Construction of the LEeds Freight Transport Model (LEFT) series was begun as part of the
ITeLS project, although other funding has helped and will take forward its development. The
initial version, now referred to by us as LEFT1, was a simple mode split model intended to
give a rough idea of the magnitudes of the effects of various scenarios, possibly as a way of
filtering which scenarios might be investigated using more detailed models. Besides being
limited to mode split, LEFT1 suffered from a range of minor defects and deficiencies which
led to its abandonment in favour of its successor, LEFT2.
LEFT2 was constructed in 2004 as part of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council LINK FIT project, ITeLS, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT). We
acknowledge here the help and useful comments from many persons associated with that
project. Besides mode split effects, LEFT2 allows scenarios to alter the total size of the (road
plus rail) market. Its purpose is to provide instantaneous ballpark estimates of road and rail
freight tonne kilometres under various 'scenarios'. At its base is a desire that the scenarios
should not affect the sum of tonnes moved by both road and rail modes. This was because we
felt that our scenarios should be viewed as having a neutral macroeconomic effect. For
example, if taxes on lorry usage were increased, we would expect other taxes to be lower
than otherwise (or government spending to increase) so that total demand in the economy
would not change. Consumers might buy their goods from closer sources than hitherto, but
they would not be expected to consume less in total. For example, if prices of some goods
rose slightly due to higher road user charges, the consumer would have more to spend due to
offsetting reduced income tax (or whatever) and much the same total quantity would be
bought. Similarly, industrialists as a whole might find input prices increasing slightly, but
will find they can charge slightly more for their outputs.
In summary, LEFT2 provides an instantaneous estimate of the effect of macroeconomically
neutral scenarios on mode split (road, trainload and wagonload), average length of haul and
total market size.
LEFT2 does not load the traffic onto vehicles, and so does not produce magnitudes of HGV
vehicle kilometres, for instance. Consequently it does not produce estimates of emissions or
other nuisances. It is hoped that a future version of LEFT can incorporate these elements and
revisit the other matters that have had to be 'parked' for the present. LEFT2 gives a quick
idea of the magnitudes of the effects of any policies that might be considered and should help
to provide a first sift where many policies are being considered.
This report describes the basic LEFT Methodology in Section 2. Emphasis is given to that
methodology actually embodied in LEFT2, but there is also some discussion of rejected
4
methodologies, and some that have had to be held over for later versions of LEFT. Section 3
presents additional data that was needed by the LEFT2 model. Section 4 describes the
scenarios chosen for testing in the ITeLS project, while section 5 gives the first results from
using the LEFT2 model, for those scenarios.


The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasing among hospitalized patients. Liver transplantation (LT) patients are at higher risk for acquiring CDI. Small, single‐center studies (but no nationwide analyses) have assessed this association. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (2004‐2008) for this retrospective, cross‐sectional study. Patients with any discharge diagnosis of LT composed the study population, and they were identified with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Those with a discharge diagnosis of CDI were considered cases. Our primary outcomes were the prevalence of CDI and the effects of CDI on inpatient mortality. Our secondary outcomes included the length of stay and hospitalization charges. A regression analysis was used to derive odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for potential confounders. There were 193,174 discharges with a diagnosis of LT from 2004 to 2008. The prevalence of CDI was 2.7% in the LT population and 0.9% in the non‐LT population (P < 0.001). Most of the LT patients were 50 to 64 years old. LT patients had higher odds of developing CDI [OR = 2.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.68‐3.10]. Increasing age and increasing comorbidity (including inflammatory bowel disease and nasogastric tube placement) were also independent CDI risk factors. CDI was associated with a higher mortality rate: 5.5% for LT patients with CDI versus 3.2% for LT‐only patients (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.29‐2.25). In conclusion, the prevalence of CDI is higher for LT patients versus non‐LT patients (2.7% versus 0.9%). CDI is an independent risk factor for mortality in the LT population. Liver Transpl, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.


In this paper, a new fast algorithm for dental diseases detection is presented. Such algorithm relies on performing cross correlation in the frequency domain between input image and the input weights of fast neural networks (FNNs). It is proved mathematically and practically that the number of computation steps required for the presented FNNs is less than that needed by conventional neural networks (CNNs). Simulation results using MATLAB confirm the theoretical computations. One of the limitations of Direct Digital Radiography (DDR) is noise. Some recent publications have indicated that Digital Subtraction Radiography (DSR) might significantly aid in the clinical diagnosis of dental diseases, once various clinical logistic problems limiting its widespread use have been over come. Noise in digital radiography may result from sources other than variation in projection geometry during exposure. Structure noise consists of all anatomic features other than those of diagnostic interest. Limitations of plain radiographs in detecting early, small bone lesions are also due to the presence of structure noise. This research work has been under - taken in an attempt to minimize structure noise in digital dental radiography by using digital subtraction radiography. By minimizing the structure noise, the validity of the digitized image in detecting diseases is enhanced.


Objective: Acne rosacea is a difficult to treat disease and current treatments remain unsatisfactory. Our aim was to assess and present the photographic evaluation of the effectiveness and tolerability of azelaic acid 15 % gel for the treatment of acne rosacea. Methods: Healthy male and female adult outpatients (>18 years of age) with mild to moderate acne rosacea. All patients were instructed to apply azelaic acid 15% gel to entire affected area twice daily for 4 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoints in the study included changes from baseline to the last visit (4th week) in the severity of lesions on a 4-point scale. Both patients and investigators rated the overall improvement at the end of the study. Results: All 31 patients completed the study. The investigator assessment of rosacea revealed that azelaic acid 15% gel resulted in a statistically significant decrease in facial erythema (p=0.001) while no statistically significant change was observed with regard to changes in inflammatory lesions and telangiectasia (p>0.05). Most of the patients (58%) rated the outcome of the treatment as "moderately" to "very satisfactory". With regard to investigators' evaluation scores, 29% (n=9) of patients showed marked improvement or clearance. Conclusion: Azelaic acid 15% gel is an effective and safe treatment for mild to moderate acne rosacea when used twice daily in combination with sunscreens.


Leaf damage dynamics of Drimys granadensis (Winteraceae) and Clusia multiflora (Clusiaceae) seedlings in the High-Andean Forest. Because of their slow growth, shade-tolerant species remain exposed to foliar damage long before reproductive age. Foliar damage can be controlled through synchronous leaf produc- tion and specialized phytochemical strategies. in this study, the dynamics of foliar damage in different cohorts of seedlings were evaluated to determine if the High-Andean species, Clusia multiflora (Clusiaceae) and Drimys granadensis (Winteraceae) appeal to the synchronous leaf production for controlling the herbivory and patho- genical damage, and to establish the possible relations between the healthy state, growth and mortality of seed- lings. Since a recently-emerged seedling could not supply the physiological costs of specialized strategies, we expected the highest synchronous leaf production in the youngest individuals, and differences between cohorts in foliar damage. Four variables were measured to evaluate the health state along time, in three cohorts of seed- lings: Proportion of predated leaves (P p ), proportion of healthy leaves (P s ), proportion of leaves with symptoms of disease or punctual damage (P e ) and growing (% increment of height). Both species showed significant differ - ences between periods in the proportion of healthy leaves, but there was not an effect of time-cohort interaction, therefore synchronic production of leaves was not a strategy more used for any particular cohort. Foliar damage oscillated along time, fact that can be explained by the pulses of leaf production. However, this strategy had little efficiency to control the pathogen attack. in general, the unified behavior of all variables was affected by cohort, time, species an all the different interactions. Association between growing and foliar damage were conditioned by climate. The highest mortality ocurred during the dry season, and one fourth of the D. granadensis deaths were caused by the joint action of herbivory and drought. Results suggest that in spite of the synchronous leaf production in all cohorts, this strategy quickly loses the efficiency for controlling foliar damage, because the means of P s were below of 0.25 at the end of the monitoring period. The differences between species in the dynamics of health state should explain partially their coexistence in the High-Andean forest. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (3): 1087-1100. Epub 2008 September 30.


In project management, various tools are used to carry out projects according to the given conditions
in cost, time and quality. Project management tools are used for planning, executing, controlling,
documenting and communicating in projects. Digitalization and the associated rapid development
in information technology leads to changes in the application of these tools. In particular, the
development of cloud computing as a distribution channel causes changes.
Cloud-based project management tools have changed the process of project management over the
last few years. With this background, this study examines whether cloud-based project management
tools can be accepted and the variables that will play a major role in the acceptance of such
deployment.
Cloud-based project management tools are used mostly by organizations for implementing projects.
Despite strong interest in this technology from companies, these cloud-based project management
tools are not comprehensively used in the business environment. As well as the benefits, the
integration of these tools into project execution also leads to challenges for companies. Particularly
problematic is the lack of acceptance of new technologies among the target users.
Based on the experiences of active project managers, this research investigates which variables
influence the acceptance of cloud-based project management tools by project managers and
management personnel. In regard to a detailed literature study, two research questions were
formulated to find the variables which influence the acceptance of cloud-based project management
tools and corresponding strategies to increase the acceptance level.
To answer the research questions, a research model based on the Technology Acceptance Model
(TAM) 2 was applied. The results of this research were collected through a quantitative survey of
project managers and management personnel in different industries. The survey was conducted
using an online questionnaire. To analyse the data, a Cronbach alpha analysis and a regression
analysis were performed by using the software Superior Performing Software System (SPSS).
The research identifies the variables Subjective Norm, Output Quality and Result Demonstrability
as the most important, with a significant impact on Perceived Usefulness. The Perceived
Usefulness, together with the Perceived Ease of Use, influences the Intention to Use and thereby
the acceptance of cloud-based project management tools by project managers and management
personnel.
In summary, it can be stated that cloud-based project management tool providers, who intend to
implement cloud-based project management tools, should in particular focus on the Output Quality
of the data.


A newly developed plasma torch with a feed stock of air or oxygen was investigated experimentally in order to determine its effectiveness on ignition and flameholding in a scramjet combustor. This design comes from the viewpoint of total system design of scramjet engine and vehicle because it is preferable to utilize incoming air or onboard propellants as a feed stock. Three patterns of fuel injection were tested 1) from one orifice: 2) from four orifices on one wall; and 3) from all nine orifices on both walls. Ignition and flameholding phenomena were examined through direct photographs of internal and exit flames of the combustor and by wall temperature measurements. The specially devised plasma torch with air or oxygen was able to operate stably without any support gas, for example, argon. Ignition limit curves, with and without the plasma torch, were obtained on a plane relating the air total temperature to the fuel equivalence ratio for the three patterns of fuel injection, and then compared to each other. For a wide range of experimental conditions, it was shown that the effectiveness of an air or oxygen plasma torch was comparable to that of a nitrogen or argon-hydrogen plasma torch. For single-wall injection, it was observed that the plasma torch ignited the fuel jet located directly downstream, and the flame thus formed ignited adjacent fuel jets. In double-wall injection, however, ignition of the fuel injected from the wall opposite the plasma torch was unsuccessful. It was also found that, under some conditions, flameholding can be continued even after the plasma torch is turned off, most notably in the case of single-wall injection. The occurrence or nonoccurrence of this phenomenon is also shown in the ignition limit curves diagram.


A frequency-tripled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (355 nm, 10 Hz, 5 mJ per shot, Surelite, Continuum) was used for the ablation of glasses as direct solid sampling for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric multichannel detection. The colored and transparent glasses were glass standards used for calibration in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and exhibited a 0.15–3.5 absorbance range at 355 nm. Translation of the target (1 mm s−1) with respect to the laser beam was used over a length of 16 mm. The depths and widths of the corresponding patterns were not related to the absorbance of the samples. However, the analytical line intensities were efficiently compensated for by using the Si(I) 251.611 nm line as an internal standard. The repeatability was therefore improved for Na, K, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Zn, Pb, Al, Fe, and Sb, as well as the correlation coefficients of the regression and the centroid uncertainties of the calibration graph. Preliminary investigations were carried out to evaluate the acoustic signal emitted by the microplasma as external standardization. However, a negative correlation was found with the line intensity signals under our operating conditions.


The development of affordable information and communication technologies (ICTs) over the past 25 years has created an environment for people across the globe to have greater access to telecommunication and Internet services. Much of the previous research suggests that these technological advances have mostly exacerbated existing inequalities between developed and developing nations and created new inequalities within societies between the information rich and poor. There seems to be very little research, however, that provides comprehensive explanations for the global digital divide and, in particular, the impact of national public policy initiatives that seek to expand access to ICTs. Most of these studies have tended to be either largely descriptive, qualitative case studies, or quantitative analyses that have had a very narrow concept of ICTs. Our research examines the digital divide by analyzing the impact of national policies in the form of strategic planning, regulation and investment on the International Telecommunications Union's Digital Opportunity Index and ICT access and use indicators in approximately 150 countries. Our multivariate regression analysis shows that when controlling for measures of economic, political, social and educational development, there is greater digital opportunity and greater overall technology adoption and use in countries that have competition to provide basic telecommunication services and make a higher financial investment in ICT development.


Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the top tier of postacute rehabilitation care is provided in acute rehabilitation bedservice units (ARBUs). The next level of care is provided in subacute rehabilitation bedservice units (SRBUs). We fitted reduced-form and structural models to explain VHA cost differences between ARBUs and SRBUs across time and for the individual cost components. We included sociodemographic variables, time since stroke onset, care facility, and the Functional Independence Measure at admission as explanatory variables. The multivariable results indicate that total index stay costs are lower in ARBUs by almost $6,000 (or approximately 25%) compared with SRBUs. Moreover, the lower costs observed in ARBUs in this study combined with the higher rates of guideline compliance and improved outcomes in ARBUs found in previous work suggest that stroke rehabilitation in an ARBU may be more cost-effective than stroke rehabilitation in an SRBU.


Since the publication of a survey of brazilian Conidae (Van Moll et al., 1967) new extensive dredgings effected by one of us (M.K.) along considerable portions of the Brazilian coast have brought a rich material allowing us to add to the previous work and to correct certain opinions therein expressed. Conus testudinarius Hwass, 1792 Conus testudinarius Hwass (see Kohn, 1968, for nomenclature) has been dredged off the mouth of the Amazon (1°10.7'N 46°32.5'W, 100 m deep, calcareous algal gravelly sand and organogenous material. — 2 dead specimens) and off the coast of Ceara (2°13.5'S 40°43.5'W, 53 m deep, calcareous algal sandy gravel. — 1 living juvenile; 2°25.3'S 40°50.5'W, 24 m deep, littoral gravelly sand. — 1 dead juvenile) (see map, fig. 1). The southernmost previous record in the West Atlantic was Venezuela (Clench, 1942). The present record constitutes the first for Brazil. Conus selenae Van Mol, Tursch & Kempf, 1967 We had the opportunity of examining important series of live-collected specimens of the two forms that in an earlier publication (Van Mol, Tursch & Kempf, 1967) we had described as two new species Conus selenae and Conus yemanjae, of which we at that time had only a few specimens at our disposal. It has become obvious that intermediate forms do exist between what should now be considered as two variation extremes of a single species, for which we will keep the name Conus selenae. The radulae of different forms of this variable species have been examined, which has led to the conclusion that the radula (fig. 2) in all its characters is exactly identical in all the forms of this species. Therefore the name Conus yemanjae


Where is the life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? T. S. Eliot, 1934, The Rock

Indexing the geoscience literature in one language presents varying problems, such as the compaction of ideas in single words or phrases. Exchanging such indexing information with other computerized databases operating in other languages presents a whole set of problems, including linguistic, cultural, scientific, computer, and historical problems. The exchange of bibliographic information between the GeoRef database and the PASCAL-GEODE database, starting in 1981, provided an opportunity to tackle these problems. To achieve concordance, the two databases had to modify their respective thesauri and indexing philosophy in order to maximize the use of computers in the exchange process. The exchange is now operational.


Particular classes of signals, as for example natural images, can be encoded sparsely if appropriate dictionaries are used. Finding such dictionaries based on data samples, however, is a difficult optimization task. In this paper, it is shown that simple stochastic gradient descent, besides being much faster, leads to su- perior dictionaries compared to the Method of Optimal Directions (MOD) and the K-SVD algorithm. The gain is most significant in the difficult but relevant case of highly overlapping subspaces, i.e., when the data samples are jointly represented by a restricted set of dictionary elements. Moreover, the so-called Bag of Pursuits method is introduced as an extension of Orthogonal Matching Pursuit, and it is shown that it provides an improved approxima- tion of the optimal sparse coefficients and, therefore, significantly improves the performance of the here proposed gradient descent as well as of the MOD and K-SVD approaches. Finally, it is shown how the Bag of Pursuits and a generalized version of the Neural Gas algorithm can be used to derive an even more powerful method for sparse coding. Performance is analyzed based on both synthetic data and the practical problem of image deconvolution. In the latter case, two different dictionaries are learned for sample images of buildings and flowers, respectively. It is demonstrated that the learned dictionaries do indeed adapt to the image class and that they therefore yield superior reconstruction results.1


OBJECTIVES a) establish the major immunological parameters for clinical use in a group of retirees; b) correlate its levels in relation to gender; c) assess the influence of some specific factors (substance abuse, diseases) on the analyzed parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS study period: 1990-1999; sample: 249; 102 men (M); 147 women (W). Median age: 67.03 (4.2) years. Analyzed immunological variables: total leukocytes, lymphocytes B, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM), rheumatoid factor, lymphocytes subpopulations (CD4, CD8, ratio), natural killer, complement (C3 and C4) and delayed hypersensitivity tests. TECHNIQUES flow cytometry (EPICS-Profile II) and Multitest IMC. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SPSS version 10.0.Results. Gender influence: leukocytes: M: 6,699.4 (1,615.0); W: 6,105.9 (1,470.5); p < 0,003; lymphocytes B (%): M: 9.4 (5.0); W: 11.3 (4.1); p < 0,003; IgG: M: 1,155.7 (320.0); W: 1,116.1 (257.8); p = 0,28, IgM: M: 112.7 (69.3); W: 136.8 (85.6); p < 0,01; IgA: M: 276.1 (114); W: 254.0 (122); p = 0,15; rheumatoid factor: M: 18.5 (6.6); W: 20.9 (18.8); p = 0,020; CD4 (%): M: 42.2 (9.7); W: 47.3 (9,1); p < 0.001; CD8 (%): M: 30.3 (10,8); W: 25.0 (10.2); p < 0,001; scores: M: 13.2 (7.4); 11m: 10.0 (7.2); p < 0,005. Influence of the substance abuse: smokers; lymphocytes B (%): 8.8 (3.4); No: 10.9 (4.7); p < 0.008; CD8 (%): smokers: 31.8 (13.2); No: 26.2 (9.9); p < 0.003; CD4/CD8 ratio: smokers: 1.6 (0.9); No: 2.0 (1.3); p < 0,05; scores: smokers: 14.3 (6.8); No: 10.8 (7.5); p < 0.02; alcoholism: lymphocytes B (%): 8.7 (2.5). No: 10.8 (4.7); p < 0.001; alcoholism: store: 16.9 (6.7); No: 10.7 (7.3); p < 0,001. Influence of the diseases: diabetes: CD4 (%): 49.4 (12.0); diabetics versus healthy: p = 0,05; CD4/CD8 ratio: 2.6 (2.5); diabetics versus healthy: p = 0,04; EPOC: CD8 (%): 32.9 (16,3); COPD versus healthy: p = 0,07; neoplasias NK (%): 17.1 (21.4); neoplasias versus healthy: p < 0,01. CONCLUSIONS. a) there are differences according to the gender in the parameters of normalcy of some variables; b) smoking and alcoholism alter the immunological test analyzed, and c) some chronic diseases influence the subpopulations of lymphocytes and the cutaneous test of delayed hypersensitivity.


Households are major energy consumers and have a significant contribute to the World's final energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Among the energy end-use in buildings lies cooking. The energy saving potential of cooking appliances is large and an investment on the development of more efficient and less polluting stoves and ovens is necessary. Porous medium combustion, already commercially available for several other applications, is a promising technology that can be applied also to household cooking. This paper reviews the research works done in the field. The number of papers dedicated to this specific application is relatively low, and most of them concentrate on experimentally proving the advantages of porous burners when compared to conventional solutions. The influence of burner characteristics and operating conditions are analysed in a few studies. However, there is still a considerable scope for the development of enhanced porous burners for household applications.


In this paper we present case studies of the efforts of five nations, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Peru, and Zimbabwe, to use climate forecasts based on the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system to plan in advance of anticipated anomalous climatic states. We treat the variable use of climate forecasts among these nations as a problem of "fit" between the nature of ENSO, a persistent variability in the ocean–atmosphere system of the tropical Pacific which produces climate variability at local and regional scales around the world, and the human institutions and actors that make and use the forecasts. Our examination of patterns of use of forecasts indicates constraints and suggests opportunities for the useful application of climate forecasts in the future.


Audio source separation is the process of separating a mixture (e.g. a pop band recording) into isolated sounds from individual sources (e.g. just the lead vocals). Deep learning models are the state-of-the-art in source separation, given that the mixture to be separated is similar to the mixtures the deep model was trained on. This requires the end user to know enough about each model's training to select the correct model for a given audio mixture. In this work, we automate selection of the appropriate model for an audio mixture. We present a confidence measure that does not require ground truth to estimate separation quality, given a deep model and audio mixture. We use this confidence measure to automatically select the model output with the best predicted separation quality. We compare our confidence-based ensemble approach to using individual models with no selection, to an oracle that always selects the best model and to a random model selector. Results show our confidence-based ensemble significantly outperforms the random ensemble over general mixtures and approaches oracle performance for music mixtures.


Abstract— Impact cratering is an important geological process on Mars and the nature of Martian impact craters may provide important information as to the volatile content of the Martian crust. Terrestrial impact structures currently provide the only ground‐truth data as to the role of volatiles and an atmosphere on the impact‐cratering process. Recent advancements, based on studies of several well‐preserved terrestrial craters, have been made regarding the role and effect of volatiles on the impact‐cratering process. Combined field and laboratory studies reveal that impact melting is much more common in volatile‐rich targets than previously thought, so impact‐melt rocks, melt‐bearing breccias, and glasses should be common on Mars. Consideration of the terrestrial impact‐cratering record suggests that it is the presence or absence of subsurface volatiles and not the presence of an atmosphere that largely controls ejecta emplacement on Mars. Furthermore, recent studies at the Haughton and Ries impact structures reveal that there are two discrete episodes of ejecta deposition during the formation of complex impact craters that provide a mechanism for generating multiple layers of ejecta. It is apparent that the relative abundance of volatiles in the near‐surface region outside a transient cavity and in the target rocks within the transient cavity play a key role in controlling the amount of fluidization of Martian ejecta deposits. This study shows the value of using terrestrial analogues, in addition to observational data from robotic orbiters and landers, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling to explore the Martian impact‐cratering record.


We developed a simple methodology for fabricating silver nanowire (AgNW) micropatterns on a plastic substrate using a photocurable polymer. The patterning method began with the lamination of a UV-curable prepolymer film onto the AgNW-coated rigid glass substrate. Selective UV exposure of the UV-curable prepolymer film through a photomask solidified the exposed regions, and the unexposed regions were simply removed by the solvent. AgNW micropatterns of various sizes and shapes could be readily formed across the entire plastic substrate. Importantly, this photopatterning process enabled the embedding of the AgNW structures into the polymer matrix, which dramatically reduced the surface roughness and enhanced the mechanical stability of the AgNW film. The AgNW structures served as transparent anode electrodes in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that performed well compared to OLEDs fabricated using conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) or conducting polymer electrodes. This simple, inexpensive, and scalab...


Abstract Objective: The goals of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum for youth athletes and determine long-term retention in those who have previously participated. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Middle schools. Participants: 887 male and female sixth- through eighth-grade Physical Education students, ranging from ages 11 to 16 entered and 858 students finished the HSYS Program. Subjects (n = 29) were excluded if they did not complete their pre-workshop or post-workshop test. Interventions: The program is designed to be a 35–45 min workshop. Main Outcome Measures: Tests were administered before and after workshop participation to evaluate knowledge of concussion and response to head injury. Results: The aggregated pre-workshop and post-workshop mean test scores for participants from all five middle schools were 68% ± 2% and 85% ± 3%, respectively, which demonstrated significant improvement in test scores after participation in the HSYS Program (paired t-test, p < 0.0001). Analyzed individually, each school (MS1–5) demonstrated significant improvement between pre- and post-workshop mean test scores (paired t-test, p < 0.0001). On evaluation of long-term retention of the HSYS Program, students (n = 78) from MS3 who had previously participated in the program scored 7% higher than those students (n = 145) who had no prior exposure (unpaired t-test, p < 0.05). Conclusion: HSYS Program is a multifactorial curriculum that effectively educates students and provides long-term retention about concussion and head safety. The program engages youth athletes in understanding the significance of head safety and creates an opportunity to initiate this discussion and influence athletic behavior to improve head safety.


The principal objective of hydrodynamical-biological models is to provide estimates of the main carbon fluxes such as total and export oceanic production. These models are nitrogen based, that is to say that the variables are expressed in terms of their nitrogen content. Moreover models are calibrated using chlorophyll data sets. Therefore carbon to chlorophyll (C:Chl) and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios have to be assumed. This paper addresses the problem of the representation of these ratios. In a 1D framework at the DYFAMED station (NW Mediterranean Sea) we propose a model which enables the estimation of the basic biogeochemical fluxes and in which the spatio-temporal variability of the C:Chl and C:N ratios is fully represented in a mechanical way. This is achieved through the introduction of new state variables coming from the embedding of a phytoplankton growth model in a more classical Redfieldian NNPZD-DOM model (in which the C:N ratio is assumed to be a constant). Following this modelling step, the parameters of the model are estimated using the adjoint data assimilation method which enables the assimilation of chlorophyll and nitrate data sets collected at DYFAMED in 1997.Comparing the predictions of the new Mechanistic model with those of the classical Redfieldian NNPZD-DOM model which was calibrated with the same data sets, we find that both models reproduce the reference data in a comparable manner. Both fluxes and stocks can be equally well predicted by either model. However if the models are coinciding on an average basis, they are diverging from a variability prediction point of view. In the Mechanistic model biology adapts much faster to its environment giving rise to higher short term variations. Moreover the seasonal variability in total production differs from the Redfieldian NNPZD-DOM model to the Mechanistic model. In summer the Mechanistic model predicts higher production values in carbon unit than the Redfieldian NNPZD-DOM model. In winter the contrary holds.


This paper analyses public support and argues that supply does not match demand in terms of the support needs of different types of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). The demand side of public support to NTBFs is analysed by developing a typology of NTBFs, based on venture origin and degree of innovativeness. Each types characteristics, challenges and support needs are identified. The supply side is analysed in terms of the goals, instruments and level of aggregation of the two main policy areas that provide support for NTBFs: small and medium-sized enterprise policy and science, technology and innovation policy. Finally, the demand and supply sides are compared and three main shortcomings of existing public support to NTBFs are identified. This paper makes a twofold contribution: first, the typology gives guidelines for policy-makers with respect to the support needs of the NTBFs. Second, it identifies shortcomings in existing public support and recommends improvements.


Integrated substance use treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women provide comprehensive services designed to meet the complex needs of women and their children. Meta-analytic data associate participation in these programs with positive outcomes relating to maternal substance use and mental health, and child development. Given that programs are typically developed to meet locally determined needs and depend on available resources, considerable heterogeneity in treatment models and services exists. Further, little is known about process-related factors that support the integration of substance use and prenatal/parenting/child services within and between agencies. This study employed concept mapping methodology with a group of expert participants to examine their perceptions of factors and processes that support effective integrated service provision for this population. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to derive and define requisite factors and to examine their relative importance. Findings are discussed in relation to a preliminary conceptual framework for integrated service provision.


This thesis explores the premise that during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras there existed a significant and influential division within the working class of England's industrial towns and cities. This division, based largely on economic factors to do with the size and regularity of earnings, manifested itself first in the type and locality of residence, which in turn emphasised and reinforced the division of the working class into an upper section of better-paid usually more skilled and regularly-employed and a lower, poorer section of the low-waged and casually employed. Whilst it is not suggested that this produced "working classes" rather than "a working class", it did, nevertheless, result in two sections among the wage-earning class whose members pursued in many significant ways quite different ways of life. Economic differences allied to residential segregation meant that each section: developed different notions of such concepts as "rough" and "respectable" and did not by any means share beliefs as to what constituted acceptable or "deviant" behaviour. These and other questions are pursued by an examination of the years from 1871 to 1914 in the Birmingham neighbourhood of West Sparkbrook. The chronology has been set to make possible the use of census material and oral evidence, and the neighbourhood was chosen because, although it was in these years mainly an area of middle and upper working class housing, it had within it clearly differentiated pockets of lower working class housing, and so makes significant comparisons possible. After an examination of the growth of West Sparkbrook as a residential district, an analysis has been made of the institutions, habits and behaviour of the people of the district. Documentary, archival and oral evidence has been called on to examine the cultural schism in a number of exemplary areas. Differences in housing, schooling, working and shopping have been considered, and attitudes towards drinking, gambling and fighting. The differing roles and responsibilities within the family of men, women and children have been shown in the different groups, as well as leisure behaviour and the role of religion and of religious and charitable institutions in the lives of the community. From this picture emerges a clearer idea of the limits imposed on behaviour by the notions of "rough" and "respectable", and the extent to which these notions were developed by each group within its specific social, economic and cultural environment.


Ground faults in generator stator and field/rotor circuits are serious events that can lead to damage, costly repair, extended outage and loss of revenue. This paper explores advances in field/rotor circuit ground fault and stator ground fault protection. These advanced protection strategies employ AC injection and other tactics to provide benefits in security, sensitivity and speed.


In 1026, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni raided the Hindu temple of Somanatha (Somnath in textbooks of the colonial period). The story of the raid has reverberated in Indian history, but largely during the raj. It was first depicted as a trauma for the Hindu population not in India, but in the House of Commons. The triumphalist accounts of the event in Turko-Persian chronicles became the main source for most eighteenth-century historians. It suited everyone and helped the British to divide and rule a multi-millioned subcontinent. In her new book, Romila Thapar, the doyenne of Indian historians, reconstructs what took place by studying other sources, including local Sanskrit inscriptions, biographies of kings and merchants of the period, court epics and popular narratives that have survived. The result is astounding and undermines the traditional version of what took place. What makes her findings explosive is the fact that the current Hindu nationalist regime in India constantly utilizes a particular version of history


Abstract The Neogene climate history of the Makassar Straits has been assessed by combining palynological studies of two Late Quaternary cores from the ocean floor with analyses of petroleum exploration wells from the Makassar Straits, Indonesia, penetrating the Early Pleistocene to Middle Miocene. The two Late Quaternary cores span 30 ka, located offshore the Mahakam Delta, east Kalimantan, and 95 ka, from offshore south Sulawesi. The first provides a record of the vegetation and climate history of the Mahakam catchment, and indicates rain forests through the last 30 ka, but with a cooler last glacial maximum, whereas the second provides a record of vegetation of the Java Sea region and south Sulawesi, and indicates extensive grasslands, suggesting a distinctly seasonal climate, during the last glacial maximum. Based on a climate model constructed from the cores which link sea level change with changes of temperature and seasonality, the history of vegetation and climate for the Makassar Straits is then extrapolated back to the Middle Miocene using the record obtained from the two exploration wells. Results show that the equatorial climate has been everwet since the Middle Miocene, but at subequatorial latitudes seasonal climates became established from the Late Pliocene onward.


We study the role of idiosyncratic income shocks for aggregate fluctuations within a simple heterogeneous household framework with no binding borrowing constraints. We show that the presence of idiosyncratic income shocks affects the economy's response to an aggregate shock in a way that can be captured by a consumption-weighted average of the changes in uncertainty generated by the shock. We apply this framework to two example economies —an endowment economy and a New Keynesian economy— and show that under plausible calibrations the impact of idiosyncratic income shocks on aggregate fluctuations is quantitatively small, since most of the changes in uncertainty are concentrated among poorer (low consumption) households.


Purpose – Increasing turnover of frontline staff in call centres is detrimental to the delivery of quality service to customers. This paper aims to present the context for the rapid growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector in India, and to address a critical issue faced by call centre organisations in this sector – the high employee turnover. Design/methodology/approach – Following a triangulation approach, two separate empirical investigations are conducted to examine various aspects of high labour turnover rates in the call centre sector in India. Study one examines the research issue via 51 in-depth interviews in as many units. Study two reports results from a questionnaire survey with 204 frontline agents across 11 call centres regarding employee turnover. Findings – This research reveals a range of reasons – from monotonous work, stressful work environment, adverse working conditions, lack of career development opportunities; to better job opportunities elsewhere, which emerge as the key causes of increasing attrition rates in the Indian call centre industry. Research limitations/implications – The research suggests that there are several issues that need to be handled carefully by management of call centres in India to overcome the problem of increasing employee turnover, and that this also demands support from the Indian government. Originality/value – The contributions of this study untangle the issues underlying a key problem in the call centre industry, i.e. employee turnover in the Indian call centre industry context. Adopting an internal marketing approach, it provides useful information for both academics and practitioners and suggests internal marketing interventions, and avenues for future research to combat the problem of employee turnover.


Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the ocular findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate (MTX) or MTX with biological agents. Methods: One hundred and twelve eyes of 56 patients with RA and treated with MTX or MTX with biological agents were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups using DMARDs only (group 1) and patients using DMARDs and biologic agents together (group 2). In both groups; Schirmer's II test, tear film break-up time (tBUT), central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and anterior segment and fundus examinations of the eye with slit lamp were carried out. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score questionnaire were performed. Results: Thirty-eight patients with a mean age of 53.00 ± 8.19 years were in group 1 and 18 patients with a mean age of 51.00 ± 9.54 years were in group 2. The mean duration of RA was 6.89 ± 7.96 years in group 1 and 5.70 ± 9.00 years in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups with tBUT, CCT, CV, IOP (p < 0.05) and there was no significant difference with age, sex, disease duration, disease activity, and Schirmer's II test (p > 0.05). The disease duration showed a significant moderate negative correlation with CCT and CV in group 2 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although tBUT values were significantly higher in the combination treatment group, CCT and CV values were significantly lower. Due to the decrease in corneal thickness, IOP was determined to be significantly lower.


In 1979, an estimated 623 wells were completed in New York. In existing fields, 172 oil and 370 gas wells were completed. Exploratory drilling resulted in 12 new gas-field discoveries, 1 deeper pool gas discovery, and 27 extensions to existing gas fields. Two discoveries were in the Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone, one along the Oriskany pinch-out and the other on a structure. One discovery in the far western part of the state found gas in the Silurian Medina Sandstone and also in the shallow Upper Devonian Glade sandstone. The deeper pool discovery is in the Medina Sandstone in the shallow Busti oil field. All of the remaining discoveries and extensions were in the Medina Sandstone in western New York. Three dry Cambrian-Precambrian tests were drilled in the western part of the state. Oil production in 1979 was 854,604 bbl and gas production amounted to 15,500 MMcf. The price for New York stripper crude increased substantially during 1979, rising from $14.77/bbl to $38.00/bbl on 1/1/80. Gas prices ranged up to $2.17/Mcf. During 1979, 6 companies accomplished 70 crew-weeks of reflection seismic work in New York. Leasing continued in areas of possible Medina and Queenston gas production in western and central New York. Columbia Gas Project Penny will stimulate drilling for Medina gas production in western New York. A successful Devonian black shale gas test was drilled in 1979 and will be completed in 1980. Several additional Devonian black shale tests are planned. Several exploratory wells are planned for central New York. Leasing and drilling in the New York part of Lake Erie are still delayed until completion of a federal environmental impact study.


In this chapter, the European Union regulatory framework and procedures for ensuring the chemical safety of feed additives are described. Explanation is given of the role of European Union committees, including the FEEDAP Panel and its working groups, in evaluation of the safety of feed additives and writing guidance documents in relation to this. The evaluation of the safety of target animals, people handling the feed additives, consumers of foods derived from target animals given feed additives and of the environment are discussed, giving examples of where difficulties have been encountered. The concepts of reference points and health-based guidance values are introduced. The chapter notes some problems with the current methods of regulating feed additives and looks ahead to possible changes to the way in which the toxicity of feed additives will be evaluated in future.


Introduction: Anaemia is a major health problem in India. Various studies mention poor nutrition knowledge and education as main factors of malnutrition. Aim: This study aims at assessing the effect of nutritional education on iron among school children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional interventional study to improve nutrition literacy in schools was undertaken from April 2018 to February 2019. The outreach platform used was Eat Right School program by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). A study tool employed was data collection using self-developed questionnaire for pre and post-intervention knowledge assessment. School children from Delhi NCR and Mumbai participated in this study. Knowledge intervention was done on 5 key elements related to iron including role, sources, iron deficiency anaemia, iron absorption and knowledge of fortification. Chi-squared test (α=0.05) was applied for comparison. Results: It was found that 54% (n=18,626) of school children studied were in the age group 11-14 years. From 27355 participants who reported the gender, 58.1% (n=15899) were boys and 41.9% (n=11456) girls. Comparison of pre and post-intervention assessment revealed that percentage of students knowing importance/role of iron increased from 27.30% to 59.50%, iron deficiency anaemia from 34.03% to 59.85%, sources of iron from 25.20% to 51.70%, iron absorption from 36.00% to 61.2% and knowledge of fortification from 55.4% to 76.9%. Thus, significant shift (p≤0.001) in all the parameters was observed; improvement in scores ranged from 21.5% to 32.20% with highest increase seen in understanding the role of iron. Conclusion: Results of the study reject the null hypothesis leading to acceptance of alternate hypothesis. The alternate hypothesis highlights the role of nutrition education in improving the nutritional literacy of school children in the area of iron and iron deficiency anaemia. Results of the current study increased the knowledge of children on all parameters related to iron education module. Thus, nutritional literacy is imperative in improving nutritional status and adolescent age-group is the window of opportunity to correct it.


Objective Even though the role of the DICS1 gene as a risk factor for schizophrenia is still unclear, there is substantial evidence from functional and cell biology studies that supports the connection of the gene with schizophrenia. The studies associating the DISC1 gene with schizophrenia in Asian populations are limited to East-Asian populations. Our study examined several DISC1 markers of schizophrenia that were identified in the Caucasian and East-Asian populations in Malaysia and assessed the role of rs2509382, which is located at 11q14.3, the mutual translocation region of the famous DISC1 translocation [t (1; 11) (p42.1; q14.3)]. Methods We genotyped eleven single-neucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) within or related to DISC1 (rs821597, rs821616, rs4658971, rs1538979, rs843979, rs2812385, rs1407599, rs4658890, and rs2509382) using the PCR-RFLP methods. Results In all, there were 575 participants (225 schizophrenic patients and 350 healthy controls) of either Malay or Chinese ethnicity. The case-control analyses found two SNPs that were associated with schizophrenia [rs4658971 (p=0.030; OR=1.43 (1.35-1.99) and rs1538979-(p=0.036; OR=1.35 (1.02-1.80)] and rs2509382-susceptibility among the males schizophrenics [p=0.0082; OR=2.16 (1.22-3.81)]. This is similar to the meta-analysis findings for the Caucasian populations. Conclusion The study supports the notion that the DISC1 gene is a marker of schizophrenia susceptibility and that rs2509382 in the mutual DISC1 translocation region is a susceptibility marker for schizophrenia among males in Malaysia. However, the finding of the study is limited due to possible genetic stratification and the small sample size.


Uncontrolled and sprawling growth in physical space is one of the primary problems of metropolitan cities. Urban sprawl, which can be defined as the rapid peripheral growth of cities, is criticized in terms of leading problems such as occupying cultivated areas and environment, removing away many advantages provided by natural open spaces, increasing transport costs, and transforming city centers into decayed areas. Smart growth, which is one of the important agenda topics of planning, creates an opportunity in terms of determining reuse strategies and priorities of urban area. Smart growth refers readdressing of urban macroform and land use preferences by emphasizing economic and environmental dimensions of spatial organization. Smart growth involves indicators that can be used for all cities for ensuring social, economic and physical sustainability required by urban regeneration. This is an explanatory study suggesting use of smart growth principles in urban regeneration. This study is composed of two stages. At the first one, project specific matrix for smart growth is created by making literature investigation in sources dealing with international approaches and practice examples. At the second one, how the proposed development affects the surroundings is evaluated by project specifics matrix. By taking advantage of the matrix, positive or negative aspects of the project and the level of being successful is evaluated in terms of principles take advantage of compact building design, preserve open space farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas as well as strengthen and direct development towards existing communities. Under these titles, following principles are also dealt with: convenience of the projects to high scale plan decisions; parallelism with preservation strategies and development strategies of the city; distribution of density decisions; compact design features; protection of existing areas, nature protection strategies, using brownfield or decayed areas, etc. Three urban regeneration projects, which are the biggest and the most important practices in Konya, the 6th metropolitan city of Turkey in terms of population, are selected for case study. The main determinant of selection of Konya is the fact that the metropolitan city has started to experience urban regeneration period quickly but with problems, and the city has unnecessarily sprawled. The most important difference of the study is the creation of a guideline which will evaluate the management of urban regeneration being applied in Turkey and its effects on the cities as a solution for urban sprawl.


Little is known about how people structure sets of visualizations to support sequential viewing. We contribute findings from several studies examining visualization sequencing and reception. In our first study, people made decisions between various possible structures as they ordered a set of related visualizations (consisting of either bar charts or thematic maps) into what they considered the clearest sequence for showing the data. We find that most people structure visualization sequences hierarchically: they create high level groupings based on shared data properties like time period, measure, level of aggregation, and spatial region, then order the views within these groupings. We also observe a tendency for certain types of similarities between views, like a common spatial region or aggregation level, to be seen as more appropriate categories for organizing views in a sequence than others, like a common time period or measure. In a second study, we find that viewers' perceptions of the quality and intention of different sequences are largely consistent with the perceptions of the users who created them. The understanding of sequence preferences and perceptions that emerges from our studies has implications for the development of visualization authoring tools and sequence recommendations for guided analysis.


: A 3-year-old male ferret was admitted with ulcerated nodules and fistulous draining tracts on the pads and digits of the right front and left hind feet. Proteus sp and Escherichia coli were isolated from the exudate. Histologic examinations revealed that all skin lesions were associated with an underlying squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical removal was attempted, followed by chemotherapy. Regression of remaining lesions was noted before discharge; however, the ferret died 5 days later and was not available for necropsy.


This paper develops a model of job creation and job destruction in a growing economy with embodied technical progress, that we use to analyze the political support for employment protection legislations such as the ones that are observed in most European countries. We analyze the possibility of Condorcet cycles due to the fact that workers about to become unemployed prefer both an increase and a reduction in firing costs over the status quo. Despite this problem, we show the existence of local, and sometimes global majority winners. In voting in favour of employment protection, incumbent employees trade off lower living standards (because employment protection maintains workers in less productive activities) against longer job duration. We show that the gains from, and consequently the political support for employment protection (as defined by maximum job tenure) are larger, the lower the rate of creative destruction and the larger the worker's bargaining power. Numerical simulations suggest a hump-shaped response of firing costs to these variables, as well as a negative impact of exogenous turnover on employment protection.


Topological tailoring of materials at a micro-scale can achieve a diverse range of extreme physical and mechanical properties. Modification of material properties through customizing the structural pattern paves an avenue for novel functional product design. In this paper, a non-periodic microstructure design framework is explored for functional parts design with high-strength and functional property gradation. To address the common problem of geometric frustration in non-periodic microstructure design, we employ a smooth transition layer to connect distinct structural patterns and thus achieve functional gradation between adjacent microstructures. The concept of spatial control points is introduced for implementing the transition layer. To pursue a superior macro-structural performance for designing objects, we formulate the control point as design variables and encapsulate it into macro-structural design optimization problems. Given that our objective function involves finite element (FE) simulations, a surrogate model-based optimization scheme is utilized to cope with the computational challenge brought by the FE simulation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed design framework can yield both functionally graded light-weight structures and high-strength macro-mechanical performance. The compatibility issues in traditional non-periodic microstructure design are addressed. Comparative studies reveal that the proposed framework is robust and can potentially generate desired functional products with spatially varying properties.


The article proposes a new model of democracy, in which fidelity to democracy, particularly in the United States, is secured through engagement of the electorate in public conversation about public affairs. The model is descriptive, rather than normative, though limited normative implications are drawn from the analysis, because the central phenomenon described -- electoral engagement and consequent stability of the system -- is usually counted a good thing. The model is contrasted with other models of democracy, especially with the dominant "vote-centered" model, in which outcomes are traceable to equally-weighted voter inputs transmitted through votes in candidate elections. The model is deployed to integrate a wide range of phenomena of American democracy, including bicameralism, geographically defined single member (dual in the case of the Senate) districts, the plurality selection electoral norm, popular satisfaction with the Senate and ambivalence concerning courts, the central role assumed by First Amendment jurisprudence, suspicion of interest group politics, and minority group attitudes toward majority minority districting. The article also identifies and then resolves what should be a puzzle under the vote- centered model, but has seldom been noted -- that parents are not accorded extra votes on account of their children. Implications of the conversational model are explored for term limits, campaign finance reform, legislative districting practices, sizes of legislative bodies, sizes of democracies, and other matters. To a certain extent democracy in the United States is contrasted with versions found in other countries.


Cascade is a multi-institution project studying the temporal and spatial organization of tropical convective systems. While cloud resolving numerical models can reproduce the observed diurnal cycle of such systems they are sensitive to the chosen resolution. As part of this effort, we are comparing results from the Met. Office Unified Model to data from the Global Earth Radiation Budget satellite instrument over the African Monsoon Interdisciplinary Analyses region of North Africa. We use a variety of mathematical techniques to study the outgoing radiation and the evolution of properties such as the cloud size distribution. The effectiveness of various model resolutions is tested with a view to determining the optimum balance between resolution and the need to reproduce the observations.


The Microwave Power Transmission (MPT) key technologies to realize Space Solar Power Satellite/Station (SPS) are follows: 1)high efficient microwave transmitting, 2)huge microwave output power, 3)high efficient RF-DC conversion, 4)high beam control accuracy. In order to research into those new or advanced key technologies, we have been developed the test facility which consists of the phased array system, the rectenna array system, and the beam control units. We achieve concepts for the MPT test facility. Efficiency of the microwave transmitting is 42.3%, the microwave output power is 1.9kW, efficiency of RF-DC conversion at 1mW RF input is 54%, and the amplitude mono-pulse method accuracy is 0.4 degrees RMS. In addition, those systems have several characteristics as the MPT test facility. For example, water cooling system enables the continuous transmission for more than 8 hours. In this paper, we introduce the concepts and an outline of the systems described below and some technical data is reported


We investigated the dynamics of physical characteristics of water by applying various methods of molecular structural analysis: IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, microwave radiometry and NMR. It was established that the changes in the physical characteristics of water are subject to certain laws. In all experiments, the periods of oscillations of the measured values showed good similarity and reproducibility, regardless of the method of analysis. The values of these periods are as follows: 1-3, 5-9, 10-13, 14-18, 21-29, 30-39, 41-55 and ~60 minutes. The amplitudes of these oscillations vary up to 10%. Based on the two-structure water model the observed quasi-periodic intermolecular interactions can be associated with the dynamics of mutual transitions between local structural inhomogeneities of water. The observed periodic character of intermolecular interactions can presumably be linked to the change in the ratio between the spin isomers of water molecules. The article discusses the connections between variations of the physical properties of water and biorhythms.


Abstract. Delineating accurate surface water quality levels (SWQLs) always presents a great challenge to researchers. Existing methods of assessing surface water quality only provide individual concentrations of monitoring stations without providing the overall SWQLs. Therefore, the results of existing methods are usually difficult to be understood by decision-makers. Conversely, the water quality index (WQI) can simplify surface water quality assessment process to be accessible to decision-makers. However, in most cases, the WQI reflects inaccurate SWQLs due to the lack of representative water samples. It is very challenging to provide representative water samples because this process is costly and time consuming. To solve this problem, we introduce a cost-effective method which combines the Landsat-8 imagery and artificial intelligence to develop models to derive representative water samples by correlating concentrations of ground truth water samples to satellite spectral information. Our method was validated and the correlation between concentrations of ground truth water samples and predicted concentrations from the developed models reached a high level of coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.80, which is trustworthy. Afterwards, the predicted concentrations over each pixel of the study area were used as an input to the WQI developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to extract accurate SWQLs, for drinking purposes, in the Saint John River. The results indicated that SWQL was observed as 67 (Fair) and 59 (Marginal) for the lower and middle basins of the river, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of using our approach in surface water quality management.


With the current generalisation of parallel architectures arises the concern of applying formal methods to parallelism. The complexity of parallel, compared to sequential, programs makes them more error-prone and difficult to verify. Bulk Synchronous Parallelism (BSP) is a model of computation which offers a high degree of abstraction like PRAM models but yet a realistic cost model based on a structured parallelism. We propose a framework for refining a sequential specification toward a functional BSP program, the whole process being done with the help of the Coq proof assistant. To do so we define BH, a new homomorphic skeleton, which captures the essence of BSP computation in an algorithmic level, and also serves as a bridge in mapping from high level specification to low level BSP parallel programs.


Resistive random access memory (RRAM) is a promising technology for energy-efficient neuromorphic accelerators. However, when a pretrained deep neural network (DNN) model is programmed to an RRAM array for inference, the model suffers from accuracy degradation due to RRAM nonidealities, such as device variations, quantization error, and stuck-at-faults. Previous solutions involving multiple read–verify–write (R-V-W) to the RRAM cells require cell-by-cell compensation and, thus, an excessive amount of processing time. In this article, we propose a joint algorithm-design solution to mitigate the accuracy degradation. We first leverage knowledge distillation (KD), where the model is trained with the RRAM nonidealities to increase the robustness of the model under device variations. Furthermore, we propose random sparse adaptation (RSA), which integrates a small on-chip memory with the main RRAM array for postmapping adaptation. Only the on-chip memory is updated to recover the inference accuracy. The joint algorithm-design solution achieves the state-of-the-art accuracy of 99.41% for MNIST (LeNet-5) and 91.86% for CIFAR-10 (VGG-16) with up to 5% parameters as overhead while providing a 15– $150\times $ speedup compared with R-V-W.


We present an algorithm that exploits the complimentary benefits of best-first search (BFS) and depth-first search (DFS) by performing limited DFS lookaheads from the frontier of BFS. We show that this continuum requires significantly less memory than BFS. In addition, a time speedup is also achieved when choosing the lookahead depth correctly. We demonstrate this idea for breadth-first search and for A*. Additionally, we show that when using inconsistent heuristics, Bidirectional Pathmax (BPMX), can be implemented very easily on top of the lookahead phase. Experimental results on several domains demonstrate the benefits of all our ideas.


The development and business communities involved in the African agriculture and agribusiness sectors have recently experienced a strong resurgence of interest in promoting value chains as an approach that can help design interventions geared to add value, lower transaction costs, diversify rural economies, and contribute to increasing rural household incomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Enhancing value chain competitiveness is increasingly recognized as an effective approach to generating growth and reducing the rural poverty prevalent in the region. This is a welcome development for practitioners who have long been convinced of the need to look differently at agriculture not just as a means of survival, but as smaller or larger commercial businesses linked to domestic and global markets and of the need to identify and tap into new sources of potential growth and value addition in the sector. Hopefully, renewed engagement will lead to a substantial increase in the flow of financial resources and technical assistance devoted to supporting market-driven, competitive agro-enterprises and agricultural value chains throughout the African continent. However, there is danger that this renewed engagement may not last, or may even backfire, if the high expectations placed on promoting value chains are not met. Because the development literature is not clear about the concepts and methods relating to value chains, there is risk that sooner or later the benefits of the value chain approach will be overshadowed by unmet expectations. That in turn could cause the approach to be discarded categorically. Although there is no single way to mitigate such risks, this guide aims to offer practical advice and tools to businessmen, policy makers, representatives of farmer or trade organizations, and others who are engaged in SSA agro-enterprise and agribusiness development. This guide is particularly designed for those who want to know more about value chain based approaches, and how to use them in ways that can contribute to sound operational decisions and results for enterprise and industry development, as well as for policy making with respect to doing business, stimulating investment, and enhancing trade in the context of African agriculture.


The European Space Agency's Planck satellite was launched on 14 May 2009, and surveyed the sky stably and continuously between August 2009 and October 2013. The scientific analysis of the Planck data requires understanding the optical response of its detectors, which originates partly from a physical model of the optical system. In this paper, we use in-flight measurements of planets within ∼1° of boresight to estimate the geometrical properties of the telescope and focal plane. First, we use observed grating lobes to measure the amplitude of mechanical dimpling of the reflectors, which is caused by the hexagonal honeycomb structure of the carbon fibre reflectors. We find that the dimpling amplitude on the two reflectors is larger than expected from the ground, by 20% on the secondary and at least a factor of 2 on the primary. Second, we use the main beam shapes of 26 detectors to investigate the alignment of the various elements of the optical system, as well as the large-scale deformations of the reflectors. We develop a metric to guide an iterative fitting scheme, and are able to determine a new geometric model that fits the in-flight measurements better than the pre-flight prediction according to this metric. The new alignment model is within the mechanical tolerances expected from the ground, with some specific but minor exceptions. We find that the reflectors contain large-scale sinusoidal deformations most probably related to the mechanical supports. In spite of the better overall fit, the new model still does not fit the beam measurements at a level compatible with the needs of cosmological analysis. Nonetheless, future analysis of the Planck data would benefit from taking into account some of the features of the new model. The analysis described here exemplifies some of the limitations of in-flight retrieval of the geometry of an optical system similar to that of Planck, and provides useful information for similar efforts in future experiments.


THE VALUE of sympathetic block with procaine hydrochloride and of lumbar ganglionectomy in the treatment of acute arterial occlusion due to accidental arterial laceration, embolism, thrombophlebitis and its sequelae, Raynaud's disease, hyperhidrosis and certain instances of Buerger's disease is now well established. The use of sympathectomy for arterial deficiency due to arteriosclerosis, however, has not been generally accepted because of the extensive and irreversible changes which occur in the arteries in this disease and the frequency of failure of this type of treatment in poorly selected cases. In 1931 Flothow1reported 8 cases of arteriosclerosis of peripheral vessels in which improvement was obtained by injection of alcohol into lumbar sympathetic ganglions. Two of the patients had actual gangrene of one or more toes. In 1 of these the pain was relieved and the temperature of the skin raised 10 C. (18 F.). Although amputation was necessary at a later


The pivaloyloxymethyl (Pom) group has been used simultaneously to protect both nitrogens in the uracil ring system of pseudouridine. This enabled the synthesis of a 2′-O-[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl]-protected (Fpmp protected) pseudouridine building block suitable for solidphase oligoribonucleotide synthesis by the phosphoramidite method as well as a useful 2′-O-methylpseudouridine building block. Both compounds were incorporated in high yield into synthetic oligonucleotides, the Pom groups being cleaved during an extended deblock with ammonia.


Effects of sasanguasaponin (SGS), a compound from defatted seeds of Camellia oleifera, on abnormal spermatogenesis were studied in adult male mice using daily intragastric administration of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 6 weeks. The sperm counts decreased and the number of abnormal spermatozoa increased in mice treated with SGS at 400 mg/kg dose level. Testicular weight and seminiferous tubular area gradually decreased as dosage increased to 400 mg/kg SGS. Germ cells were rarefied and showed irregular distribution in seminiferous tubules (STs). Apoptosis was pronounced among spermatocytes and spermatids at the 400 mg/kg dose level. Antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxide capacity (T-AOC) markedly decreased and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased in the testes. These results suggest that adult exposure to SGS (400 mg/kg) induces spermatogenic apoptosis through increased oxidative stress in male mice.


Trends in refrigerated trucking since the 1980s were examined. Owner-operators have maintained their importance, but are more likely to operate under leases. Equipment replacement and utilization rates are good. Finally, drivers express high levels of satisfaction with driving and compensation and the large majority intend to remain in the profession.


Purpose: Optimal order allocation on the part of the buyer in a multi-supplier environment has become a major concern in supply chains.  There are numerous articles that analyze and present models for optimizing order allocation from a given panel of suppliers. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis on this topic which considers: (i) aims, (ii) results, (iii) model complexity, and (iv) resolution procedures. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reviews twenty-eight articles, twenty-one of them published since 2007 in journals indexed by Journal Citation Reports (in ISI Web of Knowledge) on this topic. Findings and Originality/value: This review reveals four main aspects mentioned as determinant in generating mathematical models. The analysis of these four points does not allow for a single, overarching model. Rather, all analyzed solutions reflect and respond to a specific company environment. Originality/value: A global analysis on several recent papers, describing main aspects wich determines optimal order allocation in multi-supplier environment.


According to recent publications, from 2005 to 2008 there were more than 13,000 terrorist attacks around the world, which took more than 73,000 human lives. The attacks were targeted mainly on the technical and civic infrastructure, like governmental buildings, bridges, etc. Due to improved ductility, fibrereinforced concrete (FRC) shows better performance under blast and impact loading compared to conventionally reinforced concrete. Also higher concrete strength shows better blast performance. Field tests of FRC and reinforced concrete specimens were performed in cooperation with the Czech Army corps in the military training area Boletice. The test were performed using real scale reinforced concrete precast slabs (6 x 1.5 x 0.3 m) with varying fiber content, fiber type, fiber strength and concrete strength class and 25 kg of TNT charges placed in distance from the slab for better simulation of real in-situ conditions. The paper presents conclusions from three sets of tests from years 2010, 2011 and 2013. Eleven specimens were tested in total. Two specimens were without fibers and had different concrete strength. Polypropylen fibers with length 54 mm and strength of 600 MPa and steel fibers with low ductility 25 mm long and strength 400 MPa were added in different content (0.5% and 1%) to the other nine specimens.


This paper describes an experience to incorporate the realization of virtual routes about the sculptural heritage of a city in the classroom by developing a simulation of the urban environment using a video game engine. Video game engines not only allow the creation of video games but also the creation and navigation of in-teractive three-dimensional worlds. For this research, Roblox Studio has been used, a simple and intuitive program in which no previous programming skills are required. During the 2018/2019 academic year, a pilot experience was carried out with 53 secondary school students who were given the task of designing a virtual environment in which they had to include 3D models of the sculptural her-itage of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Before starting the experience, the par-ticipants answered a questionnaire to obtain a previous idea of the students' knowledge about the creation of video games. Once the activity was finished and in order to evaluate the result of the activity, the participants answered a final questionnaire. The students emphasized that after the activity they are more aware of the sculptural heritage of Santa Cruz and that they consider themselves capable of creating their own interactive worlds with Roblox.


Geometry deals both with analogical thinking and physical/biological observables.  Naïve, common-sense descriptions of objects' shapes and systems' trajectories in geometric phase spaces may help experimental investigation.  For example, very different biological dynamics, as the developmental growth patterns of the oldest known animal (the extinct Dickinsonia) and the human brain electric oscillations, display a striking analogy: when encompassed in abstract geometric spaces, their paths describe the same changes in curvature: from convex, to flat, to concave and vice versa.  This dynamical behavior, anticipated by Nicholas de Cusa in his analogical account of "coincidentia oppositorum" (1440), helps to describe widespread biological paths in the manageable terms of concave, flat and convex curves on donut-like structures.  Every trajectory taking place on such toroidal manifolds can be located, through a topological technique called Hopf fibration, into a four-dimensional space.  We discuss how the correlation between Hopf fibration and Navier-Stokes equations allows us to treat the above-mentioned biological and neuroscientific curved paths in terms of flows taking place into a viscous fluid medium that can be experimentally assessed and quantified.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
An eight-member group consisting of Canadian infectious disease and immunology specialists and a family physician with significant experience in HIV management was convened to update existing recommendations, specifically intended for use by Canadian HIV-treating physicians, on the appropriate use of enfuvirtide in HIV/AIDS patients with resistance to other antiretroviral drugs.

METHODS
Evidence from the literature and expert opinions of the group members formed the basis of the guidelines. Comments on the draft guidelines were obtained from other physicians across Canada with HIV expertise. The final guidelines represent the group's consensus agreement.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
The recommendations were developed to guide physicians in optimal practices in patient selection for enfuvirtide treatment and subsequent patient management. The issues considered include positive predictors of response to enfuvirtide, stage of disease, optimization of the background regimen, early indicators of enfuvirtide response, and patient education and support.


The standard screening tool for cardiac arrhythmias remains to be the 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). Despite carrying rich information about different types of arrhythmias, it is considered bulky, high-cost, and often hard to use. In this study, we sought to investigate the efficiency of using 6-lead, 4-lead, 3 -lead, and 2-lead ECG in discriminating between 26 arrhythmia types and compare them with the standard 12-lead ECG. as part of PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology 2021 Challenge. Our team, Care4MyHeart, developed a deep learning approach based on residual convolutional neural networks and Bi-directional long short term memory (ResNet-BiLSTM) to extract deep-activated features from ECG oscillatory components obtained using a novel swarm decomposition (SWD) algorithm. Alongside age and sex, these automated features were combined with hand-crafted features from heart rate variability and SWD components for training and classification. Our approach achieved a challenge score of 0.45, 0.43, 0.44, 0.43, and 0.42 using 10-fold cross-validation using the training set and 0.25, 0.23, 0.24, 0.22, and 0.20 using the hidden test set for 12-lead, 6-lead, 4-lead, 3-lead, and 2-lead, respectively. Our team was ranked the 31/38 with an average all-lead test score of 0.22.


Offshore operations in the Arctic present several challenges, such as the threat of icebergs colliding with offshore structures.This thesis will investigate methods of estimating the shape and size of iceberg keel geometries. Accurate information of iceberg size and geometry is important for forecasting future iceberg trajectories, and for calculating local and global loads generated by an icebergs impact on offshore structures. The iceberg shape and size is also useful for determining its stability before a towing operation to avoid rope slippage or the iceberg rolling over. We have proposed a method on how iceberg surface data can be used in a towing operation for predicting its stability. This has been done by using surface lengths on icebergs to estimate their draft with a 95 % confidence interval based on previous surface length and keel draft data. The estimated draft has been used to scale trapezoidal shapes to represent iceberg keels, and then used to calculate the icebergs GZ curve. We discovered that the trapezoidal shapes gave poor shape estimations for stability calculations. This was because the volume distribution of a true iceberg was represented poorly, especially close to the water surface. We utilized an artificial neural network (ANN) in order to estimate the shape of an iceberg keel based on iceberg surface date. The (ANN) was made by 2D iceberg keel geometries from surface data, because 3D iceberg data is scarce. The original 2D iceberg continuous profile was reduced into 8 vertices for both sail and keel geometry. This created an input matrix representing the sail geometry, and a target matrix representing the keel geometry used to train the ANN with 42 2D iceberg samples. The ANN gave more accurate results than the trapezoidal method. We have also presented a case study on rebuilding reduced keel geometry data using shape factors from an ANN . The objection of the case study was to reduce iceberg data gathered by an AUV so that it can be transmitted real time to a surface vessel for processing. It was difficult to evaluate the performance of the ANN due to the low sample size, and because the shape factors used for estimation, were also used to measure the performance.


Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, has experienced rapid growth over the last two decades and is relatively prosperous by Asian standards. The city is situated in the lower half of the flat deltaic plain of the River Chao Phraya and lies at ground elevations of between 0.5 and 1.5m above mean sea level, although some areas are even lower and lie below mean sea level. Drainage of the area is poor and takes place by way a network of sluggishly flowing waterways known as 'klongs'. A recent report by the Asian Institute of Technology (A. S. Balasubramaniam et al. 1992)indicated that subsidence phenomena were beginning to be experienced in the city in the early 1960s when rapid population growth resulted in excessive deep well pumping to satisfy the increased demand for water. At present there are approximately 15000 tube wells drilled through the upper 200 m of superficial deposits, with approximately 600 new abstraction licences granted in 1993. The area in and around the city is underlain by recent marine clay (known as Bangkok Clay) which overlies older deposits of Pleistocene age. These older deposits, which comprise an upper stratum of stiff clay overlying alternating clays, sands and beds of gravel, are of significant thickness. The total depth of superficial deposits overlying the basement rocks in the Bangkok area varies between 500 and 2000m (Anon 1981). The upper sequence of very soft to soft Bangkok Clay and the underlying stiff clay stratum is consistent over much of Bangkok and


ABSTRACT After initially pitting partisans against purists, the literature on the ethics of fandom has coalesced around a pluralist position: purists and partisans each have their own merits, and there is no ideal form of fandom. In this literature, however, the fair-weather fan continues to be viewed with dismissal and (sometimes) derision. While some fair-weather fans may earn this contempt, many fair-weather fans, we argue, are not only acceptable, they have important advantages over partisans and purists, and as such are in a better position to navigate some of the moral complexities inherent in modern sports. We develop this argument first by clarifying the nature of the fair-weather fan. We then examine challenges that fans face in many modern sports, first owing to their economic nature and, second, due to the morally tainted status of many of them. We argue that the fair-weather fan meets these challenges in ways that the partisan and purist cannot replicate.


By placing the muscles of the take-off leg in faster eccentric or slower concentric conditions, a high jumper can increase the ground reaction force and the height of the jump. Film analysis of seven high jumpers showed that the radial velocity of the center of mass with respect to the supporting foot was more negative or less positive than the vertical velocity throughout the take-off phase. This favored faster eccentric or slower concentric conditions of the leg muscles. The radial distance from the hip of the take-off leg to the center of mass (RG/H) first decreased by 0.030 m, due to negative radial motions of the arms and swinging leg. This contributed to a smaller negative radial velocity of the hip (VRH), and thus to slower eccentric conditions of the muscles of the take-off leg. Therefore, it may have helped to cushion the initial impact with the ground. Subsequently, RG/H increased by 0.120 m, due to positive radial velocities of the arms, the swinging leg, and the head and trunk. This contributed first to larger negative (and later to smaller positive) VRH values, and thus to faster eccentric and slower concentric conditions of the muscles of the take-off leg.


Dissipating excess energy of light is critical for photosynthetic organisms to keep the photosynthetic apparatus functional and less harmful under stressful environmental conditions. In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, efficient energy dissipation is achieved by a process called non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), in which a distinct member of light harvesting complex, LHCSR, is known to play a key role. Although it has been known that two very closely related genes (LHCSR3.1 and LHCSR3.2) encoding LHCSR3 protein and another paralogous gene LHCSR1 are present in the C. reinhardtii genome, it is unclear how these isoforms are differentiated in terms of transcriptional regulation and functionalization. Here, we show that transcripts of both of the isoforms, LHCSR3.1 and LHCSR3.2, are accumulated under high light stress. Reexamination of the genomic sequence and gene models along with survey of sequence motifs suggested that these two isoforms shared an almost identical but still distinct promoter sequence and a completely identical polypeptide sequence, with more divergent 3'-untranscribed regions. Transcriptional induction under high light condition of both isoforms was suppressed by treatment with a photosystem II inhibitor, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), and a calmodulin inhibitor W7. Despite a similar response to high light, the inhibitory effects of DCMU and W7 to the LHCSR1 transcript accumulation were limited compared to LHCSR3 genes. These results suggest that the transcription of LHCSR paralogs in C. reinhardtii are regulated by light signal and differentially modulated via photosynthetic electron transfer and calmodulin-mediated calcium signaling pathway(s).


Several smartphone apps claim to be able to find skin cancer early but studies have shown mainly poor results. However, those study groups consisted of patients whose investigated lesions were mainly selected by a medical professional. The SkinVision app (SVA) automatically analyses pictures of lesions and provides an instant rating as low, medium or high risk for skin cancer. Our aim was to find out whether the rating of the app is reliable in a real-life setting, in which consumers themselves selectthe lesions without interference of a health professional. Visitors of the National Skin Cancer Day in four university medical centres (in 2017) were asked to select up to two lesions they wanted to be analysed by the app. Then, the same lesions were rated by a dermatologist who was blinded to the rating of the app. Onehundred and twentyfive visitors with 199 lesions were included. In 90 cases (45%) the app was not able to perform an analysis (of which nine basal cell carcinoma, four atypical nevi and one lentigo maligna). More than two thirds of the cases with a red or yellow rating by the app were diagnosed as a benign nevus or a seborrheic keratosis by the dermatologist. The interobserver agreement between the ratings of the app and the dermatologist was poor (weighted kappa = 0.016; 95% CI -0.083-0.115; p = 0.737), a value comparable with mere chance. These results stress the urgent need for regulations for apps claiming to have an impact on public health. Up to now a reliable quality mark which could guide consumers and health professionals is still lacking.


ABSTRACT  A study of the vascular plants of the Palm Hammock Nature Area, a designated natural area on the west side of the Eckerd College campus in Pinellas County, Florida, was carried out between January 2012 and January 2013. The site is situated entirely on dredged fill soil, rendering it an intriguing site on which to study natural succession. This floristic inventory provides baseline data on the species composition at the site for use in future studies of the Palm Hammock and other forested dredge and fill sites. A total of 157 vascular species were collected from the 4.6 ha site, including 155 angiosperms. Of these, 99 species are native to North America, and 58 species are not native. Of the nonnative species, 20 are considered invasive. The most frequently represented families included Asteraceae (18), Fabaceae (18), Poaceae (14), and Cyperaceae (11). The Palm Hammock Nature Area, which comprises small patches of cabbage palm/oak hammock, cabbage palm stands, and grasslands similar to coastal savannas, shares characteristic species and composition with both maritime and mesic hammocks.


We propose a simulation framework that can be used to design and evaluate the performance of adaptive scanning algorithms on different phased-array weather radar designs. The simulator is proposed as tool to 1) compare the performance of different adaptive scanning algorithms on the same weather event, 2) evaluate the performance of a given adaptive scanning algorithm on several weather events, and 3) evaluate the performance of a given adaptive scanning algorithm on a given weather event using different radar designs. We illustrate the capabilities of the proposed framework to design and evaluate the performance of adaptive algorithms aimed at reducing the update time using adaptive scanning. The example concept of operations is based on a fast low-fidelity surveillance scan and a high-fidelity adaptive scan. The flexibility of the proposed simulation framework is tested using two phased-array-radar designs and three complementary adaptive scanning algorithms: focused observations, beam clustering, and dwell tailoring. Based on a significant weather event observed by an operational NEXRAD radar, our experimental results consist of radar data that were simulated as if the same event had been observed by arbitrary combinations of radar systems and adaptive scanning configurations. Results show that simulated fields of radar data capture the main data-quality impacts from the use of adaptive scanning and can be used to obtain quantitative metrics and for qualitative comparison and evaluation by forecasters. That is, the proposed simulator could provide an effective interface with meteorologists and could support the development of concepts of operations that are based on adaptive scanning to meet the evolutionary observational needs of the U.S. National Weather Service.


The average dentist not only fails to recognize many indications which call for systemic treatment, but fails to see his need of such recognition. He still jumbles medical terms. His practice is largely empirical. He sees in part, but acts as one comprehending all; he gives advice to his fellow practitioners more freely than he would if he knew more. If a new drug is advertised he tries it a few times, and immediately writes an article on it. He treats all forms of pyorrhea by scraping the teeth, but the deposit continues to accumulate, and the scraping is repeated. He treats sensitive dentine by the application of obtundents, and never dreams of prophylaxis or the correction of the underlying cause. The teeth under certain conditions decay with great rapidity, and extra dollars are received for extra plugs inserted. The teeth are stained and eroded, only to be met with


Composite materials are being more widely used today by aerospace, automotive, and a number of other commercial industries because of their advantages over conventional metals. Composites are finding applications ranging from bicycle frames to the proposed High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). Determining the response to a variety of damage mechanisms is necessary for a complete understanding of the total use environment of composite structures. The objective of the research presented here is to provide a method of quantifying the amount of damage in composite materials for a number of different damage scenarios. Components which have non-visible damage, but have degraded performance, are of interest. At this level of damage, the safety margin designed into the structure may be compromised. Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) is a field of measurement physics where energy is imparted to a material and information is obtained from observing how the energy interacts with the system. Many different forms of energy can be used to obtain useful information from these measurements: acoustic, thermal, xray, optical, and electromagnetic. Among the many various techniques available, ultrasonic Lamb waves offer a convenient method of evaluating these composite materials. As a material is damaged, the elastic parameters of the structure change. Since the Lamb wave velocity depends on these properties, an effective tool exists to monitor damage in composites by measuring the velocity of these waves. Additionally, Lamb wave measurements are beneficial because they can propagate over long distances and are sensitive to the desired in-plane elastic properties of the material. Presented in this study are the results involving the investigation of a variety of damage mechanisms (fatigue, thermal, and thermal-mechanical) using the Lamb wave technique. Two fatigue studies were conducted which showed that the change in modulus and change in velocity of the Lamb wave squared follow the same general trend. The Lamb wave velocity was also observed to decrease with increasing crack density. For the thermal damage study, the results showed that the velocity of the lowest order symmetric Lamb mode dropped significantly for extended thermal damage. When the experimental results were compared to model calculations, good agreement was observed for both fatigue and thermal damage. Finally, for thermal-mechanical damage, it was found that the Lamb wave technique was also able to predict a local defect in a specimen, which was later found to have a large delamination zone. The Lamb wave velocity is a quantitative measurement and it has been shown by this work to be an effective tool in monitoring different types of damage in composites. Since the Lamb wave velocity depends on a variety of material properties, an ideal technique exists to monitor composites as damage is incurred. With the continued development of damage assessment techniques such as the Lamb wave method, the safety of such structures can be assured.


The application of principal components for the analysis of kinetic data obtained by optical spectroscopy is described. The use of singular value decomposition (SVD) for stable and reproducible generation of principal components, details of realization, advantages and drawbacks of the method are discussed. The described method with minor modifications may be used in a wide variety of UV-spectroscopy applications in molecular biology and biophysics. The developed method was applied to study the reaction of platinum anticancer drug, cisplatin, with DNA and methionine. Use of sensitive UV-spectroscopy allowed to study low platinum concentrations, typical for biological systems. It has been shown, that reactions of cisplatin with DNA and L-methionine generally follow the same pathway both at high and low concentrations.