The first phase of this research involved an effort to identify the issues relevant to gaining a better understanding of the County Engineering profession. A related objective was to develop strategies to attract responsible, motivated and committed professionals to pursue County Engineering positions. In an era where a large percentage of County Engineers are reaching retirement age, the shrinking employment pool may eventually jeopardize the quality of secondary road systems not only in Iowa, but nationwide. As we move toward the 21st century, in an era of declining resources, it is likely that professional staff members in charge of secondary roads will find themselves working with less flexible budgets for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. It was important to understand the challenges presented to them, and the degree to which those challenges will demand greater expertise in prioritizing resource allocations for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the 10 million miles of county roads nationwide. Only after understanding what a county engineer is and what this person does will it become feasible for the profession to begin "selling itself", i.e., attracting a new generation of County Engineers. Reaching this objective involved examining the responsibilities, goals, and, sometimes, the frustrations experienced by those persons in charge of secondary road systems in the nine states that agreed to participate in the study. The second phase of this research involved addressing ways to counter the problems associated with the exodus of County Engineers who are reaching retirement age. Many of the questions asked of participants asked them to compare the advantages and disadvantages of public sector work with the private sector. Based on interviews with nearly 50 County Engineers and feedback from 268 who returned surveys for the research, issues relevant to the profession were analyzed and recommendations were made to the profession as it prepares to attract a new generation. It was concluded that both State and Regional Associations for County Engineers, and the National Association of County Engineers are most well-situated to present opportunities for continued professional development. This factor is appealing for those who are interested in competitive advantages as professionals. While salaries in the public sector may not be able to effectively compete with those offered by the private sector, it was concluded that this is only one factor of concern to those who are in the business of "public service". It was concluded, however, that Boards of Supervisors and their equivalents in other states will need to more clearly understand the value of the contributions made by County Engineers. Then the selling points the profession can hope to capitalize on can focus on the strength of state organizations and a strong national organization that act as clearinghouses of information and advocates for the profession, as well as anchors that provide opportunities for staying current on issues and technologies.


We develop a new hydrology and gravimetry‐based method to assess whether or not a local fault may be active. We take advantage of an existing superconducting gravimeter (SG) station and a comprehensive groundwater network in Hsinchu to apply the method to the Hsinchu Fault (HF) across the Hsinchu Science Park, whose industrial output accounts for 10% of Taiwan's gross domestic product. The HF is suspected to pose seismic hazards to the park, but its existence and structure are not clear. The a priori geometry of the HF is translated into boundary conditions imposed in the hydrodynamic model. By varying the fault's location, depth, and including a secondary wrench fault, we construct five hydrodynamic models to estimate groundwater variations, which are evaluated by comparing groundwater levels and SG observations. The results reveal that the HF contains a low hydraulic conductivity core and significantly impacts groundwater flows in the aquifers. Imposing the fault boundary conditions leads to about 63–77% reduction in the differences between modeled and observed values (both water level and gravity). The test with fault depth shows that the HF's most recent slip occurred in the beginning of Holocene, supplying a necessary (but not sufficient) condition that the HF is currently active. A portable SG can act as a virtual borehole well for model assessment at critical locations of a suspected active fault.


We explore a scheme that enables the training of a deep neural network in a Federated Learning configuration over an additive white Gaussian noise channel. The goal is to create a low complexity, linear compression strategy, called PolarAir, that reduces the size of the gradient at the user side to lower the number of channel uses needed to transmit it. The suggested approach belongs to the family of compressed sensing techniques, yet it constructs the sensing matrix and the recovery procedure using multiple access techniques. Simulations show that it can reduce the number of channel uses by ∼30% when compared to conveying the gradient without compression. The main advantage of the proposed scheme over other schemes in the literature is its low time complexity. We also investigate the behavior of gradient updates and the performance of PolarAir throughout the training process to obtain insight on how best to construct this compression scheme based on compressed sensing.


INTRODUCTION: The administration of antenatal corticosteroids is widely used in obstetrics for patients at risk for preterm delivery from 24–34 weeks gestation. A commonly recognized side effect from administration is maternal hyperglycemia. In women that have gestational or pregestational diabetes betamethasone can lead to severe hyperglycemia and rarely DKA. Obese women are known to be at increased risk for glucose intolerance during pregnancy. The effect of betamethasone on blood sugar levels in non-diabetic but obese women is unknown. METHODS: At Albany Medical Center, following steroid administration, glucose monitoring is routine in the high-risk patients. We conducted a retrospective study of all patients admitted from 1/1/2013–7/15/2015 that received a single course of antenatal corticosteroids at less than 34 weeks gestation. Patients were stratified according to the BMI at the time of administration. Of the 692 non-diabetic patients that received antenatal corticosteroids, 216 patients were categorized as being at high risk for glucose intolerance and were followed closely with fingerstick evaluations. RESULTS: In patients with class 1 obesity we did not identify any evidence of glucose intolerance requiring treatment. Similarly in patients with class 2 obesity none of the patients required medical management for hyperglycemia. However 5% of women with class 3 obesity required treatment with insulin but the treatment lasted less than 48 hours. CONCLUSION: Betamethasone can cause hyperglycemia in the non-diabetic obese patient. Non-diabetic women with class 3 obesity are at risk of hyperglycemia requiring insulin following betamethasone administration for fetal lung maturation.


This study investigated the motivation of the institutional elderly to participate in the leisure programs the participation motivation and their leisure life satisfaction. A survey questionnaire was administered to 265 elderly in an institution for the elderly. The data was analyzed using frequency analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis. Major findings are as follows: First, the motivation to participate in leisure programs on the part of the institutionalized elderly tended to be more external than internal. Second, regression analysis indicated that the main internal factors that affected participation were health condition, interaction with roommate, gender, education level, and interaction with institution's staff. The major external factors that affected the participation were health condition, interaction with colleagues, gender, and education level. Finally, the results of the regression analysis indicated that the main internal factors that affected the leisure life satisfaction were, intrinsic motivation to participate in leisure programs, interaction with their roommate, gender, and education level.


Thermal constraints in high performance computing environments are becoming a major issue for systems' designers which is tackled with different approaches. In addition, the skyrocketing complexity of computing systems of the near future is sought to become unmanageable leaving the question open on how to continue to improve the performance of the computing of tomorrow.
In this work it is proposed an advancement in the context of operating system-based, local Dynamic Thermal Management (DTM) technique deeply rooted in the Autonomic Computing (AC) initiative called ADAPTME, a simultaneously performance and thermal aware scheduler aimed at server environments with general purpose (both batch and interactive) workloads.
After implementing the system as a patch for a commodity open source Operating System (OS), the work is compared to the state of art, resulting in lower average running temperature and slowdowns.


Intermediary web services such as web proxies, web translators, and web archives have become pervasive as a means to enhance the openness of the web. These services aim to remove the intrinsic obstacles to web access; i.e., access blocking, language barriers, and missing web pages. In this study, we refer to these services as web rehosting services and make the first exploration of their security flaws. The web rehosting services use a single domain name to rehost several websites that have distinct domain names; this characteristic makes web rehosting services intrinsically vulnerable to violating the same origin policy if not operated carefully. Based on the intrinsic vulnerability of web rehosting services, we demonstrate that an attacker can perform five different types of attacks that target users who make use of web rehosting services: persistent man-in-the-middle attack, abusing privileges to access various resources, stealing credentials, stealing browser history, and session hijacking/injection. Our extensive analysis of 21 popular web rehosting services, which have more than 200 million accesses per day, revealed that these attacks are feasible. In response to this observation, we provide effective countermeasures against each type of attack.


Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expressed in the hypothalamus plays an important role in mediating behavioral responses to stressors. Restraining the body of an animal has been shown to activate and induce an enhanced expression of CRF in paraventricular neurons of the rat hypothalamus. Since aggressive biting behavior is known to suppress stress-induced noradrenaline secretion in the central nervous system and the formation of gastric ulcers, we investigated the effect of biting on restraint-induced CRF expression in the rat hypothalamus. The number of CRF-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus increased significantly after short time restraint (30 or 60 min) followed by a 180-minute post-restraint period. Biting of a wooden stick during the restraint stress significantly suppressed the restraint-induced enhancement of CRF expression in the paraventricular nucleus. These observations suggest a possible anti-stress effect of biting and an important role of para-functional masticatory activity in coping with stressful events.


In this work, a CRISPR/Cas12a initiated switchable ternary electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor combined with a Co3O4@Au nanoemitter is presented for the in vitro monitoring of miRNA-141. Benefiting from the advantages of high-throughput cargo payload capability and superconductivity, three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) was designated as an introductory conducting stratum of a paper working electrode (PWE). With the collaborative participation of Co3O4@Au NPs, the transmutation of TPrA in the Ru(bpy)32+/TPrA system can be riotously expedited into exorbitant free radical ions TPrA•, which provoked the exaggeration of the ECL signal. Moreover, the programmable enzyme-free hybrid chain reaction (HCR) amplifier on the PWE surface accurately anchored the assembly of nucleic acid tandem and accomplished the secondary recursion of the signal. Impressively, the multifunctional CRISPR/Cas12a with nonspecific cis/trans-splitting decomposition manipulated the photoswitch of the "on-off" signal state that avoided the false-positive diagnosis. The presented multistrategy cooperative biosensor demonstrated extraordinary sensitivity and specificity, with a low detection limit of 3.3 fM (S/N = 3) in the concentration scope from 10 fM to 100 nM, which fully corresponded to the expectation. Overall, this innovative methodology paved a generous avenue for evaluating multifarious biotransformations and provided a tremendous impetus to the development of real-time diagnosis and clinical detection of other biomarkers.


Introduction. This article discusses the theory of corporate restructuring and its importance in the country. Business restructuring is the redesigning of existing business strategies and aspects for various reasons. Usually a corporate's varied challenges and financial adjustments to its assets and liabilities necessitates this process. It analyses how the different avenues of business restructuring exercises such as mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations, compromises, and arrangement are processed with in respect to the process provided under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. Introduction followed by brief Literature Review. Research methods are exploratory in nature, since the study has to explore the impact of IBC on Indian Economy. Results and discussions.


Concentrations of large numbers of endemic species have been singled out in prioritization exercises as significant areas for global biodiversity conservation. This paper describes bird and mammal endemicity in Indo-Pacific ecoregions. An ecoregion is a relatively large unit of land or water that contains a distinct assemblage of natural communities. We prioritize 133 ecoregions according to their levels of endemicity, and explain how variables such as biome type, whether the ecoregion is on an island or continental mass, montane or non-montane, correlate with the proportion of the total species assemblage that are endemic. Following an exploratory principal components analysis we classify all ecoregions according to the relationship between numbers of endemics and overall species richness. Endemicity is negatively correlated with species richness. We show that plotting the logit transformation of the endemicity of birds and mammals against log of species richness is a more effective and useful way of identifying important ecoregions than simply ordering ecoregions by the proportion of endemic species, or any other single measure. The plot, divided into 16 regions corresponding to the quartiles of the two variables, was used to identify ecoregions of high conservation value. These are the ecoregions with the highest endemicity and lowest species richness. Further analysis shows that island and montane ecoregions, regardless of their biome type, are by far the most important for endemic species.


The article is devoted to commemoration of full member of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Oleg Andreevich Adrianov, who would have celebrated his 75-th anniversary in 1998. O. S. Adrianov, author of numerous works on physiology and morphology of central nervous system, in the recent years of his was studying the problem of the processes relationship at macro and micro levels of brain organization. Further to the concept created by O.S. Adrianov, data on action of two peptides: delta-sleep and tafcine, on behavior, neurophysiological and neurochemical processes have been consolidated. Experimental data were obtained for rabbits, cats, and dogs, both intact and in the state of pathology (psychomotoric excitement, bradykinesia, penicillin epilepsy). Impact of peptides on convergation processes is discussed: peptide of delta-sleep depresses reactions of brain structures to photo- and phono-stimulation, and activates the serotoninergic system in general; tafcine enforces the convergation processes and activates the dopaminergic system.


Effectiveness of a commercial low-sodium salt, PanSalt® (PS), on initial instrumental color [CIE lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values], cooking loss and diameter reduction after cooking, and pH value and water holding capacity during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 2 days was evaluated as compared to regular commercial NaCl (RS) and control (C) without addition of any salt. Furthermore, a sensory triangle test was conducted at Day 1 to determine if RS and PS added samples differed. There was no significant difference in L*, a* and b* values between PS and RS added groups. However, RS and PS addition resulted in lower a* (11.51 and 11.00, respectively) and b* (5.09 and 4.21, respectively) values than the C (a*=14.26, b*=6.87). The pH values of samples ranging from 5.85 to 6.03 during storage did not show significant change due to salt treatments and storage time (Pg0.05). PS incorporation resulted in lower cooking loss (15.9%) and diameter reduction (13.2%) after cooking than RS (30.26% and 17.79%, respectively). Initial water holding capacity of ground beef patties incorporated with PS was significantly higher (Pl0.05) than the C and RS treated patties at Day 1 and Day 2 however, PS and RS incorporated groups had similar and both higher (Pl0.05) water holding capacity than the C. In sensory triangle test, no significant difference (Pg0.05) wasdetermined between the RS and PS ground beef patties.


In this paper, we study a slate bandit problem where the function that determines the slate-level reward is non-separable: the optimal value of the function cannot be determined by learning the optimal action for each slot. We are mainly concerned with cases where the number of slates is large relative to the time horizon, so that trying each slate as a separate arm in a traditional multi-armed bandit, would not be feasible. Our main contribution is the design of algorithms that still have sub-linear regret with respect to the time horizon, despite the large number of slates. Experimental results on simulated data and real-world data show that our proposed method outperforms popular benchmark bandit algorithms.


We develop a model that explains variation in adoption patterns of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-related business practices in cases after multinational corporations (MNCs) have acquired social enterprises. Existing approaches that seek to explain these differences remain theoretically underdeveloped due to lacking emphasis on intra-organizational dynamics happening after an acquisition. We address this gap by arguing that different organizational identity orientations of the acquiring and acquired organization are critical factors that explain how MNCs interpret and build different preferences about organizational practices they decide to either adopt to varying degrees, that is, substantially, selectively, or symbolically. We develop a conceptual model that explains differences in organizational implementation of CSR.


ABSTRACT We evaluated four recent antibody-detection kits for typhoid fever by using 177 febrile patients from our hospital, in 75 of whom Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi grew. TUBEX performed best, achieving 94.7% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity. Typhidot, SD Bioline Typhoid, and Mega Salmonella were less specific and, in most cases, less sensitive.


Eicosanoids may play a role in ischemic stroke. However, the associations of variants in cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway genes and interaction among these variants with carotid plaque vulnerability are not fully understood. In present study, twelve variants in COX pathway genes were examined using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method in 396 patients with ischemic stroke and 291 controls. Platelet aggregation, platelet-leukocyte aggregates, and urine 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dTxB2) were also measured. According to the results of carotid high-resolution B-mode ultrasound, the patients were stratified into the following groups [i.e., non-carotid plaque and carotid plaque. The carotid plaque was further classified into subgroups of echolucent plaque (ELP) and echogenic plaque (EGP)]. Additionally, gene-gene interactions were analyzed to assess whether there was any interactive role for assessed variants in affecting carotid plaque vulnerability, platelet activation and 11-dTxB2 levels. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes of the twelve variants between patients and controls. Among 396 patients, 294 cases (74.2%) had carotid plaques (106 had ELP, 188 had EGP). Frequency of PTGS2 rs20417CC, TXAS1 rs2267679TT, TXAS1 rs41708TT, PTGIS rs5602CC, and TXA2R rs1131882TT genotype was significantly higher in patients with plaque compared with patients without plaque, or in patients with ELP compared with patients with EGP. 11-dTxB2 levels, platelet aggregation and platelet-leukocyte aggregates were significantly higher in patients with ELP compared with patients without plaque or with EGP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PTGS2 rs20417CC, TXA2R rs1131882TT, and high-risk interaction among variants in PTGS2 rs20417, TXA2R rs1131882 and TXAS1 rs41708 were independently associated with the risk of ELP after adjusting for confounding variables. The variants in COX pathway genes and the high-risk interactions among variants in PTGS2 rs20417, TXA2R rs1131882 and TXAS1 rs41708 were associated with high 11-dTxB2 and platelet activation, and independently associated with the risk of carotid plaque vulnerability. These variants might be potential markers for plaque instability.


In this paper, we consider a molecular diffusion based communications link that can reliably transport data over-the-air. We show that the system can also reliably transport data across confined structural environments, especially in cases where conventional electromagnetic (EM) wave based systems may fail. In particular, this paper compares the performance of our proprietary molecular communication test-bed with Zigbee wireless sensors in a metal pipe network that does not act as a radio wave-guide. The paper first shows that a molecular-based communication link's performance is determined primarily by the delay time spread of the pulse response. The paper go on to show that molecular-based systems can transmit more reliably in complex and confined structural environments than conventional EM-based systems. The paper then utilizes empirical data to find relationships between the received radio signal strength, the molecular pulse spread, data rate (0.1 bits/s) and the structural propagation environment.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Thoc1 encodes an RNA binding protein (pThoc1) that was identified due to its interaction with the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb). pThoc1 regulates transcriptional elongation and mRNA export as part of the TREX/THO (Transcription/Export) complex. In vivo , mice lacking Thoc1 fail to develop past the late blastocyst stage and mice hypomorphic for Thoc1 have compromised gametogenesis and are sterile. Elevated levels of pThoc1 occur in multiple cancers (breast, lung, colorectal), in cancer cell lines, and in transformed fibroblasts. In vitro , neoplastic cells appear to be more sensitive to pThoc1 loss than normal cells. These observations lead to the hypothesis that cells with extended replicative potential (i.e. stem, progenitor, & cancer cells) require Thoc1 . To test this hypothesis, we are examining the role of Thoc1 in vivo utilizing the crypt-villus axis of the murine small intestine as a model system. We have deleted Thoc1 in the murine small intestine using the Rosa26CreER transgene and the Tamoxifen induced CreER mediated recombination system. Thoc1F/F: Rosa26CreER (test) and Thoc1+/+: Rosa26CreER (control) 22 week old mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 1mg/day Tamoxifen for 5 days. Small intestinal tissue was collected 24 hours after the last injection. Histological analysis shows Thoc1 deletion disrupts small intestinal crypt architecture, but does not affect villus architecture. Immunohistochemistry illustrates Thoc1 deletion correlates with an increase in cleaved Caspase 3 and decrease in Ki67 in the crypts. No cleaved Caspase 3 is observed in the differentiated villi. These findings suggest intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and progenitor transit amplifying cells of the highly proliferative intestinal crypts require Thoc1 to a greater extent than the differentiated cells of the villi. Since the presence of Thoc1 appears to be required in the crypts, we investigated how Tamoxifen treatment and Thoc1 deletion would affect the crypt-villus axis over time. Thoc1F/F: Rosa26CreER and Thoc1+/+: Rosa26CreER mice were treated as previously described, however small intestinal tissue was collected 3 weeks after the last Tamoxifen injection. Interestingly, no change in body weight, survival, or crypt-villus architecture was observed. These findings lead us to believe ISCs lacking Thoc1 are at a competitive disadvantage and will eventually be replaced by Thoc1 positive ISCs. Consistent with this, while Thoc1 deletion and pThoc1 loss was readily detected 24 hours after Tamoxifen treatment, it was not three weeks after treatment. Future work involves deleting Thoc1 specifically in ISCs using the Lgr5 CreER transgene to allow cell differentiation lineage tracing and cell fate studies of ISCs in which Thoc1 has been deleted. Additionally, since Thoc1 is elevated in multiple tumor types, we will delete Thoc1 in transformed ISCs using the Lgr5 CreER transgene in ApcMin/+ mice to study Thoc1 in cancer stem cells.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-143. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-143


In today's fast-paced global economy , t ime to market constraints are demanding that companies produce their products more quickly and with higher quality. This has driven a shift from inspection based quality where defects are found and repaired, to design based quality where defects are prevented from ever occurring. Through QFD, design of e xperiments, detailed failure mode analyses, and other quality tools, zero defect or 3ppm defect levels are being achieved by design. This is called Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). Even greater gains can be made from DFSS when it is combined with QFD to assure not just an absence of defects, but true value as defined by the customer. QFD helps the DFSS team find critical, unmet customer needs and assure they are designed into the product and supported throughout the manufacturing and assembly process. We could call this Customer Driven DFSS. This paper will show how the goals of DFSS can be achieved and surpassed through the complimentary usage of QFD.


The Dead Sea Transform (DST) dominates the seismicity of Israel and neighboring countries. Whereas the instrumental catalog of Israel (1986–2017) contains mainly M<5 events, the preinstrumental catalog lists 14 M 7 or stronger events on the DST, during the past two millennia. Global Positioning System measurements show that the slip deficit in northern Israel today is equivalent to M>7 earthquake. This situation highlights the possibility that a strong earthquake may strike north Israel in the near future, raising the importance of ground-motion prediction.
 Deep and narrow strike-slip basins accompany the DST. Here, we study ground motions produced by intrabasin seismic sources, to understand the basin effect on regional ground motions. We model seismic-wave propagation in 3D, focusing on scenarios of Mw 6 earthquakes, rupturing different active branches of the DST. The geological model includes the major structures in northern Israel: the strike-slip basins along the DST, the sedimentary basins accompanying the Carmel fault zone, and the densely populated and industrialized Zevulun Valley (Haifa Bay area).
 We show that regional ground motions are determined by source–path coupling effects in the strike-slip basins, before waves propagate into the surrounding areas. In particular, ground motions are determined by the location of the rupture nucleation within the basin, the near-rupture lithology, and the basin's local structure. When the rupture is located in the crystalline basement or along material bridges connecting opposite sides of the fault, ground motions behave predictably, decaying due to geometrical spreading and locally amplified atop sedimentary basins. By contrast, if rupture nucleates or propagates into shallow sedimentary units of the DST strike-slip basins, ground motions are amplified within, before propagating outside. Repeated reflections from the basin walls result in a "resonant chamber" effect, leading to stronger regional ground motions with prolonged durations.


This paper builds on recent work on Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) in the non-linear observer community, by framing the visual localisation and mapping problem as a continuous-time equivariant observer design problem on the symmetry group of a kinematic system. The state-space is a quotient of the robot pose expressed on SE(3) and multiple copies of real projective space, used to represent both points in space and bearings in a single unified framework. An observer with decoupled Riccati-gains for each landmark is derived and we show that its error system is almost globally asymptotically stable and exponentially stable in-the-large.


For many years, our group has been investigating the VUV spectroscopy and photochemistry of molecules of astrophysical (Jochims et al. a,b; Leach et al. ; Schwell et al. ) and prebiotic interest (Schwell et al. ). Polyynes and cyano-polyynes that are abundant in the interstellar medium (ISM) and in planetary atmospheres, have been investigated too (e.g. Fray et al. ). An aerosol source for reactive and thermo-labile compounds has been developed (Gaie-Levrel et al. ) to perform gas-phase measurements. These are necessary to measure intrinsic molecular properties and to compare to quantum chemical calculations. Besides measuring absolute absorption and photoionization cross sections, dissociative channels and their involved excited states are identified for a number of molecules of interstellar interest. Branching ratios of the respective elementary photoreactions are determined in order to understand and model the photochemistry occurring in the ISM. Some very recent results on the dissociative photoionization of methylformate (MF), glycolaldehyde (GA), dimethylether (DIM), aminoacetonitrile (AAC) and cyanoacetylene (CA), are presented here.


Objectives : To evaluate the effects of different surface conditioning methods on the immediate repair bond strength and integrity of the repaired composite interface. Methods : One hundred and five resin composite blocks made of a nanohybrid resin composite were randomly assigned to one of the following surface conditioning groups (n=15/group): Group 1: Gluma Self Etch™ adhesive system, Group 2: Tokuyama Bond Force II™ adhesive system, Group 3: non-roughened and non-conditioned surfaces, Group 4: sandblasting and Gluma Self Etch™, Group 5: sandblasting and Tokuyama Bond Force II™, Group 6: sandblasting only. A positive control group was also used. Resin composite identical to the substrate was applied and the repaired specimens were subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) testing. Representative samples from all groups were subjected to scanning electron microscopy and surface profilometry to determine their mode of failure. The data were analysed statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and two independent sample t test (α=0.05). Results : The mean SBS of all test groups ranged between 1.92 and 5.40 MPa and varied with the degree of composite surface roughness and the type of adhesive system employed. Significantly highest SBS values (5.40 ± 0.36 MPa) were obtained in Group 5 (p=0.017) which were comparable to the coherent strength of the resin composite in the positive control group (p>0.05). Conclusions : Under the tested conditions, significantly greater SBS of repaired resin composite was achieved when the substrate surface was conditioned by sandblasting followed by the application of the Tokuyama Bond Force II™ adhesive system. Clinical significance : Effecting a repair of a nanohybrid composite restoration with sandblasting and the application of TBF II would seem to enhance the interfacial bond strength and integrity of the repaired resin composite interface. Clinical trials are necessary to determine the usefulness of this technique.


This article gives a general outline of the requirements required for computer network security. The main focus is on blended protection solutions that cover in-line intrusion prevention, network and client virus scanning, spam and content filtering, and virtual private network (VPN) gateway functionality. Specific security elements discussed include: firewall functionality - to block unauthorised access attempts to systems, applications, networks, plant, and partner sites - and real-time inspection systems that monitor and protect against Web, email, and file transfer protocol (FTP) traffic. In addition to standard anti-virus (AV) services, specialist network AV filtering is also considered, to protect vulnerable control systems that cannot run desktop or server-based AV. Additional consideration is also be given to the provision of intrusion prevention systems (IPS).


He Waka Hiringa (HWH) is a Masters of Applied Indigenous Knowledge offered as a programme of two years' study by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. The main pre-requisite for enrolment in to this graduate degree is for the student to be a master of their own practice, whatever that practice may be. In other words, they are already leaders in their own field of practice. My task is to help them clarify how they indigenise their practice; introduce them to academic processes to achieve the rangahau (research) around this and encourage them to create their own Models of Practice (MsOP) to guide them as they work with students or clients.
In six years three cohorts of students have succesfully graduated through my encouragement in the development and approval of about 100 different new MsOP, each unique in its own way. These add to the use by graduates of HWH to models such as Whare Tapatoru ( Wi Te Tau Huata Snr. 1967, personal communication), Whare Tapawhā (Durie, M. 1984), Te Wheke (Pere, R. 1997) and Poutama Pōwhiri (Huata, P. 2011) to name a few well known MsOP.
In terms of a Leadership MOP I have not seen a better model than that created by Te Wairere Te Pūāwaitanga o te Whakaaro Ngaia (my youngest child and daughter) to fulfil the requirements of her Masters in Management Communications and Te Reo Māori (Māori Language) graduate degree at The University of Waikato. I am going to use her MOP for leadership in competitive Kapa Haka[1] (Māori performing arts) as my model in this delivery with her permission. The title comes from a waiata-ā-ringa (action song) composed by one of her tuākana (older sisters), Te Ingo Karangaroa Ngaia, entitled 'He Rākau Taumatua!'[2], for their whānau (family) kapa haka, Te Haona Kaha.

[1] I use capital letters when talking about the art form and small letters when talking about a group that does the art form.
[2] "He rākau taumatua" was first performed as a whakawātea by Te Haona Kaha kapa haka at the Tainui Waka Cultural Trust Regional Kapa Haka competitions in 2016.


Introduction Global network members of WHO Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health (CCs) assist WHO in implementing the World Health Assembly Resolution 60.26: the Global Plan of Action on Workers' Health, (GPA) 2008–2017. Current activities align with workplan objectives for 2012–2017. Risk assessment, management, control and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of seven priority objectives. CCs include 50 centres of excellence in occupational health and three international partners including ICOH. Development and delivery of training and intervention strategies for identification, prevention, and management of occupational risk factors are the best path forward to achieving sustainability and improving conditions within informal and high risk sectors. Methods WHOCCs conducted a review of CC contributions toward WHO Secretariat in implementing the GPA under the 2006–2012 workplan. Quantitative self-administered questionnaires collected information on outputs from projects conducted by CCs. Qualitative surveys asked semi-structured questions about views, opinions and ideas regarding CCs. Result Project leaders from 46 CCs in 28 countries (including ICOH) responded to the quantitative survey. Of 202 responses, 78.7% produced a product and 70.5% indicated another CC/NGO had product participation. Primary product audiences were health professionals, academic researchers, and employers. Products available by weblink or in pdf format will be made accessible through the GeoLibrary. CCs also conducted 143 training courses and materials were available for over 75% of trainings; 25 CCs responded to the qualitative survey. Key themes emerging from data analysis highlighted CCs' strengths, advantages to other networks, external constraints, areas for improvement, new ways of working, utilisation of CC contributions, collaboration among the CCs, and their WHO affiliation. Discussion WHO and ICOH are major organisations whose work contributes to protecting workers globally. By leveraging collaboration, each brings important perspective and expertise with shared commitments to healthy and safe workplaces. The 2006–2012 review reflected the contributions and reach of these partnerships.


Fusion of very neutron rich nuclei may be important to determine the composition and heating of the crust of accreting neutron stars. We present an exploratory study of the effect of the neutron-gas environment on the structure of nuclei and the consequences for pycnonuclear fusion cross-sections in the neutron drip region. We studied the formation and properties of Oxygen and Calcium isotopes embedded in varying neutron-gas densities. We observe that the formed isotope is the drip-line nucleus for the given effective interaction. Increasing the neutron-gas density leads to the swelling of the nuclear density. We have used these densities to study the effect of this swelling on the fusion cross-sections using the S\~{a}o-Paulo potential. At high neutron-gas densities the cross-section is substantially increased but at lower densities the modification is minimal.


The comparative examination of the matrimonial parts of the treaties bond between the Holy See and the states (concordatarian law) shows that during the 20th century, the Catholic Church has contracted in this matter such a way that it was able to conclude stronger treaties with the local secular sovereigns. The actuality of the examination of the Catholic Church's international treaties becomes obvious during the examination only. In the treaties of the last decade, a significant change can be followed in the Parties' legal relationships, which is an important step in the course of the gradual formation from the first half of the 20th century. As a result of the examination of the legal structure of treaties of these ten years, the tendencies of the former decades can better be understood as well. Recently such a treaty-material is available for us, on which it is possible and worth carrying out an examination.  This essay contains the detailed examination of all matrimonial parts of the Catholic Church's international treaties with a consideration of all legally relevant bearings to be found in them. In the Appendix, one can find the whole text to examine in English. This essay, as it issues from its genre, is to be read with the Appendix together.


This article presents an Internet worm countermeasure mechanism that uses DNS activities as a behavioural technique to detect worm propagation. The mechanism also uses a data-link containment solution to block traffic from an infected host. The concept has been demonstrated using a developed prototype and tested in a virtualised network environment. An empirical analysis of network worm propagation has been conducted to test the capabilities of the developed countermeasure mechanism. The results show that the developed mechanism is sensitive in containing Internet worms. Keywords : Worm Detection, Malware, cyber defense


Abstract The Principles of Legal Research (PLR) website of the University of Ottawa's Brian Dickson Law Library is a bilingual (English and French) online learning tool for all first year students in both Common Law and Civil Law. 1 Law librarians use this e-learning website to facilitate teaching components such as student assignments and assessments. This user experience study aims to investigate law students' real experience with the system. Their feedback will be used for future development planning as well as analysing user behaviour trends. The authors investigate the following aspects: accuracy of information, interface design, navigation system, Web 2.0, social media, and smartphone version.


A trans-scopic sensitivity of macroscopic failure to slight differentiation in the meso-scopic structure of a system with nonlinear evolution is reported. A periodical chain following a non-local load-sharing evolution was applied as a propotype in failure study. The results demonstrate that there is a transition region composed of globally stable (GS) and evolution induced catastrophic (EIC) modes. That is different from a critical threshold as ptedicted by percolation and renormalization group theories. Moreover, the EIC mode shows a distinctive sample specific behaviour. For instance, some neighbouring initial states may evolve into completely different final states, though different initial states can evolve into the same final states. As an example, a marginal configuration of EIC mode, a quast-Fibonacci skeleton, is constructed.


New measurements of ice texture made along the EPICA Dome C ice core, together with a review of previous studies of fabric and microstructure, are presented. Mean grain size increases steadily with age, and so depth. However, sharp decreases are observed contemporary with each climatic termination. These sharp decreases are believed to be mainly driven by the change in dust content between glacial and interglacial periods. C-axes steadily clustered with depth toward a vertical single maximum. However, a sharp clustering of the fabric is observed during termination II (≈ 1750 m), suggesting the presence of shear in the upper part of the core. Moreover, below 2812 m, large variations of the fabric are observed from sample to sample. Migration recrystallization may affect the ice polycrystal for the lowest part of the core.


The aetiology of primary systemic vasculitides remains unknown. Recent advances have been made in the understanding of relevant mechanisms of inflammation, particularly the role of the endothelium and interactions with inflammatory mediators and immune effector cells. In Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis the evidence suggests an autoimmune inflammatory process, characterized by an early lesion involving neutrophils and endothelial cells as both targets and active participants; priming of neutrophils and endothelial cells allows ANCA to activate neutrophils with damage localized to the endothelium. In the absence of immune complex deposition, the role of the ANCA is particularly intriguing. Endothelial cell damage and activation produces pro‒inflammatory mediators with influx monocytes and T cells intensifying damage. Increased understanding of the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis is likely to provide the basis for the use of more selective immunomodulatory therapies in the future. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


ion of its implications. 'Preacher' then, is not actually an exclusively American concept, although its translation into "dominee" deserves special attention. 'Dominee' is namely a function associated with the Protestant Church, and thus Dutch-marked in view of the Flemish-Dutch audience. The word 'priester' could have served as a Catholic equivalent, but for want of a neutral alternative, preserving the Protestant term seems to be the most straightforward choice. Offering up "prayers of thanksgivin' " (248) is also a typically American religious custom, which in translation changes into "om de maagd Maria te bedanken" [to thank Virgin Mary] (58), referring to Abbie's alleged conception by Ephraim. Virgin Mary is however a much more prominent figure in Catholicism than in Protestantism, because she is granted very little mention in the Bible. We may regard this case therefore as a rather Flemish-marked adaptation. Religiously determined cultural concepts were thus naturalised, being either more Dutch or more Flemish in tone. Although attested only once, the word "promenade" (250) may have caused an additional problem to the translator. It is namely a reference to the American tradition of square dancing, a type of social dancing. The event as depicted in the play fits the customs of the dance as described in American dance: The complete illustrated history: it is accompanied by a fiddler, the dance's leader, who improvises square dance calls (Fuhrer, 35). Again there is no suitable counterpart in the Dutchspeaking area, but Sierens opted for a type of festive dance belonging to the Low Countries' folk culture, typically associated with highly informal parties: the 'polonaise' (60). This type of dance, for which people form a string by placing the hands on the shoulders of the person in front, is not to be confused with the Polish polonaise. This is another instance of naturalisation. The most strikingly American concept is perhaps the sheriff. Because no equivalent capturing the same semantic content exists in the Low Countries, this reference remains unaltered. Sierens also preserves the American Dollar as currency in translation, enhancing the ties with the ST setting and culture. In conclusion, Sierens only sporadically opted to either delete (and therefore avoid) or preserve the cultural reference. In most cases, he went with substitution. For proper people's names, either naturalisation of synonymy was applied, for Biblical allusion mainly conservation or even explicitation, for American concepts substitution or omission. It is remarkable how naturalisation strategies repeatedly forced the translator into choosing between Flemish and Dutch culture. Because the majority of cases are either naturalised or omitted, the overall handling of culturespecific references should be considered domestication. There are only few examples in which the foreign undeniably filters through: with toponyms, the American Dollar and the sheriff. 3.5. The mise en scène: a textual comparison between the page and the stage Because the translation was created especially for the stage (what Aaltonen called a 'performance translation'), an evaluation of the translation's reception in the target culture should not be based


We examined factors that inspire teenagers to comply with cyber security guidelines. We used protection motivation theory (PMT), and extended the model to include personal norms and normative beliefs. For teenage computer users, believing they are susceptible to hacking or that the consequences of being hacked would be severe, had no bearing on their password choices. This is an interesting finding highlighting a potential difference between adults and teenagers. We found personal norms is a better predictor of teenagers' security behaviour than PMT's threat perceptions. This is an important finding which opens new avenues for future research, particularly in explaining teenagers' security behaviour. This study contributes to finding ways to improve security practices at an early age. To the best of our knowledge this is the first password security study that applies PMT to examine security behaviours in teenagers.


Arterial stiffness is the most important cause of increasing systolic and pulse pressure, and for decreasing diastolic pressure with ageing. Many measures can be applied to quantify arterial stiffness, but all are approximations only, on account of the nonhomogenous structure of the arterial wall, its variability in different locations, at different levels of distending pressure, and with changes in smooth muscle tone. This article summarizes those indices with a focus on newer non-invasive methods and provides an overview of physiological, pathological and pharmacological influences on arterial hemodynamics. In the near future, the ability to detect and monitor subclinical arterial damage will improve cardiovascular risk stratification and act as a better guide in assessing the efficacy of therapeutic interventions than monitoring blood pressure alone. However, large-scale clinical trials are needed to prove the hypothesis that treatment of these new therapeutic targets will translate into clinical benefit, expressed in cardiovascular events or even mortality.


After the completion of its second year of operation, the SysSec Network of Excellence produced this "Red Book of Cybersecurity" to serve as a Roadmap in the area of Systems Security. To realize this book, SysSec put together a "Task Force" of top-level young researchers in the area steered by the advice of SysSec WorkPackage Leaders. The Task Force had vibrant consultations (i) with the Working Groups of SysSec, (ii) with the Associated members of SysSec, and (iii) with the broader Systems Security Community. Capturing their feedback in an on-line questionnaire and in forward-looking "what if" questions, the Task Force was able to distill their knowledge, their concerns, and their vision for the future. The result of this consultation has been captured in this Red Book which we hope will serve as a Road Map of Systems Security Research and as an advisory document for policy makers and researchers who would like to have an impact on the Security of the Future Internet.


OBJECTIVES
Advances in chemoradiation have improved the long-term prognosis of oesophageal cancer, although perioperative management for lung resection postoesophagectomy is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate postoperative complications and perioperative management for lung resection postoesophagectomy.

METHODS
Between 2002 and 2017, a total of 4694 patients underwent lung resections; of these, 79 were performed postoesophagectomy. Using propensity score matching, we analysed postoperative complications between groups with and without postoesophagectomy lung resection. We also investigated the risk factors of Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥2 complications by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS
Sixty-nine of the patients were men with a median age of 67 years. The types of lung resections were as follows: lobectomy in 34, segmentectomy in 12 and wedge resection in 33 patients. Postoperative complications were detected in 35 patients, including grade ≥2 complications in 24. After matching, aspiration pneumonia (P = 0.09) tended to be common in the postoesophagectomy group. Until 2008, non-fasting management before lung resection was performed in all 31, and intraoperative aspiration pneumonia was detected in 2 patients. After switching to fasting management before lung resection, there were no cases of intraoperative aspiration pneumonia. Multivariable analysis revealed that lung resection ipsilateral to oesophagectomy (P = 0.04) and lobectomy (P = 0.03) were predictors of grade ≥2 morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS
Patients having a lung resection postoesophagectomy tended to have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia. Fasting management before lung resection is important in preventing intraoperative aspiration pneumonia. Lung resection ipsilateral to oesophagectomy and lobectomy may result in complications requiring therapeutic intervention.


Asymptotic symmetries are a general and important feature of theories with long-ranging fields, such as gravity, electromagnetism, and Yang-Mills. They appear in the formalism once the analytic behaviour of fields near infinity is specified and have received a renewed interest in the last years after a possible connection with the information-loss paradox has been conjectured. One of the various methods used to study the asymptotic symmetries of field theories relies on the Hamiltonian formalism and was introduced in the seminal work of Henneaux and Troessaert, who successfully applied it to the case of gravity and electrodynamics. The main advantage of this approach is that the study of the asymptotic symmetries ensues from clear-cut first principles. After an extensive review of how the Hamiltonian approach to study asymptotic symmetries of gauge theories works, we apply these methods to two specific situations of physical interest. First, we deal with the non-abelian Yang-Mills case and we show that the above principles lead to trivial asymptotic symmetries (nothing else than the Poincar\'e group) and, as a consequence, to a vanishing total colour charge. This is a new and somewhat unexpected result. It implies that no globally colour-charged states exist in classical non-abelian Yang-Mills theory. The second situation considered is a scalar field minimally-coupled to an abelian gauge field, which can be used to study, at the same time, two specific cases: scalar electrodynamics and the abelian Higgs model. We show that the situation in scalar electrodynamics amply depends on whether the scalar field is massive or massless, insofar as, in the latter case, one cannot canonically implement asymptotic symmetries. Furthermore, we illustrate that, in the abelian Higgs model, the asymptotic canonical symmetries reduce to the Poincar\'e group in an unproblematic fashion.


Context. The solar rotation profile is conical rather than cylindrical as it could be expected from classical rotating fluid dynamics (e.g. Taylor-Proudman theorem). Thermal coupling to the tachocline, baroclinic effects and latitudinal transport of heat have been suggested to explain this peculiar state of rotation. Aims. To test the validity of thermal wind balance in the solar convection zone using helioseismic inversions for both the angular velocity and fluctuations in entropy and temperature. Methods. Entropy and temperature fluctuations obtained from 3D hydrodynamical numerical simulations of the solar convection zone are compared with solar profiles obtained from helioseismic inversions. Results. The temperature and entropy fluctuations in 3D numerical simulations have smaller amplitude in the bulk of the solar convection zone than those derived from seismic inversions. Seismic inversion provides variations of temperature from about 1 K at the surface to up to 100 K at the base of the convection zone while in 3D simulations they are of an order of 10 K throughout the convection zone up to 0.96 R� . In 3D simulations, baroclinic effects are found to be important to tilt the isocontours of Ω away from a cylindrical profile in most of the convection zone, helped by Reynolds and viscous stresses at some locations. By contrast the baroclinic effect inverted by helioseismology is much larger than what is required to yield the observed angular velocity profile. Conclusions. The solar convection does not appear to be in strict thermal wind balance, Reynolds stresses must play a dominant role in setting not only the equatorial acceleration but also the observed conical angular velocity profile.


This study investigates and analyzes the relationship between the development of the field of Ethnomusicology in United States, since the 1950s, and its predecessor known as Comparative Musicology, which emerged during the last two decades of 19th century Germany. Tracing the theoretical bases for Comparative Musicology, it becomes clear that certain fundamental issues caused researchers to distance themselves from the ideologies of traditional musics that, eventually, led to the emergence of Ethnomusicology. Furthermore, by exploring certain aspects of Comparative Musicology and Ethnomusicology, one cannot but notice the central role publications played in the establishment of both fields. However, unlike Comparative Musicology, which adopted a comparative approach to analysis; modern ethnomusicology called for the embracement of the musics of the «other» and the recognition of their contextual uniqueness before comparing them to other musical systems. Thus, the modern ethnomusicologist always seeks to associate him/herself to the musics of the «other» not only for the sake of understanding musical elements and structures, but also in order to gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural aspects of the communities producing the music.


Bioluminescence is widespread throughout the phylum Annelida and occurs in terrestrial and marine lineages. Among marine taxa, bioluminescence has been documented in eight families and anecdotally reported in six additional families. Although new bioluminescent systems have been recently described in annelids, there are still many other families whose light emission mechanisms have not been sufficiently studied. Some of these include luminescent species belonging to the Polynoidae family, also known as scale worms, whose iterations of dorsal elytra (scales) have the ability to emit intense light when stimulated. Depending on the degree of stimulation, some polynoids can autotomize these luminous elytra and posterior segments, which could potentially give them an advantage in evading attacks by predators. It is believed that Polynoidae bioluminescence is associated with a membrane enzyme known as "polynoidin," which was isolated during the early 1980s from Malmgrenia lunulata. However, the characterization and properties of this enzyme, as well as the chemical nature of its substrate or additional potential cofactors, have never been fully described and remain largely unknown. As such, this paper seeks to revisit previous research involving bioluminescence studies in Polynoidae, as well as the morphological, phylogenetic and ecological aspects related to this emission of light.


In this article, the effects of different biofuel–diesel blends on engine oil dilution and diesel oxidation catalyst performance during late post-injections were investigated. The engine tests were made with an off-road diesel engine under low load conditions at 1200 r/min engine speed. During the experiments, oil samples were periodically taken from the engine oil and later analyzed. Emissions and temperatures before and after the diesel oxidation catalyst were also measured. The fuels studied were fossil EN590:2013 diesel fuel, 30 vol.% biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester) and 30 vol.% hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is a paraffinic diesel fuel fulfilling the EN15940 specification. The novelty of the study is based on two parts. First, similar late post-injection tests were run with blends of both hydrotreated vegetable oil and fatty acid methyl ester, giving a rare comparison with the fuels. Second, oil dilution and the fuel exit rates during normal mode without the late post-injections were measured. The results showed the oil dilution and the diesel oxidation catalyst performance to be very similar with regular diesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil blend. With the fatty acid methyl ester blend, increased oil dilution, smaller temperature rise in the diesel oxidation catalyst and higher emissions were measured. This indicates that during diesel particulate filter regeneration by late post-injections, fatty acid methyl ester blends increase fuel consumption and require shorter oil change intervals, while hydrotreated vegetable oil blends require no parameter changes.


Resulting anthropometric data recently measured and cataloged through 5th national anthropometric survey that is called Size Korea is highly useful in clothing industries. This study aims at suggesting a statistical methodology for apparel sizing that reflects recent changes in Korean anthropometry and improves customer fitness. Based on previous research on body types such as triangular, rectangular, inverted body types, etc., factors that represent human sizes were extracted and then clustered into groups by their body types. These body type-based groups with respect to the factors obtained yielded a sizing system of which the interval of each factor is of equi-distance by their factor scores. However, each interval of the sizing system is non-linear in terms of individual anthropometric variables. The sizing system being proposed in this study was compared to that of KS K 0050 and had a broader coverage for the Korean population surveyed. The apparel sizing scheme is expected to improve customer fitness when applied to garment sizing and to provide more information on what percentage of population is included in each classification.


Cytocompatibility of nickel-free Ti-Mo-Al shape memory alloys was evaluated and compared with that of a conventional Ti-Ni shape memory alloy. Two types of cytotoxicity tests were performed; in static and dynamic conditions. In the static condition, human normal diploid fibroblast HEL299 was cultured on the disks of the three materials and cell growth was examined. In the dynamic condition, the disks were rotated in extraction medium with zirconia balls at 37 � C for 14 days, and the collected extraction medium was added into HEL299 culture to examine its inhibitive effect on cell growth. Quantification of metallic elements in the collected extraction medium was also performed. The results showed that Ti-Mo-Al alloys had a rate of cell growth similar to that of Ti-Ni alloy in the static condition. The extraction medium of Ti-Ni alloy, however, tended to inhibit cell proliferation more than those of Ti-Mo-Al alloys. Nickel was detected in all of these extraction media, but that of Ti-Ni alloy was about three times higher than those of Ti-Mo-Al alloys. These facts indicate that developed Ti-Mo-Al alloys have higher cytocompatibility than the Ti-Ni alloy. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.48.361]


The goal of this work is to model the heterogeneous recombination of atomic oxygen on silica surfaces, which is of interest for accurately predicting the heating on vehicles traveling at hypersonic velocities. This is accomplished by creating a nite rate catalytic model, which describes recombination from an atomistic perspective with a set of elementary gassurface reactions. Fundamental to surface catalytic reactions are the chemical structures on the surface where recombination can occur. Using molecular dynamics simulations with the ReaxFF potential, we nd that the chemical sites active in oxygen atom recombination on silica surfaces consist of a small number of speci c defects. The individual reactions in our nite rate catalytic model are based on the possible outcomes of oxygen interaction with these defects. The parameters of the functional forms of the rates, including activation energies and pre-exponential factors, are found by carrying out molecular dynamics simulations of individual events. We nd that the recombination coe cients predicted by the nite rate catalytic model display an exponential dependence with temperature, in qualitative agreement with experiment at (T > 1000 K). However, the ReaxFF potential requires reparametrization with new quantum chemical calculations speci c to the defect structures observed.


Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were cross-linked with each other to form an antioxidant complex (polySOD-catalase). SOD activity was unaffected after polymerization reaction initiated by glutaraldehyde, and catalase activity was modestly decreased. In an oxidative stress model, where a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system was employed to generate superoxide radicals, catalase located at sufficient proximity to SOD after polymerization reaction provided effective protection for SOD from oxidative damage. In vivo evaluation indicated the antioxidant complex of polySOD-catalase had an extended circulation time suitable for therapeutic utility. As measured in anesthetized rate, polySOD-catalase can remain circulating with a half-life of as much as 6 h. Such a polymerization formulation could be a candidate therapeutic agent for age-related diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.


Introduction: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasingly regarded as a heterogeneous group of diseases defined by specific gene mutations. Previous studies reported inconsistent results regarding the influence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations on overall survival. This study assesses the effect of EGFR mutation on overall survival, and how the effects of other survival predictors are modified by EGFR mutation status, in non-squamous NSCLC patients.Methods: The study was based on a population-based cohort of 1534 non-squamous NSCLC patients who were registered in northern New Zealand between 1 February 2010 and 31 July 2017. Kaplan-Meier analyses and log-rank tests were performed to assess the overall survival among different patient groups. Cox regression survival analyses were used to explore the associations between clinico-pathological factors and overall survival in terms of EGFR mutation status. The factors included were age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, performance status, metastasis status and site of tumour. Results: In this cohort, 20.2% had an EGFR mutation. The median overall survival was 0.79 years and 2.81 years in EGFR mutation-negative and mutation-positive groups respectively (log-rank p<0.0001). Metastasis status showed large and significant effects on overall survival in both EGFR mutation-negative and mutation-positive groups (hazard ratio, HR=3.6 and 3.3, respectively). In subgroup analyses by mutation status and metastasis status, overall survival decreased with an increase in age and decrease in performance status, and was lower in current smokers in all subgroups. In specific groups, females had lower survival only if mutation-positive; Māori had lower survival compared to NZ Europeans only if the disease was metastatic; and tumour site had significant effects on overall survival only in patients without metastasis. Conclusion: EGFR mutation status and metastasis are the main predictors for overall survival in non-squamous NSCLC patients in northern New Zealand. The effects of age, smoking status and performance status are similar in all subgroups, but the effects of sex, ethnicity and site of tumour vary depending on EGFR mutation and metastasis status.


There are many techniques to improve the characteristic of antennas. In this work we use ideas of the fractal. The purpose of this work is to design and analyze Hilbert curve fractal antennas resulting in the empirical model. We use the Zealand program for simulating antennas. The antennas receive and transmit in many frequency resonances. The first frequency resonance is 1.8 GHz band and others are higher than 1.8 GHz. We design a small Hilbert curve fractal antenna. We analyze this antenna by using the concept of resonance frequency that depends on the dimension size of the antenna to yield the model of Hilbert curve antenna that can be used to predict the multi resonance frequency. In the experiment we found that the percent of difference for this model is lower than 4.6%. That model will be helpful for design Hilbert curve fractal antennas.


In this paper, in closed form, the problems of determining stationary temperature fields in multilayer (flat, cylindrical and spherical) structures in the presence of discrete-continuous internal and point heat sources are solved. The one-dimensional differential equation of thermal conductivity in different coordinate systems is given through one parametric family of quasi-differential equations. It is assumed that the coefficients of the differential equation of thermal conductivity are piecewise constant functions. A system of two linearly independent boundary conditions is added to the equation, which in the general case are nonlocal. The solutions of such problems are constructive and are expressed exclusively through their initial data. The basic provisions of the concept of quasi-derivatives, the provisions of the theory of heat transfer, the theory of generalized systems of linear differential equations, elements of the theory of generalized functions are used. For the mathematical model of stationary thermal conductivity, the practical use of the concept of quasi-derivatives is illustrated, for the efficient construction, in a closed form, of solutions of boundary value problems with the most general boundary conditions. As an example, the problem of finding the critical radii of thermal insulation of multilayer hollow cylinders and spheres, taking into account the internal heat sources in the layers. Boundary conditions of the first and third kind. It is established that the value of the critical radius does not depend on the number of layers and the intensity of internal heat sources, but only on the thermal conductivity of the outer layer of the structure and the heat transfer coefficient between the structure and the environment. The formula for determining the critical radius of thermal insulation for a multilayer cylindrical and spherical structure is derived. The methods developed in this work have the prospect of further development and can be used in engineering calculations.


The success of a given pathflnding technique for a computer game depends on the requirements and the assumptions of the game and the constraints it imposes. This paper presents a classification of the factors that influences the performance of pathfmding techniques. This includes the dynamics of the game, the geometry of the players and the environment, the (un)predictability of movement, kinematic and temporal restrictions, interaction rules, and real-time performance. The purpose of this classification is the help developers identify the complexity of the task before choosing a certain approach.


This thesis treats the taxonomy of a generic complex presently known as PhomaSacc. emend Boerema & Bollen. This group of fungi comprises more than 200 taxa at species or variety level that are characterised by the production of hyaline, non-septate conidial spores in pycnidial conidiomata. The genus is omnipresent in the environment, and exponents can be found on a wide range of host substrates. For many years the genus Phomawas the main research topic of a group of mycologists at the Dutch National Plant Protection Service. The studies conducted in the last decennia of the previous century culminated in a handbook that monographed the majority of the species in the above-mentioned generic complex. This handbook marked the end of the era in which the taxonomy of this genus mainly relied on morphological observations and cultural descriptions. However, it can also be regarded as the starting point of the present study. The aim of the present project was to integrate DNA-based identification methods into the taxonomic system established by the previously mentioned group of researchers. The major part of this study therefore deals with the validation of current generic and species concepts. An extensive literature review of the biology, taxonomy and identification methods to the species in this genus is provided in Chapter 2 , with specific reference to the progress that has been made in Phomataxonomy after the publication of the abovementioned handbook. The advantages and disadvantages of the current taxonomical system are discussed. Furthermore, this chapter describes the general biology of the species in this fungal group, including their life cycles, distribution and host substrates. The importance of the genus for plant health and quarantine issues is illustrated, and the development of a rapid and robust identification technique based on DNA barcodes is advocated. Chapter 3 treats species in Phomasection Peyronellaea. Species in this section are typified by the production of dictyochlamydospores, and thus have additional morphological characters to use in taxon delineation in comparison with species in the other Phomasections. All species in this group were subjected to a morphological re-examination and phylogenetic analyses employingITS, actin, and β-tubulin nucleotide sequences. Based on multi-gene analyses, Phomasection Peyronellaeacould not be maintained as a taxonomic entity, due to the polyphasic nature of taxa in this section. The morphological study revealed that for five species a taxonomic revision was required. A further five species appeared to be new to science, including Ph. microchlamydospora, Ph. omnivirens, and Ph. schachtii. Also the taxonomic noveltiesPh. coffeae-arabicaeand Ph. sancta are described here, and are allocated to the genus Peyronellaea, re-erected in Chapter 5. In Chapter 4 the diversity among species and varieties belonging to the Ph. exiguaspecies complex is investigated. The Ph. exiguaspecies complex includes nine taxa at varietal level and four species that have a high morphological similarity both in vivoand in vitro, whilst historical relations with plant hosts cannot be maintained. Among this group, both omnipresent saprobes as well as host-specific plant pathogens are present – including the potato pathogen Ph. foveata. The diversity in this complex is studied by means of Internal Transcribed Spacer regions 1 & 2 and intervening 5.8S nrDNA (ITS) and actin nucleotidesequence analyses and a DNA fingerprinting technique rarely used to study fungal diversity. This technique, DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF) employs short, arbitrary primers that form a loop, or a mini-hairpin, under specific temperature conditions and is frequently used in molecular plant breeding. The amplified DNA fragments were isolated and sequenced in order to develop taxon-specific markers and primer combinations based on the SCARs (Sequence Characterised Amplified Regions) and actin sequence data generated. These tools can aid rapid identification of this morphologically highly similar set of taxa. Two separate taxa were recognised within the type variety Ph. exiguavar. exigua. In the following chapter these taxa are described and all species and varieties in this complex are recombined into the new genus Boeremia. Chapter 5 provides further details about the taxonomy and phylogeny of the species of interest, with a special focus on the taxa that are phylogenetically placed with Didymellaceae. In total 206 taxa were treated, of which 159 have affinities with Phoma. The genus is circumscribed in the first section of this chapter. The phylogeny was reconstructed using 28S nrDNA (Large Subunit) and 18S nrDNA (Small Subunit) sequence data. It was shown that the currently used Boeremaean subdivision of the phomoid taxa and the phylogeny were inconsistent, as the genus was highly polyphyletic. Species belonging to the form-genus Phomawere retrieved in as much as six distinct clades within Pleosporales. These clades even represent different families. The majority of the phomoid taxa, including the type species Ph. herbarumand most exponents of the sections Macrospora, Peyronellaea, Heterospora, and Phyllostictioides, were found in a single clade that represented the Didymellaceae. Most species that are associated with the Phomasections Plenodomusand Pilosacluster with the Leptosphaeriaceaeand Pleosporaceaeclades. Furthermore, some species were also found to cluster in the Sporormiaceaeand Cucurbitariaceaeclades. In the second part of this chapter, the phylogenetic variation of the species and varieties in Didymellaceaeis further assessed, using a phylogenetic reconstruction that is based on DNA sequences of the Large Subunit, ITS, and part of the β-tubulin (TUB) gene region. Besides the teleomorph genus Didymella, members of the teleomorph genera Leptosphaerulinaand Macroventuriawere also found to cluster in this clade. Based on the reconstructed phylogeny, Didymellaceaesegregate into at least 18 distinct clusters, of which many can be associated with specific morphological characters. Furthermore, a number of taxa did not match any of these clusters, suggesting that an evolutionary correct subdivision of the Phomaspecies in Didymellaceaeis even more complex. Taxa in four of these phylogenetic clusters were also defined well enough by means of morphology to elevate these groups to new or reinstalled genera, namely Stagonosporopsis, Epicoccum, Boeremiaand Peyronellaea. A total of 61 taxa were recombined and several new species of Phomawere introduced, namely Ph. brasiliensis, Ph. bulgarica, Ph. dactylidis, Ph. dimorpha, Ph. longicolla, Ph. minor, Ph. pedeiaeand Ph. saxea. Furthermore, two new varieties were described, Boeremia exigua var. gilvescensand B. exigua var. pseudolilacis. Finally, the results presented in this dissertation are highlighted and discussed in Chapter 6 . In total 13 species of Phomaand two taxa at varietal level were newly described during the course of this study. Moreover the taxonomic status of species in the form-genus Phomawere further clarified, and insight provided into the phylogenetic status of Didymellaceae, a fungal family that was recently established, comprising most species of Phoma, Ascochytaand Didymella. All macro- and micromorphological data obtained in this study, as well as the DNA sequences, were placed online in a publicly available polyphasic identification database (www.q-bank.eu). This will enable scientists and institutes involved in plant health to correctly identify phomoid species. Rapid identification of these species based on the tools and data generated in this study, can facilitate swift clearing of plant material and arable products during export and import, and prevent the spread of quarantine organisms.


Spin transfer in high energy fragmentation process is determined by the hadronization mechanism and spin structure of hadrons. It can be studied by measuring the polariza-tions of hyperons and/or vector mesons in e + e − annihilation, in the current fragmentation region of polarized deeply inelastic lN-scatterings, and high p T-jets in polarized pp-collisions. Theoretical calculations have been made using different models. In this talk, I will briefly summarize the main features of the models, the results obtained and the comparison with available data. They can be used for future tests by experiments.


By combining controlled experiments on single interfaces with measurements on solitary bubbles and liquid foams, we show that poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels assembled at air/water interfaces exhibit a solid to liquid transition changing the temperature, and that this is associated with the change in the interfacial microstructure of the PNIPAM particles around their volume phase transition temperature. We show that the solid behaves as a soft 2D colloidal glass, and that the existence of this solid/liquid transition offers an ideal platform to tune the permeability of air bubbles covered by PNIPAM and to control macroscopic foam properties such as drainage, stability, and foamability. PNIPAM particles on fluid interfaces allow new tunable materials, for example foam structures with variable mechanical properties upon small temperature changes.


Discusses RF heating of three classes of Tokamak flux surfaces which intersect the electron cyclotron resonance heating region: rational-q, near rational-q and irrational-q. On irrational-q surfaces, the degree of heating is the same for all electrons. One and near rational-q surfaces, heating is localised to closed helical bands of electrons. These hot bands support local enhancements of current density, and act as current-carrying filaments within the plasma. The poloidal magnetic field associated with these currents has X-points. The use of ECRH as a current drive mechanism will enhance these effects, as will an increase in the size of Tokamak major radius.


Recent research in oral immunology has implied that cell-mediated immune reactions are a possible pathogenic mechanism in gingivitis and periodontitis. The basis for the most commonly used in vitro test, lymphocyte transformation, and the possible interpretation are explained. The application of this test to a study of medically healthy subjects with varying degrees of periodontal disease yielded conflicting results. Previous reports in the literature have not established a relationship between blastogenic responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes in periodontally diseased patients, and their disease status. The possibility of subclinical sensitization is discussed, although a cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven.


In adults, a large metal foreign body in the esophagus is rarely seen and is usually caused accidentally. Here, we have described an unusual case of foreign body (spoon) in the esophagus of an adult patient. A 48-year-old woman initially presented to the emergency department with marked dysphagia, drooling, and radiating pain to the chest. She had swallowed a spoon while trying to vomit because of feeling sick. Radiological images revealed a spoon stuck in the esophagus. The edge of the spoon was grabbed with forceps and safely extracted under hypnic anesthesia. No esophageal perforation was detected on evaluation with esophagography using Gastrografin on the next day. This case highlights an unusual situation in an adult patient showing long nonfood-type foreign body in the esophagus. It is important that an appropriate workup and removal of foreign body is performed according to the location and type.


A screening for iridoid compounds of 78 of 315 species from all major groups in Gronoviaceae and Loasaceae has been carried out. The results were compared to the systematic concepts in the family and distribution and ecology of the taxa. Iridoids are present in at least some species of all genera screened. Some simple, monomeric compounds (e.g., loganin, sweroside) are found in all major groups of the two families and represent the basic iridoid inventory. Other compounds are restricted to certain taxonomic groups: nine-carbon iridoids (e.g., deutzioside) are restricted to Mentzelia (Loasaceae subfam. Mentzelioideae), hetero-oligomeric iridoids (e.g., tricoloroside methyl ester, acerifolioside) are restricted to two small groups in Loasa (Loasa ser. Macrospermae and ser. Floribundae, Loasaceae subfam. Loasoideae), and oleosides (e.g., 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester) are restricted to the large genus Caiophora sensu Weigend). The distribution of certain iridoid compounds thus confirms some of the generic limits. Iridoid phytochemistry does not correlate with systematic entities above the generic level nor does it in any way correlate with the morphological evolution of taxa. Conversely, the amount and complexity of iridoid compounds present in taxa correlate positively with the aridity of their habitat and the extent of mammalian herbivore pressure.


This thesis offers an immanent critique and reconstruction of green moral and political theory. In chapter 1, the critical-reconstructive approach and spirit of the thesis is outlined in terms of contributing to the process of developing a green political theory that is different from 'ecologism' or ideological accounts of green politics. In chapter 2, deep ecology is critically interrogated in terms of its metaphysical (2.3) and psychological claims (2.4). Its view of the 'ecological crisis' as a 'crisis' of western culture is criticised as is its a priori defence of environmental preservation over the human productive use of nature. While its ecocentrism is rejected as the normative basis for green politics, its concern with virtue ethics is held to be an important contribution. In chapter 3, a self-reflexive version of anthropocentrism is developed as the most appropriate moral basis for green politics. Some naturalistic arguments are presented in order to support 'speciesism', and defend it from claims of arbitrariness and as being akin to sexism or racism. Arguments centring on demonstrating the tenuous character of the differences between humans and nonhumans are argued to neglect the fundamental moral significance of the difference between 'human' and 'nonhuman'. I argue that an ethic of use, understood as a reflexive mode of interaction with the nonhuman world, is a defensible form of anthropocentrism for green political purposes. The basis of this reflexive anthropocentrism turns on the claim that while human interests are a necessary condition for justifying a particular human use of nature, it is not a satisfactory one. Issues pertaining to the 'seriousness' of the human interest which is fulfilled are held to be important in distinguishing 'use' from 'abuse'.


BACKGROUND
Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in Australia and thus the most costly to treat. Despite the high prevalence of NMSC, little is known about the rate of malignancy in excised or biopsied nonpigmented lesions.

METHOD
An audit of 912 reports relating to nonpigmented skin samples from 749 patients processed during January 2005 in Tasmania.

RESULTS
Nonmelanoma skin cancer was present in 60.6% of samples from specialists and 44.5% from nonspecialists/primary care doctors (p<0.001); 1.6 skin lesions were excised or biopsied in order to identify one malignant or pre-invasive lesion (1.3 for specialists and 1.7 for nonspecialists). The number of NMSCs increased with age and were more common in men.

DISCUSSION
Medical practitioners are efficient in their management of nonpigmented skin lesions in both primary and secondary care.


Coumarins are a class of heterocyclic compounds present in a significant quantity in several plants. The simplest coumarin, a benzene ring fused with a pyran-2-one heterocycle, was first discovered in the 19th century and since then, due to the synthetic accessibility and the biological properties of its derivatives, has been playing an important role in the Medicinal Chemistry field. In fact, coumarins have been previously described as anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, enzymatic inhibitory and antioxidant agents.Another two interesting compounds found widely in nature are resveratrol derivatives and chalcones. Both families of compounds are known for having remarkable antioxidant activity, cardio- and neuroprotective effects, among other relevant biological properties. Therefore, we devised several synthetic strategies to incorporate these natural products in one compound, combining their potential as promising agents for the treatment of several illnesses. In our group, we have already synthesised multiple novel compounds incorporating into the coumarin scaffold the resveratrol or chalcones moieties with remarkable activities towards different pharmacological targets. In this work, we continue exploiting this strategy by incorporating different linkers at coumarin position 3, thus giving us a wide range of possibilities for new compounds.


This thesis critiques rightsizing policies in Baltimore, Maryland. It analyzes Project C.O.R.E. and the effect it will have on the neighborhood of SandtownWinchester. This thesis argues that rightsizing policies have and will continue to have a negative impact on low-income, predominately African-American neighborhoods in the city by destroying the cultural and built environment and their historic resources. It asserts that rightsizing is a short-sighted public policy. The work argues this claim by first providing a history of the city of Baltimore emphasizing how racialized policies shaped the built environment. It analyzes the urban policies of the late 20th century that were designed to revitalize SandtownWinchester. This thesis reviews of rightsizing as urban policy, and ends with recommendations for how the city can manage vacant properties in a more equitable and fair way. The recommendations suggest rightsizing policies be reformed in order to reconsider the effect that they have on disinvested minority populations.


Disturbances observed by Voyagers 1 and 2 during the past five years or more may have been transported by plasma emitted from polar coronal holes, thereby having travelled much faster from the Sun to the termination shock than previously recognized. Estimating the average speed to the shock as 750 km/s has produced consistently good associations between solar flares, or groups of them, and dynamic pressure increases at Voyager 2 and plasma wave events at Voyager 1. Furthermore, magnetograph observations confirm that polar coronal holes were present around the times of the flares to which the events at the Voyagers have been attributed. These calculations also provide revised estimates of the transport of heliospheric current sheet fluctuations. We discuss the possibilities that extrapolations from past observations and simulations based on them may provide insight into currently challenging issues and possible future developments.


Historically, our understanding of ecological responses to biogeochemical gradients and physical dynamics in the Indian Ocean has been limited to regional studies. Microbial communities represent in-situ biosensors that are sensitive to changes in the surface ocean. They can therefore be used to identify where subtle changes in the environment occur and to understand links between the ecology and surrounding environment. Here, we perform the largest study of microbial biodiversity in the Indian Ocean, using 505 DNA samples collected on GO-SHIP cruises I07N and I09N. This dataset spans a large geographic area, starting in the southern Indian Ocean gyre, crossing through the equatorial zone, and entering the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to identify transition points in bacterial community structure and to define ecological boundaries. We found that these boundaries aligned with shifts in geochemistry (e.g., nutrient availability) and/or physical dynamics (e.g., ocean fronts, eddies, and salinity), indicating fine-scale regional separation in biogeochemical functioning. Thus, our study demonstrates how using microbial communities provides an integrated approach for evaluating links between the ecology, geochemistry, and physical dynamics of the Indian Ocean.


In this paper, we propose Emo2Vec which encodes emotional semantics into vectors. We train Emo2Vec by multi-task learning six different emotion-related tasks, including emotion/sentiment analysis, sarcasm classification, stress detection, abusive language classification, insult detection, and personality recognition. Our evaluation of Emo2Vec shows that it outperforms existing affect-related representations, such as Sentiment-Specific Word Embedding and DeepMoji embeddings with much smaller training corpora. When concatenated with GloVe, Emo2Vec achieves competitive performances to state-of-the-art results on several tasks using a simple logistic regression classifier.


The intermediate circulation of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada, plays a key role in dispersing contaminants throughout the Salish Sea, yet little is known about its dynamics. Here, we use hydrographic observations and hindcast fields from a regional 3D model to approach the intermediate circulation from three perspectives. Firstly, we derive and model a "seasonality" tracer from temperature observations to age the water, estimate mixing, and infer circulation. Secondly, we analyze modeled velocity fields to create mean current maps and examine the advective and diffusive components of the mean flow field. Lastly, we calculate Lagrangian trajectories to derive Transit Time Distributions and Lagrangian statistics. In combination, these analyses provide an overview of the mean intermediate circulation that can be summarized as follows: subducting water in Haro Strait ventilates the intermediate water primarily via an up-strait boundary current that flows along the eastern shores of the southernmost basin in 1–2 months. This inflowing water is either incorporated into the interior of the basin, recirculated southwards, or transported into the northernmost basin, mixing steadily with adjacent water masses during its transit. A second, shallower ventilating jet emanates southwards from Discovery Passage, locally modifying the Haro Strait inflow signal. Outside of these well-defined advective features, diffusive transport dominates in the majority of the region. The intermediate renewal signal fully ventilates the region in 100–140 days, which serves as a benchmark for contaminant dispersal timescale estimates.


Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for renovascular hypertension offers the potential for simple, safe, and relatively inexpensive therapy in certain categories of patients. The technique should be performed only under these conditions: (1) in centers with experience in angiography and angioplasty of peripheral vascular lesions; (2) with an experienced vascular surgical team standing by in case of surgical complications; (3) on lesions anatomically amenable to catheter dilation; and (4) on patients with prior proof of increased renin production on the affected side. Angioplasty is limited by the anatomy of the stenoses. Complications are similar to those of percutaneous angiography and occur with an estimated frequency of 5%-10%. Short-term patency is considered 70%-80%, somewhat lower than the surgical repair result. In all but certain cases where angioplasty offers a relative advantage, randomized controlled studies will be required to determine whether angioplasty or surgery should be the preferred method of therapy.


The adsorption of zinc (II) ions on Rhizopus arrhizus , a filamentous fungus, was investigated in a batch reactor. Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying biomass loading. A contact time of 120 min was required to reach equilibrium. Specific zinc (II) uptake decreased with increase in biomass loading and these results were analyzed in light of the Lagergren equation and the process followed a second order rate kinetics. The equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich- Peterson and BET adsorption isotherms. The characteristic parameters for each isotherm were determined. All the isotherms provided the best correlation for zinc (II) onto the R. arrhizus . African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 506-508, 2005


A numerical mesoscale model, originally developed by Pielke (1974), is validated and applied to simulating the mesoscale meteorology of the Swan coastal plain of Western Australia as the basis for an urban airshed model. Since the only radiosonde profile available to initialise the model is influenced by downslope flow from the nearby asymmetric Darling Scarp, the validation incorporates model comparisons with aircraft cross-sections of temperature and humidity across the coastal plain.

These observations highlight topographically induced hydraulic jumps, lee waves or vertically propagating hydrostatic waves depending on the upwind stability and wind profile. The vertically propagating waves and hydraulic jump were observed to produce accelerated flow down the escarpment. Two of these hydrostatically dominated days were modelled and shown to reproduce the essential features of wave overturning and the development of a shooting hydraulic flow. This response is dependent on the wind profile but not on the existence of a critical level.

The high backsheared environment leads to a high ratio of Brunt-Vaisala frequency to wind speed throughout the profile, resulting in short wavelengths, high nonlinearity and overturning. With the ratio of the halfwidth of the topography to the boundary layer depth being small, the flow fields are shown to be sensitive to the boundary layer.

Further validation of the model was conducted over the change in surface conditions encounted at the coast. In particular, these validations addressed the parameterization of the subgrid scale fluxes within the model and established its ability to simulate the mesoscale meteorology of the region under a variety of conditions.

Having validated the meteorological component of the model, the major emission source within the region (motor vehicles) is incorporated. Automotive emissions are derived from driving characteristics and vehicle emissions based on speed and acceleration to produce spatially and temporally varying emissions across the Perth region.

A simple Langevin scheme is incorporated into the mesoscale model to simulate the dispersal of both point and area sources. The scheme is shown to satisfy the well mixed criterion and illustrates good agreement with previous laboratory and field studies. With the incorporation of the predicted emissions, the model is shown to reproduce the measured concentrations for a selected case study and its potential as an urban airshed model is highlighted.


– A field study was carried out Experimental Farm of Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, J&K, India during kharif 2011 and 2012 to study the influence of integrated nutrient management on yield and yield attributes of sweet corn var. Super-75. The results revealed that yield contributing characters viz., cob length and diameter with and without husk, number of cobs per plant, rows per cob, grains per rowand weight of cob with and without husk were significantly higher with application of 75 % (NPK) + Farmyard manure(FYM)(4.5 t ha -1 ) + biofertilizer ( Azotobacter + Phosphate solubilizing bacteria(PSB) over unfertilized control and other treatments. This treatment also proved to be significantly superior to rest of the treatments including unfertilized control in increasing cob yield with and without husk, fodder yield and green biomass yield during both years of experimentation. The ratio of cob to fodder yield during 2011 was recorded highest in treatment FYM (18 t ha -1 ), while during 2012, NPK (90:60:40 kg ha -1 ) recorded the highest ratio of cob to fodder yield.