Abstract In modern data science, dynamic tensor data prevail in numerous applications. An important task is to characterize the relationship between dynamic tensor datasets and external covariates. However, the tensor data are often only partially observed, rendering many existing methods inapplicable. In this article, we develop a regression model with a partially observed dynamic tensor as the response and external covariates as the predictor. We introduce the low-rankness, sparsity, and fusion structures on the regression coefficient tensor, and consider a loss function projected over the observed entries. We develop an efficient nonconvex alternating updating algorithm, and derive the finite-sample error bound of the actual estimator from each step of our optimization algorithm. Unobserved entries in the tensor response have imposed serious challenges. As a result, our proposal differs considerably in terms of estimation algorithm, regularity conditions, as well as theoretical properties, compared to the existing tensor completion or tensor response regression solutions. We illustrate the efficacy of our proposed method using simulations and two real applications, including a neuroimaging dementia study and a digital advertising study.


Theories of natural resource management and conservation, such as adaptive management and adaptive co-management, are based on strong but mostly untested assumptions about the importance of engaging local stakeholders in conservation and management efforts. The aim of this project is to analyse the effect of stakeholder participation in natural resource management programs on !) outcomes in ecosystems, and ") learning processes. Through a powerful combination of a transdisciplinary research team, a cross-national panel survey of !## BR-areas in $$ countries, longitudinal biodiversity mapping using satellite imagery, and context-sensitive field work in !% strategically selected cases studies, the contested role of stakeholder participation in natural resource management will be examined in with a much higher degree of precision and generalizability than previously possible. The significance of the proposed project consists in its unique ability to subject key theoretical assumptions to rigours testing against several different types of empirical data. In addition, the proposed project will compile and make publicly available a data set consisting of estimates of interlinked social and ecological systems situated in $$ different political contexts. This will enable researchers to analyze long term interaction patterns between social and ecological systems, as well as generate new research questions that go beyond current theories of environmental management.


Analysis of well resolved x-ray crystal structure data of proteins (Brookhaven protein data bank) has been combined with molecular mechanics methods using MM2, to determine possible bioactive conformations for the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, which is believed to be involved in interactions of adhesive proteins with the glycoprotein complexes on activated platelets. In spite of the very flexible nature of this tripeptide fragment, only three general classes of structures were obtained. In one of them, the guanidinium and carboxylate moieties are in hydrogen-bonding proximity, while in the other they are separated by distances of greater than 8 A. Recent literature on the binding affinity of some rigid platelet-aggregation inhibitors seems to support the latter class of structures to correspond to the bioactive conformation.


This paper presents an application of higher order statistics and spectra to the problem of Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) for microcirculation monitoring. The proposed signal processing technique computes the bispectra of LDF signals after appropriate pre-processing and extracts features which can be used for classification of the signals to a normal or patient category. Bispectra are defined in terms of the third-order moments of signals and are shown to contain valuable information for the above classification of LDF signals. Experimental studies, including LDF-signals from patients that have different pathologic characteristics are described and results are presented which illustrate the performance of the proposed approach.


OBJECTIVE
The correlation were studied between testosterone 5-alpha-reductase II (SRD5A2) gene polymorphisms and prognosis factors.

METHODS
V89L and A49T variants was identified with Mwo1 and Rsa1. The differences of V89L and A49T between cancer of prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were studied. In addition, we also researched the association of polymorphisms with age of onset, free prostate specific antigen (FPSA), total PSA (TPSA), FPSA/TPSA (F/T), Gleason score, and T stage in cancer group.

RESULTS
We found no differences of V89L and A49T polymorphisms between CaP and BPH. In CaP group the A49T variant was associated with lower age of onset (P = 0.03) and higher Gleason score (P = 0.015). There were no differences between VV and VL+LL polymorphisms with any of the characteristics studied. When the characteristics above were regarded as two-level discrete variable, there were no differences by A49T and V89Lvariants.

CONCLUSION
In CaP group, the AT+TT genotype was perhaps associated with poor prognosis. VL+LL genotype has no relation with prognosis.


Neutron Transmutation Doping (NTD) is one of the several techniques used for n-type doping with good homogeneity. NTD performances were investigated in this work within a project funded by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Egypt, for the "production of doped Silicon Wafers for Solar Panels and Basic Electronics," 2015-2018. The Egypt second research reactor (ETRR-2) has two irradiation positions for silicon doping using NTD. The two positions can accommodate silicon ingots with large diameters up to six inches. One crucial parameter that affects the quality of the product is the distribution of the dopant in the irradiated ingot. The irradiation facility provides the option of rotating the sample during irradiation for flattening the radial distribution of the dopant.
 Since the neutron flux is not flat along the irradiation position due to leakage and the effect of control rods, the generated dopant will be not flat along the axial direction. To overcome this problem, this paper proposed an irradiation procedure to smooth the dopant distribution along the axial direction. Such procedure can be applied for NTD facilities that has not an acceptable axial neutron flux distribution in silicon doping process. The procedure is based on loading the irradiation position by two ingots staked end to end and, at the middle of the irradiation duration, the two ingots swap their places. This strategy was verified by MCNP calculations and experimentally.


The aim of this study was to measure and clarify electrodermal activity around and during the powernap and the benefits and disadvantages of the powernap relative to reaction time on a task. It was expected that the number of skin conductance responses (SCRs), and the amplitude thereof, were lowest of the day during the powernap. This was measured by a Q-sensor for five days from 10.00 am to 17.00 pm. Also, the participants had to perform a reaction time task every half hour. It was expected that the reaction time scores directly after a power nap were lengthened by "sleep inertia." This term meant that a person is still dull or drowsy when the person wakes up. This could be a disadvantage for taking a powernap. Further, it was expected that the alertness of the five participants was improved by the powernap. 10 Randomly chosen reaction time scores before the powernap were compared with 10 random reaction time scores after the powernap. It was expected that the reaction time scores of the participants after a powernap were shortened, compared with all reaction time scores before the powernap.
The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that the number SCRs was lowest during the powernap for the five individuals in this study. The statistical tests were based on randomization tests suitable for small-n samples (Dugard, File & Todman, 2011). The results showed a marginal difference emerged with regard to the amplitude of SCRs. The amplitude during powernap was slightly lower than the amplitude at other times where the participants took no powernap. The reaction test showed that there were no differences between the response times around the powernap and the reaction directly after the power nap. There was no evidence that the participants suffered from sleep inertia. We did find that the reaction time scores after a powernap were improved, as compared to the reaction time scores before the powernap.
For future research, electrodermal lability and stability are interesting concepts. There were differences between the participants in the amplitude and number of SCRs. Some participants had many variations in the number and amplitude, which could have to do with electrodermal lability. Others scored very stable. Also, the effects of a powernap could be measured on employees during working hours. Both employers and employees may benefit from it, because a powernap can cause an improved alertness and can thereby reduce errors and accidents at the workplace.


Growing student numbers necessitate new strategies for student empowerment. Giving 100 students a sense of ownership and agency is challenging, but to give this to cohorts of 340+ requires new approaches and innovative application. To achieve student empowerment on this scale, we have adopted and combined methods, all focused around a single concept – student staff partnership.
We have used partnership to enhance student feedback to programme teams, and assessment feedback for students, to design changes to the curriculum, build additional student support and to create a strong academic community. Our partnership process means that empowerment is not only cascaded from academics and student representatives to the wider student body, but the student body also empower each other, the student representatives, and the academic team. A peer-to-peer approach reinforces that tripartite relationship as well as strengthening the link between students and staff.
There have been false starts and challenges along the way, and a steep learning curve for all. One of the most important realisations has been the need for constant reflection and development as new cohorts of students arrive and need to be welcomed into our community, with each year group bringing their own distinct expectations and experiences. There will never be a point where we don't need to be actively engaged in this. The continued energy and enthusiasm required has caused us to reconsider how important key teaching and learning roles are, and to focus on developing our relationship with the Students' Union.
Good NSS scores (especially for student voice), and commendations from our accrediting body and our internal review processes are bonuses but not the reason we are committed to this approach. Success for us is working in an environment where we can see the students develop the agency, dynamism and self-efficacy that come with empowerment.


Currently the most likely mechanism of the magnetic compass sense in migratory songbirds relies on the coherent spin dynamics of pairs of photochemically formed radicals in the retina. Spin-conserving electron transfer reactions are thought to result in radical pairs whose near-degenerate electronic singlet and triplet states interconvert coherently as a result of hyperfine, exchange, and dipolar couplings and, crucially for a compass sensor, Zeeman interactions with the geomagnetic field. In this way, the yields of the reaction products can be influenced by magnetic interactions a million times smaller than kBT. The question we ask here is whether one can only account for the coherent spin dynamics using quantum mechanics. We find that semiclassical approximations to the spin dynamics of radical pairs only provide a satisfactory description of the anisotropic product yields when there is no electron spin-spin coupling, a situation unlikely to be consistent with a magnetic sensing function. Although these methods perform reasonably well for shorter-lived radical pairs with stronger electron-spin coupling, the accurate simulation of anisotropic magnetic field effects relevant to magnetoreception seems to require full quantum mechanical calculations.


Motivation Millions of individuals have access to raw genomic data using direct-to-consumer companies. The advent of large-scale sequencing projects, such as the Precision Medicine Initiative, will further increase the number of individuals with access to their own genomic information. However, querying genomic data requires a computer terminal – an impediment for the general public. Results DNA Compass is a website designed to empower the public by enabling simple navigation of personal genomic data. Users can query the status of their genomic variants for over 400 conditions or tens of millions of documented SNPs. DNA Compass presents the relevant genotypes of the user side-by-side with explanatory scientific resources. The genotypes data never leaves the user's computer, a feature that provides improved security and performance. Nearly 2500 unique users have used our tool, mainly from the general genetic genealogy community, demonstrating its utility. Availability DNA Compass is freely available on https://compass.dna.land. Contact email@example.com


Abstract The Dukla Nappe belongs to the Outer Western Carpathians, which suffered considerable shortening due to the convergence and collision of the European and African plates. In this paper we present new paleomagnetic and magnetic anisotropy results from the Polish part of the Dukla Nappe, based on 102 individually oriented cores from nine geographically distributed localities. Susceptibility measurements and mineralogy investigations showed that paramagnetic minerals are important contributors to susceptibility anisotropy (AMS). The AMS fabrics are related to deposition/compression (foliation) and weak tectonic deformation (lineation). The AARM fabric, that of the ferrimagnetic minerals, seems to be a less sensitive indicator of tectonic deformation than the AMS fabric. The inclination-only test points to the pre-folding age of the remanent magnetizations. Seven localities exhibit CCW rotation, a single one shows CW rotation. The CCW rotated paleomagnetic directions form two groups, one showing large, the other moderate CCW rotation. Previously published paleomagentic directions from the Slovak part of the same nappe exhibit smeared distribution between them. The declination of the overall-mean paleomagnetic direction for the Dukla nappe is similar to those observed in the neighbouring Magura and Silesian nappes, but it is of poorer quality. The AMS lineations at several localities are deviating more to the west from the present north than that of the local tectonic strikes. A possible explanation for this is that the AMS lineations were imprinted first, probably still in the Oligocene, while the sediments were soft (ductile deformation) and the folding and tilting took place during the CCW rotation.


In recent years there have been significant developments in seismic retrofit of building structures. For steel off-shore jacket structures, however, researches on the seismic performance evaluation and retrofit are relatively rare. In this study, the advantages of using Buckling-Restrained Braces (BRBs) in offshore jacket structures and its effect on the seismic performance of the platform are highlighted. The potential failure mechanisms of the structures using both normal braces and BRBs under seismic loads were investigated first. Pushover analyses of fixed jacket offshore platforms comprising the most common types of the platforms in practice were conducted. In those model structures, two different schemes of BRB retrofitting were utilized and compared with the normal bracing case. After that, an example for the seismic assessment of an existing 8 legged service platform located in the Gulf of Thailand was investigated. The model was designed based on loads according to the environmental conditions in Gulf of Thailand. Different retrofitting schemes using normal braces were investigated to improve the seismic performance of the structure and the results were compared with the results of the seismic retrofit using BRBs. The analysis results showed that the seismic performances of the jacket structures were greatly improved when bracing members were replaced with BRBs compared to the case with using normal bracing. Numerical results revealed that the plastic hinges were more uniformly distributed over the structures in case of retrofit using BRB, while they were concentrated at the top of the structures when normal bracings were used.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


Research shows that people with ADHD have difficulties adjusting to the normative structure of time. Through an iterative participatory design process with students diagnosed with ADHD, different conceptions and representations of time were explored to create a design that better suits their needs. Based on the findings that visual resources are used to understand the duration of time and the lack of an internal clock to help tell the passage of time, we created Takt. Takt relies on touch and vision to enable users to tell the passage of time using their senses rather than relying on the cognition required to read the information on a clock.


Abstract One of the core principles instituted by the post-1991 government in Ethiopia that took power after a successful armed struggle was ethnic-based federalism, informed by a neo-Leninist political model called revolutionary democracy. In this model, devised by the reigning Tigray People's Liberation Front (later EPRDF), ethnic identity was to be the basis of politics. Identities of previously non-dominant groups were constitutionally recognized and the idea of pan-Ethiopian identity de-emphasized. This article examines the general features and effects of this new political model, often dubbed an "experiment", with regard to ideas of federal democracy, socio-economic inclusiveness, and ethno-cultural and political rights. After 20 years of TPLF/EPRDF rule, the dominant rhetorical figure in Ethiopian politics is that of ethnicity, which has permeated daily life and overtaken democratic decision-making and shared issue-politics. The federal state, despite according nominal decentralized power to regional and local authorities, is stronger than any previous Ethiopian state and has developed structures of central control and top-down rule that preclude local initiative and autonomy. Ethnic and cultural rights were indeed accorded, and a new economic dynamics is visible. Political liberties, respect for human rights and economic equality are however neglected, and ethnic divisions are on the increase, although repressed. Ethiopia's recent political record thus shows mixed results, with positive elements but also an increasingly authoritarian governance model recalling the features of the country's traditional hierarchical and autocratic political culture. This may produce more debate on the need for "adjusting the experiment".


This study was performed to provide better managing and monitoring service over multi-serviced companies like the Lakan Pakals Haven Resort and Restaurant. It is a challenge for the proponents to develop a system that would manage the services of a progressive company like the Lakan Pakals Haven Resort. The proponents aimed to automate the business processes of the company and integrate an Online Reservation System to cater those out bound customers who desire to stay and avail of the resort's services. Consequently, it hopes to increase the company's profitability, lessen the cost and speed up the transaction handling of the company. Evaluation results of the traditional system of reservation of Lakan Pakals Haven Resort reveal that it has to be improved to enhance its efficiency. With the help of the Online Reservation System, the company would now be able to cater those possible customers who are non businesspeople especially during peak seasons. The proponent's two systems – The Resort Services Management System, significantly lessened the time required for handling business transactions while the Online Reservation system, makes the business the business competitive since Lakan Pakals can now advertise through the world wide web.


The role of working women has changed throughout the world due to economic conditions and social demands. This has resulted in a scenario in which working women have tremendous pressure to develop a career as robust as their male counterparts while sustaining active engagement in personal life. The ever- increasing work pressure is taking a toll on the working women leaving them with less time for themselves. The increasing responsibilities on the personal front with the technological blessings like advanced mobile phones, notepads, etc. that keeps work life integrated with personal life also creates stress on personal and professional fronts in this knowledge age. This affects the person's physical, emotional and social well-being. Thus, achieving work life balance is a necessity for working women to have a good quality of life. This paper is an attempt to explore the tough challenges faced by working women in maintaining a balance between their personal and professional life. The various factors affecting the work-life balance of married working women have been examined in this study. The tool used for the study is the manual on work–life balance of The Industrial Society (now the Work Foundation) by Daniels and McCarraher. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and it was found that the problems faced by the working women of ts in terms of work-life balance are quite high. The results also indicate that the work-life balance of individuals affect their quality of life.


Cities are for people. As the scale of modern day cities continue to grow with overbearing homogeneity, the human body has become a disengaged entity among the repetitive monolithic forms. This city environment has come to lack the facilitation of personal, social, spatial and economic connections. Architecture can be seen to be the major facilitator in engaging and shaping urban space and subsequently the connection between people and space. This thesis responds to these static environmental conditions, questioning how 'shifts in scale' could influence the performance of space, and resultantly how performative space can create a connection between the body and the city. The thesis identifies a gap in performance research which considers 'shifting scales' as a non-human active agent. Active agents are assessed for their effects on the body (subject) and space (form), becoming critical to successive design evaluation and development. The notion of 'Performance in Architecture' is defined and grounded through acknowledging current modes of discourse in architectural theory, establishing the relationships between the interconnected theories of 'subject performance' and 'performance of form'. These two theories explore the performative relationships between the body 'subject' and architecture 'form', setting up the research structure and subsequent conditions for the production of progressive design iterations. The framework for the performance design iterations engages two alternate scaled conditions (Act One & Act Two), both of which are explored through parametric based software in conjunction with physical modelling. This parametric based technology enables the comprehension and fabrication of complex forms, allowing the design process to move between the digital world and real world with ease. Engaging with this technology allows the scaled conditions to become specifically responsive to parameters defined by the architect. Each design iteration 'shifts in scale', focusing on a select combination of components, providing feedback on the productive application as to how 'shifts in scale' influence the performance of space. The design iterations systematically bring together parameters responding to: Scaled Volume, Intersection, Context, Traversal Movement and Access, Circulation, Speed, and Connection. The resultant design is evaluated for its performative success in allowing the body to shift and move between multiple scaled volumes and floor levels. The production and evaluation of these design iterations grounds the importance of 'shifts in scale' as an active agent that generates a connection between the body and city. The uniqueness of each space provides a set of diverse tenanting opportunities where the design strategy begins to address the expansion and densification of cities, re-enlivening and connecting 'unused' 'left over' space. The design strategy acts as a catalyst for dealing with complex architectural parameters while maintaining its sensitivity to the human scale.


Climbing palms in the Arecoideae (Desmoncus) and Calamoideae (rattan palms) both evolved cirrate leaves armed with hooks and grapnels for climbing. Some species of Calamoideae develop a different climbing organ known as the flagellum, which also bears hooks. The present study indicates that geometry and mechanical properties of the cirrus vary between species. Cirrate leaves are constructed to optimize bending and torsion in relation to the deployment of recurved hooks. Hook development, size, and strength vary along cirri and flagella and are consistent with observations of these attachment organs functioning as a ratchet mechanism: hooks increase in strength toward the base of attachment organs and always fail before the axis in strength tests. Hook size and strength differ between species and are related to body size and ecological preference. Larger species produce larger hooks, but smaller climbing palms of the understory deploy fine sharp hooks that are effective on small diameter supports as well as large branches and trunks. The ephemeral nature of climbing organs in palms provides a challenge to their life-history development, particularly in terms of mechanical constraints and remaining attached to the host vegetation; these differ significantly from many vines and lianas having more perennial modes of attachment.


Trypanosomatids are protozoan micro-organisms that cause serious health problems in humans and domestic animals. In addition to their medical relevance, these pathogens have novel biological structures and processes. From nuclear DNA transcription to mRNA translation, trypanosomes use unusual mechanisms to control gene expression. For example, transcription by RNAPII (RNA polymerase II) is polycistronic, and only a few transcription initiation sites have been identified so far. The sequences present in the polycistronic units code for proteins having unrelated functions, that is, not involved in a similar metabolic pathway. Owing to these biological constraints, these micro-organisms regulate gene expression mostly by post-transcriptional events. Consequently, the function of proteins that recognize RNA elements preferentially at the 3' UTR (untranslated region) of transcripts is central. It was recently shown that mRNP (messenger ribonucleoprotein) complexes are organized within post-transcriptional operons to co-ordinately regulate gene expression of functionally linked transcripts. In the present chapter we will focus on particular characteristics of gene expression in the so-called TriTryp parasites: Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major.


While many elect to recover from addictive disorders on their own, others choose clinical care. Treatment can occur in a variety of settings and represents an array of clinical modalities. A combination of modalities, such as pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions, yields the most favorable treatment outcomes. Nonspecific treatment factors (eg, empathy and countertransference) also considerably influence treatment outcomes. The treatment process is enhanced when clinicians match clinical interventions with patients' motivation for change and their stage of addiction or recovery. More research is needed to elucidate the effects of different treatment interventions on longterm outcomes. Focus Points


The PTOLEMY experiment (Princeton Tritium Observatory for Light, Early-Universe, Massive-Neutrino Yield) aims to achieve the sensitivity required to detect the relic neutrino background through a combination of a large area surface-deposition tritium target, MAC-E filter methods, cryogenic calorimetry, and RF tracking and time-of-flight systems. A small-scale prototype is in operation at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory with the goal of validating the technologies that would enable the design of a 100 gram PTOLEMY. With precision calorimetry in the prototype setup, the limitations from quantum mechanical and Doppler broadening of the tritium target for different substrates will be measured, including graphene substrates. Beyond relic neutrino physics, sterile neutrinos contributing to the dark matter in the universe are allowed by current constraints on partial contributions to the number of active neutrino species in thermal equilibrium in the early universe. The current PTOLEMY prototype is expected to have unique sensitivity in the search for sterile neutrinos with electron-flavor content for masses of 0.1--1keV, where less stringent, 10eV, energy resolution is required. The search for sterile neutrinos with electron-flavor content with the 100g PTOLEMY is expected to reach the level $|U_{e4}|^2$ of $10^{-4}$--$10^{-6}$, depending on the sterile neutrino mass.


The usual input to a motion analysis system is a temporal image sequence. Even though motion analysis is often called dynamic image analysis, it is frequently based on a small number of consecutive images, sometimes just two or three in a sequence. This case is similar to an analysis of static images, and the motion is actually analyzed at a higher level. There are three main groups of motion-related problems: Motion detection, moving object detection and localization, and derivation of 3D object properties. In this thesis we focused our attention on the second group. More specifically, within this group we will be dealing with four main issues: Moving object boundary detection, boundary delineation, boundary representation and description, and boundary matching for fast future location prediction. To detect moving object boundaries a new theory derived from temporal cooccurrence matrices is proposed, developed and applied. Afterwards, a filter design is developed to get fast and accurate results. As any boundary detection method, the output from this stage is usually a set of unlinked segments of boundaries. To assemble these segments of boundaries into meaningful boundary, a new active contour model has been proposed and developed that is capable of escaping energy minima caused by noise. Since our method for matching we based on the correspondence of interest points (feature points), we needed a proper set of invariant descriptors in order to match contours of two successive frames. For this task, a new theory on boundary representation and description called The theory of variances and varilets has been proposed and developed. We used moments of the variance transform and the normalized variance transform for an initial matching of contours which is in some sense a global matching. Afterwards, an Iterative sub-mappings strategy has been proposed and applied for fine matching. An important issue from the moment function was that extrema of successive derivatives provide as a coarse-to-fine matching, where to each feature point we assigned a proper descriptor induced from the normalized variance transform matrix.


Fiji's 1997 multiracial constitution has had a short but troubled history. It has survived a putsch and an attempted abrogation by Fiji's military, but nationalist forces have made its revocation a central plank of their political agenda. At the heart of Fiji's recent constitutional imbroglio lies a deep debate about the mandatory power-sharing provision of the constitution (section 99) that political parties with more than 10 per cent of seats in parliament are entitled to serve in cabinet. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase regards the formula as unworkable when political parties have diametrically opposed agendas, while deposed prime minister and Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry insists that it can work if parties negotiate in good faith, as his own party did in 1999. But beyond the constitutional difficulties lie deeper questions about whether primordiality or political ideology should underpin Fiji's political culture. politics in


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the debriefing meetings conducted after the 1999 earthquakes in Marmara, Turkey. The sample consisted of 265 teachers, 223 of whom attended the debriefing meetings. The personal satisfaction ratings of the teachers who attended the meetings revealed that they found the sessions satisfactory. The results of the comparison between those who reported that they benefited from the meetings and those who felt they did not indicated that the first group had lower scores on all of the psychopathology measures. A comparison between 42 teachers who did not attend the meetings and a randomly chosen group of 45 teachers who did attend revealed that the two groups differed significantly in terms of their post-traumatic stress symptom scores. The findings of the study suggest that, in general, the teachers' debriefing sessions were satisfactory.


Mexico is the center of origin of maize where there is a great variety of pigmented corns with health benefits. These properties are attributed to their high content of phenolic compounds. The most studied compounds are anthocyanins that no matter the variety of corn are mainly six: cyanidin, pelargonidin and peonidin-3-glucoside and their malo nated derivatives. Among the pigmented corns, the purple has the most concentration of anthocyanins, these are found in the whole plant but in more quantity in the silk. The health benefits attach to anthocyanins are principally anti-obesity agent and anticancer activity. Regarding the phenolic acids reported in the pigmented corn plant, the most abundant acid in kernel is ferulic acid, in cob is syringic acid while in the silk is chloro - genic acid. This variation, in the phenolic acid profiles according to the organ, indicates the biological function that each of them plays in the plant; meanwhile in humans, they have important antioxidant effects. Flavonoids are the group less studied of bioactive compounds in pigmented corns; however, the concentrations of these compounds are high especially in purple silk; inside the flavonoids described are morin, kaempferol, naringin, maysin, rutin, quercetin and hyperoside; with antioxidant effects, as neuropro - tective, apoptosis induction and others.


Skeletal stem cell (SSC) growth on a novel porous HA/TCP scaffold has been investigated in vivo. The effect of porosity on osteogenic differentiation was assessed by comparing two groups of scaffolds with differing porosity but controlled pore size. Histology, microCT, scanning electron microscopy, and biochemical analysis were used to assess SSC proliferation and differentiation. The 45 pores per inch (ppi) scaffold demonstrated a greater increase in density than the 30 ppi scaffold following in vivo culture, and a reduction in dimensions of the pores and channels of the higher porosity scaffold was observed, indicating generation of new tissue within the pores. All scaffolds supported SSC proliferation but the higher scaffold porosity augmented osteogenic differentiation. ALP specific activity was enhanced on the 45 ppi scaffold compared to the 30 ppi scaffold. These studies demonstrate the importance of porosity in scaffold design and impact therein for tissue engineering application.


Background Current policies emphasise the importance of informal/family carers in supporting people at the end of their lives. Guidance suggests that carers' needs should be assessed, acknowledged and addressed. If carers' needs are not met this can precipitate changes in their health status and unplanned care setting transitions. There are few studies that investigate how carer assessment and support is enacted in practice. Aim To investigate the role of the district nurse in palliative care provision, with a particular focus on observational exploration of their role and practice in providing care to patients and their carers. Methods A longitudinal qualitative ethnographic design, comprising observation of district nurse/palliative care patient/carer encounters over time, and post observation interviews with patients, carers and district nurses (DNs). Patients were sampled from 12 DN team caseloads across three primary care organisations. Observations and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Iterative data analysis comprised familiarisation, coding and categorisation using techniques of constant comparison to generate typologies of concepts. The study received all necessary ethics and governance approvals. Results 17 DN/patient/carer encounters were observed (n=11 patients, 8 nurses) with 23 postobservation interviews (11 DN, 12 patient/carer). DNs talked about developing a relationship with carers to facilitate future care. Carers discussed the DN role as being with patients rather than themselves. This is borne out in practice, as the focus of all observed encounters where the carer was present (n=11) was the patient. Overt carer assessment or support by DNs was negligible. Carers were participants in the DN/patient encounter, primarily facilitating the provision of information about patient care and problems. Conclusions Carer needs appeared tangential to DNs practice, although DNs appreciated their role and acknowledged their needs outside the observed encounters. DNs need to understand how to better incorporate carer assessment and support into their everyday practice.


This study will incorporate unordered wave propagations and compressive sensing framework on phase retrieval to reconstruct the complete wavefront information (amplitude and phase) of axially-extended objects, which is difficult to perform using conventional phase retrieval techniques. Qualitative results from the simulation show that the proposed method yields reconstructions with minimized errors and defocus noises attributed to the other sections of the object. The simulation is also successful in reconstructing the wavefront information of a partially occluded object.


The development and initial results from a reanalysis, or best estimate, of the historical state of central Chile's coastal ocean are presented. The Chilean ocean state estimate (COSE) covers the western coast of South America southwards of 20o S and for the period 1993 to 2012. The reanalysis is being performed using the 4DVAR driver of the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). The ROMS solution is constrained to reconcile satellite sea surface temperature and altimetry data with prior estimates of the initial state and boundary conditions derived from the HYCOM (Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model) global reanalysis. Here we present preliminary results from COSE for central Chile and the year 2008. The regional reanalysis reduces the model-observations mismatch of the global HYCOM solution by 38% and 27%, for SST and SSH respectively, and corrects a spurious on-shore surface current present in the HYCOM reanalysis. Inspection of the assimilation increments suggests that ROMS simulations forced by satellite winds overestimate coastal upwelling.


Ferroelectric FET (FeFET) is a highly promising emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technology, especially for binarized neural network (BNN) inference on the low-power edge. The reliability of such devices, however, inherently depends on temperature. Hence, changes in temperature during run time manifest themselves as changes in bit error rates. In this work, we reveal the temperature-dependent bit error model of FeFET memories, evaluate its effect on BNN accuracy, and propose countermeasures. We begin on the transistor level and accurately model the impact of temperature on bit error rates of FeFET. This analysis reveals temperature-dependent asymmetric bit error rates. Afterwards, on the application level, we evaluate the impact of the temperature-dependent bit errors on the accuracy of BNNs. Under such bit errors, the BNN accuracy drops to unacceptable levels when no countermeasures are employed. We propose two countermeasures: (1) Training BNNs for bit error tolerance by injecting bit flips into the BNN data, and (2) applying a bit error rate assignment algorithm (BERA) which operates in a layer-wise manner and does not inject bit flips during training. In experiments, the BNNs, to which the countermeasures are applied to, effectively tolerate temperature-dependent bit errors for the entire range of operating temperature.


The ophiolite complexes exposed along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and western Panama evolved from Jurassic ocean floor to the island arc of the Tertiary to the present. We attribute Late Cretaceous volcanism to the Caribbean sill event that thickened the oceanic crust to form an oceanic plateau. Tectonostratigraphic units formed by Late Cretaceous nappe thrusting and block rotation. Rotated blocks, as revealed by paleomagnetic data, are covered by neoautochthonous sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Collision with the Cocos Ridge in the late Tertiary fragmented and rotated the ophiolite complexes south of the Costa Rica Fracture Zone. The oceanic basement formed in the Jurassic Period in an equatorial position. Its latitudinal drift path as deduced from paleomagnetic inclination data matches that of the South American continent and differs from that of the Farallon/Phoenix plates. We favor formation of the ophiolite complexes in a Caribbean (inter-American) position as opposed to a distant origin in the Pacific region.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a pilot telehealth program applied to a wide population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

DESIGN
Vital signs data were transmitted from the home of the patient on a daily basis using a patient monitoring system for review by community nurse to assist decisions on management.

SETTING
Community services for patients diagnosed with COPD.

PARTICIPANTS
Two Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) enrolled 321 patients diagnosed with COPD into the telehealth program. Two hundred twenty-seven (n = 227) patients having a complete baseline record of at least 88 days of continuous remote monitoring and meeting all inclusion criteria were included in the statistical analysis.

INTERVENTION
Remote monitoring.

METHODS
Resource and cost data associated with patient events (inpatient hospitalization, accident and emergency [A&E], and home visits) 12 months before, immediately before and during monitoring, equipment, start-up, and administration were collected and compared to determine cost-effectiveness of the program.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Cost-effectiveness of program, impact on resource usage, and patterns of change in resource usage.

RESULTS
Cost-effectiveness was determined for the two PCTs and the two periods before monitoring to provide four separate estimates. Cost-effectiveness had high variance both between the PCTs and between the comparison periods ranging from a saving of £140,800 ($176,000) to an increase of £9,600 ($12,000). The average saving was £1,023 ($1,280) per patient per year. The largest impact was on length of stay with a fall in the average length of inpatient care in PCT1 from 11.5 days in the period 12 months before monitoring to 6.5 days during monitoring, and similarly in PCT2 from 7.5 to 5.2 days.

CONCLUSION
There was a wide discrepancy in the results from the two PCTs. This places doubt on outcomes and may indicate also why the literature on cost-effectiveness remains inconclusive. The wide variance on savings and the uncertainty of monitoring cost do not allow a definitive conclusion on the cost-effectiveness as an outcome of this study. It might well be that the average saving was £1,023 ($1,280) per patient per year, but the variance is too great to allow this to be statistically significant. Each locality-based clinical service provides a service to achieve the same clinical goal, but it does so in significantly different ways. The introduction of remote monitoring has a profound effect on team learning and clinical practice and thus distorts the cost-effectiveness evaluation of the use of the technology. Cost-effectiveness studies will continue to struggle to provide a definitive answer because outcome measurements are too dependent on factors other than the technology.


Reducing re-offending amongst ex-prisoners is of paramount importance for both penal and societal reasons. This paper advances an argument that the current prisoner risk assessment instruments used in the UK neglect to account for environmental determinants of re-offending. We frame this position within the growing literature on the ecology of recidivism, and use the principles of environmental criminology to stress the importance of the opportunities for crime that are present in an ex-prisoners' neighbourhood. We conclude by considering the implications for policy and discuss how these might conflict with the practical realities of managing ex-prisoners.


A ras oncogene-amplified recombinant BHK-21 cell line (ras-rBHK-IgG) has been established, and was shown to hyperproduce the recombinant IgG chimeric human monoclonal antibody (hMAb) AE6F4, which recognizes lung cancer cells. We found that the ras-rBHK-IgG cell could be easily cultured in a protein-free ERDF medium supplemented with iron(III) nitrate, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, and non-protein synthetic attachment factor as well as in a serum-free ERDF medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, ethanolamine, and sodium selenite. The productivity of recombinant hMAb from the cells cultured in dishes at high cell densities was higher in protein-free medium than in serum-containing medium. True high density culture of the ras-rBHK-IgG cells was done in protein-free medium using the Tecnomouse, which is a novel hollow fiber bioreactor system. After culture for 30 days in protein-free culture, a total amount of about 14 mg of the recombinant hMAb AE6F4 was obtained, and was shown to be reactive against lung cancer cells in tissues.


Teamwork is a collection of interconnected behaviors, knowledge and attitudes. Considering that some of the major activities of nursing students in the classroom and clinical learning activities are in the team, we decided to study the concept of teamwork from nursing students' points of view. The present study was a qualitative content analysis; due to the nature of data, data gathering was done by group discussion and criterion-based sampling. The participants were consisted of two groups of first-year and two groups of final–year nursing students, with a total of 32 students of nursing student at Bushehr University of Medical Sciences in 2011. After coding and categorizing data from interviews, the concept of teamwork from students' opinion was summarized in four main categories: requirements for teamwork, existence of team leader, team formation and its stability, and benefits and barriers to teamwork. The freshmen seemed well aware of the characteristics of teamwork and raised them from different angles. But, due to less experience in team work, they further referred to do and don'ts. While the fourth-year undergraduate students having more experience in the field of student affairs and establishing team and having a highly interactive relationship with each other, therefore, they maintained their strength and efficiency of teamwork together for others in addition to the outlined requirements; they also have noted the importance of this aspect for teachers and educational planners shines


We report a case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) in a 68-year-old male who presented in acute respiratory distress accompanied with anterior cervical neck swelling and pain with swallowing. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the neck demonstrated a large, peripherally enhancing retropharyngeal fluid and air collection that appeared to communicate with a fluid and air collection within the mediastinum. CECT of the chest demonstrated punctate foci of air and fat stranding along the anterior and superior mediastinum. Radiological evidence and the presence of necrosis on surgical debridement of the retropharyngeal abscess established the diagnosis of DNM. This case emphasizes the role of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of DNM and demonstrates the utility of chest imaging in a high-risk patient who presents with a retropharyngeal abscess.


This dissertation sets off to advance the understanding of the sources of sexual prejudice in Europe by taking a comparative perspective. By taking a country-comparative perspective, the first two studies of this dissertation aim at advancing the understanding of how individual-level and country-level sources interact in determining between-country differences of sexual prejudice in Europe. Therefore, we combine well-established research traditions on individual-level and contextual level antecedents of sexual prejudice and analyzed their joint effect on sexual prejudice cross-nationally. As a contextual antecedent of peoples' sexual prejudice, we focus on the legal manifestations of sexual stigma which we found to predict between-country differences in sexual prejudice. In both studies, progressive policies on homosexuality resulted in lower average levels of sexual prejudice across large sets of countries. Moreover, we address in how far laws regulating homosexuality interact with intergroup friendship and values respectively in shaping sexual prejudice in Europe. We found intergroup friendship to buffer the effect of laws in explaining sexual prejudice. In addition, we found the legal regulation of homosexuality to be associated with weaker effects of universalism and conservation on sexual prejudice, whereas universalism and power values affected individuals' sexual prejudice independent of the legal manifestations of sexual stigma. We learned from these studies that the legal context shapes sexual prejudice both directly as well as indirectly by interacting with individual-level characteristics. Thus, combining well-established research traditions on both the contextual and individual-level turned out to be a promising approach in advancing the knowledge on the antecedents of sexual prejudice. By taking an outgroup-comparative perspective, the third study of this dissertation aims at contributing to the knowledge about the sources and differences of sexual prejudice in the context of and in comparison to prejudices to other outgroups and their common and diverging value-based motivations in Germany. To add to the knowledge on the co-occurrence of prejudice to different outgroups, we set off to analyze common and target-group specific motivations of six different kinds of outgroup prejudice by focusing on its relation to basic human values. From this study we learned that being based in a larger syndrome called group focused enmity (GFE), prejudice to these six outgroups is indeed interrelated while the strength of the association differed. Additionally, given these diverging relations within the GFE syndrome, we found prejudice to these different outgroups to share rather similar motivations as reflected in basic human values. Yet, we also found target-specific deviations.


The objective of this study is to determine whether the assessments carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the impact of disasters over the past decade accurately captured the extent of the damage experienced by caibbean states during this period, by comparing these estimates to actual recovery costs incurred by country. The study also seeks to determine the extent to which recovery efforts have closed the damage and loss gaps estimated by ECLAC. The study was undertaken at the request of the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), with the expectation that the results would inform any required adjustments to the premium payments calculations conducted by CCRIF, and would make recommendations to regional governments regarding insurance packages and premiums.
The approach to the study involved extensive literature review of damage assessment methodologies, comparing their results with the outcome of ECLAC's damage and loss methodology when applied to several natural events in the Caribbean. The study also reviewed the regime of insurance provisions in the Caribbean in order to better inform risk coverage for natural hazards in the subregion.
Among the key methodologies reviewed were the Hazus-MH Hybrid assessment model used by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Australian Socioeconomic Impact Model (SEIA); and the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Model (PDNA) as applied by the World Bank. Other approaches such as specialized Input-Output models as well as Econometric Models were also reviewed. Comparisons of ECLAC's damage and loss assessments were then made for Hurricane Ivan 2004, Hurricane Dean 2007, Hurricane Tomas 2010, and the Haiti Earthquake 2010.
The study showed ECLAC estimates to vary between 10 per cent and 22 per cent for these disaster events reflecting differences with respect to various methodological aspects of the analysis. Some methodologies were however not directly comparable given variations in data needs for the analyses.
With respect to insurance coverage for the Caribbean, the study revealed several deficiencies in the development of the regional insurance market, which have led to high insurance costs, as well as an insufficient level of subscription in order to cover catastrophic risks. Because of this, the report concludes that for the most part, only insured losses are covered by insurance providers. The economic losses and secondary effects that are typically accounted for in damage assessments are rarely compensated.


Eighty four SLE patients have been studied. The levels of Willebrand factor, total antibodies to cardiolipin class IgG, antibodies to D-DNA, total index of inflammatory process activity SLEDAI and other routine markers have been assessed. Endothelial-dependent vasodilatation of brachial artery and carotid intima-media thickness was found to exceed that of control group twice as much. The elevation of Willebrand factor is associated with increase in SLE activity and correlated with SLEDAI index, C-reactive protein level and total antibody content to IgG class phospholipids. The elevation of Willebrand factor activity is also associated with endothelial-dependent vasodilatation impairment in patients with high inflammatory process activity in particular.


Forested wildlife habitats identified in a broad field survey of Northland, New Zealand, have been ranked to determine their relative importance for indigenous wildlife. A numerical scoring system was devised after consideration of schemes used by other authors and after a preliminary examination of the survey data by step-wise multiple regression analysis. Twenty-five habitats were ranked according to the criteria of four authors, and significant agreement was found between the four sets of rankings. It is concluded that all habitat ranking systems employing sound ecological criteria would produce rankings which differ only slightly.


Through this master thesis attempts to present methods of pricing options using the Monte Carlo simulation method. Initially, basic concepts of Probability theory and Stochastic Processes are introduced so that the reader is able to understand the Simple and Geometric Brownian motion. The Black & Scholes method is presented and so the way to solve the model equation and its solution. All the theoretical backgrounds are stated for the understanding of the Black & Scholes model via Monte Carlo simulation method using the MATLAB program. Also at the end an example of option pricing is given. Through MATLAB codes, which are presented in the Appendix A, we simulate the paths of the price of an «exchange» option. At the end, an extension of the Black & Scholes model is presented, called "Jump Diffusion Model". This extension involves the addition of random changes (jumps) to the model of Black & Scholes.


It would be unsafe to assume from the study of Wilkinson et al' that 12-week treatment with donepezil is superior to 12 weeks of rivastigmine in terms of side-effects and tolerability because of the serious potential bias in the methods used. First, patients in the rivastigmine arm were assessed at two-week intervals, because of the complicated dose titration necessary with rivastigmine, whereas the donepezil patients were assessed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks only. It is not surprising, therefore, that more patients in the rivastigmine than the donepezil group reported sideeffects given that they had three times as many opportunities to report them. Second, the study treatment was not blinded, so there is a potential for bias in reporting of side-effects. Concern about potential lack of objectivity is particularly relevant as the study is sponsored by the manufacturers of donepezil. There is no conflict of interest statement to indicate what incentives individual investigators received to take part, but this should be disclosed, along with any other potential conflict of interest such as consultancy fees or stock holdings, so that readers of this article could form opinions on whether this might have influenced study conduct or reporting. Given the current debate about the influence of pharmaceutical companies in medical research,' it would seem appropriate for the IJCP to require conflict of interest statements for all published articles.


Abstract The superfamily Portunoidea including extinct lineages is herein evaluated via cladistic analysis of adult morphological characters and traditional systematics. Nearly every fossil species has been examined via type material, or if this was not possible, through illustrations and original descriptions. The analyses indicate that the superfamily is much more diverse at the family level than has previously been recognized, and three subfamilies, Catoptrinae, Carcininae, and Macropipinae, are herein elevated to family status. One new family, Longusorbiidae; two new genera, Euronectes and Viaophthalmus; and two nomen nova are named herein in addition to the recognition of seven new combinations. The fossil record of each of the resulting families is evaluated and summarized, indicating that the superfamily extends into the Cretaceous but that many of the families are indeed much younger lineages.


Most Friedrich Ataxia cases are caused by an insertion of a GAA repeat sequence (GAAr) in the first intron of the frataxin gene leading to a decrease in protein expression. Deletion of this GAAr by CRISPR-Cas9 technology leads to an increase in frataxin expression. Due to the limited size of AAV packaging, GAAr removal by SpCas9 required two Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). Using 2 AAVs reduces the efficiency of a potential treatment since each cell must be infected by both viruses. We have therefore used CjCas9 because it is small enough to be delivered with two sgRNAs by a single AAV. However, a constitutive expression of the CjCas9 gene delivered by an AAV in vivo may increase off-target mutations and induce an immune response against the Cas9 protein. Temporal expression is important for the CRISPR system. We investigated two approaches to limit the nuclease expression.

First, molecular Hara Kiri, we simultaneously transfected in HeLa cells plasmids encoding CjCas9, two guides (pre and post GAAr) targeting the frataxin gene and two guides targeting the CjCas9 gene. Our results showed that despite the self-destruction of the CjCas9 gene, an effective genome editing of the FXN gene was obtained in vitro.

Second, CRISPR-SCReT (Stop Codon Read Through), we inserted a stop codon (TGA) at the beginning of the CjCas9 gene to repress its expression. Subsequently, we induced the expression of Cas9 by molecules capable to allow translation despite the presence of the premature stop codon. This plasmid was transfected into 293T cells with two sgRNAs (pre and post GAAr). We noted deletion of the GAAr only in cells treated with G418.

These different methods permitted to obtain efficient editing of the frataxin gene while preventing a sustained Cas9 expression. This could reduce the chances of off-target mutations and immune reaction against Cas9 protein.


Author(s): Hake, Kayley H | Advisor(s): King, Nicole | Abstract: Animals first evolved in a world inhabited by bacteria, and early animal-bacterial interactions may have shaped animal evolution. Understanding these ancient interactions could elucidate fundamental rules that govern modern-day animal-bacterial relationships. Bacteria affect many aspects of animal biology, from being a food source for sponges, metabolizing complex molecules in the termite gut, shaping immune system development in vertebrates, and driving light organ morphogenesis in the bobtail squid. Animals are multicellular organisms with a diverse array of cell types that can associate with complex bacterial communities, leading to an inherent challenge in teasing apart the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions. Experimentally tractable model systems are essential for studying host-bacterial interactions because they provide the opportunity to uncover mechanisms that may be conserved in the animal kingdom.Choanoflagellates are aquatic microeukaryotes and the closest living relatives of animals. Due to their phylogenetic placement, they provide a unique opportunity to investigate biological phenomena that might be conserved with animals or that were present in their last common ancestor with animals. Choanoflagellates interact with bacteria in a diversity of ways. Their primary interaction is to phagocytose bacteria as their food source. The model choanoflagellate, Salpingoeca rosetta, can also respond to an array of bacterial cues resulting in the developmental of multicellular colonies from single cells or a swarming behavior followed by mating. My doctoral research focuses on a new choanoflagellate species, Salpingoeca monosierra, that harbors the first stable microbiome observed in a choanoflagellate (Chapter 2).S. monosierra was isolated from Mono Lake (alkaline soda lake; pH 10, salinity 8.1%) and forms large spherical colonies (up to 125 µm diameter) that are more than an order of magnitude larger than those formed by S. rosetta. Live-cell imaging, TEM, and fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that S. monosierra colonies are filled with both an extracellular matrix and bacterial symbionts from four different bacterial families: Saccharospirillaceae, Oceanospirillaceae, Ectothiorhodospiraceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. Close relatives of the symbionts are known symbionts of many marine invertebrates and other prokaryotes. Treatment of the S. monosierra colonies with antibiotics reduced bacterial load inside the colonies and ultimately colony size, suggesting that bacteria may be influencing colony size. We found two main similarities between S. monosierra microbiome and the animal gut microbiome. First, the observation of bacterial cells between choanoflagellate cells is reminiscent of invading pathogenic bacteria. Second, the arrangement of the epithelial-like choanoflagellate cells surrounding the glycoprotein rich extracellular matrix and bacteria is reminiscent of the animal gut epithelium encompassing the mucus barrier and gut microbiota. This tractable model system holds the potential to unlock mechanisms underlying one of the most complex animal-bacterial interactions, the animal gut microbiome.Choanoflagellates are also a promising model for investigating other aspects of animal cell biology, including cell-cell signaling. Tyrosine kinase (TK) signaling is a hallmark of animal intercellular signaling that operates as a dynamic molecular switch initiating signaling cascades in development, differentiation, proliferation, and homeostasis. Choanoflagellate genomes reveal the presence of a comparable number of tyrosine kinases and accompanying signaling components as those found in animals. I sought to explore the role of TK signaling in choanoflagellate multicellular development and if it is functioning in a way that is comparable to TK signaling in animals (Appendix). We found tyrosine phosphorylated proteins enriched at the basal poles of every cell in a colony, reminiscent of the animal epithelia. This localization was also found in S. monosierra. Although few differences were identified between single cells and rosettes in the tyrosine phospho-proteome by immunoblot analysis, further investigation of the role of tyrosine kinase signaling in colony development may provide insight into how TK signaling contributed to the evolution of animal multicellularity and how complex signaling networks arose.


Summary Recent studies have shown that nerve-rich tissues in the margin of Polyorchis penicillatus (Eschscholtz), one of the hydromedusae, contain dopamine. The present experiments were conducted to determine the physiological action of dopamine at the cellular level. In the current-clamp mode, dopamine, ranging from 10~ 8 to 10~ 3 moll~ 1 , applied to cultured swimming motor neurons of this jellyfish produced hyperpolarizations accompanied by a decrease of firing rate or complete inhibition of spiking produced by anodal break excitation. Dopamine in the voltage-clamp mode elicited outward currents at more positive levels than -5 5 mV, which is the reversal potential of the response. The results of a series of ionic experiments suggest that the inhibitory effect of dopamine is caused by an increased permeability to potassium ions.


Recently, a few studies have been undertaken for the extracting of metallic copper from electronic scrap/printed circuit boards by bioleaching - solvent extraction-electrowinning. Results of the present investigation indicate that bioleaching-solvent extraction-electrowinning could be a new cleaner hydrometallurgy route for recovery copper from the PCBs.The life cycle assessment method was used to investigate the environmental impacts of the new biohydrometallurgical process of production of metallic copper. The energy consumption,greenhouse effect,acidification in the new processes is studied and compared. The results indicate that the environmental impacts of bioleaching - solvent extraction-electrowinning technology is less than the conventional mechanical-pyrometallurgical processes and pyrometallurgical processes.


Natural gas is a very important non-renewable natural resource that controls the lives of many people. Therefore, the exploitation and utilization of natural gas must be carried out wisely and for the greatest prosperity of the people. This is mandated in Article 33 Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia that "Earth, water and the natural resources contained therein are controlled by country and used for the greatest prosperity of the people". With the promulgation of Law Number 22 the Year 2001 concerning Oil and Gas, there has been restructuring in the implementation of natural gas exploitation through pipelines in Indonesia. The law provides more space for private entities to engage in gas exploitation with the purpose to create healthy competition, transparency, improving national development, efficiency in exploiting natural gas and to develop competitive price so that the end consumer can enjoy the benefits. By its implementing regulations, namely, the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 19 of 2009, natural gas exploitation through pipelines is carried out through an "unbundling" and "open access" mechanism.


The LHCb experiment has the unique possibility, among the LHC experiments,
to be operated in fixed target mode, using its internal gas target SMOG.
The energy scale achievable at the LHC and the excellent detector capabilities
for vertexing, tracking and particle identification allow a wealth of measurements
of great interest for cosmic ray physics. We present the first measurement of
antiproton production in proton-helium collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 110$ GeV, which
allows to improve the accuracy of the prediction for secondary antiproton production in
cosmic rays. Prospects for other measurements achievable in the fixed target program
are also discussed.


abstract:This article presents the cognitive capacities and tendencies in the lives of computer scientists who play classical music as a serious avocation. Using qualitative research and thematic analysis methods, narratives of seven participants are constructed through open-ended interviews, from which the essence of their thinking skills is extracted in the form of four primary themes: being in the zone, assuming an engineering/scientific mindset, aesthetic thinking and joyous thinking. With such a rich thinking toolkit, this study motivates educators to support individuals with interdisciplinary interests and calls for such individuals not to leave behind their musical passions despite pragmatic career considerations.


It is well known that translocation between chromosomes 2 and 8, t(2;8)(p12;q24), has a strong association with Burkitt's lymphoma. It has rarely been seen in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders. In this study, we report for the first time on 2 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with t(2;8). They were diagnosed as having typical CLL (case 1) and CLL/prolymphocytic leukemia (case 2), respectively, based on morphology and immunophenotyping. Karyotypic analysis of the bone marrow cells using the R-banding technique revealed a karyotype of 47,XY, t(2;8)(p12;q24), +4,[17]/46, XY[9] in case 1 and a karyotype of 45,X, t(Y;7)(q12;q21),t(2;8)(p12; q24),del(12)(p12),–17[5]/46,XY[9] in case 2. T(2;8) translocation was confirmed by whole chromosome painting. Rearrangement of the MYC gene and loss of one p53 allele were detected by FISH only in case 2. Both cases had negative ZAP70 and CD38 expressions; however, only case 1 showed good response to therapy. We consider that MYC rearrangement, loss of one p53 allele as well as other factors, such as more prolymphocytes in the blood and bone marrow and complex chromosome abnormalities, also had adverse effects on the poorer prognosis of case 2.


Contingent valuation (CV) is a technique for providing estimates of the monetary value of public goods which have no market. The authors consider whether the information provided for the hypothetical market enables respondents to express their 'true' preference for the 'good', or whether their willingness to pay is dependent on the quantity and quality of information provided in the survey. They argue that a cultural perspective in which the CV transaction is viewed as a communicative 'dialogue-at-a-distance' between researchers and respondents through the medium of the CV text provides more insight into the encoding and decoding of the 'good'—in this case an agri-environment policy to enhance nature conservation on an internationally significant wetland in South East England. They argue that, within its own scientific parameters, CV surveys are unable to capture fully all the aspects of the 'good' to be valued. The problem is more acute when the 'good' represents the uncertain outcomes (in terms of landscape and biodiversity) of a policy. Without a complete specification, which may well be an impossibility for environmental 'goods', respondents are able to bring their own readings to their interpretation of the scenario. This means that CV researchers cannot know precisely what 'good' respondents were attempting to 'value'. The authors follow the production of the CV scenario for the valuation of the Pevensey Levels Wildlife Enhancement Scheme; conduct a critical discourse analysis to demonstrate how the linguistic and visual representations inevitably fulfil rhetorical functions; and then present the deliberations of respondents to the CV survey who participated in in-depth discussion groups after completion of the survey.


The minimally invasive surgical technique for inguinal hernia repair (eTEP and TAPP) are gaining acceptance among surgeons worldwide. With the superior benefits of the laparoendoscopic techniques (less postoperative pain, numbness, and chronic pain, fewer complications, and faster return to normal activities), the protocolization and standardization of these approaches are essential to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Improved laparoscopic skills, well-selected patients, simulator training, and anatomy knowledge of the groin are the cornerstone for these approaches. We recommend starting the learning curve with the TAPP procedure, because it is easier to get familiarized with the anatomical landmarks of the pelvis and groin.


: Concentrations of the human platelet proteins beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and connective tissue activating peptide (CTAP)-III were measured in synovial fluid (SF) samples by radioimmunoassay of their common beta-T/CTAP antigen. beta-T/CTAP antigen concentrations were higher in rheumatoid SF than in samples from osteoarthritis patients. When concurrent SF and plasma samples were compared, SF antigen levels were weakly correlated with plasma antigen concentrations. Incubation of fresh polymorphonuclear leukocytes with antigen in SF resulted in apparent destruction of the antigen. Our study confirms the presence of a platelet-derived growth factor antigen in the pathologic joint, and suggests that leukocytes may participate in its clearance from inflamed joints.


Involvement of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia has been implicated by neuropsychological, as well as neuropathological and imaging studies. Reductions of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), an in vivo marker of neuronal integrity, have repeatedly been detected in the frontal lobes of patients with schizophrenia by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-MRS). In chronic medicated patients, a positive correlation between NAA levels of the prefrontal cortex and cognitive functioning has been observed, but to date, there have been no studies in first-episode neuroleptic-naive patients. In this study, single-voxel 1 H-MRS was used to investigate neuronal function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in 15 first-episode and 20 chronic schizophrenic patients. Outcomes were compared to 20 age-matched healthy controls to assess the relationship between prefrontal metabolism and neuropsychological performance. Patients with chronic schizophrenia had significant reductions of NAA, glutamate/glutamine, and choline levels compared to first-episode patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, creatine and phosphocreatine were significantly reduced in both patient groups compared to healthy controls. In the neuropsychological tests, chronic schizophrenic patients performed significantly poorer in the Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT) compared to first-episode patients. In both patient groups, NAA levels of the left frontal lobe significantly correlated with performances in verbal learning and memory. These results corroborate data from recent structural and spectroscopic imaging studies of the frontal lobes in schizophrenia, in which cortical gray matter reductions after onset of symptoms as well as reduced levels of NAA in chronic, but not in first-episode schizophrenic patients have been reported.


In this paper, a new RBF neural network (RBFNN) algorithm, called ar-RBFNN, is presented. In traditional RBFNNs based on clustering algorithm, called oRBFNN in this paper, the width of the basis function-Gaussian function, or called radius, ignored the effect of numbers in different clusters, or density of data points. New algorithm considers radius is effect to performance of algorithms in problem of function approximation. Mean Square Error is used to evaluate performances of two algorithms, oRBFNN and ar-RBFNN algorithms. Several experiments in function approximation show ar-RBFNN is better than oRBFNN.


The mechanism and environmental controls on soil hydrogen (H_2) uptake are not well understood but are essential for understanding the atmospheric H_2 budget. Field observations of soil H_2 uptake are limited, and here we present the results from a series of measurements in forest, desert, and marsh ecosystems in southern California. We measured soil H_2 fluxes using flux chambers from September 2004 to July 2005. Mean H2 flux rates and standard deviations were −7.9 + −4.2, −7.6 + −5.3 and −7.5 + −3.4 nmol m^(−2) s^(−1) for the forest, desert, and marsh, respectively (corresponding to deposition velocities of 0.063 + −0.029, 0.051 + −0.036, 0.035 + −0.013 cm s^(−1)). Soil profile measurements showed that H_2 mixing ratios were between 3% and 51% of atmospheric levels at 10 cm and that the penetration of H_2 into deeper soil layers increased with soil drying. Soil removal experiments in the forest demonstrated that the litter layer did not actively consume H_2, the removal of this layer increased uptake by deeper soil layers, and the exposure of subsurface soil layers to ambient atmospheric H_2 levels substantially increased their rate of uptake. Similar soil removal experiments at the desert site showed that extremely dry surface soils did not consume H2 and that fluxes at the surface increased when these inactive layers were removed. We present a model of soil H_2 fluxes and show that the diffusivity of soils, along with the vertical distribution of layers that actively consume H_2 regulate surface fluxes. We found that soil organic matter, CO_2 fluxes, and ecosystem type were not strong controllers of H_2 uptake. Our experiments highlight H_2 diffusion into soils as an important limit on fluxes and that minimum moisture level is needed to initiate microbial uptake.


Background Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a major disease burden in the United States. Outpatient glycemic control among patients with T2DM remains difficult. Telemedicine shows great potential as an adjunct therapy to aid in glycemic control in real-world settings. Objective We aimed to explore the effectiveness of EpxDiabetes, a novel digital health intervention, in improving hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) among patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Methods We recruited 396 patients from a community clinic in St. Louis, Missouri, from a database of patients diagnosed with T2DM and with a most recent HbA1c >7% as part of a quality improvement project. An automated call or text-messaging system was used to monitor patient-reported FBG. If determined to be elevated, care managers were notified by email, text, or electronic medical record alert. Participants self-reported their FBG data by replying to EpxDiabetes automated phone calls or text messages. Data were subsequently analyzed, triaged, and shared with providers to enable appropriate follow-up and care plan adjustments. Absolute HbA1c reduction, patient engagement, and absolute patient-reported FBG reduction were examined at approximately 6 months post implementation. Results EpxDiabetes had an average 95.6% patient response rate to messages at least once per month and an average 71.1% response rate to messages at least once per week. Subsequent HbA1c drop with EpxDiabetes use over 4 months was -1.15% (95% CI -1.58 to -0.71) for patients with HbA1c >8% at baseline compared to the change in HbA1c over 4 months prior to the implementation of EpxDiabetes of only -0.005 points (95% CI -0.28 to 0.27), P=.0018. Conclusions EpxDiabetes may help reduce HbA1c in patients with high HbA1c baselines (>8%). The intervention demonstrates high patient engagement sustainable for at least 6 months.


Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the major public health problems. The aim of this study is to characterize patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia at risk of pulmonary fibrosis and to know the amount of protective antibodies and their permanence in these patients. Methods: Follow-up study of the humoral response in hospitalized patients at risk of pulmonary fibrosis post-COVID-19 who were followed up for one year after hospital discharge. Results: The study included 72 patients, 52 of whom had pre-existing chronic comorbidities. COVID-19 clinical severity was rated in 6% as mild, 58% as moderate and 36% as severe. After one year follow-up, forty percent had pulmonary sequelae, the most frequent being mild pulmonary fibrosis. All patients presented RBD IgG, 88% IgA after 8-9 months. The amount of RBD IgG was similar at 4-5 and 8-9 months post-COVID-19. There was no difference in RBD IgG level according to COVID-19 severity ( P = .441, P = .594). Conclusions: The amount of RBD IgG is maintained throughout the convalescent phase and could protect against new reinfections in patients at risk of pulmonary fibrosis Post Covid-19. However, it does not seem to predict the development or not of pulmonary fibrosis.


Time-resolved cavity ringdown (t-CRD) spectroscopy has been applied to monitor the silyl (SiH3) radicals and nanoparticles in pulsed very high frequency (VHF) silane (SiH4)/hydrogen (H2) plasmas under microcryst. silicon (micro c-Si:H) deposition conditions. After the plasma ignition, a small const. cavity loss (.apprx.100 ppm) on time scales smaller than .apprx.1 s has been obsd., whereas on time scales larger than .apprx.1 s after plasma ignition, an addnl. cavity loss is obsd. By variation of the wavelength of the CRD laser pulse, we demonstrate that the cavity loss on time scales smaller than .apprx.1 s reflects the SiH3 absorption. On time scales larger than .apprx.1 s, the addnl. cavity loss corresponds to the loss of light due to mainly scattering at the nanoparticles. Under the conditions studied, the light scattering at nanoparticles can be described by Rayleigh scattering during its initial growth. After .apprx.2.5 s, the cavity loss reflects the transition of the scattering mechanism from dominant Rayleigh to dominant Mie scattering. These results are discussed in terms of nanoparticles growing in time and further confirmed by addnl. SEM analyses on the nanoparticles created in the plasma pulse. [on SciFinder (R)]


The Bodele Depression has been confirmed as the single largest source of atmospheric mineral dust on Earth. It is a distinctive source because of its large exposure of diatomite and the presence of mega-barchan dunes. Direct measurements of horizontal dust flux and particle size were made to investigate dust emission processes and for comparison with mechanisms of emission assumed in current dust models. More than 50 masts, with traps mounted on each, were located across and downwind of three barchans in 56 km2 study area of the eastern Bodele. The size-distribution of surface material is bi-modal; there are many fine dust modes and a mixed mineralogy with a particle density three times smaller than quartz. Horizontal fluxes (up to 70 m above the playa) of particles, up to 1000 μm in diameter, are produced frequently from the accelerated flow over and around the barchans, even in below-threshold shear conditions on the diatomite playa. Our data on dust sizes do not conform to retrievals of dust size distributions from radiance measurements made in the same area. Dust emission models for the region may need to be revised to account for: saltators in the Bodele, which are a mixture of quartz sand and diatomite flakes; the great spatial and vertical variation in the abundance, mass and density of dust and abraders; and the patterns of surface erodibility. All of these have important local effects on the vertical dust flux and its particle sizes.


Purpose of review Imaging of the crystalline lens and intraocular lens is becoming increasingly more important to optimize the refractive outcome of cataract surgery, to detect and manage complications and to ascertain advanced intraocular lens performance. This review examines recent advances in anterior segment imaging. Recent findings The main techniques used for imaging the anterior segment are slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, scheimpflug imaging, phakometry, optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. They have principally been applied to the assessment of intraocular lens centration, tilt, position relative to the iris and movement with ciliary body contraction. Summary Despite the advances in anterior chamber imaging technology, there is still the need for a clinical, high-resolution, true anatomical, noninvasive technique to image behind the peripheral iris.


Studying at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will ensure academic and technological excellence. The Faculty of Geoinformation and Real Estate (FGHT), established in 1972, focus on education and research for undergraduate as well as postgraduate programs in the related disciplines such as geomatic engineering, geoinformatics, remote sensing, property management and land administration & development. FGHT strives to be a leading academic center in geoinformation and real estate in Southeast Asia. Graduates and alumni form major strong professional societies and work force in the related industries. Many of our graduates end up with good jobs not just in Malaysia but also in other countries (Asian, Middle East, Africa and Europe). The strong team and knowledgeable academic members in this faculty provide excellent ingredients for the success of the programs (i.e. with the relevant and up-to-date curriculum and syllabus). FGHT is continuously working to provide and offer first-class geoinformation and real estate education and research in the country and be at a par with other leading institutions in other parts of the globe. The Department of Geoinformation at FGHT runs a Bachelor of Engineering in Geomatic and a Bachelor of Science in Geoinformatics. At the postgraduate levels, namely M.Sc. and PhD programs, the offered disciplines are Geomatic Engineering, Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing. In the following, the state of the art of FGHT's postgraduate education in Geoinformation is presented, including a comparison with other universities in Malaysia, program content and curriculum information, alumni statistics as well as future strategies.


The conductive charging method for the electric vehicles is the most widespread, since it is the simplest and has higher returns. In the last years, alternative charging technologies have been investigated. Between these wireless charging systems have been large diffusion and have been commercialized by some manufacturer. Wireless charging systems for electric vehicles have some advantages respect the wired ones, not obliging the user to connect physically the vehicle to the electric charging station. Assuming the efficiency declared by the manufacturer of wireless systems the authors, in this paper, estimate the maximum cost that wireless recharging systems can have to be, however, more favorable with respect to that of wired one. The estimation is developed by means of classical economic indexes, in the framework of Italian end European markets. The results show that, in the Italian market, there should be a 39% reduction in the price of the wireless system compared to its actual value, in order to make it more convenient than the wired one. This reduction is equal to 33% for the European market.


Over the past few years, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs has developed an ethics initiative in response to the many challenging questions of aging in the late I99os. The purpose of the initiative is to provide information, create awareness, and develop ethics processes to assist aging people, their family members, and healthcare providers and other professionals in the field who struggle with ethics challenges that arise in Florida's new aging society. The initiative is focused on the local level, where the actual situations occur. Two years ago the Florida Department of Elder Affairs realized that a number of concerns needed to be addressed. More and more, it seemed, older people were reporting to agency staff that they were afraid of losing control of their lives as they grew older and faced death and dying. Providers, too, were increasingly concerned by the issues they faced. For example, some older people told department staff that they were afraid to call gr II for fear that their wishes about dying would be ignored by medical providers. Providers reported that elders and their families would ask them to make personal and painful choices about where the older person ought to live, whether the person should continue to drive, whether they could remove their relative's belongings without consent if the items were considered dangerous. Some asked whether an adult child could demand that her reluctant father finally leave her home and move to a nursing home where more appropriate care would be available. Volunteers asked what their responsibilities and liabilities would be if they attempted to serve a self-neglecting person unwilling to accept care. The department also learned that more people were dying in nursing homes, assisted living and home environments rather than in hospitals. Confusion in Florida over the right to refuse treatment, "do not resuscitate" orders, Florida's unique privacy laws, and more prompted the department to accept responsibility to assemble information and materials and arrange processes to deal with some of the questions. NEW TERRITORY This was new territory for the department and for providers, because we in the department are primarily involved in long-term-care alternatives to nursing homes and hospitals and because we had heretofore ignored teaching and training on what we considered client "personal choice" matters. The initial step was a two-day session with a large advisory group of participants from many walks of life, including older people who had faced some very complex ethical and moral dilemmas. The advisory group explored the broad scope of questions and generated ideas for a starting place. Next, several focus groups were convened, with the discussion centered on a look at case studies. Some of the observations were as follows: People from varied backgrounds are eager to discuss difficult topics; group members can comfortably explore case examples in a somewhat impersonal manner-although the discussion becomes more personalized as the conversation develops; individual invitations to the participants are very effective in securing attendance. A large-audience, panel-presentation format for discussion of ethics issues was also successfully demonstrated. A number of observations that can be of specific help in developing ethics forums emerged. For example, no matter what the subject, the participants seem to need a basis of clear explanations of current law before they can effectively manage the harder ethics questions. …


Abstract Bioleaching as a low cost and environment-friendly process could be a promising option for the enrichment of froth flotation products. Flotation reagents (collectors, frothers, etc.) are effective on the bacteria growth and oxidation activity; however, their impact has not been widely investigated. In this study, the effect of conventional reagents for sulfide flotation; collectors: potassium amylxanthate (KAX), potassium isobutyl-xanthate (KIBX), sodium ethylxanthate (NaEX), potassium isopropyl xanthate (KIPX) and Dithiophosphate (Aero3477), and frothers; pine oil (PO) and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) in various concentrations have been examined on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans activities. The results of this study demonstrate these flotation surfactants may have positive or negative influences on the bio-oxidation, based on their chemical compositions and/or concentrations. In general, the inhabitation effects of collectors would be increased in higher dosages and based on differences between results of various conditioning tests with the control test (without reagent) in different days, this effect could be considered by the following order: for 0.01 g/L: KAX > KIPX > KIBX > Aero3477 > NaEX, 0.1 g/L: NaEX > KIPX > KAX > KIBX > Aero3477, and 1 g/L: NaEX > KIPX > KIBX > KAX > Aero3477, and for frothers: MIBC > PO in all concentrates. These outputs potentially can be used for the selection of flotation surfactants when the flotation products are going to be further processed by bioleaching for the metallurgical extraction.


Fluorescence microscopy has enabled a dramatic development in modern biology by visualizing biological organ- isms with micrometer scale resolution. However, due to the diffraction limit, sub-micron/nanometer features are difficult to resolve. While various super-resolution techniques are developed to achieve nanometer-scale resolu- tion, they often either require expensive optical setup or specialized fluorophores. In recent years, deep learning has shown potentials to reduce the technical barrier and obtain super-resolution from diffraction-limited images. For accurate results, conventional deep learning techniques require thousands of images as a training dataset. Obtaining large datasets from biological samples is not often feasible due to photobleaching of fluorophores, phototoxicity, and dynamic processes occurring within the organism. Therefore, achieving deep learning-based super-resolution using small datasets is challenging. We address this limitation with a new convolutional neural network based approach that is successfully trained with small datasets and achieves super-resolution images. We captured 750 images in total from 15 different field-of-views as the training dataset to demonstrate the technique. In each FOV, a single target image is generated using the super-resolution radial fluctuation method. As expected, this small dataset failed to produce a usable model using traditional super-resolution architecture. However, using the new approach, a network can be trained to achieve super-resolution images from this small dataset. This deep learning model can be applied to other biomedical imaging modalities such as MRI and X-ray imaging, where obtaining large training datasets is challenging.


Developers of relational database systems have made few con cessions to the Web, preferring that Web applications access relational tables through SQL (or other progra mming interfaces) via intermediate gateway software. Result sets from database queries continue to be delivered t o applications for further processing one row at a time. This article describes ways that relational database s r accessed on the Web through HTML and XML, and some system integration issues.


Ask any scientist to name Earth's most abundant source of energy, and the answer comes quickly: sunlight. In one hour, the Sun strikes Earth with enough energy to power the entire planet for a year. "There's nothing that compares to the Sun. Everything else pales in comparison," Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy in MIT's Department of Chemistry, says. With gas and oil prices at all-time highs, it's only logical for scientists to try to harness some of that solar energy. Three projects at America's MIT are leading research into the area, looking at mimicking photosynthesis, producing a cost-efficient solar power system and finally designs for flexible photovoltaic materials that may change the way buildings receive and distribute energy.


Abstract Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles—including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.


Immigrant remittances have received increasing attention over the last couple of decades, due to the substantial financial inflows into developing countries, as their size and impact on the economies have experienced significant growth over a period of time. This study has investigated the relationship between financial development, specifically for the banking sector, and remittances for eight Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries by utilising panel estimation techniques from 19932011. In this particular study, the investigation was focused on the association between remittances and the aggregate level of bank deposits (M2) and domestic credit to the private sector that represented financial development. For M2, the results showed that remittances are negatively correlated with money supply and it was not statistically significant for this equation. However, in terms of domestic credit to the private sector, a positive and significant determinant was found for remittances and financial development in these eight Sub-Saharan countries. It is recommended that policymakers should develop and implement sustainable policies to facilitate uninterrupted flow of remittances, strengthen financial institutions and sound macro-economic policies in order to attract more remittances through the banking sector. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za