The environmental impact of CO2 emissions via the use of fossil resources as chemical feedstock and fuels has stimulated research to utilize renewable biomass feedstock. The biogenic compounds such as polyols are highly oxygenated and their valorization requires the new methods to control the oxygen to carbon ratio of the chemicals. The catalytic cleavage of C-O bonds and C-C bonds is promising methods, but the conventional catalyst systems encounter the difficulty to obtain the high yields of the desired products. This review describes our recent development of the high performance heterogeneous catalysts for the valorization of the biogenic chemicals such as glycerol, furfural, and levulinic acid via selective cleavage of C-O bonds and C-C bonds in the liquid-phase. Selective C-O bond cleavage by hydrogenolysis enables production of various diols useful as engineering plastics, antifreeze, and cosmetics in high yields. The success of the selective C-C bond scission of levulinic acid can be applied to a wide range of the biogenic oxygenates such as carboxylic acids, esters, lactones, and primary alcohols, in which the selective C-C bond scission at adjacent to the oxygen functional groups are achieved. Furthermore, valorization of glycerol by selective acetylation and acetalization, and of levulinic acid by hydrogenation is described. Our catalysts show excellent performance compared to the reported catalysts in the aforementioned valorization.


The prison isolates and hinders the creation of an environment in which family and social relationships develop positively. In the personal networks of inmates both processes of social support and conflict with their relatives and close ones are given. In this article are described the characteristics of the women prisoners' support networks in Spain and how interpersonal conflicts affect on the configuration of those networks. We analyze the results of a research that has had a sample of 599 female participants (538 by survey respondents and 61) in a national study that has covered 42 prisons. The data are quantitative (treated with the SPSS 20 software version) and qualitative (analyzed with interpretation and content analysis techniques). The results lead us to point out that the prison intervention has in consideration the positive inmates interpersonal relationships rather than focusing all their attention those family and social ties that are shown as negative or risky. This bet we do on prison intervention fits perfectly with socio-educational approaches that comply with the guiding principles of peace education.


This study was aimed at exploring the application value of ultrasonic imaging-guided laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy after denoising by intelligent algorithms in perioperative nursing intervention of patients. In this study, convolutional downsampling was introduced to the UNet model, based on which the residual structure and Recon module were added to improve the UNet denoising model, which was applied to 100 patients who underwent ultrasound imaging-guided laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. The patients were grouped into a control group receiving conventional nursing and an experimental group receiving perioperative nursing management. The various experimental indicators were comprehensively evaluated. The results revealed that after denoising using the improved UNet model, the ultrasound image showed no unnecessary interference noise, and the image clarity was significantly improved. In the experimental group, the operation time was 55.45 ± 6.13 days, the intraoperative blood loss was 71.52 ± 9.87 days, the postoperative exhaust time was 1.9 ± 0.73 days, the time to get out of bed was 1.2 ± 0.85 days, the complication rate was 8%, the hospitalization time was 7.3 ± 2.6 days, and the nursing satisfaction rate reached 98%. All above aspects were significantly better than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In short, the improved UNet denoising model can effectively eliminate the interference noise in ultrasound and restore high-quality ultrasound images. Perioperative nursing intervention can accelerate the recovery speed of patients, reduce the complication rate, and shorten the length of stay in hospital. Therefore, it was worthy of being widely used in clinical nursing.


6-Alkyl-1,3-diakyl-5-fluorouracil (3a–3f) were synthesized by the reaction of the lithium derivative of 1,3-dialkyl-5-fluorouracil with methyl iodide or alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. We found that the methylated products were ethyl-substituted derivatives, not methyl-substituted derivatives. A possible mechanism is also proposed for the ethylation process.


Symmetric edge polytopes are lattice polytopes associated with finite simple graphs that are of interest in both theory and applications. We investigate the facet structure of symmetric edge polytopes for various models of random graphs. For an Erd\H{o}s-Renyi random graph, we identify a threshold probability at which with high probability the symmetric edge polytope shares many facet-supporting hyperplanes with that of a complete graph. We also investigate the relationship between the average local clustering, also known as the Watts-Strogatz clustering coefficient, and the number of facets for graphs with either a fixed number of edges or a fixed degree sequence. We use well-known Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling methods to generate empirical evidence that for a fixed degree sequence, higher average local clustering in a connected graph corresponds to higher facet numbers in the associated symmetric edge polytope.


In order to evaluate effects of Chinese medicinal herb (CMH) on growth and immunization of laying male chicks,eleven CMHs were used in this study,which are Astragalus membranacens (AM),Schisandra chinensis (SC),Ligustrum Lucidum(LL), Codonopsis, Scutellaria baicalensis (SB),Atractylodes macrocephala(AMA),Haw,Ginger,Acanthopanax scenticosns (AS),Angelica and Lycium, added to basal diet as 1%,respectively,with the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg*kg-1 bacitracin zinc(BZ) as the control.The body weight (BW) of birds were recorded at 1,21 and 42 days after birth,individually.The birds were vaccinated 0.50 mL against Newcastle disease (ND) with La sota vaccinel (containing mineral oil as adjuvant) by I.m.inoculation at 21 d of age.All of birds was vaccinated with F48E9 NDV by I.m.inoculation at 49 day of age.Blood samples were taken via wing vein from each bird on the day receiving the vaccination (Day-1) and on 14,21,28,30 and 34 d after vaccination (Days 14,21,28,30 and 34).Results showed that bodyweight (BW) and bodyweight gain(BWG) of the trial groups are similar to the control group.No significant differences of relative weight (RW) of bursa and spleen were observed among trial groups except for AS (P<0.05).Serum antibody titers of SC,LL,Codonopsis,SB,AMA and Lycium groups were significantly increased (P<0.05) in contrast to these control group on day-21 or 28 after immunized ND La sota vaccinel,which suggested that SC,LL,Codonopsis,SB,AMA and Lycium could augment antibody formulation.Furthermore,Compared with the control,antibody titers in SC,Codonopsis,AS,Lycium,SB and AMA group were higher (P<0.05) after vaccinated with F48E9 NDV,which suggested that SC,Codonopsis,AS,Lycium,SB and AMA have activity of antivirus.In conclusion,CMH used in the present study have similar effect on BW and BWG of chicks compared with the control.Moreover,these eleven CMH have little influence on RW of immunized organ except AS.However,SC,Codonopsis,LL,Lycium,SB and AMA could augment antibody formulation. Furthermore, SC, Cod


ABSTRACT Readability formulas were applied to the drivers' manuals of each of the 50 United States and Puerto Rico to determine whether the manuals were appropriate materials for motivating reluctant or low achieving adolescent readers. Four 100-word samples were chosen from each manual, according to four themes common to each manual and of particular importance to young adults: (1) driving under the influence of alcohol, (2) motorcycle safety, (3) the use of seatbelts, and (4) obtaining a learner's permit. Readability was calculated using the Fry, Flesch, and Raygor formulas. The readability analyses indicated that the manuals varied widely in reading level difficulty, with at least nine grade levels separating the easiest from the most difficult to read. In more than 60% of the states, students would need to read at or above the tenth grade level. Beyond the scope of the readability formulas, there were other key differences from state to state that appeared to influence the difficulty of the manuals, including organization, tables of content and indexes, and use of headings and highlighting techniques. (Readability levels for each of the 51 manuals are included.) (HTH)


Finding information on the Web can be a much more complex search process than previously experienced on many pre-Web information retrieval systems given that finding content online does not have to happen via a search algorithm typed into a search field. Rather, the Web allows for a myriad of search strategies. Although there are numerous studies of Web search techniques, these studies often limit their focus to just one part of the search process and are not based on the behavior of the general user population, nor do they include information about the users. To remedy these shortcomings, this project looks at how people find information online in the context of their other media use, their general Internet use patterns, in addition to using information about their demographic background and social support networks. This article describes the methodology in detail, and suggests that a mix of survey instruments and in-person observations can yield the type of rich data set that is necessary to understand in depth the differences in people's information retrieval behavior online.


Seven patients underwent release of the piriformis from the femur. Patients with residual symptoms after conservative treatment had dramatic relief of sciatica and 70% resumed customary work after surgery. Minimum follow-up was 31 months (average: 51 months). Early diagnosis can avoid prolonging ineffective empiric treatment and disability with satisfactory results achieved in most patients by conservative treatment and relief of sciatica in selected surgical cases.


An efficient and convenient strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 10-ethyl-7,8-dihydro-γ-ionone isomers (R)-(+)-7, and (S)-(−)-7 are described utilizing a lipase mediated resolution protocol, and reductive elimination of the secondary allylic alcohol as the key step. The enantioselective and diastereoselective lipase kinetic acetylation of 4-hydroxy-γ-ionone derivatives 6a afforded the 4-acetyl-γ-ionone derivatives (−)-8, and the 4-hydrox-γ-ionone derivatives (+)-6a, which are suitable precursors of the desired products. Stereospecific palladium-mediated elimination of allylic acetate provides the target compounds with an excellent enantiomeric excess and yield. Additionally, the novel 4,5-didehydro-α-ionone 13 is obtained from readily prepared (2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-yl) methanol 9. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds have been elucidated by 1H, 13C NMR, GC-MS, and IR spectrometry. These compounds represent a new class of odorants that may be of pivotal relevance in industrial perfumery.


Sick PB, Schuler G, Hauptmann KE et al.: Initial worldwide experience with the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage system for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 49(13), 1490-1495 (2007). Left atrium appendage (LAA) occlusion is a potential alternative to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to anticoagulation. Currently, there are two devices specifically designed for LAA occlusion: the percutaneous LAA transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO System, ev3 Inc., MN, USA) and the WATCHMAN LAA system (Atritech Inc., MN, USA). Initial results from a study with the WATCHMAN device suggest that the LAA occlusion may reduce the long-term risk for stroke. Available data are still very limited and although occluding the LAA appears to be technically feasible, its long-term safety and ability to reduce stroke incidence remains to be proven. Only prospective randomized studies will be able to tell us if the LAA occlusion devices can be used as an alternative treatment strategy to the standard long-term anticoagulation.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in Egypt as the nation bears the highest prevalence rate worldwide. This necessitated establishing a novel model of care (MOC) to contain the epidemic, deliver patient care and ensure global treatment access. In this review, we describe the process of development of the Egyptian model and future strategies for sustainability. Although the magnitude of the HCV problem was known for many years, the HCV MOC only came into being in 2006 with the establishment of the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis (NCCVH) to set up and implement a national control strategy for the disease and other causes of viral hepatitis. The strategy outlines best practices for patient care delivery by applying a set of service principles through identified clinical streams and patient flow continuums. The Egyptian national viral hepatitis treatment programme is considered one of the most successful and effective public health programmes. To date, more than one million patients were evaluated and more than 850 000 received treatment under the umbrella of the programme since 2006. The NCCVH has been successful in establishing a strong infrastructure for controlling viral hepatitis in Egypt. It established a nationwide network of digitally connected viral hepatitis‐specialized treatment centres covering the country map to enhance treatment access. Practice guidelines suiting local circumstances were issued and regularly updated and are applied in all affiliated centres. This review illustrates the model and the successful Egyptian experience. It sets an exemplar for states, organizations and policy‐makers setting up programmes for care and management of people with hepatitis C.


Structural Funding and Disadvantage of Regions: Public and Non-Public Beneficiaries Considering the differences between public and non-public beneficiaries, the main aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between the disadvantage of Czech regions and the spatial distribution of EU structural funds in the programming period 2007–2013. The empirical results reveal negative and significant influence of socioeconomic disadvantage of regions on the amount of structural funds obtained by public beneficiaries. On the contrary, agglomeration economies are the statistically significant determinant of the amount of structural funds obtained by non-public beneficiaries. These conclusions are related to different absorption capacity of regions, regarding the number and size of projects. Overall, structural funds do not compensate for the disadvantage of regions, neither for public nor for non-public beneficiaries.


In the mid 1980's, the Australasian calanoid copepod Boeckella triarticulata was found in fish ponds of Northern Italy, representing the first record of this species for Europe. Its occurrence has not been reported for other Italian localities since 2005, when several specimens were found in the summer zooplankton of the Po River. It seems likely that B. triarticulata could be more widespread in the Po River valley than available distributional data suggest, considering both the scarcity of studies on the plankton of the main river channel and its adjacent water bodies as well as the high ecological plasticity of this centropagid species. The occurrence of this non-indigenous species in Italian waters may depend on the establishment of stable populations or on multiple reintroductions. Its threat as an invasive species is discussed on the basis of our preliminary results and from literature review.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To determine the effectiveness of an oral health care program for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

BACKGROUND
Research has shown a significant correlation between oral bacteria and VAP, indicating that an oral health care program plays a very important role in VAP prevention.

DESIGN AND METHODS
A quasi-experimental study was used and conducted in the intensive care unit in a medical centre. A total of 199 mechanically ventilated patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: the experimental group (n=99) and control group (n=100). The experimental group was cared for using an evidence-based oral health care program, and the control group was cared for using routine nursing care procedures. Each group received the assigned treatment for four consecutive days.

RESULTS
The incidence of VAP in the experimental group (4%, 4/95) was significantly lower than that in the control group (21%, 18/82). The oral assessment guide (OAG) mean score (9.16 ± 2.07) of the experimental group was significantly different (P<0.05) from that of the control group (10.07 ± 1.79). The general estimated equation further showed that there was a significant difference between groups (P<0.01) for the third post-test data and no significant difference for the pre-test or the first and second post-test data between groups, indicating that an increased duration of intervention resulted in significant decreases in the OAG scores in the experimental group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
The evidence-based oral health care program effectively improved oral mucosal health and statistically reduced the incidence of VAP in this study.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
The study findings may be useful as an empirical reference for health care professionals performing an oral health care program in the future. Additionally, it may serve as a reference for long-term care policies aimed at reducing the ventilation duration, days of hospitalization and mortality rate to enhance patient safety and the quality of medical care.


Dynamic extinction lines which occur in CBED patterns have been used to determine the presence of twofold screw axis and glide plane in Li_2O·Nb_2O_5. The space group is found to be P2_1/a.


This monograph presents the author's views on the present-day status of the problem of prematurity, its related pathology and desirable methods of care. The author has compiled a truly exhaustive bibliography and appears to have included almost everything which has appeared in the North and South American and European literature on this subject in recent years. References to the published material, however, are not always critical.
 Care of the uncomplicated, as well as the complicated cases of prematurity, is discussed in considerable detail.


We characterize infrared spectral energy distributions of 343 (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies from z = 0.3–2.8. We diagnose the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) by decomposing individual Spitzer mid-IR spectroscopy into emission from star formation and an AGN-powered continuum; we classify sources as star-forming galaxies (SFGs), AGNs, or composites. Composites comprise 30% of our sample and are prevalent at faint and bright S24, making them an important source of IR AGN emission. We combine spectroscopy with multiwavelength photometry, including Herschel imaging, to create three libraries of publicly available templates (2–1000 μm). We fit the far-IR emission using a two-temperature modified blackbody to measure cold and warm dust temperatures (Tc and Tw). We find that Tc does not depend on mid-IR classification, while Tw shows a notable increase as the AGN grows more luminous. We measure a quadratic relationship between mid-IR AGN emission and total AGN contribution to LIR. AGNs, composites, and SFGs separate in S8/S3.6 and S250/S24, providing a useful diagnostic for estimating relative amounts of these sources. We estimate that >40% of IR-selected samples host an AGN, even at faint selection thresholds (S24 > 100 μJy). Our decomposition technique and color diagnostics are relevant given upcoming observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.


Eighteen patients showing hypersensitivity to nitrofurantoin with symptoms like sudden fever, malaise, cough, pleuritis, leucocytosis and sometimes eosinophilia were analysed for immune reactions, i.e. lymphocyte transformation and specific antibodies. In addition, thirty-three individuals treated with the drug but with no clinical signs of the described reactions were included as controls. The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) was found positive in ten out of the eighteen sensitive patients while one to three out of fourteen tested control patients were positive, depending on test conditions. An incubation period of 4 days in culture medium supplemented with autologous serum gave stimulation to a greater extent than did isologous serum and/or incubation for 6 days. The antibody determinations, with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), showed no IgE antibodies to nitrofurantoin in any of the patients. In contrast, most of the hypersensitive and even the control patients had specific IgG antibodies. The mean value of the antibodies of the sensitive group was higher than of the control group, but considerable overlapping between the groups was noted. In adverse reactions to nitrofurantoin a positive LTT and/or a high antibody titre to the drug favours an allergic mechanism and contributes to a more reliable diagnosis.


Planning and budgeting pricing and profitability analysis job-order costing performance evaluation activity-based costing accounting implications of TQM accounting implications of JIT management accounting and ethics capital budgeting balanced scorecard accounting for international transactions consolidating foreign subsidiaries production simulations.


Palumbo M.I.P., Resende L.A.L., Pantoja J.C.F., Mayhew I.G. & Borges A.S. 2014. Brainstem auditory-evoked potential in Boxer dogs. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(10):1007-1010. Departamento de Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior s/n, Botucatu, SP 18618970, Brazil. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Brainstem auditory-evoked potential (BAEP) has been widely used for different purposes in veterinary practice and is commonly used to identify inherited deafness and presbycusis. In this study, 43 Boxer dogs were evaluated using the BAEP. Deafness was diagnosed in 3 dogs (2 bilateral and 1 unilateral) allowing the remaining 40 Boxers to be included for normative data analysis including an evaluation on the influence of age on the BAEP. The animals were divided into 2 groups of 20 Boxers each based on age. The mean age was 4.54 years (range, 1-8) in group I, and 9.83 years (range, 8.5-12) in group II. The mean latency for I, III, and V waves were 1.14 (±0.07), 2.64 (±0.11), and 3.48 (±0.10) ms in group I, and 1.20 (±0.12), 2.73 (±0.15), and 3.58 (±0.22) ms in group II, respectively. The mean inter-peak latencies for the I-III, III-V and I-V intervals were 1.50 (±0.15), 0.84 (±0.15), and 2.34 (±0.11) ms in group I, and 1.53 (±0.16), 0.85 (±0.15), and 2.38 (±0.19) ms in group II, respectively. Latencies of waves I and III were significant different between group I and II. For the I-III, III-V and I-V intervals, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. As far as we know, this is the first normative study of BAEP obtained from Boxer dogs.


Summary AdaptIVe is a large scale European project on vehicle automation and the pertaining human-machine interaction. The use case design process is a crucial part of the system design process and a part of the human-vehicle integration subproject. This paper explains the methodology for describing use cases in AdaptIVe. They are primarily based on sequence diagrams with main and alternative flows.


The Q5 Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Without Competent Cells) enables rapid, site-specific mutagenesis of double-stranded plasmid DNA in less than 2 hours (Figure 1). The kit utilizes the robust Q5 Hot Start High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase along with custom mutagenic primers to create insertions, deletions and substitutions in a wide variety of plasmids. After PCR, the amplified material is added directly to a unique Kinase-Ligase-DpnI (KLD) enzyme mix for rapid (5 minutes), room temperature circularization and template removal (Figure 2). Transformation into high-efficiency chemically-competent E. coli, not supplied, ensures robust results with plasmids up to at least 20 kb in length.Kit is available with competent cells (NEB #E0554).


Abstract The source of Martian atmospheric methane is unknown. On Earth, hydrothermal mineral deposits contain ancient methane together with a host of chemical and geological lines of evidence for the mechanism of gas production. Such deposits are therefore potentially attractive sampling sites on Mars. In order to evaluate this potential, hydrothermal calcite veins were sampled across the Caithness region of Scotland and analysed for methane by an incremental-crushing mass spectrometry technique that may be adaptable to Mars rovers. Methane was detected in all samples. Variations in the quantity of methane released were found to relate directly to the geological history of the localities. Calcite particle size was found to affect measurements in a systematic and informative way. Oxidative weathering had no discernable effect on methane recoverability. These results suggest that the technique is sensitive and informative enough to deserve consideration for missions to Mars.


The environment of agriculture in Korea is changed very rapidly. Since the labours in fruit cultivation field are getting older, the resources and the aid materials for farming need to be multi functional and easy to use. Therefore, They have to use various kind of aid materials in field of fruit cultivation like as fruiting bag. The development of practical utilization way of embossing process for manufacturing of fruiting bag andwrapping paper of agricultural products was main purpose of this study. Embossing roll was designed in Ginyong Embo(Co.) for the embossing process of fruiting bag. The embossingtreated fruiting bag was manufactured in Agro(Co.) at mill scale. The mechanical properties ofembossing paper was investigated and operation efficiency of bagging was tested at field. The properties of embossed paper was satisfied for fruiting bags for cultivation of apple and pear.


On the basis of anti-inflammatory activity, combined with multiple indicators, the quality markers of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid were screened and determined for quality control. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was used to induce normal human bronchial epithelial cell(NHBE) inflammation model. The anti-inflammatory effects of the main chemical components in Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid were examined one by one, and the pharmacodynamic basis for the overall anti-inflammatory efficacy of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid was clarified to identify the quality markers of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid and the contents of the quality markers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The results showed that adenosine, epigoitrin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cichoric acid, corynoline, baicalin, wogonoside, wogonin and oroxylin A had a certain regulatory effect on inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α), interleukin(IL-1β) and IL-6 at specific concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Considering the factors such as the IC_(50) value of each monomer component and the comprehensiveness of the quality control components, we proposed to use adenosine, cichoric acid, corynoline, baicalin and wogonin as quality markers of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid. The contents of the five components were determined by HPLC, and the results showed that they were relatively stable in three batches of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid. In this study, the quality control components selected by the anti-inflammatory activity test have a clear material basis, covering all four active pharmaceutical ingredients, which can fully reflect the quality of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid, and effectively improve the quality control standard of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid.


The 2D equations in the Kirchhoff-Love theory are subjected to asymptotic analysis in the case of free interfacial vibrations of a longitudinally inhomogeneous infinite cylindrical shell. Three types of interfacial vibrations, associated with bending, super low-frequency semi-membrane, and extensional motions, are investigated. It is remarkable that for extensional modes natural frequencies have asymptotically small imaginary parts caused by a weak coupling with propagating bending waves. Bending and extensional vibrations correspond to Stonely-type plate waves, while semi-membrane ones are strongly dependent on shell curvature and do not allow flat plate interpretation. The paper represents generalization of the recent authors' publication [Kaplunov et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 1383-1393 (2000)] dealing with edge vibrations of a semi-infinite cylindrical shell.


Adult education at upper secondary level (AE) is an integral part of the Swedish educational system. Of the cohort born in 1970, about one third has at some point been registered in AE. This evaluation of AE is the first to use register data on the course credits actually attained. The results indicate that credits equal to one year of AE yield point estimates that range from 5 per cent for individuals with prior two-year upper secondary school to 15 per cent for those with prior compulsory school. The positive effects are mainly driven by courses in health related subjects and computer science. Of the participants in AE, more than 40 per cent continue to university. The returns to years in higher education are not found to be different between individuals with and without a prior AE registration except for those with one year or less at university.


For arbitrary and a class of entire functions depending on a complex parameter is constructed. The values of such that the sequence of zeros of a function in this class generates a complete and minimal exponential system in , , are described. Examples of such systems were previously known only for .


As multicore processors are becoming increasingly common everywhere, the future computing systems and devices are becoming inevitably concurrent. Also, on the applications side, automation is steadily infiltrating into everyday life, and hence, most software systems are becoming increasingly complex and concurrent. As a result, recent developments and projections indicate that we are entering into the era of concurrent programming. Synchronizing asynchronous concurrent processes in accessing a shared resource is an important issue. Among the synchronization issues, mutual exclusion is fundamental. Solutions to most higher level synchronization problems rely on the assurance of mutual exclusion. Several algorithms with varying characteristics are proposed in the literature to solve the mutual exclusion problem. This paper presents two new algorithms to solve the mutual exclusion problem. The algorithms are simple and have many nice properties.


Antimicrobial peptides/proteins are widespread in nature and play a critical role in host defense. To investigate whether these components contribute to surface protection of newborns at birth, we have characterized antimicrobial polypeptides in vernix caseosa (vernix) and amniotic fluid (AF). Concentrated peptide/protein extracts were obtained from 11 samples of vernix and six samples of AF and analyzed for antimicrobial activity using an inhibition zone assay. Proteins/peptides in all vernix extracts exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus megaterium (strain Bm11), in addition to antifungal activity against Candida albicans, whereas AF-derived proteins/peptides showed only the former activity. Fractions obtained after separation by reverse-phase HPLC exhibited antibacterial activity, with the most pronounced activity in a fraction containing α-defensins (HNP1-3). The presence of HNP1-3 was proved by dot blot analysis and confirmed by mass spectrometry. Lysozyme and ubiquitin were identified by sequence analysis in two fractions with antibacterial activity. Fractions of vernix and AF were also positive for LL-37 with dot blot and Western blot analyses, and one fraction apparently contained an extended form of LL-37. Interestingly, psoriasin, a calcium-binding protein that is upregulated in psoriatic skin and was found recently to exhibit antimicrobial activity, was characterized in the vernix extract. The presence of all of these antimicrobial polypeptides in vernix suggests that they are important for surface defense and may have an active biologic role against microbial invasion at birth.


BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that strict enforcement of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention (VAPP) strategies would decrease the incidence of VAP and improve patient outcomes.

METHODS
This retrospective study examined 696 consecutive ventilated patients in a Level One trauma center. Three study groups were compared: Pre-VAPP, VAPP implementation, and VAPP enforcement. Ventilator days were compared with occurrences of VAP, defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance criteria. Patients with and without VAP were compared to evaluate the effect of VAP on patient outcome. Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square analyses were used, and p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS
During the pre-VAPP protocol period, 5.2 cases of VAP occurred per 1,000 days of ventilator support. The number of cases of VAP decreased to 2.4/1,000 days (p = 0.172) and 1.2/1,000 days (p = 0.085) in the implementation and enforcement periods, respectively. However, when including all trauma patients, regardless of head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) score, the difference in the rate of VAP was statistically significant in the enforcement period, but not in the implementation period, compared with the pre-VAPP period (p = 0.014 and 0.062, respectively). A significant decrease was seen in the mortality rate (p = 0.024), total hospital days (p = 0.007), intensive care unit days (p = 0.002), ventilator days (p = 0.002), and hospital charges (p = 0.03) in patients without VAP compared with patients having VAP.

CONCLUSIONS
There was a statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of VAP with strict enforcement of a VAPP protocol, regardless of head AIS score. Although the difference in patients with a head AIS score <3 was not statistically significant, it was clinically meaningful, decreasing the already-low rate of VAP by half. Strict enforcement of VAPP protocols may be cost efficient for hospitals and prevent decreased reimbursement under the Medicare pay-for-performance strategies.


Data from a cohort of HIV-positive individuals who were antiretroviral naive at enrollment were analysed to estimate the probability of discontinuing the first highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen, comparing protease inhibitor- and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase-containing regimens. Of the 2002 individuals who began HAART, 857 (42.8%) discontinued their first regimen. No statistically significant difference was found in the time to discontinuation by specific type of regimen, either when considered overall or by specific reason.


OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries are approaches used to reduce trauma, to give better cosmetic results and to reduce hospital costs with the same safety than conventional surgery. This study was designed to compare the operative results from patients who underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with those who were submitted to the standard procedure. METHOD: The operative and immediate post-operative results of 12 consecutive patients who received minimally invasive isolated aortic valve replacements from June 2002 to February 2003 were compared to 12 patients who underwent to traditional approach in the same institution. The minimally invasive access used was superior median hemisternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass was established through ascendant aorta and right atrium cannulation, similar to the traditional technique. RESULTS: The patient's demographics were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences between aortic clamping time, total bypass time and operating time. The skin incision length was statiscally shorter in minimally invasive group. In the postoperative course, the mechanical ventilation time and the total hospital stay were shorter, but not statiscally significant, in the minimally invasive group. The morbidity was the same in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This surgical approach provides adequate exposure of the cardiac structures necessary to perform a safe valve replacement. With the same instrumental used in the traditional surgery we can offer the benefits of a less invasive access with the same efficiency as in the conventional approach without add any risks to our patients.


We examined changes in the levels of eicosanoids in blood and pulmonary lymph of anesthetized sheep undergoing acute anaphylaxis. Within 1-3 min of intravenous antigenic challenge of previously sensitized sheep, there were approximately 7-30-fold elevations in mean arterial plasma levels of thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, respectively, as measured by RIA. Negligible changes in levels of these cyclooxygenase products were found in both nonsensitized sheep and in sensitized sheep treated with indomethacin before antigenic challenge. In contrast, no changes in levels of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes (SPLT) in pulmonary lymph were detectable by RIA during anaphylaxis in sensitized or nonsensitized sheep, but levels of SPLT in indomethacin- treated sensitized sheep increased more than fivefold above levels in lymph from both other groups of animals. The immunoreactive SPLT in lymph from indomethacin-treated sheep was accounted for as LTE4, as demonstrated by mobility on HPLC and absorbance at 280 nm. These results support the possibility that certain undesirable effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as cardiopulmonary reactions in aspirin-sensitive individuals, and impaired renal and cardiac function during therapy with these drugs, may be related in part to augmented synthesis of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway products, especially those of the sulfidopeptide class. Increased LT production could also limit the antiinflammatory effectiveness of these drugs in many disease states.


Forty women employed as furriers in the fur processing industry and a group of 31 control workers were examined. A higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was found among the furriers than among the controls. The differences were statistically significant for chronic cough and sinusitis (P less than 0.01). The highest prevalence in furriers was found for chronic cough (50%), sinusitis (30%), followed by dyspnea (25%), nasal catarrh (20%) and occupational asthma (5%). A large number of workers complained of acute symptoms during work shift. Statistically significant mean acute reductions in ventilatory capacity over the workshift were recorded for FVC (-4.1%), FEV1 (-5.2%) and FEV50 (-6.3%). The furriers demonstrated significantly lower mean measured pre-shift values for FVC and FEV25 (P less than 0.05) when compared with the predicted. Pre-shift administration of 40 mg of Intal considerably diminished acute ventilatory capacity over the work shift.


One of the surprising recurring phenomena observed in experiments with boosting is that the test error of the generated classifier usually does not increase as its size becomes very large, and often is observed to decrease even after the training error reaches zero. In this paper, we show that this phenomenon is related to the distribution of margins of the training examples with respect to the generated voting classification rule, where the margin of an example is simply the difference between the number of correct votes and the maximum number of votes received by any incorrect label. We show that techniques used in the analysis of Vapnik's support vector classifiers and of neural networks with small weights can be applied to voting methods to relate the margin distribution to the test error. We also show theoretically and experimentally that boosting is especially effective at increasing the margins of the training examples. Finally, we compare our explanation to those based on the bias-variance


Long non-coding (lnc) RNAs serve a multitude of functions in cells. NEAT1 RNA is a highly abundant 4 kb lncRNA in nuclei, and coincides with paraspeckles, nuclear domains that control sequestration of paraspeckle proteins. We examined NEAT1 RNA levels and its function in 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation to adipocytes. Levels of NEAT1 transcript, measured by RT-PCR, fluctuated in a temporal manner over the course of differentiation that suggested its role in alternative splicing of PPARγ mRNA, the major transcription factor driving adipogenesis. When cells were induced to differentiate by a media cocktail of insulin, dexamethasone, and isobutylmethyxanthine (IBMX) on Day 0, NEAT1 levels dropped on Day 4, when the PPARγ2 variant was spliced and when terminal differentiation occurs The appearance of PPARγ2 coordinates with the PPARγ1 variant to drive differentiation of adipocytes. SiRNA used to deplete NEAT1 resulted in the inability of cells to phosphorylate the serine/arginine-rich splicing protein, SRp40. SiRNA treatment for SRp40 resulted in dysregulation of PPARγ1 and, primarily, PPARγ2 mRNA levels. SRp40 associated with NEAT1, as shown by RNA-IP on days 0 and 8, but decreased on day 4, and concentrations increased over that of IgG control. Overexpression of SRp40 increased PPARγ2, but not γ1. Although lncRNA MALAT1 has been investigated in SR protein function, NEAT1 has not been shown to bind SR proteins for phosphorylation such that alternative splicing results. The ability of cells to increase phosphorylated SR proteins for PPARγ2 splicing suggests that fluxes in NEAT1 levels during adipogenesis regulate alternative splicing events.


ABSTRACT Aim To establish safe and straightforward anesthesia used in experiments, we examined the effect of ketamine, ketamine/xylazine, urethane, chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, isoflurane, dexmedetomidine, and dexmedetomidine/ketamine on epileptiform activity in genetic absence epilepsy (WAG\Rij) rats. Materials and Method Sixty-three male WAG/Rij rats weighing (170–190 g) were used. Tripolar electrodes were inserted into the skull. After ECoG activities were recorded for each animal for 2 hours as controls, , the anesthetic substances were administered and the recording continued for another 2 hours. All the anesthetic substances were administered intraperitoneally except isoflurane, which was administered by inhalation.The PowerLab system was used for electrophysiological activity recording and analysis. Results The administration of ketamine (90 mg/kg), ketamine/xylazine (90/10 mg/kg), urethane (1.25 g/kg), chloral hydrate (175 mg/kg), pentobarbital (50–90 mg/kg), isoflurane (induction 5%, maintaining 3–4%), dexmedetomidine (0.5–1 mg/kg), and dexmedetomidine/ketamine (50/90 mg/kg), significantly decreased the total number of SWD, the total number of spikes, and the SWD duration (p < 0,05). The mean duration of SWD was not affected in pentobarbital (50–90 mg/kg), isoflurane (induction 5%, maintaining 3–4%), dexmedetomidine (0.5–1 mg/kg), and Dexmedetomidine/ketamine (50/90 mg/kg) groups (p > 0.05). Time scale showed a significant decrease in the total number of SWD in the first 20 minutes (P < 0.001) for all groups except dexmedetomidine (0.5–1 mg/kg), and dexmedetomidine/ketamine (50/90 mg/kg) groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion The anesthetics we used significantly reduced the epileptiform activity immediately after the administration, except dexmedetomidine and dexmedetomidine/ketamine groups, so we recommend using dexmedetomidine and Dexmedetomidine/ketamine in electrophysiological studies accompanied by anesthetics.


To evaluate the Salmonella prevalence and its antimicrobial susceptibility in dual-purpose cattle farms, fecal (n = 3964; from cows and calves) and environmental samples (n = 334; personnel, feed, and water sources) were collected over a 1-year period at six farms in the eastern region of Zulia State, Venezuela. Salmonella detection was carried out using standard microbiological culture methods. From 453 isolated Salmonella, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using a panel of 10 antibiotics by the disk diffusion test method. Overall, the prevalence of Salmonella at the farm was 10.4% (n = 410/3964), being positive for Salmonella in at least in one sample. Salmonella was found in 11% (222/2009) of cows and 9.7% (188/1937) of calves. The prevalence of environmental samples was 10.78% (36/334), where water sources and milkers' hands showed higher occurrence (p < 0.01). Among the Salmonella isolates recovered, 10.2% displayed resistance to tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, penicillins, sulfonamides, quinolones and fluoroquinolones. Overall, multidrug resistance was 9.1%, and the most common combination was cephalothin-gentamicin-tetracycline, followed by gentamicin-norfloxacin-tetracycline. Over the course of this study, it was found that 100% of the evaluated farms had cattle shedding Salmonella and that the surrounding farm environments were contaminated, which contributed to the cycling of the pathogen at the farms and further contamination of the milk. However, only a low percentage of isolates exhibited significant antimicrobial resistance.


Although pesticide intermediates are a kind of typical toxic pollutant in contaminated sites, the remediation of these contaminants in groundwater and soils is of limited concern. In the present study we investigated the performance of a novel heterogeneous oxidation system, biochar supported nanoscaled-zero valent iron (nZVI/BC) activated persulfate (PS), in the oxidative degradation of nitrochlorobenzene (NCB), a typical pesticide intermediate. Peanut shell based nZVI/BC was prepared and used as the PS activator. The degradation kinetics of m-, p-, and o-NCB isomers in the aqueous phase were investigated. The effects of BC/nZVI composition (Fe/BC mass ratio), the amount of BC/nZVI and PS, and initial contaminant concentration on NCB removal were also examined. Results suggest that over 90% removals of three NCB isomers could be obtained by the nZVI/BC activated PS system at initial NCB concentration of 10 mg L−1. The combination of nZVI/BC composite and PS showed superior performance to PS alone. The optimal treatment condition was supposed as the Fe: BC ratio of 1:1, Fe amount of 6 mmol L−1, and the mole ratio of Fe to perfulfate of 1:1.


Decades after the Second World War, fascism is still rife in Europe. After acknowledging a certain difficulty on the part of contemporary antifascist arguers to affirm their tenets and discredit those of their opponents, this investigation looks back at the past to examine an inspiring antifascist speech. The speech that socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti delivered to the Italian Parliament in 1924 is analysed though the methodological lens of Pragma-dialectics, focusing on the notions of strategic manoeuvring, argumentative structure and argumentative style. The results show that Matteotti's argumentation against the fascists hinged on facts and rules as premises of argumentation. The speaker supported his arguments with factual evidence and organised them in a multiple argumentation structure. In addition, he "dressed up" his speech, apparently characterised by a detached argumentative style, with traits of a more engaged style, whose combination has turned Matteotti's invective against the fascist regime into an argumentative masterpiece.


The work function evolution of a graphene monolayer under two-dimensional metal electrodes was studied by combining in situ metal deposition and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy under an ultra-high vacuum system. The process of the charge transfer at the graphene–metal interfaces was investigated. The transfer of electrons from metal to graphene and then from graphene to metal, with deposition of the metal, was observed. The work function of the graphene–metal contact shifted, and was finally stopped at the theoretical work function of the metal when the metal turned from a two-dimensional film into a bulk material. Meanwhile, the energy barrier of the metal–graphene interface could be tailored by altering the metal thickness. This research makes it possible to use the graphene device in future applications.


How does knowledge come to be manipulable and flexible, and transferable to other tasks? These are issues which remain largely untackled in connectionist cognitive modelling. The Representational Redescription Hypothesis (RRH) (Karmiloff-Smith, 1992b) presents a framework for the emergence of abstract, higher-order knowledge, based on empirical work from developmental psychology. The RRH claims that during learning/development initiallyimplicit knowledge is rendered progressively more explicit via the reiterated action of the redescription process, resulting in a hierarchy of increasingly explicit and accessible representations. This thesis focuses on investigating in practice claims made for connectionism as a model of redescription (e.g., Clark and Karmiloff-Smith (1993)) and on applying methods from recent work in developmental connectionism to the construction of a computational model of RR. The modelling effort centres on a constructive incremental architecture — cascade-correlation (CC) (Fahlman & Lebiere, 1990) — which produces a conservative hierarchy of increasingly high-level representations as the RRH proposes. Two main models are presented. The first is designed to capture a feature of children's comprehension of the French article system (Karmiloff-Smith, 1979a). Redescriptive effects are seen here in the changing functional status of article representations as well as in symptomatic behavioural errors. Resource-phasing was also applied to two important internal parameters of CC. The second model aims to capture the effects of redescription on sequence learning. Recurrent CC was trained to count, and to give and compare the cardinalities of small series of stimuli. Accessibility of representations was assessed here through task transfer. Despite some success in capturing transfer, a short complementary study of structural transfer between networks learning formal grammars suggested that positive transfer in CC depends on perceptual similarity as in other supervised connectionist schemes. The models also address constraints on RR such as the timing and triggering of redescription and the ordering of representational formats. A brief comparative study of skeletonisation is also presented. Submitted for the degree of D. Phil. University of Sussex


Non-covalent synthesis was used in the controlled assembly of metallodendrimers containing up to 12 porphyrins on the surface. A porphyrin containing four Pd-Cl complexes was synthesized to assemble dendrimers with a porphyrin in the nucleus. 1H NMR, ES-MS and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used to characterize the nanometer-size assemblies.


PURPOSE
MR-guided radiation therapy is a current and emerging clinical reality. We have designed and tested a silica-based gadolinium chelates nanoparticle (AGuIX) for integration with MR-guided radiation therapy. The AGuIX nanoparticles used in this study are a dual-modality probe with radiosensitization properties and better MRI contrast than current FDA-approved gadolinium chelates. In advance of an approved Phase I clinical trial, we report on the efficacy and safety in multiple animal models and clinically relevant radiation conditions. By modeling our study on current clinic workflows, we show compatibility with modern patient care, thus heightening the translational significance of this research.

METHODS
The dual imaging and therapy functionality of AGuIX was investigated in mice with clinical radiation beams while safety was evaluated in mice, and nonhuman primates after systemic injection of 0.25 mg/g of nanoparticles. MRI/ICP-MS were used to measure tumor uptake and biodistribution. Due to their small size (2-3 nm), AGuIX have good renal clearance (t1/2=19min). We performed in vitro cell uptake quantification and radiosensitization studies (clonogenic assays and DNA damage quantification). In vivo radiation therapy studies were performed with both 6MV and 6MV-FFF clinical radiation beams. Histology was performed to measure the increase in DNA damage in the tumor and to evaluate the toxicity in healthy tissues.

RESULTS
In vitro and in vivo results demonstrate statistically significant increase (P < 0.01) in DNA damage, tumor growth supression and survival (+100 days) compared to radiation alone. Negligible toxicity was observed in all of the animal models. The combination of 6MV-FFF/AGuIX demonstrated a substantial dose enhancement compared to 6MV/AGuIX (DEF = 1.36 vs. 1.22) due to the higher proportion of low energy photons.

CONCLUSION
With demonstrated efficacy and negligible toxicity in mice and non-human primates, AGuIX is a biocompatible nanoplatform with strong translational potential for MR-guided radiation therapy.


Effective, long-term wild oat management requires an integrated approach that uses man- agement techniques beyond simple herbicide application. A 5-yr (1996 to 2000) zero tillage study was conducted to assess the influence of barley harvest timing on wild oat densities in subsequent years at Lacombe, AB, Canada and Melfort, SK, Canada. Harvest timings included barley harvested 1 wk after heading (early), approximately 14 to 16 d later at the soft dough stage (normal), and at maturity (grain). In the absence of herbicides, wild oat densities decreased in silage plots harvested early and increased in grain plots. Reductions were more distinct at Lacombe where barley pheno- logical differences and whole plant moisture contents between early and normal silage harvests were greater than at Melfort. Half rates of wild oat herbicides (ICIA 0604 and imazamethabenz) did not augment reductions in wild oat densities after early silage harvest, but did improve wild oat man- agement after normal silage harvest, and in grain production. At Lacombe, early silage harvest reduced wild oat densities more than did herbicides in grain production. Similar trends were apparent at Melfort but were not statistically significant. Early barley silage harvests may be an effective integrated weed management tool for wild oat. Nomenclature: ICIA 0604 (proposed common name: tralkoxydim), 2-(1-(ethoxyimino)propyl)-3- hydroxy-5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)cyclohex-2-enone; imazamethabenz; wild oat, Avena fatua L. #3


Despite the frequency with which tuberculosis attacks the brain, only a small percentage of tumors of the brain disclosed at operation in modern neurosurgical clinics prove to be tuberculomas. Whereas older authors regarded tuberculoma as one of the most common types of cerebral tumor, more modern reports indicate a steadily decreasing incidence, until at present tuberculomas constitute 2 per cent or less of verified tumors of the brain.1Several factors have played a role in this reduction. Most important have been the lowered incidence and better treatment of tuberculosis as a disease. Further, there has been a tendency to segregate tuberculous patients in special hospitals and clinics. Finally, there has been prevalent a pessimistic attitude regarding the applicability of surgical measures in the treatment of tuberculoma of the brain, which has doubtless led many surgeons to avoid operating when tuberculoma was suspected. It has seemed worth while to review


This paper aims at detecting an accurate position of the main entrance of the buildings. The proposed approach relies on the fact that the GPS signals drop significantly when the user enters a building. Moreover, as most of the public buildings provide Wi-Fi services, the Wi-Fi received signal strength (RSS) can be utilized in order to detect the entrance of the buildings. The rationale behind this paper is that the GPS signals decrease as the user gets close to the main entrance and the Wi-Fi signal increases as the user approaches the main entrance. Several real experiments have been conducted in order to guarantee the feasibility of the proposed approach. The experiment results have shown an interesting result and the accuracy of the whole system was one meter


Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LSC) was attempted in 30 patients and was accomplished in 29 during the nine months between March and November 1991. Twenty eight patients had cholelithiasis with or without adenomyosis, and two had adenomyosis of the gall-bladder. Mean operative time was 219 min and postoperative pain was slight. Two complications (6.9%), including necrosis of the common hepatic duct and subcutaneous emphysema, were encountered. Patients with subacute and severe chronic cholecystitis were included in the cases. Thus this technique is recommended for almost all patients who require the removal of the gall-bladder for benign diseases.


A new species of Squatina, S. david, is described from the Colombian Caribbean. The new species differs from all the western North Atlantic angel sharks by lacking a mid-dorsal line of thorns or enlarged dermal denticles, by having an eye-spiracle distance larger than 1.5 times eye diameter, and each nasal flap with two rod-like barbels. Coloration is grayish to brownish yellow, males are dark-spotted, females have abundant whitish spots. Squatina david is nested within the American clade of angel sharks, being the sister species to the Brazilian species.


As common expressions in natural language, sentences with tense and aspect play a very important role. There are many ways to encode their contributions to meaning, but I believe their function is best understood as exhibiting relations among related eventualities (events and states). Accordingly, contra other efforts to explain tense and aspect by appeal to temporal logics or interval logics, I believe the most basic and correct way to explain tense and aspect is to articulate these relations between eventualities. Building on these ideas, I will characterize a formal semantics – Event-State Semantics (ESS) – which differs from all formal semantics based on temporal logics; in particular, one with which sentences with tense and aspect can be adequately explained, including molecular sentences and those with adverbial clauses.


This paper examines the impact of a dual labor market structure on labor productivity using unbalanced panel data from 29 OECD member countries between 1990 and 2015. By applying a variety of regression models on the panel data (e.g., a pooled regression, a fixed effects model and a GMM), we explore how changes in worker-type composition among temporary, permanent and self-employed workers contribute to productivity growth. While it appears that our results differ slightly, depending on the econometric models, overall an increase in the share of permanent workers leads to a relatively higher increase in productivity growth. On the other hand, it is also seen that the effects of the share of temporary workers on labor productivity are considerably lower than that of permanent and self-employed workers. To sum it up, our findings indicate that an increase in temporary workers could have an adverse effect on labor productivity.


Boredom, the unfulfilled desire to be engaged in a satisfying mental activity, is an aversive state characterized by poor self-regulation. There is ample evidence that both state and trait boredom are associated with failures of attention in both experimental and everyday settings. The neural correlates of boredom, however, remain underexplored. We recorded electroencephalographic signal from 83 participants during a resting state and while performing a go/no-go task. We found a negative correlation between trait boredom proneness and power in the alpha and theta bands during the resting state. Furthermore, higher levels of task-induced boredom were associated with reduced amplitudes for the P3 and error-related negativity event-related potentials. Increased commission error rates were also associated with higher levels of task-induced boredom. We conclude that state and trait boredom are associated with inadequate engagement of attentional resources.


To compare the efficacy of either preoperative or postoperative peritonsillar infiltration of local anesthetic upon posttonsillectomy pain, 70patients aged 15/40 years scheduled for elective tonsillectomy under general anesthesia were divided into three groups. Six patients were excluded for failure to complete the postoperative data, two patients had post-operative bleeding and two patients developed otitis media on the second day postoperatively. Twenty patients received peritonsillar infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine, twenty received 0.9% saline and a third group of twenty had peritonsillar infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine after completion of surgery but before being awakened from anesthesia. Significant changes occurred with bupivacaine infiltration in reducing pain during the first 24 hours after surgery. It is concluded that preoperative and postoperative blocking of nociceptive impulses reduces postoperative pain but causes no reduction in the intake of analgesics. It is further suggested that the timing of peritonsillar infiltration with bupivacaine is not of clinical importance and does not affect the quality of postoperative analgesia in a patient undergoing tonsillectomy.


https://doi.org/10.25891/59ek-zv19 ABSTRACT This paper outlines the process of establishing a stronger and more reciprocal partnership for collaboration between an education preparation program and a local education agency. The essential partners identified included the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the College of Education at Lee University and stakeholders in the local school district. First, this paper will discuss a theoretical framework that speaks to the importance of dialogue and a dialogic approach to teaching mathematics. Secondly, the processes and methods of the project involving collaboration through partnerships are described. These partnerships gave rise to the realization that coursework would be more effective if it mirrored the instructional practices of local education agencies. A detailed description of the process of changes to the coursework and initial outcomes of the project are outlined. Included are questions and recommendations for further collaboration.


Hydrokinetic tidal turbines are a promising alternative for the generation of clean electrical energy. They are still far behind, with respect to their technological development, in comparison to offshore wind turbines, which are currently in the stage of commercial energy production. Thus, more studies and analyses of the behaviour of tidal devices and their interaction with the surrounding ocean space are required. How this interaction is interrelated to the power production system is also necessary to be further examined. In this paper, the development of a whole system, fully-coupled model of a laboratory-scale hydrokinetic tidal turbine, along with its interactions with the ocean environment and its electrical control system is described. The model was developed in fastFlume (SOWFA, NREL) coupled with an external torque control system. The control system is developed from the optimal torque speed curve based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The optimal torque speed curve of the turbine used in the model was obtained from experimental work in a test tank. The hydrokinetic tidal turbine and the control system models were implemented independently. They were coupled in order to reach an energy balance between the surrounding flow, the tidal turbine, and the control system. Three flow stream velocities were imposed in the inlet of the model domain, starting the rotor from zero rotational speed. After the optimal rotational speed is attained, the electrical power generated and the loads experienced by the turbine rotor were studied. In the simulations, the tidal device is controlled to keep the optimal power production for any flow stream velocity. The results of the modelling work were compared with experimental measurements taken from 1:15th scaled testing of a fully-instrumented and controllable tidal device at the Flowave Ocean Energy Research Facility, The University of Edinburgh, a combined wave and current test facility. The results show time series of turbine and generator variables like mechanical and electrical torque and power, as well as thrust and the optimal rotational speed for each of the tested cases. The validation shows good agreement between the numerical and experimental results which encourages futures studies using the coupled model, including the turbine working in more complex flow conditions and controlled by more complex control schemes.


This paper describes some machine learning methods that we have implemented to participate in the AffectMove challenge which aims to develop technologies for classification of body movements in the areas of physical rehabilitation of chronic pain, mathematical problem solving and interactive dance contexts. The methods and results obtained are presented as well as some futureworks.


Abstract. Change detection is an important task when using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for video surveillance. We address changes of short time scale using observations in time distances of a few hours. Each observation (previous and current) is a short video sequence acquired by UAV in near-Nadir view. Relevant changes are, e.g., recently parked or moved vehicles. Examples for non-relevant changes are parallaxes caused by 3D structures of the scene, shadow and illumination changes, and compression or transmission artifacts. In this paper we present (1) a new feature based approach to change detection, (2) a combination with extended image differencing (Saur et al., 2014), and (3) the application to video sequences using temporal filtering. In the feature based approach, information about local image features, e.g., corners, is extracted in both images. The label "new object" is generated at image points, where features occur in the current image and no or weaker features are present in the previous image. The label "vanished object" corresponds to missing or weaker features in the current image and present features in the previous image. This leads to two "directed" change masks and differs from image differencing where only one "undirected" change mask is extracted which combines both label types to the single label "changed object". The combination of both algorithms is performed by merging the change masks of both approaches. A color mask showing the different contributions is used for visual inspection by a human image interpreter.


We consider two natural Lagrangian intersection problems in the context of symplectic toric manifolds: displaceability of torus orbits and of a torus orbit with the real part of the toric manifold. Our remarks address the fact that one can use simple cartesian product and symplectic reduction considerations to go from basic examples to much more sophisticated ones. We show in particular how rigidity results for the above Lagrangian intersection problems in weighted projective spaces can be combined with these considerations to prove analogous results for all monotone toric symplectic manifolds. We also discuss non-monotone and/or non-Fano examples, including some with a continuum of non-displaceable torus orbits.


A central focus in the study of influence in modern communications research has been the phenomenon of opinion leadership. Included in the series of studies that initially contributed to a systematic understanding of opinion leadership are The People's Choice, the Rovere study, Voting, and Personal Influence.1 The principal mode of measuring opinion leadership in these studies was by means of so-called self-designated indices, and the need for systematic investigation of the validity of such measures has been recognized from their earliest use. The study reported by Katz and Lazarsfeld2 constituted, in one important respect, a major contribution to the meeting of this need, and the results were sufficiently supportive, particularly in certain areas, to warrant further utilization of the selfdesignated measures. This paper reports and analyzes some data relevant to another aspect of the use of self-designated measures of opinion leadership, i.e. their unidimensionality. While the main body of findings described in Personal Influence proceeds on the basis of a unidimensional conception of opinion leadership, and utilizes two interview questions combined into a single operational variable, the authors recognized the need to consider the question of dimensionality.3 In fact, in one of the


This paper describes psychological contracts and how they are created. Even though the phenomenon of the psychological contract can be observed in a variety of relationships, this paper solely discusses psychological contracts in business settings. The paper discusses in particular how psychological contracts affect the employee/employer-relationship. The findings will then be applied to the example of IBM in the early 1990s, when IBM decided to lay off employees despite its no-layoff policy. Finally, suggestions are made as to what could have been done to prevent the negative effects of psychological contract violation at IBM. JEL-classification: D23; J50; M12; M14


Positive patient interactions and experiences not only help the customer but also directly affect the bottom line. Waste of overhead can be limited by simply changing the way staff talks with patients. It is important to include rapid rapport skills and ways to positively shape the patients' experience right from the start instead of waiting and possibly having a procedure or scan disrupted. It "takes a village" to have a smooth transition in how communication is used throughout the department. A method of patient interaction called Comfort Talk was developed in which schedulers, receptionists, nurses, technologists, and physicians are extensively trained in advanced rapport skills and setting expectations.


Rationale: Cervical open-door laminoplasty can enlarge the volume of the cervical vertebral canal and thus has become an effective and safe treatment for multilevel cervical disc herniation and cervical stenosis. Some post-surgery complications exist, such as reduction of cervical alignment and local kyphosis. However, aggravation of cervical disc herniation at the surgical level during short-term follow-up has not been discussed. Additionally, spontaneous disappearance of herniated disc pulposus is a common phenomenon in the lumbar region but is relatively rare in the cervical region. Patient concerns: A 42-year-old female presented with a 7-year history of neck pain and a 2-year history of paresthesia and weakness in the upper and lower limbs. The sensations and muscle strength of both upper and lower limbs were decreased. The radiological findings showed that the Pavlov ratios from C3-7 were decreased obviously. Osteophytes as well as spinal cord compression were observed at C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7. Diagnoses: Considering the symptoms and clinical examinations, the patient was diagnosed with cervical stenosis. Interventions: We performed cervical open-door laminoplasty at C3-7 to enlarge the space of the cervical vertebral canal. Outcomes: At the 6-month post-surgery follow-up, the patient showed obvious improvement in paresthesia and weakness in the upper limbs. The cervical disc herniation at C3/4 was aggravated. However, at the 18-month follow-up, the symptoms were relieved, and the herniated cervical disc at C3/4 spontaneously disappeared without any special treatment. Lessons: We suggest that the attachment points of deep muscles in the neck region should be carefully protected during this surgery. Patients who undergo cervical open-door laminoplasty should pay attention to their cervical position and perform neck exercises to train their neck muscles. MRI is an important imaging method to observe dynamic changes in herniated discs for patients with cervical disc herniation.


Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have enabled a broad range of emerging nanophotonics and biophotonics applications. Here, we provide a quantitative guide to the optimum concentrations of Yb3+ sensitizer and Tm3+ emitter ions, highly dependent on the excitation power densities. To achieve this, we fabricate the inert-core@active-shell@inert-shell architecture to sandwich the same volume of the optically active section. Our results show that highly doped UCNPs enable an approximately 18-fold enhancement in brightness over that of conventional ones. Increasing the Tm3+ concentration improves the brightness by 6 times and increases the NIR/blue ratio by 11 times, while the increase of Yb3+ concentration enhances the brightness by 3 times and only slightly affects the NIR/blue ratio. Moreover, the optimal doping concentration of Tm3+ varies from 2% to 16%, which is highly dependent on the excitation power density ranging from 102 to 107 W/cm2. This work provides a guideline for designing bright UCNPs under different excitation conditions.


We describe a new species of the rare and enigmatic cricetid genus Karydomys from the middle Miocene Ville Formation of the Hambach lignite mine in north‐west Germany. The locality Hambach 6C has yielded the first substantial records of Karydomys from central Europe. For the first time, all molar positions are well‐documented, including the previously unknown m2. The excellent molar material allows us to distinguish Karydomys wigharti sp. nov. from the western European species K. zapfei. Karydomys wigharti predominantly occurs at localities that are correlated with the upper part of the Mammalian Neogene biozone MN 5. The new finds are of palaeobiogeographic significance for the genus Karydomys, since Hambach 6C represents the north‐westernmost outpost of terrestrial Miocene faunas in Europe. In addition, the locality has yielded the first lower jaws and incisors of the genus. Both the jaw morphology, and the ornamentation and microstructure of the incisor enamel offer new arguments for a systematic classification of Karydomys into the subfamily Democricetodontinae. We assume that the scarcity of the two large European Karydomys species can be explained by their special adaptation to wet habitats, which are poorly documented in the fossil record.


To evaluate the effects of platelet rich plasma (PRP)on cutaneous regeneration and wound healing in both fixed and movable regions in horses, the present study was undertaken, under local anesthesia a full thickness square incision were done in the back of animals (fixed incision)and the longitudinal full thickness were done in the neck region (movable incisions). The fixed incisions injected 1 cm far from the incision's edges with 0.1 ml of autologes PRP while the control group injected with normal saline only and by same manner the movable incision is treated besides that suturing is applied too. Our results showed that PRP lowered excessive development of granulation tissue and showed wound healing at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after wounding based on the histopathological results, there were re-epithelialization of epidermis, complete healing which characterized by regular arrangement of profuse fibrosis and scattered inflammatory cells, formation of new blood vessels and profuse collagen and fibrosis when compared with control group. We conclude from the current study that the single application of PRP for the treatment of the movable and fixed cutaneous wounds has increased the healing rates and adequate formation of granulation tissue as well as enhance angiogenesis in the beginning stage of the repair process.


A new hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) and a parallel genetic algorithm are proposed in this paper in order to improve the convergence of structural optimization. The fully stressed design, FSD, method and a GA were incorporated into the hybrid GA. In the parallel GA, the "island model" was applied to reduce the computation time. Stress analyses were carried out with a commercial FEM code to obtain the optimum solution with high reliability even in a complex model. As a result of the axi-symmetric shell model, the optimum solution by using the proposed hybrid GA was 50% lighter than that by using simple GA. Furthermore, the computation time using the parallel GA with 10 processors was reduced by up to 1/7 of the time using one processor. These methods were then used to optimize the thickness of a three-dimensional shell model of a CRT. As a result of the application, the weight of the optimum model was 25% lighter than that of the reference model.


From the report of a case of acute ascending paralysis by Landry in 1859 to the present, there has existed the greatest confusion concerning the localization of the lesion. Landry stated that autopsy showed evidence of recent pleurisy and pneumonia, with no appreciable lesion of the nervous system. However, he did not examine the peripheral nerves and it is generally agreed today that the syndrome was that of acute progressive polyneuritis. That an infectious process was the cause seems to be taken for granted. Landry reported the case history as follows: 1 Acute generalized ascending paralysis. Autopsy. No appreciable lesion of the nervous system. Jean Baptiste Grellier, aged 43, a road paver, entered the Hopital Beaujon on June 1, 1859. He was small in stature, of frail constitution, emaciated and of poor color. He was not of a seclusive disposition. The patient's father died at the age of 68, having


Abstract. A natural hazard is a naturally occurring extreme event with a negative effect on people and society or the environment. Natural hazards may have severe implications for human life and they can potentially generate economic losses and damage ecosystems. A better understanding of their major causes, probability of occurrence, and consequences enables society to be better prepared and to save human lives and to invest in adaptation options. Natural Hazards related to climate change are identified as one of the Grand Challenges in the Baltic Sea region. We here summarise existing knowledge of extreme events in the Baltic Sea region with the focus on past 200 years, as well as future climate scenarios. The events considered here are the major hydro-meteorological events in the region and include wind storms, extreme waves, high and low sea level, ice ridging, heavy precipitation, sea-effect snowfall, river floods, heat waves, ice seasons, and drought. We also address some ecological extremes and implications of extreme events for society (phytoplankton blooms, forest fires, coastal flooding, offshore infrastructures, and shipping). Significant knowledge gaps are identified, including the response of large scale atmospheric circulation to climate change, but also concerning specific events, for example, occurrences of marine heat waves and small-scale variability of precipitation. Suggestions for future research includes further development of high-resolution Earth System models, and the potential use of methodologies for data analysis (statistical methods and machine learning). With respect to expected impact of climate change, changes are expected for sea-level, extreme precipitation, heat waves and phytoplankton blooms (increase) and cold spells and severe ice winters (decrease). For some extremes (drying, river flooding and extreme waves) the change depends on the area and time period studies.


ABSTRACT This book contains the edited version of a wide-ranging symposium of the same name held in Atlanta at the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in March 1984. Additional chapters have apparently been added, but there is no distinction made in the text between the papers presented at the conference and the later additions.This book is not a true monograph as it is called in the preface, but instead, conference proceedings. As with all symposia, there is great variability in the quality of the chapters. Similarly, there is lack of a consistent point of view or theme. For instance, although the title of the book is The Underweight Infant, Child, and Adolescent, there are chapters concentrating on the short child. While there is little new information presented, a number of chapters including those by Balistreri on the effects of liver disease on nutrition and growth, Friedman on renal disease, Dietz on


Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto.fi Author Joni Klüss Name of the doctoral dissertation Measuring Picosecond Flashover in Pressurized Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Publisher School of Electrical Engineering Unit Department of Electrical Engineering Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 53/2011 Field of research High Voltage Engineering Manuscript submitted 12 January 2011 Manuscript revised 6 June 2011 Date of the defence 29 July 2011 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles) Abstract The exceedingly fast speed of breakdown in gas presents numerous challenges for measurement systems. Data integrity and analysis of recorded results are considerably affected by the measurement setup. In efforts to remove the effect of the measuring system and verify observations pertaining to the physical phenomenon of breakdown, two systems are compared. In addition, issues concerning the design, manufacturing and operation of high voltage pressurized spark gaps are discussed. Risetime of voltage collapse is measured in a pressurized SF6 spark gap using D-dot sensors and oscilloscopes with analogue bandwidth ranging from 6 to 30 GHz. Results from a 50 GHz series sampling oscilloscope are also presented. Inter-electrode distance is varied between 0.1 and 0.9 mm and pressure is increased from 1 to 19 bar. Breakdown voltages are measured ranging from c. 10 to 180 kV. Risetime values ranging from 50 to 800 ps and distinct variations in the voltage collapse waveform are observed. Measurements are documented and significant variables affecting the breakdown process and risetime analysis are identified. Risetime dependency to pressure, gap distance and electric field strength are presented using several analysis methods and compared to known theory. Methods to overcome or compensate the identified variables are discussed. Finally, optimal solutions for measurement systems and future research are presented.


Mucolipidosis type II (I-Cell disease) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder, resulting from functional deficiency of lysosomal enzymes due to an impaired targeting of the enzymes to lysosomes, which leads to an abnormal cell architecture and the overflow of lysosomal enzymes into the body fluids. The life expectancy of the patients is poor, with multisystem deterioration leading to death in early childhood. According to the available reports, patients with I-cell disease do not survive beyond the first decade of life. Here, we describe and illustrate various radiological-musculoskeletal manifestations of a rare case of mucolipidosis II who has been a survivor up to now, 20 years old. The course of her disease has been complicated by early severe visual compromise due to optic nerve swelling, hearing loss and mitral valve regurgitation/stenosis, bilateral carpal tunnel, and severe growth impairment. Our case demonstrates several skeletal features of dysostosis multiplex. At the age of 20, she is wheelchair bound and her medical course is complicated by recurrent pneumonia, treated with multiple hospitalizations, antibiotics, and BiPAP. She is on outpatient palliative care, Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate (DNR/DNI) status.


Abstract: A new extinct species of the genus Mauremys (Testudines: Geoemydidae) is described on the basis of three fossils from the late Pleistocene deposit of Tomori Amaga Cave on Miyakojima Island of the Miyako Island Group, Southern Ryukyus, Japan. Of these fossils, two (the anterior half of the plastron and the nuchal) were previously tentatively identified as Mauremys mutica, an extant species whose distribution is currently confined to the Yaeyama Island Group within the Ryukyus. The turtle represented by these two specimens and another, previously unreported material (left third peripheral) actually most resembles M. japonica from mainland Japan and the Northern Ryukyus, and M. yabei from the middle Pleistocene of mainland Japan. The fossil turtle however, differs from the other two in exhibiting a medial length of the entoplastron greater than the interhyoplastron in ventral view, and in having a longitudinal groove medial to the gulo—humeral sulcus on the epiplastron evident in dorsal view. The present finding strengthens endemicity of the recent terrestrial fauna of the Miyako Island Group.


Besides models describing the exposure tool optical system, lumped parameter resist models are the other important model used during OPC. This combination is able to deliver the speed and accuracy required during OPC. Lumped parameter resist models are created by fitting a polynomial to empirical data. The parameters of this polynomial are usually image parameters (maximum and minimum intensity, slope, curvature) taken from the optical simulation for each measured structure. During calibration of such models, it is very important to pay attention to the parameter space covered by the calibration pattern used. We analyze parameter space coverage for standard calibration patterns, real layout situation post OPC correction as well as pre OPC correction. Taking this one step further, the influence of parameter space coverage during model calibration on OPC convergence is also studied.


T paper investigates how researchers have responded to requests to encourage a broader defi nition of career success by conducting research with underrepresented groups. It investigates the sample populations that are researched, and the type of work experience that is studied, by reviewing 89 articles in journals concerned with the construct of career success from 1992 to 2009. The paper fi nds that such research principally focuses on managers, professionals and administrators, and the work-related experience considered is almost exclusively situated in the domain of paid employment, particularly full-time employment. It argues that the defi nition of career success tends to only relate to those in paid employment (predominantly full-time), and, by extension, those who are not in this realm do not have career success. Researchers are encouraged to incorporate those with non-traditional employment arrangements and those in non-paid work into studies, a call assisted by proffering a revised defi nition of career success.


In order to automatically analyse electron immunomicroscopy images, w e have developed a computerized scheme for the detection and characterization of nanometer-size metal particles. The method is based upon selectively reconstructing an orthogonal wavelet decomposition of the image through the use of wavelet coefficient thresholding. The method is designed to work irrespective of the background and of the structural content of the image. Results are presented for the analysis of immunogold labelling of muscle tissues.


Based on the researcher experience in teaching English language as a foreign language, he noticed that most of Libyan learners face problems in learning English language. This study aims at illustrating one of the speaking problems (pronunciation) that Libyan post graduate students at Diponegoro university face with different English consonant and vowel sounds. It also concentrates on the communicative competence (speaking skill). The research measures the speaking abilities of Libyan academic students in Diponegoro University in order to find out the difficulties that they encounter in speaking (pronunciation) in the target language (English). It is a descriptive research used to investigate about the pronunciation problems faced by Libyan post graduate students at Diponrgoro University in speaking English. The subjects were Arab Libyan learners of English as a foreign language who are intermediate level. It does not focus on any other Arab nationalities, and just cited some examples to support this thesis idea. The data were collected through two instruments which are observation and a structured questionnaire. This data described as the research is a descriptive one. The research provides an introduction on pronunciation, consonant and vowel sounds in English and the reasons that lead to these errors. All the participants in the study are ESL learners and they have never been to any English speaking country .The students are from different majors and they belong to different areas in Libya. The results of this research went side by side with the researcher assumption. It was so clear that most of Libyan learners find difficulty in pronouncing some English consonants and vowels. The problematic consonant sounds are: /p/, /ʃ/, /dʒ/, /ᵑ/, /v/, /s/, the cluster /gh/ and /tʃ/ and vowel sounds /a/,/e/,/i/,/o/, and/u/. Finally, the research attempts to provide some suggestions and methods that could help students, teachers and learners of English as second languages improve their pronunciation.


A method for the synthesis of optical filters consisting of a cascade of N-coupled rings is presented. The procedure is based on the definition of a polynomial whose roots are the zeros of the channel-dropping transmittance characteristic and provides directly the ring electrical lengths and the mutual coupling coefficients. A design example of a Chebyshev-type 6-ring bandpass filter is presented.


This paper will present research being conducted in developing housing models that leverage data collection for use in Population Health strategies. A multifamily prototype unit that demonstrates best practices in creating livable communities within Smart Cities is being developed. Utilizing prefabricated construction methodologies to bring these models to scale is being investigated.Gigabit networks allow Smart Cites to collect and analyze vast amounts of data. Sensors embedded in the built environment are able to collect human vital signs, physical activity, environmental conditions, and pharmaceutical regiments.Population Health strategies utilize the collection and analysis of such data to deliver health care more affordably, effectively, and sometimes before we know we need it. This predictive ability will allow Smart Cities to evolve into Responsive Cities. Some of the more advanced technologies presented here include: motion sensors/fall detection, gait-analysis, automated LED smart-spectrum lighting, smart mirrors, smart toilets, sleep sensors, and automated medicine dispensers.


Mechanisms that underly discordant CD4+ cell/virus load (VL) responses in patients who receive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were studied in 30 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, in 3 groups. Discordant responders maintained CD4+ cell levels >200/mm(3) with stable or increasing trend, despite sustained VLs of 500-5000 copies/mL, for >2 years. Treatment-success patients had CD4+ cell counts >200/mm(3) with stable or increasing trend and VLs <50 copies/mL, for >2 years. Treatment-failure patients initially responded to HAART, followed by decreasing CD4+ cell counts and increasing VLs. Interferon-gamma production to gag and noncytolytic CD8+ cell suppressive activity were greater in discordant responders. Cellular activation was greatest in patients with treatment failure. All discordant responders had non-syncytium-inducing (CCR5-tropic) viruses. Viruses from discordant responders and from patients with treatment failure had extensive resistance mutations; discordant responders had significantly lower viral replication capacities. These findings suggest that discordant responses may be related to enhanced HIV-directed immune responses, diminished cellular activation, decreased viral replication capacity, and preservation of non-syncytium-inducing virus strains.


At subterahertz frequencies—i.e., millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths—there is a gap in measurements of the solar radius, as well as other parameters of the solar atmosphere. As the observational wavelength changes, the radius varies because the altitude of the dominant electromagnetic radiation is produced at different heights in the solar atmosphere. Moreover, radius variations throughout long time series are indicative of changes in the solar atmosphere that may be related to the solar cycle. Therefore, the solar radius is an important parameter for the calibration of solar atmospheric models enabling a better understanding of the atmospheric structure. In this work, we use data from the Solar Submillimeter-wave Telescope (SST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at frequencies of 100, 212, 230, and 405 GHz to measure the equatorial and polar radii of the Sun. The radii measured with extensive data from the SST agree with the radius-versus-frequency trend present in the literature. The radii derived from ALMA maps at 230 GHz also agree with the radius-versus-frequency trend, whereas the 100 GHz radii are slightly above the values reported by other authors. In addition, we analyze the equatorial and polar radius behavior over the years by determining the correlation coefficient between solar activity and subterahertz radius time series at 212 and 405 GHz (SST). The variations of the SST-derived radii over 13 yr are correlated to the solar activity when considering equatorial regions of the solar atmosphere and anticorrelated when considering polar regions. The ALMA-derived radius time series for 100 and 230 GHz show very similar behaviors with those of SST.


"Your apparatus…would be of use to the service, if the signals could be made over three miles." Captain Henry Jackson thus seemed to set the bar high for Guglielmo Marconi, the twenty-two-year-old Italian inventor who, three months earlier, in June 1896, had secured a British patent for his wireless telegraph. In British naval history, Jackson is best known for his eighteen months as First Sea Lord in 1915–16, served between terms of the legendary Fisher, called out of retirement at the onset of war, and Sir John Jellicoe, promoted out of command of the Grand Fleet after Jutland. But to Jackson himself, the most significant years of his career came two decades earlier, when, as captain aboard the torpedo depot ship Defiance , he joined the growing number of scientists and entrepreneurs experimenting with wireless telegraphy. In August 1896, the same month that he met Marconi, he succeeded in sending a signal nearly 55 yards (50 m), the longest working distance available to him aboard the Defiance . He soon learned that his Italian counterpart had developed equipment similar, but far superior, to his own. Indeed, the previous summer, in experiments conducted outside his native Bologna, Marconi had transmitted signals 1.5 miles (2.4 km) between two points out of sight of each other. The patriotic inventor had informed Italian authorities of the breakthrough, but they failed to grasp its significance, wished him well, and urged him to make the technology available for public use. Taking advantage of his British connections and ability to speak English (his Irish mother was heiress to the Jameson whiskey fortune), Marconi took his wireless telegraph to Britain, secured his patent, then conducted a series of demonstrations that earned endorsements from experimenters such as Jackson, who had attempted their own wireless transmissions and thus appreciated Marconi's innovations. In 1896, as in antiquity, men aboard a ship out of sight of land or another ship were completely cut off from the rest of humanity. That isolation was about to end. Within less than two decades, wireless telegraphy would enable navies to command and control ships at sea, over great distances, in a manner heretofore unimaginable.


In recessions, all types of investment fall, including employers' investment in job creation. The stock market falls more than in proportion to corporate profit. The discount rate implicit in the stock market rises, and discounts for other claims on business income also rise. According to the leading view of unemployment-the Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides model-when the incentive for job creation falls, the labor market slackens and unemployment rises. Employers recover their investments in job creation by collecting a share of the surplus from the employment relationship. The value of that flow falls when the discount rate rises. Thus high discount rates imply high unemployment. This paper does not explain why the discount rate rises so much in recessions. Rather, it shows that the rise in unemployment makes perfect economic sense in an economy where, for some reason, the discount rises substantially in recessions.


Abstract : The Soviets possess a formidable new threat with the HIND armed helicopter and it is capable of performing an air to air role against other helicopters in any future conflict. This paper examines the problem and provides a 'cookbook' of actions/tactics that should or should not be considered when a US Marine helicopter unit is deployed for combat operations where the enemy possesses Russian HIND D helicopters. It also makes recommendations for improved armament, training, and more attack helicopters. In addition, future design recommendations are made. Data was gathered using the literature search, personal interviews with 'weapons/tactics development' pilots at Yuma, AZ, and with design engineers at Sikorsky Aircraft. The full environment is covered including avoidance of detection, basic evasive tactics, and use of escorts and supporting arms. A checklist of fifteen items for use when operating a HIND D environment is developed. The Marine Corps should also take the following actions: increase the overall number of attack helicopter squadrons and arm them with a better gun system and some air to air missiles; perform necessary R/D and training to arm transport helicopters each with two air to air missiles for survival and, if employed in a HIND environment, attach the missiles; and train fixed wing attack aircraft in 'killing enemy helicopters.'