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In order to meet the growing needs of the world economy for biotechnology, culture collections must transform the way they operate from passive storage of microbial resources to active microbial resource centers whose services should go beyond the provision of microbes. The protection and conscious use of microorganisms aims to co-create a strategy for responsible and sustainable development, based on expert knowledge. This article deals with the subject of the recently developed panel of biobank-specific standards and the requirements that must be met by culture collections to transform into modern microbial biobanks.

A stack distance of a reference is the depth from which the reference must be extracted from a stack. It has been widely applied to a variety of applications utilizing temporal locality information. However, calculating an exact stack distance requires significant computational complexity that is impractical for online production systems. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm that approximates a stack distance based on workload characteristics. The proposed algorithm utilizes two simple reference metrics: inter-reference distance and a quasi-unique reference count. More importantly, its approximation algorithm requires surprisingly simple calculation. Consequently, it significantly reduces computational overhead while exhibiting exceptional accuracy and runs extremely fast. Moreover, it allows configurable parameters for performance optimization by making optimal use of workload characteristics. Our extensive experiments with diverse realistic workloads demonstrate our stack distance approximation algorithm outperforms the current state-of-the-art algorithm with higher accuracy ( $3.7\times $ ), lower memory footprint ( $3.05\times $ ) and fast execution (less than 0.05 seconds) on average. In addition, with configuration parameters, our refined algorithm can achieve a 28% average additional accuracy improvement.

Intervention development frameworks offer the behavioral sciences a systematic and rigorous empirical process to guide the translation of basic science into practice in pursuit of desirable public health and clinical outcomes. The multiple frameworks that have emerged share a goal of optimization during intervention development and can increase the likelihood of arriving at an effective and disseminable intervention. Yet, the process of optimizing an intervention differs functionally and conceptually across frameworks, creating confusion and conflicting guidance on when and how to optimize. This paper seeks to facilitate the use of translational intervention development frameworks by providing a blueprint for selecting and using a framework by considering the process of optimization as conceptualized by each. First, we operationalize optimization and contextualize its role in intervention development. Next, we provide brief overviews of three translational intervention development frameworks (ORBIT, MRC, and MOST), identifying areas of overlap and divergence thereby aligning core concepts across the frameworks to improve translation. We offer considerations and concrete use cases for investigators seeking to identify and use a framework in their intervention development research. We push forward an agenda of a norm to use and specify frameworks in behavioral science to support a more rapid translational pipeline.

Passive radar is an interesting approach in the context of non-cooperative target detection. Because the signal source takes advantage of the so-called illuminator of opportunity (IoO), the deployed system is silent, allowing the operator cheap, portable, and practically undetectable deployments. These systems match perfectly with the use of antenna arrays to take advantage of the additional gains provided by the coherent combination of the signals received at each element. To obtain these benefits, linear processing methods are required to enhance the system’s performance. In this work, we summarize the main beamforming methods in the literature to provide a clear picture of the current state of the art. Next, we perform an analysis of the benefits and drawbacks and explore the chance of increasing the number of antenna elements. Finally, we identify the major challenges to be addressed by researchers in the future.

A biomedical implant (BMI) is a device that allows patients to monitor their health condition at any time and obtain care from any location. However, the functionality of these devices is limited because of their restricted battery capacity, such that a BMI may not attain its full potential. Wireless power transfer technology–based magnetic resonant coupling (WPT–MRC) is considered a promising solution to the problem of restricted battery capacity in BMIs. In this paper, spider web coil–MRC (SWC-MRC) was designed and practically implemented to overcome the restricted battery life in low–power BMIs. A series/parallel (S/P) topology for powering the BMI was proposed in the design of the SWC-MRC. Several experiments were conducted in the lab to investigate the performance of the SWC-MRC system in terms of DC output voltage, power transfer, and transfer efficiency at different resistive loads and distances. The experimental results of the SWC-MRC test revealed that when the Vsource is 30 V, the DC output voltage of 5 V can be obtained at 1 cm. At such a distance (i.e., 1 cm), the SWC-MRC transfer efficiency is 91.86% and 97.91%, and the power transfer is 13.26 W and 23.5 W when 50- and 100- $\Omega $ resistive loads were adopted, respectively. A power transfer of 12.42 W and transfer efficiency of 93.38% were achieved at 2 cm for when a 150- $\Omega $ resistive load and a Vsource of 35 V were considered. The achieved performance was adequate for charging some BMIs, such as a pacemaker.

In this paper, we examine the end-to-end average pairwise error probability (PEP) and output probability (OP) performance of the maximum ratio combining (MRC) based selective decode and forward (S-DF) system over an η–µ scattering environment considering additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The probability distribution function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) expressions have been derived for the received signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio and the moment generating function (MGF) technique is used to derive the novel closed-form (CF) average PEP and OP expressions. The analytical results have been further simplified and are presented in terms of the Lauricella function for coherent complex modulation schemes. The asymptotic PEP expressions are also derived in terms of the Lauricella function, and a convex optimization (CO) framework has been developed for obtaining optimal power allocation (OPA) factors. Through simulations, it is also proven that, depending on the number of multi-path clusters and the modulation scheme used, the optimized power allocation system was essentially independent of the power relation scattered waves from the source node (SN) to the destination node (DN). The graphs show that asymptotic and accurate formulations are closely matched for moderate and high SNR regimes. PEP performance significantly improves with an increase in the value of η for a fixed value of µ. The analytical and simulation curves are in close agreement for medium-to-high SNR values.

Abstract Background Stroke can affect any portion of the central nervous system leading to a wide variety of symptoms depending on the part that is involved. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an emerging neuroimaging technique that allows measuring the integrity of white matter tracts. Objectives The objective of this study is to find out if the diffusion tensor tractography technique can provide prognostic information regarding clinical outcome following ischemic stroke. Subjects and methods Forty patients with acute ischemic stroke were studied with DTI. Size of infraction, degree of reduction of fractional anisotropy (FA), and pattern of corticospinal tract (CST) affection were identified. We assessed our patients according to the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Medical Research Council (MRC) scale at onset of stroke and 3 months later. Results FA reduction was correlated with MRC and NIHSS on admission (P < 0.001, 0.004 respectively) and after 3 months (P < 0.001, 0.013 respectively). The pattern of CST affection was associated with NIHSS and MRC after 3 months (P = 0.035, 0.001 respectively). Conclusion DTI may be an indirect indicator of the ischemic stroke outcome.

In the remote sensing monitoring of conservation tillage, the acquisition of remote sensing data with high spatial and temporal resolution is critical. The current optical remote sensing images cannot realize both temporal and spatial resolution, especially under cloud and rain interference. Thus, this study employs the enhanced spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (ESTARFM) to obtain the normalized difference tillage index (NDTI) with both temporal and spatial resolution estimated by Sentinel−2 and MODIS using the Index−then−Blend (IB) and Blend−then−Index (BI) fusion schemes. After comparison, the IB scheme was better than the BI scheme in predicting results and prediction efficiency. The NDTI predicted by ESTARFM and Sentinel−2 on June 12, 2020 was compared. A coefficient of determination R2 of 0.73 and RMSE of 0.000117 was obtained, indicating a high prediction accuracy, which meets the prediction requirements. Based on the predicted ESTARFM NDTI of the study area on May 17, 2021, the maize residue cover (MRC) of the study area was estimated using the previously constructed MRC unary linear regression model. The MRC of the sampling points of the remote sensing images was estimated by verifying the predicted ESTARFM NDTI with the MRC of the sampling points taken in the field extracted by the maximum likelihood classifier, which has a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.78 and RMSE of 0.00676, signifying better prediction results. The proposed method provides considerable data sources for the remote sensing monitoring studies of conservation tillage.

In this study, the authors provide a direct comparison made between whole tree-harvesting (WTH) and cut-to length (CTL) methods, which was conducted in two sites in the Slovak Republic and applied to poplar plantations. Both systems, WTH and CTL, have been employed at the highest mechanization level in two sites: “Nivky” and “Skalica”. Two different strategies, namely, “mass handling” and “small-scale mechanization”, have been used for WTH and CTL, respectively. The study results showed that the level of productivity (ODT SMH−1) in the felling operation was almost double for WTH than for the CTL method in Nivky (+84%) and more than double in Skalica (+113%). The extraction operation under WTH showed a productivity increase from one fifth (+20%) to more than double (104%) that of the CTL method in the Nivky and Skalica sites, respectively. Regarding cost-efficiency (EUR ODT−1), the WTH system offers a similar trend except with respect to extraction in Nivky (higher productivity site), in which the CTL extraction was 4.5% less expensive than the WTH extraction. The study results show that the mass-handling technique deployed in the WTH system offers very good performance in poorer plantations since the very small tree size and low-growing stock challenge the CTL system more than the WTH system. The total operation (felling, bucking, and extraction) costs (EUR ODT−1) recorded by the study in commercial conditions (as contractors perform for revenue purposes) were 32.50 and 45.80 EUR ODT−1 for CTL and 43.30 and 53.60 EUR ODT−1 for WTH for the higher-yield site (Nivky) and lower-yield site (Skalica), respectively. Regarding the WTH System, the researchers found that the drop in efficiency (and the consequent rise in the costs-per-ton of product) depends largely on the bucking phase conducted using the harvester at the landing of the stacked piles of interlocked trees. The main results of this study demonstrate the promising strategy of mass handling associated with the WTH system in medium rotation coppice (MRC) harvesting and shows that bucking is the weaker phase. Future efforts must be made to ensure feasibility of the “mass handling” strategy alongside the entire workflow by means of finding suitable mobile machinery that can delimb, debark, and crosscut tree bunches instead of single trees.

This paper proposes receive diversity with power adaptation for a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system in a multi-user circumstance. Since the basic concept of power domain NOMA divides user data by the difference of power, successive interference cancellation (SIC) is necessary to extract user data. In the process of SIC calculation, the error propagation has occurred. Therefore, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) decreases as the number of user entity increases in a power domain NOMA system. In order to mitigate the inter-user interference, data are allocated to subcarriers with an instantaneous user grouping scheme. With the subcarrier structure of the instantaneous user grouping scheme, this paper proposes receive diversity to improve the bit error rate (BER). However, since the diversity method decreases the sum capacity of the system, a power adaptation method is also proposed to compensate the sum capacity. The simulation results show that the proposed method improves the BER performance than the conventional scheme and increases sum capacity that is decreased by the receiver diversity scheme.

In this paper, we thoroughly elaborate on the impact different transmit-antenna selection (TAS) strategies induce in terms of the outage performance of incremental cognitive multiple-input multiple-output relaying systems employing receive maximum-ratio combining (MRC). Our setup consists of three multi-antenna secondary nodes: a transmitter, a receiver and a decode-and-forward relay node acting in a half-duplex incremental relaying mode whereas the primary transmitter and receiver are equipped with a single antenna. Only a statistical channel-state information is acquired by the secondary system transmitting nodes to adapt their transmit power. In this context, our contribution is fourfold. First, we focus on two TAS strategies that are driven by maximizing either the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), and extend their operating mode into an incremental relaying setup where MRC is carried jointly over both relaying hops. Second, given the inherited complexity, we proceed by the exact outage analysis of the direct (first-hop) transmission as a preliminary yet innovative step pertaining to the SINR-driven TAS strategy. Third, the end-to-end (second-hop) transmission outage performance is also evaluated although shown to entail an involved derivation roadmap for both TAS strategies. Fourth, we simplify our exact derivations by means of the asymptotic analysis which reveals that the detrimental effect of mutual interference on the secondary system is originated from the primary transmitter (i.e., co-channel interference) and not from the primary receiver (i.e., interference threshold). That is, even if the secondary system operates at a high tolerated amount of interference, an outage floor will still occur because the primary system will pump a high amount of co-channel interference in return. The SINR-driven TAS shows up as an optimal interference-aware strategy in this regard. It achieves the same diversity gain but a better coding gain compared to its SNR-driven counterpart. The correctness of our results is confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations and the actual outage gap between both TAS strategies is reflected.

It remains unknown whether variation of scores on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength is associated with operator-independent techniques: dynamometry and surface electromyography (sEMG). This study aimed to evaluate whether the scores of the MRC strength scale are associated with instrumented measures of torque and muscle activity in post-stroke survivors with severe hemiparesis both before and after an intervention. Patients affected by a first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 6 months before enrollment and with complete paresis were included in the study. The pre- and post-treatment assessments included the MRC strength scale, sEMG, and dynamometry assessment of the triceps brachii (TB) and biceps brachii (BB) as measures of maximal elbow extension and flexion torque, respectively. Proprioceptive-based training was used as a treatment model, which consisted of multidirectional exercises with verbal feedback. Each treatment session lasted 1 h/day, 5 days a week for a total 15 sessions. Nineteen individuals with stroke participated in the study. A significant correlation between outcome measures for the BB (MRC and sEMG p = 0.0177, ρ = 0.601; MRC and torque p = 0.0001, ρ = 0.867) and TB (MRC and sEMG p = 0.0026, ρ = 0.717; MRC and torque p = 0.0001, ρ = 0.873) were observed post intervention. Regression models revealed a relationship between the MRC score and sEMG and torque measures for both the TB and BB. The results confirmed that variation on the MRC strength scale is associated with variation in sEMG and torque measures, especially post intervention. The regression model showed a causal relationship between MRC scale scores, sEMG, and torque assessments.

In wireless communication system, various parameters such as average symbol/bit error probability (ASEP/ABEP), outage probability and average channel capacity, etc. are studied for its performance analysis. In this paper, the performance of L-Hoyt/Gamma (HG) composite fading channel with Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC) employing micro-diversity is analyzed. Closed-form expressions for distribution function, moments, outage probability and channel capacity are derived in terms of hypergeometric functions. Further, the expressions of ASEP/ABEP for all formats of coherent and non-coherent modulation techniques involving Q-functions and Marcum Q-function are derived over the composite fading channel. Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to validate our analytical results. The analytical results produced here can be useful in several wireless applications where multipath and shadowing are characterized by Hoyt/Gamma distribution.

A wide range of multimedia applications must be supported by the modern fifth generation (5G) wireless communication systems for realizing the diverse applications in smart cities. The diverse applications such as real-time monitoring of roads, smart homes, smart industries, etc., for a sustainable smart city emphasizes a robust and efficient image transmission. In this paper, the influence of maximal ratio combining (MRC) on the reception of images with different orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) versions is studied. The different OFDM versions considered here are the fast Fourier transform (FFT) based OFDM and discrete cosine transform (DCT) based OFDM. A comparison between diverse modulation levels for the images transmitted through different OFDM methodologies, along with variation in a number of receiving antennas for MRC, is proposed for additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels. The diverse modulation levels used are binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 8-PSK, and 16-PSK. The parameters that are used to compare different versions of OFDM for MRC antenna configurations are signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) vs. bit error rate (BER) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) at the receiver as an estimation parameter for the received image quality.

The pattern of improvement in Neurological status after disc surgery is different. The chronology of improvement in Medical Research Council (MRC) scores, sensory status and improvement in Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test degrees is beneficial in management part to surgeons, relatives and the patients. To assess pattern of neurological outcomes in patients with lumbar disc herniation after microdiscectomy in terms of muscle power, sensory status and SLR. A Quasi experimental study comprising 70 consecutive cases though non-probability purposive sampling technique of both the sexes admitted in Neurosurgery department, Mayo Hospital operated for the 1st time for any disc pathology with no other spinal lesions giving consent themselves or though legal guardians was conducted. Pain for leg and back was measured pre and post-operatively was done by VAS which had 42 days of follow up. Standard Neurological examinations were conducted pertaining to muscle power (by MRC), sensory status and SLR test pre and post-operatively. Variables according to their nature were expressed in the form of Mean±SD, Median (Range) and Frequency (percentage). Mc Neumer’s chi square test and paired t test were used to see association between preoperative and post-operative Neurological status depending on their nature viz: qualitative or quantitative respectively in SPSS version 15. Out of 70 patients 74% were male and 26% were females. Mean±SD of patients was 37.6±13.0 years. Majority were Laborers after housewives. Illiterates, Poor lifting techniques were the most common characteristics in the respective headings of education and employment. Most common level of disc herniation was L4-L5, L5- S1 level (96%) where Prolapse and extrusion were most common MRI findings. As compared to pre-operative (3.4) muscle power 1st and 42nd day power were respectively 4.0 and 4.7 (p=0.001). Pre-operatively only 32 (45.7%) had normal sensation which improved to 38 (54.3%) and 51 (72.9%) respectively in 1st and 42nd day of surgery (p=0.001). Pre-operative mean SLR improved to 98.6 degrees in 1st POD and continued to be the same till 42nd day (p=0.001). All the MRC findings, sensory status and SLR values in each post-operative days were statistically significant with the baseline by paired t test (p=0.001). MRC and Sensory status had same pattern of improvement (r=0.0. p=0.04) unlike SLR which total improvements were see in 1st POD itself. In conclusion, muscle power and sensory improvement follows same improvement pattern whereas maximum SLR improves in the 1st POD itself.

This paper presents a new Time-frequency interleaving in a Multi-code Multicarrier CDMA (MC-MC-CDMA) system, which allows two-dimensional spreading in both time and frequency domains. Our contribution consists in implementing a two-dimensional interleaving inside the time and frequency diversity. We demonstrate via simulation results that the proposed method yields better performances in Bit Error Rate (BER). Also, we observe that BER of both the 2D-prime interleaving and the 2D-random interleaving are similar. Furthermore, the interleaving gain is larger in a frequency-diversity than time-diversity. Finally, we reach better Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) when we transmit images through the proposed technique.

This paper presents a statistical model for maximum ratio combining (MRC) receivers in Rayleigh fading channels enabled with a temporal combining process. This means that the receiver effectively combines spatial and temporal branch components. Therefore, the signals that will be processed by the MRC receiver are collected not only across different antennas (space), but also at different instants of time. This suggests the use of a retransmission, repetition or space-time coding algorithm that forces the receiver to store signals in memory at different instants of time. Eventually, these stored signals are combined after a predefined or dynamically optimized number of time-slots or retransmissions. The model includes temporal correlation features in addition to the space correlation between the signals of the different components or branches of the MRC receiver. The derivation uses a frequency domain approach (using the characteristic function of the random variables) to obtain closed-form expressions of the statistics of the post-processing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under the assumption of equivalent correlation in time and equivalent correlation in space. The described methodology paves the way for the reformulation of other statistical functions as a frequency-domain polynomial root analysis problem. This is opposed to the infinite series approach that is used in the conventional methodology using directly the probability density function (PDF). The results suggest that temporal diversity is a good complement to receivers with limited spatial diversity capabilities. It is also shown that this additional operation could be maximized when the temporal diversity is adaptive (i.e., activated by thresholds of SNR), thus leading to a better resource utilization.

Supertree methods enable the reconstruction of large phylogenies. The supertree problem can be formalized in different ways in order to cope with contradictory information in the input. Some supertree methods are based on encoding the input trees in a matrix; other methods try to find minimum cuts in some graph. Recently, we introduced Bad Clade Deletion (BCD) supertrees which combines the graph-based computation of minimum cuts with optimizing a global objective function on the matrix representation of the input trees. The BCD supertree method has guaranteed polynomial running time and is very swift in practice. The quality of reconstructed supertrees was superior to matrix representation with parsimony (MRP) and usually on par with SuperFine for simulated data; but particularly for biological data, quality of BCD supertrees could not keep up with SuperFine supertrees. Here, we present a beam search extension for the BCD algorithm that keeps alive a constant number of partial solutions in each top-down iteration phase. The guaranteed worst-case running time of the new algorithm is still polynomial in the size of the input. We present an exact and a randomized subroutine to generate suboptimal partial solutions. Both beam search approaches consistently improve supertree quality on all evaluated datasets when keeping 25 suboptimal solutions alive. Supertree quality of the BCD Beam Search algorithm is on par with MRP and SuperFine even for biological data. This is the best performance of a polynomial-time supertree algorithm reported so far.

Although some studies have been conducted over the past few decades, the existence of mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) in reptiles is still obscure. This is the first study to uncover the presence of MRCs in the small intestine of Chinese soft-shelled turtles. In this study, we investigated the ultrastructural characteristics of MRCs and the secretion of different ion transport proteins in the small intestine of Pelodiscus sinensis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the ultrastructural features of MRCs are clearly different from those of other cells. The cytoplasmic density of MRCs was higher than absorptive epithelial cells (AECs) and goblet cells (GCs). MRCs possessed abundant heterogeneous mitochondria and an extensive tubular system in the cytoplasm, however, the AECs and GCs completely lacked a tubular system. Statistical analysis showed that the diameter and quantification of mitochondria were highly significant in MRCs. Mitochondrial vacuolization and despoiled mitochondria were closely associated with autophagosomes in MRCs. The multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and the exosome secretion pathway were observed in MRCs. Immunohistochemical staining of ion transport proteins indicated positive immunoreactivity of Na+/K+_ATPase (NKA) and Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC) at the basal region of the mucosal surface. Likewise, the immunofluorescence staining results showed a strong positive localization of NKA, NKCC, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) at the basal and apical region of the mucosal surface of small intestine. Our findings suggest that MRCs provide support and regulate cellular ions for intestinal homeostasis and provide energy for cellular quality control in intestine.

La conductividad y dureza total en muestras de agua producida por cuatro combinaciones de equipos de purificación de agua fueron estudiadas. Se produjo agua ultrapura mediante diferentes métodos, eligiéndose la metodología que con que se obtuvieron muestras de agua con una conductividad y dureza total menor. Se llevaron a cabo varios procesos para la certificación de los materiales entre ellos: estudio de la conductividad en función del tiempo, el estudio del efecto de los procesos de llenado y envase, de asignación de valor de la densidad a cuatro temperaturas diferentes, utilizando métodos y variables de los estudios de estabilidad en las magnitudes de la conductividad y la densidad. Finalmente los resultados de la certificación fueron reportados en el certificado para el material de referencia certificado en densidad de los lotes de agua ultra pura.

Corporate social responsibility attempts to align organizational and social objectives. Alignment can be achieved by application of cause-related marketing (CRM) methods. Therefore this article seeks to identify main determinants of success in CRM campaigns. This research was qualitative for an in depth study of three Brazilian companies. Results show that widespread communication, use of marketing mix, synergy between the cause and company business and long term action as well as a strong reputation for social responsibility are mainstays for success in CRM objectivesLa visión de responsabilidad social como recurso estratégico empresarial representa una manera de, aunque bajo consideraciones éticas, hacer conque objetivos organizacionales caminen lado a lado con objetivos sociales. Una de las formas encontradas para aliar tales propósitos se refiere al esfuerzo de utilización de herramientas de Marketing Relacionado a Causas (MRC). Así, la intención de este artículo es identificar el conjunto de factores que influencian el suceso de campañas de MRC, a partir de su adopción por las empresas más actuantes y representativas del estado del arte en esta área. Las campañas desarrolladas en tres empresas actuantes en Brasil fueron evaluadas basándose en el modelo de factores extraído de las propuestas de Adkins (1999) y de Pringle y Thompson (2000). Por lo tanto, la finalidad de este estudio fue alcanzada mediante la investigación cualitativa con casos múltiples. Factores como amplia divulgación y utilización de los componentes (mix) de marketing, sinergia entre causa y negocio de la empresa y duración de largo plazo, aliados a fuerte reputación de responsabilidad social, independientemente de las campañas, fueron identificados como los pilares necesarios para el suceso en el alcance de las metas de campañas de MRCA visão de responsabilidade social como recurso estratégico empresarial representa uma maneira de, ainda que sob considerações éticas, fazer com que objetivos organizacionais caminhem lado a lado com objetivos sociais. Uma das formas encontradas para aliar tais objetivos refere-se ao esforço de utilização de ferramentas de MarketingRelacionado a Causas (MRC). Assim, o objetivo deste artigo é identificar o conjunto de fatores que influenciam o sucesso de campanhas de MRC, a partir de sua adoção pelas empresas mais atuantes e representativas do estado da arte nesta área. As campanhas desenvolvidas em três empresas atuantes no Brasil foram avaliadas com base no modelo de fatores extraído das propostas de Adkins (1999) e de Pringle e Thompson (2000). Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi alcançado por meio de pesquisa qualitativa com casos múltiplos. Fatores como ampla divulgação e utilização dos componentes (mix) de marketing, sinergia entre causa e negócio da empresa e duração de longo prazo, aliados a forte reputação de responsabilidade social, independentemente das campanhas, foram identificados como os pilares necessários para o sucesso no alcance dos objetivos de campanhas de MRC

The Mekong is one of the greatest transnational rivers in Asia and is an important resource shared between six countries – China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Mekong river basin faces today a number of economic, political and environmental challenges, especially as far as management of its huge hydropower potential is concerned. This issue is very sensitive in all Southeast Asian countries (from Burma to Vietnam), but they all have to deal with what happens upstream, beyond the frontiers of the People’s Republic of China. To sustain its economic and industrial growth, China needs natural resources and energy, but at the same time as stipulated in the 12th Five-Year Plan, China has to get onto a more sustainable development path, by giving a priority to the use of “greener” energy sources, including hydropower. Beijing government has set targets to double its hydropower capacity by 2020, and the full-scale development of the Mekong river hydropower potential is an important milestone towards achieving this ambition. Beijing considers the construction of dams on the Lancang Jiang (Chinese section of the Mekong) as entirely Chinese national or even Yunnan province regional problem rather than an international issue. This attitude poses serious problems within the other riparian countries. Based on the analysis of Chinese official discourses and academic publications, this article will provide an overview of Mekong conflict with the focus on the strategies and policies used by Beijing to deal with the issue, and will discuss the role that Mekong hydropower development plays in the regional energy security, peace and stability.

La conductividad y dureza total en muestras de agua producida por cuatro combinaciones de equipos de purificación de agua fueron estudiadas. Se produjo agua ultrapura mediante diferentes métodos, eligiéndose la metodología que con que se obtuvieron muestras de agua con una conductividad y dureza total menor. Se llevaron a cabo varios procesos para la certificación de los materiales entre ellos: estudio de la conductividad en función del tiempo, el estudio del efecto de los procesos de llenado y envase, de asignación de valor de la densidad a cuatro temperaturas diferentes, utilizando métodos y variables de los estudios de estabilidad en las magnitudes de la conductividad y la densidad. Finalmente los resultados de la certificación fueron reportados en el certificado para el material de referencia certificado en densidad de los lotes de agua ultra pura

This paper deals with decision fusion in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) over Rayleigh fading channels. The likelihood ratio test (LRT) is considered as the optimal fusion rule when applied at the fusion center (FC). However, applying the LRT at the FC requires both the channel state information (CSI) and the local sensors’ performance indices. Acquiring such information is considered as an overhead in energy and bandwidth constrained systems such as WSNs. To avoid these drawbacks, we propose a modification to the traditional three-layer system model of a WSN where the LRT is applied as a local decision making method at the sensors level. Applying the LRT at the sensors level does not require the CSI or the local sensors’ performance indices. It only requires the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Moreover, a new fusion rule based on selection combining (SC) is suggested. This fusion method has the lowest complexity when compared to other diversity combining based fusion rules such as the equal gain combiner (EGC) and the maximum ratio combiner (MRC). Simulation results show that the performance of the proposed model outperforms the traditional model. In addition, applying the EGC at the FC in the proposed model provides comparable performance to the traditional model that applies the LRT at the FC.

As the staff of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology settle into their new building in Cambridge, its director Hugh Pelham explains the challenges of living up to its prestigious past.

We consider multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems that employ multiple transmit and receive antennas to increase the data rate and achieve diversity in fading multipath channels. We begin by focusing on an uncoded system and define optimal and suboptimal receiver structures for this system in Rayleigh fading with and without intersymbol interference. Next, we consider coded MIMO systems. We view the coded system as a serially concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) in which the code and the multipath channel take on the roles of constituent codes. This enables us to analyze the performance using the same performance analysis tools as developed previously for SCCCs. Finally, we present an iterative ("turbo") MAP-based equalization and decoding scheme and evaluate its performance when applied to a system with transmit antennas and receive antennas. We show that by performing recursive precoding prior to transmission, significant interleaving gains can be realized compared to systems without precoding.