This study describes the design and development of multifuctional poly(amidoamine)s (PAAs) capable to form self-assembled nanocomplexes with peptides and proteins, as functional bioresponsive vectors for protein delivery to targeting cells in vitro and in vivo.
The representative examples of this novel family of water-soluble PAAs have very promising properties to function as vectors for highly potent and non-toxic intracellular protein delivery. The synthesis procedure of these polymers is compatible with the use of a variety of functionalized amine monomers, allowing large variation in the structure of the polymers, and tuning of the chemical and biophysical properties that are of significance for efficient protein delivery.
We have designed PAAs able to form nanosized complexes at neutral pH by a self-assembly process with model proteins, such as β-galactosidase, lysozyme, human serum albumin, ovalbumin, p24 and human insulin, and a model peptide for brain therapy. These nanocomplexes are stable at physiological pH and efficiently protect protein integrity (i.e. no denaturation occurs). Upon acidification of the solution after endosomal uptake, the pH decrease and consequently the change of charge lead to decreased protein-polymer interaction and thus a tendency for the nanoparticles to destabilize. Moreover, for nanocomplexes made from PAAs containing disulfide linkages in their polymeric backbone (SS-PAAs), fast disintegration of the complexes and release of the protein payload is observed in reductive solution, mimicking the intracellular environment. Profection experiments showed that proteins encapsulated in PAA nanoparticles were successfully internalized into the cells with remaining activity and excellent cell-viability. In addition of providing intracellular bioreduction, the presence of the disulfide groups also increased the mucoadhesive properties of the nanoparticles. In the presence of mucus secreting cells, we showed that the SS-PAA-based nanocomplexes were capable to successfully internalize protein into the cell cytosol with a much higher extent than nanoparticles based on PAAs lacking disulfide linkages.
The results described in this thesis indicate that PAAs should create opportunities for novel applications in protein delivery for oral and nasal administration, as well as delivery to the brain.


Twenty years ago (King 1978) I proposed the biocosmological thesis that the form of life's origin and evolution is a cosmological interactive process defined in the cosmic symmetry-breaking at the origin of the universe. With the passage of time, the pendulum has shifted from the improbability of life as a random molecular accident to an awareness that central biomolecules may be cosmologically abundant products of the clouds forming young stars leading to an RNA-era in which both catalysis and replication emerged from one cosmologically dervied molecule RNA. . This paper unveils the non-linear quantum foundations of biocosmology as the founding science of life. Part I of this paper covers the following topics: 1. Paradise on the Cosmic Equator; 2. Generating a Complex Twisted Universe; 3. The Abudantly Fecund Universe; 4. Quantum Chemistry as Non-Linear Complexity; 5. The Non-recurrent Table and the Elementary Bifurcation Tree; 6. Structural Dynamics of Core Polymerization Pathways; 7. RNA and Cosmology; 8. Diverse Horizons of the RNA Epoch; 9. Universal Stability Structures in Molecular Biology; 10. The Last Universal Common Ancestor; and 11. The Precocious Origins of Life on Earth.


Recombinant full-length human CD23 has been incorporated into fluorescent liposomes to demonstrate the existence of a ligand for CD23 that is different from the previously known ligand, immunoglobulin E (IgE). The novel ligand for CD23 is expressed on subsets of normal T cells and B cells as well as on some myeloma cell lines. The interaction of full-length CD23 with its ligand is specifically inhibited by anti-CD23 monoclonal antibodies and by IgE, and it is Ca2+ dependent. Moreover, tunicamycin treatment of a CD23-binding cell line, RPMI 8226, significantly reduced the binding of CD23 incorporated into fluorescent liposomes, and a sugar, fucose-1-phosphate, was found to inhibit CD23-liposome binding to RPMI 8226 cells, suggesting the contribution of sugar structures on the CD23 ligand. In addition, CD23- transfected COS cells were shown to form specific conjugates with the cell line RPMI 8226. These data demonstrate that CD23 interacts with a ligand, which is different from IgE, and that CD23 can be considered as a new surface adhesion molecule involved in cell-cell interactions.


Professionals working in neonatology have a duty to act in the best interests of the infant. Normally, the goal of care is to sustain life and restore health. However, there are circumstances in which treatments that sustain life are not considered to be in the infant's best interests. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) guidance, Withholding or Withdrawing Life Sustaining Treatment in Children: A Framework for Practice ,1 focuses on the decision making process. The British Association of Perinatal Medicine guidance, Palliative Care (Supportive and End of Life Care) A Framework for Clinical Practice in Perinatal Medicine ,2 sets out the principles of palliative care for infants. Following a systematic review of the literature we have developed evidence-based guidance for the practical aspects of caring for an infant receiving palliative and end of life care.3 We define palliative care as the 'the active, total care of infants whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment; the goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for infants and their families'. Here we summarise the Guidance, a publication from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust developed in collaboration with the RCPCH.

We established a Guidance Development Group (GDG). The Guidance was developed in accordance with AGREE II criteria. A systematic search and literature review were carried out focusing on five areas of management:

1. Care of the infant and family

2. Recognising and addressing conflict surrounding end of life decisions

3. Supporting parents and families

4. The postmortem examination and organ donation

5. Supporting staff members.

The evidence gathered was synthesised and a series of recommendations were made, graded according to the level of evidence. Where the strength of the evidence was poor or absent, recommendations were based on informal consensus within the GDG. It is …


Mobile positioning is a topic of high interest in current mobile communication systems. The position location is usually derived from the estimates of the distances between mobile and the base stations, which are obtained from the time-of-arrival of the line-of-sight (LOS) component. In time-varying multipath fading channels, the LOS component is not always present, and even when it is present, it might be obstructed by one or several components arriving within short delay (i.e., shorter than the width of the main lobe of the pulse shaping function). This situation of overlapped paths is one of the main sources of error in LOS estimation. We introduce here an adaptive threshold for estimating the LOS component in the presence of overlapped multipath components for wideband CDMA (WCDMA) positioning applications. Our threshold technique is used in conjunction with Teager-Kaiser (TK) based delay estimation. The TK estimator was previously introduced in the context of RAKE receiver and it was shown to be an efficient method for solving closely spaced multipaths.


Vietnam has been among the most successful East Asian economies, especially in weathering the external shocks of recent globalization crises. Examination of economic performance and policy responses shows rising dependence on foreign finance around each crisis, and actions by the government to counteract that dependence and bolster the domestic economy while continuing to restructure the economy toward greater emphasis on the private sector. Growth, employment and poverty alleviation have been maintained at the expense of renewed inflation, larger budget deficits, and currency depreciation. The "stop-go" nature of present macroeconomic policy is the consequence of balancing growth versus inflation, responding to severe external shocks and holding to a growth objective in the face of substantial internal and external criticism.


Bacteria and fungi have developed stringent and sophisticated mechanisms for the control or regulation of both anabolic and catabolic pathways for survival of the species. The control of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis has been extensively studied in fungi and bacteria, and it is clear that nature has evolved many solutions to the problem of control in branched pathways. It is pertinent to understand that these control or regulatory mechanisms have been detected or depicted in only a few selected bacteria and fungi, and they have in vast cases been untested and unproven to occur in several other bacteria or fungi; however, when ardent research is extant, they are obtainable or discovered. Certain normal mechanisms by which bacterial and fungal cells regulate or control their metabolic activities are stated in this paper. This study of protein-nucleic acid interactions in the regulation of amino acid biosynthetic pathways in bacteria and fungi reveals the unique regulatory mechanisms in these organisms.


Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in two groups of dogs; Group I animals consisted of large dogs that served as recipients of livers obtained from smaller dogs while Group II animals consisted of dogs that received liver from donor dogs of nearly the same size. The small‐for‐size livers transplanted into the Group I dogs rapidly increased in size over the course of 2 weeks until they achieved a size equal to that originally present in the larger recipient dogs. In contrast, the livers transplanted into dogs of the same size as the donors underwent some degree of atrophy. In both groups of animals, plasma levels of insulin and glucagon and hepatic (graft) activities of thymidine kinase and ornithine decarboxylase were followed serially. The only difference between the two groups of animals for these measures was that the ornithine decarboxylase activity rose to a greater degree in the liver that underwent graft enlargement. These data suggest that recipient size determines, at least in part, liver graft size once it is transplanted. These data also suggest that of the parameters followed, only ornithine decarboxylase activity parallels the finding of growth of the transplanted liver.


Introduction Percutaneous transcutaneous cholangiography (PTC) is widely used to relieve malignant obstructive jaundice, especially when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has failed. Decompression of the biliary tree in patients who are not suitable for surgical resection may improve quality of life and facilitate palliative chemotherapy. Methods Using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), patients with cancer of the pancreas, biliary tree, gallbladder, small intestine and liver that underwent PTC were identified. Patients who underwent curative resection post PTC were excluded. Mortality, complication rates, readmissions and variation in outcomes between healthcare providers were examined. Associations between age, sex, comorbidity, cancer type and mortality were examined using multivariate regression analysis. Results Between April 2001 and March 2014, 16,363 subjects were identified (50.2% male and mean age 73). Pancreatic cancer was the most common site at 58% and 61.1% of patients had undergone a previous ERCP. In-hospital and 30 day mortality was 15.3% (CI14.8–15.9%) and 23.1% (CI 22.5–23.8%) respectively and median survival was 92 days (IQR 33–244). There was no reduction in mortality over the study period. The percentage of patients receiving chemotherapy after their PTC was 40.7% in those aged under 60 but fell to 2.5% in those aged over 80. Emergency readmission rate was 20.6%. 35.7% of patients suffered a serious complication after their procedure, the most common being infective (16.2%), stent blockage or displacement (6.2%) and acute kidney injury (4.7%). 30 day mortality was associated with increasing age (80+ years, OR 2.91 (95% CI 2.53–3.33) p < 0.001), a higher comorbidity score (20+ 3.03 (2.57–3.56) p < 0.001) and pre-existing renal dysfunction (2.23 (2.00–2.40) p < 0.001). Female patients had a better outlook at 30 days (0.90 (0.84–0.97) p = 0.009). 30 day mortality varied from 9.1 to 50% across providers and it was lowest in hospitals performing a higher volume of procedures per year (50+ 0.80 (0.71–0.91) p < 0.001). Conclusion In subjects undergoing PTC for the palliative relief of malignant jaundice, 30 day mortality is 23.1%, major complications occur in 35.7% and readmission occurs in 20.6%. Mortality is highest in older males with increasing co-morbidity and in trusts performing low volumes of procedures. Careful multidisciplinary selection of patients who will benefit from PTC for relief of significant symptoms from jaundice or as a bridge to chemotherapy is clearly merited. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


This paper discusses the social, religious, and resource considerations around infertility and the provision of assisted reproductive technologies in the Muslim Middle East. Demonstrating the social need for IVF by millions of involuntarily childless Muslim men and women, as well as the religious permissibility of the technique according to Islam, we provide the positive examples of Turkey and Egypt regarding how resource concerns may be tackled and access to ARTs broadened. We end the paper by making a call for ARTs and infertility treatments to be incorporated into comprehensive reproductive care regimes, and for reproductive rights to encompass the facilitation as well as the control of fertility.


The majority of public accounting firms now offer flexible work arrangements to their professional employees. Presumably these arrangements help accommodate employee needs to manage work and family demands, while also improving job satisfaction and retention. The ability of flexible work arrangements to achieve these goals has received little attention. The current paper addresses this issue by reporting the results of a survey of CPAs working under a flexible work arrangement and a similar group of CPAs working under a standard arrangement but who appear to be plausible candidates for a flexible work arrangement. The survey elicited information about several key employment variables: job‐related stressors (e.g., role conflict, role ambiguity, and role overload), burnout tendencies (e.g., emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, and depersonalization) and behavioral job outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction and turnover intentions). Results show that CPAs on flexible work arrangements report high...


Purpose: to provide a clinical and physiological rationale for the use of physical therapy for patients with ankle bone fractures. Materials and methods: Theoretical analysis and generalization of data from the scientific and methodological literature on physical therapy for patients with ankle bone fractures. Results: physical therapy methods and their effectiveness were evaluated and analyzed. The use of physical therapy programs allows to restore the function of the musculoskeletal system and the working capacity of patients. Conclusions: it was established that the improvement of the results of treatment and rehabilitation depends on complex medical and physical therapy.


Patella ferruginea is an endemic limpet of the Western Mediterranean Sea, presently considered the most threatened marine macroinvertebrate in the region and included in several international conservation directives. Its populations were widespread throughout the Western Mediterranean in the late Pleistocene (Tyrrhenian period), still largely distributed until the 19 th century and presently confined into small populations in few restricted areas due to human harvesting for food and baits, construction of coastal infrastructures and the effects of seawater pollution. In particular, the species was reported as presently missing in the whole of the Italian continental coasts and measures are in progress to reintroduce the species through translocation and reproduction in controlled conditions along the Ligurian coasts (North-western Mediterranean). Recent surveys along the Ligurian coasts, performed to assess the most suitable sites for reintroduction, allowed the discovery of 32 specimens of this endemic limpet, considered disappeared in the area. These findings shed new light on the ability of natural dispersion of the species, the relevance of the measures set in place to restore the presently rarefied populations and provide hints for the selection and management of sites within the Natura 2000 Ecological network.


Objective: A low-cost microscope slide scanner was constructed for the purpose of digital imaging of newborn piglet brain tissue and to quantify fluorescent microspheres in tissue. Methods: Using a standard digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, fluorescent imaging of newborn piglet brain tissue was performed. A computer algorithm available for download was created to detect fluorescent microspheres in the brain tissue slides and to calculate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The precision of the algorithm was tested by comparing with manual counting of the fluorescent microspheres. Finally, bright-field imaging was tested by adding light diffuser film. Results: Cost of the slide scanner was a fraction of the cost of a commercial slide scanner. The slide scanner was able to image a large number of tissue slides in a semiautomatic manner and provided a large field of view (FOV) of 101 mm 2 combined with a resolution of 2.9 μm. The mean difference (SD) between manual and automatic counts was in absolute numbers 0.32 (1.5) microspheres ranging from -5 to 5 microspheres per slide. The relative total difference between automatic and manual counts was -3.1%. Conclusions: A slide scanner was constructed and an automatic algorithm to detect fluorescent microspheres in tissue was developed and validated and showed an acceptable difference to "gold standard" manual counting. The slide scanner can be regarded as a low-cost alternative for researchers when digital slide imaging and quantification of fluorescent microspheres are needed.


The purposes of this study were (1) to see the change of total work during isokinetic exercise and (2) to suggest more advanced methods of measuring muscular endurance through considering not only the number of repetitions, but also exercise duration. The subjects were 54 healthy students who performed continuous maximal isokinetic knee flexion and extension until their total work per time reached 50% of their maximal total work. Total work sums, exercise duration in seconds, and the number of repetitions were compared with reference to subject gender, angular velocity, and muscle group. The relationships between total work sum, duration and number of repetitions, and thigh circumference plus leg length were computed. The results showed the total work sums differed greatly from muscle group to muscle group and with different angular velocities. The duration in seconds and the number of repetitions differed only at higher angular velocity. These results suggest that measures of endurance should be included along with measures of total work when isokinetic studies are done. When isokinetic exercise is performed, measures of endurance in seconds are more accurate at an angular velocity of 60 degrees per second and numbers of repetitions are more accurate at an angular velocity of 180 degrees per second.


The thesis is concerned with the interrelationships between the body, making sense of experience through performance, and the conceptual and scholarly understanding that people construct around experience. The lens through which these interrelationships are explored is phenomenology, both in terms of phenomenological theory per se and, more specifically, with theories related to performance and pedagogical process.
The research question explores the relationship between the body, space/place and digital media through four cycles of participatory action research in which practice and theory are interrelated. The experience of (the body) in space and place is captured and re-created with digital media in the live performance space drawing attention to spatial and temporal anomalies that both de-stabilise and re-affirm what is it to be 'now' and 'here.' Ideas shift from the determined to the disintegrated, and the body moves between a critical engagement with experience and a pre-reflective and heightened consciousness of 'being' in performance – as maker, performer and viewer, and as learner, teacher and researcher. Answers to questions are replaced by gaps and spaces between – in which the known, the not known, and the
imagined unfold and become exposed.
Experiments shift from the body immersed in and subsumed by technology to the body, live (not mediatised) in performance, and again to the live as mediatised, exposing the phenomena that we encounter. Performance emerges as the body touched, sensed and multi-faceted in an in-between space of inter-relationships, inter-subjectivities and inter-medialities. The body is both fullness and void, coexistent and isolated – in suspense as it hovers and 'is' of all worlds.
Investigations are devised and delivered, with students as co-researchers, through a teaching and learning model that guides and exposes, disrupts and transforms – creating a pedagogy of instability and discovery in order to reveal new and innovative performance.


Considering the high required capital outlay and moderate risk of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) investment, economic justification techniques are insufficient by themselves since they cannot cope with the benefits such as flexibility and enhanced quality offered by advanced manufacturing technologies. A robust decision-making procedure for evaluating FMS requires the consideration of both economic and strategic investment measures. A distance-based fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) framework based on the concepts of ideal and anti-ideal solutions is presented for the selection of an FMS from a set of mutually exclusive alternatives. The proposed method provides the means for integrating the economic figure of merit with the strategic performance variables. The multicriteria decision approach presented here enables us to incorporate data in the forms of linguistic variables, triangular fuzzy numbers and crisp numbers into the evaluation process of FMS alternatives. Linguistic variables are also used to indicate the criteria's importance weights assigned by the decisionmakers. A comprehensive example illustrates the application of the multicriteria decision analysis.


The objective of this work was to formulate extended release tablets of highly water-soluble Trazadone Hydrochloride using natural gums xanthum, guar and acacia gum as cost effective, nontoxic, easily available and suitable hydrophilic matrix systems by direct compression method and to study the effect of different concentration of polymers like xanthum gun, guar gum, and acacia on release rate from tablet. FTIR analysis does not show any interaction of drug with Excipients. Formulation was optimized on the basis of acceptable pre and post compressional parameters. The results of dissolution studies indicated that Batch F6 exhibited drug release of 93% at the end of 12h to provide sufficient concentration for achieving satisfactory therapeutic value for extended period of time. The drug release from Batch F6 formulation was sustained up to 12 h. Fitting in-vitro drug release data from optimized matrix formulation to zero order followed by Higuchi model indicated that diffusion could be mechanism of drug release. The n value indicates a non-fickian or anomalous diffusion pattern. This means that both the diffusion and erosion mechanisms were prevalent.


We find that option expensiveness, as measured by implied volatility, is higher for low-ESG stocks, showing that investors pay a premium in the option market to hedge ESG-related uncertainty. Using delta-hedged option returns, we estimate this ESG premium to be about 0.3% per month. All three components of ESG contribute to option pricing. The effect of ESG performance heightens after the announcement of Paris Agreement, after speeches of Greta Thunberg, and in the aftermath of Me-Too movement. We find that investors pay ESG premium to hedge volatility, jump, and other higher moment risks. The influence of ESG on option premia is stronger for firms that are closer to end-consumers, facing severer product competition, with higher investors' ESG awareness, and without corporate hedging activity.


Rationale: Nitrogen multiple‐breath washout (N2 MBW) is a promising tool for assessing early lung damage in children with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but it can be a time‐consuming procedure. We compared alternative test‐shortening endpoints with the most commonly reported N2 MBW outcome, the lung clearance index, calculated as lung volume turnovers required to reach 2.5% of the starting N2 concentration (LCI2.5). Methods: Cross‐sectional study of triplicate N2 MBW measurements obtained in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (N = 60), primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) patients (N = 28), and matched healthy controls (N = 48) aged 5–18 years. Bland–Altman analysis was used to compare LCI2.5 with earlier LCI endpoints (3%, 4%, 5%, 7%, and 9% of starting N2 concentration), Cn@TO6 (defined as % of N2 starting concentration when reaching six lung volume turnovers), and LCI derived from only two N2 MBW runs in each session. N2 MBW endpoints were analyzed as z‐scores calculated from healthy controls. Results: In PCD, Cn@TO6 and LCI2.5 exhibited similar values (mean [95%CI] difference: 0.33 [−0.24; 0.90] z‐scores), reducing the test duration by one‐third (5.4 min; 95%CI: 4.0; 6.8). All other tested alternative endpoints exhibited increasing disagreement with increasing LCI2.5. With an average reduction in test duration of 40%, LCI2.5 derived from two runs exhibited good agreement in all children. Conclusions: Cn@TO6 may be suggested as a potential test‐shortening endpoint in school children with PCD. In CF, early test termination may reduce measurement power with advancing pulmonary disease, suggesting differences in underlying pathophysiology. Two technically acceptable N2 MBW runs may be sufficient in school children irrespective of diagnosis with CF or PCD. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:624–632. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The induction of pre-cancerous squamous metaplasia in lungs of ferrets by high doses of dietary beta-carotene (BC) and cigarette smoke is compared with and contrasted to the different effects of high doses of dietary BC on skin papilloma and carcinoma induction by the two-stage carcinogenesis protocol. Whereas high dietary BC can inhibit the conversion of skin papillomas to carcinomas, such treatment would not be expected to inhibit smoke-induced lung tumors.


De-centralised renewable energy power generation is proposed to be a significant part of the future of electricity generation technology, with wind energy playing a significant role. With half of the global population residing in urban and suburban areas, the opportunity for individuals or small organisations to generate power locally facilitates the decrease in losses associated with long distance electricity generation and transmission. Small-scale wind turbine applications within suburban/urban areas are exposed to high level of gust and turbulence compared to flow over less rough surfaces (e.g. coastal/offshore areas, open grasslands, rural areas, etc.). There is, therefore, a need for such systems not only to cope with, but to thrive under such rapidly fluctuating, complex urban wind conditions. Assessing the potential of a proposed urban wind turbine project is hindered by insufficient assessment of both the urban wind resource and power capabilities of certain turbine designs within a potential suburban/urban site. This, however, requires estimation of important factors such as local atmospheric turbulence, total energy available to the turbine system and the potential power output to be generated should a certain turbine system design be installed within a potential site.
The research presented in this thesis proposes a methodology for scoping the potential of small wind turbines within a built environment through effective assessment of the urban wind resource and power capabilities of small turbine systems. The aim is to address the lack of accurate and affordable methods for site viability assessment of small wind turbines within a built environment. This methodology encompasses three sub-models which estimate the local atmospheric turbulence (represented by the turbulence intensity, T.I.), additional energy within the gusty urban wind (represented by the excess energy content, EEC) and the turbine power capability at different heights within a potential site.
Firstly, to quantify the influence of location on the total energy available to a small wind turbine at a potential site, an in-depth evaluation of the urban wind resource is completed. This includes the development of methods to predict the local atmospheric turbulence at a given turbine mast height, and the additional energy available to the turbine which is usually under represented when using assessments based only on mean wind speeds. This is achieved using high temporal resolution wind measurement datasets from eight potential turbine sites within the urban and suburban environments and LiDAR building height datasets from three major UK cities namely, Leeds, Manchester and London. Subsequently, new analytical models are developed that allow the mapping of atmospheric turbulence and excess energy at different heights over Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester and London by combining the T.I. and EEC estimation models with currently available methods of predicting mean wind speeds over urban areas. The results from these two models highlight the importance of including building height variation and changes in wind direction within the assessment, and also the value of employing detailed building geometric data as model inputs.
A simple low-cost 2-D multiple streamtube vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) model capable of simulating turbine performance in a fluctuating wind isdeveloped. Combining this VAWT model with dynamic stall features and variable speed control strategy, enables a system based design of wind turbines operating within suburban/urban environment. A method of estimating the performance of a turbine operation within an urban wind resource is developed by assessing the power capabilities of the VAWT model using high-resolution wind measurement datasets as model inputs. This is combined with the T.I. and EEC estimation models in developing a new model known as the turbine power estimation (TPE) model used in mapping turbine performance at different heights over Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester and London. Comparison between the TPE model and a generic power curve is made, hence suggesting the possibility of using a simple model to estimate the power capabilities of a certain turbine design while accounting for local turbulence within an urban wind resource.
Finally, the investigation of the cumulative potential of small wind turbine power generation in Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester and London indicates a largely untapped wind resource available (represented by high EEC values estimated within small distances in each city) which could be harnessed if gust tracking solutions were to be commercially available. It also highlights the importance of site viability assessment and its financial implications illustrated by capacity factor maps over the four cities, which has practical value for turbine manufacturers and urban planners alike. Thus, for urban wind applications to achieve their optimum deployment potential, this research study proposes a simple, effective and affordable tool for preliminary scoping the potential of certain small wind turbine designs within a suburban/urban environment, and hence encouraging effective carbon savings. In order to maximize the impact of this research study, it would be valuable that these maps be extended to other towns/cities and made available and easily accessible to individuals and interested parties, and hence this is a major objective of future work.


The paper compares the cost and performance of a new kind of restricted instruction cache architecture-the stall cache-against several other conventional cache architectures. The stall cache minimizes the size of an onchip instruction cache by caching only those instructions whose instruction fetch phase collides with the memory access phase of a preceding load or store instruction. Many existing machines provide a single cycle external cache memory. The results show that, under this assumption, the stall cache always outperforms an equivalent sized on-chip instruction cache, reducing external memory access stalls by approximately 10%. In addition results are presented for a system using an on-chip data cache, and for one with a double width data bus and short instruction prefetch buffer.<<ETX>>


BACKGROUND
Minimal scientific information is available to inform public health policy on binge drinking prior to pregnancy detection. The nonhuman primate provides a valuable animal model for examining consequences to reproduction and offspring function that may result from this common pattern of alcohol abuse.

METHODS
Adult female rhesus monkeys were dosed with 1.5 g/kg per day ethanol (EtOH) by gavage 2 d/wk beginning 7 months prior to mating and continuing to pregnancy detection at 19 to 20 days gestation. Postnatal evaluation of control (n = 6) and EtOH-treated (n = 4) infants included a neonatal neurobehavioral assessment, a visual paired comparison (cognitive) test at 35 days of age, and mother-infant interaction at 100 to 112 days of age.

RESULTS
Alcohol-exposed neonates did not differ from controls in posture and reflex measures. Longer durations of visual fixation, suggesting slower visual processing, and greater novelty preference were seen in the alcohol group. At early weaning age, as infants spent more time away from their dams, more of the reunions between mother and infant were initiated by the mothers in the alcohol-exposed group, suggesting a more immature mother-infant interaction.

CONCLUSIONS
Intermittent high-dose alcohol exposure (binge drinking) discontinued at early pregnancy detection in rhesus monkey can result in altered behavioral function in the infant. Mediating effects on ovum, reproductive tract, and early embryo can be explored in this model. Studies of longer-term consequences in human populations and animal models are needed.


Persistent organic pollutants are object of a global threaty between governments, including measures to reduce or eliminate their release in the environment. Their presence and levels found in some organisms of the Mediterranean Sea appear to give some concern. The preliminary risk assessment presented here, infact, for dioxin-like action chemicals, shows a potential hazard for species belonging to higher levels of the food web. For example, in the eggs of a Mediterranean shark species, dioxin-like action PCBs concentration levels are one magnitude order higher than the No Observed Effect Level, evaluated on eggs of a laboratory fish species. Marine mammals, in addition, appear particularly sensitive to tissue levels of POPs. Their sensitivity to specific pathogenic organisms appears increased in specimen showing higher levels of these microcontaminants.


ABSTRACT Social support can play a critical role in the development of Internet skills. Research on support-seeking for digital media use has primarily considered informal sources such as family and friends, and formal sources such as people employed to provide assistance. Yet, people may also seek support online. Social network sites and other online communities are often used to ask questions on a wide range of topics from both friends and strangers. Drawing on a survey of young adults aged 25–26, we find that online question-asking, although used less frequently than informal and formal support, is a relevant source of support, which expands users' available resources and has the potential to improve Internet skills. Results show that Internet skills and social capital explain differences in support-seeking behaviors among young adults informing our understanding of how inequities in social support, and ultimately digital inequalities, manifest themselves in this realm of Internet use.


Would you please pass the word on to readers that papers presented at the MIT summer course in system dynamics (described in my newsletter in the August issue, page 62), are obtainable at Xerox cost from System Dynamics Librarian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology E40-253, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. The two sets of Xerox study notes, costing $9.75 each, will also be available--hopefully, within


A systematic investigation of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) signal profiles recorded with normal (ms-range) and high (μs-range) temporal resolution for spherical and rod-shaped gold nanoparticles was performed. The experiments with nanorods were carried out on hemispherically capped cylindrical particles synthesized in the aspect ratio range from 1.5 to 4.5. A comparison of NP signals and time profiles for spherical and rod-shaped NPs revealed that (i) the volume of the particles can be assessed by conventional spICP-MS measurements using a joint, linear calibration plot; and (ii) the shape of signal time profiles and transit times for equal-volume spherical and rod-shaped NPs are different, based on which the aspect ratio can be calculated. By using the statistical evaluation of the high resolution signal time profiles, an analytical method was developed for the discrimination and dimensional analysis of nanorod-shaped NPs. The method is based on observing the shortest and longest transit times for nanoparticles. In the case of spherical NPs, these transit times are very similar, whereas in the case of nanorods, the shortest and longest transit times correlate with the characteristic width and length of the particles, respectively. This method is the first nanorod dimensional characterization method in the literature, which is based solely on ICP-MS measurements. It was shown that the accuracy of the method is very good – the characteristic length and width of the particles could be determined with less than 6% error.


The paper presents the test results for the microstructure of ZnO varistors comprising high voltage gapless surge arresters. The tests were performed on varistors produced in different periods and by various manufacturers. The research was inspired by different characteristics of changes in values of current flowing through surge arresters as a function of changes in values of system voltage in a 220 kV substation, and the temperature in a multi-year cycle. Furthermore, the effects of varistor microstructure degradation following a failure of an unsealed surge arrester were investigated. The results provided the grounds for assessment of ZnO varistor microstructure parameters in terms of their durability and resistance to degradation processes.


We study logics defined in terms of second-order monadic monoidal and groupoidal quantifiers. These are generalized quantifiers defined by monoid and groupoid word-problems, equivalently, by regular and context-free languages. We give a computational classification of the expressive power of these logics over strings with varying built-in predicates. In particular, we show that ATIME(n) can be logically characterized in terms of second-order monadic monoidal quantifiers.


Over the course of the eighteenth century, the maroons of Jamaica developed an independent identity that was separate both from the slave community from which they originated and from the colonial community. The maroons of Jamaica won their political sovereignty in 1738 when they signed a peace treaty with the British colonial government of Jamaica. In so doing, they—contrary to the resistance scholarship that has historically characterized maroon studies—became complicit in the very system of colonial oppression they had escaped. Maroons used this system to their advantage to legitimize their political status and to create stability for their community. This study explores the ways in which maroons participated in colonial administration through examining the events of the First Maroon War (1730-1740), Tacky's War (1760-1761), and the Second Maroon War (1795-1796). Throughout the course of these conflicts, maroons asserted their independence, maintained their sovereignty through collusion in oppression, and ultimately lost their sovereignty after the negotiations of the Second Maroon War failed.


Micro arc oxidation is an effective method to improve corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys and the selected electric parameters have great effects on coating properties. In this paper, the effects of the unipolar pulse and the bipolar pulse on surface morphology, chemical compositions and corrosion resistance were studied. When working voltage was higher than breakdown voltage, sparks appeared on sample surface whether the unipolar pulse or the bipolar pulse was used. However, under the same positive working voltage, the spark size and lifetime obtained by the bipolar pulse were evidently larger and longer than those by the unipolar pulse, which resulted in rougher anodic coatings and worse corrosion resistance by the former than the latter.


The characteristics of wheat malt, wort, and beer from two Korean wheat varieties (Keumkang and Anzunbaengi; KM and AM, respectively) were compared to those of two commercial wheat malt controls from the USA and Germany (UM and GM), to examine the feasibility of Korean wheat for brewing. The quality parameters of four wheat malts, chemical properties of wort using them, volatile compounds, sensory attributes, and consumer acceptability of four final beers (KB, AB, UB, and GB) were analysed. Additionally, the relationship of each parameter was determined through multiple factor analysis. Korean wheat malts were different from control malts in free amino nitrogen (FAN), soluble and total nitrogen, and Kolbach index. The extract (81.8–83.2%) and diastatic power (407–477 WK°) of all samples were in the brewing field's recommended range. The FAN and yeast cell population of the wort samples were similar during fermentation except on the initial day, which showed a high FAN and yeast cell population for KM wort. Eleven volatile compounds with variable importance in projection scores above 1.0 were responsible for discrimination of the beer samples by partial least squares discriminant analysis. The four beer samples' overall acceptance scores were not significantly different. However, their acceptance trends were different depending on consumer preference segments by agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis, implying the need for product development depending on the target consumer. Regarding sensory attributes, KB had a less fruity flavour than the other beer samples ( ) and sweetness of AB tended to be higher than the others. An association plot based on multiple factor analysis of the wheat beer samples, volatile compounds, sensory properties, and overall acceptance showed that sweetness, alcohol aroma, and fruity flavour were closely associated with AB and overall acceptance, while 2,3-butanediol and turbidity were placed opposite side of there.


Health effects from exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides is an intense matter of debate. Toxicity including genotoxicity of glyphosate alone has been repeatedly tested over the last 40 years. Contrastingly, few studies have conducted comparative investigations between glyphosate and its commercial herbicide formulations, such as Roundup. We thus performed the first in-depth comparative toxicogenomic evaluation of glyphosate and a typical European Union Roundup formulation by determining alterations in transcriptome and epigenome profiles.Glyphosate and the European Union reference commercial formulation Roundup MON 52276 (both at 0.5, 50, 175 mg/kg bw/day glyphosate equivalent concentration) were administered to rats in a subchronic 90-day toxicity study. Standard clinical biochemistry and kidney and liver histopathology was performed. In addition, transcriptomics and DNA methylation profiling of liver and selective gene expression analysis of kidneys was conducted. Furthermore, a panel of six mouse embryonic reporter stem cell lines validated to identify carcinogenic outcomes (DNA damage, oxidative stress, and protein misfolding) were used to provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of glyphosate and 3 Roundup formulations.Histopathology and serum biochemistry analysis showed that MON 52276 but not glyphosate treatment was associated with a statistically significant increase in hepatic steatosis and necrosis. Similar lesions were also present in the liver of glyphosate-treated groups but not in the control group. MON 52276 altered the expression of 96 genes in liver, with the most affected biological functions being TP53 activation by DNA damage and oxidative stress as well as the regulation of circadian rhythms. The most affected genes in liver also had their expression similarly altered in kidneys. DNA methylation profiling of liver revealed 5,727 and 4,496 differentially methylated CpG sites between the control group and the group of rats exposed to glyphosate and MON 52276, respectively. Direct DNA damage measurement by apurinic/apyrimidinic lesion formation in liver was increased with glyphosate exposure. Mechanistic evaluations showed that two Roundup herbicides but not glyphosate activated oxidative stress and misfolded protein responses.Taken together, the results of our study show that Roundup herbicides are more toxic than glyphosate, activating mechanisms involved in cellular carcinogenesis and causing gene expression changes reflecting DNA damage. This further highlights the power of high-throughput 'omics' methods to detect metabolic changes, which would be missed by relying solely on conventional biochemical and histopathological measurements. Our study paves the way for future investigations by reporting a panel of gene expression changes and DNA methylation sites, which can serve as biomarkers and potential predictors of negative health outcomes resulting from exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides.


Importance
Stroke centers are associated with better outcomes. There is substantial literature surrounding disparities in stroke outcomes for underserved populations. However, the existing literature has focused primarily on discrimination at the individual or institutional level, and studies of structural discrimination in stroke care are scant.

Objective
To examine differences in hospitals' likelihood of adopting stroke care certification between historically underserved and general communities.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This study combined a data set of hospital stroke certification from all general acute nonfederal hospitals in the continental US from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2019, with national, hospital, and census data to define historically underserved communities by racial and ethnic composition, income distribution, and rurality. For all categories except rurality, communities were categorized by the composition and degree of segregation of each characteristic. Cox proportional hazard models were then estimated to compare the hazard of adopting stroke care certification between historically underserved and general communities, adjusting for population size and hospital bed capacity. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to April 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Hospitals' likelihood of adopting stroke care certification.

Results
A total of 4984 hospitals were included. From 2009 to 2019, the total number of hospitals with stroke certification grew from 961 to 1763. Hospitals serving Black, racially segregated communities had the highest hazard of adopting stroke care certification (hazard ratio [HR], 1.67; 95% CI, 1.41-1.97) in models not accounting for population size, but their hazard was 26% lower than among those serving non-Black, racially segregated communities (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89) in models controlling for population and hospital size. Adoption hazard was lower in low-income communities compared with high-income communities, regardless of their level of economic segregation, and rural hospitals were much less likely to adopt any level of stroke care certification relative to urban hospitals (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.35-0.51).

Conclusions and Relevance
In this analysis of stroke certification adoption across acute care hospitals in the US from 2009 to 2019, hospitals in low-income and rural communities had a lower likelihood of receiving stroke certification than hospitals in general communities. Hospitals operating in Black, racially segregated communities had the highest likelihood of adopting stroke care, but because these communities had the largest population, patients in these communities had the lowest likelihood of access to stroke-certified hospitals when the model controlled for population size. These findings provide empirical evidence that the provision of acute neurological services is structurally inequitable across historically underserved communities.


We model the tax drag from active funds management by simulating portfolios based on reported monthly holdings of 207 active Australian equity funds between July 2000 and December 2010, and then compare both pre-tax- and after-tax fund returns versus those for passive indices modeled under the same assumptions. Tax drag erodes 65% of the 0.74% alpha in Broad Market funds, but only 21% of the 1.80% alpha in Small-Cap funds for Australian superannuation (pension) fund investors. We also find that tax drag varies with investment style; market state being most detrimental during bull markets; and fund turnover – although the relation between turnover and after-tax alpha is non-monotonic. For high-income individual investors, tax drag is exacerbated to the extent that active management only generates meaningful alpha after-tax for Small-Cap funds of certain styles.  Our study highlights the importance of investigating performance and tax effects in a unified framework, and confirms the critical importance of considering tax when choosing between active and passive funds management.


We present F555W (V), F439W (B), and F336W (U) photometry of 9507 stars in the central 2′ of the dense, post–core-collapse cluster M30 (NGC 7099) derived from Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images. These data are used to study the mix of stellar populations in the central region of the cluster. Forty-eight blue straggler stars are identified; they are found to be strongly concentrated toward the cluster center. The specific frequency of blue stragglers, FBSS ≡ N(BSS)/N(V < VHB + 2), is 0.25 ± 0.05 in the inner region of M30 (r < 20″), significantly higher than the frequency found in other clusters: FBSS = 0.05–0.15. The shape of M30's blue straggler luminosity function resembles the prediction of the collisional formation model, and is inconsistent with the binary merger model of Bailyn & Pinsonneault. An unusually blue star (B = 18.6, B-V = -0.97), possibly a cataclysmic variable based on its color, is found about 1.″2 from the crowded cluster center; the photometric uncertainty for this star is large, however, because of the presence of a very close neighbor. Bright red giant stars (B < 16.6) appear to be depleted by a factor of 2–3 in the inner r < 10″ relative to fainter giants, subgiants, and main-sequence turnoff stars (95% significance). We confirm that there is a radial gradient in the color of the overall cluster light, going from B-V ∼ 0.82 at r ∼ 1′ to B-V ∼ 0.45 in the central 10″. The central depletion of the bright red giants is responsible for about half of the observed color gradient; the rest of the gradient is caused by the relative underabundance of faint red main-sequence stars near the cluster center (presumably a result of mass segregation). The luminosity function of M30's evolved stars does not match the luminosity function shape derived from standard stellar evolutionary models: the ratio of the number of bright giants to the number of turnoff stars in the cluster is 30% higher than predicted by the model (3.8 σ effect), roughly independent of red giant brightness over the range MV = -2 to +2.


We study a hierarchical dynamic state-space model for abundance estimation. A generic data fusion approach for combining computer simulated posterior samples of catch output data with observed research survey indices using sequential importance sampling is presented. Posterior samples of catch generated from a computer software are used as a primary source of input data through which fisheries dependent information is mediated. Direct total stock abundance estimates are obtained without the need to estimate any intermediate parameters such as catchability and mortality. Numerical results of a simulation study show that our method provides a useful alternative to existing methods. We apply the method to data from the Barents Sea Winter survey for Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua). The results based on our method are comparable to results based on current


The tariff policy of a telecommunication operator has a strategic importance on achieving of optimal revenues and a fundamental
impact on its position in the competition with another operators on the liberalised telecommunication market. The payment
for a connection through a telecommunication network is determined by a rate for one call unit, by the duration of the call unit and
their count during a call. An operator derives the rate and the duration of the call unit from a detailed analysis of large databases that
contain statistical data on counts and duration of particular calls depending on the call type. Only the operator knows these data files
and it keeps them confidential. It will be shown in the paper how it is possible to come to an estimation of revenues from telecommunication
traffic only knowing a pair of basic parameters. The first considerations handling with this topic can be found in [1], [2],
[3].


In this study, kinetics of the static (SRX) and metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX) of AISI4135 steel was investigated using hot torsion tests. Continuous torsion tests were carried out to determine the critical strain for dynamic recrystallization (DRX). The times for 50% recrystallization of SRX and MDRX were determined, respectively, by means of interrupted torsion tests. Furthermore, austenite grain size (AGS) evolution due to recrystallization (RX) was measured by optical microscopy. With the help of the evolution model established, the AGS for hot bar rolling of AISI4135 steel was predicted numerically. The predicted AGS values were compared with the results using the other model available in the literature and experimental results to verify its validity. Then, numerical predictions depending on various process parameters such as interpass time, temperature, and roll speed were made to investigate the effect of these parameters on AGS distributions for square-diamond pass rolling. Such numerical results were found to be beneficial in understanding the effect of processing conditions on the microstructure evolution better and control the rolling processes more accurately.


Background
U.S. sexual and gender minority youth experience individual, interpersonal, and structural-level barriers to HIV prevention and care. Innovative, youth-driven approaches to mobile and electronic interventions that support use of new biomedical prevention, testing, and treatment options may address these barriers. Adapting evidence-based interventions for youth must balance core intervention components with responsiveness to the distinct needs of end-users.

Methods
The UNC/Emory Center for Innovative Technology (iTech) adapts and evaluates technology-based interventions for youth living with or at risk for HIV. We analyzed formative research (focus groups and individual usability sessions) across five iTech studies: two apps promoting HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), one app promoting behavioral risk reduction and PrEP, one PrEP adherence app, and one mobile-optimized website for increasing viral suppression, with the aim of informing best practices for technology-based intervention development. Each study presented prototypes of adapted mHealth interventions to samples of their target end-user population for use and/or evaluation.

Results
One hundred and thirty-eight youth across seven geographically diverse sites provided feedback during the intervention adaptation process. We found high interest in and acceptability of all five intervention prototypes. Cross-study themes included: (I) Desire for multiple privacy protections (e.g., password, fingerprint) to keep HIV status, sexual identity, and sexual behavior confidential. (II) Strong but varied preferences for the look and feel of platforms. Imagery should be discrete but representative. Participants valued customizable platforms and positive themes, motivational language, and humor. Youth wanted information presented using multiple modalities (e.g., text, video, image) to increase engagement. (III) Youth preferred engagement features and functions consistent with familiar platforms (e.g., Snapchat, Instagram). Gamification features that resulted in tangible versus virtual rewards were predicted to increase engagement. Intervention messaging functions were perceived as useful; customization was desired as a way to control frequency, mode (e.g., SMS, in-app message, push notification), and content. (IV) Youth voiced varied preferences for platform content including: featuring young role models from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ) community, incorporating mental health resources, and maintaining a holistic health-focus (not HIV-centric).

Conclusions
We found high acceptability and consistent feedback in youths' evaluations of these mHealth interventions; divergence was most commonly found in preferred content versus features and functions. Identifying broadly accepted aspects of mHealth interventions for youth supports the feasibility of adaptation (versus de novo creation) and should guide the focus of future formative research phases. Continued research is needed to better understand how to balance usability preferences with finite resources for customization.


Clinical trials in the treatment of heart failure have relied on the use of a composite of hard clinical endpoints to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment arm. This has led to prolonged trials requiring large patient cohorts and extensive funding to reach statistical significance. In this paper, we have explored the potential of currently available circulating and imaging biomarkers associated with heart failure as a surrogate for hard clinical end points in clinical trials. This would be expected to result in shorter trials, smaller patient cohorts and limited funding required. We have subsequently theorized on combining circulating and imaging biomarkers as a surrogate for clinical end points such as hospitalization from heart failure and cardiac mortality.


CsPb2Br5 is a new member of the all-inorganic lead halide perovskite family with unique structures and optoelectronic properties for various applications. As an indirect band gap semiconductor, the photoluminescence (PL) mechanism of CsPb2Br5 is still under debate. To resolve this issue, CsPb2Br5 microplates with strong green PL have been prepared by a hot-injection method. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy indicates the existence of a small amount of embedded CsPbBr3 phase. The removal of the embedded CsPbBr3 phase by treatment with water containing ethanol solvent resulted in complete PL quenching, suggesting the origin of PL due to the embedded CsPbBr3 phase. Spatially resolved PL and time-resolved PL mapping have been further employed to directly visualize the spatial distribution of different emission centers. Our single particle spectroscopic studies indicated the existence of three different emission centers with different PL lifetimes: two types of embedded CsPbBr3 phases (clumped and randomly distributed CsPbBr3 nanocrystals) and intrinsic defects of CsPb2Br5. The embedded CsPbBr3 phases with fast and intermediate PL lifetimes are the primary contributors to PL of the CsPb2Br5 microplates while their intrinsic defects with slow PL lifetimes make only a minor contribution. These studies have unambiguously clarified the PL mechanisms of the CsPb2Br5 microplates and provided the direct mapping of different emission centers, which resolve the contradictory explanation and debate about the PL mechanism of the CsPb2Br5 microplates.


To adapt to the advances of the era, the economic, technological, social and cultural competition continues growing rapidly between the world countries. The main way to adapt this competition is to improve the quality of human edification, in the other words to change education system. As one of the developing Asian countries in the world, Turkey wants to reach advanced development like other powerful countries in the world. So Turkey is one of the sample countries in the world that changes the education system in recent days. The aim of this research is to examine the opinions of school managers with respect to their views on the practical implications of the legal changes to the 4+4+4 new education system in Turkey. Qualitative methods were used for this phenomenon study and the participants were 34 school managers from several private and official institutions in Kirklareli city in Turkey. School managers were taken from utilizing eight semi-structured open-ended questions according to law which is about new education system to get their experiences. Data were collected in writing in fifty minutes and were given personal numbers. Data were analyzed via NVivo 10 and were created categories and themes. Findings were presented with tables and mind maps. The findings were coded into themes and presented with mind maps and tables. The results show that managers were attempting to implement the 4+4+4 new education system in Turkey accordance with the legal provisions. There are, however, some problems in doing so and the analysis of the issues they raised, has resulted in a number of recommendations.


A general-purpose agent must learn an open-scope world model: one rich enough to tackle any of the wide range of tasks it may be asked to solve over its operational lifetime. This stands in contrast with typical planning approaches, where the scope of a model is limited to a specific family of tasks that share significant structure. Unfortunately, planning to solve any specific task within an open-scope model is computationally intractable—even for state-of-the-art methods— due to the many states and actions that are necessarily present in the model but irrelevant to that problem. We propose task scoping: a method that exploits knowledge of the initial state, goal conditions, and transition system to automatically and efficiently remove provably irrelevant variables and actions from grounded planning problems. Our approach leverages causal link analysis and backwards reachability over state variables (rather than states) along with operator merging (when effects on relevant variables are identical). Using task scoping as a pre-planning step can shrink the search space by orders of magnitude and dramatically decrease planning time. We empirically demonstrate that these improvements occur across a variety of open-scope domains, including Minecraft, where our approach reduces search time by a factor of 75 for a state-of-the-art numeric planner, even after including the time required for task scoping itself.


With more and more personal data being collected and stored by service providers, there is an increasing need to ensure that their usage is compliant with privacy regulations. We consider the specific scenario where policies are defined in metric temporal logic and audited against the database usage logs. Previous works have shown that this can indeed be achieved in an efficient manner for a very expressive set of policies. One of the main ingredients of such an auditing process is the availability of sufficient database logs. Currently, it is a manual process to first determine the logs needed, and then come up with the necessary auditing specifications to generate them. This is not only a time consuming process but can be erroneous as well, leading to either insufficient or redundant logging. Logging in general is costly as it is an overhead on the real-time database performance, and hence redundant logging is not an alternative either. Our contribution in this work is to streamline the log generation process by deriving the auditing specifications directly from the policies to be audited. We also show how the required logging can be minimized based on the temporal constraints specified in the policies. Given privacy policies as input, the output of the proposed tool is the corresponding auditing specifications that can be installed directly in the databases, to produce logs that are both minimal and sufficient to audit the given policies. The tool has been implemented and tested in a real-life scenario.


The ab-initio crystal structure solution via powder diffraction data is often uncomplete. A recent procedure POLPO [1] aims at completing a partial structure model provided by Direct Methods by exploiting the prior information on the polyhedral coordination of the located atoms (tetrahedral or octahedral) and their connectivity has been developed. The POLPO procedure requires that all the cations are correctly labelled and rightly located. This condition does not always occur, particularly when the data quality is poor. A new method is described which is able to locate missing cations and surrounding anions when the cation coordination is tetrahedral or octahedral.


Brown macroalgae within the genus Cystoseira are some of the most relevant "ecosystem-engineers" found throughout the Mediterranean and the adjacent Atlantic coasts. Cystoseira -dominated assemblages are sensitive to anthropogenic pressures, and historical declines have been reported from some regions. In particular, Cystoseira abies-marina , thriving on shallow rocky shores, is a key species for the ecosystems of the Canary Islands. In this work, we analyse changes in the distribution and extension of C. abies-marina in the last decades on the island of Gran Canaria. This alga dominated the shallow rocky shores of the entire island in the 1980s; a continuous belt extended along 120.5 km of the coastline and occupied 928 ha. In the first decade of the 21st century, fragmented populations were found along 52.2 km of the coastline and occupied 12.6 ha. Today, this species is found along 37.8 km of the coastline and occupies only 7.4 ha, mainly as scattered patches. This regression has been drastic around the whole island, even in areas with low anthropogenic pressure; the magnitude of the decline over time and the intensity of local human impacts have not shown a significant correlation. This study highlights a real need to implement conservation and restoration policies for C. abies-marina in this region.


A malignant histiocytoma was observed on the left arm of a recently imported rhesus monkey. Rapid invasion of deep tissues and tumor growth on the face prompted euthanasia. Necropsy revealed additional neoplastic foci in the lungs, diaphragm, intercostal muscles, pericardium and liver. Microscopically the predominant cell type was histiocytic; some cells had a distinct epithelioid appearance and other were spindle‐shaped.


The characteristic behavior of physically compact, multiterminal dc networks under electrical fault conditions can produce demanding protection requirements. This represents a significant barrier to more widespread adoption of dc power distribution for microgrid applications. Protection schemes have been proposed within literature for such networks based around the use of non-unit protection methods. This paper shows however that there are severe limitations to the effectiveness of such schemes when employed for more complex microgrid network architectures. Even current differential schemes, which offer a more effective, though costly, protection solution, must be carefully designed to meet the design requirements resulting from the unique fault characteristics of dc microgrids. This paper presents a detailed analysis of dc microgrid behavior under fault conditions, illustrating the challenging protection requirements and demonstrating the shortcomings of non-unit approaches for these applications. Whilst the performance requirements for the effective operation of differential schemes in dc microgrids are shown to be stringent, the authors show how these may be met using COTS technologies. The culmination of this work is the proposal of a flexible protection scheme design framework for dc microgrid applications which enables the required levels of fault discrimination to be achieved whilst minimizing the associated installation costs.


Iron niobate photocatalyst as a new type of photocatalyst was prepared by solid-state reaction of Fe3O4 and Nb2O5 and its activity was evaluated using photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. Preparation conditions such as calcination temperature and time, and irradiation time were investigated according to photocatalytic efficiencies. FeNb2O6 was produced during calcination below 700 oC and FeNbO4 was produced above 800 oC. Iron niobate with optimum activity could be prepared after calcination at 700 oC for 8 h when Fe:Nb molar ratio was 0.8:1. Methyl orange degradation rate was 72.7% after 180 min of irradiation at photocatalyst concentration of 4 g/l.


Abstract : The objectives of this cooperative agreement are to develop the oxyhydrochlorination (OHC) process for the conversion of methane to methyl chloride. In the first phase of the project, Dow Corning has developed a stable selective catalyst and demonstrated the technology on a laboratory and a pilot plant scale. The current effort builds on earlier learning to pilot the technology on an engineering scale, integrated operation, and to obtain design, scale up, and cost data for a commercial scale process economic evaluation. Significant progress has been completed in Task 1 with the objective to complete a fundamental technical and economic evaluation of learning gathered the Phase I effort of this project. A decision to proceed with the project will be made after completion of this Task. A computer model of the reactor system has been developed, which includes heat and mass transfer effects as well as reactions. Model validation is in progress. The Absorber/Stripper technology evaluated and implemented on the Phase I PDU to recover chlorocarbons (including methyl chloride) from reaction products has been scaled to evaluate economics for a commercial scale plant. In a parallel exercise, alternate recovery technologies were investigated for economic evaluation, to assure that the minimum capital option is pursued for the Phase II design. Commercial scale plant equipment and total plant costs are being evaluated using information from the Phase I PDU, reactor modeling and recovery system evaluation to estimate capital and operating costs for a commercial scale OHC unit.


India is a major producer and consumer of pulses in the world. In the last two decades, India's pulse economy has undergone major policy and institutional reforms. These changes are likely to influence India's trade in pulses and consequently world pulse trade. This article examines the impact of these reforms on trade, prices and production in India. The article discusses the factors that instigated these policy reforms and the consequences. The results indicate that a number of key economic, political and technological factors are reshaping pulse trade in India. The policy implications of the findings are explored.


Author(s): Bounds, Bonnie Elizabeth | Advisor(s): Couclelis, Helen M. | Abstract: The rise of the modern service- and information-based economy has accompanied anincreased concern for quality of life compared to earlier eras. The consumer city hypothesis argues that in a post-industrial society, people increasingly value the location-specific amenities a particular city has to offer when deciding where to live. This is in contrast to traditional wisdom, which holds that jobs are the sole or most important criterion in attracting people to a given place. While other studies have found an association between natural amenities and greater demand for places that have them, there is much less work focusing on whether cultural amenities have the same effect. This analysis aims to discover whether there is additional evidence to support the consumer city hypothesis by investigating the relationship between cultural amenity levels (as measured by employment in amenity-related fields) and demand for particular places (as measured by median home prices).This study examines 357 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States(including those in Alaska and Hawaii). Data from the American Community Survey andthe Bureau of Labor Statistics were used to measure amenity-related employment, median home prices, and other demographic variables. Four linear regressions were run to determine the relationship between these variables in the years 2012 and 2005, as well as to discover the predictive value of amenity-related employment for future median home prices and changes in median home prices over time.The results indicate that higher levels of cultural amenity-related employment areindeed associated with higher median home prices, providing support for the consumer-city hypothesis. Furthermore, levels of amenity-related employment at one point in time can be strong predictors of median home prices several years later, although they proved less useful for predicting the percentage change in median home values over time. Amenity-related employment may therefore be a potentially useful indicator to consider when predicting median home values. These findings also open up avenues for future research into the applicability of the consumer-city hypothesis in other First World countries as well as the developing world.


"The Handbook of Research on E-Portfolios" is the single source for comprehensive coverage of the major themes of e-portfolios, addressing all of the major issues, from concept to technology to implementation. It is the first reference publication to provide a complete investigation on a variety of e-portfolio uses through case studies and supporting technologies, and also explains the conceptual thinking behind current uses and potential uses not yet implemented. Over 70 international experts with countless years of experience lend this handbook the credibility that assures its readers of its extensive, recent, and reliable content. "The Handbook of Research on E-Portfolios" is the first handbook to investigate commercial and academic e-portfolio systems - home-grown, off the shelf, and open source - and to supply proof-of-concept evidence of successful systems.


In this paper, the effect of cable indent shape on the shear behavior of concrete-cable attachment surface has been investigated using PFC2D. Firstly, calibration of PFC was performed using the Brazilian experimental test and uniaxial compression test to reproduce the concrete sample. After calibration of PFC2D, punch shear tests were simulated by creating a rectangular concrete model in PFC2D. Numerical models with a dimension of 100mm *100 mm were prepared. cable with different indent shape was inserted within the model. The punch shear test condition was added to the model. The normal load was fixed at 3.7 MPa (σc/10) and shear load was applied to the model till failure occurred. The results show that tensile cracks are the dominant mode of failure that occurs in the attachment surface. Also, the shape of the attachment surface has an important effect on the failure mechanism of concrete. The shear strength increased by increasing both of the bolt indent width and length. Shear Strength


Despite rapid and sustained development of electronic commerce, many companies doing e-business are still in the investment and brand-building phase and have yet to show a profit. However, as e-businesses shift their focus from building a customer base to increasing revenue growth and profitability, they should re-evaluate their current business strategies, if any, and develop strategies that provide a clear path to profitability. This study uses McCarthy's four marketing mix model and Porter's five competitive forces model to identify strategies for Internet companies that respond to the five competitive forces and thereby achieve a competitive advantage. The study provides significant new insights into the development and implementation of e-business strategies that contribute to increased profit.


The effects of alkalinizing agents, administered prior to feeding colostrum, on blood-gas and acid-base values and on absorption of IgG1 were determined in 40 newborn Holstein calves. Two treatments, sodium bicarbonate (3 mEq/kg of body weight, IV) and doxapram HCl (2 mg/kg, IV), were evaluated, using a randomized complete-block experimental design. These treatments resulted in significant (P less than 0.01) alteration of blood-gas and acid-base values, generally in the direction of normal values for adult cattle. Significant least squares mean effects were detected for sodium bicarbonate treatment on blood pH (+ 0.04 units, P less than 0.01), PCO2 (+ 4.1 mm of Hg, P less than 0.01), and HCO3 concentration (+ 4.4 mEq/L, P less than 0.01). Significant least squares mean effects were detected for doxapram HCl treatment on blood pH (+ 0.06 pH units, P less than 0.01) and PCO2 (-5.2 mm of Hg, P less than 0.01). Absorption of colostral IgG1 was not affected by the treatments given or by the altered blood-gas and/or acid-base status.


Fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) with energy storage (ES) device(s) could result in improved lifetime, performance, fuel economy, and reduced cost. This paper presents the utilization of an ES device consisting of a supercapacitor bank for future electric vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell (FC) as the main power source. The study mainly focuses on the innovative control law based on the flatness properties for a FC/supercapacitor hybrid power source. Utilizing the flatness principle, we propose simple solutions to the hybrid energy-management and stabilization problems. A supercapacitor module, as a high dynamic and high-power density device, functions to supply energy to regulate the dc-bus energy. The FC, as a slower dynamic source in this system, functions by supplying energy to keep the supercapacitor module charged. To ensure energy-efficient operation of the FC stack, the output current ripple of the FC stack is minimized by parallel boost converters with an interleaving switching technique for a high-frequency ripple by the supercapacitor for a low-frequency ripple. To authenticate the proposed control laws, a test bench is realized in the laboratory. The control algorithm (energy and current control loops) is digitally implemented by dSPACE controller DS1103. Experimental results with small-scale devices (a proton exchange membrane FC (PEMFC) of 500 W, 50 A, and 10 V and a supercapacitor bank of 250 F, 32 V, and 500 A) substantiate the excellent performance during load cycles.


Two isomeric pairs of 2-aminopyridine (PA)-derivatized fucosylated and non-fucosylated oligosaccharides (complex-type N-glycans of IgG) were analyzed using liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ITMS) with a sonic spray ionization source and by varying the collision-induced dissociation voltage. Reproducibility of MSn (n = 2) spectra obtained by LC/ITMS was tested considering both fragment ions (m/z) and intensities. A comparison of their MSn spectra and evaluation of similarities (or matching), based on correlation coefficients between MSn spectra, was investigated as a possibility for structural assignment of the isomers. It is shown that such MSn spectral matching is useful and applicable to the structural assignment of relatively large fucosylated and sialylated PA-oligosaccharides released from IgG based on Bn- and Yn-type fragmentations of the corresponding [M+H+Na]2+ ions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


X-ray tomography, using the 2 im high resolution ESRF synchrotron facility(Grenoble) has been used to study the three-dimensional shape of a short fatigue crack in aferrite/pearlite cast iron. The technique allows visualisation of the defect and rapidcharacterisation of the distribution of defects, which would normally require timeconsumingserial sectioning.This paper discusses the technique of X-ray tomography and its application to short crackfracture mechanics and failure research.


Ayurveda in its principle has given importance to individualistic approach rather than generalize. Application of this examination can be clearly seem like even though two patients suffering from same disease, the treatment modality may change depending upon the results of Dashvidha Pariksha. Prakruti and Pramana both used in Dashvidha Pariksha. Both determine the health of the individual and Bala (strength) of Rogi (Patient). Ayurveda followed Swa-angula Pramana as the unit of measurement for measuring the different parts of the body which is prime step assessing patient before treatment. Sushruta and Charaka had stated different Angula Pramana of each Pratyanga (body parts). Specificity is the characteristic property of Swa-angula Pramana. This can be applicable in present era for example artificial limbs. A scientific research includes collection, compilation, analysis and lastly scrutiny of entire findings to arrive at a conclusion. Study of Pramana and its relation with Prakruti was conducted in 1000 volunteers using Prakruti Parkishan proforma with an objective of evaluation of Anguli Pramana in various Prakriti. It was observed co-relating Pramana in each Prakruti and Granthokta Pramana that there is no vast difference in measurement of head, upper limb and lower limb. The observational study shows closer relation of features with classical texts.


In this study, influence of melamine formaldehyde addition into the urea formaldehyde adhesive on some physical (thickness swelling) and niechanical (static bending, modulus of elasticity and internal bond) properties of particleboard was investigated. Melamine formaldehyde addition did not affect the niechanical properties, statistically. However, this application improved the thickness swelling of particleboard. The particleboards produced with 30% melamine formaldehyde and 70% urea formaldehyde usage had the required levels of physical and niechanical properties by the standards. This study showed that melamine formaldehyde addition into the urea formaldehyde should not exceed 30%. Keyivords: Particleboard, Melamine-fornialdeliyde, Urea-fornialdehyde, Physical properties, M echanical properties.


This thesis aims to show how Plato attempts to bridge the gap between immortal and mortal nature in the Timaeus. It explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the constitution of the immortal existents, i.e. the cosmic soul and human immortal souls, and the mortal existents, i.e. the cosmic body and the human bodies. In the knowledge of the similarities, that is, the soul and body are fashioned using the Forms and Receptacle as common components, the distinction between the immortal souls and mortal bodies seems not to be an absolute one. The dissimilarities lie in that the two kinds of existents are created in different ways, which entail that they differ in structures and modes of motion. The similarities and dissimilarities altogether explains why the immortal souls and mortal bodies appear to be utterly different existents but can be connected to and communicate with each other. The embodiment of the cosmic soul in the cosmic body yields an everlasting creature such as the cosmos itself. Whereas the embodiment of the human immortal soul in the physical body results in the former's being disrupted and the generation of two kinds of mortal souls, i.e. spirited and appetitive parts of souls. The spirited part of soul is designed as an intermediary between the immortal soul and the body as well as between the immortal soul and the appetitive part of soul. The tripartite soul and its interaction with the mortal body reveal Demiurgic concerns for humans. Humans are endowed with mortality intentionally for the sake of cosmic completion and perfection. The Demiurgic compensatory arrangement, i.e. the structural affinity between the cosmos and humans and purposefully designed bodily parts and organs, allows humans, as mortal creatures, to bridge their own gap with the everlasting cosmos by imitating the latter.


During heavy-ion operation in several particle accelerators worldwide, dynamic pressure rises of orders of magnitude were triggered by lost beam ions that bombarded the vacuum chamber walls. This ion-induced molecular desorption, observed at CERN, GSI, and BNL, can seriously limit the ion beam lifetime and intensity of the accelerator. From dedicated test stand experiments we have discovered that heavy-ion-induced gas desorption scales with the electronic energy loss (dE_{e}/dx) of the ions slowing down in matter; but it varies only little with the ion impact angle, unlike electronic sputtering.


This study aims at investigating the empirical relationships between risk preference, internet preference, and internet knowledge which are known as user characteristics, in addition to perceived risk of the customers on the internet purchase intention. In order to test the relationships between the variables of model 174, a questionnaire was collected from the students with previous online experience. For the purpose of data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation model (SEM) was used. Test results show that the perceived risk affects the internet purchase intention, and increase or decrease of perceived risk influences the purchase intention when the customer does the internet shopping. Other factors such as internet preference, knowledge of the internet, and risk preference affect the internet purchase intention. Keywords—Perceived risk, Internet preference, Internet knowledge, Risk preference, Internet purchase intention


Actinomyces are a rare cause of the intra‐abdominal infection that results in chronic suppurative and infectious granulomatous disease. The liver is involved in 15% of cases with abdominal infection and comprises 5% of all cases. Major risk factors include previous surgery, abdominal trauma, gastrointestinal foreign body, gut lesions, and immunosuppression. Due to the insidious course of the disease, symptoms arise several months after onset of the disease. The diagnosis of liver actinomycosis relies on clinical manifestations and imaging findings. Thus, it is often misdiagnosed as a primary liver cancer or metastatic tumor. Here we describe a case of isolated hepatic actinomycosis that mimicked a hepatocellular carcinoma with pretreatment and posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging findings. The patient was cured with long‐term antibiotherapy.


The role of exchange rates and international trade has grown substantially over the last decades. Therefore, both issues have been important in many policy debates and they have been the focus variables in numerous economic studies. Nevertheless, there is till no full understanding of the processes underlying them. For example, do exchange rates exhibit long swings, possibly caused by infrequent changes in monetary policy? Are exchange rates in the long run governed by economic fundamentals, such as price vels? Does exchange rate stability really benefit trade, as is commonly argued when discussing the desirability of foreign exchange interventions and monetary unification? This dissertation tries to answer such unresolved economic questions. It takes an e irical point of view, using the United States as the central country. The book employs modern econometric methods and, if necessary, introduces new techniques to obtain novel insights about exchange rates and their effects on international trade.


The meticulous design of coating structures is an efficient approach for enhancing the cycle life and rate capability of electrode materials. Herein, crystalline VOOH-coated VS2 microflowers (c-VS2@VOOH) constructed from nanosheets are successfully prepared by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The c-VS2@VOOH composite as a sodium ion battery anode material delivers an excellent cycling stability of 330 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.2 A g−1. In particular, c-VS2@VOOH can still afford a high reversible capacity of 356 and 224 mA h g−1 even at 0.5 and 1.0 A g−1, respectively. The high capacity, good stability and enhanced rate capability are mainly attributed to the highly efficient surface sensitization and protection by crystalline VOOH, which can improve sodium ion diffusion and suppress the pulverization of VS2 nanosheets.


This paper proposes a linear matrix inequality based problem formulation to determine input shaped profiles. The cost function is the residual energy, a quadratic function of the amplitude of the shaped profile, for each sampling interval. The Schur complement permits representing the quadratic function as a linear matrix inequality. Augmenting the state space model with the sensitivity of the states to uncertain parameters, input shaped profiles which are robust to model uncertainties can be derived. Finally, a minimax input shaped profile which minimizes the maximum magnitude of the residual energy over the domain of uncertainties is determined using the LMI problem. The proposed technique is illustrated on the single spring-mass-dashpot example. The solutions derived are shown to coincide with the solutions presented in the literature, without the requirement of solving a nonlinear programming problem


Diatom silica, a 3-dimensional (3D) natural biomaterial generated from single cell algae with unique nano- and micro-morphologies and patterns is shown to have several exceptional structural, mechanical, optical, photonics, transport, and chemical properties optimized through millions of years of evolution. Diatom nanotechnology, a new research field, emerged recently to explore and apply this material and its properties across numerous fields including biology, biophotonics, nanofluidics, molecular separation, sensors, biosensors, adsorption, drug delivery, nanofabrications, and energy. Due to its unique 3D porous hierarchical architecture, high surface area and ability to be combined or converted to other conductive and semiconductive nanomaterials, diatom silica received significant research attraction as a low cost natural electrode material for energy storage and production. Herein, we present the recent development in this field, showing new concepts using diatom-based composites for energy applications in supercapacitors, batteries, solar cells and other energy based devices.


The American and Romanian house market has imposed harmonious and comfortable living in ecological houses whose building does not affect the environment. The implementation of modern and efficient building of long-term sustainable houses has resulted in a new ecological building technology by the Wood Framing System which is developed and applied on a large scale in the US. This system is a cheap and accessible method to build houses and preserve them in time, as well as provide all the comfort demands. Also, the houses built within this system are adapted to any architecture style (traditional, contemporary, and futurist). The house structures built within the Wood Framing System are conspicuous through the optimum use of the wooden material, resistance, stability, ductility, low weight which thus reduces the earthquake impact, durability, high thermal comfort, competitive price. At the same time, the building time on the site is up to 70% lower, compared with the brick-based houses. Within the framing system, a wooden-structure house provides important advantages, and thus has become of interest on the Romanian market.


The assimilation of one-carbon (C1) compounds, such as methanol, by serine cycle methylotrophs requires the continuous regeneration of glyoxylate. Instead of the glyoxylate cycle, this process is achieved by a not yet established pathway where CoA thioesters are known to play a key role. We applied state-of-the-art metabolomics and 13C metabolomics strategies to demonstrate how glyoxylate is generated during methylotrophic growth in the isocitrate lyase-negative methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. High-resolution mass spectrometry showed the presence of CoA thioesters specific to the recently proposed ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway. The operation of this pathway was demonstrated by short-term 13C-labeling experiments, which allowed determination of the sequence of reactions from the order of label incorporation into the different CoA derivatives. Analysis of 13C positional enrichment in glycine by NMR was consistent with the predicted labeling pattern as a result of the operation of the ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway and the unique operation of the latter for glyoxylate generation during growth on methanol. The results also revealed that 2 molecules of glyoxylate were regenerated in this process. This work provides a complete pathway for methanol assimilation in the model methylotroph M. extorquens AM1 and represents an important step toward the determination of the overall topology of its metabolic network. The operation of the ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway in M. extorquens AM1 has major implications for the physiology of these methylotrophs and their role in nature, and it also provides a common ground for C1 and C2 compound assimilation in isocitrate lyase-negative bacteria.


A hybrid (signal-symbol) approach for detecting significant changes in imagery uses a signal-based change detection algorithm followed by a symbol-based change interpreter. The change detection algorithm is based on a linear prediction model which uses small patches from a reference image to locally model the corresponding areas in a newly acquired image, and vice versa. Areas that cannot be accurately modelled because some form of change (signal significant) has occurred are passed on to the change interpreter. The change interpreter contains a set of "physical cause frames" which attempt to determine if the change is physically nonsignificant (e.g., due to clouds, shadowing, parallax effects, or partial occlusion). Changes due to nonsignificant changes are eliminated from further consideration. If the physical cause of the change cannot be determined, it is passed on to an image analyst for manual inspection. Preliminary results of work in progress are presented. These results indicate that the methodology is extremely effective in screening out large portions of imagery that do not contain significant change as well as cueing areas which are potentially significant.


Abstract. We consider a class of positive linear operators which, among others, constitute a link between the classical Bernstein operators and the genuine Bernstein-Durrmeyer mappings. The focus is on their relation to certain Lagrange-type interpolators associated to them, a well known feature in the theory of Bernstein operators. Considerations concerning iterated Boolean sums and the derivatives of the operator images are included. Our main tool is the eigenstructure of the members of the class.


In this paper, we present a novel technique for coarse timing synchronization for Asymmetrically-Clipped Optical Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (ACO-OFDM) systems. This technique is tailored specifically for the ACO-OFDM waveform, and performs coarse symbol timing synchronization without the need for training data. By using a specific symmetry property of the ACO-OFDM time-domain signal, the method can achieve accurate symbol timing synchronization with very low implementation complexity. Simulation results confirm this, and also show that the cyclic prefix-based correlation methods used commonly in traditional OFDM systems, such as 802.11×, cannot be applied to ACO-OFDM systems. The proposed method, therefore, provides an ideal replacement for the cyclic prefix-based method for future systems employing ACO-OFDM.


Protein–protein interactions are typically identified by either biochemical purification coupled to mass spectrometry or genetic approaches exemplified by the yeast two-hybrid assay; however, neither assay works well for the identification of cofactors for poorly soluble proteins. Solubility of a poorly soluble protein is thought to increase upon cofactor binding, possibly by masking otherwise exposed hydrophobic domains. We have exploited this notion to develop a high-throughput genetic screen to identify interacting partners of an insoluble protein fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by monitoring the survival of bacteria in the presence of a drug. In addition to presenting proof-of-principle experiments, we apply this screen to activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), a poorly soluble protein that is essential for antibody diversification. We identify a unique cofactor, RING finger protein 126 (RNF126), verify its interaction by traditional techniques, and show that it has functional consequences as RNF126 is able to ubiquitylate AID. Our results underpin the value of this screening technique and suggest a unique form of AID regulation involving RNF126 and ubiquitylation.