One-dimensional semiconductor nanofibers have been regarded as one of the most promising building blocks for next-generation electronic devices. Among these semiconductor nanofibers, tin oxide (SnO2) has been regarded as an attractive alternative for field-effect transistors (FETs) due to its high abundance, nontoxicity and low cost. However, the electronic devices based on electrospun SnO2 nanofibers suffer from poor interfacial property and inferior performance. Here, we have proposed that the introduction of Y can be used to reduce the O vacancies in the channel layers and ethanolamine (EA) is selected as a complexing agent to enhance the interface property. It is confirmed that the SnYO nanofiber FETs based on the addition of EA exhibit better electrical performance, including a mobility of 2.70 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a threshold voltage of 2.3 V. When the high k ZrAlOx films are applied in FETs as dielectric layers, the SnYO nanofiber FETs exhibit optimized electrical performance with an acceptable mobility of 4.78 cm2 V−1 s−1, a small threshold voltage of 0.72 V and a suitable on/off current ratio of ∼107. This work presents a simple and low cost EA treatment method to improve the electrical performance, which provides a new perspective for commercial products based on electrospun nanofibers.


Populations of embryonic mouse (BALB) fibroblasts undergo 10 ± 2 population doublings prior to the cessation of mitotic activity. The RNA polymerase activity of nuclei isolated from late passage fibroblasts is reduced by 50% compared to early passage cells. A strong inhibition of α-amanitin resistant RNA synthesis accounts for this, the α-amanitin sensitive (RNA polymerase II) activity remaining relatively constant with age. Autoradiography of cells labelled with tritiated uridine reveals a 70% reduction in nucleolar RNA labelling and 30% reduction in nucleoplasmic labelling, in late passage fibroblasts. Taken together, these results suggest a large decline in RNA polymerase I and III activity with increasing passage, but a relatively constant level of RNA polymerase II. An age-related repression of nucleolar activity is also suggested by ultrastructural studies showing a reduced number of nucleoli per nucleus and segregated nucleoli in old cells. Ribosomes are numerous in both young and old fibroblasts, but in the latter they tend to be unattached to membranes. There is a highly active free (unbound) RNA polymerase in young cell nuclei, but this is of much lower activity in late passage cells. As the labelling of the cytoplasm by autoradiography is only relatively slightly reduced (10%) in old cells, a perturbation in the processing, transport and/or half-life of RNA may also accompany the in vitro senescence of mouse fibroblasts. The changes in RNA synthesis found in nuclei isolated from late passage cells also occur in the nuclei of serum restricted, early passage fibroblasts, suggesting that these modifications result from, rather than cause, the repression of cell division in such cultures. These results are discussed in relation to cellular ageing in vivo and the significance of cell division.


Detailed microscale simulation is typically too computationally expensive for the long time simulations necessary to explore macroscale dynamics. Projective integration uses bursts of the microscale simulator, on microscale time steps, and then computes an approximation to the system over a macroscale time step by extrapolation. Projective integration has the potential to be an effective method to compute the long time dynamic behaviour of multiscale systems. However, many multiscale systems are significantly influenced by noise. By a maximum likelihood estimation, we fit a linear stochastic differential equation to short bursts of data. The analytic solution of the linear stochastic differential equation then estimates the solution over a macroscale, projective integration, time step. We explore how the noise affects the projective integration in two different methods. Monte Carlo simulation suggests design parameters offering stability and accuracy for the algorithms. The algorithms developed here may be applied to compute the long time dynamic behaviour of multiscale systems with noise and to exploit parallel computation.

 References Yacine Ait-Sahalia. Maximum likelihood estimation of discretely sampled diffusions: a closed-form approximation approach. Econometrica , 70(1):223--262, 2002. Yacine Ait-Sahalia. Likelihood inference for diffusions: a survey. In Jianqing Fan and Hira L. Koul, editors, Frontiers in Statistics: in Honor of Peter J. Bickel's 65th Birthday , chapter 17, pages 369--405. Imperial College Press, 2006. Yacine Ait-Sahalia and Robert Kimmel. Maximum likelihood estimation of stochastic volatility models. Journal of Financial Economics , 83(2):413--452, 2007. doi:10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.10.006 C. P. Calderon. Local diffusion models for stochastic reacting systems: estimation issues in equation-free numerics. Molecular Simulation , 33(9--10):713--731, August 2007. doi:10.1080/08927020701344740 Radek Erban, Ioannis G. Kevrekidis, and Hans G. Othmer. An equation-free computational approach for extracting population-level behavior from individual-based models of biological dispersal. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena , 215(1):1--24, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.physd.2006.01.008 C. W. Gear, I. G. Kevrekidis, and C. Theodoropoulos. `Coarse' integration/bifurcation analysis via microscopic simulators: micro-Galerkin methods. Computers and Chemical Engrg , 26:941--963, 2002. C. W. Gear and Ioannis G. Kevrekidis. Projective methods for stiff differential equations: Problems with gaps in their eigenvalue spectrum. SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing , 24(4):1091--1106, 2003. doi:10.1137/S1064827501388157 Dror Givon and Ioannis G. Kevrekidis. Coarse-grained projective schemes for certain singularly perturbed stochastic problems. Technical report, Princeton University, 2008. Ioannis G. Kevrekidis and Giovanni Samaey. Equation-free multiscale computation: Algorithms and applications. Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. , 60:321--44, 2009. doi:10.1146/annurev.physchem.59.032607.093610 P. E. Kloeden and E. Platen. Numerical solution of stochastic differential equations , volume 23 of Applications of Mathematics . Springer--Verlag, 1992. C. I. Siettos, M. D. Graham, and I. G. Kevrekidis. Coarse brownian dynamics for nematic liquid crystals: Bifurcation, projective integration, and control via stochastic simulation. J. Chemical Physics , 118(22):10149--10156, 2003. doi:10.1063/1.1572456


We estimate the impact of compulsory schooling on earnings using changes in compulsory schooling laws in West Germany after World War II. Most estimates in the literature indicate returns in the range of 10 to 15. While our research design is very similar to studies for various other countries, we find a zero return. We find no evidence that this is due to labor market institutions or the apprenticeship training system in Germany. The result might be due to the fact that the basic skills most relevant for the labor market are learned earlier in Germany than in other countries.


Purpose:  To find out the outcomes of suprachoroidal Triamcinolone injection in refractory diabetic macular edema.
Study Design:  Quasi experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study:  Al-Ehsan Eye Hospital, Lahore from Jan 2020 to 31st Dec 2020.
Methods:  Sixty-five patients with refractory diabetic macular edema were included. Patients underwent complete ocular history and examination. To document baseline macular edema, SD-OCT was done. The recruited patients received 0.1ml of suprachoroidal Triamcinolone injection (40mg/ml) using a 30 gauge syringe. Follow up was performed at one week, one month and third month after injection. At each follow up, best corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber thickness were documented. Data was analysed using SPSS version 36.0. Comparison of BCVA, central macular thickness and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) before and after injection was analyzed by paired sample t-test with p value of ≤ 0.05 as significant.
Results:  Out of 65 patients, 29 (44.62%) were females. Mean age of patients was 54 ± 8.4 years (range 40 to 80 years). Central macular thickness after suprachoroidal Triamcinolone injection changed from 556.2 ± 10.9 to 313.6 ± 7.2 ųm. Change in visual acuity was 0.9 ± 0.01 to 0.6 ± 0.02. Pre-treatment and post-treatment visual acuities demonstrated a substantial change after undergoing treatment along with decrease in central macular thickness with p value ˂ 0.001.
Conclusion:  Suprachoroidal Triamcinolone injection results in anatomical as well as functional improvement in diabetic patients with refractory macular edema.


In modern governing, a variety of actors in the public domain daily make decisions with consequences for the common good, but how these actors are held accountable to political representatives is not always clear. While representative democracy in most societies still functions as the traditional standard, deficits in democratic control are perceived. There is an exercise of power-without-corresponding-representation. At the same time modern citizens appear hard to engage in politics. Representation-without-corresponding-participation also appears. We address this dual problem, one of accountability and one of legitimacy, in terms of political theory. Various strategies are explored, indicating that some of them contribute to bringing democracy up to date more than others. In particular, it seems fundamental to rethink contemporary democracy by connecting it with the multi-dimensional character of governance. Functional participation by modern citizens can enhance the legitimacy of the exercise of power by making the latter accountable in a multi-local way.


Introduction: Many surface microscopy features of pigmented BCCs have been described. The purpose of this study was to review dermoscopic findings of BCC and to investigate their incidence in different dermatopathological subtypes. Material and Methods: Dermoscopic examination of 130 skin lesions in 113 patients with the preliminary diagnosis of BCC, without knowledge of the dermatopathological diagnosis was performed. For all lesions, macroscopic clinical photographs and documentation of the dermoscopic findings were performed. Routine biopsy procedures were carried out and haematoxylin and eosin stained sections were examined for dermatopathologic diagnosis and evalulation of dermatopathologic subtypes. Results: Preoperative diagnostic accuracy rate of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of BCC was found to be 95.3%. A total of 14 morphological dermoscopic criteria were identified. The most common dermoscopic finding was vascular structures (87.7%) with arborising vessels (78%). Vascular structures and ulceration were observed in all dermatopathological subtypes but except fibrosing BCC. Blue globules, mapple leaf like pattern, blue-gray ovoid nests and blue-grey areas were more commonly seen in pigmented BCC. Comedo like openings without a collision of seborrheic keratosis was observed in 3,2% of the BCCs which was not reported in association with BCC, previously. Conclusions: In our study dermoscopy maintained 95.3% preoperative diagnostic accuracy rate in BCC. In this way dermoscopy hinders unnecessary surgical procedures which might be carried out. Our study indicated that the six morphological findings that had already been reported for pigmented BCC can be seen in other dermatopathologic subtypes as well.


Fishery lights on the surface could be detected by the Day and Night Band (DNB) of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP). The DNB covers the spectral range of 500 to 900 nm and realized a higher sensitivity. The DNB has a difficulty of identification of fishing lights from lunar lights reflected by clouds, which affects observations for the half of the month. Fishery lights and lights of the surface are identified from lunar lights reflected by clouds by a method using the DNB and the infrared band, where the detection limits are defined as a function of the brightness temperature with a difference from the maximum temperature for each level of DNB radiance and with the contrast of DNB radiance against the background radiance. Fishery boats or structures on islands could be detected by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on the polar orbit satellites using the reflected microwave by the surface reflecting targets. The SAR has a difficulty of tradeoff between spatial resolution and coverage while detecting the small targets like fishery boats. A distribution of fishery boats and island activities were detected by the scan-SAR narrow mode of Radarsat-2, which covers 300 km by 300 km with various combinations of polarizations. The fishing boats were detected as a single pixel of highly scattering targets with the scan-SAR narrow mode of which spatial resolution is 30 m. As the look angle dependent scattering signals exhibits the significant differences, the standard deviations of scattered signals for each look angles were taken into account as a threshold to identify the signal from fishing boats and structures on the island from background noise. It was difficult to validate the detected targets by DNB with SAR data because of time lag of observations for 6 hours between midnight by DNB and morning or evening by SAR. The temporal changes of island activities were detected as a change of mean intensity of DNB for circular area for a certain scale of activities. The increase of DNB mean intensity was corresponding to the beginning of dredging and the change of intensity indicated the ending of reclamation and following constructions of facilities. Keywords—Day night band, fishery, SAR, South China Sea.


Abstract The efficient preparation of four C3-symmetric (star-shaped) pyridine and bipyridine derivatives is reported. The key steps are Suzuki couplings of 4-pyridyl nonaflates with 4-acetyl-phenylboronic acid followed by an acid-promoted cyclocondensation reaction converting the methyl ketone moiety into the central benzene ring of the target compounds. Based on STM studies at a graphite–solution interface the two-dimensional arrangements of the compounds are discussed, showing the influence of the pyridine substitution pattern.


PURPOSE
To retrospectively evaluate flow patterns of interlaminar lumbar epidural steroid injections and compare these patterns to needle tip position.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was approved by the institutional review board and complied with HIPAA guidelines. The requirement for informed consent was waived. Fluoroscopic images from 701 consecutive lumbar epidural steroid injections in 485 patients were reviewed. Vertebral level, needle placement, and injectate flow patterns were determined from procedural images. History of previous spinal operations was determined from procedural records. A subset of patients with three or more injections at the same site was also examined. Patterns in the data were evaluated with chi(2) tests and t tests.

RESULTS
Images from 406 lumbar epidural steroid injections, one per patient (214 women, 192 men; mean age, 59.8 years), were used for final analysis. Midline injections were less likely to result in unilateral flow than a more lateral approach (P>.001). Flow within only the posterior epidural space was associated with unilateral flow (P=.001). Patients with previous spinal operations were more likely to have cephalad or caudad flow of less than one vertebral level than patients without a history of spinal operations (P<.001). Flow varied considerably within a series of injections in a single patient.

CONCLUSION
Epidural injectate flow is highly variable, both among patients and between injections in a single patient. Fluoroscopic monitoring and administration of contrast material mixed with medication, allowing visualization of the full extent of medication flow, are essential to ensure adequate coverage of the target area.


Experimental and numerical methods were used to investigate the aerodynamic effects of a near-casing streamwise incoming vortex flow on the tip leakage flow of different tip geometries in an unshrouded high-pressure turbine. A flat tip, a cavity tip, and a suction side winglet tip were investigated with the quasi-steady method first. A swirl generator was used to produce the incoming vortex in a linear cascade. In the flat tip case, the incoming vortex interacts with the tip leakage flow and the two vortices gradually mix together. The tip leakage loss is reduced due to the streamwise momentum supplement within the tip leakage vortex core. For the cavity tip, the tip leakage vortex appears at a location relatively downstream in the blade passage compared with the flat tip and no evident vortex interaction is observed. The incoming vortex causes extra viscous dissipation within the blade passage and increases the aerodynamic loss for the cavity tip. For the winglet tip, the extension of the suction side winglet tends to push the incoming vortex and the tip leakage vortex move and mix together, thus reducing the loss. Then, the effects of periodic unsteady vortex transportations were investigated by conducting unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations. The incoming vortex is stretched as it transports downstream. The unsteady incoming vortex is easier to interact with the tip leakage vortex for the winglet tip. As a result, the winglet tip is the most efficient tip design with unsteady incoming flow among the three tips and achieves a 3.7% reduction of mixed-out loss coefficient compared with the flat tip, larger than 2.8% reduction in the uniform inlet condition. The detailed loss mechanism is discussed in this paper.


Marginalization, a fluid concept, challenges status quo understandings and representations of individuals throughout the world. Considered to reference individuals who have been excluded from the mainstream dialogue, marginalization has developed into a term that evokes an examination of the master narrative, also known as the metanarrative. In a world where the master narrative predominates, individuals are systematically excluded based on a characteristic or characteristics they possess that disrupt a specified system of cultural norms. In relation to the global media, marginalized voices represent groups that have self-contained cultural norms and rules that differ from mainstream norms and rules. While marginalized groups may share some norms, rules, and values with the mainstream culture, they possess differences that can be viewed as transgressive, existing outside the mainstream norms, rules, and values. Media representations of groups that are globally marginalized, and sometimes stigmatized, include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, class, ableism, and religion. A study of these marginalized groups reveals an implied system of privilege that reifies the status quo and supports the master narrative. Media invisibility results from marginalization, and when marginalized groups are represented, often those representations are through a marketable, stereotypical lens. As a result of the dearth of images, and a system of privilege, few studies examine marginalized groups in countries throughout the world. By creating a global dialogue about marginalized voices, images, and self-representations, advocacy for difference and understanding allows these voices, images, and self-representations to become expressive renderings of specific transgressive cultural norms.


2.1 Introduction to Optical Design In general, optical design includes a broad spectrum of topics, including geometrical optics, image formation, aberration theory, lens design, and image quality evaluation. Each topic is worth an entire book. This chapter will discuss only the necessary background on optical design. For more detailed discussions on optical design, please refer to Refs. 1-17. 2.1.1 Paraxial optics This section will discuss the properties of the optical system in the region close to the optical axis called the paraxial region. In a practical system, most of the rays come from outside the paraxial region, but the basic properties of an optical system described in the paraxial region are applicable outside that region as well. The ideal behavior of an optical system in the paraxial region was first developed by Gauss, so it is referred to as "Gaussian optics" in many optical references. Figure 2.1 is a schematic diagram of a simplified optical system showing the first and last surfaces. An optical system typically comprises one or more optical elements. The first-order properties of an optical system can be completely characterized by cardinal points, which are focal points ( F , F ′), principal points ( P , P ′), and nodal points ( N , N ′). When both the object and the image are in air, the nodal points coincide with the principal points. The focal points of a lens system are the points at which an incident ray parallel to the optical axis of the optical system crosses the axis after passing through the system. The front focal point has the magnification of infinity, while the magnification of the rear focal point is zero. Nodal points have the unique property that a line passing through the front nodal point in the object space will emerge from the rear nodal point in the image space having the same angle with respect to the optical axis. The nodal points are thus characterized by unit angular magnification.


Abstract 1727 Introduction: Src family kinases (SFKs), in particular Lyn kinase, play a critical role in mediating GM-CSF and G-CSF response in myeloid leukemic cell proliferation. Lyn kinase is constitutively active in AML blasts and MDS megakaryocyte progenitors, and inhibition of Lyn suppresses leukemic cell growth in vitro (Ozawa Y, et. al. Leuk Res 2008). Given dasatinib9s broad spectrum of kinase inhibition, we hypothesized that dasatinib treatment could limit blast proliferation in patients with high risk MDS. Methods and Materials: This was a single-center, open-label, 2-stage phase II pilot study of dasatinib in patients with Int-2 or High risk MDS according to International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score. All WHO subtypes of MDS, CMML, or MDS/MPD were allowed. Patients with AML with Multilineage Dysplasia (MDS/AML) with 50,000 off hydroxyurea, another malignancy requiring radiation or chemotherapy within the past 3 years, or concurrent therapy for MDS or AML. The primary objectives were to estimate the response rates utilizing international working group criteria (IWG 2006). Secondary objectives were to assess time to progression, median duration of response, and to assess the relationship between response and target phosphorylation of src-Tyr416. All patients received a daily dose of oral dasatinib 100 mg daily. All patients were followed for 16 weeks from the first dose. Dose escalation to 150 mg per day was permitted for patients who did not achieve at least a partial response and who were tolerating treatment. Responding patients continued dasatinib treatment for up to 48 weeks in the absence of treatment failure, disease progression, limiting toxicity, or death. Results: Between March 7, 2008 and July 15, 2009, 18 patients were treated at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Median age was 73.5 years (range 60–84), 10 (55%) were male, median bone marrow blast percentage was 13.5%, and all patients had received prior therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs). By WHO classification, 2 patients (11%) had RAEB-1, 11 (61%) had RAEB-2, 2 had AML (11%), and 3 (17%) had CMML. There were 3 responses (17%), all of which were marrow CRs without hematologic improvement. Four patients (22%) had stable disease and 10 patients (59%) experienced disease progression. One patient stopped treatment after one week due to cholecystitis and elected for hospice. Fifteen of the 18 patients discontinued therapy due to lack of hematologic response or disease progression, 2 due to adverse events, and one patient received an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Eight of the 16 patients (50%) with MDS or CMML progressed to AML with a median time to progression of 4.4 months [95% CI 0.3–8.5 months]. Kaplan-Meier estimate of median overall survival was 7.6 months [95% CI 2.6–12.5 months] (Figure 1), with an estimated 1 year survival of 38%. The 7 patients that achieved at least stable disease had longer survival (28.5 months, 95% CI 0.0–60.9) than the 11 patients with disease progression or failure (4.0 months, 95% CI 1.8–6.3). The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicities were fatigue, infection, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Laboratory studies evaluating src-Tyr416 phosphorylation are currently under review. Conclusions: Dasatinib was found to have limited activity in patient higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes that failed HMAs, but with acceptable toxicity. Further studies should focus on development of predictive markers to guide selection of patients most likely to benefit. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


This dissertation investigates the experiences of prominent, minority intellectuals in American culture. To add nuance to critical accounts of American intellectuals that define that subject as universal and autonomous, this project introduces the race and gender into those discussions while acknowledging to the role the modern university has had in maintaining that position. Rather than argue that the university is no longer conducive to intellectual life, this project suggests that such stances negate the struggles for access to and representation in the academy on behalf of minority intellectuals. Moreover, this project questions the timeliness of such views, as they arise precisely at the moments when minority intellectuals begin to initiate structural change to the American university.This project begins by setting the historical and theoretical foundations for how the intellectual has normally been understood by combining the work of Richard Hofstadter and Russell Jacoby with the theories of intellectualism described by writers like Edward Said and Antonio Gramsci. The introduction then turns to a case study of William Faulkner to argue that his work questions the class and regional biases that underlie intellectualism at an historical moment when the intellectual was undergoing a radical revision.The chapters that follow more thoroughly consider the categories of race and gender in the making of intellectuals and turns to the lives and work of Ralph Ellison, Mary McCarthy, Americo Paredes, and Tomas Rivera. The first chapter argues that Ellison used Invisible Man to work through the crisis of the black intellectual later discussed by theorists like Harold Cruse. The second chapter on Mary McCarthy shows how even non-academic, progressive spheres like the New York intellectual circle rely on a normative conception of intellectualism that performs a hegemonic function counter to the aims of women intellectuals. My closing chapter on Paredes and Rivera theorizes the condition of the Chicano intellectual in light of the development of Chicano studies more broadly by contextualizing the communal, educational efforts of El Movimiento of the 1960s. Read together, these sections illustrate the sociohistorical and theoretical impasses that make minority intellectualism a condition worthy of more critical consideration.


Unique tunneling methods, cost studies, tunnel support innovations, tunneling machines, and soil and rock properties encountered are investigated in these Government-sponsored research reports. Vehicular, water, sewage, and mine tunnels are reviewed. Finite element analysis is used extensively for investigation of soil and rock mechanics. (This updated bibliography contains 327 abstracts, 82 of which are new entries to the previous edition.)


Objectives: The latest statistics of World Health Organization anticipated that cardiovascular diseases including Coronary Heart Disease, Heart attack, vascular disease as the biggest pandemic to the world due to which one-third of the world population would die. With the emerging AI trends, applying an optimal machine learning model to target early detection and accurate prediction of heart disease is indispensable to bring down the mortality rates and to treat the cardiac patients with best clinical decision support. This stems for the motivation of this paper. This paper presents a comprehensive survey on heart disease prediction models derived and validated out of popular heart disease datasets like Cleveland dataset, Z-Alizadeh Sani dataset. Methods: This survey was performed using the articles extricated from the Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Research Gate and PubMed search engines between 2005 to 2020. The main keywords for search were Heart Disease, Prediction, Coronary disease, Healthcare, Heart datasets and Machine Learning.Results: This review explores the shortcomings of various approaches used for the prediction of heart diseases. It outlines pros and cons of different research methodologies along with the validation parameters of each reviewed publication.Conclusion: The machine intelligence can serve as a genuine alternative diagnostic method for prediction, which will in turn keep the patients well aware of their illness state. Despite the researcher's efforts, still uncertainty exist towards standardization of prediction models which demands further exploration of optimal prediction models.


For the propagation of horizontally shear waves (SH-waves) in a functionally gradient piezoelectric material (FGPM) plate, the governing equations are established by the theory of elasticity. The Airy equations and Airy functions are applied to find the solutions of the equations. Numerical results indicate that: compared with those of SH-waves in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric plate, remarkable difference can be observed for the dispersion properties of SH-waves in a FGPM plate. Material coefficients gradient variation patterns do not affect higher modes dispersion properties of SH-waves in a FGPM plate for electrically open case. While for electrically shorted case, dispersion properties of SH-waves higher modes are affected by the material coefficients gradient variation patterns, remarkable influences can be observed for S0 mode. Influences of materials coefficients gradient variation patterns on cutoff-frequencies of SH-waves are also revealed. The results obtained are meaningful for the investigation and characterization of SH-waves in inhomogeneous media.


At the Third Plenum held in November 2013, the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted a comprehensive reform programme containing no less than 300 reform proposals. It is potentially the most important reform document to have been passed by the CPC since the landmark Third Plenum in December 1978. Entitled 'The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Some Important Questions Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform', the programme upgrades the role of the market in the general economic system from 'basic' to 'decisive'. It also stipulates a number of reform measures within finance, banking, tax, real estate, hukou, urbanisation, government administration, family planning, etc., and establishes two new important leading bodies. One is The Central Leading Group on Comprehensively Deepening Reform and the other is the National Security Council. Xi Jinping is named chairman of both of these new powerful institutions. This indicates his increasingly dominant role in Chinese politics. The reform programme aims to create a more open and market-regulated Chinese economy by 2020, although without dismantling the guiding role of the state-owned economy. The article argues that implementation of the new ambitious goals will be met by resistance from entrenched vested interests. In the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector powerful actors and interests will try to preserve the status quo. Some private investment will be allowed in publicly-owned entities in order to create enterprises characterised by mixed ownership. However, in key sectors of the economy SOEs will still enjoy a monopoly and will not be exposed to free market competition.


In Himalaya, the monsoon precipitations exert a primary control on the erosion. From its intensity depends on the extension of the glacier cover, landslide activity, river incision and export of sediments towards the floodplain and oceanic basins. The monsoon also exerts a primary control on the chemical erosion as weathering rates are clearly dependent upon river discharge. In the floodplain, sediment export also is tightly controlled by climate. The seasonality of the monsoon allows to reach high flooding conditions generating efficient river transport to the delta (Lupker et al. 2011). This efficient transport also acts as a limiting factor for weathering as it reduces residence time in the floodplain. The comparison between the Ganga with a large floodplain and the Brahmaputra with a narrow floodplain and comparatively lower residence time confirm that Himalayan weathering is limited by transport. When looking at sedimentary record of erosion in the proximal Bengal fan, weathering as traced by K/Al or OH-/Al however appears lower during the LGM in spite of reduced discharge i.e. slower transport (Lupker et al. 2013). Reduced weathering intensity is, however, consistent with lower precipitation and temperature in the basin. Recent IODP Expedition 354 in the Bengal fan generated a comprehensive record of Himalayan erosion over the Neogene and Quaternary. Turbiditic sediments have clear Himalayan origin and close mineralogical and isotopic analogy with those of the modern Ganga-Brahmaputra river sediments. This long-term record also reveals that the chemical compositions of turbiditic sediments cored across the transect are relatively stable throughout the Neogene and also during Quaternary. Over the last 25 Ma it appears that weathering was weak, and lower than during modern conditions. This long-term record suggests that the Himalayan erosion has been controlled by rapid physical erosion, with transport processes efficient enough to prevent weathering of the sediment load.


This document deals with the experimental modeling of high-explosive warheads. This type of modeling is very common in weapons programs because it is implemented as soon as it is necessary to study the effects of explosive devices. These models are used in lethality and vulnerability codes to assess weapon performance and the vulnerability of combat systems. This publication is about creating a new model which, unlike the classic Z-data model [1] contains the characteristics of each fragment. We will refer about it as the FLE model ("Fichier Liste d'Eclats" in French) and present it through this document, as well as the potential gains related to its use through examples treated with the two types of modeling.


Surfactants are chemical compounds that are ampiphilic in nature because of their dual nature of being both hydrophobic (due to their long hydrocarbon chains) and hydrophilic (due to their polar head groups). Because of their dual nature, they can have partial solubility in both organic and aqueous media. This paper will outline and review the role that surfactants play in environmental chemistry. As well as being good cleaning agents and lubricants, our work has demonstrated that they can act as good catalysts in aqueous media where they have several advantages over conventional solvents in terms of yields and rate enhancement. This is of particular interest since organic reactions generally rely on using toxic solvents and reagents, so a more environmentally friendly technology in chemistry is required to run organic reactions in aqueous media. Our research work has made use of a range of different natural product derivatives as catalysts. We are currently investigating the role of the amino acid phenylalanine since previous work using this backbone as a catalyst has been successfully reported. We will present our preliminary studies where we have used analogues of phenylalanine as catalysts in aqueous media. In addition, we will also outline the role of surfactants in reducing heavy metal toxicity since they can act as good chelating agents. As we are aware, heavy metal exposure in the 21st century is a global health concern. Metals such as mercury, lead and copper have been found to be prevalent in seawater and landfills. Hence new ways are being developed to remove heavy metal toxicity. We will therefore demonstrate the use of our synthetic analogues derived from phenylalanine to investigate their binding effect with a view to synthesise good chelating ligands derived from surfactants which can coordinate and dispose of the metal. The fact that the surfactants are ampiphilic means that this would be an advantage in the removal of toxic metals.


Engineering characteristics of ground motion can be defined by three factors that are respectively amplitude, frequency and duration. Any one of them in isolation are not fully made known for the ground notions affecting on the structure. Response spectrum theory is one of the principal methods in seismic analysis. The maximum response of structure under earthquake input is only varying with period in traditional response spectrum during the whole time duration. The relationship between the maximum response and duration can not be shown in the response spectrum of earthquake. The concept of unsteady response spectrum is based on moveable spectrum in this paper. Based on the conventional response spectrum, the factor of time is taken into account in unsteady response spectrum research. Then the response spectrum can be studied according to time varying. As examples for strong motion records obtained from WenChuan earthquake, two methods are proposed to research the effect of duration on response spectrum. The result of unsteady response spectrum can play an important role in the further study of the structural failure mechanism and cumulative damage under earthquake loadings.


There's evidence that implementing the four medical ethics principles may be challenging especially in low income country contexts with extreme resource scarcity and limited capacity to facilitate deliberations on the different ethical dilemmas. These challenges can partly be explained by the social, economic, and political contexts in which the decisions are made, as well as the limited time, training and guidance to facilitate ethical decision making. Based on current literature, and using the example of bedside rationing; this chapter synthesizes the challenges clinicians face when operationalizing the four principle; identifying the opportunities to address them. We suggest that clinicians' ability to implement the four principles are constrained by meso‐ and macro‐level decision making as well as their lack of training, explicit guidelines, and peer support. To ameliorate this situation, current efforts to strengthen the clinicians' capacity to make ethical decisions should be complimented with developing of context relevant guidelines for ethical clinical decision making. The renewed global commitment to the sustainable development goals and universal healthcare coverage should be recognized as an opportunity to leverage resources and champion the integration of equity and justice as a core value in resource allocation at the bedside, meso‐, macro‐ and global levels.


A statistically based mixture design was used to plan experiments on plasticiser blends
in PVC compounds. This work investigates compatibility, the extrusion characteristics at
different shear rates and the properties of these compounds. Seventeen different plasticisers,
spread over five binary and twelve ternary plasticiser systems, were screened for their
compatibility. Standard methods such as the solid-gel transition temperature and the FloryHuggins
interaction parameter were used. For the binary blends of different plasticiser families,
the interactions correlate with increasing differences of the solid-gel transition temperature of
the monomeric plasticisers used. If the blend contains a polymeric plasticiser, the interaction
decreases with increasing differences in the solid-gel transition temperature. The mechanistic
theory of Doolittle enables the interactions of ternary and higher plasticiser systems by using
PVC in compositions of binary ones to be assessed.
UNIFAC-FV was used to predict the F1ory-Huggins interaction parameter of single
plasticisers and of the ternary plasticiser system DOP-DOA-DOS. For plasticisers under
investigation, the same relative order of compatibility ranking was obtained using either the
solid-gel transition temperature or UNlF AC-FV. The latter was also applied to predict the Gibbs
free energy of mixing for a series of monomeric and polymeric plasticisers. For the various
ternary systems, some physical properties such as heptane extraction showed an excellent
correlation with the solid-gel transition temperature.
For a selection of eight ternary plasticiser systems, the ease of fusion during processing
on a Haake Rheometer was evaluated A clear relationship was found between the kneader data
at the fusion peak and the solid~gel transition temperature, except for the ODPP and C911P
containing systems. These systems showed a good correlation between the kneader data and the
solid-gel transition temperature and shear viscosity of the compound or viscosity of the·
plasticiser.
Finally, the extrusion characteristics of five ternary plasticiser mixtures were determined.
These characteristics were also found to dependent on the solid-gel transition temperature. In
some cases, however, the extrusion characteristics also depended on other variables, such as
shear viscosity and bulk density of the compounds used.


At the Argentina Continental Margin fundamental interactions between bottom currents, sediment deposition and how these processes control biogeochemical reactions and element cycling including iron can be studied. The focus of my thesis was to determine (1) the consequences of depositional environments (lower continental slope vs. contourite terrace) on biogeochemical processes and the (2) preservation and diagenetic cycling of solid Fe phases in the sediments. Additionally it was assessed (3) how sedimentary stable Fe isotope signatures (δ56Fe) are affected during early diagenesis. A sequential extraction protocol was applied to determine four reactive Fe phases including Fe carbonates, easily reducible Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, reducible Fe (oxyhydr)oxides and hardly reducible Fe oxides. Purification for sedimentary δ56Fe signals of Fe carbonates and easily reducible Fe (oxyhydr)oxides followed. The dataset was combined with pore-water data from RV SONNE cruise SO260 and provided stable carbon isotope data. Different extents of the redox zonation and location of the sulfate-methane-transition (SMT) were found. It is suggested that sedimentation rates are low at the lower continental slope with steady state conditions, causing a strong diagenetic overprint of Fe phases unlike the contourite site, where high sedimentation rates are evident and a diagenetic overprint is missing. Fe extraction data indicate that reactive Fe oxides are subject to reductive dissolution at the SMT. Yet significant amounts of reactive Fe oxides are preserved below for deep Fe reduction (potentially through Fe mediated anaerobic oxidation of methane), which is evidenced by dissolved Fe in methanic sediments. The δ56Fe of reactive Fe phases suggest significant microbial fractionation during deep Fe reduction at the lower continental slope, whereas at the contourite site microbial fractionation is not reflected in δ56Fe. It is concluded that the applicability of δ56Fe signatures as tracer of microbial Fe reduction might be dependent on the depositional regime (limited in high sedimentation areas).


Abstract. Geostatistics as a subfield of statistics accounts for the spatial correlations encountered in many applications of e.g. Earth Sciences. Valuable information can be extracted from these correlations, also helping to address the often encountered burden of data scarcity. Despite the value of additional data, the use of geostatistics still falls short of its potential. This problem is often connected to the lack of user-friendly software hampering the use and application of geostatistics. We therefore present GSTools, a Python-based software suite for solving a wide range of geostatistical problems. We chose Python due to its unique balance between usability, flexibility, and efficiency and due to its adoption in the scientific community. GSTools provides methods for generating random fields, it can perform kriging and variogram estimation and much more. We demonstrate its abilities by virtue of a series of example application detailing their use.


Methods and Results The role of neutrophilic inflammation and PAR-1 was investigated in two models of murine pneumococcal pneumonia (serotype 2 (D39) and serotype 19F (EF3030)) by using Neutrophil depletion and chemokine neutralisation studies were also performed. Samples were analysed by immuno-histochemistry, cytology, flow cytometry, ELISA and microbio-logical techniques. Our models were characterised by evidence of intra-alveolar coagulation, increased neutrophil recruitment to areas of bacterial infection and increased PAR-1 expression (demonstrated by quantitative image-analysis). Neutrophil depletion protected mice against barrier disruption but resulted in compromised host defence. In contrast, PAR-1 antagonist treatment significantly reduced neutrophil recruitment to the bronchoalveolar space without being detrimental to host defence. Markers of alveolar leak, coagulation activation and pro-inflam-matory cytokines and chemokines (IL-1 b , CXCL1, CCL2 and CCL7) were also attenuated. Neutralisation studies demonstrated that IL-1 b and CCL7, but not CXCL1 and CCL2, played a key role in neutrophil recruitment to the airspaces in this model. Translational studies were performed to examine by flow cytom-etry the CXC and CC chemokine receptor expression on neutrophils from blood and BALF of mechanically ventilated CAP-induced ARDS patients and controls. CXCR1 and CXCR2 expression on BALF neutrophils was higher in CAP-ARDS patients compared to controls. Additionally, chemokine expression patterns on neutrophils from CAP-ARDS patients changed within different compartments, evidenced by decreased expression of CXCR1 and increased expression of CXCR2, CCR1, CCR2 and CCR3 on neutrophils from BALF compared with These data provide preclinical proof-of-concept that recently developed PAR-1 antagonists may offer a novel therapeutic approach for controlling or preventing alveolar barrier dysfunction and excessive neutrophilic inflammation in pneumococcal pneumonia without compromising host defence. Further-more, they highlight a role for chemokine receptor switching in CAP-ARDS with important implications for future targeting of these chemokine receptors. suppressed efferocytosis of neutrophils. The effects of BALF cor-related with HMGB-1 levels in the BALF fluid.


Awareness of sensory experience in the present moment is central to mindfulness practice. This type of information processing, in contrast to an analytical evaluative style of processing, could be more beneficial for the course of those psychiatric disorders characterized by ruminative and content-centred processing, such as eating disorders (EDs). We performed a pilot study to assess the relation between patients' approach to information processing and the duration and severity of EDs. Fifty-seven patients with a diagnosed ED were included in the study and participated in a self-guided eating activity to asses the primary information processing mode based on mindfulness concepts of 'Direct Experience' and 'Thinking About'. Additionally, dispositional mindfulness was assessed by the Five Factors Mindfulness Questionnaire, and anxiety during the experiment was determined by means of a 10-point visual analogue scale. We found that a higher level of self-reported Direct Experience was inversely associated with several severity variables and with anxiety levels. Direct Experience was predicted by a low anxiety level, less severe illness, and higher scores on one mindfulness facet (Observing). Our results suggest that a Direct Experience processing approach is associated with better ED outcomes. Future studies should be carried out to clarify the repercussion of mindfulness training on EDs.


Background and aims: Medicalization is the process of extending medical gaze on human conditions which is not intrinsically bad phenomenon. Engaging in the medicalization out of defined thresholds or the bad form of medicalization is called over-medicalization. Detriment, dispensable death and waste of numerous resources are the causes of over-medicalization. The aim of this scoping review was to explore influential factors on over medicalization in the world. Methods: We did search in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Ovid, Proquest as reliable databases. Articles that were investigated determinants of over medicalization in different themes were selected. All data entered in data extractions table and Meta synthesis method was used for qualitative research. Factors were grouped according to the musicalized subjects and categorized into three levels (personal, professional and social). Results: Out of 5118 articles identified for the study, over 70 factors were extracted from 30 articles addressing factors affecting over medicalization in various subjects. Among the extracted factors, the social and professional factors were respectively more than personal factors. Conclusion: Over-medicalization originates from a wide range of factors. Identifying potential influential factors in provision of unnecessary care is pivotal to eliminate the menace of this phenomenon. Extra social, political and cultural resources will be needed if the reported factors are to be tackled.


This article reports on forensic letters written by physicians specializing in identifying children who have experienced maltreatment. These writers face an extraordinary exigence in that they must provide an opinion as to whether a child has experienced abuse without specifically diagnosing abuse and thus crossing into a legal domain. Their credibility was also at issue because, in this jurisdiction, child abuse identification was not recognized as a medical subspecialty and because the status of expert witnesses is currently being challenged. Through an analysis of 72 forensic letters combined with interview data from six letter writers and five letter readers, we determined that these writers used linguistic and rhetorical strategies that allowed these letters to function as boundary objects or objects that traverse several communities of practice. The most salient strategy was the use of evaluative lexis—adjectives and adverbs which allowed for a range of interpretations and constrained those interpretations at the same time.


Information systems (IS) ironically has no real, long-standing, philosophical depth or roots in a philosophy of information or of technology, but philosophy itself has largely marginalized these subjects. Therefore this article provides a mutual updating, and argues for an integration of concepts, especially of information with that of knowledge, not least to make information and knowledge developments and applications researchable and discussable on a consistent basis. The article points to the too-unquestioned role of data and information in a digitizing, globalizing age, and illustrates the need for a philosophy and ethic of information, able then to inform engineering ethics and design. In particular, the article argues that with technological developments and their penetration into work systems such as they are, knowledge has become a key, under-researched and under-philosophized concept for the IS field, and that this needs to be rebalanced. Here we suggest an integrative framework, and then argue for the key, at the moment largely misunderstood, role Polanyi's work can have in reconceptualizing and studying knowledge in the IS field.


This review essay discusses Jed Rubenfeld's Revolution by Judiciary: The Structure of American Constitutional Law. Professor Rubenfeld's ambitious book posits that there is a deep structure to American constitutional law - a structure that, once understood, shows more harmony than cacophony in much of constitutional doctrine. Rubenfeld argues that all constitutional text is derived from historic paradigm cases. The text reflects the Framers' understanding of the paradigm case and contains a foundational rule, which is invoked in Application Understandings employed by courts that reflect the irreducible minimum substantive content of the text's constitutional commitment. There may be other contemporaneous understandings as to what the text did or didn't permit or prohibit, but these are mere intentions that do not rise to the level of a commitment, and may form and be sloughed off by courts as the years go by. Rubenfeld calls these No Application Understandings. Courts would do well, he argues, to ground their decisions explicitly in the paradigm cases. Rubenfeld argues that understanding the paradigm-case method can lead to the resolution of many so-called hard cases that plague American constitutional doctrine - everything from Brown v. Board of Education to Takings Clause cases. Recent cases on issues like gay rights and affirmative action would be more defensible, and less controversial, he argues, were the Court to adopt explicitly what he finds implicitly apparent in many of its enduring decisions. The paradigm-case method, which Rubenfeld offers as an alternative to both originalism and non-originalist interpretive methods, is grounded in a complex normative argument summarized in Revolution by Judiciary, but first explained in detail in a his previous work, Freedom and Time. In brief, the paradigm case method is Rubenfeld's attempt to suit commitmentarianism for use by courts in deciding cases. In commitmentarianism, a present-day political community is bound by commitments made in the past, because self-governance is a temporally extended process of making commitments and being bound by them after the committing generation has passed. The obligation to honor those commitments separates the paradigm case method from non-originalist modes of interpretation. But Rubenfeld's method is also different from originalism because it enforces only those special obligations that rise to the level of a constitutional commitment - the intentions of the framers count for nothing, because they cannot have foreseen what the commitments they made might ultimately entail. Thus Application Understandings bind over time, while No-Application Understandings come and go. Ultimately, I find Rubenfeld's admirable attempt unconvincing - not because I find fault with commitmentarianism, but rather because his explanation of the paradigm-case method itself falls short. In too many crucial places, Rubenfeld has left too many questions unanswered. Part I will summarize Rubenfeld's paradigm-case method. In Part II, I also briefly review his theory of commitmentarianism, laid out in detail in his prior work, and describe its connection to the paradigm case method. Part III outlines several objections to his interpretive method. First, he furnishes no criteria for correctly identifying and interpreting historic paradigm cases. Second, the process for constructing Application Understandings from these paradigm cases is obscure, neither instructing how to choose among plausible, contending Application Understandings nor explaining the rule that precedent should play in their construction or application. Finally, Rubenfeld offers little sense how the paradigm-case method operates to aid in the prospective resolution of constitutional cases. A brief conclusion follows in Part IV.


High explosives are useful material to generate great amount of energy in short time. Since controlling their releasing energy is hard, the use of explosive is limited to breaking and crushing the tough structures and processing of bulk materials. However, the reduction of mass of the explosive powders in a process and the arrangement of pellets with constant intervals provide us the safe handling, and then those lead the new utility of the explosion, while there are some difficulties encountered when a small amount of explosive powder is used, such as the initiation regularity of explosives and the protection of mechanical parts from impact damages. In this paper, the successive initiation of small explosive was tested by means of the wire explosion that is generated by the instant release of electric energy from high volt capacitors, and the successful results were obtained under the controlled condition. The damages of surrounding devices were avoided by using of the initiating head of the device that had small chamber isolated from the outer atmospheric environment.


Abstract Previous research on individual differences in the acoustic structure of vocalizations and vocal recognition has largely focused on the contexts of parent-offspring interactions, territory defense, sexual interactions, and group cohesion. In contrast, few studies have examined individual differences in the acoustic structure of mobbing and alarm calls. The purpose of this study was to explore individual differences in the acoustic structure of the inflected alarm caw of the American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). The alarm caws of 15 wild, marked individuals were recorded and 25 acoustic measurements were made automatically using customized software. A stepwise discriminant function analysis showed that 20 of the 25 variables were important in discriminating among individuals, with 65% classification success. We used factor analysis to reduce the large number of variables to a set of seven meaningful call features. All of these features differed among individuals, suggesting that American Crows have the potential to discriminate among individual birds on the basis of call structure alone. Five of the features differed between the sexes, with call frequency being the most significant. One clearly subordinate male clustered with the females, raising the possibility that social status partially determines the sex-based differences. Encoding of individual identity in alarm contexts may be adaptive if receiver vigilance and approach urgency depend on the status, reliability, or family membership of the alarm signaler.


The nucleotide sequences of six strains named T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 of FMDV type O were determined. RNA of the six cell-adapted virus strains were extracted by single-step method of RNA isolation, reverse-transcripted and amplified by PCR, respectively. PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The homology among these T1-T6 strains is 95%~99.8% for nucleotide sequence and 94.8~100% for amino acid sequences. Homology among the T1,T2,T3,T4,T5,T6, O/HKN/14/82、 O/TAW/81/97、O/PHI/7/96、O/HKN/1/99 and O/HKN/16/96 strains are 86.1%~95.8%.The relative degree of variation of VP1 140-160 and 200~213 amino acids, the major neutralizing site determined, were same within the T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 strains, indicating the similarity in epitopes and antigenicity. The nuleotide sequences of six virus strains belong to the same genetype-Cathay topotype.


There is a long-recognized association in plants between small stature and selfing, and large stature and outcrossing. Inbreeding depression is central to several hypotheses for this association, but differences in the evolutionary dynamics of inbreeding depression associated with differences in stature are rarely considered. Here, we propose and test the Phi model of plant mating system evolution, which assumes that the per-generation mutation rate of a plant is a function of the number of mitoses (Phi) that occur from zygote to gamete, and predicts fundamental differences between low-Phi (small-statured) and high-Phi (large-statured) plants in the outcomes of the joint evolution of outcrossing rate and inbreeding depression. Using a large dataset of published population genetic studies of angiosperms and conifers, we compute fitted values of inbreeding depression and deleterious mutation rates for small- and large-statured plants. Consistent with our Phi model, we find that populations of small-statured plants exhibit a range of mating systems, significantly lower mutation rates, and intermediate inbreeding depression, while large-statured plants exhibit very high mutation rates and the maximum inbreeding depression of unity. These results indicate that (i) inbred progeny typically observed in large-statured plant populations are completely lost prior to maturity in nearly all populations; (ii) evolutionary shifts from outcrossing to selfing are generally not possible in large-statured species, rather, large-statured species are more likely to evolve mating systems that avoid selfing such as self-incompatibility and dioecy; (iii) destabilization of the mating system-high selfing rate with high-inbreeding depression-might be a common occurrence in large-statured species; and (iv) large-statured species in fragmented populations might be at higher risk of extinction than previously thought. Our results help to unify and simplify a large and diverse field of research, and serve to emphasize the importance that developmental and genetic constraints play in the evolution of plant mating systems.


: Persistent mild hyperketonemia is a common finding in neonatal rats and human newborns, but the physiological significance of elevated plasma ketone concentrations remains poorly understood. Recent advances in ketone metabolism clearly indicate that these compounds serve as an indispensable source of energy for extrahepatic tissues, especially the brain and lung of developing rats. Another important function of ketone bodies is to provide acetoacetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA for synthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and complex lipids. During the early postnatal period, acetoacetate (AcAc) and beta-hydroxybutyrate are preferred over glucose as substrates for synthesis of phospholipids and sphingolipids in accord with requirements for brain growth and myelination. Thus, during the first 2 wk of postnatal development, when the accumulation of cholesterol and phospholipids accelerates, the proportion of ketone bodies incorporated into these lipids increases. On the other hand, an increased proportion of ketone bodies is utilized for cerebroside synthesis during the period of active myelination. In the lung, AcAc serves better than glucose as a precursor for the synthesis of lung phospholipids. The synthesized lipids, particularly dipalmityl phosphatidylcholine, are incorporated into surfactant, and thus have a potential role in supplying adequate surfactant lipids to maintain lung function during the early days of life. Our studies further demonstrate that ketone bodies and glucose could play complementary roles in the synthesis of lung lipids by providing fatty acid and glycerol moieties of phospholipids, respectively. The preferential selection of AcAc for lipid synthesis in brain, as well as lung, stems in part from the active cytoplasmic pathway for generation of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA from the ketone via the actions of cytoplasmic acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase and thiolase.


In this paper, we study the graph classification problem from the graph homomorphism perspective. We consider the homomorphisms from $F$ to $G$, where $G$ is a graph of interest (e.g. molecules or social networks) and $F$ belongs to some family of graphs (e.g. paths or non-isomorphic trees). We show that graph homomorphism numbers provide a natural invariant (isomorphism invariant and $\mathcal{F}$-invariant) embedding maps which can be used for graph classification. Viewing the expressive power of a graph classifier by the $\mathcal{F}$-indistinguishable concept, we prove the universality property of graph homomorphism vectors in approximating $\mathcal{F}$-invariant functions. In practice, by choosing $\mathcal{F}$ whose elements have bounded tree-width, we show that the homomorphism method is efficient compared with other methods.


Nonlinear vibration of a three-dimensional moving gantry crane carrying a trolley hoisting a swinging object is studied in this paper. A finite element method is used to solve nonlinear coupled governing equations of the structure. A combinational technique (Newmark-Runge-Kutta) is employed for direct integration procedure. To develop a comprehensive parametric study and sensitivity analysis of the coupled nonlinear system, sequence of numerical simulations are carried out. Parametric study is directed to find out how different parameters like speed and acceleration of the trolley and gantry crane as well as the mass of the moving trolley and swinging object may affect the linear and nonlinear responses of the structure. It is found that the nonlinearity arises from large amplitude of three-dimensional motion of the swinging object.


Thirty-two commercial sugar beet cultivars were grown in a commercial sprinkler-irrigated sugar beet field near Nampa, ID. The previous crop was corn. The plots were planted on 27 and 28 Mar 2006 to a density of 142,560 seeds/A, and thinned to 47,520 plants/A on 10 and 11 May. Plots were four rows (22-in. row spacing) wide and 34.5 ft long. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications per cultivar. The crop was managed by the grower according to standard cultural practices. Eight roots per plot were hand dug from an outside row and topped on 12 Oct and placed into nylon mesh onion bags. The roots were then weighed and placed on top of an indoor commercial sugarbeet storage pile in Paul, ID which was set to hold 36°F. The plants in the center two rows were mechanically topped and yield data was collected with a mechanical harvester on 17 Oct. The percent sugar at harvest was established based on two 8-beet samples submitted to the Amalgamated Tare Lab (determined percent sugar, conductivity, nitrates, and tare). On Mar 2007 (144 days since harvest), the roots were retrieved from storage and evaluated for root rot (percentage of root surface area covered with fungal growth or discolored), weight, and percent sugar (via gas chromatography). To establish percent reduction in sugar at harvest versus storage, only samples from the same plot were compared. Data were analyzed using the general linear models procedure (Proc GLM-SAS), and Fisher's protected least significant difference was used for mean comparisons.

The field trial was disease free except for a trace amount of curly top. Yields for this production area in 2006 and the plot area were both above average. Cultivars differed for root yield and estimated recoverable sugar (ERS) at harvest and for surface rot (isolations revealed a diversity of fungi) after being in storage. Cultivars coming out of storage did not differ for weight reduction. Sugar reduction ranged from 16 to 40% and ERS ranged from 13,300 to 8,449 lb/A after storage differences between cultivars could not be proven. With regression analysis, ERS after storage was best explained by surface rot (r2 = 0.32, P < 0.0001) and to lesser extent with weight reduction (r2 = 0.24, P < 0.0001), and nitrates (r2 = 0.1= 0.0001), percent sugar (r2 = 0.05, P = 0.0088), and conductivity (r2 = 0.04, P = 0.0150) in roots at harvest. Given the ranges in ERS after storage, there would appear to be potential for improving storability in cultivars, but better selection criteria must be established. In order to establish better criteria, either more replications should be considered and/or conditions that allow for greater separation based on ERS after storage must be found.


The structural changes seen in the transected spinal cord followed by transplantation of the distal ends (neuroma) of intercostal nerve inserted into the spinal cord proximal and distal to the transection lesion site. This activates CNS axonal regeneration. 2,3,4 These changes refer to the plasticity in the nervous system following damage to the spinal cord. There is regeneration and growth and synapotogenesis and remodeling of synaptic connections, development of reflex activity in the denervated cord. Nerve growth factors and neurotrophic factors sustain and maintain a degree of functional integrity of structural neural circuitry. 2,3,4,13 The end result is standing, stepping, and reflex walking in 28 female mature dogs. 2,3,4,5 Electrical stimulation of the anastomosed intercostal nerves resulted in hind limb movements and recording of the electromyograms of the contracting muscles. Twenty-six control dogs and animals with behavioral depression are unable to follow rehabilitative procedures developed muscle atrophy, ankylosis of joints, decrease in bone density, decrease in reflex activity of the spinal cord distal to the transection. 2,3,4,5


This article reviews the physical and chemical constraints of environments on biofilm formation. We provide a perspective on how materials science and engineering can address fundamental questions and unmet technological challenges in this area of microbiology, such as biofilm prevention. Specifically, we discuss three factors that impact the development and organization of bacterial communities. (1) Physical properties of surfaces regulate cell attachment and physiology and affect early stages of biofilm formation. (2) Chemical properties influence the adhesion of cells to surfaces and their development into biofilms and communities. (3) Chemical communication between cells attenuates growth and influences the organization of communities. Mechanisms of spatial and temporal confinement control the dimensions of communities and the diffusion path length for chemical communication between biofilms, which, in turn, influences biofilm phenotypes. Armed with a detailed understanding of biofilm formation, researchers are applying the tools and techniques of materials science and engineering to revolutionize the study and control of bacterial communities growing at interfaces.


Background The relationship of mean heart rate (MHR) with 30-day mortality in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between MHR within 24 h of admission to the ICU and 30-day mortality among patients with atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data on US adults from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV, version 1.0) database. Patients with ischemic stroke who had atrial fibrillation for and first time in ICU admission were identified from the MIMIC-IV database. We used multivariable Cox regression models, a restricted cubic spline model, and a two-piecewise Cox regression model to show the effect of the MHR within 24 h of ICU admission on 30-day mortality. Results A total of 1403 patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (mean [SD] age, 75.9 [11.4] years; mean [SD] heart rate, 83.8[16.1] bpm; 743 [53.0%] females) were included. A total of 212 (15.1%) patients died within 30 days after ICU admission. When MHR was assessed in tertials according to the 25th and 50th percentiles, the risk of 30-day mortality was higher in participants in group 1 (< 72 bpm; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.79–1.91) and group 3 (≥82 bpm; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.23–2.57) compared with those in group 2 (72–82 bpm). Consistently in the threshold analysis, for every 1-bpm increase in MHR, there was a 2.4% increase in 30-day mortality (adjusted HR, 1.024; 95% CI, 1.01–1.039) in those with MHR above 80 bpm. Based on these results, there was a J-shaped association between MHR and 30-day mortality in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation admitted to the ICU, with an inflection point at 80 bpm of MHR. Conclusion In this retrospective cohort study, MHR within 24 h of admission was associated with 30-day mortality (nonlinear, J-shaped association) in patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation in the ICU, with an inflection point at about 80 bpm and a minimal risk observed at 72 to 81 bpm of MHR. This association was worthy of further investigation. If further confirmed, this association may provide a theoretical basis for formulating the target strategy of heart rate therapy for these patients.


Dyspepsia is a common problem where many sufferers do not seek healthcare. The clinical impact of the condition in the community and the economic costs were assessed using data from a large cross sectional survey. Dyspepsia may be costing society £1 billion each year in the UK. Thus dyspepsia is a huge clinical and economic burden and cost effective management strategies and treatments are urgently required.


Although leisure trips account for the majority of travelled distances in Sweden, little is known about their composition and geographical differentiation. In this thesis, leisure trips are first studied from an environmental point of view, focusing on the relationship between residential location and car-based leisure travel lengths. Secondly, using gender and modernity theory as points of departure, the question is raised to which extent the so-called leisure trips are actually related to recreation and flexibility. Leisure trip patterns of families with children are analysed with the help of time-geographic concepts. Travel diaries and qualitative interviews are used for a study in a medium-sized Swedish city (Gavle), a small town (Ockelbo) and a rural area (Hillevik-Utvalnas), all located in southern Gavleborg county.It is shown that while the rural inhabitants have the longest daily car-based, total as well as leisure, travel distance per person, these differences are levelled out during the week-ends. This is due to long leisure trips by the city residents to e.g. summer cottages. Chauffeuring to children´s organised leisure activities often dominates the household´s time schedule after work. A greater share of the mother´s than of the father´s leisure travel is related to chauffeuring rather than to leisure trips for ones own purpose; in this respect gender differences are least in the rural area. The rural children are engaged in urban-based activities to the same extent as the urban children, which causes the former often to spend less time in their home milieu. Moreover, the degree of adaptation, including work times, to the children´s leisure activities is even larger in the case of rural parents.


A popular view of models among economists and philosophers alike is that all models are false, but some are useful. Models are frequently treated as convenient fictions, idealizations, stories about credible worlds, or "near enough" to the truth. But such a understandings pose serious questions, among them: if models are false, how is it that they are so useful? how can they have any bearing on what is actually the case in the world? how can we evaluate them empirically? How can we develop them for greater precision? for understanding how models related to the world, how they can successfully support scientific investigation? The paper argues that these and related questions reflect a fundamental confusion: models are, in fact, useful only to the degree that they are instruments for stating truth. The confusion arises from a failure to understand how models relate to the world analogically. Analogies are fundamentally incomplete and perspectival, so that the truths that state are necessarily piecemeal But models may nonetheless be apt. A critical distinction is drawn between accuracy and precision in modeling. Modeling is related to Charles Peirce's analytical inference. And the application of analytical inference in economics is illustrated with a historical case-study of Lawrence Klein's early econometric models of the U.S. economy.


Aims It has been proposed that fatigue, a troublesome symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), may be associated with sympathetic dysfunction. The wakefulness promoting drug modafinil, which has sympathomimetic effects, can reduce fatigue in MS. We examined whether MS fatigue is associated with sympathetic impairment and, if so, whether the sympathetic dysfunction is susceptible to modafinil. Methods Three groups of subjects were recruited: 1. MS patients with fatigue (12 females, 5 males), 2. MS patients with no fatigue (5 females, 4 males), 3. healthy controls (5 females, 4 males). The subjects participated in two double-blind sessions (modafinil 200 mg, placebo). Tests included pupil diameter, blood pressure, heart rate, blood pressure response to isometric handgrip. Data were analysed with ANOVA; criterion p<0.05. Results Baseline autonomic functions did not differ between the groups prior to treatment. However, an evoked sympathetic response (increase in diastolic blood pressure to isometric handgrip) indicated a deficit for Group 1: the frequency of a normal response, defined as an increase ¡Ý 16 mm Hg, in Group 1 (34%) was lower than that in Group 2 (67%; p<0.05) or Group 3 (59%; 0.05<p<0.1) (÷2 test). Modafinil increased blood pressure, heart rate and pupil diameter in all three groups, consistent with its sympathomimetic effects. Conclusions MS patients with fatigue showed reduced sympathetic activation. Interestingly, MS patients with fatigue also show a reduced level of alertness, consistent with a close association between arousal and sympathetic activity.


INTRODUCTION
The article describes the process of converting a large multi-specialized hospital into one dedicated to COVID-19 patients, and present established standards of work organization in all the wards and training system of the medical and supporting staff. The several weeks pandemic of the COVID-19 disease has forced the healthcare systems of numerous countries to adjust their resources to the care of the growing number of COVID-19 patients. Managers were presented with the challenge of protecting the healthcare workers from transmission of the disease within medical institutions, and issues concerning the physical and psychological depletion of personnel.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Based on analyses of the structure and work processes in Central Clinical Hospital (CCH) reconstructive strategic plan was developed. It included: division of existing wards into observation and isolation wards; installing locks; weekly plan for supplying personal protection equipment (PPE); designating new access to the hospital and communication routes; training of medical and supporting staff. The plan was implemented from the first days of conversion of the hospital.

RESULTS
The wards of the CCH were converted for observation and isolation, and each one was fitted with sanitary locks. There was a big improvement in the supply of PPE for the medical staff. Separation of the 'dirty' and 'clean' parts of the CCH were attained, and widespread intensive training not only protected personnel against infections, but also diminished unrest which was discernable at the beginning of conversion.

CONCLUSIONS
The transformation efforts will ultimately be appraised at the end of the epidemic, but the data looks encouraging. Two weeks after conversion, the testing of hospital Staff was started and by the end of April, 459 tests were had been conducted, of which only 11 were positive.

https://www.aaem.pl/pdf-123801-52219?filename=Transformation of a large.pdf


The survival of chromium-labeled group A erythrocytes was measured in a patient who had previously received two bone marrow transplants for reconstitution of lymphopenic hypogammaglobulinemia. The patient was of blood group A before transplantation; the donor of blood group O. The patient's erythrocytes are now virtually 100% group O. Anti-B titers are present; anti-A antibodies are not demonstrable. The cells producing these isohemagglutinins are of donor origin; the donor has anti-A titers of 1:64 in saline and 1:256 by antihuman globulin test as well as anti-B titers. No evidence of immunological destruction of group A erythrocytes was found in this patient suggesting that the immune system of the donor may have become tolerant of the group A substance of the recipient.


Introduction This chapter presents an overview of immune mediated hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) due to ABO, Rh(D) and other red cell alloantibodies. Section I reviews the pathophysiology of immune mediated HDFN. Section II describes HDFN due to different antigen incompatibilities (ABO, Rh, and other antigens). Section III focuses on the management of the non-sensitized Rh(D) negative female, the alloimmunized mother, the fetus, and the neonate. Section I: Pathophysiology of hemolytic disease of the fetus and neonate (HDFN) The cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and neonate (HDFN) is immune mediated destruction of fetal and/or newborn erythrocytes by maternal antibodies directed against fetal erythrocyte antigens inherited from the father. HDFN occurs as the result of five distinct events: (1) Fetal inheritance of a paternal erythrocyte antigen The gene for red cell antigen is inherited from the father. If the father is homozygous for the gene that the mother lacks, 100% of his offspring carry that gene and will be at the greatest risk for HDFN. The offspring of a heterozygous father will have 50% chance of carrying that gene and therefore will be at a lesser risk. Passage of fetal erythrocytes into the maternal circulation exposes the pregnant female to the "foreign" paternal erythrocyte antigen Any clinical situation that introduces the possibility of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) may introduce fetal RBCs into maternal circulation and, thus, the possibility of maternal alloimmunization.


The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is a likely cause in climate change. The largest amounts of these gases are released from the burning of fossil fuels, by deforestation and certain methods of farming. Climate change will most likely change conditions on Earth. The developing countries will probably suffer the most from the upcoming changes and will simultaneously have the smallest means to influence their situation. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is one of three flexibility mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol. CDM enables developed countries to implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. These projects shall increase transfer of technology and capital and contribute to sustainable development in developing countries. In return, the developed countries receive Certified Emission Reductions (CER), which can be used to meet their own emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Today most of the CDM projects are carried out in Asia and South America, only two percent of the approved projects are preformed in sub-Sahara Africa. The approved CDM projects are carried out in a restricted number of areas and only one Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) CDM projects have been implemented today. Therefore, the focus of this master thesis is on the potential for carrying out a LULUCF CDM project in an African country. Tanzania has been chosen since it is a country which Sweden has strong connections with. The purpose of the master thesis is to examine the potential for carrying out LULUCF CDM projects in Tanzania and the following three research questions are used. 1) Will it be economically feasible to carry out LULUCF CDM projects in Tanzania? 2) Are the institutional requirements for LULUCF CDM projects fulfilled in Tanzania? 3) Will LULUCF CDM projects contribute to sustainable development in Tanzania? To understand the economic feasibility of this type of CDM project a case study was made at Swedish Cooperative Centre and Vi Agroforestry Programme in Mwanza. The organization has had an agroforestry project in the region since 1994 and is today planning to develop a CDM project. During the case study data was collected and used for calculations for 12 different cases. The capacity for CDM and CDM projects contribution to sustainable development was investigated through interviews in Dar Es Salaam.

The result from the case study shows that only 50 percent of the cases are profitable and only five cases out of 12 needs a reasonable number of households to break even. Therefore, it can be slightly difficult to make this LULUCF CDM project profitable. The price of CERs, have the largest positive impact on the profitability which tells us that the CER price is the most important factor for this project to carry itself. The results from the interviews show that there is a lack of knowledge and awareness about the mechanism within the country in general and especially the LULUCF CDM projects. There is a great requirement of resources like skilled workforce, education etc. The administration of these projects is bureaucratic and, therefore, costly. The interviewees agree that CDM projects most likely contribute to sustainable development in Tanzania. In which extent it contributes to sustainable development the interviewees agree that it depends on which type of CDM project that is developed. The interviewees say that they believe that LULUCF CDM projects contributes more than other projects since it reach out to the grassroots level and in general LULUCF projects is in cooperation with the local people. The conclusion is that it is possible to carry out LULUCF CDM projects in Tanzania. However, the institutional structure needs to be more developed in order to handle CDM projects more effectively. If the awareness, knowledge and the institutional structure were improved, the financial issue would not cause a barrier. It is difficult to make LULUCF CDM projects economically feasible but this type of project will most likely contribute to sustainable development.


In this paper, we present a physics-based analytical model for nanoscale MOSFETs that allows us to seamlessly cover the whole range of regimes from drift-diffusion (DD) to ballistic (B) transport, taking into account quantum confinement in the channel. In Part I we focus on MOSFETs with ultrathin bodies, in which quantum confinement is structural rather than field-induced, and investigate in detail an analytical description of the transition from drift-diffusion to B transport based on the Bu/spl uml/ttiker approach to dissipative transport. We first start from the derivation of a closed form analytical expression of the Natori model for B MOSFETs, and show that a MOSFET with finite scattering length can be described as a suitable chain of B MOSFETs. Then, we are able to compact the behavior of the B chain in a simple analytical model. In the derivation, we also find a similarity between the B limit in the chain and the saturation velocity effect, that leads us to propose an alternative implementation of the saturation velocity effect in compact models.


This paper analyses the determinants and correlates of different forms of migration, including circular, temporary and permanent. Using Moldovan data we show that age, education, number of children in a household and social as well as economic development in the region of origin play a crucial role in the decision to migrate permanently or on temporary/circular basis. We believe that understanding who moves and whether temporarily or circularly will help formulate more effective migration policies both in the sending and receiving countries.


Two types of human immunodeficiency viruses are known. Both type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) can lead to AIDS. This article describes laboratory tests that are used for diagnosis of HIV infection and for monitoring disease progression or the effects of therapy. These tests are based on detection of host antibodies, viral antigens, viral nucleotide sequences, or cultivation of the virus in vitro. The principles underlying test methods for differentiation between HIV-1 and HIV-2 are described.


AbstractThe forging behaviour of hot isostatically pressed nickel-base superalloy composites reinforced with 40% tungsten wire has been examined. Specimens were deformed by isothermal compression at temperatures from 1050 to 1180°C and at constant true strain rates of between 10−5 and 10−1 s−1. The loading direction was normal to the direction of fibre alignment. Peak flow stresses for the composites were up to four times higher than those for the non-reinforced matrix under similar working conditions. These differences are explained in terms of variations in microstructure and differences in directionality of flow in the two types of material. A forming limit of a geometric nature is described whereby damage is induced beyond a critical strain which depends on the volume fraction of fibres and their stacking arrangement. Damage in the form of voids and cavities was introduced at strains well below this critical strain. This damage occurred as a result of stresses at the tensile poles of the fibres normal...


Background Pareto's principle (PP) assumes that in any group of factors that contribute to create an effect, only a few of them (20%) are responsible for the majority (80%) of effect (key factors). Purpose This work aims to identify the essential factors (drugs) for the effect: the National Health System (SSN) saves money when the hospital distributes drugs to the patient on hospital discharge (first cycle). We want to verify compliance with the PP. Material and methods When patients are discharged, hospital specialists give a prescription to the patients. From January 2012 to December 2013, a retrospective analysis of dispensed drugs was performed. Data were processed evaluating the prescriptions. The difference in price between hospital and affiliated pharmacies was calculated. Pareto's analysis was carried out to identify essential drugs (factors). If the statistical distribution follows PP, some drugs have a higher impact on savings (group A) compared with the other two identified groups (B and C) which progressively have a lower impact. Results From January 2012 to December 2013, 80% of total savings was generated by 20% of those drugs (group A) defined as 'essential'. In 2012, 14.22% of drugs (35/246) produced a savings of 79.93% (€48 558 to 60 749 total). Groups B and C (80% of drugs) accounted for 20% of the total savings. In 2013, 16% of the drugs (31/192) produced 79.51% of the savings. The biggest savings observed were: LMWH (nadroparin calcic, €6651, enoxaparin sodium €3674), tiotropium bromide (€6300) and salmeterol+fluticasone 50/500 (€4550). The total amount saved in 2012–2013 was €85 927. Conclusion PP was verified through the definition of one group of essential molecules and secondary groups. The application of PP proved an ideal method for the evaluation of the data, as it allowed presentation of them with great effectiveness by facilitating communication and decision making. First cycle drugs dispensation results in great economic advantages. Using PP, we identified essential drugs, focusing on where to intervene to optimise the SSN's economic savings. Using the first cycle of therapy together with PP, we can find new indicators for expenditure control, therapeutic appropriateness and consumption trends. No conflict of interest.


SUMMARY The incidence of gastrointestinal diseases was studied in a community-based study in four regions of The Netherlands. Two grades of severity were distinguished − 1: diarrhoea or vomiting and at least 2 additional symptoms within the period of 1 week, and 2: diarrhoea or vomiting and at least 2 additional symptoms occurring on the same day lasting at least 2 days within the period of 1 week. The incidence of gastrointestinal episodes was calculated to be 630 for grade 1 and 180 for grade 2 disease per 1000 person-years, after correction for age and sex. The incidence was higher for women than for men (relative risk 1·25) and lower for those in the 19–64-year-old age group when compared to those younger or older (relative risk 0·75 and 0·40. respectively). Independent of the degree of severity of the symptoms, about 20% of the patients had consulted a general practitioner, about half in person and half by telephone. It is concluded that community studies are essential to assess the real incidence of gastrointestinal diseases in the population.


Developments in radiation therapy planning have improved the information about the three-dimensional dose distribution in the patient. Isodose graphs, dose volume histograms and most recently radiobiological models can be used to evaluate the dose distribution delivered to the irradiated organs and volumes of interest. The concept of a biologically effective uniform dose (D) assumes that any two dose distributions are equivalent if they cause the same probability for tumour control or normal tissue complication. In the present paper the D concept both for tumours and normal tissues is presented, making use of the fact that probabilities averaged over both dose distribution and organ radiosensitivity are more relevant to the clinical outcome than the expected number of surviving clonogens or functional subunits. D can be calculated in complex target volumes or organs at risk either from the 3D dose matrix or from the corresponding dose volume histograms of the dose plan. The value of the D concept is demonstrated by applying it to two treatment plans of a cervix cancer. Comparison is made of the D concept with the effective dose (Deff ) and equivalent uniform dose (EUD) that have been suggested in the past. The value of the concept for complex targets and fractionation schedules is also pointed out.


Hardware accelerators are a promising solution to the stringent computational requirements of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). Ranging from low-power IP cores to server class systems, various accelerator architectures with high TOPS/W peak processing efficiencies and flexibility to execute different DNN topologies have been proposed. Prior efforts improve core utilization through better data-flows and computation sequencing, but little effort has thus far been devoted to systematically programming DNN accelerators to extract best possible system utilization, particularly for DNN training, which can be parallelized across peta-scale systems. In this work, we address the hitherto open challenge of systematically mapping computations onto Peta-scale accelerator systems, comprising many (thousands of) processing cores spanning many chips, while maximizing overall system performance. We achieve this by characterizing the design space of possible mapping configurations, building a detailed performance model that incorporates every computation and data-transfer involved in DNN training, and using a design space exploration tool called DEEPSPATIALMATRIX to identify the performance optimal configuration. We highlight 4 key optimizations built within DEEPSPATIALMATRIX - hybrid data-model parallelism, inter-layer memory reuse, time-step pipelining, and dynamic spatial minibatching - each of which improve system utilization by carefully managing the available memory capacity and interconnect bandwidth to balance the compute vs. communication costs. On a 8-peta-FLOP accelerator system, we demonstrate 1.36×-32× improvement in training performance through our design space exploration and optimizations across image recognition (VGG16, ResNet50) and machine translation (GNMT) DNN models.


This paper aims to tell the story of Leslieville, a small neighbourhood in Toronto's east end, from its early settlement in the 1850s to the present. Looking back at the area's progression from farming village, to working-class industrial centre, to gentrifying creative hub, provides the historical context for a further consideration of the current challenges and conflicts that are impacting the community today. In 2008 a land dispute over a proposed big-box style retail development divided the community and instigated a yearlong battle at the Ontario Municipal Board between Toronto city council and private developers. In tracing the historical growth of Leslieville and analyzing the current development issues, this study examines how urban development and cultural policy have influenced the transformation of this unique Toronto neighbourhood. An application of the theoretical literature on gentrification and photographs are provided in order to supplement the analysis. By identifying Leslieville as a neighbourhood in transition and examining it as a case study in the process and impact of gentrification and neighbourhood change this research contributes to a further understanding of the nature of urban space and how it should be developed to serve the interests of Toronto's diverse population.


The advent and extensive use of computer and increasing development of different technologies it is important to increase the awareness of issues related to the electronic text or text presentation on computer screen. The usage of web shows the importance of usability and readability of the web applications or sources provide by the web and web textual contents. Web application fails to encounter the user's requirements in effective manner specially related to textual information, because the designers are unaware from some of the important factors effecting readability, reading from the screen. In this regard, this study is the continuation of the previous work that has been done for the improvement of readability, to handle the readability issues on the basis of Eye Blink for male participants and female participants. To achieve general recommendations for suitable or optimum length of text line for all type of users on the bases of eye blink. Basically during reading from the computer screen focus losses at two positions, when eye blink in the middle of text line and when text line ends. The study specifies suitable length of text line on the basis of Eye Blink, assuming three typographical variables i.e. font style, font color, font size, and with white background, which improve the overall readability or reading from computer screen. The study also shows two important things the degree of understandability and the degree of attractive appearance of different combination.