The power system in Guatemala is part of the long, interconnected network in Central America that runs from the south of Mexico to Panama. This power system is connected to Mexico in the north and to El Salvador in the south. The power system in El Salvador is connected to the rest of the Central American countries in the south, all the way to Panama. The Guatemalan power system is a transmission corridor for power flowing from the abundant hydrogeneration resources in the southeast of Mexico, as well as a consumer of this power. The Guatemalan wide-area protection scheme (WAPS), called the wide-area supplementary control scheme (SCS), isolates the Guatemalan power system from the power system to the south of Guatemala when the scheme detects unstable operating conditions. This scheme is based on time-synchronized measurements of active power and modal analysis of the active power flow of the interconnection between Guatemala and El Salvador. Phasor measurement and control units (PMCUs) are installed at strategic buses in the Guatemalan power system. The strategic locations include the interconnections to Mexico and El Salvador. Operating modes in the power system that cause instability were identified based on operating experiences of the power system. The scheme detects unstable operating conditions and opens the interconnection with El Salvador to isolate the Guatemalan power system from the rest of Central America. This paper discusses details of the Central American power system, the deployment of PMCUs, a modal analysis-based scheme, and the communications network of the scheme. It also presents events that show how the active power-based and modal-analysis based SCS avoided power system collapse.


ABSTRACT Azole resistance is an emerging increasing problem in Aspergillus fumigatus that results in treatment failure. Alternative treatments may improve the therapeutic outcome in patients with azole-resistant invasive aspergillosis (IA). Little is known about the in vivo efficacy of the echinocandin anidulafungin (AFG) in IA. The in vivo efficacy of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of body weight AFG was assessed against two clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolates with identical AFG minimum effective concentrations (MECs; 0.03 mg/liter) in a murine model of IA: a wild-type voriconazole (VCZ)-susceptible (VCZs) A. fumigatus isolate (AZN 8196) and a VCZ-resistant (VCZr) A. fumigatus isolate (V52-35) harboring the TR34/L98H resistance mechanism (substitution at codon L98 in combination with a 34-bp tandem repeat in the promoter region of the CYP51A gene). The pharmacokinetics of AFG were also assessed for each dose. Increasing doses increased survival for both isolates in a manner dependent on the AFG dose level (R2 = 0.99 and 0.95, respectively) up to a maximum of 72.7% and 45.45% for the VCZs and VCZr isolates, respectively. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) correlated significantly with the dose in a linear fashion over the entire dosing range (R2 = 0.86). The Hill equation with a variable slope fitted the relationship between the 24-h AUC/MEC ratio and 14-day survival well (R2 = 0.87; P < 0.05). The 50% effective AUC/MEC for total AFG was 126.5 (95% confidence interval, 79.09 to 202.03). AFG treatment improved the survival of mice in a dose-dependent manner; however, a maximal response was not achieved with either isolate even in those treated with the highest AFG dose.


Several definitions of Public Affairs (PA) are used by academics. In this study PA is defined as follows: PA focuses on facilitating and building relationships and interaction with actors in the political and social environment so as to align corporate and public policies. For the last decades the field of PA is considerably growing and with this growing field issues become more complex. This emerging field results in an increase in demand for more skilled and experienced PA professionals. In response to this need the aim of the present study is threefold: which are the most important competences to be a good PA professional, to which extent does the PA professional master these competences and what kind of personality traits a PA professional has. In order to examine the first two elements a Q-sort was used among 32 PA professionals. Additionally, a questionnaire was used for the demographic information and a big five personality test. Based on the results of this study there could be concluded that the most important competences for a PA professional were strategical and tactical thinking, networking, knowledge of politics and ethics (honesty, integrity and reliability). The best mastered competences were strategical and tactical thinking, ethics (honesty, integrity and reliability), knowledge of politics, networking and analytic (research minded and conceptual thinking). It turned out that the majority of the important competences were also the best mastered competences. Furthermore, the results of the big five personality test showed that PA professionals scored relatively low on neuroticism, high on extraversion and high on openness.


As of January 2016, nine states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea)—possessed approximately 4120 operationally deployed nuclear weapons. If all nuclear weapons are counted, these states together possessed a total of approximately 15 395 nuclear weapons, compared to approximately 15 850 in 2015. While the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future. This Fact Sheet estimates the nuclear weapon inventory of the nine nuclear-weapon possessing states and highlights some key aspects of the states' recent nuclear-force developments.


ABSTRACT Reproductive performance of many avian species, including Japanese quail, is reported to be modulated by specific temporal phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations. Accordingly, it has been shown that the serotonin precursor 5-HTP and the dopamine precursor l-DOPA given 8 h apart induce gonadal suppression and given 12 h apart lead to gonadal stimulation, while other temporal relationships were found to be ineffective. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 8- and 12-h phase relation of neural oscillations on testicular responses including expression of GnRH-I, GnIH, pro-apoptotic proteins (p53 and Bax), inactive and active executioner caspase-3, and the uncleaved DNA repair enzyme PARP-1. Testicular volume and mass decreased significantly in 8-h quail and increased in 12-h quail compared with controls. Expression of ir-GnIH, p53, Bax and active-caspase-3 increased and that of GnRH-I, pro-caspase-3 and uncleaved PARP-1 decreased in 8-h quail compared with controls. A TUNEL assay also confirmed testicular regression in these quail. Testes of 12-h quail exhibited significantly increased expression of GnRH-I, pro-caspase-3 and uncleaved PARP-1 compared with the control group. Our findings suggest that differential response of avian testes to 8- and 12-h phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic neural oscillations may be attributed to autocrine/paracrine action of GnIH expression, which is upregulated in regressed testes, leading to apoptotic changes, and downregulated in developed testes, causing apoptotic inhibition. It is concluded that specific phase relation of neural oscillations may modulate the local testicular GnRH-GnIH system and alter the apoptotic mechanism in quail testes. Moreover, these findings highlight the physiological effects of time-dependent drug delivery, including the specific time intervals between two drugs. Summary: Testicular regression in quail in response to 8-h phase relation of 5-HTP and l-DOPA is GnIH induced, p53 dependent and Bax mediated, and this pathway reverses in hypertrophied 12-h quail testes.


After John Wesley's death in 1791, schisms from Wesleyan Methodism occurred regularly. These events were not unexpected and the authorities often accepted them with little obvious regret, even if they did not actually encourage them. The first major split took place in 1797 when the Methodist New Connexion was formed, and during the following twenty years further significant schisms led to the establishment of the Primitive Methodists and the Bible Christians.

Other offshoots arose but lasted for much shorter periods. One of these was the Tent Methodists, a group that has been largely ignored by historians. Although some writers have made passing reference to the group's presence in particular localities, the feet that Tent Methodism did not become a major national, or even a regional, body has meant that its significance has not been sufficiently recognised. The primary and secondary material documenting the group's activities has had to be gleaned from many different places and sources. A full length biography of the second most important Tent Methodist was written shortly after his death, but no major work has charted and analysed the group's overall impact. This thesis is an original contribution to research in the development of Methodism in the early 19th century.

The main case to be made in the thesis is that although the group existed, firstly within the Wesleyan fold and then as an independent Methodist sect, for only approximately eighteen years from 1814 to about 1832, the group's impact in that period was greater than has, hitherto, been acknowledged. Some of the personalities involved went on to serve other denominations with great devotion for many years. From a careful study of the material, it is also possible to compare and contrast Tent Methodism's experience with that of the main groups that emerged from Wesleyan Methodism during the first two decades of the nineteenth century.


Animals can show preference for a particular background as a way of decreasing visibility. Species with color polymorphism may have morph‐dependent background preference. I test this hypothesis on the orb‐weaving spider Parawixia bistriata. Adult females of P. bistriata present two distinct morphs characterized by brown and yellow opisthosomata. This nocturnal spider can be found in its retreat on the vegetation during the day. In order to examine whether females exhibit substrate preference dependent on their color morph, I first recorded the distribution of color morphs on different substrates (leaf and branch) and then performed a mark and release experiment. Field censuses indicated that the yellow morph was associated with leaves while the brown morph was found on either substrate type. The results of a mark and reciprocal release experiment agreed with the censuses and suggest that the two morphs differ in their association to substrate type: yellow females were associated with the leaf substrate, while brown females showed no association to a particular substrate type. Possible forces behind these differences in substrate choice are discussed.


First-order statistics of First Significant Digits (FSD) have been recently exploited in multimedia forensics as a powerful tool to reveal traces of previous coding operations. As an answer, adversarial approaches aimed at modifying the FSD histogram and fooling such forensic methods have been proposed. However, the existing techniques have limitations in terms of distortion introduced in the multimedia object. In this paper, a transportation-theoretic formulation of the problem is presented which provides a close-to-optimal solution. Such strategy is tested in a well-known image forensic scenario, where FSDs of 8 × 8-DCT coefficients after single or double quantization are modified in order to restore a certain target histogram and the distortion with respect to the provided compressed image is measured in terms of MSE.


Index tracking is one of the most important passive strategies which describes the process of attempting to track the performance of some specified benchmark indexes. Most recent studies determined security returns in conventional models by the precise historical data. However, such precise data are not always available and it is hard to forecast security returns with stochastic values. Therefore, to handle such imprecise uncertainty, considering security returns as variables with imprecise distributions, i.e., fuzzy variables are recommended. In these studies, researchers have studied and experimented with various risk-measure methods for index tracking portfolio selection. Models which were extended based on Markowitz portfolio selection model have used the single period variance of returns as a risk measure. Since forecasting future returns of portfolio is uncertain, we consider these returns as fuzzy variables in this study. We also apply Value-at-Risk as the risk measure whichhas not yet been established as risk measure in index tracking portfolio selection problems. The model is tested, using Tehran Price Index (TEPIX) and computational results are presented at the end.


This research develops systems for tissue and organelle targeted transgene expression in commercial strawberry. Two approaches were taken to achieve this. I) the development of a root-specific expression system for nuclear transgenes and II) the development of plastid transformation methodologies for strawberry. FavRB7, a root-specific, RB7 tonoplast intrinsic protein homologue was isolated from strawberry root tissue using reverse transcnptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A 2.8 kb region of promoter sequence associated with the FavRB7 gene was isolated and cloned upstream of the β-glucuronidase (gusA) reporter gene. Transgenic strawberry and tobacco were produced harbouring the gusA gene under control of the FavRB7 gene promoter. Promoter activity in these lines was characterised using histochemical, fluorometric and RNA molecular assays. FavRB7 promoter activity was shown to be strong and near root-specific in strawberry. However in contrast, in the heterologous species tobacco, FavRB7 promoter activity was shown to be constitutive. A series of novel plastid transformation vectors, harbouring selectable and scorable marker genes under control of strawberry plastome regulatory elements, were created to enable plastid transformation in strawberry and tobacco. Plastid transformation methodologies were developed for strawberry utilising the aminoglycoside 3'-adenyltransferase (aadA) gene and spectinomycin selection. Additionally, plastid transformation using a non-antibiotic selection system was investigated utilising the xylose isomerase (xylA) gene and D-xylose selection. Heteroplasmic plastid transformed strawberry lines were recovered using both selection systems and expression of the soluble modified green fluorescent protein (smGFP) scorable marker gene visualised specifically in strawberry chloroplasts of three individual lines. Additionally, heteroplasmic plastid transformed tobacco lines harbouring transgenes under control of strawberry plastome regulatory elements were generated using spectinomycin selection.


The risk of acrylamide has only come to the attention of scientists recently, as its discovery in foods was accidental. Acrylamide is formed in many types of food cooked at high temperatures, presence of acrylamide in many foods has been recently reported. Four main theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms by which acrylamide is formed in food: Theory 1 : Direct formation from amino acids; Theory 2 : Pathways based on acrolein intermediates; Theory 3 : Pathways based on an acrylic acid intermediate and Theory 4 : Pathways based on Maillard browning precursors .A hypothesis that acrylamide is formed by/upon cooking was confirmed in experimental animals by verification of the identity of the acrylamide adduct in haemoglobin (Hb). This was comprehensively approved by GC/MS analysis and the demonstration that the increased adduct levels were compatible with expectation from the contents of acrylamide determined in fried feeds. A significant dependence of acrylamide formation on temperature was demonstrated. Extensive efforts have been made to assess human exposure to acrylamide by monitoring several metabolites excreted in the urine as well as products resulting from biological alkylation by acrylamide. Results from in vivo studies conducted on rats explored that dermal absorption ranged from approximately 14 to 61% of the applied dose. Meanwhile, it was obvious that acrylamide is widely distributed in all tissues of the body. The major metabolite formed from acrylamide via the cytochrome P450 pathway is glycidamide. Conjugation to reduced glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) and excretion as mercapturic acid is a major pathway for the metabolism of acrylamide. Experiments revealed neuro and reproductive toxicity of acrylamide. Notwithstanding, the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified acrylamide as "probably carcinogenic to humans". Acrylamide in foods can be determined by GC/MS, HPLC and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using the MS/MS mode. For the GC/MS and HPLC methods, the achieved detection level of acrylamide was 5 µg/kg while for LC-MS/MS method was 10 µg/kg. The latter method is simple and preferable for routine analysis.


This paper develops a theory of optimal taxation with behavioral agents. We use a general framework that encompasses a wide range of biases such as misperceptions and internalities. We revisit the three pillars of optimal taxation: Ramsey (linear commodity taxation to raise revenues and redistribute), Pigou (linear commodity taxation to correct externalities), and Mirrlees (nonlinear income taxation). We show how the canonical optimal tax formulas are modified and lead to novel economic insights. We also show how to incorporate nudges in the optimal taxation framework, and jointly characterize optimal taxes and nudges. (JEL D62, D91, H21)


The safety performance of the Steel Backed Wood Rail to Bridge Rail Transition was evaluated as part of the federally sponsored Guardrail Testing Program II. During this evaluation, which included 5 full-scale vehicle crash tests, a number of modifications were made to improve the safety of the system. The tests were conducted, reported, and evaluated in accordance with requirements specified for guardrail to bridge rail transitions in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report No. 230, Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Appurtenances. Upon implementation of the design changes described herein, the performance of the Steel Backed Wood Rail to Bridge Rail Transition was determined to be acceptable according to these guidelines.


Adherence to prescribed urate-lowering therapy (ULT) among gout patients is considered to be among the poorest of all chronic conditions. eHealth programs can be a possible opportunity to foster ULT adherence.This study describes the development and usability evaluation of a web-based tool to support ULT adherence among gout patients, specifically designed for a complement to usual care.The Integrated Change (I-Change) model was used as theoretical basis for the development. The model combines various socio-cognitive theories and differentiates between three phases: a pre-motivational, a motivational, and a post-motivational phase. In practices, the I-Change gout tool contains three sessions, following the three phases of the I-Change model. Patients receive tailored feedback based on their answers in the form of animated videos and text messages after each session, and are prompted to set specific goals and action plans for their ULT adherence. The content and development of the I-Change gout tool was determined along an iterative process within a steering group of clinicians and researchers, supported by patient interviews and gout specific literature related to key aspects of medication adherence behavior. A cross-sectional mixed methods design was used to test usability of the support tool consisting of a think aloud method and a usability questionnaire.The steering group decided on the content of the three sessions of the I-Change gout tool. Depending on the intention to change ULT adherence behavior patients were navigated through the I-Change gout tool, patients with a low intention go through all 3 sessions and patients with a high intention go through the pre- and post-motivational session (figure 1). In total, the I-Change gout tool contains three sessions with 80 questions, 66 tailored textual feedback messages, and 40 tailored animated videos.Figure 1.Flowchart of the computer-tailored I-Change gout tool for urate-lowering therapy adherence.Twenty gout patients and seven healthcare professionals participated in the usability tests. The program end score rating for the gout tool was on average 8.4±0.9 (range 6-10) for patients and 7.7±1.0 (range 6-9) for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, participants reported a high intention to use and/or recommend the program in the future. Yet, participants identified some issues for further improvement of the systems user-friendliness by addressing barriers (e.g. more explicitly navigation) and weaknesses (e.g. technical and health literacy). The I-Change gout tool was updated according suggestions of improvements of the participants.This study provides initial support for the usability by patients and healthcare professionals of a ULT adherence I-Change gout tool. Further studies need to be conducted to assess its efficacy and (cost-) effectiveness in daily practice.None declared


This report begins by introducing the term 'smart city' buttressed by some critical consideration of the several definitions that are proffered in the extant literature. Then, the conceptual evolution of the 'smart city' construct is set out with reference to smart (city) policies implemented in the EU, mapped with reference to the results of a Boolean web search exercise. This analysis helps to systematically unveil the narrative used by practitioners and policy makers in shaping the perception of smart city policies and projects. Finally, a new index of smartness is implemented based on Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis (SMAA). The new index will consider both objective measures and citizens' perceptions of key dimensions offering value in assessing 'smartness' in city projects and policies.


This study analyzed consumer response to potatoes tested for pesticide residues. These potatoes were packed in five pound bags and priced at three different levels in participating supermarkets. Even when sold at identical prices, consumers continued to favor the traditional round white over the reside-tested potatoes. However, sales of residue-tested were equal at all three price levels, indicating little price resistance among consumers interested in this type of product.


: Analysis of the fine structure of glandular-solid tumors of the ovaries of endometrioid and serous genesis was carried out for specification of criteria for differential diagnosis of these tumors. The specific ultrastructural features (homogeneous or heterogeneous cell composition, the presence or absence of villi, tonofibrilos, glycogen inclusions) were shown to be present in areas of formation of glandular structures. Diagnosis of solid variants of endometrioid and serous carcinomas should also take into consideration the rate of occurrence of such ultrastructural signs typical of malignant cells as deep invaginations of the nuclear membrane, extended perinuclear space, increased number of nucleoli and macrosegregation of their content, increased number of myelin figures, polymorphism of mitochondria, cut-up cellular surface, well-developed laminar complex, and hypertrophy of the cytoplasmic reticulum. In serous carcinomas these features occur much more frequently.


What is Pivotal Response Treatment? What's the research behind it, what does it look like in practice, and what are some good examples of how to use it? Now one concise book gives professionals and parents all the basics of the widely used PRT an empirically supported treatments for autism recognized by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the National Standards Project. A great resource for educators, behavior specialists, early interventionists, SLPs, occupational therapists, and families, this reader-friendly pocket guide is the perfect introduction to PRT, the popular approach that uses natural learning opportunities to modify pivotal areas of behavior. Pioneering autism experts Robert and Lynn Koegel speak directly to the reader, demystifying PRT and clearly explaining why it leads to widespread and rapid progress for children. Filled with helpful tips and many practical examples based on actual children, the book reveals the key principles behind motivating children with natural reinforcers reducing disruptive behavior with PRT encouraging communication and social initiations developing a challenging curriculum that helps children make progress assessing children meaningfully in natural environments closely collaborating with parents on goals and interventions helping families weave interventions into everyday routines ensuring that children generalize skills to other settings decreasing parents' stress and offering positive support Throughout the book, the Koegels engage readers with down-to-earth guidance based on best practice, true stories from their decades of experience with children and families, and clear explanations of what the research says about PRT. And the end-of-chapter questions for teachers, therapists, and parents reinforce key points and prepare them for effective PRT implementation. An essential first step in PRT training and a must-have for every member of a child's support team, this quick and practical introduction will get everyone on board with PRT and equip them with the fundamentals they need to use it in the real world.A featured book in our Better Behavior Kit!"


OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to detect the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae within the faecal flora of both community- and hospital-based patients in York and to characterize the bla(TEM), bla(SHV) and bla(CTX-M) genes present in these isolates.

METHODS
One thousand faeces samples were collected and screened at York Hospital during October-December 2003. Ninety-five non-duplicate Enterobacteriaceae isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins were recovered; 22 isolates were selected for further study on the basis of a positive double disc diffusion test for ESBL production. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed to a range of antibiotics. The TEM, SHV and CTX-M genes were detected by PCR and the DNA sequenced.

RESULTS
The distribution of ESBL-positive isolates from the hospital and community was 1.4:1. These included nine Escherichia coli, seven Enterobacter cloacae, four Citrobacter freundii and a single isolate each of Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. A total of 17 isolates contained bla(CTX-M) (five bla(CTX-M-15), three bla(CTX-M-14) and nine bla(CTX-M-9)). ISEcp1 was present in isolates expressing CTX-M-14 and -15, but was absent upstream of In60-associated bla(CTX-M-9). E. coli isolates also contained either a bla(TEM-1) or bla(TEM-2), whereas six of the E. cloacae carried bla(SHV-12) and the Klebsiella spp. bla(SHV-36) in addition to bla(CTX-M-9). The single Salmonella spp. carried bla(SHV-12).

CONCLUSIONS
The overall prevalence of ESBL in isolates of Enterobacteriaceae from York was 1.9%. ESBL-producing isolates were found in both the community and hospital, with the CTX-M type most common. This is also the first report of an ESBL-producing Salmonella in the UK.


Brand transgressions are defined as violations of the norms defined by the relationship between the brand and its consumers. In other words, it is when a brand takes an action that goes against what they promised their consumers, or what the consumers expected, based on the repeated interactions between the brand and the consumers. When brands are highly adopted by a very specific group of consumers, these controversial actions might give these consumers the idea that the brand is "cheating" on them, moving away from them and going against the image and personality that the brand has worked so hard to build. This causes a problem for brands that are trying to expand their target market, but still maintain the consumers that they have such a strong and positive relationship with. In this project, I will analyze different instances when brands with a strong consumer-relationship to a very specific group have transgressed in the attempt of expanding their market and capturing the attention of other consumer groups as well. I will analyze the outcome of those actions, based on their previous consumer relationship strength and the consequent actions they took after the transgression. By analyzing consumer-brand relationships, keeping a brand current and other factors necessary to build a strong brand such as a specific target market, brand personality, etc I would like to find out if a it is possible for a brand that appeals to a single group of consumers to expand and target other groups as well, without losing their base consumers and their brand image. What actions should the brand take so that their consumers still feel taken care of instead of cheated on?


Mood state assessment (MSA) is increasingly important for diagnosis and treatment of depression. Recent years, many approaches have been proposed for the process of MSA. When using a single approach for MSA, the user often has to deal with possible noisy data and unacceptable error rates. Novelty: In order to improve the accuracy of MSA, in this paper, we propose a novel high-level information fusion method for determining the MS of users by fusing physiological data, such as heart rate and brainwave information collected through a wearable device, and psychological data collected through a monthly mood chart. The multifaceted information must be collected and analyzed simultaneously. Contribution: In the inference process of proposed framework, we adopted a Bayesian Network (BN) to perform high-level information fusion. We exploited various evaluation approaches to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. Result: We have conducted experiments using two datasets and evaluated the performance using various factors. The results show that the proposed method (7-M Bayesian Fusion) is superior to other methods averagely 9.48 % improvement in most evaluation factors. It reveals that the proposed approach is efficient in fusing the MS information required for accurate diagnosis of depression compared with those approaches without fusion approach or with few information fusing.


We generalize the classic convergence rate theory for subgradient methods to apply to non-Lipschitz functions via a new measure of steepness. For the deterministic projected subgradient method, we derive a global $O(1/\sqrt{T})$ convergence rate for any function with at most exponential growth. Our approach implies generalizations of the standard convergence rates for gradient descent on functions with Lipschitz or H\"older continuous gradients. Further, we show a $O(1/\sqrt{T})$ convergence rate for the stochastic projected subgradient method on functions with at most quadratic growth, which improves to $O(1/T)$ under strong convexity.


This paper describes a robust parsing algorithm for spoken language understanding. Comparing with the other work in robust parsing, we focus on building a parser that is robust to not only ill-formed spontaneous spoken language inputs but also under-specified grammars. Preliminary experiment results show that the parsing performance deteriorates more gracefully than another parser we have used when the grammar is more underspecified.


There is an increasing desire to understand and successfully model nearshore processes,
especially in the nearshore zone where many different hydrodynamic and sediment transport
processes take place. Different wave conditions and bed shapes for example can cause
sediment to move at the bottom, the place where the largest sediment transport often
occurs (Malarkey & Davies, 2012). In order to simulate and gain knowledge, about the
processes that occur in the nearshore area, mainly regular, sinusoidal, waves have been used
for experiments and irregular, realistic, waves have been left aside. This study is focused on
the improvement of the knowledge of these irregular waves. Therefore, the main objective of
this research is: to increase the understanding of the nearshore sediment transport processes
occurring under irregular non-breaking wave conditions, with the use of the boundary layer
model. To obtain a better understanding of the irregularity processes and its effects on
sediment transport, a regular wave that represents an irregular wave would be easier to
implement in existing morphological models that simulate sediment transport. Therefore, the
second objective of this research is: to develop, or to approach, a representative regular
wave for an irregular wave signal.
An analysis on regular wave knowledge of today showed that hydrodynamic processes, such
as wave propagation and orbital motions, could cause and have influences on the
streaming (progressive- and wave shape streaming) near the seabed, in the boundary layer.
The processes also contribute to friction and bed shear stresses at the seabed, causing
sediment to move and be brought into suspension. Asymmetry in the wave shape, velocity
skewed waves, can contribute to the sediment transport by transporting the remaining
sediment that is in suspension, after it was entrained during one part of the flow cycle and did
not settle down prior to the following half-cycle, in the opposite direction during the following
half-cycle, which is also called the phase lag effect (Grasso et al., 2011; Van der A et al.,
2010).
In this study, the boundary layer model of Kranenburg (2013) is first validated on net sediment
transports of irregular wave flume experiments. Subsequently, research is done to which
extent the net sediment transports of irregular and regular waves differ for wave flume- and
oscillatory flow tunnel simulations and how these can be explained by hydrodynamic and
sediment transport related processes. Finally, research is done on the influence of skewed
wave groups on the net sediment transport in oscillatory flow tunnel simulations.
Firstly, using fine and medium sediment irregular wave-flume experiments, of Schretlen (2012)
and Dohmen-Janssen (2002) respectively, for the boundary layer model wave-flume
simulations, the net sediment transport results were considered a good quantitative
reproduction for net sediment transports, despite of a slight overestimation in the net
sediment transport of a few experiment condition runs.
Secondly, for the indication of differences in net sediment transport between irregular and
regular waves, two representative regular wave approaching methods for an irregular wave
were introduced, the "full signal influence approach" and the "partial signal influence
approach". For both methods, Stokes second order solution for the horizontal velocity is used
to create the representative regular wave and the original, irregular wave, wave peak
period, wave energy and velocity skewness are retained. However, in the latter principle the
two methods differ. Where for the full signal influence approach the entire irregular wave
signal is used to define the velocity skewness, for the partial signal influence approach only
the highest one-third of the peaks (positive/onshore) is used to define the velocity skewness.
Irregular wave simulations (thirteen in total), with fine sediment, of the boundary layer model
showed that for flume simulations, both the representative regular waves have equal onshore
net sediment transports as their irregular waves, only a slight overestimation occurs. For the
oscillatory flow tunnel simulations however, the irregular waves show an offshore net sediment
transport, while both the representative regular waves show onshore net sediment transports.
Furthermore, between the two representative regular waves there was no significant
difference noticeable and therefore a new representative regular wave approaching
method is introduced first, before explaining the difference between irregular and regular
waves in net sediment transport, according to hydrodynamic and sediment transport related
processes. In the new "high wave, signal influence approach" method, only the wave energy
of one-third of the highest waves in the irregular wave signal is used to define the velocity
amplitudes (u1 and u2) and the velocity skewness.
Thirdly, the difference in net sediment transport between the irregular and regular wave, is
found in the wave-related component of the intra-wave horizontal sediment flux where
phase lag effects after each single irregular wave, and in case the irregular wave contains a
sequence of high irregular waves a accumulation of these phase lag effects (pumping
effect) occurs. The influence of velocity-skewed waves brings the sediment offshore. For the
difference in net sediment transport between oscillatory flow tunnel and flume simulations for
irregular waves, the vertical momentum advection is becoming less important with an
increasing wave energy (third method) or when the wave signal is irregular. But the vertical
sediment advection and the horizontal momentum advection do get more important with
more wave energy in a regular wave and with an irregular wave (both including phase lag),
and decrease the amount of phase lag effect and also the contribution to the pumping
effect occurring for irregular waves (amount of sediment concentration due to offshore flow),
resulting in more onshore-directed sediment transport.
Finally, net sediment transport simulations, in the oscillatory flow tunnel, showed that three
different skewed wave groups, with single irregular waves, have no influence on (the
direction of) the net sediment transport.


This paper focuses on the role of private equity in strategic asset allocation decisions. Rather than following the hurdle approach, we model private equity by a stochastically extended version of the model presented in Takahashi and Alexander (2001). We estimate this model using data from Venture Economics. The new model was evaluated by using expert opinion of a group of private equity investors. These specialists in particular critically evaluated whether the dynamics generated by the model are sufficiently in accordance with the behavior of private equity in real life. Given the new model for private equity we analyze the added value of private equity in strategic asset allocation, in particular from the perspective of institutional investors like pension funds.


Abstract We present a new data reconstruction method with supervised machine learning techniques inspired by super resolution and inbetweening to recover high-resolution turbulent flows from grossly coarse flow data in space and time. For the present machine-learning-based data reconstruction, we use the downsampled skip-connection/multiscale model based on a convolutional neural network, incorporating the multiscale nature of fluid flows into its network structure. As an initial example, the model is applied to the two-dimensional cylinder wake at $Re_D = 100$. The reconstructed flow fields by the present method show great agreement with the reference data obtained by direct numerical simulation. Next, we apply the current model to a two-dimensional decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The machine-learned model is able to track the decaying evolution from spatial and temporal coarse input data. The proposed concept is further applied to a complex turbulent channel flow over a three-dimensional domain at $Re_{\tau }=180$. The present model reconstructs high-resolved turbulent flows from very coarse input data in space, and also reproduces the temporal evolution for appropriately chosen time interval. The dependence on the number of training snapshots and duration between the first and last frames based on a temporal two-point correlation coefficient are also assessed to reveal the capability and robustness of spatio-temporal super resolution reconstruction. These results suggest that the present method can perform a range of flow reconstructions in support of computational and experimental efforts.


The induction by ambient NO3- and NO2- of the NO3- and NO2- uptake and reduction systems in roots of 8-d-old intact barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings was studied. Seedlings were induced with concentrations of NaNO3 or NaNO2 ranging from 0.25 to 1000 [mu]M. Uptake was determined by measuring the depletion of either NO3- or NO2- from uptake solutions. Enzyme activities were assayed in vitro using cell-free extracts. Uptake and reduction systems for both NO3- and NO2- were induced by either ion. The Km values for NO3- and NO2- uptake induced by NO2- were similar to those for uptake induced by NO3-. Induction of both the uptake and reduction systems was detected well before any NO3- or NO2- was found in the roots. At lower substrate concentrations of both NO3- and NO2- (5–)10 [mu]M), the durations of the lag periods preceding induction were similar. Induction of uptake, as a function of concentration, proceeded linearly and similarly for both ions up to about 10 [mu]M. Then, while induction by NO3- continued to increase more slowly, induction by NO2- sharply decreased between 10 and 1000 [mu]M, apparently due to NO2- toxicity. In contrast, induction of NO3- reductase (NR) and NO2- reductase (NiR) by NO2- did not decrease above 10 [mu]M but rather continued to increase up to a substrate concentration of 1000 [mu]M. NO3- was a more effective inducer of NR than was NO2-; however, both ions equally induced NiR. Cycloheximide inhibited the induction of both uptake systems as well as NR and NiR activities whether induced by NO3- or NO2-. The results indicate that in situ NO3- and NO2- induce both uptake and reduction systems, and the accumulation of the substrates per se is not obligatory.


Our software (the EIVS) is designed for supporting environmental education by providing tools for 1) automatic data collection through networks, 2) data analysis, and 3) graph drawing of the environmental data measured by sensor-robots located at remote areas. Our software using Squeak (the Smalltalk environment) works on the hardware OLPC-XO with Squeak Virtual Machine. Our software on the OLPC-XO will allow a larger number of children using the OLPC-XO to recognize situations and problems of our environment for the discussions and the considerations of their better solutions.


The morphology, sediment distribution, and growth pattern of the Amazon cone are similar to those of other deep-sea fans; its sediment, at least during the late Quaternary Period, was deposited in response to glacial-interglacial cycles, and its age of formation is estimated to be middle to late Miocene. Sedimentation on the Amazon cone, at least during Quaternary time, has been climatically controlled. During high sea-level stands, terrigenous sediment is trapped on the inner continental shelf, and only pelagic sediment is deposited on the cone. During low sea-level stands, the Amazon River discharges terrigenous sediment into the Amazon Submarine Canyon, from where it is easily transported to the cone by gravity-controlled sediment flows. Wisconsin sedimentation rates on the cone were in excess of 30 cm/10 3 yr. Average sedimentation rates for the Pleistocene Epoch, based on the extrapolated age (2.2 m.y.) of a prominent acoustic reflector within the cone, range from 50 to 115 cm/10 3 yr. The Amazon cone began to form about 8 to 15 m.y. B.P. and is thus about one-tenth the age of the Equatorial Atlantic.


Host Acculturation Orientation: Some Preliminary Impressions of the French Students on Ethnic Minority Groups in Montpellier, S. France  Jyoti Verma Patna University, India  Abstract The objective was to study the host acculturation orientation of a sample of 100 French students of a S. France University. For this purpose a nine-items Host Acculturation Scale was used. Observations gave the impression that the students considered it significantly 'more important' that the immigrants maintained their heritage culture in their homes rather than doing so in general or at the workplace. Furthermore, it was considered only 'partially important' that the immigrants adopted the French norms, values and customs in general and at the workplace, and 'not important at all' that they did so in their homes. Ethnic groups were perceived as threatening to the extent of 'quite a bit' and, comparatively speaking, they were more acceptable than liked. The correlational observations suggested that those who liked the immigrant groups were also open to accepting them in their country and did not mind that these groups maintained their heritage culture. A modest degree of negative relationship was observed between the overall acceptance for maintaining the heritage culture by the immigrant groups and the perception that these groups were a threat to the mainstream French population. Regarding prediction of the host acculturation orientation, it appeared that liking the immigrants seemed to significantly facilitate the French hosts' acceptance for maintenance of the heritage culture at the workplace. Moreover, those who perceived the immigrants as a threat to the French people were also likely to expect that the immigrant groups adopted the French ways and customs.


The introduction of middle schooling in Australia has brought about changes to the working conditions of many teachers including finding themselves in teacher teams. The formation of such teams has been identified as critical to Australian middle school reform with teacher teams underpinning several of the fundamental components of a middle school philosophy. For teachers, however, changing their previous practice is a challenging task. Imposed changes often demand new knowledge and skills that teachers are unlikely to have met in their own education or developed in their preceding classroom work. However, changes in teaching practices must be complemented by changes at the school level. That is, individual learning must be supported by concurrent organisational learning. Using structured interviews and participant as observer field notes, this study focused on identifying factors at individual, team and school levels that could enable or hinder the successful implementation of teaching teams. At an individual level, we found that it took time for teachers to learn and perfect the necessary new forms of instruction. At a team level, team processes were shown to need administrative support (i.e. resources both human and physical), and at a school level, the norms and customs that shape a school's culture were shown to either promote or frustrate teaming practices.


Since the days of the Spanish Conquest, the indigenous populations of Andean Bolivia have struggled to preserve their textile-based writings. This struggle continues today, both in schools and within the larger culture. "The Metamorphosis of Heads" explores the history and cultural significance of Andean textile writings - weavings and kipus (knotted cords), and their extreme contrasts in form and production from European alphabet-based texts. Denise Arnold examines the subjugation of native texts in favor of European ones through the imposition of homogenized curricula by the Educational Reform Law. As Arnold reveals, this struggle over language and education directly correlates to long-standing conflicts for land ownership and power in the region, since the majority of the more affluent urban population is Spanish speaking, while indigenous languages are spoken primarily among the rural poor. "The Metamorphosis of Heads" acknowledges the vital importance of contemporary efforts to maintain Andean history and cultural heritage in schools, and shows how indigenous Andean populations have incorporated elements of Western textual practices into their own textual activities. Based on extensive fieldwork over two decades, and historical, anthropological, and ethnographic research, Arnold assembles an original and richly diverse interdisciplinary study. The textual theory she proposes has wider ramifications for studies of Latin America in general, while recognizing the specifically regional practices of indigenous struggles in the face of nation building and economic globalization.


Abstract Session replay scripts record a user's actions while visiting a website or using a computer application. These recordings are typically sent to third party companies whose stated purpose is to analyze the recordings to help correct bottlenecks and illuminate problems that are difficult for users to navigate. We examine how session replay scripts are being marketed and how they are used by application developers. The extent of gathered data is intrusive, often going beyond the stated objectives, and often collected without users' knowledge. Using Nissenbaum's privacy as contextual integrity framework, we demonstrate how replay scripts violate the norms of both appropriateness and distribution, and hence the privacy of the user. We examine two scenarios: one where the session replay data are sent back to the application developer, and another where captured data are sent to third party companies. We compare the scenarios to two analogous situations: surveys taken at a museum and video surveillance in a brick-and-mortar store. We analyze in detail the case of FullStory, a vendor of session replay scripts. In conclusion, we offer suggestions on how to preserve private information in both scenarios.


Much effort has been recently devoted to the study of polytime formal (and especially logical) systems. The purpose of such systems is manyfold. On the theoretical side, they provide a better understanding of what is the logical essence of polytime reduction (and other complexity classes). On the practical side, via the well known Curry-Howard correspondence, they yield sophisticated typing systems, where types provide (statically) an accurate upper bound on the complexity of the computation. Even more, the type annotations give essential information on the "efficient way" to reduce the term. The most promising of these logical systems is Girard's light linear logic. In this paper, we introduce a slight variation of LLL, by adding full weakening (for this reason, we call it light affine logic). This modification does not alter the good complexity properties of LLL: cut-elimination is still polytime. On the other side, the logical system is much simpler: we reduce it from 21 to just 11 rules, and with simpler, traditional sequents. Rephrasing Girard, we could thus say that the abuse of contraction may have damaging complexity effects, but the abstinence from weakening leads to inessential syntactical complications.


We present a suite of strain rate models for the western United States based on geologic and geodetic data. The geologic data consist of Quaternary fault-slip rates and the geodetic data consists of a new compilation of Global Positioning System (GPS) velocities derived from continuous, semicontinuous, and campaign measurements. We remove postseismic deformation from the GPS time series in order for our geodetic strain rate model to best capture the interseismic strain accumulation rate. We present models based on either geologic or geodetic data, but also create a hybrid model. Although there are some differences between the models, the large-scale features are the same, with the noticeable exception for the Pacific Northwest where interseismic strain is naturally more distributed than the long-term strain release. We also present a map of earthquake rate densities based on mainshocks, and the result has similar spatial features similar to the strain rate models (at least in the southwestern United States). We perform a general correlation analysis between strain rate and seismicity rate (south of Cascadia) and find a change in linearity between seismicity and strain rates from slow to faster deforming areas with seismicity rates relatively lower for the latter. The extent of that change depends a bit on assumptions made on the declustering and completeness of the catalog, but the finding of a change in slope is robust across the different strain rate models. Linearity for all areas is only expected when Gutenberg–Richter parameters and parameters involved in the conversion from strain to moment rate are uniform across the study area. We discuss these qualifications, but find no single satisfactory explanation for our observation. Moreover, when considering a rather short time and space, theoretical considerations of sampling from a power-law distribution actually predict there to be a power law instead of a linear relationship, generally consistent with our observation.


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This work is part of a research program where the aim is to develop anelectroanalytical technique to determine the amount of dissolved oxide and hydroxide in industrial Mg electrolytes. The systems studied were mixtures of MgCl2 and NaCl, ranging from pure MgCl2 to melts containing 10 mole % MgCl2 / 90 mole % NaCl. To these melts, additions of MgO and MgOHCl were done at temperatures ranging from 475 to 850°C. Voltammetric measurements were performed before and after addition of MgO or MgOHCl and melt samples were taken for analysis. The quenched melt samples wereanalysed by carbothermal reduction analysis and the acid consumption method to obtain the O2- and OH- contents in the samples. Linear sweep voltammetry was performed with a sweep rate of 200 mV/sec in two potential regions to detect the concentration of dissolved MgOHCl and MgO. The experiments were performed inside a glove box having water and oxygen contents of, respectively, <1 ppm and <2 ppm. The results indicate that the rate of decomposition of MgOHCl increases with increasing temperature, as expected. In melts with high content of NaCl the underpotential deposition of sodium has a large influence on the uncertainty in the reading of the current density of MgOHCl reduction. Linear relations between MgO and MgOHCl concentrations and the peak current densities for the electrochemical reactions of the dissolved MgO and MgOHCl species in the melt, respectively, were observed. The diffusion coefficients of MgO and MgOHCl in the different melts were calculated. The diffusion coefficients decrease with increasing content of MgCl2. For MgOHCl the diffusion coefficient decreases from 5.6*10-5 cm2/sec in 20 mole % MgCl2 / 80 mole % NaCl to 2.1*10-5 cm2/sec in pure MgCl2, both measurements done at 800°C. For MgO the diffusion coefficient decreases from 6*10-5 cm2/sec in 41.5 mole % MgCl2 / 58.5 mole % NaCl to 0.8*10-5 cm2/sec in pure MgCl2, both measurements done at 730°C. The results show that it is possible to use cyclic voltammetry for quantitative analysis of MgOHCl in MgCl2 based melts.


On September 29, 2012, the century-long peaceful co-existence of the Muslim & Buddhist at Ramu in Cox's Bazaar have been deteriorated within a half day because of false defamation of holy Qu'ran. After that, reporter, columnist, academician have expressed their concern about the destruction of the communal harmony in Bangladesh. But a few of them tried to analyze critically this and its future implication. This paper is divided into the following sections: the first section will make an attempt to trace the historical development of Islamism in Bangladesh from the colonial period to present day. Later it will focus on Ramu mayhem and a few reasons why this event is unique. Moreover, the third section will highlight three case studies. The final section will introduce the concluding remark with a recommendation to take policy immediately to stop the politics of Islamism in Bangladesh.


The volatile components of 20 mango cultivars were investigated by means of simultaneous distillation-extraction, GC, and GC-MS. Three hundred and seventy-two compounds were identified, of which 180 were found for the first time in mango fruit. The total concentration of volatiles was approximately 18-123 mg/kg of fresh fruit. Terpene hydrocarbons were the major volatiles of all cultivars, the dominant terpenes being delta-3-carene (cvs. Haden, Manga amarilla, Macho, Manga blanca, San Diego, Manzano, Smith, Florida, Keitt, and Kent), limonene (cvs. Delicioso, Super Haden, Ordonez, Filipino, and La Paz), both terpenes (cv. Delicia), terpinolene (cvs. Obispo, Corazon, and Huevo de toro), and alpha-phellandrene (cv. Minin). Other qualitative and quantitative differences among the cultivars could be demonstrated.


BACKGROUND
This study compared the adverse effects of open surgery (OS) including lateral pharyngotomy and supraglottic laryngectomy vs. transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the treatment of stage T1 and T2 carcinomas of the tongue base and supraglottis.

METHODS
A retrospective study involving a 49 (13 female and 36 male) patients with untreated T1 or T2 carcinomas. Twenty two were operated on using TORS and 27 underwent conventional OS. The indicators for comparison were: total blood loss during surgery, post-operative pain measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); global, emotional and physical post-operational states assessed with the standardized M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and psychosocial distress (PD) questionnaire. Apart from blood loss, subjective symptoms were evaluated 1 and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. The differences in indicators between groups were analyzed using Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at the 5% significance level.

RESULTS
Mean general OS and TORS associated blood loss were 405 and 29 ml, respectively. The mean MDADI score in TORS vs. OS patients one week, six weeks and six months postoperatively was 60.01 vs. 44.93, 91.01 vs. 62.19 and 94.18 vs. 93.56. The mean VAS score in the TORS vs. OS group at the same time intervals were 5.09 vs. 5.56, 2.09 vs. 3.11 and 1.27 vs. 1.33. All differences between TORS and OS were statistically significant with the exception of 6 month values for particular scores. The mean PD score in TORS vs. OS patients in one week, six weeks and 6 months was 26.82 vs. 25.11, 39.95 vs. 29.22 and 44.73 vs. 44.52. Only the six week distinctions were significant. The both methods were comparable in terms of the risk of locoregional tumour recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS
The study confirmed the assumption of the TORS as a minimally invasive procedure significantly reducing the intraoperative blood loss, pain, swallowing and psychosocial distress as late as 6 weeks postoperatively in patients with early staged carcinomas of the tongue base and supraglottis.


Strabismus is a condition due to misalignment of the visual axis of the eyes, also known as a squint. Squint eyes can be clearly seen by others, and give symptoms such as double vision or blurred vision. In a systematic review study revealed that 1 in every 50 people suffer from strabismus, and this disorder greatly affects their quality of life. Psychological impacts on people with strabismus can be caused by environmental factors, such as the non-acceptance of strabismus sufferers in the social environment. If strabismus is not treated in a timely manner in children, besides cosmetic consequences, it can have a dramatic impact on learning abilities, impairing their physiological and psychological performance, ultimately affecting their development and maturity. In particular, a positive effect of strabismus surgery has been demonstrated post strabismus surgery.


The United States cotton industry has seen sustained reductions in cotton acreage since 2006 that coincided with increased production of biofuels that afforded higher returns to crops such as corn, among others, from which biofuels are derived. With lower cotton production following reduced acreage, the average number of bales processed per gin in the U.S. declined from 26,920 bales in 2006 to 17,453 in 2008. As a result of this lower effective demand, higher-capacity gins are constrained to produce at lower volumes below their minimum efficient scale at higher costs. On the other hand, smaller capacity gins now operate closer to their minimum efficient scale which makes them more cost-effective in producing lower volumes. This paper evaluates how the recent declines in cotton acreage have affected the structure and costs faced by cotton gins in the U.S.


Misinformation spread presents a technological and social threat to society. With the advance of AI-based language models, automatically generated texts have become difficult to identify and easy to create at scale. We present "The Rumour Mill", a playful art piece, designed as a commentary on the spread of rumours and automatically-generated misinformation. The mill is a tabletop interactive machine, which invites a user to experience the process of creating believable text by interacting with different tangible controls on the mill. The user manipulates visible parameters to adjust the genre and type of an automatically generated text rumour. The Rumour Mill is a physical demonstration of the state of current technology and its ability to generate and manipulate natural language text, and of the act of starting and spreading rumours.


Recent studies have associated mutations in lamin A/C, a component of the nuclear lamina, with premature aging and severe bone loss. In this study, we hypothesized that reduced expression of lamin A/C has a negative impact on osteoblastogenesis and bone formation in vitro. We inhibited lamin A/C using increasing doses of lamin A/C siRNA in normal human osteoblasts and differentiating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Untreated cells and cells treated with vehicle but without the siRNA‐oligo were used as control. The level of effectiveness of siRNA was determined by RT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Nuclear blebbing, a typical finding of lamin A/C inhibition, was quantified using propidium iodine staining, and its effect on cell survival was determined using MTS‐formazan. Furthermore, alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining were correlated with osteocalcin secretion and levels of expression of osteocalcin, osterix, bone sialoprotein, and Runx2. Finally, the nuclear binding activity of Runx2, an essential transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, was assessed using ELISA and EMSA. A successful inhibitory effect on the lamin A/C gene at doses of 400–800 nM oligo was obtained without affecting cell survival. Whereas osteoblast function was significantly affected by lamin A/C inhibition, siRNA‐treated MSC showed a higher incidence of nuclear changes, lower osteoblast differentiation, and enhanced adipocyte differentiation. Finally, lamin A/C knockdown reduced Runx2 nuclear binding activity without affecting Runx2 expression. In summary, our results indicate that lamin A/C is a new factor needed for osteoblast differentiation that plays an important role in the cellular mechanisms of age‐related bone loss.


This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to recalculate the efficacy of Brucella abortus S19 and RB51 vaccine strains and discuss the main variables associated with controlled trials to evaluate bovine brucellosis vaccine efficacy. The most commonly used vaccine strain was S19, at a dose of 1010 colony forming units (CFU), followed by RB51 at 1010 CFU. The most commonly used challenge strain was B. abortus 2308, at a dose of 107 CFU, by the intraconjunctival route. Regarding the meta-analysis, trials were grouped according to the vaccine strain and dose to recalculate protection against abortion (four groups) or infection (five groups) using pooled risk ratio (RR) and vaccine efficacy (VE). Regarding protection against abortion (n = 15 trials), the S19 vaccine at 109 CFU exhibited the highest protection rate (RR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12-0.52; VE = 75.09%, 95% CI: 48.08-88.05), followed by RB51 at 1010 CFU (RR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.61; VE = 69.25%, 95% CI: 39.48-84.38). Regarding protection against infection (n = 23 trials), only two subgroups exhibited significant protection: S19 at 109 CFU (RR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.14-0.55; VE = 72.03%, 95% CI: 57.70- 81.50) and RB51 at 1010 CFU (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22-0.84; VE = 57.05%, 95% CI: 30.90-73.30). In conclusion, our results suggest that a dose of 109 CFU for S19 and 1010 CFU for RB51 are the most suitable for the prevention of abortion and infection caused by B. abortus. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


We introduce a model in which completely stable propagation of dispersion-managed (DM) solitons is provided by periodic coupling of the system fiber's core to short segments of a parallel lossy core. Considering the model in the distributed approximation, we identified a vast stability domain in its parameter space. We also obtained a set of DM-strength–power characteristics for stable solitons at fixed values of the DM period. We found that, as for the filtered single-core DM model, stable transmission of the solitons is possible at virtually all the values of the DM strength, whereas the normalized peak power of the pulse must exceed a certain minimum value. Close to this minimum, we found a stable transmission regime with moderate values of the DM strength, S∼3, and a DM period of approximately 1.5–2 soliton periods (defined as for the homogeneous fiber), which may be promising for reducing soliton–soliton interactions. We also found cases in which the soliton transmission remained stable in the corresponding strongly discrete (lumped) model as well as at normal average dispersion.


: Studies of cell lines obtained as a result of in vitro transformation by bovine adenovirus type 3 at low multiplicities of infection: BHK-21/13-780 and BHK-21/13-782 (8 X 10(-5) TCD50/cell) and hamster embryo tissue HET-1 and HET-2 (2 X 10(-3) TCD50/cell) showed them to possess some oncologic characteristics typical of spontaneous neoplasia such as low degree of differentiation, high rate of cell growth, reduced adhesiveness, high tumorigenicity. In hamster embryo tissue cells (HET) transformed in vitro virus-specific transplantation antigen and S-antigen were found. In transformed cells of the initial BHK-21/13S culture possessing the capacity of transforming spontaneously and under the effect of oncogenic viruses no transplantation antigen coded for by bovine adenovirus type 3 were detected. It is suggested that the above-described transformed cell lines be used as experimental models for investigation of the processes of transformation and tumour progression.


Are firms born Global? Because knowledge spillovers that lead to new venture creation are geographically constrained we believe that firms are born local. It follows that the decision to create sustainable new ventures is independent from the decision to internationalize, even if that is the ultimate goal of the firm. We explore two avenues to internationalize new ventures, a direct path described in much of the extant literature and an intermediated one. New ventures face high entry barriers and intellectual property rights protection to internationalization, which are circumvented by intermediating activities using existing multinational enterprises as facilitators of internationalization. However, new ventures using the intermediated mode of internationalization face transaction costs and rent extraction from multinational enterprises. Therefore, sustainable new ventures face a strategic decision on how to internationalize.


Ferromagnetism in La-doped single crystal CaB6 is interesting because it has no partially filled d- or f- orbits in CaB6. In this paper, we have investigated the relationship between the ferromagnetic properties with the La content in CaB6 polycrystalline ceramics prepared by redox method. Contrary to the single crystal results, we found that there is no direct correlation with the level of La substitution in ceramics samples Ca1-xLaxB6 (0 £ x £ 0.03). Instead we have shown that it is related to Fe impurities. Our results show it is important to consider the magnetic impurities in discussing the weak ferromagnetism in borides.


ABSTRACT Aim To determine the significance of acute disulfiram poisoning in pediatric population. Background Disulfiram poisoning in children is uncommon, can occur in children who have ingested large amount of drug because of careless and unsafe storage. Only few cases have been reported in literature. Although well tolerated by most patients, severe toxic side effects have been also reported including hepatitis, encephalopathy, psychosis, optic, and peripheral neuropathy. Case description This is a case report of disulfiram toxicity in a 4.5-year girl who ingested 4–5 tablets of disulfiram (approximately 1–1.25 g) accidentally and presented with hypoglycemia and encephalopathy. After initial stabilization in emergency room, the child was shifted to intensive care unit (ICU) where the child was managed conservatively. Blood sugars normalized after 8 hours of admission. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed bilateral globus pallidus hyperintensity in T2-weighted (T2W) and diffusion-weighted (DW) images and hypointensity in T1-weighted (T1W) images including diffusion restriction. Conclusion Acute disulfiram poisoning can occur in children who have ingested large amount of drug because of unsafe storage. It can lead to hepatitis, encephalopathy, psychosis, optic, and peripheral neuropathy. Mainstay of treatment is supportive care, airway protection, oxygen, and dextrose-containing intravenous fluid should be given. Clinical significance Acute disulfiram poisoning should be an important differential in diagnosis of any child presenting with idiopathic encephalopathy along with extrapyramidal symptoms with basal ganglia signal changes in MRI of brain in a previously healthy child. How to cite this article Bhalla K, Mittal K, Gupta A, Nehra D. Acute Disulfiram Poisoning in a Child: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(3):203–205.


We report on further experimental studies of the ac field response of transient and permanent gratings written with visible light in both planar and homeotropic, dye-doped liquid crystal cells. It is found that the diffraction efficiency of these gratings can be controlled by the applied ac field. High ac frequencies can switch off diffraction completely in both permanent and transient gratings. The response time to the applied electric field is shown to be in the range of milliseconds. Permanent gratings persist for months and, when heated above the liquid crystal phase transition temperature, they can be only partially erased. Furthermore, on cooling the diffraction efficiency can be restored, indicating a strong anchoring at the boundaries of the cell.


▪ Abstract The formation and evolution of galaxies is one of the great outstanding problems of astrophysics. Within the broad context of hierachical structure formation, we have only a crude picture of how galaxies like our own came into existence. A detailed physical picture where individual stellar populations can be associated with (tagged to) elements of the protocloud is far beyond our current understanding. Important clues have begun to emerge from both the Galaxy (near-field cosmology) and the high redshift universe (far-field cosmology). Here we focus on the fossil evidence provided by the Galaxy. Detailed studies of the Galaxy lie at the core of understanding the complex processes involved in baryon dissipation. This is a necessary first step toward achieving a successful theory of galaxy formation.


BRIDGES Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science This note discusses some interesting coincidences involving the number 1. It is not numerology, for there is no interpretation or inferred meaning. It is not mathematics, for no deductions are feasible. It is not psychology, for nothing depends on reflection, introspection, association, or the lower mind. No special claim is made of divine intervention. But it is math and art.


Recent years have shown great progress in driving assistance systems, approaching autonomous driving step by step. Many approaches rely on lane markers however, which limits the system to larger paved roads and poses problems during winter. In this work we explore an alternative approach to visual road following based on online learning. The system learns the current visual appearance of the road while the vehicle is operated by a human. When driving onto a new type of road, the human driver will drive for a minute while the system learns. After training, the human driver can let go of the controls. The present work proposes a novel approach to online perception-action learning for the specific problem of road following, which makes interchangeably use of supervised learning (by demonstration), instantaneous reinforcement learning, and unsupervised learning (self-reinforcement learning). The proposed method, symbiotic online learning of associations and regression (SOLAR), extends previous work on qHebb-learning in three ways: priors are introduced to enforce mode selection and to drive learning towards particular goals, the qHebb-learning methods is complemented with a reinforcement variant, and a self-assessment method based on predictive coding is proposed. The SOLAR algorithm is compared to qHebb-learning and deep learning for the task of road following, implemented on a model RC-car. The system demonstrates an ability to learn to follow paved and gravel roads outdoors. Further, the system is evaluated in a controlled indoor environment which provides quantifiable results. The experiments show that the SOLAR algorithm results in autonomous capabilities that go beyond those of existing methods with respect to speed, accuracy, and functionality.


Benefiting from the excellent ability of neural networks on learning semantic representations, existing studies for entity linking (EL) have resorted to neural networks to exploit both the local mention-to-entity compatibility and the global interdependence between different EL decisions for target entity disambiguation. However, most neural collective EL methods depend entirely upon neural networks to automatically model the semantic dependencies between different EL decisions, which lack of the guidance from external knowledge. In this paper, we propose a novel end-to-end neural network with recurrent random-walk layers for collective EL, which introduces external knowledge to model the semantic interdependence between different EL decisions. Specifically, we first establish a model based on local context features, and then stack random-walk layers to reinforce the evidence for related EL decisions into high-probability decisions, where the semantic interdependence between candidate entities is mainly induced from an external knowledge base. Finally, a semantic regularizer that preserves the collective EL decisions consistency is incorporated into the conventional objective function, so that the external knowledge base can be fully exploited in collective EL decisions. Experimental results and in-depth analysis on various datasets show that our model achieves better performance than other state-of-the-art models. Our code and data are released at https://github.com/DeepLearnXMU/RRWEL.


Introduction & BackgroundIt has been reported that up to 91% of those who menstruate experience associated pain. Despite its ubiquity, the prevalence of menstrual pain has been under researched due to stigma, disregard from medical professionals and a lack of data. It has also been reported that different demographics experience menstrual pain differently yet the impact of socio-demographic factors on menstrual pain remains to be explored on a national scale due to data scarcity.
Objectives & ApproachIn this study, we propose one way to overcome this data barrier, using a novel measure of menstrual pain extracted from supermarket shopping data. We use these national datasets to identify individual customer behaviour patterns. Specifically, we use transactions involving both a pain and menstrual item as a proxy measure for menstrual pain. We investigate national menstrual pain sales and whether there are significant differences between deprived and less deprived areas of England.
Relevance to Digital FootprintsThis paper brings together data from multiple sources, to provide a population level analysis of the prevalence of menstrual pain England. We use transactional data from a pharmaceutical retailer to develop a novel proxy measure for menstrual pain. We use various machine learning algorithms to explore the relationship between transactional data and various data sources pertaining to social deprivation.
ResultsOur findings indicate that there is a high prevalence of menstrual pain with at least 26.7% of customers who purchase menstrual items also purchasing pain relief simultaneously. These customers are nearly four times more likely to purchase pain relief with a menstrual item than they are without. In addition, our results indicate a significant geographical disparity between menstrual pain transactions. We examine the relationship between a variety of deprivation factors and regional menstrual pain transactions and find average regional income has the highest predictive impact on menstrual pain sales. Contrary to what would expected from previous research, customers from the region with the lowest regional income were a third less likely (32%) to make a menstrual pain transaction than those from the highest income region.
Conclusions & ImplicationsThis work motivates further research into the national prevalence of menstrual pain to understand why this regional disparity exists and whether it is a consequence of "period poverty". A better understanding of the sociodemographic factors associated with menstrual pain will help healthcare professionals stratify patients by risk, and could inform strategies to predict and prevent menstrual pain and its adverse impacts.


Gender is not just about women; it is about the social relationship between men and women and the dialectical, reciprocal, and cultural construction of femininity and masculinity. Recognition of a unique historical experience concerning gender informs the perspectives of African Americans of various political persuasions. This history incorporates a land of origin with certain common principles about gender and family. It also encompasses the African-American experience in the United States where the denial of many "protections" offered by gender roles and indeed sometimes inversion of such roles was a means of maintaining control. Hence asserting the right to assume gender-based roles of husband, father, wife, and mother paradoxically was an act of resistance. The manner in which African-American people have envisioned relationships of gender in light of that history has expressed itself in markedly different forms.


Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors are now extensively used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy. Several large controlled trials provide evidence to support the proposition that they cause fewer major gastro-intestinal side effects and less toxicity than routine nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In view of the documented different localizations of the cyclooxygenase-1 and COX-2 enzymes in the kidney, it was initially hoped that COX-2 inhibitors would be associated with fewer renal side effects than other NSAIDs. This has not been borne out by subsequent studies. Like other NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors can cause salt and water retention, leading to edema and worsening hypertension. They can also cause acute declines in renal function and glomerular filtration rate. These events are, however, uncommon in large rheumatology populations and infrequently lead to discontinuation of the medications. Judicious use of COX-2 inhibitors in high-risk patients (such as those with chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes or congestive heart failure) will lead to a decreased incidence of adverse renal events.


High-temperature atomic configurations of fcc Fe-Cr-Ni alloys with alloy composition close to austenitic steel are studied in statistical thermodynamic simulations with effective interactions obtained in ab initio calculations. The latter are done taking longitudinal spin fluctuations (LSF) into consideration within a quasiclassical phenomenological model. It is demonstrated that the magnetic state affects greatly the alloy properties, and in particular, it is shown that the LSF substantially modify the bonding and interatomic interactions of fcc Fe-Cr-Ni alloys even at ambient conditions. The calculated atomic short-range order is in reasonable agreement with existing experimental data for ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.56}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{0.21}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{0.23}$, which has strong preference for the (001)-type ordering between Ni and Cr atoms. A similar ordering tendency is found for the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{0.17}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{0.08}$ alloy composition, which approximately corresponds to the widely used 304 and 316 austenitic steel grades.


Highly abrasive nature of carbon fibres and material-related problems like fibre or fibre bundle pullouts, matrix micro cracks and especially delamination of single or multiple laminate layers can be regarded as major problems when machining CFRP. This paper presents an approach using mounted points for drilling of fibre reinforced thermosets. The axial and thermal loads were recorded and quality criterions like the surface roughness, diameter deviation and the delamination at the tool exit side were quantified. Furthermore, an approach to improve the grinding process is presented. Results indicate that using mounted points are suitable for drilling operations in case of thermoset laminates.


Shear-waves respond to a different combination of elastic constants, and density, than P-waves. The reflected P-wave however, is often the easier wave-type to generate, record, and process routinely, and has become the standard for imaging of subsurface structure. Including shear-wave data into our interpretations has led to discrimination of gas-related from non-hydrocarbon related reflection amplitude anomalies. Furthermore, combining time measurements of Pand S-wave data has led to estimation of lithology in the subsurface and estimation of fracture parameters from multicomponent VSP data. Recognition of the need to apply rotational corrections for the azimuthal anisotropy that pervades in many areas has led to consistent three-component recording. More recent developments have improved our capability to record and successfully process modeconverted data, particularly P-SV reflected data. Improvements in processing, including proper 'binning' and DMO correction of the asymmetric geometry associated with the P-SV reflection path is becoming routine. As new developments evolve, high-quality structural P-SV sections, simultaneous inversion of P-P and P-SV data for variations in Pand S-wave velocity, interpretation of P-P and P-SV reflection sections for Vp/Vs ratios in stratigraphic intervals, and inclusion of P-P and P-SV AVO analysis could lead to a fully integrated interpretation of structure, lithology, porosity and reduction in the risk of finding hydrocarbons.


Crafting chiral boron building blocks Carbon-boron bonds are easily transformed into a wide variety of C–C, C–N, and C–O bonds. With that flexibility in mind, Schmidt et al. show that nickel complexes can catalyze asymmetric alkylation of carbon centers adjacent to boron. This protocol creates chiral alkylboronates that function as stable precursors to numerous complex molecules. The reaction proceeds in stereo-convergent fashion—forming a single product from either mirror image of the α-haloboronate reagent. Successive reactions can also create chains of adjacent chiral alkyl centers with stereochemistry set by the configuration of the ligand bound to nickel. Science, this issue p. 1265 Nickel catalyzes stereoconvergent alkylzinc addition to α-haloboronates to form chiral alkylboronate building blocks. Alkylboron compounds are an important family of target molecules, serving as useful intermediates, as well as end points, in fields such as pharmaceutical science and organic chemistry. Facile transformation of carbon-boron bonds into a wide variety of carbon-X bonds (where X is, for example, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, or a halogen), with stereochemical fidelity, renders the generation of enantioenriched alkylboronate esters a powerful tool in synthesis. Here we report the use of a chiral nickel catalyst to achieve stereoconvergent alkyl-alkyl couplings of readily available racemic α-haloboronates with organozinc reagents under mild conditions. We demonstrate that this method provides straightforward access to a diverse array of enantioenriched alkylboronate esters, in which boron is bound to a stereogenic carbon, and we highlight the utility of these compounds in synthesis.


Among all possible rock properties, reservoir engineers reserve the distinguished title of "reservoir properties" to pore volume, fluid type, and connectivity because of their direct impact in the economics of hydrocarbon reservoirs. In some reservoirs, engineers may be able to alter the original in-situ properties by applying additional processes to stimulate the matrix (with hydraulic fracturing, for instance) or to push the hydrocarbon out (by injecting some other fluid). Then, the rock and fluid properties that control the outcome of these induced processes become as important as the basic, more traditionally distinguished properties mentioned at the beginning. In any case, it is the geoscientist's job to understand how these properties vary within the reservoir to fully realize its economic potential.


BACKGROUND Stroke is a leading cause of disability and predicting functional outcome early at presentation would guide treatment and rehabilitation plans. The aim of this study was to assess baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score as predictor of functional outcome. METHODS Ninety consecutive patients with stroke were evaluated at presentation. The patient's demographics, clinical features, risk factors for stroke and NIHSS were tested as potential predictors of functional outcome in a multiple regression analysis. The Barthel index was used to measure functional outcome at 28days. RESULTS Significant predictors on univariate analysis were; age, gender, random blood glucose on admission, atrial fibrillation, mean packed cell volume, stroke type and NIHSS score. On multivariate regression analysis the NIHSS score was the only independent predictor of functional outcome (B=,P<0.05). CONCLUSION NIHSS score is an important predictor of functional outcome and should be utilized in stroke care.


: This paper proposes to analyze the inequality of economic development between regions in South of Sulawesi in 2010 - 2019 by using the Williamson Index. Equipped with a descriptive analysis to describe the supporting sectors of the economy in South Sulawesi Province. By using the Williamson Index, the results show that the level of Regional Inequality in South Sulawesi in 2010 - 2019 is highly about 0.639. But if the city of Makassar is excluded from the measurement, the number dramatically decreases to 0.285. This is indicated that Makassar City is the cause of the high level of Regional Inequality in South Sulawesi. The reason is that the economic structure of Makassar City has been dominated by the manufacturing sector, not by the agricultural sector, compare to the other regions. In total, the economy in South Sulawesi is supported by four main sectors of business, there are Agriculture (21.14 %), Wholesale and Retail Trade (14.71 %), the Manufacturing Industry (13.84 %), and the Construction sector (12, 13 %). The Large and Retail Trade Sector contributed 20.46 % to the Provincial GRDP, while the manufacturing sector contributed 18.31 %. In fact, the agricultural sector is only 0.48 %.


Social Impact Bond (SIB) is a funding mechanism for social projects whereby the payment for the projects is anchored on meeting the outcome metrics, otherwise the investors risk losing their money. The mechanism emerged since 2010 in the United Kingdom and has quickly spread to other parts of the world. In the past, there has not been any popular fatwā on this mechanism from a Sharīʿah point of view.  Therefore, this article will examine the funding and payment arrangement and then conduct takyif fiqhi (jurisprudential adaptation) to ascertain the degree of Sharīʿah compliance and determine the most appropriate Islamic contract most suitable under the arrangement. The article adopts qualitative method of research by making in-depth analysis of Islamic contracts including the primary and secondary sources of Islamic law. It also relied on literature on SIB from conventional point of view and internet materials. Major findings of the research show that SIB, whilst its pay-for-success mechanism does not contain ribā, it contains excessive gharar. The excessive gharar, however, was found ineffective to void al-jaʿālah-based SIB and hibah li thawāb which is the second contract similar to SIB. This is because of hājah and element of gratuity respectively.


We investigate inequity in the use of long-term care services for a sample of dependent individuals living in Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and Spain using data from 2006/2007. The results suggest that there is not an equitable distribution of use of formal home care and informal care across the selected countries. Pro-poor inequity is found for formal home care in the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden while Italy and Sweden shows a pro-rich distribution of use when analyzing nursing/personal home care exclusively. With respect to informal care no evidence of inequity was found for all the countries except Sweden. However, in the case of intensive informal care use propoor inequity was found in The Netherlands, Sweden and Italy.


Maternal obesity in women is increasing worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in adipose tissue metabolism and function in adult male offspring from obese and control fed mothers subjected to an ad libitum feeding challenge. We developed a model in which obese ewes were fed 150% of feed provided for controls from 60 days before mating to term. All ewes were fed to requirements during lactation. After weaning, F1 male offspring were fed only to maintenance requirements until adulthood (control = 7, obese = 6), when they were fed ad libitum for 12 weeks with intake monitored. At the end of the feeding challenge offspring were given an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), necropsied, and adipose tissue collected. During the feeding trial F1obese males consumed more (P < 0.01), gained more weight (P < 0.01) and became heavier (P < 0.05) than F1control males. During IVGTT, Obese F1 offspring were hyperglycemic and hypoinsulinemic (P < 0.01) compared to F1 control F1. At necropsy perirenal and omental adipose depots weights were 47% and 58% greater respectively and subcutaneous fat thickness 41% greater in F1obese vs F1control males (P < 0.05). Adipocyte diameters were greater (P ≤ 0.04) in perirenal, omental and subcutaneous adipose depots in F1obese males (11, 8 and 7% increase vs. control, respectively). When adipose tissue was incubated for 2 hrs with C-14 labeled acetate, subcutaneous, perirenal, and omental adipose tissue of F1 obese males exhibited greater incorporation (290, 83, and 90% increase vs. control, respectively P < 0.05) of acetate into lipids. Expression of fatty acid transporting, binding, and syntheses mRNA and protein was increased (P < 0.05) compared to F1 control offspring. Maternal obesity increased appetite and adiposity associated with increased adipocyte diameters and increased fatty acid synthesis in over-nourished adult male offspring.


Felt or enacted criticism has been identified as an important variable influencing parents' decision making when seeking help for an acutely sick child at home in the white British population (Neill et al. 2013). Aim To explore the transferability of the felt or enacted criticism concept to children's hospitals in Ireland and South Asian and Travelling family communities in the UK. Methods Comparative thematic analysis was used to draw comparisons between data coded to felt or enacted criticism in three qualitative data sets: Two community based studies in the UK with parents of children under 5 years; One study in Ireland with parents of hospitalised children 7 to 16 years. The process was informed by Glaserian formal grounded theory development processes. Results Felt or enacted criticism was found to operate in all three studies demonstrating its applicability, or 'work' in Glaser's terms, across the childhood age range, social groups and contexts in the English speaking Western world. All components of felt or enacted criticism were identified in all data sets: labelling, discrediting attributes, fear of discrimination and unequal power distribution. The effect was most stark in the hospital setting where parents feared 'over stepping the mark' and avoided 'bothering' staff, reducing communication. The concept was often expressed in the context of perceived social hierarchy with doctors seen as socially superior to parents themselves. Parent's use of strategies to avoid criticism varies more between settings than between social groups, illustrating the modifiability of the theory. Conclusion Parents experiences of criticism, even when not explicitly verbal in nature, influence their decision making about health service use and/or their interactions with health care professionals during health service use for their children. Such criticism leads to avoidance of future events and leads to parents self limiting access to services and, consequently, support and advice. There is a need for health care professionals to develop a more empowering approach in their encounters with parents of young children.


In micromanipulation, the size of the manipulated object is usually much less than 1 mm in a single dimension, in which case gravitational and inertial forces are no longer dominant. This leads to problems (for manipulation through force) that are not evident in the macroworld, and for which the macroworld techniques alone may not be adequate to provide solutions. This paper surveys critical issues and their available solutions related to force control in micromanipulation. It focuses on: 1) techniques for dealing with adhesion forces and 2) methods for force sensing and control


We have presented a detailed retrospective on modular robots and discussed connections between modular robots and programmable matter. This field has seen a great deal of creativity and innovation at the level of designing physical systems capable of matching shape to function and algorithms that achieve this capability. The success of these projects rests on the convergence of innovation in hardware design and materials for creating the basic building blocks, information distribution for programming the interaction between the blocks, and control. Most current systems have dimensions on the order of centimeters, yet pack computation, communication, sensing, and power transfer capabilities into their form factors. Additionally, these modules operate using distributed algorithms that use a modules ability to observe its current neighborhood and local rules to decide what to do next.


Nowadays, there are 17 mini-milk processing plants in the state of Alagoas attending the "Fome Zero Program". Microbial and physico-chemical qualities of their products are being monitored at the Food Microbiology Laboratory of the Federal University of Alagoas. Three hundred and forty eight samples of type C pasteurized milk were analyzed for coliforms at 35 and 45 °C; mesophilic and psycrotrophic bacteria, as well as for the presence of Salmonella, according to the methodologies proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Physico-chemical analysis parameters (acidity; stability to alcohol; density at 15 °C; freezing point; fat and protein contents and fat-free dry extract) were conducted according to the conventional methodology (Adolfo Lutz Institute). Only fat and protein contents were evaluated by using the Ekomilk apparatus. The results showed that 134 (38.5%) and 159 (45.7%) of the samples were in accordance with the parameters officially established by the Ministry of Agriculture (IN51/2002) for microbiological and physico-chemical parameters, respectively. Salmonella was not detected in the samples. Implementation of good manufacturing practices and HACCP programs will help improving the safety of this product.