We introduce a nonparametric Bayesian model, called TAX, which can organize image collections into a tree-shaped taxonomy without supervision. The model is inspired by the Nested Chinese Restaurant Process (NCRP) and associates each image with a path through the taxonomy. Similar images share initial segments of their paths and thus share some aspects of their representation. Each internal node in the taxonomy represents information that is common to multiple images. We explore the properties of the taxonomy through experiments on a large (~104) image collection with a number of users trying to locate quickly a given image. We find that the main benefits are easier navigation through image collections and reduced description length. A natural question is whether a taxonomy is the optimal form of organization for natural images. Our experiments indicate that although taxonomies can organize images in a useful manner, more elaborate structures may be even better suited for this task.


The basic difficulty that confronts all workers in deep therapy is the lack of standardizedtechniquefor the purposeof comparingresults. Thesetables representthe calculatedand experimentalresults of ProfessorVoltz's work with the use of 0.5 millimetre zinc filters; they would be invaluableto any worker using such filtration,' enabling him to compare his results with those of other workers using the same filtration and employing these tables as a guide. The tables are based on the "percentageof the depth dose," this being the ratio, expressedas a percentage, between the intensity at a depth of ten centimetresand that at the skin surface when the focal-skin distance is twenty-three centimetresand the port of entry six by eight centimetres. The ratio must be determined accurately before the tables can be employed and Professor Voltz gives the necessarydetails for its determination, favouring the iontoquantimetermethod of estimating intensity. Secondin order of accuracyfor this purposehe placesthe Kienbock strips and the seleniumcell third, in contradictionof the work of Kroenig and Friedrich, which seemsto show that the order of theseshould be reversed.


Stanton A. Cook was a plant ecologist who studied Escholzia and Ranunculus at the University of California and the University of Oregon, starting in the 1950s. This interview was conducted at Dr. Cook's home in Eugene, Oregon, and focused on his early research, and his interaction with researchers at the University College of North Wales in Bangor, Wales.


Logging is a key mechanism in the security of computer systems. Beyond supporting important forward security properties, it is critical that logging withstands both failures and intentional tampering to prevent subtle attacks leaving the system in an inconsistent state with inconclusive evidence. We propose new techniques combining forward integrity with crash recovery for secure log data storage. As the support of forward integrity and online nature of logging prevent the use of conventional coding, we propose and analyze a coding scheme resolving these unique design constraints. Specifically, our coding enables forward integrity, online encoding, and most importantly a constant number of operations per encoding. It adds a new log item by XORing it to forward-securely selected k cells of a table. If up to a certain threshold of cells is modified by the adversary, or lost due to a crash, we still guarantee recovery of all stored log items. The main advantage of the coding scheme is its efficiency and compatibility with forward integrity. A key contribution of the paper is the use of spectral graph theory techniques to prove that k is constant in the number n of all log items ever stored and small in practice, e.g., k = 5. Moreover, we prove that to cope with up to √ n lost log items, storage expansion is asymptotically constant in n and small in practice. For k = 5, the total size of the table is only 12% more than the simple concatenation of all n items. We instantiate our scheme into an abstract data structure which allows to either detect adversarial modifications to log items or treat modifications like data loss in a system crash. The data structure can recover lost log items, thereby effectively reverting adversarial modifications.


With the development of semiconductor technology and the increment quantity of metal layers in past few years, backside EFA (Electrical Failure Analysis) technology has become the dominant method. In this paper, abnormally high Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) signal captured by Electro-Optical Probing (EOP)/Laser Voltage Probing (LVP) from backside is shown and the cause of these phenomena are studied. Based on the real case collection, two kinds of failure mode are summarized, and simulated experiments are performed. The results indicate that when a current path from power to ground is formed, the high SNR signal can be captured at the transistor which was on this current path. It is helpful of this consequence for FA to identify the failure mode by high SNR signal.


The diagnosis of purpura fulminans was associated with three cases of early-onset group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GBS) disease. All three infants had confirmed bacterial disease, extensive purpuric lesions involving the extremities, and laboratory evidence of a consumptive coagulopathy. All three children survived but had markedly compromised neurologic outcomes. Purpura fulminans has not been previously reported with early-onset GBS disease.


THE MOST obvious physician-caused trouble in the field of allergy is the immediate constitutional reaction caused by the injection of an overdose of antigen during the course of desensitization treatment. Such a reaction can take several forms, including itching of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, urticaria, angioedema, as well as asthma or hay fever—especially if the latter were the patient's clinical complaints. Shock can also occur and, in addition, there may be flushing of the face, headache, or vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms, or any combination of them, are usually associated with a large local redness and swelling at the site of injection.
 The more sensitive the patient and the greater the overdose, the more severe the reaction is likely to be, and the sooner it will occur after injection. Under these circumstances it may resemble anaphylactic shock and, like it, may be fatal. The number of such fatalities is certainly few; I personally can recall only one instance in which such a serious outcome was even in question. However, the patient who experiences a full-blown constitutional reaction is not in a position to take much comfort from statistics and would much prefer that his physician avail himself of all the means at his disposal to anticipate such an occurrence and thereby avoid it. These precautions include observance of the size of the local reaction 10 or 15 minutes after each injection so long as increases in dosage are being made, informing the patient and his parent that malaise, or occurrence of minor symptoms within an hour or two after treatment should be reported, and recognition of the patient initially as being very sensitive from the large size of the skin tests and the degree of severity of symptoms.


This article is a research about the transmission theory of ultrasonic honing device for "Bending Vibration Disc - Flexible Rod - Whetstone Base" subsystem ultrasonic vibration, and gives out an optimization program of the subsystem. It launches a modal analysis of the ultrasonic vibration honing subsystem by using kinetic analysis and element analysis, and gets the resonant frequency, mode vibration shape and node displacement for both optimized and traditional vibration sub-system. The modal vibration shape of the optimized subsystem is well consistent with the requirements of ultrasonic honing, which will greatly improve the processing capability and reliability of the ultrasonic honing device. The modal analysis results agree well with the theoretical analysis and the optimization program, which provided new ideas and methods for the further development of ultrasonic honing technology.


In addition to the spicules typically produced by sponges, about twenty hypercalcified species belonging to both classes Demospongiae and Calcispongiae secrete a massive basal calcareous skeleton composed of calcite or aragonite. Skeletal growth rates and growth mechanisms are still poorly known in those hypercalcified Calcispongiae. In situ calcein staining experimentation on the Mediterranean calcisponge Petrobiona massiliana revealed a mean annual growth rate of the massive skeleton of 236 µm/y (±90). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that some spicules are entrapped within the massive skeleton (a solid mass forming apical crests with multidirectional growth axes) during its formation. Whole actines were observed within the massive skeleton of fractured specimens, indicating that they do not dissolve after entrapping. Calcein incorporation bands seen through epifluorescence microscopy and SEM morphological observations of the skeletal surface revealed cone shaped protuberances corresponding to active growth areas. A spatially discontinuous growth was highlighted, but the annual growth rates were similar at the tip of crests and at the bottom of depressions separating them. The skeleton of P. massiliana is composed of magnesium calcite with strontium as the main trace element. Significant differences in skeletal chemistry of specimens collected in different Mediterranean locations revealed a possible temperature dependence of Mg/Ca. Although such temperature signature exists in the massive skeleton of P. massiliana, its use as an accurate environmental recorder is limited by several factors including multidirectional and spatially discontinuous growth.


Two different relationships have been proposed by the authors, individually, for the calculation of the densities of glasses from their compositions. These relationships are here compared with regard to accuracy, composition limitations, relationships between their constants, etc. The Stevels equation is useful in supplying values (accurate to within about 2%) of the density of glasses having a high proportion of network formers (e.g., Si, B, and Al). Whether or not it is applicable, with different constants, when the content of network modifiers (e.g., Na, Ca, and Pb) is high, has not been determined. The Huggins relationship involves more empirical constants, including two which have different values, depending on which of four composition ranges is pertinent. It is considerably more accurate for well-annealed glasses of accurately known composition. Difficulties arise in applying it to glasses having a high content of network formers other than silicon or to glasses having components for which accurate values of the necessary constant have not previously been deduced. It is interesting to note that the limiting conditions of the Stevels equation lead, at least for the sodium silicate system, to the same breaks of the volume-concentration curves as found by Huggins. Comparison of the two relationships yields a better understanding of the reasons for the long-realized fact that the presence of certain elements, such as Li, Be, and Ti, invalidates the Stevels equation.


Background: Vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) prevents HPV infections and, consequently, cervical lesions. However, the effect of vaccination on HPV transmission within couples is unknown. Methods: We used data from HITCH, a prospective cohort study of heterosexual couples (women ages 18–24 years) in Montreal, 2005 to 2013. Vaccination history was self-reported. Genital samples were tested for HPV DNA by PCR (linear array). Type-specific viral loads were quantified using real-time PCR. OR and HR were estimated using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression and a parametric model for interval- censored survival-time data, respectively. Differences in viral loads were evaluated using the Friedman ANOVA test. Results: Among 497 couples, 12, 16, and 35 women received 1, 2, or 3 vaccination doses at baseline, respectively. Median age at vaccination was 18 years. Most women (92.1%) had their first coitus before vaccination. At baseline, partner concordance of persistent HPV6/11/16/18 infections was lower in vaccinated than unvaccinated women [adjusted OR = 0.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01–0.65] but not for non α7/α9/α10-HPV types (adjusted OR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.44–2.29). Incidence of persistent α7/α9/α10 HPV types in women was inversely associated with vaccination status at baseline (adjusted HR = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03–0.47). Likewise, male partners of vaccinated women had a lower incidence of α7/α9/α10 HPV infections (adjusted OR = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05–0.95). Vaccinated women with HPV 6/11/16/18 infections had lower viral loads (P = 0.001) relative to unvaccinated women. Conclusions: Vaccination of sexually active women significantly reduced transmission of α7/α9/α10 HPV types in heterosexual couples. Impact: These results underscore and quantify the positive effect of HPV vaccination on HPV transmission within heterosexual couples.


Osteoporosis is a global problem which results in increased fractures risk. The reports from earlier studies were inconsistent with the aging factor as well as the time which is needed to induce bone loss post-ovariectomy. This study aimed to determine the short-term effects of estrogen deficiency on bone structural histomorphometric parameters in young rats. 30 Sprague-Dawley female rats weighing 250 to 300 g were assigned to baseline, sham-operated and ovariectomy groups. The baseline group (n = 10) was sacrificed immediately. Sham-operated rats (SO, n = 10) underwent sham operation while ovariectomised group (OVX, n =10) underwent bilateral ovariectomy. All the rats were sacrificed 6 weeks post-ovariectomy. Following sacrifice, the right femora were dissected and subjected to the histomorphometric analysis using modified Von Kossa method. Bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and trabecular number (Tb.N) reduced significantly, while trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) increased significantly in the ovariectomized rats, compared to the baseline and sham groups 6 weeks postovariectomy (P<0.001). In the other hand, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) was consistent among the groups (P=0.41). Estrogen deficiency resulted in marked decline in BV/TV which most probably attributed to a reduction in Tb.N. In contrast, Tb.Th was found to be preserved following estrogen loss. Hence, the period of 6 weeks post-ovariectomy was sufficient to induce osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats without affecting Tb.Th.


: It is known from literature about antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, membrane protective and adreniregulatory properties of N-acetylethanolamines, but data concerning their participation in regulation of steroidogenesis are insufficient. In order to study the influence of a synthetic analogue of endogenous canabinoid anandamide - metanandamide - on the intensity of steroidogenesis the influence of different concentrations of the drug on the contents of 11-hydroxicorticosteroides (11-HCS) in the culture medium after incubation of adrenal tissue in rats of both sexes was investigated. The quantitative determination of 11-HCS was conducted by fluorometric micromethod. It was shown that the incubation of tissue sections with metanandamide leads to a reduction of 11-HCS in males and an increase of their content in females. It was concluded that the inhibition of corticosteroid secretion and synthesis in males may be due to reduction of cAMP and inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) under the effect of metanandamide. The opposite and dose-dependent effects of the preparation in females may be connected with the estrogen influence on the mechanisms of drug effect realization.


The'greening'of mature aerenchymatous adventitious roots of Phragmrtes auttralis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel, rice, maize, Atorm calamus L., and Epilobium hirsutum L., when exposed to light was found to be due to chloroplast development in the cortex. In Phragmites, maize and rice, which are characterized by lysigenous cortical aerenchymos, chlomplasts developed not only in normally intact cortical cell layers adjacent to the exodermis/hypodermis and endodermis, but also in isolated radial cellular strands (and isolated cells) between the lacunae, cells which had failed to collapse during the active phase of aerenchyma development. The observation provides conclusive evidence for the continuing viability and the potential for active metabolism of the non-lysed cells of lysigenous aerenchymas. In Acortis and Epitobium, chloroplast development occurred in the cells of the schisogettmts cortical aerenchymas. In Phragmites, chloroplasts also developed in the non-aerenchymatous cortex of illuminated fine basal lateral roots.


Diminishing error tolerance renders the customization of patterns created through directed self-assembly (DSA) extremely challenging at tighter pitch. A self-aligned customization scheme can be achieved using a hybrid prepattern comprising both organic and inorganic regions that serves as a guiding prepattern to direct the self-assembly of the block copolymers as well as a cut mask pattern for the DSA arrays aligned to it. In this paper, chemoepitaxy-based self-aligned customization is demonstrated using two types of organic-inorganic prepatterns. CHEETAH prepattern for "CHemoepitaxy Etch Trim using a self-Aligned Hardmask" of preferential hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ, inorganic resist), non-preferential organic underlayer is fabricated using electron beam lithography. Customized trench or hole arrays can be achieved through co-transfer of DSA-formed arrays and CHEETAH prepattern. Herein, we also introduce a tone-reversed version called reverse-CHEETAH (or rCHEETAH) in which customized line segments can be achieved through co-transfer of DSA-formed arrays formed on a prepattern wherein the inorganic HSQ regions are nonpreferential and the organic regions are PMMA preferential. Examples of two-dimensional self-aligned customization including 25nm pitch fin structures and an 8-bar "IBM" illustrate the versatility of this customization scheme using rCHEETAH.


Recent years have witnessed a revival of interest in the Great Depression of the 1930s. Among the differing new interpretations, that of the real business cycle (RBC) is particularly significant. It represents an outstanding methodological innovation in trying to cast the Great Depression within an "equilibrium" framework. This paper critically reviews the RBC interpretation of the Great Depression, clarifying its theoretical and methodological foundations, and paving the way for future assessments of its validity.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The sub-saharan livestock feed industry depends on imported soyabean meal (SBM) as a dietary protein source in feeds thus making livestock production costly. This calls for the search and development of local dietary protein sources. Using Sprague Dawley rats to model monogastric animals, this study evaluated the potential of Ximenia caffra kernel meal (XCKM) to substitute SBM as a dietary protein source in feeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Five diets were formulated wherein XCKM replaced SBM on a crude protein basis at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. In the digestibility trial, 20 adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to the 5 diets. After a 12-day adaptation period feed and nutrient intake, faeces and urine output were determined over a 5-day collection period. Apparent Total Tract Digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and nitrogen absorption and retention were determined. In the growth trial, 40 weanling male SD rats were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments and fed for 38 days. The rats were weighed twice weekly. Following euthanasia, gastrointestinal viscera were harvested and their macro-morphometry determined. Linear growth was determined from tibiae and femora indices.

RESULTS
In adult rats dietary XCKM had no (p>0.05) effect on ATTD of nutrients. At 100% substitution of SBM, XCKM increased (p<0.05) faecal nitrogen loss while at 75% substitution level it increased (p<0.05) nitrogen retention. In growing SD rats, although dietary XCKM had no effect (p>0.05) on the terminal body and empty carcass mass and viscera macro-morphometry, at 100% SBM substitution, it significantly compromised (p<0.05) body mass gain and average daily gain. Femora and tibiae mass and seed or index significantly decreased (p<0.05) with increased dietary XCKM.

CONCLUSION
The XCKM could replace SBM as a dietary protein source in adult SD rat feeds without compromising ATTD digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen utilization thus it could be speculated that XCKM can be utilized as a dietary protein source in feeds of mature monogastrics. Caution must be exercised in using XCKM in grower rat diets as its use at higher inclusion levels compromised growth performance and long bone health.


As the composite of materials, fibers compositing, which can give full play to synergism of each fiber's reinforcement, will become an inevitable trend. Calcium carbonate whisker is a kind of green environment-friendly fibrous powder filler with high strength, high modulus and excellent thermal stability, which has been proven that it has obviously toughening and reinforcing effects on cement-based materials. In this paper, CaCO3 whiskers composite with polypropylene fiber were added into concrete as reinforcement. Effect of different content of whiskers and fibers on the mechanical properties of concrete was investigated. The results shows that the composite of CaCO3 whisker and polypropylene fiber (PP) has better toughening and reinforcing effects than that of single filler. The strength of whiskers/PPF-reinforced concrete can be obviously improved compared with that of pure concrete, whisker concrete and PPF concrete. These increases could be correlated to the synergism of PPF and CaCO3 whisker, which are different in size, aspect ratio, elastic modulus, and reinforcing role in concrete.


: The authors used vernier calipers for measurement of the thyroid remnant during operation with special reference to data of an emergency histological analysis which determined the state of toxicosis, lymphoid infiltration, the presence of the extrafollicular epithelium. In addition, the patient's age, duration of the disease and taking thyreostatics was considered. It determined an individual approach to solution of the question of size of the gland to be left. The fate of the remnant thyroid was followed-up with the help of echography. In the majority of patients with diffuse toxic goiter a 90% increase of the remnant as compared with the initial data was noted in a month after operation, six months later it was 126%, a year later 186%. Close functional correlation was found between the data of histological investigations, age of the patients, duration of the disease and taking thyreostatics.


Background—Incomplete penetrance and variable expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is well appreciated. Common genetic polymorphisms variants that may affect HCM penetrance and expression have been predicted but are not well established. Methods and Results—We performed a case-control genomewide association study to identify common HCM-associated genetic polymorphisms and then asked whether such common variants were more represented in HCM or could explain the heterogeneity of HCM phenotypes. We identified an intronic FHOD3 variant (rs516514) associated with HCM (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.76–3.41; P=1.25×10−7) and validated this finding in an independent cohort. Next, we tested FHOD3-V1151I (rs2303510), a nonsynonymous variant in partial linkage disequilibrium with rs516514, and we detected an even stronger association with HCM (P=1.76×10−9). Although HCM patients were more likely to carry these, FHOD3 allele subjects homozygous for FHOD3-1151I had similar HCM phenotypes as carriers of the V1151 allele. FHOD3 expression is increased in the setting of HCM, and both alleles of FHOD3-V1151I were detected in HCM myectomy tissue. Previously, FHOD3 was found to be required for formation of the sarcomere, and here we demonstrate that its fly homolog fhos is required for normal adult heart systolic contraction. Conclusions—Here we demonstrate the association of a common nonsynonymous FHOD3 genetic variant with HCM. This discovery further strengthens the potential role of gene mutations and polymorphisms that alter the amino acid sequence of sarcomere proteins and HCM.


Modulation constraints of practically any degree of complexity can be described by a state transition table with a finite number (Omega) of states. Examples include all (d,k;c) codes (where (Omega) <EQ 2(k + 1)(2c + 1)), more general codes with run-length limitations, and run- length limited codes which exclude certain bit-patterns. From the state transition table we construct a trellis diagram for code words of arbitrary length LO. If desired, the trellis may be confined in the beginning and/or at the end to a subset of states. We then show a simple method of enumeration that assigns a number to each code word in the trellis according to is lexicographic order. All the necessary information for enumerative encoding and decoding of binary data will be subsequently stored in an array of size LO X (Omega) ; both encoding and decoding can be achieved with a few simple operations using this table. In short, arbitrarily long blocks of data can be encoded into sequences that satisfy arbitrary constraints, with algorithms that are easy to implement. Since no additional constraints are imposed, the rates approach Shannon's noiseless channel capacity in the limit of long sequences. We present ideas for correction of random errors that occur in modulated sequences, so that errors in readout can be corrected prior to demodulation. The post-modulation error correction codes are necessary when modulation code words are long, in which case small errors can destroy large quantities of data. Also introduced in this paper is a simple, efficient algorithm for burst-error-correction. The primary application of the ideas of this paper is in the area of data encoding/decoding as applied in magnetic and optical data storage systems.


This paper attempts to develop concepts of multimodal objects made out of the interaction between space and sound though motion. The present paper is mostly descriptive and tries to gather experiences in order to delimit a new field of applications, concepts and method. My purpose is to describe some specificities of sound navigation design, starting from everyday life experience and cultural backgrounds towards virtual reality. My point of view will be that of a sound designer. I will examine different methods of implementation related to several sound navigation concepts and metaphors related to this particular approach. For this purpose, I will take different examples mainly in my works to show how some kind of scenarios propose different ways to link motion to sound, what kind of sound behaviours they produce, how they can be created and controlled, what kind of human and artistic experience they offer.


A series of low‐frequency (190–310 Hz), bottom‐backscattering strength measurements were made on the Scotian Continental Rise in August 1993 using combinations of short‐duration cw and HFM signals. Grazing angles realized were between 5 and 30 deg. A characteristic of many sites were strong (on the order of 10 dB) oscillations with a grazing angle superimposed on generally Mackenzian backscatter. The oscillatory behavior is due to caustics within the sediment, i.e., a propagation effect. Previous modeling of this general area [P. D. Mourad and D. R. Jackson, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 94, 344–358 (1993)] predicted such an oscillatory behavior but only for unrealistic sediment sound–speed profiles. An alternative bottom‐scattering model is proposed with the goal of predicting the observed scatter using a more realistic geoacoustic model. Measurement/model comparisons will be presented for several representative sites. [Work supported by SPAWAR, NRL, and ONR.]


The extraction kinetics of polyphenols, which are leached from red vine leaves, are studied and evaluated using a laboratory robot and nonconventional processing techniques such as ultrasonic (US)-, microwave (MW)-, and pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted extraction processes. The robotic high-throughput screening reveals optimal extraction conditions at a pH value of 2.5, a temperature of 56 °C, and a solvent mixture of methanol:water:HCl of 50:49:1 v/v/v. Nonconventional processing techniques, such as MW- and US-assisted extraction, have the fastest kinetics and produce the highest polyphenol yield. The non-conventional techniques yield is 2.29 g/L (MW) resp. 2.47 g/L (US) for particles that range in size from 450 to 2000 µm and 2.20 g/L (MW) resp. 2.05 g/L (US) for particles that range from 2000 to 4000 µm. PEF has the lowest yield of polyphenols with 0.94 g/L (450–2000 µm), resp. 0.64 g/L (2000–4000 µm) in comparison to 1.82 g/L (2000 to 4000 µm) in a standard stirred vessel (50 °C). When undried red vine leaves (2000 to 4000 µm) are used the total phenol content is 1.44 g/L with PEF.


Learning about users' utilities from preference, discrete choice or implicit feedback data is of integral importance in e-commerce, targeted advertising and web search. Due to the sparsity and diffuse nature of data, Bayesian approaches hold much promise, yet most prior work does not scale up to realistic data sizes. We shed light on why inference for such settings is computationally difficult for standard machine learning methods, most of which focus on predicting explicit ratings only. To simplify the difficulty, we present a novel expectation maximization algorithm, driven by expectation propagation approximate inference, which scales to very large datasets without requiring strong factorization assumptions. Our utility model uses both latent bilinear collaborative filtering and non-parametric Gaussian process (GP) regression. In experiments on large real-world datasets, our method gives substantially better results than either matrix factorization or GPs in isolation, and converges significantly faster.


Deep learning (DL) based image processing methods have been successfully applied to low-dose x-ray images based on the assumption that the feature distribution of the training data is consistent with that of the test data. However, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) images from different commercial scanners may contain different amounts and types of image noise, violating this assumption. Moreover, in the application of DL based image processing methods to LDCT, the feature distributions of LDCT images from simulation and clinical CT examination can be quite different. Therefore, the network models trained with simulated image data or LDCT images from one specific scanner may not work well for another CT scanner and image processing task. To solve such domain adaptation problem, in this study, a novel generative adversarial network (GAN) with noise encoding transfer learning (NETL), or GAN-NETL, is proposed to generate a paired dataset with a different noise style. Specifically, we proposed a method to perform noise encoding operator and incorporate it into the generator to extract a noise style. Meanwhile, with a transfer learning (TL) approach, the image noise encoding operator transformed the noise type of the source domain to that of the target domain for realistic noise generation. One public and two private datasets are used to evaluate the proposed method. Experiment results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed GAN-NETL model in LDCT image synthesis. In addition, we conduct additional image denoising study using the synthesized clinical LDCT data, which verified the merit of the proposed synthesis in improving the performance of the DL based LDCT processing method.


As more US companies source tooling development and manufacturing overseas in countries like China and Taiwan, are the need and primary drivers for product platforms diminishing? As tooling cost is reduced to a very small percentage of the total project cost, combined with availability of inexpensive purchased components and low labour rates, the need to develop product platforms can decrease substantially. Low cost outsourcing has given firms the ability to develop and manufacture products cheaply without having to spend the additional time and effort to develop product platforms and families. In this paper, two examples involving two consumer product companies and their product lines are presented. Product family components and estimated tooling costs are analyzed, as well as development timing and profit margins to demonstrate why companies are moving away from product platforms in certain types of consumer products. A novel methodology using component commonality decisions relating to major cost drivers is introduced and applied to both examples. Based on the evidence from the examples presented in this paper, there appears to be little financial or functional benefit to develop product platforms that share common components or subsystems when these products are being manufactured offshore; however, even when considering outsourcing, platform-based product development principles can still yield tangible improvements in production costs over the life of the product.


Reducing losses in the secondary air system of gas and steam turbines can significantly increase the efficiency of such machines. Meanwhile, brush seals are a widely used alternative to labyrinth seals. Their most valuable advantage over other sealing concepts is the very small gap between the sealing package and the rotor and thus reduced leakage mass flow. This small gap can be achieved due to the great radial flexibility without running the risk of severe detrimental deterioration in case of rubbing. Rubbing between rotor and seal during operation might occur as a result of e.g., an unequal thermal expansion of the rotor and stator or a rotor elongation due to centrifugal forces or manoeuvre forces. Thanks to the flexible structure of the brush seal, the contact forces during a rubbing event are reduced; however, the frictional heat input can still be considerable. Particularly in aircraft engines with their thin and lightweight rotor structures, the permissible material stresses can easily be exceeded by an increased heat input and thus harm the engine's integrity. The geometry of the seal has a decisive influence on the resulting contact forces and consequently the heat input. This paper is a contribution to further understand the influence of the geometrical parameters of the brush seal on the heat input and the leakage during the rubbing of the seal on the rotor. In this paper, a total of three seals with varied back plate inner diameter are examined in more detail. The experimental tests were carried out on the brush seal test rig of the Institute of Thermal Turbomachinery (ITS) under machine-relevant conditions. These are represented by pressure differences of 1 to 7 bar, surface speeds of 30 to 180 m/s and radial interferences of 0.1 to 0.4 mm. For a better interpretation, the results were compared with those obtained at the static test rig of the Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery (IFAS) at the Technical University of Braunschweig. The stiffness, the blow-down and the axial behaviour of the seals as a function of the differential pressure can be examined at this test rig. It could be shown that the back plate inner diameter has a decisive influence on the overall operating behaviour of a brush seal.


A little over a year ago the School of Architecture and Design moved location. One of our new
neighbours, Youth Futures came to us with a proposal. Many of their clients are young people
coming from stressful domestic situations, caused in part by inadequate space in the family
home. Youth Futures explained that space limitations at home can sometimes interfere with a
young person's growing need for independence, which in turn becomes a contributing factor to
family tension, relationship breakdown and ultimately to young people contemplating leaving
home prematurely, often with little or no means of support. Youth Futures are not alone in
believing that there is a demonstrated need for flexible accommodation for young people experiencing
difficulties at home. Kids Under Cover, a Melbourne based youth service organization
have successfully managed a project with a similar agenda. They believe that the provision of a
'bungalow' can make a real difference in situations of overcrowding. They also propose that a
bungalow could make it possible for a foster carer to take on the responsibility of looking after
a young person. In collaboration with Youth Futures and Studentworks (a 'high-school alternative' workshop),
The University of Tasmania Architecture & Design staff and students have completed three
prototype phases of The Castle. The Castle will be deployed from a 'housing bank' into domestic
backyards, driveways or other domestic spaces, with the aim of alleviating family stress. The
School of Architecture & Design is responsible for the design and development, Studentworks
for fabrication and Youth Futures for the management of the housing bank. Other markets,
such as disaster related emergency housing, tourist accommodation and 'starter dwelling', have
also been identified. The Castle has the combined attributes of a caravan, a loft apartment and
an oversized piece of furniture. This chapter describes the development of The Castle, focussing on the education and training
opportunities, the 'panitecture' construction system and the development of its parametric
applications.


In this work, we propose an open-source scalable end-to-end RTL framework FieldHAR, for complex human activ-ity recognition (HAR) from heterogeneous sensors using artificial neural networks (ANN) optimized for FPGA or ASIC integration. FieldHAR aims to address the lack of apparatus to transform complex HAR methodologies often limited to offline evaluation to efficient runtime edge applications. The framework uses parallel sensor interfaces and integer-based multi-branch convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to support flexible modality extensions with synchronous sampling at the maximum rate of each sensor. To validate the framework, we used a sensor-rich kitchen scenario HAR application which was demonstrated in a previous offline study. Through resource-aware optimizations, with FieldHAR the entire RTL solution was created from data acquisition to ANN inference taking as low as 25% logic elements and 2% memory bits of a low-end Cyclone IV FPGA and less than 1% accuracy loss from the original FP32 precision offline study. The RTL implementation also shows advantages over MCU-based solutions, including superior data acquisition performance and virtually eliminating ANN inference bottleneck.


Using a "protein clock," researchers have dated a basic split in the tree of life, between prokaryotes—cells without nuclei—and eukaryotes, to 2 billion years ago. The results, reported on page 470 of this issue, are at odds with some other studies, which have placed this division anywhere from 3.5 billion to 1.6 billion years ago. The scientists have also used this clock, based on differences among 57 different enzymes found in 15 groups of organisms from bacteria to baboons, to date the origins of all major groups of organisms on the planet.


Due to the excellent high-temperature performance of nickel-based superalloys and the need for complicated geometries and simple repairs, methods of creating nickel-based superalloy parts by additive manufacturing (AM) are currently being developed. In this study, Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) is used as the AM process to create samples, and Inconel 718 is used as the nickel-based superalloy. LENS is an AM method that uses a laser to selectively melt metal powder, while introducing additional powder in order to add to the volume of the melt pool. This process is commonly used for part repair; however, the processing parameters and resulting structure and properties of the material are not yet fully understood. This study characterizes Inconel 718 samples fabricated using LENS printing using optical microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and Vickers microhardness, and proposes explanations for the results based on the printing process.


This thesis is about estimating the surface coverages (Г) of immobilised redox molecules at modified electrode surfaces using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique less sensitive than DPV technique because of the background current that can obscure the Faradaic current of the attached redox molecules. As a result, CV technique less sensitive for measurements of low surface concentrations of immobilised redox species. This is not the case for DPV. Currently, there is no specific agreed procedure to determine the surface coverages by DPV. Thus to establish the method to determine the surface coverages of immobilised redox molecules at the surface of the electrode by DPV measurement was a prime interest in this research. Secondary to that point, exploring a new strategy in preparing chemically modified electrodes in order to obtain a better surface coverages of covalently immobilised redox molecules at electrode surfaces was also an aim of this thesis. Enhanced DPV currents were obtained when an external resistance (Rext) of suitable magnitude was added in the DPV cell circuit for electrode modified with either for organic, DNA labelled or inorganic redox systems. This motivated us to develop an experimental model for estimating the DPV surface coverages (ГDPV, exp) of attached redox molecules at electrode surfaces at suitable Rext. Moreover, a simple equation for estimating the ΓDPV, exp based on DPV parameters is presented in this study and shown to work well, given several underlying assumptions. Our approach makes use of an additional Rext in the DPV cell circuit and several non-adjustable DPV parameters. Subsequently, the ΓDPV, exp of immobilised redox probes can be estimated by integrating the area under the oxidation peak of the differential pulse voltammograms (DPVs) at a suitable Rext. The experimental approach was verified by numerical modelling using a specially developed DPV simulation in MATLAB. The electrochemical parameters used for the DPV simulation, such as uncompensated solution resistance in an electrochemical cell (Ru), double layer capacitance (Cdl) and electrode kinetics (ks and α) were obtained from cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements vii made on the modified electrodes. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental DPV and the simulations. The second part of this thesis was focused on extracting thermodynamic and kinetic parameters such as the standard potential (E°), the diffusion coefficient (Do), surface coverages, the rate constant for adsorption (kA), the rate constant for homogenous reaction (kH), the rate of electron transfer (ks), and the transfer coefficient (α) for the electrochemical grafting of primary amine linkers onto GC electrode surfaces by numerical simulation. These parameters are impossible to access by experimental approaches. The grafting process was performed in two different solvents; by electrochemical grafting from neat ACN and by electrochemical grafting in a mixed solvent of ACN and sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3). In the case of the mixed-solution method, the ratio of ACN to NaHCO3 was 4:1. The primary amine of the EDA-Boc molecule was studied as an experimental model in this work. Using a specially developed CV simulation for inhibiting species at the surface of the electrode, the experimental CVs for the electrochemical grafting of EDA-Boc in the two solutions were simulated. Good agreement between experimental CV and the simulated CV was obtained. Moreover, this simulation allows us to extract the aforementioned parameters, which are not electrochemically accessible. To investigate the effect of the presence of NaHCO3 on immobilised EDA-Boc at the surface of GC electrodes, the anthraquinone (AQ) was covalently coupled to the grafted EDA (after removal of the Boc group). The CV and DPV surface coverages of covalently attached AQ on the EDA linker based on the two methods of electrografting were compared. The developed DPV simulation was also employed in this work in order to show the utility and flexibility. A good agreement between experimental and simulated DPV was achieved.


This chapter explores the ambivalent space between subjective authenticity and objective analysis which characterizes attempts to define Taiwanese identity. The chapter draws on BHABHA's notion of 'double writing' to suggest that while scholarship and nationalist ideology speak from differemnt subject positions and from different institutional settings, they nevertheless convey similar forms of information about the constitution of identity in Taiwan. Taiwanese identity, therefore, operates in that space "between the pedagogical and the performative". The chapter concludes that this feature of Taiwanese identity challenges the viability of sociological or political science approaches, and enables an understanding of Taiwanese identity as unbounded and characterized by a dynamic process of political contestation.


Based on China's monthly precipitation data from 1950 to 2000 and by using the Z-index, 4 categories of flood were estimated. Variation and change of flood in South China were analyzed in terms of percentage areas of flood. This study reveals that flood areas in South China had a slightly decreasing trend in the latest 50 years. During the winter half year, however, it displayed an increasing trend, especially since the 1990's.It is also found that flood areas decreased during the summer half year from April to September, but increased during summer, especially since the 1990's. In the annually first season of precipitation, the flood area has a decreasing trend, but it has a strongly increasing trend in the annually second season. The gradual wet trend during the winter-half year results in wetter climate condition for South China, which will be more favorable for spreading some of the epidemic pathogenic bacterium, crop diseases and insect pests.


Rainfall intensity–frequency–duration (IFD) relationships are commonly required for the design and planning of water supply and management systems around the world. Currently, IFD information is based on the "stationary climate assumption" that weather at any point in time will vary randomly and that the underlying climate statistics (including both averages and extremes) will remain constant irrespective of the period of record. However, the validity of this assumption has been questioned over the last 15 years, particularly in Australia, following an improved understanding of the significant impact of climate variability and change occurring on interannual to multidecadal timescales. This paper provides evidence of regime shifts in annual maximum rainfall time series (between 1913–2010) using 96 daily rainfall stations and 66 sub-daily rainfall stations across Australia. Furthermore, the effect of these regime shifts on the resulting IFD estimates are explored for three long-term (1913–2010) sub-daily rainfall records (Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne) utilizing insights into multidecadal climate variability. It is demonstrated that IFD relationships may under- or over-estimate the design rainfall depending on the length and time period spanned by the rainfall data used to develop the IFD information. It is recommended that regime shifts in annual maximum rainfall be explicitly considered and appropriately treated in the ongoing revisions of the Engineers Australia guide to estimating and utilizing IFD information, Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR) , and that clear guidance needs to be provided on how to deal with the issue of regime shifts in extreme events (irrespective of whether this is due to natural or anthropogenic climate change). The findings of our study also have important implications for other regions of the world that exhibit considerable hydroclimatic variability and where IFD information is based on relatively short data sets.


Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by severe obesity, hyperphagia, hypogonadism, and GH deficiency. Unlike individuals with common obesity, who have low fasting-plasma ghrelin concentrations, those with PWS have high fasting-ghrelin concentrations that might contribute to their hyperphagia. Treatment with octreotide, a somatostatin agonist, decreases ghrelin concentrations in healthy and acromegalic adults and induces weight loss in children with hypothalamic obesity. This pilot study was performed to determine whether octreotide administration (5 microg/kg.d) for 5-7 d lowers ghrelin concentrations and affects body composition, resting energy expenditure, and GH markers in children with PWS. Octreotide treatment decreased mean fasting plasma ghrelin concentration by 67% (P < 0.05). Meal-related ghrelin suppression (-35%; P < 0.001) was still present after intervention but was blunted (-11%; P = 0.19). Body weight, body composition, leptin, insulin, resting energy expenditure, and GH parameters did not change. However, one subject's parent noted fewer tantrums over denial of food during octreotide intervention. In conclusion, short-term octreotide treatment markedly decreased fasting ghrelin concentrations in children with PWS but did not fully ablate the normal meal-related suppression of ghrelin. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether long-term octreotide treatment causes sustained ghrelin suppression, changes eating behavior, and induces weight loss in this population.


Purpose: This study evaluated an algorithm based on a method of contrast enhancement by digital equalization (CEDE). Method: The algorithm was designed to enhance image contrast by employing digital equalization of digital mammograms. The CEDE algorithm was tested using ten mammograms with cancer (13 lesions) taken the University of South Florida data base, together with eight mammograms which only contained benign lesions. Three readers compared the processed images with the original mammograms for lesion conspicuity. A five point ranking scale was employed where a score of 3 corresponded to equal lesion visibility, ranks > 3 corresponded to superior lesion visibility, whereas ranks < 3 corresponded to markedly inferior lesion visibility. Results: The mean observer score for all lesions was always at least equal to that of the original digital mammogram (i.e., 3 or greater), and there was no evidence of any image distortion or other image processing artefacts. The mean rank (± standard deviation) for the 13 malignant lesions was 3.52 ± 0.38. The corresponding rank for the eight benign lesions was 3.33 ± 0.26. These differences were statistically significant in terms of standard error. Conclusion: The CEDE algorithm is capable of significantly enhancing lesion contrast in digital mammograms and our preliminary results indicate that this algorithm merits additional refinement and further (objective) evaluation.


In view of the year 2030, Poland as a member of European Union should be able to meet the requirements regarding both: the climate protection (reduction of CO2 emissions by 40% in comparison to the year 1990), increase in the contribution of the Renewable Energy Sources in the energy market (up to 27 %), as well as improvement in the energetic efficiency (up to 27%) EUCO 169/14 [13], in view of the year 2020, the requirements defined by the: 2009/28/WE [8], 2012/27/UE [9] directives, among others. The fact should also be emphasised that as a result of the 2009/72/WE [10] directive, 80% of intelligent meters at consumer endpoints in Poland should be replaced with remote reading meters (so called Smart Meters), in view of the year 2020. Smart metering and development of smart grid open new prospects for the prosumer distributed energetics. Among the distributed generation sources, the issue connected with adequate energy management and storage of generated energy becomes more and more essential. In the first part of this article, using μCHP has been analysed, on the basis of the daily energy power demand profile at the prosumer's household. In the second part of this article the cooperation of the electrochemical cell at the given load cycle (resembling the daily power demand of the household) with the μCHP(Micro Combined Heat and Power) has been simulated. The change in the degree of the cell charge – SOC (State of Charge), the charge/discharge currents curves, voltage values on the cell's terminals, emf (electromotive force), as well as the cell's temperature increase at charging/discharging with the preset current, have been presented for the given load cycle. Attention has been focused on the parameters significantly influencing efficiency of the generated electric energy storage and of its renewed use. The possibilities of managing the sales of the stored electric energy from the micro cogeneration system to the grid, have also been discussed.


Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) is a recognized and widely used technique for measuring electrical conductivity (EC) and volumetric water content (&thgr;) in porous media. The ability of TDR to measure both EC and &thgr; is especially appealing in solute transport in variably saturated media. It is commonly assumed that TDR measurements are representative of the EC and &thgr; in the horizontal plane in which the probe is located. The problem is that it is difficult to recognize heterogeneous solute transport with TDR, especially if it occurs outside the sample volume or in regions where the solute is giving little weight to the TDR-measured EC. To determine the presence of heterogeneous solute transport effectively, there is a need for a device to monitor the EC boundary conditions. In this study, a simple and easy-to-make coaxial flow cell is designed and tested for this purpose. The flow cell is made primarily of cheap, prefabricated, and readily available components, and the construction requires only a hacksaw and some welding skills. The idea is to make the effluent from a solute transport experiment pass through the coaxial flow cell, thereby obtaining a measure of the effluent EC. In addition to providing detailed information on the solute transport through the entire sample of porous medium, it will also detect, for example, bypass flow. A solute transport experiment was carried out in a PVC pipe packed with coarse silica sand under saturated conditions to calibrate the flow cell and to demonstrate its potential use. Step input breakthrough and breakdown functions were created using tap water and a KCl solution. Highly detailed measurements of EC in the effluent were obtained, from which solute transport parameters can easily be inferred.


Purpose: To compare the intravitreal pharmacokinetic profile of a triamcinolone acetonide formulation containing the preservative benzyl alcohol (TA-BA) versus a preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide formulation (TA-PF), and evaluate potential signs of toxicity to the retina. Methods: A total of 60 New Zealand male white rabbits, divided into two groups, were studied. In the TA-BA group, 30 rabbits received an intravitreal injection of TA-BA (4 mg/0.1ml) into the right eye. In the TA-PF group, 30 rabbits received an intravitreal injection of TA-PF (4 mg/0.1ml) into the right eye. The intravitreal drug levels were determined in 25 animals from each group by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The potential for toxicity associated with the intravitreal triamcinolone injections was evaluated in five randomly selected animals from each group by electroretinography (ERG) and by light microscopy. Results: Median intravitreal concentrations of TA-BA (µg/ml) were 1903.1, 1213.0, 857.8, 442.0, 248.6 at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after injection. Intravitreal concentrations of TA-PF (µg/ml) were 1032.9, 570.1, 516.6, 347.9, 102.8 at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after injection. The median intravitreal triamcinolone concentration was significantly higher in the TA-BA compared to the TA-PF group at 7 days post-injection (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in median triamcinolone concentration at the other time points evaluated. There was no evidence of toxic effects on the retina in either group based on ERG or histological analyses. Conclusions: Following a single intravitreal injection, the median concentration of triamcinolone acetonide is significantly higher in the TA-BA compared to the TA-PF group at 7 days post-injection. No toxic reactions in the retina were observed in either group.


Many daily activities require the temporary maintenance and manipulation of information in working memory. A hallmark of this system is its limited capacity— research suggests that adults can actively maintain only about 3-4 items at once. A central question in working memory research is the source of such capacity limits. One approach to this question is to study the developmental origins of working memory capacity. Developmental working memory research has shown a general increase in capacity throughout childhood and into adulthood. There have been few investigations, however, into the mechanisms behind these developmental changes, and proposals that have been put forth do not specify the processes underlying changes in capacity. One particularly puzzling, and unexplained, finding is an apparent decrease in visual working memory capacity over development, from an adult-like capacity of 3-4 items at 10 months to 1.5 items at 5 years. One probable source of this developmental discrepancy is that these two capacity estimates were derived from different tasks: preferential looking in infancy and change detection in later childhood. Although these tasks differ in many respects, existing theoretical explanations of the processes underlying performance in these tasks are underspecified, making it difficult to identify the origin of the apparent regression in capacity over development. To investigate the developmental discrepancy across tasks, I developed a unified model to capture how capacity limits arise in preferential looking and change detection. I used this model to generate three specific behavioral predictions: 1) in preferential looking, children and adults should show higher capacity estimates than infants; 2) capacity estimates should be higher in preferential looking than in change detection when tested in the same individuals; and 3) although capacity estimates differ, performance should be correlated across tasks because both rely on the same underlying working memory system. In addition, I proposed a fourth prediction regarding the unified model:


The genes coding for Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin-A and Staphylococcus aureus A-protein have been cloned. Different fragments of the genes were subcloned on the plasmid vestors. The plasmids pAPA4 and pAPA42 have been constructed. The plasmids are coding for the hybrid protein which consists of the immunoglobulin binding A-protein domain at its NH2-terminus and the catalytically active fragment of exotoxin-A at its COON-terminus. The hybrid gene is expressed in Escherichia coli cells under the control of lambda cro-gene expression elements (pAPA42) or lac-operon expression elements (pAPA4). The latter proved to be most productive.


Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) generated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) promotes glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasion, and also plays a key role in glioblastoma resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Non-ionizing photodynamic therapy (PDT) has anti-tumor advantages over conventional glioblastoma therapies. Our previous studies revealed that glioblastoma U87 cells upregulate iNOS after a photodynamic challenge and that resulting NO not only increased resistance to apoptosis, but rendered surviving cells more proliferative and invasive. These findings were largely based on the effects of inhibiting iNOS activity and scavenging NO. Demonstrating now that iNOS expression in photostressed U87 cells is mediated by NF-κB, we hypothesized that (i) recognition of acetylated lysine (acK) on NF-κB p65/Rel A by bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein Brd4 is crucial, and (ii) by suppressing iNOS expression, a BET inhibitor (JQ1) would attenuate the negative effects of photostress. The following evidence was obtained: (i) Like iNOS, Brd4 protein and p65-acK levels increased several fold in photostressed cells; (ii) JQ1 at minimally toxic concentrations had no effect on Brd4 or p65-acK upregulation after PDT, but strongly suppressed iNOS, survivin, and Bcl-xL upregulation, along with the growth and invasion spurt of PDTsurviving cells; (iii) JQ1 inhibition of NO production in photostressed cells closely paralleled that of growth/invasion inhibition; (iv) At 1% the concentration of iNOS inhibitor 1400W, JQ1 reduced post-PDT cell aggressiveness to a far greater extent. This is the first evidence for BET inhibitor targeting of iNOS expression in cancer cells and how such targeting can markedly improve therapeutic efficacy.


Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) are direct photon-to-digital detectors that enable scalable arrays with Poisson-limited signal-to-noise ratio and picosecond timing resolution. However, SPAD detectors require a guard-ring structure to prevent lateral edge breakdown. The guard ring, in addition to pixel electronics, reduces the sensitive area within the pixel, often below 50%. We present the simulation, design and characterization of microlens structures to increase the effective fill factor and SPAD photon detection efficiency. The main challenges in designing microlenses for SPADs are a relatively large SPAD pitch and a low native fill factor, requiring high microlens efficiency over a wide angular distribution of light. In addition, we addressed the requirements of several designs in the same technology, featuring native fill factors which range from 10.5% to 28%, by carrying out the microlens fabrication at wafer reticle level. The fabrication process starts with creating a photoresist microlens master, used to fabricate a mould for microlens imprints. After dispensing a UV curable hybrid polymer on top of the SPAD array, the mould is used to imprint the microlens array shape, and then cured with UV exposure. By using microlenses, we were able to increase the initial fill factor to more than 84% effective fill factor for a 28.5 μm pixel pitch. We also explore the influence of the passivation layer on the SPAD photon detection efficiency.


This datasheet on reproductive diseases of pigs covers Identity, Overview, Associated Diseases, Pests or Pathogens, Biology & Ecology, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.


In this paper we develop a H/sub /spl infin// type theory, from the dissipation point of view, for a large class of time-continuous stochastic nonlinear systems. In particular, we introduce the notion of stochastic dissipative systems analogously to the familiar notion of dissipation associated with deterministic systems am utilize it as a basis for the development of our theory. Having discussed certain properties of stochastic dissipative systems, we consider time-varying nonlinear systems for which we establish a connection between what is called the L/sub 2/-gain property and the solution to a certain Hamilton-Jacobi inequality (HJI), that may be viewed as a bounded real lemma for stochastic nonlinear systems. The time-invariant case with infinite horizon is also considered, where for this case we synthesize a worst case based stabilizing controller. Stability in this case is taken to be in the mean-square sense. In the stationary case, the problem of robust state-feedback control is considered in the case of normbounded uncertainties. A solution is then derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities.


Urgent societal challenges have led to unease in our socio-cultural interactions and the production systems that underpin our lives. To confront such challenges, collaboration stands out as an essential approach in accomplishing joint goals and producing new knowledge. It calls for interdisciplinary methodologies such as co-design, an approach capable of bridging multiple expertise. The core activities of co-design are based on the premise of collaboration and on developing creative social environments. Yet achieving collaboration through co-design is challenging as people need to understand each other, and develop trust and rapport. We argue that 'informal-mutual learning' is central to building mutual understanding. This article explores how we create spaces for collaboration through co-design by examining the social environments supporting them. It examines the value of collaboration and its impact upon participants within an action research project conducted in Scotland. We identified Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as a suitable theoretical framework. It offers support for holistic inquiry into participation and learning. Its strength was in the attention that it pays to multi-dimensional human interactions within the social environment. This led to an understanding of the concepts of boundary-crossing and boundary space examined through a CHAT lens. The findings shed light on four designerly conditions supporting informal-mutual learning when engaged in collaboration during co-design situations: choreography and orchestration, aesthetics, playfulness, and quality and quantity of participation. The findings enable us to elaborate on the theorisation of boundary space, a theoretical space for the assemblage of multiple levels of expertise to achieve collaboration. © 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Art & Design Education published by National Society for Education in Art and Design and John Wiley & Sons Ltd


OBJECTIVES
To study the efficacy of unilateral supraglottoplasty in comparison with bilateral supraglottoplasty for the treatment of severe laryngomalacia in children and to study factors that may be predictive of major complications or the need for a subsequent contralateral or revision procedure.

DESIGN
Retrospective medical record review.

SETTING
University tertiary care pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS
One hundred six consecutive pediatric patients, aged 9 days to 18 years, who had undergone unilateral or bilateral supraglottoplasty for severe laryngomalacia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Resolution of clinically significant laryngomalacia, development of major complications (supraglottic stenosis or aspiration), and an association between study variables (demographics, medical comorbidities, synchronous airway abnormalities, sites of excision, and techniques of excision) and the need for subsequent contralateral or revision supraglottoplasty.

RESULTS
We achieved a high success rate (95.7%), a low complication rate (8.5%), and observed the need for a contralateral procedure in 7 (14.9%) of the 47 patients who underwent initial unilateral supraglottoplasty. Two patients who underwent initial bilateral supraglottoplasty developed supraglottic stenosis. No significant association existed between our study variables and the development of complications or the need for contralateral or revision supraglottoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS
Unilateral supraglottoplasty was associated with a high success rate, low complication rate, and the avoidance of supraglottic stenosis in our study population. The percentage of patients requiring a subsequent contralateral procedure was comparable to that reported in the literature, and no major complications were associated with the second operation in these patients. Therefore, unilateral supraglottoplasty seems to be a reasonable option for initial surgical management of pediatric patients with severe laryngomalacia.


Background Sexual assault is a violent crime that affects men, women, and children of all ages. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be transmitted during sexual assault. This study was aimed at finding the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in potentially sexually abused children and adolescent in Ibadan. Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of Children and adolescents referred for possible evaluation of sexual abuse at Special Treatment Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan between January 2006 and December 2008. Urethral, Endocervical and high vaginal swabs were collected to establish diagnosis after clinical examination and informed consent. Results There were 18 children and adolescents with a mean age of 9.75 years (SD=5.78; range 2–18 years). About 66.7 % (12) had various STIs. The male to female ratio was 1:8. Five (27.8%) had physical evidence of sexual assault at presentation, 4 (22.2%) of which had hyperaemic labia and one had torn hymen. 12 (66.7%) presented with vaginal discharge syndrome. The most common STI diagnosed was genital warts (22.2.0%). Other STIs diagnosed were vaginal candidiasis (16.7%), bacterial vaginosis (11.1%) and HIV (5.6%). There was no statistical significance between HIV infection and other STIs (p>0.05). Conclusion Our study revealed high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among the sexually abused children and adolescents. Screening for infection should be mandatory in presumed sexually abused girls with vaginal discharge and ideally should be undertaken in all children presenting at STI clinics for evaluation of sexual abuse.


INTRODUCTION
There are altogether four reported cases in the literature about psychotic episodes associated with sibutramine, which has been registered as an appetite suppressant for 10 years.

OBJECTIVE
Authors review the case of a patient who, after being on sibutramine for three weeks, passed gradually into a psychotic state.

CASE SUMMARY
A 39-year-old white woman started to take sibutramine to lose weight at a dosage of 10 mg/day. After taking the pill for two weeks her behavior changed basically, she neglected her tasks and irrealistic thoughts appeared in her mind. Later, she recalled these weeks as if they had been a dream. In two weeks time after spontaneous abrupt of sibutramine intake symptoms disappeared without any treatment. The examination did not reveal organic disturbances or psychiatric illnesses.

DISCUSSION
The result of the psychological examination rendered it probable, that the multitude of severe difficulties the patient had experienced in her life before she developed a pathological condition had weakened her psychic defense mechanism, making her vulnerable to the drug's psychosis-inducing properties. The correlation between the symptoms and sibutramine intake according to the Naranjo ADR scale is "probable".

CONCLUSION
On the basis of this case, authors suggest that those persons exposed to increased stress or being vulnerable to psychosis in any other way should take sibutramine with extra caution and under close supervision only.


In order to monitor the evolution of the British-Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) and its influence in surface ocean structure during marine isotopic stages (MIS) 2 and 3, we have analyzed the sediments recovered in core MD04-2829CQ (Rosemary Bank, north Rockall Trough, northeast Atlantic) dated between ∼41 and ∼18 ka B.P. Ice-rafted debris flux and composition, 40Ar/39Ar ages of individual hornblende grains, multispecies planktonic stable isotope records, planktonic foraminifera assemblage data and faunal-based sea surface temperatures (SSTs) demonstrate a close interaction between BIIS dynamics and surface ocean structure and water properties in this region. The core location lies beneath the North Atlantic Current (NAC) and is ideal for monitoring the shifts in the position of its associated oceanic fronts, as recorded by faunal changes. These data reveal a succession of BIIS-sourced iceberg calving events related to low SST, usually synchronous with dramatic changes in the composition of the planktonic foraminifera assemblage and with variations in the stable isotope records of the taxa Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral coiling) and Globigerina bulloides. The pacing of the calving events, from typically Dansgaard-Oeschger millennial timescales during late MIS 3 to multicentennial cyclicity from ∼28 ka B.P., represents the build-up of the BIIS and its growing instability toward Heinrich Event (HE) 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum. Our data confirm the strong coupling between BIIS instabilities and the temperature and salinity of surface waters in the adjacent northeast Atlantic and demonstrate the BIIS's ability to modify the NAC on its flow toward the Nordic Seas. In contrast, subsurface water masses were less affected except during the Greenland stadials that contain HEs, when most intense water column reorganizations occurred simultaneously with the deposition of cream-colored carbonate sourced from the Laurentide Ice Sheet.


: Four new D-A- π -A metal-free organic sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), with [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3 ,4- d ]pyridazine as internal acceptor, thiophene unit as π -spacer and cyanoacrylate as anchoring electron acceptor, have been synthesized. The donor moiety was introduced into [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4- d ]pyridazine by nucleophilic aromatic substitution and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, allowing design of D-A- π -A sensitizers with the donor attached to the internal heterocyclic acceptor not only by the carbon atom, as it is in a majority of DSSCs, but by the nitrogen atom also. Although low values of power conversion efficiency (PCE) were found, a few important consequences were identified: (i) poor PCE data can be attributed to high electron deficiency of the internal [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4- d ]pyridazine acceptor due to lower light harvesting by the dye; (ii) the manner in which the donor was attached to the internal acceptor (by carbon or nitrogen) did not play an essential role in the photovoltaic properties of the dyes; (iii) dyes based on the novel donor 2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1 H -1,4-methanocarbazolyl and 9-( p -tolyl)-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1 H-carbazole moieties showed similar photovoltaic properties to dyes based on the well-known 4-(p-tolyl)-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indolyl building block, which opens the door for further optimization potential of new dye families.


In this master thesis we have analyzed the software system DAIM, which is a web-based delivery system used at NTNU in connection with master theses and master students, with respect to software faults. Based on the documentation from the design stage of the DAIM project we have performed a technique called Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), which is an analysis technique from safety-critical development. The results from this analysis have been compared with existing fault reports containing actual faults discovered in the system. Some of the intention behind our work has been to find if hazards identified with PHA can be related to actual faults found in the fault reports. In [17] it is stated that correcting software faults in later phases of the software development is much more expensive than in earlier phases and we have performed the PHA to see if some of the faults could have been avoided. We found that there were some connections between some of the faults and hazards identified, but the results were not entirely as expected. In our previous work we did a similar kind of analysis as we have done in this work regarding the analysis of fault reports and we have compared the results from our previous work with some of the results that we have obtained from this work to see how the distribution of fault types varies between the projects. The results showed that there were several differences between the projects, but some similarities were also discovered.


According to the geological conditions of mine and mine's surrounding construction, the geological mechanical model of explosion area and the structure model of surrounding civil architecture were established. Based on the monitoring blasting vibration result of mining explosion process, the dynamic response character and structural stress of surrounding civil architecture which have been caused by blasting vibration of mining were studied by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the method of fast Lagrangian analysis of continua three dimensions (FLAC 3D). The results show that calculated results coincide with the monitor results collectively, and the influence caused by blasting vibration on the stress and strains of civil architecture is smaller. But at the civil architecture roof, the transient amplification acceleration caused by blasting is 25%.


The Hindu Kush Himalayas provide water, ecosystem services, and livelihoods to more than 210 million people in the region. The rivers that originate in the mountains provide fresh water to more than 1.3 billion people downstream and sustain the grain basket of Asia. Various socioeconomic and environmental changes are threatening these resources and posing new challenges for the people in the region, as well as for decision makers and development practitioners. These changes include decreasing natural resources, increased incidences of extreme weather conditions and disasters like drought and floods, and growing outmigration from rural areas as people seek opportunities in cities and abroad. Resilient Mountain Villages (RMV)


Topical effects of chondroitin sulfate, a monosulfated glycosaminoglycan, on the healing of alkali-burned corneas were studied.Forty albino rabbits were divided into two groups (GI and GII, n =20) submitted to corneal ulceration with 3 M sodium hydroxide(NaOH). GI was treated with a topical solution of 5% chondroitin sulfate 4 and chondroitin sulfate 6 and GII was treated with 0.9%physiological saline at 6 hour intervals in both cases. The rabbits were studied over a period of 60 days by biomicroscopy witha slit lamp in order to evaluate blepharospasm, blepharitis, chemosis, conjunctival congestion, ocular secretion, and cornealedema, neovascularization and macula. The fluorescein test was performed daily to monitor the evolution of the ulcers. Theanimals were submitted to eye enucleation for histopathology on the 1st, 3rd, 10th, 30th and 60th day after ulcer induction. Whencompared to GII, GI showed 4 perforations. In the eyes in which no perforation occurred, no clinical or microscopic differenceswere observed between groups, except for ocular secretion, which persisted for a longer time in GII animals. Except for thosewith perforations, the corneas tended to heal, on average, within 30 days. The results permit us to conclude that the 5%chondroitin sulfate solution, when instilled on alkali-burned rabbit corneas did not alter healing when compared to the animalstreated with 0.9% physiological saline.


Background: Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) is the most common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding and is a major indication for referral to gynecological clinics. There are very few studies comparing the effect of ormeloxifene and progesterone in DUB. The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Ormeloxifene in DUB and compare it with Norethisterone. Methods: Hundred women presenting with DUB were randomly allocated to 2 equal groups, Group-A, which received 60mg ormeloxifene twice a week for 12 weeks followed by 60mg once a week for next 12 weeks and Group-B, which received 5mg norethisterone twice daily for 21 days for 6 cycles. The primary outcomes were reduction in menstrual blood loss [measured by fall in PBAC (Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart) score and subjective assessment], rise in hemoglobin level and decrease in endometrial thickness. Results: The reduction in mean PBAC score with ormeloxifene (216 to 88) was significantly more than with norethisterone (262 to 162) at 3 months (p<0.01). The rise in hemoglobin concentration and fall in endometrial thickness were also significantly more with ormeloxifene than norethisterone (7.52g% to 9.2g% vs. 7.48g% to 8.4g%, p<0.05, and 12.12mm to 9.46mm vs. 12.05mm to 10.7mm, p<0.05, respectively). Further improvement at 6 months was much more with ormeloxifene. No major side effects were reported in any group. Conclusions: Both drugs are effective in treating DUB, but ormeloxifene is superior to norethisterone in reducing menstrual blood loss.


- Thanks to next-generation sequencing several genes can be examined in one go. Since this method has been introduced, the possibilities for DNA diagnostics in patients with dementia have increased tremendously in recent years.- DNA diagnostics is indicated for patients with an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis before they are 60 years old, for all patients with frontotemporal dementia and for patients with a positive family history.- For 15% of the patients who visited the Alzheimer centre of the VUmc, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands DNA diagnostics indicated a clear monogenic cause.- Although a hereditary cause of dementia is often a hard message for patients and their families, this knowledge often provides them with more clarity with respect to the diagnosis and the course of the disease. In addition, family members may choose to carry out presymptomatic DNA testing.- The therapeutical consequences of DNA diagnostics are currently minimal; several studies are being carried out internationally in this area.


This article first explores the state of human rights of Middle Eastern/Muslim Women in a selection of North African, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. It then contrasts this present state of oppression with the emerging legal reforms and attempts made by a new generation of women's rights activists. These activists are building new institutions in their homelands despite numerous obstacles and great personal and political risk, creating the need for a new dialogue and approach to human rights in the Middle East.


In this paper a new configuration of up converter is presented. In this circuit, the LO and RF (LSB) frequencies are rejected thanks to a distributed and balanced circuit. Eight GaAs PHEMTs with a gate-length of 0.25 /spl mu/m are used. A conversion gain of -6 dB and a rejection over 6 dB on LO and RF (LSB) are obtained.


A common perception is that cancer risk reduction is passive, such as not smoking. However, advances in the understanding of cancer biology and in cancer treatment modalities suggest that it is now timely to consider anew cancer risk reduction by active, including pharmacologic, approaches. Risk avoidance approaches are certainly important, but other approaches are important as well, as exemplified by the irony that most new lung cancers occur in former smokers, or current avoiders. Cancer interception is the active way of combating cancer and carcinogenesis at earlier and earlier stages. A great challenge is to educate people that the development of cancers, like heart disease, typically takes years and accordingly can potentially be intercepted with risk-reducing agents in the same way that advanced cancers can be treated with drugs or that cardiovascular disease can be intercepted with antihypertensive and other risk-reducing drugs. The cancer biology behind cancer interception is increasingly solid. For example, hedgehog pathway studies of mutations in the patched homolog 1 (PTCH1) gene, which constitutively activates Smoothened (SMO), led to development of an oral SMO inhibitor active in advanced basal cell carcinoma and which, in very high-risk Gorlin syndrome patients (germ line PTCH1 mutation), is nearly completely clinically effective in intercepting basal cell neoplasia. Also, the oral immunomodulator lenalidomide, first found to be active in advanced, relapsed multiple myeloma, was highly effective in intercepting the precursor stage, high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma from progressing. These are but two exciting, recent examples of the many advances in cancer research that have created an optimal time to discover and implement cancer interception. The multifaceted roles of telomere maintenance in both fueling advanced cancers and, at early stages, keeping them at bay, also highlight how the growing knowledge of cancer biology opens avenues for cancer interception. Emerging molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing platforms, that account for a large part of the remarkable recent advances in cancer biology are now being applied to interception of premalignancy. Keeping the medical community and public at large informed about possibilities for actively intercepting cancer will be important for gaining acceptance of this increasingly powerful approach to lessening the cancer burden. Cancer Prev Res; 4(6); 787–92. ©2011 AACR.


Background Sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the commonest idiopathic inflammatory myopathy occurring in patients over the age of 50 years. IBM muscle displays inflammatory and degenerative features. Previous trials have only involved agents directed purely at the inflammatory component of IBM pathology and all were ineffective. Modulating the cytoprotective "heat shock response" (HSR) represents a therapeutic strategy through which the detrimental aspects of both inflammation and degeneration could be dampened. Arimoclomol is an orally administered pharmacological agent that can up-regulate the HSR by amplifying heat shock protein (HSP) expression. Objectives To evaluate the safety and tolerability of arimoclomol in IBM and to gather exploratory efficacy data of arimoclomol in IBM. Methods In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-centre (London, UK and Kansas, USA), phase IIa study, 24 patients with IBM were randomised to arimoclomol 100mg TID or placebo (2:1 ratio) over 4 months (as mandated by the FDA), followed by an 8 month follow up period. The primary outcome was adverse event reporting (safety and tolerability). Measures of physical function (IBM functional rating scale (IBMFRS)), muscle strength (manual muscle testing (MMT) and maximum isometric contraction testing (MVICT)) and fat-free mass percentage (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)) were included as secondary outcome measures. HSP70 levels in muscle biopsy tissue (adjusted to myosin content) before and after the treatment phase were also measured. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare changes in the arimoclomol and placebo groups at 4 months (IBMFRS, MMT, MVICT, DEXA and HSP70), 8 months (IBMFRS, MMT and MVICT) and 12 months (IBMFRS, MMT, MVICT and DEXA). Results We enrolled 17 men and 7women with a mean age of 66.8±7.5 years and mean disease duration of 8.4±4.3 years. All patients fulfilled the Griggs criteria for definite (42%) or probable (58%) IBM. One serious adverse event was observed in the arimoclomol group (hypertension requiring prolonged hospitalization on the day of the first biopsy). One arimoclomol recipient developed transient hyponatremia. Ophthalmologic examination did not reveal any significant ocular morbidity. Overall, the safety and tolerability profiles were similar between groups. At 8 months, we detected a trend of slower decline in the IBMFRS (-0.68±1.58 vs -2.50±3.31, p=0.055), average MMT (-0.12±0.22 vs -0.26±0.27, p=0.147) and MVICT of right hand grip (1.26±2.63 vs -0.54±1.86, p=0.064) of the arimoclomol group but no differences were seen for changes in the other MVICT scores (left hand grip, left and right quadriceps, and total sum score), DEXA fat free mass percentage and HSP70 levels in the muscle tissue. Conclusions Arimoclomol was safe and well tolerated and demonstrated a preliminary signal for potential therapeutic benefit in patients with IBM. These data support further research of arimoclomol in IBM. Acknowledgements This investigator-initiated trial was funded by Arthritis Research UK, Kansas University Neurology Ziegler Grant and Kansas University General Clinical Research Centre CReFF Grant. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Cross-ecosystem fluxes can intertwine otherwise disparate food webs, but the effects of biodiversity at the genotypic level on fluxes across ecosystems boundaries is not known. Fresh leaves, which vary in traits such as defensive compounds against terrestrial herbivores, drop off trees and enter streams, providing a vital resource for riverine organisms. We demonstrate substantial variation in decomposition rates among individual trees in four different rivers in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, USA. We show that locally derived red alder leaf litter decomposes on average 24% faster than red alder leaf litter introduced from other riparian zones. Within rivers, leaves downstream of their parent trees decompose nearly as quickly as leaves from local trees. Leaves upstream of the parent tree decomposed as slowly as leaves from trees growing alongside different rivers. Over time, aquatic decomposer communities have locally adapted to the specific trees supplying the riparian subsidies. In energy-limited environments, such as small shaded streams, consumers must be efficient foragers. Our results indicate that this pressure for efficiency has led to adaptation at a particularly fine scale. More broadly, these results illustrate how genetic diversity and the effects of selection in one ecosystem can indirectly shape the structure of other ecosystems through ecological fluxes across boundaries.


Detecting interactions and resolving conflicts is one of the key issues for generative planning systems Hierarchical Task Network (HTN) planning sytems use critics for this purpose Critics have provided extra efficiency and flexibility to HTN planning systems, but their procedural and sometimes domain-specific - nature has not been amenable to analytical studies As a result, little work is available on the correctness or efficiency of critics. This paper describes a principled approach to handling conflicts, as implemented in UMCP, an HTN planning system Critics in UMCP have desirable properties such as systematicity and the preservation of soundness and completeness.


Over the last 50 years the theory of p-adic differential equations has grown into an active area of research in its own right, and has important applications to number theory and to computer science. This book, the first comprehensive and unified introduction to the subject, improves and simplifies existing results as well as including original material. Based on a course given by the author at MIT, this modern treatment is accessible to graduate students and researchers. Exercises are included at the end of each chapter to help the reader review the material, and the author also provides detailed references to the literature to aid further study.


Gd Si Ge is known for its giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE), but also for its associated large hysteretic losses. These losses result in a significant reduction in the net cooling capacity of this material when it is used for magnetic cooling. Attempts have been made to reduce these losses by adding other elements, like iron. Individual Ge and Si substitutions have been reported, but in this paper we focus on the system where both elements were substituted simultaneously with different amounts of Fe, with an additional interest in the new Gd (Si,Ge) phase that appears after the substitution. We found that when substituting iron in small quantities the MCE and the hysteresis losses remain high, with a small decrease in the Curie temperature, and the low-temperature XRD revealed that the structural transformation is still present. However, with an increasing amount of Fe the MCE was drastically reduced because of the newly formed Gd (Si,Ge) phase. The magnetic transition temperature of this newly formed phase was investigated in all three substituted systems: Si, Ge and Si and Ge. This transition temperature was strongly affected by the type and the amount of substitution; however, the changes could not be directly related to the composition of the phases. Index Terms—Gd Si Ge -type alloys, magnetic hysteresis, magnetocaloric effect, microstructure.


To alleviate the loads of tracking web log file by human effort, machine learning methods are now commonly used to analyze log data and to identify the pattern of malicious activities. Traditional kernel based techniques, like the neural network and the support vector machine (SVM), typically can deliver higher prediction accuracy. However, the user of a kernel based techniques normally cannot get an overall picture about the distribution of the data set. On the other hand, logic based techniques, such as the decision tree and the rule-based algorithm, feature the advantage of presenting a good summary about the distinctive characteristics of different classes of data such that they are more suitable to generate interpretable feedbacks to domain experts. In this study, a real web-access log dataset from a certain organization was collected. An efficient interpretable fuzzy rule filter (iF2) was proposed as a filter to analyze the data and to detect suspicious internet addresses from the normal ones. The historical information of each internet address recorded in web log file is summarized as multiple statistics. And the design process of iF2 is elaborately modeled as a parameter optimization problem which simultaneously considers 1) maximizing prediction accuracy, 2) minimizing number of used rules, and 3) minimizing number of selected statistics. Experimental results show that the fuzzy rule filter constructed with the proposed approach is capable of delivering superior prediction accuracy in comparison with the conventional logic based classifiers and the expectation maximization based kernel algorithm. On the other hand, though it cannot match the prediction accuracy delivered by the SVM, however, when facing real web log file where the ratio of positive and negative cases is extremely unbalanced, the proposed iF2 of having optimization flexibility results in a better recall rate and enjoys one major advantage due to providing the user with an overall picture of the underlying distributions.


A method for determining both the thickness and the average stoichiometry of thin films is presented. The method is based on implanting radioactive -sources in the substrate prior to layer growth and measuring the energy loss of the -particles as they traverse the layer. Information about the stoichiometry is obtained through the comparison of the energy loss of -particles of different initial energies. Experimental examples for the utilization of this method are presented, in which Sb was grown on Si substrates, GaAs, InAs and AlAs on GaAs and YBCO on YSZ. The experimental precision which can be expected using the method is discussed, together with specific scenarios in which it could be advantageously applied.


One of the challenges in bio-computing is to enable the efficient use of a wide variety of rapidly evolving computational methods to simulate, analyze and understand complex interactions of molecular systems. Our laboratory is interested in the development of novel computational technologies and in the application of these technologies to the analysis and understanding of complex biological systems. We have been using the Python programming language as a platform to develop reusable and interoperable components dealing with different aspects of structural bioinformatics. These components are the basic building blocks from which several domain specific applications have been developed. In this paper we describe the integration of two applications developed in our laboratory: PMV and a visual-programming environment. PMV is a general purpose, command-driven molecular visualization and manipulation program built from reusable software components. The visual-programming environment enables a user to build interactively networks describing novel combinations of computational methods. We describe several applications demonstrating the synergy created by combining these two programs.


This volume contains the proceedings of a conference held to mark the bicentenary of the death of Alexander Geddes (1737GCo1802). Geddes, a product of the Scottish and French Enlightenment, was a Roman Catholic priest; a pioneering biblical critic; a poet, some of whose works have been attributed to Robert Burns; and a political radical who studied in Paris before the French Revolution, which provided the background to the chief phase of his activity, ca. 1780GCo1800. This work is of interest to historians and to students of the Bible and English literature. The international panel of contributors includes Tom Levine on the political social and religious background, A.G. Aulg, Bultmann, C. Coury, J.W. Rogerson, J.L. Ska and M. Vervenne on GeddesGCOs biblical works, and Elinor Shaffer, G. Carruthers and L. McIlvanney on his literary works.


A microbial biosensor is an analytical device that immobilizes microorganisms onto a transducer for the detection of target analytes. With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have been used to achieve better immobilization for developing a more reliable and selective microbial biosensor. Also, significant progress has been made in the development of transducer technology leading to higher sensitivity. Microbial biosensors have become one of the most useful means of monitoring environmental, food and clinical samples. In this review, we focus on the newly developed technologies and applications of microbial biosensors in recent years.


Sensor networks are often subject to physical attacks. Once a node's cryptographic key is compromised, an attacker may completely impersonate it and introduce arbitrary false information into the network. Basic cryptographic mechanisms are often not effective in this situation. Most techniques to address this problem focus on detecting and tolerating false information introduced by compromised nodes. They cannot pinpoint exactly where the false information is introduced and who is responsible for it.
 In this article, we propose an application-independent framework for accurately identifying compromised sensor nodes. The framework provides an appropriate abstraction of application-specific detection mechanisms and models the unique properties of sensor networks. Based on the framework, we develop alert reasoning algorithms to identify compromised nodes. The algorithm assumes that compromised nodes may collude at will. We show that our algorithm is optimal in the sense that it identifies the largest number of compromised nodes without introducing false positives. We evaluate the effectiveness of the designed algorithm through comprehensive experiments.