Background

Gallbladder stone diseases being common disorder, prior studies have identified an association between gallstones and abnormal lipids, type 2 diabetics have higher rates of significant abnormalities in lipid metabolism, so the prevalence of dyslipidemia may be higher in gallstone disease patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in the general population. This study aimed to compare the serum lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities between gallbladder stone patients who have T2DM and controls in China.
Methods

Retrospective analysis of serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in patients aged 40 years and older with gallbladder stone combined with T2DM, T2DM, gallbladder stone, and a normal group of 407 individuals in four groups. 135 cases with gallbladder stones combined with T2DM were compared with 102 cases with T2DM, 119 cases with gallbladder stones, and 51 normal individuals respectively among four groups. Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), serum apolipoprotein (apo) AI (ApoAI), apolipoprotein (apo) B (ApoB) and their ratio (ApoAI/ApoB) were collected from the four groups and compared. One-way ANOVA and nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis H tests) were used to compare groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results

Compared to three control groups, the patients over 40 years old with gallbladder stone combined with T2DM had significant abnormal changes in lipids: the LDL and APoB levels were significantly raised in patients with gallbladder stones combined with T2DM (P < 0.05), and in males LDL levels were significantly higher in gallbladder stones patients with concomitant T2DM (P < 0.05).
Conclusions

The study showed that LDL and APoB levels were statistically significant in patients over 40 years of age with concurrent gallbladder stone disease and T2DM, with male patients having significantly higher LDL levels but no statistically significant parameters were found in female patients.


Background New oral anticoagulants like direct thrombin inhibitors are an attractive alternative to vitamin K antagonists as anticoagulation therapy and can be used in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. They are convenient in low-risk surgery, as there is no need for bridging with heparins. Patients who need urgent major surgery are at similar risk as on warfarin therapy, which, however, is much higher than in elective procedures. Due to their elimination profiles, these drugs are generally contraindicated in patients with severe renal insufficiency. On the other hand, pancreas transplantation is associated with high risk of bleeding and substantial risk of graft thrombosis. There are no recommendations on anticoagulation therapy in high-risk patients on kidney-pancreas waiting lists who cannot be given heparins. Case Report We describe a case of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia on dabigatran treatment. Conclusions We conclude that, despite the high risk, pancreas transplantation in a patient with HIT can be safely done while on NOAC therapy, but an access to idarucizumab should be assured.


Shale gas reservoirs like coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs are promising targets for geological sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, the evolution of permeability in shale reservoirs on injection of CO2 is poorly understood unlike CBM reservoirs. In this study, we report measurements of permeability evolution in shales infiltrated separately by nonsorbing (He) and sorbing (CO2) gases under varying gas pressures and confining stresses. Experiments are completed on Pennsylvanian shales containing both natural and artificial fractures under nonpropped and propped conditions. We use the models for permeability evolution in coal (Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Under Revision) to codify the permeability evolution observed in the shale samples. It is observed that for a naturally fractured shale, the He permeability increases by approximately 15% as effective stress is reduced by increasing the gas pressure from 1 MPa to 6 MPa at constant confining stress of 10 MPa. Conversely, the CO2 permeability reduces by a factor of two under similar conditions. A second core is split with a fine saw to create a smooth artificial fracture and the permeabilities are measured for both nonpropped and propped fractures. The He permeability of a propped artificial fracture is approximately 2- to 3fold that of the nonpropped fracture. The He permeability increases with gas pressure under constant confining stress for both nonpropped and propped cases. However, the CO2 permeability of the propped fracture decreases by between one-half to one-third as the gas pressure increases from 1 to 4 MPa at constant confining stress. Interestingly, the CO2 permeability of nonpropped fracture increases with gas pressure at constant confining stress. The permeability evolution of nonpropped and propped artificial fractures in shale is found to be similar to those observed in coals but the extent of permeability reduction by swelling is much lower in shale due to its lower organic content. Optical profilometry is used to quantify the surface roughness. The changes in surface roughness indicate significant influence of proppant indentation on fracture surface in the shale sample. The trends of permeability evolution on injection of CO2 in coals and shales are found analogous; therefore, the permeability evolution models previously developed for coals are adopted to explain the permeability evolution in shales.


In 95 patients with HIV infection (76 males and 19 females), observed in 1993-1997, the structure of secondary diseases was studied. During this period 58 patients (61.1%) died. In the structure of secondary diseases represented by 14 nosoforms prevailed cytomegalovirus and candidal infections, tuberculosis, Kaposi's sarcoma, rarely--pneumocystis pneumonia, cryptococcal meningitis and toxoplasmosis.


Power games with minorities' cause – Hungary, Romania and Ukraine's language war 2017–2018. The Ukrainian education law from Autumn 2017 sparked severe reactions from neighboring countries. Teaching in Ukrainian was condemned especially by Hungary and Romania, whose actions this article analyses.
Cynical power games serve as a loose framework. Generally, discursive approach is applied to give a comprehensive picture on the dispute. The source material consists of official statements and relevant news, therefore, itself offers a basis for interpretation.
The reform was taken to better integrate minority pupils in the Ukrainian society. Hungary and Romania saw it as a threat to the respective identity. Bukarest canceled high-level meetings with Kiev, and Budapest blocked NATO- Ukraine ministerial cooperation. Playing cynically, both sought regional hegemony.
In April–June 2018, the parts agreed on compromise. But for Kiev, the outcome closes a paradox: what's the point of a law, practically overruled by bilateral agreements?


Abstract Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada, is a remnant of the Laurentide ice sheet that separated from it about 8500 years ago. Owing to recession of the ice cap during the Holocene, Pleistocene-age ice is now exposed along the margin in a distinctive bubble-rich white band. δ18O variations across the white ice resemble those in Canadian Arctic ice cores, suggesting that Barnes Ice Cap preserves a climatic record through the last glacial period, possibly reaching back into the previous (Sangamon) interglacial. the δ18O shift at the Wisconsin–Holocene transition (15‰) exceeds that in other Canadian and Greenland records and cannot be explained solely in climatic terms. A steady-state model reconstruction of the Laurentide ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum suggests that Late-glacial strata in Barnes Ice Cap originated high up (>2400ma.s.l.) and far "inland" on the ice sheet, along a ridge that extended between the ancestral Foxe and Keewatin ice domes.


This paper describes the multi-sensor of the data acquisition and signal analyzing based on the development of virtual instrument. It sets up a virtual instrumentation with the function of data acquisition and signal analysis, based on computer, temperature sensor, displacement sensor, PCI data acquisition card, and software of LabVIEW8.5 .The data acquisition, preprocessing, displaying, storage and data playback are integrated in this platform, forming an easy-to-use temperature and thermal error detection system.


The neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A virus (IAV) are essential surface glycoproteins. In this study, the evolution of subtype N2 NA paired with H1 and H3 subtype HA in swine was evaluated to understand if genetic diversity of HA and NA were linked. Using time-scaled Bayesian phylodynamic analyses, the relationships of paired swine N2 with H1 or H3 from 2009 to 2018 were evaluated. These data demonstrated increased relative genetic diversity within the major N2 clades circulating in swine (N2.1998 between 2014-2017 and N2.2002 between 2010-2016). Relative genetic diversity of NA-HA pairs (e.g., N2.1998B/ H1.Delta1B) were correlated, suggesting intergene epistasis. Preferential pairing was observed among specific NA and HA genetic clades and this was associated with gene reassortment between cocirculating influenza A strains. Using the phylogenetic topology of inferred N2 trees, the expansion of genetic diversity in the NA gene was quantified and increases in diversity were observed subsequent to NA-HA reassortment events. The rate of evolution among NA-N2 clades and HA-H1 and HA-H3 clades were similar. The frequent regional movement of pigs and their influenza viruses is a possible explanation driving this pattern of drift, reassortment, and rapid evolution. Bayesian phylodynamic analyses demonstrated strong spatial patterns in N2 genetic diversity, and that frequent interstate movement of N2 clades homogenized diversity. The reassortment and evolution of NA and its influence on HA evolution may affect antigenic drift, impacting vaccine control programs and animal health.


This letter studies the energy-constrained MMSE decentralized estimation problem with the best-linear-unbiased-estimator fusion rule, under the assumptions that 1. Each sensor can only send a quantized version of its raw measurement to the fusion center (FC), and 2. Exact knowledge of the sensor noise variance is unknown at the FC but only an associated statistical description is available. The problem setup relies on maximizing the reciprocal of the MSE averaged with respect to the prescribed noise variance distribution. While the considered design metric is shown to be highly nonlinear in the local sensor bit loads, we leverage several analytic approximation relations to derive an associated tractable lower bound; through maximizing this bound, a closed-form solution is then obtained. Our analytical results reveal that sensors with bad link quality are shut off to conserve energy, whereas the energy allocated to those active nodes is proportional to the individual channel gain. Simulation results are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.


Among the diverse services of the tourism sector, this paper concentrates on the hotel industry, which includes a set of companies that is homogenous in production and competitive setting. The hotel industry is a key component of the tourism sector since it is fundamental to the provision of all other tourism services. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between performance and its determinants in the Italian hotel industry. The findings aim to verify whether variables such as size, category and variety of services provided, positively influence the performance of the hotels. Methodologically, the research starts with theoretical work, comprising mainly a literature review on the subject, with special focus on the concept of performance in the hotel industry. Subsequently, it describes the empirical research undertaken, which includes the selection process of a sample of 450 hotels, and a questionnaire survey based on this sample. Finally, the research results are presented, which show a clear relationship between category and performance, while size and variety of the services provided do not appear to be linked to performance.


Cardiovascular disease forms the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide and disproportionately affects low and middle-income developing countries. In developing countries, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality tend to affect the (younger) working adults. This poses a significant burden to the economy. This thesis attempts to investigate the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and disease, and its' prevention in Malaysia, a middle-income developing country. We described the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and obesity) among the adult population in Malaysia. Overall, 63% had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, 33% had two or more risk factors and 14% had three risk factors or more. Thirty-nine percent of those younger than 30 years had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. These findings highlight that despite current health care prevention programmes, the burden of cardiovascular risk is high and affects a large proportion of the young adults. We also assessed differences in cardiovascular risk factor prevalences and clustering patterns among the various states and federal territories of Malaysia. There was geographical variation in the distribution of risk factors as well as its clustering, with a higher burden in poorer states. Cardiovascular risk prediction and prognostic models that were developed in western populations were assessed in our multi-ethnic Asian population. We validated the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score for patients with St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). And, we compared the utility of the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), high and low risk SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation) and the World Health Organization /International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) models. Our study confirmed that the FRS and both SCORE models, but not the WHO/ISH model can be used to discriminate cardiovascular risk in the Malaysian population for both men and women. We assessed the effects of cardiac-care provision and reperfusion strategies (primary-PCI and thrombolytics) in preventing mortality for patients presenting with STEMI in an Asian population. Our findings showed that variation in cardiac-care provision and reperfusion strategy did not adversely affect patient outcomes. Patients with STEMI in Malaysia received good acute cardiac-care irrespective of type of facility, with similar prognoses when given thrombolytic therapy or primary-PCI. In the last part of the thesis, we simulated four screening strategies to identify effective screening strategies for the early detection of high cardiovascular risk patients. Our study showed that a targeted cardiovascular risk-factor screening strategy by defining an age eligibility criteria would be better and a more cost effective method than screening for all ages at a community level. In addition, our study highlighted the need for different screening strategies for men and women due to a significant difference in their overall cardiovascular risk. Based on the studies in this thesis, a cardiovascular epidemic is at hand in Malaysia. Tailored strategies for the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease in and Asian population is warranted.


SUMMARY Typing techniques are laboratory methods used in outbreak management to investigate the degree to which microbes found within an outbreak are related. Knowledge about relational patterns between microbes benefits outbreak management, but inevitably also tells us something about the relational patterns of the people hosting them. Since the technique is often used without explicit consent of all individuals involved, this may raise ethical questions. The aim of this study was to unravel the complex ethical deliberation of professionals over the use of such techniques. We organised group discussions (n = 3) with Dutch outbreak managers (n = 23). The topic list was based on previously identified ethical issues and discussions were analysed for recurrent themes. We found that outbreak managers first and foremost reflect on the balance of individual harm with public health benefit. This key question was approached by way of discussing four more specific ethical themes: (1) justification of governmental intervention, (2) responsibility to prevent infections, (3) scientific uncertainty and (4) legal consequences. The themes found in this study, rephrased into accessible questions, represent the shared ethical understanding of professionals and can help to articulate the ethical dimensions of using molecular science in response to infectious disease outbreaks.


Search result diversification is a beneficial approach to overcome under-specified queries, such as those that are ambiguous or multi-faceted. Existing approaches often rely on massive query logs and interaction data to generate a variety of possible query intents, which then can be used to re-rank documents. However, relying on user interaction data is problematic because one first needs a massive user base to build a sufficient log; public query logs are insufficient on their own. Given the recent success of causal language models (such as the Text-To-Text Transformer (T5) model) at text generation tasks, we explore the capacity of these models to generate potential query intents. We find that to encourage diversity in the generated queries, it is beneficial to adapt the model by including a new Distributional Causal Language Modeling (DCLM) objective during fine-tuning and a representation replacement during inference. Across six standard evaluation benchmarks, we find that our method (which we call IntenT5) improves search result diversity and attains (and sometimes exceeds) the diversity obtained when using query suggestions based on a proprietary query log. Our analysis shows that our approach is most effective for multi-faceted queries and is able to generalize effectively to queries that were unseen in training data.


OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the outcome of patients with symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas treated at University of Califomia, San Francisco, over a 20 year period. Treatment included transarterial embolization, embolization followed. by surgical decompression or vertebral reconstruction with arthrorlesls, and percutaneous vertebroplasty alone. All patients underwent follow-up neurological examination and evaluation of back pain. RESULTS: Sixteen patients diagnoses with symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas causing pain or neurological deficit were treated at University of California, San Francisco, between 1984 and 2004. Mean follow-up was 81 months, Seven of nine patients undergoing surgical decompression and tumor resction reported pain relief and demonstrated improvement in neurological deficit when present Two patients had recurrent myelopathy: one was successfully treated with a second decompressive surgery, whereas the second underweent a staged vertebrectomy. All three patients undergoing vertebrectomy had cord compression from extraosseous tumor growth. Properative embolization reduced expected introperative blood loss in four patients. Three of four patients woo underwent transarteria embolization alone experienced resolution of back pain. Two of four patients treated with wertebroplasty had long-term pain relief. CONCLUSION: Transarterial embolization followed by laminectomy is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of cord compression by vertebral hemangioma causing stenosis without instability or deformity. Vertebrectomy preceded by embolization and followed by reconstruction can be used to treat cord compression from extraosseous tumor extension. Transarterial embolization without decompression is an effective treatment for painful intraosseuous hemangiomas. Vertebroplasty is useful for improving pain symptoms, especially when vertebral body compression fracture has occurred in patients without neurological deficit, but is less effective in providing long-term pain relief.


This, the first in a two-volume survey of Japanese art, focuses on Japanese art history to the end of the 16th century, from the arts and tomb artefacts of prehistoric Japan to the Buddhist, Shinto and secular arts developed in the capitals at Nara and Kyoto and other provincial centres. 'The Arts of Japan' is an illustrated, two-volume survey from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century, written by an acknowledged historian of the modern era. Every field of Japanese fine art and many decorative and folk arts are covered: sculpture, painting, architecture, garden design, ceramics,


Therapy (case series). 4. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Despite excellent surgical cancer control, up to 40% of patients will have biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer. Positive surgical margins (PSM) have been clearly demonstrated to be one of the main predictive factors for biochemical failure, disease progression and cancer mortality. However, decision of further management (adjuvant or salvage therapy) in patients with PSM remains controversial, and many debatable questions arise concerning the incidence of clinical progression and the impact of systematic adjuvant treatment on the cancer specific and overall survival. Analysis of the pathological and disease recurrence outcomes of our large cohort of patients treated by RP provides evidence that PSMs are associated with a poor prognosis in terms of PSA failure and need for salvage therapy. However, such a distinction between negative or positive margin cancers seems to appear clinically less relevant in locally advanced disease with seminal vesicle or high Gleason score≥8 due to the predominant significance of these two poor prognosis factors for prediction of PSA failure. To study the impact of positive surgical margins (PSMs) as an independent predictor of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure after radical prostatectomy in adjuvant treatment-naïve patients. From 2000 to 2008, 1943 men who underwent a radical prostatectomy at Henri Mondor Hospital and who did not receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy were included. Follow-up was recorded into a prospective database. Mean follow-up was 68.8 months. The biochemical recurrence-free survival (RFS), defined by a PSA>0.2 ng/mL, and the need for salvage therapy in univariate and multivariate models, were evaluated. PSA failure was reported in 14.7% and PSMs were noted in 25.6%. In the overall cohort, PSM was significantly predictive for PSA failure (P<0.001; hazard ratio, HR, 2.6), need for salvage therapy (P<0.001; HR, 2.9) and specific deaths (P=0.006; HR, 3.7). The 5-year RFS was 84.4% in men with negative margins compared to 57.5% in the case of PSM. After stratification by pathological stage and Gleason score, margin status was significantly predictive for PSA failure in pT2 (P<0.001), pT3a (P=0.001) and/or Gleason score≤7 cancers (P<0.001), whereas the impact of PSM did not reach significance in pT3b (P=0.196), pT4 (P=0.061) and/or Gleason score≥8 cancers (P=0.115). Display Settings: Abstract Author information Impact of positive surgical margins on prostate-spec... [BJU Int. 2011] ... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20883488 1 di 2 19/02/2014 08.58


OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, MORE THAN 20000 GRADUATES OF FOREIGN medical schools have entered residency programs in the United States to obtain graduate medical education. The vast majority of these international medical graduates (IMGs) have gone on to practice in the United States after completing their training. Consequently, the number of IMGs has risen steadily reaching nearly 25% of all allopathic physicians practicing in the United States. Considerable controversy surrounds this influx of physicians from abroad at a time when the US health care system is undergoing dramatic change. Concern over a potential physician surplus has caused several prominent policy groups to call for a cap on the numbers of foreign national IMGs permitted to remain permanently in the United States. With growing pressure to curb Medicare reimbursements to teaching hospitals, policy analysts have also questioned the allocation of funds for graduate medical education to pay for residency positions for IMGs. Supporters of the open-door policy toward IMGs have countered that these physicians practice in disproportionately high numbers in areas of the country that have been neglected by the US health care system. For some time, workforce experts have debated whether such IMGs provide a national service by alleviating the geographic maldistribution of physicians throughout the country. Others ask why the United States, with its overall wealth and burgeoning medical education system, is not able to provide care in so many of its communities using physicians trained in its own medical schools At the same time, the widespread perception that IMGs receive inferior training in foreign medical schools continues to dog IMGs' efforts to prove that they provide quality care to these communities. The creation of the new Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) exam as a requirement for IMGs seeking entry into a US residency program is evidence of concern that IMGs do not have adequate clinical and interpersonal skills to care for US patients. This issue of MSJAMA explores some of the questions raised by IMGs' controversial presence in the United States. How have recent immigration restrictions on foreign national physicians changed the composition of the US physician workforce? To what extent do IMGs provide care to segments of the population that have traditionally been neglected by US medical graduates? What sort of cultural barriers must IMGs overcome inordertodelivercaretopatientsintheUnitedStates?Whatroledoclinicalbasedexamssuchas theCSAplay instandardizing thequalityofcareprovided by all graduates entering residency training?


"Occupational Therapy Interventions: Functions and Occupations" is a unique, comprehensive text that provides the essential information needed to know about the physical dysfunction intervention process. Written in a user-friendly format, this practical text offers the answers to common questions about intervention making it ideal for occupational therapy students and clinicians.Throughout this text, Catherine Meriano and Donna Latella provide a hands-on approach to the physical dysfunction intervention process while covering all performance areas in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Each chapter in this text focuses on the keys to implementing various occupational therapy interventions while also providing information on applying specific terms to clinical practice. Inside the text you'll find: color flow charts; color tables; chapter objectives; case studies; summary questions; photographs; and references."Occupational Therapy Interventions" also includes an extensive "evaluation grid" which allows for a unique approach in choosing an occupational therapy evaluation. An assessment chart is also included in the text which provides a convenient, useful reference. You will find the concepts from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework incorporated throughout the chapters and appendices. These topics include: ADL; IADL; Education; Work & Retirement; Social Participation; Wellness; Foundation Skills; and Leisure. Offering the most up-to-date information on the physical dysfunction intervention process, "Occupational Therapy Interventions" is a practical, inexpensive resource that all occupational therapy students and clinicians should have by their side.


Background Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are commonly misdiagnosed on computed tomography angiography (CTA). Purpose This study sought to identify the most sensitive and specific imaging features of CCFs on CTA. Material and Methods A retrospective review identified 18 consecutive patients suspected of having a CCF on CTA and subsequently underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Two blinded reviewers assessed multiple findings on CTA: cavernous sinus asymmetry/enlargement; arterial-phase contrast in the cavernous sinus; proptosis; pre- or post-septal orbital edema; and dilated regional vasculature. Each was graded as positive, possible, and negative; "possible" was counted as positive. A third blinded reviewer served as a tiebreaker. Results Of 18 patients, nine were true-positive and nine were false-positive. Superior ophthalmic vein early enhancement and dilatation had 100.0% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] 40.0–100.0) and 77.8% specificity (95% CI 44.4–100.0); arterial-phase contrast in the cavernous sinus had 88.9% sensitivity (95% CI 44.4–100.0) and 66.7% specificity (95% CI 18.5–90.1); peri-orbital edema had 88.9% sensitivity (95% CI 35.5–100.0) and 77.8% specificity (95% CI 22.2–100.0). The most specific markers of CCF were superior petrosal sinus and inferior ophthalmic vein dilatation/enhancement (100.0%, 95% CI 88.8–100.0 and 88.9%, 95% CI 44.4–100.0, respectively); the specificity of asymmetric cavernous enlargement was 44.4% (95% CI 11.1–77.7). Conclusions Among patients in whom a CCF is suspected on CTA, superior ophthalmic vein dilatation/enhancement and arterial-phase contrast within the cavernous sinus are the most sensitive findings. Asymmetric cavernous sinus enlargement has poor specificity and may result in false-positive diagnoses of CCFs. False positive cases were less likely to have an optimally timed contrast bolus.


Funding for local services such as education has for long been allocated on formulae claiming to reflect local variations in needs, although in practice these have often tended to reflect the patterns of past expenditure. The idea that such formulae might reflect explicit outcome criteria is not new, but only with the recent development of integrated multilevel databases has it become possible to develop this approach in a serious way. We identify the essential requirements of an outcome approach and discuss variant criteria in such a system. Data for the whole compulsory-age-range state school system in Wales are analysed to generate models predicting key attainment levels for individual pupils at 11 and 16. These are complemented by models for school costs and the incidence of special educational needs. Using these models it is possible to estimate the cost of achieving various target degrees of improvement or equalisation of outcomes, or compensation for relevant social disadvantages, balanced against constraints on the maximum degree of redistribution (via minimum school budgets). The results indicate that it is certainly possible to envisage such a system in operation, albeit subject to gradualist implementation, although the redistribution could have implications for particular localities which were controversial.


Agility metrics are difficult to define, mainly due to the multidimensionality and vagueness of the concept of agility (1). In this work, a fuzzy logic, knowledge-based framework is intended to be developed for the assessment of an enterprise's agility; as a case study. The necessary expertise explored to quantitatively determine and evaluate overall agility degree is to be represented via fuzzy logic analyses. Apart from estimating overall agility appraisement index; the study is aimed to be extended to identify agile barriers (obstacles towards achieving agility). The proposed appraisement module would be implemented in an Indian enterprise as a case study. Data obtained thereof, would be critically analyzed to reveal the current scenario of existing agile practices of the said enterprise and to seek for ill-performing areas which need future improvement. Keywords—Business Agility, Fuzzy Performance Index (FPI), Fuzzy Performance Importance Index (FPII)


Proteus mirabilis, a common agent of nosocomially acquired and catheter-associated urinary tract infection, is the most frequent cause of infection-induced bladder and kidney stones. Urease-catalyzed urea hydrolysis initiates stone formation in urine and can be inhibited by acetohydroxamic acid and other structural analogs of urea. Since P. mirabilis urease is inducible with urea, there has been some concern that urease inhibitors actually induce urease during an active infection, thus compounding the problem of elevated enzyme activity. Quantitating induction by compounds that simultaneously inhibit urease activity has been difficult. Therefore, to study these problems, we constructed a fusion of ureA (a urease subunit gene) and lacZ (the beta-galactosidase gene) within plasmid pMID1010, which encodes an inducible urease of P. mirabilis expressed in E. coli JM103 (Lac-). The fusion protein, predicted to be 117 kDa, was induced by urea and detected on Western blots (immunoblots) with anti-beta-galactosidase antiserum. Peak beta-galactosidase activity of 9.9 mumol of ONPG (o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside) hydrolyzed per min per mg of protein, quantitated spectrophotometrically, was induced at 200 mM urea. The uninduced rate was 0.2 mumol of ONPG hydrolyzed per min per mg of protein. Induction was specific for urea, as no structural analog of urea (including acetohydroxamic acid, hydroxyurea, thiourea, hippuric acid, flurofamide, or hydroxylamine) induced fusion protein activity. These data suggest that induction by inactivation of UreR, the urease repressor protein that governs regulation of the urease operon, is specific for urea and does not respond to closely related structural analogs.


There is no consensus about the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on lipid metabolism, especially in animals fed a high-fat diet. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the incorporation of CLA isomers into serum, liver and adipose tissue, as well as the oxidative stress generated in rats refed with high-fat diets after a 48 hour fast. Rats were refed with diets containing soybean oil, rich in linoleic acid [7% (Control Group - C) or 20% (LA Group)], CLA [CLA Group - 20% CLA mixture (39.32 mole% c9,t11-CLA and 40.59 mole% t10,c12- CLA)], soybean oil + CLA (LA+CLA Group - 15.4% soybean oil and 4.6% CLA) or animal fat (AF, 20% lard). The CLA group showed lower weight gain and liver weight after refeeding, as well as increased serum cholesterol. The high dietary fat intake induced fat accumulation and an increase in -tocopherol in the liver, which were not observed in the CLA group. Circulating -tocopherol was increased in the CLA and CLA+LA groups. The high- fat diets reduced liver catalase activity. CLA isomers were incorporated into serum and tissues. In this shortterm refeeding experimental model, CLA prevented hepatic fat accumulation, although it produced an increase in serum cholesterol.


The new spin transition compound [Fe(II)(DPEA)(NCS)(2)], where DPEA [(2-aminoethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] is a new tetradentate ligand, has been synthesized, and its structure, magnetic properties, and Mössbauer spectra have been investigated. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 298 K. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group is P2(1)/c, with Z = 4,a = 9.358(1) Å, b = 11.812(2) Å, c = 17.135(2) Å, and beta = 94.5(4) degrees. The distorted [FeN(6)] octahedron is formed from four nitrogen atoms belonging to DPEA and two provided by the cis thiocyanate groups. The two pyridine rings of DPEA are in mer positions. Each molecule is linked to its neighbors by hydrogen-bonding interactions as well as by numerous van der Waals contacts supposed to be responsible for the cooperativity of the system. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (20-290 K) have evidenced a relatively abrupt S = 2 right harpoon over left harpoon S = 0 transition centered at T(1/2) = 138 K. The thermal variation of the high spin state fraction observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy is in agreement with that obtained from magnetic susceptibility measurements. The fitting of Mössbauer and magnetic data with the Ising-like model allowed us to determine the energy gap between the high-spin and low-spin states (Delta(eff) = 835 K) and to estimate the variation of the thermodynamic parameters upon spin transition. The calculated variations of enthalpy (DeltaH = 6.76 kJ mol(-)(1)) and entropy (DeltaS = 49 J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1)) associated with the spin transition are in agreement with those previously observed for iron(II) spin-crossover compounds. The spin conversion is found to be close to a first-order phenomenon.


This paper examines design from a 'knowledge integration' research perspective, a field which enables us to explore the nature and scope of the knowledge involved in design. The integration of technically rational and human-centered knowledge is central to design ('integration of design'). However, design is also a core knowledge generating process ('integration by design') which, although sometimes overlooked, elevates design from a functional task to a strategic activity of the firm. The paper explores the meaning and implications of the scope of design knowledge, highlighting the interplay between technically rational and human-centered aspects, including symbolism, meaning and aesthetics. By examining how the nature and scope of the design knowledge being integrated influences the design process we deepen our understanding of the complexities of design and design practice.


A model to optimize the process plant layout problem is formulated in this paper. The model includes statistical information related to the wind in the site where the plant will be installed. This information is typically collected and stored in databases by institutions such as the National Weather Service in USA. A probability distribution function is used to fit all available data of wind direction, wind speed and wind stability. Then, Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to estimate the risk of dead for a given toxic release scenario. By dividing all processes to layout in several facilities, the proposed model is thus solved to produce the optimal distribution for all facilities.


Miscreants register thousands of new domains every day to launch Internet-scale attacks, such as spam, phishing, and drive-by downloads. Quickly and accurately determining a domain's reputation (association with malicious activity) provides a powerful tool for mitigating threats and protecting users. Yet, existing domain reputation systems work by observing domain use (e.g., lookup patterns, content hosted) often too late to prevent miscreants from reaping benefits of the attacks that they launch. As a complement to these systems, we explore the extent to which features evident at domain registration indicate a domain's subsequent use for malicious activity. We develop PREDATOR, an approach that uses only time-of-registration features to establish domain reputation. We base its design on the intuition that miscreants need to obtain many domains to ensure profitability and attack agility, leading to abnormal registration behaviors (e.g., burst registrations, textually similar names). We evaluate PREDATOR using registration logs of second-level .com and .net domains over five months. PREDATOR achieves a 70% detection rate with a false positive rate of 0.35%, thus making it an effective and early first line of defense against the misuse of DNS domains. It predicts malicious domains when they are registered, which is typically days or weeks earlier than existing DNS blacklists.


Given a surface S  in a 3D contact sub-Riemannian manifold M , we investigate the metric structure induced on S  by M , in the sense of length spaces. First, we define a coefficient [[EQUATION]]  at characteristic points that determines locally the characteristic foliation of S . Next, we identify some global conditions for the induced distance to be finite. In particular, we prove that the  induced distance is finite for surfaces with the topology of a sphere embedded in a tight coorientable distribution, with isolated characteristic points.


We investigate the antecedents of conflict on collocated as compared with geographically distributed teams. In our field study of 16 collocated and 20 geographically distributed research and development teams, we found little evidence that distributed teams have more conflict. However, we did find that distributed teams experienced more coordination problems and less healthy conflict handling norms which were, in turn, associated with more conflict. Contrary to our predictions, neither frequency of communication nor reliance on mediating technologies were related to increased affective or task conflict. Our findings suggest that the frequency of communication and the medium used may be less important than the content of the information that flows between group members and the group's ability to speak openly and deal with conflict as it arises.


Acoustic analysis is a proper method in vocal fold pathology diagnosis so that it can complement and in some cases replace the other invasive, based on direct vocal fold observation, methods. There are different approaches and algorithms for vocal fold pathology diagnosis. These algorithms usually have three stages which are Feature Extraction, Feature Reduction and Classification. While the third stage implies a choice of a variety of machine learning methods (Support Vector Machines, Artificial Neural Networks, etc), the first and second stages play a critical role in performance and accuracy of the classification system. In this paper we present initial study of feature extraction and feature reduction in the task of vocal fold pathology diagnosis. A new type of feature vector, based on wavelet packet decomposition and Mel-Frequency-Cepstral-Coefficients (MFCCs), is proposed. Also a new SVM-Based method for feature reduction stage is proposed and compared with conventional methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Support vector machine is used as a classifier for evaluating the performance of the proposed method. The results show the priority of the proposed method in comparison with current methods.


The issue Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is more difficult in some countries than in others. International emissions trading can help to reduce the overall cost of mitigation and ensure that companies in different countries face the same carbon price. Lower costs and tackling competitiveness concerns can enable higher levels of climate ambition. The Paris Agreement explicitly provides for international emissions trading, but the rules governing trading still need to be determined. In the absence of strict rules, international emissions trading might become a loophole leading to reduced climate ambition. And because of its consensus requirements, the United Nations process is unlikely to lead to comprehensive rules. To fill this gap, the European Union should engage with other nations to determine a set of rules that can serve as a gold standard for emissions trading anywhere in the world. Policy challenge The effort to define rules for international emissions trading faces the strong desire of nation states to develop their own climate policies, which collides with the need for tradable units in one country to be equivalent to tradable units in another country. To overcome this dilemma we propose a club of carbon-buying countries that would regulate only imported mitigation outcomes. We propose that private parties would be able, if permitted by the participating governments, to transfer any type of privately tradable emissions reduction unit across borders. But they would also be liable if the foreign units do not represent sufficient mitigation in the selling county. To bridge the period before final settlement, private parties would be able to borrow domestic compliance units, based on collateralising a certain amount of foreign units.


A fluid flow of molten steel in continuous casting mold directly results in slab surface and internal defects, such as slag entrapment, inclusions, and pinholes. Much effort was made on the field to stabilize it. Application of various electromagnetic forces and various nozzle designs are proposed and applied to commercial continuous casting process. However, few studies have looked at fluid flow in submerged entry nozzle even it is a source of flow in the mold. In this study, fluid flow in submerged entry nozzle is in-situ observed through transparent immersion nozzle by a fusible alloy model and a molten steel flow model. According to the experiment, fluid flow in submerged entry nozzle is dominated by argon flow rate, metal flow rate and nozzle diameter. Meniscus height in the nozzle is stable enough to measure, and decreasing argon flow rate, increasing metal flow rate and reducing nozzle diameter leads the flow from potential-flow to plug-flow. Another examination, measurement of net argon flow rate through mold meniscus revealed that about 20% of argon gas injected from upper slide plate is brought into nozzle at continuous casting process. Taking these results into consideration, fluid flow in submerged entry nozzle in conventional slab caster is considered.


Ab initio theoretical simulations of Al(As1−xNx)Si3 alloys, a new class of optoelectronic materials, confirm that these compounds are likely to be disordered via a mechanism that preserves the integrity of the constituent III-V-Si3 tetrahedra but randomizes their orientation in the average diamond lattice of the compound. This type of disorder is consistent with experimental structural data and with the proposed growth mechanism for such alloys, according to which "III:V(SiH3)3" intermediate complexes are formed in the gas phase from reactions between group-III atomic beams and V(SiH3)3 molecules, delivering the entire III-V-Si3 tetrahedra to the growing film. Experimental optical studies of these Al(As1−xNx)Si3 alloys as well as more general [Al(As1−xNx)]ySi5−2y compounds grown on Si substrates were carried out using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The resulting dielectric functions are found to be similar to broadened versions of their counterparts in pure Si. This broadening may have important practical applications, particularly in photovoltaics, because it dramatically enhances the optical absorption of Si in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. A critical point analysis reveals the existence of direct optical transitions at energies as low as 2.5 eV, well below the lowest direct absorption edge of Si at 3.3 eV. Such transitions are predicted theoretically for perfectly ordered III-V-Si3 compounds, and the experimental results suggest that they are robust against tetrahedra orientational disorder.


Biomechanics: A Case-Based Approach focuses on the comprehension, retention, and application of the core concepts of biomechanics using problem-based learning strategies. The book features a broad range of case studies and examples to illustrate key content throughout the text. Relevant and realistic problems provide students with the opportunity to associate what they're learning in class to real-life applications in the field. Biomechanics: A Case-Based Approach, offers a unique approach to understanding biomechanical concepts through the use of mathematical problems. The conversational writing style engages students' attention while not sacrificing the rigor of the content. Case studies and real-world examples illustrate key content areas while competency checks, located at the conclusion of each major section, correspond to the first three areas of Bloom's Taxonomy: remember, understand, and apply. Biomechanics: A Case-Based Approach employs the technique of guided discover to ensure that all students understand the concepts of biomechanics. To accommodate a variety of student learning styles, content is presented physically, graphically, and mathematically. Key features: Learning Objectives found at the beginning of each chapter address the objectives of each lesson Definitions presented in the margins of the text help define new words each time they appear Important Points provide summaries in the margin throughout the text Essential Math boxes provide a review of essential math before it is presented in the text Applied Research helps to illustrate biomechanical concepts Competency Checks found at the conclusion of major sections ask conceptual and quantitative questions to foster critical thinking and further student comprehension End of Chapter Pedagogy includes: Chapter Summary and Conclusion, Review Questions, and a list of Chapter References


Abstract While bullying is a common phenomenon at schools in general, very few studies have addressed bullying in students with hearing impairment. This study assessed being bullied and bullying others in 181 adolescents from German schools for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and in 259 hearing peers from regular schools. Students who are deaf reported higher levels of victimization than their hearing peers, but differences between these two groups tended to be small. In contrast, hard of hearing students did not report elevated levels of being bullied. The three groups of students did not differ in the reported frequency of bullying others. While support from peers was associated with lower levels of being bullied in students with and without hearing loss, parental support, and better academic performance were only associated with lower victimization in hearing students. In contrast, perceived support from teachers was not related to bullying in any group. Irrespective of hearing status, higher levels of victimization were related to increased emotional and behavioural problems. It is concluded that interventions are needed which are aimed at preventing and reducing bullying of students with and without hearing loss and of deaf students in particular. These interventions should consider general as well as specific risk factors.


The establishment of a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relationship between soil-dwelling bacteria (rhizobia) and legumes is a valuable source of bioavailable nitrogen in the biosphere. The genes required for the establishment and maintenance of this symbiosis may be encoded on plasmids or within the chromosome of the rhizobial microsymbiont as a Symbiosis Island (SI). Previous studies have found that Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271, which forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus, transferred its tripartite SI to at least two presumably non-symbiotic Mesorhizobium spp., converting them into B. pelecinus-nodulating rhizobia. These newly evolved symbionts were not as effective in nitrogen fixation with B. pelecinus as WSM1271, even though they had acquired the entire SI from WSM1271. Importantly, WSM1271 harbours a plasmid (pMESCI01) that is absent from WSM2073 and WSM2075. This plasmid may carry additional determinants required for highly effective symbiotic interactions with B. pelecinus. Therefore, analysis of the potential symbiotic role and transmissibility of this plasmid may help explain the differences in nitrogen fixation of these three strains with B. pelecinus.

Bioinformatic analysis of pMESCI01 revealed >50% of genes to have hypothetical functions only, with a diverse range of function predictions for the remainder of genes. Crucially, 12 putative nitrogen fixation genes were identified on pMESCI01 that could have a role in the symbiosis between WSM1271 and B. pelecinus. Homologs of known plasmid conjugal transfer type IV secretion systems (T4SS) or relaxases were not detected, but a potential origin of transfer (oriT) site was located, leaving open the question of whether pMESCI01 is self-transmissible.

To determine whether pMESCI01 is self-transmissible, the plasmid was marked with an Ω-Sp/Sm cassette, encoding spectinomycin and streptomycin resistance. Possible transconjugants from a subsequent conjugation experiment between WSM1271-pMESCI01::Ω-Sp/Sm and WSM2073Nm could not be screened, owing to unexpected spectinomycin resistance of the WSM2073Nm recipient. However, WSM2073Nm was confirmed to be highly sensitive to streptomycin, so the conjugation experiment can be repeated in future to assess self-transmissibility of pMESCI01 with pMESCI01::Ω-Sp/Sm.

To assess whether pMESCI01 was essential to nitrogen fixation in WSM1271 with B. pelecinus, the curing vector pSRKrepABC was constructed and plasmid-cured derivatives of WSM1271 were produced via a plasmid incompatibility approach. Phenotypic assessment of wild-type WSM1271 compared to the plasmid-cured derivatives inoculated onto B. pelecinus in a glasshouse trial revealed no difference in mean shoot dry weights or nodulation of plants across the treatments. This indicated that the plasmid-located genes are likely to not be essential to nitrogen fixation in WSM1271 with this host.

Alignment of the sequence of pMESCI01 with accessory plasmids from other fully-sequenced M. ciceri strains revealed a high percentage of homology across the plasmids from these strains, which originate from geographically diverse locations. This suggests that these M. ciceri plasmids are widely dispersed and may be a common feature of this species. While the work in this thesis indicates that pMESCI01 is not essential in the symbiosis between WSM1271 and B. pelecinus, genes on the plasmid may still impart important regulatory or metabolic benefits to WSM1271. Future investigations into the possible function of the large number of genes (432 in total) on pMESCI01 may help to address the role of this plasmid in WSM1271 and, by extension, the role of accessory plasmids in other M. ciceri strains. Therefore, continued studies of Mesorhizobium spp. would be important in determining the evolution, transmissibility and role of these plasmids.


Testing complex systems, such as the ASML TWINSCAN lithographic machine, is expensive and time consuming. In a previous work, a test sequencing method to calculate time-optimal test sequences has been developed. Because complex systems are composed of several subsystems, which are again composed of several modules, there exists a need to hierarchically model test sequencing problems. Such a hierarchical test sequencing problem consists of a high-level model that describes a test sequencing problem at the system level, and one or more low-level models that describe the test sequencing problems at the subsystem or module level. The tests at the system level correspond to the solutions of low-level problems. This paper describes a hierarchical test sequencing model and proposes two algorithms to compute an optimal test sequence. The benefits of hierarchically modeling a problem are less computational effort and less modeling effort, because not all relations are needed. This is illustrated by a small example. The industrial relevance of this method is illustrated on a case study related to a manufacturing testing phase of a lithographic machine.


Based on the alignment of 12 sequences of protein motifs that interact with the kinases SPAK (Ste20-related proline alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative stress response 1), we performed genome-wide searches of the sequence [S/G/V]RFx[V/I]xx[V/I/T/S]xx, where x represents any amino acid. The "Mus musculus" search resulted in the identification of 131 mouse proteins containing 137 SPAK/OSR1 putative binding motifs. Similar numbers were found for human, zebrafish, fruit fly, and worm. A little more than half of the mouse proteins containing SPAK/OSR1 binding domains (53%) were also identified in the human search, whereas approximately 17-18% of these common hits were identified in the zebrafish search. The mouse proteins could be divided into two broad categories: 2/3 had an identified function, whereas 1/3 were either predicted or of unknown function. The known proteins were grouped as transport proteins, other membrane proteins, kinases, phosphatases, cytoskeletal, ribosomal, nuclear, enzymes, and others. Analysis of the location of the SPAK/OSR1 binding motif within the protein sequence revealed distribution throughout the entire length, but with preference to the extreme amino- or carboxyl termini for a large number of proteins. Analysis of the amino acid composition of the motifs revealed a preponderance of serine residues at positions 5, 6, 7, and 8. In summary, our new search found and thus confirms the 12 proteins previously shown to interact with the kinases and identifies 119 potential new targets for SPAK and OSR1 in the mouse proteome.


Under the demand of steel enterprise's production and consumer's usage, by way of making up and improving continuous function of steel strip surface defects inspection system on-line, the system of grade assessing of surface quality and defects' information of strip steel has been set up based on quality statistical method. The system of steel strip surface quality grade assessing standards has been analyzed by many steel enterprises in different countries and gotten the limitations of some of the standards. According to the rules of the National Hardwood Lumber Association of America and the feature of Chinese steel enterprise production, the grade assessing standards of steel strip surface quality has been established. Based on character of steel strip surface defects' information, through the analysis of the requirement, aim and function, system of grade assessing of surface quality and defects' information managed of strip steel has been developed to fit the demand of the enterprises and consumers.


Variable renewable generation is increasing in penetration in modern power systems, leading to higher variability in the supply and price of electricity as well as lower average spot prices. This raises new challenges, particularly in ensuring sufficient capacity and flexibility from conventional technologies. As the fixed costs and lifetimes of electricity generation investments are significant, designing markets and regulations which ensure efficient integration of renewable generation is a significant challenge. This panel presentation reviews the state of play in the USA and Europe with regard to these issues and considers new developments in both regions.


We show experimentally that fairness concerns may have a decisive impact on both the actual and the optimal choice of contracts in a moral hazard context. Explicit incentive contracts that are optimal according to self-interest theory become inferior when some agents value fairness. Conversely, implicit bonus contracts that are doomed to fail among purely selfish actors provide powerful incentives and become superior when there are some fair-minded players. The principals understand this and predominantly choose the bonus contracts, even preferring a pure bonus contract over a contract that combines the enforcement power of explicit and implicit incentives. This contract preference is associated with the fact that explicit incentives weaken the enforcement power of implicit bonus incentives significantly. Our results are largely consistent with recently developed theories of fairness, which also offer interesting new insights into the interaction of contract choices, fairness and incentives.


The rich body of literature examining the entrepreneurship education-entrepreneurship intention relations tends to neglect the influence of contingent and other mediating factors on the relationship. This elusion creates an erroneous assumption that entrepreneurship intentions are insulated from external influences and the entrepreneurship educationintentions relationship is an automatic, directly linear interaction. Contesting this premise, this research explores the influence of exposure to entrepreneurship education (EE), mediated by precursors (such as attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control) to entrepreneurial intentions on the actual entrepreneurship intentions (EI) of vocational education students at a particular institution in Zimbabwe. Drawing on a cross-sectional research design and 154 randomly selected students, the study examines the extent to which they intended to engage in entrepreneurship careers in the near future. A non-parametric technique, the Spearman correlation test, and regression analysis were employed to test the relationships between EE on the direct determinants of EI, between the immediate determinants of EI and actual EI and to test a number of predictive effects. The results demonstrate that EE had a positive correlation with the direct determinants of EI. In addition, EE predicted all the immediate determinants of EI, except for subjective norms. Lastly, there was no evidence to support a direct predictive effect of EE on EI, controlling for other psychological factors. To a large extent, the results validated the Theory of Planned Behavior as a guiding tool for estimating any premeditated entrepreneurial behavior. Thus, the Theory remains an invaluable theoretical lens for academics, educators and policymakers' evaluation of effective ways of enhancing the grooming of potential entrepreneurs.


During melting, reduction or thermal treatment of a steel charge, the input of energy (either chemical or electrical) is indispensable to guarantee the viability of the process. Under these circumstances, it will be reasonable to design the furnace lining in such a way that heat loss through the walls is minimized. Nevertheless, it can be proved that, for some situations, it is more efficient to withdraw as much heat as possible from the walls than trying to thermally isolate the system. The work presents recommendations for the design of walls and cooling systems in furnaces obtained by quantitative analysis of temperatures reached in specific locations of the furnace using the nodal wear model. The analysis indicates that the wear process of the lining may be controlled if all the elements that intervene in the process are known.


Multi-modal biometric fusion is more accurate and reliable compared to recognition using a single biometric modality. However, most existing fusion approaches neglect the influence of the qualities of the biometric samples in information fusion. Our goal is to advance the state-of-the-art in biometric fusion technology by providing a more universal and more accurate solution for personal identification and verification with predictive quality metrics. In this work, we developed score-level multi-modal fusion algorithms based on predictive quality metrics and employed them for the task of face and fingerprint biometric fusion. The causal relationships in the context of the fusion scenario are modeled by Bayesian Networks. The recognition/verification decision is then made through probabilistic inference. Our experiments demonstrated that the proposed score-level fusion algorithms significantly improve the verification performance over the methods based on the raw match score of a single modality (face or fingerprint). Furthermore, the fusion framework with both face and fingerprint image qualities achieves the best verification performance and outperforms all other baseline fusion algorithms tested including other straightforward quality-based fusion methods.


Any academic discussion centered on a particular conflict is incomplete without first attempting to garner a better understanding of the genesis and subsequent alteration of the underlying factors that contribute to a dispute through an integrative approach. Such an approach has been termed as "Transformation Studies," wherein an attempt is made to first study the experiences which lead to grievances and ultimately to disputes. In this approach the emergence and transformation of a dispute is analogous to studying a social process as it occurs. Only when a particular experience is perceived to be injurious, does one feel the need to attribute the cause of that injury to a particular entity. Such attribution is linked to an anticipation of relief, followed by a claim for remedy by the aggrieved. A rejection of that claim is considered by Felstiner as the catalyst which transforms the claim into a dispute.Such an approach recognizes that disputes depend significantly upon people's feelings in connection to the experiences which lead up to and surround them, because such disputes are in the end a "subjective perception." It is here that we look at the sources that shape this subjective perception. In recent history, conflicts have rested on the twin prongs of "identity" based on religion, culture, and language, and "distribution of economic, political, and social resources." A combination of the two is understood to fuel what is referred to as a "deep-rooted conflict." Such conflicts threaten one's sense of self and are emotionally-driven, hence they are less amenable to rational negotiation and are complex and persistent.


Nano-patterned materials are beneficial for applications such as solar cells, opto-electronics, and sensing owing to their periodic structure and high interfacial area. Here, we present a non-lithographic approach for assembling polyelectrolytes into periodic nanoscale patterns over cm(2)-scale areas. Chemically modified block copolymer thin films featuring alternating charged and neutral domains are used as patterned substrates for electrostatic self-assembly. In-depth characterization of the deposition process using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, including the state-of-the-art scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), reveals both the selective deposition of the polyelectrolyte on the charged copolymer domains as well as gradual changes in the film topography that arise from further penetration of the solvent molecules and possibly also the polyelectrolyte into these domains. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of creating nano-patterned polyelectrolyte layers, which opens up new opportunities for structured functional coating fabrication.


Ballast water discharges from shipping vessels are responsible for spreading numerous forms of aquatic invasive species, a form of biological pollution that leads to billions of dollars in annual clean-up costs. In the wake of inaction from the federal government and inaction from the shipping industry, several Great Lakes states are currently considering legislation to address the problem. Michigan has already passed a law to prevent ballast water introductions of invasive species. As states begin to regulate ballast water discharges from oceangoing vessels, such laws will likely face challenges based on the constitutional principles of the Dormant Commerce Clause and the federal preemption doctrine of the Supremacy Clause. This Note contends that state ballast water laws do not violate either the Dormant Commerce Clause or the Supremacy Clause. States can regulate ballast water discharges without violating the Dormant Commerce Clause because state regulations in this area do not discriminate against interstate commerce, and, even if they do, courts allow discrimination in this context. Under the Supremacy Clause, federal law does not preempt state regulation of ballast water discharges. Although federal regulation of on-board equipment might impose some limitations on similar state regulations, federal law does not preempt states from pre-approving certain methods for treating ballast water.


Since their introduction, diffusion models have quickly become the prevailing approach to generative modeling in many domains. They can be interpreted as learning the gradients of a time-varying sequence of log-probability density functions. This interpretation has motivated classifier-based and classifier-free guidance as methods for post-hoc control of diffusion models. In this work, we build upon these ideas using the score-based interpretation of diffusion models, and explore alternative ways to condition, modify, and reuse diffusion models for tasks involving compositional generation and guidance. In particular, we investigate why certain types of composition fail using current techniques and present a number of solutions. We conclude that the sampler (not the model) is responsible for this failure and propose new samplers, inspired by MCMC, which enable successful compositional generation. Further, we propose an energy-based parameterization of diffusion models which enables the use of new compositional operators and more sophisticated, Metropolis-corrected samplers. Intriguingly we find these samplers lead to notable improvements in compositional generation across a wide set of problems such as classifier-guided ImageNet modeling and compositional text-to-image generation.


Valuation theory for derivatives based on interest rates and bond prices continues to be in flux. A wide variety of models have been introduced over the years, and many are still actively used. Some are based on modeling the behavior of spot interest rates, with enough structure that the model is constrained to be consistent with the current market term structure. Others begin with the observed term structure and model behavior of the forward rates embedded in it. Moraleda and Pelsser conduct a comparison of five of the most common interest rate models, including some of each type. The data used include U.S. spot interest rates for maturities out to ten years and dollar cap and floor prices. The authors find that the models of the spot rate appear to outperform those based on forward rates, with the Black-Karasinski model doing the best overall.


Parkinson's disease often affects gait and mobility. To understand better the pathophysiology of this disease and to improve our ability to measure responses to therapeutic interventions, it may be helpful to control gait dynamics accurately. In to order to control this dynamics design to fuzzy controller, but the fuzzy identifier present to problem, in the heuristic selection of the values that describes the structure of the membership functions. To for numerical solution this disadvantage is the Genetic Algorithms. With this fuzzy-genetic controller it is managed to improve the dynamics of the disease of Parkinson's for his to better study in therapeutic interventions.


One of the points on which researchers agree is the centrality of autonomy to professionalism. Moreover, a common conclusion in the studies of professions is that the profound changes in society over the last fifty years have threatened the autonomy and changed the archetype of professionalism. This paper contributes to the research on changes and continuities, challenges and opportunities for professionalism by discussing advantages and disadvantages of restricted professional autonomy. By describing the historical development in the Swedish and Canadian healthcare context, two major findings are discussed. First, although medical professionals have been subjected to certain constraints, they still appear to maintain a relatively high level of autonomy concerning the technical content of the work. Second, restricting professional autonomy is not negative merely due to the preservation of the professional archetype; rather, a «reasonable» limitation can be positive if professional autonomy is understood as a contract based on public trust.


Background Chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia. Incidence studies of chlamydia in men who have sex with men (MSM) are rare and offer important public health information. Objective To determine chlamydia incidence in MSM presenting at high caseload clinics and describe predictors of infection. Methods The Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance of bloodborne viruses and STIs (VPCNSS) links testing, demographic and behavioural data from individual testers at participating clinics. Data from MSM with more than one chlamydia test at the VPCNSS site between April 2006 and June 2010 were included. Chlamydia incidence per 100 person-years (PY) was calculated and Cox regression used to examine predictors of incidence. Results 1206 positive tests for chlamydia were detected among 6333 MSM across 11 409 PY of follow-up. Overall chlamydia incidence was 10.6/100 PY (95% CI 10.0 to 11.2) and was highest among MSM aged 16–29 years (12.9/100 PY, 95% CI 11.7 to 14.1), presenting with STI symptoms (16.0/100 PY, 95% CI 14.2 to 18.0), HIV positive (18.5/100 PY, 95% CI 16.6 to 20.6) and self-identified sex workers (14.3/100 PY, 95% CI 10.0 to 20.6). Significant predictors of chlamydia infection among MSM were younger age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=1.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.3), self-identifying as a sex worker (aHR=1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.6), being HIV positive (aHR=2.6, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.8), presenting with STI symptoms (aHR=1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.1) and reporting >10 sex partners in the past 6 months (aHR=2.5 95% CI 1.4 to 4.6). Conclusion These results show that MSM represent a key risk population for chlamydia in Australia and identify a number of high-risk MSM subpopulations for whom clinical and public health interventions are warranted.


Peer-to-peer file sharing is a growing security risk for firms and individuals. Users who participate in these networks to share music, pictures, and video are subject to many security risks including inadvertent publishing of private information, exposure to viruses and worms, and the consequences of spyware. In this paper, we examine the peer-to-peer file sharing phenomena, including an overview of the industry, its business models, and evolution. We describe the information security risks users' face including personal identification disclosure and leakage of proprietary business information. We illustrate those risks through honey-pot experiments and discuss how peer-to-peer industry dynamics are contributing to the security problem.


Abstract Understanding the dynamics of biomineral growth is a challenging goal of biomineralogy that can be achieved in part by deciphering biomineral structures and chemistries. The morphology, structure, and chemistry of six skeletons of Corallium and Paracorallium species (C. rubrum, C. elatius, C. johnsoni, C. niobe, P. japonicum, and P. thrinax) from the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Pacific oceans have been studied by X-ray micro-computed tomography, polarized light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and electron microprobe. All species have two types of biomineral structures: an inner skeleton and sclerites that are small grains of Mg-calcite found in the living tissues surrounding the skeleton. All skeletons display a central core surrounded by an annular domain. In the species studied by electron microprobe (C. rubrum, C. elatius, and P. japonicum), the central core and the annular domains display different chemical compositions with the core richer in magnesium and poorer in sulfur than the annular domain. In terms of structure, special emphasis has been put on central cores for which little data are available. The central cores are made of sclerites and sclerite aggregates within a cement consisting of fine layers of Mg-calcite. On the other hand, the annular parts are made of fine concentric layers of calcite crystallites with only rare sclerites. These contrasting features imply two different growth modes: (1) a "block and cement" mode taking place at the apex of a branch and associated with a fast axial growth rate (~2 mm/yr); and (2) a layer-by-layer mode occurring below the apex and associated with a slow radial growth (~0.2 mm/yr). The change from a growth mode to another is anatomically controlled by the presence of a continuous network of gastrodermal canals around the sub-apical skeleton, preventing to a large extent the aggregation of sclerites. It is generally accepted that the Coralliidae family exhibits different types of skeletogeneses. In contrast with this idea, we observe that all studied Corallium species display remarkable similarities in terms of skeletogenesis and a unifying growth model for the Corallium genus is proposed. Similarities and differences with previous models are discussed. The present study shows that the morphological criterion initially used to establish the genus Paracorallium in the Coralliidae family is inadequate.


This study aims to determine the effect of motivation and emotional intelligence to employee performance. The research sample was determined by proportional random sampling method. Research data collection techniques by spreading questionnaires to employees of villages in the city of Semarang systematically arranged with multiple choice answers are easy to understand. The research sample is determined by slovin numbered 90 people. Previously conducted research with the instrument test validity and reliability. This study uses multiple linear regression model. The research proves that there is a positive and significant impact either partially or simultaneously motivation and emotional intelligence to employee performance.


Abstract Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) belongs to a family of multifunctional polypeptides which regulate normal cell growth, development, and tissue remodeling following injury. The ability of cells to produce TGFβ or to respond to this growth factor via cell surface receptors is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom. TGFβ is a potent growth inhibitor of many normal and transformed cell lines; abnormalities in TGFβ signaling have been linked to tumorigenicity. Disruption of the TGFβ1 gene in utero produces a wasting syndrome characterized by systemic inflammation, suggesting that this growth factor plays an important role in limiting the inflammatory response. TGFβ is a dominant mediator of the pathologic extracellular matrix accumulation that characterizes progression of tissue injury to end-stage organ failure. Recent studies directed towards characterization of the TGFβ genes, dissection of the mechanisms by which TGFβs are produced and activated, and identification of TGFβ signaling pathways have established the important roles that these family members play in cell and tissue homeostasis. In this overview, TGFβ structure-function relationships and their relevance to a few select models of tissue injury/wound repair are highlighted.


Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used to treat a wide and growing range of problematic acute and chronic wounds. Continuous therapy delivered at -125 mm Hg has been routinely recommended, despite consistent research findings suggesting potential advantages to the use of lower pressures and intermittent therapy. To enhance understanding and document the disparity between the body of NPWT science and current practice with respect to negative pressure levels and modes of therapy, a search of the English-language literature from June 1989 through May 2009 was conducted. Thirty-six publications found to contain directly relevant information (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data) were examined. While lower negative pressures and intermittent therapy were associated in earlier studies with improved microvascular blood flow in porcine wound models and with reduced pain in patients, early system shortcomings discourage adoption of intermittent therapy. Subsequent preclinical studies confirmed the beneficial effects of intermittent therapy compared to continuous therapy on blood flow and granulation tissue formation and lower pressures (-75 mm Hg or -100 mm Hg) compared to higher pressure (-125 mm Hg) on soft tissue blood flow. Considering the available preclinical evidence, reported patient pain, and common use of high-pressure continuous NPWT in clinical practice, high-quality randomized controlled clinical trials must be conducted to help clinicians optimize care.


Current paper tackles the issues related to plagiarism phenomenon as it is perceived by the students of Alexandru Ioan Cuza Police Academy. The content is related to a research that has been developed in 2014-2015 among the students using transversal analysis as the main research method. It is well known that plagiarism represents a threat for current society, but unfortunately it has to be said that it also represents a reality especially when referring to academic environments. Furthermore, one could state the fact that the idea of plagiarism is both tolerated and supported by some categories of persons, some of them from the position of beneficiary - either the person involved in the act itself, either the person to gain some advantages resulting from a plagiarized paper, article, book etc. The authors of the paper have developed the study using questionnaires applied to different types of students from the specific environment of Romanian Police Academy. As such, groups of students (cadets) from first year of study, second year and from the final year were involved in this research. Also, a group of students involved in one of the master programs developed by the institution were used for the questionnaire, with accent on students that have previously graduated the Academy. Another interesting evaluation is a comparative one between the master students originating from civilian society and those that are hired within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The study is illustrated with diagrams and has am important part of research interpretation and conclusions.


Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are located at the beginning of the causes of morbidity and mortality in Turkey and in the World. CVD risk factors are determined and take the necessary precautions and control of the modifiable risk factors are very important in terms of the reduction in mortality. In order to be controlled modifiable risk factors the necessary lifestyle changes need to be made by individuals. Especially, it must be provided individual-specific risk assessment, the opportunistic and systematic screening of the CVD risk factors, consultancy on risky behaviors (diet, smoking, etc.) by Family Health Center' staff. There are a lot of risk assessment systems to determine the level of individual CVD risk. Which is suited for use at Family Health Centers and one of the recommended risk assessment tools in national and international current guidelines is SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation). SCORE or other risk assessment tools should be used at family health centers which are the most significant way to reach individual and also individuals and society should be made counseling on a healthy diet, smoking cessation and physical activity.


Multi-task learning is a paradigm shown to improve the performance of related tasks through their joint learning. However, for real-world data, it is usually difficult to assess the task relatedness and joint learning with unrelated tasks may lead to serious performance degradations. To this end, we propose a framework that groups the tasks based on their relatedness in a subspace and allows a varying degree of relatedness among tasks by sharing the subspace bases across the groups. This provides the flexibility of no sharing when two sets of tasks are unrelated and partial/total sharing when the tasks are related. Importantly, the number of task-groups and the subspace dimensionality are automatically inferred from the data. To realize our framework, we introduce a novel Bayesian nonparametric prior that extends the traditional hierarchical beta process prior using a Dirichlet process to permit potentially infinite number of child beta processes. We apply our model for multi-task regression and classification applications. Experimental results using several synthetic and real datasets show the superiority of our model to other recent multi-task learning methods.


Abstract : This research takes an existing ionospheric model and modifies it to include the effects of solar flare activity. Solar flares are a localized explosive release of magnetic energy that appears as a sudden, short-lived brightening in the sun's chromosphere. This additional energy is deposited in the earth's ionosphere, temporarily changing its properties, which can affect military communications. Studying the effects of moderate solar flares will improve our understanding of the ionosphere?s response, leading to better operational models. Modification of the model is accomplished by adding a flare irradiance model to represent solar irradiance changes due to a flare. The irradiance output is then used to calculate the photoionization rates, electron impact ionization rates, and electron heating rates in the ionospheric model. After the results of this integration are validated, two moderate flares are modeled and then compared to ionospheric measurements from Bear Lake Observatory. It is found that the new model is able to accurately reflect the response of the E and lower F region of the ionosphere, but above the F2 peak the electron temperature does not increase as initially expected. Future work will need to resolve this discrepancy so that the model can accurately develop the ionosphere?s response to solar flares.


A 50-year old woman came with the presentation of comatose with a subdural hematoma due to road traffic accident. She underwent tracheostomy after she developed ventilator-associated pneumonia. Within 72 hours of the procedure she developed tracheo-innominate fistula which usually develops in 1-2 weeks and is quite rare. Although the defect was repaired with a saphenous vein patch, the bleeding continued and no improvements were seen.


Hybrid excavator control strategy based on rules optimizes the specific fuel consumption only to determine engine operating point in the perspective of qualitative analysis, it is not sufficient to reduce the excavator fuel consumption because of ignoring the affect of engine power output. In this paper, an instantaneous minimum fuel consumption control strategy for hybrid power-train is proposed, strategy determines the ideal operating point taking both the main influence factors of fuel consumption into consideration, the ultra-capacitor energy variation which is caused by the motor power output is converted to the equivalent fuel consumption and included in the current power-train fuel consumption. The output torque combination of the engine and motor which minimize the current fuel consumption is adopted. The bench test results validate that the engine is 12% fuel saving on average after optimizing, and at the same time the ultra-capacitor energy is effectively maintained.


The phenomenon "productivity paradox" indicates that investment in information technology is not positively associated with financial performance. However, there have been debates as to whether this phenomenon is actually valid or not. In this study, we explore the different roles of IT for increasing productivity in manufacturing and service industries using the data mining method called Weka (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis). We found that there exist both similarities and differences between the two industries. The role of CIO (Chief Information Officer) is addressed, as well as the role of Elearning Systems associated with productivity in the service industry. Finally, the vulnerability of small businesses to the IT productivity paradox is discussed.


We describe the ongoing development of a verified translator between OpenQASM (Open Quantum Assembly Language) and sqir, a Small Quantum Intermediate Representation used for circuit optimization. Verified translation from and to OpenQASM will allow verified optimization of circuits written in a variety of tools and executed on real quantum computers. This translator is a step toward a verified compilation stack for quantum computing.


Single pulse, solid-state 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy offers an additional method of characterisation of opal-A and opal-CT through spin-lattice (T1) relaxometry. Opal T1 relaxation is characterised by stretched exponential (Weibull) function represented by scale (speed of relaxation) and shape (form of the curve) parameters. Relaxation is at least an order of magnitude faster than for silica glass and quartz, with Q3 (silanol) usually faster than Q4 (fully substituted silicates). 95% relaxation (Q4) is achieved for some Australian seam opals after 50 s though other samples of opal-AG may take 4000 s, while some figures for opal-AN are over 10,000 s. Enhancement is probably mostly due to the presence of water/silanol though the presence of paramagnetic metal ions and molecular motion may also contribute. Shape factors for opal-AG (0.5) and opal-AN (0.7) are significantly different, consistent with varying water and silanol environments, possibly reflecting differences in formation conditions. Opal-CT samples show a trend of shape factors from 0.45 to 0.75 correlated to relaxation rate. Peak position, scale and shape parameter, and Q3 to Q4 ratios offer further differentiating feature to separate opal-AG and opal-AN from other forms of opaline silica. T1 relaxation measurement may have a role for provenance verification. In addition, definitively determined Q3/Q4 ratios are in the range 0.1 to 0.4 for opal-AG but considerably lower for opal-AN and opal-CT.


Ultra-low-noise solid-state nanopores are attractive for high-accuracy single-molecule sensing. A conventional silicon platform introduces acute capacitive noise to the system, which seriously limits the recording bandwidth. Recently, we have demonstrated the creation of thin triangular membranes on an insulating crystal sapphire wafer to eliminate the parasitic device capacitance. Uniquely different from the previous triangular etching window designs, here hexagonal windows were explored to produce triangular membranes by aligning to the sapphire crystal within a large tolerance of alignment angles (10-35°). Interestingly, sapphire facet competition serves to suppress the formation of more complex polygons but creates stable triangular membranes with their area insensitive to the facet alignment. Accordingly, a new strategy was successfully established on a 2 in. sapphire wafer to produce chips with an average membrane side length of 4.7 μm, an area of <30 μm2 for 81% chips, or estimated calculated membrane capacitance as low as 0.06 pF. We finally demonstrated <4 μs high-speed and high-fidelity low-noise protein detection under 250 kHz high bandwidth.


Purpose: The study sought to investigate the effect of non-performing loan on financial stability of deposit taking SACCOs in Kenya.
Materials and Methods: The study adopted a desktop methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive's time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library
Results: Nonperforming loans and their effect on the financial stability of SACCOs using have not been adequately featured in any of the studies reviewed. This leaves a gap that needs to be filled. SACCOs play a very vital role in the financial intermediation in the Kenyan economy and their uniqueness in operations. This study will therefore focus on filling this gap.
Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: the study findings of this study will assist the regulators of Sacco's SASRA to formulate stringent policies to tame the rising cases of non-performing loans. The findings of this study will be useful to SACCOs within Nairobi County in evaluating how effective their approach to managing NPLs has been. This will enable them to identify the gaps in their management of NPLs and adjust accordingly.


Abstract : A finite element formulation and algorithm for the nonlinear analysis of the large deflection, materially nonlinear response of impulsively loaded shells is presented. A unique feature of this algorithm is the use of a bilinear four node quadrilateral element with single point quadrature and a simple hourglass control which is orthogonal to rigid body modes on an element level and does not compromise the consistency of the equations. The geometric nonlinearities are treated by using a corotational description wherein a coordinate system that rotates with the material is embedded at the integration point; thus the algorithm is directly applicable to anisotropic materials without any corrections for frame invariance of material property tensors. This algorithm can treat about 200 element-time-steps per CPU second on a CYBER 170/730 computer in the explicit time integration mode. Numerous results are presented for both elastic and elastic-plastic problems with large strains that show that the method in most cases is comparable in accuracy with an earlier version of this algorithm employing a cubic triangular plate-shell element, but substantially faster. (Author)


The occurrence and properties of PTH-related peptide (PTH-RP) in milk was investigated. PTH-RP was purified to homogeneity from human and bovine milk using heat and acid to precipitate milk proteins followed by ion exchange chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. The peak of PTH-RP from HPLC was detected using a sensitive bone cell bioassay. A single band of peptide was detected on silver-stained polyacrylamide gels, which migrated as a 20-21-kDa macromolecule. PTH-RP isolated from either human or bovine milk had similar electrophoretic mobilities on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The partially purified bovine PTH-RP stimulated cAMP production in UMR106-01 and OK cell lines and elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of sodium-dependent phosphate transport in OK cells. Incubation of milk extracts with an anti-PTH antiserum did not affect their bioactivity, whereas an antihuman PTH-RP 1-34 antiserum markedly reduced the cAMP response of UMR106-01 cells to the immunoabsorbed milk extracts. A PTH antagonist, norleu PTH 3-34, blocked the stimulation of cAMP production in UMR106-01 cells treated with milk extracts. PTH-RP immunoreactivity and bioactivity occurred in milk extracts of diverse animals from both eutherian and metatherian (marsupial) species. Porcine colostrum also had immunoreactive PTH-RP, although the levels were lower than the immunoreactive PTH-RP concentrations observed in milk samples collected at 7 and 14 days of lactation. Thus, a 20-21-KDa PTH-RP is secreted into milk where it could play a role in the development of suckling, newborn animals.


A simple chip discrimination technique is presented for use with ultra wide band (UWB), impulse radio (IR) that improves performance for large near/far interference ratios. A typical spread-spectrum IR that employs a matched filter sum for bit decisions is susceptible to small numbers of large power pulses that can dominate the bit decision threshold statistics. This paper describes a technique for chip discrimination prior to the spreading summation that can greatly reduce the effects of large near/far interferers. The technique exploits the unique time domain characteristics that only UWB systems can provide. A statistical model is developed that predicts bit error performance for binary offset pulse position modulation (PPM) as a function of near/far density and power for varying discrimination thresholds. We find that even a small number of very near interferers can greatly reduce the performance of a system without blanking or discrimination. Results show substantial improvement using this method for near interferers with near/far power ratios greater than 20 dB.


This important two-volume collection draws together the most significant and instructive articles relating to comparative law methodology and offers vast and comprehensive coverage of practices, principles, methods and sources in comparative legal research. The first volume deals with preliminary considerations such as the aims of research and the questions one should ask, as well as how to select objects for comparison and formulate a research plan. The second volume focuses on the comparative research of regulation, description, and explanation, along with discussion on functionalism, quantitative approaches, translation issues, legal transplants and global challenges. Together with an original introduction by the editors that frames the articles and helps the reader to navigate them successfully, this collection offers a balanced body of seminal research which will benefit legal scholars, students, and all who are undertaking, or seeking to evaluate, comparative legal research.


Global climate change is accelerating the process of soil salinization. Salinity restricts wheat production worldwide, including in Egypt. Thus, it is recommended to screen for salt-tolerant genotypes according to salinity tolerance related traits. The present study aimed to evaluate the salinity tolerance among 159 spring bread wheat elite genotypes and to compare them with the 16 Egyptian checks. Thus, the genotypes were evaluated under saline conditions in El-Arish, Egypt (EC 10 Ds/m). The field experiment was laid out in an alpha lattice design. Data for the thousand-grain weight, highest plant survival rate, plant height, number of seeds/spike, number of spikes/plant and seeds/spike, spike length and spike weight were collected in the field. Interestingly, the elite wheat genotypes 30351 and 30383 were observed to have maximum values for the thousand-grain weight in comparison with the other wheat genotypes under study. The results of this study suggest that the Egyptian varieties, sids1, sids12, sids13 and Gemmiza12, had maximum


This revised 6-page fact sheet was written by Peter J. Dittmar and Jeffrey G. Williamson, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
HS93/WG020: Weed Management in Stone Fruit Tree Crops (Nectarine, Peach, and Plum) (ufl.edu)