Abstract Reactions between olivine and plagioclase form kelyphytic corona textures in the Rymmen gabbro, southern Sweden. The coronas surround olivine and consist of enstatite ± amphibole and phlogopite, combined with an outer rim of symplectic intergrowth of green spinel and amphibole. Corona reactions took place in fractures within olivine prior to the formation of chlorite, serpentine, and magnetite in the fractures at cooler conditions. Disequilibrium between olivine and plagioclase has been put forward as an explanation for the corona formation. However, inclusions of plagioclase in olivine show that there is no reaction between these minerals, since no new minerals formed between them. The conclusion drawn is that the most important factor for development of kelyphytic structures in the Rymmen gabbro is contact with a late deuteric fluid in an environment where olivine and plagioclase are close to each other. Temperature estimates for the formation of the kelyphytic coronas in the Rymmen gabbro yield consistent temperatures of around 800 ± 30°C and pressures 6-8 kbar, which indicate emplacement at a depth of 20-30 km in the crust. Late deuteric fluids caused olivine replacement by intergrown orthopyroxene and magnetite, in Fe-Ti oxide-rich rocks only. In these, plagioclase is replaced by symplectite when in contact with ilmenite and magnetite. It is noted that the symplectite minerals have low Ti contents. This suggests that the Fe-Ti oxide was a catalyst for the reaction between plagioclase and late-stage aqueous fluids rather than being a reactant, alternatively that the magnetite/ilmenite was a reactant and Ti was retained in the oxide.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the characteristics of left ventricular rotation and twist in patients with essential hypertension (EH) of different left ventricular configurations by 3-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE).

METHODS
A total of 106 EH patients were divided into 4 groups: a left ventricular normal configuration (LVN) group (n=30), a concentric remodeling (CCR) group (n=31), a concentric hypertrophy (CCH) group (n=29), an eccentric hypertrophy (ECH) group (n=16), and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. The parameters of LVEF, peak basal rotation (Prot-B), peak apical rotation (Prot-A), left ventricular peak apical rotation (LV-rot), and left ventricular peak apical twist (LV-tw) were compared.

RESULTS
The left ventricular mass index in the EH groups, which kept increasing, was higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, LVN and ECH group, the left ventricular posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum at end-diastole, and relative wall thickness significantly increased in the CCH and CCR group (P<0.05). LVEF showed no significant difference among the normal control, LVN, CCR and CCH group (P>0.05), but LVEF was lower in the ECH group than in other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, Prot-B, Prot-A, LVrot and LVtw were significantly higher in the LVN, CCR and CCH group (P<0.05), but decreased in the ECH group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
3D-STE can evaluate the left ventricular rotation and twist in EH patients with different configurations, and reflect changes in the left ventricular systolic function in EH of different configurations.


Current geographical information systems GIS deal almost exclusively with well-defined, static geographical objects ranging from physical landscapes to towns and transport systems. Such objects, exactly located in space, can easily be handled by modern GIS, yet form only a small proportion of all the possible geographical objects.; This book challenges the assumption that the world is compsed of exactly defined and bounded geographic objects such as land parcels, rivers and countries. ignoring the essential complexity of the world, current GIS do not adequately address problems as diverse as the resolution of crime between national boundaries, or the interpretation of views of people from different cultures. This work, bringing together a range of specialists from fields such as linguistics, computer science, land surveying, cartography and soil science, examines current research into the challenges of dealing with geographical phenomena that cannot easily be forced into one of the two current standard data models.


Voltage balance issue of dc-link capacitors is very important for applications of a cascade multilevel converter or a modular multilevel converter. In this paper, a novel diode-clamped modular multilevel converter (DCM2C) topology is proposed and a power feedback control method is developed. With the developed control strategy, the proposed diode-clamped circuit becomes a controllable closed loop which enables the capacitor voltages to be clamped by low power rating clamping diodes. The proposed topology and control strategy has quicker response and requires much fewer voltage sensors than the normally used traditional method; therefore, the system performance improvement and cost reduction are expected. Based on the proposed DCM2C, a novel N +1-level cascade multilevel topology is proposed for a cascade active power filter (CS-APF). The simulation and experimental results from the CS-APF have demonstrated and verified the effectiveness of the proposed novel topology and control method.


5-Benzylamino-3-tert-butyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, C(20)H(23)N(3), (I), and its 5-[4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-, C(21)H(22)F(3)N(3), (III), and 5-(4-bromobenzyl)-, C(20)H(22)BrN(3), (V), analogues, are isomorphous in the space group C2/c, but not strictly isostructural; molecules of (I) form hydrogen-bonded chains, while those of (III) and (V) form hydrogen-bonded sheets, albeit with slightly different architectures. Molecules of 3-tert-butyl-5-(4-methylbenzylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, C(21)H(25)N(3), (II), are linked into hydrogen-bonded dimers by a combination of N-H...pi(arene) and C-H...pi(arene) hydrogen bonds, while those of 3-tert-butyl-5-(4-chlorobenzylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, C(20)H(22)ClN(3), (IV), form hydrogen-bonded chains of rings which are themselves linked into sheets by an aromatic pi-pi stacking interaction. Simple hydrogen-bonded chains built from a single N-H...O hydrogen bond are formed in 3-tert-butyl-5-(4-nitrobenzylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, C(20)H(22)N(4)O(2), (VI), while in 3-tert-butyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylamino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, C(23)H(29)N(3)O(3), (VII), which crystallizes with Z' = 2 in the space group P-1, pairs of molecules are linked into two independent centrosymmetric dimers, one generated by a three-centre N-H...(O)(2) hydrogen bond and the other by a two-centre N-H...O hydrogen bond.


Face representation is a crucial step of face recognition systems. An optimal face representation should be discriminative, robust, compact, and very easyto-implement. While numerous hand-crafted and learning-based representations have been proposed, considerable room for improvement is still present. In this paper, we present a very easy-to-implement deep learning framework for face representation. Our method bases on a new structure of deep network (called Pyramid CNN). The proposed Pyramid CNN adopts a greedy-filter-and-down-sample operation, which enables the training procedure to be very fast and computationefficient. In addition, the structure of Pyramid CNN can naturally incorporate feature sharing across multi-scale face representations, increasing the discriminative ability of resulting representation. Our basic network is capable of achieving high recognition accuracy (85.8% on LFW benchmark) with only 8 dimension representation. When extended to feature-sharing Pyramid CNN, our system achieves the state-of-the-art performance (97.3%) on LFW benchmark. We also introduce a new benchmark of realistic face images on social network and validate our proposed representation has a good ability of generalization.


Effects of Al in different added condition on pores shape and mullite configuration were investigated. Three sorts of hole were got by using Al as foaming agent in mullite composites. It was concluded that isolated holes could be formed by Al changing to Al2Ol3 with acidity condition in green state, open holes could be formed by Al changing to Al2O3 directly in sintering process, and mixed hole of isolated and open ones could be formed by Al changing to Al(OH)3 with alkalescence condition in green state followed changing to Al2O3 in sintering process. These holes could supply a position for growth of mullite as well.


Abstract Organizations and teams are switching to agile methodology more and more often. The problem lies in the fact that organizations and teams are not certain at which agility level they currently are and at which agility domains they fail. This research focuses on creating a new method and tool for evaluation of the agility level of the company. The proposed method is based on the agility model of the company with agility domains, subdomains and attributes. Expert evaluation of domains, subdomains and attributes is the core of this method. The result of this research is the agility assessment method and blueprint of the architecture for the agility evaluation tool.


The recent developments in the Internet of Things related technologies have caused a shift towards smart applications such as smart cities, smart homes, smart education systems, e-health, and online applications to run businesses. These, in turn, have introduced significant additional loads to the existing network infrastructures. In addition, these applications use big data and require relatively short response times. In this paper, we are introducing a new scheduling and routing approach to enhance the end user experience, and utilize the network resources by providing improved transmission speed for the big data applications. The approach considers the source and destination requirements in terms of data size, expected delay, link load, and link capacity. Extensive simulations are performed, and the results obtained show the efficiency of our approach against other competitive approaches in terms of in-network delay, network throughput, and dropped packets.


Estrogens play a crucial role in spermatogenesis, and estrogen receptor a knock-out male mice are infertile. It has been demonstrated that estrogens significantly increase the speed of capacitation in vitro; however, this may lead to the reduction of reproductive potential due to the decreased ability of these sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction. Up to present, the in vivo effect of estrogens on the ability of sperm to capacitate has not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we exposed mice (nZ24) to 17b-estradiol (E2) at the concentration of 20 ng/ml either during puberty from the 4th to 7th week of age (nZ8), or continuously from birth for a period of 12 weeks (nZ8) at which age the animals from both groups were killed. The capacitation status of epididymal and testicular sperm was analysed by tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrP) antibody (immunofluorescence and western blot) and chlortetracycline (CTC) assay. According to our results, in vivo exposure to increased E2 concentrations caused premature sperm capacitation in the epididymis. Q2 The effect of E2, however, seems reversible, because after the termination of the exposure, premature epididymal sperm capacitation is decreased in animals treated during puberty. Furthermore, the changes in epididymal sperm capacitation status detected by TyrP Q3 and CTC positively correlatewith plasma levels of E2 and the expression of the estrogen-dependent trefoil factor 1 (Tff1) gene in testicular tissue. Therefore, our data implicate that in vivo exposure to E2 under specific conditions leads to the premature capacitation of mouse sperm in epididymis with a potential negative impact on the sperm reproductive fitness in the female reproductive tract. Reproduction (2013) 145 1‐10


This book argues that we are currently witnessing not merely a decline in the quality of social science research, but the proliferation of meaningless research, of no value to society, and modest value to its authors - apart from securing employment and promotion. The explosion of published outputs, at least in social science, creates a noisy, cluttered environment which makes meaningful research difficult, as different voices compete to capture the limelight even briefly. Older, more significant contributions are easily neglected, as the premium is to write and publish, not read and learn. The result is a widespread cynicism among academics on the value of academic research, sometimes including their own. Publishing comes to be seen as a game of hits and misses, devoid of intrinsic meaning and value, and of no wider social uses whatsoever. Academics do research in order to get published, not to say something socially meaningful. This is what we view as the rise of nonsense in academic research, which represents a serious social problem. It undermines the very point of social science.This problem is far from 'academic'. It affects many areas of social and political life entailing extensive waste of resources and inflated student fees as well as costs to tax-payers. Part two of the book offers a range of proposals aimed at restoring meaning at the heart of social research and drawing social science back address the major problems and issues that face our societies. (Less)


Prognosis of Furcation Involved Teeth: Cost-Effectiveness over Implant Placement
The severe intrusion of dental implants in everyday clinical practice tends to replace conservative therapeutic approaches of maintaining teeth with dubious prognosis. Furcation-involved (FI) molars pose a great dilemma to the clinician, as in most cases their treatment requires significant effort using surgical interventions as well. Prognosis for multi-rooted is usually worse than single-rooted teeth and additionally, furcation degree III is associated with significantly increased rates of tooth loss. However, clinical studies have shown that retention of teeth with poor prognosis have little effect on the proximal bone loss around adjacent teeth and possibly can be maintained over 10 years in patients who receive regular supportive periodontal treatment. The decision to retain furcation involved teeth is complex and based on multiple aspects such as the extent of dental caries, the remaining tooth structure, the extent of previous reconstructions, post and core build-ups, the extent of periodontal destruction, and the risks associated with endodontic therapy. On the other hand, implant therapy is not panacea. Implants which have been place in periodontal patients are possible to develop peri-implantitis after 5 years of function, with multiple factors to be asociated with the prevalence of disease. The purpose of the current review is to determine the cost-effectiveness of furcation involved molars replacement with dental implants. Many studies, which have been carried out recent years, indicated that maintenance of a furcated-molar with severe bone loss and the patient's obliance to the supportive periodontal treatment is of paramount importance in order to establish their retention in patient's dentition. Recent studies have been shown that maintenance of molars with FI is less costly than their replacement with implants and the treatment they might later require, regardless patient's risk profile. When periimplantitis occurs, initial and follow-up therapies generate further and high costs. Therefore, dentists should reconsider the benefits regarding effortless extractions and implant replacements and measures in order to preserve the permanent dentition.


This Ph.D. thesis in Economics consists of four self-contained chapters that empirically explore sources of economic inequality, using data from experiments, sports competitions, and Swedish registers.Competing biases: Effects of gender and nationality in sports judging explores in-group biases among judges in the equestrian sport dressage – the only Olympic sport with subjective performance evaluations in which male and female athletes compete as equals. International dressage competitions provide a rare opportunity to investigate gender bias and nationalistic bias in the same setting, using naturally occurring data on decisions of professional decision makers.Gender differences in initiation of negotiation: Does the gender of the negotiation counterpart matter? experimentally investigates how gender differences in the willingness to enter a wage negotiation are affected by whether the counterpart is a man or a woman.The importance of family background and neighborhood effects as determinants of crime uses Swedish register data to estimate sibling and neighborhood correlations in criminal convictions and incarceration.Omission effects in fairness behavior experimentally tests if individuals are more prone to act selfishly if they can passively allow for a self-serving outcome to be implemented rather than having to make an active choice.


: Unwanted side effects because of spectral aliasing and spectral imaging during signal processing would be the major concern over the sampling rate alteration. Multirate-multistage implementation of digital filter could come about a large computational saving than single rate filter suitable for sample rate conversion. This implementation can further improved through high-level architectural transformation in circuit level. Reallocating registers and relocating flip-flops across logic gates through retiming certainly a prominent sequential transformation technology that optimize hardware circuits to achieve faster clocking speed without affecting the functionality. In this paper, we proposed an efficient compensated cascade Integrator comb (CIC) decimation filter structure that analyze the consequence of filter order variation which has a retimed FIR filter being compensator while using the cutset retiming technique and achieved an improvement in the passband droop by 14% to 39%, in computation time by 38.04%, 25.78%, 12.21%, 6.69% and 4.44% and reduction in path delay by 62.27%, 72%, 86.63%, 91.56% and 94.42% of 3, 6, 8, 12 and 24 order filter respectively than the non-retimed CIC compensation filter. a


Theories of word learning have proposed several tools that children and adults use to reduce the difficulty of the word learning problem. However, we propose that reducing difficulty may be detrimental—difficulty may promote long-term word learning. In this study, we tested predictions of desirable difficulties and the retrieval effort hypothesis in a crosssituational word learning paradigm. Learners were presented with objects and labels in three conditions of learning (easy, medium, and difficult) and tested either immediately or one week later. Results revealed a counterintuitive pattern of performance—initially, participants in the easy condition had the highest performance. However, after a one week delay, participants in the medium condition had the highest performance. Participants" self-report of retrieval difficulty during learning is used to account for differences in performance over time. This work is discussed in terms of the implications for several fields of cognitive science: statistical learning, human memory, and language and cognitive development.


A linear induction accelerator that produces a beam of energetic (5 to 20 GeV) heavy (130 to 210 amu) ions is a prime candidate as a driver for inertial fusion. Continuing developments in sources for ions with charge state greater than unity allow a potentially large reduction in the driver cost and an increase in the driver efficiency. The use of high undepressed tunes (0' ::::: 85°) and low depressed tunes (0' ::::: 8.5°) also coRtributes to a potentially large reduction in the driver cost. The efficiency and cost of the induction linac system is discussed as a function of output energy and pulse repetition frequency for several ion masses and charge states. The cost optimization code LIACEP. including accelerating module alternatives. transport modules. and scaling laws is presented. Items with large cost-leverage are identified as a guide to future research activities and development of technology that can yield substantial reductions in the accelerator system cost and improvement in the accelerator system efficiency. Finally. a cost-effective strategy using heavy ion induction linacs in a development scenario for inertial fusion is presented.


Heterogeneous in vitro degradation of poly (β 14 C-isobutyl 2-cyanoacrylate) suggest that isobutyl cyanoacrylate surgical adhesive will gradually be absorbed when used in vivo. Experiments of tissue penetration by the adhesive were carried out in vitro in calf eyes and in vivo in rabbit eyes. Radioactive monomer was applied respectively to the surface of the cornea denuded of epithelium, and the polymerized adhesive was implanted intracorneally. The adhesive cannot penetrate the cornea, and in the time intervals of the experiments (up to nine weeks in vivo) no radioactive degradation products of the adhesive were found in the inner eye tissues by radioactive counts of the humors and inner tissues of the eyes.


This paper presents the dynamic growth behavior of the voids in ductile metals under dynamic loading condition. Started from energy conservation law, a dynamic damage model on void growth process is developed, in which inertial effect is taken into account. The proposed model on void growth is introduced into Gurson model through VUMAT subroutine, so the void growth behavior affected by inertial effect can be investigated and compared. Numerical analysis shows that inertial effect decreases the rate of void growth, and with the increasing of the loading rate, the decreasing effect becomes more remarkable. Inertial effect is very sensitive to the initial damage of the material and the distribution of the void density. The larger the initial damage and the sparser the void density, the stronger the inertial effect on the void growth.


Context: The evaluation of techniques of middle ear surgery is fraught with difficulty due to varieties of surgical technique and several confounding factors. Although endoscopic middle ear surgery has been described in English literature for decades, there are limited data comparing surgical result with microscopic tympanoplasty as highlighted by recent systematic reviews of literature. Aims: (1) To evaluate the surgical result of tympanoplasty only for patients with inactive chronic otitis media of mucosal type in our institution. (2) To compare the surgical result obtained by endoscopic tympanoplasty with postaural approach microscopic tympanoplasty. Settings and Design: This retrospective study carried out in M.S. Ramaiah Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of the inpatient and outpatient records of patients with inactive chronic otitis media operated by a single surgeon from May 2010 to September 2015. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative results and Student's t-test was used to compare quantitative results with a level of significance of P= 0.05. Results: A total of 44 ears in 42 patients were analyzed. There were 16 ears operated by transcanal endoscopic method, and 28 ears operated by postaural microscopic post method. The operative time was significantly less (difference of means 16.2 min) for endoscopic versus microscopic approach. Primary transcanal endoscopic superior flap tympanoplasty had statistically comparable surgical success with postaural microscopic anterior vascular strip tympanoplasty (92.9% vs. 88.5%).Discussion: In this retrospective study, by appropriate case selection, we have attempted to reduce the factors which may confound the result of tympanoplasty, such as the use of ancillary procedures such as cortical mastoidectomy. The transcanal endoscopic and postaural microscopic approach as practiced by us had similar outcomes. We found reduced operative time for transcanal endoscopic approach to tympanoplasty. Conclusions: Tympanoplasty alone for inactive chronic otitis media of mucosal type is an effective primary treatment option. Transcanal endoscopic approach is surgically as effective as postaural microscopic approach and may be associated with reduced operative time. Additional evaluation is required for revision cases and for comparing the audiometric result.


Bioinert metallic implants such as titanium and titanium alloys could be coated with bioactive materials with good adhesion to metal and which could be also bonded to the bone. In order to predict the mechanical behavior of coatings during the implant insertion, mechanical properties of the surface and through the thickness of deposited bioglass coatings are necessary to be studied. We report an investigation of the mechanical characteristics of bioglass coatings using the nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques. The coating topography with residual imprints was analyzed by in situ imaging method. The dependence of the friction coefficient on load in constant and ramped load tests as well as on the scratch speed is compared. Elastic modulus and hardness results after indentation on the coating surface with higher loads showed more consistent results with less pile up around imprints. The nanohardness and reduced elastic modulus of the coating is in the expected boundaries of theoretical values for glass and alloy with a moderate distribution through the coating thickness. Nanoscratch testing showed that the surface deform plastically with no visible debris or cracks.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of social capital on the mental health of older adults in rural China. The authors also examine potential heterogeneous effects and two possible pathways from social capital increase to mental health improvement.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on a panel data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this paper employs a fixed effect model to examine the impact of social capital on health. A two-stage instrumental variable approach is adopted to alleviate the issue of endogeneity.

Findings
Results demonstrate that social capital has improved the mental health of older adults in rural China significantly. The beneficial effect is stronger for female, people with lower income, aged people and mainly observed in the central and western regions. Social capital affects the mental health of rural older adults through raising the awareness of healthy behavior and lowering the searching cost of health-related information.

Practical implications
Social capital plays a vital role in improving the mental health of older adults in rural China and is necessary for the construction of beautiful countryside in China. The authority should increase the investment in both the hard and soft infrastructure to improve the mental health of rural residents and narrow the inequality in health status.

Originality/value
This study enriches the empirical literature on the relationship between social capital and mental health by providing new evidence from China. Also, we choose the social activities and communications of individuals to construct a standardized index for social capital, which can better capture the social capital at the individual level.


The thermal deformation of a stacked multichip package, which is a newly developed electronic package, was measured by phase-shifting moireacute interferometry. We developed this method using a wedged glass plate as a phase shifter to obtain displacement fields having a sensitivity of 30nm/line. This method also enabled the quantitative determination of the strain distributions in all observation areas. Thermal loading was applied from room temperature (25degC) to elevated temperatures of 75degC and 100degC where the thermal strains were examined and compared. The results showed that the longitudinal strain epsivxx was concentrated at the ends of two silicon chips, and the longitudinal strain epsivyy increased between the two silicon chips. The shear strain gammaxy increased at the end of the lower silicon chip from 0.17% to 0.30% when the temperature increased by 25degC


The Seljuq Turks were a group of nomadic warriors who converted to Sunni Islam by the end of the tenth century. Over the course of the next half century the Seljuqs conquered the majority of what we now call the Middle East. One Seljuq dynasty in particular, known to historians as the Great Seljuqs, positioned themselves as the dominant political power in the region as well as champions of Sunni Islam. Scholars refer to this period of Seljuq control as the "Sunni Revival" and debate heavily whether Seljuq political and religious practices were the cause of this "Revival," as well as whether there was ever a "Sunni Revival" at all. The question of the extent of direct Seljuq involvement matters because this period was a pivotal moment in the religious and political history of the region. My research seeks to understand the factors that caused the structural changes evident in Islamic societies between 1000-1200 CE, including the question of "revival," the role of the Great Seljuqs, and the political and religious strategies they and others employed. Indeed, as I show, the Great Seljuqs were so influential in their religious devotion and political system that they created standards of rule that would influence Islam and Islamic rule for centuries.


Many practical tasks in industry, such as automatic inspection or robot vision, often require scanning of three-dimensional shapes with non-contact techniques. However, transparent objects, such as those made of glass, still pose difficulties for classical scanning techniques. The reconstruction of surface geometry for transparent objects is complicated by the fact that light is transmitted through, refracted and in some cases reflected by the surface. Current approaches can only deal relatively well with sub-classes of objects. The algorithms are still very specific and not generally applicable. Furthermore, many techniques require considerable acquisition effort and careful calibration. This thesis proposes a new method of determining the surface shape of transparent objects. The method is based on local surface heating and thermal imaging. First, the surface of the object is heated with a laser source. A thermal image is acquired, and pixel coordinates of the heated point are calculated. Then, the 3D coordinates of the surface are computed using triangulation and the initial calibration of the system. The process is repeated by moving the transparent object to recover its surface shape. This method is called Scanning From Heating. Considering the laser beam as a point heating source and the surface of the object locally flat at the impact zone, the Scanning From Heating method is extended to obtain the surface normals of the object, in addition to the 3D world coordinates. A scanner prototype based on Scanning From Heating method has been developed during the thesis.


Objective: To evaluate the effects of 1% and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions at different periods of time on the composition of gutta-percha cones using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Material and Methods: 110 master gutta-percha points were divided into 3 control groups and 8 experimental groups. Cones were immersed in 1% and 2.5% NaOCl for 30 minutes, 6, 12, 24 hours. Then, composition of the samples was analyzed by EDS. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA and Tukey tests (p<0.05). Results: There was an increase of oxygen in experimental groups, and decrease of zinc when NaOCl was used, concentration and time-dependent. Conclusions: The disinfection with NaOCl solution causes alterations in the composition of gutta-percha cones. These modifications in gutta-percha structure might change important characteristics, increasing the risk of leakage and consequently failure of root canal treatment.


When sedentary endoparasitic nematodes infect plants, they induce complex feeding sites within the root tissues of their host. To characterize cell wall changes induced within these structures at a molecular level, we studied the expression of an extensin gene (coding for a major structural cell wall protein) in nematode-infected tobacco roots. Extensin gene expression was observed to be induced very early upon infection. This induction was weak, transient, and probably due to wounding during penetration and migration of the tobacco cyst nematode Globodera tabacum ssp solanacea-rum. In contrast, high extensin gene expression was observed during the whole second larval stage (an ~2-week-long phase of establishment of the feeding site) of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. During later stages of this interaction, expression gradually decreased. Extensin gene expression was found in at least three different tissues of the gall. We propose that distinct mechanisms lead to induced expression in these different cell types. The significance of these results for the understanding of plant-nematode interactions as well as the function of structural cell wall proteins, such as extensin, is discussed.


The reconstruction of shape and impedance obtained from measurements of scattered electromagnetic fields is considered for the two-dimensional case. Space mapping with inverse difference technique which is newly developed to solve inverse problem is used for this purpose. One of the advantages of this technique over other space mapping techniques is that it does not need parameter extraction during optimization process. As the contour of the cylinder is periodic, it can be represented by Fourier series. Measurements of scattered field and Fourier coefficients of the contour are used as inputs and outputs, respectively. The results are compared with exact shapes, and good agreement is obtained. It is also observed that reconstructions obtained by space mapping based technique are better than those obtained by artificial neural network for exact and noisy data. Sharp cornered tetragonal contour is also investigated for both noisy and noiseless case in order to show efficiency of the technique.


The values of architectural drawing are multiple: the most immediate is that of drawing as a means for the realization of a work, but perhaps the most important is that of drawing as an instrument for the comprehension of shapes and of the space that is determined by how they follow each other and change. Indeed, anyone who does not draw cannot recognize and remember, or even understand, the shape of objects, of architecture, of the urban environment, of the territory. I agree with Riccardo Migliari, who wrote: "Therefore, whoever does not draw cannot understand space, nor what it means 'to comprehend space,' and consequently, whoever does not draw cannot even understand the role of drawing in the formation of this intellectual ability that is so important to the work of an architect" [...].


KEYWORD: Telfaira Occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) is a vital source of plant vitamin, Zinc and a food antioxidant. The study was designed to determine the effect of Telfaira Occidentalis (T. Occidentalis) extract on the photo-stress recovery time (PSRT) of young Nigerian adults. The PSRT of forty subjects was determined before and after the ingestion of 180ml of the extract in three divide doses of 60ml daily for three days, using photic radiation from an ophthalmoscope on subjects who has a minimum PSRT of 30 seconds (secs). The post-test was measured at 24hrs interval for a period of 72hrs (3days). The results showed reduction in the mean baseline PRST value (48.56secs). The induced values were 45.30secs, 40.67secs, and 35.38secs at 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs respectively. This showed a percentage reduction of 6.49%, 16.25% and 26.73% per 24hrs interval.The effect was found to be insignificant (P<0.05). Individuals with pigment epithelial retinopathy and other retinal or macular problems could benefit from high dose of T. Occidentalis extract administration. Telfaira Occidentails, Beta-carotene, Anti-oxidant, Photo-stress recovery time, Retinal degeneration.


COVID-19 changed consumers' spending patterns, making the CPI weights suddenly obsolete. In most regions, adjusting the CPI weights to account for the changes in spending patterns increases the estimate of inflation over the early months of the pandemic. Under-weighting of rising food prices and over-weighting of falling transport prices are the main causes of the underestimation of inflation. Updated CPI weights should be developed as soon as is feasible, but flux in spending patterns during the pandemic complicates the development as quickly as 2021 of weights that represent post-pandemic spending patterns.


This paper surveys the causes of American business cycles for the century 1890 - 1990. Causes are taken to be exogenous shocks to a model with largely endogenous policy makers. Causes are classified as either real or monetary and domestic or foreign. All four causes were found to have led to cycles in the past century. This diversity was found in all time periods and for all size cycles. There were more domestic than foreign causes, confirming the relative independence of the American economy from external conditions. There were more real than monetary causes, conflicting with the popular view that monetary shocks are the source of most cycles.


Recently Coefficient Variation of R-R interval derived from patient's ECG is advocated to be an objective and quantitative method of analyzing autonomic nerve function. In the present study, we used this method to make an evaluation of the acupuncture treatment on the patients suffering from autonomic ataxia. Twenty-one patients were admitted to this therapy according to the results of CMI (Cornell Medical Index) test. (4 males, 17 females, mean age was 49.9 y.o.) ECG machine was used to measure the R-R interval every 100 heart beats before and after the treatment, and through this survey, the mean R-R interval (mR-R) and Coefficient Variation (C.V. SD/mR-R x 100%) were obtained. Subjective complaints were obtained at the same time, too. The mR-R became extended in 14 out of 21 patients after treatment and mean value of mR-Rs after treatment was significantly increased than prior to treatment. (871.6 msec-before 918.3 msec-after p less than 0.05) As for C.V. the mean value was not markedly changed but the variance was decreased significantly (1.67-before 0.47-after p less than 0.025), and 60% of subjective complaints were improved after treatment. These results suggest that acupuncture therapy is effective on the patients who have been diagnosed as having autonomic ataxia by regulating autonomic nerve function.


Prevalence of asthma has increased considerably in recent decades throughout the world especially in developed countries. Airway inflammation is thought to be prime cause for repeated episodes of airway obstruction in asthmatics. Several studies have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in initiation as well as amplification of inflammation in asthmatic airways. Excessive ROS production in asthma leads to alteration in key enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, uric acid, thioredoxin, superoxide dismutases, catalase, and glutathione peroxidases leading to oxidant—antioxidant imbalance in airways. Oxidant—antioxidant imbalance leads to pathophysiological effects associated with asthma such as vascular permeability, mucus hypersecretion, smooth muscle contraction, and epithelial shedding. Epidemiological data also support the scientific evidence of oxidant—antioxidant imbalance in asthmatics. Therefore, the supplementation of antioxidants to boost the endogenous antioxidants or scavenge excessive ROS production could be utilized to dampen/prevent the inflammatory response in asthma by restoring oxidant—antioxidant balance. This review summarizes the scientific and epidemiological evidence linking asthma with oxidant—antioxidant imbalance and possible antioxidant strategies that can be used therapeutically for better management of asthma.


Rural poverty has constrained the social and economic development in China. Tourism is a driver for positive change, which plays a significant role in delivering sustainable solutions for people, the planet, prosperity and peace. Smart tourism is a new model of tourism informationization based on cloud computing, the mobile terminal application as the core and characterized by interactive and other efficient information services. Smart rural tourism poverty reduction is one of the most effective ways to achieve targeted poverty reduction. With the increasing integration of "Internet + tourism", tourism has entered smart era. This study tries to analyze the application of the smart tourism, and examines the benefits to targeted poverty reduction in China. The main methodology is case study based on the operation of "Smart tourism supporting poverty reduction platform in Chengdu." The findings as follows: smart tourism effectively solve the problems such as backward infrastructure, serious homogenization, extensive operation, lack of service concept and lack of brand concept in rural tourism development; build smart rural tourism data center and application platform to provide intelligent management system to farmers; rural tourism system as the foundation, improve the intelligent management, marketing and service of rural tourism, and promote the sustainable development. Results may be useful for government institutions, NGOs and companies as well. This study has the referential value in the targeted poverty reduction process in China, through the analyse of the latest smart tourism platform can find the current advantages and defects and make up for flaw timely. Last but no least, in order to better reduce poverty and implement smart tourism, some recommendations to the government such as continuously implementing digital transformation, government as a lead organization to coordinate all players to share tasks together, introducing explicit policies enables consistent execution of government at all levels.


The complex variable reproducing kernel particle method (CVRKPM) of solving two-dimensional variable coefficient advection—diffusion problems is presented in this paper. The advantage of the CVRKPM is that the shape function of a two-dimensional problem is formed with a one-dimensional basis function. The Galerkin weak form is employed to obtain the discretized system equation, and the penalty method is used to apply the essential boundary conditions. Then the corresponding formulae of the CVRKPM for two-dimensional variable coefficient advection—diffusion problems are obtained. Two numerical examples are given to show that the method in this paper has greater accuracy and computational efficiency than the conventional meshless method such as reproducing the kernel particle method (RKPM) and the elementfree Galerkin (EFG) method.


Lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate, Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 (BLT), powders were prepared from polymerized precursors using citric acid as a chelating agent and ethylene glycol as an esterification agent. The effect of calcination temperature on the microstructure and morphology of powders were studied. It was shown that the pure and normally stoichiometric phase of BLT powders could be obtained at relative low temperature from 550o to 700oC even if the bismuth content is not excess in the starting precursors while the secondary phase could be detected at both lower and higher calcination temperatures. The shape of the BLT grains is also strongly influenced by the calcination temperature.


Let \(G\) be a group, \(\mathcal{S} = \{ S_i, i \in I\}\) a non empty family of (not necessarily distinct) subgroups of infinite index in \(G\) and \(M\) a \(\mathbb{Z}_2 G\)-module. In [4] the authors defined a homological invariant \(E_*(G, \mathcal{S}, M),\) which is  "dual" to the cohomological invariant \(E(G, \mathcal{S}, M),\) defined in [1]. In this paper we present a more general treatment of the invariant \(E_*(G, \mathcal{S}, M)\) obtaining results and properties, under a homological point of view, which are dual to those obtained by Andrade and Fanti with the invariant \(E(G, \mathcal{S}, M)\). We analyze, through the invariant \(E_{*}(G, S,M)\), properties about groups that satisfy certain finiteness conditions such as Poincar\'e duality for groups and pairs.


We present a long-term programme for timing the eclipses of white dwarfs in close binaries to measure apparent and/or real variations in their orbital periods. Our programme includes 67 close binaries, both detached and semi-detached and with M-dwarfs, K-dwarfs, brown dwarfs or white dwarfs secondaries. In total, we have observed more than 650 white dwarf eclipses. We use this sample to search for orbital period variations and aim to identify the underlying cause of these variations. We find that the probability of observing orbital period variations increases significantly with the observational baseline. In particular, all binaries with baselines exceeding 10 yr, with secondaries of spectral type K2 – M5.5, show variations in the eclipse arrival times that in most cases amount to several minutes. In addition, among those with baselines shorter than 10 yr, binaries with late spectral type (>M6), brown dwarf or white dwarf secondaries appear to show no orbital period variations. This is in agreement with the so-called Applegate mechanism, which proposes that magnetic cycles in the secondary stars can drive variability in the binary orbits. We also present new eclipse times of NN Ser, which are still compatible with the previously published circumbinary planetary system model, although only with the addition of a quadratic term to the ephemeris. Finally, we conclude that we are limited by the relatively short observational baseline for many of the binaries in the eclipse timing programme, and therefore cannot yet draw robust conclusions about the cause of orbital period variations in evolved, white dwarf binaries.


Abstract Scheelite mineralization in the granulite-facies supracrustal sequences of the Kerala Khondalite Belt, southern India is reported. The supracrustal sequences where the mineralization is found comprise granulite-grade metasediments which underwent metamorphism at ~550 Ma. The mineralization is assumed to have formed by late-stage metasomatism that overprinted the regional metamorphism of the country rock (garnet-biotite gneiss) and occurs along a quartz vein that intrudes the regional foliation. The paragenetic data from the vein demonstrate unambiguously a separate cycle of hydrothermal activity, resulting in metasomatism and mineralization. Scheelite is found in both the altered host rock along the foliation plane and in the quartz vein. Fluid inclusions preserved in the vein suggest that the mineralizing fluids were saline-aqueous in composition, while those in the country rocks were predominantly CO2-rich. The mineral chemistry and bulk-rock chemical composition of the mineralized domain reveal the unusual enrichment of Ca in the mineralised zone with the depletion of K. We propose that fluid discharging from a crystallizing deep-seated magma, mixing with deep circulating Ca-bearing palaeo-groundwater gave rise to the deposition of scheelite. The scheelite mineralization and the quartz vein emplacement occurred after the Pan-African regional metamorphism.


In binary classification, there are situations where negative (N) data are too diverse to be fully labeled and we often resort to positive-unlabeled (PU) learning in these scenarios. However, collecting a non-representative N set that contains only a small portion of all possible N data can often be much easier in practice. This paper studies a novel classification framework which incorporates such biased N (bN) data in PU learning. We provide a method based on empirical risk minimization to address this PUbN classification problem. Our approach can be regarded as a novel example-weighting algorithm, with the weight of each example computed through a preliminary step that draws inspiration from PU learning. We also derive an estimation error bound for the proposed method. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in not only PUbN learning scenarios but also ordinary PU learning scenarios on several benchmark datasets.


ABSTRACT Following 9/11, organizations advocating for stricter immigration policy grew across the United States. This study examines the Web site and online discussion forum of Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (ALIPAC), a group identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as nativist extremist. While forum participants are geographically dispersed, social media provide them a space to interact with like-minded people. Results show that ALIPAC members provide shared accounts that construct positive moral identities. Forum participants promise positive emotions of pride and power for joining the group, despite the perception that outsiders perceive them as racists. Drawing from tenets of patriotism, participants construct virtual identities and reject the racist stigma by turning them on immigrants, civil rights organizations, and politicians. Participants claim their emotional responses are rational and morally superior to those of the perceived opposition. Failing to share their anger, sense of injustice, and disgust is framed as irrational.


The Impact of Covid-19 Outbreak among Lymphoma Patients: What Did We Learn? Journal Clinical Therapeutics (2022): Abstract A very high number of articles have been published regarding SARSCOVID-19 infection among oncohematology patients. However, outside epidemiologic data and guidelines regarding the management of SARSCOVID-19 disease, no shared recommendations or expert opinions are available to decide whether it is advisable to initiate antineoplastic therapy during a phase of pandemic and, if so, how to modulate the treatment schedule. The need to administer antineoplastic or biological drugs and available monoclonal antibodies licensed for lymphoproliferative diseases makes it particularly complex in this perspective to define reasoned, evidence-based choices. We reviewed published studies with the largest cohort of patients, intending to recognize the most relevant risk factors. We have highlighted some unresolved questions about immunologic perturbation during SARSCOVID-19 infection that hinder a defined and biologically oriented approach, especially in the case of immunosuppression, both primary and acquired. It is interesting, in this context, that preliminary evidence shows a characteristic clinical course of SARSCOVID-19 infection that suggests specific management. We also summarized the role of immunoglobulin replacement treatment or monoclonal antibody administration.


Isolation technology is widely applied in civil engineering nowadays, while it is indicated by seismic damage investigations that the effect of vertical motion on buildings under earthquake couldn't be ignored. In order to study the 3D isolation effect on high-rise buildings subjected to near-field ground motions, the finite element analysis of an 11-story reinforced concrete frame-shear wall building is conducted, three ground motions are selected, three kinds of structural model are calculated, which are without isolation, with horizontal isolation and with three-dimensional isolation. By analyzing and comparing the seismic response results of models, the 3D isolation effect is studied, and some conclusions are obtained.


This paper presents a review of recent advances in modeling and simulation of conventional metal machining processes, which continue to dominate a significant part of all machining processes, and in recent years, the need for predictive models for machining processes has grown in importance in the digital manufacturing age. Significant advances have been made in modeling the mechanics of cutting in conventional machining, driven by industrial need and enabled by rapid advances in computational power. The paper surveys the state-of-the-art in analytical and numerical modeling of conventional metal machining processes with a focus on their ability to predict useful performance attributes including chip geometry, forces, temperatures, tool wear, residual stress, and microstructure. Also included in the review is a discussion of the industrial use of modeling and simulation tools for conventional machining. Additionally, the practical applicability, implementation benefits, and methodological limitations of conventional machining process modeling have been examined. The paper concludes with a summary of future research directions in modeling and simulation of conventional metal machining processes.


Generally speaking, the major parameter which has been used to monitor the dynamic tribological properties of the films over the past decades is friction coefficient. However, it has shown low in sensitivity for many cases. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce more improved physical measurements other than the friction coefficient to monitor and control the film tribological characteristics in sliding contacts. In view of this, the novel technology of using instead surface magnetization variations for evaluating the wear-resistant properties of the films is proposed. The experiment was conducted by the pairs of SUS304 rubbing with SKD11 substrate with different TiN films (PVD and CVD) on the surface at different normal loads in dry friction process. According to the experimental results of the dynamic variations of surface magnetization and friction coefficient with the SEM observations of the wear tracks, the effects of normal loads on the friction and wear properties for the die surfaces with different TiN films can be investigated. The experimental results show that the continuous surface magnetization variations can be used to determine the timing of film fracture and the endurance life more accurately than that by the friction coefficient variations as usual. Therefore, the novel method of using surface magnetization variations does show great potentialities for evaluating the tribological properties of the die surfaces with different TiN films.


Basing on statistic analysis of the character of homologue pairing in the series of monosomic lines of wheat Milturum 553 it was found that the diversions of monosomic and disomic plants from their original parent were caused by the changes in the system of actions and interrelations of genes caused by hemizygous state of chromosomes. Resolving capacity of monosomic line analysis as a method of cytogenetic investigations of wheat was demonstrated. Input of each chromosome in determination of meiotic characters was specified.


Let G be a finite subgroup of SL(3, \mathcal{C}) acting with an isolated singularity on \mathcal{C}3. A crepant resolution of \mathcal{C}3/G comes together with a set of tautological line bundles associated to each irreducible representation of G. In this note we give a formula for the triple product of the first Chern class of the tautological bundles in terms of both the geometry of the crepant resolution and the representation theory of G. From here we derive the way these triple products change when we perform a flop.


While host plant drought is generally viewed as a negative phenomenon, its impact on insect herbivores can vary largely depending on the species involved and on the intensity of the drought. Extreme drought killing host plants can clearly reduce herbivore fitness, but the impact of moderate host plant water stress on insect herbivores can vary, and may even be beneficial. The populations of the Finnish Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) have faced reduced precipitation in recent years, with impacts even on population dynamics. Whether the negative effects of low precipitation are solely due to extreme desiccation killing the host plant or whether moderate drought reduces plant quality for the larvae remains unknown. We assessed the performance of larvae fed on moderately water-stressed Plantago lanceolata in terms of growth, survival, and immune response, and additionally were interested to assess whether the gut microbial composition of the larvae changed due to modification of the host plant. We found that larvae fed on water-stressed plants had increased growth, with no impact on survival, up-regulated the expression of one candidate immune gene (pelle), and had a more heterogeneous bacterial community and a shifted fungal community in the gut. Most of the measured traits showed considerable variation due to family structure. Our data suggest that in temperate regions moderate host plant water stress can positively shape resource acquisition of this specialized insect herbivore, potentially by increasing nutrient accessibility or concentration. Potentially, the better larval performance may be mediated by a shift of the microbiota on water-stressed plants, calling for further research especially on the understudied gut fungal community.


Four years of implementing the CRMP, little is known about the extent of adoption of the measures to improve governance in cooperatives in general and SACCOS in particular. Therefore this study generally intended to assess the extent of good governance practices adoption in cooperative societies.
A sample of 25 SACCOS(15 work –based and 10 community based) were systematically drawn from a population of SACCOS in Dar es salaam. A questionnaire designed in a likert scale format to assess the extent of adoption of code of conduct for board and management, measures to ensure members participation and extent of compliance was administered to each SACCOS. Comparative bar charts were used to sort the attitudinal items that described the extent of adoption. Independent two sample t-test was used to compare the means of the mean scores across scale items in each of the three categories between work-based and community-based SACCOS.
The study reveals that Savings and credit Cooperative societies in Dar es salaam have adopted measures to enhance good governance principles. However there is significant differences in the extent of adoption of such measures between work-based and community-based SACCOS .Significant differences were found in the areas of electing leaders as per code of conduct, disclosure of property by leaders, training as well as induction for board members, executive, members and staff performance assessment. It is recommended that measures to empower SACCOS in the areas be instituted by relevant regulatory authorities.


Abstract Objective The present study tested the combination of an established and a validated food-choice research method (the 'fake food buffet') with a new food-matching technology to automate the data collection and analysis. Design The methodology combines fake-food image recognition using deep learning and food matching and standardization based on natural language processing. The former is specific because it uses a single deep learning network to perform both the segmentation and the classification at the pixel level of the image. To assess its performance, measures based on the standard pixel accuracy and Intersection over Union were applied. Food matching firstly describes each of the recognized food items in the image and then matches the food items with their compositional data, considering both their food names and their descriptors. Results The final accuracy of the deep learning model trained on fake-food images acquired by 124 study participants and providing fifty-five food classes was 92·18 %, while the food matching was performed with a classification accuracy of 93 %. Conclusions The present findings are a step towards automating dietary assessment and food-choice research. The methodology outperforms other approaches in pixel accuracy, and since it is the first automatic solution for recognizing the images of fake foods, the results could be used as a baseline for possible future studies. As the approach enables a semi-automatic description of recognized food items (e.g. with respect to FoodEx2), these can be linked to any food composition database that applies the same classification and description system.


E-learning system tends to occupy an increasingly important place in the initial and continuous training of athletes. This system has several advantages. First are reduced geographical barriers, participants in this training system have access to e-learning program content wherever they are, they can work from the comfort of their own home, on holiday in their own work pace and style, any time they want. Information is always available, participants having more control over it than in mainstream education. E-learning programs contain a large variety of teaching methods, costs are reduced (office rent, utilities, etc..) and provides advanced capabilities for observing and recording the progress of participants.
However, e-learning system, in addition to the numerous benefits it offers, presents a number of disadvantages, for which we suggest should be taken into account the blended learning system, on the spot where meetings are combined with the e-learning, training programs combining online with offline participation. Of the disadvantages of e-learning we note: the costs of technologies, equipment maintenance, internet connection, participants need to have a computer, laptop, or tablet and an internet connection, interaction with other students is lower than in the traditional training, the need for participants to be optimally motivated to complete the training program given the relatively high drop-out rate for e-learning programs. In conclusion, we can say that e-learning systems and blended learning can make a major contribution to training and social integration of athletes and former athletes, professionals in the field. Keywords: continuous training, e-learning, blended learning.


Purpose

Noting that resource integration is a pivotal dimension of value co-creation in Service-Dominant logic, this paper aims to explore how service employees engaged in co-creation processes with customers integrate the latter's resources.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the limitations of previous research on customer resources and their integration by service employees, this study turns to the concept of customer participation to identify the nature of customers' resources. A conceptual framework of their integration by service employees underpins nine key propositions. This foundation leads to the development of theoretical contributions, managerial implications and avenues for research.

Findings

Customers can use 12 types of resources in value co-creation. Contrasting with earlier findings, the conceptual framework reveals that service employees may not only integrate these customers' resources but also either misintegrate or not integrate them. Non-integration and misintegration may be intentional or accidental. Accordingly, value co-creation or co-destruction may result from interactions.

Research limitations/implications

This conceptual and exploratory text requires complementary theoretical and empirical investigations. It also does not adopt an ecosystems view of co-creation.

Practical implications

Knowing the different steps of resource integration and what influences them should increase the chances of value co-creation and limit the risks of value co-destruction.

Originality/value

Scant research has examined the nature of customer resources and how service employees integrate them. This paper also is the first to distinguish among resource integration, misintegration and non-integration.


Editor's column
 Another industry report issued last month touts the coming gains in US shale, predicting that the country will soon be the largest oil producer and possibly exporter in the world. The International Energy Agency's (IEA) Oil 2019, a 5-year outlook on the global energy industry, touts the "second wave" of the shale sector, which will transform oil markets worldwide.
 The IEA says the US will lead the way in oil supply growth over the next 5 years because of continued growth in shale, primarily from the Permian Basin. By the end of that 5-year period, the US will surpass Russia and be close to Saudi Arabia in total oil exports. Although consumption from China will decline and the use of electric vehicles will grow, demand will be stronger for jet fuel and petrochemicals, leading to an annual global increase of 1.2 million B/D.
 US oil output will account for almost three-fourths of the supply increase over the period, growing a total of 4.4 million B/D, following a production increase of 2.2 million B/D in 2018. "The second wave of the US shale revolution is coming," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in releasing the report. US oil output, including natural gas liquids, will rise to 19.6 million B/D by 2024. Excluding liquids, oil production will increase from the current 11 million B/D to 13.7 million B/D.
 One transformation taking place in the US shale sector is the entry of majors. Independents have dominated the play so far, led by such companies as Pioneer and Apache. But the short-cycle production time and geopolitical safety is increasingly attracting interest from large firms such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. ExxonMobil and Chevron announced plans last month to increase spending even more in the Permian Basin over the next few years.
 Although the industry has consistently underestimated US shale growth, some producers and engineers have a more nuanced outlook for the sector. There are potential hurdles to overcome if shale is going to continue to be the star in the global supply picture. Steep decline curves, parent-child well interference (or frac hits), and perhaps even a lower inventory of high-quality drilling locations are concerns.
 The issue of frac hits dominated discussion at the recent SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference. Parent-child well interactions may be lowering oil recovery factors from new child wells by 20–40% while also causing losses on older, yet less productive, parent wells, according to US and Canadian operators.
 That has led Mark Papa, one of the pioneers in US shale and chief executive officer of Centennial Development Resources, to become less optimistic about the future of US shale production. Frac hits and fewer high-quality drilling options may force a lower ceiling on shale, undermining these optimistic forecasts, which leads him to believe that the shale sector is already in its mature phase of producibility, he said during a panel discussion at the IHS Markit CERAWeek conference in Houston last month.
 But panelist Greg Powers, vice president of global innovation at Halliburton, cautioned that most of the learnings from shale to date have been experiential, not fundamental, and that a lot of the resource is still in the ground. In addition, he said, the chemistry of hydraulic fracturing is still a bit of a mystery. In other words, there is still much to figure out before concluding whether shale's second act is its final one.


The aim of this research was to develop a new methodology to obtain bioactive coatings on bioinert and biodegradable polymers that are not intrinsically bioactive. In this study, three types of materials were used as substrates: (i) high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) and two different types of starch based blends (ii) starch/ethylene vinyl alcohol blends, SEVA-C, and (iii)starch/cellulose acetate blends, SCA. These materials were obtained by injection moulding and by extrusion with blowing agents in order to obtain compact/porous 3D architectures. Three types of baths were developed in order to produce the newly proposed auto-catalytic Ca-P coatings: (i)alkaline, (ii) acid, and (iii) oxidant bath. The obtained results indicated that it was possible to coat the materials surfaces with calcium phosphate (Ca-P) layer with only 60 min of immersion in the different types of auto-catalytic solutions. These innovative auto-catalytic electroless route allows for the production of an adherent bioactive film on the polymeric surfaces. Furthermore, it was possible observe by SEM/EDS the clear bioactive nature of the Ca-P coatings after different immersion periods, in a simulated body fluid (SBF).


Introduction: The perspective of the end-user is often overlooked in the evaluation of a technology, especially in the development phase. We aim to extent on an existing model to include the needs & wants of actual users into health technology assessment. Methods: The novel application of the Medimate Multireader® is focused on the monitoring of electrolytes in the blood and is targeted especially at patients at risk of kidney disease. The application should be used by the patient itself. We conducted literature analysis, clinician and patient interviews, and questionnaires to estimate the impact of this technology on the patient, and their willingness and ability to perform self-monitoring tests. Results: First, we identified that patients with diabetes mellitus were the largest and easiest identifiable target group for the device. Second, the clinical needs of the patient group were identified through literature review, practice guideline analysis and interviews with general practitioners and patients. It was concluded that the clinical benefit of this technology to the patient is limited, but there is a desire among patients to have more frequent checks of kidney function. Third, different "use" cases were developed based on the qualitative data collected. In the fourth phase of this study, which is currently ongoing, we use a conjoint analysis methodology to place values on the different aspects of the technology implementation, to determine which factors are most crucial for future development and ultimately implementation. Discussion: The model enables active gearing of the technology towards user needs. As implementation of the technology is crucially dependent on user related factors such as acceptance and actual use, this is paramount. With the addition of quantitative data gathering in the last phase, value judgments are made explicit and further development decisions can be based on data that is easy to interpret for the developer.


Phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as an ecological and evolutionary concept. Ecologically, it can help study how genes and the environment interact to produce robust phenotypes. Evolutionarily, as a facilitator it might contribute to phenotypic novelty and diversification. However, the discussion of phenotypic plasticity remains contentious in parts due to the absence of model systems and rigorous genetic studies. Here, we summarize recent work on the nematode Pristionchus pacificus, which exhibits a feeding plasticity allowing predatory or bacteriovorous feeding. We show feeding plasticity to be controlled by developmental switch genes that are themselves under epigenetic control. Phylogenetic and comparative studies support phenotypic plasticity and its role as a facilitator of morphological novelty and diversity.


Background Reduced processing and experience of aversive emotional cues is a common component of theories on the development and persistence of aggression and antisocial behaviour. Yet physical pain, arguably the most basic aversive cue, has attracted comparatively little attention. Methods This study measured pain sensitivity and physiological response to painful stimuli (skin conductance level, SCL) in adolescent boys with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; n = 183), who are at high risk for antisocial behaviour. We compared boys with ADHD with and without a comorbid diagnosis of Conduct Disorder (CD) on pain sensitivity, and examined patterns of association between pain measures, on the one hand, and problem severity and callous and unemotional (CU) traits, on the other. Results Boys with comorbid CD exhibited a higher pain threshold and tolerance than boys with ADHD alone, but the groups did not differ in physiology at the time the pain threshold and tolerance were reported. Regression analyses showed that ADHD problem severity positively predicted pain sensitivity, whereas levels of CU traits negatively predicted pain sensitivity. Conclusions These findings on physical pain processing extend evidence of impairments in aversive cue processing among those at risk of antisocial behaviour. The study highlights the importance of considering comorbidity and heterogeneity of disorders when developing interventions. The current findings could be used to identify subgroups within those with ADHD who might be less responsive to interventions that use corrective feedback to obtain behaviour change.


Pica is the compulsive intake of non-nutritive substances such as earth, clay, chalk, soap and ice. The most common forms of pica are geophagia or the intake of earth and pagophagia or the intake of ice. The description of this peculiar phenomenon dates back to the Greco-Roman civilization. Its prevalence during pregnancy is generally underestimated. Published data reveal a prevalence of between 8% and 65%. Investigations from Latin America indicate a prevalence of 23% to 44%. It is not clear yet which are the causes that predispose to pica, but they are frequently associated with anemia or iron deficiency during pregnancy. Its diagnosis, which only consists in questioning pregnant women, is generally omitted during prenatal care, probably because health professionals have no knowledge about this disorder. The identification of pica in pregnant women could contribute to the detection of a risk group where it is necessary to implement strategies as regards both the evaluation and the nutritional education.


This thesis is based on a study of the development of education through theinnovative use of process-based assessment in technology-rich learningenvironments in teacher and nurse education. The study of process-basedassessment addresses the aim of creating a better understanding of the shiftin emphasis from teaching to learning with regard to theory and practice.The research questions address the use of process-based assessment, andhow the social relationships and issues of content can be understood intechnology-rich learning environments. A methodological approachinvolving design-based research was found to be especially applicable. Thestudy was designed in three iterative didactical design cycles for processbasedassessment in which the first and third cycles were analysed. Theempirical material comprises qualitative semi-structured interviews withteachers and students and questionnaires with students. The empiricalmaterial was analysed through inductive thematic analysis. The theoreticalanalyses in the comprising articles are mainly based on Bernstein'stheoretical framework for studying social relationships through concepts ofsymbolic power and control. For understanding change, with regard to theshift in emphasis from teaching to learning, the analysis is taken to a metalevelby applying Bernstein's concept of pedagogical device.The results outline the shift in emphasis from teaching to learning fromboth a theoretical and practice perspective. Theoretically, the shift inemphasis from teaching to learning is based upon a shift in symbolic powerand control for teachers. In practice, the shift of symbolic power and controlbetween the teacher, student and content outline considerable overlapsbetween teacher-student, teacher-content and student-content. The overlapshighlight the empirical contribution in this thesis through the concept of"process" that is understood as a negotiation between teacher-student,teacher-content and student-content. The weakening symbolic powerrelationship made a multi-dimensional analysis of the teacher-studentcontentrelationship possible. Theoretically, the shift of symbolic poweroutlines a process of recontextualisation of a new discourse for teaching,learning and assessment. The multi-dimensional analysis highlights thetheoretical contributions to understanding the concept of discourse fromBernstein's perspective through which the content and context create thediscourse. For practice, process-based assessment frames the notion ofdesigning for the unknown. Designing for the unknown is considered as aframework based upon a set of rules through which teachers and studentsadapt to a problematising approach in teaching, learning and assessment


Today, the zoom air was widely used in top grade sport-shoes. Firstly, the function of zoom air, including shock absorption, energy return, light quantization and ornament results were introduced. Secondly, the problem of using the zoom air nowadays was brought forward, through testing the compression and rebounding of the zoom air in sport-shoes, the shock absorption and the energy return of it were researched. The factors of influencing the compression and rebounding of the zoom air were discussed from speed of the athletics and the aging of the zoom air. The speed had effect on the shock absorption performance and energy return performance. The faster the speed was, the smaller the protection the zoom air could offer and the energy feedback were. Ageing would not make the material of the zoom air produce essential change, but may cause the reduction of the gas in the zoom air. All performances of the zoom air were improved after ageing, which means the zoom air in the market was not optimum at present, all this contributed to the lack of united standard. Finally, the method of testing and the standard of evaluation were put forward, which did some early work for the standard of zoom air in producing and testing.


This paper features a study of the dividend policies of the larger listed British companies. It focusses on the sample companies' usage of target payout ratios. A company with a target payout is defined as one which has a policy of attempting to pay out a fixed proportion of available earnings as dividends. In particular, it examines the extent of the usage of explicit target payouts, the range of target payouts adopted and the frequency of changes in such targets. It also examines the factors which are perceived to have an influence on the company's choice of these targets. Finally, it extends and parallels previous work by Partington (1984) on the use of target payouts by Australian companies.


PURPOSE
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of common and vicious cancers of head and neck. The main purpose of this study was to examine the anticancer effects of the naturally occurring compound Ginsenoside (Rg1) against paclitaxel-resistant human nasopharyngeal cancer cells along with evaluation of its effects on cell autophagy, apoptosis, ROS production, cell cycle progression and m-TOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

METHODS
The viability of SUNE1 cancer cell line and NP460 normal cell line was checked by CCK8 counting assay. Apoptosis-related studies were examined by fluorescent microscopy using acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining as well as flow cytometry using annexin V assay. Further, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study autophagic effects induced by Ginsenoside (Rg1). Western blot assay was used to study the effects of Ginsenoside on apoptosis and on autophagy-related protein expressions including Bax, Bcl-2, LC3-ll.

RESULTS
The results indicated that Ginsenoside (Rg1) reduces the viability of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, showing IC50 of 15 µM in cancer cells and IC50 of 80 µM in normal cell lines. The AO/EB staining showed that Ginsenoside (Rg1) inhibits the viability of cancer cells via induction of apoptotic cell death which was correlated with increase in Bax and decrease in Bcl-2 levels. Electron microscopic analysis showed that Ginsenoside (Rg1) caused the development of autophagosomes in cancer cells. Similarly, Ginsenoside (Rg1) increased the expression of LC3-II protein, indicating autophagic cell death. Ginsenoside (Rg1) also induced dose-dependent S phase cell cycle arrest. Western blot analysis showed that Ginsenoside (Rg1) has the potential to block m-TOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the results of this study clearly indicate that Ginsenoside (Rg1) could be developed as a potent candidate drug against nasopharyngeal cancer provided further in vivo studies as well as toxicological studies are carried out.


Gated images of patients with stronger pulsation artefacts in the brain stem were produced on a 1.5 tesla MR-imager, registering blood pulsations by means of a finger plethysmograph. A minimization of movement artefacts was achieved and thus sufficient diagnostic-value of images in these patients was noticeable. This gating method seems to be a promising simple alternative compared to the well known cardiac gating for imaging of the head and neck area. Its advantages and limitations are demonstrated.


We present a novel integrated analytical framework for analyzing the quality-of-service (QoS) performance measures in a wireless mobile multimedia network. The framework integrates physical, radio link, and network layer parameters and protocols to analyze the call-level and packet-level performances. In the network layer, call admission control (CAC) is responsible for deciding whether an incoming call can be accepted or not so that the performances of the ongoing calls do not deteriorate below the acceptable level. Also, an adaptive channel allocation (ACA) scheme is used to maximize the utilization of the radio resources. In the data link layer, queue management and error control are used for non-real-time loss-sensitive traffic. In the physical layer, a finite state Markov channel (FSMC) is used to model channel fading, and adaptive modulation is used for rate adaptation according to channel quality. Various call-level and packet-level QoS measures for real-time, non-real-time, and best-effort traffic are obtained. The analytical results are validated by extensive simulations. Examples of the applications of the presented analytical framework are also provided


Treatment of heteroscorpionate ligand precursors pbptamH, pbpamH, sbpamH and (S)-mbpamH with 2 equivalents of AlR3 (R = Et, Me) yielded the corresponding binuclear organoaluminium complexes [Al2R4(μ-pbptam)] (R = Me 1, Et 2), [Al2R4(μ-pbpam)] (R = Me 3, Et 4), [Al2R4(μ-sbpam)] (R = Me 5, Et 6) and [Al2R4{μ-(S)-mbpam}] (R = Me 7, Et 8). These complexes have helical chirality due to the demands of the fixed pyrazole rings. The stereoisomerism and the self-assembly processes of these helicates have been studied in some detail in solution by NMR and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction. Mixtures of M- and P-handed enantiomers and mixtures of M- and P-handed diastereoisomers were obtained when achiral (1–4) and chiral (5–8) heteroscorpionate ligands were used as scaffolds, respectively. Re-crystallization from hexane allowed us to obtain M-homochiral architectures in the solid state for the helical complexes [Al2Et4(μ-sbpam)] (6) and [Al2Et4{μ-(S)-mbpam}] (8). The reaction of heteroscorpionate ligands with 3 equivalents of AlR3 (R = Me, Et) led to the corresponding trinuclear organoaluminium complexes [Al3R7(μ3-pbptam)] (R = Me 9, Et 10), [Al3R7(μ3-pbpam)] (R = Me 11, Et 12), [Al3R7(μ3-sbpam)] (R = Me 13, Et 14) and [Al3R7{μ3-(S)-mbpam}] (R = Me 15, Et 16). The extra AlR3 molecule contributes to the formation of a diastereomeric excess of the PS helicate for complexes 15 and 16. X-ray determination of some of the helical complexes allowed us to witness a versatile and efficient self-assembly process of the building blocks (heteroscorpionate aluminium complexes) directed by noncovalent intermolecular CH–π interactions. The structures of these complexes have been determined by spectroscopic methods and the X-ray crystal structures of 2, 6, 8, and 16 have also been established. Concentration-dependent 1H pulsed field-gradient spin echo (PFGSE) NMR experiments provided evidence for the self-assembly of the single molecular species of complex 2 in solution. The degree of aggregation was calculated for complex 2, with the average number of units constituting the aggregate (N) estimated to be a maximum of 4 molecules in solution before reaching the solid state.


Objective: Lupus nephritis is one of the most relevant entities in Systemic Lups Erythematosus (SLE) given its high morbimortality and being the only manifestation that is diagnostic for itself, according to current criteria. The diagnosis can be suspected through routine test like accelerated elevation of seric creatinine with a persistent proteinuria. The gold standard for diagnosis is the renal biopsy. In 2003 the ISN/RNP proposed a classification system, which has been criticized for having poor reproducibility and lacking of objectivity in some nomenclatures. In April of current year is published a review of this definitions and is proposed improving the classification system of disease-activity. In order to avoid systematic biopsies, it is searched tissue-specific biomarkers which can faithfully reflect the disease inflammatory activity and have prognosis value. The conventional therapy has been restated as well, because there is still a non-satisfactory margin of patients that progress to chronic kidney disease with need of renal replacement therapy. The tendency of novel clinical trials is focused on the use of biological drugs with other pharmacological targets and also can lower the adverse effect rates associated to conventional cytotoxic drugs currently used.


While advocating for designers as key contributors to disaster resilience, this article proposes an alternative infrastructural model through community-specific design. The design and prototyping of Emergency Preparedness Hubs, or PREPHubs, proposes a new model for disaster infrastructure that is dispersed, off-grid, and locally adapted, while operating as a system. Instead of single-function technocratic objects, they are designed as cultural objects and multi-use systems which provide an alternative to lifeline infrastructures that are often disrupted during natural disasters. As dual-function systems, PREPHubs operate on a daily basis as interactive public space architectures, becoming embedded in the daily lives of local communities.


Laminar, transient forced convection problem over a 2D backward facing step (BFS) at an inlet Reynolds number (Re) of 400 is investigated numerically using OpenFOAM. To increase the Nusselt number (Nu) along the bottom wall, active flow control is applied by zero-net-mass-flux (ZNMF) combinations of suction and injection through three thin slits which are placed on the top, step and the bottom walls in the vicinity of the BFS. The combinations of each jet velocity is determined by jet to inlet mean velocity ratios which are limited to integer numbers between -2 and 2 and satisfying ZNMF condition where negative and positive values indicate suction and injection, respectively. All 19 cases which satisfy these rules are investigated. Average Nusselt number, friction coefficient and recirculation zone lengths are calculated along the bottom wall from time averaged flow fields. Among 19 cases with each having different jet configuration, some cases converged to steady state solution while others indicated temporal effects and converged to periodic solutions. To understand these transient effects, velocity oscillation magnitude and Strouhal number which are monitored at a selected critical point are evaluated. It is shown that temporal interaction of chosen active flow control methodology has significant effect on enhancing mixing which results in an increase of Nusselt number. Among all cases, the best case concerning thermal improvement has an increase of 78.5% in Nu number while the best aerodynamic improvement is achieved for another case with a decrease of 81% in total recirculation zone length compared to the reference case where no control is applied.


The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of remittances inflow on real GDP growth in Jordan during the period 1976-2013. Data from World Bank and Central Bank of Jordan spanning the period of the study is used. Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is employed in the analysis. The main findings are follows, analysis reveals a positive long-run (or equilibrium) relationship between economic growth, and each of capital, labor, and remittances in Jordan. In the short run, capital accumulation and labor compensations show no statistical significant association with real GDP growth, whereas remittances show negative impact on GDP growth. The error correction term that measures the speed of adjustment toward equilibrium is found negative in sign and statistically significant, where GDP growth corrects the short-run disequilibrium by 2.6%  a year.


Abstract Intensive recreational use of oligotrophic lakes can lead to increases in epilimnetic nutrient concentrations (through direct inputs from urine or re-suspension of sediments) and the development of undesirable algal blooms. Despite these adverse ecological responses to tourist activities, many lake monitoring programs do not address tourist nutrient inputs at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. This paper presents results of investigations aimed at detecting the effects of nutrient inputs to perched dune lakes on Fraser Island, principally through within-lake comparisons of nutrient and algal variables. Nutrient concentrations and algal biomass were measured in heavily visited (disturbed) and inaccessible (reference) sites within five perched dune lakes on Fraser Island, Australia, during the summer of 1999/2000. Whilst nutrient and phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations did not differ between sites, periphyton chlorophyll a concentrations were occasionally significantly higher in disturbed sites than in reference sites, particularly in the very popular clear lakes, suggesting that algal growth may be enhanced by tourist activities. Experimental manipulations of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in algal (phytoplankton and periphyton) bioassays were undertaken in each lake over the 2000/2001 summer, to assess algal responses to nutrient additions. The response of phytoplankton communities to nutrient additions varied greatly between lakes, with evidence of limitation or co-limitation by nitrogen and phosphorus in all systems. Periphyton biomass showed similar trends to phytoplankton in some lakes, but these were not significant. Nutrients added to lakes by tourists are likely to be rapidly assimilated by littoral zone periphyton communities in these oligotrophic lakes. As a result, impacts of tourism are not likely to be detected by traditional measurements of open water nutrient and phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations. Instead, measurement of periphyton growth and/or biomass (chlorophyll a) in the littoral zone might be the most spatially and temporally relevant indicator of tourist impacts in these lakes.


Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a challenge because of its high morbidity and mortality. Circulation histones levels in ARDS patients were correlated to disease severity and mortality. This study examined the impact of histone neutralization in a rat model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) double-hit. Methods: Sixty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to sham (N = 8, received saline only) or LPS (N = 60). The LPS double-hit consisted of a 0.8 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection followed after 16 h by 5 mg/kg intra-tracheal nebulized LPS. The LPS group was then randomized into five groups: LPS only; LPS +5, 25, or 100 mg/kg intravenous STC3141 every 8 h (LPS + L, LPS + M, LPS + H, respectively); or LPS + intraperitoneal dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg every 24 h for 56 h (LPS + D). The animals were observed for 72 h. Results: LPS animals developed ALI as suggested by lower oxygenation, lung edema formation, and histological changes compared to the sham animals. Compared to the LPS group, LPS + H and +D groups had significantly lower circulating histone levels and lung wet-to-dry ratio, and the LPS + D group also had lower BALF histone concentrations; the blood neutrophils and platelets counts in LPS + D group did not change, meanwhile, the LPS + L, +M and +H groups had significantly lower neutrophil counts and higher platelet counts in the blood; the total number of BALF WBC, platelet counts, MPO and H3 were significantly lower in the LPS + L, +M, +H and +D groups than in the LPS only group; and the degree of inflammation was significantly less in the LPS + L, +M, +H and +D groups, moreover, inflammation in the LPS + L, +M and +H animals showed a dose-dependent response; finally, the LPS + L, +M, +H and +D groups had improved oxygenation compared to the LPS group, and there were no statistical differences in PCO2 or pH among groups. All animals survived. Conclusion: Neutralization of histone using STC3141, especially at high dose, had similar therapeutic effects to dexamethasone in this LPS double-hit rat ALI model, with significantly decreased circulating histone concentration, improved acute lung injury and oxygenation.


Effect of multinutrient blocks hardness on voluntary intake on crossbred bovines An experiment was conducted under tropical dry forest conditions in order to evaluate the storage effect of the multinutrient blocks (BM) on hardness (R), voluntary (CV) and total dry matter intake (CMS), daily gain (GP), feed efficiency (EA) in 20 crossbred of 264 kg of average body weight (PV) in feedlot. The animal's diet was based in Brachiaria humidicola hay (4.44 % PC) and the suplemmentation with BM. The statistic design was a completely randomized and the experimental unit was an animal, where T0: hay (control), T1: BM 15 days + hay, T2: BM 30 days + hay, T3: BM 45 days + hay. BM (30 x 15 cm) were manufactured in a cilinder molds and carried to the hydraulic concrete testing machine and evaluate resistance in kg/cm 2 . Increasing storage time affected (P < .01) BM hardness T1: 2.33 kg/cm 2 in relation to the T2 and T3 (3.24 and 3.40 kg/cm 2 ) respectively. The CV was affected by treatments: T1 presented the greater consumption (0.75 kg/day/100 kg of PV) followed by the T2 and T3 (0.53 and 0.51 kg/day/100 kg of PV) respectively. Dry matter intake (CMS), daily gain (GP) and feed efficiency (EA) were influenced (P < .01) by BM. Palabras claves: Novillos, confinamiento, bloques multinutricionales, consumo voluntario.


Dependent radiative scattering by particles is experimentally investigated using plane-parallel cells containing latex spheres of 11, 2, and 0.08 μm diameter dispersed in an air or water matrix. The dependent scattering efficiencies and the bidirectional transmittance and reflectance were measured and compared with analytical results. The close-packed 2-μm spheres, which were expected to show dependent scattering from the previous criterion, gave results identical to independent scattering. Measured dependent scattering efficiencies of the small particles tested decrease with increasing particle volume fraction and were compared with those predicted by the theoretical investigation. The bidirectional transmittance and reflectance of dependent scattering were compared with those of independent scattering with the same number of spheres within the test cells. Several different patterns of dependent transmittance and reflectance appeared depending on the optical thickness. Finally, a newly proposed regime map bounding independent and dependent scattering is compared with the present and previous experimental data.


The requirements for early diagnostics as well as effective treatment of insidious diseases such as cancer constantly increase the pressure on development of efficient and reliable methods for targeted drug/gene delivery as well as imaging of the treatment success/failure. One of the most recent approaches covering both the drug delivery as well as the imaging aspects is benefitting from the unique properties of nanomaterials. Therefore a new field called nanomedicine is attracting continuously growing attention. Nanoparticles, including fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) and magnetic nanoparticles, have proven their excellent properties for in vivo imaging techniques in a number of modalities such as magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging, respectively. In this article, we review the main properties and applications of nanoparticles in various in vitro imaging techniques, including microscopy and/or laser breakdown spectroscopy and in vivo methods such as magnetic resonance imaging and/or fluorescence-based imaging. Moreover the advantages of the drug delivery performed by nanocarriers such as iron oxides, gold, biodegradable polymers, dendrimers, lipid based carriers such as liposomes or micelles are also highlighted.


In this paper, I distinguish three types of harm that can arise in the context of artificial intelligence (AI): individual harm, collective harm and societal harm. Societal harm is often overlooked, yet not reducible to the two former types of harm. Moreover, mechanisms to tackle individual and collective harm raised by AI are not always suitable to counter societal harm. As a result, policymakers' gap analysis of the current legal framework for AI not only risks being incomplete, but proposals for new legislation to bridge these gaps may also inadequately protect societal interests that are adversely impacted by AI. By conceptualising AI's societal harm, I argue that a shift in perspective is needed beyond the individual, towards a regulatory approach of AI that addresses its effects on society at large. Drawing on a legal domain specifically aimed at protecting a societal interest—environmental law—I identify three 'societal' mechanisms that EU policymakers should consider in the context of AI. These concern (1) public oversight mechanisms to increase accountability, including mandatory impact assessments with the opportunity to provide societal feedback; (2) public monitoring mechanisms to ensure independent information gathering and dissemination about AI's societal impact; and (3) the introduction of procedural rights with a societal dimension, including a right to access to information, access to justice, and participation in public decision-making on AI, regardless of the demonstration of individual harm. Finally, I consider to what extent the European Commission's new proposal for an AI regulation takes these mechanisms into consideration, before offering concluding remarks. Issue 3 This paper is part of Governing "European values" inside data flows, a special issue of Internet Policy Review guest-edited by Kristina Irion, Mira Burri, Ans Kolk, Stefania Milan.