Space-Based Technologies and Commercialized Development: Economic Implications and Benefits introduces the concept of space-based technology commercialization and offers a first-time analysis of plausible opportunities. This essential reference examines the overall marketability of tourism in outer space, including business case studies on celestial solar power and space debris that demonstrate the potential of cosmic technologies in the context of interplanetary business.


As nations engage in the long-term process of negotiating a protocol on controlling greenhouse gas emissions, the danger of costly mistakes looms large, both from doing too little or too much. Researchers try to provide insight and guidance on this difficult problem, many relying on the tools of mathematical simulation models, but two important shortcomings remain in much of the current analysis. One is the treatment of the uncertainty inherent in projections of economic activity over the next century or more; and the other is the way economic activity is modeled to impact the poorly understood physical and biological systems of the earth. This paper presents several simple illustrations of the performance of current policy proposals in the face of a long-term climate-based goal when uncertainties in economic growth and technology development are made explicit. Several conclusions emerge. Analyses that rely on deterministic emissions paths through time obscure the underlying uncertainties, and explicitly incorporating these uncertainties can produce qualitatively different conclusions. Moreover, apparent differences in the climate impacts of proposals now being debated within the Framework Convention on Climate Change may be negligible when viewed in the light of likely uncertainties. Seeking a less stringent protocol with a higher probability of compliance may thus produce preferable outcomes. Most importantly, the analyses presented are meant to highlight the need for flexibility in any response to climate change, because uncertainty is an unavoidable aspect of the problem.


Clear and effective communication is essential. Nonverbal communication specifically has a vital role in communication. There is inconsistent data on the effect of nonverbal communication used by instructors and the impact on student learning within the higher education environment. This research study sought to find distinct correlations between instructors' nonverbal communication and student learning. Based on quantitative and qualitative data, college students (N=80) from a midsize Midwestern university reported distinct findings that progressed the study of nonverbal communication. Students attended class with one of two variable instructor-lecturing types: utilizing higher nonverbal immediacy, or lower nonverbal immediacy. The instructors lectured the exact same material from a script. Students provided data through tests, surveys, and focus groups that delivered substantial evidence of the relationship between instructors' nonverbal immediacy and student learning. Using the results of this study, university administrators, faculty, and professional development officials could find beneficial information for the success of higher education instruction.

 Key words: Nonverbal, Nonverbal immediacy, nonverbal communication, teaching, lecturing, student learning.


OF DISSERTATION Volume and Surface Integral Equations for Solving Forward and Inverse Scattering Problems In this dissertation, a hybrid volume and surface integral equation is used to solve scattering problems. It is implemented with RWG basis on the surface and the edge basis in the volume. Numerical results shows the correctness of the hybrid VSIE in inhomogeneous medium. The MLFMM method is also implemented for the new VSIEs. Further more, a synthetic apature radar imaging method is used in a 2D microwave imaging for complex objects. With the mono-static and bi-static interpolation scheme, a 2D FFT is applied for the imaging with the data simulated with VSIE method. Then we apply a background cancelling scheme to improve the imaging quality for the targets in interest. Numerical results shows the feasibility of applying the background canceling into wider applications.


Bokeh effect is growing to be an important feature
in photography, essentially to choose an object of interest to
be in focus with the rest of the background being blurred.
While naturally rendering this effect requires a DSLR with large diameter of aperture, with the current advancements in Deep
Learning, this effect can also be produced in mobile cameras.
Most of the existing methods use Convolutional Neural Networks
while some relying on the depth map to render this effect. In
this paper, we propose an end-to-end Vision Transformer model
for Bokeh rendering of images from monocular camera. This
architecture uses vision transformers as backbone, thus learning
from the entire image rather than just the parts from the filters
in a CNN. This property of retaining global information coupled
with initial training of the model for image restoration before
training to render the blur effect for the background, allows our
method to produce clearer images and outperform the current
state-of-the-art models on the EBB! Data set. The code to our
proposed method can be found at: https://github.com/Soester10/
Bokeh-Rendering-with-Vision-Transformers.


The covalent binding of the ultimate carcinogen (+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo [alpha]pyrene (BPDE) to enriched ovalbumin messenger RNA (mRNAov) of known sequence was examined. Incubation of mRNAov with elevated concentrations of labeled BPDE in TE buffer (0.02 M Tris X HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.2) containing 0.1 M KCl and 10 mM MgCl2 resulted in approximately 30 BPDEs covalently bound per RNA molecule. Covalent binding in the absence of KCl and MgCl2 resulted in a significant increase in binding to 110 BPDEs bound per molecule or modification of 12% of the total guanosine and adenosine nucleotides present. The nucleoside adducts formed were nearly all guanosine and adenosine in a ratio of 1.6:1.0. It was also observed that digestion of mRNAov with T2 RNase prior to reaction with BPDE resulted in a 52% decrease in guanosine adduct formation and a 93% decrease in adenosine adducts compared with undigested controls. Comparison of the binding of labeled BPDE to 18 S and 28 S ribosomal RNAs and to mRNAov revealed that the guanosine adduct to adenosine adduct ratio and the number of BPDEs bound increased with increasing G-C content. The results reported here show that ionic composition of the medium, G-C content, and the presence of a polymeric state can significantly influence the quantitative and/or qualitative nucleoside BPDE adducts formed.


The seismicity of southern France probably results from the convergence between Africa and Europe which proceeds at a rate of approximately 0,8 cm/year at the Provence longitude [Nuvell-DeMets et al., 1990]. The potentially active faults delimit a large panel in the Mesozoic cover. It includes E-W compressive structures (Mont-Ventoux, Montagne de Lure to the north, Luberon, Costes et Trevaresse to the south) and NE left-lateral strike slip (Durance to the east and Nimes, to the west, and possibly the Cevennes Fault) [e.g., Grellet et al., 1993; Sebrier et al., 1997; Lacassin et al., 1998]. The Nimes Fault, which is considered as one of the main faults of southeastern France [Combes, 1984; Grellet et al., 1993; Ghafiri, 1995] is associated with only few and small seismic events, but paleoseismic evidence for larger earthquakes, with magnitudes possibly as large as 6.5, were found on a subsidiary fault near Courthezon [Combes et al., 1993]. Here, we try to quantify fault activity over a longer period of time than that accessible from the usual geomorphic approach, by assessing possible displacement of Messinian markers on the Nimes fault. In the early Miocene a regional erosion surface of Burdigalian age (around-20 Ma) was formed. This surface is still preserved and has not been much deformed west of the Nimes fault. To the east, this surface is only gently folded due to E-W anticlines [Champion, 1999; Champion et al., 2000]. This contrast suggests that the Nimes fault has been active and has accommodated N-S shortening after the abandonment of the Burdigalian erosion surface. The Nimes and Pujaut faults can be followed in the topography between Nimes and Sauveterre where they are generally bounded by outcrops of Mesozoic limestone (fig. 2A-3). To the NE, the Nimes fault can be roughly traced across the Quaternary Rhone alluvium, between Sauveterre and the Mont Ventoux. It is marked by disruption of the continuity of the terrasses of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The signal is only tenuous and cannot be used to infer precisely the fault location and segmentation but suggests that the faults have been active during the Quaternary. During the Messinian, starting at about -5.95 Ma, the Mediterranean sea level fell by about 1500 m [Clauzon, 1975; Krijgsman et al., 1999; Gautier et al., 1994; Cande et Kent, 1992-1995; Clauzon et al., 1995]. The major tributaries were forced to cut down and formed deep and narrow valleys. The Mediterranean sea rose up to an elevation of +80 m NGF at -5.32 Ma, flooding the canyons, and remained stable until about -3.8 Ma [Vail and Mitchum, 1979; Benson et al., 1991; Cita, 1975; Haq et al., 1987; Hilgen et Langeries, 1993]. After -5.32 Ma the canyons were filled with Pliocene sediments. The canyon formed by the Rhone incision during the Messinian crisis is well documented [Clauzon, 1982; Clauzon et al., 1995; Clauzon et al., 1999; Rubino et al., 2000]. We found evidence for a tributary canyon on an old seismic line ELF M2S8. The canyon strikes E-W between the "Barre de Roquemaure" and "Barre de Caderache" and should cross the Nimes Fault. In order to constrain more tightly its geometry near the Nimes Fault, we have implemented three seismic lines. If we trace the position of the southern border of the canyon using the different profiles and the surface geology, we find that the horizontal offset at the fault cannot be much larger than about 500 meters. In order to image a possible smaller offset we have determined the geometry of the canyon from a microseismic zoning technique [Nakamura, 1989; Duval et al., 1997; Ibs-von Seht M. and Wholenberg, 1999; Sabourault, 1999]. Measurements were conducted at 37 points which were used in complement. The depth to the canyon bottom was determined using the velocities derived from the seismic profiles and was cross-checked from the comparison with geological log at points F1 and F2. The geometry of the southern edge of the Messinian canyon, shows a left-lateral offset of 440 m + or -50 m, which might be taken to reflect post-Messinian fault motion. Assuming that the observed 440 m offset of the Messinian canyon at the Nimes fault is due to fault motion, and that the fault slip rate has not varied significantly since the Messinian crisis, we derive a left-lateral slip rate of 0.06 to 0.09 mm/year. Given that the observed deflection of the flank of the canyon might in part be of non tectonic origin, our study basically places an upper limit of 0.09 mm/yr on the slip rate on the Nimes faults. Such a low slip rate is comparable with estimates obtained on the Durance Fault [Baroux, 2000] and on the E-W folds and thrust faults east of the Nimes faults such as Ventoux-Lure and Alpilles-Costes-Trevaresse [Champion, 1999; Champion et al., 2000]. Although the details of the kinematics scheme of active deformation of Provence remain a matter of discussion, these various faults are probably linked and must have similar slip rates.


The most frequent medical intervention performed by a doctor is the writing of a prescription. Because chronic illness increases with advancing age, older people are more likely to have conditions that require drug treatment. Advanced age, frailty, and increased use of drugs are all factors that contribute to a patient's risk of developing a drug related problem. As many as 28% of hospital admissions in the United States of older people are as a result of drug related problems,1 up to 70% of which are attributed to adverse reactions to drugs.1 Creating optimal drug regimens that meet the complex needs of elderly people requires thought and careful planning.

Inappropriate prescribing is expensive. In a recent study the costs of preventable adverse drug events—namely, injury resulting from a drug related medical intervention—occurring during a stay in hospital were estimated to be $2.8m (£1.75) annually in two large American teaching hospitals.2 The national cost of managing the consequences of inappropriate prescribing remains uncertain. One estimate has put the annual cost of drug related morbidity and mortality in outpatient clinics at $76.6bn.3 Drug related morbidity and mortality is an important area to target both to improve the quality of medical care for elderly people and to reduce the costs of health care for this population.

A prescriber can do little to modify age related physiological changes in trying to minimise the likelihood that an older person will develop an adverse drug reaction. However, when assessing a patient who is already taking drugs, a doctor should always consider the development of any new signs and symptoms as a possible consequence of the patient's drug treatment. This article will focus on an under-recognised, and largely preventable drug related problem that we have termed the "prescribing cascade." 4 The prescribing cascade begins …


The thesis presented in this report has been made on behalf of Scania and their basic frame design department with the subject to solve an implementation of a weight sensing system in the chassis. The system is supposed to be implemented in the seat springs, and the reason for this is that all the force will have to go through the weight sensing transducers. With all the force going through the transducers the weight sensing system will not be sensitive for the differences in tolerances from manufacturing. The transducers could be pre-calibrated to avoid a calibration of the whole vehicle after it's completed from the manufacturing line.Weight sensing systems is today a reality in trucks with air springs. Complete systems is also sold in the big aftermarket for trucks. None of Scanias competitors have a solution for this as of today.The thesis was from start limited to only process the BT-301S bogie. A system will likely be easy to adapt to the other bogies with small modifications.Through the thesis possible problems are illuminated to understand the function and make a properly working weight sensing system. In the present bogie system the main problem for a proper function is the frictional forces that appears in the surface between the spring and the spring seat. In the report a proposition with a rubber part between the spring and the spring seat is introduced, with the idea to get around the known problems with the frictional forces. The rubber itself does produce a reaction force when deformed, but the forces could through simulation be known, and hence compensated for. A rubber part under the spring would result in a contact surface much higher than today. A new spring, or a new version of the spring, will be needed for this solution to work.For the work to come, Scania need to decide what precision the weight sensing system need. But smaller decisions like the size and stiffness for the rubber part will also be needed. This thesis has only dealt with the bogie, but in a close future, the front axles need to be done. Much can likely be carried over from this thesis for that.A weight sensing might be possible to implement, but with what precision at uneven ground? Most likely will the variation in load on the transducers be too much. An approximation for the precision with a total span of 7% is realistic.


The increasing demand for low power and high performance multimedia embedded systems has motivated the need for effective solutions to satisfy application bandwidth and latency requirements under a tight power budget. As technology scales, it is imperative that applications are optimized to take full advantage of the underlying resources and meet both power and performance requirements. We propose MultiMaKe, an application mapping design flow capable of discovering and enabling parallelism opportunities via code transformations, efficiently distributing the computational load across resources, and minimizing unnecessary data transfers. Our approach decomposes the application's tasks into smaller units of computations called kernels, which are distributed and pipelined across the different processing resources. We exploit the ideas of inter-kernel data reuse to minimize unnecessary data transfers between kernels, early execution edges to drive performance, and kernel pipelining to increase system throughout. Our experimental results on JPEG and JPEG2000 show up to 97% off-chip memory access reduction, and up to 80% execution time reduction over standard mapping and task-level pipelining approaches.


The dynamics of carburization of Mo-oxo precursors exchanged onto H–ZSM-5 strongly influence initial induction periods and steady-state rates during catalytic pyrolysis of CH4 to alkenes and arenes at 900–1000 K. The effects of co-reactants and of activating conditions were examined by on-line time-resolved mass spectrometric analysis of effluent streams using rigorous analyses to account for equilibrium effects on measured rates. Ethene co-reactants and the larger hydrocarbons to which it converts on acid sites in H–ZSM-5 led to much faster carburization of exchanged (Mo2O5)5+ dimers and to shorter induction periods than with pure CH4 reactants, but steady-state pyrolysis rates were unchanged, indicating that CH4 and C2H4 form similar MoCx clusters during carburization of exchanged Mo-oxo precursors. H2 treatment at 973 K before CH4 reactions led to reduction of Mo6+ species to Mo4+, which carburize faster than (Mo2O5)5+ precursors during initial contact with CH4. This H2 pretreatment or the use of CH4–H2 reactant mixtures did not influence steady-state pyrolysis rates, once contributions from reverse reactions were taken into account. With pure CH4 streams, (Mo2O5)5+–ZSM-5 converts to active MoCx clusters within zeolite channels via autocatalytic processes, in which higher hydrocarbons, initially formed during initial conversion of MoOx to MoCx structures, lead to faster carburization of downstream catalyst sections. Concurrently, H2O and CO2 formed during this incipient carburization of exchanged (Mo2O5)5+ and unexchanged MoO3 present in trace amounts inhibit and even prevent carburization and lengthen activation periods. Activation protocols with C2H4 were also successful in the activation of more refractory high-valent metal-oxo species, such as WOx and VOx, exchanged onto H–ZSM-5. The formation of active carbide structures occurred in less than 300 s, instead of 4 ks and 16 ks for VOx and WOx samples, respectively, in pure CH4 reactants. These activation protocols led to VCx–ZSM5 catalysts about three times more active than those activated in pure CH4 reactants.


The study was conducted to evaluate the groundwater quality of Aligarh city, (India). Groundwater samples were collected from 40 wells and analyzed for 20 water quality parameters in post-monsoon seasons during the year 2013. High coefficient of variance indicates variability of physico-chemical parameters concentrations in ground water. The descriptive statistical analysis was done beside Pearson correlation. From correlation analysis it was observed that very strong correlations exist between total hardness and Mg ++ (0.99), TDS and total hardness (0.88), TDS and Chloride (0.87). In 100% of the samples recorded alkalinity and magnesium concentration were found higher than maximum permissible limit prescribed by BIS. Concentration of hardness, cadmium, pH, iron, lead, and total dissolved solids were also found above the standard limits prescribed by BIS. This reveals deterioration of water quality. It is therefore, suggested to take up regular monitoring of groundwater in areas of Aligarh city.


The raw materials from household garbage and industrial waste have increased its usage in the concrete and cement industries. These eco-materials have helped the environment, avoiding pollution, land filling or burning of waste and the usage of other natural resources. However, the cost of many eco-materials is still higher than that of common natural materials. It is necessary to study in detail its behavior and properties to decrease its cost and increase its performance. This research deals with Eco-cement and molten slag aggregate which main raw materials are household garbage and industrial waste. Concretes produced with Portland cement and Eco-cement were mixed with gravel, limestone, quartz and molten slag aggregates to compare its properties. The fracture energy, strength and modulus of elasticity tests were performed and discussed in this paper. The concretes produced with Eco-cement and molten slag aggregate show better results than those produced with Portland cement and natural aggregates.


We present a rigorous theoretical study of the solvation of (HCl)(2) and (HF)(2) by small ((4)He)(n) clusters, with n=1-14 and 30. Pairwise-additive potential-energy surfaces of He(n)(HX)(2) (X=Cl and F) clusters are constructed from highly accurate four-dimensional (rigid monomer) HX-HX and two-dimensional (rigid monomer) He-HX potentials and a one-dimensional He-He potential. The minimum-energy geometries of these clusters, for n=1-6 in the case of (HCl)(2) and n=1-5 for (HF)(2), correspond to the He atoms in a ring perpendicular to and bisecting the HX-HX axis. The quantum-mechanical ground-state energies and vibrationally averaged structures of He(n)(HCl)(2) (n=1-14 and 30) and He(n)(HF)(2) (n=1-10) clusters are calculated exactly using the diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method. In addition, the interchange-tunneling splittings of He(n)(HCl)(2) clusters with n=1-14 are determined using the fixed-node DMC approach, which was employed by us previously to calculate the tunneling splittings for He(n)(HF)(2) clusters, n=1-10 [A. Sarsa et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 123401 (2002)]. The vibrationally averaged structures of He(n)(HX)(2) clusters with n=1-6 for (HCl)(2) and n=1-5 for (HF)(2) have the helium density localized in an effectively one-dimensional ring, or doughnut, perpendicular to and at the midpoint of the HX-HX axis. The rigidity of the solvent ring varies with n and reaches its maximum for the cluster size at which the ring is filled, n=6 and n=5 for (HCl)(2) and (HF)(2), respectively. Once the equatorial ring is full, the helium density spreads along the HX-HX axis, eventually solvating the entire HX dimer. The interchange-tunneling splitting of He(n)(HCl)(2) clusters hardly varies at all over the cluster size range considered, n=1-14, and is virtually identical to that of the free HCl dimer. This absence of the solvent effect is in sharp contrast with our earlier results for He(n)(HF)(2) clusters, which show a approximately 30% reduction of the tunneling splitting for n=4. A tentative explanation for this difference is proposed. The implications of our results for the interchange-tunneling dynamics of (HCl)(2) in helium nanodroplets are discussed.


We describe a method for achieving perceptually minimal video distortion over packet-erasure networks using perceptually unequal loss protection (PULP). There are two main ingredients in the algorithm. First, a perceptual weighting scheme is employed wherein the compressed video is weighted as a function of the nonuniform distribution of retinal photoreceptors. Secondly, packets are assigned temporal importance within each group of pictures (GOP), recognizing that the severity of error propagation increases with elapsed time within a GOP. Using both frame-level perceptual importance and GOP-level hierarchical importance, the PULP algorithm seeks efficient forward error correction assignment that balances efficiency and fairness by controlling the size of identified salient region(s) relative to the channel state. PULP demonstrates robust performance and significantly improved subjective and objective visual quality in the face of burst packet losses.


Oral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmn) were obtained from 10 adult donors in good oral health using a method employing repeated mouth rinse collection. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA was detected in freshly obtained cells by blot hybridization of total cellular RNA with a biotin labeled cDNA probe. Supernates from oral PMN placed in culture for 3 hours contained substantial amounts of IL-1β measured by ELISA. Significantly greater numbers of PMN and amounts of PMN-derived IL-1β were obtained from the same donors 2 hours subsequent to an oral sucrose challenge (3.23 × 106 vs. 1.57 × 106 mean PMN number, P = 0.004; 59.80 vs. 20.05 mean pg/ml IL-1β, P = 0.036, respectively). However, the elevated levels of IL-1β were due to the higher cell number rather than to increased production by individual cells. Stimulation of oral PMN with recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor did not enhance their cytokine production. In most instances, IL-1β production by oral PMN was dramatically greater than that of their blood counterparts. These findings suggest that oral PMN are an important source of IL-1β, which plays a central role in oral immunity and inflammatory disease states. J Periodontol 1995; 66:761-765.


OF THESIS THE GHOST OF HERACLES: THE LOST HERO'S HAUNTING OF ARGONAUTICA 2 The abandonment of Heracles at the end of Book 1 in Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica marks a turning point for Jason and the rest of the Argonauts. The aid of their mightiest hero, upon whose strength they had relied, is lost to them and they must find a means of accomplishing their nearly impossible mission without him. Allusions to Heracles occur throughout Book 2, in all nine units of action, drawing the reader's attention to Argonauts' efforts to carry on in the face of their loss. These allusions can be grouped into four categories: explicit mention, verbal echo, extrapolative allusion, and geographic reference. The poet's deliberate deployment of these allusions highlights the extent to which Heracles' strength-based approach to problem solving still influences the Argonauts' actions in Book 2. This approach contrasts with the role played by divine agents, which increases markedly in the poem's second half, beginning with Book 3.


This paper describes a facile and generally feasible method to synthesize nanotube-type graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) by directly heating melamine packed in an appropriate compact degree which plays a crucial role in the formation process of g-C3N4. This approach has several advantages: (i) no templates or extra organics are involved; (ii) high industrial feasibility; (iii) low cost; and (iv) general applicability. The as-synthesized g-C3N4 samples show intense fluorescence with a photoluminescent (PL) peak at 460 nm indicating their potential applications as a blue light fluorescence material. They also exhibit excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity compared to a reference P25 photocatalyst. The method reported may open up new opportunities for further studies as well as practical applications of g-C3N4 nanotubes in fields such as light-emitting devices, gas storage and photocatalysis.


In this paper, we propose a probabilistic approach to finding failure-causing inputs based on Bayesian estimation. According to our probabilistic insights of software testing, the test case generation algorithms are developed by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Dissimilar to existing random testing schemes such as adaptive random testing, our approach can also utilize the prior knowledge on software testing. In experiments, we compare effectiveness of our MCMC-based random testing with both ordinary random testing and adaptive random testing in real program sources. These results indicate the possibility that MCMC-based random testing can drastically improve the effectiveness of software testing.


In response to high and enduring youth unemployment, large payroll tax cuts for young workers were implemented in two Swedish reforms in 2007 and 2009. This paper analyses the effects of the reforms on worker outcomes and firm performance in the retail industry, an important employer of young workers. In general, the estimated effects on job accessions, separations, hours and wages, are small. For workers close to the minimum wage the estimates suggest larger, but still modest, effects on the probability of job accession. There is also some evidence on increasing profits in a subsample of firms that employed relatively many young workers before the first reform, with estimated effects commensurate with small behavioural effects of the payroll tax cuts. The conclusion is that reducing payroll taxes is a costly means of improving employment prospects for the young.


The Department of Health & Human Services approved foundation standards for electronic prescribing in January and is pushing hard for widespread adoption of e-prescribing. But across the Potomac River from HHS' downtown Washington headquarters, the Drug Enforcement Administration has serious fears about controlled substances being e-prescribed. It has indicated, for example, that further security measures may need to be in place before controlled-substance e-prescribing is allowed to go forward.


Packaging plays an important role in achieving the objectives of safety and waste prevention. This study investigated the effect of using plastic bottles and polythene tube as packaging materials for tomato paste. Paste was produced by concentrating tomato pulp, preservatives were added and packaged with plastic bottles and polythene. Physicochemical analyses were carried out to determine pH, total solids, protein content, ascorbic acid, ash content, brix and titratable acidity. Microbial analyses were also carried out. Results indicated that all samples showed a significant increase in pH with decrease in titratable acidity during storage. While protein content, vitamin C, total solids of all the samples decreased during storage, brix values remained constant and ash content increased. Tomato paste packaged in bottle retained higher amount of vitamin C at the end of the storage period than the one in polythene. Regression analysis showed that bottled samples will retain about 95% of its protein till week ten while polythene samples will retain about 89%. Generally, samples in bottles retained their nutrients more than those in polythene and can be stored for ten weeks while polythene samples can only be stored for seven weeks.


Abstract The article have sought to portray the experience of ensuring observance of the ethical aspects involved in data gathering with adolescents living with HIV/Aids. Data gathering in two studies is reported: one , using a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design, with 23 adolescents, and another with a qualitative fo-cus, with 8 adolescents. For both, the criteria for participation included current use of anti-retroviral therapy, awareness of their diagnosis, and being subject to outpatient monitoring at a specialized care service. Guaran-teeing the ethical principles ‒ autonomy, doing no harm, beneficence and justice involved: how to approach the adolescents to invite them to participate in the survey, the adolescents' fears regarding the research, the protection of family members and caregivers, the revelation of the diagnosis to the adolescent and to third parts, and confidentiality. The report of our experience aims to contribute to the discussion of issues involving the guarantee of ethical aspects in research.


Motivated by the superconductivity of MxBi2Se3, we study topological excitations in a nematic superconductor using Ginzburg-Landau theory. An isolated excitation at low field is shown to be either a distorted phase vortex or a tightly-bounded pair of half quantum vortices. Close to upper critical field Hc2, the vortex lattice is shown to be always hexagonal in the extreme type-II limit. Due to the different symmetries of the vortex lattice states, at least two phase transitions must take place when the external field is lowered from Hc2.


Fourier-domain holography (FDH) is investigated as a candidate for holographic optical coherence imaging to produce real-time images of structure inside living tissue and turbid media. The effects of spatial filtering, the background intensity distributions, and the role of background noise in determining dynamic range are evaluated for both FDH and image-domain holography (IDH). The grating washout effect in FDH (edge enhancement) is removed by use of a vibrating diffuser that consequently improves the image quality. By comparing holographic images and background images of FDH and IDH we show that FDH provides a higher dynamic range and a higher image quality than IDH for this specific application of imaging diffuse volumetric objects.


Mulligan (1960) reported that ryegrass mosaic virus (RMV) had long rod-shaped particles that were often broken in preparation. Brandes (1964) confirmed the particle shape and determined a modal length of 703 nm and Brandes & Bercks (1965) placed RMV in the potato virus S group together with another mite-transmitted virus, wheat streak mosaic (WSMV), because their particles were slightly shorter and stiffer than those classified with potato virus Y. Shepard & Carroll (1967) found pinwheel inclusions, thought typical of the PVY group (Edwardson, 1966), in wheat infected by WSMV. Gibbs (1969) suggested that WSMV and RMV should be placed in a subgroup of the PVY group.
We maintained RMV in the glasshouse by mechanical inoculation to Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) cv. S. 22 and oats (Avena sativa) cv. Blenda. It was distinguished from other grass viruses by particle size and morphology, host range and vector transmission, as described by Catherall (1970).


Squirrel parkour Every day, there are acrobatic extravaganzas going on above our heads. Squirrels navigate remarkably complex and unpredictable environments as they leap from branch to branch, and mistakes can be fatal. These feats require a complex combination of evolved biomechanical adaptations and learned behaviors. Hunt et al. characterized the integration of these features in a series of experiments with free-living fox squirrels (see the Perspective by Adolph and Young). They found that the squirrels' remarkable and consistent success was due to a combination of learned impulse generation when assessing the balance between distance and branch flexibility and the addition of innovative leaps and landings in the face of increasingly difficult challenges. Science, abe5753, this issue p. 697; see also abj6733, p. 620 Learning supports versatile gap-crossing behaviors of fox squirrels leaping between branches. Arboreal animals often leap through complex canopies to travel and avoid predators. Their success at making split-second, potentially life-threatening decisions of biomechanical capability depends on their skillful use of acrobatic maneuvers and learning from past efforts. Here, we found that free-ranging fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) leaping across unfamiliar, simulated branches decided where to launch by balancing a trade-off between gap distance and branch-bending compliance. Squirrels quickly learned to modify impulse generation upon repeated leaps from unfamiliar, compliant beams. A repertoire of agile landing maneuvers enabled targeted leaping without falling. Unanticipated adaptive landing and leaping "parkour" behavior revealed an innovative solution for particularly challenging leaps. Squirrels deciding and learning how to launch and land demonstrates the synergistic roles of biomechanics and cognition in robust gap-crossing strategies.


The article considers the Russian-British confrontation in China in late XIX century. The Russian and foreign (British in particular) historiographies have different views of the causes and manifestations of the Russian-British political and economic contradictions in China. The researches' disputes are explained by their different interpretations of the same events, which depend on their personal political positions. Besides, the views of scientists from previous epochs sometimes influence modern researches.


Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to most countries and territories around the world. For many countries, the second wave of infections is turning out to be more serious than the first. Notwithstanding the global spread of the virus, public policy responses have varied across countries and regions. This brief analyzes the spread of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of policy efforts to contain the disease across a large number of countries. The findings suggest that public health measures—especially testing—and economic support policies are associated with effective containment of the disease, and thus are supporting fundamental prerequisites for a resumption of normalcy, until vaccines are rolled out and community immunity is obtained.


The melting transition of Ce adatom superlattices stabilized by long-range substrate-mediated electronic interactions on Cu(111) and Ag(111) noble metal surfaces has been investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations, and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Intriguingly, owing to the interaction between Ce adatoms and substrate, these superlattices undergo two-dimensional melting to a liquid without transition through the hexatic phase. The crucial parameters for this direct solid to liquid transition are identified.


This research presents alternating Markov-modulated linear regression application for analysis of delays of regional buses (coaches). Markov-modulated linear regression suggests that the parameters of regression model vary randomly in accordance with external environment. The latter is described as a continuous-time homogeneous irreducible Markov chain with known parameters. For each state of the environment the regression model parameters are estimated. Data on weather conditions in the Ventspils city provided by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre database is used for the environment description: two states are assumed: "no precipitation" and "precipitation". The model of the external environment is tested for the markovian properties. Actual data on coaches' trip times is provided by the Riga International Coach Terminal. Data is analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Different experiments are carried out and the application of Markov-modulated linear regression model on given sample showed adequate results indicating the validity of the model. Key-Words: External environment, Markov-modulated linear regression, trip time, delay time analysis


American copyright law is predominantly utilitarian. Fair use—codified to promote copyright's utilitarian goals—has emerged as one of the most nebulous doctrines in American law. This is partially by design. Passing the Copyright Act of 1976 (the "Act"), Congress sought to endorse "the purpose and general scope of the judicial doctrine of fair use," but made clear that "there is no disposition to freeze the doctrine in the statute, especially during a period of rapid technological change." This judicial deference—combined with the case-by-case nature of fair use determinations—has led to evolving and inconsistent applications of section 107.
Interpretation of section 107(4), which instructs courts to consider "the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work," is illustrative. Though a plain reading of section 107(4) leaves room for consideration of all market effects, most courts and commentators agree that the inquiry into this factor concerns only deleterious effects on the copyright owner's actual or potential markets. Some have expressed hostility toward consideration of positive market effects on the ground that an infringing use that might improve sales of a copyrighted work is also likely to invade the market for derivative works.
In limited circumstances, courts and commentators have recognized the relevance of an unauthorized use providing financial gain for a copyright holder. In Authors Guild, Inc. v. Google Inc., Judge Chin indicated that Google Books increased exposure and sales for the copyright holders, concluding that "the fourth factor weighs strongly in favor of a finding of fair use." While the Second Circuit declined to adopt Judge Chin's explicit reasoning, Authors Guild remains a powerful endorsement of the plain reading of section 107(4). In Google LLC v. Oracle Am., Inc., the Supreme Court indicated that analysis of the fourth factor should weigh public benefits against private harms, endorsing a more holistic balancing of interests. In the wake of a reinvigorated fourth factor, it is worth reassessing whether economic benefits from infringement have any place in the market impact inquiry.
This Note addresses the current status of market benefits: monetary gains conferred upon a copyright holder by a third party's unauthorized use of a copyrighted work. While courts are still unwilling to treat market benefits as dispositive, they are moving away from the view that the fourth factor concerns only market harm. Expanded analysis of a fourth factor now balances private economic effects, public benefits, and in some cases, non-monetary concerns related to the value of a work. Market benefit proponents assert that their inclusion is more in line with the text and history 1976 Act, as well as the overall goals of copyright. Further, weighing market benefits against market harms helps to address problems related to circularity.
This Note considers the viability of market benefits as both a dispositive and a relevant component of fourth factor interpretation. Part I provides a basic overview of the traditional approach to the fourth factor before defining and distinguishing between different types of market benefits. Part II analyzes recent caselaw acknowledging market benefits and proposes a framework for proving market benefits as part of a reinvigorated fourth factor. Part III addresses the viability of market benefit arguments across different sectors of copyrighted works and the possible implications of increased acceptance. It concludes that, despite enhanced recognition, market benefits still lack widespread applicability and are unlikely to change the outcome of any present fair use determination.


Although labor-force participation among older men has been increasing (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005), retirement is still largely viewed as a highly desirable life transition. Even so, there seems to be a popular perception that retirement closely precedes ill health and death and leads to what once was referred to as a "roleless role" (Burgess, 1960). But retirement is not a role; it is, rather, a life stage-one that has multiple pathways of entry and during which the boundaries between work and nonwork are somewhat fluid. Accordingly, the relationship between retirement and health is quite complex (Ekerdt, 1987). In this article, we explore in greater depth the complexity of the tetirement-health connection among men. Is retirement the source of morbidity and mortality, is it the wellspring of activity and health, or is it something in between? Answering this question requires careful examination of the social context in which men's retirement occurs. To understand the social context of retirement and its relevance to health among men, one must first consider whether retirement represents a normative process. For example, the more retirement is institutionalized and accepted as a regularized feature of the life course supported by major social institutions, the more social resources are likely to be devoted to it, and the more likely it is that the transition from worker to retiree will be conducted in a manner that promotes the health and well-being of the retiring worker. Because retirement is also age normative-that is, expected to take place at a certain time in life, early retirement and late retirement are considered "off-time" transitions that may have consequences for the retiree's health, particularly mental health. Second, we must consider the extent to which retirement affords meaningful opportunities for self-development and social interaction. Indeed, if retirement becomes a "roleless role" in which few social supports and meaningful interactional opportunities exist, then we would expect health and overall functioning to diminish. Based on the existing research, scholars have found it difficult to determine the effect of retirement on health. Expectations as to what this effect might be differ, mainly because retirement has evolved from two opposing theories. On one hand, retirement is often conceptualized as a stressful, if not disruptive, life event that disengages men from the social activity of the workplace and, often, from the steady income that it can provide (Atchley, 19823; Ekerdt, 1987; Hochschild, 1975). In that view, the circumstances surrounding retirement-namely, loss of (discretionary) income or mandatory retirement regulations-are expected to lead to decreased physical and mental health. But some scholars, like Minkler (1981), have cautioned that seeing retirement solely as a stressful event is a theoretical approach that "remains insufficient to the extent that it fails to move beyond the individual and his or her perceptions and coping mechanisms to include consideration of the broader sociopolitical context within which these perceptions and resources are shaped" (p. 120). And, indeed, retirement is also conceptualized as a largely normative and anticipated life transition-a healthy time of relaxation and enjoyment (Holden, Burkhauser, and Feaster, 1988; Kim and Moen, 2002; Mein et al., 1988). Adherents of this perspective note that retirees would seem to have more time for leisure and less stress from work expectations. As a result, retirees' health may be better than that of their counterparts who are not retired. Perhaps the apparent discrepancy between these perspectives is the result of the way that contextual factors beyond men's immediate control affect the quality of their retirement. Atchley (19823) chronicled a changing public perception of retirement from an infrequent business arrangement by the few lucky enough to reach later life, to modern retirement structures in which a limited number of jobs means that someone has to leave the labor force. …


Real-time Brain IoT Systems are costly. But, developing a cheaper system has been accelerated greatly by the better research that is being done on Virtual Brain. The death of an important person on a secret mission is consider sensitive information and must be handled with as much security as possible. By ensuring this discreteness, the time taken for the message of their death to reach the relevant authority is increased to up to a few days. The time taken to deliver the message is too much. These days, the improvements in hardware increasing the abilities of the Virtual brain and of the wearable Brain IoT sensors have made the development of numerous new software frameworks possible for the developers to create useful applications that combine the human brain with IoT. Multiple sensory pathways are also enabled for communications of the human brain with larger sized data.The main aim of this project is to upload confidential documents onto the clouds securely as possible. Knowledge on how every individual thinks and recalls memory is found by the Virtual cerebrum undertaking. Both of the mentioned fields have been accelerated greatly in terms of development by these researches. This will in turn drive the need of an energy-efficient technology that supports the wider demands of the IoT. The brain activity extraction in IoT has been surveyed thoroughly in this project. This includes IoT models based on Electroencephalogram (EEG), machine learning and the current active platforms. The main findings of our survey highlights three major trends of development in the virtual brain development system, viz, IoT, EEGand cloud computing.Since the human body has a the low frequency range of 7Hz or below 7Hz, it cannot be detected by the EEG sensor. So, the wearable EEG sensor has a band that goes around the head. Once the individual is dead, the confidential information that is securely stored in the cloud can be sent to the mail id that was preregistered by the user without any delay. This system is very time efficient.


CARCINOMA of the breast in children is infrequently reported. In 1917, Levings 1 published a case in a 12-year-old girl; in 1940, Sears and Schlesinger 2 reported one in a 10-year-old girl. Other single case reports include that of Puente and Ramirez, 3 Simmons, 4 and the unique instance of a 6-year-old boy with a single axillary metastasis published by Hartman and Margish 5 in 1955. To our knowledge a series of such cases giving comparative morphology and natural history as modified by various forms of therapy has not been reported. The present paper is based on the study of seven cases of breast carcinoma in young children that have come to our attention by way of consultation material sent to the Pathology Department at Memorial Hospital during the past 15 years. Because of the nature of this consultation practice, it is impossible to ascertain from how large a group


The ReplaySuite is a web-based telepathology tool that replicates the doubleheaded microscope environment online, enabling a reviewing pathologist to 'replay' an archived virtual slide examination. Examination-tracking data obtained by the Virtual Pathology Slide (VPS) virtual slide viewer is exploited, allowing a remote pathologist to review an examination conducted at a different time and location. This removes temporal and spatial issues associated with double-headed microscopy.

In order to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the technology, 9 pathologists used the ReplaySuite to review examination replays and diagnostic data from archived examinations of 10 needlecore breast biopsies. Diagnostically difficult cases were most frequently evaluated, either via diagnostic concordance graphs or examination replays, and all 3 participants who replayed more than 10 examinations stated the ReplaySuite to be of some or great benefit in pathology training and quality assurance. Of those who replayed an examination by another pathologist, 83% (5/6) agreed that replays provided an insight into the examining pathologists diagnosis, and 33% (2/6) reconsidered their own diagnosis for at least one case. Of those who reconsidered their original diagnosis, all reclassified either concordant with group consensus or original glass slide diagnosis.

This study demonstrated that the ReplaySuite was of potential benefit in pathology education, however the technology required evaluation in a setting that would facilitate its impact on diagnostic performance. Accordingly, a redeveloped VPS and ReplaySuite were incorporated into the EQUALIS External Quality Assurance (EQA) study in chronic hepatitis staging and grading.

During the study, 9 Swedish pathology departments examined and scored digital representations of liver needlecore biopsies during two sessions, with 10 cases per session and two digital slides per case. Between scoring sessions, participants were provided with access to two supplementary electronic resources: the ReplaySuite, and a library of pre-selected reference images. Comparison of concordance with gold standard (KVAST group) scoring before and after electronic resource use facilitated the elucidation of impact on diagnostic performance.

Between scoring sessions, participant concordance with KVAST staging increased by 18% (49%-67%), while concordance with KVAST grading increased by 20% (34%-54%). Mean staging un-weighted kappa improved from 0.347 to 0.554 (+0.207), or from 'fair' to 'moderate' exact agreement with KVAST staging. Linear weighted staging kappa improved from 0.603 to 0.688 (+0.085), indicating close agreement in both sessions. Mean grading unweighted kappa increased from 0.132 to 0.412 (+0.280), or from a 'poor' to 'moderate' level o f exact agreement with KVAST, while linear weighted kappa improved from 0.328 to 0.624 (+0.295), or from 'fair' to 'good' level of approximate agreement with KVAST.

Subsequent to the EQA scheme, an expert liver pathologist used the ReplaySuite to evaluate study examinations, assessing examination technique and identifying sources of error. Examinations scoring concordant with KVAST were observed to exhibit acceptable examination technique more frequently than discordantly scoring examinations. When grading, 28% (46% - 18%) more concordant than discordant examinations were considered to have viewed sufficient tissue, and at the appropriate magnification. A similar disparity of 24% (59% - 35%) was observed in staging, suggesting that examination technique was important both when determining the degree of necroinflammation within a biopsy, and when ascertaining the extent of fibrosis.

In assessing sources of error, the expert pathologist identified a potential source in 50% of grading examinations, with misinterpretation of observed pathology cited in 19%, and missed pathology (oversight) cited in 31% of grading examinations. Of the 41% of staging examinations in which a source was identified, misinterpretation of observed pathology was cited in 20% of examinations, and missed pathology (oversight) in 21% of examinations.

This study demonstrated that the use of supplementary electronic resources could result in improvements in diagnostic performance. It also illustrated the significant 'add on' value that could be provided by the ReplaySuite in EQA, by providing means to assess not only diagnostic concordance, but also diagnostic technique and identify sources of error.

In order to assess Irish trainee pathologist's perceptions of computer-assisted learning (CAL), a number of commercial systems were utilised to incorporate digital slides into a postgraduate seminar series, and provide subsequent access to seminar digital slides, diagnoses and expert annotations online. All surveyed trainees considered the use of digital slides and expert annotations of benefit in pathology training, and considered the potential implementation of expert examination replays, online self-assessment and the capability to search online for material by organ, diagnosis or pathological feature of benefit.

The work described herein illustrates that both expert and trainee pathologists alike consider the use of supplementary electronic resources of benefit in pathology education, and demonstrates that their use can improve diagnostic performance. The ability to evaluate participation in EQA studies via the ReplaySuite provides significant additional value to education schemes, providing a depth of assessment not possible with conventional microscopy.


Though artificial ventilation is an essential life-saving treatment, the mechanical behavior of lung tissue at the alveolar level is still unknown. Therefore, we need to understand the tissue response during artificial ventilation at this microscale in order to develop new and more protective ventilation methods. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with intravital microscopy (IVM) is a promising tool for visualizing lung tissue dynamics with a high spatial and temporal resolution in uninterruptedly ventilated rats. We present a measurement setup using a custom-made animal ventilator and a gating technique for data acquisition of time-resolved sequences.


THE EFFECTS OF PERIODIC AND NON-PERIODIC INPUTS ON THE DYNAMICS OF A MEDIAL ENTORHINAL CORTEX LAYER II STELLATE CELL MODEL by Dongwook Kim Various neuron types exhibit sub-threshold and firing frequency resonance in which the sub-threshold membrane potential or firing frequency responses to periodic inputs peak at a preferred frequency (or frequencies). Previous experimental work has shown that medial entorhinal cortex layer II stellate cells (SCs) exhibit sub-threshold and firing frequency resonance in the theta frequency band (4 10 Hz). In this thesis we seek to understand the biophysical and dynamic mechanism underlying these phenomena and how they are related. We studied the effects of sinusoidal current and synaptic conductance inputs at various frequencies, with and without noise, on the supra-threshold dynamics of a SC model. For current inputs, our results show that while the SC model exhibits a single frequency preference peak (in the theta frequency band) for low sinusoidal input levels, it exhibits three preferred frequency peaks for larger input levels. These additional peaks occur at frequencies that are roughly a multiple of the "theta" one. For synaptic conductance inputs, we observe an additional peak in the signal gain which occurs at a much higher frequency (in the high gamma frequency band). These findings depart from the linear prediction. The corresponding linearized model does not exhibit three preferred frequency peaks for current inputs and a much higher frequency for conductance inputs under the same conditions (such as parameters, noise, amplitude of inputs and maximal synaptic conductance) in the nonlinear model. Previous experimental work has shown high-frequency Poisson-distributed trains of combined excitatory and inhibitory conductanceand current-based synaptic inputs reduce amplitude of subthreshold oscillations of SCs. The second goal of this thesis is to investigate the mechanism underlying these phenomena in the context of the model. More specially, we studied the effects of both conductanceand current-based synaptic inputs at various maximal conductance values on a SC model. Our numerical simulations show that conductance-based synaptic inputs reduce the amplitude of SC's subthreshold oscillations for low enough value of the maximal synaptic conductance value but amplify these oscillations at a higher range. These results are in contrast to the experimental results. THE EFFECTS OF PERIODIC AND NON-PERIODIC INPUTS ON THE DYNAMICS OF A MEDIAL ENTORHINAL CORTEX LAYER II STELLATE CELL MODEL


Pandemics and other similar crises force us to make difficult moral trade-offs. It is tempting to think that this challenge should be met by invoking fundamental moral principles. This is a mistake. Instead, we need to work hard at designing institutions that enable the officeholders to make reasonable decisions under both fundamental ethical disagreement and empirical/evaluative uncertainty. It is argued that this is best done by supplementing the ethical-cum-legal platforms already in use with an ethical framework inspired by social welfare theory.


Genetically attenuated sporozoite vaccines can elicit long-lasting protection against malaria but pose risks of breakthrough infection. Chemoprophylaxis vaccination (CVac) has proven to be the most effective vaccine strategy against malaria. Here, we demonstrate that a liver stage-specific autophagy mutant of Plasmodium berghei (ATG8 overexpressor), when used as a live vaccine under a CVac regimen, provides superior long-lasting protection, in both inbred and outbred mice, as compared to WT-CVac. Uniquely, the protection elicited by this mutant is predominantly dependent on a CD8 + T-cell response through an IFN-γ-independent mechanism and is associated with a stable population of antigen-experienced CD8 + T cells. Jointly, our findings support the exploitation of liver-stage mutants as vaccines under a CVac protocol. This vaccination strategy is also a powerful model to study the mechanisms of protective immunity and discover new protective antigens.


The Amazon region has suffered considerable deforestation rates related to logging, cattle ranching, and agriculture. Recently, attention has been given to deforestation due to mining activities. This paper aims to estimate the land area affected by mining activities in protected and nonprotected areas, the value of the traded mineral extraction per commodity, and the mineral commodity with the highest trade (mineral extraction per mining area). Our results show that mining activities occupied 1,110 km2 of the Amazon, where 65% and 35% of this was due to artisanal and industrial‐scale mining, respectively. Gold exploitation was responsible for 58% of the total, followed by aluminum (15%), tin (13%), and iron (8%). In the region, 47% of the total mining area was located inside protected areas, where extraction was dominated by artisanal gold mining. The Amazonian states generated US$ 12.6 billion in 2017. Analysis of the values of the traded production showed that iron was responsible for 63.6%, followed by copper (16.2%), aluminum (7.6%), and gold (6.5%). The value of the traded production of gold was relatively low (US$ 810 million) in comparison to iron (US$ 8.01 billion) and copper (US$ 2.04 billion), which occupied the smallest areas. The value of the traded production per area showed that iron ore exploitation generated US$ 91.8 million/km2, while gold generated only 1.3 million/km2. We conclude that the industrial mining of iron ore presented the lowest impacts in mining areas with higher traded mineral extraction, while artisanal gold production ran contrary to environmental conservation goals.


The genus Serapias L. comprises 30 species (DELFORGE, 2005), has a predominantly Mediterranenan distribution with its center of diversity in southern Italy and the Greek islands ( Baumann and Kunlele , 1989). Their flowers are characterized by sepals, petals and hypochile, joined together to form a small, dark tube that varies in diameter and depth among taxa ( Baumann and Kunlele , 1989). The flowers of this genus attract solitary bees to give them a sleeping place ( Dafni et al. , 1981), a draft free hiding place under bad or rainy weather conditions ( Gumprecht , 1977), or a place for thermoregulation, because during the morning hours are warmed by solar radiation to 3°C above the ambient temperature ( Felicioli et al. , 1998, Dafni et al. , 1981). From a cytogenetic point of view, the heterocromatin distribution and the asymmetry of karyotype indicate a rather recent origin for Serapias ( D'emerico et al. , 2000); this feature, together with the geografical position of Apulia are two important factor that promote the natural hybridization in this genus. Here we describe the result of this process as two new Orchidaceae's hybryd species, belong to Serapias genus, named Serapias x ruggieroi and Serapias x demericoi through analysis of morphological aspects. The parental species of S. x demericoi are Serapias x parviflora Parl. and Serapias politisii Renz, while the parental of Serapias x ruggieroi are S. parviflora Parl. and S. vomeracea (Burm. f.) Briq subsp. longipetala (Ten.) H. Baumann & Kunkele. The distribution range of two parental species makes first hybrid probably quite common but difficult to detect, while, due to the distribution of Serapias politisii , the second hybrid is more rare and localized. S. x ruggieroi and S. x demericoi were found in a small area near S. Cataldo named "macchie di S.Cataldo" mainly characterized by garigues and maquis.


The refugee issue, and especially migration across the Mediterranean Sea, dominates Swedish and European policy debates as never before. Approximately one million people arrived at Europe's southern shores in 2015, and at least 3,700 migrants lost their lives. The need for a better understanding of the situation at Europe's borders, and of European countries' handling of refugee and border issues, is greater than ever.

The aim of this report is to analyse how the EU and its member states have conducted border policy since the Schengen agreement abolished internal borders in the 1990s.The study analyses the "fight against illegal immigration" (in this report, "irregular migration"), which since the 1990s has unfolded at and beyond the external borders. It provides answers to the questions of how, why, and with what consequences certain types of migration increasingly have come to be treated as a security and border problem.


[1] We examine the effects of the spontaneous background event rate and aftershock triggering characteristics on the temporal statistics of seismicity in the epidemic-type aftershock sequence model. Recent work has shown that the earthquake interevent time distribution is generally bimodal: a superposition of a gamma component from triggered aftershocks at short time intervals and an exponential component at longer intervals from spontaneous events and the overlapping of independent aftershock sequences. The relative size of these two components varies between catalogs, so there is no simple, universal scaling; at the extreme of high spontaneous rate, e.g., in large regions, the high probability of temporally overlapping aftershock sequences causes the exponential component to dominate. Here we further explore the effects of both the spontaneous rate and the aftershock triggering parameters. We show that the analytical theory of Saichev and Sornette (2007), although valid under their assumptions, gives the impression of a more "universal" behavior if used outside its stated range of applicability. We also show that within the high-overlap (high-spontaneous rate) regime, a maximum likelihood inversion of the model's temporal parameters is both less accurate and biased; specifically, the background rate is systematically overestimated. This has implications on the suitable range of region sizes for which parameter inversion may be reliable and must therefore be taken into account in any inversion for temporal variations in background rate in time-dependent hazard calculation.


Fore knowledge of the characteristics of ceramic raw materials is of utmost importance during the development, processing and production stages of any ceramic product. This work describes the characterization of clays commonly used in the ceramics industry. Two different clays were selected: clay A, from Tubarão-SC and clay B, from Porto Alegre-RS. Their chemical composition was obtained by X-ray fluorescence and their mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, coupled with numerical rational analysis. Their thermal behaviour was studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry. Their particle size distribution and plasticity were also determined. Clay A showed circa 47.5 % quartz (by weight), 40.2 % kaolinite and 9.9 % muscovite mica. Clay B showed a high kaolinite content (circa 72 wt.%), accompanied by montmorillonite (circa 10 %) and potash feldspar (circa 10 % microcline). Clay B was found to be much more plastic than clay A, and both are suitable for pottery, tiles and brick making.


Images are not innocent. Even though they arise from us, and often are made by us, they face and challenge us as if they lived a life of their own. Once they have appeared or have been produced, they acquire separate existence and indisputable reality of independent beings, which populate and shape our outer and inner world. As sensitive or imagined bodies they enter in resonance with our own sentient and imagining body. Human body is indeed the "locus of images" incessantly moving and acting on the ever-changing scene of our memory and imagination (i.e. of our own 'fluctuating' Self): thereby images are responsible for what we are as well as for what we wish (or dream) to be. Images are not innocent because they are neither inert nor lifeless. We are never safe in the presence of images: they can be alluring or frightening, reassuring or threatening, familiar or disquieting, lifesaving or harmful; they can impede or elicit action. Such irreducible ontological problematic, yet unmistakably empathic, nature of our relationship with images, is, in this essay, surveyed in the light of the reflections of Aby Warburg and Italo Calvino. Warburg's theory of Pathosformeln and Calvino's account of the role of visual images in his own verbal narratives, then provide the theoretical horizon for interpreting the narration by images sculpted by the medieval architect Biduinus on the façade of the XII century church of Saint Casciano of Cascina, near Pisa, and thereby unfolding the symbolical, iconological and metaphysical implications of its powerfully empathic imagery.


Several novel microarray technology platforms to be applied to acquire both genetic and epigenetic data from biological systems have been developed. Genetic database and the related bioinformatics analytic tools are being constructed. Here, some on-going projects related to bioinformatics analysis based on the microarray technology, such as such as the high density microarray design, combinational analyses of the data based on microarrays for gene expressions, methylation of CG islands, trans-factor protein level and mutation detection, and the disease related SNPs in human genomes are presented.


General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) is a special computer programming language primarily used to simulate what can be classified as discrete systems. A discrete system is one where, at any given instant in time, a countable number of things can take place. The basic operation of a mine itself can be considered such a system. Discrete Simulation and Animation for Mining Engineers explains how to model mining systems using GPSS/H and PROOF by Wolverine Software Corporation. Employing a unique approach that encourages engagement from the start, the text discusses animation first, and then slowly introduces simulation language. As each new topic is covered, an animation is provided to illustrate the key concepts. Leveraging valuable insight gained from the authors extensive experience modeling mines around the world, the book: Describes how to apply discrete system simulation to mines Shows how to make those simulations come alive with animation Includes real-world examples and exercises that hone practical problem-solving skills Written by a mining engineer for mining engineers and students of mining, Discrete Simulation and Animation for Mining Engineers offers a comprehensive yet accessible treatment of mine simulation and animation useful in increasing the efficiency of industrial mining processes.


The sigma subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase is required for specific binding of the enzyme to promoters. This specificity is probably directed by two regions of most sigma factors that make sequence-specific contacts at two regions of promoters, the -10 and -35 regions. We found that a single amino acid substitution in the -10 recognition region of sigma E from Bacillus subtilis trapped RNA polymerase in a stable complex with promoter DNA in which it was unable to initiate transcription. Our results are consistent with the view that promoter utilization by RNA polymerase proceeds through several intermediate steps and suggest that the -10 recognition region of sigma factors may participate in a step that follows initial promoter binding.


ABSTRACT A Vertisol-like paleosol complex, ranging from 3 to > 10 m thick, is developed below the Ames marine interval (Conemaugh Group, Upper Pennsylvanian) in the Appalachian Basin (eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and adjacent parts of Maryland and Kentucky). Sub-Ames mudstones contain the following pedogenic features: very large slickensides, microsparitic calcite nodules, nodules or coatings of radial calcite spar, preserved soil microstructure, soil-compatible birefringence fabrics, and prominent mottling (commonly restricted to the lower part of the paleosolum). Soil formation comprised: (1) long-term pedogenesis in alluvial (and probably lacustrine) sediments, and (2) rapid development of Histosols (Harlem Coal) as much as 8 m thick encouraged by the approaching Am s transgression. Pedogenic carbonates in the sub-Ames interval at three localities yielded 18O values ranging from -6.18 to -1.21 PDB (average = - 4.02 PDB; s.d. = 1.42) and 13C values ranging -9.17 to -6.72 PDB (average = -8.12 PDB; s.d. = 0.59). A inary plot of these values suggests mixing (probably seasonal) of evaporative and meteoric effects on isotope partitioning. The stratigraphy of the Ames-Harlem Coal interval, the regional distribution and thickness of the Harlem Coal, and features of the sub-Ames paleosol show that the pre-Ames landscape had significant local relief (in the form of shallow paleovalleys with broad interfluves) along the western to northern margin of the Appalachian Basin (Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania). The stratigraphic relationships of sub-Ames paleosols, the Harlem Coal-Ames marine unit interval, and the Ames marine unit itself are compatible with a significant effect of eustatic sea-level rise in this area. Greater regional tectonic subsidence was probably the strongest control on sub-Ames sedimenta ion and pedogenesis along the eastern to southern margin (south-central Pennsylvania, West Virginia, northeasternmost Kentucky), where there appears to have been very little relief. The morphology and stable-isotope geochemistry of sub-Ames paleosols are compatible with seasonally wet-dry climates, probably with moderate ( 500-1000 mm) annual rainfall.


Acidithiobacillus species are fundamental players in biofilm formation by acidophile bioleaching communities. It has been previously reported that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans possesses a functional quorum sensing mediated by acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), involved in biofilm formation, and AHLs naturally produced by Acidithiobacillus species also induce biofilm formation in Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. A c-di-GMP pathway has been characterized in Acidithiobacillus species but it has been pointed out that the c-di-GMP effector PelD and pel-like operon are only present in the sulfur oxidizers such as A. thiooxidans. PEL exopolysaccharide has been recently involved in biofilm formation in this Acidithiobacillus species. Here, by comparing wild type and ΔpelD strains through mechanical analysis of biofilm-cells detachment, fluorescence microscopy and qPCR experiments, the structural role of PEL exopolysaccharide and the molecular network involved for its biosynthesis by A. thiooxidans were tackled. Besides, the effect of AHLs on PEL exopolysaccharide production was assessed. Mechanical resistance experiments indicated that the loss of PEL exopolysaccharide produces fragile A. thiooxidans biofilms. qRT-PCR analysis established that AHLs induce the transcription of pelA and pelD genes while epifluorescence microscopy studies revealed that PEL exopolysaccharide was required for the development of AHL-induced biofilms. Altogether these results reveal for the first time that AHLs positively regulate pel genes and participate in the molecular network for PEL exopolysaccharide biosynthesis by A. thiooxidans.


A questionnaire describing a typical clinical case of Graves' disease and 10 variations on it was mailed to 70 Spanish units of endocrinology with the aim of assessing the new diagnostic and therapeutic trends for hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease in Spain and to compare the results obtained from previous studies carried out in Europe and Spain 10 years previously.  Responses indicated that thyrotrophin (98%) and free thyroxine (88%) were the most used tests in the in vitro diagnosis of Graves' disease with a significant decrease in the use of total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, and thyroglobulin in comparison with the surveys conducted 10 years previously in Europe and Spain. The presence of antibodies against the thyrotrophin receptor was the most frequently used immune marker in the diagnosis (78%) and the new use of antithyroperoxidase antibodies (36%) in diagnosis is noteworthy. Antithyroid drugs remain the treatment of choice (98%). Surgery was used mainly for large size goitres (33%) and radioiodine for recurrences after medical (61%) or surgical (80%) treatment.  In conclusion, the responses obtained from this questionnaire provide insight into current specialist diagnostic and therapeutic practices with respect to Graves' disease and which could be of value to non-specialist units of endocrinology.


The decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo v. Uganda),1 issued on December 19, 2005, has been the subject of a trickle of thoughtful commentary.2 But in the years immediately following its issuance, this decision received much less scholarly attention than did the Court's decisions in some other cases, including those in which the scale of the military force and human misery involved was not nearly so great. It is not difficult to conceive of reasons why this case has drawn much less scholarly engagement than other decisions concerning the use of force, particularly the Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America)3 judgment of 1986 and the Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America) judgment of 2003.4 In global jurisprudence, outside a small group of African scholars, African affairs receive less weight and critical consideration than they merit—a phenomenon mirrored in most spheres of academia, media, and policy punditry.


Abstract One method of implementing value-based marketing is a component pricing system. This research develops and evaluates alternative component pricing systems for pork. Two electronic technologies for estimating carcass components (optical probe and electromagnetic scanner) were evaluated on two sets of data representing different populations. Model accuracy increased as additional components were added.


Background: Hypertension is a silent killer disease that continues to increase every year. Non-optimal treatment of hypertension may heighten the risk of dangerous cardiovascular problems. Black garlic (BG) has been known as an antihypertensive; however, its effect on biomarkers of arterial stiffness and QRS-T angle direction is still not yet understood. Objectives: This study to identify the role of BG as an antihypertensive agent on biomarkers of arterial stiffness and QRS-T angle direction. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 male Wistar rats, which were randomly grouped into six, consisting of groups 1 and 2 (receiving drug carrier), group 3 (receiving captopril at 2.5 mg/kg), groups 4, 5 and 6 (receiving BG suspension at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively). All groups, except group 1, were given a high-fat diet and 25% fructose in drinking water for 28 days. Test drugs were given from day 15 to day 28 (for 14 days). The parameters measured were blood pressure, nitric oxide (NO) level in the serum, pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate and the QRS-T angle direction. Results: the BG doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg lowered blood pressure, increase NO serum level; ameliorate PWV and wide QRS-T angle (p


Objective— Pseudoaneurysms remain a significant complication after vascular procedures. We hypothesized that TGF-&bgr; (transforming growth factor-&bgr;) signaling plays a mechanistic role in the development of pseudoaneurysms. Approach and Results— Rat aortic pericardial patch angioplasty was associated with a high incidence (88%) of pseudoaneurysms at 30 days, with increased smad2 phosphorylation in small pseudoaneurysms but not in large pseudoaneurysms; TGF-&bgr;1 receptors were increased in small pseudoaneurysms and preserved in large pseudoaneurysms. Delivery of TGF-&bgr;1 via nanoparticles covalently bonded to the patch stimulated smad2 phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo and significantly decreased pseudoaneurysm formation (6.7%). Inhibition of TGF-&bgr;1 signaling with SB431542 decreased smad2 phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo and significantly induced pseudoaneurysm formation by day 7 (66.7%). Conclusions— Normal healing after aortic patch angioplasty is associated with increased TGF-&bgr;1 signaling, and recruitment of smad2 signaling may limit pseudoaneurysm formation; loss of TGF-&bgr;1 signaling is associated with the formation of large pseudoaneurysms. Enhancement of TGF-&bgr;1 signaling may be a potential mechanism to limit pseudoaneurysm formation after vascular intervention.


This article documents the various metaphors that have been used to depict mixed-race individuals as animalistic, infantile, or commodified subjects in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In doing so, McNeil's article reveals the discordant affinities between the politics and poetics of Frantz Fanon and anti-colonial intellectuals in the 1950s and 60s. It also calls attention to postcolonial theorists who emphasize Fanon's continuing relevance in the fight against neocolonialism and neoliberalism in the twenty-first century. Moreover, McNeil's analysis not only brings into sharp focus the carefully constructed civility of contemporary politicians and journalists who seek to distance themselves from Fanon's trenchant radicalism but also encourages further reflection on the language and style of academic debates in critical mixed race studies.


Variation in the gene encoding cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) is involved in the process of aspirin resistance. This study investigated the genetic variations in the COX-1 gene. The 4 coding regions of the human COX-1 gene in 90 pediatric patients (median age of 6.5 months, 55% males) with cardiovascular anomalies were screened using DNA sequencing. Twenty coding-region variants causing amino acid substitutions as well as 2 new non-synonymous polymorphisms were identified. All variants were compared with an independent Caucasian population (N = 24 unrelated individuals). Most of the discovered polymorphisms were rare, although some variants resulted in amino acid changes occurring at a frequency >5% (W8R, P17L, Q41Q, Q240Q, D189E, and P188P). In addition, 2 new non-synonymous polymorphisms (F200L and D189E) were identified. These findings demonstrated novel genetic variants of the human COX- 1 gene. Future studies characterizing the functional impact of these variants are warranted.


Verification pattern (VP) is a new technique to test embedded systems rapidly, and it has been used to test industrial safety-critical embedded systems successfully. The key concept of this approach is to classify system scenarios into patterns, and use the same code template to test all the scenarios of the same pattern. In this way, testing effort can be greatly reduced. This paper extends VPs so that they can fully interoperate with a formalized scenario model ACDATE. In this way, various static and dynamic analyses can be performed on system scenarios as well as on system patterns. Furthermore, this paper provides a mapping from system scenarios into temporal logic expressions. In this way, a practitioner can specify system constraints in scenarios, and follow the mapping to obtain the temporal logic expressions easily to perform formal model checking. This paper also provides an OO framework to support automated test script development from VPs. In this way, VPs can be used in an integrated process where both semi-formal analyses and formal techniques can be used together to develop mission-critical embedded applications.


Due to overwhelming use of 3D models in video games and virtual environments, there is a growing interest in 3D scene generation, scene understanding and 3D model retrieval. In this paper, we introduce a data-driven 3D scene generation approach from a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model selection perspective. Using this model selection criterion, new scenes can be sampled by matching a set of contextual constraints that are extracted from training and synthesized scenes. Starting from a set of random synthesized configurations of objects in 3D, the MaxEnt distribution is iteratively sampled (using Metropolis sampling) and updated until the constraints between training and synthesized scenes match, indicating the generation of plausible synthesized 3D scenes. To illustrate the proposed methodology, we use 3D training desk scenes that are all composed of seven predefined objects with different position, scale and orientation arrangements. After applying the MaxEnt framework, the synthesized scenes show that the proposed strategy can generate reasonably similar scenes to the training examples without any human supervision during sampling. We would like to mention, however, that such an approach is not limited to desk scene generation as described here and can be extended to any 3D scene generation problem.


Uncontrolled charging of electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to cause problems for power distribution networks as existing vehicles are continually being replaced by electric. Therefore, smart charging algorithms that prevent such problems will become necessary as uptake of EVs increases and they become more popular. Smart EV charging is not only useful to provide the necessary charge (energy) required by the user but may also be used to support the grid and protect battery health, which is investigated in this study. Factors that affect battery life are quantified and their impact on battery degradation and ability (of EV) to support the grid are analysed. Charging regimes that can meet the driver needs, provide grid support and protect the state of health of the battery are proposed in this study. The analysis presented demonstrates that smart charging that involves charging before departure, less frequent charging and limited vehicle-to-grid can prolong battery life compared with providing the same EV charge in an uncontrolled way. Thus, grid power is supported and battery life is protected by the proposed smart charging regimes.


The availability of protease inhibitors (PIs) and their combination with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors marked the passage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) from potential for control to effective suppression and thus substantially reduced rates of morbidity and mortality related to HIV. Even so, what was first hoped to be an immutable HIV DNA treatment target has proved to be prone to resistance mutations, with substitutions identified at more than 20 amino acid sites, which reduces PI susceptibility and increases resistance to treatment. The mutation patterns associated with each PI have been defined, and have been observed to occur at one of two locations: at or near the active site, or in the substrate cleavage site. The natural history of PI resistance has been extensively studied, and the genetic and cellular pathways are described in detail in this article. In addition, cross-resistance among PIs is now recognized to be fairly extensive, although the degree of cross-resistance varies with the number of mutations and the variants selected by drug pressure. Thus, it is still possible to salvage a response with another PI after a first regimen with another PI has failed. The extensive basic science and clinical experience with PIs in the fight against HIV are reviewed in this article, which provides data on resistance-mutation profiles, cellular resistance mechanisms, viral fitness studies, and clinical outcome trials with various first-line and subsequent regimens that contain PIs. It is hoped that the information provided will guide physicians in best using PIs as part of a logical and successful ART strategy.


These three stories excerpted from the new book Sons of Martha, compiled by Augustine J. Fredrich and published by ASCE as the first book in a new venture by the Publications Division, introduce the engineer that oversaw the construction of Hoover Dam, some of the first women engineers and a look at the construction of a former tallest building, the Empire State Building. In I've Got to Find a Dam to Build Somewhere, Joseph E. Stevens introduces Fank Crowe, the engineer who created the image that became the stereotype of the hard-hatted construction boss at Hoover Dam. Margaret S. Peterson explains how a girl-child of the Great Depression obtained her B.S.C.E. in 1947 and went on from there to a 40-year professional career, first with the Corps of Engineers and then teaching at the University of Arizona. The third author, Joseph Gies, writes about the Empire State Building in Wonders of the Modern World just before its tallest title was lost to the World Trade Center.


Thymectomy is the treatment for thymoma or Myasthenia Gravis patients. With the development of thoracoscopic surgical instruments and techniques in recent years, single port video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is increasingly practiced for such patients. Although single port thymectomy is feasible and may be preferable, there is a lack of detailed step-by-step procedures outlined in the literature that could shorten the learning curve for the beginner. The aim of this article is to unify the operation steps and avoid possible accidents during single port thymectomy.


Importance
Although maternal unintentional injury during pregnancy has shown negative impacts on the mother and fetus, the evidence on its long-term associations with children's neurodevelopment is limited.

Objective
To examine the association between maternal unintentional injury and cerebral palsy (CP) in offspring.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This was a population-based, longitudinal, cohort study of all in-hospital live births born between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2017, in a publicly funded health care system setting of Ontario, Canada. Infants born more than 20 weeks' gestation were included and followed up until March 31, 2018. Excluded from the analysis were stillbirths, infants with missing or invalid records, and births with missing or invalid birth characteristics. Data were analyzed from March 1 to June 30, 2021.

Exposures
Maternal unintentional injury during pregnancy ascertained based on inpatient or emergency department diagnoses.

Main Outcomes and Measures
CP diagnosis between birth and the end of follow-up in 2018 with the CP case definition of a single inpatient or 2 or more outpatient diagnoses at least 2 weeks apart between birth and age 16 years.

Results
Of 2 110 177 children included in this study (mean [SD] gestational age, 38.8 [1.9] weeks; 1 082 520 male [51.3%]), 81 281 (3.9%) were exposed in utero to maternal unintentional injury. During a median (IQR) follow-up time of 8 (4-12) years, 5317 children (0.3%) were diagnosed with CP (292 CP cases [5.5%] were exposed to maternal unintentional injury). The mean incidence rates of CP were 4.36 and 2.93 per 10 000 child-years in the exposed and the unexposed group, respectively. Children exposed to maternal unintentional injury had a modest increase in the risk of CP, compared with those unexposed (hazard ratio [HR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.18-1.50) after adjusting for maternal sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Severe injuries that resulted in hospitalization and delivery within 1 week from the injury conferred higher risks of CP (adjusted HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.29-3.68 and adjusted HR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.93-6.00, respectively). Results were robust in multiple bias analyses.

Conclusions and Relevance
In this Canadian population-based birth cohort study, in utero exposure to maternal unintentional injury was associated with an increased risk of CP, with a higher risk with more severe injuries. These findings fill an important gap in knowledge on the potential role of maternal injury on children's neurodevelopment outcomes. Public health professionals and stakeholders should be aware of these potential long-term consequences on offspring when designing programs and providing recommendations about safety during pregnancy. Early monitoring and developmental assessment of children exposed to maternal injury might be warranted.


Background: Medical students represent a highly educated population under significant pressures. For mental and anxiety disorders in medical students, obesity is considered as a risk factor.

Objective: A cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the relationship of anxiety with obesity and gender among these students.

Materials and methods: After initial screening of 202 students (90 males and 102 females), their BMI and WHR were assessed. By using Zung self-rating anxiety scale and the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) with anxiety score was evaluated.

Result: Anxiety score was normal (79 females and 83 males), mild to moderate (21 females and 5 males), moderate to severe (2 females and 2 males). By using Student's unpaired t test, no significant difference of anxiety score among students with BMI> 23 kg/m2 and with BMI 0.88 and females > 0.81) and with lesser WHR (males


Lumber supply chain includes forests as suppliers, sawmills as production sites, distribution centers, and different types of customers. In this industry, the raw materials are logs that are shipped from forest contractors to sawmills. Logs are then sawn to green/finished lumbers in sawmills and are distributed to the lumber market through different channels. Unlike a traditional manufacturing industry, the lumber industry is characterized by a divergent product structure with the highly heterogeneous nature of its raw material (logs). Moreover, predicting the exact amount of the product demand and the availability of logs in the forest is impossible in this industry. Thus, considering random demand and supply in the lumber supply chain planning is essential.
Integrated tactical planning in a supply chain incorporates the synchronized planning of procurement, production, distribution and sale activities in order to ensure that the customer demand is satisfied by the right product at the right time. Briefly, in this dissertation, we aim at developing integrated planning tools in lumber supply chains for making decisions in harvesting, material procurement, production, distribution, and sale activities in order to obtain a maximum robust profit and service level in the presence of uncertainty in the log supply and product demand. In order to gain the latter objectives, we can categorize this research into three phases. In the first phase, we investigate the integrated annual planning of harvesting, procurement, production, distribution, and sale activities in the lumber supply chain in a deterministic context. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer programming (MIP) model. The proposed model is applied on a real-size case study, which leads to a large-scale MIP model that cannot be solved by commercial solvers in a reasonable time. Consequently, we propose a Lagrangian Relaxation based heuristic algorithm in order to solve the latter MIP model. While improving significantly the convergence, the proposed algorithm also guarantees the feasibility of the converged solution.

In the second phase, the uncertainty is incorporated in the lumber supply chain tactical planning problems. Thus, we propose a multi-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming (MS-MIP) model to address this problem. Due to the complexity of solving the latter MS-MIP model with commercial solvers or relevant solution methodologies in the literature, we develop a Hybrid Scenario Cluster Decomposition (HSCD) heuristic algorithm which is also amenable to parallelization. This algorithm decomposes the original scenario tree into a set of smaller sub-trees. Hence, the MS-MIP model is decomposed into smaller sub-models that are coordinated by Lagrangian terms in their objective functions. By embedding an ad-hoc heuristic and a Variable Fixing algorithm into the HSCD algorithm, we considerably improve its convergence and propose an implementable solution in a reasonable CPU time.

Finally, due to the computational complexity of multi-stage stochastic programming approach, we confine our formulation to the robust optimization method. Hence, at the third phase of this research, we propose a robust planning model formulated based on cardinality-constrained method. The latter provides some insights into the adjustment of the level of robustness of the proposed plan over the planning horizon and protection against uncertainty. An extensive set of experiments based on Monte-Carlo simulation is also conducted in order to better validate the proposed robust optimization approach applied on the harvesting planning in lumber supply chains.


Clinical manifestations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are a balance between viral and host factors. The immune response against any virus consists of a coordinated defence of innate immunity and acquired, virus-specific immunity. In acute HBV, immune responses associated with recovery include vigorous, polyclonal CD4 T cells directed against multiple epitopes within HBV; antibodies directed against surface envelope proteins (anti-HBs), the development of which requires the presence of a CD4 response; and HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). HBV-specific CTLs can induce death of infected hepatocytes as well as produce cytokines. Most individuals with acute HBV recover without evidence of massive liver destruction; this, plus evidence from transgenic animal models, suggests that these cytokines produced by T cells play an important role in controlling HBV replication. Individuals who fail to mount a vigorous response in acute HBV develop chronic infection. In these cases, the persisting ineffective immune response appears to be responsible for liver damage and is likely to initiate the process of hepatic fibrosis. Based on our current understanding of the immune response in acute and chronic HBV, several groups are investigating the prospect of manipulating the immune response in chronic HBV.


A methodology for knowledge-based factory desigh is presented, with emphasis on a logic-oriented implementation in PROLOG, a logic programming language. The implementation, FADES ( FAcilities Design Expert System ) provides a partial demonstration of the methodology proposed. Current status of research, difficulties encountered, and future direction are examined and discussed.


The personality predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder in orphan survivors after the
2008 Sichuan earthquake in China were investigated. Half a year after the earthquake, 196 preearthquake and 116 postearthquake orphans who survived were recruited. All participants completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire for Children (Gong, 1984) and Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (Smith, Perrin, Dyregrov, & Yule, 2003). The regression analysis showed that the Neuroticism score was the strongest predictor of the severity of PTSD symptoms for both pre- and postearthquake orphans. For the preearthquake orphans, the Extraversion trait predicted Arousal negatively, and the Lie trait predicted Intrusion and Arousal positively. However, for the postearthquake orphans, only the Extraversion trait
predicted Avoidance positively.