Group formation is a quite ubiquitous phenomenon across different animal species, whose individuals cluster together forming communities of diverse size. Previous investigations suggest that, in general, this phenomenon might have similar underlying reasons across the interested species, despite genetic and behavioral differences. For instance improving the individual safety (e.g. from predators), and increasing the probability to get food resources. Remarkably, the group size might strongly vary from species to species, e.g. shoals of fishes and herds of lions, and sometimes even within the same species, e.g. tribes and families in human societies. Here we build on previous theories stating that the dynamics of group formation may have evolutionary roots, and we explore this fascinating hypothesis from a purely theoretical perspective, with a model using the framework of Evolutionary Game Theory. In our model we hypothesize that homogeneity constitutes a fundamental ingredient in these dynamics. Accordingly, we study a population that tries to form homogeneous groups, i.e. composed of similar agents. The formation of a group can be interpreted as a strategy. Notably, agents can form a group (receiving a 'group payoff'), or can act individually (receiving an 'individual payoff'). The phase diagram of the modeled population shows a sharp transition between the 'group phase' and the 'individual phase', characterized by a critical 'individual payoff'. Our results then support the hypothesis that the phenomenon of group formation has evolutionary roots.


Most big data are spatially referenced, and spatial data mining (SDM) is the key to the value of big data. In this paper, SDM are overviewed in the aspects of software and application. First, spatial data are summarized on their rapid growth, distinct characteristics, and implicit values. Second, the principles of SDM are briefed with the descriptive definition, fundamental attributes, discovery mechanism, and usable methods. Third, SDM software is presented in the context of software components, developing methodology, typical software for geographical information system (GIS) data and remote sensing (RS) images, and software trend. Fourth, SDM applications are outlined on GIS data, RS image, and spatiotemporal video data. The final is the concluding remarks and perspectives. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2016, 6:84–114. doi: 10.1002/widm.1180


This article examines the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) relevant to avoiding or minimizing conflict-induced food insecurity. It is important to consider these rules in order to appreciate the range of protections to which civilians are entitled. Understanding these rules is also essential for interpreting the relevant provisions of international criminal law, including, most notably, the war crime of starvation of the civilian population. After providing a brief outline of the general rules of IHL respect of which can reduce the risk of food insecurity, the article focuses on two sets of rules of direct relevance to food insecurity: the prohibition of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the rules regulating humanitarian relief operation. With regard to the former, the article considers whether, under IHL, the prohibition requires that the party that has engaged in the conduct must act with the purpose of causing starvation. It is argued that while the general prohibition of starvation in IHL requires such purpose, there are other, more specific, rules of IHL directed at reducing food insecurity which do not require such purpose. Consideration is also given to the application of the principle of proportionality to measures which have the effect of causing starvation. While most of this article focuses on IHL, it also provides some reflections on the interplay between the rules of IHL relating to humanitarian relief operations and the war crime of starvation in the International Criminal Court's Statute. Moving briefly away from IHL, the article also highlights a normative tension that can impede humanitarian action and therefore exacerbate food insecurity.


: The authors analyze the current methods of the diagnosis and prediction of perinatal CNS lesions in neonates and infants. Emphasize the importance of revealing non-gross, even minimum manifestations. Provide evidence for the diagnostic and prognostic information content of the elaborated dynamic approach to the assessment of the neonates' neurological status. Relate the technique of an electroneuromyographic examination of neonates of the first hours and days of life. Analyze the results of echo-encephaloscopic examination of neonates. Distinguish new biochemical markers of perinatal CNS lesions.


Time-dependent behavior of a CPW line under optical modulation is characterized using a large-signal vector network analyzer. The influence of the optical modulation frequency on the propagation of high carrier frequencies along a CPW is discussed in this paper. Different operation conditions in time are defined for a CPW line under illumination.


The case study by Wolfgang Oest is the result of cooperation between the Innovation Task Group at IIASA and the Institute of Prognosis and Applied Research in Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany. Dr. Oest worked here at IIASA with the Innovation group for two months, during which the conceptual framework and the first draft of his study were completed. The main idea of the study is to prove and elaborate the relative efficiency concept of the Innovation Task Group. We hope that the results of this study will stimulate the empirical studies about the relation of concrete Innovation and Efficiency. The IIASA Innovation Group is hoping that the results of this will not only extend our knowledge about key technologies but will also help us to develop a common technology to assess technologies from the efficiency point of view.


Background: Diabetes mellitus is prevalent among kidney transplant recipients. The activity of drug metabolizing enzymes or transporters may be altered by diabetes leading to changes in the concentration of parent drug or metabolites. This study was aimed to characterize the effect of diabetes on the concentration of cyclosporine (CsA) and metabolites. Methods: Concentration–time profiles of CsA and metabolites (AM1, AM9, AM4N, AM1c, AM19, and AM1c9) were characterized over a 12-hour dosing interval in 10 nondiabetic and 7 diabetic stable kidney transplant recipients. All patients were male, had nonfunctional CYP3A5*3 genotype, and were on combination therapy with ketoconazole. Results: The average daily dose (±SD) of CsA was 65 ± 21 and 68 ± 35 mg in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively (P = 0.550). Cyclosporine metabolites that involved amino acid 1 (AM1, AM19, AM1c) exhibited significantly lower dose-normalized values of area under the concentration–time curve in patients with diabetes. Moreover, during the postabsorption phase (≥3 hours after dose), metabolite–parent concentration ratios for all metabolites, except AM4N, was significantly lower in diabetic patients. The pharmacokinetic parameters of ketoconazole were similar between the 2 groups thus excluding inconsistent ketoconazole exposure as a source of altered CsA metabolism. Conclusions: This study indicates that diabetes mellitus significantly affects the concentration of CsA metabolites. Because CsA is eliminated as metabolites via the biliary route, the decrease in the blood concentration of CsA metabolites during postabsorption phase would probably reflect lower hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme activity. However, other mechanisms including altered expression of transporters may also play a role. Results of cyclosporine therapeutic drug monitoring in diabetic patients must be interpreted with caution when nonspecific assays are used.


This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of a modified Maximum Likelihood Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) estimator and quantifies the minimum coherent integration time required to achieve a predefined level of accuracy. The SNR estimator is derived under the assumptions of perfect frequency synchronization, data bit aiding and constant signal phase during the observation window. The probability density function (pdf) of the SNR estimator in logarithmic units is derived and used to quantify the bias and error bounds associated with the considered SNR estimator. The minimum coherent integration time is determined by requiring a desired level of accuracy with a given probability level, i.e. the integration time is chosen in order to make the SNR estimate lie in a predefined confidence interval. Theoretical results have been validated using GNSS software and hardware simulations. The agreement between theoretical and experimental results supports the validity of the developed theory.


Organic Solar Cells are a promising technology for solving the clean energy crisis in the world. However, generating candidate chemical compounds for solar cells is a time-consuming process requiring thousands of hours of laboratory analysis. For a solar cell, the most important property is the power conversion efficiency which is dependent on the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) values of the donor molecules. Recently, machine learning techniques have proved to be very useful in building predictive models for HOMO values of donor structures of Organic Photovoltaic Cells (OPVs). Since experimental datasets are limited in size, current machine learning models are trained on data derived from calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). Molecular line notations such as SMILES or InChI are popular input representations for describing the molecular structure of donor molecules. The two types of line representations encode different information, such as SMILES defines the bond types while InChi defines protonation. In this work, we present an ensemble deep neural network architecture, called SINet, which harnesses both the SMILES and InChI molecular representations to predict HOMO values and leverage the potential of transfer learning from a sizeable DFT-computed dataset- Harvard CEP to build more robust predictive models for relatively smaller HOPV datasets. Harvard CEP dataset contains molecular structures and properties for 2.3 million candidate donor structures for OPV while HOPV contains DFT-computed and experimental values of 350 and 243 molecules respectively. Our results demonstrate significant performance improvement from the use of transfer learning and leveraging both molecular representations.


Investigators examining problems with credit availability during the most recent recession have been unable to provide definitive evidence that the decline in bank loans was, at least in part, a supply phenomenon. Furthermore, they have not focused on the subset of loans made to borrowers most likely to be dependent on bank financing. This study overcomes these flaws. By examining formal regulatory actions, we clearly identify a supply shock that caused an abrupt decline in bank lending that cannot be attributed to demand. Furthermore, we find that this decreased lending occurred at institutions and in lending categories serving those firms most likely to be dependent on bank financing. This decline in lending to small businesses was likely a contributing factor to the unprecedented increase in business failures in New England.


The application of numerical methods like CFD to understand hemodynamics in arteries has excellent potential to solve complex flow problems. In recent years, CFD has been primarily used in the hemodynamics of the carotid artery due to advances in computational resources. This technique is widely used to obtain knowledge on hemodynamics, predict the risk factors for the development and progression of the atherosclerotic lesion, and analyze local flow profiles due to changes in the carotid artery geometry. This fundamental study will be supportive in observing the blood flow behavior through arteries and studying arterial diseases. The present study investigates three different subject-specific carotid bifurcation models under altered blood pressure conditions. Subject-specific 3D carotid bifurcation modeling is carried out using Materialize software. Unsteady flow simulation is conducted in ANSYS Fluent under the rigid wall and Newtonian conditions. The haemodynamic parameters such as vorticity, helicity, and time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) were evaluated to understand better the beginning and progression of atherosclerotic plaques in the bifurcation. Also, the influence of geometric variation in the bifurcation region was investigated, and it was observed that this region causes significant vortex formation zones. A noticeable reduction in velocity and backflow formation was observed, which reduced the shear stress. It is established that the regions of low TAWSS along the bifurcation region are likely to develop atherosclerosis.


A three-level atomic medium can be made transparent to a resonant probe field in the presence of a strong control field acting on an adjacent atomic transition to a long-lived state, which can be represented by a highly excited Rydberg state. The long-range interactions between the Rydberg state atoms then translate into strong, non-local, dispersive or absorptive interactions between the probe photons, which can be used to achieve deterministic quantum logic gates and single photon sources. Here we show that long-range dipole–dipole exchange interaction with one or more spins—two-level systems represented by atoms in suitable Rydberg states—can play the role of control field for the optically dense medium of atoms. This induces transparency of the medium for a number of probe photons np not exceeding the number of spins ns, while all the excess photons are resonantly absorbed upon propagation. In the most practical case of a single spin atom prepared in the Rydberg state, the medium is thus transparent only to a single input probe photon. For larger number of spins ns, all np ≤ ns photon components of the probe field would experience transparency but with an np-dependent group velocity.


OBJECTIVE
Adolescent substance use and abuse is a pressing public health problem and is strongly related to interpersonal aggression. Such problems disproportionately impact minority youth, who have limited access to evidence-based interventions such as ecological family therapies, brief motivational interventions (BMIs), and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs). With a predominantly minority sample, our objective was to rigorously evaluate the efficacy of a school-based BMI/CBT, Guided Self-Change (GSC), for addressing substance use and aggressive behavior.

METHOD
We conducted a school-based randomized, controlled trial with 514 high school students (mean age 16.24 years, 41% female, 80% minority) reporting using substances and perpetrating aggression. We used structural equation modeling to compare participants randomly assigned to receive GSC or standard care (SC; education/assessment/referral-only) at posttreatment and at 3 and 6 months posttreatment on alcohol use, drug use, and interpersonal aggression outcomes as assessed by the Timeline Follow-Back.

RESULTS
Compared with SC participants, GSC participants showed significant reductions (p < .05) in total number of alcohol use days (Cohen's d = 0.45 at posttreatment and 0.20 at 3 months posttreatment), drug use days (Cohen's d = 0.22 at posttreatment and 0.20 at 3 months posttreatment), and aggressive behavior incidents (Cohen's d = 0.23 at posttreatment). Moreover, treatment effects did not vary by gender or ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS
With minority youth experiencing mild to moderate problems with substance use and aggressive behavior, GSC holds promise as an early intervention approach that can be implemented with success in schools.


Schools of herring exposed to progressive hypoxia show a peak in velocity during severe hypoxia, at 15–34% oxygen saturation, followed by a decrease in swimming speed until school disruption occurred. The observed increase in swimming speed during severe hypoxia reveals a graded response, since the lower the fish's swimming speed prior to severe hypoxia (U95-50, the speed at oxygen saturations between 95 and 50%), the greater the relative increase in swimming speed. The oxygen saturations at which both peak velocity and school disruption occurred were lower for fish with lowest U95-50, suggesting that the fish with the slowest speed U95–50 reach their critical PO2 (at which there is respiratory distress) last, i.e. at lower oxygen saturation. At a functional level, it is suggested that herring encountering hypoxia increase their speed in order to find more favourable conditions, and the magnitude of this increase is modulated by their respiratory distress. It is also hypothesised that the observed increase in speed may be related to an increase in the rate of position shifting within the school. Since the oxygen saturation at which the response to hypoxia occurs and the magnitude of the response are related to the fish's preferred speed prior to severe hypoxia, it is suggested that such a preferred speed should be measured in experiments testing the effect of hypoxia on fish behaviour. 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles


Abstract. A growing body of geospatial research has shifted the focus from fully structured to semistructured and unstructured content written in natural language. Natural language texts provide a wealth of knowledge about geospatial concepts, places, events, and activities that needs to be extracted and formalized to support semantic annotation, knowledge-based exploration, and semantic search. The paper presents a web-based prototype for the extraction of geospatial entities and concepts, and the subsequent semantic visualization and interactive exploration of the extraction results. A lightweight ontology anchored in natural language guides the interpretation of natural language texts and the extraction of relevant domain knowledge. The approach is applied on three heterogeneous sources which provide a wealth of spatial concepts and place names.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the quality of chest CT images obtained with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) using three iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms.

METHODS
Two 64-detector spiral CT scanners (HDCT, iCT) were used to scan a chest phantom containing 6 ground-glass nodules (GGNs) at 11 radiation dose levels. CT images were reconstructed by FBP or three IR algorithms. Reconstructed images were analyzed for CT values, average noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values, subjective image noise, and diagnostic acceptability of the GGNs. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS
Average noise decreased and CNR increased with increasing radiation dose when the same reconstruction algorithm was applied. Image average noise reconstructed with MBIR was significantly lower than reconstructed with iDOSE4 at the same low radiation doses. The two radiologists showed good interobserver consistency in image quality with kappa 0.83. A significant relationship was found between image noise and diagnostic acceptability of the GGNs.

CONCLUSION
Three IR algorithms are able to reduce the image noise and improve the image quality in LDCT. In the same radiation dose, the LDCT images quality reconstructed with MBIR algorithms is better than that of other IR algorithms.


This article explores the possibilities for new forms of 'digital citizenship' currently emerging through digitally supported processes of narrative exchange. Using Dahlgren's (Dahlgren, P. 2003. "Reconfiguring Civic Culture in the New Media Milieu." In Media and the Restyling of Politics, edited by J. Corner, and D. Pels, 151–170. London: Sage; Dahlgren, P. 2009. Media and Political Engagement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.) circuit of 'civic culture' as a model for exploring the interlinking preconditions for new acts of citizenship, we discuss the contrasting outcomes of research at three fieldwork sites in the North of England – educational (a sixth form college), civil society (a community reporters' network) and social (a local club). Each site provided clear evidence of the elements of Dahlgren's circuit (some depending on the intensive use of digital infrastructure, others predating it), but there were also breaks in the circuit that constrained its effectiveness. A crucial factor in each case for building a lasting circuit of civic culture (and an effective base for new forms of digital citizenship) is the role that digital infrastructure can play in extending the scale of interactions beyond the purely local.


In spite of the increasing use of local ecological knowledge (LEK) in various environmental studies, few methodological innovations exist to facilitate new uses. This is especially true in studies of environmental change, where standard methods of comparing LEK with scientific knowledge do little to bolster causal claims. Here, I report on a novel approach that uses LEK to formulate manipulative experiments. This interdisciplinary approach exploits LEK's rich historical observations, while employing experimental approaches to disentangle competing hypotheses and to identify underlying mechanisms. This integrated approach produces historically based, mechanistically sound explanations that can be more useful than either LEK or experimental studies alone. I illustrate this approach with recent studies of common reed (Phragmites australis) invasion in salt hay farms.


Sera were produced in rabbits against nine Moraxella bovis strains isolated in Brazil and three in the United States. Antigens were prepared for double immunodiffusion tests by thawing concentrated suspensions of the strains. Sera were tested against homologous and heterologous antigen preparations by the double immunodiffusion method. Sera showing precipitin bands with heterologous antigens were absorbed. Antigenic differences were detected between the strains and a provisional grouping of strains of M. bovis was suggested on the basis of antigenic composition. Differences between isolates from different geographical locations were found and some strains appeared antigenically more complex than others. The relevance of this work to vaccine production was suggested.


I thank the editor, Ronald Christensen, for the opportunity to discuss this important topic and to comment on the article by Armistead. Simpson's paradox is often presented as a compelling demonstration of why we need statistics education in our schools. It is a reminder of how easy it is to fall into a web of paradoxical conclusions when relying solely on intuition, unaided by rigorous statistical methods. In recent years, ironically, the paradox assumed an added dimension when educators began using it to demonstrate the limits of statistical methods, and why causal, rather than statistical considerations are necessary to avoid those paradoxical conclusions (Wasserman 2004; Arah 2008; Pearl 2009, pp. 173–182). My comments are divided into three parts. First, I will give a brief summary of the history of Simpson's paradox and how it has been treated in the statistical literature in the past century. Next, I will ask what is required to declare the paradox "resolved," and argue that modern understanding of causal inference has met those requirements. Finally, I will answer specific questions raised in Armistead's article and show how the resolution of Simpson's paradox can be taught for fun and progress.


Diabetes mellitus is increasing globally at an alarming rate. The disabling complications of the disease are draining the healthcare resources of both developed and developing nations, and admissions for diabetic foot-related complications to hospitals and clinics worldwide are the most common reason for hospital bed occupancy in this patient population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that there will be 330 million diagnosed diabetics worldwide by 2025. That equates to 660 million feet at risk of possible ulceration with all the attendant sequelae of amputation and limb loss. Africa will face the second highest increase in prevalence of the disease; an expected increase of 160%; second only to the increased prevalence expected in the Middle East.
Considering that 85% of all amputations done in diabetics are preceded by ulceration, it is of paramount importance that diabetic footcare
protocols are developed and implemented immediately. Foot screening programmes that identify those feet at risk need to be taught to all
healthcare professionals involved in the care of the diabetic patient.


Background: A long-acting local anaesthetic agent would enable superior post-operative analgesia. Our slow-release bupivacaine-polymer formulation comprising 15% bupivacaine loaded into a poly (DL-lactic acid co castor oil 3:7), DL-LA:CO was effective for up to 96 hours. In this study we determined in vivo drug levels of the formulation from plasma and tissue assay and we tested the feasibility of drug level assessments from an exudate sample collected in a novel device near the injection-site.
Methods: Prior to formulation injection, a titanium cylinder dual-open-ended chamber was implanted in the dorso-lumber region of female ICR mice, to be used as a biological compartment. Following a healing period, the bupivacaine-polymer formulation was injected close to the sciatic nerve. Formulation assay samples were collected over one-week post-injection; exudate was drawn from the chamber in the anaesthetised animal; and blood and tissue samples from the sacrificed animal. Bupivacaine distribution in the exudate and plasma samples was determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry developed for these experiments, and in tissue samples by high -performance liquid chromatography.
Results: Bupivacaine was detected during the first 24h following formulation injection in all three samples (exudate, plasma and tissue), and decreased to almost undetectable levels by day 7 post-injection.
Conclusion: Bupivacaine drug assay measured from an exudate sample may be applicable in addition or as a replacement for standard plasma and tissue assay in studies of drug pharmacokinetic distribution. The high sensitivity and simplicity of the metallic chamber implant to detect drug concentration and exudate analysis was confirmed in sever hepatic impairment.


We present Auger-electron-detected magnetic resonance (AEDMR) experiments on phosphorus donors in silicon, where the selective optical generation of donor-bound excitons is used for the electrical detection of the electron spin state. Because of the long dephasing times of the electron spins in isotopically purified $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, weak microwave fields are sufficient, which allow one to realize broadband AEDMR in a commercial electron spin resonance resonator. Implementing Auger-electron-detected electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), we further demonstrate the optically assisted control of the nuclear spin under conditions where the hyperfine splitting is not resolved in the optical spectrum. Compared to previous studies, this significantly relaxes the requirements on the sample and the experimental setup, e.g., with respect to strain, isotopic purity, and temperature. We show AEDMR of phosphorus donors in silicon with natural isotope composition, and discuss the feasibility of ENDOR measurements also in this system.


In the 1980s and 1990s, methyl tertiary-butyl ether ("MTBE") became the petroleum industry's gasoline additive of choice to replace tetra-ethyl lead. MTBE fuel blends were viewed as an environmental boon; MTBE signiacantly reduces emissions of smog-producing air pollutants and can be produced relatively cheaply. Yet by the end of the 1990s, MTBE had leaked from tens of thousands of underground storage tanks across the country, polluting groundwater and precipitating a large-scale environmental crisis. This Article explores the spectacular rise and fall of MTBE as a case study in regulatory failure. The Article reviews ave critical decision points at which EPA or Congress could have either prevented the MTBE crisis or greatly reduced its severity. Drawing on this history, the Article then explores the explanatory power of eight prominent theories of regulation and regulatory failure and the lessons that can be learned from the MTBE crisis. Similar environmental regulatory disasters may be averted if environmental regulation takes a more multi-media approach, involves broader participation by affected interests, is less deferential to the narrow economic concerns of regulated parties, and generally adopts a more precautionary approach to critical decisions.


Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) is one of the most important projects in the history of Bangladesh due to its regional importance, economic benefit, and primary connectivity of one-third population of the country. The bridge is 6.15km long, connecting the ends of Mawa and Janjira in Bangladesh. The entire project is challenging to construct and complex in design as it contains both four-lane highways and train tracks supported by a double-deck composite warren truss. In this study, the dynamic response of the truss due to the moving train has been analyzed using the Moving Element Method (MEM). In this process, a separate finite element model has been developed using Finite Element (FE) program to convert the double deck truss into an equivalent beam. Analysis has been conducted for a series of different load cases, converging to the most realistic case where the actual train parameters are considered. Parametric studies have been carried out to determine the dynamic responses of the bridge with varying pier spacing and speed of the train. The most optimal solution has been discussed with the effect of the vibration of the train acting on the multi-purpose Padma bridge. The bridge's dynamic amplification factor (DAF) at a design speed of below 100km/hr is found  1.05. The parametric study shows that the critical train speed for the PMB is 1400km/hr resulting in the bridge resonance with a DAF of 18. It is also evident that with the increase of pier spacing the resonance of the bridge is expected to occur at a relatively lower speed.


Heparan sulfate is synthesized by most animal cells and interacts with numerous proteins via specific sulfation motifs to regulate various physiological processes. Various 3-O-sulfated motifs are considered to be key in controlling the binding specificities to the functional proteins. One such motif, synthesized by 3-O-sulfotransferase-1 (3OST-1) serves as a binding site for antithrombin (AT), and has been thoroughly studied because of its pharmacological importance. However, the physiological roles of 3-O-sulfates produced by other 3OST isoforms, which do not bind AT, remain obscure, in part due to the lack of a standard method to analyze this rare modification. This study aims to establish a method for quantifying 3-O-sulfated components of heparan sulfate, focusing on non-AT-binding units. We previously examined the reaction products of human 3OST isoforms and identified five 3-O-sulfated components, including three non-AT-binding disaccharides and two AT-binding tetrasaccharides, as digestion products of heparin lyases. In this study, we prepared these five components as a standard saccharide for HPLC analysis. Together with eight non-3-O-sulfated disaccharides, a standard mixture of thirteen units was prepared. Using reverse-phase ion-pair HPLC with a post-column fluorescent labeling system, the separation conditions were optimized to quantify the thirteen units. Finally, we analyzed the compositional changes of 3-O-sulfated units in heparan sulfate from P19 cells before and after neuronal differentiation. We successfully detected the 3-O-sulfated units specifically expressed in the differentiated neurons. This is the first report that shows the quantification of three non-AT-binding 3-O-sulfated units, and establishes a new approach to explore the physiological functions of 3-O-sulfate.


The influence of reamberin on hematological indices in the acute period of alloxan-induced diabetes has been studied. It is established that anemia develops within 72 hours after alloxan injection at a diabetogenic dose in rats, which is related to bone marrow erythropoiesis suppression and is accompanied by inflammatory leukocytosis. Single administration of reamberin in a dose equivalent to the human therapeutic dose produces correction of the leukocyte content in the blood, normalizes the bone marrow erythropoiesis, and prevents anemia development in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. The antianemic action of reamberin is not related to its influence on carbohydrate metabolism in experimental diabetes mellitus.


Purpose The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence of specific patterns of epithelial response in corneal buttons from keratoconus patients. Methods This was a retrospective and descriptive study. 90 penetrating keratoplasty specimens obtained from patients diagnosed with keratoconus were evaluated using bright-field microscopy. Morphologically identifiable characteristics including epithelial cell density and epithelial thickness were analyzed on hematoxylin and eosin- (H&E-) and periodic acid of Schiff- (PAS-) stained slides. Results Three distinctive patterns of epithelial alteration of the central cornea were established. Pattern 3, in which the central epithelium was as thick as peripheral epithelium, was the commonest (44.4%), followed by the pattern 2, defined as central epithelium thinner than periphery epithelium (38.9%), and the uncommonest pattern was number 1, with central epithelium thicker than the periphery (16.7%). Conclusions Three distinctive histologic patterns that could potentially have a diagnostic and prognostic value in keratoconus patients were found.


Absenteeism is determined as an absence from work, resulting in the decrease of the company's production and, consequentially, causing profit reduction. The employer must follow closely the employees' quality of life, assuring that they perform all their tasks effectively. Dental health is directly connected to the employee's general health status and cannot be put aside when trying to assure complete physical and mental well being of an individual. Aim: To analyze preemployment exams of a military company in order to identify, among all the reasons for exclusion, dental problems that ultimately resulted prevented hiring of job applicants. Methods: Information was collected in 2008 from the dental files of the Health Department archives, which contained data referring to the candidates applying for a specific position and permitted and analytical study of the reasons for exclusion, based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Results: 10.24% (720) of the candidates, from a total of 7,029, were excluded for dental reasons, namely dental cavitation, 2.8% (197), and pulpal and periapical diseases, 3.14% (221). Conclusions: Aside from being limited, the results of this study suggest that dental problems influence a great deal on the quality of life of employees that are able for work, and, that being said, should be managed closely to reduce absenteeism in the workplace.


In this article, we present light-energy field data from ten mothers caring for spastic children showing that their energy field is compromised. A research group had previously shown that high levels of stress dwindle the length of telomeres. The results presented here suggest that the light-energy field and the length of telomeres may be correlated and that this may be of practical significance. Finally, meditation is shown to have a positive impact on the light-energy field which may translate into a healthier life and a longer lifespan. Emerging evidence is supportive of the benefits of meditation on health but additional research is needed to demonstrate that meditation does in fact lead to a longer lifespan.


Skin microcirculation plays an important role in diseases such as chronic venous insufficiency and diabetes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide quantitative information with a better penetration depth than other noninvasive methods, such as laser Doppler flowmetry or optical coherence tomography. Moreover, successful MRI skin studies have recently been reported. In this article, we investigate three potential inverse models to quantify skin microcirculation using diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), also known as q-space MRI. The model parameters are estimated based on nonlinear least-squares (NLS). For each of the three models, an optimal DWI sampling scheme is proposed based on D-optimality in order to minimize the size of the confidence region of the NLS estimates and thus the effect of the experimental noise inherent to DWI. The resulting covariance matrices of the NLS estimates are predicted by asymptotic normality and compared to the ones computed by Monte-Carlo simulations. Our numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models and corresponding DWI sampling schemes as compared to conventional approaches.


A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate an educational booklet on back pain for patients presenting to five group practices during one calendar year. The booklet had no immediate effect on consultations for back pain, but in the period from two weeks to one year after presentation significantly fewer patients in the group receiving the booklet consulted with back pain (35.6%) than in the control group (42.2%) (P less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between the booklet and control groups in certified absence from work owing to back pain. Referral to hospital, referral to physiotherapy, admissions to hospital and laminectomies were all less common in the booklet group. The reduction in the combined referral rate to physiotherapy and hospital, and the reduction in laminectomy rate almost reached statistical significance at the 5% level. In replying to a questionnaire sent one year after entry to the study 94.1% of respondents in the booklet group said that they had read the book, 84.0% said that they found it useful, and 68.0% said that they still had a copy. Scores on a 15-item test of knowledge about back pain were significantly higher in the group of patients who had received the booklet than in the control group. The results suggest that the booklet had some effect in altering both the knowledge and behaviour of patients with back pain. The provision of an educational booklet was a method of giving information which was appreciated by both patients and doctors.


In this paper, the effects of acute moderate intensity aerobic exercise on inhibition ability of college students were investigated from different aspects, such as behavioral performance, physiological response, and cognitive processing mode of brain. In this paper, college students were selected as the research object, and the content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in blood was recorded and analyzed after moderate intensity aerobic exercise or reading intervention at the same time. In this paper, we completed the behavioral response and brain activity of the adapted go / NoGo task. After acute moderate intensity aerobic exercise, the correct rate of behavior inhibition of college students increased. The content of BDNF increased, and Nogo-N2 and NoGo-P3, which represent the inhibition ability, had obvious effect. Acute moderate intensity aerobic exercise can effectively promote the inhibition ability of college students, and its mechanism may lie in the rapid recognition of inhibition signals and the allocation of cognitive resources, as well as more peripheral BDNF circulation.


Background: Succinobucol (AGI-1067) was developed as a probucol derivative with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has undergone Phase III clinical trials to determine its place in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease. Objective: This paper reviews the available history, pharmacology and preclinical and clinical trial data of succinobucol. Methods: Data were compiled following review of publications indexed in Medline and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, industry media releases and relevant bibliographies. Results/conclusion: In preclinical studies, succinobucol exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic and antiplatelet properties; however, these effects have not resulted in a reduction in cardiovascular clinical end points in clinical trials. Although proposed antihyperglycemic effects are being investigated, safety concerns and lack of clear cardiovascular benefit may limit its clinical use as an antihyperglycemic agent.


The linked dataset of AI research articles and patents reveals that a substantial public sector contribution is found for AI development. In addition, the role of researchers who are involved both in publication and patent activities, particularly in the private sector, increased over time. That is, open science that is publicly available through research articles and propriety technology that is protected by patents are intertwined in AI development. In addition, the impact of data science, measured by AI research articles on innovation, is analyzed by patent citation analysis. It is found that patents invented by AI paper authors are more likely to have more forward citations by other applicants (non-self-citation), in wider technology fields (greater generality index). This implies that the nature of general purpose technology (GPT) for data science is elevated by the fact that patent inventors are also involved with scientific activities and published as research authors.


Spinel Li4Ti5O12 exhibits inadequate electronic conductivities that negatively impact its electrochemical performance, this disadvantage limits its commerical use in high current applications for future hybrid electric vehicles. Li4Ti5O12/C has been examined in order to improved the electronic conductivities. Different sucrose additions at m(sucrose)/m(Li4Ti5O12) = 5%, 10%, 15% are investigated along with the structure and electrochemical performances. The results show that the best sucrose addtion is 10%, when sintered at this condition, the distribution of particles size and electrochemical performance of the compound are the most satisfying. When charged at 0.5 C, the initial discharge capacity is 167.72 mAh•g-1, and the initial charge capacity is 162.28 mAh•g-1, and it shows the longest and flattest discharge performance among the three synthesized samples.


Primary care clinicians face a daunting set of challenges in today's health care environment. Health care reform is creating a constantly evolving context for providing care. Time and productivity pressures contrast with a growing set of clinical expectations and responsibilities in the patient encounter. Chronic and behavioral conditions increasingly dominate the lives of our patients, yet we have a limited set of tools for making consistent and meaningful improvement in the trajectory of these diseases. At the same time, patients can find it difficult to adopt truly effective preventive or early intervention tools. Underlying all of these issues is the role of socioeconomic and community factors in the conditions that we see.

In response, primary care researchers have sought and tested new ideas by which clinicians can meet these challenges. In so doing, these researchers have established a strong record of innovation—and of respect for persons and communities. Examples include the use of multimethod research to understand processes in primary care, the use of practice-based research networks for testing interventions in real-world settings, and the use of complexity science concepts in understanding care delivery.1–3 Primary care researchers have also been leaders in advocating the importance of respectful partnerships with communities in the search for new solutions to the challenges we face.4

The article by Shaw et al in this issue of the Annals extends this record of innovation and respectfulness of family medicine researchers.5 This research team designed a state-of-the-art, cluster randomized trial of a strategy to increase the proportion of patients in practices who had received up-to-date screening for colorectal cancer. Conducted in a practice-based research network, the intervention included multi-method practice assessment, followed by within-practice teams engaged in reflective adaptive processes strategizing improvements in screening, and by cross-practice learning collaboratives. The analysis showed a nonsignificant trend toward greater net increase in screening rates of intervention compared with control practices. Although the overall rate of screening was the primary outcome in this trial in which individual practices were the unit of study (whole practices received either the intervention or control condition), this analysis appeared to obscure important effect modification. That is, some practices in the intervention group got much better while, surprisingly, at least 1 intervention practice's overall screening rate got much worse.

There are several possible explanations for this surprising finding. It could represent concurrent, unrelated changes in the practice, such as staff turnover. It could represent normal statistical variation—some practices randomly improve while some randomly worsen. It could reflect a delayed response to changes in screening approaches in the practice. As Shaw et al note, however, the disturbing possibility is that the worsened screening rates could represent a direct, unanticipated effect of the study intervention itself. Some elements of the intervention may have created a new dynamic in the practice or amplified dynamics previously present, not expected or understood, which detrimentally affected the practice.

Even though there is no definitive way to determine which of these possible explanations is responsible for the observed change, Shaw et al have applied ground-breaking innovation to this type of research. In going beyond reporting the overall summary analysis to further report notable practice variation in outcomes, this group has focused on a previously largely overlooked element of cluster randomized trials: group-based interventions may have varying, sometimes deleterious effects on some groups just as individual-based interventions can on individuals. Further important innovation comes from this team's use of qualitative methods to explore possible explanations for what may be wide variation in the effects of the intervention.

Research in which groups, such as practices or communities, are the object of study traditionally compare the overall results of an intervention with results obtained with usual care, often for an aspect of care that is considered below standard. It is expected that in such cases, the intervention will lead either to improved outcomes in the groups or, if the intervention is ineffective, to outcomes equal to standard care. The possibility that the intervention may in fact worsen outcomes—or conversely markedly improve outcomes—in some of the groups has not been adequately appreciated and reported. In this regard, groups under study are similar to individuals: individuals often vary in their responses to experimental interventions.

Merton's seminal article, "The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action," now 75 years old, was the first to highlight what is commonly referred to as the "law of unintended consequences."6 This observation held that frequently well-planned and well-intentioned actions can have completely unexpected, important, and often adverse outcomes. Generally, these outcomes are believed to occur through inability to anticipate all effects of an action in a complex system, through incorrect analysis of a situation, through conflict between short- and long-term goals, or through conflict between values.6 More recent complexity science concepts would similarly predict that the nature of complex systems, such as practices or communities, make it difficult to predict the results of interventions on the group.

Unintended consequences have long been recognized in public health (eg, the relationship between building the Aswan High Dam and subsequent increased regional human schistosomiasis7). Recent publications in the primary care literature have identified possible examples of unintended consequences of well-planned and well-intentioned interventions. A cluster randomized trial of an intervention in practices aimed at reducing problem alcohol use showed lower rates of reduction in intervention than in control practices, the opposite of what was expected.8 Another complex study examining a variety of interventions with several outcomes, including increased exercise, showed significantly reduced exercise levels in an intervention network.9 It is important to recall, however, that in none of these studies is a cause-and-effect relationship established between the intervention and the unexpected outcome and that other factors, such as random variation, unrelated changes occurring in the groups, etc, could explain the findings.

Regardless of the true cause of the these observed effects on groups, an argument can be made that we should monitor, report, and seek to explain these effects in the same manner as we do the effects of research activities on individuals. Comparable monitoring has not been the standard with group-based research, such as cluster randomized trials. Nevertheless, when a group is adversely affected by a study intervention, it suggests that individual members of the group may experience adverse effects as well.

Weijer et al, in a series of articles on the ethics of cluster randomized trials, make an argument that group-based trials should have data-monitoring boards, in the same way that individual-based interventions do, to assure the maintenance of clinical equipoise throughout the study and fulfillment of the Belmont principle of beneficiance.10–12 Although the ethics of cluster randomized trials are only now beginning to be considered, further work is needed to understand the potential role of data-monitoring boards in group-based intervention research.

We wholeheartedly commend Shaw et al for their innovative reporting of important variation and unexpected outcomes, together with their use of a multi-method approach to report the context of practices in which variations occurred. Even though this added information does not definitively explain the cause of important variations, its description is an important step toward future understandings of those causes. Furthermore, it reflects important respectfulness of primary care researchers to the impacts of that research on people whether as individuals or as members of a group.

The editorial team of Annals considers this innovation to be important enough that we encourage others using group-based research designs to consider adopting similar practices, examining and reporting important variations within groups—both greater or less than expected—and using multimethod designs to seek and report explanation for those variations. We use the term important to describe variations that are of sufficient degree or impact to warrant further examination. We also encourage methodological innovation to help define what constitutes important variations and how to distinguish them from random variations. Such designs and protections of group members are an important next step in solving some of the complexities of primary care.


PURPOSE
To establish the clinical significance of calcium binding proteins S100A2 and S100A4 during progression of human prostate adenocarcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Expression pattern of S100A2 and S100A4 was determined in normal human prostate epithelial cells (NHPE); virally transformed prostate epithelial cells (PZ-HPV-7); several human prostate carcinoma cells (22Rv1, DU145, LNCaP, and PC3); tissue samples obtained during transuretheral prostatic resection from patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and adenocarcinoma; and paraffin-embedded sections from pair-matched benign and cancer specimens of different tumor grade.

RESULTS
High constitutive protein expression of S100A2 was observed in NHPE and PZ-HPV-7 cells, whereas its complete absence was observed in 22Rv1, DU145, LNCaP, and PC3 cells. Tissue samples of BPH and prostatitis exhibited higher mRNA and protein levels of S100A2 than low-grade cancer (Gleason score <or= 6), whereas a complete loss was observed in high-grade cancer specimens (Gleason score > 6). Immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed high levels of S100A2 in benign tissues and a progressive loss with increasing tumor grade. The protein level of S100A4 was significantly higher in all carcinoma cells compared with NHPE and PZ-HPV-7 cells. The mRNA and protein level of S100A4 was significantly higher in high-grade cancer specimens compared with BPH, prostatitis, and low-grade cancer. The high levels of S100A4 observed in cancer tissue correlated with increasing tumor grade.

CONCLUSION
Loss of S100A2 and increased expression of S100A4 may be an important event during progression of prostate cancer in humans.


The research focus on unifying the Global Positioning system with embedded wireless system is the new approaches in intelligent vehicle control for critical remote location application using ARM. In conventional system they are designed to control the speed of vehicles in all days. The main objective of the proposed system is to operate the vehicle in safe speed at critical zones. The base station having the transmitter which is designed for Frequency Modulation (FM), the receiver part is implemented in Vehicle. The ARM processor is implemented at receiver side, which receives the critical frequency, then it is activated in critical mode. Speed Control Driver (SCD) can be custom designed to fit into a vehicle's dashboard, and displays information on the vehicle. Once the information is received, it automatically alerts the driver, to reduce the speed according to the time and zone. The novel system is implemented with the support of embedded processor and the simulation is achieved through Keil C software and results are discussed.


This particular study used the fractal dimensions of leaves of seagrasses that were found near the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Punta, Panaon, Misamis Occidental to determine if the same can be used for classification purposes. The species of sea-grasses used were: Thalassia hemprichii, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Cymodocea rotundata. Findings revealed that the fractal dimensions can be used to differentiate one seagrass species from another sea-grass species to another species (f= 6.12, p= 0.015). However, leaf fractal dimensions alone cannot differentiate between ( Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium isoetifolium ) while it can differentiate between ( Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata ) and ( Cymodocea rotundata and Syringodium isoetifolium ). The results may be due to few samples for each species of sea-grass. The empirical probability of misclassification using the technique is approximately 10.89%.


The aim of the study to compare the performance of two major source types involved in the imaging of the electric activity of the heart on the basis of potential differences observed on the thorax. The images depict either the timing of activation and repolarization of the myocardium or the potential field on a surface closely encompassing the myocardium. The depolarization and repolarization timing on a closed surface bounding the ventricular myocardium was derived from measured body surface potentials (BSPs), an MRI-based electric volume conductor model comprising the geometry of thorax, lungs, heart surface Sh, and cavities. The solution was constrained by using a template of the local transmembrane potentials (TMPs). The latter serve as the strength of the Equivalent Double Layer (EDL) source model (SM), which was used to compute the potential field on Sh (epicardium and endocardium). The second SM is the potential distribution on the epicardium Sp, referred to here as the Equivalent Potential Distribution (EPD). Its strength was estimated directly from the BSPs. The inflection points of the estimated electrograms (ELGs) were taken as markers of the timing of local depolarization and repolarization. The endocardial potential fields estimated using both sources exhibited qualitative similarity, as did the ELGs. With reference to the one generated by the EDL source, the magnitude of the estimated endocardial EPD field was smaller, the downslopes of the ELGs were lower. The timing of depolarization estimated from the EDL-based ELGs was highly correlated with those of the TMP templates, the EPD-based correlation was lower. For the repolarization timing the corresponding test values indicated an insufficient similarity. The EDL- and EPD-based source variants deserve to be studied alongside each other in the future development of electrocardiographic imaging.


Objective. To evaluate fatigue in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to define its association with disease-related factors and patients' features. Methods. A cross-sectional multicenter study which includes 2251 patients with SpA selected from the national Spondyloarthropathies Registry (the Spanish Society of Rheumatology; REGISPONSER) Spanish cohort. The primary outcome was the assessment of fatigue performed with the first item of the Bath Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index followed by the study of its relation with different factors organized into 4 groups: sociodemographics, emotional, disease-related, and disease activity. Univariate logistic regressions, multivariate logistic regression, and multiple linear regressions were performed to relate fatigue with the studied covariates. Results. Mean fatigue score in all patients with SpA was 4.3 ± 2.9, with statistically significant differences between different SpA types. In univariate logistic regressions, significant differences were seen for many variables included in the 4 groups. Multivariate logistic regression showed that high fatigue score was related with sex (female), emotional component, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life score, stiffness, and high levels of 2 visual analog scale items (vertebral pain in the last week and patient's global assessment of disease activity). The multivariate linear regression showed that fatigue was mainly explained by disease-related factors and disease activity (54.1%), but sex and emotional status may also be involved in 13.5% of the variance. Conclusion. Fatigue is associated with disease-related factors and mostly with SpA activity. However, the emotional component and sex may contribute to the onset of fatigue.


ABSTRACT Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is an anti-inflammatory commensal bacterium identified on the basis of human clinical data. The mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects are still unknown. Gnotobiotic mice harboring F. prausnitzii (A2-165) and Escherichia coli (K-12 JM105) were subjected to 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced acute colitis. The inflammatory colitis scores and a gas chromatography-time of flight (GC/TOF) mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profile were monitored in blood, ileum, cecum, colon, and feces in gnotobiotic mice. The potential anti-inflammatory metabolites were tested in vitro. We obtained stable E. coli and F. prausnitzii-diassociated mice in which E. coli primed the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), allowing a durable and stable establishment of F. prausnitzii. The disease activity index, histological scores, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and serum cytokine levels were significantly lower in the presence of F. prausnitzii after TNBS challenge. The protective effect of F. prausnitzii against colitis was correlated to its implantation level and was linked to overrepresented metabolites along the GIT and in serum. Among 983 metabolites in GIT samples and serum, 279 were assigned to known chemical reactions. Some of them, belonging to the ammonia (α-ketoglutarate), osmoprotective (raffinose), and phenolic (including anti-inflammatory shikimic and salicylic acids) pathways, were associated with a protective effect of F. prausnitzii, and the functional link was established in vitro for salicylic acid. We show for the first time that F. prausnitzii is a highly active commensal bacterium involved in reduction of colitis through in vivo modulation of metabolites along the GIT and in the peripheral blood. IMPORTANCE Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by low proportions of F. prausnitzii in the gut microbiome. This commensal bacterium exhibits anti-inflammatory effects through still unknown mechanisms. Stable monoassociated rodents are actually not a reproducible model to decipher F. prausnitzii protective effects. We propose a new gnotobiotic rodent model providing mechanistic clues. In this model, F. prausnitzii exhibits protective effects against an acute colitis and a protective metabolic profile is linked to its presence along the digestive tract. We identified a molecule, salicylic acid, directly involved in the protective effect of F. prausnitzii. Targeting its metabolic pathways could be an attractive therapeutic strategy in IBD. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by low proportions of F. prausnitzii in the gut microbiome. This commensal bacterium exhibits anti-inflammatory effects through still unknown mechanisms. Stable monoassociated rodents are actually not a reproducible model to decipher F. prausnitzii protective effects. We propose a new gnotobiotic rodent model providing mechanistic clues. In this model, F. prausnitzii exhibits protective effects against an acute colitis and a protective metabolic profile is linked to its presence along the digestive tract. We identified a molecule, salicylic acid, directly involved in the protective effect of F. prausnitzii. Targeting its metabolic pathways could be an attractive therapeutic strategy in IBD.


Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) manufactured Al-5024 alloy has gained worldwide interest due to its ability to fabricate high-performance complex components. This work focuses on quantitative characterization and synergic optimization of the microhardness, tensile strength and corrosion resistance of an LPBF manufactured Al-5024 alloy by optimization of heat treatment parameters. The effect of the isothermal heat treatment (IHT) process on the microstructure evolution, mechanical properties and electrochemical properties of an LPBF processed Al-4.2Mg-0.4Sc-0.2Zr alloy was systematically revealed. Results showed that superior tensile strength of 506.7±10.4 MPa combined with inferior corrosion resistance was simultaneously obtained at a peak aging condition. Based on microstructures observations by electron microscopy in backscattered mode (BSE) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the enhanced mechanical properties were attributed to the generation of a high number density (3.8 × 109/mm2) of grain interior precipitates. While the reduced corrosion resistance was related to the massive Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates generated along grain boundaries. As aging time further increased, the size and spacing of the precipitates were increased, which blocked the corrosion path along grain boundaries and led to a reduction of mechanical properties and an enhancement of corrosion resistance. Unlike the expected synergistic improvement in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, an opposite evolution tendency of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of LPBF processed Al-5024 alloy during heat treatment was revealed in this paper, and its intrinsic mechanism is further analyzed based on microstructure characterization.


Tannery effluents are highly polluting and contain chroomium and high Cod and Bod. Alkalotolerant/alkalophilic actinomycetes NCIM 5080 and NCIM 5142 have been shown earlier to tolerate and accumulate chromium during growth also produce alkaline protease in presence of chromium ions, these properties of the isolates are suitable for treatment of tannery effluents which are alkaline and contain chromium and proteinaceous matter, both the actinomycetes are able to grow in undiluted tannery effluents and remove chromium almost completely and reduce the COD by 70%-80% during growth as well as by pregrown biomass.


We tackle the problem of predicting the lumber products resulting from the break down of the logs at a given sawmill. Although previous studies have shown that supervised learning is well suited for that prediction problem, to our knowledge, there exists only one approach using the 3D log scans as inputs and it is based on the iterative closest-point algorithm. In this paper, we evaluate the combination of neural network architectures (multilayer perceptron, residual network and PointNet) and log representation as input (industry know-how-based features, 2D projections, and 3D point clouds) in the context of lumber production prediction. Our study not only shows that it is possible to predict the output of a sawmill using neural networks, but also that there is value in combining industry know-how-based features and 3D point clouds in various network architectures.


Chapter contents: Paradigms in Safety and Human Factors. Diversity in Aviation. The Safety Assumptions and Resilient Attitudes (SARA) Survey. The Business of (not) Measuring Resilience. Developing the SARA Survey. The Survey Respondents and Interview Participants. Analysis of the SARA Survey Results. Differences between National and Occupational Cultures. Discussion of Differences between National/Societal Cultures. Discussion of the Differences between Occupational Cultures. Cultural Bias in Culture Research. Ambiguity and Contradictions. Discussion: Integrating and Interpreting Ambiguity and Contradictions. The Limitations of Attitude Measurement. Two Explanations, One Conclusion. Is Resilience Ready for the Aviation Industry?


Objective This study aimed to compare statewide emergency medical services protocols for the management of pediatric respiratory distress. Methods We performed a descriptive study of emergency medical services protocols for the management of pediatric respiratory distress in the United States, excluding those without model or mandatory protocols. We compared medication recommendations for specific disease processes, including asthma, croup, epiglottitis, anaphylaxis, generalized respiratory distress, intubation, and drug assisted intubation. Results Thirty-four state protocols were included. All had protocols to address the management of pediatric respiratory distress. There was high agreement in albuterol use for bronchospasm and epinephrine use in anaphylaxis. Epinephrine was recommended in all anaphylaxis protocols, 27 croup protocols (79%), and 3 epiglottitis protocols (9%). Six states (18%) called for albuterol in patients with generalized respiratory distress. Steroid recommendations and indications had variance among states; 26 states (76%) allowed steroid use in patients with asthma, 19 states (56%) recommended steroid use in anaphylaxis, and 11 (32%) recommended steroid use in croup protocols. The route for steroid administration also varied among protocols. Five states (15%) allowed continuous positive airway pressure application in pediatric patients, whereas endotracheal intubation and rapid sequence intubations had varying requirements as well as recommendations for use. Twelve (35%) listed impending or current respiratory failure as an indication, whereas other states had specific markers, such as Glasgow Coma Scale or oxygen saturation, as indications. Conclusions All included states had specific recommendations for the management of pediatric respiratory distress. There was consistency in recommendations for albuterol use for wheezing and epinephrine use for anaphylaxis. However, there was wide variability in other uses for epinephrine, steroid administration, continuous positive airway pressure use, and specific treatments for croup and epiglottitis. The findings of this study provide a base for important future evidence-based protocol developments and changes in prehospital pediatric respiratory distress treatment.


INTRODUCTION
Little is known about the incidence of temporary kidney dysfunction following major vascular surgeries. We aimed to assess the frequency of temporary decreased kidney function following aortic surgeries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In a retrospective study, we assessed 108 hospital records of the patients who had undergone elective open abdominal surgery of aortic aneurysm. Preoperative and postoperative (days 1, 2, and 3) data on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were collected and evaluated in relation to the patients' clinical characteristics and outcomes. A decline greater than 10% in GFR on day 1 or 2, and then, an increase of GFR to a level of maximum 10% below the baseline value on the third postoperative day was considered as temporary worsening of kidney function. Postoperative alterations of GFR not greater than 10% in relation to the baseline were considered as improved or unchanged kidney function. Two patients with persistent decrease in GFR were excluded.

RESULTS
Temporary worsening of kidney function was seen in 25 patients (23.6%). Short-term mortality rate was 44.0% in this group of patients, while it was 17.3% in those without decreased GFR (P = .006). According to the regression analysis, the only predictor of mortality was temporary worsening of kidney function, with a hazard ratio of 4.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 11.31; P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS
Nearly 1 out of 4 aortic surgeries results in kidney dysfunction. Albeit temporary in most cases, it seems to be associated with a higher short-term mortality rate.


Objective: To determine the protective effects of the leukotriene inhibitors MK-886 and Zileuton on doxorubicin (DX)-induced acute kidney damage in a rat model. Methods: A rat model of acute kidney injury (AKI) was established by a 3-day regimen of DX. The animals were suitably treated with MK-866 or Zileuton, and untreated DX injected and healthy controls were also included. The rat sera were analyzed for the levels of creatinine and urea as markers of renal injury and for the levels of the oxidative stress markers GSH and MDA using standard assays. In addition, the renal tissues of the rats were processed and histo-pathologically analyzed by HE staining. Results: DX injection significantly increased the levels of creatinine and urea, indicating dysfunctional kidneys. The levels of both metabolites were restored to baseline levels by MK-866 while Zileuton significantly affected only urea levels. In addition, the GSH levels were significantly decreased and that of MDA was increased upon DX exposure, indicating oxidative damage. While MK-866 treatment significantly reversed the status of both GSH and MDA compared to the DX group, Zileuton had no significant effects on the levels of either. Finally, DX caused extensive renal tissue damage, which was rescued by MK-866 and to a lesser extent by Zileuton. Conclusions: Zileuton and MK-886 have a protective effect against AKI induced by doxorubicin, with MK-886 performing better than Zileuton.


The 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics emphasised the importance of an intensified and well-coordinated programme of accelerator R&D, supporting the design and delivery of future particle accelerators in a timely, affordable and sustainable way. This report sets out a roadmap for European accelerator R&D for the next five to ten years, covering five topical areas identified in the Strategy update. The R&D objectives include: improvement of the performance and cost-performance of magnet and radio-frequency acceleration systems; investigations of the potential of laser / plasma acceleration and energy-recovery linac techniques; and development of new concepts for muon beams and muon colliders. The goal of the roadmap is to document the collective view of the field on the next steps for the R&D programme, and to provide the evidence base to support subsequent decisions on prioritisation, resourcing and implementation.


A simple, accurate, precise and rapid reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and subsequently validated for the estimation of Darifenacin in bulk and Tablet Dosage form. The proposed method is based on the separation of drugs in reversed-phase mode using Waters HPLC 22695 model,Inertsil ODS column(250 x 4.6 mm, 5µm particle size).The optimum mobile phase consisted of methanol: phosphate buffer in the ratio of 80:20 v/v(Phosphate buffer pH 5.5) was selected as a mobile phase, flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and UV detection was set at 282 nm. The retention times was 3.21.The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. It was found to be accurate and reproducible. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 20-150 μg/ml . The percentage RSD for precision and accuracy of the method was found to be less than 2%. The proposed method can be successfully applied in the quality control of bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms.


State-dependent pricing (SDP) models treat the timing of price changes as a profit-maximizing choice, symmetrically with other decisions of firms. Using quantitative general equilibrium models that incorporate a "generalized (S,s) approach," we investigate the implications of SDP for topics in two major areas of macroeconomic research: the early 1990s SDP literature and more recent work on persistence mechanisms. First, we show that state-dependent pricing leads to unusual macroeconomic dynamics, which occur because of the timing of price adjustments chosen by firms as in the earlier literature. In particular, we display an example in which output responses peak at about a year, while inflation responses peak at about two years after the shock. Second, we examine whether the persistence-enhancing effects of two New Keynesian model features, namely, specific factor markets and variable elasticity demand curves, depend importantly on whether pricing is state dependent. In an SDP setting, we provide examples in which specific factor markets perversely work to lower persistence, while variable elasticity demand raises it.


Ever since H. L. A. Hart's magisterial work, The Concept of Law, conceptual analysis has been viewed as the dominant method of doing jurisprudence. Far less appreciated is the fact that it is also a central tool in the field of cognitive science. That may be surprising to some, given the differences in these disciplines' mission: Legal theorists struggle with abstract questions about the "nature" of Law and Justice; cognitive scientists explore the workings of the human mind. If cognitive scientists and legal philosophers are doing different things when they do conceptual analysis, how do they differ? This paper offers the first full-scale comparison of the way conceptual analysis is used in these two fields. The paper's conclusion is provocative and striking. It argues that cognitive scientists employ an appealing and coherent form of this key methodology, while legal theorists employ an approach that might be fairly characterized as a methodological muddle. The implication for legal theory is profound: If legal theory hopes to be a relevant and coherent discipline, it must re-imagine its methodological commitments and seek out a more appealing set of tools and methods. The concluding section of the paper grapples with that challenge, offering some thoughts on how jurisprudence can be placed on a more solid and appealing foundation. [Note: Download has been disabled, pending completion of new draft]


ZrB2-SiC ceramic composites was brazed by using Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu active filler in a vacuum furnace. The microstructure and interfacial phenomena of the joints were analyzed by means of SEM, EDS and XRD. The joining effect was evaluated by shear strength. The results showed that the reaction products of the ZrB2-SiC ceramic composites joint brazed with Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu active filler were TiC, ZrC, Ti5Si3, Zr2Si, Zr(s,s) and (Ti, Zr)2 (Ni, Cu). The maximum shear strength of the ZrB2-based ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites brazed joints is 143.5 Subscript textMPa at brazing temperature T=920°C and holding time t=10min.


The Bayesian approach covered in this special issue complements the earlier ways of exploring offenders' crime location choices. It is different from earlier approaches in dealing directly with large local data sets of solved crimes to develop statistical models as compared with attempts to derive more generic ways of conceptualising an offender's geographical crime pattern. The two approaches can thus be seen to enshrine different epistemologies; the Bayesian being about a process for deriving patterns in geographically specific data sets, the earlier centre-of-gravity-oriented approaches seeking to establish general theories and principles that are broadly independent of any given locality. They are consequently sensitive to different types of bias in the data available. However, the interesting results achieved through the analysis of Bayesian patterns within crime data does further the consideration of the similarities across offenders in their use of locations for crime and thus has theoretical as well as practical implications. Therefore, these two approaches need to build on each other. This complementarity provides a useful example for other areas of Investigative Psychology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The spherical torus/tokamak (ST) is a potentially attractive configuration for narrowing scientific and technical gaps to a fusion demonstration power plant and as a more compact and/or modular fusion power source. Due to a reduced plasma surface area to volume ratio, the ST configuration offers the potential to access high power exhaust heat fluxes and high neutron wall loading in devices of modest size. Further, due to increased ability to utilize magnetic pressure to confine a given plasma pressure, the ST may also offer fusion solutions with reduced magnet mass and increased mass power density. Potential fusion development and energy production applications of the ST include: divertor and first-wall heat-flux mitigation research and development (including tests of advanced divertor configurations and liquid metals), neutron sources with low-to-moderate fusion gain (Q=0.1-1) for hybrid applications, neutron sources with moderate gain (Q=1-5) for fusion nuclear science and component testing including breeding blanket development, higher gain (Q=5-10) systems for electricity break-even in a pilot plant, and high gain (Q > 10) modular (Pelec = 100-500MWe) and larger-scale (Pelec = 500-1000MWe) fusion power plants. Details of these applications including major scientific and technology needs and gaps for fusion energy development are described in this paper. Motivations for utilizing the ST for these applications and remaining physics and technological gaps to be addressed to realize the application are also discussed.


Intraventricular rupture of a brain abscess is still associated with a high mortality rate. Here, we report such a case in a patient with normal immunity that was treated successfully using neuroendoscopic approach. A 69-year-old man who had presented with headache and fever developed confusion and restlessness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass with ring enhancement extending to the right ventricle. Emergency aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spinal canal revealed severe purulent meningitis. Bacterial culture of the CSF and blood was negative. Because of prolonged consciousness disturbance, the patient underwent evacuation of the intraventrcular abscess using a neuroendoscope. The pus was centrifuged and collected for bacterial culture, and this revealed Streptococcus intermedius/milleri. After implantation of a ventricular catheter, gentamicin sulfate was administered twice a day for 9 days. Cefotaxime sodium was also administered intravenously for 14 days, followed by oral administration of cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride for 10 days. The patient made a complete recovery, and was discharged 31 days after admission. After 20 months of follow-up, he is doing well and has returned to his work. In cases of intraventricular rupture of a brain abscess, a neuroendoscopic approach is useful for evacuation of intraventricular debris or septum, and identification of the causative bacterium for selection of antibiotics, possibly reducing the period of hospitalization.


Dump truck subframe is an important bearing components which is used for connecting the chassis frame and the cargo compartment, and the rationality of its design has an extremely important influence on performance of the entire vehicle, moreover, the use of CAE technology can optimize the design of the subframe. In this paper, using solid element as basic element, the finite element analysis model of dump truck frame is built up with the software ANSYS, the static characteristics of the subframe under bending mode, twisting mode, braking mode and lifting mode are studied. The dynamic characteristics of the subframe are also analyzed, the stress parameters under static characteristics, the natural frequency and the corresponding mode shape characteristics of the subframe under dynamic characteristics are obtained, the improved advice of structural design for the subframe is proposed.


Welding of metals generates a complex mix of noxious gases and fumes,1 and has been linked with various respiratory diseases including metal fume fever,2 asthma,3 COPD4 and possibly bronchial carcinoma.1 ,2 In addition, there is now strong and consistent epidemiological evidence that welders are at increased risk of infectious, lobar pneumonia. Originally detected in national analyses of occupational mortality,5 the hazard was confirmed by a large case–control study of men admitted to hospitals in the English West Midlands with community-acquired pneumonia,6 and is supported by findings from more recent epidemiological investigations in the UK7 ,8 and other countries.9–11

The elevation of risk is associated specifically with recent exposure,6 and is not apparent in former welders after normal retirement age,5 ,7 suggesting that it reflects a reversible increase in susceptibility to infection. Moreover, it extends to other occupations such as furnacemen and moulders in foundries, who are exposed to metal fume but not to welding gases.5 ,12 It is demonstrable in men who work with ferrous metals,6 ,12 but the involvement of other metals cannot be ruled out. Resolution of this uncertainty with adequate statistical power is a challenge because lobar pneumonia is uncommon, and relatively few workers are exposed to fume exclusively from …


In frogs, positive inotropic effects are transmitted catecholaminergically as they have been blocked with propranolol but not with atropine. Positive chronotropic effects were in some experiments blocked with atropine and not with propranolol (a "cholinergic type" of of positive chronotropic effect), the opposite occurred in other experiments (an "adrenergic type"). The cholinergic positive chronotropic effects were observed with the initial slow heart rate and were accompanied by negative inotropic effects; the chronotropic effect itself appeared suddenly (with no gradual acceleration of heart rate) and disappeared just as suddenly. The adrenergic effects, on the contrary, were observed with the initial rapid heart rate; they were accompanied by positive inotropic effects and developed and disappeared gradually.


This paper deals with the main problem of involving information technology in teacher education - structure and contents of teachers' training courses based on distance learning. In Lithuania, the Standard of computer literacy for educators has been developed. It should be the main source of all teachers' training courses on information technology. The Standard consists of two parts: technological and educational. The main attention of the paper is paid to the analysis and requirements of the educational part that becomes more and more urgent: it requires some psychological, cognitive, social, and pedagogical knowledge referring to the information technology usage in education. This paper comprehensively covers the problems of application of information technology in education, course planning, and implementation of distance teaching, it referring to the teachers' training course on educational issues of information technology via distance learning, carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania and organized by the Centre of Information Technologies of Education, and summarises its results.


Abstract: Few of the Spanish Reformers actually met Luther or the other Reformers in person. However, despite the drastic measures taken by the Spanish authorities to keep "Lutheran" literature from entering Spain, the Spanish Reformers were well versed in Luther's writings. Prohibition engendered curiosity and curiosity a desire to learn more, which eventually led to acceptance of the Reformed faith, and in many cases martyrdom. This essay centers on early reactions to Luther and his message, the efforts of the Spanish ecclesiastical authorities to ban heretical literature, and the personal experiences of three men who had encounters with the northern Reformers: Francisco de Enzinas, Augustin de Cazalla, and Constantino de la Fuente. KEYWORDS:


In order to realise the potential benefits of eHealth, governments develop eHealth policies to define and prioritise initiatives, the strategic goals and the resulting benefits. During the 23 years with eHealth policies in Denmark only a few status reports with a systematic and transparent evaluation have been made. This paper advocates a more systematic approach to strategic planning of development and implementation of eHealth systems, by encouraging the concept of evidence-based policy making through analysis of how focus of the Danish eHealth policies have evolved. The Danish eHealth policies have very different framings following the different focus points for the policies. Interestingly, strategies for evaluating the devolopment of eHealth and eHealth policies were very sparcely noted in the policies. For the first time the de-emphasising of evaluations of eHealth policies in Denmark has been empirically demonstrated, thus undermining the objective of obtaining evidence-based eHealth policies.


This article designs a framework for evaluating the causes, consequences, and future implications of financial services industry consolidation, reviews the extant research literature within the context of this framework (over 250 references), and suggests fruitful avenues for future research. The evidence is consistent with increases in market power from some types of consolidation; improvements in profit efficiency and diversification of risks, but little or no cost efficiency improvements on average; relatively little effect on the availability of services to small customers; potential improvements in payments system efficiency; and potential costs on the financial system from increasing systemic risk or expanding the financial safety net.


The objective of the research is to analyze the functioning of the fruit and vegetables cooperatives at regional level (Emilia Romagna), with particular reference to the mutuality purpose that distinguishes them, the institutional structure and the management.
On the one hand the research intends to provide a definition and an explanation of the real operation/functioning of the mechanism of the mutualism and governance and on the other hand, to study the internal managerial mechanisms and the levels of functioning of the fruit and vegetable cooperatives with the purpose to provide significant indications on their real economic performance.
Following a brief analysis of the market context in which the agricultural cooperatives operate, the works will proceed with a deep analysis of a sample of cooperatives regarding the structure and the forms of organization of the members and those aspects can be connected to the following dynamics:
- valorisation of the social contribution (effective levels of internal mutuality);
- economic efficiency (and consequent economic-financial trends);
- levels of internal efficiency and productivity.
The applied methodology is based in a first phase on the reclassification, elaboration and analysis of the balance of the sample enterprises.
In this phase the research will give a first insight into the economic-financial and capital investment situation of the fruit and vegetable cooperatives trying to concentrate on the implemented and on the possible financing mechanisms and on the levels of efficiency and effectiveness of the productivity achieved.
Subsequently the works will proceed with the realization of a direct survey in form of questionnaires to submit to the responsible persons of the sample cooperatives, in order to highlight/emphasize the critical points in respect to the three main arguments of research: mutuality, governance, management.


Speckle reduction techniques have been developed as one of the most active research fields in coherent optical information processing, together with the investigations of speckle statistics and coherence theory. The principles of speckle reduction are classified to five categories: 1) control of spatial coherence, 2) control of temporal coherence, 3) spatial sampling, 4) spatial averaging, and 5) digital image processing. This paper surveys the research works in the field of speckle reduction techniques involving four categories 1)-4) which have been conducted in the past 30 years.


Main objective: The Gastroduodenal outlet obstruction is one of the most common symptoms of malignant gastroduodenal. In the past the only therapeutic option was surgical gastroyeyunostomy which is associated with a high rate of morbi-mortality. The development of stents has been changing this perspective. This retrospective study compares two groups one with gastroyeyunostomy and another with stents, having as outcomes: technical success, clinical success, morbid-mortality and days of hospitalization. Methods: Clinical data from 30 patients history were recollected from January 2003 to May 2005. One group (15 patients) had gastroyeyunostomy, another group (15 patients) had stents. Results: The groups were similarly in demographic data. Technical success did not showed differences but clinical success was lower in the surgical group (87% stent vs. 56% surgical). Days of hospitalization were less in the prothesis group (3.4 days vs. 7.5 days). The surgical group had a morbility as high as 40%. Conclusions: This retrospective study shows that the use of stents in the palliation of gastroduodenal outlet obstruction may have better clinical success and lower rates of morbi-mortality than the surgical approach. So we think that randomized clinical trials are needed to support these findings. Andrés Mejía MD,1 John Ospina MD,2 Andrés Muñoz MD,3 Rosario Albis MD,4 Ricardo Oliveros MD.5


A total of 80 nursery-age pigs were used to compare the effectiveness of azaperone and androstenone on reducing the aggressive and submissive behavior in freshly mixed pigs. Forty pairs of unfamiliar barrows and gilts were placed in pens for 24 hr. Duration of aggressive and submissive behavior by each pig were recorded and analyzed. Results showed that androstenone reduced the total duration of aggressive and submissive behavior to levels below that of the control pigs (p = .069). This effect was eliminated for aggressive behavior when both azaperone and androstenone were applied (p > .4). Both azaperone and androstenone reduced submissive behavior below control levels (p < .05). In conclusion, androstenone is more effective than azaperone in reducing pig agonistic behaviors, and androstenone's anti-aggressive property was reduced when given in combination with azaperone.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between symptoms and clinical characteristics and the frequency of increased apnoea and hypopnoea activity. The study population consisted of 135 persons referred to a sleep centre. One hundred and fifteen patients (85%) completed a questionnaire and were subsequently monitored during one night's sleep. Fifty-two persons (45%) had an Apnoea Hypopnoea Index (AHI = the mean number of apnoea and hypopnoea episodes per hour of sleep) > or = 10. Forty-one (36%) had an Apnoea Index (AI = the mean number of apnoea per hour of sleep) > or = 10. Symptoms and clinical characteristics had no significant correlation to increased apnoea activity; however, there was a significant relationship between self-reported frequent breathing pauses during sleep and increased AHI and AI. Symptoms and clinical characteristics are not capable of identifying persons with increased apnoea activity.


Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia (HCY) is caused either by genetic or nongenetic defect(s), and the clinical severity of HCY is correlated with the biochemical abnormality. Treatment of HCY is approached on the basis of its etiology and severity of defect. The preferred method of treatment for genetic HCY is activation of mutant enzyme activity with the cofactor or the precursor of cofactor. If HCY does not respond to this treatment, pharmacological doses of betaine or folic acid should be used to enhance the alternative pathway of homocysteine turnover. Phenotypic expression of minor genetic defects, such as heterozygous cystathionine synthase deficiency and thermolabile methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) can be amplified or masked by nongenetic (nutritional) factor(s). Hence, supplementation of folic acid, vitamin B-12, pyridoxine and choline to maintain their serum concentrations above low normal range may satisfactorily prevent the development of moderate HCY due to a minor genetic defect.


Jenefer Husman received a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, in 1998. She served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama from 1998 to 2002, when she moved to Arizona State University. In 2008 she was promoted by ASU to Associate Professor. Dr. Husman serves as the Director of Education for the Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technology Center an NSF funded Engineering Research Center. Dr. Husman is an assistant editor of the Journal of Engineering Education, has been a guest editor of Educational Psychology Review, served on editorial board for top educational research journals, and currently sits on the editorial board of Learning and Instruction. In 2006 she was awarded the U.S. National Science Foundation CAREER grant award and received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from the President of the United States. She has conducted and advised on educational research projects and grants in both the public and private sectors, and served as an external reviewer for doctoral dissertations outside the U.S. She publishes regularly in peer-reviewed journals and books. Dr. Husman was a founding member and first President of the Southwest Consortium for Innovative Psychology in Education and has held both elected and appointed offices in the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Motivation Special Interest Group of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction.


Cratons are generally defined as stable continental blocks with a strong cratonic root that typically is at least ∼200 km thick. Many cratons have undergone little internal tectonism and destruction since their formation, but some of them, such as the eastern part of the North China Craton (NCC), the Dharwar Craton, and the Wyoming Craton, have lost their thick cratonic root and become reactivated in recent geological history, leading to widespread Meso-Cenozoic volcanisms. The mechanisms responsible for such decratonization remain debated. To provide new constraints on models leading to decratonization, in this study we stack 612,854 source-normalized P-to-S conversions (receiver functions or RFs) from the 410 and 660 km discontinuities (d410 and d660 respectively) bordering the mantle transition zone (MTZ) recorded at 1,986 stations in the NCC. Both the number of RFs and the number of stations are unprecedented in the study area. The average apparent depths of the d410 and d660 and the thickness of the MTZ are 413 ± 6 km, 669 ± 8 km, and 255 ± 6 km, respectively. A depression of up to 37 km and mean 11 km of the d660 are clearly observed beneath the eastern NCC, mainly caused by the possible existence of a relatively large amount of water in the MTZ. Our study provides strong observational evidence for geodynamic modeling that suggests water in the MTZ can be driven out into the upper mantle by poloidal mantle flow induced by the subduction and retreat of subducted oceanic slabs. The results are consistent with the weakening of the lithosphere beneath the eastern NCC by the release of water (in the form of structurally-bound H/OH) brought down to the MTZ by subduction of the Pacific slab. Continuous slab dehydration and the ascent of fluids would have triggered intraplate volcanism and mantle upwelling in the eastern NCC, as evidenced by the spatial correspondence among the lower-than-normal upper-mantle seismic velocities, unusually large depressions of the d660, Cenozoic basaltic volcanism, and thinning of the cratonic lithosphere.


Abstract : This report addresses the feasibility of and requirements for interfacing two powerful software engineering tools - POD(Performance Oriented Design) and PSL/PSA (Problem Statement Language/Problem Statement Analyzer. POD is a software engineering tool for the life cycle management of system performance. It is a tool which provides a structured machine readable format for representing a system's hardware architecture, software structure and external load demand and, based on this representation, provides the vehicle to calculate system performance values such as response time, throughput and device utilization. PSL/PSA is a computer-aided structured documentation and analysis technique used for analysis and documentation of requirements and preparation of functional specifications. The capability to describe systems in computer processible form is based on the system description language PSL. The ability to record the description in a data base, incrementally modify it, and perform analysis is based on the problem statement analyzer PSA. In considering the feasibility of and requirements for interfacing POD with PSL/PSA, PSL/PSA is assessed in terms of its ability to describe the required POD input specifications. In addition consideration is given to possible PSL/PSA extensions to support POD and an approach for interfacing these tools is determined. (Author)