theory of Riau Indonesian grammar that has only one open grammatical category, which he calls S (Sentence). This means that there are no distinctions between categories like noun, verb, and adjective and no basic word order. In this paper I show that Gil's analysis does not adequately account for generalizations in Riau Indonesian syntax. I argue that Riau Indonesian has the basic lexical categories of noun, verb and adjective. Based on these lexical categories, I show that the language has basic SVO word order. I argue that Riau Indonesian can be better analyzed in terms of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG; cf. Van Valin & La Polla 1997, Van Valin 2005) since RRG accounts for generalizations in Riau Indonesian more adequately. I also use Discourse Representation Theory (Kamp & Reyle 1993, Asher 1999) to show how discourse structure can function to aid semantic interpretation of Riau Indonesian syntax in an RRG framework.


BACKGROUND: This study was designed as a definitive study to determine the needs of the critical patient's family and whether or not these needs are met. METHODS: The study was conducted in the emergency departments (EDs) of a University and a state hospital between February-May 2007 with the families of 353 critical patients. The data was collected by face to face interview technique using the Needs of the Critically Ill Patients' Family Members in Emergency Department Scale and uestionnaires and a personal information form. RESULTS: It was determined that the patient's family valued their right and need to be informed of the patient's status and take part in their care more than their own personal needs. In a more general perspective, nine of the 10 most frequently stated needs regarded communication. It was also found that the needs to be provided by the ED staff were listed as the most important or important. CONCLUSION: Defining the needs of the family of critical patients in the ED may help raise awareness of the health care providers about this issue, thereby helping to improve the service. Support of patients' relatives in regards to their needs would increase satisfaction of the patients' relatives and the quality of care in the ED.


Stormwater is one of the last major untapped sources of water in the urban landscape. South East Queensland (SEQ) urban runoff varies between 240 and 750 GL/year, of which about half is required to maintain environmental flow requirements in the lower reaches of the SEQ river systems. The challenge for using stormwater includes its capture, storage, appropriate treatment, and supply to end users at cost effective prices. Major potential end uses include
dual reticulation in greenfield urban developments (in lieu of rainwater tanks to achieve the mandated mains water saving of 70 kL/household/year) and irrigation of high value public open spaces such as playing fields.

There is a consensus view amongst freshwater ecologists that the increased frequency and peak discharge of runoff has seriously degraded the ecosystem health of urban creeks. Hence, stormwater harvesting is one method to reduce adverse ecosystem impacts and achieve the runoff objectives (contaminants, frequency, amount, peak discharge) defined in the SEQ Regional Plan (2009) Implementation Guideline #7. However, the science linking
hydrological response to creek ecosystem response is poorly understood. Until it can be demonstrated that stormwater harvesting does not adversely affect environmental flows, state regulators are disinclined to promote (or even approve) the practice in the Resource Operating
Plan/Resource Allocation Plan (ROP/RAP) environment of water regulation in SEQ.

An inevitable hydrological consequence of urbanisation is an increase in the fraction of impervious areas (roads, roofs, paving etc.) and consequent increases in runoff, frequency of runoff events, and peak discharges at various return intervals. The consequences of this changed hydrology are elevated concentrations of nutrients and contaminants, degraded channel morphology, reduced biota richness, and increased dominance of tolerant species (Walsh et al., 2005). Land uses in an urban catchment which reduce the frequency of runoff events, (and hence runoff %) and the peak discharges are considered to be beneficial to the restoration of stream ecosystem function. It follows that stormwater harvesting practices that can reduce the frequency of small events and take the top off peak discharge rates should be beneficial to the creek ecosystem. However, the other view is that abstraction of water from streams and rivers is likely to cause environmental harm, and until the safe environmental flows (based on the natural flow regime) are defined, extraction for beneficial uses should not be allowed. This stance has been adopted by the water regulator (DERM) as required by the Queensland Water Act (2000) and supported by numerous studies that many of our (inland) river systems are degraded due to over-extraction of water (both in its timing and amount) for human purposes.

Therefore, catchment hydrology modelling is an essential part of this project. Calibrated hydrologic models are widely used for stream flow simulation and to define hydrologic characteristics of streams. A reliable flow simulation depends on availability of reliable stream flow data and a reliable rainfall runoff model. Therefore, considerable effort has been invested in instrumentation of 12 catchments located in SEQ across a land use gradient from nil to significant urbanisation, in order to obtain continuous rainfall and creek flow data. A US EPA Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) has been calibrated and validated for each catchment at an hourly resolution, using two years of continuous hourly rainfall and runoff data. This technical report documents the work involved in doing so from instrumentation to catchment calibration and validation.

This report consists of a detailed description of catchments, hydrologic instrumentation techniques, rating curve development, estimation of catchment impervious fraction, description of the US EPA Stormwater Management Model, calibration and SWMM parameter estimations, and sensitivity analysis of SWMM parameters. The results of running the SWMM catchment models under baseline (current) land use conditions, and a series of stormwater harvesting and urbanisation scenarios will be reported separately.


The author explores the application of graph colouring to biological networks, specifically protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. First, the author finds that given similar conditions (i.e. graph size, degree distribution and clustering), fewer colours are needed to colour disassortative than assortative networks. Fewer colours create fewer independent sets which in turn imply higher concurrency potential for a network. Since PPI networks tend to be disassortative, the author suggests that in addition to functional specificity and stability proposed previously by Maslov and Sneppen (Science, 296, 2002), the disassortative nature of PPI networks may promote the ability of cells to perform multiple, crucial and functionally diverse tasks concurrently. Second, because graph colouring is closely related to the presence of cliques in a graph, the significance of node colouring information to the problem of identifying protein complexes (dense subgraphs in PPI networks), is investigated. The author finds that for PPI networks where 1-11% of nodes participate in at least one identified protein complex, such as H. sapien, DSATUR (a well-known complete graph colouring algorithm) node colouring information can improve the quality (homogeneity and separation) of initial candidate complexes. This finding may help improve existing protein complex detection methods, and/or suggest new methods. [Includes supplementary material].


Black oat crop occupies the largest area during winter. It is important for animal production, crop rotation and dry matter production of approximately 3.8 million hectares in Rio Grande do Sul State. To ensure sowing, seeds are produced which must have high quality standards and must be evaluated by seed testing laboratories. Given this, the present study evaluated the physical and physiological quality of oat seeds analyzed by the Seed Analysis Laboratory of UNIJUI from 2006 to 2014. 2,910 samples were evaluated; 2,229 were evaluated with seed production process; 357 were evaluated with seed analysis of own use and 324 were evaluated with tetrazolium analysis. The samples obtained through seed production process were analyzed in terms of their physical and physiological aspects, while the own seed and tetrazolium test used were evaluated only in terms of their physiological attributes, following the methodology described in the Seed Analysis Rules. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics for each variable studied per year, and the averages, maximum and minimum standard deviation and coefficient of variation were identified. The data were also evaluated based on their dispersion, and compared to weather occurrences and  national standards, in order to estimate the percentages of samples approved. Seeds produced according to the National Seed system had high levels of physical and physiological quality from 2006 to 2010. However, between 2011 and 2014, 14.0 and 14.5% of the samples were above the standard levels for seeds of other cultivated species and harmful prohibited species respectively. The own used seeds showed greater variability and dispersion, with 18.1 and 31.7% samples below the standards for germination in the years 2006 to 2010 and 2011 to 2014, respectively, while the samples analyzed through the tetrazolium test showed approved levels of 19.4 and 12.5%, respectively. The major physiological qualities were obtained in 2008, 2010 and 2011 and the lowest in 2009, 2012 and 2014. It is noteworthy that the seed quality is related to years with levels of rainfall and appropriate temperatures for vegetative development, physiological maturity and harvest.

 Key words: Avena strigosa (Schreb.), purity, germination, tetrazolium.


The theory and applications of Smart Factories and Industry 4.0 are increasing the entry into the industry. It is common in industry to start converting exclusive parts, of their production, into this new paradigm rather than converting whole production lines all at once. In Europe and Sweden, recent political decisions are taken to reach the target of greenhouse gas emission reduction. One possible solution is to replace concrete in buildings with Cross Laminated Timber. In the last years, equipment and software that have been custom made for a certain task, are now cheaper and can be adapted to fit more processes than earlier possible. This in combination, with lessons learned from the automotive industry, makes it possible to take the necessary steps and start redesigning and building tomorrows automated and flexible production systems in the wood industry. This paper presents a proof of concept of an automated inspection system, for wood surfaces, where concepts found in Industry 4.0, such as industrial Internet of things (IIoT), smart factory, flexible automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber physical systems, are utilized. The inspection system encompasses, among other things, of the shelf software and hardware, open source software, and standardized, modular, and mobile process modules. The design of the system is conducted with future expansion in mind, where new parts and functions can be added as well as removed.


Knowledge of the development of auditory sensation and perception is of unquestionable theoretical and practical importance. A procedure for behaviorally assessing auditory perception in newborns, based on sucking, has been developed. Neonatal thresholds to tonal stimuli, obtained with this measure, have been reported [A. G. Shoup‐Pecenka et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 90, 2297 (A) (1991)]. For the present study, speech discrimination thresholds were assessed in the well‐baby nursery of a county hospital. The stimuli used were a forward English /u/ and the same sound played backward, at various intensities (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dB re:normal adult threshold). These stimuli were chosen because newborns have been reported to discriminate between them at a suprathreshold level [A. Weintraub, 8th International Conference on Infant Studies (1992)]. Using a procedure similar to the one for obtaining tonal thresholds, the level at which the neonate could determine the difference between two speech sounds was determi...


Objective To determine the acceptability and accessibility of a sexual health service for young people in a city centre pharmacy. Design Prospective qualitative survey of clients attending a new sexual health service, including client characteristics and semi-structured interviews. Participants Clients attending the service between January and May 1999. Main outcome measures Social demographics, reasons for attendance and consultation outcomes for clients together with their views of the service. Results A total of 98 clients (average of three clients per session) attended from January to May 1999, ranging from 14 to 39 years of age. Clients came from 41 postcode areas of the city (which has over 80 postcode areas) and neighbouring districts, covering all social strata. Only four clients had never been sexually active; 53 clients attended for emergency contraception, with 26 attending for hormonal contraception. A total of 93% of those asked were either satisfied or very satisfied with the opening times. All clients were satisfied or very satisfied with the clinic location. Conclusions The setting of a sexual health service for young people in a city centre pharmacy allows access from a wide area. The timing and location of the service were the most commonly quoted reasons for attendance. All clients were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview, unless the interviewer was already engaged; results were obtained for 66 clients (67% of attendees).


The ICARUS unmanned tools act as gatherers, which acquire enormous amount of information. The management of all these data requires the careful consideration of an intelligent support system. This chapter discusses the High-Performance Computing (HPC) support tools, which were developed for rapid 3D data extraction, combination, fusion, segmentation, classification and rendering. These support tools were seamlessly connected to a training framework. Indeed, training is a key in the world of search and rescue. Search and rescue workers will never use tools on the field for which they have not been extensively trained beforehand. For this reason, a comprehensive serious gaming training framework was developed, supporting all ICARUS unmanned vehicles in realistic 3D-simulated (based on inputs from the support system) and real environments.


Online transaction processing (OLTP) workload performance suffers from instruction stalls; the instruction footprint of a typical transaction exceeds by far the capacity of an L1 cache, leading to ongoing cache thrashing. Several proposed techniques remove some instruction stalls in exchange for error-prone instrumentation to the code base, or a sharp increase in the L1-I cache unit area and power. Others reduce instruction miss latency by better utilizing a shared L2 cache. SLICC [2], a recently proposed thread migration technique that exploits transaction instruction locality, is promising for high core counts but performs sub-optimally or may hurt performance when running on few cores. This paper corroborates that OLTP transactions exhibit significant intra- and inter-thread overlap in their instruction footprint, and analyzes the instruction stall reduction benefits. This paper presents STREX, a hardware, programmer-transparent technique that exploits typical transaction behavior to improve instruction reuse in first level caches. STREX time-multiplexes the execution of similar transactions dynamically on a single core so that instructions fetched by one transaction are reused by all other transactions executing in the system as much as possible. STREX dynamically slices the execution of each transaction into cache-sized segments simply by observing when blocks are brought in the cache and when they are evicted. Experiments show that, when compared to baseline execution on 2--16 cores, STREX consistently improves performance while reducing the number of L1 instruction and data misses by 37% and 14% on average, respectively. Finally, this paper proposes a practical hybrid technique that combines STREX and SLICC, thereby guaranteeing performance benefits regardless of the number of available cores and the workload's footprint.


This dissertation pursues two fundamental objectives. Firstly, through the combination of economic experiments, economic theory, and psychology theory, it investigates motivations underlying behaviour in economically relevant competitive settings. Secondly, it uses the behavioural insights from the research to draw policy implications for the labour market. The main practical implications of this research are: i. To encourage women entering a male-dominated labour market, information in job advertisements that highlight women's underrepresentation should be replaced by references to recent female applicants and/or existing female workers; ii. The appropriate intervention to prevent the adverse effect of stereotype threat in performance is to avoid any information referring to the stereotype; iii. To deter reckless decisions in competitive labour markets (e.g., hedge funds), we should index the bonus of workers to the performance of their peers.


The aim of the work is to develop a framework evaluation for operational performance of the work over rigs in oilfields. This framework is used as a basis to analyse and enhance the performance of the work over rig including the improvement in rig efficiencies and reduction in operational costs. The framework is built on the collection and analysis of the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) established from the data gathered by the work over and production engineers on the work over rig. It can be usefully adopted in certain circumstances to calculate the efficiency of work over rigs. The results of measure OEE are effective when used to improve the work over rig and ESP efficiencies. To illustrate some of our work we present and discuss results from one of many case studies, which demonstrate the value of maintenance strategies such as framework. The framework and OEE measure are shown to be effective when used to improve rig efficiency and reduce downtime cost. Finally, the work suggests a way that can help both work over rigs and ESP users to cooperate with an aim to help oil wells to produce more with efficient equipment at any oilfield


Purpose To establish and evaluate algorithms for detection of primary angle closure suspects (PACS), the risk factor for primary angle closure disease by combining multiple static and dynamic anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) parameters. Methods Observational, cross-sectional study. The right eyes of subjects aged ≥40 years who participated in the 5-year follow-up of the Handan Eye Study, and underwent gonioscopy and ASOCT examinations under light and dark conditions were included. All ASOCT images were analyzed by Zhongshan Angle Assessment Program. Backward logistic regression (BLR) was used for inclusion of variables in the prediction models. BLR, naïve Bayes' classification (NBC), and neural network (NN) were evaluated and compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results Data from 744 subjects (405 eyes with PACS and 339 normal eyes) were analyzed. Angle recess area at 750 µm, anterior chamber volume, lens vault in light and iris cross-sectional area change/pupil diameter change were included in the prediction models. The AUCs of BLR, NBC, and NN were 0.827 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.798-0.856), 0.826 (95% CI, 0.797-0.854), and 0.844 (95% CI, 0.817-0.871), respectively. No significant statistical differences were found between the three algorithms (P = 0.622). Conclusions The three algorithms did not meet the requirements for population-based screening of PACS. One possible reason could be the different angle closure mechanisms in enrolled eyes. Translational Relevance This study provides a promise for basis for future research directed toward the development of an image-based, noncontact method to screen for angle closure.


In this research work, sputtering was used to deposit silver thin films under different deposition parameters, namely by changing deposition pressure, substrate bias and discharge gas. The main objective of the present work was to study the influence of the textured grain in the mechanical behaviour of the modified surfaces. The deposition rate, chemical composition (EPMA), morphology (SEM) and hardness were also assessed. In the slide alternating wear tests, where poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) was used as counterbody, the loads varied from 10 to 30 N. One of the major conclusions of this work is that the thin films with the strongest (111) preferential crystallographic orientation correspond to the highest deposition rate. These sample present higher hardness and lower wear coefficient if compared with other orientations


"Legitimacy, Identity, Violence and the Law": Connecting the international publicity surrounding American torture to reductions in America's international political legitimacy, this essay explores how the legitimacy of the American legal system is also brought into question. Just as the political struggle over the appropriate use of torture is an American struggle for national moral identity and political legitimacy, the professional struggle over the legality of torture is a struggle for the moral identity and legitimacy of the legal system. Lawyers who defend the American government's right to torture perceive themselves as technicians and law as an objective science; thus, they conclude that they are not personally responsible for re-defining "torture" so as not to include torture. However, to the extent American lawyers reject the "objective technician" understanding of the profession, they must accept that the professional is political. Personal judgments as to the morality of torture drive professional reasoning as to its legality. Just as individual American citizens struggle politically against torture being committed in their name, individual American lawyers must struggle against torture being committed "in the name of" the legal system.


Many cultural heritage institutions are confronted with a big challenge when it comes to adapting the process of registration, annotation and digitization of their collections to meet the new technological demands for providing their collections online with Web and mobile technologies. With limited funding and limited professional resources, annotation is often lagging behind significantly in terms of quantity and level of detail. Quantity as well as quality of the annotations is the key to finding relevant objects by various groups of users in online collections. As many experiments with cultural heritage data online show, human computation can be useful for collecting large quantities of data. Various of these experimented with a crowd of lay people to help with the annotation of cultural heritage artefacts. However, a common concern relates to the resulting quality. The current trend appears to focus on supporting 'the crowd' to achieve the desired level of quality. In this paper, we discuss the results of the first phase of an evolutionary system design performed in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, as part of the SEALINCMedia project. By providing personalized support to the individuals and groups in the 'crowd' when annotating museum collection objects, we also support the integration of the annotation result in the RMA content management system. The contribution of this paper is twofold: (1) requirements specification for a crowdsourcing annotation process and (2) design of the personalization functionality in a crowdsourcing annotation system.


Objective: To evaluate the effect of a nutrition education (NE) programme on diabetes knowledge and attitudes of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Eighty-two adults (40–70 years) with poorly controlled T2DM (HbA1c ≥ 8%) and attending two community health centres in Moretele, North West Province (South Africa) participated in a one-year randomised controlled trial. Participants were randomised to the intervention group (n = 41; 8 weekly group education (2–2.5 hours); follow-up meetings and education materials) or control group (education materials only). Diabetes Knowledge Form B assessed knowledge about diabetes. Diabetes Attitudes Scale-III assessed the attitudes towards diabetes and treatment. Assessments were done at 6 and 12 months. Analysis of co-variance compared the groups (baseline, age, gender and clinic adjustments). An intention-to-treat analysis was employed. Results: The intervention group had higher mean diabetes knowledge scores + 0.95 (p = 0.033) and + 2.05 (p < 0.001) at 6 and 12 months respectively. However, the scores were below 50%. Patient autonomy for diabetes attitudes was the only score significantly higher in the intervention group + 0.27 (p = 0.028) at 12 months. Conclusion: NE significantly improved diabetes knowledge in the intervention group, though not satisfactorily, but had limited effects on the attitudes towards diabetes.


An excellent pressure sensor based a simple fabrication technology is presented. Differently from the present prevailing fabrication process of silicon piezoresistive pressure sensor: platinum is used as the sensing material, with a smaller but acceptable sensitivity and much simpler processes; adhesive bonding with SU-8 is used as an alternative choice to anodic bonding, and we choose a vacuum hot plate to avoid using a bonding machine. To achieve a successful bonding, it is found that pre-bake time and pumping time are the most important factors. Bonding quality is evaluated by inspection through the glass with 95% of the area successfully bonded and the failed area in the edge of the wafers. The measured bonding strength is 17.34 MPa. The Pressure-Voltage characteristic test results display a good linearity within 0.2% and especially a good precision within 0.035% in square fitting. The temperature drifting is also tested and the TCO is 1250 ppm/(°C FSO). The long-term stability of the sensor at a constant pressure is a fluctuation within 40 Pa (0.098% FSO) in 7 days. Both the simple fabrication process and the excellent performance of the sensor suggest that this sensor is a much good choice in measuring atmospheric pressure.


This chapter introduces a new method for the analysis and optimisation of reliability as an integrated part of the design process of electronic circuits and systems. It bases itself on the analysis of the susceptibility of failure mechanisms in components as a function of the combinations of external stress factors (stressor-sets). The chapter describes the background of stressor-susceptibility analysis, the need for this analysis and the way this method is used for high-level design and optimisation of electronic circuits. The theory is illustrated using the example of secondary breakdown in a (power) bipolar semiconductor, which can be applied, for instance, in 'smart power' designs. The methodology introduced can also be applied in systems of non-electronic and/or mixed nature.


The effect of deformation on the microstructure of a Al-4wt.%Cu alloy has been investigated. Evaluation of the microstructural changes was made by comparing results after both static annealing and tensile testing (deformed and non-deformed regions) at 450 °C. Uniaxial perturbed-rate tests showed that the Al-4wt.%Cu has a low value of the strain rate sensitivity index (m ~ 0.22) and cannot be considered as a superplastic material. It was found that in the deformed regions, specimens showed a significant increase in the grain and particle size. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the aspect ratio of the matrix grains. Tensile tests carried out at constant strain rates and stopped at intermediate strains helped to estimate the rate of the grain and particle growth and the contribution of deformation to it. To examine in detail the mechanism of the particle coarsening during deformation, additional tensile tests were made using the Al-4wt.%Cu alloy annealed at temperature conditions leading to abnormal grain size. Results of these tests also showed strain-induced particle coarsening, so that dynamic particle coarsening was not simply caused by boundary migration effects.


Cemented carbide hardmetals have been produced since 1910
and have gradually taken over from tool steels as the major
material for high speed metal cutting and forming.

One such forming operation is that of cold heading used
in the production of nail and screw fasteners. This operation
subjects a cemented carbide die to cyclic compressive and
tensile stresses and may be considered as a fatigue process.
Cold heading manufacturers have always been aware that some dies
will produce millions of components and yet others will fail
after a much smaller number and, in view of this, have reasoned
that the surface finish of the die may be limiting factor in
die life.

This research has been carried out to investigate how the
surface finish .affects die life and to find if there is any
numerical correlation between surface finish and life.

Commercially manufactured cemented carbides were subject
to fatigue trials using standard miniature Wohler specimens.
The grades of materials used were B, N and TT with a cobalt
content of 6, 6 and 25% respectively. Grades N and TT were
commercial grades with a grain size of 1.5-3µm, whereas B grade
was an experimental grade with a grain size of 3.0 – 5.0µm.
The fatigue tests were carried out on Wohler rotating
bending fatigue machines with stress levels on the specimens of
between 700 and 1400 MNm².

Initial testing was carried out with specimens in the as
received ground condition. In order to demonstrate the effect
of surface treatment on the fatigue performance of the test
grades, the test specimens were subject to various mechanical
and thermal treatments. [...continued]


: Understanding behavioral changes is important when examining the impacts of rapid environmental change, particularly when critical resources such as protective shelters become locally limited during habitat loss events. In portions of Florida Bay (Florida, USA), cyanobacterial blooms have reduced the availability of large sponges, an important shelter for juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus . We examined whether juvenile lobsters from regions with and without sponge shelters differed in: (1) aggressive and gregarious behaviors; (2) den use, den sharing, and den fidelity before and after shelter loss; and (3) dispersal from sites with and without artificial shelters. In laboratory experiments where individuals were paired with similar-size conspecifics, habitat type had no influence on aggression and gregariousness, but larger lobsters were more aggressive and shared dens less frequently than smaller lobsters. When these same individuals were placed into groups of 20 in a mesocosm and exposed to shelter loss, individuals from habitats with sponges showed a greater decrease in den use and den sharing than individuals from habitats without sponges. After shelter loss, large lobsters decreased their den use, den sharing, and den fidelity more than small lobsters. When individuals were released at their point of capture in Florida Bay, large individuals were resighted less often than small individuals. This study suggests that lobsters from habitats without sponges may respond differently to future shelter loss and that size plays an important role in determining whether juvenile spiny lobsters share shelters or disperse.


Human plasminogen, plasma, or serum increased the pathogenicity of six streptokinase-positive streptococcal strains for mice. Combinations of commercial streptokinase and plasminogen or streptokinase and plasma did not usually increase mouse mortality to a greater degree than did plasminogen or plasma alone, suggesting that the maximal effective amount of streptokinase was produced by the organisms. The pathogenicity of Salmonella paratyphi (fibrinolysin variable) and a Group D streptococcus (streptokinase-negative) was not increased by plasminogen, plasma, or streptokinase, whereas a combination of streptokinase and plasminogen, or streptokinase and plasma did significantly increase mouse mortality resulting from these organisms. Combinations of certain concentrations of streptokinase and plasminogen increased the pathogenicity of a fibrinolysin-negative staphylococcal strain for mice to a greater extent than did either substance alone. The observed results provide evidence that streptokinase, by an interaction with plasminogen, contributes to the pathogenicity of streptokinase-positive streptococci.


Comprehensibility of an assistance system that should facilitate merging at places where a motorway lane ends was evaluated in the advanced driving simulator of the University of Groningen. Main components of the system called 'Denkdek' ('Thinking road surface') are electronic speed limit signs, arrows stimulating to merge, and moving light (LED) bars embedded in the road surface of the emergency lane. The system is made for motorways with a left lane drop. Goal of the system is to reduce speed and speed variability between lanes, and to introduce a small speed difference between the lanes. Drivers on the right-hand lane (i.e. the lane next to the emergency lane) should drive next to a moving LED-light bar and make space for traffic on the centre lane so they can merge. The space these vehicles leave behind on the centre lane can be used by vehicles on the left-hand lane. Results showed that the system was effective in reducing speed, and on the righthand lane average time-headway to cars-in-front increased. More traffic merged from centre to right if the system was switched on and in this way space on the centre lane was created. Drivers merged earlier compared with the situation where the system was off. This effect was also found with drivers who drove on the left-hand lane. In contrast, if the system was switched off a large proportion of drivers remained on the centre lane. Drivers judged driving without the system to be easier and smoother. Rides on the centre and right-hand lane were considered to be less effortful without the system. Rated acceptance of the system was neutral, usefulness of the system was evaluated as slightly positive. A high proportion (41%) mentioned potential distraction from other traffic by the system, and more than one in four said they ignored the system. Participants reported that the behaviour they were expected to display was neutral to clear. The driving simulator study has been followed by a field trial, which is at present being conducted.


The present study was conducted to determine whether a marginal Se deficiency affects health, blood characteristics and the immune response of calves subjected to stresses associated with weaning, shipping (332 km) and Pasteurella hemolytica inoculation. Treatments were 1) -Se, 2) -Se/P. hemolytica, 3) +Se (.1 mg Se/kg feed) and 4) +Se/P. hemolytica. Previous Se intake was controlled; dams of -Se calves were fed diets marginally deficient in Se (.03 to .05 mg/kg), whereas dams of +Se calves received a s.c. injection of 30 mg Se (as sodium selenite) every 60 d. Calves were inoculated with P. hemolytica intratracheally on d 3 following weaning and transport. Inoculation with P. hemolytica increased (P less than .05) body temperatures, platelet counts, serum IgM concentrations and serum antibody titers and decreased serum albumin concentrations at 4 to 7 d postinoculation. Weight gains for the 21-d study were not affected by Se status, although whole blood and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were higher (P less than .05) for +Se calves. Plasma GSH-Px increased (P less than .01) in calves showing signs of morbidity. Increases in plasma GSH-Px were correlated positively with body temperature. Serum IgM concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in +Se calves on d 17, but Se-supplemented calves had lower (P less than .05) anti-P. hemolytica titers on d 17 than -Se calves. Selenium status did not affect body temperatures, plasma creatine phosphokinase or serum IgG and albumin concentrations. These results indicate that Se status can affect IgM concentrations following stress.


The Chinese employment-stream migration law regime recently underwent fundamental reformation. The introduction of a unified work permit for foreign nationals issued by the local bureaus of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs constitutes a significant institutional and procedural change that trims procedures and clarifies competences. Further, the new classification scheme divides foreign nationals into three categories according to their academic qualifications, professional experience, and income, and is supplemented by a points system. The main objective of the scheme is to establish a modern migration law and policy system that will attract highly skilled global talent. Applying a doctrinal approach, this study analyzes the most recent policies and legal reform measures pertaining to the employment-related migration system. It discusses changes to that system against the backdrop of other factors affecting the legal status of foreign nationals in China such as the resident permit system, naturalization, labor standards, social insurance, legal remedies, the legalization of illegal labor migration, and the legal framework for integrating foreign employees into society.


Functional status in older adults admitted to hospitals is a major predictor of outcomes. Functional decline, which is complex and multifactorial in cause, is a common complication of hospital stays. Many factors contributing to functional decline are preventable and treatable by proper nursing. Advanced practice nurses have an important, multifaceted role to play in resolving this geriatric problem.


Maximal activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in oxygen free radical metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver were investigated in 4-, 26-, and 31-mo-old male Wistar-Furth rat at rest and after a single bout of treadmill exercise. In skeletal muscle, cytosolic (Cu-Zn) and mitochondrial (Mn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) specific activities were significantly higher in the aged rats and at 31 mo reached 135 and 218%, respectively, of those at 4 mo. Resting catalase activity was doubled at 31 mo compared with that at 4 mo. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity increased twofold in muscle cytosol and by 47% in mitochondria of aged rats. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activities in muscle were also significantly elevated. Hepatic antioxidant enzymes were altered differentially with aging. Cytosolic SOD and GST activities were decreased, whereas mitochondrial GPX, GR, and G-6-PDH activities were increased. Lipid peroxidation was greater in skeletal muscle homogenate and mitochondria but lower in liver homogenate in the aged rats. An acute exercise bout had little effect on muscle or liver antioxidant enzymes regardless of the animal's age. It is concluded that aging is accompanied with an elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle probably due to the increased oxygen free radical production and reaction.


This work describes the development of three methods for the fluorination of electrophilic substrates:1.) The reaction of caesium fluoride with perfluoro(2-methylpent-2-ene) leads to the formation of perfluoro(2-methylpentan-2-yl)caesium. This perfluoroalkyl carbanion has been shown to undergo significant fluoride ion exchange at temperatures above 60 C. Thus, reaction of a solution of the carbanion with a suitable electrophile resulted in the selective formation of a carbon-fluorine bond or perfluoroalkylation of the electrophile.2.) Caesium fluoride has been developed as a moderately effective nucleophilicfluorinating agent in the Room Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL) solvent [BMIM][PF(_6)]. The fluorination of a range of volatile substrates was studied, and fluorination in the absence of a conventional organic solvent was demonstrated. Recycling of the solvent has been investigated, as has the decomposition of [BMLM] [PF(_6)] in the presence of caesium or potassium fluoride at elevated temperatures.3.) Reaction of a highly fluorinated azaheterocycle with DMAP leads to the formation of a fluoride salt. This salt, formed in situ, was used as a source of nucleophilic fluoride ion for the fluorination of a range of electrophiles. Several of the fluoride salts were converted to their more stable tetrafluoroborate or triflate analogues and characterised.


Asteroseismology of solar-type stars has entered a new era of large surveys with the success of the NASA Kepler mission, which is providing exquisite data on oscillations of stars across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. From the time-series photometry, the two seismic parameters that can be most readily extracted are the large frequency separation (Δν) and the frequency of maximum oscillation power (νmax). After the survey phase, these quantities are available for hundreds of solar-type stars. By scaling from solar values, we use these two asteroseismic observables to identify for the first time an evolutionary sequence of 1 M☉ field stars, without the need for further information from stellar models. Comparison of our determinations with the few available spectroscopic results shows an excellent level of agreement. We discuss the potential of the method for differential analysis throughout the main-sequence evolution and the possibility of detecting twins of very well-known stars.


The rapid and recent advancements in engineering technology clearly indicate that there is a positive need for many forms of continuing education to serve a wide variety of groups and needs. The problem is magnified, since recent graduates of engineering colleges have been trained in areas which did not exist during the years of formal education for many engineers. With the wide variety of necessary continuing education programs, no one group or individual is responsible for the entire program. The responsibility of providing facilities and encouraging faculty participation rests with the universities. The professional societies should encourage continuing education for their members and help to organize programs. Other groups, such as the press and management, must lend support. Management must be willing to, subsidize conferences and allow time off for employees. Other professions should work with engineers in planning interdisciplinary programs. Finally, the individual must support all programs, recognize his own need for continuing education, be willing to give time to programs, and submit ideas for programs he feels are of interest.


113 countries report producing electricity from non-hydro renewable sources and thereby participate in the global energy transition. This paper shows through a dynamic panel data analysis that imports of electric currents have increased and exports have decreased through the higher share of renewables in electricity production, controlling for other factors. On the one hand more cables have been built recently; but on the other hand some countries are blocking electricity shocks technologically as they suffer from free trade temporarily when receiving supply shocks. This shows that trade currently helps dealing with fluctuations of supply, but temporary losses for recipients of shocks may require payments to leave the borders open.


Background: In this study, we conducted a broad investigation of neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia patients with first-rank (passivity) symptoms (FRS) using standardized cognitive tests. We focused on 3 neuropsychological domains, partly informed by 3 broad hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of FRS. We tested predictions that patients with FRS would show: (i) memory deficits consistent with abnormalities in medial temporal lobe functioning; (ii) reduced cerebral lateralization on tasks of motor and language functions, and (iii) deficits on tasks of executive functions as a measure of the integrity of the prefrontal cortex for supporting self-monitoring processes. Sampling and Methods: In 2 parallel studies, we administered a range of neuropsychological tests to patients with FRS (sample A = 17, sample B = 15) and without FRS (sample A = 28, sample B = 20) and to healthy controls (sample A = 109, sample B = 22). Results: The results showed reduced cerebral lateralization in patients with FRS, but there were no memory deficits or executive dysfunctions relative to patients without FRS. An unexpected finding was that, on many cognitive tasks, the performance of the patients with FRS was relatively spared compared to that of the patients without FRS. These results could not be accounted for by demographic features or medication effects. Conclusions: Our results provide qualified support for the reduced lateralization hypothesis. Analyses of performance across neuropsychological domains showed that generalized deficit is not a sufficient explanation for the occurrence of FRS.


BACKGROUND
Degenerative spondylolisthesis is the displacement of one vertebral body over the adjacent one. While standing and flexion-extension X-rays are preferred for determining listhesis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often utilized to assess the compression of nerve root or spinal cord.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the difference in radiographic measurements of spondylolisthesis between X-rays and MRI.

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiographic images of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of spondylolisthesis undergoing operation in 2016. Primary variable of interest was the degree of slippage as per the Meyerding method. Agreement between the 2 reviewers was assessed using the 2-way intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for slippage percentage and Cohen's Kappa for grade. Agreement of Meyerding grade between the 2 imaging techniques was assessed using Cohen's Kappa, while the slip percentage measured for each technique was compared using a Bland-Altman (BA) plot, mean difference (MD), and 1-way ICC.

RESULTS
A total of 255 cases were analyzed. ICC between the 2 reviewers was found to be 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-0.83, P < .001) for X-ray and 0.76 (95% CI = 0.66-0.83, P < .001) for MRI. Agreement between X-ray and MRI for grading of spondylolisthesis was found to be poor (kappa = 0.32, P < .001). BA plot between X-ray and MRI measurements revealed an MD of 4.4% (95% limits of agreement: -10.3% to 19.3%) with 5.16% observations outside the limits of agreement and 1-way ICC of 0.35 showing poor agreement.

CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate the discrepancy of spondylolisthesis grade measurements between weight-bearing X-ray and nonweight-bearing MRI. Careful evaluation of both imaging technique is warranted to determine the final severity of pathology and tailoring of management plan.


This thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Law in East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh


Abstract The food supply chain has been recognised by the EU as a critical infrastructure, and its complexity is the main cause of vulnerability. Depending on the food matrix, natural and/or deliberate contamination, food‐borne diseases or even food fraud incidents may occur worldwide. Consequently, robust predictive models and/or software tools are needed to support decision‐making and mitigating risks in an efficient and timely manner. In this frame, the fellow participated in data collection and analysis tasks, so as to provide additional predictive models. The working programme, covered a wide range of aspects related to risk assessment including identification of emerging risks (quantitative), microbiological risk assessment, authenticity assessment, spatio‐temporal epidemiological modelling and database formation for hosting predictive microbial models. The training and close integration, in the open‐source, in‐house (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)) developed software tools under the framework of FoodRisk‐Labs (https://foodrisklabs.bfr.bund.de.) for data analysis, predictive microbiology, quantitative microbiological risk assessment and automatic data retrieval purposes allowed for the independent use. Moreover, the fellow actively contributed to the update of the upcoming Yersinia enterocolitica risk assessment, and also in authenticity assessment of edible oils. Over the course of the year, the fellow was closely involved in international and national research projects with experts in the above‐mentioned disciplines. Lastly, he consolidated his acquired knowledge by presenting his scientific work to conferences, and BfR‐internal meetings.


This article is based on ongoing research in Vanuatu and the wider Pacific. It maps multi-level roles that education and development policy actors, and civil societies in particular, have increasingly been playing in official education and development policy activities. Most recently this has been in relation to the 'post-2015' agendas and processes that contributed to creating the 'sustainable development goals'. I argue that the decolonising discourses of self-reliance that gained traction in national independence movements have maintained emphasis in Vanuatu civil society and government approaches to national education and development policy. In considering these processes, I employ critical discourse analysis to interrogate some implications of current global(-ized) discourses and frameworks for education and development through lenses of decolonising regional histories and dynamic geo-political regional power relations. Dynamic, indigenous kastom beliefs and practices are central to most aspects of life for most ni-Vanuatu people (Regenvanu 2010). They have been a foundation for the recognition and revitalisation of the 'traditional economy' and 'alternative' visions of development (Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs 2012). Related aspects of traditional/modern dialectics have long underpinned education and development processes and thinking; their negotiation at the interstices of complex economic, historical, and political changes through multi-level education, governance, and research relationships has been striking. The associated policy relationships are as rich and promising — and as disparate and varied — as those in the field of comparative and international education.


ABSTRACT Background: The effects of age on the ability to manage everyday functioning, crucial to ensure a healthy aging process, have been rarely examined and when, self-report measures have been used. The aim of the present study was to examine age effects across the adult lifespan in everyday functioning with two performance-based measures: the Everyday Problems Test (EPT), and the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) tasks. The role of some crucial cognitive abilities, i.e. working memory (WM), processing speed, reasoning, vocabulary, and text comprehension in the EPT and the TIADL were also assessed to see whether or not they have a similar influence (and to what extent) in accounting for age-related effects in these two performance-based measures. Method: Two hundred and seventy-six healthy participants, from 40 to 89 years of age were presented with the EPT, the TIADL, as well as WM, processing speed, reasoning, text comprehension, and vocabulary tasks. Results: Path models indicated an indirect effect of age and education on the EPT, which was mediated by all the cognitive variables considered, with WM and reasoning being the strongest predictors of performance. An indirect quadratic effect of age, but not of education, was found on the TIADL score, and an accelerated decline in processing speed mediated the relationship between age and the TIADL score. Conclusion This study revealed age-related effects in performance-based measures, which are mediated by different cognitive abilities depending on the measure considered. The findings highlight the importance of assessing everyday functioning even in healthy older adults.


The solution to a linear model in which supply and/or demand depends on rational expectations of future prices can involve three parts, which we denote as the fundamental component, the deterministic bubble component, and the stochastic bubble component. This paper explores the properties of these solution components, emphasizing the distinction between deterministic bubbles and stochastic bubbles, for a model of inflation and for a model of the evolution of price and quantity in the market fora storable commodity, such as gold. The analysis focuses on stochastic bubbles as a possibility peculiarly associated with models that involve rational expectations. In both the inflation model and the gold model, although the analysis points to no compelling reason to rule out rational stochastic bubbles apriori, conventional behavioral assumptions imply that anyrational bubbles that arise, whether deterministic or stochastic,are explosive. The paper discusses problems of implementing econometric tests for the existence of rational bubbles, and, as an alternative to these tests, suggests "diagnostic checking" of the stationarity properties of time series. Although these diagnostic checks do not constitute definitive hypothesis testing, we conjecture they would provide strong evidence against rational bubbles outside the context of hyperinflation.


Saliva is a complex multifunctional fluid that bathes the oral cavity to assist in soft and hard tissue maintenance, lubrication, buffering, defense against microbes, and initiating digestion of foods. It has been extensively characterized in humans but its protein composition in dogs remains poorly characterized, yet saliva composition could explain (patho) physiological differences between individuals, breeds and with humans. This pilot discovery study aimed to characterize canine saliva from two breeds, Labrador retrievers and Beagles, and to compare this with human saliva using quantitative mass spectrometry. The analysis demonstrated considerable inter‐individual variation and difference between breeds; however these were small in comparison to the differences between species. Functional mapping suggested roles of detected proteins similar to those found in human saliva with the exception of the initiation of digestion as salivary amylase was lacking or at very low abundance in canine saliva samples. Many potential anti‐microbial proteins were detected agreeing with the notion that the oral cavity is under continuous microbial challenge.


Real world environments are so dynamic and unpredictable that a goal-oriented autonomous system performing a set of tasks repeatedly never experiences the same situation even though the task routines are the same. Hence, manually designed solutions to execute such tasks are likely to fail due to such variations. Developmental approaches seek to solve this problem by implementing local learning mechanisms to the systems that can unfold capabilities to achieve a set of tasks through interactions with the environment. However, gathering all the information available in the environment for local learning mechanisms to process is hardly possible due to limited resources of the system. Thus, an information acquisition mechanism is necessary to find task-relevant information sources and applying a strategy to update the knowledge of the system about these sources efficiently in time. A modular systems approach may provide a useful structured and formalized basis for that. In such systems different modules may request access to the constrained system resources to acquire information they are tuned for. We propose a reward-based learning framework that achieves an efficient strategy for distributing the constrained system resources among modules to keep relevant environmental information up to date for higher level task learning and executing mechanisms in the system. We apply the proposed framework to a visual attention problem in a system using the iCub humanoid in simulation.


The interface between entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial environment has been given attention in entrepreneurship literature. This paper starts by placing the issue of entrepreneurial environment in theoretical context, with particular reference to Nigeria. Two major theoretical perspectives were considered; however, the work dwelt extensively on the demand side perspective, which gives primacy to the compelling influence of environment on entrepreneurial practice. Using resources from academic publications, reports and publications of government agencies and other stakeholders in the field of
entrepreneurship in Nigeria, some policy programmes of government were examined with a view to understanding their
relevance and states in entrepreneurship development initiatives in the country. It was found that most of the programmes considered were moribund either due to discontinuation by succeeding governments or lack of adequate resources, both human and material, for their operations. In few cases where the programmes were in place, a skewed spread was observed,which was capable of hampering the success of these programmes. The paper recommends the following: an auditing of all the policy programmes to avoid duplication and clashes in spheres of operation; continuity in programme implementation;
commitment from credit institutions to spread their activities beyond the "comfort zones" in which they currently operate;and sustained education and enlightenment programmes on the opportunities that abound in the environment amongst others


ABSTRACT Creative writing doctoral students and the faculty members responsible for thesis supervision (whether we call them supervisors, mentors or supervisory panels) develop a complex relationship over the course of candidature that revolves around multiple types of text. The form that these texts take and the stage at which they are produced determine the nature of supervisory feedback, illuminating the intertwined processes leading to a finished product—the creative thesis. Some critics have postulated that creative writing postgraduate courses have taken over much of the manuscript editing that used to be done by publishing houses. Useful parallels can be drawn between the materials presented by candidates and the plethora of texts that form the basis of genetic criticism, which focuses on the stages of a manuscript's life. Genetic criticism also engages with the principles of program and process writing as they pertain to the way in which manuscripts are constructed; they shed light on creative thesis production. Demarcating the postgraduate journey by identifying textual stages will assist supervisors and candidates in conceptualising their long-term projects as academic and artistic work, both of which can be generated through a range of processes. The ultimate goals are graduation and publication or performance.


In 2003 HB285 amended the Georgia Erosion and Sediment Control Act (GESA) to require all persons involved in land development design, review, permitting, construction, monitoring, or inspection, or any land disturbing activity to meet the education and training certification requirements listed by December 31, 2006. It was estimated that 20,000 persons would require certification to be in accordance with the new law. By revising the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act, Georgia's permitting process agreed with federal requirements under the Clean Water Act. GSWCC was charged with developing and administering the certification program in consultation with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) and the Governor appointed Stakeholder Advisory Board. GSWCC, GAEPD and the Stakeholder Advisory Board established three certification courses, created course agendas, course curriculum and developed course certification requirements. To date, 26,000 total certifications have been issued. A continuing education/recertification program is now being developed.


Crack control is an important part of design of reinforced concrete shell structures in the serviceability limit state. Crack width calculations are performed in accordance with design codes, which are based on beams and columns, and thus, challenging subjective interpretations are necessary for application to shell sections. In addition, inherent physical inconsistencies in the formulas available in the present building codes, complicate the crack width expressions. This thesis has aimed at contributing to an improved description of the crack width development in concrete shell structures. A new method was thus proposed, with purpose of providing more accurate response predictions where the physical nature of the problem is better reflected in the formulas. In that context, the cracked membrane model (Kaufmann & Marti 1998) combined with a layered approach was employed for crack width calculations of shell structures. The iteration method (Øverli & Sørensen 2012) gives the distribution of forces across the shell cross section, while the cracked membrane model estimates the response at the cracked surface. The investigations performed in this thesis indicate that the cracked membrane model formulation contributes to an enhanced physical description of the crack development, both for one-dimensional beams and two-dimensional shells with orthogonal reinforcement. Experimental verification also showed that the cracked membrane model and the new approach for shell structures proposed in this thesis provide considerable improvements in crack width estimates compared to the current design codes. Also a simplified version of the cracked membrane model showed to provide accurate response predictions for loading in the serviceability limit state. Based on the findings of this thesis it is recommended that the cracked membrane model formulation is used as basis for new crack width formulas in design codes. Although more research and verification of the new proposed method is necessary, it can potentially be implemented in post-processing analysis of concrete shell structures.


Delusions and their relation with temperament and character in psychotic patients. Recent studies have investigated the relationship between personality traits and symptomatology in schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Cloninger's dimensional personality traits are related to psychotic delusional symptomatology. In the study, we include a sample of 105 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. Delusions were evaluated by the SCAN interview. Our results suggest that some personality traits may contribute to heterogeneity in the presentation of psychotic positive delusional disorder congruent with affective symptoms. Thus, Harm Avoidance would be related to delusions that course with a depressive state and Novelty Seeking to those concurrent with an expansive affectivity.


This paper presents a performance evaluation of nonlinear filtering with Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) algorithm for implementation on Indonesian coastal radar target tracking system. On this radar, target motion is modeled using Cartesian coordinate but target position measurements are provided in polar coordinate (range and azimuth). For this implementation, we investigated two types of nonlinear filtering, Converted Measurement Kalman Filter (CMKF) and Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). IMM algorithm is used to anticipate target motion uncertainty. Many simulations on radar target tracking are developed under assumption that noise characteristic is known. In this paper, the performance of IMM-CMKF and IMM-UKF is evaluated for condition that radar doesn't know noise characteristic and there is mismatch on noise modeling. Results from simulation show that IMM-CMKF has better performance than IMM-UKF when tracking maneuvering trajectory. Results also show that IMM-CMKF is more robust than IMM-UKF when there is mismatch on noise modeling.


The biotransformation of clinically important ester- and amide-type local anesthetic agents is reviewed with emphasis on their fate in man. Aspects considered include: 1 degree the contribution of biotransformation to overall pharmokinetic profiles and systemic safety; 2 degrees the effect of disease on biotransformation; 3 degrees biotransformation and fate in the neonate; 4 degrees pathways and products of biotransformation; 5 degrees pharmacokinetics of metabolites; 6 degrees pharmacological activity and toxicity of metabolites.


Catalytic ozonation of p-Chloronitrobenzene (pCNB) in aqueous solution has been carried out where pumice have been used as the catalysts. The presences of the catalysts significantly improve the degradation efficiency of pCNB and the utilization efficiency of ozone. The adsorption of pCNB is too small to make a significant contribution to the degradation of pCNB in either of the processes of catalytic ozonation by pumice. Addition of t-BuOH causes the obvious decrease of degradation efficiency, suggesting that degradation of pCNB follows the mechanism of hydroxyl radical (OH) oxidation. Some of the main operating variables like dosage of catalyst and reaction temperature exert a positive influence on the degradation efficiency of pCNB.


International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Institute (IWASRI) was created with the broad objective to conduct, manage and coordinate research on waterlogging and salinity. The Dutch Government, through its bilateral cooperation programme, provided support to IWASRI. With a long twelve years (1988-2000) cooperation, IWASRI research was carried out with the collaboration of International Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI) of The Netherlands. During this period IWASRI staff carried out many studies with the technical and financial assistance of ILRI staff. Shallow drainage can reduce the drainable surplus, reduce the need for irrigation supply and cost of installation. Evaluation of Pipe Drainage Systems showed that the field drainage design could be decreased from initial 3.5 mm/d to the value of 1.5 mm/d. Field experiments showed that geo-synthetic as drain envelope material could safely replace the usual gravel envelope materials. Use of synthetic envelopes were much more economical compared with the granular envelopes. Spatially varying drainage needs can be detected through application of groundwater modeling approach. Due to O&M problems drainage benefits as expected at the time of design cannot be fully achieved. Farmers might be ready to pump from pipe drainage sump for irrigation, but they will not pump continuously for drainage. Good communication with the farming community throughout the project is essential for project success. There is lack of understanding to involve small farmers in the planning, design and O&M of system. Interceptor drains and canal lining cannot prevent the need of installation of drainage system. Due to excessive operational cost, the interceptors do not justify the large investments. Marginal and hazardous water can be used for reclamation of salt-affected soils with the application of gypsum/organic matter and leaching. The joint research conducted by IWASRI/NRAP Engineers/Scientists has improved knowledge and capabilities significantly. IWASRI research shows its value for money.


The prevalence of digital technology has allowed professionals to work anywhere/anytime, problematizing disconnection from work. However, the literature on connectivity has not considered the role sociomateriality plays in influencing professionals' connective decisions within the institutional contexts they are embedded. We adopted the framework of sociomateriality to explore how sociomaterial elements shape academics' connectivity management practices in two different Higher Education institutions. We followed a comparative case study approach involving interviews and documentary review. We found that although professionals operated under similar occupational responsibilities, their connectivity management practices varied remarkably between the institutions, with their practices being underpinned by three key institutional characteristics: spatiotemporal expectations of availability, dominant platform of communications, and intensity of connectivity. We argue that these institutional characteristics are interrelated, simultaneously affecting one another while shaping connectivity management practices. We advocate that while professionals may develop practices toward the management of connectivity, their practices are enabled and constrained by an interplay of social and material elements already embedded within their institutional context.


Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is regarded as one of the most lethal cancer types for its challenges associated with early diagnosis and resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents, thereby leading to a poor five-year survival rate. The complexity of the disease calls for a multidisciplinary approach to better manage the disease and improve the status quo in PDAC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. To this end, the application of quantitative tools can help improve the understanding of disease mechanisms, develop biomarkers for early diagnosis, and design patient-specific treatment strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes. However, such approaches have only been minimally applied towards the investigation of PDAC, and we review the current status of mathematical modeling works in this field.


Implicit techniques for construction and representation of the reachability set of a high-level model have become quite efficient for certain types of models. In particular, previous work developed a "saturation" algorithm that exploits asynchronous behavior to efficiently construct the reachability set using multiway decision diagrams, but requires each model event to be expressible as a Kronecker product. In this paper, we develop a new version of the saturation algorithm that works for a general class of models: models whose events are not necessarily expressible as Kronecker products, models containing events with complex priority structures, and models whose state variables have unknown bounds. We apply our algorithm to several examples and give detailed experimental results.


The paper compares the effects of productivity growth in agriculture in a standard CGE model and an adjusted CGE model with special features in order to replicate partial equilibrium behavior of traded agricultural sectors within a general equilibrium framework. The fixed-price, partial equilibrium CGE model shows a strong multiplier effect so that total GDP, factor earnings, and household incomes increase with the productivity growth in agriculture. In comparison, the standard CGE model generates much more diverse sectoral behavior, stronger trade through shifts in the exchange rate, and a less equitable income distribution among farm and non-farm households.


The paper concerns an approach to software development which is referred to as Component Based Software Engineering (CBSE). The approach is based on the principle of extensive use of preexisting, standard or customizable components in building new systems. CBSE has received considerable attention recently since it promises to bring to software development the engineering discipline that has been long accepted in more mature engineering domains. We describe the design of a specification language intended for support of basic CBSE activities; the Architecture Specification Language (ASL). More specifically, we show how the language design choices have been driven by our understanding and prioritization of the concerns of the key stakeholders involved in the software development process.


Abstract The relationship between sperm production and sperm output was reexamined with data from 50 bulls. Sperm output in semen collected daily by artificial vagina averaged 6.46×10 9 /day (47 bulls). The volume (ml/day), cell concentration (10 6 ml), and sperm output (10 9 /day) from a cannulated rete testis (21 measurements) averaged 41.3, 70, and 2.83 while corresponding values for cauda epididymal semen obtained via a vas deferens cannula (20) averaged .8, 5387, and 3.93. Comparisons within bulls for pairs of measurements revealed no significant difference in the number of sperm recovered from the rete testis, from the cauda epididymidis, or representing one-half of those ejaculated daily before surgery. These values were similar to estimates of sperm production calculated with a new time divisor (5.32 days) to convert testicular spermatid reserves to sperm production. Each method used can give valid estimates of daily sperm production. In normal bulls few if any sperm are resorbed in the epididymis. Sperm transport through the epididymis was not retarded by ligation of the efferent ducts. The time required for sperm to traverse the epididymis of a bull ejaculated daily averaged 8 days but ranged from 4 to 15 days.


The study of the circulation of the eye has been taxing the imaginations of ocular investigators for 100 years, and has resulted in various and ingenious methods for its assessment. In recent decades technological advances have provided even more scope for examination. In these studies the method of colour Doppler imaging (which has considerably improved the localisation and measurement of blood flow in small blood vessels) was investigated as a means of examining the haemodynamics of the eye. The examination of 95 normal individuals showed that many orbital blood vessels could be examined but that only the Doppler recordings (blood velocities and resistive index) from the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and vein were reproducible. Normal ranges for the Doppler measurements from these vessels were defined. The results were influenced by the age of the patient, by systemic blood pressure and by smoking habit. The identity of individual blood vessels was confirmed by examining patients with occlusive vascular disease. According to the Hagen Poiseuille law an increase in the viscosity of a fluid reduces its flow. In a group of normal individuals the interrelationship between blood velocity (from colour Doppler imaging) and systemic blood viscosity was examined. No effect of viscosity on the blood velocities was found but a negative correlation between viscosity and resistive indices (a Doppler measure of resistance to flow) was detected. This result suggested that in normal individuals there was compensation for increased blood viscosity by a reduction in peripheral resistance thereby maintaining blood flow to the eye. The method of colour Doppler imaging was then applied to the examination of 80 patients with central retinal vein occlusion in whom significantly reduced blood velocities were found in the retinal vessels. In fact the values of the velocities (a minimum peak velocity in the central retinal vein of less than 3.0 cm/sec) could be used to predict the development of the blinding and painful complication of iris neovascularisation. Investigation of the systemic blood viscosity in these patients revealed elevated viscosity compared to population based controls and the examination of haemostatic factors demonstrated a thrombotic tendency particularly in those who developed iris neovascularisation. In contrast to normal individuals, the orbital blood velocities from the patients with central retinal vein occlusion were negatively correlated with their blood viscosities whereas resistive indices were unaffected, indicating that a reduction in peripheral resistance did not occur. In these patients therefore not only was blood viscosity elevated but there was no evidence of compensation for this by reduction of peripheral resistance. Potentially therefore retinal blood flow is reduced in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion by increased blood viscosity and poor vascular compensation to such an extent that "occlusion" of flow in the vein occurs.


Antigenic variation on the cell surface of the T. brucei is essential for the survival of the parasite in the host immune system. Finding mechanisms to stop variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) switching, and hence the parasites ability to evade the host immune system provides a promising opportunity to treat the infection. Holliday junctions are an essential part of homologous recombination, which is used for DNA repair and for the crossover of DNA. Identifying T. brucei proteins which act as Holliday junction resolvases are potential candidate targets for inhibiting VSG switching. In this project, bioinformatics methods were used to identify proteins with homology to human GEN1, a known Holliday junction resolvase. Purification of homologous proteins were carried out from the expression of bacterial cell lines. Parasite cell lines were created for the investigation of the homologous protein localisation and a BioID analysis to interrogate protein-protein interactions. Bioinformatics analyses identified two proteins with homology to human GEN1, TbFEN1 and TbRAD2. Of these two proteins, TbFEN1 underwent large scale purification and was used for the production of polyclonal antisera, where TbRAD2 was found to require stringent denaturing conditions for purification. Both proteins were seen to localise within the nucleus of the procyclic parasite. Finally, BioID analysis showed protein-protein interactions with TbFEN1 were found within the nucleus and a complex banding pattern of proteins observed. This work has been able to identify two proteins which potentially act as Holliday junction resolvases in the T. brucei. Further investigation of their function and protein interactions will be important to understand whether these provide functional targets for VSG switching.


Magnetic Induction (MI) is an efficient wireless communication method to deploy operational internet of underground things (IoUT) for oil and gas reservoirs. The IoUT consists of underground things which are capable of sensing the underground environment and communicating with the surface. The MI-based IoUT enable many applications, such as monitoring of the oil rigs, optimized fracturing, and optimized extraction. Most of these applications are dependent on the location of the underground things and therefore require accurate localization techniques. The existing localization techniques for MI-based underground sensing networks are two-dimensional and do not characterize the achievable accuracy of the developed methods, which are both crucial and challenging tasks. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel three-dimensional (3D) localization technique based on Isometric scaling (Isomap) for future IoUT. Moreover, this paper also presents the closed-form expression of the Cramer Rao lower bound (CRLB) for the proposed technique, which takes into account the channel parameters of the underground magnetic-induction. The derived CRLB provides the suggestions for an MI-based underground localization system by associating the system parameters with the error trend. Numerical results demonstrate that localization accuracy is affected by different channel and networks parameters such as the number of underground things, ranging error variance, size of the coils, and the transmitting power. The root mean square error performance of the proposed technique shows that increase in the number of turns of the coils, transmitting power, and the number of anchors improves the performance. Results also show that the proposed technique is robust to the ranging error variance in the range of 10 to 30 %; however, a further increase in the ranging error variance does not allow to achieve acceptable accuracy. Also, the results show that the proposed technique achieves an average of 30 % better localization accuracy compare to the traditional methods.


In this paper a usefull technique for simultaneous untangling and smoothing of meshes is presented. It is based as an extension of an earlier smoothing strategy developed by the authors and employed to solve the computational mesh dynamics stage in fluid-structure interaction problems. In moving grid problems the mesh untangling is necessary to remedy the drawback produced by the elements inversion arisen from the boundary motion making the mesh invalid. The original smoothing strategy is defined in terms of the minimization of a functional associated with the mesh distortion employing an indicator of the element geometric quality. This functional becomes discontinuous when an element has null volume, making impossible to ob- tain a valid mesh from an invalid one. To circumvent this drawback, the original functional is transformed in order to guarantee its continuity for the whole space of volume values getting in this way the untangling technique. The regularization depends on one parameter, allowing to recover the original functional when this parameter tends to zero. This feature is very important because at first it is necessary to regularize the functional for making the untangling possible, i.e. to make the mesh valid, but then, it is advisable to use the original functional to make the smoothing optimal. This technique is applied to several test cases, including 2D and 3D meshes with simplicial elements. An additional example serves as a guide to show how this technique may be employed for mesh genera- tion too. [Submitted to Int J N Meth Engng (2006)]


The tsunami propagation and coastal run-ups generated by the 2006 Pingtung earthquake doublet is studied numerically. The numerical model COMCOT, which adopts a modified Leap-Frog finite difference scheme solving nonlinear Shallow Water Equations (NSWE), is employed. The assessment of the tsunami amplitude and extended effects is discussed in this paper using a set of nested bathymetric grids with a decreasing cell size focused on southern Taiwan. The three nested grids cover from the large far-field South-China Sea to the small near-shore regions. Several possible fault plane mechanisms are examined. Based on the arrival time at different tidal gauges, the suggested seafloor displacement is presented. Adopting the relocated seafloor movement with the fault parameters issued by Global CMT, the model results are favorably compared with the field tidal gauge wave form data. The result shows that the tsunami amplitude is about 35 cm and about 20-min period with the first depression at SyunGuaggZuei. A worse case scenario, Mw = 8.0, is studied. The maximum water levels can reach 4 m for Mw = 8.0 along the shoreline at HouBiHu. We also observe that owning to the source geometries and to the trapping of the tsunami energy by edge wave effect, the south-east coast of Taiwan coast is one of the most dangerous zones for the South China Sea earthquakes.