The detection of moving objects in a dynamic scene is a key step in computer vision since it is the result of a successful image preprocessing and segmentation stage which has a strong influence on the subsequent analysis and recognition tasks. Its importance has generated a lot of interest among the image processing community and has been and is the focus of numerous activities by several research groups worldwide. In an image processing application such as traffic scene analysis, it is clear that no traffic data can be extracted before the vehicle has been detected. This could be a complicated problem when real-time image analysis for real-world traffic analysis is considered. The paper reports on the approaches that have been used by the authors to overcome difficulties monitoring road traffic using image processing. Other difficulties related to real-time real-world applications such as change in ambient light level, feature tracking, etc. are also discussed and appropriate solutions are suggested. >


Multi-objective Neural Architecture Search (NAS) aims to discover novel architectures in the presence of multiple conflicting objectives. Despite recent progress, the problem of approximating the full Pareto front accurately and efficiently remains challenging. In this work, we explore the novel reinforcement learning (RL) based paradigm of non-stationary policy gradient (NPG). NPG utilizes a non-stationary reward function, and encourages a continuous adaptation of the policy to capture the entire Pareto front efficiently. We introduce two novel reward functions with elements from the dominant paradigms of scalarization and evolution. To handle non-stationarity, we propose a new exploration scheme using cosine temperature decay with warm restarts. For fast and accurate architecture evaluation, we introduce a novel pre-trained shared model that we continuously fine-tune throughout training. Our extensive experimental study with various datasets shows that our framework can approximate the full Pareto front well at fast speeds. Moreover, our discovered cells can achieve supreme predictive performance compared to other multi-objective NAS methods, and other single-objective NAS methods at similar network sizes. Our work demonstrates the potential of NPG as a simple, efficient, and effective paradigm for multi-objective NAS.


An improved computational technique for calculating the electromagnetic force field, the power absorption, and the deformation of an electromagnetically levitated metal sample is described. The technique is based on the volume integral method but represents a substantial refinement: the coordinate transformation employed allows the efficient treatment of a broad class of rotationally symmetrical bodies. Compound results are presented to represent the behavior of levitation melted metal samples in a multicoil, multifrequency levitation unit to be used in microgravity experiments. The theoretical predictions are compared with both analytical solutions and the results of previous computational efforts for the spherical samples, and the agreement has been very good. The treatment of problems involving deformed surfaces and actually predicting the deformed shape of the specimens should be the major contribution of the proposed method. >


Experimental results are reported on the structure of gravity-driven film flow along an inclined periodic wall with rectangular corrugations. A fluorescence imaging method is used to capture the evolution of film height in space and time with accuracy of a few microns. The steady flow is found to exhibit a statically deformed free surface, as predicted by previous asymptotic and numerical studies. Though usually unstable, its characteristics determine much of the subsequent non-stationary dynamics. Travelling disturbances are observed to evolve into solitary multi-peaked humps, and pronounced differences from the respective phenomena along a flat wall are noted. Finally, a remarkable stabilization of the flow at high Reynolds numbers is documented, which proceeds through the development of a three-dimensional flow structure and leads to a temporary decrease in film thickness and recession of solitary waves.


Abstract Talent Management (TM) is a hot topic among both practitioners and scholars, but it still has to overcome some important limitations. Studies have been overly unitarist and managerialist in their orientation, and we still know little about how local contextual factors relate to TM, especially with regards to one of the most critical aspects of any TM system, i.e. talent identification. This research, which adopted a qualitative case study including data from interviews, observations and documents, studied how talent identification unfolded in practice at both the headquarters (HQ) and a subsidiary of a large Swedish organization. By drawing on the institutional logics perspective, we suggest that the way in which organizational actors conduct their talent identification is grounded in the logic they enact and make use of. Attention is thus focused on how the cultural norms, symbols and practices of different institutional orders are incorporated into the identification of talent. Having identified competing institutional logics at the HQ and the subsidiary, we also suggest that this is a credible explanation for the discrepancy between intended and actual HR practices. The findings are in contrast with previous research, which suggests that self-interest, ad hoc approaches, and a lack of skills nested in talent identification are underlying causes of differences in how talent identification is conducted.


This paper explores the following questions related to family literacy programs: How is family literacy linked with family literacy programs? What are the theoretical frameworks supporting the various models educators and researchers are using in their pedagogical approaches to family literacy programs? As these questions are explored several tensions and directions in programming family literacy become apparent. By examining the various models in this way, family literacy providers and others interested in family and community literacy may be better equipped to evaluate the underlying principles of the programs they use and thereby make informed choices with regard to programming.


Abstract The present study tests the mediating role of experiential avoidance (EA; Hayes, Wilson, Gifford, Follette, & Strosahl, 1996) to account for the relations of avoidant coping, fear of uncertainty, and alexithymia with negative psychological outcomes. Participants were 177 adults (51 males and 126 females; mean age = 34.5). Measures of EA (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, AAQ), avoidant coping (Brief COPE scale), fear of uncertainty (Temperament and Character Inventory), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and psychological outcomes (Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale) were obtained from standardized, self-administered questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to test for mediation models. Results show that the effect of avoidant coping and fear of uncertainty on emotional distress and other negative outcomes decreases when controlling avoidance scores, whereas the latter predicts psychological outcomes. Findings suggest that EA may represent a generalized mechanism through which both avoidant coping and fear of uncertainty take on psychological significance. Results did not support, however, the mediating role of EA for explaining the relations between alexithymia and psychological outcomes. Keywords: experiential avoidance, coping strategies, alexithymia, mediator Experiential avoidance (EA) is the process that occurs "when a person is unwilling to remain in contact with particular private experiences (e.g., bodily sensations, emotions, thoughts, memories, images, behavioral predispositions) and takes steps to alter the form or frequency of these experiences or the contexts that occasion them" (Hayes, Strosahl, Wilson, Bissett, Pistorello, Toarmino et al., 2004). It is considered that EA can become a disorganised process when it is used in an inflexible way, so that a large amount of time, energy, and effort is spent in order to manage, control, or struggle with unwanted private events (Hayes, Jacobson, Follette, & Dougher, 1994; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999;). Experimental research has demonstrated that attempts to inhibit or hide unpleasant feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations can lead to an increase in the frequency of these same experiences and in the distress that they cause (Cioffi & Holloway, 1993; Gold & Wegner, 1995; Gross, 1998, 2002; Hayes, Wilson, Gifford, Follette, & Strosahl, 1996; Hayes, Bissett, Korn, Zettle, Rosenfarb, & Cooper, 1999; Polusny & Follette, 1995; Purdon, 1999; Roemer & Borkovech, 1994; Salkovskis & Campbell, 1994; Wegner, 1991, 1994; Wegner & Zanakos, 1994; Wenzlaff & Wegner, 2000). Indeed, emerging empirical evidence supports EA as a broad vulnerability factor for various types of emotional distress. Results from a meta-analysis (Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda, & Lillis, 2006), involving thirty-two studies and 6628 subjects, indicate that EA is negatively associated with quality of life, perceived health, and positive emotional experiences, and positively associated with a wide range of psychopathological measures, including depression, anxiety, somatisation, the "re-experiencing" and "arousal" subscales measuring posttraumatic stress disorder, social phobia, agoraphobia, blood/injury phobia, anxiety sensitivity, suffocation fear, body sensations fear, trichotillomania, stress, trauma symptoms and beliefs, dissociative experiences, alcohol dependence, job induced tension, worries, fear of intimacy, and pain. These relations have been explained considering the theoretical roots of the Relational Frame Theory (see Hayes, Barnes-Holmes, & Roche, 2001 for a review). Even if on the short run EA can be effective, when efforts to avoid unwanted private events overtake the self (that is, when the subject "lives in her/his head", trying to control private events), the ability to engage in valued life directions is compromised (Eifert & Forsyth, 2005; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999). …


The use of comedic violence in viral advertising is becoming widespread, but as yet no examination of what influence it may have on consumer response has been undertaken. Two experimental studies using a commercial panel sample investigate the effects of this executional cue on ad message involvement, brand memorability, likelihood of being passed on to third parties, and attitude formation. Results suggest that humorous ads that combine higher levels of violence intensity with more severe consequences appear to elicit greater involvement with the ad message, better retention of brand information, higher pass-along probability, and greater ad likability. Attitudes toward the brand remain unaffected. Furthermore, justification for the violence and relatedness to the product brand appear to be important considerations when using high intensity-severe consequence comedic violence. The paper specifies conditions under which advertisers can expect to gain maximum impact when using violent humor in viral advertising campaigns.


The United States Navy seeks the capability to land manned and unmanned aerial vehicles autonomously on an aircraft carrier using GPS. To deliver this capability, the Navy is developing a navigation system called the Sea-Based Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). Because standard GPS is not sufficiently precise to land aircraft on a shortened, constantly moving runway, Sea-Based JPALS leverages dual-frequency, carrier-phase differential GPS navigation. Carrier phase measurements, derived from the sinusoidal waveforms underlying the GPS signal, are very precise but not necessarily accurate unless the user resolves the ambiguity associated with the sinusoid's periodicity. Ensuring the validity of ambiguity resolution is the central challenge for the high-integrity, safety-critical JPALS application. Based on a multi-year, multi-institution collaborative study, this paper proposes a navigation and monitoring architecture designed to meet the guidance quality challenge posed by Sea-Based JPALS. In particular, we propose a two-stage navigation algorithm that meets the aggressive integrity-risk requirement for Sea-Based JPALS by first filtering a combination of GPS observables and subsequently exploiting those observables to resolve the carrier ambiguity. Because JPALS-equipped aircraft may encounter jamming, we also discuss interference mitigation technologies, such as inertial fusion and array antennas, which, with appropriate algorithmic modifications, can ensure integrity under Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) conditions. Lastly, we recommend a fault monitoring strategy tailored to the two-stage navigation algorithm. Monitoring will detect and isolate rare anomalies such as ionosphere storms or satellite ephemeris errors which would otherwise corrupt ambiguity resolution and positioning in Sea-Based JPALS.


This paper presents a novel approach on the implementation of the concept of "virtual pheromones" for use in controlling autonomous mobile robots. Rather than being deployed in the environment, the virtual pheromones are stored in a map of the environment maintained and updated by a "pheromone server". This map acts like a shared memory for all the agents, by means of a radio communication link between each agent and the pheromone server. No direct communication between agents is required. The pheromone server can be implemented on a regular computer, a handheld device, or an embedded controller carried by a leader robot. The technique described is equally applicable for guiding individual robot and robot swarms. The experiments, performed with mobile robot Pioneer 3-DX show that this method allows significant simplification and cost reduction of the autonomous agents. Several possible applications are discussed.


This paper analyses the dramatisation of education in two contemporary British plays: Trevor Griffiths's Comedians and Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. Both plays encompass different features of classrooms, pupils, teaching methodologies, types of tutors, however at the same time they dramatise the schooling process in England during different epochs. The first section of the paper deals with adults who attend a night school and aspire to be professional stand-up comedians. Griffiths's Comedians reflects the idea of how adult workers have to attend classes in order to enhance their employment opportunities in post-war Britain. The play also shows Mr Waters's endeavour to teach his pupils the significance of stand-up comedy and its cathartic role in life. In Stoppard's Arcadia, the dramatisation of education predominantly takes place in the Victorian ear. It becomes apparent that Septimus is a different kind of a tutor, as he has to teach and inform young Thomasina not just about different branches of science, but also about various aspects of life and experiences which Thomasina has to face and comprehend on her own. The paper emphasises the idea that real education exists everywhere, even outside the traditional classroom setting, and thereby children and adults, as well as teachers, always remain learners who obtain different pieces of knowledge and understanding.


The aim of this project is to construct a reproducible nanostructured polystyrene (PS) sphere colloid. The polystyrene colloidal crystal must incorporate both macro-sized (μm) and nano-sized (nm) spheres to further advance the potential applications of such templates. However the preparation of bimodal structures with a repeatable macropore-mesopore structure is not a straight forward process. Multiple methods were explored in the construction of unimodal and bimodal colloid crystal templates. Areas of interested such as variation in sphere size, up to two orders of magnitude between macro and nano-sized were investigated, along with determination of the rate at which each PS sphere size packed by capillary forces. Two methods have been singled out sequential deposition and co-deposition. Sequential deposition utilised two separate solutions one containing nano-sized PS spheres, the second macro-sized. During packing the glass chip is transferred between the macro and nano solutions before predetermined times. It was found that while packing sequentially formation of a nano-sized unimodal colloid was preferable. This was due to a faster rate of capillary force packing for the nano-sized PS spheres when compared to the macro-sized. The second method utilised was co-deposition. In this method a solution of both macro and nano-sized PS spheres was homogenised and packed for a period of twelve hours. To date co-deposition has shown the most promise as a reliable method to produce bimodal colloidal crystals


Abstract : We present in this study the architectural specification and feasibility determination for a real-time contour display generator. We begin by examining a recently reported, highly decomposable algorithm for contour surface display generation. We establish a piece of the total algorithm as the algorithm component. The algorithm component is that part of the algorithm that can be executed in parallel, independently from the computations performed on any other algorithm subpart. We propose an architecture for the algorithm component, and model that architecture in order to determine the real-time capability of the algorithm. We then model the larger system of multiple algorithm component processors. This modeling effort is performed with respect to a particular application requiring real-time contour surface display generation. A VSLI feasibility computation is then performed on the proposed architecture. The study ends with a look at the impact of real-time contour surface display generation on the design of the graphics display system. Keywords include: Algorithms; Architecture; Contouring; Contouring tree; Contour surface display generation, Real-time display generation.


Abstract The International Mineralogical Association's approved amphibole nomenclature has been revised in order to simplify it, make it more consistent with divisions generally at 50%, define prefixes and modifiers more precisely and include new amphibole species discovered and named since 1978, when the previous scheme was approved. The same reference axes form the basis of the new scheme and most names are little changed but compound species names like tremolitic hornblende (now magnesiohornblende) are abolished and also crossite (now glaucophane or ferroglaucophane or magnesioriebeckite or riebeckite), tirodite (now manganocummingtonite) and dannemorite (now manganogrunerite). The 50% rule has been broken only to retain tremolite and actinolite as in the 1978 scheme so the sodic calcic amphibole range has therefore been expanded. Alkali amphiboles are now sodic amphiboles. The use of hyphens is defined. New amphibole names approved since 1978 include nyböite, leakeite, kornite, ungarettiite, sadanagaite and cannilloite. All abandoned names are listed. The formulae and source of the amphibole end member names are listed and procedures outlined to calculate Fe3+ and Fe2+ when not determined by analysis.


This paper reports the performance enhancement benefits in diamond turning of the silicon wafer by incorporation of the surface defect machining (SDM) method. The hybrid micromachining methods usually require additional hardware to leverage the added advantage of hybrid technologies such as laser heating, cryogenic cooling, electric pulse or ultrasonic elliptical vibration. The SDM method tested in this paper does not require any such additional baggage and is easy to implement in a sequential micro-machining mode. This paper made use of Raman spectroscopy data, average surface roughness data and imaging data of the cutting chips of silicon for drawing a comparison between conventional single-point diamond turning (SPDT) and SDM while incorporating surface defects in the (i) circumferential and (ii) radial directions. Complementary 3D finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to analyse the cutting forces and the evolution of residual stress on the machined wafer. It was found that the surface defects generated in the circumferential direction with an interspacing of 1 mm revealed the lowest average surface roughness (Ra) of 3.2 nm as opposed to 8 nm Ra obtained through conventional SPDT using the same cutting parameters. The observation of the Raman spectroscopy performed on the cutting chips showed remnants of phase transformation during the micromachining process in all cases. FEA was used to extract quantifiable information about the residual stress as well as the sub-surface integrity and it was discovered that the grooves made in the circumferential direction gave the best machining performance. The information being reported here is expected to provide an avalanche of opportunities in the SPDT area for low-cost machining solution for a range of other nominal hard, brittle materials such as SiC, ZnSe and GaAs as well as hard steels.


Distributed events are collections of single events taking place within a small geographical area at approximately the same time, normally related to one given topic e.g. music, film, arts etc. There are usually a large number of events on offer and the times in which they can be visited are heavily constrained. Therefore the information seeking task of choosing the events to visit and in which order can be very difficult.
 In this paper we investigate, via 2 large-scale naturalistic studies (n=391 and n=740), how mobile applications can be designed to assist users in this task and how such applications are used. We present an application that allows users to search and browse the events on offer in a number of different ways including via personalised event recommendations. Logs were collected of user interactions with the system. The results of this log analysis in combination with 2 surveys show some surprising usage patterns and point to how such applications can better serve users' needs.


Background: Environmental factors can influence the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. In particular, a westernized residential environment that increases the density of house dust mites and gives rise to sick house syndrome could be a causative factor. Urushiol compounds extracted from Rhus verniciflua, a lacquer tree, have anti-insect and anti-microbial actions and reduce TVOC (total volatile organic compounds). Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of paint containing a novel polyurushiol synthesized from the extract of Rhus verniciflua on indoor air quality and atopic dermatitis patients. Methods: Nine patients with atopic dermatitis resistant to ordinary treatments were enrolled in this clinical trial. Patient rooms were painted with paint containing a novel polyurushiol extracted and synthesized from Rhus verniciflua. We measured TVOC before and after the painting. After a month, patients were evaluated with objective indices such as EASI score, serum IgE, eosinophil levels, and subjective satisfaction. Results: Seven of nine patients showed objective or subjective improvements of clinical symptoms, and TVOCs were reduced after painting. The questionnaire indicated that many patients felt an improvement in air quality. Conclusion: Painting with a novel polyurushiol synthesized from the extract of Rhus verniciflua could improve indoor air quality and atopic dermatitis.


Introduction: Besides extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) has become an equal therapy of choice for the treatment of most distal ureteric stones. Before the wide availability of laser lithotripsy as a tool for stone fragmentation, pneumatic lithotripsy was, and still is, widely used. In a country like Iraq, availability and affordability are the huge questions asked. Besides the capital investment for a laser machine, the pneumatic device is reusable, whereas the laser fibers are limited in their reusability. This makes pneumatic lithotripsy a more cost-effective option, at least in our setting. The question remains whether both options, compared in our setting with our limited resources, are equally effective and beneficial to our patients. Patients and Methods: Fifty patients were included in our prospective study who underwent URS for the treatment of a distal ureteric stone. Half each (n = 25) underwent pneumatic (group A) or laser lithotripsy (group B). Inclusion criteria were a single distal ureteric stone measuring 7–20 mm in largest diameter, no anatomical abnormality, age >18 years, and an unsuccessful attempt of medical expulsion therapy. Patients with signs of urinary infection and pregnant women were excluded. All patients were operated upon under spinal anesthesia. Data recorded included operation time, stone size, type of scope and lithotripter, complications, hospital stay, and stone-free rate. Results: Both groups did not show statistically significant differences in patient demography, stone size, operation time, complications, and stone-free rates (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both pneumatic and Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy are equally effective and safe in treating distal ureteric stones in our setting. If the cost and availability of laser treatment is an issue, pneumatic lithotripsy is a viable and more cost-effective option.


Over recent years the sensitivity of alkali-metal vapour magnetometers has been demonstrated to surpass that of even Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs), the current commercial gold standard in laboratory weak- field magnetometry sensing. Here we present a proof-of-principle approach to building an RF atomic magnetometer which is robust, portable, tunable, non-invasive and operable at room temperature in an unshielded environment. In view of these characteristics, we discuss the potential application of alkali-metal magnetometry in imaging concealed objects, non-destructive evaluation of the structural integrity of metallic objects (e.g. pipelines and aircraft), and detection of rotating motors. We present a cost-effective approach to operating an atomic magnetometer in a Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) modality, to non-invasively map the conductivity of conductive objects concealed by conductive materials remotely and in real time. This is achieved by measuring the secondary eld in the subject due to eddy currents circulating as a result of application of a tunable radio-frequency oscillating eld, which overcomes the bandwidth and sensitivity limitations of using coils for sensing as in conventional MIT. In addition, we demonstrate the use of the atomic magnetometer for the remote detection of DC and AC electric motors with an improved response compared with a commercial fluxgate magnetometer in the sub 50 Hz regime (particularly detection down to 15 Hz). Its capability for non-invasive measurement through concrete walls is established, with potential for use in industrial monitoring and detection of illicit activity. Finally, the possibility of detection of submerged targets or for the atomic magnetometer to be mounted on submarine vehicles was explored. Promising results were obtained, but further investigation is required in this environment to establish this as a viable marine detector.


Throughout Europe, the public care system exists to protect the welfare of over one million children who have suffered from abuse or neglect or experienced bereavement, disability or serious illness in one or both parents. However, although the public care system is primarily intended to offer children protection from risk and harm, there are some concerns to suggest that it is also being systematically misused to "eradicate Gypsy existence and culture". Cited as
a system for state sanctioned control, rather than as a system for effective and safe child care, it is believed that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children across Europe are being taken away from their communities and placed in public care for no other reason than that they are Gypsies,
Roma or Travellers. With regard to basic human rights, this is a serious allegation. There are, though, some conceptual tensions associated with this claim. Firstly, little is known about how many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are actually living in public care throughout Europe. Second, little is known about the carers who look after these children, and third, little is known about the lived experiences of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers themselves.
In an attempt to shed further light on this situation, the present paper summarises the findings of a higher degree research study that utilised interpretive phenomenological analysis to uncover the experiences of 10 Gypsies and Travellers who lived in the public care system in
the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Based on the testimonies provided, this paper will problematise the allegation already presented to show that some Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children can experience a brief sense of relief when the opportunity to enter public care is presented to them. However, by drawing upon the experiences of those people who were sent to live in residential homes and other transcultural foster care placements, it will explain why, without careful and competent multicultural planning, the existence and culture of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children can be made vulnerable to the threats associated with acculturative distress and the experience of absolute social alienation in later life.


This article examines the relationship between Algernon Charles Swinburne's poetic writing and history, especially in regards to how he explores sexual transgressions. The article begins with how aestheticism works in tangent with history to further these transgressions within a historical context and especially within the realm of Victorian Christianity. Next, Swinburne's medieval aesthetics in "The Leper" will be analyzed in regards specifically necrophilia and the taking care of a leper, and how the writing of this poem was both a condemnation of Christianity and an accidental upholding of it. The violent homoeroticism and monstrous femininity of "Anactoria" are also looked at in reference to a classical history and how he tried and failed to use homoeroticism to his advantage in attempting to transgress against Victorian ideals. Finally, an examination of the relationship between Swinburne's writing and history will conclude that Swinburne damned his own pre-Raphaelite/aesthetic movement as well as the Decadence movement that came after by accidentally associating these sexual and gender oriented transgressions with aestheticism.


Weight loss attempts and weight loss maintenance are often unsuccessful in part due to dieters' vulnerability to palatable food cues. Exposure to diet-congruent cues has thus been proposed as a goal priming strategy to counteract this vulnerability. Diet-congruent cues increase the salience of diet thoughts and reduce subsequent snack intake in restrained eaters. However, little is known about the impact of diet-congruent cue exposure on food intake in those actively dieting. Given that dieters hold goals to lose weight, diet-congruent cues might be particularly salient to dieters and cue diet-consistent behaviour when dieters are conflicted by food temptations. Thus, the current thesis aimed to examine the effects of diet-congruent cues on subsequent energy intake in dieting and non-dieting women. Specifically, as food is closely associated with dieting, the current research tested the effects of diet-congruent food cues. The salience of diet and tempting thoughts were also assessed to identify the potential mechanism of goal priming.
Two online surveys identified snacks (Chapter 4; n = 157) and meal related foods (Chapter 6; n = 230) that women most associated with dieting to lose weight or temptation. Using these databases, four laboratory studies were conducted. Using a between-subjects design, Chapter 3 showed that subtle exposure to diet-congruent images reduced dieters' intake of a LFSW snack by 40% compared to dieters exposed to non-food control images. Chapter 4 adopted a within-subjects design and exposed participants to the sight and smell of a diet-congruent (fresh orange) or tempting (chocolate orange) food. Dieters consumed 40% less chocolate after exposure to the diet-congruent cue compared to the tempting cue. However, when this study was replicated with an additional non-food control condition, dieters' intake was unaffected by the diet-congruent odour, possibly due to a lower motivational state. Chapter 6 measured the effects of consuming a diet-congruent preload on meal intake in a repeated measures design, and found dieters reduced meal intake by 21% compared to intake of a tempting and control preload. Contrary to predictions, dieters' reduced energy intake did not correspond with increased salience of diet thoughts in diet-congruent conditions relative to control or tempting conditions (Chapters 3, 5 and 6). However, consistent with a goal priming explanation, only dieters were responsive to diet-congruent cues, whereas, non-dieters' energy intake did not differ after diet-congruent cue exposure compared to tempting or control cues.
This thesis has identified diet-congruent food cues which improve dieters' short term control over food intake in laboratory settings. Future research should examine the efficacy of diet-congruent cues to reduce the energy intake of active dieters in more naturalistic and applied settings and contribute to their attempts to resist temptation.


Liu, Shi J., Richard H. Kennedy, Michael H. Creer, and Jane McHowat. Alterations in Ca2 cycling by lysoplasmenylcholine in adult rabbit ventricular myocytes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 284: C826–C838, 2003. First published November 27, 2002; 10.1152/ajpcell.00465.2002.—We previously reported that lysoplasmenylcholine (LPlasC) altered the action potential (AP) and induced afterdepolarizations in rabbit ventricular myocytes. In this study, we investigated how LPlasC alters excitation-contraction coupling using edge-motion detection, fura-PE3 fluorescent indicator, and perforated and whole cell patch-clamp techniques. LPlasC increased contraction, myofilament Ca2 sensitivity, systolic and diastolic free Ca2 levels, and the magnitude of Ca2 transients concomitant with increases in the maximum rates of shortening and relaxation of contraction and the rising and declining phases of Ca2 transients. In some cells, LPlasC induced arrhythmias in a pattern consistent with early and delayed aftercontractions. LPlasC also augmented the caffeine-induced Ca2 transient with a reduction in the decay rate. Furthermore, LPlasC enhanced L-type Ca2 channel current (ICa,L) and outward currents. LPlasC-induced alterations in contraction and ICa,L were paralleled by its effect on the AP. Thus these results suggest that LPlasC elicits distinct, potent positive inotropic, lusitropic, and arrhythmogenic effects, resulting from increases in Ca2 influx, Ca2 sensitivity, sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca2 release and uptake, SR Ca2 content, and probably reduction in sarcolemmal Na /Ca2 exchange.


Jon Mayson's life story and personal achievements are central to understanding the successful transformation of the Port of Tauranga. From the day he was born, Mayson was a unique individual. He learned to cope with personal challenges as a young man and followed his heart to the sea. His personal values and courage served him well. Mayson's life philosophy can be captured in his favorite phrase: "Why not?" He took over the Port of Tauranga in 1997, and under his leadership, the port was transformed from being a modest success to being a leader in New Zealand. Mayson's life has been one of values-based learning, and it has been successful.


Background/design Functional electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles is an alternative method of training in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Although it improves exercise capacity in CHF, we performed a randomised, placebo-controlled study to investigate its effects on long-term clinical outcomes. Methods We randomly assigned 120 patients, aged 71 ± 8 years, with stable CHF (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III (63%/37%), mean left ventricular ejection fraction 28 ± 5%), to either a 6-week functional electrical stimulation training programme or placebo. Patients were followed for up to 19 months for death and/or hospitalisation due to CHF decompensation. Results At baseline, there were no significant differences in demographic parameters, CHF severity and medications between groups. During a median follow-up of 383 days, 14 patients died (11 cardiac, three non-cardiac deaths), while 40 patients were hospitalised for CHF decompensation. Mortality did not differ between groups (log rank test P = 0.680), while the heart failure-related hospitalisation rate was significantly lower in the functional electrical stimulation group (hazard ratio (HR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.78, P = 0.007). The latter difference remained significant after adjustment for prognostic factors: age, gender, baseline NYHA class and left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.10–0.46, P < 0.001). Compared to placebo, functional electrical stimulation training was associated with a lower occurrence of the composite endpoint (death or heart failure-related hospitalisation) after adjustment for the above-mentioned prognostic factors (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.103–0.435, P < 0.001). However, that effect was mostly driven by the favourable change in hospitalisation rates. Conclusions In CHF patients, 6 weeks functional electrical stimulation training reduced the risk of heart failure-related hospitalisations, without affecting the mortality rate. The beneficial long-term effects of this alternative method of training require further investigation.


This themed issue summarizes significant efforts aimed at using "biological language" to discern between "friends" and "foes" in the context of theranostics for true clinical application. It is ex- pected that the success of theranostics depends on multidisciplinary efforts, combined to expedite our understanding of host responses to "customized" theranostic agents and formulating indi- vidualized therapies.


Optical distance measurement systems are well suited for achieving very high measurement accuracies due to the small measurement spot. Unfortunately most of the existing commercial measurement systems suffer from their limitation to one target only. In this article an optical measurement system is described that is able to work even in complex multi target environments like in closed vessels where the measurement signal has to pass through a process window. The system is based on the FMCW concept allowing large bandwidths of more than 2 GHz. Another feature is a baseband phase-locked-loop (PLL) linearization of the frequency ramp generated inside a broadband high frequency oscillator. This PLL guarantees for a highly linear and reproducible frequency generation and thus is the basis for stable and precise measurement results. Measurements on a prototype system underline the good functionality of the concept.


This study characterizes the donor and recipient sites involved in osteochondral autograft surgery of the knee with respect to articular cartilage contact pressure, articular surface curvature, and cartilage thickness. Five cadaveric knees were tested in an open chain activity simulation and kinematic data were obtained at incremental knee flexion angles from 0° to 110°. Surface curvature, cartilage thickness, and contact pressure were determined using a stereophotogrammetry method. In all knees, the medial trochlea, intercondylar notch, and lateral trochlea demonstrated nonloadbearing regions. Donor sites from the distal-medial trochlea were totally nonloadbearing. For the intercondylar notch, lateral trochlea, and proximal-medial trochlea, however, the nonloadbearing areas were small, and typical donor sites in these areas partially encroached into adjacent loadbearing areas. The lateral trochlea (77.1 m-1) was more highly curved than the typical recipient sites of the central trochlea (23.3 m-1), medial femoral condyle (46.8 m-1), and lateral femoral condyles (42.9 m-1) (P <0.05). Overall, the donor sites had similar cartilage thickness (average, 2.1 mm) when compared with the typical recipient sites (average, 2.5 mm). The lateral trochlea and medial trochlea curvatures were found to better match the recipient sites on the femoral condyles, while the intercondylar notch better matched the recipient sites of the central trochlea. The distal-medial trochlea was found to have the advantage of being nonloadbearing. Preoperative planning using the data presented will assist in more conforming, congruent grafts, thereby maximizing biomechanical function.


Objectives: The Tei index is a useful Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic function, calculated as isovolumic relaxation time plus isovolumic contraction time divided by ejection time. This study was focused on comparing the Tei index between normal fetus and fetuses of diabetic mothers (DMs). Methods: A prospective study was performed in a total of 68 fetuses. The study group underwent 2-dimensional/Doppler echocardiographic measurement of their Tei index. They included total 28 fetuses of diabetic mothers (DMs) (32–38 weeks of gestation). In this group, 18 fetuses were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 6 fetuses were large for gestational age (LGA) and 4 fetuses were small for gestational age (SGA). Control group included total 40 fetuses (22–38 weeks of gestation). Results: In the control group, the mean Tei indices of left and right ventricles were 0.29 (0.10–0.56) and 0.31 (0.15–0.48), respectively. In the fetuses with DMs, the Tei indices of the left ventricles in AGA, and SGA fetuses were 0.310 (0.17–0.42) and 0.330 (0.28–0.38). Those of the right ventricle were 0.250 (0.10–0.44) and 0.35 (0.31–0.39). The left ventricular Tei indices in LGA fetuses with DMs were 0.490 (0.47–0.52). Those for the right ventricle were 0.530 (0.50–0.57). These values were significantly higher than the control (P < 0.001 for both ventricles). Conclusions: LGA fetuses from DMs who have an increased value of the Tei index may have abnormal myocardial performance. Tei index is a simple and useful parameter for the assessment of fetal both ventricular myocardial performance and is able to reflect fetal cardiac function.


Data warehouses are at the core of enterprise IT and enable the efficient storage and analysis of structured data. Besides, unstructured content, e.g., emails and documents, constitutes more than half of the entire enterprise data and contains a lot of implicit knowledge about warehouse entities. Thus, holistic ana-lytics require the integration of structured warehouse data and unstructured content to generate novel insights. These insights can also be used to enrich the integrated data and to create a new basis for further analytics. Existing integration approaches only support a limited range of analytical applications and require the costly adaptation of the warehouse schema. In this paper, we present the Deep Data Warehouse (DeepDWH), a novel type of data warehouse based on the flexible integration and enrichment of warehouse data and unstructured content, addressing the variety challenge of Big Data. It relies on information-rich in-stance-level links between warehouse elements and content items, which are represented in a graph-oriented structure. Neither adaptations of the existing warehouse nor the design of an overall federated schema are required. We design a conceptual linking model and develop a logical schema for links based on a property graph. As a proof of concept, we present a prototypical imple-mentation of the DeepDWH including a link store based on a graph database.


This article provides an analytic framework to guide regimes that are designing or implementing decentralization programs. It is based on a comparison of three Asian cases of fast-track decentralization. The framework suggests that regimes contemplating devolution must face fundamental issues of (1) background support, (2) culture and institutions, and (3) technical design and sequencing. It can be used by regimes to compare the relative difficulty of fundamental challenges to decentralization with their own capacity and potential for effective response. The three regimes responded similarly to the first two issues and differed in how they performed technical activities to implement the decentralization programs. Within this technical sequence, the regimes varied widely in performance. In that the Philippine program has attained better performance so far, the different responses of that regime are significant. More research is required to explain differences in technical performance in the Philippines and other similar programs and to attribute measures of decentralization success to these differences.


Evolutionary algorithms are metaheuristic algorithms that mimic biological mechanisms for the solution of optimization problems. They are widely used in many problems of engineering, including image analysis and pattern recognition. Such methods had shown added value in overcoming certain problems and limitations of more traditional methods and approaches. This is particularly interesting in Computer for designing faster and more accurate optimization methods. Despite recent advances in image registration, there is still room for improvement especially with the use of metaheuristic algorithms. In this paper, we present a novel method for solving the automated rigid registration problem by introducing a variant of the relatively new metaheuristic method called harmony search which shows promising results in difficult rigid registration cases.


Nuclear gamma resonance spectroscopy, also known as Mössbauer spectroscopy, is a technique that probes transitions between the nuclear ground state and a low-lying nuclear excited state. The nucleus most amenable to Mössbauer spectroscopy is 57Fe, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy provides detailed information about the chemical environment and electronic structure of iron. Iron is by far the most structurally and functionally diverse metal ion in biology, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has played an important role in the elucidation of its biochemistry. In this article, we give a brief introduction to the technique and then focus on two recent exciting developments pertaining to the application of 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy in biochemistry. The first is the use of the rapid freeze-quench method in conjunction with Mössbauer spectroscopy to monitor changes at the Fe site during a biochemical reaction. This method has allowed for trapping and subsequent detailed spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates and thus has provided unique insight into the reaction mechanisms of Fe-containing enzymes. We outline the methodology using two examples: (1) oxygen activation by the non-heme diiron enzymes and (2) oxygen activation by taurine:alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase (TauD). The second development concerns the calculation of Mössbauer parameters using density functional theory (DFT) methods. By using the example of TauD, we show that comparison of experimental Mössbauer parameters with those obtained from calculations on model systems can be used to provide insight into the structure of a reaction intermediate.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) into Turkish and determine the validity and reliability of the translated version in physically active patients with hip pain.

METHODS
Sixty young to middle-aged and physically active patients (34 women and 26 men; mean age=35 years; age range: 18-40 years) with hip pain were included in the study. The original version of the NAHS was first translated into Turkish and back-translated into English by two bilingual translators each. The back-translated version was compared with the initial English version by a committee of the four translators. The Turkish version was then tested with 15 patients with hip pain and 15 healthy individuals. The participants were asked whether they had difficulties in understanding the questions. Subsequently, the questionnaire was accepted for use in the study population. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. The construct validity was determined via the Pearson correlation coefficient between the NAHS and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and Short Form-12 (SF-12). Floor and ceiling effects were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to test construct validity.

RESULTS
An ICC of 0.994 and Cronbach's alpha value of 0.908 were obtained; thus, the Turkish version of the NAHS was reliable. Neither floor nor ceiling effects (15%) were found in the sub-parameters (8.3-1.7%) and the total score (1.7%) of the NAHS. The EFA test showed that this questionnaire had four factors. Model fit indices in CFA were χ2/df=2.23, Tucker-Lewis index=0.90, comparative fit index=0.91, goodness of fit index=0.63, root mean square error of approximation=0.14 (90% CI: 0.12-0.16). The NAHS total score showed an excellent correlation with WOMAC (r=-0.909), mHHS (r=0.850), and SF-12 (r=0.811) scores.

CONCLUSION
The Turkish version of the NAHS is a valid and reliable questionnaire for young and physically active patients with hip pain.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level II, Diagnostic study.


In this paper we investigate the use of Kriging method in order to reconstruct and enhance the resolution of mixed convection data. Direct numerical solutions are performed for mixed convection in a two-dimensional partially open rectangular cavity with a flush-mounted discrete heat source on a heat conducting vertical board. An external airflow enters the cavity through an opening in the left vertical wall and exits from the opposite opening in the right vertical wall. Kriging is a statistical tool useful in many disciplines such as geology, thermo-fluid systems, process engineering, environment and medicine. Kriging is used to estimate unknown values from data observed at known locations. A variogram is usually constructed to account for the spatial variation of known data. Kriging gives an unbias estimate for the unknown value using a weighted linear combination of the available data. In this paper, we investigate the capabilities of Kriging procedure for transitional mixed convection flows. Particularly, the effect of various types of variograms (e.g. polynomial, exponential and spherical functions, etc.) on the effectiveness of the Kriging procedure has been studied in detail. The use of Kriging for the resolution enhancement and for the reconstruction of large missing zone (black zone) is investigated. It is found that the gappy data for both periodic and non-periodic (quasi-periodic) flows can be remarkably recovered by the method. While we apply the method for DNS data in order to assess its effectiveness, the method should be particularly very useful for experimental data, where some enhancement/smoothing is generally required.Copyright © 2006 by ASME


Background: Environmental tobacco smoking exposure increased the level of urine cotinine and exhaled carbon monoxide (COex). Evidence suggests that there is an association between nicotine dependence and COex. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the correlation between urinary cotinine, COex, and nicotine dependence among Indonesian individuals with a history of substance use undergoing rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited participants who undergone rehabilitation at rehabilitation unit in Lido, aged >18 years old, and current smokers. We investigated the cigarette and substance consumption, Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND), Addiction Severity Index (ASI), level of urinary cotinine, and level of COex. The ASI was determined by a psychologist who was working for rehabilitation unit. Results: The 72 assessed participants were male and aged 18–44 years old (mean 29 ± 7.1). We found significant positive correlation between urinary cotinine and COex (Spearman r = 0.3473, P = 0.0028), age of smoking initiation and age of substance use initiation (Spearman r = 0.5660, P < 0.0001), FTND and ASI (Spearman r = 0.3107, P = 0.0079), COex and age (Spearman r = 0.3323 P = 0.0043), COex and years smoking (Spearman r = 0.3028, P = 0.0097), as well as negative significant correlation COex and ASI (Spearman r = −0.2743, P = 0.0197). Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between urinary cotinine and COex, age of smoking initiation and age of substance use initiation, FTND and ASI, COex and age, COex and years smoking, and between COex and ASI.


In some cost benefit analysis (CBA) applications, such as those used for the valuation of climate change damage, distributional weights are used to account for diminishing utility of marginal income. This is usually done by means of intra-temporal distributional weights, which are combined with discounting to account for inter-temporal equity and efficiency. Here, I show that this approach might introduce some inconsistencies in terms of path dependence. In short, this inconsistency means that regional economic growth is double counted. This is because income weighting is performed both through the discount rate and through the distributional weights such that growth shows up twice in the weighting process. Using the PAGE2002 model, it is found that the inconsistency problem in the original model erases the influence of distributional weights on the social cost of carbon dioxide (SCCO2) compared to a standard CBA approach. The alternative approaches proposed here yield about 20%–40% higher values of SCCO2 than the old approach. While this has been briefly commented on in previous work, it has not yet been more thoroughly analyzed nor communicated to the broader community of climate policy and economic analysts who are not deeply interested in the specifications of the climate impact assessment models.


Some experimental results are presented for the motion of small rigid spherical particles suspended in a Newtonian viscous liquid flowing under steady laminar conditions in a vertical tube of circular cross-section. When the particles were neutrally buoyant, the Segré & Silberberg (1961, 1962) effect was confirmed, the particles moving into a narrow annular zone with a diameter about two-thirds of the tube diameter. When the particles were slightly denser than the fluid, they migrated relatively rapidly to the wall of the tube for downward fluid flow and to the axis of the tube for upward fluid flow. Individual particle trajectories were obtained (necessarily approximately) from photographic records, and statistical techniques used to obtain 'universal' paths for given flow conditions. A complete set of relevant dimensionless parameters is given by the tube flow Reynolds number, the ratio of the tube diameter to the particle diameter, and the ratio of the Stokes free-fall velocity of the particle to the maximum fluid velocity. An attempt has been made to study the dependence of the trajectories on each of these parameters, the ranges being 10–200, 10–20 and 0–0.2 respectively. Detailed results can be found in Jeffrey (1964). Some comments are made on the relevance for this situation of certain theoretical solutions given elsewhere.


Like airlines and hotels, sports teams and entertainment venues can benefit from revenue management efforts for their ticket sales. Teams and entertainment venues usually offer bundles of tickets early in their selling horizon and put single‐event tickets on sale at a later date; these organizations must determine the best time to offer individual tickets because both types of ticket sales consume the same fixed inventory. We model the optimal a priori timing decision for a seller with a fixed number of identical tickets to switch from selling the tickets as fixed bundles to individual tickets to maximize the revenue realized before the start of the performance season. We assume that bundle and single‐ticket customers each arrive according to independent, nonhomogeneous Markovian death processes with a linear death rate that can vary over time and that the benefit from selling a ticket in a package is higher than from selling the ticket individually. We characterize the circumstances in which it is optimal for the seller to practice mixed bundling and when the seller should only sell bundles or individual tickets, and we establish comparative statics for the optimal timing decision for the special case of constant customer arrival rates. We extend our analytical results to find the optimal time for offering two groups of tickets with high and low demand. Finally, we apply the timing model to a data set obtained from the sports industry. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008


Determinations of the lunar atmospheric tide at twenty-seven stations, in America, Africa and other parts of the world, have been made by the Chapman-Miller method from bi-hourly values of the barometric pressure extending, in the aggregate for the twenty-seven stations, over about 500 years. Examination of the results thus obtained reveals the following: (1) The amplitude c2 decreases with increasing latitude, though the decrease is not quite regular. (2) The phase angles θ2 are in the usual quadrant, betokening a lag of high tide after the moon's transit, though the lag itself differs from station to station. (3) At almost all the stations the lunar air-tide undergoes a very appreciable annual change; a reduction in the values of both θ2 and c2 occurs in both hemispheres near the December solstice. (4) No very appreciable variation of the air-tide with height has been found up to about 3350 m. (5) In the U. S. A. the tide has a notable reduction of c2 on the western coast, but no striking contrast in the case of θ2 can be noted. (6) Several stations in East Africa, together with Singapore and Batavia, show results which indicate a specially interesting region where the tide has the biggest amplitude found anywhere on the surface of the earth, and where the phase lag is normal. (7) An asymmetrical distribution of c2 about the equator in the same continent (Africa) is also very surprising and requires proper interpretation.


Spin-reorientation transitions in intermetallic (Pr1-xSmx)Fe8Ga3C compounds with the tetragonal BaCd11-type structure have been investigated. The magnetic phase diagram has been proposed for these compounds based on magnetic and X-Ray diffraction studies using their nanocrystalline ribbons and powders aligned in a magnetic field. In the concentration range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 the compounds exhibit an «easy-plane» anisotropy at all temperatures of the magnetically ordered state. The magnetic anisotropy of the compounds with 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1 is of the «easy-cone» type. The SmFe8Ga3C compound with the highest Sm content is a uniaxial ferromagnet with no indications of a spin-reorientation transition below its Curie temperature.


The ongoing conflict between viruses and their hosts can drive the co-evolution between host immune genes and viral suppressors of immunity. It has been suggested that an evolutionary 'arms race' may occur between rapidly evolving components of the antiviral RNAi pathway of Drosophila and viral genes that antagonize it. We have recently shown that viral protein 1 (VP1) of Drosophila melanogaster Nora virus (DmelNV) suppresses Argonaute-2 (AGO2)-mediated target RNA cleavage (slicer activity) to antagonize antiviral RNAi. Here we show that viral AGO2 antagonists of divergent Nora-like viruses can have host specific activities. We have identified novel Nora-like viruses in wild-caught populations of D. immigrans (DimmNV) and D. subobscura (DsubNV) that are 36% and 26% divergent from DmelNV at the amino acid level. We show that DimmNV and DsubNV VP1 are unable to suppress RNAi in D. melanogaster S2 cells, whereas DmelNV VP1 potently suppresses RNAi in this host species. Moreover, we show that the RNAi suppressor activity of DimmNV VP1 is restricted to its natural host species, D. immigrans. Specifically, we find that DimmNV VP1 interacts with D. immigrans AGO2, but not with D. melanogaster AGO2, and that it suppresses slicer activity in embryo lysates from D. immigrans, but not in lysates from D. melanogaster. This species-specific interaction is reflected in the ability of DimmNV VP1 to enhance RNA production by a recombinant Sindbis virus in a host-specific manner. Our results emphasize the importance of analyzing viral RNAi suppressor activity in the relevant host species. We suggest that rapid co-evolution between RNA viruses and their hosts may result in host species-specific activities of RNAi suppressor proteins, and therefore that viral RNAi suppressors could be host-specificity factors.


User?s data may be stored in a cloud to take advantage of its scalability, accessibility, and economics. & it must be protected from untrusted cloud provider. Basically develop "Group Chat+? application for android mobile users. It is work on android, smartphone, PDA mobile users & also on laptop, desktop users virtually. It implements the idea of Android Cloud to Device Messaging securely. This application helps to sends data from servers to their applications on Android devices & Client to clients or /group of clients communication securely & vice-versa. The application provides a simple, lightweight mechanism on both server & clients. For security of users database AES Algorithms is implemented for encrypting as well as decrypting message through mobile application in cloud network. Symmetric Cryptographic Key is applied on sensitive data to be stored at cloud. For that, a key management scheme is proposed where encrypted key shares are stored in the cloud and automatically deleted based on passage of time or user activity. Also, Subscription to user data is maintained through regular re-generation of shares. Our application is able to resist the attacks from various fields over confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy. So that, SHA1 algorithm is implemented. It one way to secure hash value that implement in protection of all users password security throughout the network of mobile cloud.


Electronic textile (E‐textile), an emerging technology, has the potential to revolutionize consumer electronics by transforming them into wearable devices. Highly conductive, textile conductors, suitable for commercialization, have yet not been developed. Here, a new metal‐textile laser welding method is presented for a rapid one‐step, stable, and cost‐efficient manufacturing of electrically conductive textiles. This method is a direct on‐textile approach for customized 2D nanothick metal coatings with flexible design. Different metals, like palladium, silver, or copper can be welded on functional membranes and textiles containing polymers. As shown by bonding a copper 2D pattern on a polyamide textile, the resistivity does not vary if compared to the bulk material. The generated interlocking bonding ensures strong physical adhesion between the partly molten polyamide fibers and a copper layer, resisting up to 10 000 abrasion cycles using the standardized Martindale test and up to 42 000 flexion cycles using the industrial standardized Schildknecht test. A promising application for textile integrated conductors is body monitoring sensors. The feasibility of a laser welded resistance temperature sensors on a functional membrane is demonstrated without impairing its mechanical stability. This technology presents suitable properties and variabilities for a wide range of application in E‐textiles and its commercialization.


Cerebral ischemia in adult rodent models increases the proliferation of endogenous neural progenitor cells residing in the subventricular zone along the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle (SVZa) and induces neurogenesis in the postischemic striatum and cortex. Whether the adult primate brain preserves a similar ability in response to an ischemic insult is uncertain. We used the DNA synthesis indicator bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label newly generated cells in adult macaque monkeys and show here that the proliferation of cells with a progenitor phenotype (double positive for BrdU and the markers Musashi1, Nestin, and βIII‐tubulin) in SVZa increased during the second week after a 20‐min transient global brain ischemia. Subsequent progenitor migration seemed restricted to the rostral migratory stream toward the olfactory bulb and ischemia increased the proportion of adult‐generated cells retaining their location in SVZa with a progenitor phenotype. Despite the lack of evidence for progenitor cell migration toward the postischemic striatum or prefrontal neocortex, a small but sustained proportion of BrdU‐labeled cells expressed features of postmitotic neurons (positive for the protein NeuN and the transcription factors Tbr1 and Islet1) in these two regions for at least 79 days after ischemia. Taken together, our data suggest an enhanced neurogenic response in the adult primate telencephalon after a cerebral ischemic insult. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Cross-country differences in homeownership rates are large and very persistent over time, ranging between 35% in Switzerland to 80% in Spain. In this project we test the hypothesis that these cross-country differences are driven by cultural tastes. To isolate the effect of culture from the effects of institutions and economic factors, we investigate the homeownership attitudes of second generation immigrants in the United States. We find robust evidence that cross-country differences in cultural preferences are an important explanatory factor for the observed persistent differ- ences in homeownership rates across countries.


Plasma containing carbon14-labeled albumin and globulin, obtained by feeding ϵ-C14 D,L.-lysine to a donor dog, has been injected intravenously and intraperitoneally into recipient dogs with experimental ascites.

The circulation and interchange of total plasma protein between circulating blood and ascitic fluid have been confirmed and the participation of both albumin and globulin in this interchange has been demonstrated.

Labeled albumin tends to reach equilibrium in plasma and ascitic fluid in a shorter period of time (1 to 2 days) than does globulin (2 or more days), after administration of labeled plasma by either route.

Evidence is presented that the rate of transfer of albumin across the peritoneal membrane is at least three times faster than that of globulin in terms of weight.


Twenty-one cases of malignant gliomas showing multiple tumor foci on CT are described. In 11 patients multiple lesions were evident on the initial CT scan (synchronous lesions); the other 10 patients developed one or more lesions months to years after the original gliomas (metachronous lesions) were documented. Distinctions between multifocal and multicentric gliomas are discussed and CT patterns presented. A diagnosis of synchronous multicentric or multifocal glioma should be considered in patients with multiple parenchymal masses and no known primary tumor elsewhere.


Radio emission is a key indicator of star formation activity in galaxies, but the radio luminosity–star formation relation has to date been studied almost exclusively at frequencies of 1.4 GHz or above. At lower radio frequencies, the effects of thermal radio emission are greatly reduced, and so we would expect the radio emission observed to be completely dominated by synchrotron radiation from supernova-generated cosmic rays. As part of the LOFAR Surveys Key Science project, the Herschel-ATLAS NGP field has been surveyed with LOFAR at an effective frequency of 150 MHz. We select a sample from the MPA-JHU catalogue of Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies in this area: the combination of Herschel, optical and mid-infrared data enable us to derive star formation rates (SFRs) for our sources using spectral energy distribution fitting, allowing a detailed study of the low-frequency radio luminosity–star formation relation in the nearby Universe. For those objects selected as star-forming galaxies (SFGs) using optical emission line diagnostics, we find a tight relationship between the 150 MHz radio luminosity (L150) and SFR. Interestingly, we find that a single power-law relationship between L150 and SFR is not a good description of all SFGs: a broken power-law model provides a better fit. This may indicate an additional mechanism for the generation of radio-emitting cosmic rays. Also, at given SFR, the radio luminosity depends on the stellar mass of the galaxy. Objects that were not classified as SFGs have higher 150-MHz radio luminosity than would be expected given their SFR, implying an important role for low-level active galactic nucleus activity.


Analytical solutions for the normal stress differences in large-amplitude oscillatory shear flow (LAOS), for continuum or molecular models, normally take the form of the first few terms of a series expansion in the shear rate amplitude. Here, we improve the accuracy of these truncated expansions by replacing them with rational functions called Padé approximants. Specifically, we examine replacing the truncated expansion for the corotational Jeffreys fluid with its Padé approximants for the normal stress differences. We begin by extending the Goddard integral expansion (GIE) from its third [J Non-Newt Fluid Mech 166, 1081 (2011)] to its fifth order term in the shear rate amplitude. We then explore the Padé approximants for this extension. We uncover the best approximant, the [3,4] approximant, and compare this with both the GIE and the exact solution [Macromol Theory Simul 24, 352 (2015)]. We use Ewoldt grids to show the stunning accuracy of our [3,4] approximant in LAOS. We quantify this accuracy with an objective function and then map its onto Pipkin space. We find the [3,4] approximant to be a simple accurate expression for the normal stress differences in LAOS. Our applications illustrate how to use our new approximant reliably. For this, we use the Spriggs relations to generalize our best approximant to multimode, and then, we compare with measurements on molten high-density polyethylene, and on dissolved polyisobutylene in isobutylene oligomer.


Eye Behavior While Reading Words of Sanskrit and Urdu Origin in Hindi Tahira Carroll Department of Linguistics and English Language, BYU Master of Arts Hindi and Urdu are two branches of the same language sometimes known as Hindustani. They are divided by orthography and geography but when spoken are sometimes indistinguishable. Both have contributed loanwords that have now been completely assimilated into the language. The question of how the eye behaves during Hindi reading when it encounters Urdu loanwords has not been focused on extensively in prior research. The main purpose of this thesis is to document the eye behavior during reading Sanskrit-based words and Urdu loanwords in Hindi. We place fifteen word pairs consisting of one target Hindi Sanskrit-based word and its Urdu loanword equivalent in different sentences. Native Hindi speakers participate to read Hindi sentences containing either Urdu loanwords or the Sanskrit root word in Hindi. To quantify the differences in reading Hindi and Urdu loanwords in Devanagari (Hindi script) sentences we use an eye tracking methodology, which is used to measure eye movements of a participant during reading. We discover very distinctive eye behavior during reading of Urdu loanwords in comparison to reading Hindi Sanskrit-based words. Analysis also shows an interaction in eye behavior due to language and frequency.


The logarithmic law of the wall is usually derived for the flat plate assuming stationary, two-dimensional fully developed flow with no external pressure gradient. The Prandtl mixing length model for the turbulence is applied, which assumes homogeneous turbulence and two empirical constants, and the logarithmic wall law is derived. It is than stated in the textbooks that it is universally valid without a proof. As a justification experimental evidence is shown. First this proof will be shown in detail. Than a more general approach based on similarity considerations is made to show the universal validity of the logarithmic law of the wall.
 Starting from the Navier-Stokes equation a general non dimensional form of this equation is derived showing its dependency from four non-dimensional numbers, the Strouhal, Euler, Reynolds and the Froude number.
 Then wall bounded laminar flows are analyzed by dimensional analysis. The laminar boundary length and time scales are derived and used to non-dimensionalize the Navier-Stokes equation. With this specific non-dimensionalization for the laminar boundary layer a more specific non dimensional Navier-Stokes equation is derived. Then the high Reynolds limit is taken with considerations of orders of magnitude and the boundary layer equations are derived.
 Finally, for turbulent near wall flows a dimensional analysis is made and the corresponding near wall non-dimensional velocities and coordinates y+ and u+ are derived from the Buckingham-Π theorem. Using these variables to non-dimensionalize the Navier-Stokes equations in the near wall turbulent region the third author Malcherek showed that the so derived non-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations do not depend on any non-dimensional number and has a unique solution. Hence, the logarithmic law of the wall must be universally valid, without any simplification, any turbulence model, empirical constant or further assumptions.
 In such a way the students do not have to believe anymore in the universality of the logarithmic law of the wall based on empirical evidence only, now this fact has been proven by the third author Malcherek and the larger context has been elaborated by all authors for an advanced teaching of wall bounded flows.


This timely and accessible book is the first to provide a thorough analysis of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar (Burma) in its historical, political and social context. The book offers an in-depth exploration of the key elements of the 2008 Constitution in theory and practice. The book demonstrates how the history of constitution-making in Myanmar informs our understanding of the 2008 Constitution and indicates the credibility gap raised by the past process of constitution-making. The book identifies and articulates the principles of the Constitution through an analysis of legal and political processes since the 1990s. It highlights critical constitutional contestations that have taken place over fundamental ideas such as democracy, federalism, executive-legislative relations, judicial independence and the role of the Tatmadaw (armed forces). This book suggests that the 2008 Constitution is crucial to the establishment and maintenance of the military-state. The military-state promotes the leadership role of the military in governance, based on a set of ideological commitments and a centralised organisational basis of the Union. The constitutional vision offered by the 2008 Constitution and its associated institutions have been the subject of fierce contestation. Not least is debate over the militarisation of the state through direct and indirect means. Central to the future of the Constitution and the military-state in Myanmar is the role of the Tatmadaw, and the extent to which the country may shift from a highly centralised Union to a federal or decentralised system of governance.


Crystallized apatite behaved to plaster of Paris was prepared by the chemical method. Apatite powder was mixed with chitosan. In this study, it was also studied the effect of HA seed and sodium hydrogen phosphate as an additive on their mechanical strength, compared with the normal calcium phosphate cements. Setting time of paste cements was determined using Gillmore method. Phases of cement obtained from a crushed cylinder were analyzed using XRD analysis. From the results, chitosan was effective both in increasing mechanical properties and accelerating hardening of the normal bone cements. Nevertheless, the compressive strength of chitosan-crystallized apatite composites was not significantly improved as compared to the controlled one. In addition, it was found that the mechanical strength of the cements decreased when increasing the concentration of HA seed and an additive.


A user can formulate database queries and updates graphically, by manipulating schema diagrams. The authors based the graphical data manipulation interface on the entity-relationship (ER) model because of its widespread use and increasing popularity. They use an extended ER model incorporating various forms of generalization and specialization, including subset, union and partition relationships. They call their model the extended conceptual entity-relationship or ECER model. A comparison with other graphical entity-relationship interfaces is included.<<ETX>>


he reached 999 years, and that among others the local clergyman might claim the fees he would normally receive for the burial service. Pockrich was a most remarkable rather offbeat character who produced visionary schemes which caused him to be referred to at a recent meeting of the Section of History in the Royal Irish Academy of Medicine in Ireland as a poor man's Leonardo da Vinci. -I am, etc., Blackrock, JOHN FLEETWOOD. Dublin.


The business model of companies such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, relies on monetizing the information on the interactions and influences of their users. How valuable is such information, and is its use beneficial or detrimental for consumer welfare? We study these questions in a model where a monopoly sells a network good and may price discriminate using network information: information on consumers influences and/or on consumers susceptibilities to influence. Our framework incorporates a rich set of market products, including goods characterized by global and local network effects. We derive results on the value of network information and determine under which conditions, relative to uniform price, consumer surplus increases. We demonstrate the applicability of our framework using survey data on various types of relationships.


Based on CFD numeric simulation for hydraulic retarder under full-filled condition, the pressure distribution functions of the rotor blades surfaces are approached by coordinate transformation and surface fitting. Through the APDL program, loads which involved not only centrifugal force but also flow pressure are loaded on the FEA model according to the approximating pressure functions. The FEA model is solved and the blades strength is analyzed more accurately. Noted moment and speed, that is respectively 4000 N • m and 1343rpm, is determined under the promise of blade strength, and controlling strategy is made that constant braking torque shoud be carried out when speed is higher than noted value .


Weather derivatives based on heating degree days or cooling degree days have been traded in financial markets for more than 10 years. Although used by the energy sector, agricultural producers have been slow to adopt this technology even though agriculture is particularly vulnerable to weather uncertainty. In agriculture, few studies have focused on the pricing of weather derivatives for hedging weather risks for crop production. In this study, we employ data from an earlier study of climate on corn yields in northern China to compare different methods for pricing weather options based on growing degree days (GDDs). For pricing weather options, we investigate the use of weather indexes based on an econometric approach, a mean reverting stochastic process, and simple historical averages (burn analysis). For the econometric model, we use a sine function to estimate expected GDDs. The stochastic model is also based on the sine function, but employs Monte Carlo simulation with mean-reversion parameters to predict daily average temperatures; the reversion parameters are estimated using three alternative methods. For the historical approach, a 10-year moving average of GDDs is used. Results for the period 2001-2011 indicate that the historical average method fits actual GDDs best, followed in order by the stochastic process with a high mean reversion speed (0.9763), the econometrically estimated sine function, and the stochastic processes with medium (0.2698) and low (0.02399) mean reversion speeds. Depending on the method used, premiums for weather derivative options vary from $21.27 to $24.39 per standard deviation in GDD.


We have examined the ability of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) to stimulate hexose transport in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. Activation of transport occurred in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with maximal stimulation (fourfold) occurring approximately 15 hours after exposure to 2.5 nM TNF. The protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, blunted TNF-induced 2-deoxyglucose uptake, suggesting that new synthesis was in part responsible for the observed increase. Increased hexose transport occurred concomitant with a 50% increase in general protein synthesis which preceded a fivefold stimulation of thymidine incorporation into DNA. Elevated hexose transport preceded an accumulation of glucose transporter (GLUT-1) mRNA. We have further demonstrated that the early accumulation of GLUT-1 mRNA is accompanied by accumulation of mRNA for both the prootooncogene c-fos as well as that for beta-actin. We suggest that these events represent the pleiotrophic growth factor-like properties of TNF-alpha.


In this paper, we study applying dual branch transmit switch-and-stay combining (SSC) technique for underlay cognitive radio (UCR) networks. In UCR, the secondary user is allowed to share the spectrum with the primary (licensed) user under the condition that interference at the primary receiver is below a predetermined threshold. Assuming binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation and Rayleigh fading channels, we develop a closed form expression for the average bit error rate (BER) of the secondary link as a function of the switching threshold. We then find a closed form expression for the optimal switching threshold in the sense of minimizing the average BER. For the sake of comparison we derive an expression for the average BER of the dual branch transmit selection combining (SC) technique. We finally investigate the effect of correlation between secondary and interference channels on the average BER and the associated optimal switching threshold.


Late-season height control of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is difficult since most chemical growth retardants adversely reduce bract size when applied after first bract color. Paclobutrazol (Bonzi) controls stem elongation late in poinsettia crop development but can excessively reduce bract size if improperly applied. Two experiments were conducted to quantify how paclobutrazol application influenced height and bract area of 'Freedom' poinsettia. In the first experiment, paclobutrazol was applied at 1 mg·L–1 (ppm) in 118-mL (4.0-fl oz) volumes per pot [(a.i.) 0.12 mg/pot (28,350 mg = 1.0 oz)] as a drench to a new group of plants weekly from the initiation of short days until 1 week before anthesis. Maximum reduction in height and bract area was obtained when paclobutrazol was applied immediately after short days, and the response to paclobutrazol decreased as application time was increasingly delayed toward anthesis. In the second experiment, paclobutrazol was applied weekly after first bract color as either a drench or subapplication at various concentrations. Plant height and bract area were reduced by 23% when 2 mg·L–1 [(a.i.) 0.24 mg/pot) paclobutrazol was applied through subapplication at first color. The effects of paclobutrazol on height and bract area reduction decreased as application time was progressively delayed. Concentrations lower than 1


The analysis of extant sequences shows that molecular evolution has been heterogeneous through time and among lineages. However, for a given sequence alignment, it is often difficult to uncover what factors caused this heterogeneity. In fact, identifying and characterizing heterogeneous patterns of molecular evolution along a phylogenetic tree is very challenging, for lack of appropriate methods. Users either have to a priori define groups of branches along which they believe molecular evolution has been similar or have to allow each branch to have its own pattern of molecular evolution. The first approach assumes prior knowledge that is seldom available, and the second requires estimating an unreasonably large number of parameters. Here we propose a convenient and reliable approach where branches get clustered by their pattern of molecular evolution alone, with no need for prior knowledge about the data set under study. Model selection is achieved in a statistical framework and therefore avoids overparameterization. We rely on substitution mapping for efficiency and present two clustering approaches, depending on whether or not we expect neighbouring branches to share more similar patterns of sequence evolution than distant branches. We validate our method on simulations and test it on four previously published data sets. We find that our method correctly groups branches sharing similar equilibrium GC contents in a data set of ribosomal RNAs and recovers expected footprints of selection through dN/dS. Importantly, it also uncovers a new pattern of relaxed selection in a phylogeny of Mantellid frogs, which we are able to correlate to life-history traits. This shows that our programs should be very useful to study patterns of molecular evolution and reveal new correlations between sequence and species evolution. Our programs can run on DNA, RNA, codon, or amino acid sequences with a large set of possible models of substitutions and are available at http://biopp.univ-montp2.fr/forge/testnh.


We have demonstrated that the diploma-entry accelerated students in a nursing program need additional support at the start of their studies in bioscience and pharmacology to prevent high rates of attrition. This support consists of a formative, online activity of resource notes and quizzes covering key concepts in bioscience and pharmacology, and a face-to-face workshop addressing academic skills and reviewing bioscience material, presented to the students in orientation week. Subsequently, we developed an online eBook: Getting Started in Bioscience, Pharmacology and Microbiology; https://sites.google.com/site/gettingstartedinbioscience/ The aim of the present study was to determine whether it was necessary to provide both the face-to-face workshop/review lectures and the eBook, as support for nursing students undertaking the biosciences and pharmacology. In order to do this, firstly, we evaluated the eBook showing it was well received by the both accelerated and traditional students. Secondly, we evaluated the face-to-face workshop/review lectures in 2016, when the students had access to the eBook, and this showed high appreciation by the students. Finally, we compared the analysis of the face-to-face workshop/review lectures in 2016 with the analysis in 2011, which was prior to the eBook, and showed that the students' appreciation of the face-to-face workshop/review lectures was not altered by the introduction of the eBook. Thus, continuing face-to-face support for nursing students prior to studying bioscience and pharmacology, despite the introduction of an eBook, may be worthwhile.


A feedforward-feedback controller (FFC), which is constructed by a feedforward controller and conventional PID in the global control scheme, is presented to control Inverted Pendulum in this paper. The angle of the swing-bar is defined as controlled variable for the controlled system and the displacement of swing-bar is taken as the disturbance. The feedback controller is used to control the angle and the feedforward controller is used to compensate for the displacement. Experiment results show that the proposed controller is of better control performance than the PID control scheme with two loops and the neural network control (NNC) scheme designed by Googol Technology (HK) Ltd.


Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, implying a role for adipose tissue in the etiology of these disorders. We used cDNA microarrays to obtain expression profiles of adipocyte by the treatment of insulin and anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone at both high and low glucose level. Mouse 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes were treated 2 days 1) with or without 1 µM insulin at low and high glucose level, 2) with or without 0.5 μM rosiglitazone at low and high glucose and insulin level. 1) The comparison between the insulin and non-insulin treatment at the same glucose level showed minor changes in the transcriptome. The expressions of some processing enzymes for extracellular matrix components were regulated by insulin. 2) Transcriptome data indicates that an altered energy metabolism is induced by rosiglitazone in mature adipocytes. In addition, rosiglitazone represses adipokine expression, except adiponectin and ApoE. Moreover, transcriptome changes indicate that a general repression of secreted protein encoding genes occurs.


Constitutive activation of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) by internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations is one of the most common molecular alterations known in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To investigate the role FLT3/ITD mutations play in the development of leukemia, we generated a FLT3/ITD knock-in mouse model by inserting an ITD mutation into the juxtamembrane domain of murine Flt3. FLT3wt/ITD mice developed myeloproliferative disease, characterized by splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and myeloid hypercellularity, which progressed to mortality by 6 to 20 months. Bone marrow (BM) and spleen from FLT3wt/ITD mice had an increased fraction of granulocytes/monocytes and dendritic cells, and a decreased fraction of B-lymphocytes. No sign of acute leukemia was observed over the lifetime of these mice. BM from FLT3wt/ITD mice showed enhanced potential to generate myeloid colonies in vitro. BM from FLT3wt/ITD mice also produced more spleen colonies in the in vivo colony-forming unit (CFU)-spleen assay. In the long-term competitive repopulation assay, BM cells from FLT3wt/ITD mice outgrew the wild-type competitor cells and showed increased myeloid and reduced lymphoid expansion activity. In summary, our data indicate that expression of FLT3/ITD mutations alone is capable of conferring normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) with enhanced myeloid expansion. It also appears to suppress B lymphoid maturation. Additional cooperative events appear to be required to progress to acute leukemia.


Women's Gynecologic Health, Second Edition equips students and practicing clinicians with comprehensive information about women's gynecologic health, including health promotion, maintenance and treatment. Based on the most recent research, the authors provide authoritative content written from a feminist perspective. Completely updated and revised, this second edition includes four new chapters on diagnosis of pregnancy at the gynecologic visit, women's health after bariatric surgery, sexual assault, and urinary tract infections. In addition, the chapter on gynecologic health care for sexual and gender minorities has been expanded to include care not only for lesbians, but also for bisexual women and transgender individuals. Key features include: * Clinical considerations specific to the different physical and psychosocial life stages of women * Emphasis on physiologic mechanisms in order to enhance understanding of normal and abnormal processes * Evidence-based content * Content and presentation suitable for students and practicing clinicians


In this article we aim to investigate how sport represents an area of practices that allows (re)building a masculinity considered socially adequate within a biography crossed by the turning point of an onset physical impairment. Making use of the approach of illness narratives, we analyzed the life stories of three men who have encountered disability as a result of accidents during adolescence. In this way, we have tried to outline some strategies of management of the so-called "the dilemma of the disabled masculinity" (Shuttleworth et al. 2012), showing how the manhood acts adopted by our participants are placed between the neutralization of the disabling impact of impairments and the attempt to enhance some aspects of their physical and emotional experience that partially hybridize the dominant masculinity patterns. Keywords : masculinities, disability, sport, body, manhood acts.


In this study, the solubility of acid gases of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide in MDEA and MDEA/PZ aqueous solutions was evaluated by different thermodynamic packages. Comparison of modeling results with a series of laboratory and industrial data released from 1997 to 2010 indicates the high accuracy of ACID GAS thermodynamic package (Aspen HYSYS 8.3) to prediction of acid gases solubility in the mentioned solutions compared to the ELECNRTL thermodynamic package (Aspen plus V8.2), especially in the range of acid gases operational concentration in the gas refineries.


Today personalized medicine is one of the most popular interdisciplinary research field, risk group identification being one of its most important tasks. Even though the first attempts to estimate the effect of patient's characteristics on the outcome were proposed in statistics in the middle of the twentieth century, it is still an open question how to explore such effects properly. In this paper we propose a trial version of the approach to risk group specification based on pattern structures and competing risk estimation, and discuss further steps of research on its performance and specificity.


We developed switchable Janus particles (JPs) fabricated by coating one hemisphere of silica microspheres with a phase-change film. We used the chalcogenide GeSbTe (GST), which exhibits a reversible phase change between a metal-like crystalline phase (c-GST) and a dielectric-like amorphous phase (a-GST). As a driving force for self-propelling the JPs, a perpendicular alternating current electric field was applied; the frequency dependence of the motion of an individual JP and that of inter-JP interaction were investigated. At lower frequencies (2–20 kHz), a-GST JPs were propelled with their silica side facing forward, which is similar to the behavior of Au–silica JPs propelled by the well-known induced-charge electrophoresis mechanism, whereas c-GST JPs were immobile because they adhered to the indium tin oxide substrate. At higher frequencies (50–300 kHz), both a-GST and c-GST JPs were propelled with their GST side facing forward and a substantial difference in inter-JP interaction was observed: repulsive collision for c-GST JPs but attractive stacking for a-GST JPs.


The discovery of the vitamins was a major scientific achievement in our understanding of health and disease. In 1912, Casimir Funk originally coined the term "vitamine". The major period of discovery began in the early nineteenth century and ended at the mid-twentieth century. The puzzle of each vitamin was solved through the work and contributions of epidemiologists, physicians, physiologists, and chemists. Rather than a mythical story of crowning scientific breakthroughs, the reality was a slow, stepwise progress that included setbacks, contradictions, refutations, and some chicanery. Research on the vitamins that are related to major deficiency syndromes began when the germ theory of disease was dominant and dogma held that only four nutritional factors were essential: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and minerals. Clinicians soon recognized scurvy, beriberi, rickets, pellagra, and xerophthalmia as specific vitamin deficiencies, rather than diseases due to infections or toxins. Experimental physiology with animal models played a fundamental role in nutrition research and greatly shortened the period of human suffering from vitamin deficiencies. Ultimately it was the chemists who isolated the various vitamins, deduced their chemical structure, and developed methods for synthesis of vitamins. Our understanding of the vitamins continues to evolve from the initial period of discovery.


A hypernatremia severity is often associated with a poor prognosis, especially if it is associated with multiple organ failure. In a country with very limited resources, the prognosis may be favorable in the absence of renal replacement. We report the case of a 63 years old woman, hypertensive and diabetic, admitted to the ICU for unconsciousness. Clinically, neurological examination notes a Glasgow of 8/15 (Y2, V2, M4) and a left hemiplegia. Temperature was 39°C. Diuresis was 100 ml during the first 24 hours. Blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg, tachycardia at 133/min. Cardiac auscultation is normal. Vascular axes were weakly perceptible. Oxygen saturation was 95%. The skin examination notes a dry skin and mucous membranes, a flattening of the superficial veins, sunken eyes and a persistent skin fold. There is no hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, or jaundice. Biological point of view note natremia: 176 mmol/L; osmolarity: 390 mosmol/kg; creatinin: 300 μmol/L; glycemia > 6 g/L; transaminases 217 UI. Diagnostics: malignant hypernatremia with a high plasma osmolarity associated with an acute anuric renal failure, hydro electrolytic disorders, an abnormal liver function, a fever of central origin and a stroke. The treatment consisted of a correction of the electrolyte disorders by infusion of isotonic and hypotonic fluids with insulin. In a country with very limited resources, the severe hypernatremia prognosis associated with anuric acute renal failure may be favorable in the absence of renal replacement.