The present investigation has been focused on the design, deposition and characterisation of novel low-friction, wear-resistant multilayer nanocomposite CrAlTiCN coatings. Systematic materials characterisation and property evaluation were conducted on the as-deposited and oxidation-tested CrAlTiCN coatings, and the results are presented and discussed. It is possible to generate novel CrAlTiCN coatings with the carbon content up to 24.34 at% by closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering of graphite target. The microstructure of the CrAlTiCN coatings mainly depends on their carbon content. When the carbon content is low, carbon atoms are mainly dissolved in the fcc metastable phase (Cr, Al, Ti) (C, N); when the carbon content is high, the major carbon atoms will form amorphous carbon with a C-C bond state and in a sp\(^2\) dominated graphitic environment. Both the hardness and brittleness of CrAlTiCN coatings reduce with increasing the carbon content. When tested at room temperature under unidirectional sliding conditions, the friction coefficient and wear of the CrAlTiCN coatings decrease with the carbon content, and the thermal stability of CrAlTiCN coatings is similar to the CrAlTiN coating but better than graphite-like carbon coatings. The good performance of the new CrAlTiCN coatings can be attributed to the optimised design of the coating system: the Cr/Al for oxidation resistance, the amorphous C for lowfriction and the multi-layered nano-composite microstructure for high toughness.


This study provides an approach to determine more robust estimates of access to trauma care at the state level. It highlights the need for a national trauma system, where all components of state-managed trauma systems are assembled in a national dataset to identify gaps in care. BACKGROUND Timely access to specialized trauma care is a vital element in patient outcome after severe and critical injury requiring the skills of trauma teams in levels I and II trauma centers to avoid preventable mortality. We used system-based models to estimate timely access to care. METHODS Trauma system models consisted of ground emergency medical services, helicopter emergency medical services, and designated levels I to V trauma centers were constructed for five states. These models incorporated geographic information systems along with traffic data and census block group data to estimate population access to trauma care within the "golden hour." Trauma systems were further analyzed to identify the optimal location for an additional level I or II trauma center that would provide the greatest increase in access. RESULTS The population of the states studied totaled 23 million people, of which 20 million (87%) had access to a level I or II trauma center within 60 minutes. Statewide-specific access ranged from 60% to 100%. Including levels III to V trauma centers, access within 60 minutes increased to 22 million (96%), ranging from 95% to 100%. The addition of a levels I and II trauma center in an optimized location in each state would provide timely access to a higher trauma capability for an additional 1.1 million, increasing total access to approximately 21.1 million people (92%). CONCLUSION This analysis demonstrates that nearly universal access to trauma care is present in these states when including levels I to V trauma centers. However, concerning gaps remain in timely access to levels I and II trauma centers. This study provides an approach to determine more robust statewide estimates of access to care. It highlights the need for a national trauma system, one in which all components of state-managed trauma systems are assembled in a national data set to accurately identify gaps in care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.


This research examine the actual growth, yield and certain metabolic activities of quinoa plants in response to foliar treatments with GA3 50 ppm, JA 20 ppm and Asc. 50 ppm. Plants were grown in natural clay loamy soil conditions and treated with every of the aforementioned treatments. The treated plants showed significant responses in most of the growth and yield characteristics (lengths of shoots and roots, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/ plant, plant biomass and weight of 1000-seed). Also, these treatments caused significant increases in the contents of photosynthetic pigments, soluble carbohydrates, soluble proteins and total phenols content. This was the case during the entire duration of time period of the experiment.


The Rex protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 is required for the nuclear export of unspliced viral mRNA and, therefore, for virus replication. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that Rex shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and that its activation domain constitutes a nuclear export signal that specifies efficient transport to the cytoplasm. These findings are consistent with a model for Rex-mediated trans-activation in which Rex-viral mRNA complexes are targeted for nuclear export by the direct action of the activation domain.


Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) is a clinically effective method of delivering CBT which may help address the under – treatment of common mental health disorders (CMHDs) in the population. However, concerns regarding acceptability, attrition rates and the therapeutic alliance are obstacles to widespread population dissemination. This thesis aimed to address these implementation issues by applying concepts from human – computer interaction (HCI) and attachment theory to the field of CCBT.
Chapter 1 presents a meta – analysis investigating the effectiveness of CCBT for CMHDs and moderators of this effect. Chapter 2 presents a systematic review and analysis conducted to examine predictors of CCBT engagement. A process – based model of engagement with CCBT developed from the findings of this review is also presented.
Adult attachment is known to influence engagement and alliance in face to face therapies, but research has not explored whether these relationships are mirrored in CCBT. Four empirical studies intended to address this question.
Study 1 used a student population based survey to explore the acceptability of CCBT in a student population and the associations with adult attachment. Results demonstrated adult attachment was not associated with acceptability of CCBT.
Study 2a utilised an open trial of a supported CCBT program to investigate whether adult attachment would predict engagement and alliance in vivo. Results showed attachment did not predict these outcomes. Study 2b utilised an open trial with a non – supported online CCBT program. Results indicated attachment security was positively associated with program engagement and alliance. It is proposed a combination of attachment system activation and perceiving computers as social actors account for these findings.
Study 3 used a randomised, experimental paradigm to test the benefits of security priming in CCBT. Security priming produced higher levels of program engagement and better working alliance compared to neutral primes. Furthermore these effects were not moderated by dispositional attachment styles.
These results demonstrate something so uniquely human, dispositional attachment orientations, founded on the intimate bonds we form in infancy and in adulthood , extend their influence into the experience of unguided CCBT, a solely human – computer interaction. Unguided – CCBT, a highly cost effective intervention with the potential for considerable public health impact, may benefit from incorporating security priming techniques in program designs to maximise engagement and alliance. Engagement and alliance is attainable in CCBT and paying attention to the attachment styles of program users may present a distinctive opportunity to overcome these implementation barriers.


Previous research has shown how venting one's feelings can reduce the negative emotions of a consumption experience. This study proposes a general process of how consumers with feelings of unfairness due to a negative consumption experience can achieve emotional disclosure and reduced unfairness by posting online reviews. By using an experimental design with scenarios, this study tests how the perceived unfairness in this process is affected by the party encouraging the consumer to post an online review and the consumer's public commitment. A student sample was divided into four groups and the perception of unfairness was compared between the groups depending on whether the party encouraging the feedback was a company perceived to be responsible for the sense of unfairness or an independent party and whether when the consumer was identifiable or anonymous to see if public commitment had an effect. Results showed that emotional disclosure was found to reduce the perceived unfairness in all groups. There was no significant difference between being encouraged by the company or independent party. Furthermore, no public commitment was in effect, even when participants' answers were thought to become known to others. The results indicate that companies may prefer to encourage consumers to provide feedback themselves rather than using a third party and that posting online reviews will not make the consumer committed to their feeling of unfairness.


Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the final common result of a variety of progressive injuries leading to chronic renal failure. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is reportedly upregulated in response to injurious stimuli such as unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), causing renal fibrosis associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the renal tubules and synthesis of extracellular matrix. We now show that mice lacking Smad3 (Smad3ex8/ex8), a key signaling intermediate downstream of the TGF-beta receptors, are protected against tubulointerstitial fibrosis following UUO as evidenced by blocking of EMT and abrogation of monocyte influx and collagen accumulation. Culture of primary renal tubular epithelial cells from wild-type or Smad3-null mice confirms that the Smad3 pathway is essential for TGF-beta1-induced EMT and autoinduction of TGF-beta1. Moreover, mechanical stretch of the cultured epithelial cells, mimicking renal tubular distention due to accumulation of urine after UUO, induces EMT following Smad3-mediated upregulation of TGF-beta1. Exogenous bone marrow monocytes accelerate EMT of the cultured epithelial cells and renal tubules in the obstructed kidney after UUO dependent on Smad3 signaling. Together the data demonstrate that the Smad3 pathway is central to the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis and suggest that inhibitors of this pathway may have clinical application in the treatment of obstructive nephropathy.


We present a design-for-testability method for asynchronous circuits based on partial scan. More specifically, we investigate how the partial scan principles from the synchronous test world can be adapted to asynchronous circuits, and we show that asynchronous partial scan design can be approached as a high-level design activity. The method is demonstrated on an asynchronous error corrector for the DCC player. It has been used effectually in the production and application-mode tests of this 155 k transistor chip-set. In particular, it has led to high 99.9% stuck-at output fault coverage in short 64 msec test time at the expense of less than 3% additional area.


Similar to the well‐recognized phenotypical heterogeneity of hepatocytes, in situ sublobular variations have recently been detected in the cell structure, fenestration patterns, filtrating efficiency, surface glycosylation, scavenger function and pathological responses of the sinusoidal lining endothelium. However, unlike other liver cell populations, until now no endothelial cell subpopulations had been isolated or defined with clarity, much less with sublobular/acinar zone‐related differential properties. On the basis of our previous studies showing that periportal segments of mouse liver sinusoids express a significantly higher number of wheat germ agglutinin–binding sites than do perivenous ones, we used this differential feature for in vitro labeling of the specific sublobular derivation of isolated sinusoidal lining endothelial cells to correlate their original lobular position with other features determined on flow cytometry, centrifugal elutriation, discontinuous arabinogalactan density gradients and electron microscopy. Our results revealed additional heterogeneous properties whose association with high or low wheat germ agglutinin–binding capacity made it possible to define in vitro two dominant endothelial cell subpopulations that appear similar to the differential features in the periportal and perivenous sinusoidal segments. Type 1 endothelial cells had low forward angle light scatter and high integrated side scatter, low cytoplasmic porosity index (12% ± 5%) and high wheat germ agglutinin–binding efficiency (160 ± 35 fluorescence intensity units/cell size); these findings are similar to what was observed in situ in the periportal sinusoidal endothelium. On the other hand, type 2 endothelial cells, with high forward angle light scatter and low integrated side scatter, had a high cytoplasmic porosity index (25% ± 8%) and low wheat germ agglutinin–binding efficiency (60 ± 15 fluorescence intensity units/cell size), findings similar to in situ observations of the perivenous sinusoidal lining endothelium. Moreover, these physical and morphological differences entail different cell sedimentation behaviors: type 1 endothelial cell sedimented at high centrifugal elutriation counterflow rates (23 to 37 ml/min) and high arabinogalactan density gradient levels (10% to 15%), whereas type 2 endothelial cell sedimented at low counterflow rates (18 to 23 ml/min) and low density levels (6% to 10%). The combination of these separation procedures made it possible to isolate a 90%‐enriched type 1 endothelial cell population in the 12% to 15% interphase of the 23 and 37 ml/min elutriation flow rates and a 75%‐enriched type 2 endothelial cell population in the 6% to 10% interphase of the 18 and 23 ml/min flow rates. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;18:328–339).


THE PURPOSE
Of this investigation is to explore the effect of several alimentary factors--such as diet, nutritional habits, and personal preferences--upon the occurrence of obesity.

SUBJECTS
Of the study were 264 workers (203 men and 61 women) from the ammonium production department of a fertilizer plant, divided into two age groups: under 30 years and over 30 years.

METHODS
The data are collected by means of a questionnaire about daily nutrition, including the types and average quantity of food (Food Frequency Questionnaires--FFQ). All collected information is analyzed by means of a computer program with a database that includes the chemical structure of food products and takes into account the losses in their nutritional value that occurs in the course of preservation and thermal processing. The nutritional status is assessed on the basis of a Body Mass Index (BMI): group I--normal body mass--BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2; group II--overweight--BMI 25.1-30 kg/m2; group III--obesity--BMI > 30 kg/m2.

RESULTS
The assessment of the individual energy intake shows that hyper-energetic nutrition is typical for 67% of the individuals examined. There is no significant age and/or gender difference. This is the result of extra-intake of fat (over 30 E%), which is observed for 87.9% of all workers, and over 40 E% for almost half of the women examined. All age and gender groups display hyper-protein nutrition with pronounced cellulose (fiber) deficit, high daily intake of sodium, and disbalance of mineral salts as well as a relative deficit of vitamin A, B1, and PP. The frequency of overweight individuals is 43.9%, while that of obese individuals is 23.1%. The majority of workers (70.1% of group I, 63.2% of group II, and 79% of group III) have three meals a day. For 43% of group III individuals dinner is the largest meal. A significantly higher percentage of group III individuals (21.3%) think that they overeat.

CONCLUSIONS
Hyper-energetic, disbalanced nutrition, and incorrect nutritional-behavioral model are factors that determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the workers examined.


Since the recent introduction of gas permeable hard contact lenses, a great deal of research has been conducted that proves the superiority of these lenses over standard PMMA lenses in preventing corneal edema. However, the introduction of gas permeable contact lenses by several different contact lens manufacturers necessitates some direct comparisons. This senior research study involves the contralateral comparison of the Polycon II and the Boston II gas permeable contact lenses. The researchers are interested ~n comparing the two lenses for subjective patient comfort and acuity as well as the effects on corneal physiology by measuring the amount of corneal thickening us1ng the Dicon Model II RK Digital Computer Pachometer . Fourteen subjects participated 1n the study and were divided into four groups: PMMA lens wearers, soft lens wearers, gas permeable lens wearers, and subjects with no previous contact lens wear experience. All lens parameters were ordered according to the stock lens specifications of the Polycon II lens in an effort to match as closely as possible all parameters with the exception of back vertex power. Twelve of the fourteen subjects were fit with 8.5 mm OAD lenses and the remaining two subjects were fit with 9.5 mm OAD lenses. All lenses were fit approximately 1.00 diopter steeper than Kf at the diagnostic fitting. Three pachometric measurements were made on each subject. The first prior to dispensing the lenses and the last two measurements at one week and three weeks respectively. A comparison of pachometric measurements using a two-tailed analysis of variance will be performed on collected data.


Sliding window analytics is often used in distributed data-parallel computing for analyzing large streams of continuously arriving data. When pairs of consecutive windows overlap, there is a potential to update the output incrementally, more efficiently than recomputing from scratch. However, in most systems, realizing this potential requires programmers to explicitly manage the intermediate state for overlapping windows, and devise an application-specific algorithm to incrementally update the output.
 In this paper, we present self-adjusting contraction trees, a set of data structures and algorithms for transparently updating the output of a sliding window computation as the window moves, while reusing, to the extent possible, results from prior computations. Self-adjusting contraction trees structure sub-computations of a data-parallel computation in the form of a shallow (logarithmic depth) balanced data dependence graph, through which input changes are efficiently propagated in asymptotically sub-linear time.
 We implemented self-adjusting contraction trees in a system called Slider. The design of Slider incorporates several novel techniques, most notably: (i) a set of self balancing trees tuned for different variants of sliding window computation (append-only, fixed-width, or variable-width slides); (ii) a split processing mode, where a background pre-processing stage leverages the predictability of input changes to pave the way for a more efficient foreground processing when the window slides; and (iii) an extension of the data structures to handle multiple-job workflows such as data-flow query processing. We evaluated Slider using a variety of applications and real-world case studies. Our results show significant performance gains without requiring any changes to the existing application code used for non-incremental data processing.


Successful long-term management of HIV infection will require targeted inhibition of multiple steps essential for virus replication. Currently, both nucleoside- and nonnucleoside-based inhibitors of DNA polymerase function, in combination with antagonists of HIV protease, have been shown to be clinically beneficial. However, it is clear that RNase H activity of the multifunctional HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is absolutely required for completion of retroviral DNA synthesis, thereby rendering this function an attractive target for drug development. Although generally viewed as a sequence-independent activity, highly precise RNase H cleavage is required in order to remove the RNA primers of (-) and (+) strand DNA synthesis (a host-derived tRNA and the polypurine tract, respectively), thereby preserving the ends of linear DNA and facilitating integration. The availability of highly purified, recombinant RT/RNase H has allowed a thorough dissection of these multiple events and their potential for therapeutic intervention. Our current understanding of retroviral RNase H function and the status of small molecule inhibitors are the focus of this review.


A new organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite-type compound, (4-MPD)CdCl3 (1, 4-MPD = 4-methylpiperidinium), demonstrating high temperature phase transition at around 364 K and prominent dielectric relaxation behavior, can be considered as a potential high temperature relaxor-type dielectric material. Systematic characterization techniques have been performed including variable-temperature structural analyses, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, dielectric measurements and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) measurements. The structural phase transition coupled with the dielectric relaxation property is mainly ascribed to the order–disorder changes of organic cations. The studies of dielectric relaxation between 25 kHz and 1000 kHz disclose a significant Debye relaxation process above room temperature, which is well fitted by the Cole–Cole function.


Sensitivity of the microflora of the oncological patients' wounds to the new antibiotics, such as gentamicin, kanamycin, oxacillin, ampicillin and lincomycin was studied with the help of the disc method. The discs with the above antibiotics were prepared under laboratory conditions in accordance with the respective instructions in the WHO. Sensitivity of 429 bacterial cultures, including 98 cultures of pathogenic staphylocci, 45 cultures of Enterococci, 43 hemolytic streptococci, 143 cultures of Escherichia, 50 cultures of Ps. aeruginosa and 50 cultures of Proteus was determined. The studies showed that gentamicin was the most active antibiotic aganist all the microbial species isolated from the surgical and other wounds of oncological patients. It may be used in treatment of the infections caused by association of the microbes belonging to different species, as well as in treatment of purulent processes before elucidating their etiology, 16.7 per cent of the Enterococcal isolates were resistant to gentamicin. Monomycin, kanamycin, oxacillin, lincomycin and macrolide antibiotics at present are sufficiently active against pathogenic staphylococci and hemolytic streptococci.


Marketing scholars have only recently started to explore the strategic marketing challenges faced by firms in technology-intensity (TI) markets. Still, technology is at the core of many contemporary markets and TI markets are unique because of their knowledge-intensity and technological turbulence. The objective of this dissertation is to explore how transactions of high tech systems are different from transactions of monolithic products and what the implications are towards strategic marketing of such systems. The different chapters answer important questions: When is bundling optimal? What drives organizations towards outsourcing of system integration and single sourcing of system components? What is the effect of the embeddedness of relationships on the choice of a system vendor? What is the mutual influence among system components (e.g. hardware/software) in the growth of a new technology?


The results of experiments where endoscopes of various makes were introduced into the right atrium under thoracotomy or transvenously are reported. After visual determination of the A-V node zone, laser coagulation was performed by Nd-YAG laser until complete A-V block was achieved. Various methods of laser cardiac endoscopy application are discussed. Laser destruction of the heart conduction pathways through a cardiac endoscope with a polyurethane balloon appears to be the most convenient technique.


Objective: To determine patient awareness, perceived benefit, and intent to participate in 1) adherence packaging 2) Medication therapy management (MTM), 3) delivery, 4) automatic refill, and 5) refill synchronization.
Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study used convenience sampling to survey participants from January 26th, 2016 and March 28th, 2016. A 25-question survey and service sheet were developed. The survey consisted of four sections 1) awareness, 2) perceived benefit, 3) intent to participate, and 4) demographics. Descriptive statistics, linear regression, and logistic regression were conducted.
Results: A total of 336 people were approached. Thirty-four people only filled out the demographic section and 32 refused to participate. Therefore, 270 surveys were considered usable for statistical analysis (90.4% response rate). The majority of the participants were not aware of refill synchronization (77.0%), MTM (64.8%), and adherence packaging (87.0%). There were multiple factors that contributed to how patients perceived the benefits of adherence packaging and automatic refill. Participants who were middle aged or older (p<.05), had a higher income (p<.01), were on multiple medications (p<.01), and from Ohio (p<.05) saw a higher benefit in adherence packaging. Participants who were middle aged or older (p<.05), male (p<.01), had a higher income (p<.01), had a Bachelor's degree or lower (p<.05), and were aware of the service (p<.01) were more likely to see a benefit in automatic refill. In contrast there was only one predictor for refill synchronization showing that non-white participants were more likely to see a benefit. There were not any factors that contributed to how patients perceived the benefits of delivery, refill synch, and MTM.
There were several predictors that increased a patient's intent to participate in a service. Some of the key predictors for each service included, participants who felt that adherence packaging will help them feel more in control of taking their medications were 2.81 times more likely to participate. Participants who felt that delivery would allow them more time to do other things were 6.89 times more likely to participate. Those who believed that automatic refill would help them take their medications on time were 8.30 times more likely to participate. Participants who felt refill synchronization would decrease multiple trips to the pharmacy were 2.26 times more likely to participate. Those that felt MTM would build their relationship with their pharmacist were 0.47 times more likely to participate. Overall, a consistent predictor for every service was feeling in control of taking their medications.
Conclusion: Overall, there is a lack of awareness of pharmacy services. Specifically services such as medication therapy management, refill synchronization, and adherence packaging. Pharmacists should take a proactive approach in informing patients of the services offered at their pharmacy. Additionally to increase participation, pharmacists can educate patients on how a service may help them feel more in control of taking their medications.

Type: Original Research


This paper reports a synchronous project, "the virtual classroom" prepared for the Distance English Language Teacher Training (DELTT) Program. The process of developing the synchronous project and the interface with its specific components were reported with examples and supported by theoretical background from the related literature. The evaluation of the project concludes that the virtual classroom facilitated increased authentic interaction and encouraged learners to become more autonomous. When the group of students who prefer the traditional classroom, however, was considered a blended approach which consists of both virtual classroom and traditional face-to-face classroom was suggested as the most efficient way for Turkish EFL learners.


Currently, consumers pay more attention to their health; there is a growing awareness of health benefits of healthy drinks such as the green tea. Green tea is a popular healthy drink that helps prevent many deadly diseases. There are increasing numbers of green tea manufacturers around the world especially in Thailand. This industry has overwhelmingly expanded due to high consumers demand and purchases. Previous studies show that the market of green tea beverage in Thailand is worth nearly 9000 million baht. The most popular green tea brand in Thailand known as "Oishi" accounts for over 50% of the total market share and as a result of the growing demand for this product, its market worth and benefits to the consumers, there is need to look at the consumers' behavior towards the product. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of consumer behavior and decision making towards loyalty to Oishi green tea. A survey method using well-constructed questionnaire was administered to 50 consumers. The researchers utilized the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 19.0) as data analysis tool to run the analysis such as the Chi-square and correlation analysis. The findings of this study shows that the factors influencing Thai consumer decisions toward Oishi beverage green tea are perception values (brand awareness, brand association and brand loyalty) and perceived quality. In addition, there is a positive link between decision making and consumer loyalty behaviors which are re-purchasing and word-of-mouth behavior. This study discovered that apart from the four main factors well-thought-out in the literature review, there are other numerous factors (such as convenience to buy, taste, flavors, price and packaging) that influence consumer decision to buy and consume the Oishi green tea. Based on these findings, this study provides consciousness for further marketing research development and also the strategies for planning an efficient marketing strategy in responding to consumer needs.


Host plant identity and host plant chemistry have often been shown to influence host finding and acceptance by natural enemies but comparatively less attention has been paid to the tritrophic effects of host plant and host plant chemistry on other natural enemy fitness correlates, such as survivorship, clutch size, body size, and sex ratio. Such studies are central to understanding both the selective impact of plants on natural enemies as well as the potential for reciprocal selective impact of natural enemies on plant traits. We examined the effects of host plant and host plant chemistry in a tritrophic system consisting of three apiaceous plants (Pastinaca sativa, Heracleum sphondylium and H. mantegazzianum), the parsnip webworm (Depressaria pastinacella) and the polyembryonic parasitic wasp Copidosoma sosares. All of these plants produce furanocoumarins, known resistance factors for parsnip webworms. Furanocoumarin concentrations were correlated neither with the presence nor the number of webworms on a given plant. Concentrations of two furanocoumarins were negatively associated with C. sosares fitness correlates: isopimpinellin with the likelihood that a given webworm would be parasitized and xanthotoxin with both within-brood survivorship (of all-male and mixed-sex broods) and clutch size. Brood sex ratio and body sizes of individual wasps were not correlated with furanocoumarin chemistry. Because additive genetic variation exists in P. sativa for furanocoumarin chemical traits, these are subject to selection by webworms through herbivory. Third trophic level selective impacts on furanocoumarin traits may include selection for reduced production of those chemicals that affect parasitoid survivorship yet do not influence host plant choice by the herbivore. That such might be the case is suggested by patterns of furanocoumarin production in populations of P. sativa with different histories of infestation; in the Netherlands, where parasitism rates of webworms by C. sosares are high, plants produce lower levels of all linear furanocoumarins and proportionately less isopimpinellin than do midwestern U.S. populations of P. sativa, where natural enemies of the webworm are effectively absent.


The shape memory effect (SME) and magnetic shape memory effect (MSME) Fe-Pd thin film are using the film curvature method. The corresponding residual stress change due to theSME and MSME in Fe-Pd film is measuredduring thermal cycling and magnetic field changing. AFe-Pd thin film with a lateral composition gradient is deposited onto micromachined x7 cantilever beam arraysubstrate,such that each of the cantilever beams is coated with a film of different composition.There is abrupt stress change in only .1 at % Pd as the temperature of the film is cycled, and the corresponding stress change was measured as 0.16 GPa. The film with .4 at % Pd showsthe abrupt stress change at 0.7 Tesla, which means that the composition has the MSME.


Beckoning music, gleaming horses, the lure of the carousel. Cecilia says merry-go-rounds are for little kids, but Jo feels there's something mysterious and not at all childish about the carousel that has appeared overnight in Marley Street. there's something odd about the beckoning music, something strange about the gleaming horses. And why are certain people able to gain entrance to the carousel while others - try as they will - have to give up and turn away? Jo feels she must try to get in. She must buy a ticket - but will she be leading herself and Cecilia into danger? Ages 10+


The increasing effects of storms are considered the main abiotic disturbance affecting forest ecosystems. Bark-stripping damage from the growing ungulate populations, in turn, are among the main biotic risks, which might burden the stability of trees and stands. Therefore, the aim of our study is to estimate the effect of cervid bark-stripping on the mechanical stability of Norway spruce using a static tree-pulling test. For the test, eight damaged and 11 undamaged canopy trees were selected from a 40-year old stand (plantation with 1 × 3 m spacing) growing on mineral mesotrophic soil. The selected trees were bark-stripped 7–9 years prior to the experiment. Uprooting was the most frequent type of failure; only two trees broke at the stem. For the damaged trees, the resistance to pulling was significantly reduced (p-value < 0.001). Stem volume and presence of bark-stripping were the best linear predictors of the basal bending moment at the primary failure (irreversible deformation of wood structure) and secondary failure (collapse of the tree). A significant (p-value < 0.001) interaction between stem–wood volume and presence of bark-stripping was observed for primary failure, indicating a size-dependent reduction of stability of the damaged trees. Such interaction lacked significance (p-value = 0.43) for the secondary failure (mostly uprooting), indicating a decrease in stability irrespectively of tree size. Somewhat surprisingly, the decrease in the overall mechanical stability of the bark-stripped trees appeared not to be related to a direct reduction of the strength of the stems, but rather to physiological effects such as altered allocation of carbon, increased drought stress because of interfered hydraulic conductance of wood, or secondary infestation. The reduced stability also suggests that bark-stripped trees can act as the weak spots decreasing the collective stability of stands in the long term, thus increasing the susceptibility to storms.


Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease that is a serious social problem and causes enormous financial burden. Because mitochondrial abnormalities have been associated with opiate addiction, we examined the effect of morphine on mtDNA levels in rat and mouse models of addiction and in cultured cells. We found that mtDNA copy number was significantly reduced in the hippocampus and peripheral blood of morphine-addicted rats and mice compared with control animals. Concordantly, decreased mtDNA copy number and elevated mtDNA damage were observed in the peripheral blood from opiate-addicted patients, indicating detrimental effects of drug abuse and stress. In cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and mouse neurons, morphine treatment caused many mitochondrial defects, including a reduction in mtDNA copy number that was mediated by autophagy. Knockdown of the Atg7 gene was able to counteract the loss of mtDNA copy number induced by morphine. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant melatonin restored mtDNA content and neuronal outgrowth and prevented the increase in autophagy upon morphine treatment. In mice, coadministration of melatonin with morphine ameliorated morphine-induced behavioral sensitization, analgesic tolerance and mtDNA content reduction. During drug withdrawal in opiate-addicted patients and improvement of protracted abstinence syndrome, we observed an increase of serum melatonin level. Taken together, our study indicates that opioid addiction is associated with mtDNA copy number reduction and neurostructural remodeling. These effects appear to be mediated by autophagy and can be salvaged by melatonin.


A novel Bragg grating-based fiber-optic laser probe for temperature sensing using erbium-doped fiber as the active gain medium is reported. The combination of a chirped grating and a normal grating was used to form the laser cavity to achieve temperature-tunable laser action over a wide measurement range. The laser probe used a metal sheath to enhance its mechanical strength and contain the normal grating at the sensing point. The temperature dependence of the wavelength of the laser probe gives a sensitivity of 12.01 pm//spl deg/C and a repeatability of /spl plusmn/1.7/spl deg/C from room temperature to 300/spl deg/C.


BACKGROUND
Simulation-based training is emerging within the orthopaedic field to alleviate the challenges that trainees face such as work-hour restrictions, limited exposure to procedures, and increasing pressures to reduce risk to patients. This training modality has grown increasingly popular over the last 2 decades. However, integration into the curriculum often fails to follow a structured educational plan. The development of simulation-based curricula should follow a structured and stepwise approach that starts with a general needs assessment. This study aimed to identify and prioritize procedures within orthopaedic surgery to be included in a simulation-based curriculum on a national basis.

METHODS
A national needs assessment was conducted using the Delphi method. Ninety-five experts who are involved in the training of orthopaedic surgeons from all orthopaedic departments in Denmark were selected to participate in the assessment. Round 1 was a brainstorming phase to identify technical procedures that are relevant for orthopaedic surgeons in training. Round 2 was performed on a departmental basis; it explored the frequency of procedures, the number of surgeons performing each procedure, the risk and/or discomfort to patients, and the feasibility for simulation-based training to prioritize and eliminate some of the procedures that were determined in round 1. During round 3, the experts eliminated and reprioritized procedures from round 2 to produce a final prioritized list.

RESULTS
During the first round, 194 procedures were identified. These were reduced to 62 in round 2, and the final list after round 3 consisted of 33 prioritized procedures that are relevant for simulation-based training in orthopaedic surgery. The response rates were 63 of 95 physicians for round 1, 26 of 26 departments for round 2, and 64 of 97 physicians for round 3. The highest prioritized procedures were basic surgical techniques and principles for osteosynthesis, osteosynthesis of proximal femoral fracture, and surgical exposure of the upper and lower extremities.

CONCLUSIONS
The prioritized list of technical procedures in orthopaedic surgery that are suitable for simulation-based training can aid in the development of a simulation-based curriculum.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This article offers insights into needs assessment and curriculum development of simulation-based training in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology.


In this first of five sessions of a recent Columbia Law School symposium devoted to discussion of his new book, Prosperity—and The Purpose of the Corporation, Oxford University's Colin Mayer begins by calling for a "radical reinterpretation" of the corporate mission. For all but the last 50 or so of its 2,000‐year history, the corporation has combined commercial activities with a public purpose. But since Milton Friedman's famous pronouncement in 1970 that the social goal of the corporation is to maximize its own profits, the gap between the social and private interests served by corporations appears to have grown ever wider, helping fuel the global outbreaks of populist protest and indictments of capitalism that fill today's media. In Mayer's reinterpretation, the boards of all companies will produce and publish statements of corporate purpose that envision some greater social good than maximizing shareholder value. To that end, he urges companies to make continuous investments of their financial capital and other resources in developing other forms of corporate capital—human, social, and natural—and to account for such investments in the same way they now account for their investments in physical capital. Although the author appears to prefer that such changes be mandatory, enacted through new legislation and enforced by regulators and the courts, his main efforts are directed at persuading the largest institutional owners of corporations—many of whom are already favorably predisposed to ESG—to support these corporate initiatives. Marty Lipton, after expressing enthusiasm about Mayer's proposals, suggests that mandating such changes is likely neither feasible nor desirable, but that attempts—like his own New Paradigm—to gain the acceptance and support of large shareholders is the most promising strategy. Ron Gilson, on the other hand, after voicing Lipton's skepticism about the enforceability of such statements of purpose, issues a number of warnings. One is about the political risks associated with ever more concentrated ownership of public companies in a world where populist distrust of all concentrations of wealth and power is clearly on the rise. But most troubling for the company themselves is the confusion such proposals could create for corporate boards whose responsibility is to limit two temptations facing corporate managements: short‐termism, or underinvestment in the corporate future to boost near‐term earnings (and presumably stock prices); and what Gilson calls hyperopia, or overinvestment designed to preserve growth (and management's jobs) at all costs.


Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) represents a spectrum of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. It is one of the most important preventable forms of non-genetic birth defects associated with intellectual disability. In order to systematically plan health promoting programs, it is necessary to identify specific psycho-social determinants and environmental conditions related to maternal drinking.

Methods: A systematic literature search on psycho-social determinants of maternal alcohol drinking behaviors was conducted in multiple databases up to July 2016, including PubMed, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, ERIC, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE. A query was generated and resulting hits were exported and screened during three rounds (titles, titles and abstracts, full text). Screening took place by one screener and was randomly checked by a second screener. Results were then extracted and analyzed.

Findings: Studies identified determinants related to maternal alcohol consumption using qualitative and quantitative research methods. None of the included studies was conducted primarily to investigate the association between psycho-social determinants and maternal drinking behavior(s). The focus of most researchers is on knowledge and risk perception. Attitudes and perceived norms get some attention, while self-efficacy and especially automaticity of behaviors get very little attention.

Discussion: Changing maternal drinking behavior requires understanding the determinants and environmental conditions first. It is recommended that the determinants of risk behaviors related to FASD are identified following a theory- and evidence-based procedure. Recommendations for future research are provided.


Introduction At our institution preoperative work-up for trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) includes evaluation of the carotid vessels. We review our series of patients treated for carotid stenosis with stenting in the setting of severe aortic valve disease and TAVR to evaluate its safety and efficacy. Methods We reviewed patients who underwent carotid stenting in the setting of preoperative work-up or following TAVR at our institution from August 2012 through January 2015. Patient outcomes in the immediate perioperative period were collected to assess the safety and efficacy of carotid stenting. Results Six patients (6.9%, 4 males, 2 females, mean age 82.3 ± 7.17 years) underwent successful carotid stenting either prior to (5 patients) or following (1 patient) TAVR. Average extent of carotid stenosis was 80%±6%, but in each case the diagnosis was incidental and patients were asymptomatic. One patient had an adverse outcome, who suffered acute systolic heart failure during stenting, requiring emergent balloon aortic valvuloplasty and vasopressor therapy. The average length of the stay in the intensive care unit was 4.16 ± 6 days; the average length of hospital stay was 4.5 ± 5.85. All patients were discharged home. None suffered immediate or delayed neurological complications. Conclusion We successfully performed carotid stenting in six patients either prior to or following TAVR with severe aortic pathology. These patients require intensive care and careful monitoring. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether carotid stenting in the setting of TAVR can provide long-term neurological benefits. Disclosures V. Ravindra: None. M. Mazur: None. M. Park: None. G. Kumpati: None. A. Patel: None. W. Couldwell: None. P. Taussky: 2; C; Covidien.


The technical development described herein was undertaken to create a tumor ablation treatment system that consists of a software component and a robotic hardware component. First, the software treatment planning system enables applicator placement planning before tumor ablation. For example, it allows creation of overlapping ablations with the goal of treating larger tumors. Second, the robotic hardware system allows accurate applicator placement. The combined treatment system integrates treatment planning with treatment execution by taking the coordinates dictated by the planning system and feeding them to the robotic system for implementation. The feasibility of this system was tested in two patients with large hepatic metastases that required overlapping ablations.


The aim of this project was to investigate the mechanics of the sprint start through the
use of computer simulation. Experimental data was collected on one male athlete in
accordance with a procedure agreed by Loughborough University Ethical Advisory
Committee. The data provided subject specific data for the creation of a four and
fourteen segment, angle and torque driven models of the sprint start. The models
simulated the start from the moment of onset of force production until takeoff from
the starting block. The four segment model comprised a head and trunk, thigh, shank
and foot whilst the fourteen segment model also included a lower spine and pelvis,
upper arms, forearms and hands, as well as the other leg including two segment feet.
Subject specific torque data was combined with EMG data to provide input to the
torque models
Results from the four segment angle driven model demonstrated that the participant
will benefit from using smaller joint angles than usual in the set position as this
resulted in increased velocity on takeoff with minimal increase in movement time.
The model also showed large joint torques during such starts and so suggested that
this is likely to limit start performance. The four segment torque driven model also
revealed that optimal joint angles exist for the hip and knee but such a result was not
clear for the ankle. For this model the optimum angle at the hip was 73 (the smallest
tested) and 108 at the knee which was the athlete's usual angle. Increasing the
athlete's strength parameters resulted in a small increase in horizontal velocity on
takeoff for some simulations and all simulations had enhanced acceleration.
Increasing initial muscle activations didn't increase horizontal takeoff velocity but did
also increase horizontal acceleration. The fourteen segment angle driven model was
used to optimise spring parameters for input into a torque driven model. The fourteen
segment torque driven model simulated movements and forces realistically but an
adequate match was not found to the sprint start performance of the participant due to
long simulation times and lack of computing power.


Labor market jobs and social welfare supports in the US and many EU countries are both inadequate. The basic economic belief that increased productivity will result in "full" employment has been upended by global patterns of offshoring, outsourcing, technology advances, immigration, and other labor market and economic shifts over the past 40 years. In a sense, labor market and welfare state have both become hegemonic disciplinary systems. In the US there are not enough labor market jobs to go around, which particularly disadvantages youth and older workers. Also, because service industries now comprise the majority of employers, most jobs do not pay high enough wages to enable families to exist – much less thrive – without some type of social assistance, yet such assistance is diminishing daily. In short – neither today's labor market work nor today's welfare service systems result in wellbeing for millions of individuals, families and communities. One possible solution is to transform what counts as "work." Transformation would move beyond sole reliance on labor market jobs, Transformation would enable workers to create their own meaningful work pathways. And transformation would compensate newly envisioned "work" accordingly. Sen's and Nussbaum's capability approaches and Ulrich Beck's civil labor provide a beginning framework for transforming "work." Ultimately, workers, families, communities, and countries' physical infrastructures could all flourish.


In addition to the Hausdorff dimension used as fractal characterization parameter, in general, correlation functions can also be employed for this purpose. Given the approxi mately pure random spatial dispersion of big part of natural fractals, with respect to the center of a reference frame, the most common use of the pair-to-pair correlation func tion has as main variable the radial distance between two elements of the fractal. Such an approach is extremely practical, since the fractal basic structure statistically presents some kind of isotropy. For the cases where the fractal growth is not isotropic, the use of a pair-to-pair angular correlation function can detect a fractal pattern may be worthy. This will be the topic that is going to be discussed in this chapter, how to implement, discuss and visualize a pair-to-pair angular correlation function.


This paper presents a Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM)-based control method for avoiding dc-side power oscillations in grid connected voltage source converters (VSCs) when operating under under unbalanced conditions. The proposed implementation is based on a Current Controlled VSM (CCVSM) where the positive sequence current references are determined by a virtual impedance and the emulated swing equation. Thus, the VSM-based control is synchronized to the positive sequence grid voltage, while the elimination of double frequency power oscillations due to the unbalanced voltage is obtained by controlling the negative sequence currents. The negative sequence current reference calculation is based on the modulation signals of the converter instead of the ac voltage measurements as in previous approaches. This prevents double frequency oscillations in the power flow and in the dc side voltage due to the unbalanced currents flowing in the filter inductors. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated by time-domain simulations and compared to a VSM-based control where voltage measurements are utilized to eliminate power oscillations at the grid-side of the filter inductors.


Driven by diminishing fossil fuel resources, global warming and subsequently rigid legislation on CO2 emission, fuel economy is a major challenge for the automotive industry. Each element of the powertrain has been optimized or newly designed to increase efficiency. In this optimization process the engine oils and transmission fluids are important design elements and their contribution to improved efficiency is significant. Polyalkylmethacrylates (PAMAs) are widely used as viscosity index improvers in engine, transmission and hydraulic oils. They have been shown to adsorb from oil solution onto metal surfaces to produce thick and viscous boundary films. These films are maintained even in low speed and high temperature conditions and thus produce a reduction of friction and wear. It was found that specifically designed film-forming PAMAs can improve pitting performance of lubricant formulations. The paper describes the impact of tailor-made functionalized PAMAs on boundary film formation and explores their ability to increase the fatigue life of lubricants.


The Symposium on"Hold Firmly to and Develop the Materialist View of History"was held in Beijing during Nov.10-11,2006.Over 20 scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and universities attended the symposium sponsored jointly by the Department of Literature,History and Philosophy,and Social Sciences in China Press,and given by our editorial staff.In their active discussions on issues concerning the materialist view of history,the scholars attending the symposium held that modern historiography took shape and developed in China under the guidance of the Marxist materialist view of history;that the only way for the renaissance of historiography in China is to hold firmly to Marxist materialist view of history;and that efforts should be made in the meantime to develop the materialist view of history. This written discussion is based on the symposium and reflects the scholars' views as to how to keep firmly to and develop the materialist view of history.Despite the differences in perspectives and views,these articles share a common wish for the renaissance and flourishing of the materialist view of history.To hold firmly to and develop the materialist view of history is a tough task that requires continuous efforts from all historians.We also call for papers on the topic from other historians.


The transient effect of InGaP heterojunction bipolar transistors is studied. The current gain increases with V/sub BE/ bias and becomes stable after several sweeps. The time to reach steady state depends on the collector current I/sub C/ and the ambient temperature. A new electrical method was introduced to calculate the passivation ratio, which is defined as the number of donor hydrogen (H/sup +/) atoms divided by the number of negatively charged carbon atoms (C/sup -/) in the heavily doped base layer. A passivation ratio of 69.98% obtained by this method agrees very well with that measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry of 69%.


There is considerable interest being shown in the harvest and use of straw for industrial purposes in Manitoba and Alberta. In 1987 we measured soil C and N in a 30-year crop rotation experiment at Indian Head. Results at that time suggested that harvesting straw two in three years from a properly fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat system did not deleteriously influence soil organic matter. Our calculations in 1987 were based on a "volume basis". Recently, some scientists have suggested that such calculations can sometimes lead to inaccurate interpretations. They suggested that calculations based on an equivalent mass basis would be more accurate. Consequently, we resampled this experiment in 1996 and made calculations using both volume and mass basis. We concluded that the latter may indeed provide more meaningful results. In contrast to the results with the volume analysis the equivalent mass analysis suggested that the harvesting of straw has resulted in a strong tendency for soil C and N to decrease over the years. This implies that the practice of harvesting and using straw for industrial purposes will have negative consequences for soil conservation in the long run. To date, soil degradation due to straw removal has not been reflected in grain yields. This study also showed that soil organic N was increased by fertilizer, and organic C tended to be increased. There was a close association between organic C and N and estimated crop residue (straw and roots) input into soil when the calculations were made on mass basis, but not when calculated on a volume basis. Grain yields of the unfertilized system is gradually decreasing, reflecting the gradual soil quality degradation of this system.


In this study homopolymer, copolymer, and composites of aniline and thiophene were synthesized in nitrogen atmosphere by using TEATFB (Tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate) and Lithium perchlorate as supporting electrolytes. In order to analyze their structure and characteristics, IR spectrums of the samples were taken and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was applied. Also, the samples were photographed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) for microstructure analysis and their electrochemical properties were observed and conductivities were obtained by four probe method. Homopolymerization and copolymerization reactions were carried out in two different solvents viz. acetonitrile and benzonitrile in order to see the solvent effect on polymerization. However, changing the solvent was found to have no significant effect on the resulting properties. It was concluded that changing the supporting electrolyte caused a structural difference in the resulting homopolymer. It also affects the properties considerably. During the bilayer preparation changing the coating turn led to variations in the properties of the samples. When polythiophene (PT) was coated with polyaniline (PA), the resulting system was a composite. However, in coating PA with PT the system was identified to be a copolymer. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


I. INTRODUCTION This Article argues that retransmission of video and television (TV) broadcasts on Internet Web sites should benefit from some system of compulsory (or statutory) copyrights. However, the applicability of a compulsory copyright license for Internet video will depend on what model ultimately evolves. This Article proposes two possible paradigms for the future. On one hand, "Internet TV" would provide continuous, real-time retransmission of over-the-air broadcast programming in direct competition with cable or direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems, thus necessitating a compulsory copyright scheme. On the other hand, a pay-per-view "video library" scenario can rely solely on the market to determine appropriate royalty rates in response to consumer demand. In the last decade, the rapid growth of cyberspace has primarily resulted from two symbiotic forces--technological advancement in multimedia capability and exploitation of the vast global marketplace made possible by such developments. Society is in the midst of what some call a "convergence,"(1) where changes in regulatory and technological environments have significantly blurred the line between traditional telecommunications services and entertainment. The most well-known illustration of this phenomenon is undoubtedly the Internet. Digital streaming has enabled real-time transmission of audio and video over the expansive network. The technology has prompted many companies to create software to enable Internet broadcasting (also known as Webcasting). Many content providers, such as television networks and sports and entertainment programmers, have jumped on the bandwagon and expressed their support for the new method of delivery.(2) As a result, the cyberspace experience is becoming more and more like TV everyday, but with one major advantage: each viewer can potentially custom tailor what he sees and when he sees it.(3) Furthermore, streaming video has the potential to "open up telecasting beyond the large corporations normally associated with broadcasting."(4) Anyone with a media server and a fast connection theoretically can set up his own Web site from which he can broadcast original programming or retransmit network favorites. The potential for a far greater number and diversity of participants sets the Internet broadcasting industry apart from the cable and satellite industries--each with relatively few providers. How should such Internet broadcasts be treated in the legal world? Should the current copyright regime be modified to handle this new medium? Currently, retransmission capabilities for cable and satellite systems are secured through compulsory copyrights, as granted through legislation.(5) In 1997, the Copyright Office issued a comprehensive review of the copyright licensing regimes governing the retransmission of over-the-air radio and television broadcast signals by cable systems, satellite carriers, and other multichannel video providers, and it recommended against a congressional grant of compulsory licensing to Internet retransmitters.(6) In support of this opinion, the report cited the ongoing national and international debate over the major issues posed by instantaneous worldwide dissemination of broadcast signals via the Internet.(7) A letter dated November 10, 1999, from the Register of Copyrights to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary reaffirmed this conclusion.(8) This Article contributes to the discussion by suggesting that online programming retransmitters should also profit from some system of compulsory copyrights.(9) However, it proposes that the need for a compulsory copyright license for Internet video will depend on the nature of the model that is eventually developed. For example, if Internet TV is intended to provide continuous, real-time retransmission of over-the-air broadcast programming as an alternative to cable or DBS systems, a compulsory copyright scheme would be required. …


Background Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is implicated in inducing laryngeal hyper-responsiveness which is a unifying feature underlying chronic cough and vocal cord dysfunction. A lack of response to standard anti-reflux therapy in patients with LPR may be due to persistence of non-acid-reflux and pepsin causing ongoing laryngeal epithelial inflammation. We investigated: (a) the prevalence of pepsin reflux in respiratory patients requiring nasendoscopy for the investigation of upper airway symptoms; (b) the performance of commonly used clinical LPR-diagnostic tools in predicting the presence of salivary pepsin. Methods Subjects had symptoms and signs of laryngeal inflammation quantified using, the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS). Salivary pepsin was measured with a lateral flow device using monoclonal antibody labelling (Peptest, RDBiomed). Patients with severe signs of laryngeal inflammation were referred for impedance-pH oesophageal studies to assess for objective evidence of reflux. Results Of the 78 subjects recruited, 76% were female, mean age 55 (range 17–82). Ten were undergoing investigation for chronic cough, and 68 for possible vocal cord dysfunction (confirmed in 45). 30 had concomitant asthma, and 42 were prescribed anti-reflux treatment. 87% had a high RSI, and 51% a high RFS. Pepsin was detected in the saliva of 49/78 subjects (63%), and prevalence did not vary significantly between treatment group. There was a weak correlation between the RFS and pepsin concentration (r=0.28, p=0.01) and the positive and negative predictive values for pepsin detection for those with a high RFS were 63% and 69% respectively. To date all 8 patients tested have had significant proximal reflux on impedance study, of which 6 had a positive pepsin assay. Conclusion Salivary pepsin was frequently present in patients with upper airway symptoms, but only weakly related to clinical findings of reflux, suggesting a high prevalence of LPR that is not associated with typical laryngeal findings. The significance of such sub-clinical reflux remains to be seen however the use of pepsin assay in patients with upper airway symptoms may be most valuable in directing diagnosis in milder cases where symptoms and signs lack specificity and the condition may otherwise be missed.


Electronic health records and health information technology are the focus of attention due, in part, to the President's Health Information Technology Plan, which calls for a 10-year adoption plan for electronic health records (EHR). We examine one component of HIT, the electronic personal health record, its adoption, value, and the impact it has on patients. Using data collected from a nationwide-survey of CapMed Personal Health Record (PHR) users, we examine the profile of the PHR users, the healthcare tasks and software features deemed important, and the value patients report receiving from PHR adoption. Finally, we examine privacy issues related to PHR adoption. Using factor analysis, we find that three distinct dimensions of perceived value emerge. These value measures are: "Desire for structure, organization and compliance," "Desire for relationship and connectedness with provider," and "Desire for convenience and empowerment." Using regression analysis we found significant relationships between perceived value and self-reported use and behavioral intention. We also found that users desire a high level of connectedness with their providers and this relationship can be enhanced by the use of a PHR.


A geophysical investigation involving the electrical resistivity method was carried out at a site located in the eastern part of Akungba-Akoko, southwestern Nigeria. The aim of the investigation was to characterize the site according to subsurface lithologic layering, subsoil competence and soil corrosivity, which may affect the location and maintenance of engineering constructions that may be built on the site.
A total of 1063 vertical electrical sounding (VES) stations were established within the site along 58 traverse, but only 949 out of the established stations were eventually occupied for sounding as some of the stations fell on bare rocks or in inaccessible areas. Raw apparent resistivity values for three theoretical depth levels (0.5 m, 3 m and 8 m) were plotted for all the VES stations, contoured and then interpreted qualitatively in terms of soil competence. The methods of partial curve matching and 1-D computer iteration were also used to quantitatively interpret the VES curves that were generated. The quantitative interpretation results (layer resistivities and thicknesses) obtained for the topsoil were used to determine the subsurface lithologic layering and to characterize the soil corrosivity.
Three main subsurface layers-the topsoil (0-3.9 m thick and 30-5500 ohm-m in resistivity), the weathered layer (0-44.6 m thick and 9-781 ohm-m in resistivity) and the partially weathered/fractured/fresh bedrock (270 to ∞ ohm-m in resistivity)-make up the subsurface. The distribution of apparent resistivity values at different depth levels and the topsoil resistivity values suggested that competent soils (≥ 100 ohm-m) with slightly to practically non-corrosive (≥ 60 0hm-m) tendencies underlie the site. The study concluded that the characteristics of the earth materials in the site would be favourable to normal engineering structures/materials that may be located on it. Keywords : resistivity, subsurface layering, competence, corrosivity, engineering site Ife Journal of Science Vol. 8 (2) 2006: pp. 159-177


Sports Utility Vehicles are popular in the global automotive market due to their practicality. However, these geometries have a propensity to contamination of water and dirt that generates problems with visibility, driver assistance systems, lighting and customer dissatisfaction. Contamination issues tend to be discovered during prototype testing and are therefore expensive to resolve because the geometry is largely fixed. Identifying problems at an early stage in the design through numerical simulations would resolve many of the issues. To have confidence in the simulations they must be correctly initialised and validated objectively against experimental test cases.An approach to quantifying surface contamination is identified for the first time and an extensive set of experimental controls determined. The approach uses an Ultra Violet dye to dope water and an Ultra Violet light to illuminate the fluid. The intensity of the emitted light from the dye is a function of the fluid thickness, illumination intensity and time. The approach is thoroughly explored and validated before being implemented in a pilot study that employs a quarter scale model of a simplified SUV and tested in a wind tunnel using a fully characterised spray to contaminate the base. The model base pressures and streamwise Particle Image Velocimetry planes of the wake are obtained and used alongside the results to identify mechanisms. The objective measure of mass deposition rate per area is calculated and compared to previously used measures to demonstrate its effectiveness.Once deposited on the surface, wet contaminant forms drops, rivulets and thin films. These move across the surface of the car requiring wiper systems to maintainvisibility and management techniques to remove the contaminant. Uncontrolled flows can cause distractions to the driver and reduce the effectiveness of other systems such as cabin ventilation. An essential requirement in currently available simulation methods for surface water flows is a representative contact angle model. The tilted plate method is used to obtain these at a range of Capillary numbers for different fluids and surfaces relevant to the topic. Model parameters for the simulations are identified and a novel validation method proposed. This study demonstrates that fully characterised experiments and physical objective measures are absolutely essential to enable numeric simulations to be employed with the high levels of certainty demanded by the industry.


Abstract High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have received much attention for the development of nuclear materials because of their excellent irradiation tolerance. In the present study, the generation and evolution of irradiation-induced defects in the NiCoCrFe HEA were investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand the mechanisms of its irradiation tolerance compared with bulk Ni. The displacement cascades were simulated for the energies of primary knock-on atoms (PKA) ranging from 10 to 50 keV to understand the irradiation resistance in HEAs. In general, there are more displaced atoms produced in the thermal spike phase, but fewer defects survived at the end of the cascades in the NiCoCrFe alloy than in Ni. Both interstitial and vacancy clusters increase in size or number with increasing PKA energy in both materials, but they do so more slowly in the NiCoCrFe HEA. The delayed damage accumulations in the NiCoCrFe HEA are attributed to the high defect recombination caused by the following two mechanisms. First, the enhanced thermal spike and the low thermal conductivity of HEAs for heat dissipation result in the higher efficiency of defect recombination. Furthermore, the substantially small binding energies of interstitial loops in the NiCoCrFe HEA, as compared with those in Ni, are responsible for the delayed interstitial clustering in the NiCoCrFe HEA.


Certain NOD2 protein mutations have been associated with the onset of the inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's Disease (CD). NOD2 is involved in the inflammatory response of the gut to the microbial community, wherein its functional impairment through mutations may lead to CD progression. Considering the significant role that NOD2 plays in CD pathogenesis, predicting whether a specific type of NOD2 mutation is the cause of CD can greatly aid the accuracy of the disease diagnosis. Hence, a novel sequence-based classification algorithm built on artificial neural network (ANN) is herein presented that can predict whether a specific NOD2 mutation can cause CD or not. The NOD2 mutant types and their association with CD were taken from literature, and the calculated sequence-order coupling numbers were used as the classification predictors. The formulated ANN classifier exhibited satisfactory predictive ability, with 82.4 % accuracy, 62.5 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity, 100 % positive predictive value, and 75 % negative predictive value. The presented ANN classifier provides a proof-of-concept that predicting the onset of CD from NOD2 protein variant is possible.


This paper is concerned with the problem of asynchronous and reliable filter design with performance constraint for nonlinear Markovian jump systems which are modeled as a kind of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy switched systems. The nonstationary Markov chain is adopted to represent the asynchronous situation between the designed filter and the considered system. By using the mode-dependent Lyapunov function approach and the relaxation matrix technique, a sufficient condition is proposed to ensure the filtering error system, which is a dual randomly switched system, is stochastically stable and satisfies a given ${{l}_{{2}}}{{-}}{{l}_{{\infty }}}$ performance index simultaneously. Two different approaches are developed to construct the asynchronous and reliable filter. Owing to the Finsler's lemma, the second approach has fewer decision variables and less conservatism than the first one. Finally, two examples are provided to show the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed methods.


Background Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is commonly associated with obesity and can be improved by weight loss. Changes in upper airway size related to regional fat loss may mediate the improvement in OSA. This study aimed to assess changes in upper airway size and regional facial and abdominal fat with weight loss and their association with OSA improvement. Methods Middle-aged obese men with moderate-to-severe OSA underwent a 24-week sibutramine-assisted weight loss trial. Polysomnography and CT of the head and neck were performed at baseline and 24 weeks. The upper airway lumen and facial and parapharyngeal fat were measured with image analysis software. Results Post-intervention there was a significant reduction in weight (−7.8±4.2 kg, p<0.001) and apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) (−15.9±20.5 events/h, p<0.001). Velopharyngeal airway volume significantly increased from baseline (5.3±0.4 to 6.3±0.3 cm3, p<0.01) and facial and paraphayngeal fat volume significantly reduced. A reduction in upper airway length was associated with improvement in AHI (r=0.385, p=0.005). The variance in AHI improvement was best explained by changes in upper airway length and visceral abdominal fat (R2=0.31, p=0.004). Conclusions Weight loss increases velopharyngeal airway volume, but changes in upper airway length appear to have a greater influence on the reduction in apnoea frequency. Inter-individual variability in the effects of weight loss on OSA severity cannot be explained in terms of changes in upper airway structure and local fat deposition alone.


The application of combined video-mediastinoscopy and video-thoracoscopy in the staging of lung cancer has remained infrequent, despite preliminary demonstration of its technical feasibility. Cytopathological diagnoses should be carried out as well as possible in order to achieve the accurate diagnosis. Especially in a group of patients, ① with lesions in both the mediasinum and a hemi thorax, ② with lung cancer which has high provability of up staging if using this combined technique before surgery and ③ who underwent induction therapy. For this purpose, this technique is one of the most unfailing methods. This article reviews the rationales and the techniques of this method.


The study examined whether the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood, Revised Edition (DC: 0-3R; ZERO TO THREE, 2005) Parent-Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIR-GAS) is applicable to six European countries and contributes to the identification of caregiver-infant/toddler dyads with abusive relationship patterns. The sample consisted of 115 dyads with children's ages ranging from 1 to 47 months. Sixty-four dyads were recruited from community settings without known violence problems, and 51 dyads were recruited from clinical settings and already had been identified with violence problems or as being at risk for violence problems. To classify the dyads on the PIR-GAS categories, caregiver-child interactions were video-recorded and coded with observational scales appropriate for child age. To test whether the PIR-GAS allows for reliable identification of dyads with abusive relationship patterns, PIR-GAS ratings were compared with scores on the the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect's (ISPCAN) Child Abuse Screening Tool-Parental Version (ICAST-P; D.K. Runyan et al., ), a questionnaire measuring abusive parental disciplinary practices. It was found that PIR-GAS ratings differentiated between the general and the clinical sample, and the dyads with abusive patterns of relationship were identified by both the PIR-GAS and the ICAST-P. Interrater reliability for the PIR-GAS ranged from moderate to excellent. The value of a broader use of tools such as the DC: 0-3R to promote early identification of families at risk for infant and toddler abuse and neglect is discussed.


Student voice is promoted increasingly as a vehicle to enhance student learning and improve schools. Whilst the need for amplifying neglected student perspectives in learning and improvement processes is well established, supporting teachers to learn from students has received less attention. The author argues that collaborative action research supports teachers to engage with their students as decision-making partners in the classroom and to learn from them about effective pedagogy at the same time. The approach provides reflective spaces for teachers to notice and challenge takenfor-granted roles and practices, and to address expectations on their work sometimes contradictory to their student voice goals.


To achieve full cooperative diversity in a relay network, most of the existing space-time coding schemes require the synchronization between terminals. A family of space-time trellis codes that achieve full cooperative diversity order without the assumption of synchronization has been recently proposed. The family is based on the stack construction by Hammons and El Gamal and its generalizations by Lu and Kumar. It has been shown that the construction of such a family is equivalent to the construction of binary matrices that have full row rank no matter how their rows are shifted, where a row corresponds to a terminal (or transmit antenna) and its length corresponds to the memory size of the trellis code on that terminal. We call such matrices as shift-full-rank (SFR) matrices. A family of SFR matrices has been also constructed, but the memory sizes of the corresponding space-time trellis codes (the number of columns of SFR matrices) grow exponentially in terms of the number of terminals (the number of rows of SFR matrices), which may cause a high decoding complexity when the number of terminals is not small. In this paper, we systematically study and construct SFR matrices of any sizes for any number of terminals. Furthermore, we construct shortest (square) SFR (SSFR) matrices that correspond to space-time trellis codes with the smallest memory sizes and asynchronous full cooperative diversity. We also present some simulation results to illustrate the performances of the space-time trellis codes associated with SFR matrices in asynchronous cooperative communications.


Today's superscalar microprocessors use large, heavily-ported physical register files (RFs) to increase the instruction throughput. The high complexity and power dissipation of such RFs mainly stem from the need to maintain each and every result for a large number of cycles after the result generation. We observed that a significant fraction (about 45%) of the result values are delivered to their consumers via the bypass network (consumed "on-the-fly") and are never read out from the destination registers. In this paper, we first formulate conditions for identifying such transient values and describe their microarchitectural implementation; then we propose a technique to avoid the writeback of such transient values into the RF. With 64-entry integer and floating point register files, our technique achieves an 11% performance improvement and 29% reduction in the RF energy consumption compared to the baseline machine with the same number of registers. Furthermore, for the same performance target, the selective writeback scheme results in a 38% reduction in the energy consumption of the RF compared to the baseline machine


Due to the multigear, multi-species and open-access nature of most coral reef fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean region, there is a high potential for resource competition and fishing related conflicts, especially in shared fishing grounds. An understanding of resource overlap and competition between different co-occurring fisheries is therefore important for the implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management interventions. In this study, we used multivariate and ecological approaches to evaluate gear competition and interactions between artisanal and  aquarium fishers using a case study of the Shimoni area, southcoast of Kenya. Aquarium fisher catches were monitored from September 2010 to March 2013; while artisanal fisher catches were monitored from January to December 2014. Five artisanal gear types were observed to interact with the aquarium fishery. Non-target species valued by the aquarium trade constituted approximately 12% of the artisanal catches by weight and 10% by relative abundance, and was comprised of 18 fish families and 57 species. Handlines captured the highest number and diversity of non-target species while the lowest was observed for gillnets. The findings contribute towards better understanding of the dynamics of resource overlap between artisanal and aquarium fisheries on a local scale, and provide new insights on the cumulative sources of fishing pressure affecting reef fish populations in Kenya.


The body of King Cotton lies amouldering in the grave, but his soul has been metempsychosized. Cotton dominated the agriculture of the South in 1929, the peak year, when 1,719,165 farmers grew 42,579,522 acres of the crop. Few grew more than 15 acres, or produced more than one-third of a bale per acre. They grew it in small patches with backbreaking hand labor, especially for the tasks of chopping and picking. In 1997 only 24,860 farmers in the South grew cotton, but they grew 11,799,225 acres. They had consolidated the erstwhile patches into large open fields. They averaged 425 acres of cotton, and produced better than a bale per acre. Agrichemicals and machines had replaced hand labor, and one-fifth of the crop was irrigated. The boll weevil eradication program, which has spread outward from northeastern North Carolina, has decimated production costs, and the price had been favorable. Inadequate gin capacity has forced farmers to shift from field wagons to modules, and a new cotton landscape has been created in the South.


The distribution and clearance of viral RNA (vRNA) and mRNA has been analysed for the acute and recovery stages of the pneumonia induced by intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with H3N2 influenza A viruses. Amplification of viral genomic material by the polymerase chain reaction showed that the influenza haemagglutinin (HA) gene was eliminated from the lungs of immunologically intact mice by day 14 post-infection, whereas in vitro depletion of the CD4+ T cells delayed clearance by at most 4 days. Viral RNA encoding the HA gene was first demonstrated in the regional mediastinal lymph nodes at 48 h, and continued to be present until day 6 or day 10 after infection of the intact and CD4-depleted mice, respectively. Evidence for the presence of vRNA in the thymus, but not in the mesenteric lymph nodes or the spleen, was found in some situations. Otherwise, the distribution and clearance of vRNA was as would be predicted from earlier studies using virus isolation procedures to monitor localization patterns, and shows a lack of long-term persistence of the influenza virus genome.


With the growth in computing, storage and networking infrastructure, it is becoming increasingly feasible for multimedia professionals—such as graphic designers in commercial, manufacturing, scientific and entertainment areas—to work with 3D digital models of the objects with which they deal in their domain. Unfortunately most of these models exist in individual repositories, and are not accessible to geographically distributed professionals who are in need of them.
Building an efficient digital library system presents a number of challenges. In particular, the following issues need to be addressed: (1) What is the best way of representing 3D models in a digital library, so that the searches can be done faster? (2) How to compress and deliver the 3D models to reduce the storage and bandwidth requirements? (3) How can we represent the user's view on similarity between two objects? (4) What search types can be used to enhance the usability of the digital library and how can we implement these searches, what are the trade-offs?
In this research, we have developed a digital library architecture for 3D models that addresses the above issues as well as other technical issues. We have developed a prototype for our 3D digital library (3DLIB) that supports compressed storage, along with retrieval of 3D models. The prototype also supports search and discovery services that are targeted for 3-D models. The key to 3DLIB is a representation of a 3D model that is based on "surface signatures". This representation captures the shape information of any free-form surface and encodes it into a set of 2D images. We have developed a shape similarity search technique that uses the signature images to compare 3D models. One advantage of the proposed technique is that it works in the compressed domain, thus it eliminates the need for uncompressing in content-based search. Moreover, we have developed an efficient discovery service consisting of a multi-level hierarchical browsing service that enables users to navigate large sets of 3D models. To implement this targeted browsing (find an object that is similar to a given object in a large collection through browsing) we abstract a large set of 3D models to a small set of representative models (key models). The abstraction is based on shape similarity and uses specially tailored clustering techniques. The browsing service applies clustering recursively to limit the number of key models that a user views at any time.
We have evaluated the performance of our digital library services using the Princeton Shape Benchmark (PSB) and it shows significantly better precision and recall, as compared to other approaches.


Summary Differences in the protein content of individuals may affect their response to signals produced by opposite-sex conspecifics and how opposite-sex conspecifics respond to the individual's own signals. Many terrestrial mammals use over-marks to communicate with potential mates. In this study, we determined whether over-marking behavior is affected by the protein content of the top- and bottom-scent donors of an over-mark. We tested two hypotheses by performing two experiments on meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in which the top- or bottomscent donors of an over-mark were fed a diet containing either 9, 13, or 22% protein; these protein concentrations are similar to those that voles may consume in free-living populations. In experiment 1, we varied the protein content of the top-scent voles but not that of the bottom-scent donor. We tested the hypothesis that top-scent donor voles fed a diet high in protein content deposit more scent marks and more over-marks than do top-scent donor voles fed diets lower in protein content. In experiment 2, the top-scent voles were fed a 22% protein diet but the protein content of the diet of the bottom-scent donor varied. We tested the hypothesis that the top-scent donor will deposit more scent marks if the bottom-scent vole was fed a diet high in protein content than if it was fed a diet lower in protein content. Protein content of the top-scent vole's diet did not affect the number of scent marks and over-marks it deposited. Likewise, the protein content of the bottom-scent vole did not affect the number of scent marks and over-marks deposited by the top-scent vole.


The current financial turmoil raises concerns about supportiveness of foreign banks from Western European countries for their Central and Eastern European subsidiaries. Foreign bank presence dominates banking business in almost all countries in the region, which would make their withdrawal very painful, if not catastrophic. For Austrian and Swedish banks, this region was a source of large profits in the last years, and, therefore, they are expected to stay in the region. While recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses of each country, such strong interconnectedness calls for a region wide approach for helping ailing banks.


In Switzerland, the COVID-19 epidemic is progressively slowing down owing to "social distancing" measures introduced by the Federal Council on 16 March 2020. However, the gradual ease of these measures may initiate a second epidemic wave, the length and intensity of which are difficult to anticipate. In this context, hospitals must prepare for a potential increase in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we introduce icumonitoring.ch, a platform providing hospital-level projections for ICU occupancy. We combined current data on the number of beds and ventilators with canton-level projections of COVID-19 cases from two S-E-I-R models. We disaggregated epidemic projection in each hospital in Switzerland for the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, hospitalisations in ICU, and ventilators in use. The platform is updated every 3-4 days and can incorporate projections from other modelling teams to inform decision makers with a range of epidemic scenarios for future hospital occupancy.


The factors that determine large-scale patterns of species richness are poorly understood. In particular, biologists have not determined the relative roles of taxon-specific characteristics that influence diversification and distribution, and region-specific features that promote and constrain diversity. We show that the numbers of species of vascular plants and of four terrestrial vertebrate taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) vary in parallel across 296 geographic areas covering most of the globe, even after accounting for sample area, climate, topographic heterogeneity and differences between continents. Thus, a common set of regional characteristics and processes appears to shape patterns of species richness in a diverse set of taxa, despite substantial differences in their biological traits.


The problematic nature of neopopulism is obvious for all to see. It is difficult therefore to avoid an unilateral and unquestioned approach to the subject. In particular, what is difficult to explain is the relationship between populism and liberal democracy. Some scholars sustain that neopopulism could subvert the rules of democratic constitutional State, some others are convinced that neopopulism is capable to hand back power to people. An important starting point for a not biased approach could be represented by Robert Dahl's theory of democracy, that allows us to point out the circumstances under which neopopulism could become a danger to democracy or, on the contrary, a corrective for it.


Mental retardation is a heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by arrested or incomplete psychological development. The first part of the study deals with psychological and biological factors: etiology and pathogenesis of mental retardation and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Their etiopathogenesis is similar as in other neurodevelopmental disorders and it was analyzed in the part dealing with biological specificities of persons with mental retardation. Numerous biopsycho-social factors cause increased vulnerability of the mentally retarded to development of mental disorders. Thus, prevalence of these disorders is higher in mentally retarded persons than in general population. This study also deals with specificities regarding diagnosis of psychotic disorders in mentally retarded persons as well as neurobiologic, epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of schizophrenic psychoses, autism and affective disorders in persons with mental retardation. Special emphasis was given to diagnostics of these disorders in mentally retarded children and adolescents, as well as to problems of differential diagnostics. Apart from other things, we have concluded that specific clinical pictures demand subspeciality approach in the frame of developmental psychiatry.


Objectives were twofold: Determine key factors influencing preconditioning cost and returns; and determine the premium for age and source verified, preconditioned calves sold at a public livestock market. Data provided by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation show preconditioning returns depend significantly on number of days preconditioned, average daily gain, and cost of vaccinations, hay, feed, and mineral. Noble Foundation cooperators received a premium for age and source verified, preconditioned feeder cattle when sold at market. Significant coefficients averaged across five sales conclude that Noble Foundation management practices receive a $2.49/cwt premium when compared to all other cattle sold at market.


The execution of long-running batch programs imposes severe reliability constraints on a computing system since the occurrence of a failure during its execution is more likely and that once occurred, a failure would destroy all the processing perfonned thus far. This paper studies the execution delay and machine resources consumed in supporting the running of large batch programs in a computing environment interrupted by failures. The effect of checkpoints and their optimal insertion are also considered. The results are applicable to arbitrary law of failure.


When system identification methods are used to construct mathematical models of real systems, it is important to collect data that reveal useful information about the systems dynamics. Experimental data are always corrupted by noise and this causes uncertainty in the model estimate. Therefore, design of input signals that guarantee a certain model accuracy is an important issue in system identification.This thesis studies input design problems for system identification where time domain constraints have to be considered. A finite Markov chain is used to model the input of the system. This allows to directly include input amplitude constraints into the input model, by properly choosing the state space of the Markov chain. The state space is defined so that the model generates a binary signal. The probability distribution of the Markov chain is shaped in order to minimize an objective function defined in the input design problem.Two identification issues are considered in this thesis: parameter estimation and NMP zeros estimation of linear systems. Stochastic approximation is needed to minimize the objective function in the parameter estimation problem, while an adaptive algorithm is used to consistently estimate NMP zeros.One of the main advantages of this approach is that the input signal can be easily generated by extracting samples from the designed optimal distribution. No spectral factorization techniques or realization algorithms are required to generate the input signal.Numerical examples show how these models can improve system identification with respect to other input realization techniques.


Various models are used for brain tumors modeling. To our knowledge,
no earlier work has been done on modeling the heterogeneous brain tumor that causes dizziness.
However, specifying a cell using a model is not new. Unlike all earlier works in this regard, which
consider analog or analog-CPU computers in the cell model, the model presented in this work
fully utilizes processor computers.

The purpose of this study is to offer a comprehensive approach for
heterogeneous modeling of brain tumor cells. The model uses a brain tumor cell in Matlab and
Simulink 3D software. Two heterogeneous models are presented for brain tumor cells: the imagebased
cell model and computer-generated cell model. The image-based cell model is obtained
through the figure altering on X-ray or ocular figures by recognizing the dissimilar states in the
tumors.

The computer-generated cell model works based on locating computer produced aggregate
cells into tumors. Some subdivisions for both the image-based and computer-generated cell
models are presented as well.

The positive and negative points of the image-based cell models and computergenerated
cell models some scientific advices are presented in this work. Generally, the imagebased
cell models could offer analytical facts for each state, but they are expensive and timeconsuming;
besides, their performance is heavily influenced by deformation techniques. The
computer-generated cell model, on the other hand, provides a higher cost of production and simplicity,
but its main contribution is the overall performance and accuracy.