Refractive indices measurements are carried out in four alkoxy benzylidene anilines viz., N-(p-n-methoxy and ethoxy benzaldehyde)-p-n-dodecyl and tetra decyl anilines, 1O.12, 1O.14, 2O.12 and 2O.14. First three compounds exhibit monovariant nematic phase while the last compound exhibits nematic and SmA phases with variable thermal ranges. The molecular polarizabilities are calculated from the refractive indices and the density using the well known internal field models by Vuks and Neugebauer. The molecular polarizability anisotropy is estimated from the Lippincott δ-function model as well as molecular vibrational methods. The order parameter is estimated using a) from the Haller's extrapolation from molecular polarizabilities, b) from the scaling factors obtained from the equations by Vuks and Neugbeaur and c) directly from the birefringence - a method developed by Kuczynski et al without considering any internal field model to the liquid crystal molecule. The results evaluated from these methods are compared from one another and the limitations of the methods used are discussed.


particularly when an analysis of simple clinical factors reliably predicts the recurrence of seizures. The Royal College of Physicians' study showed that younger age, a family history of epilepsy or of febrile convulsions, and a seizure occurring between midnight and 8 59 am were factors associated with recurrence. If all three factors were present the recurrence rate at one year was 56% (95% confidence interval 42% to 70%); if two factors were present it was 43% (35% to 5 1%); if one factor was present 30% (25% to 36%); and ifno factors were present 18% (7% to 28%). The study by Dr van Donselaar and colleagues also showed that younger age and seizures occurring at night or on waking were associated with recurrence. If these simple clinical questions can determine so well the probability of recurrence why bother with electroencephalography? The sensitivity of the first electroencephalogram in detecting epileptic discharges in patients after a first seizure in the study by Dr van Donselaar and colleagues was 16/151 (11%), and even if the recording was repeated after partial sleep deprivation (combined electroencephalograms) the number rose to only 35/151 (23%)-this with an interobserver agreement about epileptic discharges of only x=05. The authors were at pains to exclude all cases that were of doubtful idiopathic seizures. This low sensitivity (detection rate) of epileptic discharges in those who have had undoubted seizures should remind physicians that electroencephalography cannot be used to "diagnose" a doubtful event. The authors quote the specificity of combined electroencephalograms as being 91%-that is, a false positive rate of 9%. It is not clear what they mean by this as all patients in their study had truly had a first seizure. Neurologists traditionally interpret written electroencephalography reports in the light of the clinical history. Perhaps we should be more hard nosed. Clinical neurophysiologists would do us all a favour if they were more explicit about the sensitivity, specificity, and odds of being affected given a positive result5 for a variety of clinical disorders. Prior etalevaluated the use ofsphenoidal electrodes in this way in 1975.6 Clinical neurophysiologists should surely build on this.


Pancreatic cancer is one the most malignant cancers in human. A great percentage of patients die annually due to lack of early detection as well as efficient treatment strategies. Only five-year survival rate is still only seen in 5% of patients. Major problem of this deadly disease is the intrinsic and acquired resistance to current chemotherapeutic agents such as gemcitabine. So far, different molecular mechanisms are attributed to gemcitabine resistance. For instance, genetic mechanisms,
aberrant gene expression in cellular signaling pathways, cancer stem cells, impaired apoptosis related genes, epigenetic changes and potential role of microRNAs have been identified in gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer. Improving the drug efficacy and overcoming to drug resistance is the current goal in treatment of pancreatic cancer. Understanding the cellular and
molecular mechanisms of resistance can help us to develop novel therapeutic approaches leading to increased effectiveness of current treatments. In this review, we summarized the molecular mechanisms involved in gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer.


Dynamic aspects of behavior of software systems in dynamically reconfigurable runtime architectures can result in significant architectural violations during runtime. In such cases, a system's architecture evolves during the runtime according to the actual state of the system's environment, and consequently, runtime reconfigurations may eventually lead to incorrect architecture configurations that were not considered during the system's design phases. These architectural violations are known as architectural erosion or architectural drift, and they contribute to an increasing brittleness of the system, or a lack of its coherence and clarity of its form. This chapter describes and compares possible measures to prevent architectural violations in dynamic service and component models. The aim of this chapter is to evaluate the applicability of those measures in combination with advanced features of reconfigurable runtime architectures such as ad hoc reconfiguration, service or component mobility, composition hierarchy preservation, and architectural aspects. Marek Rychly Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-6178-3.ch002


In work described on page
 1151, geneticists found that characteristic DNA sequences called markers on the Y (male) chromosome in a huge sample of men in Asia and Oceania could be traced to forefathers who lived in Africa in the past 35,000 to 89,000 years. Two other groups studying Y chromosome markers have come to a similar conclusion. Together with a variety of studies showing that mitochondrial DNA is of recent African origins, anthropologists now have two strong lines of evidence in favor of the "Out of Africa" model, which says that the ancestors of living humans swept out of Africa in the past 200,000 years and replaced all indigenous people they encountered. Researchers point out, however, that it is still possible that some of our nuclear DNA came from archaic humans who were not part of the recent migration out of Africa. Thus, a competing theory called "multiregionalism," which holds that living humans are descended from several archaic Old World populations, including Neandertals, is not yet dead.


The aim of this paper is to establish coupled coincidence and coupled common fixed point theorems involving a pair of weakly compatible mappings satisfying rational type contractive condition in the setting of dislocated quasi b-metric spaces. The presented result improves and generalizes several well-known comparable results in the existing literature. We also provided an example in support of our main result.


We consider the problem of characterizing the minimum average delay, or equivalently the minimum average queue length, of message symbols randomly arriving to the transmitter queue of a point-to-point link which dynamically selects a (n, k) block code from a given collection. The system is modeled by a discrete time queue with an IID batch arrival process and batch service. We obtain a lower bound on the minimum average queue length, which is the optimal value for a linear program, using only the mean (λ) and variance (σ2) of the batch arrivals. For a finite collection of (n, k) codes the minimum achievable average queue length is shown to be Θ(1/ε) as ε ↓ 0 where ε is the difference between the maximum code rate and λ. We obtain a sufficient condition for code rate selection policies to achieve this optimal growth rate. A simple family of policies that use only one block code each as well as two other heuristic policies are shown to be weakly optimal in the sense of achieving the 1/ε growth rate. An appropriate selection from the family of policies that use only one block code each is also shown to achieve the optimal coefficient σ2/2 of the 1/ε growth rate. We compare the performance of the heuristic policies with the minimum achievable average queue length and the lower bound numerically. For a countable collection of (n, k) codes, the optimal average queue length is shown to be Ω(1/ε). We illustrate the selectivity among policies of the growth rate optimality criterion for both finite and countable collections of (n, k) block codes.


Introduction Although majority of countries in the European Union (EU/EEA) offer antenatal screening for HIV and syphilis, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is still occurring. We aim to analyse the performance and effectiveness of antenatal screening programmes to strengthen these programmes across the EU/EEA Methods Surveillance for HIV and syphilis, including congenital syphilis (CS), in EU/EEA is coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Data reported by Member States covering the period 2006–2011 were analysed. Information on country of birth and probable country of infection were used to identify where HIV transmission might have occurred. Rates of HIV and CS per 100,000 live births as well as rates of HIV and syphilis among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) were used to compare mother-to-child transmission across the EU/EEA. Results In 2006–2011, 592 cases of HIV-MTCT and 566 CS were reported (rate: 1.8/100000 population and 2.0/100000 respectively). 41393 cases of HIV infection and 18750 cases of syphilis were reported in women of reproductive age (rates: 5.7/100000 and 3.1/100000, respectively). Cases of HIV-MTCT and CS were reported by 20 and 16 countries respectively. Rates ranged between 0.2 and 21.8 for HIV and 0.1 and 39.8 for CS. Rates of HIV-MTCT and HIV in women of reproductive age were higher than the EU/EEA average in France, Latvia, Portugal and the UK. Similarly, rates of CS and syphilis were higher than the EU/EEA average in Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania and Slovakia. Conclusions Surveillance data suggest an unequal performance across EU/EEA in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Understanding of the epidemiological determinants at national level, identification of pregnant women with high HIV and syphilis burden and barriers for access to antenatal care, will inform revision of antenatal screening practices and will allow strengthening of prevention interventions towards key populations.


A cancer vaccine containing an HLA-A*0201-restricted vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) peptide (sequence: TLFWLLLTL) with potential immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. Upon administration, HLA-A*0201-restricted VEGFR1-derived peptide vaccine may stimulate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells expressing VEGFR1, resulting in tumor cell lysis and decreased tumor growth. HLA-A*0201 is an MHC class I molecule that presents antigenic peptides to CD8+ T cells; epitope design restricted to epitopes that bind most efficiently to HLA-A*0201 may improve antigenic peptide immunogenicity.


Abstract. This paper provides an overview of oil spill scenarios and the remote sensing methods used for detection and mapping the spills. It also discusses the different kinds of thermal sensors used in oil spills detection. As UAS is becoming an important player in the oil and gas industry for the low operating costs involved, this research involved working with a cheap thermal airborne sensor mounted on DJI Phantom 4 system. Data were collected in two scenarios, first scenario is collecting data in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at a petroleum company location and the second scenario was an indoor experiment simulating an offshore spill. The aim of this research is to inspect the capability of Lepton LWIR inexpensive sensor to detect the areas contaminated with oil. Data processing to create classification maps involved using ArcGIS 10.5.1, ERDAS Imagine 2015 and ENVI 5.3. Depending accuracy assessment (confusion matrices) for the classified images and comparing classified images with ground truth, results shows the Lepton thermal sensor worked well in differentiating oil from water and was not a good option when there are many objects in the area of interest. Future research recommendations and conclusions are presented.


Objective: to determine the pattern and risk factors of stroke in Saudi nationals and non-Saudis, at King Abdualaziz University Hospital (KAUH), in the western province of Saudi Arabia. Method: All cases of stroke admitted to KAUH in the period between January 1995 and December 1999 were studied. Demographic data of the patients, stroke types, risk factors and mortality were reported. Results: Of the 103 patients studied, 56% were Saudis and 44% non-Saudis with male predominance and mean ages of 66 and 62 years respectively. In Saudis, the stroke types were 74% ischemic, 10% hemorrhagic and 16% unspecified, whereas in non-Saudis, the figures were respectively 62%, 29% and 9%. The frequency of stroke increased steadily with age in Saudis but dropped after the sixth decade in non-Saudis. There was no significant difference between the Saudis and the non-Saudis in the occurrence of risk factors for stroke or in mortality. Conclusion: The pattern and risk factors of cases of stroke treated at KAUH are similar to those reported from other regions of Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world


A shared research object between teachers and researchers in Developmental Work Research (DWR) aims at development of teaching practices and forming of subject-specific knowledge. Currently, design experiments, action research, and formative interventions are used in educational research. A multitude of approaches show an overarching interest in developing teaching and learning practices. Action research and formative interventions include and empower teachers. However, in many DWR projects, teachers and researchers have different objects. In a tradition where teachers are regarded as learners, a shared research object is of interest. This chapter problematizes the relationship between teachers and researchers with the help of three DWR projects. It is challenging to establish a DWR project in which teachers and researchers aim at realising the same object. However, when this is a case, such projects may contribute to new knowledge that enhances student learning and educational, clinical, and subject-matter research.


ABSTRACT A geomorphic study of the region in which the earthquake occurred, made after the earthquakes is compared with a similar study made before the earthquakes. Evidence is presented to show changes in land level. Discussion of the effects of the tsunami as it affected geomorphic and geologic processes is presented. Landslides are listed and analysed. Distribution of intensity is discussed.


A series of microwave dielectric ceramics in the compositions of K2Mo2O7, K2Mo3O10, and K2Mo4O13 in K2O–MoO3 binary system with ultra low sintering temperatures were prepared using the solid-state reaction method. Their synthesis, phase composition, compatibility with metal electrodes, microstructures, and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The K2Mo2O7 ceramic sintered at 460°C with a triclinic structure has a relative permittivity of 7.5, a Q × f value of 22 000 GHz, and a τf value of −63 ppm/°C. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that K2Mo2O7 does not react with Ag and Al electrodes at the co-fired temperatures. The K2Mo3O10 ceramic can be sintered well at 520°C with a relative permittivity of 5.6, a Q × f value of 35 830 GHz, and a τf value of −92 ppm/°C. It has compatibility with Ag electrode. The K2Mo4O13 ceramic sintered at 540°C possesses good microwave dielectric properties with a relative permittivity of 6.8, a Q × f value of 39 290 GHz and a τf value of −67 ppm/°C and it is compatible with Al electrode. For K2Mo2O7 and K2Mo4O13, it is found that the grain sizes and the number of grain boundaries play an important role in the dielectric loss. From this study, it can be seen that the three ceramics in K2O–MoO3 system have good microwave dielectric properties, ultra-low sintering temperatures, non-toxic, and low-cost characteristics. So they can be potentially applied to ultra-LTCC devices.


Ultrafast picosecond laser pulses of wavelength of 1064nm have allowed the surface modification of anodised aluminium plate for potential industrial application. The interaction of the laser with the substrate created a hydrophilic surface, giving a contact angle of less than 10 degrees. On examination under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), it was observed that these surfaces have an interesting 'lotus-leaf' like structure. It has been found that these laser processed hydrophilic surfaces revert with time. The potential for application in the printing industry is strong due to the reusability and sustainability of the process materials; initial trials confirm this. This technology would offer extra advantages as a non-chemical process without the need for developer, thereby reducing the overall cost and time of printing


Organic onium salt has been used as a photosensitive pigment for rare-earth luminescent fibre. A certain dose of organic onium salt has been added to rare-earth strontium aluminate luminescent fibre (RESALF) during its melt spinning. It's photochromatic property is studied by comparing RESALFs with and without the organic onium salt. RESALF photochromatic identification method is devised according to the Standard Colorimetric System CIE (International Commission on illumination) 1931 XYZ. The results show that, when excited by 365nm wavelength light, RESALF doped with organic onium salt exhibits good photochromatic properties. The luminescence color of RESALF doped with organic onium salt switches from the yellow-green region to the blue region. The light-chromatic recognition method used is thus able to provide an accurate identification of the luminescence color of the new RESALF.


Blockchain technology has been hailed as the next disruptive leap forward in data sciences. Most legal scholarship related to the topic has focused on its relevance to finance, but it could revolutionize business supply chains. Specifically, blockchain-enabled solutions are expected to improve the reliability of data related to supply chains and to help businesses eliminate waste and harms to people and the environment. Despite the hype, this paper will explain why the promise of distributed electronic ledgers will only be realized in the context of effective governance and legal frameworks. Another goal of this paper is to identify the weaknesses of blockchain technology in the context of supply chains and its vaunted potential to help firms reduce harms. This paper will highlight the risk of placing blind faith in the technology as far as outcomes. Achieving true sustainability through the use of blockchain-enabled solutions—reducing or entirely eliminating the damaging side effects of business—is, again, a question of private and public governance: it requires a shift of mindset and deliberately setting and enforcing ambitious and measurable outcomes. Blockchain only matters, therefore, to the extent that it is coupled with meaningful goals and enabling frameworks of law.


This paper describes the macroeconomic impacts of impulses from technological sectoral models for climate protection policies. The analysis was done with ASTRA-D, a System Dynamics model of the German economy, and the time horizon is 2050. We present here the results of this integrated assessment regarding consumption, investments and employment. Included in the assessment are second round effects and effects of energy expenditure changes on intermediate deliveries and price changes of goods and services. The results indicate an acceleration of economic growth; however, shifts in sectoral demand lead to mixed results in employment. We also discuss the financing of additional climate protection investments and their implementation in ASTRA-D and some of the related problems with that. Finally we review the results in the light of some sensitivity tests.


Low male participation in voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services at antenatal clinics (ANCs) represents a lost HIV-prevention opportunity. A three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted that offered VCT at a neighbourhood health centre, bar or church to the male partners of pregnant women attending a maternity unit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The primary outcome was the proportion of male participation at VCT; secondary outcomes were uptake of couple counselling and determinants of male and couple participation. From a total of 2706 women included in the study, 591 male partners (22%) attended one of the three venues. Male participation was significantly higher in bars (26%, P < 0.001), and higher but not statistically significant in church-based VCT (21%, P = 0.163) compared with health centre VCT (18%). Male participation in VCT associated with ANCs was higher in non-health service settings, particularly in bars. A combination of different strategies rather than single targeted interventions will be needed to increase VCT uptake in male partners of women seeking VCT at ANCs.


COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that in 2020 has spread worldwide. In most severe patients, the clinical picture begins with respiratory failure further deteriorating up to multiple organ failure. Development of coagulopathy is the most adverse prognostic. Analyzing currently available clinical data revealed that 71.4 % and 0.6 % of survivors and fatal cases, respectively, demonstrated signs of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Monitoring D-dimer level, prothrombin time, platelet count and fibrinogen content is important for determining indications for treatment and hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. In case such parameters deteriorate, a more pro-active "aggressive" intensive care should be applied. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) should be administered to all patients with diagnosed COVID-19 infection (including non-critical patients) requiring hospitalization, but having no contraindications to LMWH.


Probably the oldest surviving example of the Hollerith Tabulating Machine is to be found in Paris as part of the collection of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers (CNAM). Unfortunately Hollerith's device is not on general display but is in the CNAM reserves stored on a pallet at a height of almost 2 metres above floor level making examination on a first visit quite difficult. The authors, all members of the History of Computing Group at the University of Portsmouth, UK, visited the CNAM in January 2005 and were able to see the Hollerith machine at first hand. In contrast to the "classical" Hollerith machines as used in the 1890 census, this machine is comprised of three elements: the press desk, the counters, and the sorter. Each are wooden constructions but mounted on wrought iron legs. The principle of operation is, however, identical to the census machines. While dating Hollerith machines is not entirely a straightforward business, it can be said with some confidence that the machine pictured [right] (figure 1) is the oldest surviving Hollerith tabulator in the world, and is in any event better representative of Hollerith's early thinking than any other extant device.


This investigation evaluated the relationship of the oral microbiome and gingival transcriptome in health and periodontitis in nonhuman primates (Macaca mulatta). Subgingival plaque samples and gingival biopsies were collected from healthy sites and at sites undergoing ligature-induced periodontitis. Microbial samples were analyzed with 16S amplicon sequencing to identify bacterial profiles in young (3 to 7 y) and adult (12 to 23 y) animals. The gingival transcriptome was determined with a microarray analysis and focused on the expression level of 452 genes that are associated with the development of inflammation and innate and adaptive immune responses. Of the 396 total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified across the samples, 81.8% were detected in the young group and 99.5% in the adult group. Nevertheless, 58 of the OTUs composed 88% of the signal in adults, and 49 OTUs covered 91% of the OTU readouts in the young group. Correlation analyses between the microbiome members and specific gingival genes showed a high number of significant bacteria-gene correlations in the young healthy tissues, which decreased by 75% in diseased tissues. In contrast, these correlations increased by 2.5-fold in diseased versus healthy tissues of adult animals. Complexes of bacteria were delineated that related to specific sets of immune genes, differing in health and disease and in the young versus adult animals. The correlated gene profiles demonstrated selected pathway overrepresentation related to particular bacterial complexes. These results provide novel insights into microbiome changes with disease and the relationship of these changes to specific gene profiles and likely biologic activities occurring in healthy and diseased gingival tissues in this human-like periodontitis model.


Although laboratory trials suggest that stick insects (Phasmatodea) are a highly palatable prey group for spiders, field observations confirming this hypothesis are very rare. We report on a predatory event involving a huntsman spider of the genus Damastes (Araneae: Sparassidae) on a stick insect of the genus Antongilia (Bacillidae: Antongiliinae) from Madagascar. Despite the anti-predator adaptations that characterise this insect group (e.g. the cryptic camouflage) the stick insect was recognized and overwhelmed by the sparas-


Heritage of Portuguese Culinary in Brazil as a Product of Cultural Tourism. The Portuguese and the Brazilian cultures have a long historical relationship that has developed since colonisation until nowadays, through tourism, immigration, literature, music, gastronomy... Concerning gastronomy, much from the Portuguese heritage can be found in Brazilian cuisine, and the Portuguese settler adapted himself to what these lands had to offer. This adaptation has been expressed in many dishes with Portuguese roots that underwent some transformations in Brazil. From the existing relationship between these two cultures in the gastronomy field, it is revealed that many of the dishes taken to Brazil by the Portuguese were brought to Portugal by other peoples. From an extensive literature review, a general analysis of these two cuisines is presented with the aim of transforming the history of this relationship into a cultural tourism product. Portugal and Brazil constantly communicate with each other nowadays, through tourism activity. From this starting point,


We show that, when school quality is measured by the educational standard and attaining the standard requires costly effort, secondary education needs not be a hierarchy with private schools offering better quality than public schools, as in Epple and Romano, 1998. An alternative configuration, with public schools offering a higher educational standard than private schools, is also possible, in spite of the fact that tuition levied by private schools is strictly positive. In our model, private schools can offer a lower educational standard at a positive price because they attract students with a relatively high cost of effort, who would find the high standards of the public school excessively demanding. With the key parameters calibrated on the available micro-econometric evidence from the US, our model predicts that majority voting in the US supports a system with high quality private schools and low quality public schools, as assumed by Epple and Romano, 1998. This system, however, is not the one that would be selected by the social planner, who prefers high quality public schools combined with low quality private schools.


Last year's publication of Rob Reed's article 'Sunshine and fresh air: a practical approach to combating water disease' provoked sustained reader interest in what seems such a simple solution to a major problem. Here we can publish the results of extensive field and lab tests.


Abstract— Ligation of the ductus arteriosus in utero produces pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in fetal and newborn lambs. However, the mechanisms producing these vascular changes are not well defined. Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as mediators of smooth muscle cell proliferation, we hypothesized that increased formation of ROS may be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension after in utero ductal ligation. Using ethidium fluorescence, we demonstrated an increase in superoxide levels after 9 days of ductal ligation compared with control lungs (P <0.05) that was localized to the adventitia and smooth muscle cells of hypertensive vessels. SOD-1 and SOD-2 protein levels and activities in lung, vein, and artery of hypertensive lambs were unchanged relative to controls after 2 days of ductal ligation. However, after 9 days, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly decreased in arteries from ligated lambs without associated changes in SOD protein expression (P <0.05). Examination of NADPH oxidase expression as a potential source of the superoxide production indicated that the levels of p67phox, a subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex, were significantly increased in the pulmonary arteries, but not veins, from the ligated lung as early as 2 days (P <0.05). Functional analyses demonstrated that reducing superoxide levels significantly increased the NO-mediated relaxation of pulmonary arteries isolated after 9 days, but not 2 days, of ductal ligation (P <0.05). These results suggest that increased NADPH oxidase expression may increase levels of superoxide in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn lung tissue, and that increased superoxide blunts vascular relaxations to exogenous NO while stimulating smooth muscle cell growth.


Does national market size matter for industrial structure? Round One (Krugman) answered in the affirmative: Home market effects matter. Round Two (Davis) refuted this, arguing that an assumption of convenience-transport costs only for the differentiated goods-conveniently obtained the result. In Round Three we relax another persistent assumption of convenience- two industry types differentiated only by the degree of scale economies-and find that market size reemerges as a relevant force in determining industrial structure.


This thesis investigates several issues in data and computation modeling for scientific problem solving environments (PSEs). A PSE is viewed as a software system that provides (i) a library of simulation components, (ii) experiment management, (ii) reasoning about simulations and data, and (iv) problem solving abstractions. Three specific ideas, in functionalities (ii)-(iv), form the contributions of this thesis. These include the EMDAG system for experiment management, the BSML markup language for data interchange, and the use of data mining for conducting non-trivial parameter studies. This work emphasizes data modeling and management, two important aspects that have been largely neglected in modern PSE research. All studies are performed in the context of S4W, a sophisticated PSE for wireless system design. This work was supported by National Science Foundation grants EIA-9974956, EIA-9984317, and EIA0103660.


The trend of the welding technology of lightweight alloys such as aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy has been studied. The lightweight alloys in the automobile, high-speed light aircraft and modern aerospace industry can reduce vehicle weight, while stringently demanding the high quality and efficienct welding techniques, to produce the best weldments. Among the production technologies, welding plays an important role in the fabrication of lightweight vehicle structure. This has led to an increasing attention towards the use of modern welding technology such as laser beam welding process, ultrasonic welding process, friction stir welding technology and laser hybrid welding technology, etc. This paper covers the recent technical trends of welding technologies of lightweight alloys including the COMPENDEX DB analysis of welding metallurgy, welding process, and welding fabrications.


The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of sperm penetration into the perivitelline space of human cadaveric oocytes on in vitro fertilization outcome. Forty‐two patients with tubal infertility undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer participated in the study. The number of spermatozoa bound to the human zona pellucida, the percentage of cadaveric oocytes with one or more spermatozoa in the perivitelline space, and the in vitro fertilization outcome were evaluated. Spermatozoa from 37 of 42 patients were able to penetrate the perivitelline space of cadaveric oocytes as well as to fertilize human oocytes in vitro. In three individuals, no penetration of the perivitelline space of cadaveric oocytes was observed and no in vitro fertilization was detected. Only two patients were able to fertilize the couple's oocytes without penetration of the cadaveric oocytes. Based on these results the specificity and the sensitivity of the assay to predict in vitro fertilization was 100% and 94.1%, respectively. Accordingly, these results suggest that sperm‐zona penetration is a useful bioassay to predict male fertility potential in IVF outcome.


The visual representations of creative work have the greatest ability to influence people and to propagate political agendas.Being the largest democratic country in the world, the major agenda of India's nationalist principles is associated with the concept of 'unity in diversity'. Unfortunately the over influence of religious polarizations in the society stand as a threat to this policy of the democratic government. The need for a peace-making mediator to regulate the balance between different religions existing in the Indian society arises out of this kind of a situation.As a result, film has been chosen as the most powerful instrument to spread this propaganda of inclusive nationalism in the minds of people. It is also notable that the cultural stereotypes produced by these films influence a larger audience.The encapsulation of historical events polished with the fictional coat in a film recalls the romantic tendencies of the past to evoke pleasure in the minds of the audience just as the historical fictions. Kalapani is one such film which reminds the purgation of emotions by depicting the harsh realities of life from the past. The present study focuses upon how the film represents the propaganda of inclusive nationalism. The paper also tries to portray the film as narrating fictional story in the historical context.


The impact of sociotropic economic satisfaction on the vote has been thoroughly analysed. However, knowledge about how citizens acquire information about the economy and the degree of correspondence between objective macroeconomic changes and citizens' subjective economic perceptions is much more limited. While the effect of partisan rationalisation has recently received some attention, the role of objective personal economic conditions in assessing national economic conditions is still unclear. We suggest that macroeconomic changes have some impact on subjective economic satisfaction, especially among higher-income and socio-professional strata with higher risk aversion rates to negative macroeconomic shocks. The results are obtained via three-level hierarchical linear models using the cumulative file of the European Social Survey (2002–9) and confirm the relevance of citizens' personal economic circumstances as a filter to perceive the state of the economy.


Design patterns are established solutions for recurring problems. They represent high-level abstractions that reflect domain experiences. Nowadays, design patterns use is widely spread and they are very well-known. Despite, their popularity, there is no method or way to verify the correct applicability of the pattern. In fact, in many cases, once a designer has reused a pattern in its application, he wants to know if the pattern instantiation is well-designed and if it can be improved. This paper presents an approach that evaluates the pattern instantiation through metrics. Then, it enhances the pattern design through suggesting pattern improvements.


Although the friendship between George Washington and James Madison was eclipsed in the early 1790s by the alliances of Madison with Jefferson and Washington with Hamilton, their collaboration remains central to the constitutional revolution that launched the American experiment in republican government. Washington relied heavily on Madison's advice, pen, and legislative skill, while Madison found Washington's prestige indispensable for achieving his goals for the new nation. Together, Stuart Leibiger argues, Washington and Madison struggled to conceptualize a political framework that would respond to the majority without violating minority rights. Stubbornly refusing to sacrifice either of these objectives, they cooperated in helping to build and implement a powerful, extremely republican constitution.Observing Washington and Madison in light of their special relationship, Leibiger argues against a series of misconceptions about the two men. Madison emerges as neither a strong nationalist of the Hamiltonian variety nor a political consolidationist; he did not retreat from nationalism to states' rights in the 1790s, as other historians have charged. Washington, far from being a majestic figurehead, exhibits a strong constitutional vision and firm control of his administration.By examining closely Washington and Madison's correspondence and personal visits, Leibiger shows how a marriage of political convenience between two members of the Chesapeake elite grew into a genuine companionship fostered by historical events and a mutual interest in agriculture and science. The development of their friendship, and eventual estrangement, mirrors in fascinating ways the political development of the early Republic.


Abstract:In his novels and pamphlets, Henry Fielding promotes a hierarchical structure that suppresses the common people. But his writings, especially his novel Joseph Andrews, his pamphlets, the 1749 A True State of the Case of Bosavern Penlez and the 1751 Enquiry into the Causes of the Late Increase of Robbers, and his newspaper, the Covent Garden Journal, also display a certainty that the poor possessed both power and agency. He encouraged all citizens to take part in legal actions from policing to prosecuting. This essay argues that while he condemns citizens who attempt to change the law, he also calls on them to take a greater part in enforcing them.


Development policy that is based on regional characteristics (endogenous development) through local resources potency optimization is a requirement to achieve the goal of regional economy development. Identification of potential economic sectors is an effort to accelerate achieving process of economy development. This research aims to determine economic structure and dominant sector in district of Mesuji. This research use secondary data of time series data of Gross Domestic Regional of Mesuji and Lampung in 2010-2012. Analysis tool that is used is Typology Klassen, Location Quotient, and Shift-Share. Result of Typology Klassen show that advance and rapidly growing sector is trading, hotel, and restaurant. Result of Location Quotient show that base sector in Mesuji is agriculture, industry, trading, hotel, and restaurant. Result of shift-share analysis show that compatible sector is agriculture, industry, trading, hotel and restaurant. Result of analysis per sector based on three analysis show that dominant sector of economy in Mesuji that advance and rapidly growing, base sector, and competitive are trading sector, hotel sector, and restaurant sector. Keywords : dominant sector, Typology Klassen, Location Quotient, and Shift-share


Kanawaty, A., S.G. Kumari, J. van Leur and H. Hammadi. 2017. Screening of lentil genotypes for resistance to Bean yellow mosaic virus and effect of mixed infection on the susceptibility of some resistant lentil genotypes. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 35(3): 171-177. A total of 100 lentil genotypes were evaluated for their reaction to a Syrian isolate (SV205-85) of Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) under field conditions during 2010/2011 growing season. All plants were inoculated mechanically before flowering stage and selection of resistance was based on: (i) visual symptoms incidence and severity, and (ii) virus movement in the plant tissues based on tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) test. Only one genotype (ILL1949) was highly resistant to BYMV and another three (ILL518, ILL1935 and ILL7470) were found resistant. Sixteen lentil genotypes with different levels of susceptibility to BYMV were selected to study the effect of mixed virus infection of BYMV and Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV, genus Nanovirus, family Nanoviridae) under plastic house conditions. All plants studied were inoculated mechanically with BYMV followed by FBNYV using viruliferous pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris), and were tested 28 days after inoculation by TBIA. Serological results showed that inoculation with FBNYV did not alter the resistance to BYMV of two lentil resistant genotypes (ILL518 and ILL5005), whereas inoculation with FBNYV increased the susceptibility to BYMV in three lentil genotypes (ILL336, ILL4736 and ILL1949). Three genotypes (ILL74, ILL75 and ILL213) were found highly resistant to BYMV and FBNYV with single virus infection and became moderately resistant to BYMV and resistant to FBNYV following mixed virus infection.


Background: Digital necrosis (DN) is a serious complication after replantation. However, predisposing factors, as reported less, remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors of necrosis after single-digit replantation by means of a retrospective study. Methods: Patients who underwent single-digit replantations in our hospital between June of 2014 and October of 2020 were included. The authors regarded DN as the failure group and digital survival as the success group. The factors were conducted by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The survival rate in our study was 78.8% (745 of 946). The results of univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the levels of D-dimer (first), menstrual cycle, injury level, and starting and finishing time of surgery between different groups. In multivariate analysis, age, injury level, duration of surgery, and D-dimer (first) were identified as the risk factors for DN in the entire and male population. In addition, regarding male patients, ischemia time was also found to be a risk factor for DN. In terms of female patients, the menstrual period and menopause were related to DN. Conclusions: Many factors, including age, ischemia time, injury level, menstrual period, menopause, and duration of surgery, were related to DN after digital replantation. D-dimer (first) was first found as a predicted factor for DN. In addition, these results also showed that the starting and ending times of surgery were associated with DN by univariate analysis. Preoperative measures should be taken to lower the incidence of DN. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.


DNA from 1084 ticks collected by flagging in vegetation in Tsukuba and Moriya (Ibaraki, Japan), where several cases of canine granulocytic anaplasmosis were found, was molecularly examined for infection with the family Anaplasmataceae. Twenty-six positive samples of Anaplasmataceae-specific PCR of partial 16S rRNA gene were subjected to semi-nested PCR covering the divergent regions the gene and sequence analysis. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in three pools of Haemophysalis longicornis larvae, and Anaplasma bovis from a Haemophysalis flava male. Sequences of both amplicons had highest homologies to those from dogs in our previous studies in Ibaraki, respectively. These results suggest that genus Haemophysalis ticks are the candidate vectors of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma bovis in Ibaraki, Japan.


The adoption and utilization of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has increased significantly over the past decade. This review presents the available literature for early recovery and outcomes of the DAA THA. A growing body of evidence points towards superior early recovery and early functional outcomes with the DAA in experienced hands compared to posterior and lateral based approaches in regards to pain, opioid use, length of stay, and early markers of mobility. In an era of rapid recovery protocols, the DAA with its early pain and functional advantages can effectively deliver safe and effective value for the total hip population.


textabstractIn this research, we examine how high-quality contact can facilitate employees' coworker support and explain why the benefits of high-quality contact are contingent upon age. First, we employ a social mindfulness lens to decipher the motivational mechanisms of high-quality contact with coworkers on providing coworker support via coworker-oriented perspective taking and empathic concern. Second, we utilize socioemotional selectivity theory to overcome the current age-blind view on workplace interactions and examine the indirect moderating effect of age via future time perspective on the link between contact quality, social mindfulness, and coworker support. We tested our hypotheses based on data from a sample of 575 employees collected in three waves. Results showed that both coworker-oriented perspective taking and empathic concern mediated the positive effects of contact quality on coworker support. The effect of contact quality on coworker-oriented empathic concern was stronger for older employees with a more constrained future time perspective as compared to younger employees with a more extensive future time perspective. Overall, we extend research on aging, workplace interactions, and support behavior by linking the literature on these topics using a social mindfulness lens and by adding employee age and age-related mechanisms as important boundary conditions that qualify the outcomes of positive workplace contact.


We study the electronic transport properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons with a width of up to 12 nm bridged between two Au electrodes using first-principles calculations. The transport properties sensitively depend on the ribbon width, even though the width reaches 12 nm. The variation of transport properties is ascribed to the detailed electronic structures of graphene ribbons, which sensitively depend on their width. The band structure and the symmetry of π state of the graphene play important roles in determining the transport properties. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2015.54]


ABSTRACT The history of French oyster culture consists of a succession of developmental phases using different species, followed by collapses caused by diseases. The indigenous species Ostrea edulis was replaced first with Crassostrea angulata, then C. gigas. France is now the top producer and consumer of oysters in Europe, producing around 120,000 t of the cupped oyster C. gigas annually, and an additional 15001 of the flat oyster O. edulis. Cupped oysters are produced all along the French coast from natural and hatchery spat. Various structures are used to collect spat from the wild. After a growing-on period, oysters are cultivated by three main methods: (1) on-bottom culture in the intertidal zone or in deep water, (2) off-bottom culture in plastic mesh bags in the intertidal zone, or (3) suspended culture on ropes in the open sea. The main recent development is the increasing use of hatchery oyster spat, especially triploids. Almost all oyster production is sold fresh and eaten raw straight from the shell. There is marked seasonality in sales, with the majority being made during Christmas and New Year. Abundant production and the lack of market organization induce strong competition among the production areas, causing prices to fall. Oyster farmers have developed strategies of sales promotion and regional quality labeling to overcome this difficulty. There are numerous production hazards, including environmental crises (microbiological pollution), unexplained mortality, and overstocking, and recent problems with toxic algae have disrupted oyster sales. However, oyster culture has many assets, including a coastal environment offering favorable sites for mollusc growth and reproduction. Oysters have been consumed in France since ancient times, and their culture is now well established with a concession system that favors small family firms. There is a young, well-educated farmer population, with technical expertise and savoir faire. Careful seawater quality monitoring ensures good consumer protection, and research is making innovative contributions (selection and polyploids). These points and opportunities for market expansion should bolster this industry's future, although the problem of toxic algae, probably linked to global warming and anthropogenic factors, and the threat of new diseases, pose vital questions for future research.


Takaishi Industry and Daikin Industries collaboratively developed Fluoroelastomer compound for a sealing materi-al, such as O-ring, in particular, for hydrogen booster of the hydrogen station. No fatal leak of hydrogen gas occurred on the O-ring seal made of the Fluoroelastomer during the endurance cycle test that simulates the hydrogen filling process of fuel cell vehicle(FCV). However, wear damages and extrusion of O-ring seal were observed after the durability test including the cycle of high compression and decompression of hydrogen pressure at high temperature, indi-cating that developed elastomer still does not have sufficient durability under realistic severe environment. We contin-ue joint development of more desirable Fluoroelastomer compound with less damage even after the durability test.


Abstract
 Rhagoletis fruit flies are important both as major agricultural pests and as model organisms for the study of adaptation to new host plants and host race formation. Response to fruit odor plays a critical role in such adaptation. To better understand olfaction in Rhagoletis, an expressed sequence tag (EST) study was carried out on the antennae and maxillary palps of Rhagoletis suavis (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a common pest of walnuts in eastern United States. After cDNA cloning and sequencing, 544 ESTs were annotated. Of these, 66% had an open reading frame and could be matched to a previously sequenced gene. Based on BLAST sequence homology, 9% (49 of 544 sequences) were nuclear genes potentially involved in olfaction. The most significant finding is a putative odorant receptor (OR), RSOr1, that is homologous to Drosophila melanogaster Or49a and Or85f. This is the first tephritid OR discovered that might recognize a specific odorant. Other olfactory genes recovered included odorant binding proteins, chemosensory proteins, and putative odorant degrading enzymes.


Abstract. This paper presents and compares the aerosol optical depth (AOD) spatial-temporal characteristics over five subsets in different locations of Guangdong, as well as Hong Kong and Macau (GDHM) since reform and opening-up. By means of GIS analysis tools and subset the onward MERRA-2 monthly mean value aerosol reanalysis dataset to the size of study area, the results reveal that the yearly mean AOD over the whole GDHM ranged from 0.18 to 0.69 during 1980 to 2018. The field average of AOD in five chosen areas approached to 0.40 and appeared linearly increased at 0.0077 per year. All the five selected areas reached their yearly mean AOD peaks at 2007. The field average AOD increased rapidly at 0.028 per year from 1997 till 2007 then appeared decreasing oscillation in a linear slope −0.0109 per year since 2007. But the average AOD of 2010–2018 is higher than the former three decadal averages. Comparing the former and the latter two decades, the high yearly mean AOD value clusters have moved from northern parts of Guangdong to central north Pearl River Delta, where also appeared more apparent AOD yearly change among the other three parts since late 1990s. Only six yearly mean AOD over southern cities of Pearl River estuary were lower than east or west comparing parts in 1980s. Eastern part of Guangdong stayed the lowest yearly mean AOD region in 21years of the past 39 years. Central, southern and western of GDHM had 36 years while northern and western of GDHM had 37 years their AOD values during February to April were the high values of the year.


A new type of thermotropic main-chain liquid crystalline polyurethanes containing biphenyl units was synthesized by polyaddition reaction of diisocyanates such as 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,5-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate, with 4,4′-Bis(8-hydroxyoctoxy)biphenyl (BP8). The structure of the monomer and the corresponding polymers were confirmed using FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic methods. BP8 exhibited a smectic type mesophase, however, nematic phases were found for all synthesized liquid crystalline polyurethanes except for 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate/BP8 based polyurethane. For example, polyurethane 2,5-TDI/BP8 exhibited monotropic liquid crystallinity in the temperature ranging from 172 to 160 °C on the cooling stage. Properties of these polyurethanes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and optical polarizing microscopy. The FT-IR study indicated that the hydrogen bonding among urethane linkages attributed to the mesomorphism.


This paper argues against a view of curriculum as a means for moulding students into, and making teachers accountable for, something pre‐determined and singularly governed by qualification demands of the labour market. It makes a case for the value of inter‐subjective teacher–student relationships in education and addresses the significance of negotiations and their open‐endedness. This paper draws its empirical material from case studies for which interviews were the main source for gathering data. The data analyses were made using the AtlasTi software designed for qualitative analysis. In the empirical material were found instances of negotiations in which inter‐subjective relationships are established and maintained; negotiations that are rendered obscured or even invisible from a qualification purpose but that influence the educational processes. The results show that teachers and students creatively use potentials within contextual conditions to attain relationships which sometimes constitute a precondition for education.


It is a hotspot of communication field to research Cognitive Radio, which is also the direction of communication technology developing. The technology of spectrum sense and detection is of most important part and takes a critical role in CR theory. In this paper, it is introduced that Secondary User senses and detects the appearance of the licensed Primary User based on Radio Frequency Fingerprint (RFF) recognizing technology. RFF Technology application scheme in CR is suggested, realizing in transceiver of Secondary User (SU). Two steps are introduced for improving capability of detection: First, based on distribution network, cooperative RFF detection is realized among the SU; second, sensing frequency band is shortened and Base Station only deals with Primary User (PU) in the range of local cell. The critical technologies are analyzed and simulated, including transient extractor, feature extractor and recognizing arithmetic. The results of simulation show that detection to Primary User based on Radio Frequency Fingerprint can efficiently recognize PU with correct and quick detection capability.


The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is characterized by restrictions that prevent teams from the same preliminary group and the same nations from matches against each other. Together with the draw procedure currently employed by UEFA, this leads to odd probabilities: in 2012/2013, there were more outcomes of the draw with German Schalke 04 facing Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk than there were results where they were matched with Galatasaray Istanbul. In contrast, the probability of Schalke being drawn against Galatasaray exceeded that of playing Shakhtar. We show that this strange effect is due to the group restriction and the mechanism used by UEFA for the draw. Additionally, we provide procedures with which UEFA could produce adequate probabilities for the draw.


About 300 loss-of-function mutations in the IKs channel have been identified in patients with Long QT syndrome and cardiac arrhythmia. How specific mutations cause arrhythmia is largely unknown and there are no approved IKs channel activators for treatment of these arrhythmias. We find that several Long QT syndrome-associated IKs channel mutations shift channel voltage dependence and accelerate channel closing. Voltage-clamp fluorometry experiments and kinetic modeling suggest that similar mutation-induced alterations in IKs channel currents may be caused by different molecular mechanisms. Finally, we find that the fatty acid analogue N-arachidonoyl taurine restores channel gating of many different mutant channels, even though the mutations are in different domains of the IKs channel and affect the channel by different molecular mechanisms. N-arachidonoyl taurine is therefore an interesting prototype compound that may inspire development of future IKs channel activators to treat Long QT syndrome caused by diverse IKs channel mutations. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20272.001


A recurrent problem in generating realistic pictures by computers is to represent natural irregular objects and phenomena without undue time or space overhead. We develop a new and powerful solution to this computer graphics problem by modeling objects as sample paths of stochastic processes. Of particular interest are those stochastic processes which previously have been found to be useful models of the natural phenomena to be represented. One such model applicable to the representation of terrains, known as "fractional Brownian motion," has been developed by Mandelbrot. The value of a new approach to object modeling in computer graphics depends largely on the efficiency of the techniques used to implement the model. We introduce a new algorithm that computes a realistic, visually satisfactory approximation to fractional Brownian motion in faster time than with exact calculations. A major advantage of this technique is that it allows us to compute the surface to arbitrary levels of details without increasing the database. Thus objects with complex appearances can be displayed from a very small database. The character of the surface can be controlled by merely modifying a few parameters. A similar change allows complex motion to be created inexpensively.


Fried foods have
potential adverse effects on health. However, the compounds produced during the
process of frying in different vegetable oils are unknown. A
metabolomics study was first conducted to analyze
the changes of compounds in 8 different vegetable oils before and after heating
without any foods and reveal the potential markers of frying oil. And then
these markers were validated in used frying oil. Our results of metabolomics
indicated that both heating or frying significantly changed the compounds of
vegetable oils. The 36 markers associated with
heating from the 8 different oils were identified in used frying oils and were
common markers of frying oil. Additionally,
22 markers detected in only
one vegetable oil were the unique markers of frying oils. These
markers can be used to distinguish used frying oil and have potential to reveal the
associated physiological harm.


Background: Eye examination for screening of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), as a painful procedure, causes physiological changes in premature infants. Multisensory stimulation is a non-pharmacological analgesic method which affects physiological measures during painful procedures. Aim: To determine the effect of multisensory stimulation on oxygen saturation in premature infants during eye examinations Methods: In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, 80 premature infants in Khatamolanbya hospital of Mashhad in 2014 were randomly divided into two groups of �control� and �multisensory stimulation�. In the intervention group, multisensory stimulation was administered 15 minutes before the start of the examination and the control group received standard care. Arterial oxygen saturation of each infant was recorded at 30-second intervals before, during, and after eye examination in a researcher-built checklist and a physiological characteristics form. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS version 11.5. Results: The mean gestational age of multisensory stimulation group was 30.4±7.1 and the control group was 30.6 ± 8.1 weeks. Based on the analysis of variance with repeated measures, arterial blood oxygen saturation was significantly different in both groups during the evaluation (p<0.001); which was 92.6±3.5 in the intervention group and 90.1±2.0 in the control group during eyes examinations. Changes in oxygen saturation during the examination was significant in the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Multisensory stimulation program causes smaller reduction in oxygen saturation. Multisensory stimulation can be used as a way to reduce physiological changes during eye examination.


Photocatalytic water splitting is the most ideal system to harvest solar energy for the production of useful chemicals. There have been many attempts to increase the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 photocatalyst, such as loading co-catalysts and dopants, and the introduction of oxygen vacancies. Strain effects have also attracted much interest to increase the charge mobility in bulk oxide. Here, we report on the effectiveness of tensile strain in stabilizing the anatase phase of TiO2 at high temperature and increasing the photocatalytic activity by an increase in the charge separation with a unique mixed phase structure. The rate of H2 formation over TiO2 was decreased upon spark plasma sintering (SPS) treatment because of a decrease in the surface area; however, SPS treatment with Au dispersion significantly increased the H2 formation rate to higher than that over commercially available P-25 TiO2 (no SPS treatment) loaded with Au. The O2 formation rate was also increased by strain effects in TiO2. Furthermore, strain effects were effective for visible light sensitivity on TiO2.


The importance of family and lineage runs like a golden thread through Islamic history, thought, and law. However, many children around the Islamic world are deprived of the opportunity to develop and grow up in their own biological families. With the aim to preserve blood ties as the only means of legitimate filiation, adoption is prohibited in most countries influenced by or based on Islamic law or Shari'a. For this reason, alternative forms of adoption have been developed as well as a model of legal fostering called kafalah. A kafalah enables children deprived of a family environment to be legally raised on a permanent basis by families other than their own. First, this paper looks at the legal framework of filiation and kafalah in classical Islamic law. Second, three modern-day approaches on regulating kafalah as a means of child protection will be outlined. We have chosen three countries from the Arab world with different legal-historical backgrounds, namely Morocco, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The three countries have enacted child-specific legislation as well as specific legislation on the regulation of fosterage of children, of kafalah. We will look at similarities and differences among the three legislative frameworks and pinpoint benefits and risk factors.


Antimicrobial activity of methanol extract from bulb of Scilla scilloides as well as the purified eucosterol oligosaccharides (EOs) against bacteria, fungi and alga was evaluated in vitro using paper disc bioassay. EOs including scillascilloside E-1, E-2, E-3 and G-1 were isolated from the bulbs by methanol extraction, gel filtration on Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. The metabolites were identified by MS (HR-FAB-MS) and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data analyses. Methanol (MeOH) extract and purified compounds, EOs showed a selective inhibitory activity against eukaryotic cells including fungal species such as Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Pyricularia oryzae and an alga such as Chlorella regulsris at the concentration of 200 μg/paper disc, but little active against bacteria. Out of four EO compounds, Scilla-scilloside E-3 revealed the highest activity. These results show that the MeOH extract and EOs from the medicinal plant, S. scilloides, may be applied as a natural fungicide or a food preservative for control of molds.


Using prospectively collected data from 13 971 births enrolled in a large population‐based cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: ALSPAC), the prevalence of feeding difficulties at 4 weeks and 6 months of age in 33 children subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) were investigated. It was also assessed whether early feeding difficulties could be predictive of functional and growth outcomes at age 8 years. Weak sucking at 4 weeks of age was reported in 11 of 23 children with CP and in 2206 of 12299 (18%) of the remaining population (p<0.0001), and great difficulties feeding at 6 months of age was reported in two of 21 (10%) of the group with CP and in 373 of 10941 (3.3%) of control participants (p=0.017). Feeding difficulties at 4 weeks of age were associated with the pattern of functional impairment at age 4 years (p=0.009) and at 8 years (p=0.068), being clinically underweight (p=0.01), and having speech and swallowing difficulties (p=0.005) at 8 years of age. Early, persistent, and severe feeding difficulties are a marker for subsequent poor growth, feeding, and developmental outcomes and can identify children with CP who will benefit from gastrostomy feeding.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address the barriers that Dutch housing associations encounter in implementing new procurement strategies.

Design/methodology/approach
Several aspects of purchasing, portfolio management, project delivery and supply management are discussed in relation to the changing role of housing associations as semi-public commissioning bodies in the Dutch construction industry, based on data derived from workshops with six Dutch housing associations.

Findings
Housing associations are adapting their procurement strategy towards a more integrative and performance-based approach to supply management. Due to the complexity of implementing this process, housing associations struggle especially with moving beyond pilot projects, increasing the maturity levels throughout the organisation and aligning new policies with daily practices at a tactical and an operational level.

Practical implications
Increased knowledge of change processes and seeing the potential of maturity models will be valuable for practitioners who are dealing with changes on the work floor.

Social implications
Client organisations are considered one of the key drivers of change in the construction industry. Insights into these particular organisational change processes contribute to the potential of industry reform.

Originality/value
Most studies on collaboration and integration in the supply chain focus on the inter-organisational level or on the supply side, rather than the internal organisation of the client.


Many food materials must be dried in order to decrease its water activity and to increase the shelf-life. Also, rehydration operation must be carried out as previous step before consumption. Both operations are commonly employed in some industrial chestnut processing. These processes can be carried out at different temperatures and in all cases the quality of the final product can be affected. In this work, convective drying with hot air is the employed method for water removal and rehydration is carried out by immersion of chestnut in water. In both cases, mass transfer processes are governed by water diffusion in the bulk of the solid. The aim of this work is to determine experimentally the drying and rehydration kinetics of chestnut samples at different conditions of temperature and moisture content. Obtained data are modeled with a diffusional model taking into account volume variations and the corresponding values of the coefficients of diffusion of water are obtained. Analysis of the results indicates that drying/rehydration rates increase with temperature and rehydration kinetics are also depending on the initial moisture content of chestnut. Finally, leaching flow during rehydration is only important at high temperature due to starch gelatinization processes.


Multiple forms of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 in rats were identified on SDS-polyacrylamide gels stained for protein and peroxidase activity after induction with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, and 16 alpha-cyanopregnenolone. The induced forms were correlated to the in vitro metabolism of biphenyl, benzo(a)pyrene and the steroids 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol. Induction of two forms with apparent molecular weights of 54,000 (RLvMc P-450 54) AND 50,000 (RLvMc P-450 50) was obtained with phenobarbital, induction of RLvMc P-450 55 and RLvMc P-450 58 with 3-methylcholanthrene and induction of FLvMc P-450 54 with 16 alpha-cyanopregnenolone. The RLvMc P-450 50 was mainly associated with the formation of benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-dihydrodiol, and 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione. The RLvMc P-450 55 and/or the RLvMc P-450 58 was mainly associated with the formation of 2- and 3-hydroxybiphenyl and benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol and FLvMc P-450 54 was to some extent associated with the formation of benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-dihydrodiol and several metabolites of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol. It is suggested that SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis may be a valuable complement to enzyme assays in evaluating effects of drugs and environmental chemicals on the liver microsomal hydroxylase system.


Objectives: This study investigates the efficacy of a standard cognitive behavioral group-program for chronic pain, in comparison with the same group program that integrates an existential perspective at treatment conclusion, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Design: This study is a quasi-experimental clinical trial with two treatment groups. Methods: We included 113 patients suffering from chronic pain who had been accepted for treatment at an interdisciplinary pain center. In addition to the specific therapy program, the patients received intense interdisciplinary treatment. Outcome measures include both pain-related disability and pain severity. Repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to test statistical significance, followed by tests of simple contrasts with pre-treatment as a reference-point. Results: Results indicated that the integration of an existential perspective leads to significantly lowered pain-related disability than the classic cognitive behavioral group-program. Addition...


What a splendid book to start the 1990s! Being the proceedings of a conference arranged by the New York Zoological Society, it largely examines the gross depletion of wildlife and its habitats, both present and prospective. Paper after illuminating paper demonstrates that the mass extinction under way is, for the first time in the history of mass extinctions, the doings of a single species; and that ironically the same species is the only one ever to be able to safeguard the other species. It is this latter perspective that informs much of the book. No catalogue of gloom and doom, it demonstrates that policy initiatives and management measures are available to do a far better job of stemming wildlands destruction. As a casebook study of what we can do if only we mobilize the will, it is uniquely optimistic. For this we must primarily thank the instigator of the conference, David Western, one of the most imaginative as well as scholarly of all ecologists—and perhaps the most positive-spirited of them all: 'If humanity is the sole threat to wildlife, it is also its only hope.' Who else would think to ask whether we should concentrate not only on saving as many species as we can, but also watch out for an even more important imperative, safeguarding the integrity of nature.


Obesity is one of the main cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.(1) In primary care, pharmacists are in a unique position to offer weight management (WM) interventions. Greece is the European country with the highest number of pharmacies (84.06 pharmacies per 100,000 citizens).(2) The UK was chosen as a reference country, because of the structured public health services offered, the local knowledge and because it was considered to be the closest country to Greece geographically, unlike Australia and Canada, where there is also evidence confirming the potential role of pharmacists in WM.

 To design and evaluate a 10-week WM programme offered by trained pharmacists in Patras.

 This WM programme was a step ahead of other interventions worldwide as apart from the usual measuring parameters (weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure (BP)) it also offered an AUDIT-C and Mediterranean diet score tests.

 In total,117 individuals participated. Of those, 97.4% (n=114), achieved the programme's aim, losing at least 5% of their initial weight. The mean % of total weight loss (10th week) was 8.97% (SD2.65), and the t-test showed statistically significant results (P<0.001; 95% CI [8.48, 9.45]). The programme also helped participants to reduce their waist-to-height ratio, an early indicator of the CVD risk in both male (P=0.004) and female (P<0.001) participants. Additionally, it improved participants' BP, AUDIT-C score and physical activity levels significantly (P<0.001).

 The research is the first systematic effort in Greece to initiate and explore the potential role of pharmacists in public health. The successful results of this WM programme constitute a first step towards the structured incorporation of pharmacists in public's health promotion. It proposed a model for effectively delivering public health services in Greece. This study adds to the evidence in relation to pharmacists' CVD role in public health with outcomes that superseded other pharmacy-led WM programmes. It also provides the first evidence that Greek pharmacists have the potential to play an important role within primary healthcare and that after training they are able to provide public health services for both the public's benefit and their clinical role enhancement. This primary evidence should support the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, to "fight" for their rights for an active role in primary care. In terms of limitations, it must be noted that the participants' collected data were recorded by pharmacists, and the analysis therefore depended on the accuracy of the recorded data, in particular on the measurements or calculations obtained. Although the sample size was achieved, it can be argued that it is small for the generalisation of findings across Greece. Therefore, the WM programme should be offered in other Greek cities to identify if similar results can be replicated, so as to consolidate the contribution of pharmacists in promoting public health. Additionally, the study was limited as it did not include a control group. Despite the limitations, our findings provide a model for a pharmacy-led public health programme revolving around WM that can be used as a model for services in the future.

 1. Mendis S, Puska P, Norrving B, World Health Organization., World Heart Federation., World Stroke Organization. Global atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and control [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization in collaboration with the World Heart Federation and the World Stroke Organization; 2011 [cited 2018 Jun 26]. 155 p. Available from: http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/publications/atlas_cvd/en/
 2. Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union. Pharmacy with you throughout life:PGEU Annual Report [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://www.pgeu.eu/en/library/530:annual-report-2015.html


Crystalline framework materials have gained interest because of their many potential applications. A novel chiral tetrandrine salt (DNT) has been synthesized and characterized by conventional analytical techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and its self-assembly behavior studied. In the solid state, 48 molecules of the compound self-assemble into an organic framework based on nanospherical aggregates formed exclusively through weak noncovalent interactions. Additionally, it was demonstrated by UV-vis spectroscopy and TGA that assembled DNT can include the Nile Red dye, giving a fluorescent material. To the best of our knowledge, these spherical assemblies are the largest among the purely synthetic organic self-assembled molecular crystals reported to date.


Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the chronic damage associated with pregnancies before and after the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Using childbearing-aged female SLE patient data registered at the Okayama and Showa University Hospitals, a nested case-control analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy and chronic damage using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). Results Pregnancy occurred in 22 patients before and 13 patients after the diagnosis of SLE in 104 eligible patients. Live births occurred in 82% (33/40) and 50% (9/18) of the pregnancies before and after the diagnosis of SLE, respectively. After matching age and disease duration, 33 case patients with chronic damage (SDI ≥ 1) and 33 control patients without chronic damage (SDI = 0) were selected. Hypertension was more frequent in cases than in controls (48% vs. 24%, p = 0.041). Pregnancies before and after the diagnosis of SLE were comparable between cases and controls (before the diagnosis: nine case patients and eight control patients; after the diagnosis: three case patients and five control patients; p = 1.00). Even after adjusting for hypertension using multivariate analysis, the pregnancies before and after the diagnosis were not significant predictors for chronic damage (odds ratio = 1.48 (95% confidence interval 0.33–6.65)), p = 0.60 of the pregnancy before the diagnosis; odds ratio = 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.13–4.74), p = 0.78 of the pregnancy after the diagnosis). Conclusion Pregnancies, either before or after the diagnosis of SLE, did not show any differences in chronic damage. Our results help alleviate fears regarding childbearing in female patients with SLE and their families.


Renewable energy sources have gained ultimate urgency due to the need of the preservation of the environment for a sustainable development. Pyrolysis is an ultimate promising process in the recycling and acquisition of precious chemicals from wastes. Here, the co-pyrolysis of hazelnut shell with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene was carried out catalytically and noncatalytically at 500 and 650 oC. Potassium dichromate was added in certain amounts to act as a catalyst. The liquid, solid and gas products quantities were determined by gravimetry. As a main result, remarkable increases in gasification were observed by using this catalyst for pure components and their blends especially at 650 oC. The increase in gas product quantity was compensated mainly with the decreases in the solid products and additionally in some cases liquid products quantities. These observations may stem from mainly the activation of carbon-carbon bonds rather than carbon-hydrogen bonds via potassium dichromate. Also, the catalytic effect of potassium dichromate on HS: PEO and HS: UHMWPE co-pyrolysis was compared. Keywords—Hazelnut shell, Polyethylene oxide, Potassium dichromate, Pyrolysis, UHMWPE


There has been an ongoing discussion about how to improve the delivery of scientific content using online tools, especially by focusing on content reuse and social media. This column explores how semantic technologies and systems could also enhance the scientific communication process. The author discusses some ongoing initiatives in semantic publishing, which aims to improve how scientists communicate using semantic technologies. The column mentions different types of projects, including efforts focusing on entity enrichment and projects that involve triple markup of documents (subject-predicate-object expressions). However, such approaches are not enough. They help us find information, but they don't help us understand it. The author argues that we need to incorporate a better understanding of how language encodes meaning into our systems, so that we can develop a richer scientific knowledge representation.


Basophils have been shown to play an important role in memory immune responses to vaccination with pneumococcal protein antigens. We here examined whether increased basophil counts would provide increased humoral immune responses and thus protection against S. pneumoniae . Mice underwent primary and secondary immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Prior to secondary immunization, mice were treated with IL-3 or IL-3 complexed with α-IL-3 antibody (IL-3 complex) to increase basophil pool sizes. Subsequently, mice were challenged with invasive S. pneumoniae and developing bacteremia and survival were monitored over time. Treatment of mice with IL-3 and even more so IL-3 complex resulted in strongly expanded basophil pool sizes and significantly increased PspA-specific antibody titers that protected mice from pneumococcal sepsis but unexpectedly did not improve their survival. However, passive immunization of mice with antiserum of IL-3 complex-treated, PspA-immunized mice significantly improved their survival after challenge with invasive S. pneumoniae . These data show that although IL-3 complex treatment of mice boosts their basophil counts and protects mice from pneumococcal sepsis, it still exerts severe side-effects in mice after intratracheal challenge with S. pneumoniae , and as such does not offer as adjuvant-independent approach to improve lung protective immunity against lung-tropic pathogens.


Humans respond differently than other primates to a large number of infections. Differences in susceptibility to infectious agents between humans and other primates are probably due to inter-species differences in immune response to infection. Consistent with that notion, genes involved in immunity-related processes are strongly enriched among recent targets of positive selection in primates, suggesting that immune responses evolve rapidly, yet providing only indirect evidence for possible inter-species functional differences. To directly compare immune responses among primates, we stimulated primary monocytes from humans, chimpanzees, and rhesus macaques with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and studied the ensuing time-course regulatory responses. We find that, while the universal Toll-like receptor response is mostly conserved across primates, the regulatory response associated with viral infections is often lineage-specific, probably reflecting rapid host–virus mutual adaptation cycles. Additionally, human-specific immune responses are enriched for genes involved in apoptosis, as well as for genes associated with cancer and with susceptibility to infectious diseases or immune-related disorders. Finally, we find that chimpanzee-specific immune signaling pathways are enriched for HIV–interacting genes. Put together, our observations lend strong support to the notion that lineage-specific immune responses may help explain known inter-species differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases.


We consider classical spin models of two- and three-dimensional spins with continuous symmetry and investigate the effect of a symmetry-breaking unidirectional quenched disorder on the magnetization of the system. We work in the mean-field regime. We show, by perturbative calculations and numerical simulations, that although the continuous symmetry of the magnetization is lost due to disorder, the system still magnetizes in specific directions, albeit with a lower value as compared to the case without disorder. The critical temperature, at which the system starts magnetizing, as well as the magnetization at low and high temperature limits, in presence of disorder, are estimated. Moreover, we treat the SO(n) n-component spin model to obtain the generalized expressions for the near-critical scalings, which suggest that the effect of disorder in magnetization increases with increasing dimension. We also study the behavior of magnetization of the classical XY spin model in the presence of a constant magnetic field, in addition to the quenched disorder. We find that in presence of the uniform magnetic field, disorder may enhance the component of magnetization in the direction that is transverse to the disorder field.


Influences of electrode distances on geometric structure of molecule and on electronic transport properties of molecular junctions have been investigated by means of a generalized quantum chemical approach based on the elastic scattering Green's function method. Numerical results show that, for organic molecule 4,4'-bipyridine, the geometric structure of the molecule especially the dihedral angle between the two pyridine rings is sensitive to the distances between the two electrodes. The currents of the molecular junction are taken nonlinearly increase with the increase of the bias. Shortening the distance of the metallic electrodes will result in stronger coupling and larger conductance.


Purpose
The Indirect Leadership Questionnaire (ILQ) is constructed to measure important parts of a theoretical model of indirect leadership to be used in leadership courses for high-level managers. The ILQ consists of 15 model-derived items plus extra space that provides for free-text comments. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ILQ, its predictive power and practical usefulness in indirect leadership courses and to evaluate the indirect leadership model in the light of new data.

Design/methodology/approach
The study sample consisted of 225 higher managers and 6–10 of their subordinates (total: 1,703). The latter were working at least two hierarchical levels below their higher manager. The managers made self-ratings, and the subordinates rated their respective higher manager using the ILQ.

Findings
Results showed that the ILQ has acceptable psychometric properties in terms of dimensionality (two model-compatible factors were obtained), reliability, discriminability and predictive power. Previous problems with many "Don't know" responses from subordinates working two or more hierarchical levels below their higher manager were considerably reduced. A qualitative analysis of the free-text responses showed that indirect leadership behaviors that can be seen as inspirational influence and communication skills should be more emphasized in future indirect leadership courses. The leaders' personality, task-related competence and performance-orientation were also highlighted more than in the indirect leadership model.

Research limitations/implications
It was concluded that the ILQ is a useful tool in indirect leadership courses but that it is too limited to be used as a basis for theory development of indirect leadership.

Originality/value
The ILQ has acceptable psychometric properties and provides an easy-to-use tool to gain practical, usable knowledge of the "how's" of indirect leadership.


The authors propose a different framework that quantifies the cost of a rebalancing strategy in terms of risk-adjusted returns net of transaction costs. They then derive an optimal rebalancing strategy that actively seeks to minimize that cost. Certainty equivalents and the transaction costs associated with a policy to define a cost-to-go function are used, with the expected cost-to-go minimized using dynamic programming. They apply Monte Carlo simulations to demonstrate that their method outperforms traditional rebalancing strategies like monthly, quarterly, annual, and 5% tolerance rebalancing. They also show the robustness of our method to model error by performing sensitivity analyses.


This present study attempts comparing classical method ISO 6579:2002 with a quick, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification and isolation of Salmonella carrier pigs without clinical signs by collecting feces and sanitation tests on the surface of carcasses. After analyzing the samples (n=51) by the two methods (Bacteriological and PCR) has resulted a higher number of positive samples (43.13%) by PCR, compared to the bacteriological method, where only 35.29% were positive samples. After sequencing and introduction into the gene pool (GeneBank), it was found that the most common serovars isolated from the feces were S. Typhimurium, S. Newport, from the surface of carcasses were S. Typhimurium, S. Typhi, S. Newport and S. Enteritidis serovars, and on the surface of working equipment S. Typhimurium and S. Agona.


The study proves that by introducing the iron powder and disintegrated steel scrap to low-sulphur cast iron still before the inoculation carried out with a conventional graphitising inoculant, the mechanical properties similar to those obtained during the inoculation treatment carried out on cast iron with the recommended high sulphur content are achieved. The said operation increases the number of crystallisation nuclei for dendrites of the primary austenite. In this case, the iron particles act as substrates for the nucleation of primary austenite gp due to a similar crystallographic behaviour of the regular face centered cubic lattice The more numerous are the dendrites of primary austenite, the less free space is available in the interdendritic spaces for the formation of graphite eutectic grains, which makes the structure more refined (more eutectic grains) and the mechanical properties higher.


From 15 to 17 July 2010, over 150 lawyers, academics and practitioners gathered at Stanford University for the Fourth International Legal Ethics Conference. The number of participants and the breadth and quality of the presentations at this conference were clear evidence of the continuing energy and enthusiasm amongst scholars and practitioners for the field of legal ethics. While the tranquil and beautiful summertime campus at Stanford and the quiet efficiency of the conference organising staff did not echo the theme of the conference (Times of Turbulence), many sessions during the full conference schedule did. In particular, we were constantly reminded of the rapid and complex changes occurring in legal practice across the globe, and the consequent challenges faced by both the legal profession and academia in understanding, practicing and teaching legal ethics.


To identify genes heretofore undiscovered as critical players in the biogenesis of teeth, we have used microarray gene expression analysis of the developing mouse molar tooth (DMT) between postnatal day (P) 1 and P10 to identify genes differentially expressed when compared with 16 control tissues. Of the top 100 genes exhibiting increased expression in the DMT, 29 were found to have been previously associated with tooth development. Differential expression of the remaining 71 genes not previously associated with tooth development was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis. Further analysis of seven of the latter genes by mRNA in situ hybridization found that five were specific to the developing tooth in the craniofacial region (Rspo4, Papln, Amtn, Gja1, Maf). Of the remaining two, one was found to be more widely expressed (Sp7) and the other was found to be specific to the nasal serous gland, which is close to, but distinct from, the developing tooth (Vrm). Developmental Dynamics 236:2245–2257, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


ABSTRACT We calculate the Raman frequencies of the two stretching modes of as a function of temperature close to the paraelectric-ferroelectric transition (Tc = 270 K) in (CH3)2NH2Mg(HCOO)3 referred as DMMg. By assuming that the Raman frequencies of those two modes which exhibit anomalous behaviour near Tc due to the ordering of the dimethlyammonium cations (DMA+) as observed experimentally, are associated with the spontaneous polarization (order parameter), their Raman frequencies and damping constants are predicted at various temperatures. The two models (pseudospin-phonon coupled and energy-fluctuation models) are used for the prediction of the damping constant which also explain the critical behaviour of the observed FWHM data for the stretching modes close to the paraelectric-ferroelectric transition in DMMg.


Feedback is regularly used in summative assessment to "...reduce the gap between what is now and what should or could be" (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). However, its use in online learning tools, such as H5P, is somewhat limited to responses such as 'correct' and 'incorrect' which does not inform the learner of how they could improve (Boud and Molloy, 2013).

This demonstration presents a framework for designing scaffolded tasks in H5P (http://h5p.org) which provide opportunities for educators to include feedback to guide the learner towards the expected outcome. The case study uses the H5P object 'Drag and Drop' object and with the 'tip' feature, creates a way for the learner to self-assess and direct their learning, fostering recall and knowledge production. Prompt types include 'recall reminders' and 'eliciting reasoning behind the answer to identify knowledge gaps' (Walsh and Sattes, 2005). It is suggested that by doing so, the learner is guided towards identifying the correct response and eventually narrowing their knowledge gap (Vygotsky, 1978).

In this demonstration, two such H5P activities will be presented and participants will be guided through the stages of Learning Design and pedagogical rationale used in the task creation.

This presentation will test the ability of the H5P tool to encompass pedagogical practices such as feedback into its environment. It is expected that future enhancements to the application account for this consideration.

References

Boud, D. and Molloy, E. (2013). Feedback in Higher and Professional Education, London: Routledge, 1-10.

Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The Power of Feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112.
(https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/003465430298487)

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. (Edited by M. Cole, J. Scribner, V. John-Steiner, & E. Souberman). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Walsh, J. A., & Sattes, B. D. (2005). Quality questioning: Research-based practices to engage every learner. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.


The paper enhanced the facial skin using iterative steering kernel regression which is based on edge preserving energy minimization. The region-aware mask allows the user to beautify faces with three major skins attributes homogeneity, lighting, and color. The main aim of this paper is to beautify the skin by decomposition into the three layers using edge preserving filter. After layer decomposition a facial landmarks and significant features extracted from the database to generate the mask into three different layers which allow the user to perform facial beautification simply by adjusting its skin parameter. The combination of these parameters can be optimized automatically it depend on the data base or knowledge base. The experiment result shows that the image is enhanced more as compare to the original image. After three region-aware masks have been obtained, a user can perform facial beautification simply by adjusting the skin parameters. Result of proposed method will be compared with the existing methods in terms of Peak Signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and Mean Square Error (MSE).


We propose hierarchical clustering and filtering methods for the analysis of spatio-temporal multidimensional time series, where both methods are based on a new pseudo distance. The pseudo distance is determined between orthogonal matrices, which are derived by eigenvalue decomposition of the variance-covariance matrix of the time series. Because the grouping algorithm is also important in clustering, a modified Ward method grouping criterion is used here. The filtering derives temporal similarity information between two time series, providing information that cannot be evaluated by the clustering. If the time series to be clustered and filtered cannot be obtained directly, different time series reflecting the original time series are used instead. There exists a transform between the time series, and hence, scaling distortion occurs. We also propose a scaling normalization method. As an application example, we present an analysis of a multichannel magnetoencephalography (MEG) and/or electroencephalography (EEG) time series. Each of the MEG and EEG generations is a transform from the same electrophysiological brain activity. We applied these methods to sound localization-related MEG time series and evaluated their effectiveness. These methods may be useful for discovering similarity among many multidimensional time series without a priori information and/or hypotheses.