: The distribution of obese patients without diabetes based on the results of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) made it possible to define 2 groups of patients: with normal (the 1st group) and disturbed (the 2nd group) OGTT. A moderate increase in the levels of insulin and C-peptide after GTT and almost unchanged sensitivity to insulin were observed in the 1st group. A considerable increase in the levels of insulin and C-peptide after glucose intake and a considerable decrease in the sensitivity to insulin were observed in the 2nd group. In obese patients with diabetes mellitus the levels of insulin and C-peptide after the GTT were significantly lower than those in the 1st and 2nd groups. A conclusion has been made that whereas certain stages of pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus in obesity are associated with hyperinsulinemia and GTT disorder, obvious diabetes mellitus is characterized by a decrease in secretory potentialities of the insular apparatus in parallel with glucose intolerance.


Nitrogen, sulfur-codoped carbon catalysts with enriched mesopores were, for the first time, synthesized by pyrolyzing a novel N, S-containing MOF, viz. [Zn2(TDC)2(DABCO)]·4DMF (SCUT-12, TDC = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the S-containing ligand (TDC) and N-containing ligand (DABCO) are regularly crystallized into the SCUT-12 framework, which act as internal sulfur and nitrogen sources. As such, the two dopant atoms can be uniformly introduced into one precursor at the molecular level, and the codoping of two elements can be achieved in one step during carbonization, simplifying the conventional protocol. Structural characterization reveals that the resultant carbon is mesoporous and has high specific surface area, which favors the exposure of electrocatalytic active sites and mass transfer of the reactive species. As a result, the N, S-codoped carbon pyrolyzed at 900 °C (NSMC-900) shows a decent activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with an onset and half-wave potential up to 0.98 and 0.85 V, respectively, which are comparable with those of a 40 wt% commercial Pt/C catalyst. NSMC-900 also shows a superior long-term stability to Pt/C. Finally, it is found that the dual element-doped carbon outperforms either one of the mono-element-doped carbons, demonstrating the favorable synergistic effect of dual element-doping.


A new zero-voltage-switched bidirectional dc-dc converter with coupled inductors is proposed in the paper. The proposed converter can operate with a steep conversion ratio, soft switching, a continuous inductor current, and fixed switching frequency. It can also operate with the switch stresses of a conventional pulsewidth-modulation-tapped/coupled-inductor converter regardless of the direction of power flow and without any voltage spikes across the switches during turn-OFF. These features are due to a very simple auxiliary circuit that is operational regardless of the direction of power flow and absorbs energy from the leakage inductance of the coupled inductors during switch turn-OFF. In the paper, the operation and design of the converter are discussed and its feasibility is confirmed with experimental results obtained from a prototype.


Abstract Analysis of the limestone-dominated Upper Ordovician (Chatfieldian-Edenian) Point Pleasant–Fulton interval provides detailed documentation of the internal composition of a transgressive systems tract within a mixed-carbonate siliciclastic foreland basin succession. This 14 m interval is divisible into 13 small-scale cycles that are widely traceable and record a lithofacies gradient from calcarenite-rich outcrops of central Kentucky into interbedded fine-grained grainstones and organic-rich shale in the subsurface of western Ohio. Hardgrounds and condensed beds are widespread and numerous and commonly cap the limestone hemicycle of small-scale cycles. Taphonomic- and faunal-gradient analyses of 233 bedding planes reveal both lateral and vertical gradients indicative of deepening from central Kentucky northward and a similar signature of deepening upward through the study interval. The deepening-upward trend within the Point Pleasant member is coincident with a decrease in the thickness of shale hemicycles, whereas the deepening-upward trend within the Fulton submember shows a slight increase in shale hemicycle thickness and quartz silt content. A polymictic intraformational conglomerate, the most complex discontinuity surface within the study interval, marks the contact of the Point Pleasant–Fulton members. The study interval, thus, is interpreted to represent distinctive early and late phases (Point Pleasant and Fulton members, respectively) of the transgressive systems tract separated by a maximum starvation surface. These patterns suggest that this widespread limestone-dominated interval formed primarily in response to basinwide, relative sea-level rise and siliciclastic sediment starvation, rather than simply through winnowing.


18 perilunate dislocations and fracture-dislocations were treated at the Trauma Center of the Vienna General Hospital during the period from 1992 to 1995. Only five cases were treated without surgery. 15 of these 18 patients returned for follow-up after an average of 16 months. In ten cases good results were achieved. Radiologically, eight patients were classified as good. Overall better results were seen after surgical treatment.


In this letter, we proposed an approach to construct multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel in line-of-sight (LOS) environment. It could be a potential technique for high-speed data transmission in fixed broadband wireless access (BWA). Based on Ricean fading channel model, our research is focused on the characteristics of the channel matrix such as the condition number. The initial discussion starts from a 4 times 4 MIMO scheme that the four antennas formed a square array on each side. A design constraint for antenna arrangement as a function of frequency and distance is derived for the LOS MIMO communication. Since rigorous constraint is difficult to achieve in practice, simulation results of the acceptable deviation from optimal design in different cases are presented. Smart geometrical arrangement and multipolarization may also weaken this constraint


Background Vision provides the most salient information with regard to stimulus motion, but audition can also provide important cues that affect visual motion perception. Here, we show that sounds containing no motion or positional cues can induce illusory visual motion perception for static visual objects. Methodology/Principal Findings Two circles placed side by side were presented in alternation producing apparent motion perception and each onset was accompanied by a tone burst of a specific and unique frequency. After exposure to this visual apparent motion with tones for a few minutes, the tones became drivers for illusory motion perception. When the flash onset was synchronized to tones of alternating frequencies, a circle blinking at a fixed location was perceived as lateral motion in the same direction as the previously exposed apparent motion. Furthermore, the effect lasted at least for a few days. The effect was well observed at the retinal position that was previously exposed to apparent motion with tone bursts. Conclusions/Significance The present results indicate that strong association between sound sequence and visual motion is easily formed within a short period and that, after forming the association, sounds are able to trigger visual motion perception for a static visual object.


INTRODUCTION
No dental patient satisfaction questionnaires have been validated in Spain.

OBJECTIVE
To validate in Spain a translated version of the Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire.

METHODS
A consecutive sample of 217 patients attending the dental clinic of the University of Valencia was selected. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was analysed using Cronbach's alpha and the internal structure using principal components analysis. Its reproducibility was tested both by using the test-retest method with 31 patients randomly selected from the sample and by analysis using the absolute agreement intraclass correlation coefficient.

RESULTS
Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaire was 0.56. Seven principal components explain 60% of the variance. Test-retest obtained an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92 and the subscales obtained values higher than 0.7.

DISCUSSION
The internal consistency of the scale is acceptable. The internal consistency of the pain management subscale is higher than that of the others. The original structure of five subscales is partially confirmed in our version because of quality and access subscales. The reproducibility is very good. Some items of Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire that show low consistency measure expectations that would have little effect on satisfaction scores.

CONCLUSIONS
The Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire in Spanish can be considered an instrument for studying patient satisfaction in Spain as it has proved viable, has acceptable internal consistency and excellent reproducibility and covers different dimensions of the concept of satisfaction, such as pain management, accessibility, quality, availability/convenience and cost.


The central claim of this thesis is that geometry is a quasi-empirical science based on the idealisation of the elementary physical operations that we actually perform with pen and paper. This conclusion is arrived at after searching for a theory of geometry that will not only explain the epistemology and ontology of mathematics, but will also fit with the best practices of working mathematicians and, more importantly, explain why geometry gives us knowledge that is relevant to physical reality. We will be considering all the major schools of thought in the philosophy of mathematics. Firstly, from the epistemological side, we will consider apriorism, empiricism and quasi-empiricism, finding a Kitcherian style of quasi-empiricism to be the most attractive. Then, from the ontological side, we will consider Platonism, formalism, Kitcherian ontology, and fictionalism. Our conclusion will be to take a Kitcherian epistemology and a fictionalist ontology. This will give us a kind of quasiempirical-fictionalist approach to mathematics. The key feature of Kitcher's thesis is that he placed importance on the operations rather than the entities of arithmetic. However, because he only dealt with arithmetic, we are left with the task of developing a theory of geometry along Kitcherian lines. I will present a theory of geometry that parallels Kitcher's theory of arithmetic using the drawing of straight lines as the most primitive operation. We will thereby develop a theory of geometry that is founded upon our operations of drawing lines. Because this theory is based on our line drawing operations carried out in physical reality, and is the idealisation of those activities, we will have a connection between mathematical geometry and physical reality that explains the predictive power of geometry in the real world. Where Kitcher uses the Peano postulates to develop his theory of arithmetic, I will use the postulates of projective geometry to form the foundations of operational geometry. The reason for choosing projective geometry is due to the fact that by taking it as the foundation, we may apply Klein's Erlanger programme and build a theory of geometry that encompasses Euclidean, hyperbolic and elliptic geometries. The final question we will consider is the problem of conventionalism. We will discover that investigations into conventionalism give us further reason to accept the Kitcherian quasi-empirical-fictionalist approach as the most appealing philosophy of geometry available.


A 1-4-GHz 4-element phased array receiver front-end demonstrates spatial interferer rejection using null steering. Element phase and amplitude control are performed by a switched-capacitor vector modulator with integrated downconversion, utilizing a rational sine/cosine approximation. The 65-nm CMOS receiver achieves more than 20 dB of spatial interferer rejection up to an angular separation of 15°.


The functional relationship between the total illuminance and transfer function is obtained for systems having rotationally symmetric aberrations. It is shown that the behavior of the transfer function at zero spatial frequency determines the asymptotic behavior of the total illuminance. In addition, the moments of the transfer function determine the behavior of the total illuminance in the vicinity of the origin. Typical numerical results are presented.


Background : The effect of sleep difficulties has achieved a great deal of attention recently, with university students considered as a homogenized population, particularly affected by sleep habits. Aim : The objective of this study was to investigate whether Libyan college students experience sleep disturbance during their academic programmes. Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the college of Pharmacy, Tripoli University, during February 2010. A total of 201 students, including 179 females (89.05%) and 22 males (10.95%), were recruited from different academic levels. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and included a number of life-style variables. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used for the assessment of daytime sleepiness. Results : This study showed that the total sleep time (TST) on a weeknight was 6.40 h and 67 students reported napping during daytime. The TST plus naps totalled 7.39 h. Out of eight possible dozing situations, we found that the mean score for ESS was 8.78. In addition, 79 students showed an ESS score of >10. Furthermore, our results showed that the majority of students (>92%) reported poor sleep satisfaction with quality and duration of sleep hours. Thinking about difficulty of study but not increasing education programs or tea/coffee consumption is associated with sleep difficulties reported. Moreover, 77.6% of students reported an irregular sleep–wake schedule. Conclusion : These findings indicate that students experienced excessive daytime sleepiness. The TST of pharmaceutical students in Libya, as in other developing countries, is less than those reported by Western students. Students experienced various environmental demands during their college years and, their quality of sleep was negatively affected.


This paper investigates the trend of the wage inequality and the metropolitan wage premium in the United States during the 1980s. Two distinct sets of literature documented that the wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers and the metropolitan wage premium have risen significantly during the decade. When we combine these two sets of evidence and consider the interaction between skill and location, however, the increasing trends of the skill wage gap and the metropolitan wage premium almost disappear. Most of the dynamic changes are picked up by the interaction term, an extra metropolitan wage premium for skill, which rises significantly over the decade. As a partial explanation we find an increasing trend of the skill wage inequality across industries and occupations within metropolitan areas relative to non-metropolitan areas. This finding suggests that the skill biased technology alone may not sufficiently explain the growing wage inequality and it can be interpreted as a metropolitan specific phenomenon to an extent.


Climate driven threats are predicted to decrease the complexity of biogenic habitats. Within temperate coastal marine environments, we know that complex macroalgal beds support more complex communities through the provision of microhabitats and refuges. Macroalgal habitats have potential interacting benefits and costs for predators, as increased macroalgal biomass supports higher richness and diversity of prey species, but prey within these habitats might be more difficult to catch. An important New Zealand fishery species, the blue cod (Parapercis colias), is a large bodied temperate reef fish found exclusively throughout the coastal waters of New Zealand. Its dependence on subtidal coastal reef environments mean that it is important to understand how a loss of complex macroalgal habitats might alter the way that blue cod forage, and how the trade-off between prey abundance and availability will affect its abundance and productivity. This thesis aims to understand the influence of complex macroalgal habitats on P. colias prey availability and behaviour, on the foraging success of P. colias, and ultimately on P. colias population dynamics. Experiments were conducted using choice chambers to evaluate whether two alternate P. colias prey, Forsterygion lapillum and Heterozius rotundifrons, showed a preference for complex habitats with and without predation risk. Both species preferred complex habitats in the absence of predation cues, but F. lapillum showed a more consistent preference for complexity in response to predation risk. A mesocosm experiment was used to investigate whether the consumption rate and functional response of P. colias differs for these two prey types in the presence and absence of habitat complexity. Results indicated that the mobile fish prey, F. lapillum benefitted from the refuges provided by complexity and suffered lower consumption rates, whereas the sedentary crab, H. rotundifrons did not. Finally, using a simple population model, the trade-off between prey abundance and predation success on the population dynamics of P. colias with and without habitat complexity was explored. Models showed that scenarios with complex macroalgal habitats generally support more predators, and faster population growth rates than scenarios lacking habitat complexity. However, scenarios with complex habitats were predicted to be more sensitive to fishing pressure and have the potential to be more vulnerable to overexploitation. These results highlight the importance of understanding how habitat complexity mediates relationships between commercially important fishery species and their prey, in order to understand how habitat loss may alter their foraging success and population dynamics.


Recent 2009 flu pandemic is a global outbreak of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. The H1N1 virus has crossed species barrier to human and apparently acquired the capability to transmit this disease from human to human. The NP is a multifunctional protein that not only encapsidates viral RNA (vRNA), but also forms homo-oligomer and thereby maintains RNP structure. It is also thought to be the key adaptor for virus and host cell interaction. Thus, it is one of the factor that play a key role in the pathogenesis of influenza A virus infection. Therefore, to understand the cause of pathogenicity of H1N1 virus, we have studied the structure-function relationship of different domains of NP. Our results showed that conservative mutation in NP of various strains were pathogenic in nature. However, non-conservative mutation slightly abrogated oligomerization and was therefore less pathogenic. Our results also suggest that beside tail and body domain, head domain may also participate in an oligomerization process.


The library guide to Negotiation provides information on resources available from the Alvin Sherman Library, both in the library and online, on Negotiation and related topics.


This paper is motivated by the observation that children in land-rich households are often more likely to be in work than the children of land-poor households. The vast majority of working children in developing countries are in agricultural work, predominantly on farms operated by their families. Land is the most important store of wealth in agrarian societies and it is typically distributed very unequally. These facts challenge the common presumption that child labour emerges from the poorest households. We suggest that this seeming paradox can be explained by failures of the markets for labour and land. Credit market failure will tend to weaken the force of this paradox. We model these effects and estimate the model on data from rural Pakistan and Ghana. A striling finding of the paper is that, after controlling for household consumption and other covariates, the wealth paradox persists for girls but, for boys in both countries, it vanishes.


In this paper, we present a clustering algorithm for MANETs. A cluster is divided in two parts: core nodes, that are recruited by a randomly moving token, and ordinary nodes, that are adjacent to core nodes. The clustering built by this algorithm is adaptive to topological changes. When a topological change occurs, nodes that are not in the cluster in which it occurs, or in adjacent clusters, are not affected. This property allows the scalability of this algorithm, by ensuring that only a bounded number of nodes have to recompute their cluster.


The goal of the paper is to describe and analyse possible economic and ICT development level impacts on the Internet purchases by individuals, as the main variable under study, in selected European countries, EU28, and three official EU candidates, the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. For this purpose, the Eurostat data for the main variable, as the dependent one, and for the additional four independent variables for 2013 are analysed. Considering Internet purchases by individuals, the less developed analysed countries are mostly those being the South East European (SEE) countries. Four independent variables are selected, expressed as economic and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development indicators and they are all shown to be positively correlated with the Internet purchases by individuals in selected European countries. The best fitted multiple linear regression model developed shows that GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS), Index, EU- 28=100, and Percentage of individuals using the Internet, are statistically significant in the regression model. The main research hypothesis was that the SEE countries (SEECs) resemble each other concerning analysed variables, and they might belong to the same cluster. The k- means cluster analysis for 30 countries based on all five variables resulted with an acceptable four cluster solution. The clusters of the less developed, mostly SEE countries, and contain the EU official candidates: the FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, but also the following three EU members: Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The most developed EU countries are gathered in the cluster of their own with 10 countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, and the Scandinavian countries: the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.


Significance Previous studies have examined the neural correlates of risk, but it is unknown if patterns of brain activity can predict choices in risky decision-making. We used functional MRI data to predict choice behavior in subjects while they performed a naturalistic risk-taking task. We found choices on subsequent trials could be predicted with high accuracy when condensing each individual's brain activity to two values, indicating that choice behavior is encoded even in coarse activation patterns. A searchlight analysis demonstrated that choices can also be predicted based on localized activity patterns within neural networks involved in cognitive control. These regions show greater activation prior to safe choices than risky choices, suggesting that control systems play a key role in inhibiting risky choices. Previous research has implicated a large network of brain regions in the processing of risk during decision making. However, it has not yet been determined if activity in these regions is predictive of choices on future risky decisions. Here, we examined functional MRI data from a large sample of healthy subjects performing a naturalistic risk-taking task and used a classification analysis approach to predict whether individuals would choose risky or safe options on upcoming trials. We were able to predict choice category successfully in 71.8% of cases. Searchlight analysis revealed a network of brain regions where activity patterns were reliably predictive of subsequent risk-taking behavior, including a number of regions known to play a role in control processes. Searchlights with significant predictive accuracy were primarily located in regions more active when preparing to avoid a risk than when preparing to engage in one, suggesting that risk taking may be due, in part, to a failure of the control systems necessary to initiate a safe choice. Additional analyses revealed that subject choice can be successfully predicted with minimal decrements in accuracy using highly condensed data, suggesting that information relevant for risky choice behavior is encoded in coarse global patterns of activation as well as within highly local activation within searchlights.


Background: Vitamin B6 may influence colorectal carcinogenesis through its role in one-carbon metabolism related DNA synthesis and methylation. However, observational studies have been inconclusive and no studies have investigated when in the natural history vitamin B6 intake may prevent colorectal cancer. Method: We followed 86,440 women in the Nurses' Health Study and 44,410 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study for up to 28 years. We assessed vitamin B6 intake every 4 years using validated food frequency questionnaires. We evaluated whether higher vitamin B6 intake in the remote past is strongly associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer than intake in the recent past. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate multivariable relative risks (MV RRs, 95%CIs). Results: Comparing top with bottom quintiles of total vitamin B6 intake, the mean plasma pyridoxal 5–phosphate (PLP, the active form of vitamin B6) levels were 98.3 pmol/mL and 38.9 pmol/mL in women and were 183.2 pmol/mL and 66.0 pmol/mL in men. Total vitamin B6 intake was significantly associated with an approximately 20–30% lower risk of colorectal cancer in age-adjusted results but these significant associations became attenuated and non-significant after adjustment for other colorectal cancer risk factors. Compared extreme quintiles of cumulative intake of total vitamin B6, the MV RRs (95%CIs) for colorectal cancer were 0.98 (0.80, 1.22; P trend = 0.79) in women and 0.98 (0.76, 1.26; P trend = 0.60) in men. For the same comparison, the MV RRs were 0.92 (0.73, 1.16) for total vitamin B6 intake 0–4 year before diagnosis, 0.99 (0.78, 1.26) for intake 4–8 year before diagnosis, 0.93 (0.71, 1.21) for intake 8–12 year before diagnosis, and 0.93 (0.69, 1.26) for intake 12–16 years before diagnosis. The corresponding MV RRs for men were 0.85 (0.63, 1.16), 0.98 (0.70, 1.37), 0.90 (0.63, 1.28), and 1.19 (0.78, 1.83), respectively. Additionally, results did not differ by cancer sub-site, sources of vitamin B6 (food or supplement), or intake of alcohol and folate. Conclusion: Although a small effect cannot be excluded, our results do not support a strong role of vitamin B6 intake in adulthood in colorectal carcinogenesis among middle-aged U.S. health professionals.


PURPOSE
Trastuzumab is a key component of adjuvant therapy for stage I to III human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. The rates and patterns of trastuzumab use have never been described in a population-based sample. The recent addition of HER2 information to the SEER-Medicare database offers an opportunity to examine patterns of trastuzumab use and to evaluate possible disparities in receipt of trastuzumab.

METHODS
We examined a national cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with incident stage I to III HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosed in 2010 and 2011 (n = 1,362). We used insurance claims data to track any use of trastuzumab in the 12 months after diagnosis as well as to identify chemotherapy drugs used in partnership with trastuzumab. We used modified Poisson regression analysis to evaluate the independent effect of race on likelihood of receiving trastuzumab by controlling for clinical need, comorbidity, and community-level socioeconomic status.

RESULTS
Overall, 50% of white women and 40% of black women received some trastuzumab therapy. Among women with stage III disease, 74% of whites and 56% of blacks received trastuzumab. After adjustment for tumor characteristics, poverty, and comorbidity, black women were 25% less likely to receive trastuzumab within 1 year of diagnosis than white women (risk ratio, 0.745; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.93).

CONCLUSION
Approxemately one half of patients 65 years of age and older with stage I to III breast cancer do not receive trastuzumab-based therapy, which includes many with locally advanced disease. Significant racial disparities exist in the receipt of this highly effective therapy. Further research that identifies barriers to use and increases uptake of trastuzumab could potentially improve recurrence and survival outcomes in this population, particularly among minority women.


Aim: To determine the frequency of iron deficiency anemia in children presenting with febrile seizures.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 90 patients at department of Pediatrics, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Children with febrile seizures of both genders and with age range from 6 months to 5 years were included. Children with intracranial infection, metabolic disorders, and thalassemia were excluded. The recorded data from the children were age, gender, hemoglobin level, red cells distribution width, serum ferritin and iron deficiency anemia. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Iron deficiency anemia was stratified by age and gender to see effect modification by using Chi-square test at P ≤ 0.05 to be level of significance.

Results: The mean age and hemoglobin were 1.44 ± 0.988 years and 10.33 ± 2.44 g/dl respectively. The males were 53(58.9%) and females were 37 (41.1%). Most of the children hemoglobin level was less than 10 g/dl (n=51, 56.7%). Fifty children have red cells distribution width of greater or equal to 16% (56.7%). The serum ferritin was less than or equal to 7 ng/ml in 50(55.6%) and greater than 7 ng/ml in 40(44.4%) cases. Iron deficiency anemia was present in 53(58.9%). The association of iron deficiency anemia in febrile seizure with age (P=0.359) and gender (P=0.598) was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: More than half of the children affected by febrile seizure have iron deficiency anemia


One of the major construction systems in Colombia, and in general throughout Latin America, consists of multistory moment resisting reinforced concrete (RC) frames filled with unreinforced masonry (URM) walls. These non-structural masonry walls are conventionally built using clay tiles. Due to the high seismic activity in Colombia, this kind of masonry wall is prone to damage. One of the alternatives being explored in Colombia to prevent the failure or lessen the damages in clay tile URM walls is to strengthen them with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminates. This paper presents promising results of experimental tests conducted on twenty-six wallettes of 9x70x70 cm and 9x120x120 cm, which were strengthened with different layouts of GFRP laminates. In addition, a full-scale wall was tested to validate the technology. The paper discusses the effect of GFRP laminates on the failure mechanisms, capacity and ductility parameters as well as on the overall reduction of earthquake damage for clay tile URM walls.


This paper describes how the forces of the United States Empire are key elements in describing the most recent process of globalization. Empires have always been the key actors in the waves of globalization throughout history. The Empire of the United States of America is not an exception to this history. Military, economic, cultural, and political integration and control from an imperial center are key elements in understanding the forces of globalization in the past and today. This paper describes these forces of globalization as they pertain to the largest and most powerful empire in world history.


BACKGROUND
Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable stage of development in terms of the deleterious effects of alcohol. Both lower gray matter (GM) volume and greater GABAergic activity have been associated with chronic alcohol consumption during adolescence. However, the association between these measures has not been investigated.

METHODS
In this exploratory study, we compared 26 young adults with a 10year history of heavy alcohol consumption with 21 controls who used little or no alcohol. Simultaneous transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography were used to assess transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked N45 potentials, reflecting a balance between GABAergic inhibition and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated glutaminergic excitation in the brain. GM thickness was measured from magnetic resonance images and GM and N45 potentials were then correlated.

RESULTS
Cortical thickness was significantly lower in several brain regions in the heavy-drinking group than the light-drinking group. The N45 amplitude was significantly larger frontally in the heavy-drinking group. Among heavy drinkers, there were several statistically significant correlations between thinner GM and larger frontal N45 amplitudes that were not detectable in the light-drinking group. The strongest correlations were detected in the frontal and parietal lobes, especially in the left superior frontal gyrus and the left supramarginal gyrus, and in both hemispheres in the superior parietal lobes.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that a thinner cortex and greater inhibitory neurotransmission are correlated in certain brain regions among young, long-term heavy alcohol users. Studies are needed to explore the possible causal mechanisms underlying these effects.


This article summarizes the Correlates of War Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO) Version 3.0 datasets. The new datasets include information about the population of IGOs in the international system and state participation in those formal international institutions from 1816 to 2014. Consistent with Versions 2.0 and 2.3, Version 3.0 of the IGO data comes in three forms: country-year, IGO-year, and joint dyadic membership. This article briefly describes the data collection process and identifies important changes to the dataset before moving to analyze fundamental patterns in the data. Most notable among the changes from earlier versions of the data is the inclusion of annual membership data for the 1815–1964 time period. In addition, we present information about the overall trends in the institutionalization of cooperation at both the global and regional levels, with the latter focusing on the interesting membership dynamics in Asia and Africa. We then track and discuss patterns in state memberships and examine how these changes manifest in the dyadic data. The article concludes with a discussion of how the COW IGO 3.0 data compare to other prominent datasets on state participation in international institutions and highlights some new areas of research that will benefit from the release of the updated IGO membership dataset.


In quantum cosmology, one applies quantum physics to the whole universe. While no unique version and no completely well-defined theory is available yet, the framework gives rise to interesting conceptual, mathematical and physical questions. This review presents quantum cosmology in a new picture that tries to incorporate the importance of inhomogeneity. De-emphasizing the traditional minisuperspace view, the dynamics is rather formulated in terms of the interplay of many interacting 'microscopic' degrees of freedom that describe the space-time geometry. There is thus a close relationship with more-established systems in condensed-matter and particle physics even while the large set of space-time symmetries (general covariance) requires some adaptations and new developments. These extensions of standard methods are needed both at the fundamental level and at the stage of evaluating the theory by effective descriptions.


The Hierarchical Segmentation (HSEG) algorithm is an approach for producing high quality, hierarchically related image segmentations. The VisiMine image information mining system utilizes clustering and segmentation algorithms for reducing visual information in multispectral images to a manageable size. The project discussed herein seeks to enhance the VisiMine system through incorporating hierarchical segmentations from HSEG into the VisiMine system.


The growing attention to entrepreneurship education has caused a debate about whether entrepreneurship education can affect entrepreneurial behavior. We use a quasi-experimental design, comparing a MSc entrepreneurship program with a comparison group from a MSc supply-chain management program to test the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education, relying on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The findings suggest that entrepreneurship education is effective. Specifically, students participating in entrepreneurship education show an increase in attitudes and perceived behavioral control. Furthermore, they have higher entrepreneurial intentions at the end of the program. Finally, entrepreneurial intentions mediate the effect of entrepreneurship education on subsequent behavior associated with the creation of new business ventures. These results suggest that entrepreneurship education emphasizes increasing antecedents of intentions and behavior.


Meteoritic matrices are commonly classified by their modal mineralogy, alteration, and shock levels. Other "textural" characteristics are not generally considered in classification schemes, yet could carry important information about their genesis and evolution. Terrestrial rocks are routinely described by grain morphology, which has led to morphology‐driven classifications, and identification of controlling processes. This paper investigates three CV chondrites—Allende (CV3.2oxA), Kaba (CV3.0oxB), and Vigarano (CV3.3red)—to determine the morphologic signature of olivine matrix grains. 2D grain size and shape, and crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) are quantified via electron backscatter diffraction mapping. Allende contains the largest and most elongate olivine grains, while Vigarano contains the least elongate, and Kaba contains the smallest grains. Weak but notable CPOs exist in some regions proximal to chondrules and one region distal to chondrules, and CPO geometries reveal a weak flattening of the matrix grains against the edge of chondrules within Allende. Kaba contains the least plastically deformed grains, and Allende contains the most plastically deformed grains. We tentatively infer that morphology is controlled by the characteristics of the available population of accreting grains, and aqueous and thermal alteration of the parent body. The extent of overall finite deformation is likely dictated by the location of the sample with respect to compression, the localized environment of the matrix with respect to surrounding material, and the post deformation temperature to induce grain annealing. Our systematic, quantitative process for characterizing meteorite matrices has the potential to provide a framework for comparison within and across meteorite classes, to help resolve how parent body processing differed across and between chondritic asteroids.


The architectural scheme of the designed Sigma-Delta DAC on the FPGA is considered. The place of the interpolator in Sigma-Delta DACs is briefly discussed. The summarized structure of the most common interpolators is presented. More applicable structures of interpolators were suggested and analyzed, providing the comparison with [1]. Having changed the structure of the incomplete interpolator and having optimized the stages, it was possible to improve the characteristic of amplitude frequency response with a smaller number of non-zero coefficients and much lower FPGA resources. The paper provides simulated results of the interpolator filter transmission characteristics as well as Sigma-Delta modulator quantization noise parameters. It is demonstrated that simulation of the complete converter system (interpolator + modulator + output filter) allows to identify places of the interpolator, where hardware resources could be saved, thereby reducing the chip area occupied by the converter, which is not always obvious when analyzing nodes separately. Therefore another version of the interpolator was proposed for the system ensuring larger suppression of the additional frequency band in the whole system compared with the previous interpolator. Simulated results related to occupied chip resources are also confirmed by the experiment, which was implemented in Xilinx Spartan FPGA.


THE patient, a woman, aged 60, presents two small symmetrical patches on the extensor aspects of either forearm, of two months' duration on the left arm, and six weeks' duration on the right arm, consisting of a discoloured centre of a red or purplish colour without induration, surrounded by hard raised pearly papules, which had apparently resulted from the breaking up of a continuous edge. The whole patch has the appearance of having evolved from a single raised lesion which has undergone involution in the centre and spread at the periphery, and this course of events is confirmed by the patient. The diagnosis suggested is an unusual type of granuloma annulare; alternative suggestions put forward by other members being those of persistent erythema -and a manifestation of late syphilis.


INTRODUCTION
Tobacco production continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries creating complications for tobacco control efforts. There is the need to understand and address the global tobacco leaf supply as a means of decreasing tobacco consumption and improving farmers livelihoods in line with Article 17 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study aims to understand the reasons why farmers grow tobacco and identify factors that influence these reasons.

METHODS
Primary survey data (N = 1770) collected in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia in the 2013-2014 farming season. Data analysis uses both descriptive and multinomial logistical regression methods.

RESULTS
Majority of farmers started and are currently growing tobacco because they believed it was the only economically viable crop. Compared with Malawi, farmers in Kenya and Zambia have a 0.2 and 0.4 lower probability of growing tobacco, respectively because they perceive it as the only economically viable crop, but a 0.04 and 0.2 higher probability of growing tobacco, respectively because they believe it is highly lucrative. There are district/county differences in the reasons provided with some districts having a majority of the farmers citing the existence of a ready market or incentives from the tobacco industry. Statistically significant factors influencing these reasons are the educational level and age of the household head, land allocated to tobacco and debts.

CONCLUSION
There is the need to address the unique features of each district to increase successful uptake of alternative livelihoods. One consistent finding is that farmers' perceived economic viability contributes to tobacco growing.

IMPLICATIONS
This study finds that perceived economic viability of tobacco is the dominant factor in the decisions to grow tobacco by smallholder farmers in Malawi, Kenya, and Zambia. There is the need to more deeply understand what contributes to farmers' perceived viability of a crop. Understanding and addressing these factors may increase the successful uptake of alternative livelihoods to tobacco. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that a one-size fits all alternative livelihood intervention is less likely to be effective as each district has unique features affecting farmers' decisions on growing tobacco.


The problem of obtaining an explicit, exact response of a flexible system to initial distributed input in infinite dimensional modeling is considered. The paper proposes a method to present the response in terms of propagating waves that are reflected from boundaries with general conditions. The result is then examined under control with the absolute vibration suppression (AVS) controller, which was originally designed for a concentrated input. It is shown that the vibration suppression properties of this controller are extended to systems with distributed input.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


The present research examines the extent to which grievance and social-personality factors including Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) and Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) influence support for and justification of both peaceful and violent forms of political action. Using an experimental design that manipulated level of grievance, we asked a sample of 2932 US adult participants to read a vignette, and then to indicate their likelihood of engaging in any form of political action as a result of the experiences portrayed in the vignette. In addition, participants were asked to choose between violent actions and peaceful protest, and to indicate the extent to which each form of action was justified. We found that participants who were in the high grievance condition were more likely to favor taking action, and felt that both forms of action were more justified. Those who were higher on SDO and RWA generally indicated less likelihood of taking any action, although those higher on SDO were more likely to both choose the terror attack and indicate that it was more justified.


  Since English as a foreign language was introduced to Koreans more than a century ago, it has enjoyed the status as the most popular foreign language during the greater part of its existence in South Korea. The position of English in Korean society has been further strengthened in recent years. There have been unprecedented discussions among the Korean intellectuals and elite on the possibility of elevating the language to an official language. In order to understand why and how the English language has become an important part of present-day Koreansí lives, an investigation of how the language was initially introduced is necessary. This study examines the introduction of the English language and the beginning of English language education in Korea. More precisely, the focus is the critical roles that the government played in the early development of English language education. The incipient stage of Korea's English language education is divided into two periods, the first period when the Korean government was actively involved in the formation of English language education and the second period when the Japanese colonial government suppressed its development. During the first period between 1883 and 1905, English language education in Korea was introduced and shaped by the Korean government: the government established Koreaís first institutions of English language education and enacted and promulgated national regulations for foreign language education. During the second period of 1906-1945, from the Protectorate Treaty to Koreaís liberation from Japan, English language education came under the control of the Japanese government-general and was enslaved to the colonial system, whose sole purpose was to serve Japanese gains; thus, the early burgeoning English language education abruptly came to a halt and stagnated. This study attempts to identify the language educational policies during the two periods, the subsequent changes made in the policies, and the social contexts that brought about these changes and discusses implications of these findings for present-day English language education in South Korea. Department Foreign Language Education


Sir: In the recent very informative article by Goodlad & Fletcher' the authors refer to a fibrous tumour (case 6) in the anterior superior mediastinum which was infiltrating and inoperable with mitotic activity. Yet the patient survived 19 years without recurrence and died from radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis. I wonder if the authors did consider the possibility of sclerosing mediastinitis' in this case. We have recently reviewed 19 cases3 from our files in which the patients presented with large infiltrating lesions in the anterior superior mediastinum on chest X-ray and the mass was considered inoperable in all cases. Histological features similar to that described, with spindle cell proliferation, occasional mitoses and hyalinized collagen bundles were seen in several of our cases without evidence of granulomatous inflammation or chronic inflammatory cells including plasma cells. Our cases also stained for smooth muscle actin and were negative for keratin. A retrospective history of pulmonary tuberculosis was obtained in nine cases while one case also had a history of histoplasmosis. Follow-up of our cases showed that the disease is usually stable with no progression. However, some can progress locally with lung destruction and death: this occurred in three of our cases. No extramediastinal spread has been described for this lesion which is believed to be due to a hypersensitivity reaction to previous infection/trauma/ radiation. Did the case reported have any previous significant history to suggest that the process could be that of sclerosing mediastinitis and not a neoplastic lesion as suggested? M .N.Sheppard Department o$ Lung Pathology, Royal Brompton. National Heart and Lung Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK


This study proposes a three-dimensional (3-D) model to investigate the detailed characteristics of conjugate conduction-natural convection heat transfer of photovoltaic cells mounted discretely on the bottom wall of a horizontal cabinet. The influences of thermal interaction between air streams inside and outside the cabinet through the conducting walls are explored. Furthermore, the enhancement of cooling performance of photovoltaic cells by using the fins is conducted. Results show that, for the system with 40 photovoltaic cells and Q =10W, the hot spot temperature drop is about 23 °C when the fins Nf = 170 are installed onto the cabinet bottom wall.


Democracy is always related to a place. This location is bordered by boundaries, such as the nation state. The boundaries of democratic citizenship are mostly based on the idea of universality. Modern democracies claim to extend the civic franchise and citizenship rights to all, or to all members of the community. However, this universality is always, historically and in the present, conditional. The notion of universal refers to some particular universe with its own rationale and discursive boundaries - both including and excluding individuals from citizenship. Individuals and groups marked by categorical markers such as women, Jews, blacks, gypsies, criminals, having a status with limited or no citizenship rights. In this paper I'm addressing age and the notion of adolescence in particular, as a categorical marker, and how this has an effect on young people's democratic citizenship – in the present and in the future.


In neural Information Retrieval, ongoing research is directed towards improving the first retriever in ranking pipelines. Learning dense embeddings to conduct retrieval using efficient approximate nearest neighbors methods has proven to work well. Meanwhile, there has been a growing interest in learning sparse representations for documents and queries, that could inherit from the desirable properties of bag-of-words models such as the exact matching of terms and the efficiency of inverted indexes. In this work, we present a new first-stage ranker based on explicit sparsity regularization and a log-saturation effect on term weights, leading to highly sparse representations and competitive results with respect to state-of-the-art dense and sparse methods. Our approach is simple, trained end-to-end in a single stage. We also explore the trade-off between effectiveness and efficiency, by controlling the contribution of the sparsity regularization.


Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) belongs to spondyloarthritis (SpA) group of inflammatory arthritis, which has common genetic, clinical, and radiological features. The management aims at improving the quality of life, long-term control of inflammation so as to prevent structural damage, preserve functional abilities, and maintain the social life of patients. Treatment strategies and modalities in inflammatory arthritis have tremendously improved in recent times. With the discovery of molecular mechanisms, a new series of targets involving the cytokines, cells, and intracellular signaling pathways have been explored. The introduction of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor drugs heralded a new era of therapeutics for SpA, especially AS. Recently, the licensing of secukinumab, an interleukin 17A inhibitor for the treatment of AS, has given a new pathway to look at. These new targets give us an opportunity to achieve disease remission in both AS and nonradiologic axial SpA. They have also opened up new horizon to look for different research strategies in achieving disease remission using biological drugs in early disease and in stratified manner. International societies have been regularly providing and updating the guidelines for the management of AS. In this review, we discuss the treatment of AS and future trends in the management.


Abstract. The paper presents the first results of an interdisciplinary project related to the 3D documentation, dissemination, valorization and digital access of archeological sites. Beside the mere 3D documentation aim, the project has two goals: (i) to easily explore and share via web references and results of the interdisciplinary work, including the interpretative process and the final reconstruction of the remains; (ii) to promote and valorize archaeological areas using reality-based 3D data and Virtual Reality devices. This method has been verified on the ruins of the archeological site of Pausilypon, a maritime villa of Roman period (Naples, Italy). Using Unity3D, the virtual tour of the heritage site was integrated and enriched with the surveyed 3D data, text documents, CAAD reconstruction hypotheses, drawings, photos, etc. In this way, starting from the actual appearance of the ruins (panoramic images), passing through the 3D digital surveying models and several other historical information, the user is able to access virtual contents and reconstructed scenarios, all in a single virtual, interactive and immersive environment. These contents and scenarios allow to derive documentation and geometrical information, understand the site, perform analyses, see interpretative processes, communicate historical information and valorize the heritage location.


The ICRU endeavors to collect and evaluate the latest data and information pertinent to the problems of radiation measurement and dosimetry and to recommend the most acceptable numerical values for physical reference data and techniques for current use. The Commission's recommendations are kept under continual review in order to keep abreast of the rapidly expanding uses of radiation. The ICRU feels that it is the responsibility of national organizations to introduce their own detailed technical procedures for the development and maintenance of standards. However, it urges that all countries adhere as closely as possible to the internationally recommended basic concepts of radiation quantities and units. The Commission maintains and develops a system of quantities and units and concepts (e.g., for radiation therapy) and guidance for measurement procedures and techniques having the widest possible range of applicability. Situations can arise from time to time for which an expedient solution of a current problem is required. ICRU invites and welcomes constructive comments and suggestions regarding its recommendations and reports. These may be transmitted to the Chairman.


Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between vitamin D deficiency and depression among university students and to identify the factors affecting this association. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st January and end of March 2017 among university students from 39 different countries. Results: 699 students were participated in this study. The findings of this study found that 270 students (38.6%) had vitamin D deficiency with level less than 20. The findings of this study found that majority of students (99.9%) in this study had depression. The findings of this study found that there was no association between depression and vitamin D depression (p value=0.386). The findings of this study shows that there was a significant difference between the severe groups of depression and other classes in terms of prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (p value=0.000). Conclusion: The current study shows that there was no association between vitamin D deficiency and depression. On the other hand, there were significant associations between the severity of depression and vitamin D deficiency. Lack of sun exposure; diet and financial factors were the causes of vitamin D deficiency in this study. Further studies are highly recommended to investigate the causes of depression among students.


Spontaneous regression of testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) is a well-recognized phenomenon but has been incompletely characterized. Many pathologists are not familiar with the findings that support a diagnosis of a "burnt-out" primary in a patient with metastatic GCT. We therefore report the clinical, gross, and histologic findings in 42 cases of testicular GCT that showed either complete (26) or greater than 50% scarring (16). Thirty-seven patients (88%) had either known GCT metastasis or some residual testicular GCT, and none had treatment before orchiectomy. The patients were 17 to 67 years old, with a median of 32. Thirty presented with symptoms of metastasis, 7 with a testicular mass, 2 with elevated human chronic gonadotropin, and 1 with testicular pain. In 2 patients the presentation was unknown. Two patients had prior orchiopexy; another had an intraabdominal testis, and 2 others had prior contralateral seminoma (20 and 42 years previously). Gross descriptions in 37 cases identified white to tan scars, 0.6 to 2.4 cm, in 33. These were circumscribed in 16, with 15 of these having nodular or multinodular configurations and 1 a band-like appearance. In 9 cases the scar was ill defined or stellate, and in 8 cases no further details concerning the scar configuration were available. In 4 cases no scar was apparent; 2 of these had received intraoperative biopsy. Microscopically, all cases showed circumscribed to irregular foci of scarring, distinct from the adjacent parenchyma, in association with widespread testicular atrophy. Other common features were lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in the scars (37/42) and "ghost" tubules in scars (31/42). Less common features in the scars included angiomatous foci (22/42), siderophages (15/42), and coarse intratubular calcifications (6/42); in the surrounding testis they included intratubular germ cell neoplasia, unclassified (IGCNU) (22/42), Leydig cell prominence (18/42), and necrosis (5/42). Tubular microliths occurred in 13 cases, 12 peripheral to the scar and 1 within it. Metastases in 31 cases were: pure seminoma (17, 3 with residual testicular seminoma), mixed GCT with seminoma (4, 3 with residual testicular seminoma), mixed nonseminomatous GCT (4, 3 with residual testicular GCT), pure embryonal carcinoma (2), pure teratoma (2, 1 with residual testicular teratoma), and pure yolk sac tumor (2). In 5 cases with clinically diagnosed metastases, there was no histologic documentation of the nature of the metastatic tumor. Testicular tumors in the remaining 6 cases having residual primaries without concomitant metastases were pure seminoma (3), mixed GCT with seminoma (2), and pure embryonal carcinoma (1). The most specific histologic findings of a regressed GCT are a distinct scar in association with either IGCNU or coarse intratubular calcifications; however, many cases lack the latter 2 features. In such cases additional features supportive of regressed GCT include testicular atrophy, microlithiasis and, in the scar, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and prominent vascularity. Ghost tubules in many scars are not evidence of a non-neoplastic process but likely reflect regression of tumors with intertubular growth. Intertubular growth is a common finding in seminoma, which is the single most frequent type of regressed GCT, occurring either in pure or mixed form in the metastases of 68% (21/31) of the cases and identifiable in 62% (10/16) of persistent testicular tumors. We conclude that regression of testicular GCTs shows a distinctive constellation of findings that usually permits its recognition. In contrast, nonspecific atrophy lacks distinct scars, and scars from non-neoplastic causes lack most of the associated findings seen in our cases.


Water is essential for human life. Potable water should be free from contaminants. The high cost of treated water makes most people in the rural communities to resort to readily available water sources which are normally of low quality exposing them to waterborne diseases. Present work deals with the applicability of the coagulation-flocculation process using Moringa oleifera seeds as natural absorbent and environmentally friendly antimicrobial agent for purification of river water for drinking purpose. In present study various doses of Moringa oleifera seed powder and checked for the efficiency dose on raw river water. After treatment of water samples with Moringa oleifera seed powder were analyzed for different physicochemical parameters like pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, hardness, alkalinity and chlorides. All parameters were reduced with increased dose of Moringa oleifera seed powder except alkalinity and pH. The study explains how the natural coagulant solution was prepared with moringa seeds and the required proportion it should be added with the stored water. Further, how this technology could be transferred for rural application to provide safe and potable drinking water from the river water.


OBJECTIVE
Transitioning patients to biosimilars has become common to reduce costs and improve access. However, it is unclear how the transition process impacts health care providers at the frontline of the brand change. This study explores health care providers' experiences of a mandatory brand change to an adalimumab biosimilar.

METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand with 164 providers involved in the nationwide adalimumab brand change. Rheumatologists (n = 39), rheumatology nurses (n = 16), and pharmacists (n = 109) completed a survey that assessed their satisfaction with logistics and supply, information and education, support, and administrative workload and reported what did and did not go well during the transition.

RESULTS
The mean satisfaction score (0-10) with the transition was 5.7 (SD = 2.6). Providers were the least satisfied with training for the biosimilar device, information from government agencies, and administrative workload during the transition. Satisfaction with adalimumab safety, efficacy and device quality, and the availability of sharps bins, alcohol wipes, and patient support was lower following the transition. Satisfaction with administrative workload (B = 0.37, P < 0.001) and training for the device (B = 0.20, P = 0.020) predicted overall satisfaction. Providers reported that a poorly implemented initial authorization process, loss of a patient support program, and insufficient communication between providers complicated the transition. The citrate-free preservative and longer authorization duration after the transition were viewed positively.

CONCLUSION
Providers experienced an increased workload and reported less satisfaction with the biosimilar following the transition. Experiences may be improved by ensuring training for the device, a high-quality patient support program, and functioning authorization processes throughout the transition.


The study Impact of Aluminum Extrusion Effluent on the Mbaa River Inyishinbsp Ikeduru Imonbsp State. Was carried out in order to ascertain the current quality status of the river. Effluent samples from an Aluminum Extrusion company as well as water and sediment samples from the river were collected in March and June 2017 at four sampling point. Subsequently the Physicochemical quality of the river was studied by analyzing river water and sediment. The effluent discharged into Mbaa River in March showed thatnbsp pH (8.84),Water Temperature (29.00),Biologicalnbsp Oxygen Demand (BOD) (6.50mg/l),Sulphate(13.40mg/l),Nitrate(4.50mg/l),Zinc(3.876mg/l), Iron(0.780mg/l)nbsp and Chromium (0.15mg/l), levels all fell below maximumnbsp limits allowable by NESREA and hence meets working targetsnbsp ofnbsp the quality of effluents dischargeable into surface water. The waste water has a Total dissolved solids (TDS) (14,008.8mg/l), Total suspended solid (TSS) (7,003.00 mg/l), Chloride (2,081.00 mg/l), Aluminium (12.52 mg/l) and Nickel (8.650mg/l) which fell above NESREAnbsp limits , similar trend onnbsp limitnbsp was also observed in June with pH (5.27),Water Temperature (27.30),Biologicanbsp Oxygen Demand (BOD)(5.20mg/l),Sulphate(130.30mg/l),Nitrate(0.113mg/l),Zinc(0.703mg/l), Iron (0.157mg/l)nbsp and Chromium (0.131mg/l). The result on effect of discharged wastewater during the study periodnbspnbsp into Mbaa River showed that the effluent increased the water pH fromnbspnbsp 5.40 -7.20 (6.27 + 0.27), Turbidity ranged from 2.40 - 6.70 (4.84 + 0.58) NTU, Temperature ranged from 26.30 ndash 28.90 (27.76 + 0.33)OC, Cl ranged from 9.35 ndash 12. 05 (10. 36 + 0. 44) mg/l, BOD5 ranged from 2.10 ndash 2.50 (2. 29 + 0.48) mg/l, Ni ranged from 0.67 ndash 1.02 (0.85 + 0. 05) mg/l etc. Was compared with the standards set by NESREA both for the effluent and water samples, also the sediment samples for pH ranged from 4.24 ndash 6.01 (5.00 + 0.22), Ni ranged 0.45 ndash 27. 01 (12.2 + 4.19) mg/kg and Al ranged from 2.08 ndash 14.84 (7.48 + 1.48) mg/kg etc. All parameters were higher in sediments than in water samples for all stations. Thus variance of Descriptive statistics, special and temporal variation, the one way ANOVA test and student t-test was used. It was also observed from the trend analysis that the river capacity to assimilate effluent and be self-purified was not exceeded by the volume of the effluent discharged into it from the factory as its quality was nearly restored within the 1100m distance at Sample 3 and 4. It is recommended that since it takes about 1100m for the river to self-purify, the factory should provide an aerated lagoon/ stabilization pond to enable some biodegradation of the effluent prior to discharge, in order to shorten the distance before self-purification.nbsp It was also found out that careless disposal of the effluent should be discouraged and the need for each extruding industry to install a waste treatment plant with a view to treating waste before discharge into the stream is recommended.


Using a unique sector-level bank lending and output data sets on the Nigerian economy over the period 1981 to 2014, we examine the impact of bank lending on economic growth, specifically to ascertain whether different sector-level bank lending impact on Nigeria's economic growth differently. Due to the perceived interrelationships among the sectors, we adopt a seemingly unrelated regression equations (SURE) model consisting of five single equations. The Model was fitted using the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) estimator. Empirically, we find strong evidence that bank lending to agriculture, industry, real estate and construction and commercial sectors has exerted significant positive impact on economic growth (RGDP) of the respective sectors, thus lending credence to the finance-led-growth hypothesis" in those sectors. Our study further provides evidence that sector-level bank lending impact on Nigeria's economic growth differently. The highest impact of bank lending is in the agriculture sector, followed by commercial sector, then industrial sector and real estate and construction. However, bank lending does not have any significant impact on economic growth in the service sector. By utilizing sector-level bank lending and output data in our analysis, this study addressed important gap in the relevant literature. It is important for banks to recognize this existence of sectoral differences and to have a proper understanding of sectoral characteristics and therefore, tailor their lending activities in response to sectoral needs. This is critical, especially in our situation where from our analysis, bank lending to agriculture with the highest tendency to impact on economic growth was only about 3 percent of total bank credits during the period covered by the study whereas, bank lending to the service sector (including government services) with no significant impact on economic growth was about 53 percent of total bank credit.


Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust should be placed in special measures, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.1

The health watchdog rated the trust overall as inadequate for being safe, responsive, and well led, although it is rated as good for caring.

The Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske was rated inadequate overall, with surgery, maternity and gynaecology, end of life, and outpatient services also rated as inadequate. Critical care and children and young people's services were rated as good. Services provided at St Michael's Hospital in Haylee and West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance were rated good, with the Penrice Birthing Centre at St Austell requiring improvement.

At the time of the latest inspection in July 2017 the trust was asked to make a number of immediate …


The existing literature that reports findings linked with the involvement of neurotrophic factors in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is reviewed. Neurotrophins, a family of neurotrophic factors, are a kind of proteins that are specific to the nervous system and play an essential role in neuron survival, differentiation and proliferation during the development of the central and peripheral nervous system. These molecules stimulate axonal growth and exert an influence on the connections with the target tissue in order to establish the synaptic connections. The study of neurotrophins in ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is of interest mainly due to the functions that these proteins perform in the central nervous system. Studies on animal, pharmacological and molecular genetic models yield evidence that relates neurotrophins with the disorder. This work reviews the results from the studies conducted to date on ADHD and neurotrophic factors, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thus, although pharmacological studies suggest that the response to atomoxetine in adults with ADHD is not directly mediated by the effect on the BDNF, reductions in BDNF levels in the plasma of adult patients with ADHD have been reported. Further studies with broader samples and greater control of environmental factors that can regulate neurotrophin expression, such as diet, physical exercise and situations of social risk, are needed to be able to determine the role they play in the aetiology of ADHD.


ABSTRACT: This work aimed to compare the competitive ability of canola hybrids susceptible (conventional) or resistant to triazine or imidazolinone group herbicides, with turnip. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse, in a completely randomized design, with four replicates. The hybrids Hyola 571CL (resistant to imidazolinone), Hyola 555TT (resistant to triazine), and Hyola 61 (conventional) were used. The treatments consisted of ratios (100:0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75; 0:100%) of canola and turnip plants. The evaluation was performed 44 days after emergence, determining the leaf área (AF), dry matter of aerial part (MSPA), and stature (EST) of the plants. The competitiveness analysis was performed through diagrams and interpretation of the competitiveness indexes. For the canola hybrids, the competition occurred by the same mean resources. There was damage to the crop growth in competition with the turnip. The turnip was not benefited only when in competition with Hyola 571CL hybrid, for the EST variable, and with the conventional canola, for the variable AF. There was significance for the competitiveness indexes, demonstrating that turnip is more competitive then the crop. Greater AF, MSPA, and EST occurred for canola plants in the smallest proportions of turnip and, for turnip plants, in the largest proportions of canola. The ability to compete with turnip is similar among hybrids, with injury to the crop and benefit to the weed, when competing. Interspecific competition is more damaging to canola hybrids; and intraspecific competition is more damaging to turnip.


Very often design engineer uses a single-point or deterministic approach. The design modeling involves using a single "best-guess" estimate of each variable within a model to determine the model's outcome(s). The deterministic approach often leads the engineer to make unjustified assumptions and inherent design risk decisions. To improve this design process, this paper proposes applying a stochastic method in engineering design particularly, designs under uncertainty. This paper presents three design cases of applying a stochastic method by using a Monte Carlo simulation. The first case presents a Bolted Joints (BJ) design; prediction of a bolt preload to prevent a joint of slipping investigated for a confidence of 99.97% certainty. This BJ design case demonstrates how to overcome the obstacles that exist in a deterministic Bolted Joints analysis. The variables included in this investigation are the variations of coefficient of friction, preload scatter, Bolt and the Joint geometry. The second design case investigates the angular position control of Four Bars Mechanism (FBM). In this case, the paper shows how to quantify the design risk of the real FBM angular position for a given resolution spec. Sensitivity analysis uses after each simulation to identify the driver parameters influencing the angular position of the FBM. The dominant parameters influencing the design analysis include: bars tolerance variations and an actuator driver backlash. The third case of engineering design demonstrates a stochastic optimization of a flat spring design. The goal of this stochastic optimization is to achieve the maximum spring Specific_Resilience. The optimal solution of this optimization is to select the best material of six given materials and spring geometry that fit within a given restricted envelope.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


An increasing number of business workloads are being migrated to the cloud. Recently, cloud providers have been improving the stability and consumability of their systems and offering cost efficiency through utility-like pricing model and dynamic resilience. However, providing performance isolation and quality of services for performance-sensitive enterprise workloads remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose a scheme to achieve performance isolation of collocated VMs through resource bounding, named Fine-grain Virtual Resource Control (FVRC), and introduce a simple yet effective QoS classification built on top of the FVRC framework. Our preliminary experiments with a KVM-based implementation show that CPU and network bandwidth can be accurately controlled and meet consistent QoS requirements while disk bandwidth control still needs improvement.


As technology has made a range of modes of communication available and created new ways to integrate these modes, feedback has become increasingly electronic and multimodal. From written to audio, video, and screencast feedback, the multimodal options for electronic feedback (e-feedback) have expanded in such a way that we might speak of a 'multimodal turn' in feedback on foreign and second language writing. However, feedback studies on second language writing are just beginning to explore these complex areas. This essay offers a multimodal perspective on e-feedback by illustrating the scope of current research and highlights future research directions. The retrospective underscores the scarcity of research in the area with a specific focus on multimodality and identifies needs for speciality feedback systems that consider practical and contextualized perspectives. We argue that future research should strive for a context-rich description of e-feedback activities, gathering thick data about feedback provision, learner engagement with feedback and uptake through screencasting, eye-tracking, and keystroke logging technologies. These data should be triangulated with information about all factors impacting the feedback activity outcome, ranging from participant variables over modal affordances of the platforms used to environmental factors like institutional support.


The (cid:1) (cid:1) ! (cid:2)(cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:3) þ (cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:4) (cid:1) decay with the (cid:2) ! (cid:5)(cid:5) mode is studied using 384 fb (cid:1) 1 of data collected by the BABAR detector. The branching fraction is measured to be ð 1 : 60 (cid:2) 0 : 05 (cid:2) 0 : 11 Þ (cid:3) 10 (cid:1) 4 . It is found that (cid:1) (cid:1) ! f 1 ð 1285 Þ (cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:4) (cid:1) ! (cid:2)(cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:3) þ (cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:4) (cid:1) is the dominant decay mode with a branching fraction of ð 1 : 11 (cid:2) 0 : 06 (cid:2) 0 : 05 Þ (cid:3) 10 (cid:1) 4 . The first error on the branching fractions is statistical and the second systematic. Note that no particle identification algorithm is applied to the charged tracks to distinguish pions from kaons. In addition, a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction of the (cid:1) (cid:1) ! (cid:2) 0 ð 958 Þ (cid:3) (cid:1) (cid:4) (cid:1) decay is measured to be 7 : 2 (cid:3) 10 (cid:1) 6 . This last decay proceeds through a second-class current and is expected to be forbidden in the limit of isospin symmetry.


The crystallization kinetics of metallic glass Ti50Cu20Ni30 has been studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The DSC thermograms have been analysed using the model-free isoconversional methods and model dependent isokinetic methods. The activation energy(E) for the crystallization process has been determined utilizing; (i) various linear integral isoconversional methods, namely, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Li Tang method (ii) linear differential isoconversional method and (iii) different isokinetic methods. In the present work, we intend to the determination of true value of E. The above methods are found to give consistent results for E.


It is still not completely understood what speeds up or slows down the decision‐making process. The duration of decision making may range from a month to four years, but usually takes about 12 months. Most processes run into disruptions and interruptions, which lengthen the time taken. Measuring decision making is difficult since it is virtually impossible to define the beginning and end of the process. The evidence for this comes from an extensive study of how top managers and administrators in the public and private sectors move towards a conclusion. A database was established of 150 cases of strategic decision making obtained by interviewing. Six cases were traced back by intensive case study methods. Short, medium and long decision processes are examined using case examples. One of the curious features of decision making is what happens before the deliberation process starts. Impediments and delays are discussed and whether committees slow the process.


This report examines the nature and effectiveness of 'inclusiveness' strategies implemented by TAFE institutes in Australia. Inclusiveness strategies address barriers to participation in vocational education and training (VET) experienced by disadvantaged people, thereby maximising the stock of skills available to industry. The research identified three approaches to inclusiveness: compliance, existing cohort, and community obligation. It is accompanied by case studies.


Quantum computing, say its champions, promises prodigious power. its basic currency, the qubit, exists in an on/off limbo until it's read out, so if you could operate on kqubits, a potentially vast space of 2 k values opens up for computation. the fundamental operation on qubits is a rotation. Combine the rotations, and you have logic gates. Combine the logic gates, and you have algorithms. In principle, these algorithms can perform calculations far beyond classical computing's conceivable reach


Barriers to care among soldiers within the Canadian Armed Forces is a topic in need of recognition, with the majority of Canadian soldiers failing to seek healthcare for a mental health issue. Most current literature comes from the medical and psychological disciplines, using quantitative research methodologies to identify specific factors such as stigma, which act as barriers to care. In order to move beyond this current positivist paradigm, there must be a collaboration between realist and constructivist frameworks. This study utilized a qualitative constructivist approach to analyse the narratives of Canadian psychiatrists surrounding the PTSD diagnosis within the military. Analysis of these narratives sought to address the power relations, construction, and framework of this diagnosis. Finally, these medical PTSD narratives were compared to military PTSD narratives in order to identify how well they served those suffering from this medical disorder.


The autotrophic nitrogen removal process (partial nitritation combined with the Anammox process) is a sustainable nitrogen removal technique for nitrogen-rich streams. A modelling and experimental study was performed to define optimal process conditions for the autotrophic nitrogen removal process. Special attention was given to the influence of feeding characteristics on the performance of both the partial nitritation reactor and the Anammox reactor. It was revealed that the feeding regime is an important factor in the successful start-up of the Anammox process. Nitrite concentration peaks at the beginning of a feeding period will lead to an unsuccessful start-up, while a slow input of nitrogen speeds up the process. Feeding regimes are less important in partial nitritation reactors since laboratory results show that slow or fast supply of influent does not influence the growth of ammonium oxidisers.


This research was aimed to find out the tolerant and susceptible soybean genotypes to drought stress. Twenty two genotypes were tested on three levels of drought stress, based on soil moisture conditions: 80% of field capacity (FC ), 60% FC and 40% FC. The experiment was conducted in plastic house at the experimental field of Meteorological Station, Sampali, Medan, from February to May 2000. The results show that increasing on the severity of drought caused significantly reduced growth and yields, which indicated by the reduction on shoot dry weight, stem diameter, filled pod number, seed number/plant and seed dry weight. The level of growth and yield reductions varied 1 among genotypes. The highest variation was shown at the drought level of 60% FC. Sindoro and Lokon were selected as tolerant and susceptible genotypes, consecutively. It was concluded that the adaptation of tolerant plants strongly related to their ability to improve the root system and to reduce the transpiration surfaces. Key words: Soybean, Drought, Tolerant, Susceptible


Introduction: Continuous care and eventual counselling involving mental health represent a significant portion of the activities of staff that work in the Family Health Strategy. Thus, when thinking about the role that primary care plays in caring for people with mental disorders and psychological distress, it is important to understand the conception of mental health among professionals in this environment. Objective: To identify the conception of mental health professionals in the Family Health Strategy, Support Center for Family Health and Residence of Family Medicine and Community at the Alto Sertao Paraibano. Methodology or experience description: Qualitative research using focus groups composed of different teams of Family Health Strategy and resident physicians from October to November 2013 in Cajazeiras, Paraiba. The groups were instructed based on cases simulating treatments in the basic health unit and their speech motivated by guiding questions. The speeches were analyzed from the framework of critical discourse analysis, in a Foucauldian perspective to analyze the power relations existing in the teams and the community with the aim to see the influence of these relations on their concepts of health and disease. Results: In their speech, the professionals highlighted the social causes of mental illness process, emphasizing factors such as social class. Mental disorder is perceived through symptoms of distress such as insomnia, sadness and tearfulness. The idea of someone mad being dangerous arises recurrently in speeches. Moreover, topics like harm reduction concerning drug abuse also appear and even the idea of care focusing on the person instead of the disease is needed, as opposed to the prevalent practise of extreme medicalization in mental health care, restricting them to prescription refills. Conclusions or Hypothesis: The focus groups enabled a greater understanding of the concept of mental health among health professionals of the population studied. It can be noticed in the speech that the concepts tied to the old hospice model of care coexist with the new paradigm of mental health, showing the need and potential to work with the professionals of the Family Health Strategy for ensuring a better quality of care.


Background The purpose of this study was to compare the results of Aescula and TomoFix plates used for biplanar open wedge high tibial osteotomy in medial osteoarthritis of the knee joint with varus deformity. Methods A consecutive series of 50 cases of biplanar open wedge high tibial osteotomy were evaluated retrospectively. Group A contained 25 cases treated by using the Aescula plate, and group T contained 25 cases treated by using the TomoFix plate. Full weight-bearing was permitted at 6 weeks after surgery in group A and at 2 weeks in group T. Clinical evaluations were performed at the final follow-up by using postoperative knee scores and functional scores. Radiographic analysis included postoperative mechanical femur-tibia angle, change in posterior tibial slope angle, and complications related to implants. The mean follow-up periods were 30 months in group A and 26 months in group T. Results The knee and functional scores were improved at the final follow-up in both groups (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between the two groups (p > 0.05). An acceptable correction angle was obtained in 52% of group A and in 84% of group T (p = 0.015). Change in posterior tibial slope angle was larger in group A than in group T (p < 0.001), showing better maintenance of posterior tibial slope in group T. In group A, there were 3 cases of screw loosening and 4 cases of delayed union. In addition, there were residual varus deformities in 7 cases (6 in group A and 1 in group T). Conclusions This study shows that firm fixation using a TomoFix plate for open wedge high tibial osteotomy produces better radiologic results and a low complication rate than those of the Aescula spacer plate.


Doxorubicin (adriamycin) forms molecular associations with other aromatic and planar molecules (hetero-association) and with other doxorubicin molecules (self-association) in aqueous solution. The ability of doxorubicin to form complexes was demonstrated in a nonbiological system by measuring the doxorubicin partition coefficient. A decreased apparent doxorubicin activity coefficient in the presence of complex formation was also demonstrated in a biological system by measuring the transmembranous doxorubicin transport and the doxorubicin distribution at equilibrium in human red blood cells and their suspending medium. Doxorubicin formed complexes in aqueous solution at 37 degrees (pH 7.3) with (a) DNA-derived bases, nucleosides, and nucleotides; (b) amino acids such as tryptophan; (c) proteins such as human serum albumin and hemoglobin; and (d) a broad range of biologically active compounds such as NAD, propanthelline, caffeine, chloroquine, imipramine, and propranolol. The apparent thermodynamic quantities of the complex formation with adenosine 5'-triphosphate were delta H0, -9.5 kcal . mole-1; delta S0, -19 eu . mole-1; and delta G0 (310 degrees K), -3.6 kcal . mole-1. The binding forces of the molecular associations were probably hydrophobic (short-range force), sometimes supported by electrostatic interaction (long-range force).


Background: Leukotrichia has been considered a predictor of poor outcome in vitiligo. However, studies considering the different clinical aspects of leukotrichia in vitiligo patients are few. Aim: Our aim was to conduct a detailed clinical study to provide insights into the relevance and associations of leukotrichia in non-segmental vitiligo. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, vitiligo patients attending the dermatology outpatient clinic and phototherapy unit at Cairo University Hospital over a period of 6 months (April–September 2016) were included. Family history, clinical details, the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference classification, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Vitiligo Area and Severity Index, Vitiligo Extent Score, Vitiligo Disease Activity Score and Vellus Score were determined and these measurements were correlated to leukotrichia. Results: Out of the 101 patients studied, leukotrichia was found in 47 (46.5%) patients, with vellus hair involved in 37 (78.7%), terminal hairs in 30 (63.8%) and both in 20 (42.5%) patients. Vellus hair involvement was significantly higher in generalized bilaterally symmetrical vitiligo than in acrofacial or unclassified vitiligo. The incidence of scalp leukotrichia also was higher in generalized symmetrical vitiligo than in acrofacial vitiligo. The Vellus Score showed significant associations with Vitiligo Area and Severity Index, Vitiligo Extent Score and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Limitations: This was a short-term study with a small sample size. Prognostic and therapeutic correlations were not studied; prospective longitudinal studies are needed for further evaluation. Conclusion: Leukotrichia was found in almost half of the studied sample and its frequency varied among the different types of vitiligo.


This study concerns with inspecting the various types of live cells and tissues in addition to some viruses as it appeared under the electronic microscope in relation to formal and constructive aspects in addition to aesthetic and plastic values of it which also could be used in innovation of design to print contemporary textiles of upholstery. The images of these live cells, tissues and viruses have limitless plastic and aesthetic values which may be a source of inspiration and creative use of the designer.  This give the designer several solutions and open the door in front of a new age in designing field.  The problem of this study could be summarized in how to benefit from the plastic values of live cells, tissues and viruses as a source of innovation and creation which could be reflect on the artistic vision to create design of textiles printing (for upholstery) have modern character.
The study aims to inspect outputs of some modern technologies as the images of electronic microscope for live cells, tissues and viruses in relation to aesthetic and artistic aspects. Also the microscopic biological tissues are a source contributing in enrichment of the optical vision of the designer, this may help him to create new designs for modern  printed upholstery fabrics. In addition to find new plastic solutions derived  and inspired from the plastic values of the live cells, tissues and viruses. This aims to achieve distinctive aesthetic values for designing the modern printed upholstery fabrics.  The research uses the analytical descriptive method. The results of the research include that the study of microscopic images of cells and tissues with its values and aesthetics is an important sources leads to create designs suitable to print modern textiles (upholstery fabrics). The study of microscopic images of live cells, tissues and viruses is a new idea deserves to be part of studies and researches of arts related to print of textiles in general and the field of printing upholstery fabrics in special (subject of the study). This research also contributes in studying live cells, tissues and viruses under the microscope in enriching the artistic and optical visions of the designer. The microscopic  images of live cells, tissues and viruses consider new inspiration source contributes in developments designs and constructive forms due to it contains constructive systems in addition to the color and aesthetic  appearance of these images which give the designer new creations for upholstery fabrics. Also the researcher provided a group of designing ideas (about 9) inspired from the microscopic images of live cells, tissues and viruses to achieve high aesthetic values to design modern textiles (upholstery fabrics). The researcher also provided a group of designing examples printed by using the digital printing tool (about 9 applicable works).


Intercultural communication serves a vital role in that it can forestall miscommunication and misunderstanding. Because of increased intercultural contact and interdependence, people in the world are forced to "rethink" intercultural communication in order to acquire effective intercultural communication competence. The present paper provides a critical discussion of the conceptualization of intercultural communication and the commonly acknowledged challenge of intercultural communication. With a focus on Japan and the U.S. (since both countries have remarkably different forms of communication in terms of nonverbal communication particularly), the paper defines culture and explores the following: (1) origin of intercultural communication research; (2) cultural fluency and willingness to communicate; and (3) words versus haragei (a Japanese concept), touching upon intercultural (business) communication.


Fallback disks are expected to form around young neutron stars. The presence of these disks can be revealed by their blackbody spectrum in the infrared, optical, and UV bands. We present a re-reduction of the archival optical and infrared data of the Vela pulsar, together with the existing infrared and UV spectrum of Vela, and model their unpulsed components with the blackbody spectrum of a supernova debris disk. We invoke the quiescent disk solution of Sunyaev and Shakura for the description of the disk in the propeller stage and find the inner radius of the disk to be inside the light cylinder radius. We perform a high-resolution X-ray analysis with XMM-Newton and find a narrow absorption feature at 0.57 keV that can be interpreted as the Kα line of He-like oxygen (O vii). The strength of the line indicates an element over-abundance in our line of sight exceeding the amounts that would be expected from interstellar medium. The spectral feature may originate from the pulsar wind nebula and may be partly caused by the reprocessed X-ray radiation by the fallback disk. We discuss the lower-than-three braking index of Vela as partially due to the contribution of the propeller torques. Our results suggest that the pulsar mechanism can work simultaneously with the propeller processes and that the debris disks can survive the radiation pressure for at least ∼104 yr. As Vela is a relatively close object, and a prototypical pulsar, the presence of a disk, if confirmed, may indicate the ubiquity of debris disks around young neutron stars.


Cameras and image-editing software often process images in the wide-gamut ProPhoto color space, encompassing 90% of all visible colors. However, when images are encoded for sharing, this color-rich representation is transformed and clipped to fit within the small-gamut standard RGB (sRGB) color space, representing only 30% of visible colors. Recovering the lost color information is challenging due to the clipping procedure. Inspired by neural implicit representations for 2D images, we propose a method that optimizes a lightweight multi-layer-perceptron (MLP) model during the gamut reduction step to predict the clipped values. GamutMLP takes approximately 2 seconds to optimize and requires only 23 KB of storage. The small memory footprint allows our GamutMLP model to be saved as metadata in the sRGB image—the model can be extracted when needed to restore wide-gamut color values. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach for color recovery and compare it with alternative strategies, including pre-trained DNN-based gamut expansion networks and other implicit neural representation methods. As part of this effort, we introduce a new color gamut dataset of 2200 wide-gamut/small-gamut images for training and testing.