This paper proposed a technique of bit-rate control for video streaming over constant bit-rate communication channel, where the MPEG-2, standard variable bit-rate (VBR), is adapted to be used as a constant bitrate (CBR). The target image quality and by feedback based on the buffer level controlled on the output rate of the video encoder. A CBR transport over networks, result is a good performance compared with that of VBR. It introduced simplicity of network monitoring and analysis, where the VBR video streaming over CBR channel can be adapted to avoid the problem of congestion of the network. In this paper we study important issue of adapted VBR-compress the video for transport over a CBR channel. That developed systems are implemented using Matlab (Ver 8.1) under Windows 7 operating system. Kayword: CBR, VBR, Matlab (Ver 8.1).


Somatic mutations in the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), including L858R and exon 19 deletions, underlie responsiveness to gefitinib and erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Acquired resistance to these tyrosine kinase inhibitors is in some cases mediated by a second mutation, T790M. Ansamycin antibiotics, such as geldanamycin, potently inhibit heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), promoting ubiquitin-mediated degradation of oncogenic kinases that require the chaperone for proper conformational folding. Here, we show that L858R and deletion mutant EGFR proteins found in NSCLC interact with the chaperone and are sensitive to degradation following Hsp90 inhibition. In NIH/3T3 cells expressing either wild-type or mutant EGFR, diminution of expression of both L858R and EGFR delL747-S752, P753S occurred following exposure to 50 nmol/L geldanamycin over 24 hours, whereas partial diminution of wild-type EGFR required a minimum of 200 nmol/L drug. In time course experiments, mutant EGFR expression was depleted after only 4 hours of exposure to 1 micromol/L geldanamycin, whereas diminution of wild-type EGFR was less substantial and seen only following 12 hours. Similarly, EGFR proteins in NSCLC cell lines harboring EGFR mutations, including NCI-H1650, NCI-H3255, and NCI-H1975, were also more sensitive to geldanamycin-induced degradation compared with the protein in wild-type cells. Exposure of EGFR-mutant cell lines to geldanamycin induced marked depletion of phospho-Akt and cyclin D1 as well as apoptosis. These data suggest mutational activation of EGFR is associated with dependence on Hsp90 for stability and that Hsp90 inhibition may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLC.


Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been well recognized for its essential role in cancer progression as well as normal tissue development. In cancer cells, activation of EMT permits the cells to acquire migratory and invasive abilities and stem-like properties. However, simple categorization of cancer cells into epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes misleads the understanding of the complicated metastatic process, and contradictory results from different studies also indicate the limitation of application of EMT theory in cancer metastasis. Nowadays, growing evidence suggests the existence of an intermediate status between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, i.e., the "hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal (hybrid E/M)" state, provides a possible explanation for those conflicting results. Appearance of hybrid E/M phenotype offers a more plastic status for cancer cells to adapt the stressful environment for proceeding metastasis. In this article, we review the biological importance of the dynamic changes between the epithelial and the mesenchymal states. The regulatory mechanisms encompassing the translational, post-translational, and epigenetic control for this complex and plastic status are also discussed.


Many popular algorithms for fast packet forwarding and filtering rely on the tree data structure. Examples are the trie-based IP lookup and packet classification algorithms. With the recent interest in network virtualization, the ability to run multiple virtual router instances on a common physical router platform is essential. An important scaling issue is the number of virtual router instances that can run on the platform. One limiting factor is the amount of high-speed memory and caches available for storing the packet forwarding and filtering data structures. An ideal goal is to achieve good scaling while maintaining total isolation amongst the virtual routers. However, total isolation requires maintaining separate data structures in high-speed memory for each virtual router. In this paper, we study the case where some sharing of the forwarding and filtering data structures is permissible and develop algorithms for combining tries used for IP lookup and packet classification. Specifically, we develop a mechanism called trie-braiding that allows us to combine tries from the data structures of different virtual routers into just one compact trie. Two optimal braiding algorithms are presented and the effectiveness is demonstrated using the real world data sets.


In recent decades, various nonstate governance programmes have emerged as vibrant new institutions seeking to ensure that environmental and social values inform market transactions. This chapter examines the role of globalization and governance gaps as precursors to the rise of sustainability certification programmes and various scholarly debates on such programmes. Extant research highlights the importance of various forms of political consumerism, including boycotts and buycotts, for the rise of sustainability certification programmes. Research also highlights, in contrast, a wider array of other factors of critical importance to the emergence and evolution of sustainability certification programmes and their full potential to govern the practices of global production, distribution, and consumption.


Background: Early prediction of disease progression in men with very low-risk (VLR) prostate cancer who selected active surveillance (AS) rather than immediate treatment could reduce morbidity associated with overtreatment. Methods: We evaluated the association of six biomarkers [Periostin, (−5, −7) proPSA, CACNA1D, HER2/neu, EZH2, and Ki-67] with different Gleason scores and biochemical recurrence (BCR) on prostate cancer TMAs of 80 radical prostatectomy (RP) cases. Multiplex tissue immunoblotting (MTI) was used to assess these biomarkers in cancer and adjacent benign areas of 5 μm sections. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) was applied to model our results. Results: In the RP cases, CACNA1D, HER2/neu, and Periostin expression were significantly correlated with aggressive phenotype in cancer areas. An MLR model in the cancer area yielded a ROC-AUC = 0.98, whereas in cancer-adjacent benign areas, yielded a ROC-AUC = 0.94. CACNA1D and HER2/neu expression combined with Gleason score in a MLR model yielded a ROC-AUC = 0.79 for BCR prediction. In the small biopsies from an AS cohort of 61 VLR cases, an MLR model for prediction of progressors at diagnosis retained (−5, −7) proPSA and CACNA1D, yielding a ROC-AUC of 0.78, which was improved to 0.82 after adding tPSA into the model. Conclusions: The molecular profile of biomarkers is capable of accurately predicting aggressive prostate cancer on retrospective RP cases and identifying potential aggressive prostate cancer requiring immediate treatment on the AS diagnostic biopsy but limited in BCR prediction. Impact: Comprehensive profiling of biomarkers using MTI predicts prostate cancer aggressive phenotype in RP and AS biopsies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(12); 1864–72. ©2015 AACR.


Women in public accounting firms are still proportionally much fewer in the highest levels of the hierarchy than men, whereas the recruitement at a junior level tends to be more and more gender balanced. The aim of this paper is to propose ana analysis of the mechanisms that explain the barriers encountered by auditor mothers in their hierarchical progression within the Big Four in France.


Tissue damage in many human autoimmune diseases is mediated by activated autoantigen-specific Th1 cells. Delineation of the regulatory mechanisms controlling a Th1-biased human immune reaction and its pathologic potential is, therefore, a critical step in the understanding of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we introduce a novel means to investigate human Th1-biased immune responses in vivo. Intraperitoneal injection of human mononuclear cells into immunodeficient mice generates a xenogeneic Th1-biased human immune response characterized by systemic inflammation and leukocytic infiltrates with a granuloma-like architecture in the liver, and the perigastrointestinal and perirenal fatty tissue. Th1 cell activation was dependent on the presence of APCs and could be blocked by cyclosporine. Importantly, neutralization of endogenously produced IL-4 and IL-10 markedly exaggerated the immune response, whereas exogenous IL-4 and IL-10 inhibited systemic Th1 immunity. Thus, the model described in this paper presents a useful means to analyze the regulation of human immune reactions in an in vivo situation. The results suggest that both IL-4 and IL-10 contribute to controlling the development of a human Th1-biased immune reaction.


Euclid is an ESA mission designed to constrain the properties of dark energy and gravity via weak gravitational lensing and galaxy clustering. It will carry out a wide area imaging and spectroscopy survey (EWS) in visible and near-infrared, covering roughly 15,000 square degrees of extragalactic sky on six years. The wide-field telescope and instruments are optimized for pristine PSF and reduced straylight, producing very crisp images. This paper presents the building of the Euclid reference survey: the sequence of pointings of EWS, Deep fields, Auxiliary fields for calibrations, and spacecraft movements followed by Euclid as it operates in a step-and-stare mode from its orbit around the Lagrange point L2. Each EWS pointing has four dithered frames; we simulate the dither pattern at pixel level to analyse the effective coverage. We use up-to-date models for the sky background to define the Euclid region-of-interest (RoI). The building of the reference survey is highly constrained from calibration cadences, spacecraft constraints and background levels; synergies with ground-based coverage are also considered. Via purposely-built software optimized to prioritize best sky areas, produce a compact coverage, and ensure thermal stability, we generate a schedule for the Auxiliary and Deep fields observations and schedule the RoI with EWS transit observations. The resulting reference survey RSD_2021A fulfills all constraints and is a good proxy for the final solution. Its wide survey covers 14,500 square degrees. The limiting AB magnitudes ($5\sigma$ point-like source) achieved in its footprint are estimated to be 26.2 (visible) and 24.5 (near-infrared); for spectroscopy, the H$_\alpha$ line flux limit is $2\times 10^{-16}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ at 1600 nm; and for diffuse emission the surface brightness limits are 29.8 (visible) and 28.4 (near-infrared) mag arcsec$^{-2}$.


The development of implantable peroneal nerve stimulators has increased interest in sensors which can detect the different phases of walking (stance and swing). Accelerometers with a potential for implantation are studied as detectors for the swing phase of walking to replace footswitches. Theoretically, one can show that accelerometers can be used to distinguish between stance and swing phase. Using accelerometers attached between the ankle and knee joints, the equivalent acceleration of the ankle joint was calculated. This resulted in a typical and reproducible signal in which the different walking phases were identified. Automatic detection algorithms based on cross-correlation calculations were developed and tested. Measurements from four healthy and four hemiplegic subjects resulted in a total of 317 and 272 steps, respectively. The testing of one of the hemiplegic subjects was considered to be a failure due to large disturbances in the acceleration signal during the swing phase of walking, which may be related to the use of crutches.<<ETX>>


The scope of this article is to discuss the commercialization and use of misoprostol for abortion purposes in the illegal contexts that still persist in Brazil. The information presented was collected through case studies conducted with two young women who aborted using medication - one successfully and one unsuccessfully - and two adult women who have close ties with women who used misoprostol. The study confirms the hypothesis that the diffusion and expansion of the use of misoprostol outside the hospital context is associated with the decision of women who seek lower costs, lower risks to their health and privacy. It also permits examination of the interpretation that this increase in consumption is linked to the inclusion of the medication in a set of goods that are illegally traded in Brazil, in different ways and in different contexts. As a result, women are exposed to different degrees of vulnerability depending directly on the steps taken, types of mediation used and social networks they belong to. These are the ways in which women and men obtain access to the use of misoprostol for abortion, the outcome of which may be successful or not.


Friction pendulum system (FPS) with spherical sliding surface is an effective isolation system for bridges subjected to earthquake ground motion. However, due to constant curvature, this sliding surface may encounter resonance problem at low frequency. In order to overcome this limitation, an isolation system with variable frequency and variable friction is proposed for bridges in this study. The isolator is similar to typical FPS, but the curvature of the sliding surface and the friction coefficient along the surface are varied and they become a function of sliding displacement. A three-span continuous bridge isolated with variable frequency and variable FPS is analysed to study the effectiveness of the proposed system. It is concluded from the study that the resonance problem due to low frequency ground motion can be prevented using the proposed isolator. The proposed isolator reduces the base shear considerably without increasing the residual displacements. Also, the proposed isolator has the advantages of both the FPS and the pure friction (PF) system.


Noisy Harmonic Grammar (NHG) is a framework for stochastic grammars that uses the GEN-cum-EVAL system originated in Optimality Theory. As a form of Harmonic Grammar, NHG outputs as winner the candidate with the smallest harmonic penalty (weighted sum of constraint violations). It is stochastic because at each "evaluation time," constraint weights are nudged upward or downward by a random amount, resulting in a particular probability distribution over candidates. This "classical" form of NHG can be modified in various ways, creating alternative theories. I explore these variants in a variety of simple simulations intended to reveal key differences in their behavior; maxent grammars are also included in the comparison. In conclusion I offer hints from the empirical world regarding which of these rival theories might be correct.


Studying the effects of serial concentration of harmala and fenugreek seeds oil against the southern cowpea beetle Callosobruchus maculatus F. in cowpea seeds ( reddish , white , reddish- brown and black) revealed that there was significant toxic effect of all concentrations on immature stages and adult emergence. harmala seeds oil was more effective than fenugreek oil in all treatments. The rates of productivity in southern cowpea beetle for cowpea seeds for tamarind seeds oil at 0.5/20g reached 38.83, 29.04 and  30.03, 21.45 %, and first generation (F1) reduction  93.67, 94.54, 94.33 and  96.59%  respectively and for fenugreek  seed oil was 68.00 , 69.69, 63.68 and 56.59 % and 38.46, 30.30, 18.87 and 18.17% respectively at the same concentration. The developmental period was positively  decreased  in relation with increase of concentration of oils .The two concentrations  0.4 and 0.5% were  decreased the germinability percentages of reddish- brown and black cowpea seeds ranged 50.00- 50.66% while fenugreek all of fenugreek seed oils that treated cowpea seeds four didn't affect on germinability percentages ranged 76.66- 96.66%. Also significant difference found clearly in the attraction and repellency responses. The harmala seeds oil in different concentrations showed a superior repellency effect on insect reached maximum at 0.5% , the highest average of  individuals repellency reached  3.66 and 5.00 rates  36.60 and 50.00% with attractant  rates 3.30 and 3.30 % as it balance rates reached -33.30 and -46.70% after 15 and 30 minutes of treating , while fenugreek  seeds oil  showed significant attractant effect, the concentration 0.5% recorded highest rates of attractant, the average of  individuals attractant reached 4.33 and 6.00% rates  43.30 and 60.00% and repellent rates 6.60 and 3.30% as it balance rates reached + 36.00 and + 56.70 % after 15 and 30 minutes of treating .


Two consecutive panels moderated by Mahesh Kotecha addressed the importance and value of an NRSRO (nationally recognized statistical rating organization) rating from perspectives of both investors and rating agencies. The investor panel discussed what, if anything, the rating agencies are doing differently today than in 2007, what investors are expecting now from the rating agencies, whether investors are really sure what each agency means by a rating such as AAA, common mistakes investors make in using credit ratings, rating shopping, unsolicited ratings, the issuer-pay business model, Rule 17g-5, how investors feel regarding confidential information that agencies get that investors may not, how the way rating agencies produce ratings is affected by new laws and regulations and the U.S. SEC's rulemaking process, the proposed rotational system for assigning ratings, how rating agencies are and should be addressing conflicts of interest, and how the framework of ratings could be changed to provide more insight to investors. The NRSRO panel addressed how rating agencies think investors view them and their ratings, what rating agencies think investors are expecting of them, what the long-established rating agencies are doing differently than they did in 2007, how some of the newer rating agencies are approaching the rating business today, how investors should use ratings to get the most out of them, rating shopping, unsolicited ratings, the issuer-pay business model, Rule 17g-5, how new laws and regulations affect the way rating agencies produce ratings and the way investors should use them, other key issues arising from the U.S. SEC's rulemaking process, the rotational system for assigning ratings proposed in the Franken amendment, and how the rating agencies are addressing conflicts of interest.


Abstract The construction industry, a major influencer in Brazil's economic and social development, is responsible for a large consumption of raw materials and waste production. In particular, plaster presents significant growth, especially in the Northeast, due to the region of Araripe, great producer of this construction material. Considering the serious problems caused by the incorrect disposal of plaster in nature, there is the challenge of its recycling process. This research aimed to analyze several percentages of plaster residues to be added to the plaster paste, with and without retarder additive (sodium citrate), in terms of physical, mechanical, and rheological properties, focusing at the production of components. For that, the residue underwent physic-chemical recycling process to be replaced by plaster or by mass, in the percentages of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The study of the performance of the material was done through the tests of granulometry, unit mass, mini-slump method, calorimetry, squeeze-flow method, compressive strength, and surface hardness. The results showed that the recycled plaster (RP) did not excessively damage the studied properties, and it was permissible to substitute up to 50% of RP in the production of the paste for components, following the recommendations of the recycling process and water/plaster ratio.


Background Demographic changes in developed countries are requiring people to work longer. No previous studies, however, have focussed on whether the "frailty" syndrome (which predicts falls, hospitalisations, institutional care, dependency, and mortality in the elderly) causes difficulties in employment. To provide information, we assessed relationships in a population-based cohort of 50-64 year-olds from the HEAF study. Methods Subjects, who were recruited from 24 English general practices, completed a baseline postal questionnaire on pre-frailty and frailty and several work outcomes, including health-related job loss (HRJL), prolonged sickness absence (>20 days vs. less, past 12 months), having to cut down substantially at work and difficulty coping with work's demands. Associations were assessed using logistic regression. Also, we calculated population attributable fractions (PAFs), representing the proportion of the population burden that is potentially preventable, assuming that risk factors are causal and can be eliminated. Results In all, 3.9% of 8,095 eligible respondents were classed as frail and 31.6% as pre-frail. Three-quarters of the former were not in work, while 60% had left their last job on health grounds (odds ratio (OR) for HRJL, vs. non-frail subjects, 30.0 (95% Confidence Interval 23.0–39.2). Among those in work, ORs for prolonged sickness absence, cutting down substantially at work and struggling with work's physical demands were 10.7 (95% CI: 6.5–17.7), 17.2 (95% CI: 10.5–28.4) and 14.8 (95% CI: 8.2–26.6) respectively. The PAF for HRJL when any frailty marker was present was 51.8% and that for prolonged sickness absence was 32.5%. Associations were strongest with slow reported walking speed. Several associations were stronger in manual workers than in managers. Conclusions Frailty and pre-frailty are not uncommon in 50–64 year-olds. Both are very strongly linked with adverse and economically important employment outcomes. In particular, features of frailty may contribute importantly to HRJL and represent an important target for prevention.


Aeromonas isolates from patients with diarrhea in Bangladesh (n = 69), from healthy controls (n = 11), and from surface water (n = 40) were analyzed with respect to their hybridization groups (HGs) by the aid of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) characterization and DNA fingerprinting by AFLP, biochemical phenotypes (Phe-nePlate [PhP] types), and the production of hemolysin and cytotoxin. The aim of the investigation was to find out whether certain strains carrying virulence factors predominated among patient isolates. According to FAME and/or AFLP analysis, most human isolates were allocated to DNA HGs 4 (Aeromonas caviae) and 1 (A. hydrophila). Most environmental strains were allocated to HG8 (A. veronii biogroup sobria) and HG4 (A. caviae), and only one was of HG1. According to PhP typing, the diversity among patient isolates was lower than that among other strains, and two dominating PhP types (types BD-1 and BD-2) were identified in 29 and 30% of the patient isolates, respectively. PhP type BD-1 was also common among the environmental isolates, whereas PhP type BD-2 was only identified in two of the other isolates. Twenty-five of 26 isolates belonging to HG1 were of the same PhP type (BD-2), whereas isolates of other common HGs were more diverse according to their PhP types. Hemolytic and cytotoxin-producing strains occurred more frequently among the environmental isolates than among patient isolates. However, the hemolytic and cytotoxic activities among human isolates was strongly correlated to the HG1/BD-2 type, which, in addition, showed high cytotoxin titers (median values, 1/512 compared to 1/128 for cytotoxin-positive isolates belonging to other types). Thus, the HG1/BD-2 type may represent a pathogenic A. hydrophila type that is able to produce diarrhea in humans.


Numerical investigations of transition scenarios due to flow bifurcations from laminar to time-dependent transitional flows in asymmetric wavy channels with different spatial periodicity on the sinusoidal wall are performed by direct numerical simulations of the mass and momentum conservation equations using a spectral element method computational program. Three aspect ratios r = a/(2L) are considered in this study: 0.125, 0.25, y 0.375. Computational meshes for both extended and periodic computational domains are used to determine first, the existence of spatial periodicity and second, the transitional flow behavior for increasing Reynolds numbers. Numerical results shows that the transition scenarios are highly dependent on the aspect ratio, r. The following scenarios develop: a) a first transition scenario with one flow bifurcation to a relatively low Reynolds numbers, Rec ; b) a second scenario, with also one flow bifurcation, to a relatively high Reynolds numbers, Rec* ; and, c) a third flow transition scenario with two Hopf bifurcations B1 and B2 , occurring at critical Reynolds numbers Rec1 y Rec2 , respectively. In this third scenario, fundamental frequencies ω1 and ω2 , and sub and super harmonic combinations of the fundamental frequencies develop as the Reynolds number increases from a laminar to higher transitional flow regime. This transition scenario from a laminar flow to high transitional flow regimes is very similar to the Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse (RTN) found in another confined flow channels such as symmetric wavy, grooved and communicating channels.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persists in peripheral blood mononuclear cells despite sustained, undetectable plasma viremia resulting from long-term antiretroviral therapy. However, the source of persistent HIV in such infected individuals remains unclear. Given recent data suggesting high levels of viral replication and profound depletion of CD4 + T cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of animals infected with simian immunodeficiency virus and HIV-infected humans, we sought to determine the level of CD4 + T cell depletion as well as the degree and extent of HIV persistence in the GALT of infected individuals who had been receiving effective antiviral therapy for prolonged periods of time. We demonstrate incomplete recoveries of CD4 + T cells in the GALT of aviremic, HIV-infected individuals who had received up to 9.9 years of effective antiretroviral therapy. In addition, we demonstrate higher frequencies of HIV infection in GALT, compared with PBMCs, in these aviremic individuals and provide evidence for cross-infection between these 2 cellular compartments. Together, these data provide a possible mechanism for the maintenance of viral reservoirs revolving around the GALT of HIV-infected individuals despite long-term viral suppression and suggest that the GALT may play a major role in the persistence of HIV in such individuals.


This comprehensive exploration of the international environment examines not only traditional political-military concerns but also economic, ethnic, and environmental issues and the role of crime, terrorism, the drug trade, and migration in the security environment of Russia and its neighbours to the south. This approach takes account of both the internal and external aspects of security problems and their interplay. The participation of international authors facilitates the consideration of each problem from all relevant points of view.


Since 2002, the treatment of the branching ratios of the ψ(2S) and χc0,1,2 has undergone an important restructuring. When measuring a branching ratio experimentally, it is not always possible to normalize the number of events observed in the corresponding decay mode to the total number of particles produced. Therefore, the experimenters sometimes report the number of observed decays with respect to another decay mode of the same or another particle in the relevant decay chain. This is actually equivalent to measuring combinations of branching fractions of several decay modes. To extract the branching ratio of a given decay mode, the collaborations use some previously reported measurements of the required branching ratios. However, the values are frequently taken from the Review of Particle Physics (RPP), which in turn uses the branching ratio reported by the experiment in the following edition, giving rise either to correlations or to plain vicious circles Ref. 1,Ref. 2 as discussed in more detail in earlier editions of this mini-review. The way to avoid these dependencies and correlations is to extract the branching ratios through a fit that uses the truly measured combinations of branching fractions and partial widths. This fit, in fact, should involve decays from the four concerned particles, ψ(2S), χc0, χc1, and χc2, and occasionally some combinations of branching ratios of more than one of them. This is what is done since the 2002 edition [3]. The PDG policy is to quote the results of the collaborations in a manner as close as possible to what appears in their original publications. However, in order to avoid the problems mentioned above, we had in some cases to work out the values originally measured, using the number of events and detection efficiencies given by the collaborations, or rescaling back the published results. The information was sometimes spread over several articles, and some articles referred to papers still unpublished, which in turn contained the relevant numbers in footnotes. Even though the experimental collaborations are entitled to extract whatever branching ratios they consider appropriate by using other published results, we would like to encourage them to also quote explicitly in their articles the actual quantities measured, so that they can be used directly in averages and fits of different experimental determinations. To inform the reader how we computed some of the values used in this edition of RPP, we use footnotes to indicate the branching ratios actually given by the experiments and the quantities they use to derive them from the true combination of branching ratios actually measured. None of the branching ratios of the χc0,1,2 are measured independently of the ψ(2S) radiative decays. We tried to identify those branching ratios which can be correlated in a non-trivial way, and although we cannot preclude the existence of other cases, we are confident that the most relevant correlations have already been removed. Nevertheless, correlations in the errors of different quantities measured by the same experiment have not been taken into account.


Whole person, family-centered, continued care, and multidisciplinary approach were four core values of hospice palliative care applied in this paper to assist in the difficult processes of discharging terminal cancer patients from the hospital and providing continued care until their peaceful death. Reasons underlying difficulties with discharges identified during hospitalizations between July 5th to 25th 2007 include: 1. 'whole person' aspects, including lack of confidence with the discharge on the part of the patient and his / her families due to inadequate symptoms control and loneliness due to lack of caregiver understanding and support; 2. 'family-centered' aspects, including failure to designate a key decision maker, differences of opinions, and overwhelming caregiver burdens; 3. 'continuity of care' aspects, including lack of appropriate and continuing palliative care and 4. 'multidisciplinary approach' aspects, including factitious relationships among patient, family members, and healthcare providers due to lack of trust. Furthermore, the healthcare team mapped out individual and continued care plans as follows: 1. 'whole person' aspects should focus on symptom control, enhancing comfort, and encouraging emotional expression; 2. 'family-centered' care aspects should identify the key person and significant others, decrease caregiver burdens, provide essential assistance and conduct family conferences; 3. 'continuity care' aspects should include consulting hospice home care and bereavement care professionals; 4. 'multidisciplinary approach' aspects should address comprehensive care so that team members learn from and reflect on their experiences. Ultimately, patients were successfully discharged from the hospital and peacefully passed away one week afterward. The writer hopes this nursing experience will provide a valuable reference for clinical practice to develop a family-centered approach to palliative care based on the four core values of hospice palliative care and the multidisciplinary discharge plan for terminal cancer patients.


Choice and 'agency' are frequently named as key factors in describing videogames and their unique features in respect to other forms of media. Through a multitude of minor and major decisions (or illusions thereof), players are given the impression of being an integral part of the narrative and ludic experience of a game, oftentimes forcing them to face the consequences of their actions in the game world. This paper aims at providing some insights into academic and public discussions of 'agency' in the context of digital games and, drawing on the examples of Call of Duty: Black Ops, The Graveyard and Mass Effect 2. An argument is made for a further emphasis on the role of 'agency' within the field of religion and digital games as well as a more differentiated (yet still complementary) approach toward 'player agency' and 'game agency'.


T cell development is guided by a complex set of transcription factors that act recursively, in different combinations, at each of the developmental choice points from T-lineage specification to peripheral T cell specialization. This review describes the modes of action of the major T-lineage-defining transcription factors and the signal pathways that activate them during intrathymic differentiation from pluripotent precursors. Roles of Notch and its effector RBPSuh (CSL), GATA-3, E2A/HEB and Id proteins, c-Myb, TCF-1, and members of the Runx, Ets, and Ikaros families are critical. Less known transcription factors that are newly recognized as being required for T cell development at particular checkpoints are also described. The transcriptional regulation of T cell development is contrasted with that of B cell development, in terms of their different degrees of overlap with the stem-cell program and the different roles of key transcription factors in gene regulatory networks leading to lineage commitment.


An analytical model for drilling burr formation was developed. The model holds for ductile materials that do not show catastrophic fracture during the plastic deformation of workpiece material for burr formation. The proposed burr formation mechanism was based on the observation of behavior of workpiece materials during drilling of low alloy steel. The model was based on the principle of energy conservation and metal cutting theory. Experimental validation was done, and the results showed good agreement with the model. Based on the model, the effects of several important parameters on burr formation was investigated.


International sponsors and lenders contemplating investment in the Chinese power sector are tempted with the greatest growth story in the worldwide power industry, but discouraged by a landscape scarred with great risk and uncertainty, and bureaucratic complexity. Until the Chinese authorities put in place a coherent legislative and administrative framework to address at least some of their concerns, the current "cost-plus" tariff structure offering generators 6%-8% on capital and operating expenses, and the thin margins offered to lenders, seem to be scant reward for the risks sponsors and lenders must assume to develop Chinese power projects. In the meantime, with the Chinese government behind them, a more sanguine view of risks over which they probably have greater control, and in an environment with which they are more familiar, domestic sponsors and lenders will continue development of Chinese power infrastructure.


Work queue with Replication (WQR) based replication workflow scheduling uses redundant tasks execution to circumvent the performance penalities of possible bad mappings of tasks to resources. In terms of the characteristics of the specific workflow applications by only considering the control dependency among the inter-dependent tasks, a new replication strategy based on WQR for scheduling and executing workflow applications on Grid resources is introduced, and then the strategy is experimented by GridSim in the context of executing a special workflow case. The performance is evaluated in terms of the make span and the wasting level of resource.


Herein we report a convenient and efficient synthesis of
2-Arylbenzoxazole from the Schiff's bases of 2-Aminophenol, 3, 5-Diarylisoxazole
from α, β-unsaturated ketoxime and 1,3,5-Triarylpyrazole from 2-pyrazoline
and N-Arylhydrazone by using milder, less toxic and less expensive-NBS-SiO2,
KMnO4-Al2O3, PCC-SiO2 and ACC-Al2O3 as solid-supported oxidizing agents at room temperature. Within the framework
of Green Chemistry, the use of solid supported reagents has many advantages
such as 1) they are easy to remove from reactions by filtration 2) excess
reagents can be used to drive the reaction without introducing any difficulties
in purification 3) such solid-supported reagents react differently, mostly
more selectively, than their unbound counterparts and 4) toxic, noxious
and explosive chemicals are handled more safely when contained on solid
support.


Single-phase voltage source transformerless inverters have been developed for many years and have been successful commercial applications in the distributed photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected systems. Moreover, many advanced industrial topologies and recent innovations have been published in the last few years. The objective of this paper is to classify and review these recent contributions to establish the present state of the art and trends of the transformerless inverters. This can provide a comprehensive and insightful overview of this technology. First, the generation mechanism of leakage current is investigated to divide the transformerless inverters into asymmetrical inductor-based and symmetrical inductor-based groups. Then, the concepts of dc-based and ac-based decoupling networks are proposed to not only cover the published symmetrical inductor-based topologies but also offer an innovative strategy to derive advanced inverters. Furthermore, the transformation principle between the dc-based and ac-based topologies is explored to make a clear picture on the general law and framework for the recent advances and future trend in this area. Finally, a family of clamped highly efficient and reliable inverter concept transformerless inverters is derived and tested to offer some excellent candidates for next-generation high-efficiency and cost-effective PV grid-tie inverters.


Continuous information on coastal ocean conditions in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB), provided by an interdisciplinary real-time coastal ocean observing network, is now accessible. Many' applications are envisioned. Academic researchers will use the network for targeted research and as a test bed for sensor development. The National Weather Service will use the continuously available meteorological data to predict, more accurately, weather conditions affecting the eastern seaboard of the U.S. Resource managers will be able to manage, more effectively, the use of the SAB coastal waters. The network can also serve as the nucleus of an observing system that will provide in situ observations for a nowcast/forecast regional coupled ocean/atmosphere model of the SAB.


Khalilpour, Armaghan 2011, Gene expressions of SREBP-2, PPARδ, MYH7 and blood lipid profile induced by stretch-shortening cycle exercise, Department of Biology of Physical Activity and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Master's Thesis in Writing. 54 PP. The present study was to investigate whether the mRNA levels of the transcription factors, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPARδ) as well as slow type myosin heavy chain (MYH7) gene are modulated after exhaustive exercise and if so, whether such alterations are related to the percentage of MHC isoforms. In particular, this study was undertaken to examine whether the level of selected blood parameters are influenced by fatiguing stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) exercise. Ten healthy men performed unilateral exhaustive repeated jumps on a special sledge. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was examined before, immediately, 3 and 20 hours after exercise. Selected genes expression in vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were measured by real-time polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) 3 h before, immediately and 3 h after exercise. To test the level creatine kinase (CK) activity, blood lactate (B-La), serum cholesterol (CHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood sample were collected 3 h before, immediately, 3 and 20 h after exercise. The protein myosin heavy chain (MHC) was determined using electrophoretic separation technique (SDS-PAGE). Declined MVC as well as increased blood lactate and CK activity may imply muscle damage. Significant increase in the level of CHOL, HDL and LDL were observed immediately after exercise that may reflect the synthesis of new cell membranes and healing process of the muscle cells. The expression of PPARδ was decreased significantly after exercise. However, no changes were observed in expressions of SREBP-2 transcripts and MYH7 gene. The expression of PPARδ transcripts was found to be associated with MYH7 mRNA before and after exercise. PPARδ mRNA expression was positively associated with the proportion of the MHCI isoform. Conversely, negative relationship was shown with the proportion of the MHC IIA. These data suggests a single bout of exhaustive exercise provides molecular responses at early stage after exercise. The decreased mRNA concentration of PPARδ may imply that fatiguing exercise bout can initiate a sequence of events towards more glycolytic muscle phenotype. In addition, the association of PPARδ mRNA level with MHCI isoform and MYH7 gene may support the close relationship between indicator of the oxidative fiber types and the regulatory factor of oxidative metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are poorly understood. The results concerning the short-term response of PPARδ mRNA after fatiguing exercise that generate challenging questions for further investigation.


Guide specifications, the templates from which individual building project specifications are developed, should require energy efficient products and design. Incorporating energy efficiency requirements into guide specification for building envelopes, mechanical and electrical equipment, and installed special purpose equipment can result in substantial long term reductions in energy consumption and operating cost for federal facilities. This presentation builds on the concepts introduced in a previous Summer Study paper on integrating efficiency requirements into guide specifications (Coleman 2000). The authors address current efforts to incorporate energy efficiency recommendations into the Department of Defense (DOD) Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) and Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) (DOD 2002). This initiative unifies guide specifications of the military services and those of other federal agencies. An example of the impact guide specifications have on military housing is presented along with a brief discussion of other efficiency standards and programs. The paper concludes by suggesting actions federal agencies can take to facilitate this process.


Bioremediation is a biological mechanism of recycling wastes in to another form that can use and reused by other organisms. Nowadays, the world is facing the problem of different environmental pollution. Microorganisms are essential for a key alternative solution to overcome challenges. Microorganisms are survive in all place on the biospher because of their metabolic activity is astonishing; then come into existence in all over range of environmental conditions. The nutritional capacity of microorganisms is completely varied, so it is used as bioremidation of environmental pollutants. Bioremediation is highly involved in degradation, eradication, immobilization, or detoxification diverse chemical wastes and physical hazardous materials from the surrounding through the all-inclusive and action of microorganisms. The main principle is degrading and transforming pollutants such as hydrocarbons, oil, heavy metal, pesticides, dye's and so on. That is carried out in enzymatic way through metabolizing, so it have grate contribution role to solve many environmental problems. There are two types of factors these are biotic and abiotic conditions are determine rate of degradation. Currently, different methods and strategies are applied in the area in different part of the world. For example, biostimulation, bioaugementation, bioventing, biopiles and bioattenuation are common one. All bioremidation techniques it has its own advantage and disadvantage because it has its own specific application.


As a partner to Volume 1: Dimensional Continuous Models, this monograph provides a self-contained introduction to algebro-geometric solutions of completely integrable, nonlinear, partial differential-difference equations, also known as soliton equations. The systems studied in this volume include the Toda lattice hierarchy, the Kac-van Moerbeke hierarchy, and the Ablowitz-Ladik hierarchy. An extensive treatment of the class of algebro-geometric solutions in the stationary as well as time-dependent contexts is provided. The theory presented includes trace formulas, algebro-geometric initial value problems, Baker-Akhiezer functions, and theta function representations of all relevant quantities involved. The book uses basic techniques from the theory of difference equations and spectral analysis, some elements of algebraic geometry and especially, the theory of compact Riemann surfaces. The presentation is constructive and rigorous, with ample background material provided in various appendices. Detailed notes for each chapter, together with an exhaustive bibliography, enhance understanding of the main results.


The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a federally sponsored annual survey that gathers data on substance use and abuse among the non-institutionalized civilian population of the United States, has developed a detailed system for the detection of interviewer falsification. This process includes phone, mail, and in-person field verification procedures, and the review of interview and interviewer-level process data to identify cases and interviewers requiring extra verification efforts. While these components of the system can successfully identify potential falsifiers, more savvy falsifiers may be able to remain undetected if they are aware that their data are being scrutinized. To address this gap, the NSDUH has recently added a new component to the falsification detection system: the regular review of interview response and question-level timing data. Response distributions for each interviewer are compared to those from other interviewers to identify interviewers whose responses appear to be highly unlikely, given their caseloads. These additional measures make it even more difficult for falsifiers to remain undetected, since they would need to have a specific understanding of the prevalence and correlates of substance use in order to enter likely responses. Similarly, question-level timings for particular items that require certain interviewer-respondent interactions are analyzed to detect outliers. Once potential falsifiers are identified, the work of the suspected interviewers is subject to 100% and/or in-person verification.


As the world of work moves to increasingly precarious, temporary and insecure forms of labour, traditional forms of work regulation are becoming less relevant for the 'gig economy'. Equality law has traditionally been framed as protecting 'employees' (and now 'workers') against acts of discrimination by 'employers'. As these categories become increasingly remote from the lived experience of work, the relevance and potential of equality law to secure individual employment rights becomes increasingly limited. Drawing on comparative legal doctrinal analysis of the UK and Australia, this article considers options and new approaches for protecting workers from discrimination in new forms of employment, canvassing ideas such as the extension of equalitylaw to non-traditional workers, collectivized approaches to individual protection, and the use of positive duties to regulate the gig economy. This article questions the basic relevance and structuring of equality law for new forms of work. If equality law is to remain relevant and effective, serious changes are required to how it is conceived, framed and promoted. Merely extending existing ideas of 'equality law' to new forms of work will not respond to fundamental shifts in the labour market: there is a need to rethink and retheorize the role and purpose of equality law


To the Editor I read with interest the meta-analysis by House et al1 showing that inhaled isotonic saline may have a beneficial therapeutic effect in bronchiolitis. While I am glad that they included our study2 in their analysis, I wish to point out that a novel element of our study was the use of a physiologic outcome measure to assess response to inhaled albuterol and isotonic saline, namely, respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP).2,3 We observed no significant changes in the variables assessed by House et al1 (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress assessment index). However, 30% of albuterol-treated infants and 40% of isotonic saline–treated infants demonstrated a significant decrease in the phase angle, an indication of decreased airflow obstruction following treatment. Our results provide physiologic evidence for a potential beneficial effect of inhaled isotonic saline and further support the need for research studies into the role of inhaled isotonic saline in the treatment of viral bronchiolitis. Respiratory inductance plethysmography, which does not require sedation, may be able to serve as an noninvasive objective physiologic measure for such studies. Although improvement in respiratory mechanics may not affect outcomes, such as length of stay, it is likely that an improvement in work of breathing can reduce symptoms of dyspnea and improve patient comfort, both of which are desirable treatment goals.


Over the last three decades, there has been a policy shift towards Inclusive Education (IE) across the world. This has led to reform initiatives aimed at access and equity for all students within regular classrooms, irrespective of children's individual differences on the basis of abilities, disabilities or any conditions due to their socio-economic or cultural background. Like many developing countries, Bangladesh has commenced IE reform to educate all school-aged children in its regular education system, particularly those who have been traditionally excluded (e.g., children with disabilities, those with social/economic disadvantage and those from ethnic minorities). Whilst enrolment of children with disabilities in regular schools has increased in Bangladesh, the majority of the 1.6 million children with disabilities remain out of school. Past research indicates that the negative attitude of teachers is one of the significant barriers impeding the implementation of IE policies. Building upon previous research, this project sought to understand in-service teachers' attitudes towards enacting IE by using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the key conceptual framework. Use of this framework was considered critical for this research as it not only allows us to explore educators' attitudes but also to better understand other key constructs that may have a direct influence on attitudes and, ultimately, upon the behavioural intentions of teachers. Two key constructs potentially influencing behavioural intention conceptualised for this research were perceived teaching efficacy beliefs and perception of support available for inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classrooms. An investigation was made into what background variables could influence the key constructs of TPB (i.e. attitudes, perceived teaching efficacy, and behavioural intentions). More specifically, the major aims of the research were to examine the influence of teachers' attitudes towards inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classrooms, teacher efficacy to undertake inclusive practices in classes, and their perceptions of school support for such practices, on their intentions to include students with disabilities in their classes. The study also investigated the influences of demographic variables and of perceived school support for IE on teachers' attitudes and teacher efficacy, assessing the levels of the major variables and the influential dynamics. This study employed both survey questionnaires and focus group interviews. A total of 738 in-service teachers from government primary schools in Bangladesh's Dhaka division completed a survey and 22 in-service teachers participated in focus group interviews. Key findings of the research revealed that teacher attitudes, teacher efficacy and perceived school support were significant predictors that explained 40% of the variance in teachers' intentions to include students with disabilities in their classes. Teachers' attitudes towards inclusion rated close to neutral, perceived school support was distinctly negative, teacher efficacy was moderately positive, and teachers' intentions to include students with disabilities was slightly lower than 'somewhat positive' towards inclusion. Perceived school support was consistently a powerful predictor across the variables (i.e., teachers' intentions, teacher attitudes, and teacher efficacy). Specific demographic variables were also identified as important predictors of teachers' attitudes and their perceived teacher efficacy. Thematic analysis of the interview data found teachers' intentions put them in a quandary – they were simultaneously sceptical about the success of full inclusion, yet supportive of inclusion from social and professional perspectives. The interviews also identified salient institutional and environmental factors behind the teachers' intentions. The study documented areas for further research (e.g., context specificity, factors behind attitude status and effectiveness of training strategies) as well as offered specific recommendations for educational policy makers and teacher educators (e.g., building training programmes for the teachers that address IE requirements). As teachers' behaviour in the classroom is critical to the successful implementation of IE reform, it is imperative that a thorough understanding of the influences and motivators is attained. This study offers a contribution towards such an understanding with its findings that elucidate the impact of and relationships between the investigated variables.


Communal land tenure is prevalent across many developing countries. It implements a "use it or lose it" principle that allows owners to farm their land but restricts their right to transfer it away. This paper measures the distortionary impact of communal land in a dynamic general equilibrium model of occupational selection, calibrated to Ethiopia. We find that lifting communal land tenure increases GDP by 9% and lowers agricultural employment by 18 percentage points. While agricultural productivity increases, that of non-agriculture drops. Communal land tenure helps rationalizing about one-half of the relative agricultural productivity gap in the poorest economies. Its impact on aggregate productivity, though, is comparatively minor.


Let $({\bf P},{\bf D})$ be a primal-dual pair of SDPs with a nonzero finite duality gap. Under such circumstances, ${\bf P}$ and ${\bf D}$ are weakly feasible and if we perturb the problem data to recover strong feasibility, the (common) optimal value function $v$ as a function of the perturbation is not well-defined at zero (unperturbed data) since there are ``two different optimal values'' $v({\bf P})$ and $v({\bf D})$, where $v({\bf P})$ and $v({\bf D})$ are the optimal values of ${\bf P}$ and ${\bf D}$ respectively. Thus, continuity of $v$ is lost at zero though $v$ is continuous elsewhere. Nevertheless, we show that a limiting version ${v_a}$ of $v$ is a well-defined monotone decreasing continuous bijective function connecting $v({\bf P})$ and $v({\bf D})$ with domain $[0, \pi/2]$ under the assumption that both ${\bf P}$ and ${\bf D}$ have singularity degree one. The domain $[0,\pi/2]$ corresponds to directions of perturbation defined in a certain manner. Thus, ${v_a}$ ``completely fills'' the nonzero duality gap under a mild regularity condition. Our result is tight in that there exists an instance with singularity degree two for which ${v_a}$ is not continuous.


The hypothesis that Ca2+ initiates contraction in smooth muscle by activating an endogenous myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) that phosphorylates the 20,000 dalton light chain (LC 20) of myosin was tested in tissues prepared from the media of swine carotid arteries. Unstimulated tissues with low levels of tone exhibited low levels of phosphorylated LC 20. On stimulation with a high-K+ physiological salt solution containing 1.6 mM CaCl2, LC 20 phosphorylation increased to 0.6 mol P/mol LC 20 within 30 s. This increase preceded force development, which required 2-4 min to attain a maximum steady-state value of 3.34 +/- 0.15 (SE) X 10(5) N/m2. These results support the hypothesis, as the stimulus was submaximal for the preparation. However, LC 20 phosphorylation declined significantly from its peak value before steady-state force was attained, reaching near control levels after 10 min of stimulation. The results suggest that Ca2+-stimulated LC 20 phosphorylation is an important physiological control mechanism but that additional factors are involved in the maintenance of tonic isometric force.


CA6NM steel is widely used in the manufacture of hydraulic turbines metallic parts, due to its resistance to corrosion and cavitation damage, combined with good weldability and fatigue properties. However, welding of this type of steel is complex and to ensure a minimum residual stress after welding it is necessary perform a post welding heat treatment (PWHT) of the part. This study aims to analyze the effect of a PWHT on the microstructure and mechanical properties of CA6NM steel weld joint produced by the FCAW process and compare it with the characteristics of an as-welded joint. A martensitic microstructure has been present in both materials. However, the PWHT material has shown finely dispersed retained austenite, in an amount near 10 vol.%. Vickers microhardness values of all regions of PWHT welded joint present lower hardness values compared to those of the as-welded joint. Despite nearly identical toughness values of the weld metal from AW and PWHT samples, results of fracture analysis have shown distinct features in appearance of the fractures.


Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection in hospitalized and catheterized patients, produces mannose-resistant/klebsiella-like (MR/K) and mannose-resistant/proteus-like (MR/P) hemagglutinins. The gene encoding the major structural subunit of a fimbria, possibly MR/K, was identified in two strains. A degenerate oligonucleotide probe based on the N terminus of the Proteus uroepithelial cell adhesin and antiserum raised against the denatured polypeptide were used to screen a cosmid gene bank of strain HU1069. A cosmid clone that reacted with the probe and antiserum was identified, and a fimbria-like open reading frame was determined by nucleotide sequencing. The predicted N-terminal amino acid sequence of the processed polypeptide, ENETPAPKVSSTKGEIQLKG (residues 23 to 42), did not match the uroepithelial cell adhesin N terminus but, rather, matched exactly the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a polypeptide with an apparent molecular size of 19.5 kDa isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of a fimbrial preparation from strain HI4320 expressing MR/K hemagglutinin. By using an oligonucleotide from the HU1069 open reading frame, the fimbrial gene was isolated and sequenced from a cosmid gene bank clone of strain HI4320. A 552-bp open reading frame predicts a 184-amino-acid polypeptide including a 22-amino-acid hydrophobic leader sequence. The unprocessed polypeptide is predicted to be 18,921 Da; the processed polypeptide is predicted to be 16,749 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the gene, designated pmfA, displayed 36% exact matches with the mannose-resistant fimbrial subunit encoded by smfA of Serratia marcescens but only 15% exact matches with the predicted sequence encoded by mrkA of Klebsiella pneumoniae.


We make use of the Quantum Hamilton-Jacobi (QHJ) theory to investigate conditional quasi-solvability of the quantum symmetric top subject to combined electric fields (symmetric top pendulum). We derive the conditions of quasi-solvability of the time-independent Schroedinger equation as well as the corresponding finite sets of exact analytic solutions. We do so for this prototypical trigonometric system as well as for its anti-isospectral hyperbolic counterpart. An examination of the algebraic and numerical spectra of these two systems reveals mutually closely related patterns. The QHJ approach allows to retrieve the closed-form solutions for the spherical and planar pendula and the Razavy system that had been obtained in our earlier work via Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics as well as to find a cornucopia of additional exact analytic solutions.


In recent years, a proliferation of books about empathy, cooperation and pro-social behaviours (Brooks, 2011a) has significantly influenced the discourse of the life-sciences and reversed consolidated views of nature as a place only for competition and aggression. In this article I describe the recent contribution of three disciplines – moral psychology (Jonathan Haidt), primatology (Frans de Waal) and the neuroscience of morality – to the present transformation of biology and evolution into direct sources of moral phenomena, a process here named the 'moralization of biology'. I conclude by addressing the ambivalent status of this constellation of authors, for whom today 'morality comes naturally': I explore both the attractiveness of their message, and the problematic epistemological assumptions of their research programmes in the light of new discoveries in developmental and molecular biology.


A large DNA-containing body is present in addition to the chromosomes in oocytes of the house cricket Acheta domesticus. Large masses of nucleolar material accumulate at the periphery of the DNA body during the diplotene stage of meiotic prophase I. RNA-DNA hybridization analysis demonstrates that the genes which code for 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA are amplified in the ovary. In situ hybridization indicates that the amplified genes are localized within the DNA body of early prophase cells. As the cells proceed through diplotene the DNA which hybridizes with ribosomal RNA is gradually incorporated into the developing nucleolar mass.


We present a new method for high precision measurement of both strontium and barium isotopes. Our method is primarily designed for extraterrestrial samples but is actually suitable for any sample, particularly for samples with low Sr and Ba concentrations and complex matrices. The main separation of Sr, Ba and matrix elements is done with Eichrom™ Sr resin, which provides a quick and easy way to separate all three fractions with little further purification needed. All isotope data were acquired on a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) Thermo Triton™ plus. Isotopic ratios were calculated using a multidynamic acquisition scheme when possible. The decay of the amplifiers associated with Faraday cups was carefully tuned to ensure that there was no effect in the multidynamic acquisition mode. This technique improves the uncertainty for 84Sr/86Sr, 86Sr/86Sr and 135Ba/136Ba by a factor of two compared with previous data obtained in static collection mode. The uncertainties attainable with our new method were 2 ppm and 19 ppm (2 s.d.) for the 86Sr/86Sr and 84Sr/86Sr ratios, respectively and 4 ppm (2 s.d.) for the 135Ba/136Ba ratio. The low-abundance 132Ba isotope was measured with a Faraday cup equipped with a 1012 Ω resistor to improve the precision of the 132Ba/136Ba ratio. We assessed the robustness of our method by measuring several terrestrial rock standards. The use of the multidynamic calculation shows the small, but resolvable difference of 20–30 ppm previously observed for the 84Sr/86Sr ratio between Earth and isotopic standard SRM NIST 987 (formerly NBS 987), which rules out the hypothesis of a 84Sr contamination or a fractionation of NIST 987 [Moynier et al., Astrophys. J., 2012, 758, 45; Paton et al., Astrophys. J., 2013, 763, L40] and is in agreement with the results of Hans et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2013, 374, 204–214.


A new styracosternan ornithopod genus and species is here described based on a partial postcranial skeleton and an associated dentary tooth of a single specimen from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous, late Barremian) at the Morella locality, (Castellón, Spain). Morelladon beltrani gen. et sp. nov. is diagnosed by eight autapomorphic features. The set of autapomorphies includes: very elongated and vertical neural spines of the dorsal vertebrae, midline keel on ventral surface of the second to fourth sacral vertebrae restricted to the anterior half of the centrum, a posterodorsally inclined medial ridge on the postacetabular process of the ilium that meets its dorsal margin and distal end of the straight ischial shaft laterally expanded, among others. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that the new Iberian form is more closely related to its synchronic and sympatric contemporary European taxa Iguanodon bernissartensis and Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis, known from Western Europe, than to other Early Cretaceous Iberian styracosternans (Delapparentia turolensis and Proa valdearinnoensis). The recognition of Morelladon beltrani gen. et sp. nov. indicates that the Iberian Peninsula was home to a highly diverse medium to large bodied styracosternan assemblage during the Early Cretaceous.


Experimental and theoretical work concerning the application of ceramic components in small high-temperature gas turbines has been performed for several years. The significance of some nonoxide ceramic materials for gas turbines in particular is based on their excellent high-temperature properties. The application of ceramic materials allows an increase of the turbine inlet temperature resulting in higher efficiencies and a reduction of pollution emissions. The inherent brittleness of monolithic ceramic materials can be virtually reduced by reinforcement with ceramic fibers leading to a quasiductile behavior. Unfortunately, some problems arise due to oxidation of these composite materials in the presence of hot gas flow containing oxygen. At the Motoren und Turbinen Union, Munchen GmbH, comprehensive investigations including strength, oxidation, and thermal shock tests of several materials that seemed to be appropriate for combustor liner applications were undertaken. As a result, C/C, SiC/SiC, and two C/SiC composites coated with SiC, as oxidation protection, were chosen for examination in a gas turbine combustion chamber. To prove the suitability of these materials under real engine conditions, the fiber-reinforced flame tubes were installed in a small gas turbine operating under varying conditions. The loading of the flame tubes was characterized by wall temperature measurements. The materials showed different oxidation behavior when exposed to the hot gas flow. Inspection of the C/SiC composites revealed debonding of the coatings. The C/C and SiC/SiC materials withstood the tests with a maximum cumulated test duration of 90 h without damage.


Abstract Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) combined with influenza is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. This article examines the literature to understand and describe whether technology implementation has impacted the outcomes of patients with CAP. We conducted an electronic search of PubMed and scanned references of articles meeting inclusion criteria. Twenty-six articles were included in this review. We surveyed this literature for answers to the following questions: Can technology be used to improve quality of care and guideline compliance in CAP? How can we overcome the behavioral bottleneck that prevents adoption of computerized decision support systems? How reliable are our data in the era of electronic medical records? What are the risks associated with technology implementation? No articles demonstrated that technology implementation improves outcomes in the care of patients with CAP.


We introduce a discriminatively trained, globally normalized, log-linear variant of the lexical translation models proposed by Brown et al. (1993). In our model, arbitrary, non-independent features may be freely incorporated, thereby overcoming the inherent limitation of generative models, which require that features be sensitive to the conditional independencies of the generative process. However, unlike previous work on discriminative modeling of word alignment (which also permits the use of arbitrary features), the parameters in our models are learned from unannotated parallel sentences, rather than from supervised word alignments. Using a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic measures, including translation performance, we show our model yields better alignments than generative baselines in a number of language pairs.


The paper mentions that although direct manipulation for figure animation has long been possible using inverse kinematics, there has been no similar "inverse kinematics" approach for blendshape models. In both problems the system must infer unknown degrees of freedom during each edit. We solve this problem by minimizing changes in facial expression.


Introduction. Patients with high-grade sarcoma (HGS) frequently develop metastatic disease thus limiting their long-term survival. Lung metastases (LM) have historically been treated with surgical resection (metastasectomy). A potential alternative for controlling LM could be stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We evaluated the outcomes from our institutional experience utilizing SBRT. Methods. Sixteen consecutive patients with LM from HGS were treated with SBRT between 2009 and 2011. Routine radiographic and clinical follow-up was performed. Local failure was defined as CT progression on 2 consecutive scans or growth after initial shrinkage. Radiation pneumonitis and radiation esophagitis were scored using Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) version 3.0. Results. All 16 patients received chemotherapy, and a subset (38%) also underwent prior pulmonary metastasectomy. Median patient age was 56 (12–85), and median follow-up time was 20 months (range 3–43). A total of 25 lesions were treated and evaluable for this analysis. Most common histologies were leiomyosarcoma (28%), synovial sarcoma (20%), and osteosarcoma (16%). Median SBRT prescription dose was 54 Gy (36–54) in 3-4 fractions. At 43 months, local control was 94%. No patient experienced G2-4 radiation pneumonitis, and no patient experienced radiation esophagitis. Conclusions. Our retrospective experience suggests that SBRT for LM from HGS provides excellent local control and minimal toxicity.


Although there has been a surge in the number of adults entering accelerated academic programs at community colleges over the last decade, there has not been a similar increase in the number of adult learners who persist and achieve their degrees. This qualitative inquiry uses a case study methodology to explore in what ways educational philosophies of educators influence the persistence and graduation rates of adult students in community college accelerated programs. Data collection methods will include the creation of focus groups of both faculty and adult students in the accelerated program and faculty members taking the online version of the Zinn (1991) Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory (PAEI). Analysis of the findings will utilize the results of the Zinn's PAEI, Knowles' (1980) six assumptions of adult education as well as the emerging themes arising from the data. This study will provide information that will improve the understanding of the role of faculty educational philosophy on the successful achievement by adult learners as measured by persistence and graduation. These insights will also provide the information needed by community colleges to create a positive adult learning environment as they formulate and implement adult accelerated courses and programs and recruit faculty to teach in them. There was no consensus among the student graduates regarding if the manner in which faculty taught had any influence on their decision to persist in the adult accelerated program. The results indicated that students reacted more positively and related better to faculty who brought real life, practical knowledge into the classroom than faculty who lectured from a theoretical perspective. Additional findings made it quite apparent that the student graduate participants possessed an intense internal desire and self-determination to be persistent and complete the necessary courses to finish a degree. Lastly, students strongly voiced the need for faculty and the


Road traffic noise affects approximately 8 million people in Australia with 2 million seriously affected, far more than from other forms of transportation. As the principal source of road noise is from the tyre/pavement interface and, given that concrete pavements are preferred by many road authorities due to its hard wearing and low maintenance characteristics, it is important to understand and quantify pavement noise and to catalogue ongoing performance. A new instrument is now available in Australia for this work comprising a special purpose noise trailer. RONDA (ROad Noise Data Acquirer) is a CPX trailer conforming to the international standard ISO/CD 11819-2 intended for measuring road pavement noise. The trailer is of the open frame type without an enclosure and is the first of its kind in Australia. A description of the design of the trailer is provided together with the results of initial testing on refurbished concrete roads in NSW.


The neuronal pathways involved in the muscle relaxant effect of tizanidine were examined by measurement of spinal reflexes in rats. Tizanidine (i.v. and intra-4th ventricular injection) decreased the mono- and disynaptic (the fastest polysynaptic) reflexes (MSR and DSR, respectively) in non-spinalized rats. Depletion of central noradrenaline by 6-hydroxydopamine abolished the depressant effect of tizanidine on the MSR almost completely and attenuated the effect on the DSR. Co-depletion of serotonin by 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline resulted in more prominent attenuation of tizanidine-induced inhibition of the DSR. Supraspinal receptors were then studied using yohimbine- and some imidazoline-receptor ligands containing an imidazoline moiety. Idazoxan (I1, I2, I3, and alpha2), efaroxan (I1, I3, and alpha2), and RX821002 (I3 and alpha2), but not yohimbine, an alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonist with no affinity for I receptors, antagonized the inhibitory effects of tizanidine. Thus, supraspinal I receptors (most likely I3) and descending monoaminergic influences are necessary for tizanidine-induced inhibition of spinal segmental reflexes.


Waves induced by ship movement might be harmful for the habitat in the littoral zone of rivers due to the temporally increasing bed shear stress, the high-energy breaking waves and the consequently related detachment of benthic animals. In order to understand the complex hydrodynamic phenomena resulting from littoral waves, we present the testing of a novel methodology that incorporates field observations and numerical tools. The study is performed at a section of the Danube River in Hungary and analyzes the influence of different ship types. The field methods consist of parallel acoustic measurements (using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV)) conducted at the riverbed and Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) of the water surface. ADV measurements provided near-bed flow velocities based on which the wave induced currents and local bed shear stress could be estimated. The LSPIV was able to quantify the dynamics of the breaking waves along the bank. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was successfully applied to simulate the propagation and the breaking of littoral waves. The used techniques complement each other well and their joint application provides an adequate tool to support the improvement of riverine habitats.


For updated Trade Area Analysis (TAA) of Wisconsin counties we use the sales tax data as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 2011. Only those counties that have elected to collect the optional county sales tax are included in the analysis. Because sales tax data are used one must keep in mind that the analysis focuses only on taxable sales and may not reflect the total level of activity in the county. Using Pull Factors and measures of Surplus and Leakage the relative strengths, and weaknesses, of local retail markets are identified. Changes in Pull Factors from 2005 to 2011 are provided to gain insights into growing and declining sectors. Finally, an update of simple Wisconsin retail market thresholds estimates (i.e., number of customers required to support an establishment) is also provided.


The effect of bacterial inoculation on the fermentation and aerobic stability of two ensiled whole plant soybean (WPSB) cultivars was determined in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Two WPSB cultivars, Link LF6466 and Pannar 522 RR, were harvested at their R6 growth stage, chopped to 25 mm and ensiled in 1.5 L anaerobic jars. The chopped forages were treated with or without the bacterial inoculant Lalsil Dry (LD) and treatments were as follows: i) Pan control (soybean cv Pannar 522 RR with no additive); ii) Link control (soybean cv Link LF 6466 with no additive); iii) Pan LD (soybean cv Pannar 522 RR treated with LD); and iv) Link LD (soybean cv Link LF 6466 treated with LD). Jars were opened on days 3, 7, 10, 21 and 90 to determine pH. Samples of day 0 and day 90 were used to determine chemical composition and fermentation characteristics. In addition, samples of day 90 were subjected to an aerobic stability test in which they were exposed to air for five days, and CO 2 , pH, hours for temperature to rise above 2 oC, yeasts and moulds were determined. Pannar cultivar had higher contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE) and ether extract (EE) compared with the Link cultivar at pre-ensiling. However, Link cultivar had higher content of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) compared with Pannar. Inoculation with LD reduced silage DM, CP and fibre contents, and increased silage pH compared with the control. Inoculation increased silage acetic and propionic acids, but had a lower content of lactic acid (LA) and DM recovery compared with the control. When compared with the control, silage aerobic stability was improved with LD inoculation, as indicated by reduced CO 2 production, and yeast and mould populations, and increased number of hours for stability after aerobic exposure. It was concluded that LD inoculant reduced silage fermentation and preservation, but improved aerobic stability of silage. Further work is needed to determine the effects of soybean silage on growth performance and production response of ruminants. Keywords: Cultivars, forages, inoculants, legumes, nutrients, silage, soybean


The renewable energy source is considered as a good measure to cope with the global warming problem and the fossil energy exhaustion. The construction of electric power plant such as an offshore wind farm is rapidly increasing and this trend is expected to be continued during this century. The bulky and long distance power transmission media is essential to support and promote the sustainable expansion of renewable energy source. DC power cable is generally considered as the best solution and the demand for DC electric power has been rapidly increasing. Especially, the high temperature superconducting (HTS) DC cable system begins to make a mark because of its advantages of huge power transmission capacity, low transmission loss and other environmental friendly aspects. Technical contents of DC HTS cable system are very similar to those of AC HTS cable system. However the DC HTS cable can be operated near its critical current if the heat generation is insignificant, while the operating current of AC HTS cable is generally selected at about 50~70% of the critical current because of AC loss. We chose the specifications of the cable core of 'Tres Amigas' project as an example for our study and investigated the heat generation when the DC HTS cable operated near the critical current by some electric and thermal analyses. In this paper, we listed some technical issues on the design of the DC HTS cable core and described the process of the cable core design. And the results of examination on the current capacity, heat generation, harmonic loss and current distribution properties of the DC HTS cable are introduced.


Situated in the interstices of anthropology, public health, and critical theory, this dissertation pursues questions of gender, health, transnationality, and governance. It does so through a critical medical anthropological study of trans* lives during what has been referred to as the second wave of AIDS in San Francisco. According to public health research and epidemiological studies, urban transgender women are reported to constitute one of most vulnerable populations for HIV infection in the United States. Combining research methods of medical anthropology and urban ethnography, this dissertation explores self-making and world-making practices of trans* individuals during a time, I call the age of epidemic. Multi-year ethnographic research was based primarily in San Francisco's Tenderloin, a low-income, culturally diverse neighborhood that has been referred to as the epi-center of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. At the same time, it is home and center of social life for many trans* immigrants from Mexico, Central and South American, and South-east Asia, who migrate to the city in hopes of creating vibrant lives. Hence, the term, trans* is meant to reference three intersecting experiences: transgender identity; transnational conditions of migration; and the crossing of multiple political, geographical, linguistic, sex/gender, and bodily borders. As well, trans* refers to the Tenderloin itself as a translocal space networked by global processes of migration, diaspora, and economic restructuring. Ethnographic research was conducted with transgender and immigrant interlocutors, neighborhood denizens, public health researchers and healthcare providers, and local and international transgender activists. Clinic-based participant-observations and volunteer activities were conducted at a public health center, which provides care to homeless and underserved populations. In late 1994, it opened the first transgender primary healthcare clinic in the United States. This dissertation documents how trans* women create lives through workin it, a constellation of dynamic and heterogeneous tactics including: actions for making forms of sociality and publics in San Francisco's rapidly transforming Tenderloin; practices for creating kinship and engaging in reciprocal practices of care outside normalizing regimes of sex, gender, and laws of alliance and descent; activities for cultivating trans* bodies and becomings utilizing biomedical technologies often in unexpected ways; and conducts for fashioning a beautiful and ethical life when such a life is often deemed diseased, foreign, and other. Findings have lead to the conclusion that epidemics, such as HIV/AIDS, have a paradoxical force in contemporary life. Epidemics are destructive, pathological biosocial events, causing untold sickness, suffering and death. But they are also generative. Epidemics instantiate proliferative governing strategies and technologies, which discipline and manage bodies under logics of health promotion. At the same time, the immeasurable sickness, death, and loss caused by HIV/AIDS has provided evidence to support political claims for health and life by trans* communities. The calamitous impacts have offered a language through which to render visible social inequalities and social suffering. The biosocial crisis has engendered new social movements for justice and affirmations of trans* survivals. But most significantly, it has given rise to unique forms of resiliency, belonging, kinship, and care amid and against precarity.


Abstract : The Air Force has a growing need for the greater bandwidth, speed, and flexibility offered by optical communication links. Future space systems and airborne platforms will most likely use optical signals for efficient power transmission and to minimize the possibility of spoofing and eavesdropping. Tunable optical delays play an important role in the implementation of free space optical communication links. The primary challenge in implementing these systems is the active maintenance of coherent wave fronts across the system's optical aperture. For space applications, this aperture may he hundreds of meters in diameter. Spatial segmentation of a large aperture into smaller elements is one approach that can be used to solve the problem of coherent waveform maintenance. In this research I explore three methods of achieving electrically tunable optical delay in a semiconductor structure. My first approach entails the use of multiple quantum wells inserted within the high index layers of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) to produce tunable optical delay when a transverse electric field is applied across the DBR. The second approach uses a cantilever mounted on top of a DBR structure. The cantilever is also a DBR and is used to vary the thickness of an air gap within the structure. A third approach relies on changing the angle of incidence of light on a DBR structure to produce a delay. All three methods produce acceptable results.


This paper aims at quantifying the impact of a stimulus plan based on a public investment push, within a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model of the Eurozone economy. We estimate an extension of Leeper et al.'s (2010) model with public capital and time-to-build, to quantify the impact of the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe (the "Juncker plan"). The public investment push is assessed in normal times and starting from the zero lower bound, making different hypotheses on private investment leverage and on capital productivity. Then, in order to assess the effectiveness of the Juncker plan, we compare it with the stimulus plan implemented by the Obama administration in 2009. The main conclusion of the paper is that, had it been implemented at the beginning of the crisis, the Juncker plan would have had a significant positive impact. But as it is being launched very late in the crisis, to be effective the plan should be significantly larger in size.


Objective: Indiscriminate use of β-lactam antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of β-lactamase enzymes. AmpC β-lactamases, in particular, confer resistance to penicillin, first-, second-, and third-generation cephalosporins as well as monobactams and are responsible for antibiotic resistance in nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, this study was undertaken to screen nosocomial Escherichia coli isolates for the presence and characterization of AmpC β-lactamases. The study also envisaged on the detection of inducible AmpC β-lactamases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in AmpC β-lactamase-producing E. coli . Methods: A total of 102 clinical isolates of E. coli, were subjected to cefoxitin screening, and screen-positive isolates were further subjected to inhibitor-based detection method, phenotypic confirmatory test, disc antagonism test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and isoelectric focusing (IEF). Results: In this study, 33% of E. coli were resistant to cefoxitin, of which 35% were found to be positive for AmpC β-lactamase by inhibitor-based phenotypic test. Of the AmpC-positive isolates, 83% were positive for ESBLs, whereas 25% were producing inducible AmpC β-lactamases. PCR and IEF showed CIT and EBC types of AmpC β-lactamases present in the tested isolates. Conclusion: Our study showed the presence of inducible AmpC enzymes and ESBLs in E. coli isolates and PCR identified more isolates to be AmpC producers.


In this seminal new work, Martin Shaw, a leading expert on the sociology of war, argues that the new Western way of war is in crisis. He charts the development of a new warfare, after Vietnam, through the Falklands, the Gulf, Kosovo and Afghanistan. He argues that in the Iraq (mis)adventure (of which he provides a detailed analysis) and the War on Terror, the US has consistently flouted the key rules that enabled Western states to fight these earlier wars successfully. The results are not only political failure and a disaster in Iraq, but also a loss of credibility for the very idea of Western warfare. For Shaw, the new way of war focuses on containing risks to the lives of Western soldiers in order to minimise political and electoral risk to governments. Risk is transferred to innocent civilians, whose killing is explained away as 'accidental'. Yet the idea of managing risk is fundamentally at odds with the brutal, unpredictable nature of war. Ultimately, attempts to manage, govern and rule over the risks of war produce greater risks for those in power. The New Western Way of War is a moral and political statement as well as a major contribution to sociology and international relations. It will make compelling reading not only for students and scholars of these disciplines, but for anyone concerned about Western political and military power, and the future for global justice.


A description is given of the design and construction of two instruments for studying atmospheric optics. One device, the Recording Polar Nephelometer, measures the volume scattering index of light passing through a sample of natural atmosphere, with scattering angle, polarization, and wavelength as variables. A new calibration procedure has been developed which employs a diffusing screen of known reflectance and transmittance as the standard. The second device, the Portable Transmissometer, measures the extinction coefficient with an accuracy of 5% under all conditions. These instruments are transported by a specially-equipped station wagon to form a mobile research unit. Samples of results obtained in fog and clear air are included.


While price-fixing on platforms can attract severe enforcement action, as shown by the Amazon poster case, a more nuanced picture emerges regarding the fixing of prices for sellers by sharing economy platforms. This paper explores possible antitrust responses to such centralised platform-driven price-fixing. The paper, first, provides an introduction to the sharing economy and pricing models on such platforms. Then, it investigates the extent to which established case law and frameworks applied in competition law fit with the incentive structure and the operation of such platforms. In the final section, the paper highlights key questions from a competition law and from a policy perspective. It highlights how such practices defy traditional antitrust thinking and give rise to new policy and legal challenges.


Most economic theory is based on the assumption that economies grow in a linear fashion. Recessions, depressions and (financial) crises are explained by policy mistakes. However, economic development has historically been uneven, and this state of affairs continues today. This book argues that twentieth century economic theory has marginalized individualism and organizational variety, and puts forward the case for a pluralist approach. This book represents a unique synthesis of business theory and economic theory, which pinpoints the problems with many current mainstream theories and sets out new agendas for research. Here, Maria Brouwer argues that market competition is not about adapting to changes from outside, but is driven by human motivation and goal directed behavior. This gives managerial skills, which do not traditionally have a significant place in mainstream economic theory, a key role. It also highlights the need for organizations that have a motivational culture and appreciate human capital. This differs from the traditional view of the firm as a production function dictated by technology. Brower argues that organizations should be depicted as voluntary associations of people that pursue goals of their own, while firms compete on markets, where relative performance determines their fate. This argument builds on older theories of innovation and market competition that live on in business school curricula, and paints a picture of an economy directed by individuals and firms. This signals a bold departure from standard economic thinking.


Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are widely used for natural language processing, time-series prediction, or text analysis tasks. The internal structure of RNNs inference and training in terms of data or control dependencies across their fundamental numerical kernels complicate the exploitation of model parallelism, which is the reason why just data-parallelism has been traditionally applied to accelerate RNNs. This paper presents W-Par (Wavefront-Parallelization), a comprehensive approach for RNNs inference and training on CPUs that relies on applying model parallelism into RNNs models. We use fine-grained pipeline parallelism in terms of wavefront computations to accelerate multi-layer RNNs running on multi-core CPUs. Wavefront computations have been widely applied in many scientific computing domains like stencil kernels or dynamic programming. W-Par divides RNNs workloads across different parallel tasks by defining input and output dependencies for each RNN cell. Our experiments considering different RNNs models demonstrate that W-Par achieves up to 6.6X speed-up for RNN models inference and training in comparison to current state-of-the-art implementations on modern multi-core CPU architectures. Importantly, W-Par maximizes performance on a wide range of scenarios, including different core counts or memory hierarchy configurations, without requiring any change at the source code level.


A key ingredient for modelling many inner-magnetospheric processes is the realistic representation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of the inner-magnetospheric electric field, or, IMEF. The Cluster Mission provides a unique opportunity to construct an IMEF model using electric field measurements from both the electron drift instrument (EDI) and the electric fields and waves instrument (EFW). A superset of IMEF data is formed by merging EDI and EFW data. Challenges presented by the merging process include the handling of compromised perpendicular electric field ðE?Þ calculations, electric field offsets, scaling problems, and spurious fields. The present goal is to produce the highest quality merged IMEF data set possible which is minimally affected by these issues. Preliminary investigation of the merging process on Cluster 1 for the years 2001–2003 has revealed that merging is a worthwhile exercise. The data sets are shown to be complementary, and the IMEF merged data set is superior to either data set alone in terms of improved spatial coverage, and coverage of a wider range of geomagnetic activity levels. Preliminary use of the merged IMEF data set to construct a parameterized, equatorial, electric field model for the inner magnetosphere, the UNH-IMEF model, is also presented. The electric field morphology produced by this preliminary version of the UNH-IMEF model shows the expected sensitivity to IMF orientation. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PACS: 94.30.cb; 94.20.Ss; 94.30.cs; 94.80.+g


Abstract The sagebrush biome in the western United States is home to the imperiled greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and encompasses rangelands used for cattle production. Cattle grazing activities have been implicated in the range-wide decline of the sage-grouse, but no studies have investigated the relationship between the physiological condition of sage-grouse and the presence of grazing cattle. We sampled 329 sage-grouse across four sites (two grazed and two ungrazed) encompassing 13 600 km2 during the spring and late summer–early autumn of 2005 to evaluate whether demographic factors, breeding status, plasma protein levels, and residence in a cattle-grazed habitat were associated with the stress hormone corticosterone. Corticosterone was measured in feces as immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites (ICM). Males captured during the lekking season exhibited higher ICM levels than all others. Prenesting female sage-grouse captured in a grazed site had higher ICM levels than those in ungrazed sites and prenesting female plasma protein levels were negatively correlated with ICM concentrations. With the use of a small-scale spatial model, we identified a positive correlation between cattle pat count and sage-grouse ICM levels. Our model indicated that ICM levels increased by 2.60 ng · g−1 dry feces for every increase in the number of cow pats found in the vicinity. Management practices will benefit from future research regarding the consistency and mechanism(s) responsible for this association and, importantly, how ICM levels and demographic rates are related in this species of conservation concern.