Copper moulds usually used for steel continuous casting suffer from severe wear at relatively high temperatures and low friction loads. The more severe solid friction occurs at about 10-40cm distance from the meniscus, depending on the process parameters, where the temperature is about 300-350°C. The copper moulds have been traditionally coated with hard chromium and actually also with thick nickel deposits even if they present lower wear resistance. The aim of this work was the development of a composite Ni-????SiC electrodeposit with higher hardness and wear resistance than the pure nickel using the existing plating bath and commercially available SiC micro-powders. Different types of SiC micro-particles have been purchased and Ni-????SiC deposits have been produced and analyzed, initially, in laboratory scale to evaluate the ability of the powders to be codeposited into the nickel matrix. After the choice of the SiC powder and the determination of the plating parameters a pilot 6000 lt plating tank has been equipped with a system of Venturi pumps in order to maintain the particles in suspension. Preliminary tests have been performed in industrial scale to evaluate the process parameters such as anode-cathode distance, applied voltage, plating time and pumps positioning effect onto the SiC content and its distribution in the nickel matrix. The produced specimens have been observed by Metallographic microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope in cross section to evaluate the SiC content and the microstructure of the nickel matrix. Vickers microhardness measurements have been also performed in cross section and revealed that the co-deposition of the SiC micro-particles leads to a microhardness increase of about 180%. Wear tests at both room temperature and at 350°C have been performed on pure nickel deposits and composite nickel deposits and the wear tracks have been analyzed using both a profilometer and SEM to determine the wear both coefficient and mechanism of each coating. The testing results revealed that the developed Ni-????SiC deposit exhibits a much higher wear resistance in comparison to pure nickel deposits at high temperature and the production process can be easily transferred in industrial scale with slight modifications of the existing deposition plants. Real scale copper moulds have been finally coated with Ni-????SiC composite deposits and are presently under testing in actual working conditions at a steel producing plant.


Several online identification approaches have been proposed to identify parameters and evolution models of engineering systems and structures when sequential datasets are available via Bayesian inference. In this work, a robust and "tune-free" sampler is proposed to extend one of the Sequential Monte Carlo implementations for the identification of time-varying parameters which can be assumed constant within each set of data collected, but might vary across different sequences of data sets. The proposed approach involves the implementation of the Affine-invariant Ensemble sampler in place of the Metropolis-Hastings sampler to update the samples. An adaptive-tuning algorithm is also proposed to automatically tune the step size of the Affine-invariant ensemble sampler which, in turn, controls the acceptance rate of the samples across iterations. Furthermore, a numerical investigation behind the existence of inherent lower and upper bounds on the acceptance rate, making the algorithm robust by design, is also conducted. The proposed method allows for the offline and online identification of the most probable models under uncertainty. It works independently of the underlying (often unknown) error model. The proposed sampling strategy is first verified against the existing sequential Monte Carlo sampler in a numerical example. Then, it is validated by identifying the time-varying parameters and the most probable model of a non-linear dynamical system using experimental data.


Malaria is an infectious tropical disease responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. It is caused by a parasite from genus Plasmodium of which falciparum is the most deadly and the focus of this study. The limited number of currently available drugs are further threatened by the rising frequency of resistance. This has greatly emphasised the need for new drugs with novel modes of action. The current drug development pipelines rely on large scale compound library screens for antimalarial effect. Computational chemometric methods are then used for selecting promising hits for further investigation. Such analyses however rely on indirect characterisation of compound effects. In this project we investigated three approaches aimed at developing compound screening assays based on compound effects on live cells. The first two approaches relied on metabolomics techniques. Based on the assumption that the drug-induced metabolic changes in the malaria parasite could be uniquely assigned to the drug mode of action we hypothesised that if such metabolic states could be measured they could be used to cluster the compounds into groups based on their modes of action. By comparison to well-established antimalarials the clusters of novel compounds could then be characterised and novel compound clusters identified. The third method relied on the phenotypic information for drug exposed malaria parasites derived from the analysis of fluorescent microscopy images. This assay aimed at characterising the modes of action of the compounds as well as the speed of kill. The first method investigated was based on metabolic fingerprinting using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The sample preparation and data acquisition protocols were developed and tested. The results suggested that the sensitivity of the technique was insufficient for the detection of drug induced effects in P. falciparum. Next a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based method was developed. While the method was promising in terms of high throughput capabilities, consistency and the breadth of information posed a series of issues, mainly associated with sensitivity. In the absence of a suitable automated data processing solution a custom software "ProcNMR" was developed and used to process the data collected in the experiments. A full experimental procedure was developed and tested, however the NMR sensitivity issues, exacerbated by the complex intraerythrocytic nature of P. falciparum resulted in suboptimal outputs. Lastly a high content imaging-based technique was investigated. Data processing and predictive analysis methods were developed and implemented. A pilot experiment was used to demonstrate the potential of the technique to discriminate between fast and slow acting drugs. The compounds of the "Malaria Box" were screened using this technique and a group of fast acting compounds identified.


In general, digital information resources can be categorized into three categories, text, voice (audio) and image (video). This article discusses a theoretical method of information visualization system and its corresponding technologies. The system is the results of the project (70473068) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The paper specifically discusses constructing strategy of visualization model, environmental configuration, functional module and operation method of prototype system. What's more, it further discusses construction of text, voice (audio) and image information visualization model, data preparation and data scale, operation interface and running result. The research represented is firstly a helpful attempt in studying visualization model of general information resources management with certain experience achieved, and secondly, it also explored a road to success in terms of visualization of information in Chinese.


Technology advances have created a wide variety of novel, inexpensive sensors in the millimeter range that can be attached to or embedded into smartphones. These sensors are now directly connected to the Internet enabling us to collect high frequency updates from potentially thousands of mobile sensors densely deployed over an urban area. Today, data stream management systems (DSMS) are powerful data processing tools for update rates of 100,000-500,0000 tuples/s. In this paper, we investigate extending DSMS for monitoring continuous environmental phenomena such as air borne toxins or air quality based on up to 250K individual mobile sensor updates per query window to be spatially interpolated into a smooth, grid-based representation in near real-time. We propose a stream query operator approach and investigate different strategies to achieve near real-time spatial interpolation, while investigating memory footprint, runtime efficiency and interpolation quality of the different strategies.


Methods: The study included 60 adult patients scheduled for haemorrhoidectomy. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups to receive ketorolac 30 mg either caudally (group C) or intravenously (group V) before the start of surgery. Anaesthetic protocol was standardized in the two groups using fentanyl, and propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Postoperative visual analogue scores (VAS) of pain were recorded at predefined time intervals, both in the supine and sitting position. Meperidine (1 mg/kg) was given on patient's request. No other analgesics were given. The need for postoperative meperidine and the number of doses required were recorded, as well as the time to request of postoperative analgesia. Side effects were recorded, namely gastric upsets, chest tightness, bleeding disorders, renal dysfunction, skin rash and anaphylaxis.


ABSTRACT Online reviews remain a reliable source for customers when making purchase decisions. Yet, the pervasiveness of fake reviews jeopardises this reliability and questions the quality of this content. In this paper, we provide empirical evidence from a major online retailer that mitigation against fakery can be successful. To that end, we proposed, tested, and validated an approach, based on existing safeguards, to quantify the credibility of reviews and thus reliably reduce product uncertainty. We also showed that reviews with sufficient credibility signals were effective at influencing product sales, and this influence was prevalent for both niche and new products on the market. As such, this study offers a novel approach to mitigate the impact of fakery in reviews posted to online infomediaries. Our work focuses primarily on Amazon as a major retailer but also provides further support by drawing on Yelp, another major review platform.


On the Ground Patch-burn grazing is a range management strategy that might be able to simultaneously optimize livestock production objectives and wildlife habitat objectives. We compared patch-burn grazing to a traditional range management strategy in multiple pastures, representing a variety of land ownership and management histories, dispersed across a relatively large geographic area. Our results likely represent what land managers could expect if they adopted patch-burn grazing in similar situations. We found that cattle performance in pastures managed with patch-burn grazing did not differ from that found in pastures managed with a traditional range management strategy. This suggests that land managers who adopt patch-burn grazing in our study region might be able to maintain levels of cattle performance they are accustomed to. Simultaneously, they might also be able to achieve wildlife habitat objectives that might not have been possible with the application of traditional range management strategies. More research and trials of patch-burn grazing in other regions and vegetation types will further help land mangers determine if patch-burn grazing is a range management strategy that could be useful when applied to their unique circumstances.


This article critically examines the mapmaking practices of locative art and explores its potential to produce alternative maps that respond to the spatial and social multiplicity of our urban fabric. Starting from a critique of traditional cartographic practice and how locative art shares its Cartesian anchorage and technological lenses, we investigate the conceptual challenges, methodological issues and technological constraints related to entangling geographic locations and social dynamics. We introduce our locative artworks Urban Fiction (2007) and Urban Fiction 2.0 (2011) that engage participants in corporeal negotiations of urban spaces to generate dynamic, fictional maps. Reflecting on these works allows us to examine the potential of locative media against a backdrop of technological advances and co-evolving social practices. Situated within post-colonial and feminist perspectives, we develop the notion of a 'performative geography' based on a generative mapping approach that understands maps as a dynamic process, rather than a fixed representation.


SUMMARY: We present a rare case of a complication of placement of a carotid artery stent represented by partial opening of a carotid Wallstent caused by displacement of its metal ring marker, which thus hindered complete expansion of the stent. An intraluminally locked carotid stent necessitated referral of the patient for urgent carotid endarterectomy. A possible reason of this unusual complication can be a manufacturing defect, which, to our knowledge, was not documented previously in open public data bases or on the Internet.


The problem of the interplay between migration and the achievement of the sustainable development goals is one of the main topics in modern scientific debate. The theoretical basis of the study is the understanding of migration as a continuous process caused by the interaction of a complex of factors, the result of which is the formation of a new quality globalized society. The methods used were: Comparative analysis and Content analysis. The authors note that the effectiveness of national policies depends significantly on the extent to which global migration trends are taken into account. The main factors that determine the dynamics of migration flows are identified in the article. The dominance of economic and security-humanitarian motives for migration is mentioned. It is noted that modern migration processes as a whole have a positive impact on the achievement of sustainable development goals. In modern world, migration is the driver of the country's demographic, economic and socio-cultural situation. For most countries in the world, the main objectives of immigration policy are to meet the need for labor, balance the labor markets, reduce the rate of depopulation and an aging population. The research made it possible to identify the types of immigration policy of governments of the world countries and their characteristics. The authors indicate that 73% of governments search to increase or maintain the current level of immigration of highly skilled workers. The thesis is substantiated that the impact of migrants on the wages of highly skilled workers in the country of destination is minimal. The impact of emigration on the socio-economic situation of the donor country is analyzed. The study found that emigration alone is not a destructive factor for the donor country. Significant deterioration in the country is influenced by a set of factors, among which migration is only one of them.
 Keywords: migration, sustainable economic development, donor-countries


Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is the most common anomaly of the aortic arch. We present the successful use of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the diagnosis of ARSA. A 65-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnoea and inspiratory stridor. Bronchoscopy revealed a subglottic tracheal stenosis. To exclude an underlying malignancy, endoscopy was performed showing an oesophageal impression, which subsequently was identified as ARSA by EUS. Computed tomography excluded neoplasm and confirmed the diagnosis of ARSA. After laser resection of subglottic tissue the stridor resolved and could therefore not be attributed to the co-existence of ARSA. In most cases the ARSA crosses between the oesophagus and the spine from the descending aortic arch to the right and may seldom cause dysphagia due to oesophageal compression. Diagnosis is usually based upon computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, whereas angiography is only rarely needed. Endoscopic ultrasonography offers a convenient alternative diagnostic tool and can be performed even as a bedside examination. The diagnosis can be easily assessed in all patients referred for EUS of the upper gastrointestinal tract for any reason. Especially in patients undergoing invasive procedures in the upper thorax or neck, knowledge of an abnormal course of the great vessels is important. Arteria lusoria is often found by chance. EUS is a simple and excellent tool for assessing the diagnosis and usually does not require confirmation through other investigation methods.


Time-compression multiplexing (TCM) is a spectrally efficient, time-domain multiplexing method, which is an alternative to the conventional and widely used frequency-division multiplexing technique (FDM). The paper demonstrates the significant advantages of TCM over FDM when used over narrowband radio systems which contain inherent nonlinearities. Indeed, these nonlinearities can render FDM unusable for many applications, producing quite unacceptable levels of crosstalk for an adequate signal/noise performance. TCM, however, is shown to overcome this problem without utilising excessive bandwidth, usually associated with time-domain multiplexing systems that employ digital modulation: for example, pulse code modulation. The paper contains details of the design and performance of a fully operational, two-channel TCM prototype, including a simple, yet robust, synchronisation system, which is then compared with an FDM system with an equivalent bandwidth.


Background: A quarter of all child sexual abuse occurs within the family. The sexual abuse can be both physical and mental and is characterized by the child's dependency is taken advantage of by an adult or a significantly older child. The child becomes a victim of actions it can't understand and is not mature for.Aim: The aim of this study is to describe adults' experiences of sexual abuse in childhood where the perpetrator is a parent.Method: A literature review with both quantitative and qualitative articles was selected. Eleven articles were analysed for differences and similarities. The result of the analysis was divided into three themes and seven subthemes.Result: The result shows that of those who participated and was included in the studies, the majority stated that they did not dare to tell anyone about the sexual abuse in their childhood.Conclusion: When the perpetrator of sexual abuse is a parent, the child is exposed not only to the abuse but also for betrayal. Studies show that children who have been exposed by a parent feel more betrayed than those who become victims of an unknown perpetrator.


Recent theoretical literature in the field of banking competition and bank risk stresses the importance of interactions between banks and firms and suggests that banking competition impacts firm stability. But empirical evidence whether banking competition increases or decreases stability of firms in the real sector is scarce. This paper investigates the effect of banking competition on firm stability for a sample of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Germany between 1996-2006. Results show that less banking competition is beneficial for firm stability. This rejects recent suggestions from the banking literature that banks may exploit their competitiveness and increase incentives for firms to undertake more risk. Thereby, this paper suggests the often cited charter value paradigm in banking to be right.


Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are fast-improving materials for next-generation solution-processed optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photocatalysis, light emitting diodes, and photodetectors. Nanoscale CQDs exhibit a high surface to volume ratio, and a significant fraction of atoms making up the quantum dots are thus located on the surface. CQD surface states therefore play a critical role in determining these materials' properties, influencing luminescence, defect energy levels, and doping type and density. In the past five years, halide ligands were applied to CQD solar cells, and these not only improved charge carrier mobility, but also reduced defects on the surface. With the inclusion of halide ligands, CQD solar cell certified power conversion efficiencies have increased rapidly from an initial 5% in 2010 to the latest certified values over 10%. In this perspective article, we summarize recent advances in ligand engineering that improve the performance of CQD solar cells, focusing on the use of halide inorganic ligands to improve CQD surface passivation and film conductivity simultaneously.


Abstract. Hydrologic-Land Surface Models (H-LSMs) have been progressively developed to a stage where they represent the dominant hydrological processes for a variety of hydrological regimes and include a range of water management practices, and are increasingly used to simulate water storages and fluxes of large basins under changing environmental conditions across the globe. However, efforts for comprehensive evaluation of the utility of H-LSMs in large, regulated watersheds have been limited. In this study, we evaluated the capability of a Canadian H-LSM, called MESH, in the highly regulated Saskatchewan River Basin (SaskRB), Canada, under the constraint of significant precipitation uncertainty. The SaskRB is a complex system characterized by hydrologically-distinct regions that include the Rocky Mountains, Boreal Forest, and the Prairies. This basin is highly vulnerable to potential climate change and extreme events. A comprehensive analysis of the MESH model performance was carried out in two steps. First, the reliability of multiple precipitation products was evaluated against climate station observations and based on their performance in simulating streamflow across the basin when forcing the MESH model with a default parameterization. Second, a state-of-the-art multi-criteria calibration approach was applied, using various observational information including streamflow, storage and fluxes for calibration and validation. The first analysis shows that the quality of precipitation products had a direct and immediate impact on simulation performance for the basin headwaters but effects were dampened when going downstream. In particular, the Canadian Precipitation Analysis (CaPA) performed the best among the precipitation products in capturing timings and minimizing the magnitude of error against observation, despite a general underestimation of precipitation amount. The subsequent analyses show that the MESH model was able to capture observed responses of multiple fluxes and storage across the basin using a global multi-station calibration method. Despite poorer performance in some basins, the global parameterization generally achieved better model performance than a default model parameterization. Validation using storage anomaly and evapotranspiration generally showed strong correlation with observations, but revealed potential deficiencies in the simulation of storage anomaly over open water areas.


: In the last few years, Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools have been successfully applied to a number of different tasks, including author profiling, negation detection or hate speech detection, to name but a few. For the identification of hate speech from text, pre-trained language models can be leveraged to build high-performing classifiers using a transfer learning approach. In this work, we train and evaluate state-of-the-art pre-trained classifiers based on Transformers. The explored models are fine-tuned using a hate speech corpus in Spanish that has been compiled as part of this research. The corpus contains a total of 7,483 football-related tweets that have been manually annotated under four categories: aggressive, racist, misogynist, and safe. A multi-label approach is used, allowing the same tweet to be labeled with more than one class. The best results, with a macro F1-score of 88.713%, have been obtained by a combination of the models using Knowledge Integration.


Recently, energy scavenging studies have become an important research area not only for the utilization of ambient energy sources but also for their high potential to replace the batteries especially for wireless body area networks (WBANs). Conventionally, batteries are used to provide energy to the WBANs. Amount of energy provided by batteries limits on-board features and communication range of the WBANs. Also, battery recharging or replacement is significantly impractical. Therefore, different energy scavenging interface circuits with different efficiencies have been proposed to overcome these limitations. This study focuses on energy scavengers and their potential utilization for low-power systems. Particularly, energy scavenging interface circuits for the WBANs are investigated in this paper.


For too long, courts took a limited view of the dual jurisdiction between state and federal actors under the Federal Power Act. That changed when three new energy Supreme Court cases opened the door to a broader, and more functional interpretation of an eighty-year-old statute. This Article uses this analytical adjustment in energy federalism to explore its implications for authority over reliability of the electric system. The same statutory bright lines sharply divide authority over reliability between state and federal actors, but emerging energy initiatives surrounding distributed rooftop solar, carbon regulation, cybersecurity, and energy storage are placing pressure on federal actors to stretch beyond their jurisdictional sphere to address the impacts of these state-controlled activities on the federally-controlled grid. This Article uses these jurisdictional crossovers to explore possible theoretical justifications for federal intervention deeper into the reliability of the entire system and possible legal avenues for this federal stretch. Reliability of the electric grid is a critical cornerstone of our economy. It is deserving of a new, more integrated framework that recognizes the interconnection of federal and state reliability efforts and treats reliability as an attribute of the grid that transcends artificial jurisdictional boundaries.  Associate Professor, University of Florida Levin College of Law. I am grateful to William Boyd, Joel Eisen, Mark Fenster, Rob Glicksman, Christine Klein, Richard Pierce, Danny Sokol, David Spence, Jim Rossi, and Joseph Tomain, as well as the participants in the University of Texas at Austin Electricity Conference for their valuable feedback, and to my tireless research assistants, Michael Woods and Joshua Rieger, for their outstanding assistance. Do Not Delete 4/24/2017 4:31 PM 1192 HOUSTON LAW REVIEW [54:5


The Pan-cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) project provides an unprecedented opportunity to comprehensively characterize a vast set of uniformly annotated coding and non-coding mutations present in thousands of cancer genomes. Classical models of cancer progression posit that only a small number of these mutations strongly drive tumor progression and that the remaining ones (termed "putative passengers") are inconsequential for tumorigenesis. In this study, we leveraged the comprehensive variant data from PCAWG to ascertain the molecular functional impact of each variant. The impact distribution of PCAWG mutations shows that, in addition to high- and low-impact mutations, there is a group of medium-impact putative passengers predicted to influence gene activity. Moreover, the predicted impact relates to the underlying mutational signature: different signatures confer divergent impact, differentially affecting distinct regulatory subsystems and gene categories. We also find that impact varies based on subclonal architecture (i.e., early vs. late mutations) and can be related to patient survival. Finally, we note that insufficient power due to limited cohort sizes precludes identification of weak drivers using standard recurrence-based approaches. To address this, we adapted an additive effects model derived from complex trait studies to show that aggregating the impact of putative passenger variants (i.e. including yet undetected weak drivers) provides significant predictability for cancer phenotypes beyond the PCAWG identified driver mutations (12.5% additive variance). Furthermore, this framework allowed us to estimate the frequency of potential weak driver mutations in the subset of PCAWG samples lacking well-characterized driver alterations.


Objectives: The study was conducted to analyse the prescription pattern of the drugs used to treat osteoporosis among patients in the orthopaedics department of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the department of orthopaedics in a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of eight months. A total of 180 patients were enrolled after obtaining the ethical committee approval. The details on the age, gender, symptoms of the disease, and prescribed drugs were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 180 enrolled patients, females (96.7%) outnumbered the males (3.3%). The majority of patients (53.8%) were found between 56–75 years of age. Most common clinical symptom was back pain (71.67 %), followed by pain in hip joints (11.67%). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (26.67%) were widely prescribed, followed by calcium and Vitamin combination (23.93%), and antacids (20.27%). Conclusion: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium and Vitamin preparations and antacids were the commonly prescribed drugs among the study population. Studies conducted on prescription patterns assist an evaluation of drug utilization and facilitates an understanding of the on-going trends in prescribing practice. Key words: Osteoporosis, Calcium, Vitamins, Back pain, NSAIDs.


1. Introduction:Three Frontiers of the Southern Yucatan Peninsular Region and SYPR Project I:HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS, 1000 BC - AD 1900 2. The Long View: Human-Environment Relationships 1000 BC - AD 1900 3. Forest Extraction to Theme Parks: The Modern History of Land Change II:LAND-COVER CHARACTERISTICS AND CHANGE 4. Forest Types and their Implications 5. Recovery of Nutrient Cycling and Ecosystem Properties following Swidden Cultivation: Regional and Stand-Level Constraints 6. Land Cover and Land Use: Classification and Change Analysis III: AGENTS AND INSTITUTIONS OF LAND CHANGE: HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY AND CULTIVATION 7. Institutions, Organizations, and Policy Affecting Land Change: Complexity Within and Beyond the Ejido 8. The Ejido Household: The Current Agent of Change 9. Subsistence Sustained: Swidden or Milpa Cultivation 10. Jalapeno Pepper Cultivation: Emergent Commercial Land Use 11. The Semi-Market and Semi-Subsistence Household: The Evidence and Test of Smallholder Behavior IV: SPATIAL MODELING OF LAND CHANGE: EMPIRICAL APPROACHES IN DATA-SPARSE ENVIRONMENTS 12. Spatially Explicit, Statistical Land-Change Models in Data-Sparse Conditions 13. The SYPR Integrative Assessment Model: Complexity in Development RETROSPECTIVE: THE THREE FRONTIERS REVISITED GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS INDEX


Ian Ritchie AO, BA, MA, MEng, PhD, ScD, FTSE, FRACI, FAIMM; scientist, engineer, teacher and humanist, brought fresh understanding and relevance to the relationships between metals and fluids through his work on metal oxidation, electrochemistry and hydrometallurgy. Passionate about education, society and the environment, he constantly sought new ways to interest young people in science and its role in the future wellbeing of human society and the fragile Earth. He served the community with energy and dedication as a valued advisor to government, industry and academia. He contributed much to the establishment of air quality standards in Western Australia, and is credited with preventing the dismantling of the WA Government Chemical Laboratories and steering them to rebirth as the ChemCentre. He was the founding CEO of the AJ Parker CRC for Hydrometallurgy, which became the world's foremost centre for hydrometallurgical research under his inspirational leadership. Ian was a kind and humble man with huge talent who was always ready to share his wisdom. He was a passionate and prolific scientist, but his greatest joy came from his family—Ann, the love of his life, and his three wonderful children, Kathy, Andrew and Alex. Driven by a deep sense of fairness, he railed against injustice and stupidity wherever he saw it. All who knew him will miss his ready wit, awesome erudition and endless creativity, but the imprint of his contribution and influence will never fade. He was inducted to theWestern Australian Science Hall of Fame in 2016.


We describe challenges and advantages unique to coreference resolution in the biomedical domain, and a sieve-based architecture that leverages domain knowledge for both entity and event coreference resolution. Domain-general coreference resolution algorithms perform poorly on biomedical documents, because the cues they rely on such as gender are largely absent in this domain, and because they do not encode domain-specific knowledge such as the number and type of participants required in chemical reactions. Moreover, it is difficult to directly encode this knowledge into most coreference resolution algorithms because they are not rule-based. Our rule-based architecture uses sequentially applied hand-designed "sieves", with the output of each sieve informing and constraining subsequent sieves. This architecture provides a 3.2% increase in throughput to our Reach event extraction system with precision parallel to that of the stricter system that relies solely on syntactic patterns for extraction.


An important aeroservoelasticity aspect is the analysis of interactions between rigid, elastic and control modes. We know that the rigid aerodynamic modes are not well calculated by use of finite element software for aeroelastic analysis such as Nastran [1], STARS [2], etc. For this reason, the flight dynamics of a rigid aircraft F/A-18 is validated by two different methods and the rigid and control modes interactions aerodynamic forces thus calculated replace the rigid and control modes interactions aerodynamic forces calculated with finite element software. Results obtained with these two methods (numerical and analytical) are identical, and the aerodynamic model of the F/A-18 is validated by use of Matlab software and Simulink toolbox. The first method calculates analytically the aerodynamic rigid and control forces in the inertial system of coordinates from stability and control derivatives in the wind system of coordinates. The second method, here presented, is a simulation and numerical method by which the aerodynamic forces are also calculated by use of dlinmod Matlab command in Simulink.


ABSTRACT This collective case study investigates the role of digital photography to support high school students' engagement in science inquiry practices during a three-week environmental sciences unit. The study's theoretical framework brings together research from digital photography, participation in environmental science practices, and epistemic agency. Data analysed include field notes and video transcripts from two groups of learners (n = 19) that focus on how high school students used digital photography during their participation in two distinct environmental monitoring practices: stream mapping and macroinvertebrate identification. Our study resulted in two findings related to the role of digital photography where students developed knowledge as they engaged in environmental monitoring inquiry practices. First, we found that digital photography was integral to the youths' epistemic agency (defined as their confidence that they could build knowledge related to science in their community) as they engaged in data collection, documenting environmental monitoring procedures, and sharing data in the classroom. Based this finding, an implication of our work is a refined view of the role of digital photography in environmental sciences education where the use of photography enhances epistemic agency in inquiry-based activities. Second, we found that the youths innovated a use of digital photography to foster a recognition that they were capable and competent in scientific procedures during a streamside study. Based on this finding, we offer a theoretical implication that expands the construct of epistemic agency; we posit that epistemic agency includes a subcomponent where the students purposefully formulate an external recognition as producers of scientific knowledge.


Abstract Comparison of two gravel deltas and a gravel beach in the megatidal Bay of Fundy provides insights into tidal influences on gravel-dominated coastlines. Tidal effects on the morphology and sedimentology of the three systems are manifest as: a consistent onshore to offshore topography of the intertidal zone; deep incision of fluvial and tidal channels at the landward end of each system; and the occurrence of these deposits with salt marshes. Indirect morphological and sedimentological manifestations of tides include control on the height of surf-zone bars developed within the intertidal zone; extensive mud deposition (passive association with surf zone bars); and the potential preservation of thick gravel deposits, particularly in transgressive systems. The only direct sedimentological indicators of tides are bidirectional bedforms developed where onshore-directed high-angle cross bedding and offshore-directed trough cross bedding are interbedded. The presence of mud in relation to these bidirectional bedforms provides further evidence of tidal influence within conglomerate systems. Interestingly, no sedimentological characteristics of megatidal conditions are recognized. The results of this research suggest that, although there are a few morphological and sedimentological characteristics that are indicative of tidal deposition, the reliable recognition of tidal control on the deposition of conglomerates requires identifying at least two or three sedimentological characteristics that may have developed as a result of tidal depositional processes. These include: (1) a sharp change upwards in bedding dips, in a vertical succession of upper-shoreface to foreshore deposits; (2) anomalously thick gravel sequences, particularly in transgressive settings; (3) association of gravel beaches and deltas with salt-marsh deposits; and (4) an increase in the amount and extent of mud deposition in conglomeratic systems.


Abstract : Using hidden Markov models (HMM's), an unobstrusive single view camera system is developed that can recognize hand gestures, namely, a subset of American Sign Language (ASL). Previous systems have concentrated on finger spelling or isolated word recognition, often using tethered electronic gloves for input. We achieve high recognition rates for full sentence ASL using only visual cues. A forty word lexicon consisting of personal pronouns, verbs, nouns, and adjectives is used to create 494 randomly constructed five word sentences that are signed by the subject to the computer. The data is separated into a 395 sentence training set and an independent 99 sentence test set. While signing, the 2D position, orientation, and eccentricity of bounding ellipses of the hands are tracked in real time with the assistance of solidly colored gloves. Simultaneous recognition and segmentation of the resultant stream of feature vectors occurs five times faster than real time on an HP 735. With a strong grammar, the system achieves an accuracy of 97%; with no grammar, an accuracy of 91% is reached (95% correct).


Donald Jackson investigates the United Kingdom's surprisingly dismal record of violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. During the first 30 years of the European Convention on Human Rights (1959-89), the UK was found in violation of the Convention more frequently than any other country, and its violations have continued apace in the 1990s. Jackson traces the source of the problem through the UK's lack of judicially enforceable rights law to the application of executive/bureaucratic discretion under UK law. In order to examine "discretion" in this context, Jackson focuses on various ways in which UK authorities have dealt with four specific issues: the problem of terrorism and of due process issues involved in the UK's efforts to counter it; the rights of inmates in UK prisons; problems of nationality and immigration; and freedom of expression, particularly that of the press relative to the conduct of trials and to national security issues. His study illuminates the interworkings of British democracy, political culture and "officialdom". Jackson demonstrates the status and perception of the Convention in UK courts by concluding with an analysis of the references in UK judicial decisions to the European Convention on Human Rights. Having suggested the reasons why the UK legal and political establishments so often fail to recognize and enforce rights, Jackson goes on to review various proposals for the development of an effective rights document and enforcement mechanism in the UK.


The kinetics of nornicotine and anabasine nitrosation, studied in aqueous solution, obeyed equations typical for the nitrosation of aliphatic secondary amines, with third-order stoichiometric rate constants of 1.15 (nornicotine) and 0.86 (anabasine) M-2 sec-1. The similarity of the two rate constants suggested that the nitrosonornicotine occurring in tobacco arises from nicotine rather than nornicotine, because tobacco contains anabasine but apparently does not contain nitrosoanabasine. The high rate constants suggested that in vivo nitrosation of these secondary amines may constitute a hazard to tobacco smokers and chewers, in addition to that presented by preformed nitrosonornicotine.


The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual disorders in diabetics, owing to diabetes constitutes a growing public health problem, leading to a variety of dysfunctions such as cardiovascular, psychological, and sexual dysfunctions, that is why Diabetes is a well-known cause of sexual disorders, with prevalence rates approaching 50% in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but the determinants of sex dysfunction in diabetic men as a result of the principal cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, and also overweight obesity, in addition to metabolic syndrome, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles. Moreover, sexual disorders considered as important predictors of the development of major complaints in diabetic patients, on the other hand, the debate as to whether diabetes link with sexual dysfunction or not, is an issue of controversy, moreover, diabetic women suffer from the same neurovascular complications that contribute to the pathogenesis of SD in men, however, results of sexual functioning of diabetic women are less conclusive. Conclusion: extending beyond the specific effects on sexual dysfunction in men and women with diabetes, the adoption of these measures promotes a healthier life and increased well-being, which in turn, may help to reduce the burden of sexual dysfunction.


Recent advances in atomic force microscopy allowed globular and membrane proteins to be mechanically unfolded on a single-molecule level. Presented is an extension to the existing force spectroscopy experiments. While unfolding single bacteriorhodopsins from native purple membranes, small oscillation amplitudes (6-9 nm) were supplied to the vertical displacement of the cantilever at a frequency of 3 kHz. The phase and amplitude response of the cantilever-protein system was converted to reveal the elastic (conservative) and viscous (dissipative) contributions to the unfolding process. The elastic response (stiffness) of the extended parts of the protein were in the range of a few tens pN/nm and could be well described by the derivative of the wormlike chain model. Discrete events in the viscous response coincided with the unfolding of single secondary structure elements and were in the range of 1 microNs/m. In addition, these force modulation spectroscopy experiments revealed novel mechanical unfolding intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin. We found that kinks result in a loss of unfolding cooperativity in transmembrane helices. Reconstructing force-distance spectra by the integration of amplitude-distance spectra verified their position, offering a novel approach to detect intermediates during the forced unfolding of single proteins.


Communication links both wired and wireless can facilitate teleoperation and telemetry; however, contemporary security paradigms are not best suited for wired or wireless real-time teleoperation and telemetry as the strength of the security services provided increases the processing latency and energy consumption of utilised cryptographic platforms, resulting in a detrimental impact on real-time operational performance of teleoperation and telemetry.

The aim of this research is to derive a novel approach to symmetric cryptographic secured communication links that will have a reduced impact on the operational performance of the application utilising the communication link. The contributions of this research is the cryptographic synergy philosophy. The cryptographic synergy philosophy is presented in two sections; the intrinsic paradigm and the extrinsic paradigm. The intrinsic paradigm prioritises the internal security service with the reduction in the time to compute the process. The extrinsic paradigm prioritises the global security service to maintain the ephemerial privacy of the shared secret used for secure communication links.

The composite concept and speed-centric method derived from the intrinsic paradigm results in the design and implementation of new block cipher structures, designated the Permutation Substitution Network (PSN) and the Permutation Substitution Permutation Network (PSPN). Applying the PSN and PSPN structures enables the derivation of the Big Cat family of block ciphers which is a new design approach for lightweight block ciphers that focuses on speed of operation and sufficient cryptographic security for the specified time constraint; an instance of the approach is the presented Lightweight Encryption Operation Permutation Addition Rotation and Diffusion (LEOPARD) block cipher. The LEOPARD block cipher has a five per cent reduction per block call in its processing latency when compared to the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) standardised AES-128 block cipher. The interdependency concept and privacy-based methods derived from the extrinsic paradigm are utilised with the derivation of the expert decision making system that resulted in the design and implementation of the Privacy Cryptographic Unit (PCU). The PCU contains an autonomous security expert logic rule set that controls the number of cryptographic key regeneration performed over the mission duration.

The outcome of this research is useful to practitioners involved with real-time teleoperation and telemetry, because the contributions presented achieved a reduction in detrimental operational performance on teleoperation and telemetry applications with the LEOPARD block cipher; whilst the PCU achieves autonomous enhancement of the privacy associated with cryptographic secured communication links for teleoperation and telemetry applications.


Ultra-Wideband Impulse Radio (UWB-IR) is a technology that has great potential to solve numerous mobile robotic and asset tracking problems in GPS-denied environments. Our goal is to help software and hardware designers in improving the state-of-the-art in UWB-based robotic localization. We developed a test-bed where an UWB transmitter is attached to a mobile robot. By combining the received signals with the robot's position log acquired through the dead-reckoning sensors, we obtain UWB signals which are well referenced with respect to the transmitter-receiver distance and orientation. In addition, we provide a model for every component of the setup. The entire setup allows us to simulate from first principles every aspect of an UWB localization system and then to implement low-level signal processing as well as higher-level modulation and localization techniques. We implement an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) algorithm to demonstrate the rapid proto-typing capabilities of the test-bed. Our work shows how an UWB robotic system and its models can be involved in all phases of the development of a technology that can help robot's navigation, localization and communication algorithms.


Conventional models of aeolian transport relate sediment flux to shear velocity, among several other relevant factors such as grain size, grain density, and air density. Application of these predictive models to natural systems has yielded mixed results. Analysis of data from field experiments designed to provide simultaneous measurements of wind speed and sediment flux across beaches underscores the limitations of these models, especially when surface conditions are variable over space and time. Accurate predictions of aeolian sediment flux may never be universally realized because conventional parameterizations of the problem are indeterminate. lndeterminacy arises because the number of unknowns exceeds, by more than one, the number of available equations, and this analytical constraint is inextricably bound to empirical aspects of the problem. It is not immediately apparent what the relevant fundamental variables are, how they might be linked in a system of equations, nor how the inherent uncertainty in their specification, measurement, and spatio-temporal character might surmounted. In particular, it is becoming more evident that the indiscriminant use of shear velocity, as a surrogate for a spatially and temporally variable shear-stress field, in sediment-transport equations is problematic and an oversimplification of a complex process-response system. Accepting indeterminacy implies accepting uncertainty and this suggests developing complementary research strategies that explore and quantify natural-system variability.


This study begins from the goal of national education system on improving the quality of learning through learning outcomes. SMKN 9 Padang including one of the schools that still realy on textbooks in the learning process of batic. Pre-study observations show that the learning batic has not met expectations. This is likely because the students do not have a background in terms of making batic. 2 Science is developed to introduce the module as one of the teaching materials that can improve student learning outcomes effectively and efficiently. This research was conducted with the aim of : 1) produce a valid batik learning modules, practically, and efficient, 2) develop a learning module on batic material for secondary vocational schools. This type of research is the research and development or development methods, namely designing and making batic learning modules, and then test the validity, practicalities and effectiveness. Each test is done, there is validation sheet stating valid or not. Data analysis technique consists of analyzing the validity, practicalities and effectiveness. The questionnaire contains about practicality, activities and student motivation. Questionnaire data were analyzed using a Likert scale. Research object is a class XI student SMKN 8 Padang. The result based on data obtained show that the learning module batic produced in a valid category, practical and effective both in terms of the feasibility of the module content, language of modules, graph and presentation of module. It was concluded that the learning module batic worthy to serve as one of the reference material in the development of textile craft module specifically about learning batic. Keyword : Batic Learning Modules


Abstract Background Sedation is increasingly used to facilitate procedures on children in emergency departments (EDs). This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) examines the safety and efficacy of sedative agents commonly used for procedural sedation in children in the ED or similar settings. Methods We followed standard SR methods: comprehensive search; dual study selection, quality assessment, data extraction. We included SRs of children (1 month to 18 years) where the indication for sedation was procedure‐related and performed in the ED. Results Fourteen SRs were included (210 primary studies). The most data were available for propofol (six reviews/50,472 sedations) followed by ketamine (7/8,238), nitrous oxide (5/8,220), and midazolam (4/4,978). Inconsistent conclusions for propofol were reported across six reviews. Half concluded that propofol was sufficiently safe; three reviews noted a higher occurrence of adverse events, particularly respiratory depression (upper estimate 1.1%; 5.4% for hypotension requiring intervention). Efficacy of propofol was considered in four reviews and found adequate in three. Five reviews found ketamine to be efficacious and seven reviews showed it to be safe. All five reviews of nitrous oxide concluded it is safe (0.1% incidence of respiratory events); most found it effective in cooperative children. Four reviews of midazolam made varying recommendations. To be effective, midazolam should be combined with another agent that increases the risk of adverse events (upper estimate 9.1% for desaturation, 0.1% for hypotension requiring intervention). Conclusions This comprehensive examination of an extensive body of literature shows consistent safety and efficacy for nitrous oxide and ketamine, with very rare significant adverse events for propofol. There was considerable heterogeneity in outcomes and reporting across studies and previous reviews. Standardized outcome sets and reporting should be encouraged to facilitate evidence‐based recommendations for care.


This paper demonstrates the feasibility and evaluates the performance of using the SpiNNaker neuromorphic hardware to simulate traditional non-spiking multi-layer perceptron networks with the back propagation learning rule. In addition to investigating the mapping of checker-boarding partitioning scheme onto SpiNNaker, we propose a new algorithm called pipelined checker-boarding partitioning which introduces a pipelined mode and captures the parallelism within each partition of the weight matrix, allowing the overlapping of communication and computation. Not only does the proposed algorithm localize communication, but it can also hide a part of or even all the communication. The performance is evaluated with SpiNNaker configurations up to 1000 nodes (20000 cores).


We read with interest the article on ketoconazole and fluconazole drug interactions by Baciewicz and Baciewicz,1which appeared in theArchives. We agree that the azole antifungals have the capability to influence the metabolism of a wide variety of concurrently administered drugs and the Food and Drug Administration is increasingly aware of such potential interactions.2 The authors fail to cite recent information regarding interactions between the popular nonsedating antihistamines and these antifungal agents. A prospective study3conducted by our group has shown ketoconazole to influence the biotransformation of terfenadine, allowing the accumulation of the cardiotoxic parent compound. The concomitant administration of these drugs is contraindicated. A similar interaction study of terfenadine and fluconazole did not demonstrate any clinically significant cardiac repolarization abnormalities.4 We also feel that it is important to mention that concomitant administration of ketoconazole and astemizole is contraindicated (as indicated on Hismanal [Janssen Pharmaceutica,


Selective flower removal was used in 1987 and 1988 to evaluate intraplant competition or inhibition within flowering uprights of 'Searles' cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.). The lowest two flowers were removed from uprights at various stages of plant development in 1987. With one or both of the two earliest, i.e., lowest, flowers developing 'into fruit, 25% of the remaining flowers matured into fruit. Re- moval of the earliest two flowers at preblossom or late blossom resulted in ≈ ≈ 46% fruit set for the remaining flowers. Slightly fewer upper flowers set (36%) when the earliest flowers and fruit were removed at early fruit development. In 1988, the lowest two flowers were removed at preblossom and natural insect pollination was supplemented by hand pollination. Hand-pollinated (upper) flowers set 58% when the lowest two flowers were removed, compared to 17% for the unthinned control. Yield and fruit numbers were lowered slightly as a result of flower thinning in both years. A significant amount of variation in fruit production was explained by the number of flowering uprights per unit of production area in both years.


Bioassay of PoNPV+1%TinopalLPW was conducted on second instar larvae of a laboratory colony of Parocneria orienta. The results showed that 1%TinopalLPW had a marked synergistic effect. Various doses of PoNPV along with 1%TinopalLPW were sprayed on second and third instar larvae of an overwintering population in the field. The combinations were 3.6×10~(11)PIB/hm~(2)+1%TinopalLPW, 1.8×10~(11)PIB/hm~(2)+1%TinopalLPW, 9.0×10~(10)PIB/hm~(2)+1%TinopalLPW and 3.6×10~(11)PIB/hm~(2), 1.8×10~(11)PIB/hm~(2), 9.0×10~(10)PIB/hm~(2). The most marked synergistic effect was obtained with 9.0×10~(10)PIB/hm~(2)+1%TinopalLPW. Other combinations did not have significant synergistic effects.


We developed a powerful UV laser at a central wavelength varying from 260-283 nm. The laser system based on a frequency-trippled Ti:sapphire amplifier delivers mJ pulse energy within a duration of 1-10 ps (fwhm) with 1.5 nm spectral width (fwhm). The system is used to explore thermal emittance and quantum efficiency dependence on photon energy from metallic photocathodes. With pepperpot and solenoid scan technique we have measured the predicted theoretical limit for thermal emittance at room temperature (0.4 mm.mrad/mm rms laser spot size at 283 nm) for metallic photocathodes.


Radargrammetry is a useful approach to generate Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and an alternative to InSAR techniques that are subject to temporal or atmospheric decorrelation. Stereo image matching in radargrammetry refers to the process of determining homologous points in two images. The performance of image matching influences the final quality of DSM used for spatial-temporal analysis of landscapes and terrain. In SAR image matching, local matching methods are commonly used but usually produce sparse and inaccurate homologous points adding ambiguity to final products; global or semi-global matching methods are seldom applied even though more accurate and dense homologous points can be yielded. To fill this gap, we propose a hierarchical semi-global matching (SGM) pipeline to reconstruct DSMs in forested and mountainous regions using stereo TerraSAR-X images. In addition, three penalty functions were implemented in the pipeline and evaluated for effectiveness. To make accuracy and efficiency comparisons between our SGM dense matching method and the local matching method, the normalized cross-correlation (NCC) local matching method was also applied to generate DSMs using the same test data. The accuracy of radargrammetric DSMs was validated against an airborne photogrammetric reference DSM and compared with the accuracy of NASA's 30 m SRTM DEM. The results show the SGM pipeline produces DSMs with height accuracy and computing efficiency that exceeds the SRTM DEM and NCC-derived DSMs. The penalty function adopting the Canny edge detector yields a higher vertical precision than the other two evaluated penalty functions. SGM is a powerful and efficient tool to produce high-quality DSMs using stereo Spaceborne SAR images.


In this article, we consider a discrete-time model describing the dissemination of information between members of any kind of online structure, it can be shared word-to-mouth via video calls and/ or chat or shares in online environments such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. The impact of information sharing is becoming more and more noticeable in the world, its potential has become clearer through controlling people's behavior and influencing their opinions. Thus, depending on the speed of the latter's spread and its impact, the reaction and measures taken by the state or authorities concerned varies. In this direction, we chose to use a feedback control function depending on the number of convinced people who share the information at any time. Therefore, the reaction of the control depends on the relevance of this information. We provide sufficient conditions of the existence of such control. And based on a discrete version of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle we characterize the optimal control. Numerical simulations are carried out to study this scenario before and after the use of our control strategy, accompanied by discussions of results.


This paper is a theoretical proposal aimed at analyzing the challenges threats menaces and opportunities posed by globalization upon indigenous peoples in the context of a specific global situation: environmental preservation. The problem is approached focusing on three conflicts characteristic of globalization: a) the relation between global and local b) the problem of civilizing alternatives and c) the new dynamics of social exclusion/inclusion. These conflicts once theorized are used to analyze the convergence of indigenous demands on territoriality identity and citizenship with spatial development and sustainability dimensions surrounding environmental management in a specific case: strategies which have been developed by Amazonian indigenous peoples. (authors)


With advances in high-throughput genotyping technologies, the rate-limiting step of large-scale genetic investigations has become the collection of sensitive and specific phenotype information in large samples of study participants. Clinicians play a pivotal role for successful genetic studies because sound clinical acumen can substantially increase study power by reducing measurement error and improving diagnostic precision for translational research. Phenomics is the systematic measurement and analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits, including clinical, biochemical, and imaging methods, for the refinement and characterization of a phenotype. Phenomics requires deep phenotyping, the collection of a wide breadth of phenotypes with fine resolution, and phenomic analysis, composed of constructing heat maps, cluster analysis, text mining, and pathway analysis. In this article, we review the components of phenomics and provide examples of their application to genomic studies, specifically for implicating novel disease processes, reducing sample heterogeneity, hypothesis generation, integration of multiple types of data, and as an extension of Mendelian randomization studies.


Because of the global scale and diversity of their work, international aid agencies face major problems when attempting to represent their plans and evaluate their achievements. In this second of two articles looking at types of change processes, the focus is on complex processes of change that include mutual influence, parallel processes and feedback loops. Four practically oriented arguments are put forward for using a network perspective to represent these processes: the broad applicability of a network framework, its scalability, the range of measurement and descriptive tools available and the multidisciplinary body of theory and research available to inform agencies' theories of change. Networks are then contrasted with hierarchies as background metaphors, and implications are identified for the monitoring and evaluation of development projects. In this article relevant examples have been drawn from the author's consultancy experience with development aid programmes in Bangladesh and Ghana.


ABSTRACT The article explores 'commonwealth' both as a term and a conceptual field across the early modern period, with a particular focus on the Anglophone world. The shifts of usage of 'commonwealth' are explored, from a term used to describe the polity, to one used to describe a particular, republican form of polity, through to its eclipse in the eighteenth century by other terms such as 'nation' and 'state'. But the article also investigates the variety of usages during any one time, especially at moments of crisis, and the network of related terms that constituted 'commonwealth'. That investigation requires, it is argued, not just a textual approach but one that embraces social custom and practice, as well as the study of literary and visual forms through which the keyword 'commonwealth' was constructed. The article emphasizes the importance of social context to language; the forms, metaphors and images used to describe and depict the polity; and to show how linguistic change could occur through the transmutation of elements of the conceptual field that endowed the keyword with its meaning.


In Ukraine, the stock market has not yet acquired signs of traditions and rules of work, which make it necessary to put in place an effective system for its regulation and, first of all, on the part of the state. The stock market regulation system should cover all participants in the stock market and ensure that they carry out their activities in accordance with established rules. A feature that distinguishes the functioning of joint-stock companies from other types of business associations and requires special management approaches is the issue of their shares for the formation, and, subsequently, increase of the authorized capital, which is carried out in the stock market. One of the most important elements of the external sphere of formation of the system of economic safety of joint stock companies is the state regulation of their emission activities. On the level of legislative bodies issued legal acts that have the force of law and regulate the general framework for the functioning of the corporate sector. In Ukraine, the bodies of state regulation of emission activities of joint-stock companies of general competence include the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the State Tax Service of Ukraine, the State Property Fund of Ukraine. They carry out general supervision and control over the activities of joint-stock companies. In issuing activities, the joint-stock company is affected not only by external but also internal threats related to the reorganization of public and private open and closed joint-stock companies, modernization of the management system, reporting, etc. Existing approaches to the formation of the system of economic security reflect the peculiarities of its construction in economic entities engaged in various activities (manufacturing and trading enterprises, banking institutions, credit unions, asset management companies, etc.), but the question of the formation of the system of economic security in the sub- objects of various organizational-legal forms studied insufficiently complete. The system of economic security, which exists in modern joint-stock companies, is not always able to fully perform its functions in the economic sphere, reacting in time to the appearance of external and internal threats, which is especially clearly manifested in the process of issue of shares, preparation and conduct of their public placement.


The dual face algorithm for linear programming (LP) was proposed by the author in 2014. Using QR factorization, it proceeds from dual face to dual face, until reaching an optimal dual face along with dual and primal optimal solutions, unless detecting infeasibility of the problem. On the other hand, a variant of the algorithm using LU factorization was presented, but it is for specialized LP problems only. To break the barriers, this paper proposes a new dual face algorithm using LU factorization for standard LP problems. Surprisingly enough, it turns out that this algorithm and the face algorithm [17] just proposed are a pigeon pair. Like the latter, the former also has salient features of its own, and is even more attractive.


No study has investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness and aortic root geometry using invasive hemodynamic measurement. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the relationship between invasively measured aortic pulse pressure (aPP), a reliable indicator of aortic stiffness, and the diameter of ascending aorta (AoD). We analyzed 665 subjects (64.3 ± 11.0 years; 34.6% female) who underwent elective invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on the same day, and AoD was measured at the level of 1 cm above the sinotubular junction at the end-diastole. Body surface area (BSA)-adjusted AD (AoD/BSA) was used for the analysis. A pig-tail catheter was used to measure aortic pressures at a level approximately 3 cm above the aortic valve just before ICA. aPP was calculated as the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures of the aorta. In multiple linear regression analyses, aPP ( β = 0.259; P < 0.001) were found to be signi�cantly correlated with AoD/BSA even after controlling for potential confounders. This correlation power was stronger than aortic systolic pressure ( β = 0.189; P < 0.001) and brachial pulse pressure ( β = 0.091; P = 0.018) at the same multivariable analyses. In conclusion, our study demonstrated a signi�cant association between invasively measured aPP and AoD/BSA, providing stronger evidence for the link between central aortic stiffness and aortic root geometry.


Baclofen and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are shown to inhibit basal adenylate cyclase activity in brain of rat. The response is mediated through the GABAB receptor, and the rank order of potency for agonists is (-)-baclofen (EC50 = 4 microM) greater than GABA (EC50 = 17 microM) greater than muscimol greater than (+)-baclofen. GABAA agonists are not effective inhibitors of cyclase activity. The response is bicuculline-insensitive, and diazepam does not modify the GABA or (-)-baclofen inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Studies with neurologically mutant mice correlated a loss in GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclase with a loss in cerebellar granule cells. Thus, the GABAB receptor is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase in various brain areas, and, in the cerebellum, data suggest a granule cell localization of this activity.


This article assesses the association between national welfare state regimes and public insecurities about crime across Europe. A multi-level analysis of respondents in 23 countries sampled in the 2004-05 European Social Survey finds a strong relationship between insecurities about crime and national levels of social expenditure and decommodification of social welfare policy. Some social protection measures are more strongly associated with national levels of fear of crime than others, especially public non-monetary support for children and families that strengthens the individual's capacity to cope with problems on their own. We conclude with the idea that state-level social protections may buffer the development of widespread fear of crime by increasing self-efficacy and thereby mitigating various social and economic fears.


We design and implement a novel class of highly precise network instrumentation and apply this tool to perform the first exact packet-timing measurements of a wide-area network ever undertaken, capturing 10 Gigabit Ethernet packets in flight on optical fiber. Through principled design, we improve timing precision by two to six orders of magnitude over existing techniques. Our observations contest several common assumptions about behavior of wide-area networks and the relationship between their input and output traffic flows. Further, we identify and characterize emergent packet chains as a mechanism to explain previously observed anomalous packet loss on receiver endpoints of such networks.


1. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of chronic infusion of the long-acting agonist salmeterol on pulmonary beta(2)-adrenoceptor function in Sprague-Dawley rats in vivo and to elucidate the molecular basis of any altered state. 2. Systemic administration of rats with salmeterol for 7 days compromised the ability of salmeterol and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), given acutely by the intravenous route, to protect against ACh-induced bronchoconstriction when compared to rats treated identically with vehicle. 3. beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptor density was significantly reduced in lung membranes harvested from salmeterol-treated animals, which was associated with impaired salmeterol- and PGE(2)-induced cyclic AMP accumulation ex vivo. 4. Three variants of G(s alpha) that migrated as 42, 44 and 52 kDa peptides on SDS polyacrylamide gels were detected in lung membranes prepared from both groups of rats but the intensity of each isoform was markedly reduced in rats that received salmeterol. 5. The activity of cytosolic, but not membrane-associated, G-protein receptor-coupled kinase was elevated in the lung of salmeterol-treated rats when compared to vehicle-treated animals. 6. The ability of salmeterol, administered systemically, to protect the airways of untreated rats against ACh-induced bronchoconstriction was short-acting (t(off) approximately 45 min), which contrasts with its long-acting nature when given to asthmatic subjects by inhalation. 7. These results indicate that chronic treatment of rats with salmeterol results in heterologous desensitization of pulmonary G(s)-coupled receptors. In light of previous data obtained in rats treated chronically with salbutamol, we propose that a primary mechanism responsible for this effect is a reduction in membrane-associated G(s alpha). The short-acting nature of salmeterol, when administered systemically, and the reduction in beta-adrenoceptor number may be due to metabolism to a biologically-active, short-acting and non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist.


J. WOOLNOUGH, Honorary Secretary, Abortion Law Reform Association of N.S.W. hospitals, which Dr Smithurst mentions, there were five deaths in N.H.S. hospitals, which he did not mention. This gives a death rate of 17 or 18 per 100,000 legal abortions. The current maternal mortality is 24 per 100,000 live births if spontaneous abortions are included, or 18 per 100,000 if they are excluded, so legal abortion is no more dangerous in Britain than maternity.


Abstract We closely replicated Wu and Ortega (2013), who found that an elicited imitation test (EIT) reliably distinguished low-level from high-level language abilities among instructed second language (L2) learners of Mandarin Chinese. The original study sampled learners (1) from second-level courses to represent low-level language abilities and (2) from third-, fourth- and graduate-level courses to represent high-level language abilities. Results showed high-level learners outperformed low-level learners on the Mandarin EIT. Our close replication used Wu and Ortega's (2013) materials and procedures in order to understand (1) the extent to which this EIT can additionally distinguish between finer-grained language abilities and (2) the ways in which the broad grouping of language abilities in the high group may have contributed to the findings. Sixty-five instructed L2 learners from four instructional levels were assigned to one of three groups: Beginner (first-level courses), Low (second-level courses), High (third- and fourth-level courses). Consistent with the original study, our results showed clear between-group differences, indicating that the EIT can distinguish between both broad (beginner vs high) and finer-grained (beginner vs low, low vs high) language abilities. These results are discussed in light of the original study's findings with implications for proficiency assessment in second language acquisition (SLA) research.


This Thesis focuses on the experience of being human as process in order to reveal being. Illness and health are seen as reflections of this process of revelation. This work argues that health and illness are physical expressions of consciousness and therefore an outcome of what a human being has thought. In this way, this work shows how thought/intent serves to create life in the moment. In this understanding lies the potential to change reality, to change life. The Thesis identifies self-responsibility as the key to changing consciousness. Taking responsibility for the creation of one's reality eliminates the human tendency to blame another for what is experienced in life. To that end, this work argues, we are each free to choose what is felt in response to life. In so doing, we can become conscious that life is a choice approached from either the position of perfection, or excellence. This work argues that as human beings we have grounded thinking in perfection. In this playing out of rights and wrongs, an independent form of surrender, the outcome is the reification of the thought that we are separate from God. I think, therefore I Am. Such thinking it is argued, is the basis of disease and thus illness is an outcome of thought that as experience has been judged. The thesis develops the position that human beings approach life from the position of perfection thereby creating an appraisal from the outcome of life's experiences. Excellence as a state of being creates the appraisal from the effort of an outcome. Thus excellence, is to experience life as an Isness, and then make a conscious choice to feel love. Perfection makes a judgement about life, and so pronounce life and therefore thinking as good and bad, or right and wrong. In the understanding that human beings are the creators of their reality, it is possible to conceive of care in nursing that is directed at changing thinking/thought. Such change would be to focus on the excellence of life, and in that way enact care in nursing that is an enabling through a process of being that is an emotional allowance in response to life. To this end, this work is titled Nursing as an Aesthetic Praxis. The aesthetic is emotion and feeling. Praxis, is presented in its dialectical relationship of thought and action that is then bound to emotion and feeling in such a way that it illuminates the nature of thinking. This way of thinking, this work shows, is transformatory. Where transformation is a process of being that as a state of excellence is one of incremental human freedom accompanied by incremental responsibility.


Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for certain tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and lithium is supported on the basis of clearly defined therapeutic ranges. TDM is of particular importance in individuals whose pharmacokinetic behavior may differ from that of the general population or is changing as the result of aging and maturation. Once steady-state drug concentrations are achieved, serum or plasma specimens should be collected during the terminal drug-elimination phase and separated from cellular blood components immediately. Methods of analysis must be specific for parent drug and active metabolites and demonstrate imprecision (CVs) within 5-10% over the therapeutic range. For support of overdose situations, semiquantitative values for TCAs and quantitative measures of lithium should be available within 1 h, and routine TDM results should be reported within 24 h of receipt in the laboratory. Standardized and rigorous laboratory practices contribute to improved therapeutic management.


Objective To assess the advantages of using mechanical anastomotic systems in head and neck free tissue transfer. Study design Case series with chart review. Setting A university-based tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods A retrospective review of mechanical venous coupler devices in head and neck reconstruction performed between October 2004 and December 2006. A total of 261 venous anastomoses were performed in 234 consecutive patients. Five types of flaps were performed: radial forearm (66%), anterior lateral thigh (12%), fibula (9%), rectus abdominis (8%), and latissimus dorsi (2%). Demographic data were collected, and the outcomes measured were flap survival and microvascular complications. Results The size of the venous anastomosis ranged from 1.5 to 4.0 mm, with most being 3.0 mm (56%) followed by 3.5 mm (23%). The most common recipient vein used was a stump off the internal jugular vein (76%) followed by the external jugular vein (17%). Microvascular complications occurred in <5% (n = 11) of patients, with >50% of those being arterial insufficiency (n = 7). Total failures occurred in 3% (n = 7) of patients: 1.5% (n = 4) acute failures (<5 days) and 1.5% (n = 3) late failures. Of the acute failures, causes included venous congestion (n = 1) and arterial insufficiencies (n = 3). The venous coupler used in the failures was 3.0 mm in diameter. Free flap failures resulting from arterial insufficiency involved coupling to the external jugular vein, while the remaining free flap failures (n = 4) used the internal jugular vein. Conclusion With an early venous failure rate of 0.38%, mechanical anastomosis is an adequate alternative to hand-sewn techniques.


Component placement critically affects the performance and longevity of total hip replacements (THRs). Because of limitations of observation and anatomic orientation imposed by the operative site, selection of the correct size, and position of the acetabular and femoral components is best done through preoperative planning. Currently, this is done by comparing two-dimensional templates of prosthetic components with clinical radiographs; however, this method has the inherent limitation that AP and lateral radiographs each provide one projection of the pelvis and the femur. Computer technology makes it possible to observe implantation of the femoral and acetabular components in three dimensions. This approach allows surgeons to template with superior accuracy, while providing an intimate view of the fit of the components in the implantation site. Additionally, computer routines can predict the functional outcome of a preoperative plan before its implementation. Restoration of leg length, center of rotation, ROM of the joint during various activities, and points of bony and prosthetic impingement can be analyzed preoperatively by the surgeon. This is a valuable tool for surgical navigation and surgeon training. With emerging technologic advances in surgical technique, computer-based preoperative planning tools should prove all the more essential to reliable component placement.


AIMS
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) affects 10% of the population, but little is known about how DM2 and antidiabetic medication impact glioblastoma (GBM) patients.

PATIENTS & METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed GBM patients with DM2 seen at a single institution from 1998 to 2010.

RESULTS
Of 988 GBMs, 124 (12.6%) were affected by DM2. Thirty-four developed DM2 after steroid use and 89 had pre-existing DM2. Median overall survival among diabetic GBMs was 10 months compared with 13 months among nondiabetics. Only 15% of diabetic patients achieved sustained steroid taper. Sixty-seven (54%) were managed with a single antidiabetic medication and, within this monotherapy group, Karnofsky Performance Score, resection status, steroid dependency and metformin use were the most important predictors of survival on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION
The prevalence of DM2 among GBMs is similar to that of the general population. A more aggressive approach to steroid tapering and the choice of antidiabetic drug may improve survival within this patient population.


Recently, certain C-terminal fragments (CTFs) of Aβ42 have been shown to be effective inhibitors of Aβ42 toxicity. Here, we examine the interactions between the shortest CTF in the original series, Aβ(39-42), and full-length Aβ. Mass spectrometry results indicate that Aβ(39-42) binds directly to Aβ monomers and to the n = 2, 4, and 6 oligomers. The Aβ42:Aβ(39-42) complex is further probed using molecular dynamics simulations. Although the CTF was expected to bind to the hydrophobic C-terminus of Aβ42, the simulations show that Aβ(39-42) binds at several locations on Aβ42, including the C-terminus, other hydrophobic regions, and preferentially in the N-terminus. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and electron microscopy experiments indicate that Aβ(39-42) disrupts the early assembly of full-length Aβ. Specifically, the ion-mobility results show that Aβ(39-42) prevents the formation of large decamer/dodecamer Aβ42 species and, moreover, can remove these structures from solution. At the same time, thioflavin T fluorescence and electron microscopy results show that the CTF does not inhibit fibril formation, lending strong support to the hypothesis that oligomers and not amyloid fibrils are the Aβ form responsible for toxicity. The results emphasize the role of small, soluble assemblies in Aβ-induced toxicity and suggest that Aβ(39-42) inhibits Aβ-induced toxicity by a unique mechanism, modulating early assembly into nontoxic hetero-oligomers, without preventing fibril formation.


Abstract : With this 50th issue, Joint Force Quarterly celebrates its 15th anniversary. While much has changed since 1993, the interoperability problems and resistance to greater synergy that inspired General Colin Powell to establish JFQ are strikingly resilient. On April 21, 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in speeches at the U.S. Military Academy and the Air War College asserted that the Armed Forces were adapting too slowly to new enemies and that military leaders were "stuck in old ways of doing business." Two days later, Admiral Michael Mullen addressed the students of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College as part of the National Defense University's Distinguished Lecturer Program. He noted that the combined student bodies included a great many combat experienced leaders and urged them to think differently about the nature of war and to consider new approaches to national security challenges. The Chairman recommended JFQ as an effective vehicle for professionals to air ideas and outline innovative concepts for securing national security objectives. In this issue, JFQ supports this mandate by examining elements of naval power and some contemporary challenges that make a strong U.S. Navy as important as ever.


Punica granatum Linn. is a well-known nature power fruit rich in natural bioactive constituents, edible phytoestrogen like substances and other nutritional elements, grown all over the world from Iran to Mediterranean region and Central Asia. It is also described in Ayurveda as Dadim for treating Amlapitta, Raktapitta and used as Hridya and Atisaraghna. It is used for its good nutritive values generally used in the form of Avaleha, Swaras or Juices and Jellies. Several studies conducted previously showed that pomegranate exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Description of pomegranate is being found since Vedic period. Pomegranate is mentioned in Rigveda also. Aacharya sushrut described pomegranate or Dadim (Sanskrit name) as a best fruit i.e. Shrestha under Phalavarga.
According to Acharya Vagbhata, Dadim is also included in Shramghna and Hrudya Gana. In various studies in human and rodent models, pomegranate juice has been found to wield antiatherogenic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities. Several studies on the antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory and many more potential properties of various parts of pomegranate and its constituents have been already published. Many studies had proved the latent efficacy of pomegranate and its applications including male infertility, Alzheimer's disease, and obesity. So, the present study aims to discuss the collective information on pomegranate which can provide a summary to study the diverse array of biological actions of pomegranate and thus provide easy accessibility for treating various common diseases.


The proposal is made that seed scientists need an internationally acceptable hierarchical system of classification for seed dormancy. Further, we suggest that a modified version of the scheme of the Russian seed physiologist Marianna G. Nikolaeva be adopted. The modified system includes three hierarchical layers – class, level and type; thus, a class may contain levels and types, and a level may contain only types. The system includes five classes of dormancy: physiological dormancy (PD), morphological dormancy (MD), morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), physical dormancy (PY) and combinational dormancy (PY + PD). The most extensive classification schemes are for PD, which contains three levels and five types (in the non-deep level), and MPD, which contains eight levels but no types. PY is not subdivided at all but probably should be, for reasons given. Justifications are presented for not including mechanical dormancy or chemical dormancy in the modified scheme. PD (non-deep level) is the most common kind of dormancy, and occurs in gymnosperms (Coniferales, Gnetales) and in all major clades of angiosperms. Since, first, this is the class and level of dormancy in seeds of wild populations of Arabidopsis thaliana and, secondly, Type 1 (to which seeds of A. thaliana belong) is also common, and geographically and phylogenetically widespread, it seems that biochemical, molecular and genetic studies on seed dormancy in this model species might have rather broad application in explaining the basic mechanism(s) of physiological dormancy in seeds.


Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) develops upon reactivation of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection and virus dissemination to blood and tissue cells, including endothelial and KS spindle cells where the virus is mostly present in a latent form. However, this may likely require the presence of compromised host immune responses and/or the evasion of infected cells from the host immune response.In this regard, mechanisms of evasion of productively infected cells from both CTL and NK cell responses, and resistance of latently infected cells from specific CTL, have already been shown. Here we show that cells which are latently infected by HHV8 are indeed efficiently lysed by NK cells from individuals with a normal immune response. Notably, NK cell‐mediated immunity was found to be significantly reduced in AIDS patients with progressing KS as compared to both HIV‐negative patients with indolent classic KS or normal blood donors. However, it was restored after treatment with the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS‐KS patients, that showed regression and clearance of HHV8 from PBMC. By contrast, AIDS‐KS patients with a more aggressive disease and no clinicalresponse had persistent HHV8 viremia associated with reduced NK cell cytotoxicity. These results suggest a key role for NK cells in the control of HHV8 latent infection, KS development, and in disease remission upon HAART.


This is a socio-cultural study examining contemporary Asian American college student experiences at a private liberal arts residential college in the rural Northeast United States. This project utilizes a grounded theory approach designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The findings include a narrative interpretation that considers emotional experiences and social behaviors as sub-consciously held internalized identity beliefs. This project details psychological and social dimensions of shared Asian American experiences with insights into individual interpretive perspective frameworks shaped by community cultures. This study describes a distinctive Asian American identity that conjoins ethnicity with racial self-identity. Variables in ethnic identity, linguistic capability, immigration background, and racial identity are specifically investigated for impact on Asian American identity formation. Intra-group differences between Asian Americans are described through socio-cultural linguistic schisms, academic disconnects, and ethno-racial conflicts present during family and college existences. Implications in Asian American identity formation and multicultural approaches affecting curriculum and student life issues are suggested by these findings.


The interaction between nitric oxide (NO) and superoxides is critical in the development of pancreatitis. Previously, we reported on the up-regulation of oxidative stress and NO-synthase (NOS) in the human chronic pancreatitis and in an animal model of pancreatitis induced by pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) in rats. We have shown that oxidative stress runs ahead of NOS up-regulation, which implies that the NO enhancement in the course of pancreatitis is likely to be an adaptive mechanism aimed at maintaining the homeostatic cellular level of the bioactive NO. Here, we report on the expression of NOS and oxidative stress markers (nitrotyrosine and 8-hydroxyguanosine) in the course of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. We found that the pattern of superoxide's/NO interaction in this model of acute pancreatitis is similar to that in the PDL-induced rat pancreatitis and in the human chronic pancreatitis. It means that cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis like the PDL-induced pancreatitis is a proper model for further studies of pancreatitis development in humans.


Abstract Without exception, primaries are the only events that are ever migrated. Arranging for a more complete set of primaries will enhance imaging. The approximate image of an unrecorded primary can be realized by isolating and migrating a subevent primary of a multiple. A more complete set of images of primaries, consisting of recorded primaries and (approximated) unrecorded primaries, can enhance imaging. Multiples are not and cannot be migrated, and care must be taken for creating inevitably false events in this method, called cross talk.


This paper proposes a pure software technique "error detection by duplicated instructions" (EDDI), for detecting errors during usual system operation. Compared to other error-detection techniques that use hardware redundancy, EDDI does not require any hardware modifications to add error detection capability to the original system. EDDI duplicates instructions during compilation and uses different registers and variables for the new instructions. Especially for the fault in the code segment of memory, formulas are derived to estimate the error-detection coverage of EDDI using probabilistic methods. These formulas use statistics of the program, which are collected during compilation. EDDI was applied to eight benchmark programs and the error-detection coverage was estimated. Then, the estimates were verified by simulation, in which a fault injector forced a bit-flip in the code segment of executable machine codes. The simulation results validated the estimated fault coverage and show that approximately 1.5% of injected faults produced incorrect results in eight benchmark programs with EDDI, while on average, 20% of injected faults produced undetected incorrect results in the programs without EDDI. Based on the theoretical estimates and actual fault-injection experiments, EDDI can provide over 98% fault-coverage without any extra hardware for error detection. This pure software technique is especially useful when designers cannot change the hardware, but they need dependability in the computer system. To reduce the performance overhead, EDDI schedules the instructions that are added for detecting errors such that "instruction-level parallelism" (ILP) is maximized. Performance overhead can be reduced by increasing ILP within a single super-scalar processor. The execution time overhead in a 4-way super-scalar processor is less than the execution time overhead in the processors that can issue two instructions in one cycle.


In the brain, Neuromedin U2 receptor (NMU2R) is prominent in the hypothalamic regions and is known to be associated with regulation of several important physiological functions, including food intake, energy balance, stress response, and nociception. In this article, by random screening of compounds using the model of high-throughput screening for NMU2R stable expression, NMU2R negative and NMU2R short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown HEK293 cell lines, for the first time, we discovered that p-synephrine, which is the primary protoalkaloid in Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) and is widely used in weight loss and weight management products, is a highly potent and selective NMU2R agonist. In NMU2R activating ability experiments, p-synephrine was found binding to NMU2R with high efficacy and potency; the efficacy, 50% of the maximum possible effect (EC50) and potency values were determined to be 7.207, 6.604 and 0.227 µmol/L for the NMU2R, respectively. Our researches have important theoretical value for elucidating the mechanisms of p-synephrine in body weight and energy balance regulation. These data provide further evidence for widespread roles for p-synephrine and its receptors in the brain.