Abstract The quality of latex solution harvested from a para rubber tree is determined by the amount of dry rubber content (DRC). In this work, we propose the use of an ultrasonic pulse for quantifying the DRC in latex solution. Fresh latex solutions are acquired locally from different regions in the south of Thailand. The DRC of the solutions is evaluated for calibration purposes by the standard technique as recommended in ISO126:2005. Along with the calibration experiment, the ultrasonic pulse experiment is performed on the same set of the solutions in cylindrical tubes of different lengths. The ultrasonic pulse transverse longitudinally through the tubes which are fully contained with the latex solutions. Ultrasonic speeds and spatial attenuations for different dry rubber contents can then be obtained. Our results reveal that the ultrasonic speed and spatial attenuation are linearly proportional to the amount of dry rubber content in latex solution. Using the empirical relationship between the spatial attenuation and the DRC, we can predict the DRC with the accuracy comparable to that of the microwave-drying technique. Given the size of the tube, our setup is relatively small and can be portable


Nanoindentation measurements on TiAlN, CrN, a-C:H:Me, and TiN, deposited on steel substrates have been performed. It was found that the resulting surface roughness/morphology after deposition significantly affects the measurements of nanomechanical properties, while measurements of these properties on the surface may be significantly different than the bulk portion of the coating, exhibiting a lower nanohardness due to the existence of a surface contamination layer. A simple method is proposed for accurately measuring the nanomechanical properties of coatings alleviating the need for excessive statistical analysis and the issues that arise from surface topography and the presence of surface and contamination layers on thin films.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


The aim of this research was to evaluate the somatic embryo of meristem culture of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) through morphological analysis. This research used descriptivee method. Friable embryogenic callus, obtained from meristem culture, was cultured on proliferation medium. Cultured tissue fragments containing several globular embryoids were observed by microscopy to follow development of ginger embryoids. Based at morphology analysis, at first week it grew into somatic embryo. Somatic embryo that rise from embriogenic cells were another contact via a route specific. The somatic embryo formed was consist of an apical region, a basal region and a suspensor region. On the fourth week, however, the morphology of somatic embryo was founded on the shape of globular. It's consist of an apical region and a basal region.


These posters were created to raise awareness about censorship by looking at books that have historically been banned in Boston.


One of the major challenges at the moment is the improvement of the present street lighting system. These systems are considered outdated due the lack of communication capabilities, not allowing system feedback. This work aims to add communication capabilities to the systems already in use, through the integration of an IEEE 802.15.4 compatible transceiver to the photoelectric relay used to turn the HPS lamps on/off. This change will turn each device into a node of a large wireless network across the city.


: Most encephaloceles are seen in children shortly after birth. An unusual case is reported in which a Nigerian male with an occipital encephalocele was first seen with this malformation at the age of 43 years. The significance of the operative findings is also discussed.


Six subjects exercised on the bicycle ergometer on three separate occasions. Each of the three tests that each subject performed consisted of a 5-min work period [95% maximal O2 uptake (VO2max)], followed by a 4-min rest period, and then a performance task to exhaustion (90% VO2max). Each test varied only in the inspired O2 fraction (FIO2) (16, 21, or 60% O2 in N2) that was breathed during the initial 5-min work period. The remainder of each test was carried out with 21% O2. Total power output was the same for each subject during the initial 5-min work bout. However, the varied FIO2 breathed during this initial work period resulted in significantly different mean blood lactate (and H+) concentrations at the start of the performance task (P less than 0.05). Mean performance time was significantly greater (P = 0.04) after the hyperoxic treatment (14.8 min) when compared with the hypoxic (9.1 min). Mean blood lactate and H+ levels at exhaustion were not significantly different. These data demonstrate that when various blood (or muscle) lactate and H+ levels were induced on different occasions by leg muscles, the subsequent performance of those muscles was significantly affected.


In 2000 the Department of Mental Health of the World Health Organization (WHO) published a guide named Preventing Suicide. A Resource for Prison Officers as part of the WHO worldwide initiative for the prevention of suicide. In 2007 there are new epidemiological data on prison suicide, a more detailed discussion of risk factors accounting for the generally higher rate of suicide in correctional settings in comparison to the general population, and several strategies for developing screening instruments. As a first step, this paper presents an update of the WHO guide by the Task Force on Suicide in Prisons, created by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. A second paper, by the same Task Force, will present some international comparisons of suicide prevention services in correctional facilities.


A new logging-while-drilling (LWD) acoustic tool has been developed with novel ultrasonic pitch-catch and pulse-echo technologies. The tool enables both high-resolution slowness and reflectivity images, which cannot be addressed with conventional acoustic logging. Measuring formation elastic-wave properties in complex, finely layered formations is routinely attempted with sonic tools that measure slowness over a receiver array with a length of 2 ft or more depending upon the tool design. These apertures lead to processing results with similar vertical resolutions, obscuring the true slowness of any layering occurring at a finer scale. If any of these layers present significantly different elastic-wave properties than the surrounding rock, then they can play a major role in both wellbore stability and hydraulic fracturing but can be absent from geomechanical models built on routine sonic measurements. Conventional sonic tools operate in the 0.1- to 20-kHz frequency range and can deliver slowness information with approximately 1 ft or more depth of investigation. This is sufficient to investigate the far-field slowness values but makes it very challenging to evaluate the near-wellbore region where tectonic stress redistribution causes pronounced azimuthal slowness variation. This stress-induced slowness variation is important because it is also a key driver of wellbore geomechanics. Moreover, in the presence of highly laminated formations, there can be a significant azimuthal variation of slowness due to layering that is often beyond the resolution of conventional sonic tools due to their operating frequency. Finally, in horizontal wells, multiple layer slownesses are being measured simultaneously because of the depth of investigation of conventional sonic tools. This can cause significant interpretational challenges. To address these challenges, an entirely new design approach was needed. The novel pitch-catch technology operates over a wide frequency range centered at 250 kHz and contains an array of receivers having a 2-in. receiver aperture. The use of dual ultrasonic technology allows the measurement of high-resolution slowness data azimuthally as well as reflectivity and caliper images. The new LWD tool was run in both vertical and horizontal wells and directly compared with both wireline sonic and imaging tools. The inch-scale slownesses obtained show characteristic features that clearly correlate to the formation lithology and structure indicated by the images. These features are completely absent from the conventional sonic data due to its comparatively lower vertical resolution. Slowness images from the tool reflect the formation elastic-wave properties at a fine scale and show dips and lithological variations that are complementary to the data from the pulse-echo images. The physics of the measurement are discussed, along with its ability to measure near-wellbore slowness, elastic-wave properties, and stress variations. Additionally, the effect of the stress-induced, near-wellbore features seen in the slowness images and the pulse-echo images is discussed with the wireline dipole shear anisotropy processing.


Development of transgenic triticale as a platform for novel bio-industrial products is predicated on an environmental biosafety assessment that quantifies the potential risks associated with its release. Pollen-mediated gene flow to related species and conventional triticale varieties is one pathway for transgene movement. A tier 1 quantification of triticale hybridization was conducted by emasculating and hand pollinating flowers under greenhouse conditions. Approximately 2000 manual pollinations were conducted for each cross and its reciprocal between two triticale genotypes: a modern triticale cultivar (AC Alta) and primary triticale (89TT108), and common wheat, durum wheat and rye. The frequency of outcrossing, hybrid seed appearance and weight, and F1 emergence and fertility were recorded. Outcrossing, F1 emergence and fertility rates were high from crosses between triticale genotypes. Outcrossing in inter-specific crosses was influenced by the species, and the genotype and gender of the triticale parent. In crosses to common and durum wheat where triticale was the male parent, outcrossing was >73.0% and >69.5%, respectively, but <23.9% and <3.0% when triticale was the female parent. Overall, outcrossing with rye was lower than with common and durum wheat. F1 hybrid emergence was greater when triticale was the female parent. With the exception of a single seed, all wheat-triticale F1 hybrid seeds were non-viable when triticale was the male parent in the cross. Only 7 durum wheattriticale F1 hybrids emerged from 163 seeds sown and all were produced with triticale 89TT108 as female parent. With rye, 8 F1 hybrids emerged from 38 seeds sown and all were produced from crosses to AC Alta; 5 with AC Alta as the female parent and 3 as the male. Interspecific F1 hybrids were self-sterile, with the exception of those produced in crosses between common wheat and triticale where triticale was the female parent. Tier 2 hybridization quantification will be conducted under field conditions.


Formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) nanocrystals (NCs) demonstrate great potential in light‐emitting diode (LED) applications due to their pure green emission and excellent stability. However, the abundant defects at the surface of the NCs act as charge trapping centers and significantly increase the trap‐assisted nonradiative recombination channels, hampering the performance improvement of LEDs based on FAPbBr3 NCs. Herein, a facile self‐passivation strategy of the surface defects is developed by introducing excess formamidinium bromide (FABr) during the colloidal synthesis of NCs, leading to much improved photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the obtained NCs. In addition, enhanced charge transport property is measured in the assembled films owing to the simultaneously declined insulating ligands at the surface of NCs. The molar ratio of FABr and PbBr2 is rationally optimized during the synthesis of NCs and high‐efficient green‐emissive LEDs are fabricated with a champion current efficiency of 76.8 cd A−1, corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 17.1%, which is among the best‐performing green LEDs based on perovskite NCs so far.


The circuit breakers immediately interrupt the electrical current flowing in a high voltage transmission line when a fault occurs. To achieve this, they must have the ability of extinguishing arcs that occur during closing and opening the contacts within a very short time. RMU is also defined as the device that performs voltage and current measurements of the power grid in order to detect failures, and also provides information to isolate them and control by disconnecting the other part of the grid. In this paper, the design and manufacturing steps of external type 17.5 kV 630A 50/60 Hz SF6 gas isolated, arc splitted, self-powered RMU is studied. For this purpose, first of all the arc quenching and arc quenching methods are explained. Then, the design methodology is given in detail. Finally, the verification tests and modifications applied after these tests are specified. After the process, the new RMU combined with breaker/load break switch (LBS) is designed successfully for switching actions of smart grid systems.


Fruit and vegetable marketing organization The Greenery has experienced various governance structure changes, like horizontal merger, forward integration, and the emergence of grower associations. A multilateral incomplete contracting model is presented to account for these changes by analysing the interactions between pooling, access, and countervailing power. This model does not only explain the changes at The Greenery, but it contributes also to the design of efficient channel governance.


Regular hexagon is a kind of common geometric figure. This paper proposes a vision detection method based on geometric characteristics to detect regular hexagon. First, line segments are detected in the image by hough transform. The line equations are constructed according to the detected line segments in the image space. Second, the line equations are utilized to compute the intersection points of adjacent two lines. The lengths of every side of regular hexagon are gotten by computing the distances between adjacent two intersection points. The angles between adjacent lines are calculated. Then the circle detection method based hough transform is employed to inspect whether all intersection points locate at the same circumference. Finally, the detection experiment of hexagon bolt is constructed to illustrate the performance of the presented method. The measurement errors of angles between adjacent two sides and lengths of sides of regular hexagon are 0.38% and 0.85% respectively. The result shows that the presented method is effective and can precisely detect regular hexagon in the image.


We investigate the effects of the single-particle potential insertions in the effective interaction by comparing energy spectra obtained from different treatments of these insertions as a function of the size of the no-core model space. The Brueckner reaction matrix used in the first calculation includes the single-particle insertions in ladder diagrams to all orders, while the Brueckner reaction matrix used in the second calculation only keeps the single-particle potential term in the lowest-order ladder diagram. The two calculations yield almost identical ground-state energies and low-lying excitation spectra for $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ for large enough no-core model spaces, indicating that the effects of the single-particle potential insertions in second- and higher-order ladder diagrams are small. We explain the reason for the diminishing role of these insertions with increasing size of the model space. We also show that, through a standard method of instilling a single center-of-mass wave function into all low-lying states, the spurious center-of-mass kinetic-energy term shifts the energies of all the low-lying states by nearly a constant and, therefore, has little effect on the excitation spectrum.


Being an extremely vigorous process involving a continuous intense bubble activity, repetitive pool boiling study is essential for many industrial applications. In this work, we have utilized highly thermally conductive and highly wettable graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) to form GNP-Copper based composite coatings for enhancing the pool boiling heat transfer performance. A multi-step electrodeposition technique was implemented to develop robust coatings on the copper substrates. Repetitive pool boiling studies were conducted on the 2% GNP-Cu coating which achieved the highest CHF of 286 W/cm2 and HTC of 204 kW/m2-°C. After investigating the effect of repetitive boiling on deposited GNP layers and morphology, it was found that GNP were reduced to form r-GNP (reduced GNP) and small increment in pore sizes was observed. Additionally, with repetitive boiling, it was observed that the heat transfer coefficient was continuously increased and compared to pristine copper surface 2% GNP-Cu coating yielded ∼456% increment in HTC at the end of third repetitive test.


ABSTRACT International research reveals underrepresentation and problems of retention, amongst care leavers in higher education, are universal. Drawing upon qualitative research in England, we highlight legacy as an under-explored and double-edged feature of care leavers' motivations to enter and persist in university study. While restricting access to the propulsive power of material resources, in the context of a widening participation policy mandate, our interviewees' care experiences also shaped an 'orientation framework' providing a strong desire to 'prove people wrong' through study. Supporting this orientation were examples of significant other relations; but interviewees' linked lives also meant the past could resurface in the present, resulting in strong emotional reactions. These could threaten orientation to university study by undermining self-reliance and fragile mental health. As the problem of care leavers' retention occurs across different higher education systems with varied structural and cultural specifics, it appears to transcend such issues. We conclude further study of the nuanced issue of legacy may help better elucidate the problem of retention and we advocate for 'corporate parenting' moving beyond an objective list approach to well-being.


An amperometric biosensor for adenosine 5 -triphosphate (ATP) was developed applying a competitive assay of two glucose converting enzymes: glucose oxidase (GOD) and hexokinase (HEX). Competition between GOD and HEX for glucose in presence of ATP, lead to a decrease in the current coming from the hydrogen peroxide generated by the GOD, and allows ATP detection. The biosensor was realized on commercial screen-printed electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Confinement of CNTs in a polycarbonate membrane, Chitosan and Nafion polymers was investigated as possible solutions for implantable sensors. Nafion gave the best performances, with a sensitivity of 25 pA/μM mm-2, and a detection limit of 257 M. The sensor resulted able to measure ATP concentrations in the range of hundred of μmol/l.


Insectivorous bats make a significant contribution to mammalian diversity in central Australia, with 12 known extant species; however, little is known about their habitat preferences and how these interact with temporal patterns in their abundance and activity. Although most species forage widely and in a variety of habitats, we expected that woodlands associated with ephemeral rivers would constitute high-value habitat for bats because they provide tree hollows, suitable structural habitat for foraging, and canopies rich in invertebrate biomass. The aim of this research was to establish whether riparian woodlands were a focus of bat activity and to identify patterns in habitat use and whether these changed through time. We investigated the activity of bats in riparian woodlands and neighbouring vegetation over 2 years. Bat activity was higher in riparian woodland than in nearby vegetation, and this difference was most significant during a hot and dry summer. At the species level, body size and foraging guild were important factors explaining differences in activity, with larger 'open space' species more active in riparian woodland than adjacent habitat. In contrast, we did not detect significant differences in the activity of smaller vespertilionid species between habitats. Coinciding with patterns in invertebrate activity, bat activity was highest in summer and lowest in winter. Within river channels, canopy cover was important in explaining patterns in bat activity. There was also a significant location effect, with bat activity in some river systems much higher than in others. We propose that this is related to both regional variability in rainfall and productivity, in addition to topography. Our findings demonstrate the importance of riparian woodlands to bats in an arid environment, particularly during low-resource periods, and suggest that bats may be affected by future climate changes and degradation from fire impacts.


Social stress and health were explored among Andean highlanders to understand what stressors Andean women experience. The women's stressors were investigated using the research methods of cultural domain analysis: free listing, unconstrained pile sorting, and constrained pile sorting. Analysis of the data has shown insight into how Andean women process the stressors they experience. The collected data was analyzed using cultural domain analysis to examine relationships between demographic variables and social stress. The findings reflect a shared consensus among women in the Andean highlands surrounding the kinds of stressors they experience, as well as how they categorize these stressors.


This report compares the effect of increasing the number of wind turbine generators on wholesale spot prices in the Australian National Electricity Market's (NEM) under the existing transmission grid and an augmented version of the transmission grid called NEMLink (AEMO 2010a, 2010b, 2011a, 2011b).  The comparison is made from 2014 to 2025. We use a sensitivity analysis to compare the effect of five different levels of wind penetration on wholesale spot prices in the original NEM grid and NEMLink augmented grid.  The five levels of wind penetration span Scenarios A to E where Scenario A represents 'no wind' and Scenario E includes all the existing and planned wind power sufficient to meet Australia's original 2020 41TWh Large Renewable Energy Target (LRET).  We also use sensitivity analysis to evaluate the effect on wholesale spot prices of growth in electricity demand over the projections years 2014 to 2025 and weather over the years 2010 to 2012.  The sensitivity analysis uses simulations from the 'Australian National Electricity Market (ANEM) model version 1.10' (Wild et al. 2015). We find that NEMLink reduces the NEM's average wholesale spot price by 28% in Scenario A that is without any wind power.   In comparison, without NEMLink but with the highest wind penetration Scenario E that is wind power alone reduces the NEM's wholesale spot prices by 51%.  The combination of both introducing NEMLink and increasing the wind power penetration from Scenario A to E reduces the NEM's wholesale spot price by 65%. These dramatic price reductions are beneficial for electricity consumers and will help fossil fuel generators exit the market but the long term viability of renewable energy generators needs considering with such low wholesale spot prices.  Indeed, the feasibility of an energy only market consisting of an increasing proportion of renewable energy whose marginal costs are nearly zero becomes problematic for financing the ongoing renewal of the renewable energy fleet and the displacement of the fossil fuel fleet.


Objective:
 Bedside stroke recognition tools improve diagnostic accuracy in adult stroke. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic utility of the CPSS and ROSIER tools in children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with brain attack symptoms.

 Methods:
 The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS ) and the Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room (ROSIER) tool were retrospectively applied to 101 consecutive children with stroke, presenting from 2003-2010, and 279 children with mimics, presenting to the ED from 2009-2010. A positive CPSS was defined as ≥1 positive sign (face or arm weakness, speech disturbance). A positive ROSIER was defined as a score of ≥1. Diagnostic accuracy of the tools in determining the patients' true status were estimated for arterial (AIS), hemorrhagic (HS) and combined stroke subtypes versus mimics.

 Results:
 The CPSS and ROSIER tools correctly discriminated combined stroke subtypes from mimics (diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 5.6 and 4.7 respectively) and AIS from mimics (DOR 15.1 and 13.4 respectively) but not HS from mimics (DOR 1.2 for both tools). CPSS and ROSIER accuracy were fair for AIS versus mimics (ROC 0.79 and 0.77 respectively), fair to poor for combined stroke subtypes versus mimics (ROC 0.70 and 0.68 respectively) and failed for HS versus mimics (ROC 0.51 and 0.52 respectively). Reasons for limited accuracy include different spectrum of mimics, lower overall prevalence, higher proportion of HS subtype and common seizure occurrence in childhood stroke.

 Conclusions:
 Adult stroke recognition tools correctly discriminate combined stroke types and AIS subtype from mimics but their limited accuracy suggest further modifications are required to improve diagnostic utility for identification of childhood stroke in the ED.


For many companies a fundamental marketing challenge is to create a global strategy which will allow for maximum use of existing product offerings and marketing activities through standardization while simultaneously "acting local" in order to effectively adjust to unique aspects of any given market. The purpose of this study is to investigate global product strategy and the issue of identifying relevant areas where standardization may be possible, and where the need to "act local" may be necessary, in the context of product offering attributes using a longitudinal approach. This study will investigate potential differences along 16 "sought for" product attributes over approximately a ten year period across three distinct international markets, explore how those identified relevant attributes change across three different product categories, The results show that in developing a long-term global product strategy it is important to begin product positioning, differentiation, and promotional activities with the fundamental product attributes of quality, price, appearance, and availability.


In a 64-year-old, previously healthy woman an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed because of serious dyspeptic complaints during fourteen days. Multiple fundic gastric ulcers were found without Helicobacter pylori and the patient did not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The diagnosis was primary cytomegalovirus infection, based on the demonstration of infected cells in the biopsy specimens, using specific monoclonal anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies.


Polymer blends between pristine polypropylene (PP) and post-consumer soft-drink PET bottles (rPET) were prepared using pulverization technique. The polymer mixtures were pulverized, at the amounts of rPET in PP of 0, 10, 15, 20 and 30 phr (parts per hundred of resin) by weight, into powder. In an extruder, the polymer powders were mixed with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) and polyethylene wax (PE wax) as a compatibilizer and a processing aid, respectively. The extrudates were prepared into test specimens by injection molding. Physical properties of PP/rPET blends were subsequently investigated. The results pointed out that, for the pulverized blends without compatibilizer, tensile and flexural strength were improved at the lower amount of rPET. The compatibilizing effect of MAPP was exhibited at the higher amount of rPET. The reduction of melt flow index (MFI) may cause difficulties for some processing techniques which required polymers with high MFI. The addition of PE wax successfully brought up the MFI as well as elongation at break while other mechanical properties decreased.


We report on the concept, sensing principles, hardware and software implementation, as well as the performance of a demonstrator smart carpet, suitable for integration into the everyday environment. The deformation-induced transmission losses through strategically placed optical fiber sensing elements are measured and images of the footprints of objects in the imaged scene are reconstructed by an original method suitable for the limited datasets acquired. We discuss the potential for a very compact system, easy to integrate with the living environment and the outside world.


Pseudotransient continuation is a practical technique for globalizing the computation of steady-state solutions of nonlinear differential equations. The technique employs adaptive time-stepping to integrate an initial value problem derived from an underlying ODE or PDE boundary value problem until sufficient accuracy in the desired steady-state root is achieved to switch over to Newton's method and gain a rapid asymptotic convergence. The existing theory for pseudotransient continuation includes a global convergence result for differential equations written in semidiscretized method-of-lines form. However, many problems are better formulated or can only sensibly be formulated as differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). These include systems in which some of the equations represent algebraic constraints, perhaps arising from the spatial discretization of a PDE constraint.
Multirate systems, in particular, are often formulated as differential-algebraic systems to suppress fast time scales (acoustics, gravity waves, Alfven waves, near equilibrium chemical oscillations, etc.) that are irrelevant on the dynamical time scales of interest. In this paper we present a global convergence result for pseudotransient continuation applied to DAEs of index 1, and we illustrate it with numerical experiments on model incompressible flow and reacting flow problems, in which a constraint is employed to step over acoustic waves.


After experimental reduction of its functional capacity, the placenta of the guinea pig has been studied microscopically for changes in the maternal and fetal vascularization pattern which could be interpreted as a compensation for this reduction. The functional capacity has been reduced in four ways. In the experimental groups the volume compared with untreated controls. The volume density of fetal capillaries in the labyrinthine part of the placenta was increased significantly compared with untreated controls. The surface density of these vessels, however, remained the same as in the control placentas. The volume density and surface density of the maternal lacunae did not change significantly. The conclusion is that after experimental reduction of its functional capacity the only structural modification in the guinea pig placenta involving the maternal and fetal vascularization, which can be interpreted as a compensation mechanism, is a widening of the fetal capillaries in the labyrinth.


A ring amplifier based pipelined ADC is presented that uses simple cells constructed from small inverters and capacitors to perform amplification. The basic ring amplifier structure is characterized and demonstrated to be highly scalable, power efficient, and compression-immune (inherent rail-to-rail output swing). The prototype 10.5-bit ADC, fabricated in 0.18μm CMOS technology, achieves 61.5dB SNDR at a 30MHz sampling rate and consumes 2.6mW, resulting in a FoM of 90fJ/conversion-step.


In this paper, we examine how the complexities introduced by trends in agricultural productivity and climate change affect the future of global food security. We use a partial equilibrium model of global agriculture incorporating a food security module that links changes in the average dietary energy intake to shifts in the full caloric distribution, allowing us to compute changes in the incidence, headcount and average depth of malnutrition. After validating the model against an historical period, we implement a series of future scenarios to understand the impacts of key exogenous drivers on selected food security outcomes. Our results show improvements in global food security for the period 2006–2050. Despite growing population and increased biofuel demand, baseline income growth, coupled with projected increases in agricultural productivity lead to a 24 per cent rise in global average dietary energy intake. Consequently, the incidence of malnutrition falls by 84 per cent, lifting more than half a billion people out of extreme hunger. However, these results hinge heavily on agricultural productivity growth. Without such growth, there could be a substantial setback on food security improvements. Climate change adds uncertainty to these projections, depending critically on the crop yield impacts of increasing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.


Soil is a material which is weak in tension; however, different materials such as geotextiles are used to address this inadequacy. In recent years more than one million square metres of geotextiles were used for reinforcing soil. Nevertheless, there are several significant problems associated with geotextiles, such as creep, low modulus of elasticity and susceptibility to aggressive environments. Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) was introduced over two decades ago to the field of structural engineering and it can also be used in geotechnical engineering. CFRP has all the benefits associated with geotextiles and it boasts a higher strength, higher modulus, no creep and reliability in aggressive environments. In this investigation, the interface properties of CFRP-sand and fine sand were investigated using the pull-out test. The pull-out test device was designed and assembled using a triaxial loading device and a direct shear device. In the pull-out test, the normal force applied by the triaxial loading and pull-out force is applied by a direct shear device. CFRP samples were prepared in the lab. Precast and cast-in-place samples were tested. The pull-out force and corresponding displacements of each of the materials were recorded and compared.


Automatic analysis of social interactions attracts increasing attention in the multimedia community. This letter considers one of the most important aspects of the problem, namely the roles played by individuals interacting in different settings. In particular, this work proposes an automatic approach for the recognition of roles in both production environment contexts (e.g., news and talk-shows) and spontaneous situations (e.g., meetings). The experiments are performed over roughly 90 h of material (one of the largest databases used for role recognition in the literature) and show that the recognition effectiveness depends on how much the roles influence the behavior of people. Furthermore, this work proposes the first approach for modeling mutual dependences between roles and assesses its effect on role recognition performance.


The paper reviews work which draws a link between the dynamics of innovation and the dynamics of stock prices. One of the key findings is the relationship between innovation intensity (e.g. radical innovation) and the volatility of firm level stock returns. By connecting the analysis of risk and uncertainty? often related in the finance literature to ?animal spirits? and other stochastic factors? to changes in real production conditions at the firm and industry level, the paper provides the foundation for a Schumpeterian analysis of time varying risk. JEL Classification: G12, 030.


Until recently, gold allergy was considered to be extremely rare. Gold has been used and worshipped for thousands of years without any obvious complaints of skin problems, either in those participating in mining and other ways of prospecting, or in those wearing jewellery. When studies on contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate were published at the beginning of the 1990s, the allergic nature of the reported positive patch test reactions to gold was questioned. The major argument for such questioning was the lack of demonstrable clinical relevance in most positive reactors. A major reason for the questioning may have been confusion in differentiating between contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis. To arrive at a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis, 3 steps have, in principle, to be fulfilled: (i) establishment of contact allergy; (ii) demonstration of present exposure; (iii) assessment of clinical relevance, i.e., causing or aggravating a contact dermatitis. In this paper, these steps are discussed with regard to gold. With our present knowledge of contact allergy – allergic contact dermatitis, we do not recommend including gold sodium thiosulfate in the standard series. It should be applied for scientific purposes and when allergic contact dermatitis from gold is suspected.


Prodrug therapy is one strategy to deliver anticancer drugs in a less reactive manner to reduce nonspecific cytotoxicity. A new multifunctional anticancer prodrug system based on water-dispersible fullerene (C60) aggregates is introduced; this prodrug system demonstrates active targeting, pH-responsive chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) properties. Incorporating (via a cleavable bond) an anticancer drug, which is doxorubicin (DOX) in this study, and a targeting ligand (folic acid) onto fullerene while maintaining an overall size of approximately 135 nm produces a more specific anticancer prodrug. This prodrug can enter folate receptor (FR)-positive cancer cells and kill the cells via intracellular release of the active drug form. Moreover, the fullerene aggregate carrier exhibits PDT action; the cytotoxicity of the system towards FR-positive cancer cells is increased in response to light irradiation. As the DOX drug molecules are conjugated onto fullerene, the DOX fluorescence is significantly quenched by the strong electron-accepting capability of fullerene. The fluorescence restores upon release from fullerene, so this fluorescence quenching-restoring feature can be used to track intracellular DOX release. The combined effect of chemotherapy and PDT increases the therapeutic efficacy of the DOX-fullerene aggregate prodrug. This study provides useful insights into designing and improving the applicability of fullerene for other targeted cancer prodrug systems.


Test-taking strategy use, cognitive-ability test preparation, and test-taking self-efficacy were examined as possible mediators of the relationship between race and cognitiveability test performance. We hypothesized that African Americans would report using fewer test-taking strategies and less test preparation when compared to White Americans. In addition, we proposed that Afiican Americans would report lower levels of test-taking self-efficacy when faced with a cognitive-ability test. It was expected that these 3 variables would mediate the relationship between race and cognitive-ability test performance. Using a sample of 170 college students, results indicated that African Americans reported using more ineffective test-taking strategies, reported participating in more cognitiveability test preparation, and reported higher levels of test-taking self-efficacy when compared to White Americans. A portion of the difference in performance on a cognitiveability test between African Americans and White Americans could be attributed to the use of ineffective strategies and test preparation.


Ozone therapy has successfully being used in the medical field for treatment of various diseases for more than 100 years. The versatility of ozone therapy, its unique properties, noninvasive nature, absence of side effects or adverse reactions were responsible for its wide spread use. This review of literature is an attempt to summarize its therapeutic potential in dentistry and its possible clinical application in future.


A recurrent neural networks with context units that can handle temporal sequences is proposed. We describe an architecture whose performance is better than the architectures proposed by Jordan and Elman respectively using error backpropagation learning algorithms. Three learning experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, we used the recurrent neural networks to simulate a finite state machine. In the second experiment, we use the recurrent networks to handle a combination retrieving problem. In the third experiment, we train the neural networks to recognize the periodicity in temporal sequence data. The results of three experiments showed that our system had a better performance.


Mathematical and computational modeling allow for the
rationalization of complex phenomenon observed in our reality. Through the
careful selection of assumptions, the intractable task of simulating reality
can be reduced to the simulation of a practical system whose behavior can be
replicated. The development of computational models allow for the full comprehension
of the defined system, and the model itself can be used to evaluate the results
of thousands of simulate experiments to aid in the rational design process.

Biomedical engineering is
the application of engineering principles to the field of medicine and biology.
This discipline is composed of numerous diverse subdisciplines that span from
genetic engineering to biomechanics. Each of these subdisciplines is concerned
with its own complex and seemingly chaotic systems, whose behavior is difficult
to characterize. The development and application of computational modeling to
rationalize these systems is often necessary in this field and will be the
focus of this thesis.

This thesis is centered
on the development and application of mathematical and computational modeling
in three diverse systems in biomedical engineering. First, computational
modeling is employed to investigate the behavior of key proteins in the
post-synapse centered around learning and memory. Second, computational
modeling is utilized to characterize the drug release rate from implantable
drug delivery depots, and produce a tool to aid in the tailoring of the release
rate. Finally, computational modeling is utilized to understand the motion of
particles through an inertial focusing microfluidics chip and optimize the size
selective capture efficiency.


Aim To utilise large scale simulation to assess the full system functioning of a children's emergency department prior to actually constructing the building. The simulation aimed to identify the impact of physical structure, patient pathways and staffing levels on patient care and experience, departmental efficiency and safety. The simulation was timed to enable the lessons learnt to inform the departmental design, before the final stages of the build commenced. Methods A life size temporary model of the proposed children's emergency department was built, with full size walls, equipment and facilities mirroring the proposed layout. The department was staffed with a full compliment of nurses, doctors and therapists, who over a 5 h period treated 53 child simulated patients and accompanying supervising adults for a range of simulated illness and injury. The simulated patients reflected a typical Saturday evening case mix and the entire patient journey from reception to admission or discharge was simulated in real time. Verbal and written feedback was captured from patients, carers, clinical staff and subject matter experts. Feedback was presented at follow up multi-professional discussion sessions to enable functional utilisation of the data. Results Data regarding the departmental flow of patients, therapies provided to patients and timeliness of treatment, in addition to multi-modal feedback, demonstrated clear structural, functional and staffing challenges within the proposed design. Conclusion The multi-modal simulation feedback catalysed a redesign of the internal space, patient flow and clinician utilisation within the proposed children's emergency department. These changes were implemented prior to building the actual department; preventing exposure of real patients to this learning curve. A first for the NHS, the project has demonstrated that design and quality improvement of complex systems can be achieved using large-scale simulation. Simulated child patients brought the clinical space to life, powerfully drew staff into the simulation and provided the child's perspective on issues such as confidentiality; generating functional information that cannot be obtained from paper modelling. The project demonstrates how staff, children and families can contribute meaningfully to the design of clinical spaces within the NHS.


Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) and Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) have been reported as co-infection (or synergistic interaction) resulting in more severe symptoms in orchids. In this project, silencing dual RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) transcripts of CymMV and ORSV based on RNA interference (RNAi), including amiRNA-CymMV-ORSV or antisense-CymMV-ORSV constructs were adopted to create transgenic plants that can resist to CymMV and ORSV at the same time. A susceptible host model to both viruses, Nicotiana benthamiana, was generated first to test the feasibility of the RNAi strategy and gene stacking also was applied to increase copy number in transgenic N. benthamiana by cross pollination. Successfully of viral resistant analyses were performed until F3 generation using Southern blot, real-time RT-PCR and western blot. Resistant FF3 transgenic plants had a higher transgene expression as compared to non-resistant plants, coupled with the absence of CymMV and ORSV coat protein which suggests negligible CymMV and ORSV concentration in that resistant plant which allowed the plant to exhibit a normal phenotype after mixed inoculation for three weeks. We believe this is the first report on the transgenic N. benthamiana plants that can resist against both CymMV and ORSV concurrently.


Societal developments are timeless and occur at an ever increasing pace that affects demand for Corporate Real Estate (CRE). Real estate flexibility, as part of a CRE strategy, enables the ability to anticipate on those uncertain societal developments. Many studies refer to real estate flexibility which could be grouped into physical; technical; organizational; and juridical-financial flexibility. The focus in this article is on the latter.Juridical-financial flexibility is the management ability to quickly decrease real estate expenses or to quickly increase real estate benefits if the quantitative demand for space changes. The inclusion of juridical-financial flexibility can assure that the risk of redundancy or shortage of space is minimized through short term leases. However, it is accompanied with additional costs which makes maximal flexibility unprofitable, thus the question is which level of juridical-financial flexibility is optimal?We have built a decision model to determine the optimal level of juridical-financial flexibility in CRE portfolios, an operational step that is missing in the field of CRE management. The decision model is a linear programming model that produces a strategic recommendation to CRE management by defining the portfolio compilation with an optimal juridical-financial flexibility level. At this level, the financial investment in juridical-financial flexibility is minimal while the mix of juridical structures guarantees the ability to anticipate on an uncertain quantitative CRE demand in the future.In literature, several models have been developed that could be used to differentiate CRE assets into peripheries, based on their envisioned future strategic role. With these existing models, four peripheries are composed with the objective to link CRE assets to an appropriate juridical format. These peripheries are: the core ownership periphery, the core leased periphery, the 1st periphery, and the 2nd periphery.Next to the quantitative demand for space, also the qualitative demand is an important asset level aspect, at present and in the future. Therefore, the differentiation approach is applied per user profile to combine the two dimensions.The future demand for corporate space has an uncertain value, which is tackled with the differentiation approach, but to determine periphery sizes, three scenarios are developed with the current demand as a starting point.To transform a current into a future desired CRE portfolio


The dysregulation of striatal gene expression and function is linked to multiple diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease, X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP), addiction, autism, and schizophrenia. Striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) make up 90% of the neurons in the striatum and are critical to motor control. The transcription factor, Bcl11b (also known as Ctip2), is required for striatal development, but the function of Bcl11b in adult MSNs in vivo has not been investigated. We conditionally deleted Bcl11b specifically in postnatal MSNs and performed a transcriptomic and behavioral analysis on these mice. Multiple enrichment analyses showed that the D9-Cre-Bcl11btm1.1Leid transcriptional profile was similar to the HD gene expression in mouse and human data sets. A Gene Ontology enrichment analysis linked D9-Cre-Bcl11btm1.1Leid to calcium, synapse organization, specifically including the dopaminergic synapse, protein dephosphorylation, and HDAC-signaling, commonly dysregulated pathways in HD. D9-Cre-Bcl11btm1.1Leid mice had decreased DARPP-32/Ppp1r1b in MSNs and behavioral deficits, demonstrating the dysregulation of a subtype of the dopamine D2 receptor expressing MSNs. Finally, in human HD isogenic MSNs, the mislocalization of BCL11B into nuclear aggregates points to a mechanism for BCL11B loss of function in HD. Our results suggest that BCL11B is important for the function and maintenance of mature MSNs and Bcl11b loss of function drives, in part, the transcriptomic and functional changes in HD.


Background Degradation of articular cartilage and alterations of the underlying subchondral bone are hallmarks of osteoarthritis (OA)1. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5) is a key aggrecan-cleaving enzyme involved in this pathogenic process from the earliest stages of cartilage degradation2 and as such, is an attractive drug target for the development of a disease-modifying OA drug (DMOAD)3. Objectives In this report we describe the in vitro and in vivo characterization of the small molecule GLPG1972, an inhibitor of ADAMTS-5. GLPG1972 anti-catabolic activity was evaluated in murine and human cartilage explants and DMOAD activity was investigated in the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model4. Methods The ADAMTS-5 biochemical assay is based on the cleavage of a fluorescent substrate by recombinant ADAMTS-5. Mouse femoral head cartilage explants were stimulated by interleukin-1a (IL-1a) for 3 days and GAG release quantified2b. Human articular cartilage explants were stimulated with IL-1β for 12 or 19 days and the NITEGE epitope quantified using the AGNx1 assay. Unilateral OA was induced in C57BL6 mice by DMM4. Mice were treated with vehicle or GLPG1972 at 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg, b.i.d. for 8 weeks. Medial femorotibial joint sections were scored by an evaluator blinded to treatment. Results GLPG1972 showed potent inhibition of human ADAMTS-5 (IC50=20 nM). Inhibition of ADAMTS-4 was moderate (IC50=57 nM), and selectivity over 100-fold was observed against a large panel of zinc metalloproteinases. GLPG1972 displayed potent anti-catabolic activity in cartilage explants, with IC50 values being 2 μM and <1 μM in mouse and human, respectively. In the DMM mouse model, GLPG1972 demonstrated DMOAD activity, as shown by significant reduction of femorotibial cartilage proteoglycan loss and cartilage damage score, as well as significant impact on subchondral bone sclerosis. Conclusions GLPG1972 is an orally bioavailable, potent and selective ADAMTS-5 inhibitor showing significant anti-catabolic activity in cartilage explants. In the DMM model, treatment with GLPG1972 resulted in significant protective effects on both cartilage and subchondral bone pathology. Taken together these results provide support to progress GLPG1972 into the clinic as an oral treatment for OA. References Hunter, D.J., et al. Curr. Opin. Rheumatol. 2009, 21,110–117. a) Glasson, S.S., et al Nature. 2005, Vol 434: 644–8; b) Stanton, H., et al. Nature. 2005, Vol 434: 648–5; c) Little, C.B., et al. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2007, Vol 117(6):1627–36. Larkin, J. et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015, 23 (8): 1254–1266. Little, C.B. and Hunter, D.J. Nat. Rev. Rheumatol. 2013, 9(8):485–497. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The advent of biological therapies in 2000s has represented a real revolution in the treatment of patients affected by rheumatic diseases, but biosimilars represent nowadays a further revolution both from an economic point of view and for the accessibility to treatment for rheumatic patients. The main scientific rheumatologic societies have clearly expressed themselves on the biosimilars topic, by highlighting how they represent a great opportunity to contain costs and treat more patients, and these advantages should be accepted by rheumatologists. The use of biosimilars in different European countries varies widely; in fact, in some of them their use is mandatory (at least in naïve patients), while in other countries it is only recommended. The knowledge and consequently the acceptance of biosimilars are different among patients, and this also depends on the correct medical information on this topic. As more and more biosimilars receive regulatory approval and reach the market, it is essential for healthcare professionals to have the right knowledge about them, so that they are properly transferred to their patients. Biosimilars are not identical to the reference product, and clinicians are particularly interested in the safety and effectiveness of switching from the biooriginator to the bio-similar in experienced patients. We will develop these aspects on biosimilars in the present manuscript, for an update on current guidelines in their use in rheumatic patients.


Situations calling for judgment give impetus to rhetoric's ability to "bring before the eyes" absent or unapparent persons, places, or things. Rhetoricians often attribute this aspect of rhetoric's power to phantasia, the capacity through which images of stimuli past, passing, or to come are generated and made present. This article proposes and pursues a conceptualization of "rhetorical transport" predicated on civic phantasia, a mode of distance collapse whereby rhetors move subjects or objects so as to enable or impede particular judgments. Rhetorical transport abounds in rhetorical practice, but this article focuses on its presence in Gorgias, Cicero, and Thomas Paine.


This study was designed to assess the viability and fecundity of semen stored at 5°C for 24 hours using the Bio-TranzTM shipping system. Semen specimens were assessed for motility and sperm membrane integrity at the time of collection and 24 hours after storage in the Bio-TranzTM. In group 1 (n = 61), specimens were diluted in TYB, processed and used for intrauterine insemination (IUI), leaving an aliquot for storage for 24 hours in the Bio-TranzTM. In group 2 (n = 67), specimens were diluted in TYB, stored for 24 hours in the Bio-TranzTM and then processed and used for IUI. In both groups, the total motile sperm used for IUI was similar and the women that underwent IUI were standardized for ovulation prediction and time of insemination. The overall sperm characteristics between the two groups were within normal range. Significant decreases were noted in sperm motility and membrane integrity in both groups after storage. Similar pregnancy rates were obtained between the two patient populations. The use of the Bio-TranzTM shipper is extremely convenient for patients requiring semen evaluation, cryostorage or IUI and other assisted reproductive technologies.


ABSTRACT

Purpose: The context in talent development is complex where a collaboration between coach and athlete is necessary for optimal performance development. But it is cramped, where only a few athletes are identified as talents. Hence, it is important to have quality in the coach-athlete relationship, thereby making it more likely to have a shared reality about future development. Shared Reality Theory (SRT) contains: the motivation to connect with others and to create something meaningful. Indeed, SRT holds significant potential for studying the reciprocity in the coach-athlete relationship (Echterhoff & Higgins, 2018). Therefore, the purpose of the study is to investigate the reciprocity in the coach-athlete relationship and whether both parties share the same understanding of talent development.

Design: Four female elite junior soccer players (Mage = 15.6 years) and their head coach were interviewed using a semi-structured interview (Mtime = 29.9 minutes). The players trained five days every week (Mduration = 1.5 hours) and played normally one match each week. Two out of four athletes play on the junior national team.

Results: The coach is concerned with the players' individual needs, clear feedback, and building confidence. Verbal communication appeared to be an important finding among the coach's attitudes, values, and goals in meeting with talent development. The athletes respond somewhat differently where findings indicate that the process of how to work toward their goals are unclear.

Conclusion: According to SRT, there is a distance between what the various parties have of understanding in the process of developing future talents.Acknowledgments: Thanks to Bard Erlend Solstad, Camilla J. Knight, & Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre


BACKGROUND
Many patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) do not achieve recommended glycemic goals. Insulin therapy is often delayed, despite its effectiveness in maintaining glycemic control, for reasons such as fear of needles or dislike of the complexity of injections. Inhaled dry powder insulin (IDPI) is approved for preprandial use in both the United States and Europe.

METHODS
Relevant English-language publications were identified through a search of the PubMed data-base (1980-2007). Search terms included diabetes, in combination with subcutaneous and/or inhaled insulin. A similar search of abstracts from the 2006 American Diabetes Association 66th Annual Scientific Sessions was also performed.

RESULTS
Eight clinical studies to date have reported that IDPI consistently improved glycemic control, whether used in combination with longer-acting SC insulin regimens in patients with type 1 or type 2 DM or to supplement or replace oral agent therapy in patients with type 2 DM. Evidence to date suggests that IDPI is associated with an acceptable tolerability profile, with a risk of hypoglycemia similar to that of SC insulin (risk ratios in 2 studies were 0.94 and 0.96, in favor of IDPI). Moreover, no clinically significant changes in pulmonary function have been noted. Patients treated with IDPI in clinical studies reported significantly greater improvements in overall satisfaction with treatment compared with SC insulin (P < 0.01) or oral agent therapy (P= 0.02).

CONCLUSION
IDPI is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of diabetes and may be an option for patients to achieve glycemic control.


This study examines a document produced by the United States Department of Homeland Security handed out to immigrant parents during the "Family Separation Policy" crisis of 2018. The article examines whether such a document could be ethically tested for usability. Ultimately, the text argues that by the standards of the Belmont Report and the best practices in usability research, such a document would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to test ethically. It argues that, while usability testing is an excellent tool for exploring how users interact with texts that can have life-changing consequences, it may also be used as a tool to perpetuate injustice and marginalize potential users.


One of the few p nuclei with an odd number of protons is {sup 113}In. Reaction cross sections of {sup 113}In({alpha},{gamma}){sup 117}Sb and {sup 113}In({alpha},n){sup 116}Sb have been measured with the activation method at center-of-mass energies between 8.66 and 13.64 MeV, close to the astrophysically relevant energy range. The experiments were carried out at the cyclotron accelerator of ATOMKI. The activities were determined by off-line detection of the decay {gamma} rays with a HPGe detector. Measured cross sections and astrophysical S factor results are presented and compared with statistical model calculations using three different {alpha}+nucleus potentials. The comparison indicates that the standard rates used in the majority of network calculations for these reactions were too fast due to the energy dependence of the optical {alpha} potential at low energy.


As with any institutional feature, the size of the Supreme Court should be informed by a definition of functional goals. This article describes how the current size of the Supreme Court is largely untethered from any such definition, and it begins the process of understanding how size and Court performance might interact. To do so, it identifies a list of institutional goals for the Supreme Court and explores how changing the size of the Court promotes or obstructs the attainment of those goals. Given that the Court's institutional goals are numerous and occasionally in tension, there is no definitive answer to the question of how large the Court should be. Instead, the optimal size of the Court depends on how one views the relative importance of each institutional goal and how those goals should be balanced. Unfortunately, the current size of the Supreme Court is not attributable to a careful balancing of these institutional goals, but instead is due to political efforts to secure power on the Court. Consequently, a reconsideration of the Court's size in light of institutional considerations is long overdue.


Nonwoven-reinforced composites were produced using both low modulus fibres (lyocell, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyamide) and high modulus aramid fibres (polyphenylene terephthalamide) in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. Preferentially oriented web preforms were prepared by carding and pre-needling before impregnating the nonwovens in a thermoplastic polyurethane resin matrix. Composites were prepared by compression moulding and mechanical properties were evaluated. Scanning Electron Microscopy was employed to study the fibre-to-matrix interface in the nonwoven-reinforced composites. It was found that nonwoven reinforcement provided a range of mechanical properties, mainly linked to fibre properties and orientation of fibres in the web, apparently unaffected by the mechanical properties of the web. Furthermore, all studies fibres were thoroughly embedded in the matrix.


Although a great deal of understanding of blood cell locomotion can be derived from the evaluation of cell paths, cell movement may also be examined by evaluating how the cell changes shape as it moves. In order to understand how a cell changes shape, it is first necessary to be able to quantitatively describe cell shape and cell shape change. A review of current work in computer vision and shape description as applied to blood cells is presented.


Introduction. Devic's optic neuromyelitis is a clinical syndrome described over 100 years ago and characterized by episodes of severe transverse myelitis, affecting several spinal segments, and simultaneously or otherwise, neuritis of the optic nerve. Both types of disorder may be acute or subacute. In spite of many reviews in recent years, it is still not clear whether it is a distinct clinical entity or whether it is really a form of Multiple Sclerosis. In recent years several authors have drawn up a list of diagnostic criteria to distinguish between Devic's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Several aetiologies have been implicated in causing this syndrome, from infectious diseases to demyelinating disorders. However, there is a group of patients who have no associated pathology, in whom it is correct to speak of Devic's Disease. Clinical case. We studied a patient with a clinical condition compatible with Devic's disease, with an inflammatory tumour in the cervical region, a radiological finding not previously reported. Conclusion. When making the diagnosis in patients with inflammatory spinal tumors and no symptoms of demyelination in the rest of the central nervous system, Devic's disease should be borne in mind.


This is the first complete edition and translation of the Historia Anglorum ( History of the English People) by Henry, Archdeacon of Huntingdon (c. 1088-c.1157). The main narrative covers the history of England from the invasions of Julius Caesar down to the accession of King Henry II in 1154, and includes the only contemporary account of the entire reign of King Stephen (1135-54). In the influential circle of successive bishops of Lincoln, Henry was often at the centre of political life - a practical man whose consciousness of the world extended far beyond the limits of his archdeaconry, a visitor to France and Rome. His work is a major source for events in England and Normandy in his lifetime. Henry's pages are filled with good stories, including the first written record of Cnut and the waves, and of Henry's death from a surfeit of lampreys. The final two books consist of poems that show Henry to be one of the finest of Anglo-Latin poets. Henry's work has never before been published in its entirety. The 1879 edition in the Rolls series provided only a Latin text, omitted three books and other sections of the text, and failed to take account of several manuscripts. The critical edition in the present volume shows the author's successive revisions and continuations of his text. It is offered with parallel translation and historical notes. The introduction provides a fresh appraisal of Henry's career, incorporates new discoveries about his family origins and education, and assesses his importance as a poet and historian.


This body of research is concerned with the role of drawing as a means of conveying a sense of memory and place. A phenomenological approach has been used as a research method. The research outcomes (exhibition of artefacts) have been supported by LAND2, an interdisciplinary research groups concerned with the aesthetics of landscape, locality and environment Feathered Hills and Devolve are two mixed media drawings with assemblage investigating landscape, sense of place and the role of memory. The research was included in All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space, a touring exhibition with venues at University of West of England Bristol (2008) and the Stanley and Burton Gallery University of Leeds (2010), published in the exhibition catalogue All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space, Caseroom Press Lincoln 2009. During the Leeds exhibition a chaired roundtable discussion disseminated exchange between the group members (David Hill/ Leeds 2010).Peer review: independent curation and selection in relation to objectives of inter-disciplinary academic research group Land2 (research objectives http://www.land2.uwe.ac.uk). Further research has been developed in drawing and intaglio printmaking (see exhibit 'Evolve' (F.E. McWilliam Gallery, in conjunction with Seacourt Printworkshop 2011)A sketchbook research study into weather patterns and sky formation has subsequently become translated into a series of exhibition drawings and intaglio prints. The whole body of work has been exhibited in a two-person show at Graffan Gallery, Castle Espie, Wild Wetlife Centre, Comber (June 2011), shared with printmaker Bridget Farmer.


TFMCC (TCP-friendly multicast congestion control) is a recently proposed protocol for multicast congestion control. TFMCC employs an equation to determine the rate of the Multicast Source. The equation was originally derived for the TCP-friendly rate control protocol TFRC, which is a unicast protocol. In this work, we evaluate TFMCC with a new equation derived from an analytical model that abstracts the behavior of a multicast source controlled according to the additive increase and multiplicative decrease (AIMD) strategy. Experimental results show tremendous performance improvement without affecting the TCP-fairness of the protocol.


AC4C cast aluminum alloy and zinc-coated steel were friction stir lap welded, and the microstructures and mechanical properties of the joints were examined and analyzed. Experimental results show that the welding speeds have a significant effect on the tensile properties and fracture locations of the joints at a rotational speed of 1500 rpm. When the welding speed is higher than 60 mm/min, the joints fracture in the zinc-coated steel base material and the tensile strength is equal to that of the zinc-coated steel; when the welding speed is lower than 60 mm/min, the joints fracture in the interface and the shear strength is about 50 MPa. The change of the fracture locations is attributed to the presence of large quantity intermetallic compounds adjacent to the interface of the joints. The composition and formation mechanism of the intermetallic compounds and its effect on the mechanical properties of the joints were discussed.


Thermal barrier coatings are multilayer systems developed to increase the operating temperature and lifetime of modern gas-turbine engines by thermally insulating the underlying superalloy components. Thick oxide thermal barrier coatings are currently deposited by complex and expensive physical deposition methods, whereas wet chemistry deposition processes using liquid precursor solutions as a feedstock appear as an attractive low-cost and simpler alternative. Nevertheless, these wet chemistry deposition techniques have mainly been focused on the deposition of thin films until now, and the deposition of thicker coatings, even though challenging, would be beneficial to countless applications. The aim of this work has consequently been to evaluate the feasibility of depositing thermal barrier coatings via wet chemistry deposition methods. Special emphasis was given to the spray pyrolysis technique, and the deposition mechanisms and the cracking behavior of thick oxide coatings produced by spray pyrolysis have been investigated. Finally, the thermal and mechanical properties of thick and porous crack-designed lanthanum zirconate coatings were determined.In Paper I, nanostructured yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings were deposited on stainless steel by dip-coating and spray-coating of water based suspensions. Porous and crack-free coatings were achieved by both methods. Nevertheless the achieved coatings remained relatively thin, and the dip-coating and spray-coating techniques were not considered further.In Paper II, an aqueous nitrate based precursor solution was deposited on preheated stainless steel substrates by spray pyrolysis to produce thick lanthanum zirconate coatings. The influence of the substrate temperature on the coating formation and microstructure has been carefully studied for a better understanding of the deposition mechanisms. A temperature range corresponding to the deposition of an ionic salt precipitate was found to be critical to obtain thick crack-free green coatings. Further heat treatment was necessary to decompose the nitrate species into an oxide coating with a fine porous microstructure.In Paper III, the crack mechanisms of thick lanthanum zirconate coatings deposited by spray pyrolysis from aqueous nitrate based precursor solutions are presented. Cracks were formed during the decomposition of the nitrate species due to the associated volume change. The thickness of the coatings demonstrated the largest impact on the crack pattern. The crack opening and the crack spacing varied linearly with increasing thickness, leading to small delamination at the interface. The cracks were stable after the crystallization of the coatings by further heat treatment. Finally, it was proposed that coatings with a designed crack pattern can be deposited based on the knowledge of the influence of the different parameters.In Paper IV, the influence of the chemistry of the precursor solution on the deposition of thick oxide coatings by air blast spray pyrolysis is reported. Coatings of four different oxide materials were deposited using aqueous lanthanum-zirconyl, yttrium-zirconyl, aluminum, and aluminum-magnesium nitrate based precursor solutions. The most suitable deposition temperature interval was determined for each selected precursor solution system and correlated to thermogravimetric analyses of the as-deposited green coatings. The quality of these green coatings was further characterized in terms of microstructure, porosity, and crack-freeness. The effect of the concentration of the precursor solutions on the deposition temperature intervals and the microstructure of the green coatings was explained in relation to the salt saturation limit. A trend was established based on the results obtained for the four systems, and general guidelines for successful deposition of thick coatings by spray pyrolysis were given.In Paper V, the thermal and mechanical properties of thick crack-designed lanthanum zirconate coatings are presented. The green coatings crystallized from 600 °C and the cubic pyrochlore structure was formed after heat treatment at 1000 °C for 2 h. Crystalline lanthanum zirconate multilayered coatings with small crack spacing and crack opening exhibited a higher density, a higher hardness, a lower thermal diffusivity of ~0.33 mm2/s, and a higher thermal conductivity of ~0.34 W/(mK) at elevated temperatures compared to crystalline monolayered coatings of similar thickness with large crack spacing and crack opening. The thermal diffusivity of the coatings was similar to the lowest values reported for yttriastabilized zirconia plasma sprayed coatings.


The viability kernel corresponds to the set of all state vectors of a controlled dynamic system that are viable, i.e., such that there exists an input such that the system will not enter inside a forbidden zone. In this paper, we propose a method which computes an inner and an outer approximation of the viability kernel in a guaranteed way. Our method is based on interval analysis and uses the notions of V-viability and capture basin. We illustrate our approach on the car on the hill problem. A software package has been developed to solve any 2D-problem.


Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a strategy developed to prevent individuals who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative from developing HIV infection. In China, while conducting a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness and safety of PrEP, we performed this survey to assess the willingness of female sex workers to use PrEP, and identify predictors of this willingness. Methods From July 2009 to April 2010, a cross-sectional study was carried out in four provinces of China. We recruited 1611 female sex workers who completed a self-administered survey to assess their awareness of and intention to use PrEP. The survey also canvassed demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial variables. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors of intent to use PrEP. Results In total, 69% of the women (95% confidence interval [CI] 66.7–71.3) reported intent to use PrEP, and 12% (95% CI 10.5–13.7) had used drugs in the past to prevent a sexually transmitted infection. Further, 16.5% (95% CI 14.7–18.4) had previously heard of PrEP, and 1.4% (95% CI 0.9–2.1) had used PrEP previously to prevent HIV infection. Multivariate analysis indicated the following significant predictors of intent to use PrEP: Han ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.446; P = 0.011), urban residence (AOR 1.302; P = 0.027), knowledge about transmission of HIV/acquired immune deficiency virus syndrome (AIDS, AOR 1.817; P = 0.0007), a history of sexually transmitted infection (AOR 1.830; P < 0.0001), a history of using medication to prevent a sexually transmitted disease (AOR 2.547; P < 0.0001), and willingness to access knowledge about HIV/AIDS (AOR 2.153; P < 0.0001). Conclusion The majority of female sex workers reported intent to use PrEP if it is safe and effective. Given that most of the participants had never heard of PrEP before, we strongly recommend that educational materials be developed with detailed introduction of PrEP. The risks and benefits of PrEP use should be fully explained to potential users when promoting PrEP in the future.


Isoflavan equol has recently been assessed in human nutrition as a potent estrogen with various health benefits. It is produced by intestinal microflora from isoflavones (IF) formononetin and daidzein. These dietary precursors are present particularly in soy products. However, only 20–35% of the Western adult population is capable of producing equol from the ingested IF. Cow's milk was proved to be an important source of equol produced from the IF in the rumen and intestines. Among forages, red clover (Trifolium pratense) is by far the most important source of both the IF. Their contents in fresh red clover forage are affected by variety and by several environmental factors. Leaves have the highest IF contents. Available data on changes in IF contents during wilting, drying, and ensiling are ambiguous. Content of equol in milk produced by dairy cows fed fresh or ensiled red clover can be at the level of several hundreds μg per litre.


The problem of stability of electrical circuit systems is very important. One of the main factor that can cause instability in a servo motor is insufficient resolution on the motor's feedback device. This behavior could seriously lead to erratic movement at low speed and the inability of a feedback to detect these small changes causes instability in a servo motor system. In this paper, problems of such system stability provision is considered using Lyapunov's stability theory. By constructing appropriate Lyapunov functional, sufficient conditions which ensure the stability of the state variables chosen xi(t), (i = 1,2,3) describing the system of the servo motor are obtained.


Based on a general methodology for the preparation of metal–nanopowders by solution combustion synthesis (SCS), the reaction pathways for SCS of pure copper and copper–nickel alloy nanopowders are investigated. It is confirmed that the necessary condition for SCS of metals in a metal-nitrate oxidizer–glycine system is the property of the oxidizer to decompose with formation of HNO3 species. In this case, for compositions with excess of glycine, a hydrogen reducing atmosphere develops in the reaction front, leading to the formation of reduced metals. The proposed reaction pathways are supported by X-ray diffraction analysis of the quenched samples and DTA–TGA studies of the Cu(NO3)2·6H2O–glycine and Ni(NO3)2·6H2O/Cu(NO3)2·6H2O–glycine systems. The results show that the formation of Cu2O and CuO oxide phases takes place at early stages in the reaction front followed by their reduction to pure Cu phase in the postcombustion zones. However, in a Cu–Ni alloy, a fraction of intermetallic Cu–Ni phase appeared directly in the combustion front, whereas the rest of the oxygen-free alloy formed through reduction of oxide phases. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011


: A 76-year-old woman suffered from sudden loss of consciousness while sitting in a chair. She was sent to a local hospital and found to be in shock. After a brief period of external cardiac massage, she was transferred to our hospital. In our emergency department she was lethargic with cool, clammy extremities. Her blood pressure dropped from 113/53 mmHg on arrival to 72/42 mmHg 2 hours later. Echocardiography showed massive pericardial effusion, fair left ventricular contractility and no abnormal segmental motion. The echocardiographic appearance suggested fibrin-like substance in the pericardial space, which was felt to indicate the presence of blood. Enhanced chest computerized tomography showed extravasation of contrast medium from the right ventricular outflow tract. At surgery, a small perforation was found at the infundibular area of the right ventricle, and a total of 500 mL of blood had accumulated in the pericardial space. She was discharged 7 days postoperatively, having made an uneventful recovery. External cardiac massage may cause cardiac disruption, and this should be considered in patients who have secondary hemodynamic instability following successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.


This study provides new insights into the complex three- phase system of the Blake Ridge site, offshore South Carolina. A new numerical reaction- transport model has been applied to better understand: 1) the co- existence of dissolved and gaseous methane within the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone (GHSZ) (Guerin et al., 1999, Taylor et al., 2000), and 2) the origin and nature of high methane fluxes associated with the presence of cold seeps and venting sites (Paull and Matsumoto, 2000). Based on our numerical simulation accounting for sediment deposition and compaction, microbial processes of methane oxidation via sulfate reduction (AOM), methanogenesis and organic matter degradation, we would like to present a new scenario of gas hydrate crystallization within the time frame of a basin history.


The debate on the environment-poverty nexus is inconclusive, with past research unable to identify the causal dynamics. This paper uses a unique global panel data set that links (survey and census derived) poverty data to measures of environmental quality at the subnational level. The analysis uses vegetation vigor as a proxy for above-ground environmental quality and soil fertility as proxy for below-ground environmental quality. Rainfall is used to account for endogeneity issues in an instrumental variable approach. This is the first global study using quasi-experimental methods to uncover to what degree environmental quality matters for poverty reduction. The paper draws three main conclusions. (1) The environment matters for poverty reduction. The panel regression suggests that a 10 percent increase in vegetation vigor is associated with a poverty headcount ratio reduction of nearly 0.7 percentage point in rural areas, and 1 percentage point in Sub-Saharan Africa. A 10 percent increase in soil quality leads to a roughly 2 percentage point decrease in poverty rates in rural areas and in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2) The effects of environmental quality on poverty are stronger than its effects on average income, suggesting that the poor benefit disproportionately from environmental quality. (3) In situ environmental quality improvements are pro-poor, in contrast to urbanization. Although urbanization has highly significant and sizable correlations with GDP per capita, it is not significantly correlated with poverty reduction.


The advent of efficient interior point optimization methods has enabled the tractable solution of large-scale linear and nonlinear programming (NLP) problems. A prominent example of such a method is seen in Ipopt, a widely-used, open-source nonlinear optimization solver. Algorithmically, Ipopt depends on the use of a sparse symmetric indefinite linear system solver, which is heavily employed within the optimization of barrier subproblems. As such, the performance and reliability of Ipopt is dependent on the properties of the selected linear solver. Inspired by a trend in mathematical programming toward solving larger and more challenging NLPs, this work explores two core questions: first, how does the scalability of available linear solvers, many of which exhibit shared-memory parallelism, impact Ipopt performance; and second, does the best linear solver vary across NLP problem classes, including nonlinear network problems and problems constrained by partial differential equations? To better understand these properties, this paper first describes available open- and closed-source, serial and parallel linear solvers and the fundamental differences among them. Second, it introduces the coupling of a new open-source linear solver capable of heterogeneous parallelism over multi-core central processing units and graphics processing units. Third, it compares linear solvers using a variety of mathematical programming problems, including standard test problems for linear and nonlinear optimization, optimal power flow benchmarks, and scalable two- and three-dimensional partial differential equation and optimal control problems. Finally, linear solver recommendations are provided to maximize Ipopt performance across different application domains.


Burn injuries constitute one of the most important public health concerns particularly in the developing countries. In our country, the natural gas is used as a common source of energy for domestic heating, cooking and etc; consequently the burn accident caused by gas is considerable. The aim of present study was to document the prevalent epidemiologic pattern and outcome of domestic gas burn injuries in Tehran Burn Century in order to provide vital information for advance strategies to reducing the frequency of burns. This retrospective study was performed on patients with domestic gas burns who were admitted to the Motahary hospital, a referral hospital and burn center in Tehran. Demographic and clinical data were gathered from medical records of the patients admitted to this hospital from March 2008 to March 2013 by a predefined questionnaire. Results showed that: A total of 1374 patients included in this study, 1067 (77.7%) were males and 307 (22.3%) were females. The mean age was 33.4±16.3 years (max: 1 and min 87 years old).The mean length of hospital stay was 13.3±11.4 day (range 1-83 days). The overall mortality rate was 21.2% (291 out of 1374). Among all of patients, more frequent cause are caused by town gas (methane gas) with 832 (60.6%), followed by domestic LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) with 542 (39.4%).inConclusion:regardless the fact that burns are an important public health point in Iran, there is noticeable imperfection of work place safety regulation, so safe home and kitchen appliance should be provided for consumers.


In diabetic neuropathic subjects, alteration in the properties of the foot sole soft tissue occur due to abnormally high tissue stresses and stress gradients at the skin-fat interface. This paper presents a new noninvasive method to perform characterization of texture changes in foot sole soft tissue ultrasound (US) images as observed to occur with progress of diabetes using wavelet transform. Thus, we can possibly detect the extent of structural changes that occur in case of diabetes in response to abnormal loading conditions of foot sole soft tissue and may signify as early predisposing factors in ulcer formation. US images were acquired by placing a 7.5 MHz linear array scanner, over the dermal-epidermal junction of the soft tissue in parallel to the skin surface. The US images and the foot sole hardness were measured using a Shore meter (in degree Shore) for both normal (30 feet areas) and diabetic subjects (40 feet areas). In this method, features were derived using the discrete wavelet transform in two dimensions for the purpose of texture classification. Apart from good discrimination ability of features, they also bear a strong relationship with the foot sole soft tissue hardness as suggested by high correlation values of the order of 0.85 and above. Thus, different values of features may signify different stages of progress of diabetes and possibly help the clinician in taking appropriate preventive measures.


This study finds that the growth in labour costs in China is not passed through fully to final prices in China, neither in the tradable goods sector nor in the economy as a whole. This probably reflects the strong pressure on profit margins from a highly competitive environment, especially in manufactured goods. The potential implications of labour cost increases in China for global inflation pressures are also discussed.


In this paper, issues related to the physical design and layout density of FinFET standard cells are discussed. Analysis significantly extends previous analyses, which considered the simplistic case of a single FinFET device or extremely simple circuits. Results show that analysis of a single device cannot predict the layout density of FinFET cells, due to the additional spacing constraints imposed by the standard cell structure. Results on the layout density of FinFET standard cell circuits are derived by building and analyzing various cell libraries in 32-nm technology, based on three-terminal (3T) and four-terminal (4T) devices, as well as on the recently proposed cells with mixed 3T-4T devices (MT). The results obtained for spacer- and lithography-defined FinFETs are observed from the technology scaling perspective by also considering 45- and 65-nm libraries. The effect of the fin and cell height on the layout density is studied. Results show that 3T and MT FinFET standard cells can have the same layout density as bulk cells (or better) for low (moderate) fin heights. Instead, 4T standard cells have an unacceptably worse layout density. Hence, MT standard cells turn out to be the only viable option to apply back biasing in FinFET standard cell circuits.


With kernel static tracepoints, it is now possible to add instrumentation to the Linux kernel and obtain a low overhead trace of the whole system. However, these static tracepoints may be insufficient to diagnose the source of a functional or performance problem. Dynamic instrumentation fills the gap by enabling the insertion of additional tracepoints in other locations at run time. This article presents a new approach for tracing the Linux kernel with dynamic and static tracepoints. These tracepoints will be conditional. Conditions are defined using complex expressions that employ the code variables and make use of arithmetic and logic operations. These expressions are written using C-like syntax. Both static and dynamic tracepoints will evaluate and collect expressions similar to those used for conditions. In addition, static tracepoints will collect the static tracepoint data, as defined by the TRACE_EVENT macro used to define tracepoints in the Linux kernel. Our tool was implemented based on GDB and KGTP, which is a GDB stub in kernel-space that partially implements dynamic tracepoints.


MANY years ago at a summer library school held in a university town, contemporaneously with other educational courses, I took part in an amusing debate between the students of librarianship and the rest of the students, belonging to the teaching profession, on the resolution that the library was more important to the nation than the school. We,—i.e., the librarians,—lost the debate, the teachers being considerably larger in numbers than were we, but greatly to our surprise we won over a number of the teachers, and with perhaps more justice than is usual in similar cases, naturally claimed a moral victory.


This project documents my efforts to publish STSand gender theory-informed articles in engineering education journals. It analyzes the processes of writing and revising three articles submitted to three different journals, aiming to shed light on the field of engineering education, gender research therein, and contribute to feminist science studies literature on the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary work across women's studies and STEM fields. Building upon Wenger's concept of brokering, I analyze how I brought previously underexplored STS and feminist theory literature into engineering education journals. In producing this dissertation, I aim to illuminate some of the efforts and challenges of bringing STS and Women's Studies (WS) topics into engineering education journals – thus producing an account of brokering practices and an example of scalable scholarship. The first chapter introduces engineering education research (EER) as a field of inquiry, situates my project with respect to current feminist science studies, summarizes the framework of brokering that informs my analyses, and describes my methodology. The second chapter describes my initial attempts at brokering by identifying and bridging differences and the preliminary brokering practices that emerged through writing and revising the first of my three articles. It discusses an article published in Journal of Engineering Education that analyzes the uses of feminist theory in EER and argues that further engagement with a broader range of feminist theories could benefit EER. The third chapter describes how some of these practices were reinforced, but also supplemented, while writing and revising the second article. It discusses an article published in International Journal of Engineering Education that analyzes problematizations of underrepresentation in EER and argues that further reflection upon and formal discussion of how underrepresentation is framed could benefit EER. The forth chapter describes how the established brokering practices guided writing the third article, making the process easier as I had become more comfortable with the requirements and challenges of brokering. It discusses an article submitted to European Journal of Engineering Education that analyzes feminist research methodologies in the context of EER, using data from interviews with feminist engineering educators. The fifth chapter concludes by summarizing the brokering practices and discussing their respective challenges, discussing the implications of this project for STS and WS, and, finally, by discussing other implications for peer review engineering education. The Appendix contains aims, scope, author guidelines, and review criteria for the three journals. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 each begin with a narrative recounting of the practices of brokering that went into producing and revising each article. The narratives describe processes of writing and preparing to submit the articles, reviews received, and subsequent revision processes. The published or submitted articles appear after the brokering narrative.


Objective The study examined whether the addition of a night splint to eccentric exercises is beneficial for functional outcome in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Design One-year follow-up of a randomised controlled single blinded clinical trial. Setting Sports medicine department in a general hospital. Patients 58 patients (70 tendons) were included. Interventions All patients completed a 12-week heavy load eccentric training programme. One group received a night splint in addition to eccentric exercises. Main outcome measurements Outcome scores were: Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment—Achilles (VISAA) score, subjective patient satisfaction and neovascularisation score measured with power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU). Results For both groups the VISA-A score increased significantly (from 50 to 76 (p<0.01) in the eccentric group and from 49 to 78 (p<0.01) in the night splint group). No significant differences in the VISA-A score were found between the groups from baseline to one year (p = 0.32). The presence of neovessels at baseline did not predict a change in the VISA-A score after one year in the whole group (p = 0.71). Conclusion Eccentric exercises with or without a night splint improved functional outcome at one year follow-up. At follow-up there was no significant difference in clinical outcome when a night splint was used in addition to an eccentric exercise programme. Between 3 months and one year follow-up, a continuing increase in the VISA-A score was found. Assessment of the neovascularisation score with PDU at baseline has no prognostic value on long-term clinical outcome.


Background: The athletic heart screen (AS) for sudden cardiac death (SD) detection is controversial in the USA. EKG use is common in AS programs but ECHO is uncommon. Our study aims to determine the effectiveness of ECHO in identifying athletes at risk for SD that would have been missed without ECHO and to evaluate the cost of AS. Methods: AS and medical records were reviewed. AS consisted of a self-completed questionnaire, EKG and limited ECHO. AS were abnormal at the discretion of the reader at the time they were reviewed. Data is expressed as percentage. Cost is calculated using average reimbursement for the ensuing initial cardiac evaluation. Results: In 10 years, 2016 AS were randomly assigned to 5 pediatric cardiologists. There were 336 (16.7%) abnormal AS. The rate of abnormal AS was 79/244 (12.1%), 19/190 (10%), 82/630 (31.2%), 7/63 (11%), and 164/889 (18.4%) for the reviewers, representing a wide variability in the percentage of abnormal AS among reviewers. This resulted in 166 (49.4%) initial cardiac evaluations leading to 207 noninvasive testing in addition to repeat EKG in some cases. Testing included ECHO, Holter, stress test and cardiac CT and MRI. Initial evaluation was normal in 103 (62.0%) cases. Invasive interventions included: 3 small ASD closures, 1 moderate PDA closure, an EP ablation for WPW, and 1 surgery for abnormal right coronary artery origin (ARCA). In the remaining 57 (34.3%) cases, the cardiac abnormalities identified were mild including: prominent aortic root, premature complexes, and mild left-sided valve abnormalities in asymptomatic individuals. Conservatively, 2 diagnoses would be low risk for SD: WPW and ARCA representing An abnormal AS was made by ECHO in 184/336 (54.8%) cases leading to 105 evaluations: 55 (52.4%) were normal, 45 (42.8%) had mild abnormalities, and 5 (4.8%) had the ASD and PDA closures, and the coronary surgery. The cost of 2016 AS was $100,000. The cost of the 166 first evaluations performed including noninvasive testing was $160,462. Conclusions: AS results are reviewer-dependent and low yield for detecting conditions at high risk for SD. The addition of ECHO can identify mild congenital heart disease and coronary abnormalities at the expense of increasing costs, acutely and long term.


MapReduce frameworks, e.g., Hadoop, have been used extensively in different applications that include machine learning, and spatial processing. In meantime, huge volumes of spatio-temporal trajectory data are coming from different sources over sometime, raised the demand to exploit the efficiency of Hadoop, coupled with the flexibility of the MapReduce framework, in trajectory data processing. This work describes Summit; a full-fledged MapReduce framework with native support for trajectory data.