Lymphocyte adhesion to cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) via integrins plays a pivotal role for the function of the immune system. We show here that endogenous thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a cell-surface ligand for cis interaction of surface receptors in T lymphocytes controlled by integrins and the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR/CD3). Stimulation of CD3 triggers rapid surface expression of TSP-1 in quiescent T cells, whereas activated cells express TSP-1 constitutively. Endogenous TSP-1 is attached to lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1/CD91) and calreticulin (CRT) on the cell surface through its NH2-terminal domain. Adhesion via integrins to ICAM-1 or ECM components up-regulates TSP turnover dramatically from a low level in nonadherent cells, whereas CD3 stimulation inhibits TSP turnover through interference with CD91/CRT-mediated internalization. Integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47) is essential for TSP turnover and adhesion through interaction with the C-terminal domain of TSP-1 in response to triggering signals delivered at the NH2-terminal. These results indicate that endogenous TSP-1 connects separate cell-surface receptors functionally and regulates T-cell adhesion.


The rapid growth of cloud computing both in terms of the spectrum and volume of cloud workloads brought many challenges to the traditional data center design fast changing system configuration requirements due to workload constraints, varying innovation cycles of system components, and maximal sharing of systems and subsystems. In this paper, we developed a qualitative assessment of the opportunites and challenges for leveraging disaggregated datacenter architecture to address these challenges. In particular, we compare and contrast the programming models that can be used to access the disaggregated resources, and developed the implications for the network and resource provisioning and management.


Combined flow over and under structure may solve the problem of the deposit of suspension materials in channels. Semi-cylindrical shape reduces the curvature of streamlines which reflected on its performance. To study how this shape performs, experimental and simulation has been done. The laboratory models were of four different diameters and four different gate openings. The same physical structures have been modeled in commercial software, FLOW-3D®, by employing RNG k- ε turbulence model. The verification has been based on measured flow profile and discharge. Simulation outputs indicate that a separation zone located at a distance from the structure became farther when the diameter and gate opening decreases, also the separation portions and their thickness are related to the incoming discharge.  The location height of separation zone tends to be lower when there is an increase in flow discharge and it is located at half the total depth when two flow portions are equal. The weir flow in this system shows a better performance than traditional weir by at least 33%, while the gate out flow is less than free flow of the same total head by 70% to 90%. Within the limitation of this work, two mathematical models for predicting discharge coefficient have been proposed for the weir and gate respectively, moreover a model for predicting relative discharge of weir to gate, and one mathematical model for the dimensionless total discharge.


An important parameter for asset and project valuation is the opportunity cost of the capital invested, which depends on the systematic risks assumed. Having many angles, the existing literature has not fully resolved the issue for emerging markets. The evidence reviewed in this article suggests that we should at least consider exposure to market risk and country credit risk factors. After reviewing the theoretical and applied literature on cost of capital determination and international asset pricing models, the paper identifies and applies methodologies to determine discount rates applicable to emerging markets for different countries and currencies and develops methodologies for empirically measuring exposure to the country credit risk factor.


Background: We investigated the role of prostaglandin receptors (e.g. prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2), EP4) and the efficacy ofcelecoxib in urothelial tumourigenesis and cancer progression.Methods: We performed immunohistochemistry in bladder cancer (BC) tissue microarrays, in vitro transformation assay in anormal urothelial SVHUC line, and western blot/reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction/cell growth assays in BC lines.Results: EP2/EP4 expression was elevated in BCs compared with non-neoplastic urothelial tissues and in BCs from those whowere resistant to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Strong positivity of EP2/EP4 in non-muscle-invasive tumours orpositivity of EP2/EP4 in muscle-invasive tumours strongly correlated with disease progression or disease-specific mortality,respectively. In SVHUC cells, exposure to a chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene considerably increased and decreased theexpression of EP2/EP4 and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), respectively. Treatment with selective EP2/EP4 antagonistor celecoxib also resulted in prevention in 3-methylcholanthrene-induced neoplastic transformation of SVHUC cells. In BC lines,EP2/EP4 antagonists and celecoxib effectively inhibited cell viability and migration, as well as augmented PTEN expression.Furthermore, these drugs enhanced the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin in BC cells. EP2/EP4 and PTEN were also elevated andreduced, respectively, in cisplatin-resistant BC sublines.Conclusions: EP2/EP4 activation correlates with induction of urothelial cancer initiation and outgrowth, as well aschemoresistance, presumably via downregulating PTEN expression.


Abstract Measuring the level of sustainability of a construction project is difficult when dealing with qualitative data and determining the most objective method for measuring such projects as defined by various stakeholders. The issue of judgment and interpretation remains difficult as it encompasses subjectivity and differing stakeholders' perceptions in assessment. This paper addresses sustainability assessment in regional shopping centres and develops a tool for architects, clients, producers and end-users to understand better building performance. This paper defines the potential problems of subjectivity in sustainability assessment arising from differing views of stakeholders and decision-makers. It addresses differences between labelling and rating systems and compares the importance of each system. This paper also highlights how priority levels used in sustainability assessment can vary between stakeholders on the assumption that the performance level for proposed indicators has equal value between stakeholders. This stage is carried out through the provision of feedback by each interested party on their perceptions of priority levels and impact of selected sustainability criteria for regional shopping centres. It is concluded that the priority level is largely dependent on who is carrying out the evaluation, and thus results in subjective assessments.


This paper presents a novel technique in spectrum sensing based on a new characterization of primary users signals in wideband communications. First, we have to remind that in cognitive radio networks, the very first task to be operated by a cognitive radio is sensing and identification of spectrum holes in the wireless environment. This paper summarizes the advances in the algebraic approach. Initial results have been already disseminated in few other conferences. This paper aims at finalizing and presenting the last results and the complete framework of the proposed technique based on algebraic spectrum discontinuities detection. The signal spectrum over a wide frequency band is decomposed into elementary building blocks of subbands that are well characterized by local irregularities in frequency. As a powerful mathematical tool for analyzing singularities and edges, the algebraic framework is employed to detect and estimate the local spectral irregular structure, which carries important information on the frequency locations and power spectral densities of the sensed subbands. In this context, a wideband spectrum sensing techniques was developed based on an analog decision function to multi-scale wavelet product. The proposed sensing techniques provide an effective sensing framework to identify and locate spectrum holes in the signal spectrum.


Biometric technology has emerged as a viable identification and authentication solution with various systems in operation worldwide. The technology uses various modalities, including fingerprint, face, iris, palmprint, speech, and gait. Biometric recognition often involves images or videos and other image impressions that are fragile and include subtle details that are difficult to see or capture. Thus, there is a need for developing imaging applications that allow for accurate feature extraction from images for identification and recognition purposes.

Biometric modalities can be classified into two classes: physiological (i.e. fingerprint, iris, face, palm-print) or behavioural traits (speech, gait). This work is concerned with an investigation of biometric recognition at a distance and the gait modality has been chosen for various reasons. Gait data can be captured at a distance and is non-invasive. Additionally, it has advantages such as the fact that a person's gait is hard to copy, and by trying to do so, the imitator will likely appear more suspicious. Although, due to covariates, for example, a change in viewing angle, clothes, shoes, shadow or elapsed time can make gait recognition additionally challenging. There are several approaches for studying gait recognition systems such as model-based and model-free. This thesis is based on a model-free approach and proposes a supervised feature extraction approach capable of selecting distinctive features for the recognition of human gait under clothing and carrying conditions.

In this work; to allow for the characterisation of human gait properties for individual recognition, a spatiotemporal gait representation technique called Gait Energy Image (GEI) has been used. This approach is aimed at improving the recognition performance based on the principles of feature texture descriptors extracted from GEI. Furthermore, as part of this work, the dynamic parts of the energy gait representation have been proposed as means to extract more discriminative information from a gait sequence using reduction techniques in order to further improve the human identification rate.

The four methods proposed were evaluated using CASIA Gait Database (dataset B) and USF Database under variations of clothing and carrying conditions for different viewing angles.

The first method is based on Haralick texture feature, and use the RELIEF selection algorithm. This method showed that a judicious deployment of horizontal GEI features outperforms similar methods by up to 7.00%. In addition, this method achieved an improved classification rate of up to 80.00% from a side view of 90o.

The second and third contributions are concerned with an investigation of the Gabor filter bank and Multi-scale Local Binary Pattern (MLBP) as an efficient feature extraction for gait recognition under clothing distortions. To achieve this, various dimension reduction techniques including Kernel Principal Component Analysis, Maximum Margin Projection, Spectral Regression Kernel Discriminant Analysis and Locality Preserving Projections were investigated. The results showed that the proposed methods outperform the state-of-the-art counterparts by achieving up to 93.00% Identification Rate (IR) at rank-1 using the Gabor filter method, and achieving up to 92.00% IR using the MLBP method, when using a k-NN classifier for a side view of 90o.

The final contribution of this work is concerned with an investigation of the Haar wavelet transform and its use for extracting powerful features for human gait recognition under clothing distortions. The experimental results using a k-NN classifier yielded attractive results of up to 93.00% in terms of highest IR at rank-1, compared to existing and similar state-of-the-art methods. It should be noted that all the experiments were carried out using the MATLAB programming environment.


Chagas disease (CD) is an under-diagnosed tropical disease that is increasingly being observed outside of Latin America. We describe the first 2 infants with congenital Chagas Disease (cCD) in Ireland. Clinicians in nonendemic countries need to be aware of the potential for cCD due to the migration of women from countries of high prevalence.


The protection of traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) is a complex area of emerging law that has attracted a great deal of academic attention and controversy over the past five years. Rights with respect to TEK are only one dimension of the struggle for indigenous political autonomy in Mexico and elsewhere, but they are not insignificant. The Zapatista resistance to NAFTA and global neoliberalism is well known but just as important are peoples' ongoing struggles in Chiapas for collective political autonomy and their assertion of rights to communal forms of rural subsistence framed in cultural terms as the right to maintain a distinctive indigenous identity. As Jung suggests with respect to the Zapatistas in Chiapas, these "cultural" assertions are not merely expressions of a need for recognition, nor attempts to safeguard traditional practices from the threat of modernity, but instead "...indigenous identity is the condition of participation in a global political dialogue" that insists upon a political voice for many of those who have been most marginalized and oppressed by modernity and asserts for this group the "right to have rights."


An analytic-predictor model which describes phenomena observed in small geometry MOSFETs is presented. I-V characteristics from subthreshold through saturation are predicted within the bounds of process parameter variations using only physical and structural constants as inputs. A key to the success of this model is the Dynamic Average Doping Transformation which accounts for the doping profile within the channel and is supported by experimental data. Process-device-circuit trade-offs may be examined using this model and a desk top calculator.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of awareness of employees at DAHE Industries Sdn Bhd about ISO 9000 standards in improving their service quality. A total of 34 respondents were involved in this study , which constitutes 52% of the response rate . Chapter 4 of this report is particularly outline of the survey with regards to the finding and analysis of this study. In general ISO 9000 standards give benefits to the company such as greater customer loyalty, improvements in market share, greater productivity and cost reduction.
From the findings and the data analysis, it can be concluded that majority of the respondents were aware about ISO 9000 standards. However, there are also a large number of respondents, who never attended seminars on ISO 9000 standards. The main reason is because most of them could get their knowledge about ISO 9000 standards from other sources such as articles and books. Most of the respondents also gave a positive perception on the benefits of implementing ISO 9000 standards for their company. It shows that the employees highly agree if the company implements the ISO 9000 standards. Employee should give full commitment to their company in order to improve the service quality of the company. Employees have to be more exposed to the ISO 9000 standards and the importance of it.


This study presents the Conceptual Analysis of the understanding, misunderstandings and the likely dangers of fiat money acceptance and usage among general masses. An attempt is made to validate the Austrian theory of instability of fiat money system via logical analysis. The objective of this research is to argue conclusively that the ever-increasing supplies of elastic money are the threat to the very stability of it. This paper elaborates on the origin and purpose of money and the unique characteristic with respect to its demand and supply. The beneficiaries of the paper money system are revealed to demonstrate how the system with its inherent disqualifications continues to run and flourish due to the benefits extended to certain segments of the economic system. Via conceptual thought process advanced by Humes, several models of money injection from simple to more complex and realistic approaches are adopted to argue conclusively that no economy can remain stable with ever-increasing supplies of flexible money. Money is not neutral, and any new injection of money distorts the market prices, creates misallocations of resources and disorients market participants. Investigating the feasibility of the fiat money system, this research endorses the fact that such monies can never act as a stimulant in every kind of economic activity without altering the very base of it.


We have previously reported that perfused lymphatic vessels in the canine forelimb constrict in response to increased sympathetic nerve activity or local infusions of endogenous vasoconstrictor substances. In the present study we have assessed the effects of three endogenous vasodilators; acetylcholine, bradykinin and histamine on lymphatic vessel contractility. Each one of these agents, when infused intralymphatically, produced lymphatic constriction as evidenced by significant increases in lymphatic perfusion pressure. The threshold concentrations which produced lymphatic constriction were between 10(-6) and 10(-5) molar for acetylcholine and bradykinin and between 10(-5) and 10(-4) molar for histamine. Surgical exclusion of the lymph nodes and efferent lymph vessels from the perfused tissue did not significantly affect the observed response, indicating that the response occurs predominately in the prenodal segments of the lymphatic system. Infusion of acetylcholine and bradykinin into the arterial supply to the forelimb did not significantly alter lymphatic perfusion pressure, unlike the response seen when catecholamines are infused intra-arterially. Histamine displayed an unusual property in that it constricts lymph vessels upon initial administration but was thereafter completely ineffective. Constriction of lymphatic vessels by substances which are potent vasodilators clearly indicates that significant functional differences exist in endothelial cell/smooth muscle relationships between blood vessels and lymph vessels.


Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. While this book aims to provide a comprehensive picture of social networks, it also seeks to explore how they influence our lives and our lives are influenced by them. The theory suggesting that each person can be connected to every other person in the world through six interpersonal links is worth to be considered because many cases supporting it are included in the book. The book makes us rethink of our understanding of the notion of the individual and has a revolutionary paradigm, offering the idea that social networks influence our ideas, emotions, behavior, politics and even our health.


Abstract This work explores some of the terrain between functional equations, geometric function theory, and operator theory. It is inspired by the fact that whenever a composition operator or one of its powers is compact on the Hardy space H 2 , then its eigenfunctions cannot grow too quickly on the unit disc. The goal is to show that under certain natural (and necessary) additional conditions there is a converse: slow growth of eigenfunctions implies compactness. We interpret the slow-growth condition in terms of the geometry of the principal eigenfunction of the composition operator (the "Konigs function" of the inducing map). We emphasize throughout the importance of this eigenfunction in providing a simple geometric model for the operator′s inducing map.


Abstract We explore the implications of recent mineral physics measurements of diffusion coefficients and melting temperatures of lower mantle materials on the rheological and geothermal structure of Earth's lower mantle. We show that MgSiO3 perovskite is significantly stronger than MgO periclase and therefore the rheology of the lower mantle depends strongly on the geometry of a weaker phase, periclase. We calculate viscosities of the lower mantle for two cases: (1) where periclase occurs as isolated grains and (2) where periclase occurs as continuous films, using mineral physics data and models of two-phase rheology. We find that the effective viscosity for the former is about ~10-1000 times higher than the latter. We therefore suggest that the rheology of the lower mantle is structureand hence strain-dependent, leading to weakening at large strains due to the formation of continuous films of periclase. Overall depth variation of viscosity depends not only on the pressure dependence of creep but also on the geothermal gradient. Both MgSiO3 perovskite and periclase have relatively small activation energies (E* = gRTm with g = 10-14, where R is the gas constant and Tm is melting temperature), and therefore the depth variation of viscosity is rather small, even for a nearly adiabatic temperature gradient. However, the geothermal gradients consistent with the geodynamical inference of nearly depth-independent viscosity are sensitive to the pressure dependence of viscosity which is only poorly understood. A superadiabatic gradient of up to ~0.6 K/km is also consistent with mineral physics and geodynamical observations.


We investigate the feasibility of simultaneous suppressing of the amplification noise and nonlinearity, representing the most fundamental limiting factors in modern optical communication. To accomplish this task we developed a general design optimisation technique, based on concepts of noise and nonlinearity management. We demonstrate the immense efficiency of the novel approach by applying it to a design optimisation of transmission lines with periodic dispersion compensation using Raman and hybrid Raman-EDFA amplification. Moreover, we showed, using nonlinearity management considerations, that the optimal performance in high bit-rate dispersion managed fibre systems with hybrid amplification is achieved for a certain amplifier spacing – which is different from commonly known optimal noise performance corresponding to fully distributed amplification. Required for an accurate estimation of the bit error rate, the complete knowledge of signal statistics is crucial for modern transmission links with strong inherent nonlinearity. Therefore, we implemented the advanced multicanonical Monte Carlo (MMC) method, acknowledged for its efficiency in estimating distribution tails. We have accurately computed acknowledged for its efficiency in estimating distribution tails. We have accurately computed marginal probability density functions for soliton parameters, by numerical modelling of Fokker-Plank equation applying the MMC simulation technique. Moreover, applying a powerful MMC method we have studied the BER penalty caused by deviations from the optimal decision level in systems employing in-line 2R optical regeneration. We have demonstrated that in such systems the analytical linear approximation that makes a better fit in the central part of the regenerator nonlinear transfer function produces more accurate approximation of the BER and BER penalty. We present a statistical analysis of RZ-DPSK optical signal at direct detection receiver with Mach-Zehnder interferometer demodulation


In recent decades, Persian language dialects are also changing along with the language itself. So, recording the social characteristics of these dialects is of great importance. The results of these studies can be used in social and educational policies, language planning and comparative studies of dialectology. The writers of this article study the social characteristics of family and gender expressions in Gilaki dialect.


The magnetic properties of the haem groups of Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase and its cyanide-bound derivatives were studied in both the oxidized and reduced states by means of m.c.d. (magnetic circular dichroism) at low temperatures. In addition, the oxidized forms of the enzyme were also investigated by e.p.r. (electron-paramagnetic-resonance) spectroscopy, and a parallel study, using both e.p.r. and m.c.d., was made on Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551 to aid spectral assignments. For ascorbate-reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase, the temperature-independence of those features in the m.c.d. spectrum corresponding to the haem c, and the temperature-dependence of those signals corresponding to the haem d1, showed the former to be low-spin and the latter to be high-spin (s = 2). However, addition of cyanide to the reduced enzyme gave a form of the protein that was completely low-spin. The e.p.r. and m.c.d. sectra of oxidized Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase and its cyanide derivative were consistent with the haem c and d1 components being low-spin in both cases. Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551 was found to be low-spin in both its oxidized and reduced redox states.


Waste materials can be recycled to produce valuable construction materials for pavements.
Many different types of waste materials have been and are currently being used in this
application. The challenge is to recognize potential uses of the various waste materials and
to apply engineering solutions for their use in pavement construction. Using PET-modified
(Polyethylene Terephthalate) binders also contribute to the recirculation of plastic waste, as
well as to the protection of the environment.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibility of using waste material in road
construction and also to study the effect of waste polyethylene terephthalate on the
rheological properties of the binder.
The research methodology involves a series of tests, which are separated into two parts:
- The first part is binder tests on bitumen modified with PET
- The second part is IDT (Indirect Tensile) and Marshall test on PET modified
bituminous mixes
A statistical analysis was also done to compare the results and present the significant
differences between results.
The results showed that the decreased penetration and increased softening point
temperature increased the stiffness (hardness) of the PMBs (polymers modified bitumen).
The results demonstrate that the asphalt mixtures prepared with the PET (Polyethylene
Terephthalate) may be less sensitive to permanent deformation. Along with the parameters related to penetration and softening point test the increased viscosity values and indices
also indicated the stiffening effect of PET modification.
It may also be inferred that PET-modified bituminous binders provide better resistance
against permanent deformations due to their higher complex shear modulus and lower
phase angle as compared to conventional binder.
The results of the Marshall test indicated that the modified mixture have a higher stability
compared to non-modified mixtures. This would positively influence the rutting resistance
of these mixtures. The air void contents of the modified mixture decreases with increasing
binder content. VIM (Void in Air) in all binder contents decreases as the amount of PET
used increases. Air void proportion around 4% is enough to provide room for the
expansion of asphalt binder to prevent bleeding or flushing that would reduce the skid
resistance of the pavement and increase fatigue resistance susceptibility.


Services for children and youth in foster care are often contracted by public agencies to private social service entities. One way to encourage quality services and promote improved outcomes for children is to implement performance-based contracts (PBCs) within this public–private partnership, and then use data through quality assurance systems to drive practice change. Three demonstration sites (Florida, Missouri, and Illinois) employed a collaborative approach to planning and implementing PBCs in foster care case management or residential youth services. A cross-site evaluation of these three sites produced qualitative and quantitative results that demonstrated how an inclusive and outcome-oriented process can facilitate improved performance and outcomes for children and agencies.


In a dynamic (sequential) framework, departures from the independence axiom (IND) are reputed to induce violations of dynamic consistency (DC), which may in turn have undesirable normative consequences. This result thus questions the normative acceptability of non expected-utility (non-EU) models, which precisely relax IND. This paper pursues a twofold objective. The main one is to discuss the normative conclusion: usual arguments linking violations of DC to departures from IND are shown to be actually based on specific (but usually remaining implicit) assumptions which may rightfully be released, so that it is actually possible for a non-EU maximizer to be dynamically consistent and thus avoid normative difficulties. The second objective is to introduce a kind of 'reality principle' (through two other evaluation criteria) in order to mitigate the normative requirement when examining adequate moods for non-EU decision making.


Dengue fever is one of the important and most common mosquitoe borne
diseases in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Since 1994, the
dengue fever is appearing as a fatal health hazard in Pakistan. Two severe
outbreaks of dengue were recorded during the years-2011 in Punjab Province
and 2013 in Swat District, wherein hundreds of people died and 1000s more
remained with the potential risk of the fetal fever. This thesis encompasses
molecular biology of the major dengue outbreaks of Pakistan in general and
the first hand information on the dengue outbreak of the year 2013 in Swat
District. In order to characterize the dengue virus (DENV), blood samples
from 1795 dengue patients were obtained and analyzed through RT-PCR, for
its epidemiology, evolutionary history and prevalent genotypes/serotypes of
the outbreaks. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out through MEGA and
PhyML software while selection pressure was determined through SLAC,
REL and FEL methods implemented in Datamonkey software. Whereas
Recombination Event Detection was analysed through GARD method and
nucleotide and amino acid identities were determined throgu Clustal Omega.
Results of the study were based upon the characterization of 4 complete
sequences of DENV-2, 7 NS3 genome sequences of DENV-2 and 10 each of the
C, E and NS3 gene sequences, of DENV-3. The results revealed that the active
dengue infection in Swat District was 30.5% with the prevalence of DENV-2
and DENV-3 as 36.6 and 62.8 percent, respectively which shows that the
major serotypes circulating in Swat were DENV-2 and DENV-3. Furthermore
DENV-1 and DENV-4 were not detected in any of the sample collected from
Swat. In Punjab Province during the 2011 outbreak the active infection was
58.5%, of which the prevalence of DENV-2 and DENV-3 was 41.8 and 38.0
percent, respectively, which figured-out that these two serotypes were mainly
involved in the dengue outbreak of the year-2011. A limited incidence of
DENV-4 and DENV-1 in 2011 outbreak in Punjab at the rate of 9.5 and 4.5
percent respectively was also recorded. Phylogenetic analysis based on both
complete genomes and the NS3 gene sequences of DENV-2 grouped the
Pakistani isolates as cosmopolitan genotypes. Wheras no recombination was
detected in the entire genome of DENV-2 of Pakistani isolates. The
phylogenetic analyses, percent nucleotides and amino acids identities of the
complete genomes of DENV-2 indicated that the 2013 dengue outbreak in
Swat was a continuation of the 2011 dengue infections in Punjab. Furthermore
the Pakistani isolates were found to be genetically more close to the Indian
isolates based upon the nucleotide (97.1%) and amino acid (98.5%) identities.
The selection pressure analyses revealed no positively selected sites in any of
the genes of the DENV-2 among Pakistani isolates. However codon 65 of C,
155 of PrM, 203 of E and 254 of NS1 genes were under negative selection
pressure. The highest substitution rate observed among amino acids residues
of the ORF of all DENV-2 Pakistani isolates, was between arginine and lysine
residues, followed by valine and isoleucine. Phylogenetic analysis of DENV-3
on the basis of the complete E gene and NS3 gene sequences grouped the
Pakistani isolates into the genotype III; recognized that the year's 2013
outbreak in Swat was the continuation of the previous outbreaks in Pakistan
and the Pakistani DENV-3 isolates are more closely related to Indian and
Chinese isolates. Analyses of the C gene of DENV-3 of the year-2011 were
mostly conserved for lysine, arginine and asparagine. The viruses of the 2013
outbreak of Swat District showed the amino acids change for the nonpolar P
(proline) and polar K (lysine) instead of R and N in the C gene. All the viruses
isolated from the year-2011 dengue outbreak of Punjab showed a conserved
pattern of nucleotides/amino acids as compared to the DENV-3 isolates of the
dengue outbreak in Swat. This pattern may be due to one of the reasons that
viruses established a severe infection in the relatively colder area of Swat and
its adaptation to the new environment. Selection pressure analyses of NS3
genes of DENV-3 revealed no negatively or positively selected sites using all
the three analytical tools. However codon 94 and 477 of the E genes turned
out to be under negative selection pressure. From the selection pressure
analysis it is assumed that the emergence and spread of dengue in Pakistan is
more due to permissive ecological conditions than the drastic genetic changes
in the viral gemome. Hence it is recommended that concerted efforts in terms
of public awareness, vector control and household protection measures
against dengue should be adopted to check its spread to other areas of
Pakistan.


During liver resection clamping of the hepato-duodenal ligament (the Pringle maneuver) is performed to reduce intraoperative blood-loss. During this maneuver acute portal hypertension may lead to spontaneous splenic rupture requiring rapid splenectomy in order to control blood loss. We present 2 case of patients with hemorrhage from the spleen during clamping for liver surgery. A review of the literature with an emphasis on the pathophysiology of splenic hemorrhage is presented.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast largely depends on changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Because cerebrovascular disease may result in altered CBF, we assessed the temporal dynamics and magnitude of the BOLD response in patients with major arterial stenoses.

METHODS
Seven patients with hemodynamically significant stenoses affecting the anterior circulation (primarily left internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries) were compared with 7 neurologically healthy subjects. Continuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion MRI was used to measure resting CBF globally and within various vascular distributions. The BOLD response was acquired during a visually guided bilateral handball squeeze task while motor performance was recorded by a pressure transducer.

RESULTS
Baseline CBF was reduced in bilateral middle cerebral artery and left anterior cerebral artery territories in patients. A prolonged BOLD hemodynamic response was observed in patients in bilateral primary motor cortices but not visual cortex. Patients also exhibited a larger early negative BOLD response, or "initial dip," in left primary motor cortex. There were no differences in motor performance between groups, suggesting behavioral differences were not primarily responsible for the characteristics of the BOLD response.

CONCLUSIONS
An initial deoxygenation followed by a delayed hyperemic BOLD response was observed in patients, although resting flow values were not within an ischemic range. A simple visuomotor BOLD activation paradigm can reflect alterations in the hemodynamic response in patients with hemodynamically significant stenoses.


The ratio of the patient's height to thyromental distance (RHTMD) has been recently proposed to be a superior predictor of difficult laryngoscopy compared to thyromental distance (TMD) in the Caucasian population. This prospective study was conducted to compare the predictive value of RHTMD and TMD to predict difficult laryngoscopy in two hundred adult ASA grade I & II patients requiring general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Preoperative airway assessment was done by TMD measurement and RHTMD
calculation in addition to the routinely performed Wilson risk – sum scoring (WS) and modified Mallampati
test (MMP). A standardized anaesthetic protocol was followed. Cormack and Lehane grade 3 or 4 laryngoscopic
view was defined as difficult laryngoscopy. Data were analyzed using Receiver Operating Characteristic
Curve (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) for each test was computed. P<0.05 was considered significant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated at the cut-off value of =7 cm and =25 for TMD and RHTMD respectively. The incidence of difficult laryngoscopy was 8.5%. The AUC (confidence interval) were as follows: TMD – 0.295 (0.175 to 0.416) [P=0.005], RHTMD - 0.707 (0.574 to 0.840) [P=0.005], WS – 0.935 (0.856 to 1.014) [P=0.000], MMP – 0.805 (0.687 to 0.924) [P=0.000]. Thus we found that RHTMD has a better predictive value than the TMD in Indian population.


Condition of the retina can be known from the color fundus image. Appearance and location of different features such as exudates, hemorrhages and drusen in color fundus image are used for the assessment of diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR affects the structure of blood vessels and optic disc (OD). In this paper we propose a novel method for detecting the changes appeared in the color fundus image due to the progression of diabetics by using independent component analysis (ICA) on wavelet subbands. Wavelet subband decomposition helps highlighting different information such as blood vessels, optic disc, exudates, hemorrhages, macula and drusen in different subband. ICA is applied on the wavelet subbands to find the different changes. This method is tested on 50 number of color fundus images. The changes appeared in the fundus image are detected correctly.


In this research work, a low-temperature examination method for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is introduced. A water-absorbable polymer material, the sulfonated polyethylene (SPE) ion-exchange hollow fiber membrane, was used for the experiments. With this low-temperature technique, the wet morphology of the water-absorbable sulfonated polyethylene hollow fiber membrane was revealed. The results obtained from this investigation offer some important information to explain the behavior of the SPE hollow fiber membranes when they are applied in pervaporation separation of water/organic solvent mixtures, such as water/ethylene glycol, water/ethanol, and so forth.


To help drive top line growth of their businesses, the development and IT organizations are under increasing pressure to create and deliver applications at ever faster paces. The advent of Cloud Computing has not only lowered the cost of IT operations but also enabled the notion of continuous delivery, which promises to radically reduce frictions in DevOps processes and speed up the product delivery cycle. With increased demand on functionality and feature, we have also seen these applications becoming more sophisticated, often integrating multiple modern programming models and techniques with the traditional n-tier web application into a composite application. This paper proposes an architectural blueprint for improved continuous delivery of these complex composite applications. It treats a solution as a holistic entity comprised of application logic and software-defined environment that the logic relies on. It also proposes a collaborative approach to software-defined Platform-as-a-Service environment building. This being an ongoing research project, this paper also briefly describes prototype, work-in-progress and thoughts on future directions.


Optical device miniaturization is highly desirable in many applications. Direct down-scaling of traditional imaging system is one approach, but the extent to which it can be minimized is limited by the effect of diffraction. Compound-eye imaging system, which utilizes multiple microlenses in image capture is a promising alternative. In this paper, we explore the possibility of an incorporation of phase masks in such a system to extend the depth of field. Simulation experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility of the system


A recent editorial in Anaesthesia (Anaesthesia 1992; 47: 459-60) regarding persuasions in clinical practice was read with great interest. May one add the following thoughts to the wisdom in that editorial? The essentials of primary school education are based on the teaching of the three elementary 'Rs': 'reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic.' Persuasions in clinical practice should, similarly, be based on three, albeit more sophisticated, 'Rs:' records, results and references. The value of the latter three 'Rs' has variously been acknowledged by academics through the ages. M de Montaigne (1533-1592, philosopher) is quoted in each edition of the British Journal of Anaesthesia as proclaiming 'I would have everie man write what he knowes, and no more.' Lord Kelvin (1804-1907 physicist and engineer) wrote 'If you record your observations and express your opinion in numbers you know something of the subject about which you are talking.' M.F.M. James, Professor of Anaesthesia, University of Cape Town, challenges present day anaesthetists in training with the question, 'What is your reference for saying that?' Modern evangelists parry selfproclaimed 'intuitive beliefs' with the rejoinder, 'One may be sincere, but one may be sincerely wrong.' Furthermore, intuitive beliefs are subject to bias. This is well known to those Lngaged in research, where bias, unintentional but often unavoidable, is often confounded by the results of the research. Hence the requirement by the editors of journals for controls and blindness in clinical studies. The aforementioned exhortations and philosophies suggest that an alteration, with respect, of Montaignes quotation to read, 'I would have everie man record and research what he does, and know more' should rationalise the formulation of persuasion in clinical practice.


Bentonite-acrylamide-histidine with an average particle diameter of 200-1000 μm was produced by bulk polymerization of bentonite, acrylamide, bisacrylamide, AIBN and histidine. Bentonite-acrylamide-histidine-Cu(II) microcomposite was prepared by loading copper ions. The microcomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific surface area and elemental analysis. Cytochrome c adsorption studies were performed, for the first time, by using the new metal chelated affinity support (bentonite-acrylamide-histidine-Cu(II)) microcomposite in batchwise experiments.


It was shown that animals divided into groups with respect to the initial sensitivity (low and high resistance) to hypoxia (lack of oxygen in air) differ by their liver monooxygenase enzyme complex reaction to the model acute hypoxia. Low-resistant rats exhibited an increase in cytochromes P-450 and b5, in the rate of oxidative metabolism of amidopyrine, aniline, and ethoxyresorufine, and in the rate of antipyrine elimination (manifested by a decrease in the elimination half time and by an increase in the elimination constant), which is evidence of the increasing activity of cytochromes P-450, 1A1, 1A2, 2C8, and 3A1. In response to acute hypoxia, highly hypoxia-resistant animals exhibited an increase in the rates of diazepam and methoxyresorufine metabolism, which reflected a higher catalytic activity of P-450, 2C6, 2B1, and 1A2 isoforms. At the same time, the rate of antipyrine elimination decreases (the elimination half-time increases, while the clearance and the elimination constant decrease).


Tailoring structurally anisotropic molecular assemblies while controlling their orientation on solid substrates is an important subject for advanced technologies that use organic thin films. Here we report a supramolecular scaffold based on tripodal triptycene assemblies, which enables functional molecular units to assemble into a highly oriented, multilayered two-dimensional (2D) structure on solid substrates. The triptycene building block carries an ethynyl group and three flexible side chains at the 10- and 1,8,13-positions, respectively. These bridgehead-substituted tripodal triptycenes self-assembled on solid substrates to form a well-defined "2D hexagonal + 1D lamellar" structure, which developed parallel to the surface of the substrates. Remarkably, the assembling properties of the triptycene building blocks, particularly for a derivative with tri(oxyethylene)-containing side chains, were not impaired when the alkyne terminal was functionalized with a large molecular unit such as C60, which is comparable in diameter to the triptycene framework. Consequently, thin films with a multilayered 2D assembly of the C60 unit were obtained. Flash-photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity (FP-TRMC) measurements revealed that the C60 film exhibits highly anisotropic charge-transport properties. Bridgehead-substituted tripodal triptycenes may provide a versatile supramolecular scaffold for tailoring the 2D assembly of molecular units into a highly oriented thin film, and in turn for exploiting the full potential of anisotropic molecular functions.


Recommender systems are an important part of the information and e-commerce ecosystem. They represent a powerful method for enabling users to filter through large information and product spaces. Nearly two decades of research on collaborative filtering have led to a varied set of algorithms and a rich collection of tools for evaluating their performance. Research in the field is moving in the direction of a richer understanding of how recommender technology may be embedded in specific domains. The differing personalities exhibited by different recommender algorithms show that recommendation is not a one-size-fits-all problem. Specific tasks, information needs, and item domains represent unique problems for recommenders, and design and evaluation of recommenders needs to be done based on the user tasks to be supported. Effective deployments must begin with careful analysis of prospective users and their goals. Based on this analysis, system designers have a host of options for the choice of algorithm and for its embedding in the surrounding user experience. This paper discusses a~wide variety of the choices available and their implications, aiming to provide both practicioners and researchers with an introduction to the important issues underlying recommenders and current best practices for addressing these issues.


This study of the problem of theological method is in feet an investigation of the dichotomy between those who understand the import of theology in terms of 'metaphysics' or 'ontology', and those who understand it 'existentially'. Theologians of the idealist party tried to comprehend God end reality in a metaphysical system, but Kierkegaard denied that this was possible. In the first place reality an a whole cannot be comprehended systematically. In the second place faith cannot be comprehended in the abstract categories of objective thought. Kiorkegaard argues that both empiricism and idealism fail to discover any absolute truth, but ho thinks that the problem of faith remains. Some fixed point of 'truth' is necessary for living, for without such a 'truth' our life will be without any foundation. This truth must be found in subjectivity. Yet Kierkegaard does not mean that this truth, which rests in subjective integrity, has no object. The subject must be related to some truth out himself. But his point in that this truth is not to be discovered, or authenticated, by objective speculative discussion. In the end it must in some sense be self-authenticating. Man stands in need of a divine revelation, and the authority of such a revelation relates not to the truth of a sum of sentence m, but to a truth which is a life. But does Kierkegaard allow any apologetic function to philosophy and the philosopher? Does he reject all philosophy, or only idealist philosophy? Is there another kind of philosophy possible which devotes itself to existential awakening? Perhaps there in, but we should remember that such awakening would not be an awakening to the reality of faith, but only to the possibility of faith. Such considerations point us towards the theological method proposed by Paul Tillich. Tillich proposes a method which proceeds by correlating existential questions with the answers of revelation, the question and answer being independent, and yet inter-dependent. But how can two factors be both independent and inter-dependent? Perhaps it is a case of partial independence. In any case both the answer and the question are said to be enclosed within the theological circle, although the material out of which the question is formulated is collected independently. How is this material to be discovered then? It seems that we must begin with some kind of investigation of the phenomenon of personal existence. (But such a description of a phenomenon in not necessarily the same as Kierkegaard's attempt to increase, our awareness of existence, though this question of increasing our awareness of existence certainly has a close parallel in Tillich's thought. In fact we could say that both Tillich and Kierkegaard see this task of increasing awareness as a preliminary to preaching the gospel. But of course this leaves us with a problem as to how this is related to our knowledge about the phenomenon of man. But in the end the, main problem facing us concerns the relationship between existential and ontological formulations. Does Kierkegaard's existentialism really dismiss ontology from the field of theological discourse? And if it does, can we really maintain that Tillich's method is carrying on in the same tradition? I think Tillich would certainly deny the possibility of finding God through ontological reason, even though we might discover some question to which God era s the answer. Yet even the question of God sometimes seems to become a matter of subjective concern in Tillich's thought. So God is spoken of as that which concerns us ultimately. And in the end his methodological proposals seem to leave little or no room for ontological questions to arise within the province of theology. It seems that the theologian is concerned with the actual possibility, and the significance for the subject, of existence in faith. But can theologians confine discussions of the nature of God to this existential level? Is the theist/atheist discussion a matter of indifference to theological formulation? Perhaps if we took up Tillich's hint that God should be defined in terms of 'ultimate concern' it is. This point seams to be explored even more thoroughly by H. Richard Niebuhr than by Tillich. But when we follow Niebuhr's discussion to its end, we find he brings us back to the concept of being, though not perhaps to any clear ontology of transcendence. Nevertheless this passing glance at Niebuhr's argument does seem to help us understand TiIlich's position better. In the end Tillich's methodology seems to point towards an existential theology which leaves ontology to the philosophers. And this conclusion is of no small importance to the theologians.


In writing applications to supplement PeopleSoft functionality at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we were reminded that a user-centered iterative approach was the only way to ensure success. But what strategies can system designers employ to truly work from a user perspective? This paper will discuss our approach and its results. Electronic collaboration between the Graduate School and 120 academic departments virtually stopped with the new student information system. We needed solutions that suited over 200 users and a new approach that centered on the user and encouraged change as needs changed and as our understanding of processes improved.


1. Acrolein was detected in rat liver suspensions incubated in the presence of allyl alcohol and allyl formate. Acrolein was determined by condensation of the distilled aldehyde with semicarbazide, followed by spectrophotometric measurement of the semicarbazone at 257nm and identification by paper chromatography. 2. The transformation of allyl alcohol into acrolein occurred in the presence of NAD(+). Inhibitors of rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase inhibited the reaction. 3. It is suggested that the hepatotoxic actions of allyl alcohol and of allyl formate on rat liver are related to their conversion into acrolein.


A mechanism for proton acceleration to ∼ 1021eV is suggested. It may operate in accretion flows onto thin dark matter filaments of cosmic structure formation. The flow compresses the ambient magnetic field to strongly increase and align it with the filament. Particles begin the acceleration by the E×B drift with the accretion flow. The energy gain in the drift regime is limited by the conservation of the adiabatic invariant p⊥/B(r). Upon approaching the filament, the drift turns into the gyro-motion around the filament so that the particle moves parallel to the azimuthal electric field. In this 'betatron' regime the acceleration speeds up to rapidly reach the electrodynamic limit cpmax = eBR for an accelerator with magnetic field B and the orbit radius R (Larmor radius). The periodic orbit becomes unstable and the particle slings out of the filament to the region of a weak (uncompressed) magnetic field, which terminates the acceleration. To escape the filament, accelerated particles must have gyro-radii comparable with the filament radius. Therefore, the mechanism requires pre-acceleration that is likely to occur in structure formation shocks upstream or nearby the filament accretion flow. Previous studies identify such shocks as efficient proton accelerators to a firm upper limit ∼ 1019.5eV placed by the catastrophic photo-pion losses. The present mechanism combines explosive energy gain in its final (betatron) phase with prompt particle release from the region of strong magnetic field. It is this combination that allows protons to overcome both the photo-pion and the synchrotron-Compton losses and therefore attain energy ∼ 1021eV .


This dissertation takes on an ambitious set of experiments to gain insight into the bilingual language processor. There are approximately 200 countries in the world and more than 4000 languages; you are in the minority if you speak only one language. Furthermore, approximately 55 million Americans are multilingual and that number is growing (census.gov, 2010). It would seem, then, that accounts of language processing should take into consideration these facts. Yet it is the case that very few accounts are sensitive to the issues that occur when participants are bilingual. Bilingual language research can be daunting because of the number of language and developmental factors that must be considered to accurately measure and interpret results. For example, bilinguals have demonstrated elevated cognitive skills when compared to their monolingual peers. As difficult as it is to account for language history and cognitive abilities in a language study, the benefits of such a study are well worth the effort. Monolingual language processing models are founded in studies that examine how and when information is integrated while comprehending sentences. The language studies presented in this dissertation find their origins in monolingual language processing literature. Pupillometry, however, provides time-course information that has been missing in past studies. We use the findings as a foundation for developing bilingual language processing models. A battery of non-linguistic tasks were selected to ensure any language differences were attributable to the language studies and not byproducts of differential cognitive abilities. The dissertation begins with an overview of both monolingual and bilingual language processing to illustrate the differences in language processing models between monolingual and multilingual individuals. This is followed by a description of the cognitive differences that have been observed between bilingual and monolingual individuals. The battery of non-linguistic assessment tools used include : N-Back (working memory), Attentional Network Test (conflict monitoring), Auditory Flanker Task (conflict monitoring), TONI IQ test, Picture naming tasks in Spanish and English and an extensive language questionnaire. The language studies examine tried and true sentence types from the monolingual processing literature including : Garden Path (temporarily ambiguous sentences), Filler-Gap constructions and antecedent-anaphor agreement. Pupillary responses were collected as a continuous index of processing demands. The combination of pupil data and non-linguistic tasks provide an interesting perspective on bilingual sentence processing. The results suggest that age of acquisition and conflict monitoring abilities are associated as both bilingual groups demonstrated reduced conflict monitoring costs. On the other hand, in the language studies sequential bilinguals demonstrated pupillary responses that resemble those of the monolingual control group in one sentential context and not so in others, while the simultaneous bilingual demonstrated unique patterns. Unsurprisingly, age of acquisition is associated with differential cognitive abilities as well as differential online language processing, but the cognitive advantages do not seem to penetrate language processing in the sequential bilinguals. The findings suggest the interaction of language and cognition may be age dependent


Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) is an important disease of olive fruits. Diversity and biogeographic relationships of the olive anthracnose pathogens in the Algarve (Portugal) were investigated, along with host association patterns and disease levels during 2004-2007, to test the hypothesis that this region is a host-pathogen diversity hot spot. Diverse Colletotrichum acutatum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides populations were identified based on rRNA-internal transcribed spacer and partial beta-tubulin 2 gene sequences of 95 isolates. Spatial and temporal variations in the occurrence of the eight genetic entities of the pathogens were linked to olive biogeography. Disease occurrence patterns suggest that C. acutatum populations are more stable pathogens, while C. gloeosporioides populations appear to be more influenced by favourable conditions. Three unique C. acutatum populations were identified, but none of the eight populations were dominant, with the most frequent type representing only 27%. Thus, the population structure of olive anthracnose pathogens in the Algarve is distinct from other parts of Portugal and other world locations, where only one or two genetic entities are dominant. This pattern and level of genetic diversity in a restricted area, where oleaster (wild olive tree), ancient landraces and modern cultivars of olive occur in close proximity, suggests the Algarve as a centre of diversity of the anthracnose pathogens and corroborates recent work suggesting western Mediterranean as an important centre of olive diversity and domestication.


Abstract Geomorphological features associated with groundwater discharge zones can affect ground conditions so greatly that they determine the outcomes of battles. Two cases in point are found in Scottish history: (i) despite outnumbering their English foes, the Scots lost the Battle of Flodden Field (9 September 1513), largely due to failing to identify the presence of marshy ground associated with an area of groundwater discharge; (ii) on 21 September 1745, the Jacobites defeated the Hanoverian army at Prestonpans by finding a way around marshland corresponding to a regional groundwater discharge zone, upon which the Hanoverian commander had been relying as a natural defensive feature. Analysis of both battlefields drawing upon present-day understanding of local stratigraphy and hydrogeological conditions allows identification of the specific groundwater discharge patterns that largely determined the outcomes of these two emblematic battles. At Flodden, the proximal source of groundwater discharge is Quaternary outwash gravels, distally fed from sedimentary strata (Cementstones) of lowermost Dinantian age. In the case of Prestonpans, the groundwater emerges from particularly arenaceous coal-bearing strata of Namurian age. Both case studies suggest that military commanders selecting advantageous terrain could benefit from consulting hydrogeologists who are familiar with the intricacies of groundwater geomorphology.


This paper describes the unique and diverse test capabilities of the Power Burst Facility (PBF). The PBF test reactor, located at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), simulates normal, off-normal, and accident operating conditions of light water reactor fuel rods. Capabilities of the PBF are illustrated by brief discussions of the types of tests performed at the facility. These include a wide range of experiments to help resolve key safety issues concerning light water reactors, assess computer models, and confirm adequacy of specific Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing regulations.


The paper presents a methodology for the estimation of the initial skew rate of text lines. Firstly, it splits text into groups according to the bounding boxes. Linked bounding boxes establish the bigger objects called connected components. After applying mathematical morphology operations, the enlarged group of the connected components is formed. The longest connected component is extracted by the longest common subsequence method. Inside the longest connected component, the gravity centers are determined for each bounding box. They represent the reference points, which are used for the calculation of the initial skew rate. Calculation is made by the moment based method. The comparative analysis of the origin and estimated skew rate is used to evaluate the algorithm. Hence, the proposed algorithm is examined with different printed text samples. It showed robustness for the skew estimation in the wide range of resolutions. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.itc.41.3.1249


ABSTRACT Social-behavioral functioning during early childhood is associated with children's academic and social success concurrently and over time. This study explored how concurrent, year-to-year, and sustained parent–teacher and student–teacher relationships predicted children's social skills and problem behaviors across the preschool to Grade 1 transitions. Participants were 233 children (M = 5.32 years [SD = 0.27] in preschool), their parents, and their preschool (n = 65), kindergarten (n = 116), and first grade (n = 117) teachers enrolled in low-income public schools in rural and urban communities. Research Findings: Children's relationships with teachers were associated with social-behavioral functioning immediately and over time. Positive, sustained relationships from preschool through first grade predicted social-behavioral benefits. Conflictual relationships related to higher problem behaviors. Parent–teacher relationships as reported by teachers predicted children's positive social-behavioral functioning in the same year. Parents' reports of close relationships with teachers predicted more problem behaviors in the following year. Sustained relationships between parents and teachers during the transition from preschool through first grade predicted improved social skills and fewer problem behaviors over time. Practice or Policy: Providing targeted training and support for educators to develop and maintain relationships with students and parents can improve social-behavioral outcomes for children across the preschool to 1st grade transition.


The nearby transiting system GJ 436b offers a unique opportunity to probe the structure and atmosphere of an extrasolar 'hot Neptune'. In this Letter, we present the main results of observations covering two transit events with the Near Infrared Camera and Multi Object Spectrograph (NICMOS) camera on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data consist in high-cadence time series of grism spectra covering the 1.1–1.9 µm spectral range. We find R_pl= 4.04 ± 0.10 R_⊕ and R_*= 0.446 ± 0.011 R_⊙ for the planet and star radius, confirming and improving earlier measurements with a ground-based photometry and a Spitzer light curve at 8 µm, as opposed to a much higher value obtained with the Fine Guidance Sensor on the HST. We measure no departure from strict periodicity in the transits to the level of ∼7s. This strongly disfavours the proposed explanation of the orbital eccentricity of GJ 436b in terms of the perturbation by another close-by planet. We measure a flat transmission spectrum at the level of a few parts per 10 000 in flux, with no significant signal in the 1.4-µm water band to a level comparable to the maximum amplitude of the effect predicted by planetary atmosphere models.


Prostaglandins of the E type may have a potential role in pancreatic physiology and pathophysiology. Because prostaglandins of the E type inhibit HCl secretion in parietal cells via a specific receptor by inhibition of adenylylcyclase, we studied whether a similar mechanism exists in the exocrine pancreas. Isolated rat pancreatic acini were incubated with various concentrations of secretagogues, such as cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8), bombesin, carbachol, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), in the absence or presence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and amylase secretion was measured. For receptor binding studies, acini and pancreatic membranes were incubated with [3H]PGE2 and either unlabeled PGE2 or other types of prostaglandins. PGE2 (10(-13) to 10(-5) M) did not inhibit basal amylase secretion. However, CCK-8-stimulated secretion was significantly inhibited. Stimulation of secretion by bombesin, carbachol, VIP, and secretin was also inhibited by PGE2, but not as pronounced as CCK-8-stimulated secretion. The formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced by CCK-8 was markedly inhibited by simultaneous incubation with PGE2. Furthermore, PGE2 slightly but significantly reduced the CCK-8-induced efflux of 45Ca2+ from prelabeled acini. Intact acini and a membrane fraction bound [3H]PGE2 and this function could be equally competed by either unlabeled PGE2 or PGE1 in contrast to less-related prostaglandins such as PGF2 alpha, PGD2, and prostacyclin. We conclude that prostaglandins of the E type inhibit pancreatic enzyme secretion stimulated by various secretagogues. This function is mediated via specific receptors for PGE. With regard to CCK-8-stimulated secretion this function may be mediated by an inhibition of formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.


: A study is made in the Intensive Care Unit of "Jose L. Miranda" Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Santa Clara in order to know the sequence with which the father occupies the place of the mother in the care of hospitalized children. With this objective, 54 male companions are surveyed in the first trimester of 1987. The prevailing occupational profile was that of worker. A higher number of the respondents were between 17 and 25 years of age. The school level of secondary school prevailed among patient companions. Most of them reported no economic inconveniences during the child's disease. The desire to remain at the bedside and the inability of the mother to do so were the major reasons for their stay. The advantages recognized by the nursing personnel in male companions are made known.


The first step for empirical studying currency crises is to identify or date these crises. This is not an easy task – not even the conceptual definition is agreed upon, let alone an operational definition. The choice of a definition has an impact on the identification of crises, and may even provide an explanation to the mixed performance of early warning systems for currency crises. In empirical studies typically a single definition is adopted and the crisis dates are compared to the narrative to determine a set of currency crisis dates. We present a novel way to identify currency crises. We employ combinations of definitions, which provide a wider base than using a single definition. Through combining we can overcome setbacks of the individual definitions. We date currency crises in 35 emerging economies for the period 1990 to 2016, in a monthly frequency. We compare our dataset with the narrative, expert opinions and other studies, and find that a combination of several definitions fits the narrative better than any single crisis definition. We include the narrative in the appendix, which makes this work more transparent and useful for other investigators.


We develop a system for retrieving medical images with focus objects incorporating models of human perception. The approach is to guide the search for an optimum similarity function using human perception. First, the images are segmented using an automated segmentation tool. Then, 20 shape features are computed from each image to obtain a feature matrix. Principal component analysis is performed on this matrix to reduce the number of dimensions. Principal components obtained from the analysis are used to select a subset of variables that best represents the data. A human perception of similarity experiment is designed to obtain an aggregated human response matrix. Finally, an optimum weighted Manhattan distance function is designed using a genetic algorithm utilizing the Mantel test as a fitness function. The system is tested for content-based retrieval of skin lesion images. The results show significant agreement between the computer assessment and human perception of similarity. Since the features extracted are not specific to skin lesion images, the system can be used to retrieve other types of images.


Basically the relationship between employees and the company is a mutually beneficial relationship. On one hand companies want to get great benefits, employees want on the other hand certain hopes and needs that must be met company. Because it takes an employee relations management that can realize the harmonious relationships that mutually benefit from each other. Given the good relations between employees and the management company will be able to increase employee productivity, ultimately the company's goals can be achieved, not only corporate profits but also the welfare of employees will also increase. Gains in productivity was not only considered the hard work of party workers, but also related to motivation and achievement results from the workers who are willing to work with passion, pride, highly disciplined, and able to achieve an efficient work standards in terms of spending power, cost, time in production (Rosady Ruslan 2005:267). Objectives to be achieved in this study was to describe the activity of the employee relations program to increase employee productivity. This study is a qualitative descriptive study aimed to obtain the facts through in-depth interviews (depth interviews) with a credible source of senior employees from various divisions. Then the research findings obtained are interpreted for a wider search for meaning.
Based on the results showed that PT. Indosat Tbk Area Central Java has implemented effective employee relations through various activities that are initiated from the management of HR and Managers in each division, among others, to create a forum for casual discussions Afternoontea and morning coffee as a means of channeling your comments and suggestions from employees. To maintain mutual communication between the employees of PT. Indosat Tbk Area Central Java uses communication media, E-mail. PT. Indosat Tbk Area Central Java Central also conducting Special Event to foster a sense of intimacy shared between employees and management. Employee productivity PT.Indosat Limited Area in Central Java who has done research into the high category. It is seen from several aspects, such as attitude and good work ethics, motivation of employees high, Nutrition and Health employees are considered firm, social security of the company, work environment and a comfortable climate in the work, and achievement in work opportunities. . Beside that PT. Indosat Tbk Area Cental Java also has a personal accolades with various provisions This was a major factor that can determine the high productivity of employees.
 The results can be concluded that the activity of effective employee relations can improve employee productivity.

Key Words: Activities of Employee Relations; Productivity


Author(s): Ho, Stephanie H. | Advisor(s): Martin, Crystal L. | Abstract: The growth of galactic disks requires a continuous gas supply, but direct observations of gas accretion onto galaxies remain rare. We analyze the kinematics of the low-ionization-state gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and study how the gas feeds the galactic disks. We have observed quasars behind z=0.2, star-forming galaxies, and the quasar sightlines intersect the CGM within 100 kpc of the foreground galaxies. We find that the Doppler shift of the circumgalactic gas absorption shares the same sign as the quasar side of the galactic disk, but the Doppler shifts are smaller than disk rotation predicts. Our results suggest that the low-ionization-state gas in the inner CGM corotates with the galactic disks, and centrifugal forces partially support the low-ionization-state gas. However, the circumgalactic absorption spans a broader velocity range than a thin rotating disk can explain, and we model the velocity range using a simple inflow model with gas spiraling inwards near the disk plane. We also use new, high-resolution imaging to reveal the wrapping direction of galaxy spiral arms, and we combine it with the galaxy rotation curve to deduce the orientation of the galactic disk in 3D-space. Using the 3D disk orientation as an additional parameter for the inflow model, we constrain the radial inflow speed or rule out a velocity component from radial inflow in the quasar sightline. We find inflow speeds comparable to that of the cold inflowing gas we have identified around galaxies in the EAGLE cosmological simulations, where most of the EAGLE galaxies have mass inflow rates high enough to sustain the star-forming activities of the galaxies. We also find cold rotating disks with inflowing gas in EAGLE, and these disks extend to radii comparable to the impact parameters of our quasar sightlines around galaxies. Hence, using both observations and simulations, we conclude that the inner CGM has significant angular momentum, and our analysis with EAGLE further supports our inflow interpretation for the circumgalactic kinematic observations.


The paper evaluates the situation of logistics service providers and real estate investors in Germany. Especially the effects of the New Basel Accord on service providers are analysed and the financing alternatives for the different kinds of companies in this segment are described. It takes into account that different financing structures have to be applied for publicly listed companies versus non listed companies. Additionally, aspects like the eastern enlargement of the EU, the increase in demand for contract logistics, globalisation, new technologies like RFID, ecommerce et cetera are considered. Besides the characteristics concerning logistics companies, it evaluates the portfolio situation of real estate investors. The structure of the existing portfolios and the yield returns of the different real estate types are being examined. Investment criteria for real estate investors are presented in general and in detail for investments in logistics real estate. As theoretical background, the resource based view and the modern portfolio theory are applied. The results of the study are based on the content analysis of interviews, literature reviews and logical considerations. In case data is available, correlations between different real estate types will be calculated in order to clarify, whether logistics real estate has a positive effect on yield return of office and retail real estate portfolios.


Abstract Introduction: Ultrasound assessment of fetal heart size (FHS) is widely used and recommended in many guidelines of fetal echocardiography due to its clinical value. The aim of this study was an analysis of some fetal heart measurements: ratio of heart area to chest area (HA/ CA) and transversal diameter of heart (AP) and their correlation to gestational age. Material and methods: This retrospective study was based on database of records of ultrasound and echocardiographic examinations performed in our unit and included fetuses between 15th and 39th week of gestation with no evidence of heart defect or any abnormality. Results: 609 ultrasound examinations were analyzed. The mean HA/CA was 0,30 ± 0,015, with no statistical difference between female and male (p>0,05), and seemed to be relatively constant with slight increase with advancing gestational age. The AP diameter in whole group correlated with gestational age (r=0,94) and there was no difference related to the fetuses gender. Conclusion: The correlation of AP diameter and relative constancy of HA/CA ratio with gestational age presented in our normograms could be used for monitoring fetal development, but also for fetal cardiomegaly assessment.


The reflecting of a single attosecond pulse from a periodic Mo/Si multilayer was investigated. By changing the number of bi-layers, the periodic multilayer showed greatly different spectral and temporal responses of the attosecond pulse reflection, which has been discussed in detail in this paper. The capability of attosecond pulse reflection of the periodic multilayers with different bi-layer numbers has been evaluated using suitable temporal parameters. In addition, the condition for obtaining high-efficiency reflected pulses has been analyzed by comparing the pulse responses of the periodic multilayer with different layers. The transfer-matrix method together with the fast Fourier transform has been used in our simulation.


AIMS
To report nationally representative data on the prevalence and correlates (including psychiatric comorbidity and treatment) of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence in Australian adults.

DESIGN
The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB).

SETTING
Australian nationally representative household survey.

PARTICIPANTS
8841 Australian adults (16-85 years).

MEASUREMENTS
Interview schedule that assessed symptoms of the most prevalent DSM-IV mental disorders in the life-time and the past 12 months.

FINDINGS
Prevalence of life-time and 12-month disorders was 18.3% and 2.9% for alcohol abuse and 3.9% and 1.4% for alcohol dependence. Current alcohol abuse and dependence was significantly more common in males and younger adults. There were significant associations between current alcohol use and other drug use disorders (OR 18.2) and between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders (OR 2.6). Only 22.4% of those with alcohol use disorders were treated for their alcohol disorder.

CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol use disorders are highly prevalent, especially among young adult males. Comorbidity between anxiety and other drug use disorders is common and remains a significant challenge for the delivery of effective health-care services and treatment. The low rate of effective interventions for alcohol problems is a significant public health concern.


: The optical isomers of methadone, alpha-methadol, alpha-acetylmethadol and their N-demethylated derivatives have been systematically studied for their effects on the binding of 3H-dihydromorphine (3H-DHM) and 3H-naloxone (3H-NLX) to opiate receptors in rat brain homogenate. The relative affinities of these agents in competing for both 3H-DHM and 3H-NLX binding parallel their analgesic effects. 1-Methadone is about 30 times as effective as d-methadone in competing for both 3H-DHM and 3H-NLX binding sites. The reduction of 1-methadone to alpha-d-methadol and subsequent N-demethylation to alpha-d-normethadol reduce its effectiveness as indicated by the increase in the IC50 values for both 3H-DHM and 3H-NLX binding. The reduction of d-methadone followed by N-demethylation produces a potent derivative, alpha-1-normethadol, which has IC50 values on 3H-DHM and 3H-NLX binding similar to those of 1-methadone. The affinity of alpha-1-acetyl-methadol on the binding of both 3H-ligands falls between those of 1-methadone and d-methadone, and increases as it is N-demethylated. alpha-d-Acetyl-methadol is more effective than alpha-1-acetylmethadol in competing for both 3H-ligands from the opiate receptors, and its affinity, unlike that of alpha-1-acetylmethadol, decreases when it is N-demethylated. The affinities of the methadone isomers and related compounds on the binding of 3H-NLX fall in the presence of Na+. The latter property indicates the agonistic nature of this series of druges.


With globalization and economic competition on the rise, the very nature of work has been changing, and many organizations are turning to restructuring as a means of facing the developing external and internal demands for change. Unions, being no exception, are often ready to undergo fundamental restructuring in order to meet challenges, such as an increasingly heterogeneous work force and membership declines. The main tool for such union restructuring is merger. However, union mergers are notoriously difficult to implement. To investigate this, this thesis adopts a psychological approach for examining the process of merger implementation, as it, more specifically, aims to explore merger-related motives, barriers, and outcomes. The thesis rests on three empirical studies – based on questionnaire data – investigating one rejected (Study I and II), and one completed (Study III) merger attempt. Its main theoretical underpinnings stem mostly from frameworks within social psychology. Study I aimed at identifying predictors of merger-related attitudes, and found that organizational commitment and the communication of merger-related information served such a function. Study II investigated the differences between status levels in relation to the democratic aspects of merger implementation. The results revealed several differences between representatives and rank-and-file members, and suggest that these may constitute major sources of merger barriers. Study III compared the effects of members' merger-related attitudes, and the structural differences between merging unions, on post-merger decline in member attachment. The results showed that merger-related attitudes may play an important role in the merger implementation process, while the same was not found in regard to structural differences. The general results are discussed in relation to representation restructuring, as well as mergers and acquisitions in general.


Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited, (ECGC) is a company wholly owned by the Government of India. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and is managed by a Board of Directors representing Government, Banking, Insurance, Trade and Industry primary objective is to promote country's exports by covering the risk of exports on credit by providing insurance cover to Indian exporters against non-realisation of export proceeds due to commercial or political risks; and giving guarantee to banks and other financial institutions to enable them to extend credit facilities to exporters on liberal basis. ECGC is performing well to assist Indian exporters and bankers. The export business in India is growing, whether it is related to goods or services. The India is a growing consumer hub as well. The contemporary international financial issues, namely US sub-prime lending, appreciation of Indian currency; growing export and flow of FIIs investment in India are changing the equation for exporters, bankers, investors and therefore ECGC. This research study aims at determining how ECGC will be able to fulfill its objective in the current scenario. The research will address studying present level of ECGC performance and to compare with their counterparts, and to evaluate performance on various measurable parameters. What shall be the impact of current trend if it continues on spread sheet and its impact on stakeholders and ECGC? And finally, to suggest what additional measure ECGC should take to perform in adversity. The study envisages critical analysis of various schemes of ECGC vis-a-vis financial performance. Study will use Secondary data and review of present literature available, prepare a theoretical framework and using primary data, an analysis will be carried out to test hypothesis in line of objective of the study.


Ultrasound localization microscopy can map blood vessels with a resolution much smaller than the wavelength by localizing microbubbles. The current implementations of the technique are limited to 2-D planes or small fields of view in 3-D. These suffer from minutelong acquisitions, out-of-plane microbubbles, and tissue motion. In this paper, we exploit the recent development of 4D ultrafast ultrasound imaging to insonify an isotropic volume up to 20 000 times per second and perform localization microscopy in the three dimensions. Specifically, a 32 ×32 elements, 9-MHz matrix-array probe connected to a 1024-channel programmable ultrasound scanner was used to achieve sub-wavelength volumetric imaging of both the structure and vector flow of a complex 3D structure (a main canal branching out into two side canals). To cope with the large volumes and the need to localize the bubbles in the three dimensions, novel algorithms were developed based on deconvolution of the beamformed microbubble signal. For tracking, individual particles were paired following a Munkres assignment method, and velocimetry was done following a Lagrangian approach. ULM was able to clearly represent the 3-D shape of the structure with a sharp delineation of canal edges (as small as 230 μm) and separate them with a spacing as low as 52μm. The compounded volume rate of 500 Hz was sufficient to describe velocities in 2.5–150-mm/s range and to reduce the maximum acquisition time to 12 s. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of in vitro 3-D ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy and opens up the way toward in vivo volumetric ULM.


Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preferentially infects lung epithelial cells. Infection by RSV leads to an extended inflammatory response, characterized by the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8). Activation of ERK MAP kinase is required for both RSV-induced inflammation and the extended survival of infected cells. In this study, we analyzed the role of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in RSV activation of ERK. We demonstrate for the first time that RSV activates EGFR in lung epithelial cells. Activation of EGFR results in increased ERK activity, contributing to both the inflammatory response (IL-8 release) and prolonging the survival of RSV-infected cells. Inhibition of EGFR with siRNA decreased both ERK activation and IL-8 production after RSV. In analyzing the effect of EGFR activation on survival of RSV-infected cells, we found that EGFR activation by RSV resulted in ERK-dependent alterations in the balance of pro- versus anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins. RSV altered the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins (increased BclxL and decreased BimEL) increasing the relative amount of pro-survival proteins. This occurred in an EGFR-dependent manner. This study supports an important role for EGFR activity in the lifespan and inflammatory potential of RSV-infected epithelial cells.


There has been limited examination of the Australian common law position regarding contemporaneous refusals of care or medical treatment by competent adults since the first two Australian cases to adjudicate on refusals of this type: H Ltd v J and Brightwater Care Group (Inc) v Rossiter. This article maps the legal position in Australia in light of the two cases with particular emphasis on the finding in H Ltd v J that self-starvation is not suicide at common law. Finally, this article highlights the broader relevance of this area of the law and its capacity to inform debates as disparate as whether to legalise voluntary euthanasia and the possible implications for the autonomy of pregnant women of proposed laws giving legal status to fetuses (particularly Zoe's Law).


The occurrence, concentration and spatial distributions of  Endosulfan  (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro–6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide)  and endosulfan sulfate  were studied in the Lake Naivasha basin during the months of May to December 2010. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of endosulfan in the watercourse. Endosulfan sulfate was the mostpredominant with a range of 16.2  -  345  ng/L  and a mean of 131 ± 110.2  ng/L  followed by endosulfan  II41.7 – 92.8 ng/L and a mean of 60.6 ± 20.3 ng/L, and endosulfan I 20.1 – 57.9 ng/L and a mean of 34.3 ± 14.7 ng/L  respectively. The measured exposure concentrations were translated into environmental risks factors using the PERPEST model Version 3.0. The model was calibrated using laboratory experimental data on exposure of  O.  leocostictus  to endosulfan in aquariums simulating Lake Naivasha. The environmental risks posed by the measured exposure concentrations of endosulfan on  O.  leocostictuswere predicted as total endosulfan (∑Endosulfan).  ∑Endosulfan ranged from 80.9  -  450 ng/L within the basin with a mean of 225.8 ± 129.1 ng/L. Results of the prediction were compared those obtained from microcosm laboratory experiments simulating the Lake Naivasha ecosystem to assess the accuracy of the model.  The study shows that though the insecticide is not targeted to kill fish it has an adverse effect on the population of O. Leocostictus. The measured exposure concentrations can cause reduction in population of  O. Leocostictus  by between 0  –  6% in  O. Leocostictus. Comparison of the results of the prediction shows that there is no significant difference between the results obtained from the microcosm experiment at p = 0.05. The study shows that the model can be applied in environmental and toxicity studies of chemicals without the use of laboratory specimens. The study also explains the variability of aquatic organisms' populations in the lake can explain the current decline in populations of aquatic life in Lake Naivasha. Increased monitoring is thus recommended to detect inflow of toxic chemicals to safeguard aquatic life


Transnationalism of first-generation migrants, usually considered as a core element of their migratory projects, is nowadays taken somewhat for granted. Our aim in this paper is to examine empirically the relations of transnationalism with duration of residence and integration of Eastern European migrants in Italy, a country which evolved into a mass immigration one since the 1980s. Data come from the Integrometro survey 2008–2009, encompassing more than 4500 Eastern European migrants. We chose this group of migrants because East Europeans now constitute half of the foreign population in Italy and these nationalities have been overlooked by migration research on transnational topics. Our results show a positive relationship between migrants' economic integration and transnationalism, suggesting that economic resources facilitate the maintenance and development of cross-border ties. Being more integrated socio-culturally, however, is accompanied with weaker transnational practices. Moreover, the level of transnational behaviour decreases the more years Eastern European migrants spend in Italy, which cannot be fully attributed to a higher level of socio-cultural integration.


The paper discusses four approaches to the biextension of Chow groups and their equivalences. These are the following: an explicit construction given by S.Bloch, a construction in terms of the Poincare biextension of dual intermediate Jacobians, a construction in terms of K-cohomology, and a construction in terms of determinant of cohomology of coherent sheaves. A new approach to J.Franke's Chow categories is given. An explicit formula for the Weil pairing of algebraic cycles is obtained.


Purpose: The objective of this quality assurance project was to implement a collaborative multi-strategy fall risk management program to reduce patient falls within a nursing home. Intervention: A multi-interventional program based on recommendations from Agency for Healthcare Quality was instituted. Direct care providers were required to conduct every 2-hour rounding on patients. The staff was required to participate in organizational education and training on fall prevention strategies. Patients were encouraged to participate in activities outside of their rooms throughout the day. Monthly meetings were held to review fall occurrences, collaborate on project initiatives, and discuss trends in fall rates. Setting and Sample: The setting for this project was a 150-bed nursing home in suburban Texas.  A total of 10 participants were recruited for the fall team, and interventions were performed on each of three nursing units. The median age of the patient population was 75 years old of which 46% are males, and 53% are females. Measurement: The Falls Management Program-How to Reduce Fall questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention period to evaluate participants' knowledge about falls and prevention. Quality assurance data were reviewed, analysis of documentation for rounding, activities, and falls data was completed. Results: The pre-implementation mean fall rate per month was 24.5 (average monthly census was 120 patients), compared to 2-month and 4-month post-implementation mean rates which were 13.5 (average monthly census was 116 patients), and 9.5 (average monthly census was 111 patients). Discussion: Implementation of best quality fall prevention programs can improve the overall health and quality of life of patients. Care providers must be vigilant in consistently facilitating evidence-based practices that contribute to best outcomes for every patient. In so doing, enhanced standards of care will circumvent patient falls and promote best patient outcomes.


Because the planets of a system form in a flattened disk, they a re expected to share similar orbital inclinations at the end of their formation. The high-precision photometric monitoring of s tar known to host a transiting planet could thus reveal the t ransits of one or more other planets. We investigate here the potential of t his approach for the M dwarf GJ 1214 that hosts a transiting su per-Earth. For this system, we infer the transit probabilities as a func tio of orbital periods. Using Monte-Carlo simulations we a ddress both the cases for fully coplanar and for non-coplanar orbits, with t hree di fferent choices of inclinations distribution for the non-cop lanar case. GJ 1214 reveals to be a very promising target for the consider ed approach. Because of its small size, a ground-based photo metric monitoring of this star could detect the transit of a habitab le planet as small as the Earth, while a space-based monitori ng could detect any transiting habitable planet down to the size of Mars. The mass measurement of such a small planet would be out of reach f or current facilities, but we emphasize that a planet mass woul d not be needed to confirm the planetary nature of the transiti ng object. Furthermore, the radius measurement combined with theoret ical arguments would help us to constrain the structure of th e planet.


The spectra of disturbances and noises affecting precise servo positioning for ultrahigh-density storage in future hard disk drives are time-varying and remain unknown. In this paper, we propose an online iterative control algorithm that sets the measured position error signal (PES) into the servo system to achieve high track densities by minimizing the square of the H2-norm of the transfer function from nonrepeatable run-out (NRRO) disturbances to the true PES. It is not necessary to solve any algebraic Riccati equations and linear matrix inequalities. The algorithm constructs an online repeatable run-out estimator to extract NRRO components for gradient estimates, thereby preventing the controller parameters from being trapped in a local minima. Experimental results on a PC-based servo system for a spinstand show an improvement of 22% in 3sigma NRRO and suppression of baseline NRRO spectrum


The aortal valve prosthesis in combination with a tape-like bandage of ascending aorta application was performed in 106 patients, suffering a failure with predominance of the aortal valve stenosis in conjunction with the ascending aorta poststenotic dilation, in a 2005 - 2014 yrs period in the clinic. The hospital lethality have constituted 0.9%. In accordance to echocardiography, the ascending aorta diameter preoperatively have constituted (48.7 +/- 1.4) mm at average, before discharge from the hospital--(40.1 +/- 1.2) mm, in late follow-up period--(41.3 +/- 1.2) mm. It is expedient to recommend the original method of a tape-like bandage of ascending aorta from the base of noncoronary sinus in the aortal sinuses dilation (45 mm and more) in combination with the aortal valve prosthesis in poststenotic dilation of ascending aorta.