Analysis of protein sequences shows that many proteins in multicellular organisms have evolved by a process of exon shuffling, deletion and duplication. These exons often correspond to autonomously folding protein modules. Many extracellular enzymes have this modular structure; for example, serine proteases involved in blood-clotting, fibrinolysis and complement. The main role of these modules is to confer specificity by protein-protein interactions. Lack of structural information about such proteins has required a new strategy for studying the structure and function of protein modules. The strategy involves the production of individual modules by protein expression techniques, determination of their structure by high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance and definition of functional patches on the modules by site-directed mutagenesis and biological assays. The structures of the growth factor module, the fibronectin type 1 module and the complement module are briefly described. The possible functional roles of modules in various proteins, including the enzymes factor IX and tissue plasminogen activator, are discussed.


– The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for online transactions, integrating the social influence approach, the trust‐risk framework, and the theory of reasoned action, and to test it in a non US/UK context such as Greece., – Structural equation modeling was used to survey data from 376 household respondents from two residential departments of the city of Thessaloniki in Greece in order to examine causal inferences., – The results of the model, where the trust‐risk‐subjective norms framework mediated the impact of information privacy on actual transactions, indicated that the individual's attitude toward using technology, through the intention to submit individual information, resulted in positive actual transaction outcomes., – Cross‐section data were used for testing the model. However, for properly investigating causality time‐series or longitudinal data should be employed., – For increasing online transactions, organizations should make their websites as simple and attractive as possible, develop their image that they do care about customers and are trustworthy, and develop privacy‐friendly policies for gaining competitive advantage., – This study proposes and empirically validates an integrative framework for online transactions at the individual level by adapting information privacy concerns and trust‐risk‐subjective norm beliefs and relates them to attitudes of individuals. Thus, the proposed integrative framework is critically engaging and well established but with limited information models.


The density and anodic potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) in different diluted acidic sulphate solution of the aluminum electrodeposion coating on Q235 steel substrate, obtained in the molten salt of AlCl3,NaCl and KCl and treated by diffusion treatment, have been investigated. The results indicated that with the increase of temperature of diffusion treatment, the dencity of the coatings increases first, then reduces little. At 500°C, the dencity is biggest, 2.76g/cm3, which is almost equal to that of compact pure aluminum. As-received coating displays a current oscillation behavior on the anodic potentiodynamic polarization curves in different diluted acidic sulphate solution . And with the increase of diffusion temperature, the current oscillation behaviors donated by the current oscillation domains in solution of 180g/L H2SO4 gradually disappeared. When the temperature is up to 500°C and 700°C, no current oscillation phenomena can be observed. Based on these phenomena, a mode between the porosity of the coating, which was affected by the temperature of diffusion treatment, and current oscillation behaviors was roughly established.


American foulbrood is a dangerous world-wide spread disease of honey bees caused by the Paenibacillus larvae bacterium. Antibiotic treatments are less effective and leave residues in bee products. It is therefore necessary to find an alternative, especially using natural ingredients such as plant essential oils, probiotics, fatty or organic acids. Two strains of P. larvae were used for this study: CCM 4488, a strain from the Czech collection of micro-organisms and a Slovak field strain which was isolated from infected bee combs and characterized on the basis of biochemical properties. Plant essential oils of sage (Salvia officinalis), anise (Pimpinella anisum), oregano (Origanum vulgare), caraway (Carum carvi), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinum officinalis), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), camomile (Chamomilla recutita) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) were used for the testing of the inhibitory activity against P. larvae. Essential oils at amounts of 5 µl and 10 µl were applied to sterile discs on MYPGP agar; inhibition zone diameters were measured after 24-h incubation at 37 °C. The strongest inhibitory activity against both P. larvae strains was noted in case of the essential oils from oregano, thyme and clove; essential oils from camomile, rosemary and fennel showed no or weak antibacterial activity. Medium strong inhibition activity was recorded in case of previously untested essential oil from Carum carvi. There was a difference in sensitivity of both tested strains to essential oils. Our study confirmed that some essential oils can be used in the prevention of American foulbrood but further experiments aimed at their influence on physiological intestinal microflora of honey bees must be performed.


Specialized hardware for deep learning using analog memory devices has the potential to outperform conventional GPUs by a large margin. At the core of such hardware are arrays of non-volatile-memory (NVM) devices that can perform the simple matrix operations needed for deep learning in parallel and in constant time. Several implementations can be found in the literature that use different materials as memory elements, including phase-change-memory (PCM), resistive-random-access-memory (RRAM), electrochemical-random-access-memory (ECRAM), and ferroelectric devices. While the current focus is to demonstrate functionality, there is an increasing concern about the reliability margins of this emerging technology. In this paper we will briefly describe operation and device requirements, and then focus on possible reliability exposure in terms of variability, stability and drift, retention and durability.


Career Synopsis: Sir Richard Doll was born on 28 October 1912 in Hampton, near London. He trained at St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School in the University of London, qualifying with MB and BS degrees in 1937. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps Reserve in 1938 and was called up when war broke out, serving in France in 1939-1940 and in the Middle East in 1941-1944. His first epidemiologic post was during 1946-1947 as Research Assistant to the gastroenterologist Dr. Avery Jones. In 1948 he went to work with Austin Bradford Hill at the Medical Research Council's Statistical Research Unit, where he commenced his pioneering work on the effects of tobacco. On Bradford Hill's retirement in 1961, Doll became director of the unit, and he gave Richard Peto his first job in 1967. In 1969 Doll left London to become Regius Professor of Medicine in the University of Oxford, the most senior medical post in the university. He held this position until 1979, when he became the first Warden of Green Col? lege, Oxford, and also Director of the Cancer Epidemiology and Clinical Trials Unit of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. In 1983 he retired from administrative work but has continued with research. He is now based in the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit of Oxford University, directed by Sir Richard Peto. Doll is active in many research projects and is currently working on the results of the 50-year follow-up of the British Doctors' Study. (Epidemiology 2003;14:375-379)


The failure of the Maastricht criteria delayed Estonia's accession to the European Monetary Union (EMU) until January 2011. During this time, trading shares with Eurozone countries declined, raising questions about the optimal accession time. In this study, the macroeconomic effects of introducing a common currency are analyzed by considering the state of the economy in different years of accession. By accounting for currency conversion costs and in-house costs, we show that the trade effects of the EMU depend on the year of accession. In summary, a 'late' accession induces higher benefits in terms of an increase in GDP, private consumption, and investment. However, the additional investment demand for building up capital stock in export industries is much higher in the 'late' accession scenario. If foreign savings are not adjusted optimally, the 'early' accession scenario might be beneficial.


BACKGROUND Although malpositioning of pedicle screws into the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen can cause spinal nerve root injuries, there are few reports of L5 nerve root injuries when S1 pedicle screws have been inserted anterolaterally. The authors report two cases of L5 nerve root injury caused by anterolateral malpositioning of loosened S1 pedicle screws. OBSERVATIONS In both patients, S1 pedicle screws were inserted toward the outside of the S1 anterior foramen, and the tip of the screws perforated the anterior sacral cortex. L5 nerve root impairment was not observed immediately after surgery. However, severe leg pain in the L5 area was observed after the S1 pedicle screws became loosened. In case 1, the symptoms could not be controlled with conservative treatment. Reoperation was performed 3 months after the initial surgery. In case 2, the symptoms gradually improved with conservative treatment because the area around the loosened S1 screw was surrounded by newly formed bone that stabilized the screws, as observed with computed tomography 1 year after surgery. LESSONS Surgeons should recognize that anterolateral malpositioning of S1 pedicle screws can cause L5 nerve root injury. The screws should be inserted in the correct direction without loosening.


Studies of dairy farm structure have neglected issues of vertical organization of the farm. In this study we model and measure the potential for dairy farms to reduce costs of production through vertical integration. We estimate a multi-stage, multi-output cost function to assess vertical economies of scope in organic and conventional dairy farms. We model the cost of producing grains and forages, which are then used as inputs in the production of milk. We find negligible vertical economies of scope for conventional dairy farms. In contrast, we find significant vertical economies of scope in organic dairy production, suggesting that there is an economic incentive for vertical integration into feed production. The large vertical economies of scope for organic dairy farms are consistent with higher costs of obtaining organic feed through market transactions associated with an underdeveloped market for organic feeds.


BACKGROUND
In conditions with impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone, reduced effect of thyroid hormone is attributable to various defects. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of these conditions, as well as to provide updated knowledge on impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone, also known as thyroid hormone resistance, with mutations in thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ).

MATERIAL AND METHOD
This article is based on a selection of English-language articles, and Norwegian original and review articles found in PubMed, and the authors' own experiences with this patient group.

RESULTS
Thyroid hormone resistance has long been a recognised cause of the reduced effect of thyroid hormone. Several other conditions that involve impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone have been described in recent decades, and mutations have been identified in genes that code for thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα), a cell membrane transporter, as well as in the deiodinases that metabolise thyroxine (T4) to the bioactive form triiodothyronine (T3). The conditions vary in terms of their clinical picture and biochemical profile.

INTERPRETATION
Based on clinical and biochemical findings, thyroid hormone resistance may be erroneously interpreted as hyperthyroidism. In patients with thyroid hormone resistance, the condition may be exacerbated if it is treated as hyperthyroidism. It is therefore essential to recognise the conditions and their differential diagnoses.


According to the recent reports of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year get lost or wasted globally, while 800 million people are going into hungry. Saving ¼ of the food which is been wasted will provide the opportunity to feed this 800 million people. Food waste refers in to throwing perfectly edible food into trash at the consumption level while food loss refers to the losses which occur along the food chain that is at the production, harvesting, post-harvest activities and processing phases. Poor handling transport, storage facilities and lack of correct infrastructure cause post-harvest food losses in developing countries. Fresh products like fruits, vegetables, meat and fish straight from the farm or after the harvest can be spoilt in hot climates due to lack of infrastructure for correct transportation, storage, cooling and marketing. Sri Lankan scenario is not much different to the rest of the world where there is about 10-40% loss in fruits and vegetables within food supply chain. There are no country wide valid estimates of looses among other food commodities. Sri Lanka located close to the equator, receives an abundant supply of solar radiation throughout the year. Solar radiation over the island does not show a marked seasonal variation. Due to these reasons, solar cooling is a promising technology to address reducing food losses in Sri Lanka. Solar cooling technology can be applied for food preservation by using it to generate ice or for refrigeration. Different types of ice (blocks or flakes) are typically used to keep fish or milk within the conservation temperature range. These types of ice making facilities are globally available and managed by a community or a cooperative. Solar refrigerators are used for the purpose of conserving fruits and vegetables which operates at a temperature below 100 C. There are many solar refrigeration technologies available such as well known solar photovoltaic systems, solar absorption systems and, solar adsorption systems. Each of these technologies have their own advantages and limitations and most of these technologies are still at the developing stage. There is a global trend towards harnessing solar energy for food preservation and this will be a promising technology to reduce food losses in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Solar cooling, Solar refrigeration, Food losses


In this paper, a simple and computationally low-cost modification of the standard finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm is presented to reduce numerical dispersion in the algorithm. Both two- and three-dimensional cases are considered. It is shown that the maximum error in phase velocity can be reduced by a factor of 2-7, depending on the shape of the FDTD cell. Although the reduction procedure is optimal for only single frequency, numerical examples show that the proposed method can also improve the accuracy significantly in wide-band inhomogeneous problems.


Abstract The regional and cultural closeness of Botswana and South Africa, as well as differences in their political histories and language policy stances, offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the role of language in reading outcomes. This study aims to empirically test the effect of exposure to mother tongue and English instruction on the reading performances of grade 4 students in Botswana and South Africa using the 2011 pre-Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (prePIRLS) and propensity-reweighted regression adjustment. The empirical findings provide evidence of significant positive effects of earlier and continued exposure to mother tongue instruction. Further attention and research needs to be directed at understanding the implications of language in education policy for achieving additive rather than subtractive bilingualism.


Pre-trained language models (LMs) obtain state-of-the-art performance when adapted to text classification tasks. However, when using such models in real world applications, efficiency considerations are paramount. In this paper, we study how different training procedures that adapt LMs to text classification perform, as we vary model and train set size. More specifically, we compare standard fine-tuning, prompting, and knowledge distillation (KD) when the teacher was trained with either fine-tuning or prompting. Our findings suggest that even though fine-tuning and prompting work well to train large LMs on large train sets, there are more efficient alternatives that can reduce compute or data cost. Interestingly, we find that prompting combined with KD can reduce compute and data cost at the same time.


The task of Work Package 10 is to specify the objective functions to be optimised in the project. As set out in the Technical Annex of the project, there are to be two or at most three versions of the objective function. The first one is to reflect economic efficiency objectives. The second one is to reflect concerns about the sustainability of urban transport. A combination of the two may possibly reflect both kinds of objectives and a definite trade-off between them.

There is of course a wide range of objectives of transport policy in urban areas, but most can be grouped under the broad headings of economic efficiency, including economic development, on the one hand, and sustainability, including environment, safety, equity and quality of life, on the other. Therefore, although the objectives of the nine studied cities will inevitably be different, if the objective functions are adequately specified, it should be possible for each of them to find its own transport policy objectives mirrored in either the economic efficiency objective function or the sustainability objective function, or both. To enhance the chances that the optimal policies that we identify in the project will in fact be implemented, an important element of Work Package 10 is to discuss the formulation of the objective functions with the cities, and to secure that the final specification is acceptable to them.

The transport models of the nine cities differ as to what policies can be modelled and what information they produce. These practical limitations will have to be taken into account when formulating the objective functions.

The methods in use to evaluate urban transport policy differ between the cities. For example, cost benefit analyses are not used everywhere, and the effects included in these kinds of analyses and the weights attached to them differ. To take account of that, a disaggregated yet simple form of presentation of the results of applying the objective functions to each particular model run is sought. It will then be possible for each city to relate the results to their usual evaluation methods. Also, each city may use their own values for the discount rate, value of time savings etc. within limits imposed by the needs to compare the results of the different cities.

Summing up, the task of Work Package 10 is to >specify a standard set of objective functions for both economic efficiency and sustainability, which are acceptable to, and can be applied in, all the cities being studied< (Technical Annex, p.4).


The subject matter of the work presented here is the development and evaluation of novel lightweight mortars that meet the functional and technical criteria imposed on repair mortars. In a broad experimental campaign, lime, natural hydraulic lime, and lime–cement mortars were designed and tested. Lightweight aggregate, expanded perlite, granules from expanded glass and zeolite were used as full replacements for quartz sand. The hardened mortars were tested at the ages of 28 days and 90 days. The conducted tests and analyses were focused on the assessment of structural, mechanical, hygric and thermal parameters. The salt crystallization resistance and effect of salt presence on the hygroscopicity of the investigated mortars were also investigated. The use of lightweight aggregates in the composition of mortars resulted in their high porosity, low density, satisfactory mechanical parameters, improved water vapor transmission capability and water absorption. The mortars with expanded perlite and glass granulate were ranked among thermal insulation mortars of classes T1 and T2, respectively. The use of lightweight aggregates enabled the development of mortars with great durability in terms of salt action, which was almost independent of binder type. The ability to accommodate water vapor was increased by the effect, i.e., the use of lightweight aggregates and the presence of salt in mortars increased porous space. Taking into account the compatibility, functional, and technical criteria, lime- and natural hydraulic lime-based lightweight mortarswere classified as repair mortars, providing improved thermal performance. The lime–cement lightweight plasters can be recommended only for repair of building structures where cement and lime–cement materials were original applied.


Acetylcholine (ACh) is a phylogenetically ancient molecule involved in cell-to-cell signaling in almost all life-forms on earth. Cholinergic components, including ACh, choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and muscarinic and nicotinic ACh receptors (mAChRs and nAChRs, respectively) have been identified in numerous non-neuronal cells and tissues, including keratinocytes, cancer cells, immune cells, urinary bladder, airway epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and reproductive organs, among many others. Stimulation of the mAChRs and nAChRs elicits cell-specific functional and biochemical effects. These findings support the notion that non-neuronal cholinergic systems are expressed in certain cells and tissues and are involved in the regulation of their function and that cholinergic dysfunction is related to the pathophysiology of certain diseases. They also provide clues for development of drugs with novel mechanisms of action.


Introduction: the growing resistance of enterobacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae, is a current health problem, due to the high percentage of isolates in clinical samples. Methods: astudy was conducted of all the strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from critical patients hospitalized between 1 March and 31 December 2009. The strains were identified following the methodology in the automated system VITEK 2 compact (bioMériuex, France), as well as the manufacturer's recommendations, using ID GN cards for identification and AST N86 cards for sensitivity tests, both with automated reading. Results: multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in 29 patients, 51.7 % of them from blood samples and 89.6 % in intensive care units. High percentages were obtained of resistance to cephalosporins (47.5 %) and in general to all betalactamics, with the exception of piperacillin / tazobactam (36.1 %). The best sensitivity result corresponded to carbapenemics. Conclusions: the strains showed high levels of resistance. Piperazillin / tazobactam and meropenen were the best therapeutic options. The main resistance mechanism to betalactamics was the presence of extended-spectrum betalactamases, and for aminoglycosides, the presence of acetyltransferase (AAC (6 ́)).


This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) reliability prediction, LED driver, reliability modelling, physics of failure, universal generating function. The accurate and effective reliability prediction of light emitting diode (LED) drivers has emerged as a key issue in LED applications. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the reliability of electrolytic capacitors or other single components while ignoring circuit topology. In this study, universal generating function (UGF) and physics of failure (PoF) are integrated to predict the reliability of LED drivers. Utilizing PoF, lifetime data for each component are obtained. A system reliability model with multi-phase is established, and system reliability can be predicted using UGF. Illustrated by a two-channel LED driver, the beneficial effects of capacitors and MOSFETs for the reliability of LED drivers is verified. This study (i) provides a universal numerical approach to predict the lifetime of LED drivers considering circuit topology, (ii) enhances the modelling and reliability evaluation of circuits, and (iii) bridges the gap between component and circuit system levels. Highlights Abstract


The strength of foliations defined by shape preferred orientation of plagioclase in troctolitic cumulates from the Layered Series of the Skaergaard intrusion, and the Rum Eastern Layered Intrusion, increases as the grains become more tabular, due either to the greater propensity of highly non-equant grains to be re-arranged by magmatic currents or tectonic disruption of poorly consolidated mush, or by the effects of a pre-existing shape preferred orientation on final grain shape in fully solidified rocks. The stratigraphic evolution of grain shape, microstructures and fabrics in the lowest 320 m of the Skaergaard Layered Series records the progressive inflation of the chamber to its final size. During the earliest stages of solidification, the extent of in situ nucleation and growth on the chamber floor decreased upward through the stratigraphy, due to the development of a thermally insulating blanket of mush on the floor. An upward increase in foliation strength as the chamber inflated to its final size was a result of the increasing strength of convection of the bulk magma and an increasing contribution to the floor mush of crystals derived from the walls of the enlarging magma chamber. Plagioclase in the troctolites in the open-system magma chamber of the Rum Eastern Layered Intrusion is generally more equant than that in the Skaergaard intrusion, perhaps related to the slower crystal growth on the margins of the continuously replenished Rum chamber. Significant sub-solidus modification of original igneous microstructures is observed in Rum troctolites from parts of the stratigraphy recording frequent replenishment events.


My title is from an essay by Nigerian writer Ben Okri, which I draw on to address one aspect of classic empiricism in anthropology that I have found particularly important, namely the element of surprise, or "impression" (Hume), as an instigator to thought. Quickening is the moment when a being gives evidence of its own life and presence. An epistemology of surprise has been widely and frequently practiced in anthropology, as is illustrated from works across many fields and theoretical orientations. Variations in conventions of instigation and completion are traced back through skeptic and enlightenment practices; linked to artisanal, poetic, and artistic processes within the discipline across its history; compared in the imagery in classic works from Africa and Melanesia; and then explored in the recent "radical empiricism" of Michael Jackson and politically inflected works that focus on fragments, gaps, and absences rather than presences. Examples from my own work on political economic "quickenings"—a baffling confusion of referents for a number term in Cameroon, and an arresting Nigerian complaint that "there's no money," in a globally monetized world—conclude the lecture, showing the wide applicability of this mode of reasoning, which traces a genealogy from Hume and Greek skeptical empiricism.


Three children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) developed delayed‐onset transient hemiparesis and facial palsy after intrathecal (IT) administration of methotrexate (MTX) alone or as part of triple intrathecal chemotherapy for central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis. The hemiparesis developed 10 to 14 days after IT therapy. Two of three children also experienced transient, profound expressive dysarthria. These episodes occurred during maintenance treatment after multiple IT administrations and without previous CNS toxicity. Two of three children received intermediate‐dose MTX, 1 g/m2, not less than 5 weeks before events. These patients had not received cranial irradiation and had no evidence of CNS leukemia before or after these episodes. Ischemic changes on computerized tomographic scan or magnetic resonance imaging studies were documented in all three cases. Such changes are unusual manifestations of neurotoxicity in children after intrathecal therapy.


Document, implement and maintain a Quality Management System is a process that requires changes, but it brings significant improvements for organizations that carry it out. Among the advantages of having a quality management system established may be named: opening the gateway to international markets, preferred by customers, facilitating recruitment processes in the country, regulation and integration of organizational components, improving continuous empowerment, among others. This project is aimed to structure a system of quality management in GRECO Telecomunicaciones S.A., based on ISO 9001:2008, meeting all their requirements through the documentation of the elements 4. System Quality Management, 5.Management Responsibility 6. Resource Management, 7. Product Realization, 8.Measurement, analysis and improvement. It also aims to plan, measure, monitor and improve the quality of services, implementing corrective measures, preventive and improvement necessary to achieve it.


Filecoin is a distributed electronic currency similar to Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin's computation-only proof-of-work, Filecoin's proof-of-work function includes a proof-of-retrievability component, which requires nodes to prove they store a particular file. The Filecoin network forms an entirely distributed file storage system, whose nodes are incentivized to store as much of the entire network's data as they can. The currency is awarded for storing files, and is transferred in transactions, as in Bitcoin. Files are added to the network by spending currency. This produces strong monetary incentives for individuals to join and work for the network. In the course of ordinary operation of the Filecoin network, nodes contribute useful work in the form of storage and distribution of valuable data.


Effective data broadcasting is essential in vehicular networks not only for road-safety message dissemination but also to aid routing and cooperative driving applications through periodic beaconing and to spread network initialization advertisements that are mandatory to support infotainment applications. Broadcast data are neither acknowledged nor retransmitted in case of failure, which raises the possibility of frame loss due to channel errors and collisions with multiple simultaneous broadcasts. This paper aims at modeling periodic broadcasting on the control channel of IEEE Std. 802.11p vehicular networks with multichannel architecture. Unlike previous related work, the proposed novel analytical approach accounts for mutual influence among nodes, frequent periodic updates of broadcasted data, standard network advertisement procedures, and 802.11p prioritized channel access with multichannel-related phenomena under various link quality conditions.


The demand for higher-density, higher-speed, and more energy-efficient magnetoelectric RAM (MeRAM) requires the search of promising materials and magnetic-tunnel-junction stacks with voltagecontrolled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) efficiency greater than the 1000 fJ/(Vm). Using first-principles electronic structure calculations, we propose a double-barrier ferromagnetic heterostructure with an atomically thin late transition metal X (Rh, Ir, Pt), which exhibits both giant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and VCMA efficiency, where the former (latter) is 1 (1 to 2) order of magnitude higher than the values reported to date. We demonstrate that the dominant contribution to both the PMA and VCMA arises from the late heavy metal X due to the large biaxial tensile strain-induced magnetism in X . Furthermore, we predict a sign reversal of the VCMA efficiency from the Irto the Pt-monolayer cap. We elucidate that the underlying mechanism is the electric-field-induced energy shift of the spin-polarized dz2 -derived projected states on the X layer. These findings provide useful guiding rules in exploiting the large spin-orbit coupling and biaxial tensile strain-induced magnetism in the late 5d-transition metals for the design of the next generation of ultra-low energy MeRAM devices.


The growth in the number of non-developer open source software (OSS) application users and the escalating use of these applications have both created a need for and interest in developing usable OSS. OSS communities are unclear about which techniques to use in each activity of the development process. The aim of our research is to adopt the visual brainstorming usability technique in the HistoryCal OSS project and determine the feasibility of adapting the technique for application. To do this, we participated as volunteers in the HistoryCal project. We used the case study research method to investigate technique application and community participation. We identified adverse conditions that were an obstacle to technique application and modified the technique to make it applicable. We can conclude from our experience that these changes were helpful for applying the technique, although it was not easy to recruit OSS users to participate in usability technique application.


We measure labor market frictions using a strategy that bridges design-based and structural approaches: estimating an equilibrium search model using reduced-form minimum wage elasticities identified from border discontinuities and fitted with Bayesian and LIML methods. We begin by providing the first test of U.S. minimum wage effects on labor market flows and find negative effects on employment flows, but not levels. Separations and accessions fall among restaurants and teens, especially those with low tenure. Our estimated parameters of a search model with wage posting and heterogeneous workers and firms imply that frictions help explain minimum wage effects.


A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for persistent right-sided chest pain for 6 months and osteolytic changes in some ribs on chest x-rays. The patient had a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis at 19 years of age and underwent treatment for right-sided therapeutic extrapulmonary pneumothorax. A computed tomography (CT) scan of her chest demonstrated a ring-enhanced tumor adjacent to the chronic empyema, which invaded the thoracic wall and eroded some ribs. A poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was pathologically diagnosed by percutaneous CT-guided biopsy. Radiation therapy with a total dose of 74.4 Gy was performed instead of surgical resection considering poor pulmonary function. The efficacy of the treatment was confirmed by positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 FDG), which demonstrated a reduction both in the size and the standardized uptake value (SUV) at the hot spot at the invasive site of the tumor to the thoracic wall. This case was recognized as SCC developed in chronic tuberculous empyema since the tumor had only contacted with the empyema and the lung parenchyma surrounding the empyema was intact. doi:10.4021/jmc125w


The present study aimed to develop an amorphous solid dispersion of nobiletin (ASD/NOB) using hydroxypropyl cellulose-SSL (HPC-SSL) to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and hypouricemic effect of NOB. ASD/NOB was prepared by the freeze-drying method (ASD/NOB). ASD/NOB was characterized with a focus on crystallinity, dissolution, pharmacokinetic behavior, and hypouricemic action in a rat model of hyperuricemia. ASD/NOB showed significant improvement in dissolution behavior, as evidenced by a 4.4-fold higher dissolved NOB concentration than crystalline NOB at 2 h in distilled water. After the oral administration of ASD/NOB (50 mg NOB/kg) in rats, higher systemic exposure to NOB was observed with an 18-fold enhancement in oral bioavailability, and the Tmax value of orally administered ASD/NOB was 60% shorter than that of orally administered crystalline NOB. In a rat model of hyperuricemia, orally dosed ASD/NOB showed an improved hypouricemic effect by a 16% reduction in the plasma uric acid level compared with orally administered crystalline NOB. Based on these findings, ASD/NOB may be an efficacious dosage option to improve the nutraceutical potential of NOB for the treatment of hyperuricemia.


Location-aware devices will create new services and applications in emerging fields such as autonomous driving, smart cities, and the Internet of Things. Many existing localization systems rely on anchors such as satellites at known positions which broadcast radio signals. However, such signals may be blocked by obstacles, corrupted by multipath propagation, or provide insufficient localization accuracy. Therefore, ubiquitous localization remains an extremely challenging problem. This paper introduces Peregrine, a 3-D cooperative network localization and navigation (NLN) system. Peregrine nodes are low-cost business-card-sized devices, consisting of a microprocessor, a commercially available ultra-wideband (UWB) radio module, and a small battery. Recently developed distributed algorithms are used in Peregrine to solve the highly interrelated problems of node inference and node activation in real-time, enabling resource efficiency, scalability, and accuracy for NLN. Node inference-based on the recently introduced sigma point belief propagation (SPBP) algorithm-enables spatiotemporal cooperation in realtime and estimates the nodes' positions accurately from UWB distance measurements. A distributed node activation algorithm controls channel access to improve the efficiency and reduce the localization error of the network. Contributions of each algorithmic component to overall system performance are validated through indoor localization experiments. Our results show that Peregrine achieves decimeter-level 3-D position accuracy in a challenging propagation environment.


This text is a starting point for the construction of a research project on religious freedom comparing legal systems of countries with an official religion, such as the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Israel, and countries without one, such as Brazil, the USA and France. Considering the premise that a country should strive for effective human rights, the study begins an analysis of the scope of the duty of a country with no official religion to ensure religious freedom (positive and negative liberties). For this purpose, the authors make use of the Brazilian experience, with its "laicity". There is a difficulty in translating the expression "laicidade", due to language barriers and special connotations in Brazilian constitutional law. Therefore, the authors describe its three main characteristics (autonomy, cooperation and religious freedom) drawn from a recent Brazilian Supreme Court precedent. What is unique about the concept of "laicidade" is that it allows a secular state to cooperate with religious faiths, regardless of the prohibition of having an official one. This insight paves the way for future dialogues with other countries, including nations that, despite having their own official religion, are capable of working together in harmony with other religious faiths to guarantee the effectiveness of their human right.


Interaural-timing-differences (ITDs) are a cue for sound-source localisation and can be conveyed in the temporal-fine-structure (TFS) of low-frequency tones or in the envelope of high-frequency, amplitude-modulated sounds such as sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) and transposed-tones. Sensitivity to these cues has been measured in human psychophysical experiments and has revealed that the tranposed-tone elicits just-noticeable-differences (JNDs) in ITDs that are equivalent to those of low-frequency pure-tones when the modulation frequency is below 512-Hz. At modulation frequencies above 512-Hz performance rapidly declines for the transposed-tone while sensitivity to ITDs in pure-tones is robust until around 1200-Hz. Furthermore, transposed-tones elicit JNDs smaller than SAM tones. In the present study, ITD JNDs are assessed psychophysically for pure-tones and transposed-tones using off-midline reference locations. The results demonstrate that frequency, whether the ITD is conveyed in the TFS or the envelope, and location, all have a significant effect on human ITD JNDs and suggest that a difference exists in how ITDs are coded neuronally when conveyed by either high- or low-frequency sounds. ITD-sensitive neurons located within several brainstem nuclei display a high degree of phase-locking to both the TFS of low-frequency pure-tones and the envelopes of SAM and transposed-tones. Echoing the psychophysical findings, phase-locking to the waveform envelope at low modulation frequencies is equivalent to that of low-frequency pure-tones, while declining at high rates of modulation to a lesser degree for tranposed-tones than SAM tones. In order to assess factors critical to the localisation of high-frequency sounds a series of electrophysiology experiments were conducted. Recordings were made from single neurons within the inferior colliculus of the guinea pig in response to ITDs conveyed by 18 unique envelope shapes to evaluate how the envelope segments; Pause, Attack, Sustain and Decay each effect ITD JNDs. Amplitude-modulations with envelope shapes comprising relatively long Pause but short Attack durations have been found to elicit the greatest ITD discrimination of high-frequency sounds.


ThemicroRNA-34a (miR-34a), a tumor-suppressivemicroRNA (miRNA), is implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF1) is a key transcription factor in the Wnt signaling pathway, and has been suggested to be involved in regulation of cell proliferation and invasion.Here, themolecularmechanismof miR-34a and LEF1 in cooperatively regulating prostate cancer cell invasion is described. Molecular profiling analysis of miRNA levels in prostate cancer cells revealed a negative correlation between miR-34a and LEF1 expression, and the downregulation of LEF1 by miR-34a was confirmed by luciferase assays. Furthermore, miR-34a specifically repressed LEF1 expression through direct binding to its 30-untranslated regions (30-UTR). miR-34a modulated the levels of LEF1 to regulate EMT in prostate cancer cells. Functionally, miR-34a negatively correlated with the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells through LEF1. An analysis of miR-34a expression levels in matched human tumor and benign tissues demonstrated consistent and statistically significant downregulation of miR-34a in primary prostate cancer specimens. These data strongly suggest that miR-34a/LEF1 regulationof EMTplays an important role in prostate cancermigration and invasion. Implications: The miR-34a–LEF1 axis represents a potential molecular target for novel therapeutic strategies in prostate cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 13(4); 681–8. 2015 AACR.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of chloroquine diphosphate (CDP) alone and in combination with corticosteroids on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) lipoproteins.

METHODS
Fasting lipid profiles were performed in 60 consecutive female patients with SLE and in 30 controls. All SLE patients had minor disease activity and were divided according to current therapy in 4 groups: No therapy; prednisone (Pred group; < 15 mg prednisone daily); CDP (250 mg daily); and Pred + CDP.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences of age, race, and disease duration among SLE groups. All patients had SLEDAI scores < or = 4 and prednisone dose was similar in the 2 groups taking this drug. The CDP group had significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels compared to No therapy group (p < 0.05), which were similar to those detected in healthy controls. In addition, higher levels of HDL-c and lower levels of triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (VLDL-c) were detected in Pred + CDP compared to Pred (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
CDP alone or added to corticosteroid therapy has a beneficial effect in SLE dyslipoproteinemia, particularly in increasing HDL-c levels. Additionally, this drug seems to revert the increased hepatic synthesis of lipoproteins induced by corticosteroids as suggested by the concomitant decrease of triglycerides and VLDL-c levels in SLE patients taking the combined regimen.


The radical cyclization reactions of unsaturated sulfonamides were investigated. The photolysis of N-(4-halo-4-pentenyl) sulfonamides (X = I, Br, or Cl) with (diacetoxyiodo) benzene (DIB) and iodine at room temperature afforded exclusively the corresponding piperidines in 73-98% yield via 6-endo radical cyclization. On the other hand, the reactions of N-(5-halo-4-pentenyl) sulfonamides with DIB/I-2 led to the only formation of the pyrrolidine products in 84-99% yield via 5-exo radical cyclization. The vinylic halogen substitution not only successfully inhibits the competing ionic iodocyclization process to allow the radical cyclization to proceed smoothly but also shows a remarkable effect in controlling the regioselectivity of cyclization.


LT. JACK SANTIAGO sat unmindful of the commotion as the firebase bustled with activity. M35 six by six trucks rolled in and out. Men loaded and unloaded ammunition crates and other equipment. The whines of the trucks and the roar of the armored vehicles mingled with the shouts and curses of the sweating men. Somewhere in the perimeter rifles and machines were test fired, and a salvo of loud reports boomed through the air as the battery fired the 105s. The cacophony of sound accentuated the urgency of the day's undertaking.


Two-dimensional (2D) plasma profiles, gradient-driven low frequency electrostatic waves and anomalous particle transport are studied experimentally in a purely toroidal plasma configuration. The plasma is produced by a negatively biased, emissive cathode in conjunction with a variably biased anode plate localized on the same field line. Nearly circularly symmetric potential profiles, positive or negative, can be obtained by varying the anode plate bias. Confinement loss in the form of plasma ejection in the major radius direction is only observed when the anode is biased close to ground potential. For the cases of circularly symmetric plasma flow electrostatic flute modes with poloidal mode number m = 1 and m = 2 are identified as unstable on the low-field side of the density maximum, but indications are also given that they coexist with spatially quasi-uniform oscillations and, for low frequencies, with an ion acoustic mode with toroidal mode number n = 1 propagating parallel to the magnetic field. The anomalous particle flux density is found to be non-uniformly distributed on a toroidal surface, and the main flux is passed through two lobes directed almost vertically upwards and downwards, while almost no flux takes place along the major radius direction.


Two sigma factors, sigma 35 and sigma 28, direct transcription from the Bt I and Bt II promoters of the cryIA(a) gene of Bacillus thuringiensis; this gene encodes a lepidopteran-specific crystal protoxin. These sigma factors were biochemically characterized in previous work (K. L. Brown and H. R. Whiteley, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:4166-4170, 1988; K. L. Brown and H. R. Whiteley, J. Bacteriol. 172:6682-6688, 1990). In this paper, we describe the cloning of the genes encoding these two sigma factors, as well as their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. The deduced amino acid sequences of the sigma 35 and sigma 28 genes show 88 and 85% identity, respectively, to the sporulation-specific sigma E and sigma K polypeptides of Bacillus subtilis. Transformation of the sigma 35 and sigma 28 genes into B. subtilis shows that the respective B. thuringiensis sigma factor genes can complement spoIIG55 (sigma E) and spoIIIC94 (sigma K) defects. Further, B. thuringiensis core polymerase reconstituted with either the sigma 35 or sigma 28 polypeptide directs transcription from B. subtilis promoters recognized by B. subtilis RNA polymerase containing sigma E and sigma K, respectively. Thus, sigma 35 and sigma 28 of B. thuringiensis appear to be functionally equivalent to sigma E and sigma K of B. subtilis. However, unlike the situation for sigma K in B. subtilis, the homologous sigma 28 gene in B. thuringiensis does not result from a late-sporulation-phase chromosomal rearrangement of two separate, partial genes.


Objective: Use machine learning to better predict survival outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Background: ALS is a progressive degenerative motor neuron disease. Due to the heterogeneity of the disease and difficulty predicting disease progression, interventional trials are lengthy and require large sample sizes to account for this. Tools that better stratify patients based on predicted survival or rate of disease progression would increase our ability to design shorter and cheaper clinical trials with a higher chance of success. Design/Methods: In collaboration with CloudMedx Inc we analyzed the publicly available Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials (PROACT) database to develop a machine learning framework to identify variables with high predictive power for survival stratification. Seven hundred twenty-six patients with complete records were divided into three buckets for survival and normalized to 242 patients per bucket. Running algorithms of k-nearest neighbors (kNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest model, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and gradient boosting machine (GBM), this model was trained, validated, and tested with initial visit data and 90-day data to develop an outcome prediction algorithm. Results: The CloudMedx ALS Framework (CMX-ALS) identified twenty highly predictive variables for survival. Data from 90-day and initial visit predicted survival outcomes with 82% and 70% accuracy respectively. This stratified patients into survival groups of less than 1 year, 1–2 years, and greater than 2 years. We identified seven new lab variables (bicarbonate, hematocrit, potassium, chloride, AST, glucose, and hemoglobin) and two medications (amitriptyline and baclofen) that were highly predictive of survival outcomes, and have not previously been mentioned in survival prediction models. Conclusions: Patient stratification using machine learning methods will allow for smaller sample sizes in trial design. Additionally, we identified new variables and medications that were not previously considered for outcome efficacy. Disclosure: Dr. Jacobsen has nothing to disclose. Yes - Amylyx Advisory Board


The velocity of a swimmer can be determined from the stroke rate and the stroke length or by integrating the forward acceleration. In competitive swimming, these parameters are very important for race planning. This paper presents a wrist mounted accelerometer and optical wireless communications to display goggles to give real time feedback to a swimmer during swimming. The system data rate is 2.4 kbps ON-OFF keying modulation for the optical wireless signal. The system uses visible light communication in the green-blue wavelength. Design challenges include interference from bubbles and strong background light. The final device is low cost with low power consumption and small size. Intra-stroke transmit times are scheduled using the acceleration sensor data. Experiments are conducted in air and under water for this system to optimize the link availability. Algorithms for finding the absolute maximum of the y-axis acceleration for each stroke cycle and the goggles display decision are implemented at the transmitter and the receiver, respectively. Hardware, software, and implementation modifications to improve the system are successfully tested.


During machining in order to improve the performance of the tool, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of chip flow and chip-tool interactions on the rake face. The predominating factors which influence the performance of cutting tool are proper combinations of process variables, tool and workpiece. Focusing more on environmental and economic considerations, dry machining is preferred in the present work to study and evaluate the performance of the multi-striped alternate coated Tungsten Carbide (WC) inserts. Dry turning tests on AISI 1040 steel at various machining conditions have been carried out using uncoated and striped coated cutting tools to deliberate the wear patterns close to the cutting edge. An effective tool coating helps the tool manufacturers to increase the tool life during high speed machining conditions. In the earlier research, in evaluating the performance of single and multi-layer carbide tools, tool wear has been considerably reduced in multi-layer coated tools compared with single layer coated tools. In the current work, to further reduce the tool wear an attempt has been made to assess the tool wear with striped coated carbide tools having alternate bands of hard and soft coatings located close to the cutting edge. The findings are significant in the current study which shows that no crater wear has been observed. Further authors also tried for the optimum rake face utilization by having the proposed band of coatings close to the cutting edge.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


The quasilinear theory of the Wigner-Poisson system in one spatial dimension is examined. Conservation laws and properties of the stationary solutions are determined. Quantum effects are shown to manifest themselves in transient periodic oscillations of the averaged Wigner function in velocity space. The quantum quasilinear theory is checked against numerical simulations of the bump-on-tail and two-stream instabilities. The predicted wavelength of the oscillations in velocity space agrees well with the numerical results.


Abstract:The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine factors of persistence for two African American men involved in the Project Empowerment (PE, pseudonym) student organization at a predominantly White institution. The participants are undergraduate student members of PE, a campus-based organization designed to enhance African American male retention. The researcher conducted interviews with both participants, and analyzed the data verbatim uncovering these four themes: (a) college preparedness, (b) high aspirations and goals, (c) social connections and relationships, and (d) growth through student organizational commitment. The study found that components of PE support African American male persistence. The findings implicate the need for ethnic-based programs for African American men, and for institutions to encourage program participation among this student group.


Pakistan is fortunate enough because its soils, topography and climate are generally suitable for farming but its agriculture sector faces the problem of scarcity of the irrigation water. This paucity of irrigation supplies has forced the farmers to use the ground water to augment their surface supplies. The quality of ground water in Pakistan varies from fit for irrigation to moderately saline to sodic. Thus the tubewell owners in the marginal quality ground water areas are bound to use the tubewell water in conjunction with the surface water on their farms. Currently the farmers are using about 65.75 BCM of ground water in Pakistan [Halcrow (2002)]. The international literature is filled with the studies on conjunctive water management and its impact on crop productivity and related issues [Gangwar and Toorn (1987); Bredehoeft and Young (1983); Gorelick (1988); Lingen (1988); O'Mara (1988); Shah (1988); Brewer and Sharma (2000); Datta and Dayal (2000); Raju and Brewer (2000); Sakhtivadivel and Chawala (2002) and Chaudhary and Shah (2003)]. In Pakistan, the review of literature shows that all of the previous studies conducted in the arena of water management reported the management problems leading to the inefficiencies in irrigation application and reduction in crop productivity, [Kijne and Velde (1991); Mustafa (1991) and Siddiq (1994)]. Few of the studies took into consideration the impact of waterlogging and salinity on productivity at farm level [Meyer, et al. (1996); Prathaper, et al. (1997) and O'Connell and Khan (1999)]. None of these studies have taken into consideration the trade-offs between gross farm income, ground water and salinity at irrigation subdivision level. To answer the issues of spatial differences in the trade offs between gross farm income, ground water and salinity at irrigation Subdivision level, this paper presents the results of the optimisation modeling at the Subdivisional level


In this paper, an integrated methodology is developed to determine optimum areas for Photovoltaic (PV) installations that minimize the relevant visual disturbance and satisfy spatial constraints associated with land use, as well as environmental and techno-economic siting factors. The visual disturbance due to PV installations is quantified by introducing and calculating the "Social Disturbance" (SDIS) indicator, whereas optimum locations are determined for predefined values of two siting preferences (maximum allowable PV locations—grid station distance and minimum allowable total coverage area of PV installations). Thematic maps of appropriate selected exclusion criteria are produced, followed by a cumulative weighted viewshed analysis, where the SDIS indicator is calculated. Optimum solutions are then determined by developing and employing a Genetic Algorithms (GAs) optimization process. The methodology is applied for the municipality of La Palma Del Condado in Spain for 100 different combinations of the two siting preferences. The optimization results are also employed to create a flexible and easy-to-use web-GIS application, facilitating policy-makers to choose the set of solutions that better fulfils their preferences. The GAs algorithm offers the ability to determine distinguishable, but compact, regions of optimum locations in the region, whereas the results indicate the strong dependence of the optimum areas upon the two siting preferences.


Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system installations are enjoying a continued and remarkable growth in Australia. Currently there are over a million PV systems installed in the country with an installed capacity of over 3.5GW, the majority of which are small grid-connected rooftop systems of less than 10kW capacity. Australian conditions can be very harsh, contributing to early equipment failure rates, while installation of small systems can be suboptimal,and often without monitoring. Documentation of faults with PV products and installations in Australia is limited and there is little publically available information in regards to the types of problems that occur, where and why they occur, how frequently and if they are an ongoing issue.

The reliability of PV systems is a strong determinant of cost effectiveness, and critical to continued investor confidence. A 'PV Module and System Fault Reporting Portal' (PVFRP) has been developed to increase the understanding of the PV industry and other stakeholders
about the types of problems that are found with different system components in the Australian environment. The PVFRP contains a survey to collect data from owners, operators, installers and inspectors of PV system who have detected a fault/problem with whole or part of a system. Analysis and dissemination of the Portal data will help to improve future PV system design, component selection, product development and product approvals for Australian conditions. The survey is available at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/pvwebportal.

This paper presents the initial findings of the survey after five months of operation. The number of responses received thus far is not large enough to reach to any substantive conclusions, however, they are in agreement with the research outputs achieved elsewhere. This information will help the industry address the challenges that PV systems, components and related service delivery are facing in Australia. The information presented here will be updated as more data become available and will be published on a regular basis.


Amino acid functionalised perylene bisimides (PBIs) form self-assembled structures in
solution, the nature of which depends on the local environment. Using a high throughput
photocatalysis set-up, we have studied five PBIs for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
under a range of conditions (pH and hole scavenger concentration) across 350 experiments
to explore the relationship between supramolecular structure and photocatalytic activity. Using
small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that photocatalytic activity is determined by the
nature of the self-assembled aggregate that is formed with a correlation between the presence
of charged flexible cylindrical aggregates and high levels of H2. Our work highlights the
complexity of designing supramolecular photocatalysts, and also the power of tuning activity
by the type of aggregate that is formed.


Introduction: U lcerative colitis (CU) is an inflammatory disease predisposing to colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis is more often metachronous or synchronous. Case report: In this case report we present a patient with multifocal colorectal cancer in the course of CU and operative treatment that was implemented. Additionallyprimary sclerosing cholangitis was diagnosed in this patient post-operatively.


The article looks into the experience of development and using of learning resources for design of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems for future STEM teachers. Unity environment for visual design, Visual Studio as a programming environment, platform of VR (Google VR) and AR (Vuforia) were chosen for development of teaching materials. The article describes the content of the created course. The research analyzes the impressions of the course participants. The research data were collected using interviews as the method of qualitative data collection. To conclude, the created course promotes the development of digital competence in the design and use of innovative learning tools.


In this paper, we consider the task allocation problem for computing a large set of equal-sized independent tasks on a heterogeneous computing system where the tasks initially reside on a single computer (the root) in the system. This problem represents the computation paradigm for a wide range of applications such as SETI@home and Monte Carlo simulations. We consider the scenario where the systems have a general graph-structured topology and the computers are capable of concurrent communications and overlapping communications with computation. We show that the maximization of system throughput reduces to a standard network flow problem. We then develop a decentralized adaptive algorithm that solves a relaxed form of the standard network flow problem and maximizes the system throughput. This algorithm is then approximated by a simple decentralized protocol to coordinate the resources adaptively. Simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. For both uniformly distributed and power law distributed systems, a close-to-optimal throughput is achieved, and improved performance over a bandwidth-centric heuristic is observed. The adaptivity of the proposed approach is also verified through simulations.


Human genetic resources are increasingly considered as marketable goods, buttheir value goes beyond the simple and immediate private value. In contrast to otherbiological resources, commercial use does not focus upon the material itself butrather upon the genetic information it contains. Information goods are then usuallysubject to intellectual property rights, but in the biological and life science domains,property rights can have a negative influence upon the proper allocation of severalgoods, including genetic material or goods that are related to it.Considering this scenario, the purpose of the paper is to discuss how to regulate theaccess to and use of biochemical and human genetic material currently consideredas part of the market framework. Looking beyond the protection of traditional publicgoods (such as land or water), the paper emphasizes the debate around theprogressive commodification of human genetic resources facilitated by an improperuse of intellectual property rights. The discourse around commons is used toevaluate alternative tools and strategies to the issue of private appropriation ofhuman genetic resources and natural compounds.


The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is a recently established instrument of democracy promotion intended to complement existing EU tools. Fashioned after the US National Endowment for Democracy, the EED's privileged area of action is the European neighbourhood. Meant as a small rapid-response, actor-oriented 'niche' initiative, its main task is to select those actors, from both civil and political society able to produce a change in their country. The EED represents a step forward in the EU's capacity to foster democracy, but does not necessarily go in the direction of more rationality and effectiveness. Not all EU member states support the EED with the same enthusiasm and it is still not clear how it fits into the EU's overall democracy promotion architecture. Its actions may be successful in a very constrained timeframe. However, recent crises at the EU's borders would seem to call for a strategy that takes into consideration systemic hindrances, post-regime change complexities, regional dynamics and finally rival plans of autocracy promotion.


The International Conference on Scientific and Statistical Database Management (SSDBM) brings together scientific domain experts, database researchers, practitioners, and developers for the presentation and exchange of current research results on concepts, tools, and techniques for scientific and statistical database applications. SSDBM 2018 continues the tradition of past SSDBM conferences in providing a stimulating environment to encourage discussion, fellowship and exchange of ideas in all aspects of research related to scientific and statistical data management. The conference is hosted by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, from July 9--11, 2018.


Objective We aimed to investigate the frequency of social phobia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, we explored the relationship between social phobia and the clinical characteristics of PD, and the frequency of comorbid psychiatric disorders in PD patients. Methods This study included 80 consecutive patients with PD admitted to the Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders Clinic at the Erenkoy Research and Training Hospital for Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders, Istanbul, Turkey and used demographic and clinical data. The PD patients were evaluated during the "on state", using the Hoehn and Yahr scale, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and the Schwab England Activities of Daily Living Scale. Psychiatric evaluations were conducted using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition structured clinical interview, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Results Social phobia was diagnosed in 42.5% of PD patients. Social phobia was comorbid with depression in 20 patients (58.8%), generalized anxiety disorder in 18 patients (52.9%), and panic disorder in six patients (17.6%). Social phobia was more frequent in males, early-onset PD, patients with a long duration of disease, the presence of postural instability, and with the use of a high Levodopa equivalent daily dose. A logistic regression analysis revealed the predictive factors of social phobia to be the sex of the patient (more frequent in males) and the presence of postural instability. There was a statistically significantly negative correlation between the LSAS score and the age of disease onset (r=−0.503; P=0.002) and a positive correlation between LSAS score and the duration of disease (r=0.374; P=0.023). Conclusion Social phobia is frequently observed in PD patients. Therefore, the assessment of PD patients should always include psychiatric evaluations, particularly for social phobia. The early detection and treatment of social phobia in PD patients is very important for the quality of life of patients as well as caregivers.


Hyperinsulinemia was produced in fetal rhesus monkeys for 21 days in the last third of gestation by subcutaneous pork insulin injected at 19 U a day. Plasma insulin concentrations in treated fetuses (N = 4) were 3525 μU/ml compared with controls' (N = 6) 51 μ/ml. There was no difference in paired pre- and post-treatment fetal plasma glucose concentration. Activity of the hepatic enzymes that promote glucose utilization (glucokinase and hexokinase) and glycolysis (phos-phofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, and pyruvate dehy-drogenase) was unaffected. Similarly, glycogen metabolism enzymes (active and inactive synthase and phosphorylase) were unaltered. Two gluconeogenic enzymes (PEPCK and glucose-6-phosphatase) were diminished in the treated group compared with controls. Fetal hyperinsulinemia enhanced lipogenic and NADPH-producing enzyme activities, as evidenced by a twofold increase in fatty acid synthase and in citrate cleavage enzyme activity. Malic enzyme was absent. Hyperinsulinemia with euglycemia (1) increases the activity of enzymes that participate in lipogenesis, (2) decreases some of those controlling gluconeogenesis, and (3) has no effect on the enzymes of glycolysis.


Technological objects present themselves as necessary, only to become obsolete faster than ever before. This phenomenon has led to a population that experiences a plethora of technological objects and interfaces as they age, which become associated with certain stages of life and disappear thereafter. Noting the expanding body of literature within HCI about appropriation, our work pinpoints an area that needs more attention, "outdated technologies." In other words, we assert that design practices can profit as much from imaginaries of the future as they can from reassessing artefacts from the past in a critical way. In a two-week fieldwork with 37 HCI students, we gathered an international collection of nostalgic devices from 14 different countries to investigate what memories people still have of older technologies and the ways in which these memories reveal normative and accidental use of technological objects. We found that participants primarily remembered older technologies with positive connotations and shared memories of how they had adapted and appropriated these technologies, rather than normative uses. We refer to this phenomenon as nostalgic reminiscence. In the future, we would like to develop this concept further by discussing how nostalgic reminiscence can be operationalized to stimulate speculative design in the present.


Development of an effective vaccine against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has long been defined as a difficult challenge due to the considerable variability of this RNA virus and the observation that convalescent humans and chimpanzees could be re-infected after re-exposure. On the other hand, progress in the understanding of antiviral immune responses in patients with viral clearance has elucidated key mechanisms playing a role in the control of viral infection. Studies investigating prophylactic vaccine approaches in chimpanzees have confirmed that the induction and maintenance of strong helper and cytotoxic T-cell immune responses against multiple viral epitopes is necessary for protection against viral clearance and chronic infection. A multispecific B-cell response, resulting in rapid induction of cross-neutralizing antibodies may assist cellular responses. Therapeutic vaccine formulations currently being evaluated in clinical trials are facing the fact that the immune system of chronic carriers is impaired and needs the restoration of T-cell functions to enhance their efficacy.


Parallel discrete-event simulation on heterogeneous multicore platforms requires innovative redesign of existing algorithms in return for better performance. Based on the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) methodology, a technique called Multicore Acceleration of DEVS Systems is proposed for efficient parallel discrete-event simulation on the IBM Cell processor. The technique combines multi-grained parallelism and various optimizations to overcome performance bottlenecks, while hiding the technical details of multicore programming from non-expert users. By explicitly exploiting the data- and event-level parallelism inherent in the simulation, the technique significantly accelerates both memory-bound and compute-bound computational kernels in demanding parallel DEVS simulations, as shown in the experimental results. Several key concepts and methods derived from this research can also be applied to other multicore and shared-memory architectures.


Oxidoreductases are attractive biocatalysts that convert achiral substrates into products of higher value, but they are also for the most part dependent on nicotinamide cofactors. Recently, biomimetic nicotinamide derivatives have received attention as less costly alternatives to natural cofactors. However, recycling of biomimetics is still challenging because there are only limited opportunities. Here, we have characterized various biomimetic cofactors with regard to stability and redox potentials to find the best alternative to natural cofactors. Further, the cofactor spectrum of NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus pentosus (LpNox) could be expanded, and the enzymatic activity was also compared to activities with different small‐molecule catalysts. As a result, we succeeded in identifying several strategies for regeneration of oxidized biomimetics.


: We investigate the multiphase deformation, fluid flow, and mineralization processes in epithermal systems by presenting a detailed study of vein textures and breccias of the Kestanelik epithermal Au-Ag deposit, NW Turkey. The mineralization in the deposit is associated with several quartz veins. Fault-hosted veins and mode I veins share many textural and breccia characteristics owing to (i) overprinting of tectonic breccias formed during coseismic rupturing by subsequent coseismic hydrothermal brecciation and (ii) reworking of earlier vein breccia phases by repeated rupturing and hydraulic fracturing events. The spatial distribution of breccias at fault-hosted veins proposes that power of coseismic hydrothermal brecciation is controlled by the distance to the level of boiling within a vein. The brecciation affects the entire vein proximal to the level of boiling; however, it is limited to the footwall contact of the vein more distally at the upper levels of a vein. Varying number of mineralization events for the veins suggests that any individual earthquake event reopened only one or more sealed vein, but not all at once. Fewer mineralization events in fault-hosted veins compared to the mode I veins is either linked to (i) focusing of high fluid flux into the conduits of mode I veins that accommodate more dilation or (ii) reopening of mode I veins owing to the driven of extensional failure under low differential stress. Although fault-hosted veins record fewer mineralization events, they have higher average Au grade (4.106 g/t) compared to that of mode I veins (2.736 g/t). On the other hand, fewer mineralization events in wall rock structures compared to the adjacent faults is attributed to (i) absence or poor development of the damage zone structures in earlier seismic events or (ii) deactivation of them after clogging due to the rotation of the optimum stress field or (iii) their formation as hydraulic extension fractures. This study emphasizes the importance of detailed studies of vein infill for understanding the internal structural evolution of the veins in epithermal deposits that is interest to the geologists within both industry and academic fields.


A range of pathological behaviours associated with treatment with dopamine receptor agonists (DA) have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). The behaviours, known as impulse control disorders (ICD), are linked by repetitive rewarding or motivating choices despite negative consequences and include pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, binge eating and hypersexuality. This patient group provides a model for the study of the effect of both chronic DA and the interaction between DA and vulnerability mediated by cognitive mechanisms.
In this thesis, I focus on PD patients with problem gambling, or compulsive shopping behaviors compared to matched PD controls without ICDs and matched healthy volunteers. I begin by outlining the methods used in this study including fMRI, reinforcement learning and model-based fMRI. I then ask whether these behaviours are associated with enhanced learning from gain feedback or impaired learning from loss feedback. As exogenous dopaminergic medications may interfere with the physiological function of phasic dopaminergic activity as a teaching signal, I use a reinforcement learning model to examine the effects of DA and the interaction of DA and vulnerability on prediction error activity as measured in the fMRI. Here, positive reinforcement is simply defined as "any event that increases the probability of a response" and does not imply hedonic value. I show a dissociation as a function of vulnerability: dopamine agonists are associated with faster reward learning in ICD patients and slower loss learning in PD controls. The effects appear to be mediated by differences in striatal prediction error activity. I then examine the effect of DA on various forms of impulsivity including impulsive choice (or the ability to delay gratification) and reaction time with increasing decision difficulty or decision conflict. I show here that DA in ICD patients are associated with greater impulsive choice and more rapid decisions compared to off DA and PD controls. ICD patients overall have faster reaction times compared to PD controls. I also show that ICD patients on DA have worse working memory function compared to PD controls on DA. I then examine the neural correlates of the impulsive choice task in healthy volunteers in an fMRI study.
In the final data chapter, I assess the effects of DA on risk taking. I show that DA increases the tendency towards risk taking choices in ICD patients accompanied by a decrease in ventral striatal activity to an index of risk. Thus, DA may lead to an underestimation of risk in ICD patients by decreasing the perception of the difference between the potential for gain and the potential for loss outcomes in the risky choice.
Thus, I construct a model of the ICD behavior. In a vulnerable subset of the PD population (presumably reflecting genetic, biological or psychosocial factors), DA hastens learning from rewarding outcomes emphasizing the acquisition phase of these behaviors and DA decreases the estimation of risk. DA appears to increase sensitivity towards immediate rewards over delayed rewards, an effect that may be mediated by the influence of DA on reward magnitude. These cognitive mechanisms can help explain why ICD patients choose to pursue these short term potentially rewarding risky gains despite marked negative financial losses and social and occupational consequences.


Designed to encourage young children to read for pleasure, these readers can be used in conjunction with the Start with English course. They increase skill in word recognition and revise words and structures already taught. Each book contains a full colour dictionary explaining words used.


After its proposal for a Web-based repository of biomedical literature drew fire from several scientific societies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has dropped the notion of a "preprint" server containing mostly unreviewed scientific papers. Instead, it is putting together a model more like a "reprint" server that would provide researchers access to publications that have mostly already gone through peer review by journals. NIH is now discussing the proposal with scientific publishers, and it could unveil its new plan "within a few weeks," according to one government official.


Metal–organic semiconductor films are fabricated as co-evaporated films. It is demonstrated that the technique can be used to fabricate metal-semiconductor surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) or surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) substrates or to attain SERS or SERRS of highly insoluble pigments. The experiments are carried out using three different pigments: iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and two substituted tetracaboxylic perylenes (PTCDs). The structure of the co-PVD films was characterized at the nanoscale by scanning electron microscopy through field-emission gun (SEM-FEG), revealing a fairly homogeneous spatial distribution of the silver-pigment nanoparticles. The fabricated mixed nanostructures show a homogenous distribution of plasmon enhancement as observed in the point-by-point mapping of the SERRS spectra recorded with micrometer spatial resolution in Raman microscopy.


Social capital theory is used here to examine the social role of sport in facilitating community
development and, in particular, in the social inclusion of Muslim women in community sport
organisations. Sport has been proposed as a site for the creation of social capital, which is,
social trust, networks, reciprocity, inter ethnic trust and community wellbeing (Nicholson &
Hoye, 2008). It seems reasonable to suggest that social capital can play a role in facilitating
gender equity and cultural diversity within community sport organisations. Evidence of the
potential for, and limitations to, social capital in community sport networks is replete in recent
literature. However, the extent and nature of interactions among the community sport
organisations volunteers is mainly conjecture, with little empirical evidence present. In
consequence, further research into the social effects associated with these networks is
called for (Doherty & Misener, 2008). In exploring this aspect of social capital and sport, the
research presented in this paper considers the relationships and networks between
volunteers within community sport organisations. A case study of a local community sport
and recreation club is presented to illustrate how Muslim women develop a sense of
belonging, make connections and cultivate networks. Muslim women in non Islamic
countries, such as Australia, may face a number of cultural and religious restrictions to their
participation in active recreation These constraints may include the lack of provision of
appropriate venues and opportunities that allow culturally appropriate clothing to be worn
and lack of provision of female only environments for participating in active recreation
(Hanlon & Coleman, 2006). In order to recommend more effective strategies, policies and
programs to facilitate the sport and active recreation of Muslim women an in-depth study
was necessary. The interpretive or constructivist approach or paradigm (Lincoln & Guba,
1985; Patton, 2002), based on the philosophy that reality is socially constructed through
language, consciousness and shared meaning, was deemed apposite for this research.
Findings demonstrated cultural and gender related adaptations occurring within the case
study organisation, facilitated by the development of social and inter ethnic trust amongst
participants and community members, encouraging Muslim women to become involved.
Evidence also illustrated that the three social capital dimensions, (linking, bonding, and
bridging) were operating within the club. The social capital attributes of volunteering,
community well-being, social trust, social networks, inter ethnic trust and reciprocity were
illustrated in comments made by informants during interviews and focus groups as well as
through content analysis of the community sport organisation's documentation.
Recommendations suggest ways to facilitate cultural diversity and gender equity within
community sport organisations using the social capital construct.


Neuroscientist Seth Horowitz was part of a NASA-funded team at State University of New York Stony Brook demonstrating that low-amplitude vestibular stimulation could induce sleep. After recognizing the same stimulation could be applied through sound, Horowitz founded Sleep Genius, located in Park City, Utah, and released a mobile app of the same name that helps people to get a more restful sleep.


The computer-controlled chemical polishing (CCCP) techniques based on the Marangoni effect have been developed to manufacture precision optics on polished fused silica surface. In this study, we present the Marangoni confined chemical-etching process in which the material removal on optical surfaces can be accomplished by etching with buffered HF solution. The process shows stable characteristics and good repeatability while the etching depth can be controlled in the order of ten nanometers. We also present the experimental results of this technology for fabrication of phase corrector and continuous phase plate. Results show that the CCCP's deterministic sub-aperture-polishing characteristics make it possible to correct the surface error and imprint complex phase structure with spatial scale-length of several millimeters onto optical surface.


The end of Dennard scaling (i.e., the ability to shrink the feature size of integrated circuits while maintaining a constant power density) has now placed energy as a primary design principle in par with performance, all the way from the hardware to the application software. Along this line, optimizing the performance-energy balance of the 7/13 "dwarfs", introduced by UC Berkeley in 2006, represents a challenge with a potential tremendous impact on a vast number of scientific applications. However, without a careful modeling and a subsequent understanding of the performance-energy interaction, the optimization process of these kernels is doomed to fail. In this paper we investigate the performance-power-energy characterization of the sparse matrix-vector product (SpMV), a challenging kernel due to its indirect and irregular memory access pattern, which constitutes the key ingredient of the sparse linear algebra dwarf. In the first part of our analysis we identify a reduced set of critical features (based on statistics about the sparse matrix structure) which impact the performance, power, and energy consumption of a baseline implementation of SpMV. We then generate a small synthetic sparse benchmark collection (the training set) that we use to build (i) a general classification of sparse matrices and (ii) a model to accurately predict performance and energy consumption of any SpMV. Both tools are based on the features (parameters) emerged from the first part of our study, and they are validated using the entire University of Florida Matrix Collection, run on two high-end multithreaded architectures.


Outsiders, a sandwich book comprised of two previouslypublished articles on marijuana use and two on dance musicians, a two-chapter introduction, and a three-chapter conclusion (and, in the 1973 edition, the author's reappraisal of labeling theory), has been, by far, Howard S. Becker's most-read and most-cited work. It was remarkable and influential in several ways, including the fact that the author was a participant in the behavior he described and analyzed. But in his reflections on his own work, Becker expressed unease about being identified by this book, arguing that his writings in other areas are more emblematic of his contributions to sociology. Indeed, Becker even argues that, conceptually, the book wasn't even about deviance as such, but occupations and the professions. The fact remains, authors do not render the most authoritative judgment about their work-their readers and commentators do.


Many clinical conditions require the stimulation of bone growth. The use of recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins does not provide a satisfying solution to these conditions due to delivery problems and high cost. Gene therapy has emerged as a very promising approach for bone repair that overcomes limitations of protein-based therapy. Several preclinical studies have shown that gene transfer technology has the ability to deliver osteogenic molecules to precise anatomical locations at therapeutic levels for sustained periods of time. Both in-vivo and ex-vivo transduction of cells can induce bone formation at ectopic and orthotopic sites. Genetic engineering of adult stem cells from various sources with osteogenic genes has led to enhanced fracture repair, spinal fusion and rapid healing of bone defects in animal models. This review describes current viral and non-viral gene therapy strategies for bone tissue engineering and repair including recent work from the author's laboratory. In addition, the article discusses the potential of gene-enhanced tissue engineering to enter widespread clinical use.


Aim and objectives: The aim of this qualitative study was to examine how life story work can be embedded into an age-inclusive dementia service. The objectives were to: explore the cultural and organisational changes required for practitioners to internalise life story work as part of delivering high-quality dementia care; determine how the use of a life story profile can be embedded into an age-inclusive dementia service; develop a model of service redesign which facilitates the introduction of good practice in dementia care; and analyse the essential and desirable components of life story work from the perspective of the person, their carers and practitioners.

Methodology: An inter-disciplinary participatory action research group was established to reintroduce life story work. This group met on eight occasions. These meetings were audio recorded, and notes made by an independent observer on the group processes. Field notes were also compiled by the researcher. Data collection further included interviews with research group members (5), people with dementia (4) and carers (3). The data were coded using Miles and Huberman's (1994) framework.

Findings: Four themes were identified: 'Life story work is a mechanism for resolving inflexible paradigms in working practice'; 'Life story work is a means of bringing people together in a collaborative manner'; 'Life story work is a strategy for providing post-diagnostic support' and 'Life story work is a framework for managing boundaries between staff and service users'.

Conclusions: This study suggested that a new 'PIC' model (participatory action research, innovation and creativity and cultural change) is recommended to enhance the delivery of person-centred care. This model assimilates the essential LSW strategies as proposed by the informants, the positive outcomes of undertaking LSW as identified in the literature and a framework for locality-based change management. When implemented, the PIC model will result in high-quality dementia care.


With the advent of power electronic technology, the excitation conditions applied to transformers, motors, etc. could be very atypical. DC bias excitation is an undesired working condition of AC power transformers, the asymmetrical saturation of the transformer core, the heavy noise, the serious vibration, and the local loss concentration can all potentially occurred in dc-biased transformers. The effect of the exciting current under different dc-biased magnetization on eddy-current loss in copper plate based on a reduced engineering-oriented benchmark model (TEAM Problem 21) is investigated. Experiment scheme for dc biasing is presented and the distribution of the eddy current loss under different dc-biased excitation conditions was studied in detail. The engineering applicability of three dimensional eddy current analysis methods for dc-biased magnetization field computation and the practical loss modeling are examined, which has been demonstrated via the numerical modeling results and the measured data.


Introduction: Obesity is one of the important health care problems in the world, being known as the main risk factor in the occurance of cardiovascular, hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and co-morbidities of obesity in residents of Gorgan. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 207 subjects (18 years old or older) were randomly selected and a check list containing demographic information was completed for each person. All the subjects were then sent to the laboratory for blood tests. The statistical analysis was performed, using SPSS. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square were usd to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that 31.4% of the subjects had normal BMI and 60.9 % of them had BMI >25. The mean BMI in all the subjects was 26.54 ± 4.86. There was a significant relationship between the level of LDL cholesterol and BMI (P < 0.05). The subjects with high BMI showed elevated blood pressure (BP), but no relationship was observed between BMI and BP. Conclusion: Our results about the relationship between LDL cholesterol and BMI indicate the necessity of the preventive and educational programs to educate the public on obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities.


The fracture mechanisms of SiCp/AZ91 composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the as-cast composites, the decohesion at SiCp/matrix interface is the main fracture mechanism because of the high stress concentration resulting from the segregation of particles in grain boundaries formed during solidification process. But for the extruded composites, the main fracture mechanism is the particle crack or ductile rupture of the matrix between the particles. So the fracture mechanism of SiCp/AZ91 composites is altered by extrusion because the segregation of particles and defects in the grain boundaries are largely eliminated by extrusion.


The importance of English as a lingua franca (ELF) has grown exponentially, and a great deal of controversy has emerged over a number of years. Gathering data from a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire with a comments section, the study reported in this article aimed to explore perceptions of ELF among non-English major students from a wide variety of national origins. The students were studying in two distinct contexts (one a foreign language environment, where English is not spoken beyond the classroom; the other a target language situation, where English is spoken as the native language). The results showed that students' perceptions were ambivalent, with students expressing both a personal desire to attain native-like competence but also considerable tolerance of ELF. These perceptions showed very little difference according to nationality or subject major, though, interestingly, students in the target language environment were significantly more tolerant of ELF than their peers learning English in a foreign language environment, as well as being significantly less positive about the desire to attain native-like competence. These findings lead the researchers to conclude that study-abroad programmes may be an effective way of promoting ELF, and to stress the importance of giving learners choice regarding the degree to which they personally wish to work for native-like competence versus communicative ability. The findings were also examined for implications they might have for classroom practice.