My reading of Tuvel's defense of transracialism focuses on her critiques of three main objections to a transracial identity. Tuvel attempts to show how her defense of transracialism stands in the face of these objections. However, I argue that her position is not sufficiently immune to them. In other words, my response delineates the ways in which all three objections remain, and effectively undermine her argument in favor of transracial identities. Additionally, through the question of white allyship, I ask about the moral and political consequences of choosing to identify as transracial. I show that, without a clear account of what an existential choice of racial transitioning implies for allyship across race, Tuvel does not sufficiently establish the differences between the historical constitutions of racialized and sexualized identities. In failing to engage with these moral/political implications, Tuvel's position does not address the complex relationship between individual agency and collective accountability.


Information Technology (IT) industry is one of the fastest growing industries in India as elsewhere in the world. It has made its mark in the international markets. IT employees have contributed a great deal to this success story. Motivation is the driving force behind the quality output. The present study attempts to understand the motivational practices of IT industry in the city of Bangalore which is the hub in supply of IT products all over the globe. 510 software employees from 36 companies are surveyed. The data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0 statistical software. Statistical techniques adopted are descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, multivariate analysis and others. Among other things the study finds that the software engineers agree / strongly agree that Clean Work Place, Autonomy and Promotion, Safety & Grievance Handling, Reputation for Job, Making & Training, Manager–Subordinate Relationship, Fringe Job Employee-employee relationship & friends/relatives view, Work Life Balance & Intrinsic motivation, and Pay & Income as the motivational factors that motivates them.


Music genre classification has been investigated using many different methods, but most of them build on probabilistic models of feature vectors xr which only represent the short time segment with index r of the song. Here, three different co-occurrence models are proposed which instead consider the whole song as an integrated part of the probabilistic model. This was achieved by considering a song as a set of independent co-occurrences (s, xr ) (s is the song index) instead of just a set of independent (x r)'s. The models were tested against two baseline classification methods on a difficult 11 genre data set with a variety of modern music. The basis was a so-called AR feature representation of the music. Besides the benefit of having proper probabilistic models of the whole song, the lowest classification test errors were found using one of the proposed models


Abstract : This thesis examines the use of a single, omnidirectional hydrophone as a receiving sensor to passively localize an acoustic beacon. The localization problem is presented as a constrained, nonlinear parameter estimation problem, and Lagrange multipliers are introduced to solve for the maximum likelihood estimate of the acoustic beacon's position. An iterative algorithm is developed using range difference measurements to solve for the maximum likelihood estimate of a stationary acoustic beacon's position. This algorithm is then extended to include linear, constant velocity motion of the acoustic beacon. Finally, design specifications for a receiver to implement the maximum likelihood estimation algorithms are developed. To test the maximum likelihood estimate algorithms, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted. Results from six representative scenarios are presented. Test results show that as the number of range differences used increases, or the distance that the observer travels between received beacon signals increases, the accuracy of the estimated position improves. Also, tests show that accuracy of the estimated beacon position is directly related to the accuracy in which the observer's position is measured. To test the receiver's design specifications, a prototype receiver is built using commonly available components. It is then shown that the prototype receiver meets or exceeds the design specifications.


This study aims to investigate the behavior of damaged high-strength concrete cylinders repaired using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheet. The experimental work on CFRP-wrapped concrete cylinders with various predamage levels indicated that CFRP can precisely resist the axial aggravated deformation of cylinders caused by damaging under uniaxial loading. The findings also revealed that the energy absorption of the damaged specimens confined with CFRP was restored approximately three times more than that of the undamaged specimens without confinement. Therefore, an empirical relationship exists between the pre-damage levels and the uniaxial compressive strength reduction of the concrete cylinders.


BACKGROUND
Mental health and social professionals are at high risk of experiencing at least one patient suicide during their career.

AIMS
This paper investigates the impact of patient suicide on the reactions and working practices of mental health and social professionals. It also examines how such an impact may vary depending on the professionals' characteristics, their relationship with the patient, as well as the institutional setting in which they work.

METHODS
275 professionals working in sociomedical institutions in French-speaking Switzerland completed a questionnaire.

RESULTS
Patient suicide can cause a wide range of long-lasting reactions and changes in the working practices of mental health and social professionals. Professional's gender, place of suicide, as well as responsibility for and emotional attachment to the patient significantly influence the impact that a patient suicide has on such professionals. Professional's age, the type of profession, the number of suicides experienced, and previous suicide attempts by the deceased patient were also found to play a significant role with regard to changes in working practices.

CONCLUSIONS
Beyond the emotional and professional impact, patient suicide may have also a formative influence, encouraging professionals to review and improve their working practices. Recommendations to help mental health and social professionals who have experienced a patient suicide are discussed.


1 RA is characterized by a systemic inflammatory state, in which immune cells and soluble mediators play a crucial role. These inflammatory processes resemble those in other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. The chronic systemic inflammation in RA can be considered as an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, and represents an important field to investigate the reasons of the increase of acute cardiovascular events in RA. In the present review, we focused on several mediators of autoimmunity, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which can be considered the most promising targets to prevent atherogenesis in RA. Among several mediators, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-has been shown as a crucial factor to induce atherosclerosis in RA patients.


Abstract During the transition from school to higher education, young adults experience a substantial amount of change where they progress from the highly controlled setting of school to the autonomous and self-motivated environment of university. Time spent at university is considered a critical period during which young adults establish a clear sense of identity, which can include forming positive health behaviours such as regular physical activity. The transition from school to university also involves a number of changes that can impact on the mental well-being of students including financial concerns, academic pressures and a lack of social support. Our aim was to longitudinally examine the physical activity levels and mental well-being of Scottish students during their first year at university. Participants were 48 first-year students (males, n = 24; females, n = 24) aged 18–19 years enrolled at two Scottish universities in the UK. At entry to university (semester 1) participants completed a validated self-report measure of physical activity and measures of anxiety and depression. Participants' physical activity levels were assessed for seven days via accelerometry. Participants completed the same measures six months later (semester 2). Daily moderate physical activity levels decreased across the semesters yet perceptions of mental well-being remained stable. There was a significant increase in hip and waist circumferences across the semesters. The first year of university is a critical period for establishing positive health behaviours and there is a need for universities to actively encourage physical activity as an integral part of university life.


The subjects of the study were 149 patients with severe pyo-septic complications of abdominal diseases, resulting in multiple organ failure syndrome (MOFS) with clinical and laboratory manifestations. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a component of MOFS was diagnosed in 39 (26.2%) patients. The complex treatment included hemofiltration in a volume of at least 25 liters. The study shows that hemofiltration is an effective and pathogenetic method of complex treatment of MOFS, which has a positive effect on the main pathogenetic mechanisms in ARDS, thus allowing improvement of oxygen transport in blood. Hemofiltration improves central hemodynamics as well as blood circulation in the lungs and peripheral tissues in patients with MOFS and ARDS; it allows correction of volemic and metabolic disorders, and endogenous intoxication reduction. The use of hemofiltration in ARDS led to a 2-fold lethality reduction.


Background Arterial oxygen tension, oxygen delivery to tissue, and systemic inflammation are recognized as pivotal factors in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, interconnections between systemic inflammation and tissue oxygen availability are scantly investigated. Tissue oxygen availability depends on arterial PaO2, oxygen concentration, hemoglobin oxygen affinity (P50), and hemoglobin oxygen binding capacity (ceHb). As the integrated changes of those indices are summarized by oxygen extraction tension (PaO2x), the objective of this study was to explore the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) blood levels and either PaO2x or each of its determinants, in stable COPD. Materials and methods Blood CRP and oxygen status of arterial blood were measured at rest while breathing room air in 44 moderate to severe stable COPD patients. PaO2x was calculated along the shape of oxygen binding curve as the oxygen tension resulting from removal of 2.3 mmol of oxygen per liter of blood. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with PaO2, ceHb, and P50 as independent variables, and CRP as the dependent variable, adjusting for age and sex. The analysis was repeated using PaO2x as a sole independent variable. Results Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that ceHb, PaO2, and P50, were significant and independent predictors of CRP (R2 = 0.52, p < 0.0001). PaO2x alone was an even stronger predictor of CRP (R2 = 0.62, p < 0.0001). Conclusions These findings indicate that physiological determinants of tissue oxygen availability are independently associated with CRP blood levels. Thus, improvement of tissue oxygen availability is a central therapeutic option to modulate the severity of systemic inflammatory processes in patients with COPD.


Social dilemmas are an integral part of social interactions. Cooperative actions, ranging from secreting extra-cellular products in microbial populations to donating blood in humans, are costly to the actor and hence create an incentive to shirk and avoid the costs. Nevertheless, cooperation is ubiquitous in nature. Both costs and benefits often depend non-linearly on the number and types of individuals involved–as captured by idioms such as 'too many cooks spoil the broth' where additional contributions are discounted, or 'two heads are better than one' where cooperators synergistically enhance the group benefit. Interaction group sizes may depend on the size of the population and hence on ecological processes. This results in feedback mechanisms between ecological and evolutionary processes, which jointly affect and determine the evolutionary trajectory. Only recently combined eco-evolutionary processes became experimentally tractable in microbial social dilemmas. Here we analyse the evolutionary dynamics of non-linear social dilemmas in settings where the population fluctuates in size and the environment changes over time. In particular, cooperation is often supported and maintained at high densities through ecological fluctuations. Moreover, we find that the combination of the two processes routinely reveals highly complex dynamics, which suggests common occurrence in nature.


Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have motor impairments that make it challenging for them to participate in standard physical activity (PA) interventions. There is a need to evaluate adapted PA interventions for this population. Dance can promote coordination, posture, muscle strength, motor learning, and executive functioning. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the effects of a new therapeutic ballet intervention specifically designed for children with CP. Methods: Eight children with CP (9–14 y/o; 75% female) participated in a 6-week therapeutic ballet intervention. Outcomes were measured in multiple domains, including body composition (DXA), muscle strength (hand-grip dynamometer), habitual physical activity, gait and selective motor control functions, and executive functioning. Follow-up assessments of habitual physical activity, gait, and executive functioning were completed 4 to 5 weeks post-intervention. Results: Five of the eight participants were overfat or obese based on DXA percentage of body fat. All participants were below the 50th percentile for their age and gender for bone density. Four participants showed a trend to improve hand-grip strength in one hand only, while one improved in both hands. There were significant improvements in gait across time points (pre, post, and follow-up), specifically in time of ambulation (Xpre = 4.36, Xpost = 4.22, Xfollow−up = 3.72, d = 0.056, p = 0.02), and in step length (cm) on the right: Xpre = 48.29, Xpost = 50.77, Xfollow−up = 52.11, d = 0.22, p = 0.027, and left stride: Xpre = 96.29, Xpost = 102.20, Xfollow−up = 104.20, d = 0.30, p = 0.027, indicating gait changes in bilateral lower extremities. There was improvement in inhibitory control (d = 0.78; 95% Confidence Limit = ±0.71, p < 0.05) with large individual responses primarily among those above the mean at baseline. Conclusions: Therapeutic ballet may prove to be a useful intervention to promote physiological and cognitive functions in children with CP. Results demonstrated feasibility of the physical, physiological, and cognitive assessments and suggested improvements in participants' gait and inhibitory control with large individual responses. Modifications to personalize the intervention may be needed to optimize positive outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03681171


This study seeks to explore some of the main problems contemporary British Muslims encounter from the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence. In so doing, it mainly aims to shed light on the extent Muslims in Britain face problems and what impact they might have on their religious identity as well as relationship, belonging, and contribution to the wider society. In so doing, the study will strive to examine whether existing fiqh (Isalmic jurisprudence) literature is adequate to guide contemporary fiqh scholars to deal with such issues effectively and how some contemporary answers to such issues are inappropriate. If that is the case, what would be the way forward jurists should take to find appropriate solutions? Hence, this study will use qualitative methodology to investigate such issues and questions and it will lead the study to emphasise the necessity to find answers to such problems and a mechanism to handle them, which this study would seek to suggest as a jurisprudential approach called fiqh al-aqalliyyāt al-Muslimah (Islamic Jurisprudence for Muslim Minorities) based on values, principles, universalities, and higher objectives of Islamic law: maqāsid al-Sharī'ah (Purposes of Islamic Sharī'ah) presented by revisiting textual sources of Islamic law as well as lived examples of early generations of Islam. It will also make some suggestions about further studies needed as regards to fiqh for Muslim minorities.


Background: Tuber aestivum Vittad., known as black summer truffle, represents high-value food especially used as garnishment in nouvelle cuisine. The aim of this study was to investigate on the viable microbial populations associated with T. aestivum ascomata collected in different sites of Sicily and one locality of Umbria (Italy).
Methods: The ripe ascomata of black summer truffles were collected from Central Italy. Cell densities of spoilage bacteria, fecal indicators, potential pathogens, yeasts, and molds were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted with XLSTAT software.
Results: The microbiological counts of truffles ranged between 6.00 and 9.63 log Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g for total mesophilic count and between 6.18 and 8.55 log CFU/g for total psychrotrophic count; pseudomonads were in the range 6.98-9.28 log CFU/g. Listeria spp. and coagulase-positive streptococci detected in no samples. Coagulase-negative streptococci were found in some samples with 2.11-4.76 log CFU/g levels. Yeasts and filamentous fungi were detected at consistent levels of 3.60-7.81 log CFU/g. Significant differences (p<0.01) were found between samples and also for all microbial groups.
Conclusion: This study evidenced that the common brushing procedure applied for preparation of truffles is not sufficient to eliminate microbial risks for consumers. The application of an efficient decontamination treatment is strongly suggested before consumption of fresh truffles.


Passive cooling devices take advantage of the partially transparent properties of the atmosphere in the longwave spectral band from 8 to 13 μm (the so-called "atmospheric window") to reject radiation to outer space. Spectrally designed thermophotonic devices have raised substantial attention recently for their potential to provide passive and carbon-free alternatives to air conditioning. However, the level of transparency of the atmospheric window depends on the local content of water vapor in the atmosphere and on the optical depth of clouds in the local sky. Thus, the radiative cooling capacity of solar reflectors not only depends on the optical properties of their surfaces but also on local meteorological conditions. In this work, detailed radiative cooling resource maps for the contiguous United States are presented with the goal of determining the best climates for large-scale deployment of passive radiative cooling technologies. The passive cooling potential is estimated based on ideal optical properties, i.e., zero shortwave absorptance (maximum reflectance) and blackbody longwave emittance. Both annual and season-averaged maps are presented. Daytime and nighttime cooling potential are also computed and compared. The annual average cooling potential over the contiguous United States is 50.5 m−2. The southwestern United States has the highest annual averaged cooling potential, over 70 W m−2, due to its dry and mostly clear sky meteorological conditions. The southeastern United States has the lowest potential, around 30 W m−2, due to frequent humid and/or overcast weather conditions. In the spring and fall months, the Arizona and New Mexico climates provide the highest passive cooling potential, while in the summer months, Nevada and Utah exhibit higher potentials. Passive radiative cooling is primarily effective in the western United States, while it is mostly ineffective in humid and overcast climates elsewhere.Passive cooling devices take advantage of the partially transparent properties of the atmosphere in the longwave spectral band from 8 to 13 μm (the so-called "atmospheric window") to reject radiation to outer space. Spectrally designed thermophotonic devices have raised substantial attention recently for their potential to provide passive and carbon-free alternatives to air conditioning. However, the level of transparency of the atmospheric window depends on the local content of water vapor in the atmosphere and on the optical depth of clouds in the local sky. Thus, the radiative cooling capacity of solar reflectors not only depends on the optical properties of their surfaces but also on local meteorological conditions. In this work, detailed radiative cooling resource maps for the contiguous United States are presented with the goal of determining the best climates for large-scale deployment of passive rad...


The twelve publications submitted for this thesis constitute a group of essays completed between 1979 and 1989 on related feminist issues in education. Each publication contributes to the overall project of developing a theory of class and gender relations in education.

Three stages in the construction of this theory are identified. These are:

(a) a critical evaluation of theories concerning the social and cultural reproduction of class relations in terms of their applicability to the study of gender relations.

(b) the construction of a feminist theory of gender that accounts for, among other things, the historical and class specific nature of gender relations in education.

(c) an analysis of contemporary policy-making at central, local and institutional levels in relation to the promotion of equal opportunities for both sexes.

It is suggested that explanations of the relationship between education, the economy, the family and the state based upon male class relations cannot adequately account for the patterns of female education. A range of new concepts more appropriate for the study of gender relations is developed. These include a theory of male hegemony and the concept of gender code involving processes of recontextualisation and different modes of transmission of gender relations through schooling. These concepts are applied to an analysis of the structure and content of the secondary school curriculum, family and school cultures, coeducation and boys' education.

The approach developed here is contrasted with other feminist perspectives on gender and education and consideration is given to the ways in which these perspectives have influenced educational policy and practice. The approaches to sex equality of central government are compared with those underlying teacher initiatives in this area. Finally a strategy is offered for the promotion of sex equality through school-based in-service courses focused on the personal and professional development of teachers.


Laguna de Bay is the largest inland water body in the Philippines, being used predominantly for aquaculture and open water fisheries. Aquaculture in the lake began decades ago, with many changes in the lake ecosystem having occurred since that time. Most dominant species for fish culture are introduced species. Other invasive species were also introduced to the lake as escapees from land-based aquaculture facilities. This study was conducted to monitor fish diversity in two adjacent, but distinctly different, sites in the lake, namely an open fishery area (OFS), with no adjacent aquaculture structures, and an aquaculture site (AQS), with cages for the culture of various commodities. Fish traps were installed at both sites, with the traps being sampled at least every 2 weeks from April 2013 to February 2015. The results of pairwise t-tests indicated significantly higher Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), evenness (J′), Simpson's similarity index (D) and species richness (s) in OFS than in AQS. In terms of total catch per day, significantly greater fish biomass were obtained from AQS than from OFS. Introduced aquaculture species had a mean dominance of 83% and 47% in AQS and OFS, respectively. However, invasive species introduced from the ornamental fish trade exhibited a mean relative dominance of 10.3% in AQS and 13.5% in OFS. The relative dominance of native species was also significantly higher in OFS (41%) than in AQS (6.5%). The results of this study demonstrated the adverse impacts of aquaculture in regard to the species diversity of fish in localized areas in Laguna de Bay. The dependency of aquaculture on introduced fish species adversely impacted the natural fish population in the lake. Focusing on the culture of commercially important local species for aquaculture, rather than introduced species, will improve fish production of inland waters without accompanying adverse impacts on biodiversity.


We used the micro- and macroimmunodiffusion test for the qualitative and quantitative measurement of anti - P. brasiliensis antibodies in serum of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. All 103 paracoccidioidomycosis sera (100%) were positive in the micro test versus 87% positivity index in the macrotest. All 83 control sera from patients with other diseases were negative in both tests. Titers of the positive sera tended to be higher in the microtest, which revealed sharper and easier to read precipiting bands. Microimmunodiffusion is simple to be performed, requires a minimum amount of reagents and allows the simultaneous testing of 102 sera. It may replace the macrotest specially in laboratories dealing with great serologic routine.


Summary: This paper describes the preliminary studies carried out in the scope of an applied research project for the design and construction of Steel Fibre Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete (SFRSCC) grid foundations for single-family houses. Adopting a constitutive model for the simulation of the post-cracking behaviour of fibre reinforced concrete, and modelling a complete typical single- family house by taking into account the soil-structure interaction, it was estimated the post cracking residual tensile strength for the SFRSCC to be developed. The aimed SFRSCC was prepared in a concrete mix plant, and standard specimens, Ω scale beam prototypes and a o scale grid prototype were cast. To take into account, in the design context, the fibre distribution and orientation that can occur in grid foundations, core samples were extracted from distinct locations and depths in these beams, and the stress-crack width relationship, σ-w, was experimentally assessed. Based on the obtained σ-w curves, and using a cross-section layer model, the flexural capacity of the grid foundation was evaluated. The obtained results show the suitability of SFRSCC for this type of structures.


Post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) chimerism monitoring is important to assess relapse and therapeutic intervention. The purpose of our study is to compare two methods variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) vs. quantitative real- time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in terms of determining chimerism. 127 (peripheral blood n = 112, bone marrow n = 15) samples were simultaneously tested by VNTR using APO-B, D1S80, D1S111, D17S30, gene loci SRY and ZP3 and qPCR using 34 assays (CA001-CA034) that are designed to a bi-allelic insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism in the human genome. Samples were separated in three subsets: total WBC, T-cell and Myeloid cells. Extraction of DNA was performed then quantified. We analyzed column statistics, paired t-test and regression analysis for both methods. There was complete correlation between the two methods. The simplicity and rapidity of the test results from the qPCR method is more efficient and accurate to assess chimerism.


This paper establishes DC reactive magnetron sputtering as synthesis process for Zr doped ZnO thin film. Zr can be doped in ZnO using various techniques. Some research groups have doped ZnO with Zr by radio frequency magnetron sputtering using target made of ZnO and ZrO2 powder. Radio frequency has low rate of deposition because deposition takes place only in one of two half cycles. Uniform mixing of small amount of ZrO2 powder in ZnO is expensive process as well as time consuming. To overcome the constraints, Zn and Zr metal target was used and film was made by DC reactive magnetron sputtering. Various parameters of the process was established by varying variables, such as sputtering power of the Zn and Zr, oxygen partial pressure in the chamber. Optimum flow rate of Argon is 16 sccm and Oxygen is 4 sccm. Sputtering power of 150 watt for Zn and 10 watt for the Zr gives good result. Films obtained are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure and have preferred orientation along the c axis. Resistivity of the film is as low as 0.07 Ω-cm. Average transparency of film is above 85% in visible range.


To support a group of mobile sinks in wireless sensor networks, region-based routing protocols by using a single entity nature have been proposed. They periodically register the region location information of the mobile sink group and exploit flooding for the data delivery within the region. However, they have a data delivery failure problem for some sinks due to the asynchrony between the registered region and the actual region of the mobile sink group due to its mobility. They also have an excessive energy consumption problem due to flooding data within the region. Thus, to solve the data delivery failure and the excessive energy consumption problems, we propose a routing protocol for a mobile sink group by utilizing its movement pattern which has a slow variance and continuous stream i.e. moving properties. In the proposed protocol, a source sends its data only to sensor nodes on a line that a mobile sink group potentially passes, and mobile sinks get the data from the line when they pass it. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol has better performance than the existing protocols.


One of the problems associated with horizontal deflection and high voltage systems utilizing third harmonic tuning of the flyback transformer for large screen color TV (25?-90°tubes) has been the high voltage regulation. In tube sets, the shunt regulator has been widely used; and, more recently, a feedback scheme to the horizontal output tube has been used to achieve better regulation. However, the shunt regulator has proved undesirable because of reliability, and it is a potential source of X-rays. The feedback scheme does not lend itself to transistor circuitry because the horizontal transistor is operated as a switch. Therefore, in making a transition to transistor horizontal deflection and high voltage systems, regulation becomes a problem.


The thermal characteristics of energy recovery incinerators are examined, both parametrically and, to the extent possible, by direct comparison. A mathematic model is employed, using a computer program to solve the governing equations. Three energy recovery configurations are considered: a water tube heat exchanger downstream from the combustion chambers, waterwalls, and a combination of the two. Results show the advantages of combining water walls and a convection boiler.


The present analysis looks into the issue of mapping information contained in the fadn database aimed at finding a methodology useful as a preliminary analysis to data extraction.To the purpose the concept of data granularity has been introduced. The method has been used to perform a farm-based analysis, revealing a wide heterogeneity of factors and levels that show the existence of specific data 'patches'. The work proved to be able to increase awareness regarding effective data availability as a preliminary analysis to queries performed on relational data-bases which are not designed from a systems basis, and that can be considered valid for any survey-supplied data.


Integrated offshore geophysical and geological investigations have been started to understand the mechanism of catastrophic caldera-forming eruption (CCFE) of the Kikai Caldera, SW Japan, which caused the latest CCFE on the Earth at 7.3ka. This caldera has been focused as it is a submarine caldera allowing to conduct dense seismic structural survey that is required for imaging and monitoring a large magma reservoir beneath this caldera. In the Oct. 2016, Kobe University and JAMSTEC conducted bathymetric survey with multi narrow beam echo sounder (MNB), geomagnetic survey with a proton magnetometer, multi-channel reflective seismic survey (MCS), and deployments of ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) and electro-magnetometer (OBEM) in "the 1st KOBEC exploration cruise" by the training vessel "Fukae-maru"belonging to Kobe University. The MNB survey revealed detailed bathymetry in the vicinity of the caldera. The bathymetric change from data obtained in the past bathymetric survey by Japan Coast Guard (2008) will be discussed in the presentation. In addition, acoustic pressure anomalies within the seawater rooting to the seafloor observed at the several areas in the margin and inside of the caldera. They are interpreted as hydrothermal anomalies relating to volcanic activities. The MCS surveys were conducted beneath 4 survey lines across the caldera. The reflection profiles show dense layered subsurfaces outside of the caldera while reflective planes are hard to be recognized inside of the caldera. Faults and disconformities are recognized in the several locations. Preliminary geological interpretation will be also discussed in the presentation. The OBSs and OBEMs will be retrieved in the 2nd exploration cruise in March 2017 by "Fukae-maru". In the 2nd cruise, we also plan to conduct direct seafloor observation by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named "Shindai-2K". In addition, we will deploy 4 OBEMs which equip absolute pressure gauge to detect vertical geodetic displacements and to image electrical resistivity structure which may reveal magma reservoir beneath the caldera (e.g. Hill et al., 2009). SVC47-31 JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2017


Many translocations between the Y chromosome and a major autosome have no effect on the fertility of Drosophila melanogaster males. However, when such translocation-bearing males also carry an X chromosome deficient for a large portion of the centric heterochromatin, they are generally sterile. This has been interpreted to be the result of an interaction between the deficiency and the subterminally capped autosome. Using this observation as a starting point, we have developed a selection scheme for radiation-induced translocation resealings that depends on the prediction that fertility in the presence of such a deficient X is restored whenever the displaced autosomal tip is brought back in association with an autosomal centromere. The observation and the prediction form the basis for what is referred to as the autosomal continuity model for male fertility.-Such a mutagenesis scheme offers several advantages. (1) It is efficient, producing upward of 1% resealings in some cases. (2) It is simple; since fertility is the basis for the selective screen, many males can be tested in a single vial. (3) It can be used to simultaneously generate both duplications and deficiencies specific for chromosomal material adjacent to the original translocation breakpoints. (4) The target for mutagenesis can be mature sperm.-Analysis of the pattern of male-fertile rearrangements obtained from several translocation lines using this protocol indicates that continuity of the autosomal tips and their centromeres is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for male fertility in the presence of a bobbed-deficient X. Thus, the simple autosomal continuity model is not adequate to explain this complicated mechanism of chromosomal control of fertility and will have to be revised accordingly. Potential future lines of inquiry toward this goal are discussed.


Wang, Dan Ph.D., Purdue University, May 2016. The Application of the Hadoop Software Framework in Bioinformatics Programs. Major Professor: John A. Springer. The project described in this dissertation proposal attempted to improve the efficiency and scalability performance as well as the usability and user experience of three Bioinformatics applications – DNA/peptide sequence similarity comparison, digital DNA library subtraction, and DNA/peptide sequence de-duplication – by 1) adopting the Hadoop MapReduce algorithms and distributed file system and 2) implementing the fully automated Hadoop programs into a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI). In addition, the researcher was also interested in investigating the advantages and limitations of applying the Hadoop software framework as a general methodology in parallelizing Bioinformatics programs. After considering the original calculation algorithms in the serial version of the programs, the available computational resources, the nature of the MapReduce framework, and the optimization of performance, a processing pipeline with one pre-processing step, three mappers, two reducers and one post-processing step was developed. Then a GUI interface that enabled users to specify input/output files and program parameters was created. Also implanted into the GUI were user friendly features such as organized instruction, detailed log files, multi-user accessibility, and so on. The new and fully automated Hadoop Bioinformatics toolkit showed execution efficiency comparable with their MPI counterparts with median to large scale data, and better efficiency than MPI when ultra-large dataset was provided. In addition, good scalability was observed with testing dataset up to 20 Gb.


Background/Context This review article draws on the growing body of literature at the interfaces of anthropology and education, as well as other educational studies outside anthropology that have relevance to social and cultural frames. Purpose Drawing together and analyzing anthropological and ethnographic studies, conducted during the last two decades, this review highlights the theoretical, methodological, and analytical patterns that have defined anthropological approaches to studying education. Findings/Results The studies, in the aggregate, tell us a great deal about how students negotiate schooling to create academic identifications, find and construct networks rich in social and cultural capital, and experience a sense of belonging. Conversely, students who are marginalized, constrained, or have limited access to school contexts—through institutionalized practices, policies, and ideologies—are far more likely to disengage academically, to exert their agency, to "resist" school, and to forgo college attendance. What also becomes increasingly clear in regards to college preparation and access is that the experiences of students and their families vary greatly, depending on the social, cultural, political, and historical contexts within which youth's college choices are shaped. As well, the studies reveal that the factors that impact college persistence and completion parallel those found to influence pre-college schooling. Conclusions/Recommendations This review of anthropological studies tell us much less about the actual college experiences of racial/ethnic minority and poor students and the author calls for further scholarship in this area.


Data protection in containerized environments poses several challenges arising from the need for self-service and the resulting churn in the environment. We present a self-managing backup system for containerized frameworks designed to work for users with little knowledge of the underlying infrastructure. Our system presents users with an interface which allows them to interact with data protection service in the same way used for managing their applications. Additionally, we present a backup scheduler to honor user expressed data protection guarantees while reacting to resource fluctuations on the underlying shared infrastructure. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our system with thousands of request having different data protection guarantees in an environment with various bandwidth and IO patterns.


This study examines the nexus between financial development and energy consumption/use in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using a panel vector error correction model (VECM), cointegration, and Granger causality tests over the period ranging from 1975 to 2017. The annual panel time-series data generated from the World Bank database were tested for unit-roots processing using both the Levin–Lin–Chu and Im–Pesaran–Shin before proceeding to Johanson cointegration technique, the results of which motivated the choice of adopting the panel VECM rather than panel vector autoregression in the methodology. From the estimation result especially on the variables of interest, there exists a positive and statistically significant relationship between financial development and energy consumption in the long run, but not statistically significant in the short run. Further findings from the panel Granger causality test shows a unidirectional causality running from financial development to energy consumption, gross domestic product per capita, population growth to urbanization with no feedback. Among a series of policy recommendations, the monetary authorities in Sub-Saharan African countries should ensure optimal utilization of financial instruments and technologies available in the system to enhance more robust financial development to boost efficiency in energy consumption in the region in line with the sustainable growth theory.


During meiosis chromosomes undergo DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that can be repaired using a homolog to produce crossovers, which creates genetic diversity. Meiotic recombination occurs coincident with homolog pairing and polymerization of the meiotic axis and synaptonemal complex (SC). REC8-cohesin is required to connect chromosomes to the axis and to organize axis polymerization. However, control of REC8 loading along chromosomes, in relation to chromatin, transcription and recombination, is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we performed REC8 ChIP-seq in Arabidopsis, which revealed strong enrichment in centromeric heterochromatin. REC8 abundance correlates with suppression of meiotic DSBs and crossovers, despite axis loading of SPO11-1 in these regions. Loss of the heterochromatic marks H3K9me2 and non-CG DNA methylation in kyp/suvh4 suvh5 suvh6 mutants causes remodeling of REC8 and gain of meiotic recombination locally in repeated sequences, although centromere cohesion is maintained. In the chromosome arms, REC8 is enriched within gene bodies, exons and GC-rich sequences, and anti-correlates with transcription. Highest REC8 occupancy occurred in facultatively silent, H3K27me3-modified genes. Using immunocytology we show that axis polycomplexes form in rec8 mutants that recruit recombination foci with altered stoichiometry, leading to catastrophic non-homologous recombination. Therefore, REC8 plays a key role organizing meiotic chromosome architecture and promoting high-fidelity interhomolog recombination. Despite this pro-recombination role, local REC8 enrichment associates with DSB repression at the fine scale, which is consistent with the tethered-loop/axis model. Coincident with its organizational role during meiosis, REC8-cohesin occupancy along the chromosomes is shaped by multiple chromatin states and transcription.


We study vertex cut and flow sparsifiers that were recently introduced by Moitra (2009), and Leighton and Moitra (2010). We improve and generalize their results. We give a new polynomial-time algorithm for constructing O(log k/ log log k) cut and flow sparsifiers, matching the best known existential upper bound on the quality of a sparsifier, and improving the previous algorithmic upper bound of O(log2k/ log log k). We show that flow sparsifiers can be obtained from linear operators approximating minimum metric extensions. We introduce the notion of (linear) metric extension operators, prove that they exist, and give an exact polynomialtime algorithm for finding optimal operators.We then establish a direct connection between flow and cut sparsifiers and Lipschitz extendability of maps in Banach spaces, a notion studied in functional analysis since 1930s. Using this connection, we obtain a lower bound of $$\Omega \left( {\sqrt {\log k/\log \log k} } \right)$$ for flow sparsifiers and a lower bound of $$\Omega \left( {\sqrt {\log k} /\log \log k} \right)$$ for cut sparsifiers. We show that if a certain open question posed by Ball in 1992 has a positive answer, then there exist $$\tilde O\left( {\sqrt {\log k} } \right)$$ cut sparsifiers. On the other hand, any lower bound on cut sparsifiers better than $$\tilde \Omega \left( {\sqrt {\log k} } \right)$$ would imply a negative answer to this question.


Classic event matching techniques in large-scale Content-based Publish/Subscribe Systems mostly rely on predicate indexing or tree-based mechanisms for fast subscription evaluation. In the context of visual analytics, such techniques are limited in supporting subscriptions requiring expensive filtering operators over unstructured event types (i.e. images and videos). In this work, user subscriptions over visual content are answered as conjunctions of commutative Boolean filters where each filter is associated with a single high-level semantic concept that may be shared across multiple subscriptions. The shared-filter ordering problem has been previously studied in centralized data stream management systems; prior works propose approximation algorithms that achieve near-optimal cost reductions in the evaluation of overlapping queries. However, in a distributed publish/subscribe setting, even an optimal ordering of filter evaluations at brokers with high workloads can create bottlenecks and waste downstream resources. We present a distributed greedy algorithm that leverages existing routing methodologies to order and distribute the execution of filters across brokers on various dissemination paths. Experiments with several pub/sub workloads show 50% to 70% decrease in event latencies and noticeable improvements in resource utilization across the overlay.


We present a coupled level-set (LS) and volume-of-fluid (VOF) method for time-domain simulation of violent free surface flows in an overset grid system. The advection of the VOF function is performed by using a mixed second-order Eulerian and Lagrangian scheme with a piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC). A volume correction scheme is implemented to compensate for the mass change and to maintain a divergence-free velocity field. The LS function is solved by using a fifth-order Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) scheme. The coupled level-set and volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) interface-capturing method is employed in conjunction with the Finite-Analytic Navier-Stokes (FANS) method for violent free surface flow problems. Moreover, a chimera domain decomposition approach is implemented by using an overset grid system, including embedding and overlapping grids for accurate resolution of flow around structures. The simulation results demonstrate the capability of the CLSVOF method in an overset grid system for violent free surface flow problems.


The tensile model of foams is built using UG software and the tensile deformation processes of microcellular polypropylene foams with different cell sizes are simulated using finite element method (FEM). The effect of cell size on mechanical property is evaluated based on the microstructure of the foams. The cells with small and uniform size are in a state of plane stress, which improved effectively mechanical property of the foams. Whereas the cells with large and nonuniform size are in a state of plane strain, which leads to low mechanical property. The simulation results coincide well with experimental results.


BACKGROUND
Until now, different approaches have been published to resolve the problem of predicting epileptic seizures. The results are reminiscent of a substantial need for improvements in these methods to reach the stage of the clinical application. Our aim is to develop a reliable epileptic seizure prediction algorithm based on the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis.

METHODS
We analyzed the HRV of sixteen epileptic patients with a total of 170 seizures, to predict the occurrence of seizures based on the dynamic changes of Electrocardiogram (ECG) during the pre-ictal period. Time and frequency-domain features were computed forthe consecutive time windows with a length of five minutes. An adaptive decision threshold method was used for raising alarms. Predictions were made when selected features exceeded the decision thresholds.

RESULTS
For the seizure occurrence period (SOP) of 4:30 minutes, and intervention time (IT) of 110 Sec, the presented method showed an average sensitivity of 78.59%, and average false prediction rate of 0.21/Hr, which indicates that the system has superiority to the random predictor.

CONCLUSION
The proposed approach shows a potential in the monitoring of epileptic patients and improving their life quality. The overall performance of the algorithm is a step forward for clinical implementation.


This study was the first of its kind in Sudan. Its main objective was to assess and evaluate the usefulness of medication informational contents of advertisements in international and local Sudanese medical and pharmaceutical journals in rational use of medicines. Two hundred forty five (n= 245) randomly selected advertisements, from twenty (n= 20) different local Sudanese and foreign (International) medical and pharmaceutical journals, advertising (n=245) pharmaceutical products, were screened and their information section headings were matched against ten section headings defined by researchers out of those recommended by the WHO. Results showed that the screened advertisements displayed section headings related to the medications" benefits in higher frequencies 903 (73.7%), than those section headings related to medications' risks, 235(23.97%). Differences between the availability of 9 (90%) of compared section heading in both international and Sudanese journal advertisements were significant, (p value 0.000-0.006). References cited in support of claims in the (n=245) studied journal advertisements, were only 44 (17.95%). Studied journal advertisements generally displayed deficient, imbalanced and poorly supported medication information that hardly prove useful for rational medication prescribing, especially in developing countries. Healthcare providers shall seek independent sources of medication information and avoid biased commercial sources, altogether.


Sentence simplification aims to reduce the complexity of a sentence while retaining its original meaning. Current models for sentence simplification adopted ideas from machine translation studies and implicitly learned simplification mapping rules from normal-simple sentence pairs. In this paper, we explore a novel model based on a multi-layer and multi-head attention architecture and we propose two innovative approaches to integrate the Simple PPDB (A Paraphrase Database for Simplification), an external paraphrase knowledge base for simplification that cov-ers a wide range of real-world simplification rules. The experiments show that the integration provides two major benefits: (1) the integrated model outperforms multiple state-of-the-art baseline models for sentence simplification in the literature (2) through anal-ysis of the rule utilization, the model seeks to select more accurate simplification rules. The code and models used in the paper are available at https://github.com/ Sanqiang/text_simplification .


In present study the impacts of velocity, thermal and concentration slip boundary conditions of the Williamson nanofluidon the Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow, heat and the mass transfer over a shrinking surface are considered. The magnetohydrodynamic flow is considered in absence of thermal and Joule heating. Using of appropriate similarity transformations, the partial differential equations of the boundary layer have been converted into the ordinary differential equations. To get the required solutions, an efficient Runge-Kutta 4th order technique with shooting method has been utilized in maple programming. In order to check the method precision, we compare our results with published literature and observed to be in excellent agreement. Numerically Gotten solutions have been displayed in form of tables and graphs for a numerous values of flow pertinent parameters, such as, Hartmann number, Schmidt number, thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameter. Furthermore, many other parameters like of non-Newtonian Williamson parameter with slip boundary condition, Prandtl number, Schmidt number and suction parameter have been examined graphically. At long last, the result of the problem is composed as a conclusion in light of the tables and plotted graphs.


Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been combined with graphene and/or carbon nanotubes to prepare new composite materials with fascinating electrochemical features. For the first time, this work describes the development of an electrosynthesis protocol that allows the deposition of thin films of a Ni/Al LDH on glassy carbon electrodes previously modified with carbon nanomaterials. Three different approaches (potentiostatic, galvanostatic, and potentiodynamic) were investigated to identify the best procedure. In all cases the potentiodynamic synthesis exhibits better reproducibility than the potentiostatic one which is the most used in the literature. The reliability of the synthesis protocol was evaluated by performing the LDH electrodeposition using glassy carbon electrodes modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and/or electrochemically reduced graphene oxide arranged in five configurations. XRD and SEM analysis confirmed the LDH formation. Cyclic voltammetry shows the graphene presence ensured a ...


We approach the research question whether real-world events, such as sport events or product launches, influence music consumption behavior. To this end, we consider events of different categories from Google Trends and model listening events as time series using Last.fm data. Performing an auto-regressive integrated moving average analysis to decompose the signal and subsequently an intervention time series analysis, we find significant signal discontinuities, in particular for the Google news category. We found that news and events are likely to increase the number of songs listened to per person per day by about 2%, while tech events commonly cause 1% less music being consumed.


This article seeks to discuss the legitimation strategies of the two Slovene amateur celebrity chefs Luka Novaks and Valentina Smej Novak and the consequent call for a discursive transformation of the Slovene culinary identity. Using as a tool Van Leeuwen's legitimation strategies, it seeks to understand the discursive construction of the chefs' authority, that is, how do they legitimise their call for a change in Slovene eating habits, focusing on the introductory texts found in their cookbooks. Second, it concludes that by doing this, they have not only constructed themselves as the new authorities in Slovene cooking but also advocated the new middle-class taste as the only acceptable taste in Slovenia, that is, the contemporary Slovene national cuisine. Their call for transformation, however, seems contradictory, as they, on the one hand, draw on tradition and expert authority and, on the other hand, refute this in order to be able to position themselves as equal to these authorities.


This study examines the two-year follow up (data collected in 2016 at modal age 21/22) of an original mixed-mode longitudinal survey experiment (data collected at modal age 19/20 in 2014). The study compares participant retention in the experimental conditions to retention in the standard Monitoring the Future (MTF) control condition (participants who completed an in-school baseline survey in 12th grade in 2012 or 2013 and were selected to participate in the first follow-up survey by mail in 2014, N=2,451). A supplementary sample who completed the 12th grade baseline survey in 2012 or 2013 but were not selected to participate in the main MTF follow-up (N=4,950) were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: 1: Mail Push, 2: Web Push, 3: Web Push + Email in 2014 and again in 2016. Results from the first experiment indicated that Condition 3 (Web Push + Email) was promising based on similar response rates and lower costs (Patrick et al. 2018). The current study examines how experimental condition and type of 2014 response were associated with response in 2016, the extent to which response mode and device type changed from 2014 to 2016, and cumulative cost comparisons across conditions. Results indicated that responding via web in 2014 was associated with greater odds of participation again in 2016 regardless of condition; respondents tended to respond in the same mode although the "push" condition did move respondents toward web over paper; device type varied between waves; and the cumulative cost savings of Web Push + Email grew larger compared to the MTF Control. The web push strategy is therefore promising for maintaining respondent engagement while reducing cost.


The essential oil of Mentha piperata L., brown in color, was extracted by hydrodistillation from leaf stems collected in the southern district of Brazzaville (Bacongo), with a yield of 0.42 %. Analysis by gas chromatography (GC) and by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed the presence of thirty (30) constituents of which twenty (20) were identified representing a proportion of (93.26 %) of the chemical composition of the total essential oil. The essential oil consists mainly of monoterpenes (92.47 %) with a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes (89.43 %) dominated by menthol (44.08 %), followed by menthone (14.49 %), menthyl acetate (13.54 %) ), mint furanone 1 (7.81 %) and menthofuran (3.04 %). Hydrocarbon monoterpenes occupy a low level of (3.04 %) characterized by limonene (2.71 %), orthocymene (0.37 %), β-pinene (0.35 %) and α-pinene (0.15 %). Concerning the group of sesquiterpenes, this represents a minimal rate (0.79 %), oxygenated compound are predominant (0.57 %) marked by caryophyllene oxide (0.40 %) and viridiflorol (0.17 %). We note the presence of a single hydrocarbon sesquiterpene, E caryophyllene occupying a small proportion of (0.22 %).Menthone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone was hemi-synthesized by reacting the essential oil of Mentha piperata with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in the presence of sulfuric acid, a simple, easy method occurring in a rapid time (five minutes ). The rate of conversion of menthone to menthone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone of orange color is 29 %.Analysis of menthone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone by UV-visible spectrophotometry showed an absorption maximum wavelength of 356 nm. The UV-visible spectrophotometric method employed for the determination of this hydrazone is convenient, fast and simple. The hemi-synthesized menthone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone could be useful in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, perfume and cosmetic industries.


Knowledge of the life‐history traits that influence the reproductive success of parasitoids could provide useful information to enhance their effectiveness as biological control agents. The wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) is a major pest of wheat in the Northern Great Plains of North America. The bivoltine, sympatric and specialist parasitoids Bracon cephi (Gahan) and Bracon lissogaster Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are the only species known to attack C. cinctus in wheat. In the present study, we quantify the body size, longevity, egg load and egg volume of B. cephi and B. lissogaster aiming to test whether these life‐history traits differ among adult females developing from overwintering and summer generation larvae. We also investigate the effect of sucrose supplementation on the same reproductive parameters. The results obtained show no differences between life‐history traits of B. cephi developing from the overwintering and summer generations. By contrast, the egg load of B. lissogaster is significantly different between generations, with overwintered females producing 1.2‐fold more eggs than summer individuals. Sucrose feeding has a strong positive effect on life‐history traits of both parasitoid species and generations. The longevity of sucrose‐fed females of B. cephi is increased three‐fold, whereas the survival of B. lissogaster is increased almost nine‐fold. Females of B. cephi treated with sucrose have four‐fold more mature eggs, whereas the egg load of B. lissogaster is increased 1.15‐ to 1.25‐fold with sugar feeding. Only B. cephi females increase egg volume with sucrose. The present study provides valuable insights on the life‐history and nutritional requirements of these two important parasitoid species.


A new multistage Wiener filter is introduced which utilizes a decomposition based on orthogonal projections. A reduced-rank Wiener filter is developed based on this new structure which is not basis oriented, but evolves a basis which is a function of the multistage decomposition. The performance of this new Wiener filtering structure is evaluated using a comparative computer analysis model. It is demonstrated that the low-complexity multistage reduced-rank Wiener filter is capable of outperforming the more complex eigendecomposition-based methods.


Answering questions of health and medicine frequently necessitates the collection of data from large cohorts during real-world interactions. This is costly and, in many cases, extremely challenging due to the nature of these interactions and the difficulty in getting people to report about them. Work in recent years has shown that data generated by people as they browse the Web, including queries submitted to Internet search engines, social media postings, and even merely browsing histories can be used to learn about peoples' activities in the virtual as well as the physical worlds. Therefore, these data could potentially serve as a cheap alternative for real-world data.
In this talk I will show that specific types of Internet data are less influenced by reporting biases, and are thus a low-cost alternative for extracting medical information from very large populations. I will discuss areas where Internet data are especially advantageous for addressing questions of health and medicine, and how these data can be coupled with other information in a privacy-preserving manner to improve the range of questions we can answer. I will illustrate with several recent examples such as post-market drug surveillance, discovery of a link between medial portrayal of underweight models and the development of anorexia, and the prediction of mood disorder events. []


We present an algorithm for learning switched linear dynamical systems in discrete time from noisy observations of the system's full state or output. Switched linear systems use multiple linear dynamical modes to fit the data within some desired tolerance. They arise quite naturally in applications to robotics and cyber-physical systems. Learning switched systems from data is a NP-hard problem that is nearly identical to the k -linear regression problem of fitting k > 1 linear models to the data. A direct mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approach yields time complexity that is exponential in the number of data points. In this paper, we modify the problem formulation to yield an algorithm that is linear in the size of the data while remaining exponential in the number of state variables and the desired number of modes. To do so, we combine classic ideas from the ellipsoidal method for solving convex optimization problems, and well-known oracle separation results in non-smooth optimization. We demonstrate our approach on a set of microbenchmarks and a few interesting real-world problems. Our evaluation suggests that the benefits of this algorithm can be made practical even against highly optimized off-the-shelf MILP solvers.


The molecular diversity studies of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) germplasm could contribute to a more precise selection of parental populations in many breeding programs. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 110 individual plants from 13 selected alfalfa cultivars, landraces, and natural populations from Tunisia, Australia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan. Ten polymorphic SRAP primer combinations generated 137 alleles with 0.90 polymorphism information content. The percentage of polymorphic bands per genotype ranged from 57.66% to 70.07% with a mean of 64.29% and overall value of 100%. The genotype Sardi 10 had the highest value for the effective number of alleles; Nei's gene diversity and Shannon information index, exhibited the highest variability level (Ne = 1.453, He = 0.259, I = 0.381, respectively), whereas the genotype Nera exhibited the lowest variability level (Ne = 1.359, He = 0.211, I = 0.317, respectively). The AMOVA analysis showed that 68% of the variance was within the genotypes; this was in line with the coefficient of genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.370). The genetic relatedness of alfalfa individuals analyzed by the neighbor-joining dendrogram was consistent with the Bayesian model-based clustering approach. The exceptions were individuals from genotypes Slavija and Nera, which were grouped separately by STRUCTURE analyses. These results provide useful information for the management of alfalfa genetic resources and the rational use of local and foreign alfalfa populations in breeding programs focused on the development of new, high-yielding cultivars more adapted to drought conditions in North Africa.


Whereas previous post-processing approaches for increasing the fairness of predictions of biased classifiers address only group fairness, we propose a method for increasing both individual and group fairness. Our novel framework includes an individual bias detector used to prioritize data samples in a bias mitigation algorithm aiming to improve the group fairness measure of disparate impact. We show superior performance to previous work in the combination of classification accuracy, individual fairness and group fairness on several real-world datasets in applications such as credit, employment, and criminal justice.


Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors are tumors with a low malignant potential. They metastasize in 5-15% of cases. Accurate histologic preoperative prediction of the presence of regional lymph node metastases is not possible at this time. A retrospective quantitative pathologic analysis was performed to investigate the possibility of predicting the presence or absence of regional lymph node metastases in 24 patients with bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors. The results of univariate analysis showed that large tumor size was associated significantly more frequently with regional lymph node metastases than small tumor size (P less than 0.01). The other quantitative features, ie, a larger mean nuclear area, higher standard deviation of the nuclear area and the presence of an aneuploid DNA index, were frequently associated with regional lymph node metastases, but this tendency was not significant. In multivariate analysis the combination of tumor size and mean nuclear area predicted the presence or absence of regional lymph node metastases correctly in 80 and 94% of the cases, respectively. These results indicate that the combination of tumor size and mean nuclear area may serve as a guideline to predict the presence of regional lymph node metastases.


The limited availability of resources for wildfire management necessitates prioritizing forest areas for protection. For this purpose, criteria such as fire risk are used to generate thematic maps intended to support decision-making. However, prior to this, the information must be validated under a statistically robust process. Unfortunately, no such process currently exists, so it must be formulated from the most basic aspect, which is the definition of the sampling unit. This was the objective of this study, where different-sized reference sites (RSs) were tested under four sampling intensities randomly distributed throughout the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Within each RS, the number of fires was determined for the period 2005-2013. It was found that variability in the number of fires decreased as the size of the RS increased, until reaching an asymptotic behavior (around 100 km 2 ). In this way it was determined that a RS of 100 km 2 captures the variability in the number of fires, which was termed Risk Factor (RF). Finally, the use of this parameter will support the definition of the risk validation process. In addition, the standardization of the RS will generate information, in different regions, that is not only comparable but also compatible.


In recent years, Russia has developed a hybrid warfare strategy as a tactic to carry out war operations to achieve their national interests. Estonia is considered the most vulnerable country in the face of the threat of a Russian hybrid warfare strategy. In this case, Estonia has historical, geopolitical and political value for Russia. Estonia has received signs of the Russian threat manifested through their aggressive actions in Estonia with hybrid projections that have been projected in a real way. Thus, the Russian hybrid warfare strategy can influence the perception of the Estonian threat which was finally responded through a policy to stem the threat of hybrid itself. Underlying the analysis of the Threat Perception theory proposed by Raymond Cohen, this paper will explain how the Estonian threat is perceived by the Russian hybrid warfare strategy by looking at the threatening cue and responses to the  threats. This paper has the argument that the hybrid warfare strategy is a threat to Estonia. The historical factor of Russian-Estonian relations and past experience of threats is a sign of a threat that influences the perception of Estonian threats. Estimation of the threat was then manifested by Estonia in the form of anticipatory actions through increased cooperation with NATO, an increase in Estonia's military capabilities, and other non-military approaches in counter Russian warfare hybrid strategy. Keywords: Hybrid Warfare, Russia, Estonia, threat perception, threatening cue, asymmetric threat, cyber security, disinformation, NATO


Over the past decade, the Supreme Court has frequently reversed the Federal Circuit for adopting procedural rules for patent cases that differed from those that apply in other federal cases. TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods likewise concerns the Federal Circuit's approach to a procedural issue in patent cases, namely, venue. However, unlike in the prior cases before the Court, the Federal Circuit is not an outlier on this issue. Rather, the Federal Circuit's interpretation of the venue statute is consistent with the statute's plain language and with broader historical trends in venue law. While the petitioner and amici in support of petitioner raise important policy questions about forum choice in patent cases, Congressional legislation or alterations to personal jurisdiction doctrine by this Court are more appropriate avenues of reform.


Two chromosomal races of the house mouse occur in Tunisia, a standard morph (40St) found all over the country, and a derived morph (22Rb) occurring only in central Tunisia. In this region, habitat partitioning between the two morphs was investigated by a microgeographical analysis of their distribution, assessing habitat characteristics and demographic parameters. Results showed that the 22Rb mice always occurred in the oldest sections of towns (medinas), often extending to more recent surrounding neighbourhoods where the 40St morph was most abundant. The latter was never trapped within the medinas. The transition between the two morphs was located within cities in the more recent areas, the hybrid zone being estimated at less than 0.5 km in width by a clinal analysis of chromosomal data. Although differences between habitats exist, almost no demographic differences were found between populations of the two morphs when they occurred in the same or in different habitats. Two hypotheses are discussed to account for the origin of habitat partitioning. The first relies on competitive exclusion of the 40St mice from the medinas by the derived 22Rb mice; the second is based on stochastic processes related to historical evolution of Tunisian urban communities.


Polypropylene (PP)/clay nanocomposites based on PP, organic clay (montmorillonite; MMT), and maleated polypropylene (MAPP) were prepared by melt compounding. The mechanical, thermal, morphological, and gas barrier properties of the resulting PP/clay nanocomposites were investigated at varying concentrations of the components for food packaging. The results revealed that the mechanical strengths, including tensile, flexural, and Izod impact strength, were increased for PP/clay nanocomposites compared to neat PP. The thermal properties showed a tendency for the melting and degradation temperatures to increase with the clay concentration. The effect of the compatibilizer was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The X-ray diffraction pattern of the nanocomposites revealed increased d-spacing of the MMT layers, indicating that the compatibility of neat PP and clay was improved by the addition of MAPP, and the intercalation and partial exfoliation of the layers. The use of clay increased the mobility distance of the gas molecules, leading to the oxygen permeability of neat PP being reduced by 26% to 55%.


Halo displays in the sky contain valuable information about ice crystal shape and orientation: e.g., the 22 degrees halo is produced by randomly oriented hexagonal prisms while parhelia (sundogs) indicate oriented plates. HaloCam, a novel sun-tracking camera system for the automated observation of halo displays is presented. An initial visual evaluation of the frequency of halo displays for the ACCEPT (Analysis of the Composition of Clouds with Extended Polarization Techniques) field campaign from October to mid-November 2014 showed that sundogs were observed more often than 22 degrees halos. Thus, the majority of halo displays was produced by oriented ice crystals. During the campaign about 27% of the cirrus clouds produced 22 degrees halos, sundogs or upper tangent arcs. To evaluate the HaloCam observations collected from regular measurements in Munich between January 2014 and June 2016, an automated detection algorithm for 22 degrees halos was developed, which can be extended to other halo types as well. This algorithm detected 22 degrees halos about 2% of the time for this dataset. The frequency of cirrus clouds during this time period was estimated by co-located ceilometer measurements using temperature thresholds of the cloud base. About 25% of the detected cirrus clouds occurred together with a 22 degrees halo, which implies that these clouds contained a certain fraction of smooth, hexagonal ice crystals. HaloCam observations complemented by radiative transfer simulations and measurements of aerosol and cirrus cloud optical thickness (AOT and COT) provide a possibility to retrieve more detailed information about ice crystal roughness. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of a completely automated method to collect and evaluate a long-term database of halo observations and shows the potential to characterize ice crystal properties.


This paper aims to classify the distortion behavior of a power amplifier (PA) with the aid of a neural network. Power amplifiers have quite extensive usage in communication systems especially with the current developments on 5G and more. However, distortion in the power amplifiers needs attention to be pre-distorted with the help of a feedback mechanism using direct or indirect methods in the digital domain. In the literature, there are several efforts to understand and reduce distortion in amplifier devices. Therefore, in this paper, the distortion behavior in the power amplifier is inspected using the neural networks. In this work, we have obtained a software-defined network using the strength of the neural network to inspect the distorted and non-distorted data as a binary classification on the actual design of the power amplifier in [1]. For this purpose, a neural network system is trained. In the tests, more than 96% accuracy can easily be obtained in an early epoch with the cleverly chosen learning rate (ŋ) which is optimally outperforming thereabouts after ŋ=0.05 till 0.1. Thus, the linearity and non-linearity response of the PA is considered with the help of the trained network.


Testing creativity in general has been well researched, but little has been reported on the development of instruments to test scientific creativity among primary school students. This study describes the development and validation of scientific creativity test for primary school fifth graders. A Scientific Creativity Structure Model (SCSM) was used to guide the development of test items through three dimensions called
trait, process and product. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TCTT) were used to evaluate test item answers. Two equivalent, parallel scientific creativity tests were developed each of which consisted of 4 items posed in the form of: technical product, advances in science or scientific knowledge, understanding of scientific phenomenon and scientific problem solving. The scientific creativity test was validated
through analysis of item response data of 206 fifth grade students from two Malaysian primary schools.
The scientific creativity test was found to have high internal consistency, inter-scorer reliability and face
validity. Both Form A and Form B of the test had an acceptable discrimination index range. The test showed a weak positive, but significant correlation between the items in product and process dimensions, but a very strong correlation between the three trait dimensions of SCSM. Test items on science problem solving have a strong indication loading on spatial analytical thinking. The Item analysis suggests that this test would be useful in assessing scientific creativity of the fifth grade students with further review on test items measuring science problem solving.


Status beliefs link social distinctions, such as gender and race, to assumptions about competence and social worth. Recent modeling work in status construction theory suggests that interactions in small, task focused groups can lead to the spontaneous emergence and diffusion of such beliefs in larger populations. This earlier work has focused on dyads as the smallest possible groups in which status beliefs might emerge from face-to-face interaction. In today's societies, however, many task focused interactions take place in groups larger than dyads. In this article, we therefore develop an agent-based computational model that enables us to study the emergence of status beliefs in groups larger than dyads. With this model, we address questions such as: Do basic principles of task focused interaction systematically favor the emergence of status beliefs in groups larger than dyads? Does the time-frame over which small groups interact affect the likelihood with which status beliefs emerge? How does group size affect the emergence of status beliefs? Computational experimentation with the new model suggests that behavioral principles known to spontaneously create hierarchical differentiation between individual group members also tend to align these hierarchies with categorical differences and thereby facilitate the emergence of status beliefs. This tendency is stronger in smaller groups, and in groups that interact either for a very short or very long time.


Background The large number of patients for whom medicines are dispensed in our Hospital Pharmacy Service has caused us to seek a system for control, order and proper monitoring. Queue management systems (QMS) are hospital information systems that organise patients in outpatient consulting waiting rooms (OCR). Purpose To describe and examine 'Chronos', the QMS used in our Pharmacy Service OCR, and to present the results after 2 years of use. Materials and methods Setting and Method Retrospective cohort study. Cohorts A and B: consultations made before and after QMS implementation. Study period: 1 month/cohort. Variables analysed: activity, patient arrivals, waiting times, appointment compliance. Statistical analysis: data observed using Student's T-test or chi-squared test as parametric methods for comparing means or proportions. Main outcome measures General Data (GD). Activity record (AR). Patient consultation (PC). Average waiting time (WT). Appointment compliance (AC). Results QMS description. Patients arriving at the OCR, for which they have an appointment, confirm their arrival by placing their Health Card in a reader in OCR, which prints out a ticket with the room number and time of the consultation, arrival time and correlative number. The pharmacist checks the patients using the computer screen in the consulting room and clicks on call to notify the patients, who hear an acoustic signal and see their number on a screen. After attending to the patient, the pharmacist records the consultation and any incidents. Variables: GD: 2046 consultations in Cohort A and 1760 in Cohort B. AR by pharmacist: 0% Cohort A and 100% Cohort B. Unscheduled patient consultations: 7 per day for Cohort A, and 2 per day for Cohort B (p < 0.0001). Average WT: 27 min for Cohort A and 17 min for Cohort B (p < 0.0001). AC: 61% Cohort A and 81% Cohort B (p < 0.0001). Conclusions The QMS implemented in the Pharmacy Service OCR offers the following benefits: Hospital: eliminates manual system for recording work done, provides information about opening and closing times, records the pharmacist who dealt with each patient, follow-up consultations, reasons for not attending and produces statistics. Pharmacy Department: eliminates FIFO queue; provides real time information on the patients in the waiting room (arrival time, advances or delays in relation to their appointment time); increasing compliance with appointments. Patient: more orderly access to OCR at the Hospital Pharmacy Service; improved arrival flows; reduces unscheduled patients checking in; reduces waiting times. No conflict of interest.


We are testing the hypothesis that the malfunctioning of airway gland serous cells is a component of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease. CF is caused by mutations that disrupt CF transmembrane conductance regulator, an anion channel essential for proper fluid secretion in some epithelia. Submucosal glands supply most of the mucus in upper airways, and gland serous cells are the primary site of CF transmembrane conductance regulator expression in airways. We have discovered a major defect in CF glands by in situ optical monitoring of secretions from single human airway glands. CF glands did not secrete to agents that elevated [cAMP] i (0 responses/450 glands, 8 subjects), whereas glands were responsive in all donor tracheas (605/827 glands, 15 subjects) and in bronchi from subjects who were transplanted because of other lung diseases (148/166 glands, n = 10). CF glands secreted to cholinergic stimulation, and serous cells were abundant in glands from all CF subjects. The complete absence of secretion to agents that elevate [cAMP] i suggests that altered secretion of gland mucus could contribute to CF lung disease.


The main purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence career decisions of first year college students. It sought to answer the question: What impact did the career development programs in the education system have on the participants' career decisions? A survey was constructed and pilot study completed by the researcher. The survey was completed by 53 first year college students who graduated from high school between 1993 and 1997. The analysis of the frequency distribution and percentage of response provided valuable information on the influential factors of career decision making. Conclusions provide strong support to continue work experience programs. Parents were identified as being the most influential in the decision making of the participants. There was a notable increase in career goal setting by the students who graduated in 1997. Recommendations included further research ranging from influential actions to suggestions for improving career programs in schools. Career development programs are valuable and should be expanded in future years.


It is proposed to revisit the problem of gas - liquid crystallization in the framework of a two-film model and with the help of experimental data from two experimental systems. Preliminary quantitative discussion of the order of magnitude of different effects makes possible realistic simplifications in the theoretical models. In particular, the role of the interfacial film in the whole process is clearly defined. As previous researchers have done, a formulation in terms of moments of the crystal size distribution is used; however, instead of the numerical solution to the corresponding differential system, a general Procedure to express analytically the asymptotic behavior of the physical system is proposed. With this formulation, the influence of different parameters can be easily identified and validated on the available data from two experimental systems.


OECD countries' biofuels policies, derived from energy and environmental legislation and activated by high oil prices, were the primary cause of not only the sudden spike in grain and oilseed prices in 2007–2008 but also of the ensuing price volatility. Even though developing countries have a comparative advantage in biofuels production, they were shut out of rich countries' biofuel markets by trade discriminating biofuels policies. Developing countries would not have been able to take full advantage of the price spike in the short run anyway given the low supply elasticities and the long time required for biofuel production to come online, unlike for corn-ethanol. The controversy over the right price of food is misplaced and policy makers should instead focus on improving biofuels policies, which like their counterpart agricultural policies in previous decades, have damaged the welfare of developing countries.


Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) of focal endocardial and Purkinje origin occurs in humans. Pharmacological blockade of adrenoceptors on endocardial tissues may selectively prevent the induction of focal VT. We tested the hypothesis that alpha adrenoceptor blocker WB4101(WB), beta-1 receptor blocker metoprolol (Met), and beta-2 receptor blocker ICI 118,511(ICI) prevent the induction of focal ischemic VT and evaluated possible mechanisms. Methods Fifty alpha chloralose anesthetized dogs with 1 to 4 hours of coronary artery occlusion (CAO) were involved. Twenty-three multipolar plunge electrodes were placed in and surrounding the risk zone of anterior descending coronary artery. three-dimensional activation mapping off-line helped to identify the origin of VT. If VT was reproducibly induced, WB (0.3 μg/kg, IV), Met (1 mg/kg), or ICI (0.2 mg/kg, IV) was given. The effects of blockers on delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) and triggered activity (TA) recorded from endocardium and Purkinje tissue excised from the focal origin of VT were studied in vitro by standard microelectrode techniques. Results Eleven dogs were given WB; two had VTs blocked with the same or more extrastimuli. Twelve dogs were received ICI; only 3 had VT blocked, which were no different compared to focal endocardial or Purkinje VT in dogs with saline treatment, of which 1 of 12 had apparent block (p = ns). However, 7 of 15 dogs given Met had focal VT blocked, which was different from the saline treated (p < .05). Of tissues at the origin of VT, excised and studied in vitro, all foci showed DADs and TA with ISO, which were were blocked by WB (10-7 M, in 2 of 6, p = ns), ICI (10-7 M, in 0 of 4, p = ns) and Met (10-7 M, in 6 of 8, p < .05 vs control). Conclusions Pharmacological blockade of beta-1 adrenoceptor in acute ischemia selectively prevents induction of focal VT due to DADs and TA but alpha adrenoceptor and beta-2 receptor blockade does not.


ABC Dataset Chunk 0005 (10k objects). The dataset is released under the MIT License. We are grateful to Onshape for providing the CAD models and support. The copyright of these CAD models is owned by their creators. For licensing details, see Onshape Terms of Use 1.g.ii. (https://www.onshape.com/legal/terms-of-use#your_content). This work was supported in part through the NYU IT High Performance Computing resources, services, and staff expertise. Funding provided by NSF award MRI-1229185. We thank the Skoltech CDISE HPC Zhores cluster staff for computing cluster provision. This work was supported in part by NSF CAREER award 1652515, the NSF grants IIS-1320635, DMS-1436591, and 1835712, the Russian Science Foundation under Grant 19-41-04109, and gifts from Adobe Research, nTopology Inc, and NVIDIA. For more information visit the ABC dataset website https://deep-geometry.github.io/abc-dataset


The nano alumina have been synthesised employing a novel eco-friendly route from natural bauxite ore. The synthesis of alumina powder from natural bauxite is of great interest owing to the fact that it enables mass production without the use of expensive chemical resources and processing techniques. Employing the Bayer process, synthesis of nano alumina has been made from natural bauxite followed by sol-gel route. The ultra fine alumina powder with high surface area is obtained through the digestion of gel followed by sintering. The size of the particle and its morphology was controlled by calcination temperature and processing time. The crystallite size of the nano alumina powder has been measured using XRD pattern and the FTIR spectrum of nano powder after calcination at different temperatures (873 K and 1273 K) were measured. The results from the energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and morphological studies reveal interesting informations. The observed results indicate that one can control the particle size by controlling the aging and calcination temperature. The obtained results indicate that the above process technique is an unique method for the preparation of nano alumina (Al2O3) from natural source such as bauxite.


A location-based service is a service based on the geographical position of a mobile handheld device like a smartphone. This research proposes location-based research, which uses location information to find route anomalies, a common problem of daily life. For example, an alert should be generated when a deliveryman does not follow his regular route to make deliveries. Different kinds of route anomalies are discussed and various methods for detecting the anomalies are proposed in this paper. The proposed method based on a linear route representation finds the matched routes from a set of stored routes as the current route is entered location by location. Route matching is made easy by comparing the current location to linear routes. An alert is generated when no matched routes exist. Preliminary experimental results show the proposed methods are effective and easy to use.


ABSTRACT This paper interrogates how the social networks and the networking of migrants, and through that their migration trajectories, are being shaped by mobile technologies. I examine this through the case of environmentally-related migration in Bangladesh. This case, and the issue of environmentally-related migration more generally, provides new insights as it has a different context to most of the cases thus far examined to study the implications of ICTs on migration. In contrast to those studies, it is about internal movement. Such movement is highly dynamic with people frequently visiting places of origin or even trying to move back, and with travel routes being relatively safe and well known. It is less about smart phones and social media, as many of the most affected only have access to a mobile phone without internet. In that context, this paper shows that the use of mobile technologies does not necessarily lead to a drastic shift of social network structure towards the proliferation of weak ties. Rather, in this case, the impact is on how (often existing) ties that are geographically dispersed are utilised to enable mobility in a more coordinated manner, making mobility decisions more reflected on and to an extent less risky.


Introduction Field-work in a portion of the Adirondack region during the past two years has disclosed the rather widespread occurrence of rocks which resemble some phases of the anorthosites, and were classed with them until inspection of thin-sections showed their quite different nature. Similar rocks prove to be of frequent occurrence in the district, and to have an extent and importance not heretofore recognized. They also possess considerable intrinsic interest, so that some preliminary notice of them would seem to be justified in advance of a thorough investigation of their field relations. These rocks are widely and quite typically exposed in the vicinity of Loon lake, in Franklin county, New York, and many of the exposures are easily accessible; hence their selection for descriptive purposes. The rocks are referred to the augite-syenites. Megascopic Character When fresh these rocks are of a grayish green color, which quickly changes to a more . . .


4 Abstract—The past decade has witnessed the emergence and progress of multimedia social networks (MSNs), which have 5 explosively and tremendously increased to penetrate every corner of our lives, leisure and work. Moreover, mobile Internet and mobile 6 terminals enable users to access to MSNs at anytime, anywhere, on behalf of any identity, including role and group. Therefore, the 7 interaction behaviors between users and MSNs are becoming more comprehensive and complicated. This paper primarily extended 8 and enriched the situation analytics framework for the specific social domain, named as SocialSitu, and further proposed a novel 9 algorithm for users' intention serialization analysis based on classic Generalized Sequential Pattern (GSP). We leveraged the huge 10 volume of user behaviors records to explore the frequent sequence mode that is necessary to predict user intention. Our experiment 11 selected two general kinds of intentions: playing and sharing of multimedia, which are the most common in MSNs, based on the 12 intention serialization algorithm under different minimum support threshold (Min_Support). By using the users' microscopic behaviors 13 analysis on intentions, we found that the optimal behavior patterns of each user under theMin_Support, and a user's behavior patterns 14 are different due to his/her identity variations in a large volume of sessions data.


Background: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), dietary knowledge and patterns, and physical activity level with body mass index of urban South African young women. Methods: Data were collected on 160 black South African women (aged 18–24 years) and included household SES, food frequency and nutritional knowledge questionnaires, self-reported physical activity and anthropometry. To assess household SES index, 1–7 assets were categorised as a lower household SES and those with 8–13 assets as a higher household SES. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to determine the direct, indirect and total effects on adiposity of household SES, age, education, nutrition knowledge score, dietary patterns and physical activity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was similar among women from high SES households compared with their low SES peers (48.4 vs. 44.8%). More than half (53%) of the women had poor dietary knowledge. Women from low SES households spent more time in moderate to vigorous intensity exercise (MVPA) compared with their high SES counterparts. Two distinct dietary patterns (Western and mixed) were identified. SEM results show that a unit increase in adherence to the 'Mixed' dietary pattern compared with 'Western' was associated with a 0.81 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −1.54; −0.08), while ≥ 150 minutes' MVPA per week was associated with a 1.94 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −3.48; −0.41). Conclusion: The associations of SES, diet and physical activity on BMI must be taken into account when developing and designing interventions that target improvement in young women's health.


This paper proposes an ultra compact LC-VCO. Due to the speed-up of CMOS digital circuits, jitter of ring oscillators is becoming a critical problem. Even though a LC-VCO has a better phase noise, a layout size of on-chip inductor is a problem as a clock generator. Thus, the proposed LC-VCO consists of a very compact stacked-spiral inductor and active components placed beneath the inductor. The VCO is implemented by a 65-nm CMOS process, and the chip area is only 484 µm2. This VCO achieves a phase noise of −89.4 dBc/Hz@1MHz, power consumption of 1.92mW, and FOMA of 206 dBc/Hz.


Responses to a product placement study of five long-grain rice varieties in 192 Asian-American households in Houston, Texas were utilized to estimate a quality-adjusted price model for rice demand. Quantity-dependent demand functions were estimated using actual price, quality-adjusted price, and no price scenarios. Results indicate that, although price was statistically significant, it explained very little of the variation in the quantity of rice demanded; further, income was not significant in determining rice demand for Asian Americans. Their demand appears to be driven primarily by ethnic and cultural considerations and household characteristics. Implications for retail marketing are discussed.