Abstract : High-response pressure measurements of a high-speed, 10-stage, axial- flow compressor operating in rotating stall are analyzed. Procedures used to digitize analog voltages and calibrate pressure transducers are presented. From total and static pressures measured at the exit of the test compressor, stall cell Mach number distributions are calculated and used to study the effects of discharge throttle levels and variable vane changes on the 10th-stage rotating stall cells. Results indicate that significant transition zones exist between the reverse flow and peak Mach number of the stall cell cycle. Since the axial Mach numbers of the stall cell cycle are constantly changing, the amount of leading and trailing edge transition zones and fully unstalled flow zones are not easily defined. A method is devised to approximate the different flow zone ranges and correlate them to in-stall pressure characteristic behavior of the 10th stage of the test compressor. Changes in the time-averaged pressure characteristics are found to correlate with changes in the rotating stall flow zones. A lower pressure coefficient appears to correspond to an increase in ratio of trailing to leading edge transition zone size and the average transition zone size. Results also suggest that recovery hysteresis in the test compressor is characterized by reverse flow in the rotating stall cell.


The role of antibodies in protecting the host from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is of considerable interest, particularly because the RV144 trial results suggest that antibodies contribute to protection. Although infection of non-human primates with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is commonly used as an animal model of HIV-1 infection, the viral epitopes that elicit potent and broad neutralizing antibodies to SIV have not been identified. We isolated a monoclonal antibody (MAb) B404 that potently and broadly neutralizes various SIV strains. B404 targets a conformational epitope comprising the V3 and V4 loops of Env that intensely exposed when Env binds CD4. B404-resistant variants were obtained by passaging viruses in the presence of increasing concentration of B404 in PM1/CCR5 cells. Genetic analysis revealed that the Q733stop mutation, which truncates the cytoplasmic tail of gp41, was the first major substitution in Env during passage. The maximal inhibition by B404 and other MAbs were significantly decreased against a recombinant virus with a gp41 truncation compared with the parental SIVmac316. This indicates that the gp41 truncation was associated with resistance to antibody-mediated neutralization. The infectivities of the recombinant virus with the gp41 truncation were 7,900-, 1,000-, and 140-fold higher than those of SIVmac316 in PM1, PM1/CCR5, and TZM-bl cells, respectively. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the gp41 truncation enhanced the incorporation of Env into virions. The effect of the gp41 truncation on infectivity was not obvious in the HSC-F macaque cell line, although the resistance of viruses harboring the gp41 truncation to neutralization was maintained. These results suggest that viruses with a truncated gp41 cytoplasmic tail were selected by increased infectivity in human cells and by acquiring resistance to neutralizing antibody.


In this work, we encapsulated the titanium oxide particles with a layer of Al2O3 by a sol-gel process and investigated the UV-shielding properties of the obtained Al2O3-TiO2 composites. In this method, Al(NO3)3 aqueous solution mixed with raw titanium oxide powder was hydrolyzed by adding NH3·H2O. The hydrated materials were calcined at 500°C and then the composite of Al2O3-TiO2 was prepared. Different techniques including ICP-AES, XRD, SEM-EDS, and TEM were used to characterize the raw TiO2 and encapsulated TiO2 particles. Chemical analysis showed that TiO2 mass content in the raw titanium oxide particles is 98.25%, and Al2O3 is just 0.75%. After modification, the percentage Al2O3 was increased to 4.48% due to the encapsulation of Al2O3. Trace elements analysis displayed that the concentration of the trace elements were much lower than their original content in the raw titanium oxide, which prove that proved that there was no impurities incorporated into in the sol-gel process. XRD analysis indicated that the modified titanium oxide powders are mainly in phase of rutile, ca. 99.1%, and the profiles exhibit no peaks of crystalline Al2O3 suggesting the layer of Al2O3 exists in amorphous phase. SEM image suggests that the size is in 80~600nm of the raw TiO2 granula and became rougher on the surface, the packing of the agglomerations got looser after modification with Al2O3. HRTEM image shows that the TiO2 particles was evenly coated with a packed layer ~8 nm in thickness. The UV-Vis absorbency experiments showed that the range of wavelength shielded was narrowed from 208-316 nm in the raw titanium oxide to 225-285 nm in the case of the Al2O3-TiO2. The average absorbency of UV was improved from 1.07 to 1.98 at the same content 1.0 μg/mL in the suspended solution. The results reflected that Al2O3 modification process improve the titanium oxide particles UV-shielding properties in selectivity and performance.


We consider the coupling of the thermoelastic mirror deformations to the resonance of giant cavities involved in interferometric detectors of gravitational waves. As this problem is coupled and nonlinear, instabilities could occur a priori. We analytically solve the coupled problem of thermoelastic deformations and their effect on the laser field, perturbatively, and we show that within the realm of our (physically reasonable) assumptions there are no instabilities that can simulate a false event in the observational frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz.


We use laboratory experiments to investigate the effect that assuming rational expectations has on structural inference in a dynamic discrete decision problem. Our design induces preferences up to the subjective rate of time preference, leaving unrestricted both this parameter and subjects' decision rules. We estimate subjects' discount rates under the assumption that all subjects use the rational expectations decision rule, and under weaker behavioral assumptions that allow decision rule heterogeneity. We find that certain sophisticated heuristics fit subjects' decisions statistically significantly better than rational expectations. However, the rational expectations assumption does not distort inferences about the cross-sectional discount rate distribution.


The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (Panel) is in its twenty-third year of existence. It was created to coordinate the discovery, or pretrial, phase of cases involving common questions of fact that have been filed in different federal district courts. 2 The Panel's objective is to promote efficient and expeditious processing of these factually related cases.3 It has affected tens of thousands of cases in the federal judicial system4 and, no doubt, will continue


The volume of scientific output is creating an urgent need for automated tools to help scientists keep up with developments in their field. Semantic Scholar (S2) is an open data platform and website aimed at accelerating science by helping scholars discover and understand scientific literature. We combine public and proprietary data sources using state-of-theart techniques for scholarly PDF content extraction and automatic knowledge graph construction to build the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph, the largest open scientific literature graph to-date, with 200M+ papers, 80M+ authors, 550M+ paper-authorship edges, and 2.4B+ citation edges. The graph includes advanced semantic features such as structurally parsed text, natural language summaries, and vector embeddings. In this paper, we describe the components of the S2 data processing pipeline and the associated APIs offered by the platform. We will update this living document to reflect changes as we add new data offerings and improve existing services.


Residual dipolar couplings are highly useful NMR parameters for calculating and refining molecular structures, dynamics, and interactions. For some applications, however, it is inevitable that the preferred orientation of a molecule in an alignment medium is calculated a priori. Several methods have been developed to predict molecular orientations and residual dipolar couplings. Being beneficial for macromolecules and selected small‐molecule applications, such approaches lack sufficient accuracy for a large number of organic compounds for which the fine structure and eventually the flexibility of all involved molecules have to be considered or are limited to specific, well‐studied liquid crystals. We introduce a simplified model for detailed all‐atom molecular dynamics calculations with a polymer strand lined up along the principal axis as a new approach to simulate the preferred orientation of small to medium‐sized solutes in polymer‐based, gel‐type alignment media. As is shown by a first example of strychnine in a polystyrene/CDCl3 gel, the simulations potentially enable the accurate prediction of residual dipolar couplings taking into account structural details and dynamic averaging effects of both the polymer and the solute. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


We tackle in this thesis the problem of computing the topology of plane algebraic curves. We present an algorithm that avoids special treatment of degenerate cases, based on algebraic tools such as Gröbner bases and rational univariate representations. We implemented this algorithm and showed its performance by comparing to similar existing programs. We also present an output-sensitive complexity analysis of this algorithm. We then discuss the tools that are necessary for the implementation of nonlinear geometric algorithms in CGAL, the reference library in the computational geometry community. We present an univariate algebraic kernel for CGAL, a set of functions aimed to handle curved objects defined by univariate polynomials. We validated our approach by comparing it to other similar implementations.


Strains of freshly propagated ale and lager yeast were compared with identical dried strains during wort fermentations. While several factors remained within standard expectations and were favorably matched to freshly propagated yeast fermentation results, a number of undesirable characteristics were associated with the dried yeast brews, especially reduced viability. The Helm flocculation test and static fermentations showed that flocculation is affected by the drying process, especially with lager strains. Also, dried yeast seems to induce a greater amount of haze in suspension, and the fermentation has a considerably less stable foam than fermentations with the fresh yeast samples, which may be due to the increased levels of extracellular proteinase found. It is suggested that many of the effects observed are a result of pitching high levels of dead yeast into the wort and that this could be alleviated by increasing the viability of the dried yeast, possibly by propagating on carbon sources such as maltose to increase levels of trehalose, a reported stress protectant.


This paper presents a novel randomized path planning algorithm, which is a goal and homology biased sampling based algorithm called Multiple Guiding Attraction based Random Tree, and robots can use it to tackle pop-up and moving threats under kinodynamic constraints. Our proposed method considers the kinematics and dynamics constraints, using obstacle information to perform informed sampling and redistribu- tion around collision region toward valid routing. We pioneeringly propose a multiple path planning method using ' Extending Forbidden ' algorithm, rather than using variant cost principles for online threat management. The threat management method performs online path switching between the planned multiple paths, which is proved with better time performance than conventional approaches. The proposed method has advantage in exploration in obstacle crowded environment, where narrow corridor fails using the general sampling based exploration methods. We perform detailed comparative experiments with peer approaches in cluttered environment, and point out the advantages in time and mission performance.


Fan studies is a multifaceted discipline that developed from widely different fields of research, resulting in a great variety of methodological approaches. A recurring issue in discussions on methodology in fan studies is the tension between the researchers' attachment to the phenomenon they are studying and the more detached, critical role of a researcher. The double position as both a participant in and observer of the communities that they are researching has led to valuable discussions about reflexivity and positionality in fan studies methodologies. Indeed, the double position of fan and researcher can inform and enrich research by bringing fannish practices and sensibilities to research projects. This tension between attachment to and detachment from the field influences the research process, leading to ethical challenges that acafans must face as a result of their dual positionality. Drawing on affect theory, and reflecting on our own research experiences from an autoethnographic perspective, we show how fannish attachment to the subject-object of study can be a driving force—a resource rather than an impediment to good research. An affective turn in methodology could improve knowledge not only within the field of fan studies but in the social sciences in general.


Consistent aggregation of production data across commodities and Western USA states was tested using Lewbel's generalised composite commodity theorem. The applicability of the generalised composite commodity theorem for testing consistent geographic aggregation was demonstrated and applied to two groups of states. Consistent commodity aggregation was tested in each state for two output groups and three input groups and in one state for a larger number of groups. Most tests for commodity aggregation supported consistent aggregation of inputs but not outputs. Consistent geographic aggregation was supported for each output and input category across Pacific Northwest states but only for inputs across all Western states.


This conversation piece celebrates Annette K. Joseph-Gabriel's inspiring study Reimagining Liberation: How Black Women Transformed Citizenship in the French Empire (2020) through the parallel histories of the Martinican theorist Suzanne Césaire and the Haitian intellectual Suzanne Comhaire-Sylvain. Thinking about Suzanne's and Suzanne's respective and overlapping relationships to Haiti, this essay is an exercise in implementing the decolonial methods and reimagining of national belonging that Joseph-Gabriel presents.


This paper will examine the role of emotions in fieldwork by discussing the dialogical nature of fieldwork as a research tool. It is argued that fieldwork is based on information gathered through relationships, and therefore the emotional elements of those associations are relevant to the ethnographic writing that is produced. Further this paper will address how acknowledging the role of emotions as a part of fieldwork and the overall ethnographic research process is important; however, simply recognizing that emotions are a part of fieldwork is possibly to underplay their potentially more catalytic role in the learning process in as much as it is often through our emotional reactions that we come to understand. "For the lay person, such as myself, the main evidence of a problem is the simple fact that ethnographic writing tends to be surprisingly boring. How, one asks constantly, could such interesting people doing such interesting things produce such dull books? What did they have to do to themselves?" (Pratt 1986:33)


The introduction of symbolic approaches, based on Binary Decision Diagrams (BDD), to Model Checking has led to significant improvements in Formal Verification, by allowing the analysis of very large systems, such as complex circuit designs. These were previously beyond the reach of traditional, explicit methods, due to the state space explosion phenomenon. However, after the initial success, the BDD technology has peaked, due to a similar problem, the BDD explosion.
We present a new approach to symbolic Model Checking that is based on exploiting the system structure. This technique is characterized by several unique features, including an encoding of states with Multiway Decision Diagrams (MDD) and of transitions with boolean Kronecker matrices. This approach naturally captures the property of event locality, inherently present in the class of globally asynchronous/locally synchronous systems.
The most important contribution of our work is the saturation algorithm for state space construction. Using saturation, the peak size of the MDD (luring the exploration is drastically reduced, often to sizes equal or comparable to the final MDD size, which makes it optimal in these terms. Subsequently, saturation can achieve similar reductions in runtimes. When compared to the leading state-of-the art tools based on traditional symbolic approaches, saturation is up to 100,000 times faster and uses up to 1,000 times less memory. This enables our approach to study much larger systems than ever considered. Following the success in state space exploration, we extend the applicability of the saturation algorithm to CTL Model Checking, and also to efficient generation of shortest length counterexamples for safety properties, with similar results.
This approach to automatic verification is implemented in the tool SMART. We test the new model checker on a real life, industrial size application: the NASA Runway Safety Monitor (RSM). The analysis exposes a number of potential problems with the decision procedure designed to signal all hazardous situations during takeoff and landing procedures on runways. Attempts to verify RSM with other model checkers (NuSMV, SPIN) fail due to excessive memory consumption, showing that our structural method is superior to existing symbolic approaches.


In this paper, a fuzzy-rule-based semi-active control of building frames using semi-active variable orifice dampers (VODs) is presented. Additionally, the consequences of well-known characteristics of near-fault ground motions, forward directivity and fling step, on the seismic response control is investigated. The membership functions and fuzzy rules of the fuzzy controller were optimized by genetic algorithm. To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed fuzzy controller strategy in application and effects of near-fault ground motions, numerical simulation for a 10-story building frame equipped with VODs is presented. The VODs are installed in all storeys to prevent damage to the structure from severe earthquakes. The controlled response of the frame was compared with results obtained by controlling the frame by the classical clipped-optimal control method based on linear quadratic regulator theory. Results revealed that the fuzzy logic controller is capable of improving the structural responses and VODs are promising for reducing seismic responses during near-fault earthquakes.


: A digital pulse shape discrimination system based on a programmable module NI-5772 has been established and tested with an EJ-301 liquid scintillation detector. The module was operated by running programs developed in LabVIEW, with a sampling frequency up to 1.6 GS/s. Standard gamma sources 22 Na, 137 Cs and 60 Co were used to calibrate the EJ-301 liquid scintillation detector, and the gamma response function was obtained. Digital algorithms for the charge comparison method and zero-crossing method have been developed. The experimental results show that both digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms can discriminate neutrons from (cid:13) -rays. Moreover, the zero-crossing method shows better n- (cid:13) discrimination at 80 keVee and lower, whereas the charge comparison method gives better results at higher thresholds. In addition, the (cid:12)gure-of-merit (FOM) for detectors of two di(cid:11)erent dimensions were extracted at 9 energy thresholds, and it was found that the smaller detector presented better n- (cid:13) separation for (cid:12)ssion


Background The "Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013" provides "fit" reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) for good health. The importance of achieving a fit CRF level for several years on the subsequent prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains to be clarified. Methods This cohort study was conducted in 2,235 nondiabetic males aged 21 to 59 years, enrolled in April 1986 through March 1987. We calculated the ratio of the area under the curve (AUCratio) for actual measured values and the AUC for the reference values of CRF in each individual during an 8-year measurement period before the baseline. According to whether they met a fit CRF level or not, participants were categorized into groups based on the AUCratio (FitAUC or UnfitAUC) and initial CRF (Fitinitial or Unfitinitial), respectively. T2DM was evaluated on health checkups until March 2010. Results During the follow-up period, 400 men developed T2DM. After adjustment for confounders, as compared with those in the FitAUC group, the hazard ratio (HR) for those in the UnfitAUC group was 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.65). A combined analysis with the categories of initial value and AUCratio showed that, compared with the Fitinitial and FitAUC group, the HRs of Fitinitial and UnfitAUC, Unfitinitial and FitAUC, and Unfitinitial and UnfitAUC groups were 1.41 (95% CI, 0.99–2.00), 1.18 (95% CI, 0.81–1.70), and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.08–1.83), respectively. Conclusion Achievement of a fit CRF level established in the Japan physical activity guideline for several years was associated with lower subsequent risk of T2DM.


In this paper, a concrete sulfate corrosion-resistance admixture is developed with anhydrite (CaSO4), super fine slag powder (P800) and anhydrous calcium sulfo-aluminate (C-S-A). It is optimized by means of systematical research on specific surface area, setting time, expansion ratio, compressive strength ratio, corrosion resistance coefficient and expansion coefficient of 20 mixes, which are designed based on the hydration mechanism and performance requirements according to JC/T1011-2006. This new type sulfate corrosion resistance admixture has good performance and completely satisfies the requirements of industry standard JC/T 1011-2006 regarding "Sulfate Corrosion-Resistance Admixture for Concrete", and has declared Chinese national invention patent (201010256189.2).


Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancer types, and it has especially high occurrence in Hungary. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been proved to be a beneficial screening method for lung cancer, decreasing the mortality rate by 20 %. Because of the intensifying fears from X-ray radiation, there is a need to develop other modalities that might work with less radiation and have similar sensitivity in lung nodule finding. Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) may be such a modality that can be a real alternative to LDCT. The goal of this article is to summarise the first results of a Hungarian project for developing a DTS system extended with a computer-aided detection system. It describes the main approaches applied and the main benefits of using DTS based on the first clinical examinations.


Computed Tomography (CT) is an x-ray modality for scanning organ in three dimensional images. Image acquisition is performed by rotating x-ray tube that match with table movements, there by the tube can cover patient body in a spiral scan. Patient table movements by gantry rotation divided by the width of the collimator on the isocenter is known as a pitch, which affects the image quality and radiation dose in the patient. A dose distribution profile has been observed along the z-axis of the in-house thorax phantom simulation in an elliptical cylinder form with the size of 28 cm x 21 cm and 22 cm length. Phantom was equipped with a lung simulation object using a cork with a Hounsfield Unit (123.1 HU), a spine using Teflon material (918.6 HU), and 9 bar and a cylinder to place 1 cm x 25 cm gafchromic films. The position of the film was marked with point position 1 – 9 for the series of coordinates (0,0), (5, 0), (10, 0), (-5, 0), (-10, 0), (0, 4), (0, 8), (0, -4), (0, -8) cm. The phantom images were performed with an exposure condition by 120 kV, 100 mAs and pitch variations (0.8, 1.0 and 1.5). The minimum dose occured at the beginning and end of the scan for all profiles and pitch values. The average dose of lung material (1, 2, 4, and 5) in the range 2.32-2.88 mGy for pitch 0.8 and 1.0 respectively, and 2.25 -2.68 mGy for pitch 1.5. The dose in lung was relatively lower compared to the dose in soft tissue and bone. The maximum dose does not always occur in the middle of the z-axis, but it was fluctuated as it was influenced by the pitch values in the range of 10 - 12 cm. It can be concluded that the use of pitch 0.8 and 1.0 did not provide a significant dose difference and reduced the average dose on pitch 1.5. Moreover, the maximum dose does not always occur in the middle of the z-axis due to an isotropic material.


Hairy cell leukemia is a preplasmacytic B cell leukemia which is not EBV associated, although elevated titers of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies have been seen in this leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Hairy cells are not readily susceptible to EBV infection in vitro, even though they are EBV receptor-positive B cells. We have observed a 59-year-old patient who after 9 years of hairy cell leukemia developed a well-differentiated IgG-kappa monoclonal B cell lymphoma without further evidence of hairy cell leukemia. Pathologically, the lymphoma showed plasmacytic differentiation, and in the patient's serum, a 2 g/dl monoclonal IgG-kappa component was present. DNA extracted from the lymphomatous lymph node hybridized with DNA fragments of a reiterated sequence of EBV, IR1. The transformation, with no chemotherapy involved, from a preplasmacytic leukemia into a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with monoclonal gammopathy may be related to the entry of EBV into these cells. Studies at the molecular level may help understand mechanisms of malignant transformation or interconversion in lymphoproliferative disorders of the B cell type.


This paper presents a SIFT-based multi-view cooperative tracking scheme for multiple player tracking in soccer games. We assume that future sports events will be captured by an array of fixed high-definition cameras which provide multi-view video sequences. The imagery will then be used to provide a free-viewpoint networked experience. In this work, SIFT features are used to extract the interview and inter-frame correlation among related views. Hence, accurate 3D information of each player can be efficiently utilized for real time multiple player tracking. By sharing the 3D information with all cameras and exploiting the perspective diversity of the multi-camera system, occlusion problems can be solved effectively. The extracted 3D information improves the average reliability of tracking by more than 10% when compared to SIFT-based 2D tracking.


This paper proposes a modification of the Marching Cubes algorithm for isosurfacing, with the intent of improving the representation of the surface in the interior of each grid cell. Our objective is to create a representation which correctly models the topology of the trilinear interpolant within the cell and which is robust under perturbations of the data and threshold value. To achieve this, we identify a small number of key points in the cell interior that are critical to the surface definition. This allows us to efficiently represent the different topologies that can occur, including the possibility of "tunnels." The representation is robust in the sense that the surface is visually continuous as the data and threshold change in value. Each interior point lies on the isosurface. Finally, a major feature of our new approach is the systematic method of triangulating the polygon in the cell interior.


Ground bouncing noise produced during the sleep to active mode transitions is an important challenge in Multi-Threshold CMOS (MTCMOS) circuits. The effectiveness of different noise-aware MTCMOS circuit techniques to deal with the ground bouncing noise phenomenon is evaluated in this paper. An intermediate relaxation mode is investigated to gradually dump the charge stored on the virtual ground line to the real ground distribution network during the sleep to active mode transitions. The peak amplitude of the ground bouncing noise is reduced by up to 69.17% with the noise-aware MTCMOS circuits without sacrificing the savings in leakage power consumption as compared to the standard MTCMOS circuits in a 90nm CMOS technology.


When you make the decision to study medicine, you are choosing to make a positive and lasting contribution, not only to the individuals you will care for, but to the whole Australian and International community.


This thesis explores the possibility of using digital technologies to improve and redefine the performance management process of employees within organisations. A review of the literature indicates that performance processes are not working; a key finding in the literature is the difficulty in collecting the right evidence in order to have the relevant conversation between manager and employee: that is, having access to enough data in order to run the performance measurement.

A case study is used to explore two different perspectives: a technical one, looking for accuracy in the performance appraisal, and a social one, for acceptance of the results among the different stakeholders.

The main findings of the research are as follows:

• Technically, it is possible to gather data about how employees perform at work and develop an algorithm that predicts individual performance, that is: know-how compared with the job profile; behaviours compared with the company values; and output compared with the budget or business plan.
• The use of technology to support performance measurement – which is very limited currently – is likely to increase dramatically. With predictive models, performance can be measured, and data be collected at any time.
• Like any other new technology, the success of an electronic performance appraisal system depends on the determinants of adoption. These, being complex depend largely upon the different stakeholders, CEO (or eventually the Board), line managers and employees. Each has different interests, perceptions, wills and fears.
• In the case study analysed, all stakeholders accepted the concept idea intellectually, an electronic system capable of capturing information and predicting performance at an individual level. However a common fear among line managers is that they will lose control over even basic decisions (i.e. promotion, salary review or bonuses for the consultants). This implies a significant loss of managerial power.
• The performance process in most organisations has four different stages: planning, assessment, recognition and career planning. These are usually framed into the budget cycle.
• The introduction of technology opens up a new perspective. The measurement phase can be run by the system, in its entirely virtually, and be run at any time. Managers could run performance appraisals and interviews at any time over the year, probably interviewing staff focused on specific issues more; likewise employees may receive feedback more often; the process is disconnected from the recognition phase. The discussion between line manager and employee looks forward rather than backward and focuses on action plans.

The research gives practitioners the opportunity to rethink the performance management process, and shows that it is possible to reframe it thanks to technology. As a case study, however, there are still many limitations when generalizing the process.


An a-maize-ing set of genomes Maize is an important crop that is cultivated worldwide. As maize spread across the world, selection for local environments resulted in variation, but the impact on differences between the genome has not been quantified. By producing high-quality genomic sequences of the 26 lines used in the maize nested association mapping panel, Hufford et al. map important traits and demonstrate the diversity of maize. Examining RNA and methylation of genes across accessions, the authors identified a core set of maize genes. Beyond this core set, comparative analysis across lines identified high levels of variation in the total set of genes, the maize pan-genome. The value of this resource was further exemplified by mapping quantitative traits of interest, including those related to pathogen resistance. Science, abg5289, this issue p. 655 A multigenome analysis of maize reveals variation in gene content, genome structure, and methylation. We report de novo genome assemblies, transcriptomes, annotations, and methylomes for the 26 inbreds that serve as the founders for the maize nested association mapping population. The number of pan-genes in these diverse genomes exceeds 103,000, with approximately a third found across all genotypes. The results demonstrate that the ancient tetraploid character of maize continues to degrade by fractionation to the present day. Excellent contiguity over repeat arrays and complete annotation of centromeres revealed additional variation in major cytological landmarks. We show that combining structural variation with single-nucleotide polymorphisms can improve the power of quantitative mapping studies. We also document variation at the level of DNA methylation and demonstrate that unmethylated regions are enriched for cis-regulatory elements that contribute to phenotypic variation.


Natural spawning ground of most Malaysian streams are undergoing extreme changes as a result of human activities, pollution and climate change (extreme temperature fluctuation) which lead to dramatic decrease in mahseer (Tor tambroides, Cyprinidae) populations. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of salmon gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (sGnRHa) alone or in combination with dopamine antagonist domperidone (DOM) on breeding performances of female breeders. Sixty females T. tambroides ranging in weight 2.01 to 3.96 kg while thirty males with average weight 1.38 to 1.72 kg were used in this study. The females were given pretreatment with Ovaplant (23.4-44.9 μg kg-1) for 6 weeks prior to induction. Females were tested with various treatments such as Ovatide, sGnRHa, sGnRHa+DOM and DOM. SGnRH analogue alone does not contain dopamine antagonist to block dopaminergic inhibition action. Females were given single intramuscular injection of Ovatide (0.5 mL kg-1 BW), sGnRHa (10 μg kg-1 BW), sGnRHa+DOM (10 μg kg-1 BW+5 mg kg-1 BW) or DOM (5 mg kg-1 BW). The control group was administered with 0.9% NaCl. The fish did not spawn spontaneously but through hand stripping to release eggs. Results showed that Ovatide significantly produced highest ovulation rate, total stripped eggs and stripped fecundity. Interestingly, we observed that broodstock groups injected with sGnRHa+DOM produced highest fertilization, hatching and survival rates compared to other treatments. Good egg and larval quality were recorded in the group treated with sGnRHa+DOM. No females ovulated in the group receiving DOM alone and saline solution. The combination treatment was found to be more potent in inducing ovulation as compared to sGnRHa alone or DOM alone. Our results suggest that dopaminergic inhibition is a major barrier in inducing spontaneous spawning in captive mahseer and we successful produced progeny generation of T. tambroides larvae.


We introduce a photoswitchable O6-benzylguanine derivative and demonstrate its use for super-resolution microscopy of SNAP-tagged proteins based on single fluorophore localization. Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) reveals SNAP-tagged microtubule structures with  25 nm resolution. The described probe in combination with the versatile SNAP-tag labeling opens new possibilities for imaging biological structures at the nanoscale.


The sub-Saharan Africa have experienced the negative impacts of climate change namely: drought, desertification, flooding, sea level rise, high temperatures, land degradation, biodiversity and ecosystem degradation, famine, intensive rainfall and reduced crop yields. Past global efforts at dealing with the impact of climate change was based on mitigation aimed at carbon sequestration. This was followed by adaptation which was seen as a viable option to reduce the vulnerability of the anticipated negative impacts of global warming. However adaptation and mitigation should not be pursued separately. The resource-poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa have developed their unique capacity to think, adapt to change in their environment, forecast, accumulate and pass on intellectual wealth to subsequent generations through indigenous knowledge. Farmers in Africa have developed and implemented sustainable adaptation and mitigation technologies which successfully reduced their vulnerability to the climate impact using local ecological knowledge. Such technologies include changing of planting dates, cover-cropping, agro-forestry systems, use of local species of crops and livestock that adapt to the environment, regenerative agricultural practices, ability to forecast the weather for use in planning their cropping seasons, use of zero tillage and conservation agriculture, mulching, use of emergency fodder in times of drought and eco-farming systems that adapt and mitigate climate change impacts. These indigenous technologies are sustainable, culturally acceptable and environmentally friendly. The challenge is thus for various stakeholders and policy-makers to recognize and integrate these local adaptation and mitigation strategies into planning, research and environmental policy needed for tackling climate change scourge in sub-Saharan Africa which is already facing various problems such as poverty, population growth and food insecurity.


The arguments for and against genetically modified (GM) crops are spread across the academic literature and in the media. This paper focuses on one of these disputes: has the introduction of GM cotton in India led, as some have claimed, to an increase in the suicide rate for Indian farmers? Evidence on the numbers of suicides and the numbers of farmers is assembled from several sources, by state and over time for both male and female farmers. This evidence is, faute de mieux, at an aggregate level. The short time series are modelled to test whether there is any evidence of a break in the series that corresponds to the adoption of GM cotton. The analysis reveals considerable variation in trends in suicide rates across the nine cotton-growing states. The data, although not ideal, and the modelling do not, however, support the claim that GM cotton has led to an increase in farmer suicide rates: if anything the reverse is true.


Playspaces bring children and adults together for fun and social interaction but are rarely designed for the inclusion of all community members. In Australia, local government authorities (councils) are responsible for parks and playspaces. The New South Wales state government launched their inclusive playspaces policy in 2017. A guideline document was proposed but a guideline does not guarantee implementation. Consequently, an inclusive design process for developing the guide became the strategy. The task was to develop a guide that explained the concepts of inclusion and universal design within the playspace context. The project took an iterative and collaborative approach to the design of the guide. Intended users were those involved in creating playspaces, not playspace users per se. The participatory governance structure involved three levels of collaboration: a small steering group of experts, a larger group with key stakeholders, and a wider group of stakeholders and interested persons. This collegial and participative process consisted of a series of meetings and workshops which fostered learning and ideation for all participants. Through this process three underpinning concepts emerged: Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay? The process educated and informed stakeholders, encouraged participants to contribute to the outcomes and provided community-led guidance for those contracted to design the guideline. The result was an inclusive playspace guide that recognized the design guidance required by council personnel in the context of universal design. The process and governance structure provides a good working model to build on. The success of the guideline was recognized with a national award from the Institute of Landscape Architects for Community Contribution. The purpose of this paper is not to comment on or evaluate the outcome of the guidelines. Rather, it is to document the inclusive and participatory governance structure and iterative process from a professional participant perspective.


Interleukin-1 beta (IL1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) promote non-rapid eye movement sleep under physiological and inflammatory conditions. Additional cytokines are also likely involved but evidence is insufficient to conclude that they are sleep regulatory substances. Many of the symptoms induced by sleep loss, e.g. sleepiness, fatigue, poor cognition, enhanced sensitivity to pain, can be elicited by injection of exogenous IL1 or TNF. We propose that ATP, released during neurotransmission, acting via purine P2 receptors on glia releases IL1 and TNF. This mechanism may provide the means by which the brain keeps track of prior usage history. IL1 and TNF in turn act on neurons to change their intrinsic properties and thereby change input-output properties (i.e. state shift) of the local network involved. Direct evidence indicates that cortical columns oscillate between states, one of which shares properties with organism sleep. We conclude that sleep is a local use-dependent process influenced by cytokines and their effector molecules such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins and adenosine.


Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, provide vital support for human life, but overloading nutrients to the Earth system leads to environmental concerns, such as water and air pollution on local scales and climate change on the global scale. With an urgent need to feed the world's growing population and the growing concern over nutrient pollution and climate change, sustainable nutrient management has become a major challenge for this century. To address this challenge, the growing body of research on nutrient budgets, namely the nutrient inputs and outputs of a given system, has provided great opportunities for improving scientific knowledge of the complex nutrient cycles in the coupled human and natural systems. This knowledge can help inform stakeholders, such as farmers, consumers, and policy makers, on their decisions related to nutrient management. This paper systematically reviews major challenges, as well as opportunities, in defining, quantifying, and applying nutrient budgets. Nutrient budgets have been defined for various systems with different research or application purposes, but the lack of consistency in the system definition and its budget terms has hindered intercomparison among studies and experience‐sharing among researchers and regions. Our review synthesizes existing nutrient budgets under a framework with five systems (i.e., Soil‐Plant system, Animal system, Animal‐Plant‐Soil system, Agro‐Food system, and Landscape system) and four spatial scales (i.e., Plot and Farm, Watershed, National, and Global scales). We define these systems and identify issues of nitrogen and phosphorus budgets within each. Few nutrient budgets have been well balanced at any scale, due to the large uncertainties in the quantification of several major budget terms. The type and level of challenges vary across spatial scales and also differ among nutrients. Improvement in nutrient budgets will rely not only on the technological advancement of scientific observations and models but also on better bookkeeping of human activity data. While some nutrient budget terms may need decades, or even centuries, of research to be well quantified within desirable levels of uncertainties, it is imperative to effectively communicate to interested stakeholders our understanding of nutrient budgets so that scientists and a variety of stakeholders can work together to address the sustainable nutrient management challenge of this century.


In the fifth article in their series on how to read plain abdominal x ray films, Ian Bickle and Barry Kelly discuss inspecting bones and soft tissues and interpreting the findings

Often, little attention is paid to bones and soft tissues when reviewing an abdominal x ray film. However, careful inspection may find new, associated, or longstanding concomitant pathology. With concomitant pathology two abnormalities are identified but have no direct association--for example, an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a fracture of the femoral neck. So including bone and soft tissues as part of a systematic review ensures that no significant findings are overlooked (box 1).

### Box 1: Interpreting an abdominal x ray film (a reminder)RETURN TO TEXT

Let's begin by reminding ourselves of the bones and soft tissues shown on an abdominal x ray film.

Bones include the lower ribs and their articulations, the lower thoracic and the lumbar spine, the bony pelvis, and the proximal femora. Soft tissues include the abdominal viscera and the surrounding muscle and soft tissues that envelop the lower trunk.

Pathology of the bone and soft tissues can be identified on abdominal x …


The evaluation of power consumption in complex digital systems is a hard task that normally requires long simulation time and complicated models. In this work, we obtain power consumption estimates from the measurement of the average current absorption of digital filters mapped on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). We also compare the measurements made with the results previously obtained for a standard cells implementation of the same filters. Moreover, we explore the possibility of carrying out measurements of other electrical parameters on hardware to extract information on a system, instead of simulating its behavior with complicated models.


Summary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNA sequences ~22 nucleotides in length that play an important role in gene regulation-transcription and translation. The processing of these miRNAs takes place in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm while the final maturation occurs in the cytoplasm. Some mature miRNAs with nuclear localisation signals (NLS) are transported back to the nucleus and some remain in the cytoplasm. The functional roles of these miRNAs are seen in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In the nucleus, miRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to the targeted promoter sequences and affect either the transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) or transcriptional gene activation (TGA). In the cytoplasm, targeted mRNAs are translationally repressed or cleaved based on the complementarity between the two sequences at the seed region of miRNA and mRNA. The selective transport of mature miRNAs to the nucleus follows the classical nuclear import mechanism. The classical nuclear import mechanism is a highly regulated process, involving exportins and importins. The nuclear pore complex (NPC) regulates all these transport events like a gate keeper. The half-life of miRNAs is rather low, so within a short time miRNAs perform their function. Temporal studies of miRNA biogenesis are, therefore, useful. We have carried out simulation studies for important miRNA biogenesis steps and also classical nuclear import mechanism using ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver in the Octave software.


Fungal infections are a serious health problem in clinics, especially in the immune-compromised patient. Disease ranges from widespread superficial infections like vulvovaginal infections to life-threatening systemic candidiasis. Especially for systemic mycoses, only a limited arsenal of antifungals is available. The most commonly used classes of antifungal compounds used include azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. Due to emerging resistance to standard therapy, significant side effects, and high costs for several antifungals, there is a medical need for new antifungals in the clinic and general practice. In order to expand the arsenal of compounds with antifungal activities, we screened a compound library including more than 35,000 individual compounds derived from organic synthesis as well as combinatorial compound collections representing mixtures of compounds for antimycotic activity. In total, more than 100,000 compounds were screened using a new type of activity-selectivity assay, analyzing both the antifungal activity and the compatibility with human cells at the same time. One promising hit, an ( S )-2-aminoalkyl benzimidazole derivative, was developed among a series of lead compounds showing potent antifungal activity. ( S )-2-(1-Aminoisobutyl)-1-(3-chlorobenzyl) benzimidazole showed the highest antifungal activity and the best compatibility with human cells in several cell culture models and against a number of clinical isolates of several species of pathogenic Candida yeasts. Transcriptional profiling indicates that the newly discovered compound is a potential inhibitor of the ergos- terol pathway, in contrast to other benzimidazole derivatives, which target microtubules.


Mg-Al-CO3 LDH was synthetized, using co-, and was used in flame-retardant paper as filler. The crystallizations, granularities of Mg-Al LDH, and characters of flame-retardant papers were investigated through XRD, FT-IR, TEM, TG-DTA, and SEM techniques. The results indicated that Mg-Al hydrotalcites were layered hexagonal nanoparticles, with high positive charge density, perfectly crystallized structure, and striking performance in furnish retention improvement. Mg-Al hydrotalcites with high whiteness can improve the whiteness of flame-retardant paper; the whiteness of flame-retardant paper increased by 82.1% while the dosage of LDH was 20wt%, but the Mg-Al hydrotalcites affected the strength index of flame-retardant paper adversely. The flame-retardant papers based on fiber using Mg-Al hydrotalcites as fillers showed excellent inflaming retarding performance. The oxygen index of the flame-retardant paper produced was above 25% at the dosage of 20wt%.


The authors introduced an effective approach of using monolayer-protected silver nanoparticles to reduce silver migration for electronic device interconnect applications. Formation of surface complex between the carboxylate anion and surface silver ion reduces the solubility and diffusivity significantly of migration components and therefore contributes to effective migration control. A fundamental understanding of the mechanism of silver migration control was conducted by studying the current-voltage relationships of the nanocomposites with a migration model. The control of silver migration enables the application of the silver composites in fine pitch and high performance electronic device interconnects. © 2006 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.2353813


OBJECTIVES
To use findings from a time-flow study at an academic pediatric practice to restructure practice patterns and to repeat the time-flow study to evaluate consequent changes in patient waiting times, total visit times, and room and nursing time usage rates.

DESIGN
A before-and-after time-flow evaluation of patient waiting times, total visit times, and room and nursing time usage rates.

SETTING
An inner-city academic pediatric practice located at a community health center affiliated with a major urban academic teaching hospital.

PATIENTS
All patients visiting the pediatric practice during the weeks of April 26 through 30, 1999, and March 24 through 28, 2000.

INTERVENTIONS
Initial time-flow findings generated in telephone messaging, provider scheduling, nursing location, and provider and preceptor documentation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Patient waiting times, total visit times, room usage rates, and nursing time usage rates.

RESULTS
After the implementing of practice changes, mean total visit time declined from 91.9 to 78.3 minutes. Mean waiting time to be called by the nurse decreased 3.2 minutes, mean time spent with the provider decreased 4.6 minutes, and mean time to wait for a preceptor decreased by 8.8 minutes. Multivariate analysis controlling for visit type, provider type, and the type of postvisit interventions found that mean time of visit decreased by 13.6 minutes. Room and nursing time usage rates, resident satisfaction, and quality-of-care indicators remained largely unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS
Time-flow studies can be useful instruments for academic ambulatory practices to identify and ameliorate practice inefficiencies without sacrificing quality of teaching or patient care.


Malabsorptive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are common in the industrialised countries and especially among the Caucasians. Little or no report of this condition exists in many African countries. Reports from Nigeria are mainly in the paediatric age with little among the adults. Over the years, literature on clinical decisions, reports,
investigative modalities and their results have been critically reviewed and have shown a lack of comprehensive management plan adaptable to our environment. To prevent morbidity and mortality it is thus imperative to identify patients with malabsorptive disorders of the gastro-intestinal tract on time and involve experienced gastroenterologists in the management. IFEMED Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2008: pp. 79-82


Cogan's syndrome is primarily diagnosed based on subsequent episodes of an inflammatory eye disease and rapidly progressive, usually sequential bilateral loss of audiovestibular function. Since there are still no specific tests for the syndrome, it is difficult to diagnose Cogan's syndrome in the early stage before the emergence of both eye and audiovestiubular symptoms. We present a case of a 34-year-old woman who complained of vertigo and bilateral hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the inner ear was performed before the emergence of keratitis. MRI on the 23rd day after onset of hearing loss revealed a slightly high intensity on TI-weighted images in the right vestibule, which showed profound hearing loss. On the 54th day after onset, high signal intensity was noted in the right cochlea, the vestibule, and lateral semicircular canal on Tl-weighted images, but no enhancement. The high signal intensity disappeared seven months after onset, but there was no defect of inner ear signs on the T2-weighted images. A high signal of the inner ear on T1-weighted images is not a specific sign of MRI in Cogan's syndrome, since it is sometimes encountered in the inner ear of labyrinthitis, bleeding in patients with leukemia, and intralabyrinthine schwanoma. However, MRI could be a possible method for the early diagnosis of Cogan's syndrome because this finding might be recognized before the onset of eye symptoms.


The Food Security and Agricultural Projects Analysis Unit (ESAF) of FAO has undertaken a number of pilot studies to develop a methodology for understanding why certain groups of people are vulnerable to becoming food insecure. The studies use the sustainable livelihoods approach adopted for food security analysis and are primarily based on qualitative information collection. The objective of these studies is to inform policy and programming decisions for reducing vulnerability to food insecurity. Drawing from these experiences and those of other FAO units involved in similar work, this paper identifies key lessons learnt and makes recommendations for strengthening future work on food security and vulnerability analysis.


Two-sample tests evaluate whether two samples are realizations of the same distribution (the null hypothesis) or two different distributions (the alternative hypothesis). We consider a new setting for this problem where sample features are easily measured whereas sample labels are unknown and costly to obtain. Accordingly, we devise a three-stage framework in service of performing an effective two-sample test with only a small number of sample label queries: first, a classifier is trained with samples uniformly labeled to model the posterior probabilities of the labels; second, a novel query scheme dubbed \emph{bimodal query} is used to query labels of samples from both classes, and last, the classical Friedman-Rafsky (FR) two-sample test is performed on the queried samples. Theoretical analysis and extensive experiments performed on several datasets demonstrate that the proposed test controls the Type I error and has decreased Type II error relative to uniform querying and certainty-based querying. Source code for our algorithms and experimental results is available at \url{https://github.com/wayne0908/Label-Efficient-Two-Sample}.


In 2009, the Decibel new music ensemble based in Perth, Western Australia was formed with an associated manifesto that stated "Decibel seek to dissolve any division between sound art, installation and music by focusing on the combination of acoustic and electronic instruments" [1]. The journey provided by this focus led to a range of investigations into different score types, resulting in a re-writing of the groups statement to "pioneering electronic score formats, incorporating mobile score formats and networked coordination performance environments" [2]. This paper outlines the development of Decibel's work with the 'screen score', including the different stages of the 'Decibel ScorePlayer', an application (App) for reading graphic notation on the iPad. The paper proposes that the Decibel ScorePlayer App provides a new, more accurate and reliable way to coordinate performances of music where harmony and pulse are not the primary elements described by notation. It features a discussion of selected compositions facilitated by the application, with a focus on the significance of the application to the author's own compositional practices. The different stages in the development, from prototype score player to the establishment of a commercialized 'Decibel ScorePlayer', are outlined in the context of practice led investigations.


Roads constitute the largest and most expensive project governments undertake. The deterioration of the infrastructure of these roads represents a major and outstanding problem in transportation engineering. Construction of roads is usually made by stripping the top soil (600 to 1000 mm), which often contains organic materials, and replacing it with a layer of subgrade material (crushed stones, well-graded sand). A thin layer of asphalt or concrete is usually placed on the top of the subgrade layer to provide a durable surface. This thesis examines the role of a deep deposit on the compression of the overlain subgrade layer. The object of this study is to provide a practical method of analysis for the design of airport runways. The cross-anisotropic elastic body that is characterized by three independent elastic constant with a plane of isotropy is suggested as an improved mathematical model of natural soil deposit. The theory of stresses and displacements in a two-layer system is presented in accordance with the theory of elasticity. The theory present herein reveals the controlling influence of two important ratios on the load-settlement characteristics of the "two-layer system," namely; the ratio of the thickness of the upper layer to the radius of the bearing area and the ratio of the modulus of the deposit to that of the upper layer. For practical design purposes, the theoretical results of settlement and compression of the upper layer have been evaluated numerically and expressed in basic influence curves, for rough and smooth interfaces at the center and the edge of the load. These influence curves are made for a various combination of anisotropic and isotropic two-layer system. The influence curves of the compression of a thin layer overlying deep deposit, confirm that the stiffness of the lower layer has a significant influence on the compression of the upper layer.


A bioclimatic analysis of the Spanish Quercus pyrenaica forests in the Iberian Peninsula was performed in this study. The purpose of this work was to find out the most suitable bioclimatic variables controlling the distribution patterns of Quercus pyrenaica forests in Spain. The study evaluated climatic data from 78 meteorological stations located in territories that could be potentially occupied by Quercus pyrenaica. The climatic information collected was processed with the BIOCLI computer program to diagnose their bioclimatic characteristics. Ten parameters and bioclimatic indices were afterwards analysed using an ordination statistical method (PCA). With this statistical approach, stations with similar bioclimatic features were grouped and subsequently these bioclimatic groups were associated to 14 different vegetation series of Quercus pyrenaica developing in Spain. The statistical analysis revealed the importance of the ombrothermic indices (mainly Summer Ombrothermic Indices) as well as the Compensated Thermicity Index as useful variables for the discrimination among the Spanish Quercus pyrenaica forests. Therefore, Summer Ombrothermic Indices are essential for the establishment of the boundaries between the temperate and mediterranean forests. The temperate forests require values of these indices higher than forests developing in mediterranean bioclimate. On the other hand, it turned out to be a thermic bioclimatic index of remarkable interest to distinguish either mesotemperate from supratemperate forests or mesomediterranean from supramediterranean ones. Finally, the combination of both type of indices allowed us to separate the Lusitan-Extremadurean, Betic and Gaditan-Alagavian forests that displayed summer ombrothermic indices values lower and generally Compensated Thermicity Index values higher than those of the Carpetan-Leonese forests.


Background The potential benefits of corticosteroids for septic shock may depend on initial mortality risk. Objective We determined associations between corticosteroids and outcomes in children with septic shock who were stratified by initial mortality risk. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of an ongoing, multi-center pediatric septic shock clinical and biological database. Using a validated biomarker-based stratification tool (PERSEVERE), 496 subjects were stratified into three initial mortality risk strata (low, intermediate, and high). Subjects receiving corticosteroids during the initial 7 days of admission (n = 252) were compared to subjects who did not receive corticosteroids (n = 244). Logistic regression was used to model the effects of corticosteroids on 28-day mortality and complicated course, defined as death within 28 days or persistence of two or more organ failures at 7 days. Results Subjects who received corticosteroids had greater organ failure burden, higher illness severity, higher mortality, and a greater requirement for vasoactive medications, compared to subjects who did not receive corticosteroids. PERSEVERE-based mortality risk did not differ between the two groups. For the entire cohort, corticosteroids were associated with increased risk of mortality (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.0, p = 0.004) and a complicated course (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.5, p = 0.012). Within each PERSEVERE-based stratum, corticosteroid administration was not associated with improved outcomes. Similarly, corticosteroid administration was not associated with improved outcomes among patients with no comorbidities, nor in groups of patients stratified by PRISM. Conclusions Risk stratified analysis failed to demonstrate any benefit from corticosteroids in this pediatric septic shock cohort.


Prediction and control of flaws in welds play important roles in design of complex structures against fatigue and fracture failure. Cold laps ‐ outer lack of fusion ‐ are small geometrical imperfections at weld toes, which act as fatigue crack initiation sites and reduce the life of welded structures drastically. The aim of this work is to characterize and categorize different types of such imperfections in the tandem gas metal arc welding process and find the mechanisms of their formation. Tandem welding process with different welding parameters was used to produce bead‐on‐plate coupons. These coupons were then sliced to smaller specimens for further investigations. For studying the weld toes, all the specimens were hit in an impact test machine and then the fracture surfaces of welds and base materials were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two types of cold laps were observed at weld toes, namely overlap and spatter. Observation and measurement showed that these imperfections are in the form of micro cracks with depth between 0.1 to 1.5mm and length between 0.1 to 4 mm.


The peptide hormone relaxin is recognized for its connective tissue remodeling actions in the reproductive tract during pregnancy and parturition, but it also has vascular remodeling actions independent of pregnancy. Recombinant human relaxin (serelaxin) treatment in male and non‐pregnant female rodents enhances passive arterial compliance in the renal vasculature. This review focuses on serelaxin's actions on passive mechanical wall properties in small arteries and highlights the diversity of responses to serelaxin treatment in rodents. Different experimental approaches (duration of serelaxin treatment, rat strain, age) and animal models of disease (obesity, hypertension) will be considered. Most studies in young rodents demonstrate that serelaxin treatment fails to alter passive compliance in resistance‐size arteries (mesenteric and femoral arteries and cerebral parenchymal arterioles), suggesting that serelaxin's beneficial effects are minimal in healthy animals. Short‐term serelaxin treatment (5d) in aged, obese, and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) is largely without effect on passive mechanical wall properties. However, a longer duration of serelaxin treatment in SHRs (14d) enhances passive compliance in large muscular arteries as well as resistance‐size arteries. In conclusion, serelaxin is capable of vascular remodeling. Its actions are vascular bed‐dependent, more prominent in disease, and likely requires a longer duration of treatment to be effective.


The paper presents the structure of control section of measurement manipulator for acoustical tests in anechoic chamber. The specific of that kind of measurements brings up the need of measurement microphone positioning in many points of the measurement space accordingly to relevant standards. In most cases during the tests it is necessary to position the microphone in certain points on the hemisphere. The paper presents hardware structure and software to control the measurement manipulator accordingly to a specified algorithm. A modular construction of manipulator was chosen, which is composed of industrial turntable and two linear motion modules. That solution means that the device under test fixed on the turntable rotates in the range of 2π, and the measurement microphone moves on the track of one quarter of a circle.


Introduction: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) causes negative impacts on global food security, the livestock trade, national economies, and farming-family livelihoods, particularly in resource-poor developing countries with inadequate biosecurity and low levels of vaccination from inadequate veterinary services. As smallholder farmers have limited understanding of disease-risk management, their focus in FMD outbreaks is on accessing clinically effective therapies. However, most are provided inappropriate traditional treatments and/or topical or parenteral antibiotics, often delivered by paraveterinarians inadequately trained in antimicrobial custodian-ship. This results in negative financial impacts on livelihoods plus risks of food safety and development of antimicrobial resistance. We report the use of a novel pain-relief therapy for FMD. Methods: Clinical examinations in an outbreak of suspected FMD in April 2019 in Muang Khay village in Luang Prabang province, Laos confirmed signs and lesions of severe, subacute, ulcerative glossitis and interdigital dermatitis, typical of FMD. All affected buffalo (n=99) and cattle (n=37) presented for treatment in a population of 238 large ruminants, from 15 of 136 households, were administered a topical anesthetic pain-relief product (PRP) wound gel by spray-on (10–30 mL per animal) formulation developed for aversive husbandry procedures (Tri-Solfen, Animal Ethics, Australia). Results: Treatment with PRP resulted in immediate improvement in demeanor and locomotion, and no adverse events were observed. On follow-up interview, all owners confirmed that their animals were eating within 2 days and lesions had healed within 5 days. Having experienced the positive clinical impacts of PRP on affected animals, these and surrounding farmers were keen to purchase the PRP for future use. The veterinary authorities rapidly registered the PRP for FMD therapy in Laos due to the observed efficacy. Discussion: These findings suggest a potential paradigm shift from treating FMD with expensive antimicrobials, which risks antimicrobial resistance, to a new, less expensive therapeutic approach that reduces animal suffering and may motivate farmers to report disease to access treatment. Use of the PRP is suggested as an innovation that may improve future FMD management, particularly in developing countries.


In this study we evaluated "in vitro" the efficacy of six chemical fungicides and their mixtures as a strategy for the control of Penicillium italicum. The antifungal efficacy against four P. italicum isolates of thirty-one concentrations (0.01-3000 µg/ml) of each of the tested fungicides (Vydan, Blin exa, Canvil, Ranvil, Benomyl and Topsin M), in addition to six combined concentrations from each of ten fungicide mixtures were tested using agar well diffusion method. Regression analysis, one way ANOVA, and Post Hoc Multiple comparisons were carried out to test the significance of these treatments. Our results showed that benomyl completely inhibited the growth of tested isolates (Pi.1; Pi.3; Pi.5; and Pi.6) with MIC values of: 1000; 300; 150 and 40 µg/ml respectively. Canvil as compared to Blin exa, Ranvil and Vydan (no complete inhibition) showed high efficacy against isolates Pi.1 and Pi.5 (MIC values of 5 and 25 µg/ml respectively). The mixtures of Blin exa/Vydan and Topsin M/Canvil were the only mixtures that generated synergistic effects against tested isolates at all tested concentrations. The above mentioned mixtures showed at the first four tested combined concentrations (50:50, 100:100, 100:500 and 500:1000 µg/ml) either the largest inhibition zones (in the range of 47±1.40 mm to 51±1.49 mm) or complete inhibition of fungal growth at the last two (1000:1000 and 1000:2000 µg/ml) combined concentrations. The mixtures of Blin exa/Canvil and Blin exa/Ranvil as compared to the effect of each as singles showed additive effects against tested isolates. The mixtures of Beno- myl/Vydan; Benomyl/Ranvil; Benomyl/Blin exa; Topsin/Vydan and Topsin/Blin exa (i.e. mixture of benzimidazole and DMI members) all generated antagonistic effects against tested isolates.


In prokaryotes, vitamin K2 (menaquinone) transfers two electrons in a process of aerobic or anaerobic respiration. Respiration occurs in the cell membrane of prokaryotic cells. Electron donors transfer two electrons to menaquinone (MK). Menaquinone in turn transfers these electrons to an electron acceptor. Menaquinones are vital for the electron transport chain. In the spectrum of Gram‐positive bacteria and Mycobacterium spp., vitamin K2 serves as the only quinone molecule in their electron shuffling systems. Hence, the bacterial enzymes associated with biosynthesis of the menaquinone(s) serve as potential target molecules for the development of new antibacterial drugs. This chapter summarizes the effects of vitamin K2 in bacteria and describes in more detail the aspects of menaquinone in bacterial electron transport in general, while also featuring the discoveries of menaquinone biosynthesis inhibitors.


Based on cutting-edge research projects in the field, this comprehensive 4-volume book series provides the latest details and covers the most impactful aspects of mobile, wireless, and broadband communications development. These books present key systems and enabling technologies in a clear and accessible manner, offering you a detailed roadmap the future evolution of next generation communications. Drawing upon the insights of leading experts in the field, each of the four volumes is dedicated to an area of critical importance, including Radio Interfaces; Networks, Services and Applications; Reconfigurability; and Ad Hoc Networks.


The NO-cGMP pathway plays a key role in the male and female genital sexual arousal response. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) utilizes L-arginine and oxygen as substrates to produce nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline. Arginase is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine to produce L-ornithine and urea. It is proposed that arginase competes for L-arginine and reduces NOS activity in genital tissues, thus modulating sexual function. Using 2 transition state analogue inhibitors of arginase, 2(S)-Amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH) and S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC), we have characterized arginase activity in penile and vaginal tissue. Neither of these inhibitors has activity against NOS. Thus, ABH and BEC are useful compounds for examining the role of arginase in genital tissue physiology, without directly influencing NOS activity. We present data to suggest that arginase may regulate NO production by competing for endogenous pools of L-arginine. In this fashion, arginase is an indirect regulator of penile and vaginal blood flow and specific arginase inhibitors may improve genital blood flow during sexual arousal. As evidenced by the upregulation of arginase in specific disease states, its distribution in the vagina, and its modulation by sex steroid hormones, this enzyme may also participate in numerous other physiological and pathophysiological processes, such as tissue growth, fibrosis, and immune function.


ISSN 2330-4456 The Comparison of Short Term Results of Transobturatour Tape and Single Incision Midurethral Sling Procedures Mehmet Bilgehan Yuksel1, Osman Kose2* , Ayhan Karakose3, Sacit Nuri Gorgel2, Yuksel Yılmaz2, Bilal Gumus1 Abstract Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transobturator tape (TOT) and single incision mini sling (SIMS) procedures in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: The data of 32 patients who underwent TOT(Promedon®) or SIMS (Ophira®) operations related to SUI between January 2010 August 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. The sample divided in two groups according to the operation type. The demographical features, preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were analysed and compared between two groups to evaluate the efficacy of the operations in SUI. All patients were assessed with a detailed history, physcical examination, cough test, Q-tip test, ultrasonography, postvoiding residual measurement, cystometry and UDI-6, IIQ-7 questionares. Postoperatively, the patients without any incontinence on cough test or sistometry were defined as the success. Results: The parameters of age, menapousal status, number of vaginal delivery, and body mass index were similar in two groups. The mean operation time was significantly shorter in SIMS group (16±3 vs 27±5, p<0.05 ). Postoperative succes was not different between two groups (88% , %80 respectively, p>0.05). Postoperative UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores were 3.5 ± 3.4 vs 3.8 ± 4.8 and 4.4 ± 4.2 vs 5.1 ± 5,6 respectively, and they were similar (p>0.05 in both). In addition, the improvement in these scores were not statistically significant between two groups (p>0.05 in both). Conclusion: SIMS procedure is safe and as effective as TOT with shorter operation time in the surgical teratment of female SUI. 1Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Manisa, Turkey. 2-Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Urology. Izmir, Turkey 3-Izmir University, School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Izmir, Turkey Article History: Received July 2013 Accepted September 2013 Available online September 2013 Corresponding Author: Osman Kose, Katip Çelebi University, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Urology, Izmir/ Turkey. Tel: +905306966022 Email: email@example.com


Three experiments demonstrate how the processing of negations is contingent on the evaluation context in which the negative information is presented. In addition, the strategy used to process the negations induced different affective reactions toward the stimuli, leading to inconsistency of preference. Participants were presented with stimuli described by either stating the presence of positive features (explicitly positive alternative) or negating the presence of negative features (non-negative alternative). Alternatives were presented for either joint (JE) or separate evaluation (SE). Experiment 1 showed that the non-negative stimuli were judged less attractive than the positive ones in JE but not in SE. Experiment 2 revealed that the non-negative stimuli induced a less clear and less positive feeling when they were paired with explicitly positive stimuli rather than evaluated separately. Non-negative options were also found less easy to judge than the positive ones in JE but not in SE. Finally, Experiment 3 showed that people process negations using two different models depending on the evaluation mode. Through a memory task, we found that in JE people process the non-negative attributes as negations of negative features, whereas in SE they directly process the non-negative attributes as positive features.


: Experience in new domestic immunomodulator Gepon application in practice of treatment of virus diseases and their manifestations in oral cavity of patients with complications in the form of filling material extrusion into mandibular canal is submitted. In a combination to traditional techniques of the treatment the preparation has shown high efficacy.


A description is given of radio frequency light sources which produce potassium and rubidium resonance radiation of high intensity. The properties of the spectral lamps have been systematically investigated in relation to their operating parameters. The rf lamps emit resonance lines of much higher peak intensities, smaller halfwidths and smaller degrees of self-reversal than do commercially available lamps. Typical halfwidths of the resonance lines of potassium and rubidium produced by the rf sources were found to be 0.15 cm−1 and 0.37 cm−1, respectively, compared with the corresponding widths of 0.34 cm−1 and 1.5 cm−1, respectively, emitted by Osram spectral lamps operated at low currents.


The sports sociology community has a real opportunity to break out of the academic ghetto, eschew excessively coded and obscure language, and fight to become part of the general discourse of sports conversation, both on campuses and in the broader sports world. Sport sociology can be valued as a discipline within sport sciences, within sociology and within the world of sport which it analyses and serves. Among others, point to the high status which society accords to the natural sciences, and note that this is also mirrored in physical education and sport sciences. The central purpose of sport sciences is to study that conglomerate of mind, body and spirit which is the embodiment of sport and a wide range of physical activities. That embodiment is, inevitably, a social being – a member of society. Sport sociology can best be described as a late adolescent/early adult. Arguably, where sport sociology has been less successful is in its attempts to gain greater acceptance among sports practitioners, and it is that issue which underpins the discussion. The primary purpose of action knowledge is to inform policy and planning and, to this end, action research is identified as a way of ensuring that policy and implementation are compatible. professionals in sport: 'teachers, coaches, administrators, journalists and executives...certainly need it to better understand their own position and action in modern sport'. We would wish to add sports participants/performers themselves to the list. Sport sociologists to work more closely with the sports community, which 'requires applied sport sociology to be the enterprise of a disputatious, many-valued community of scholars who work in collaboration with the persons, groups and communities. Sport sociology, more generally, has tended to include a wide range of sport sociologists are beginning to be asked for information by public and professional groups. He envisages a future role for sport sociology 'interpreting the reciprocal influences of sport in society and society in sport' methodological and theoretical paradigms. An applied sociology of sport based on the roles and skills required to undertake applied research.


We used satellite telemetry to examine the foraging ranges, feeding locations and travel speeds of 17 chick-rearing gannets Morus bassanus from the Bass Rock, SE Scotland. Regurgitates indicated that birds at the colony exploited a wide range of prey, frequently including 0-group sandeels (<10 cm in length) and mature mackerel and herring (up to 33 cm) in the diet. The maximum foraging range was 540 km, and the mean distance to the furthest point from the colony on any one trip was 232 km. Destinations of foraging trips covered a wide area of the North Sea, with a non-random distribution and a higher than expected proportion of trips to the NE (generally in the vicinity of Buchan Deep and Halibut Bank) and to the SE (mostly between Farne Deep, Dogger Bank and Outer Silver Pit) of the colony. Foraging trips lasted 13 to 84 h, and trip duration explained 94% of the variance in maximum distance from the colony, indicating that distance travelled could be predicted with a high degree of accuracy from time spent at sea. However, the average speed of travel during foraging trips (15 km h-1) was considerably lower than maximum ground speed (~55 km h-1 in most cases). The results of this study suggest that gannets breeding at the Bass Rock utilize a wide range of species and sizes of prey over a large area of the North Sea, and that they focus their activity on bathymetric features that are probably associated with high primary production. Further data are now required to examine the foraging ranges and feeding locations of gannets in different oceanographic regions in order to obtain a broader understanding of how gannets make use of different marine environments.


Abstract Erosion of the upper Arkadelphia Formation by the Ouachita River in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, has revealed a diverse and abundant, late Maastrichtian chondrichthyan fauna representing at least 17 species: Squatina hassei, Ginglymostoma lehneri, Plicatoscyllium derameei, Ondontaspis aculeatus, Carcharias cf. C. holmdelensis, Serratolamna serrata, Squalicorax kaupi, Galeorhinus girardoti, Rhinobatos casieri, Ischyrhiza avonicola, Ischyrhiza mira, Sclerorhynchus sp., Ptychotrygon cf. P. vermiculata, Raja farishi, Rhombodus binkhorsti, and Dasyatis sp. All of these species are widely known from the Upper Cretaceous of North America. An extremely rare species, Schizorhiza cf. S. stromeri, currently known only from Mexico and Africa, is also present. The chondrichthyan remains occur almost entirely as teeth scattered by river activity across the surface of the marl and marly clay of the Arkadelphia Formation and can be collected from within localized accumulations of river sediments. Also present with the chondrichthyan remains are teeth from actinopterygians and reptiles as well as molluscan steinkerns, echinoid spines, and fragments of branching corals. This fauna expands the known geographic distribution of late Maastrichtian chondrichthyans in North America, and provides an important biostratigraphic connection between fauna of the Gulf Coastal Plain and Western Interior Seaway. It also supports the idea of a significant chondrichthyan turnover across the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary.


Research shows nurses do not pay enough attention to handwashing techniques, and the results of a study on the carriage of gram-negative bacilli reveal an alarming contamination rate.


This paper describes an assessment of the rational unified process (RUP) based on the capability maturity model (CMM). For each key practice (KP) identified in each key process area (KPA) of CMM levels 2 and 3, the Rational Unified Process was assessed to determine whether it satisfied the KP or not. For each KPA, the percentage of the key practices supported was calculated, and the results were tabulated. The report includes considerations about the coverage of each key process area, describing the highlights of the RUP regarding its support for CMM levels 2 and 3, and suggests where an organization using it will need to complement it to conform to CMM. The assessment resulted in the elaboration of proposals to enhance the RUP in order to satisfy the key process areas of CMM. Some of these are briefly described in this article.


A drawing process using tools such as dies, plugs and mandrels has been conventionally applied as a means of miniaturizing tubes. However, it is not easy to scale down the conventional process to micro sizes for many reasons related to the tools used in the process. It is difficult to fabricate micro tools with high accuracy, and to insert a plug or a mandrel into a fine tube. Thus, the development of new drawing technologies for the fabrication of micro-tubes without the need for tools such as dies, plugs and mandrels is necessary. A laser dieless drawing technique with local heating using a laser as the heating source has been focused on for the fabrication of micro-tubes. In this study, a dieless drawing with a semiconductor laser setup is designed and developed. A tube of stainless steel, SUS304, with an outer diameter of 0.52mm and thickness of 0.1mm is used in the experiments. A laser dieless drawing experiment is carried out to investigate the effect of the laser power and drawing speed on the drawing limit. Finally, the effectiveness of laser dieless drawing process is discussed.


Three-dimensional (3D) navigation systems are routinely used in the fields of endoscopic skull base surgery, neurosurgery, maxillo-facial and endoscopic sinus surgery. The use of such systems is associated with the following advantages: a better 3D orientation: a more confident surgeon; a more precise surgical approach; and a reduced operation time. Six different brands of 3D navigation system were compared in order to find out if there are major differences in performance and whether the considerable financial investment required to purchase such a system would be justified by a noticeable improvement in surgical interventions and a realization of the above expectations. The 3D navigation systems were tested by performing endoscopic sinus surgery on 26 patients suffering from chronic sinusitis. The system accuracy, the confidence of the surgeon, the time of anaesthesia, the cost, the number of personnel required (and their skills), and the technical resources were compared. No major differences in performance of the different brands of 3D navigation system were noticed. All of the systems showed high, but varying, system precision, the surgeons felt more confident and the time of anaesthesia was prolonged by 5-15 min. A well-trained operating staff is required. Assuming that the initial costs are excluded and that data transfer occurs automatically, personnel costs and the extra time required still have to be considered.


In the era of information communication technology, huge resources are available on electronic formats. They may be accessed via the internet or other networks. The reach of electronic resources is too excessive and their access is magnificently user-friendly. Such availability and access have transformed the research and study environment. Electronic resources are attracting academic fraternity tremendously. It gives a chance of duplication in resource generation or misuse of contents of others i.e. there is always a chance of plagiarism. National Law Universities are one of the premier institutions of the Country. They have state of the art infrastructure and library. They are using several ant-plagiarism tools to improve its academic activity. Almost every student of B.A. LL.B., LL.M., Research Scholars and Faculty Members are using electronic resources at large for preparing their projects, dissertations, thesis and also writing articles for various journals. Such massive use of electronic resources gives an idea to know awareness of some aspects related to citing reference and plagiarism among law students and teachers. It has been made an effort through a survey to know the acceptability of plagiarism detection tools and other related issues. The survey will help the law university and other legal institutions to take such positive initiatives in the development of research activities.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate results of mini-open fasciotomy (MOF) in high-level motorcycling or motocross riders with chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) at long-term follow-up (minimum 5 years).

DESIGN
Case series.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
IV.

SETTING
University Hospital/Private Practice.

PATIENTS
Fifty-four professional motorcycling riders treated with MOF for a CECS of the forearm from January 2006 to June 2011. Inclusion criteria comprised: high-level motorcycling or motocross riders, clinical symptoms of CECS for at least 6 months, diagnosis confirmed using preoperative compartment hydrostatic pressure measurement and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the forearm, minimum follow-up of 5 years.

INTERVENTIONS
A MOF to obtain decompression of all compartments was performed in all patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Visual analog scale; a subjective scale to measure strength; QuickDash functional scores. Time to resume full riding capacities as short-term evaluation.

RESULTS
A total of 54 patients who underwent 77 MOF procedures overall (23 bilateral) were included. The mean age was 23.6 ± 5.2 years. Mean Visual Analog Scale decreased from a preoperative value of 68.2 to a 3-month postoperative value of 26 (P < 0.001). Mean QuickDash scale was 84 at preoperative registration, falling to 20, 3 months after surgery (P < 0.001) and down to 12 at 1-year follow-up (P = 0.017). The average time to return to full riding capacities was 3.5 ± 1 week.

CONCLUSIONS
Mini-open fasciotomy resulted safe and effective for the treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome in high-level motorcycling or motocross riders. The good outcome at follow-up resulted stable at 5 years and the incidence of complications remained low. Our data demonstrate that the resolution of symptoms is reliable and durable. Pain recovery was immediate after surgery, instead functional scores showed a more gradual recovery throughout the 12 months after surgery.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Mini-open fasciotomy is a reliable treatment for CECS of the forearm in professional motorcycling riders. This treatment should also be considered in young riders due to the absence of tardive relapse reported in this study.


A computer program was developed for semi-automated calculation of initial rates from continuous kinetic traces during the evaluation of Michaelis-Menten and EC50/IC50 kinetic parameters from high-throughput enzyme assays. The tool allows users to interactively fit kinetic traces using convenient browser-based selection tools, ameliorating tedious steps involved in defining linear ranges in general purpose programs like Microsoft Excel while still maintaining the simplicity of the "ruler and pencil" method of determining initial rates. As a test case, we quickly and accurately analyzed over 500 continuous enzyme kinetic traces resulting from experimental data on the response of Sirt1 to small-molecule activators. For a given titration series, our program allows simultaneous visualization of individual initial rates and the resulting Michaelis-Menten or EC50/IC50 kinetic model fit. In addition to serving as a convenient program for practicing enzymologists, our tool is also a useful teaching aid to visually demonstrate in real-time how incorrect initial rate fits can affect calculated steady-state kinetic parameters. For the convenience of the research community, we have made our program freely available online at https://continuous-enzyme-kinetics.herokuapp.com/continuous-enzyme-kinetics.


In this study, Turkish fir wood (Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmulleriana) was subjected to two heat treatment process with varying temperatures (150, 180 and 200°C) and durations (2, 4 and 6 h). Some properties of the heat treated Turkish fir wood; mass change, water absorption, volumetric swelling, bending strength, modulus of elasticity (MOE), compression strength parallel to grain, color change and surface roughness have been tested and evaluated by statistical analysis. Consequently, volumetric swelling and water absorption values of the heat treated wood samples reducing. Bending strength, modulus of elasticity and compression strength parallel to grain values were decreased by heat treatment at high temperatures. Additionally, color change and surface roughness values of heat treated wood decreased with weathering compared to those of control samples.


Both ethnographic and neuroscientific research suggest that physicists solve problems by engaging in imaginary sensorimotor simulation of phenomena under inquiry. However, how this finding might inform high-school instructional practice is yet unknown. As educational researchers who are inspired by embodiment theory, we are investigating the potential roles that students' choreographed physical movements in classroom space play in learning physics concepts related to motion. Here we focus on two case studies of high-school students whose summative projects for an instructional unit involving movement-based problem solving manifested deep conceptual and affective relations with the subject matter. Through qualitative analyses we attempt to build a coherent narrative of the subjective processes that led to these results.


The Engineering discipline has relied on computers to perform numerical calculations in many of its sub-disciplines over the last decades. The advent of graphical processing units (GPUs), parallel stream processors, has the potential to speed up generic simulations that facilitate engineering applications aside from traditional computer graphics applications, using GPGPU (general purpose programming on the GPU). The potential benefits of exploiting the GPU for general purpose computation require the program to be highly arithmetic intensive and also data independent. This paper looks at the specific application of the Conjugate Gradient method used in hydraulic network solvers on the GPU and compares the results to conventional central processing unit (CPU) implementations. The results indicate that the GPU becomes more efficient as the data set size increases. However, with the current hardware and the implementation of the Conjugate Gradient algorithm, the application of stream processing to hydraulic network solvers is only faster and more efficient for exceptionally large water distribution models, which are seldom found in practice.


The homeodomain factor Pdx-1 regulates an array of genes in the developing and mature pancreas, but whether regulation of each specific gene occurs by a direct mechanism (binding to promoter elements and activating basal transcriptional machinery) or an indirect mechanism (via regulation of other genes) is unknown. To determine the mechanism underlying regulation of the insulin gene by Pdx-1, we performed a kinetic analysis of insulin transcription following adenovirus-mediated delivery of a small interfering RNA specific for pdx-1 into insulinoma cells and pancreatic islets to diminish endogenous Pdx-1 protein. insulin transcription was assessed by measuring both a long half-life insulin mRNA (mature mRNA) and a short half-life insulin pre-mRNA species by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Following progressive knock-down of Pdx-1 levels, we observed coordinate decreases in pre-mRNA levels (to about 40% of normal levels at 72 h). In contrast, mature mRNA levels showed strikingly smaller and delayed declines, suggesting that the longer half-life of this species underestimates the contribution of Pdx-1 to insulin transcription. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that the decrease in insulin transcription was associated with decreases in the occupancies of Pdx-1 and p300 at the proximal insulin promoter. Although there was no corresponding change in the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the proximal promoter, its recruitment to the insulin coding region was significantly reduced. Our results suggest that Pdx-1 directly regulates insulin transcription through formation of a complex with transcriptional coactivators on the proximal insulin promoter. This complex leads to enhancement of elongation by the basal transcriptional machinery.