ABSTRACT The pine wood nematode (PWN; Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is the causal agent of pine wilt disease, which results in severe ecological and economic losses in coniferous forests. During overwintering, PWNs undergo morphological and physiological changes to adapt to low temperature environments. Here, the physiological changes of the PWN populations sampled in the summer and winter were compared to analyze the role of low temperatures in their response. The PWN overwinters as third-stage dispersal juveniles, which showed significantly greater survival rates than summer populations (propagative forms) at sub-zero temperatures. The major biochemical compounds in the populations were analyzed by gas chromatography. Eight dominant fatty acids, with stearic acid being the most important, were identified from PWN propagative stage and third-stage dispersal stage. Compared with the propagative stage, the dispersal stage showed significant increases in the fatty acid content and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. Three carbohydrates, trehalose, glycerol and glucose, were detected in the PWN. Compared with the summer population, the levels of trehalose and glycerol increased significantly, while glucose decreased, in the winter population. The modifications in fatty acid composition and cryoprotectant levels, as elements of its changing physiology, play important roles in the overwintering success of the PWN. Summary: The modifications in fatty acid composition and cryoprotectant levels, as elements of its changing physiology, play important roles in the overwintering success of the pine wood nematode.


In this study, we investigated the effects of partial substitution of methylammonium (MA) with hydrazinium (HA) cations on the optical properties, film morphology, crystal structure and photovoltaic performance of the hybrid perovskites MA1−xHAxPbI3. Planar heterojunction solar cells with an optimal hydrazinium loading demonstrated an enhanced power conversion efficiency of 11.6% and improved operation stability.


We attempted a one-step transfer of wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) through asymmetric fusion between the protoplasts of CMS and fertile maintainer lines. We established embryogenic cell suspensions from the calli obtained from mature seed scu- tella of a CMS line (V20A), fertile maintainers (RCPL1-2C and V20B), and restorer IR36 lines. We isolated and cultured protoplasts to produce protocalli that differentiated into plants. Pollen grains of the protoplast-derived plants of the CMS line were sterile, whereas those derived from the maintainer and restorer lines were fertile.


An evolutionary model of the product life cycle is applied to derive the experience curve and the market size of (expensive) durable goods. The experience (learning) curve suggests that the real costs per unit decrease with an increasing cumulative output (Henderson's law). Based on the idea that in a competitive market firms are forced to pass cost advantages on to the price, the evolutionary model suggests that the mean price and also the mean costs are governed by an exponential decline with time. Simultaneously the mean price evolution satisfies Henderson's law. The market size is defined here by the number of active firms. The market size is shown to follow the total market revenue if the latter exhibits fast variations, else the size is nearly constant. A comparison with an empirical investigation confirms the model predictions.


Muslin-induced foreign body granulomas are rare delayed complications after wrapping of intracranial aneurysms. Few small case series have been reported, with a paucity of documented MRI findings. In addition, there are no reports on long-term radiological appearances or temporal evolution of conservatively managed patients. We thus report on the long-term radiological and clinical follow-up of two patients with asymptomatic muslin-induced foreign body granulomas after wrapping of recurrent middle cerebral arterial aneurysms. Both patients were successfully managed conservatively and remain asymptomatic three and six years after diagnosis of their granulomas. A literature review confirms that MRI features of muslin-induced foreign body granuloma are typical. Features include focal areas of elevated T2 signal with increased diffusion-weighted signal and thin rim enhancement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to confirm that there is a corresponding reduction in apparent diffusion coefficient, as typical in an intracranial abscess. Thus a history of aneurysm wrapping is critical for diagnosis. Accurate clinical recognition of this exuberant inflammatory response will avoid misdiagnosis as pyogenic abscess or tumor and prevent unnecessary or invasive treatment.


This study is aimed to reveal the discrimimation in The Divergent (2011) novel by Veronica Roth. The Divergent (2011) novel is analyzed by using Marxist approach. The analysis is done by determining two objects: the first is analyzing the novel based on the structural elements, and the second is analyzing the problem of discrimination by using Marxist approach. This research is a descriptive qualitative research. There are two types of data sources. The source of primary data is Veronica Roth's The Divergent (2011) novel. The secondary data sources are from books, biography of the author, journals, and internet sources related to the study. The two kinds of data collected through library research and analyzed with descriptive analysis. Based on the research, the researcher draws the following conclusions. The first, the structural element of the novel described the character and characterization, setting of place and time, plot, point of view, and theme. It shapes into one unity in a novel story. The second, based on Marxist approach in dialectical, historical, class struggle, alienation, revolution and the social discrimination was revealed with other descriptions of Marxist the major character reflected in The Divergent (2011) novel.

Keywords: social discrimination, structural elements of novel, Marxis approach


When economic actors are also allowed to become politically active, perhaps to influence a government price policy, they face decision problems with essentially simultaneous political and economic features. If, in addition, two groups struggle to pull the administered price level in opposite directions, an important strategic component is introduced. On two levels, then, such situations depart from the competitive economy framework of Arrow and Debreu. The model of this paper is designed to reconcile the general equilibrium model with politically active interest groups. This model is then used to assess the welfare consequences of such lobbying activity. We find that very often a lobbying program with price distortions is not the best means for regulating these economies. However, there may be cases in which no alternative policy could achieve the outcome resulting from the lobbying program. Keywords: Political economy, lobbying behavior, rent-seeking, distortionary policy.


Regarding the practice of having pharmacy technicians call for verification/ clarification of prescriptions over illegible drug name, strength, quantity, refills, and directions, I live in Illinois and have worked for an organization that allows this. I am curious to know if the laws were being followed or violated.


Stirred tanks are widely used in the chemical reactions and the mixing operations for process industries to enable high product quality and process efficiency. Despite there being a large body of studies on the hydrodynamics of water in the stirred tanks, the understandings of the hydrodynamics of the ionic liquids in the stirred tanks are still very limited. In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is used to investigate the detailed flow characteristics of the single and multiphase ionic liquid flows in the stirred tanks which are experimentally validated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).

The ANSYS FLUENT was employed in this investigation to carry out the CFD simulation. Initially, the hydrodynamics of single phase flows were numerically studied where the single phase turbulent water flow and single phase transitional ionic liquid flow were modelled using a RANS and LES approach respectively in the three stirred tanks equipped with different bottom shapes and length of baffles. The simulation results indicated that the bottom shape and baffles' length have significant effect on the flow field in a stirred tank when the water was operated in the turbulent state, where a large dead zone region was identified below the impeller. However, the magnitude of the dead zone region reduced a lot when the ionic liquid was operated in the transitional state.

Before carrying out the gas-ionic liquid multiphase flow simulation in a stirred tank, the bubble size needs to be identified as it is crucial information for the accurate gas-ionic liquid multiphase flow modelling. In order to obtain the bubble size data, a high speed camera and a microscope were employed to experimentally measure the bubble size in the ionic liquid solutions. The correlations between the bubble size in the ionic liquid solutions and the impeller agitation speed were established. It showed that both the bubble breakage and coalescence has significant effect on determining bubble size in the ionic liquid. In addition, it was suggested that the surface tension of the ionic liquid is more important than the liquid viscosity on affecting the bubble size in the stirred tank.

Afterward, the gas-ionic liquid multiphase flow modelling was carried out in the stirred tank at various impeller speeds and gassing rates. The simulation results indicated that the presence of gas phase did not have significant effect on changing the flow of liquid phase under the selected operation conditions due to the small bubble size, low gas flow rate and high viscosity of ionic liquid. The gas phase followed well with the liquid phase and circulated in the majority region of the stirred tank, which implied better gas holdup and mass transfer of the multiphase flow system. A correlation was proposed to predict the impeller power consumption of the gas-ionic liquid transitional flow in a stirred tank agitated by a Rushton turbine impeller.

Finally, in order to validate the above single phase and multiphase flow CFD models adopted in this study, an experimental rig was established and the advanced visualization technique Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure the single phase water and ionic liquid flows and gas-ionic liquid multiphase flow in a stirred tank. The PIV data showed agreement with the CFD results in terms of the flow pattern and velocity components, which indicates good accuracy of the computational models and approaches presented in this investigation.


This paper presents a multilevel inverter that has been conceptualized to reduce component count, particularly for a large number of output levels. It comprises floating input dc sources alternately connected in opposite polarities with one an-other through power switches. Each input dc level appears in the stepped load voltage either individually or in additive combinations with other input levels. This approach results in reduced number of power switches as compared to classical topologies. The working principle of the proposed topology is demonstrated with the help of a single-phase five-level inverter. The topology is investigated through simulations and validated experimentally on a laboratory prototype. An exhaustive comparison of the proposed topology is made against the classical cascaded H-bridge topology.


A new electrochemical biosensor based on the hybridization chain reaction and layered molybdenum selenide (MoSe2) stacked nanorod for dual-signal amplification is developed for the highly sensitive detection of the DNA sequences of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1). The MoSe2 nanorod was prepared using a facile hydrothermal method. The glassy carbon electrode was first modified with MoSe2 nanorods and then Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were electrodeposited on the electrode. The DNA probe was then immobilized on the electrode by an Au–S bond. As the initiator strands, auxiliary DNA can propagate a chain reaction of hybridization events between the two hairpin probes (Aux 1, Aux 2), and long nicked DNA polymers can be formed on the modified electrode. The biotin-labeled dsDNA polymers can then introduce numerous avidin-labeled horseradish peroxidases on the electrode, resulting in a significantly amplified electrochemical signal through the electrocatalysis of horseradish peroxidase. The target DNA is detected on the basis of the enzymatic oxidization of Fe2+ by H2O2. The electrochemical signals have a good linear relationship with the logarithm of target DNA concentration in the range from 10 fM to 0.1 pM, reaching a detection limit of the target DNA as low as 4.0 fM. This method shows good specificity for target DNA detection with the capability to discriminate single-base-pair mismatched DNA mutations. Moreover, the developed strategy was applied successfully in a real sample, which demonstrated the potential applications in clinical diagnostics.


Soil liquefaction describes a phenomenon whereby a loose soil loses strength and stiffness, due to an increase of pore water pressure, in response to an earthquake shaking. At Fort-de-France some studies have revealed several area where soil liquefaction risk is important. These areas are already urbanized or will be by future program of urbanization. The Prevention Plan of Natural Risks (Territorial Plan of prevention) of the city does not contain prescriptions or recommendations for constructions in liquefaction area, while this phenomenon must be integrated into any program of development of Territory. Then a R&D agreement has been establish between the city of Fort-de-France and BRGM (the French Geological Survey) in order to: - increase knowledge of soil liquefaction susceptibility, - refine liquefaction hazard cartography, - establish adequate geotechnical in situ tests for soil liquefaction potential assessment in Martinique's context, - establish recommendations for prevention and construction in liquefiable areas. The study leans on a database with 1678 boreholes. This database stores all information described in the borehole log sheets such as lithological description and geotechnical information relative to liquefaction characterization. This information essentially come from various archives and from a specific survey includes to this study. In order to evaluate thickness of liquefiable soil in each point of the study area, a multi-layer 3D geological model has been developed using geostatistical methods. For the susceptibility analysis, the method used was based on geological information and results of identification laboratory tests (in accordance with European rules Eurocode8). For the intensity analysis, procedures developed by Robertson & Wride (1998) and Iwasaki (1984) were adopted. Knowledge of liquefiable thickness and of liquefaction susceptibility and intensity allows the cartography of liquefaction hazard area.


ABSTRACT To examine the question of strain specificity in oropharyngeal candidiasis associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, oral samples were collected from 1,196 HIV-positive black South Africans visiting three clinics and 249 Candida albicans isolates were selected for DNA fingerprinting with the complex DNA fingerprinting probe Ca3. A total of 66 C. albicans isolates from healthy black South Africans and 46 from healthy white South Africans were also DNA fingerprinted as controls. Using DENDRON software, a cluster analysis was performed and the identified groups were compared to a test set of isolates from the United States in which three genetic groups (I, II, and III) were previously identified by a variety of genetic fingerprinting methods. All of the characterized South African collections (three from HIV-positive black persons, two from healthy black persons, and one from healthy white persons) included group I, II, and III isolates. In addition, all South African collections included a fourth group (group SA) completely absent in the U.S. collection. The proportion of group SA isolates in HIV-positive and healthy black South Africans was 53% in both cases. The proportion in healthy white South Africans was 33%. In a comparison of HIV-positive patients with and without oropharyngeal symptoms of infection, the same proportions of group I, II, III, and SA isolates were obtained, indicating no shift to a particular group on infection. However, by virtue of its predominance as a commensal and in infections, group SA must be considered the most successful in South Africa. Why group SA isolates represent 53 and 33% of colonizing strains in black and white South Africans and are absent in the U.S. collection represents an interesting epidemiological question.


The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia requires teachers and students to perform learning activities online. Meanwhile, teachers use a variety of technology products in the classroom without paying attention to the didactic, pedagogical, and content aspects. This is due to time constraints and short learning adjustments that should be flexible to this pandemic. Therefore, this research provides an alternative by exploring the potential of augmented reality as a didactic and pedagogical source in learning geometry. An exploratory case study design was used to reveal this potential, while three mathematics teachers and twenty-six students from three schools in Indramayu Regency, Indonesia, participated in the research. Data from observations and documentation were checked, extracted, entered verbatim, and coded. The results of the interview data were analyzed using the content analysis method, while those from the geometry understanding test and student response questionnaires used descriptive analysis. Consequently, the research results showed that augmented reality was useful as an alternative didactic and pedagogical source of learning geometry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This conclusion was based on the reason, first characteristically augmented reality technology can be integrated with textbooks or certain learning methods. Second, the results of the geometry understanding test showed that there were more students who answered the questions correctly than the students who answered incorrectly. Third, the results of questionnaires and interviews showed that students had a positive attitude during the geometry learning process. Therefore, the researcher believes that the use of augmented reality is worthy of being an alternative didactic and pedagogical source and has the potential to be applied to other subjects both during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


The authors investigated use of the internet-based patient portal, kp.org, among a well-characterized population of adults with diabetes in Northern California. Among 14,102 diverse patients, 5671 (40%) requested a password for the patient portal. Of these, 4311 (76%) activated their accounts, and 3922 (69%), logged on to the patient portal one or more times; 2990 (53%) participants viewed laboratory results, 2132 (38%) requested medication refills, 2093 (37%) sent email messages, and 835 (15%) made medical appointments. After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, immigration status, educational attainment, and employment status, compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians, African-Americans and Latinos had higher odds of never logging on (OR 2.6 (2.3 to 2.9); OR 2.3 (1.9 to 2.6)), as did those without an educational degree (OR compared to college graduates, 2.3 (1.9 to 2.7)). Those most at risk for poor diabetes outcomes may fall further behind as health systems increasingly rely on the internet and limit current modes of access and communication.


ABSTRACT We systematically investigated trilanthanide gallates (Ln3GaO6) with the space group Cmc21 as oxygen-ion conductors using first-principles calculations. Six Ln3GaO6 (Ln = Nd, Gd, Tb, Ho, Dy, or Er) are both energetically and dynamically stable among 15 Ln3GaO6 compounds, which is consistent with previous experimental studies reporting successful syntheses of single phases. La3GaO6 and Lu3GaO6 may be metastable despite a slightly higher energy than those of competing reference states, as phonon calculations predict them to be dynamically stable. The formation and the migration barrier energies of an oxygen vacancy (V O) suggest that eight Ln3GaO6 (Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Tb, Ho, Dy, Er, or Lu) can act as oxygen-ion conductors based on V O. Ga plays a role of decreasing the distances between the oxygen sites of Ln3GaO6 compared with those of Ln2O3 so that a V O migrates easier with a reduced migration barrier energy. Larger oxygen-ion diffusivities and lower migration barrier energies of V O for the eight Ln3GaO6 are obtained for smaller atomic numbers of Ln having larger radii of Ln3+. Their oxygen-ion conductivities at 1000 K are predicted to have a similar order of magnitude to that of yttria-stabilized zirconia. Graphical abstract


The metabolism and generation of bioactive lipid mediators are key events in the exertion of the beneficial effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in the regulation of allergic inflammation. Here, we found that dietary linseed oil, which contains high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) dampened allergic rhinitis through eosinophilic production of 15-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (15-HEPE), a metabolite of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Lipidomic analysis revealed that 15-HEPE was particularly accumulated in the nasal passage of linseed oil-fed mice after the development of allergic rhinitis with the increasing number of eosinophils. Indeed, the conversion of EPA to 15-HEPE was mediated by the 15-lipoxygenase activity of eosinophils. Intranasal injection of 15-HEPE dampened allergic symptoms by inhibiting mast cell degranulation, which was mediated by the action of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. These findings identify 15-HEPE as a novel EPA-derived, and eosinophil-dependent anti-allergic metabolite, and provide a preventive and therapeutic strategy against allergic rhinitis.


The Antarctic icefish, a family (Channichthyidae) of teleosts within the perciform suborder Notothenioidei, are the only known vertebrates without oxygen‐transporting haemoglobins and that are largely devoid of circulating erythrocytes. To elucidate the evo‐devo mechanisms underpinning the suppressed erythropoiesis in the icefish, we conducted comparative studies on the transcriptomes and microRNAomes of the primary haematopoietic tissues between an icefish (Chionodraco hamatus) and two red‐blooded notothenioids (Trematomus bernacchii and Gymnodraco acuticeps). We identified substantial remodelling of the haematopoietic programs in the icefish through which erythropoiesis is selectively suppressed. Experimental verification showed that erythropoietic suppression in the icefish may be attributable to the upregulation of TGF‐β signalling, which coincides with reductions in multiple transcription factors essential for erythropoiesis and the upregulation of hundreds of microRNAs, the majority (> 80%) of which potentially target erythropoiesis regulating factors. Of the six microRNAs selected for verification, three miRNAs (miR‐152, miR‐1388 and miR‐16b) demonstrated suppressive functions on GATA1 and ALAS2, which are two factors important for erythroid differentiation, resulting in reduced numbers of erythroids in microinjected zebra fish embryos. Codon substitution analyses of the genes of the TGF‐β superfamily revealed signs of positive selection in TGF‐β1 and endoglin in the lineages leading to Antarctic notothenioids. Both genes are previously known to function in erythropoietic suppression. These findings implied a general trend of erythropoietic suppression in the cold‐adapted notothenioid lineages through evolutionary modulation of the multi‐functional TGF‐β signalling pathway. This trend is more pronounced in the haemoglobin‐less icefish, which may pre‐emptively hinder the otherwise defective erythroids from production.


Cameron has introduced a natural bijection between the set of one way infinite binary sequences and the set of sum-free sets (of positive integers), and observed that a sum-free set is ultimately periodic only if the corresponding binary sequence is ultimately periodic. He asked if the converse also holds. In this paper we present necessary and sufficient conditions for a sum-free set to be ultimately periodic, and show how these conditions can be used to test specific sets; these tests produce the first evidence of a positive nature that certain sets are, in fact, not ultimately periodic.


The essential light chain of myosin (ELC) is known to be important for structural stability of the alpha-helical lever arm domain of the myosin head, but its function in striated muscle contraction is poorly understood. Two ELC isoforms are expressed in fast skeletal muscle, a long isoform and its NH(2)-terminal approximately 40 amino acid shorter counterpart, whereas only the long ELC is observed in the heart. Biochemical and structural studies revealed that the NH(2)-terminus of the long ELC can make direct contacts with actin, but the effects of the ELC on the affinity of myosin for actin, ATPase, force, and the kinetics of force generating myosin cross-bridges are inconclusive. Myosin containing the long ELC has been shown to have slower cross-bridge kinetics than myosin with the short isoform. A difference was also reported among myosins with long isoforms. Increased shortening velocity was observed in atrial compared with ventricular muscle fibers. The common findings suggest that ELC provides the fine tuning of the myosin motor function, which is regulated in an isoform and tissue-dependent manner. The functional importance of the ELC is further implicated by the discovery of ELC mutations associated with Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The pathological phenotypes vary in severity, but more notably, almost all ELC mutations result in sudden cardiac death at a young age. This review summarizes the functional roles of striated muscle ELC in normal healthy muscle and in disease. Transgenic animal models and phenotypic characterization of ELC-mediated remodeling of the heart are also discussed.


Pre-trained neural language models (LMs) have achieved impressive results in various natural language processing tasks, across different languages. Surprisingly, this extends to the social media genre, despite the fact that social media often has very different characteristics from the language that LMs have seen during training. A particularly striking example is the performance of AraBERT, an LM for the Arabic language, which is successful in categorizing social media posts in Arabic dialects, despite only having been trained on Modern Standard Arabic. Our hypothesis in this paper is that the performance of LMs for social media can nonetheless be improved by incorporating static word vectors that have been specifically trained on social media. We show that a simple method for incorporating such word vectors is indeed successful in several Arabic and English benchmarks. Curiously, however, we also find that similar improvements are possible with word vectors that have been trained on traditional text sources (e.g. Wikipedia).


Our study is focused on comparison of nutritional, functional and sensory properties of buckwheat (Fagopyrum sagitatum), naked gluten-free oats (Avena sativa), and quinoa – Chilean gooseberry (Chenopodium quinoa). The input material was raw seeds of the mentioned types of cereals and pseudo-cereals, which were subjected to a germination process under defined conditions and subsequently processed into a form of dried groats or flakes. Basic nutritional parameters were determined for samples of non-germinated seeds and final products, supplemented by determination of antioxidant activity. β-Glucans were evaluated in gluten-free naked oats. Their content in the final product decreased by 43.7%, yet it reached favourable values of 2.2 g per 100 g of product. A significant increase in energy content by approximately 6.4–9.2% was found. This increase was influenced by an increase in the carbohydrate content of all final products. As with raw seeds, germinated seeds of the monitored cereals and pseudo-cereals treated by drying have a low content of fats, saturated fatty acids, sugars and they are a good source of protein and fibre. A significant increase in antioxidant activity was observed only in flakes of germinated gluten-free oats. The sensory evaluation of the final products was favourable. On drying, the germinated seeds of the examined samples acquired a brittle structure, which together with the taste was the best evaluated property of the final products. The products represent a new, nutritionally interesting alternative to regular nutrition and gluten-free diets.


Drugs targeting host proteins can act prophylactically to reduce viral burden early in disease and limit morbidity, even with antivirals and vaccination. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) is a human protease required for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and may represent such a target.1–3 We hypothesized drugs selected from proteins related by their tertiary structure, rather than their primary structure, were likely to interact with TMPRSS2. We created a structure-based phylogenetic computational tool 3DPhyloFold to systematically identify structurally similar serine proteases with known therapeutic inhibitors and demonstrated effective inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo.4,5 Several candidate compounds, Avoralstat, PCI-27483, Antipain, and Soybean-Trypsin-Inhibitor, inhibited TMPRSS2 in biochemical and cell infection assays. Avoralstat, a clinically tested Kallikrein-related B1 inhibitor,6 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication in human airway epithelial cells. In an in vivo proof of principle,5 Avoralstat significantly reduced lung tissue titers and mitigated weight-loss when administered prophylactically to SARS-CoV-2 susceptible mice indicating its potential to be repositioned for COVID-19 prophylaxis in humans.


MAX IV Laboratory, a synchrotron facility in Lund, has selected TANGO as the control system framework for the entire facility. On the beamlines that are being built the Python-based SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system Sardana will be used for experimental control. SPECIES, one out of eight new soft X-ray beamlines, is used as a test bench for evaluating the chosen standards. Sardana is used to control the energy setting of the PGM (plane grating monochromator) as well as to provide macros and other utilities for the user. Generic Taurus GUIs and a SVG-synoptic give the user a way to interact with the control system and display relevant information. The standardized graphical interfaces give a familiar look and feel across the entire facility. All motorized axes are controlled with the IcePAP motion controller. For the axes of the PGM, the IcePAP driver operates in hardware closed loop. Special care is taken in order to avoid slow and inaccurate movements of the PGM energy due to the non-linear relationship between the motors and the angular encoders.


Very dilute aqueous solutions have properties which are of importance for wastewater treatment, toxicology and pharmacology. Such solutions typically have concentrations below about 10 10 mol/liter. According to the customary theories, such solutions and distilled water should have similar structural, physicochemical and biological properties. However, previous experimental studies revealed that this is not always the case. When these solutions are prepared by serial dilutions and vigorous shaking after each dilution step, their properties may considerably differ from those of distilled water. Their properties may also significantly differ from those of serially diluted solutions with the same chemical composition, which were not vigorously shaken after each dilution step. In the current study, the following phenomena of serially diluted, vigorously shaken aqueous solutions are analyzed: (a) their self-similar topology, (b) their emission of ultra low frequency (ULF) radiation; (c) 7.85 Hz alternating magnetic fields affecting their structure, and (d) their structure after dilution below 10 mol/liter. Since ambient electromagnetic fields affect these phenomena, the analyses are carried out within the context of quantum electro-dynamics (QED). The analyses show that the QED model for serially diluted, vigorously shaken aqueous solutions, as developed by Yinnon and Yinnon [Int J Mod Phys B 25:3707-3743 (2011)], provides consistent explanations for phenomena (a)-(d).


Cerebral palsy is a general term that includes all the sequelae of infantile encephalopathies occurring during the perinatal period or during infancy, responsible for a permanent disorder of the development of movement and posture, resulting in a diminution of function. It manifests progressively during growth, but once established, follows a non-progressive course. Surgery is one element of the rehabilitative care, which includes primarily physiotherapy and splinting, occupational therapy, and pharmacological treatment as needed. Different surgical techniques are utilized to address the different components of the deformities, namely spasticity itself, muscle contracture, joint contractures, and paralysis. Partial neurectomy of motor nerves has been shown to reduce spasticity in the target muscles. It is effective only on the spastic component of the deformity, underlining the need for a preliminary thorough clinical examination. Hyperselective neurectomy, which consists in following each motor ramus until its entry point into the target muscle, aims at improving selectivity, widespread partial denervation, and durability of the results.


In B2B markets, suppliers of nonstrategic products and services tend to assume they have only two options for landing sales: stressing their offerings' unique characteristics and competing on price. The problem is, the features touted often don't matter to purchasing managers, and neither do price concessions. How, then, do you win their business? The authors' research with 46 companies points to a solution: After meeting the customer's basic specs within an acceptable price range, give the purchasing manager "a justifier"—an extra that provides obvious value to the business. A car-leasing company, for instance, might offer the option to cancel a number of contracts without penalty, or a delivery service might print customers' logos on their envelopes. The justifier provides a clear-cut reason to select one supplier over others and breaks the tie among the finalists on the short list. To uncover justifiers, you should explore how customers use your offerings, learn about their priorities and those of their customers, and look at ways to integrate your offerings with other suppliers'. The right justifier can win you more business—and even help you launch a new one.


Recent advances in Wireless Sensors Network (WSN) technology have made possible the manufacturing of tiny low-cost, low-power sensors with wireless multi-hop communication and sensing capabilities. Energy conservation for WSNs is a primary objective that needs to be addressed at all layers of the networking protocol stack. In many applications latency is another crucial factor to be addressed. However this must be done in the context of the energy constraints imposed by the network. In this paper we present an experimental evaluation of two node scheduling regimes within MERLIN (Mac Energy efficient, Routing and Localization INtegrated), an energy-efficient low-latency integrated protocol for WSNs. In particular we contrast the X and V scheduling family schemes with respect to the following properties: network setup time, network lifetime and message latency. We conduct our experiments within the OmNet++ simulator.


Sedge meadows can be difficult to restore from farmed fields if key structural dominants are missing from propagule banks. In hand‐cultivated soybean fields in northeastern China, we asked if tussock‐forming Carex and other wetland species were present as seed or asexual propagules. In the Sanjiang Plain, China, we compared the seed banks, vegetative propagules (below‐ground) and standing vegetation of natural and restored sedge meadows, and hand‐cultivated soybean fields in drained and flooded conditions. We found that important wetland species survived cultivation as seeds for some time (e.g. Calamogrostis angustifolia and Potamogeton crispus) and as field weeds (e.g. C. angustifolia and Phragmites australis). Key structural species were missing in these fields, for example, Carex meyeriana. We also observed that sedge meadows restored without planting or seeding lacked tussock‐forming sedges. The structure of the seed bank was related to experimental water regime, and field environments of tussock height, thatch depth, and presence of burning as based on Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling analysis. To re‐establish the structure imposed by tussock sedges, specific technologies might be developed to encourage the development of tussocks in restored sedge meadows.


the heart and blood vessels), and finally a short section on miscellaneous considerations. The editor, Oscar W. Bethea, a member of the Revision Committee of the United States Pharmacopoeia, 193<1-1940, and retired Professor of Clinical Medicine of the Tulane University School of Medicine, contrtbutes a short introduction to the book, useful summaries -ot significant advances in the main sections and occasional comments on individual contributions. The editorial summaries, which are concise and to the point, will be found helpful by busy readers, especially in regard to the voluminous literature on some of the more important recently developed drugs such as streptomycin. The literature covered is predominantly North American, but a fair sprinkling appears of significant articles from British journals. The only Australlan paper noted is the report by Alex. Murphy, of Brisbane, on sudden death following the initial injection of a mercurial diuretic. However, the general selection from current literature appears to have been wisely made and all significant therapeutic advances recorded between November, 1945, and August, 1946, seem to have been dealt with. A minor typographical fault appears in the table of contents where "amino acids" and "blood transfusions" appear as if they are subheadings under "follc acid". It is also questionable whether papers on "miscellaneous diseases" (such as Vincent's angina and relapsing fever), which respond to what are usually classed as "antisyphllltic" drugs, should be included under the .general heading "antisyphilltic drugs"; this appears to be -edltortal policy rather than a typographical error, but Is a trifle confusing. A note is included explaining that the use -of a slightly inferior type of paper was unavoidable. However, these are negligible defects in what is otherwise an .admirable book both in text and production. It will be found useful by all medical practitioners.


This paper presents a one-dimensional visual sensor, implemented on a single VLSI chip using analog neuromorphic circuits, for selectively detecting and tracking the position of the feature with the highest spatial contrast present in the visual scene. The chip's photoreceptors adapt to stationary backgrounds and can be tuned to respond maximally to specific target velocities. The sensor drastically reduces the amount of data to be transmitted to further processing stages by encoding, in real time, the position of the target in the form of a single continuous-time analog variable. We describe the circuits implementing the sensor and show applications to three examples of tracking tasks: a stand-alone visual tracking system, an active fully analog tracking system, and a mobile platform line-following system.


The origin of SL family mice was studied by analyzing 100 microsatellite loci, the major histocompatibility complex, the Mx gene, murine leukemia provirus, and mammary tumor provirus. From the genetic profile of family members and their history, we assumed the existence of a proto-SL mouse, an ancestor of all SL family members. Many alleles were contributed to the proto-SL by the ancestors related to strains A2G and CF#1, and/or some wild mice. Among four existing family members, SL/Am and SL/Ni mice were almost identical and presumably closest to the proto-SL. The SL/Kh mouse was derived from a cross of the proto-SL and AKR mice, because SL/Kh mice inherited a considerable number of genes from AKR mice, the most outstanding of which were those of the provirus Emv-11 and Thy-1.1. The SL/QDj mice seemed to be a recombinant inbred strain between SL/Am and SL/Kh mice, because their alleles at all 100 microsatellite loci were shared by SL/Am or SL/Kh strains or both. All four SL family members shared the major histocompatibility complex haplotype q.


There are many factors that affect the attitudes and behaviors of human beings, which have a very complex structure. However, mainstream economic theories have ignored other characteristics, including the role of emotions, by assuming that human beings are "rational" in the economic decision-making process. Although this assumption is actually controversial, it still maintains its strong established position in economic theories. In the study, the history of economic rationality and the objections developed against the rational individual were examined, and whether emotions affect the economic decision-making process was analyzed with a hypothetical experimental study, first based on observation, and then subjected to the Mann Whitney U test. According to the findings, it was determined that people are also affected by their feelings that they do not act solely on the assumption of rationality in the economic decision-making process. This finding is presented both as a unique contribution to the economics literature and as an option to be evaluated for economic policy makers.


Australia's South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network is the first temperate deep sea network of marine reserves in the world. This large network covering 226,458 square kilometres, covers representative examples of the diverse seafloor features and associated habitats found in the South-east .


Nano energetic materials (nEMs) have improved performance in energy release, ignition, and mechanical properties compared to their bulk or micro counterparts. In this study a micro fuse developed by intergrating Al/CuO-based nanoenergetic materials on a micro wire. CuO nanowires are synthesized by thermally annealing Cu film deposited onto a micro wire. Nano-Al is integrated with the nanowires by thermal to realize an Al/CuO based nEMs. It allows batch and high level of integration and reliability. The micro fuse is tested by open-air combustion testing and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.


A total of 160 sputum samples were obtained from pneumonia patients (1 – 30 years) attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. The microorganisms encountered included Streptococcus viridians, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus species. S. viridans was highest in occurrence (51.5%) and Staphylococcus spp. was the least (2.9%). Their antibiotic resistance pattern revealed that streptomycin had the highest activity (94.1%) and gentamycin the least (23.8%). Amoxicillin resistance gene (amxr) was detected in 89 (88.1%) out of the total isolates. When these resistant isolates were subjected to curing using 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 73 (82.0%) lost their resistance genes. An average transfer rate of 53.88% and 33.59% were obtained for intraspecies and intergeneric transfer of amxr gene respectively. Intraspecies gene transfer rate was significantly higher than intergeneric at p<0.001, using the chi – square goodness of fit test for statistical analysis.


In the current research, a time-dependent discrete adjoint algorithm for optimization of electromagnetic problems is developed. The proposed algorithm improves the efficiency for gradient-based optimization. The time-dependent Maxwell equations are discretized using a semi-discrete Petrov-Galerkin method, and time advancement is accomplished with an implicit, second-order backward differentiation formulation (BDF2). Utilizing the developed capability, two gradient-based shape design optimizations are conducted. In the first optimization an optical waveguide is designed with photonic crystals, and in the second an all-dielectric metamaterial is designed. A motivation for optimizing photonic crystals is due to their use as multi-band optical waveguides for telecommunication applications. For this design optimization, to ensure smooth surfaces, Bezier curves are employed to parametrically represent the shape. To reflect the design changes on the mesh, linear elasticity is used to adapt interior mesh points to boundary modifications. The cost function used in this design attempts to shift the band gap of the photonic crystals to desired frequency ranges. Results demonstrate a band gap shift from one single band gap to multiple band gaps is achievable. The motivation for optimizing broadband metamaterials is for their use as dielectric mirrors for applications where high power reflection is required. In this optimization, Hicks-Henne functions are utilized for shape parameterization and linear elasticity used once again for mesh adaptation. The cost function used attempts to widen the bandwidth of the metamaterial over a desired frequency range. Results demonstrate an increase of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of reflection from 111THz to 303THz.


With dual connectivity, a mobile user can be served by a macro base station (MBS) and a pico base station (PBS) simultaneously. In this paper, we address the problem of optimiz ing user-PBS association and power allocation in the uplink such that the network can serve the users' demand at the minimum cost, where the PBSs are subject to backhaul capacity limitations and minimum rate requirements of users. We show that this non-convex problem can be formulated as a signomial geometric programming (SGP) whose solution can be found by solving a series of geometric programming (GP) problems. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate traffic offloading trend to PBSs for different cost and backhaul capacity settings, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed iterative algorithm. They also show that the output of the proposed algorithm closely matches the global optimal solution with affordable complexity.


This paper addresses the design of a new hybrid MEMS micromotor. It gives insights on the choices, which led to the fabrication of a small 3-phases axial flux BLDC motor. The stator is developed following the almost CMOS technology rules used for MEMS manufacturing and the coils have two copper layers. The rotor is made of a ring permanent magnet assembled over the stator chip. The stator design has been performed using an analytical model presented in the paper and validated using finite elements and measurements on the prototype.


Passage time densities and quantiles are important performance metrics which are increasingly used in specifying service level agreements (SLAs) and benchmarks. PEPA is a popular stochastic process algebra and a powerful formalism for describing performance models of communication and computer systems. We present a case study passage time analysis of an 82,944 state PEPA model using the HYDRA tool. HYDRA specialises in passage time analysis of large Markov systems based on stochastic Petri nets. By using the new Imperial PEPA compiler (ipc), we can construct a HYDRA model from a PEPA model and obtain passage time densities based on the original PEPA description.


Understanding complex machine learning models such as deep neural networks with explanations is crucial in various applications. Many explanations stem from the model perspective, and may not necessarily effectively communicate why the model is making its predictions at the right level of abstraction. For example, providing importance weights to individual pixels in an image can only express which parts of that particular image is important to the model, but humans may prefer an explanation which explains the prediction by concept-based thinking. In this work, we review the emerging area of concept based explanations. We start by introducing concept explanations including the class of Concept Activation Vectors (CAV) which characterize concepts using vectors in appropriate spaces of neural activations, and discuss different properties of useful concepts, and approaches to measure the usefulness of concept vectors. We then discuss approaches to automatically extract concepts, and approaches to address some of their caveats. Finally, we discuss some case studies that showcase the utility of such concept-based explanations in synthetic settings and real world applications.


The general aim of the present study is to assess the potential usefulness of the normative Forced Choice (FC) format for reducing the impact of acquiescent responding (AR). To this end it makes two types of contributions: methodological and substantive. Methodologically, it proposes a modelbased procedure, derived from a ba sic response mechanism, for assessing the impact of AR. Substantively, it applies the procedure in three large datasets, which use wellk nown normative FC personality questionnaires: Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, the Sensation Seeking Scale (form V), and Vando's ReducerAugment er Scale. The results suggest that the impact of AR is minimal except for the Locus of Control Scale, so FCbased questionnaires are a good alternative f or controlling acquiescence. The different results obtained with the LOC Scale might be explained for some particularities of this scale which are discussed in the paper.


Current methods of cancer therapy and detection still warrant high demand and great developments. Utilising the fundamental magnetism of iron oxide nanoparticles, it is possible to harness that magnetic power for the development of new, influential therapeutic and imaging modalities. In this thesis, a detailed look into the use of iron oxide nanoparticles as a material for magnetic thermotherapy and bio-imaging will be undertaken. Iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesised using a common co-precipitation synthesis. Stabilisation was achieved with citrate molecules followed by advanced functionalisation of the nanomaterial with gold achieved via reduction of Au³⁺ (HAuCl₄) to Au⁰ from the citrate ligands. These materials were shown to exhibit remarkable intrinsic heating power when under the influence of an external alternating current magnetic field. Following the potential of iron oxide nanoparticles functionalised with gold for magnetic hyperthermia, multimodal imaging and therapeutic probes were studied. Iron oxide gold nano were analysed as possible Raman enhancer substrates. Finally, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesised using an organic photoacoustic dye as a stabilising ligand to functionalise the magnetic Fe₃O₄ cores with optical properties. This lead to the novel co-precipitation synthesis of indocyanine green (ICG) and Flamma®774 covalently attached to Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles.


A set of four in-vessel saddle coils was designed to generate a helical field on the J-TEXT tokamak to study the influences of the external perturbation field on plasma. The coils are fed with alternating current up to 10 kA at frequency up to 10 kHz. Due to the special structure, complex thermal environment and limited space in the vacuum chamber, it is very important to make sure that the coils will not be damaged when undergoing the huge electromagnetic forces in the strong toroidal field, and that their temperatures don't rise too much and destroy the insulation. A 3D finite element model is developed in this paper using the ANSYS code, stresses are analyzed to find the worst condition, and a mounting method is then established. The results of the stress and modal analyses show that the mounting method meets the strength requirements. Finally, a thermal analysis is performed to study the cooling process and the temperature distribution of the coils.


This thesis analyzes the factors that affect compliance in Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) survey systems using smartphones. Current EMA systems have simple parameters in their triggering mechanisms, which results in missed or ignored surveys, creating a loss of subject data. Over the course of three user studies, with slight variations, we analyze the factors that influence the willingness of a survey participant to answer surveys on an Android phone. An understanding of these factors would be valuable for mobile developers in developing advanced EMA trigger systems. After having experienced various unforeseen challenges in the process, we describe the parameters and difficulties in administering a study of this nature, making recommendations for future EMA applications and user studies. We also compare and analyze the pros and cons involved in developing various EMA systems. Psychologists and sociologists who use EMA systems to gather behavioral data might benefit from the experiential and behavioral data collected as part of our user studies.


We report angular-dependent spin-wave spectroscopy on kagome artificial spin ice made of large arrays of interconnected Ni80Fe20 nanobars. Spectra taken in saturated and disordered states exhibit a series of resonances with characteristic in-plane angular dependencies. Micromagnetic simulations allow us to interpret characteristic resonances of a two-step magnetization reversal of the nanomagnets. The dynamic properties are consistent with topological defects that are provoked via a magnetic field applied at specific angles. Simulations that we performed on previously investigated kagome artificial spin ice consisting of isolated nanobars show characteristic discrepancies in the spin-wave modes which we explain by the absence of vertices.


Calls for greater levels of critical thought in business and management education increased in the wake of the global; financial crisis. Many business educators articulated a need to develop students who engage with theory at the deepest level in order to cultivate more socially engaged managers and management thinkers. These calls surfaced at a time when or organisations voiced concerns about the quality of the basic literacy and numeracy skills of graduates. It is often difficult to introduce students to critical practice at the undergraduate level due to larger class sizes, with the result that deeper theoretical engagement is often postponed until postgraduate stages of business education. This paper discusses the findings from an action research project conducted on a critical writing skills project which aimed to introduce a group of 95 first-year business students to the concept of critical practice through their written assignments. The research unearthed some opportunities, challenges and possible pitfalls associated with deploying a critical writing skills module paper, with the aim of informing practice and signposting future research needs.


This article contributes to the search for a notion of postural style, focusing on the issue of classifying subjects in terms of how they maintain posture. Longer term, the hope is to make it possible to determine on a case by case basis which sensorial information is prevalent in postural control, and to improve/adapt protocols for functional rehabilitation among those who show deficits in maintaining posture, typically seniors. Here, we specifically tackle the statistical problem of classifying subjects sampled from a two-class population. Each subject (enrolled in a cohort of 54 participants) undergoes four experimental protocols which are designed to evaluate potential deficits in maintaining posture. These protocols result in four complex trajectories, from which we can extract four small-dimensional summary measures. Because undergoing several protocols can be unpleasant, and sometimes painful, we try to limit the number of protocols needed for the classification. Therefore, we first rank the protocols by decreasing order of relevance, then we derive four plug-in classifiers which involve the best (i.e., more informative), the two best, the three best and all four protocols. This two-step procedure relies on the cutting-edge methodologies of targeted maximum likelihood learning (a methodology for robust and efficient inference) and super-learning (a machine learning procedure for aggregating various estimation procedures into a single better estimation procedure). A simulation study is carried out. The performances of the procedure applied to the real data set (and evaluated by the leave-one-out rule) go as high as an 87% rate of correct classification (47 out of 54 subjects correctly classified), using only the best protocol.


Altogether 140 random-bred dogs of both sexes, aged 2 to 4 (body mass 14.5 +/- 0.1 kg) were examined. Age-related changes of heart mass entropy, resulting from disorder in the correlation of cardiac parts during aging, progress with age. During inhalation of acute, subacute and chronic effective amounts of nitrates of polymeric 239Pu and monomeric 241Am aerosol particles, measured in micron, dog heart mass entropy increases as compared to the age control, and during inhalation of transuranic radionuclides at small amounts, causing the animals' life prolongation, heart mass entropy decreases.


The goal of this work was to estimate the collective immunity against poliomyelitis among the population of 8 regions and republics of Russia. The rates of the collective immunity against poliomyelitis allow the polio vaccination quality to be estimated and the population protection rate to be simultaneously demonstrated. A total of 8 regions (2138 people) were tested. The antibodies to the polioviruses of 1-3 types were determined against the vaccine Sabin strains in the neutralization test in the RD cell line. As a result, we found that vaccination against poliomyelitis in all observed regions was maintained at the required high level. Thus, the number of people with antibodies to the polio in most regions and age groups approximates or reaches 100%, while GMT is also high. This work demonstrated the necessity of the continuation of vaccination against poliomyelitis and control over collective immunity.


There is too much literature about the untranslatability of the Quran from its Arabic text into another language. Most Muslims: Arab and Non-Arab, and almost everyone with Arabic language background, will not find any difficulty to prove the untranslatability of the Holy Quran into another language. The Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty to his messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in Arabic. It was intentionally revealed in Arabic to serve specific purpose: To defy the Arabs in their own trade and craftsmanship of producing highly rhetorical and poetic composition in their literature.  Although all the scientific, geographical and historical facts mentioned in the Quran have been found true, nevertheless, the Quran remains a book of miracles, but its miraculous ability is in its inimitability (as no one has made similar sura the like of it since its revelation) and untranslatability into another form  of reproduction in other languages (as  hundreds of translations were made and are still made, but would not come to the absolute final perfect  form of translation. These translations are incomplete, as they are mere human efforts). This paper aims to shed some light on the opinions of some Islamic scholars on this issue, as well as to suggest some strategies to help in coming out with some sound translations to help Non-Arab Muslims and other Non-Arabic speakers to understand the truth about the Quran as a true WORD from Allah to all human beings on Earth.


A simple algorithm is employed to deproject the two-dimensional images of a pilot sample of 12 high-quality images of edge-on disc galaxies and to study their intrinsic three-dimensional (3D) stellar distribution. We examine the radial profiles of the stars as a function of height above the plane and report a general trend within our sample of an increasing radial scalelength with height outside of the dust lane. This could be explained by the widespread presence of a thick disc component in these galaxies. In addition, the 3D view allows the study of the vertical distribution of the outer disc, beyond the break region, where we detect a significant increase in scalelength with vertical distance from the major axis for the truncated discs. This could be regarded as a weakening of the 'truncation' with increasing distance from the plane. Furthermore, we conclude that the recently revised classification of the radial surface brightness profiles found for face-on galaxies is indeed independent of geometry. In particular, we find at least one example of each of the three main profile classes as defined in complete samples of intermediate to face-on galaxies: not-truncated, truncated and antitruncated. The position and surface brightness that mark the break location in the radial light distribution are found to be consistent with those of face-on galaxies.


BACKGROUND: Approximately half of Crohn's patients require intestinal resection, and many need repeat resections. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the increased risk of clinical anastomotic leak in patients with a history of previous intestinal resection undergoing repeat resection with anastomosis for Crohn's disease. DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected departmental data with 100% capture. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at the department of colorectal surgery in a tertiary care teaching hospital between July 2007 and March 2016. PATIENTS: A cohort of consecutive patients with Crohn's disease who were treated with intestinal resection and anastomosis, excluding patients with proximal fecal diversion, were included. The cohort was divided into 2 groups, those with no previous resection compared with those with previous resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical anastomotic leak within 30 days of surgery was measured. RESULTS: Of the 206 patients who met criteria, 83 patients had previous intestinal resection (40%). The 2 groups were similar in terms of patient factors, immune-suppressing medication use, and procedural factors. Overall, 20 clinical anastomotic leaks were identified (10% leak rate). There were 6 leaks (5%) detected in patients with no previous intestinal resection and 14 leaks (17%) detected in patients with a history of previous intestinal resection (p < 0.005). The OR of anastomotic leak in patients with Crohn's disease with previous resection compared with no previous resection was 3.5 (95% CI, 1.3–9.4). Patients with 1 previous resection (n = 53) had a leak rate of 13%, whereas patients with ≥2 previous resections (n = 30) had a leak rate of 23%. The number of previous resections correlated with increasing risk for clinical anastomotic leak (correlation coefficient = 0.998). LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study with limited data to perform a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat intestinal resection in patients with Crohn's disease is associated with an increased rate of anastomotic leakage when compared with initial resection despite similar patient, medication, and procedural factors. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A459.


The study proposed will investigate the effects of functional control on online consumers' attitude formation. Functional control is an interactive interface feature that allows consumers to virtually try different functions of online products. An attitude formation model for analyzing and assessing the influences of functional control is proposed based on existing theories of vividness and interactivity, which are the two fundamental technological characteristics of functional control. The model suggests that functional control has direct effects on both attitudes toward online product presentation and attitudes toward products themselves, and that attitudes toward different online product presentation partly mediate the effects of functional control on attitudes toward products. A laboratory experiment has been designed to test the model. We expect that the results of the study will identify particular areas deserving attention for applying functional control to improve e-commerce environments.


The development objective of Water Sector Institutional Development Project for Angola is to strengthen the institutional capacity and efficiency of the Recipient's agencies in the water sector to improve access to water service delivery. Some of the negative and mitigation measures include: (i) work likely to generate noise, dust or other disturbing elements must be notified and agreed with the local communities so that can only begin after proper notification and consultation with the community that may be affected; (ii) it is forbidden the use of rivers, streams or other water facilities for washing equipment or vehicles; (iii) the removal and disposal of the absorbent material should be with prior approval of the method or the site of reposition minimum in restoring the conditions leading up to the accident; (iv) increase to the environmental contribution of forested areas, promote reforestation is to reduce poverty and encourage economic development; (v) ensure the existence of spill control means in storage locations and use of chemicals; (vi) keep the noise level within acceptable limits and construction activities should, where possible, be limited to normal working hours; (vii) ensure proper sorting of waste; (viii) the storage should be temporary and should wherever possible the use of these lands in landfill areas of the work or other previously authorized places; and (ix) sensitize employees to the rationalization of water consumption , energy and diesel, chemical handling , sorting of waste , environmental noise issues , control and prevention of spills , the construction work organization in order to avoid the natural vegetation destruction , awareness campaigns for disease prevention.


The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure leisure facilitators and report its initial psychometric evidence. Moderate correlations were observed for the association of leisure motivation with leisure facilitators. Leisure facilitators were also significantly correlated with leisure constraints. The t-tests investigating the standardized path coefficients were significant, suggesting that all paths were assisting in the prediction of their assigned factors. These results provide supporting evidence for the convergent validity of the indicators. Model-fit statistics demonstrate that 27 items of the leisure facilitators in the proposed model fit the data well. The findings from this study may be relevant to considering whether the proposed model is appropriate to measure a scale of leisure facilitators. Future study needs to verify the characterization of the leisure facilitator scale. The scale should be examined by other sufficient samples such as adolescents, older adults and local community residents. Further investigation is required to test the stability of the leisure facilitator scale.


Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome is a type of congenital heart defect where the right ventricle is underdeveloped in an infant to pump blood from the body to the lungs. The three-staged surgical Fontan procedure provides a temporary treatment; however, in most of the cases, a heart transplantation is required due to postoperative complications. Currently, there are no devices commercially available in the market to provide a therapeutic assistance to these patients until a donor heart is available. Thus, a novel dual propeller pump concept is developed to provide cavopulmonary assistance to these patients.
 The designed blood pump would be percutaneously inserted via the Femoral vein and deployed at the center of the Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC). The two propellers, each placed in the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) and the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) are connected by a single shaft and rotating at same speed. The device is supported with the help of a self-expanding stent whose outer walls are anchored to the inner walls of the IVC and the SVC. Each of the IVC and the SVC propeller without the stent provides a modest pressure augmentation of 5–6 mm Hg. To expand on this, the current study focusses on studying the effect of the introduction of stent around the propeller on the hemodynamic performance of the pump.
 Five different stent design parameters, viz. the strut thickness, width, number, the stent length and number of strut columns were selected for a range of values. Each of the design parameters was varied by keeping all others constant and equal to the base stent design. All the stent models were analysed to see their effect on pressure rise, flow pattern and blood damage using 3D CFD analysis. The blood damage potential for different studied designs was predicted using a non-linear mathematical power law model along with Lagrangian particle tracking to predict the blood flow path. The introduction of stent resulted in pressure reduction of around 0.4 and 0.2 mm Hg around the IVC and SVC propeller with an increase in blood damage index (BDI) by almost 2 times for the final dual propeller pump assembly. It was observed that the blood damage potential was directly related to the amount of pressure rise where the stent length, stent column number, strut width, and strut thickness had a converse effect showing a reduction in pressure rise and blood damage with their increment. While the number of struts gave a desirable effect of increasing pressure rise and reducing blood damage with its increment. The study also demonstrated that the introduction of stent around a circulatory pump increases the Wall Shear Stress (WSS) value at the stent-artery wall interface thereby preventing the occurrence of restenosis and thrombosis initiating due to very low WSS (< 0.5 Pa). Thus, this study acts as an initial step to design a protective stent support around a percutaneous assist device by analysing the sensitivity of stent design parameters on the hemodynamic performance of the pump.


BACKGROUND
The objectives of our study were to determine the frequency of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTAs) among modifications of the Fontan operation and identify risk factors for developing SVTA.

METHODS AND RESULTS
The population consisted of all patients who had any modification of the Fontan operation at the Mayo Clinic between 1985 and 1993. Clinically significant SVTAs were those requiring initiation or change of antiarrhythmic treatment, and they were divided into early SVTAs (<30 days after the operation) and late SVTAs (>/=30 days after the operation). Clinical histories were reviewed, and health status questionnaires were sent. Four hundred ninety-nine patients had various modifications of the Fontan operation. Frequency of early SVTA was 15%. Risk factors identified by multivariate analysis for early SVTA were AV valve regurgitation, abnormal AV valve, and preoperative SVTA. Frequency of late SVTA was 6% by 1 year, 12% by 3 years, and 17% by 5 years. Risk factors for late SVTA were age at operation (<3 or >/=10 years) and systemic AV valve replacement. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the type of Fontan operation was not a significant risk factor for late SVTA when all 6 modifications were considered. However, when we analyzed the frequency of late SVTA for the 2 recently used modifications, we found a lower frequency of late SVTA in patients with atriopulmonary connection with lateral tunnel compared with those with total cavopulmonary connection.

CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative SVTA continues to be a significant problem. Risk factors for SVTA are AV valve regurgitation, abnormal AV valve, preoperative SVTA, and age at operation. Frequency of SVTA does not appear to be related to type of Fontan procedure except for slightly lower frequency in patients with atriopulmonary connection with lateral tunnel compared with those with total cavopulmonary connection.


ABSTRACT The complexation between methyl acetoacetate and certain lanthanides was studied in the mixed ethanol–water solvent (90% ethanol) using electronic absorption spectroscopy. The formation of the cationic 1:2 type complexes was shown at alkalescent medium. Based on the energy of the f–f transitions, the interelectronic repulsion parameters (Slater integrals) were determined by a least-square fit using effective Hamiltonian comprised of electrostatic and spin–orbit components and the nephelauxetic ratio was calculated as a ratio of the second-order Slater integrals. The nephelauxetic ratio was found to be proportional to the relative shortening of the lanthanide–oxygen bond length when the geometry of the complexes was optimized by semiempirical Sparkle/Parametric Method 7.


Cutaneous melanoma remains the most lethal skin cancer, and ranks third among all malignancies in terms of years of life lost. Despite the advent of immune checkpoint and targeted therapies, only roughly half of patients with advanced melanoma achieve a durable remission. SIRT5 is a member of the sirtuin family of protein deacylases that regulate metabolism and other biological processes. Germline Sirt5 deficiency is associated with mild phenotypes in mice. Here we show that SIRT5 is required for proliferation and survival across all cutaneous melanoma genotypes tested, as well as uveal melanoma, a genetically distinct melanoma subtype that arises in the eye, and is incurable once metastatic. Likewise, SIRT5 is required for efficient tumor formation by melanoma xenografts, and in an autochthonous mouse Braf;Pten-driven melanoma model. Via metabolite and transcriptomic analyses, we find that SIRT5 is required to maintain histone acetylation and methylation levels in melanoma cells, thereby promoting proper gene expression. SIRT5-dependent genes notably include MITF, a key lineage-specific survival oncogene in melanoma, and the c-MYC proto-oncogene. SIRT5 may represent a novel, druggable genotype-independent addiction in melanoma.


The results are presented from an integrated sedimentologic, structural, stratigraphic, and diagenetic study of syndepositional faults and fractures that cut the Permian Capitan reef and equivalent platform strata within three outcrop windows in Slaughter Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. The studied faults are dip slip, have displacement of up to 30 m parallel the shelf margin, and are vertically and laterally segmented. The faults dip steeply shelfward and basinward, and grew incrementally during deposition of the Yates and Tansill Formations. Steep polycyclic paleocavern systems developed along faults and fractures. These can have cumulative vertical relief of more than 270 m, extend at least 1.2 km along strike, and are typically less than 10 m wide but can attain a width of 90 m. The paleocaverns can extend more than 110 m below the top of the Capitan reef. The paleocaverns are filled mainly with sediments deposited during Capitan progradation and aggradation. Seven Permian lithologies are distinguished: (1) limestones and limestone brecdas, (2) microspar-lithified breccias, (3) carbonate-rich breccias, (4) reworked and remnant brecdas, (5) beige dolomitic siltstone-sandstone and associated breccias, (6) pink dolomitic siltstone-sandstone and associated breccias, and (7) spar-cemented breccias. The fills vary vertically and along strike within the paleocaverns but have a clear organization and stratigraphy. The integration of the stratigraphy of the paleocaverns with the structural and sequence stratigraphie framework developed in back-reef strata provides evidence for incremental fault growth and multiple episodes of dissolution, brecciation, collapse, deposition, cementation, and dolomitization within the paleocaverns during Capitan times. Solution-modified syndepositional faults extend at least 33 km along strike from Slaughter Canyon and are considered to be an integral component of the Capitan platform. The fault-zone paleocaverns contain a unique internal record of events and processes that have no counterpart in the shelf succession. Their study provides new insights into the internal heterogeneity and diagenesis of the Capitan platform. The results have important implications for the Capitan platform, and more generally for the heterogeneity of syndepositional fracture-controlled karst systems formed in carbonate platforms with steep unstable margins, subject to compaction-induced tilting and/ or developed in active tectonic settings.


Movement of transposable elements have demonstrated to be a cause of genetic variation that is relevant to quantitative characters in Drosophila. Here a particular class of P-element-induced variation known to be mediated through changes in expression of targeted enzyme-encoding genes is examined. Balancer chromosome and 139 third-chromosome lines of Drosophila melanogaster bearing unique stable P-element insertions in a common genetic background. Lines that were homozygous for second-chromosome P-element insertions were significantly more heterogeneous than control lines in 10 of 16 characters, whereas third-chromosome insertion lines were heterogeneous in 11 of the 16 traits. The average mutational variance per insertion relative to environmental variance (Vm/Ve) was 5.7 x 10(-2), and estimates varied widely across characters. The distributions of mutational effects tended to be skewed, with a longer tail toward high enzyme activities. Mutational effects deviated from a normal distribution in 15 of the 16 traits and significant outlier lines were found in both a positive and negative direction in several characters. Pleiotropic effects of single P-element insertions were quantified by correlation, and, after correcting for simultaneous tests, of the 91 correlations, 37 were significant at the 5% level. The pattern of pleiotropic effects derviated both from the equilibrium genetic correlations quantified in a previous study and from the correlations of mutational effects in a mutation-accumulation experiment, suggesting that multiple forces are at play that shape extant variation.


Online analytical processing (OLAP) as a modern business intelligence (BI) concept provides support for representing vast amounts of data for supporting management's decisions. Though, there is no inherent support for the representation of causal structures which could provide a foundation for advanced analysis like what-if or scenario techniques. System Dynamics (SD) is an approach with a long tradition used for modelling and simulation of complex systems, which could provide a causal complement for OLAP. This paper aims at integrating OLAP and SD on a linguistic level. Therefore linguistic metamodels of the corresponding conceptual modelling languages are derived and related towards each other, creating a translational relationship between the languages.


This study examined the effect of cobblestone-mat walking on health-related outcomes in older adults. Participants (mean age 72.6, N=40) were randomized into either an 8-week cobblestone-mat walking activity (n = 22) or a control group (n = 18). Cobblestone-mat walking entailed three 45-min sessions per week. Primary outcomes included SF-12 (mental, physical), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), psychophysical well-being, daytime sleepiness, and pain. Secondary outcomes included resting blood pressure and perceived control of falls. The walkers experienced significantly improved SF-12 scores, IADLs, and psychophysical well-being and significantly reduced daytime sleepiness and pain. They also reported significantly improved perceptions of control over falls. A significant between-groups difference in resting diastolic blood pressure was observed, with reductions in the walkers. A significant within-group reduction in systolic blood pressure was observed in the walkers only. The data indicate ...


Petroleum supply and environmental issues have increased interest in renewable low polluting alternative fuels. Published test results generally indicate decreased pollution with similar power output from internal combustion engines burning alternative fuels. More specifically, diesel engines burning biodiesel derived from plant oils and animal fats, not only reduce harmful exhaust emissions, but are renewable and environmentally friendly.A literature review found little previous research with biodiesel in small commercial diesel engines. This paper presents the research that was conducted to study the effect of biodiesel/diesel fuel blends on engine performance and emissions for a Yanmar L100 EE (7.1 kW) engine. This is a standard commercial grade diesel engine used for small equipment such as generators.Independent engine dynamometer and emissions testing were performed to validate the lower emission claims and assess the feasibility of alternative fuels. A testing apparatus capable of making relevant measurements was designed, built and used to perform this study.Fuel blends used included B2, B20, B40, B60, B80, and B100 where the biodiesel component of the blend was a commercial product. An analysis of the fuel showed large percentages of linoleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid which is typical for a blend of soybean oil and beef tallow.Test were performed at a constant torque (95 % of the continuously rated value) and variable engine speeds. Test results included calculated values of BMEP, BSFC, thermal efficiency, air mass flow rate, air fuel ratio, corrected NOx, energy lost to exhaust, and heat rejection, and measured values of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.Results indicate an increase in thermal efficiency compared to standard diesel and significant reductions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide at all engine speeds. Brake specific fuel consumption increased with increasing percent biodiesel consistent with the decreased energy content of blended fuel. Significantly, there were small but consistent reductions in corrected NOx for all blends at all speeds. We posit possible explanations for these results, which are contrary to the published results for larger engines which show an increase in NOx for biodiesel blends.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-V) will likely place more emphasis on dimensional representation of mental disorders. However, it is often argued that categorical diagnoses are preferable for professional communication, clinical decision-making, or distinguishing between individuals with and without a mental disorder. For these specific aims, utility-based categories can be created on the basis of a dimensional framework by using cut-points. This article addresses several ideas for combining categorical and dimensional approaches like prototype matching, adding scores of symptom-severity, and introducing utility-based categories in dimensional models. The authors identify alternative objectives for specifying cut-points and describe ways of determining the cut-points accordingly. It is recommended that, for creating standard diagnostic concepts, fixed cutoffs be used, as this promotes accumulative science, but these cutoffs may not be optimal for other clinical decisions because of local base rates and decision-specific (dis)utilities. Receiver operator characteristics curves can facilitate the comparative evaluation of the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity for multiple cut-points and diagnostic rules. The authors advocate a DSM-V that contains both categories and dimensions to serve the multiple and complex aims of utility and validity.


This article presents apparently the first application of Meshless local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method for 3-D elasticity analysis of moderately thick rectangular laminated plates. As with other Meshless methods, the problem domain is represented by a set of spread nodes in all three dimensions of the plate without configuration of elements. The Moving Least-Squares (MLS) method is applied to construct the required shape functions. A local asymmetric weak formulation of the problem is developed and MLPG is applied to solve the governing equations. Direct interpolation method is employed to enforce essential boundary conditions. Details of formulation, numerical procedure, convergence and accuracy characteristics of the method are investigated. Results are compared, where possible, with other analytical and numerical methods and show good agreement.


The objective of this article is to study a deeply prereflective dimension of our subjective experience. This dimension is gestural and rhythmic, has precise transmodal sensorial submodalities, and seems to play an essential role in the process of emergence of all thought and understanding. In the first part of the article, using examples, we try to draw the attention of the reader to this dimension in his subjective experience. In the second part, we attempt to explain the difficulties and describe the interior process of becoming aware of it. Then we describe the structural characteristics of this dimension, and the different types of 'interior gestures' which enable us to connect ourselves with it. Finally, we formulate a genetic hypothesis about the role of this dimension in cognition, on the basis of which we suggest some research paths in the neuroscientific, educational and existential domains.


The paper attempts to give an account of fresh water algae as an indicator of water quality. Eight lakes of Mysore have been studied. The Palmers Index IDSELS Diatom index and OMNIDA software, were used for calculated and analysed. The order of tolerance to organic pollution was calculated using the Garrett ranking techniques .According to Palmer index all the eight lakes were organically polluted. Bogadi lake was least polluted and Karanji lakes and mandakahalli lake were polluted. The present investigation compares the use of old and new techniques of detecting the water quality. It also enables us to understand whether the algae is imparting organic pollution of lake water. The species index indicated that Bogadi lake, Hadinarru lake, Karanji lake & Bilikere lake had low organic pollution. The diatom index showed that all lakes ranged between moderate and high organic pollution but the degradation levels in the water was also high. Dalvoi lake and Mandakahalli lake had the highest organic pollution. Species of Euglena and Scenedesmus were the most tolerant species found in organic polluted lakes. Algae were found to be highly resistant in Karanji lake, Dalvoi lake, Kukkarahalli lake and bilekere lake. These sites were found to be conducible for the growth of algae, while most of the other lakes had idiosynthcratic species. This study uses the advanced modern tools in determining levels of organic pollution in lake ecosystem.


OBJECT
Patients with symptomatic pathological compression fractures require a stabilization procedure for mechanical control of back pain as well as radiation therapy for the underlying malignant process. In this study the authors evaluated a treatment paradigm of closed fracture reduction and fixation in which kyphoplasty was used, followed by single-fraction spinal radiosurgery performed with the CyberKnife.

METHODS
Twenty-six patients (six men and 20 women, mean age 72 years) with histologically confirmed pathological compression fractures (16 thoracic, 10 lumbar) were prospectively evaluated. For inclusion in the study, the patients' presenting symptoms were limited to pain without neurological deficits. Histological findings included 11 lung, nine breast, and four renal carcinomas, one cholangiocarcinoma, and one ocular melanoma. All patients underwent kyphoplasty of the affected vertebral body, for which a percutaneous transpedicular procedure was used. Fiducial markers that allow image guidance for CyberKnife radiosurgery were placed into the pedicles at the adjacent levels at the time of the kyphoplasty procedure. Patients then underwent single-fraction radiosurgery (at a mean of 12 days after kyphoplasty) in an outpatient setting. The tumor dose was maintained at 16 to 20 Gy to the 80% isodose line (mean 18 Gy). Treated tumor volume ranged from 12.7 to 37.1 cm3. Axial pain improved in 24 (92%) of 26 patients during the follow-up period of 7 to 20 months.

CONCLUSIONS
A combined kyphoplasty and spinal radiosurgery treatment paradigm was found to be safe and clinically effective for patients with pathological fractures without significant spinal canal compromise. This technique combines two minimally invasive surgical procedures, thereby avoiding the morbidity associated with open surgery while providing immediate fracture fixation as well as a single-fraction tumoricidal radiation dose.


Multiple frequently interactive stress factors naturally influence plant due to global change. The leaf's hormone concentrations, main-stem and branch yield response to the combination of shade and drought were studied in a greenhouse experiment during 2009 and 2010 seasons. Pot experiments were conducted under shade of maize (LI) and normal irradiance (HI). Shade stress was removed once maize was harvested. Manipulative progressive soil drying period at branching stages under good soil conditions (HW) and water stress treatment (LW) were applied in 2010, while well-watered (WW) and moderate drought (MD) were applied in 2009. Under shade stress, seedling height and first internode length increased, stem diameter decreased, abscisic acid (ABA) and zeatin (ZT) concentration decreased, while indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellins 3 (GA3) concentration increased. More also, branch numbers, pod number of branches and seed number of branches increased. Branch yield did not reduce significantly under shade stress, which was related to the decrease of ABA and IAA. Based on the results, soybean yield decreased under shade and drought stresses was mainly due to the yield reduction of the main-stem.


The media plays an important role in during the periods of wars and conflicts. The media ensures public knowledge of the events by carrying the messages to the masses in these periods. The contents of media messages usually cause the public to develop certain views and feeings about the war and the conflict. The long-term and still ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine today are still among the most long-lasting conflicts. Events and representations regarding this conflict are also reflected in the contents of various media. The mentioned conflict has became subject to a remarkable number of academic studies. This paper examines academic studies covering Israeli-Palestine conflict through its reflections on various media. Within this context, a total number of 50 academic studies were analyzed. Of these studies, 25 were about newspapers, 16 were about television, 6 were about both television and newspapers, 2 were about movies and 1 was about magazines. The contents of these studies were examined in terms of the most focused issues, types of mass media, ideological and their emerging results.


Abstract Purpose: Resilience, coping with uncertainty and learning from mistakes are vital characteristics for all medical disciplines – particularly rural practice. Levels of coping constructs were examined in medical students with and without a rural background or an interest in rural practice. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys identified two personality profiles, and their association with levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, Resilience, Perfectionism-High Standards and Concern over mistakes as constructs indicative of coping. Medical students (N = 797) were stratified by rural background and degree of rural interest. Mediation analysis tested the effect of personality profile on levels of the coping constructs. Results: More (72%) rural background students had Profile 1 which was associated with higher levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, High standards, and Resilience, but lower Concern over mistakes. Non-rural background students reporting a strong rural interest also had Profile 1 (64%) and similar levels of coping constructs. Personality profile mediated the association between rural interest and levels of coping constructs regardless of background. Conclusions: Having a rural background or strong rural interest are associated with a personality profile that indicates a better capacity for coping. Personality may play a part in an individual's interest in rural practice. Rural workforce initiatives through education should encourage and nurture students with a genuine interest in rural practice – regardless of background.


ABSTRACT A population of Night Parrots (Pezoporus occidentalis) was discovered in 2013 in western Queensland and has become the primary focus of efforts aimed at conserving habitat and protecting the species from extinction. Critical information on nesting habitat and location, breeding season and behaviour, clutch size and breeding success is currently limited to anecdotal 19th-century observations and accounts by early natural historians. Here we describe several breeding attempts at Pullen Pullen Reserve. Our observations include nest and fledgling descriptions, habitat and clutch characteristics, breeding seasonality, adult breeding behaviour and vocalisations. We also identify a King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis) as the predator responsible for one nesting failure. Our observations confirm historical reports of nesting habitat, egg and clutch size and breeding seasonality and provide important new information on vocalisations and adult behaviour around an active nest. These new data provide a basis for future studies and conservation management of this enigmatic threatened species.


Qualities of silver carp surimi (SCS) gels incorporated with micron fish bone of different particle size (22 to 0.12 μm) were evaluated. Textural values, whiteness, and water holding capacity of the SCS gels with setting significantly increased ( ) as the micron fish bone particle size decreased. As the particle size decreased, more calcium ion was apparently released from the fish bone ( ). Consequently the released calcium ion increased the activity of endogenous transglutaminase (TGase) and resulted in the formation of more myosin heavy chain (MHC) cross-links in the SCS gel with setting. Fish bone with particle size below 0.48 μm was steadily trapped in the three-dimensional SCS gel network without disrupting the matrices. Results indicated that size reduction of the incorporated micron fish bone improved qualities of the SCS gel with setting by the means of releasing more calcium ion and maintaining better gel matrices.


Ethiopian soil affected by strong acidity accounts for about 28% of the entire country and 43% of the total cultivated land. Soil acidity is expanding in scope and magnitude. To tackle the problem, lime addition is one of the solutions. The lack of soil specific lime recommendation method(s) to amend the increasing acidification problem has been one of the challenges to boost crop production. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment to select best-fit LR method(s) and calibrate on Luvisol was conducted. Different LR methods were evaluated to find out which of these methods most accurately predicted the LR in comparison with reference CaCO3‐incubation. The initial LR dose for incubation experiment was calculated using Shoemaker, Mc lean and Pratt (SMP) method to achieve a target pH of 6.0, followed by progressive incremental addition of lime. Then, the soil was incubated with different doses of CaCO3 for a period of five weeks to achieve different target pHs. The results of incubation were compared with the buffered and unbuffered LR methods. The CaCO3 incubation pH measurement results showed an increasing trend with an increasing amount of lime added. The LR prediction ability of exchangeable acidity and single addition Ca (OH)2 were the  least of all the methods tested for Luvisol, when compared to the reference method. Adams Evan and modified Mehlich LR predication are next to incubation in LR prediction for Luvisol. However, more researches that are detailed are needed to verify and synchronize the greenhouse results with field experiment in different agro ecologies to increase nutrient supply to the plant, water percolation and crop production.

 Key words:  Acidity, luvisols, lime, lime requirement, Shoemaker, Mc lean and Pratt (SMP), modified Mehlich.


A knowledge based tutoring system is used to support the education of power engineering students. The aim of this project is to make teaching and learning more productive and efficient by employing modern technologies. It seeks to find new methods to teach large numbers of students with no increase in staff. The tutoring system is based on an expert system shell. It provides a functionally interacting set of theory and problems, and supports student progress through monitoring and assessment. This paper describes the development of the tutoring system for teaching electrical engineering subjects, and in particular, fault analysis in power systems. The expert system based software has been successfully used by power engineering students. They found this software easy to use and understand, and it has become an extra teaching tool.


This paper interweaves a 'micro' theme concerning shame and guilt and a 'macro' theme concerning self-regulation generally. Neither shame nor guilt is more other-independent than the other. Moreover, because other-dependence in either emotion is not a mark of heteronomy, neither emotion is more characteristic of a well-functioning moral consciousness. Then, relying on phenomena described by 'extended mind' theorists, I argue that a common view of self-regulation in children – that it is importantly other-dependent – is also true of adult self-regulation. But that is all the more reason to think that other-dependence and a well-functioning moral consciousness can go together. Moreover, since shame and guilt are one aspect of self-regulation, if other-dependence can be a characteristic generally of our well-functioning self-regulation – the 'macro' thesis – this supports the 'micro' thesis that other-dependence can characterize the well-functioning of both shame and guilt. The conclusion is that heteronomy lies not in the fact of other-dependence but in the nature of the dependence.