Multi-satellite altimetry and GOCE geoid based surface and subsurface currents in the Mediterranean Sea

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Discrete Frequency Selection of Frame-Based Stochastic Real-Time Tasks

Energy-efficient real-time task scheduling has been actively explored in the past decade. Different from the past work, this paper considers schedulability conditions for stochastic real-time tasks. A schedulability condition is first presented for frame-based stochastic real-time tasks, and several algorithms are also examined to check the schedulability of a given strategy. An approach is then proposed based on the schedulability condition to adapt a continuous-speed-based method to a discrete-speed system. The approach is able to stay as close as possible to the continuous-speed-based method, but still guaranteeing the schedulability. It is shown by simulations that the energy saving can be more than 20% for some system configurationsComment: 10 page

Down-regulation of Survivin enhances sensitivity to BPR0L075 in human cancer cells via caspase-independent mechanisms

Background: BPR0L075 [6-methoxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-1H-indole] is a novel anti-cancer compound. It inhibits tubulin polymerization and induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in various human cancer cells with different multi-drug resistance (MDR) status. Over-expression of an anti-apoptotic molecule, survivin, causes drug-resistance in various cancers. Survivin inhibits apoptosis by interfering caspase-3 and promotes cell growth by stabilizing microtubule networks. Here, we determined the effects of down-regulation of survivin in BPR0L075 (L075) treatment. Methods: Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression level of survivin in L075-untreated/-treated human oral carcinoma KB and nasopharyngeal carcinoma HONE-1 cancer cells. siRNA was used to down-regulate endogenous survivin. MTT cell viability assay, real-time caspase-3 activity assay and immuno-fluorescence microscopy were used to analyze downstream effects. Results: Survivin expression was up-regulated in both KB and HONE-1 cells in response to L075 treatment. Down-regulation of survivin induced hyper-sensitivity to L075 in KB and re-stored sensitivity to L075 in KB-derived L075-resistant KB-L30 cancer cells. At the molecular level, down-regulation of survivin induced changes in microtubule dynamics in both KB and KB-L30 cells. Surprisingly, down-regulation of survivin did not enhance the activity of caspase-3 in L075 therapy. Instead, down-regulation of survivin induced translocation of the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from cytoplasm to nucleus. Conclusion: Down-regulation of survivin improved drug sensitivity to L075 in both KB and L075-resistant KB-L30 cancer cells, possibly through a tubulin-dependent and caspase-independent mechanism. We suggest that combining BPR0L075 and survivin inhibitor may give better clinical outcome than the use of BPR0L075 monotherapy in future clinical trials

Constructing Employability Indicators for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Engineering Education for the Solar Industry

The aim of this research is to establish a set of employability indicators that capture the competency requirements and performance expectations that solar energy enterprises have of their employees. In the qualitative component of the study, 12 administrators and 32 engineers in the industry were interviewed, and meetings with focus groups were conducted to formulate a questionnaire for a survey of Taiwanese solar energy companies for the confirmation and prioritisation of the employability indicators. On the basis of the results of the quantitative component, an interpretational model relating competence, job performance, working attitude, and employability for solar corporation recruitment and training purposes as well as for school curricular development was developed. The interpretation model formulated effectively interprets the relationship between solar enterprises’ expectations and students’ employability. The research contributes a framework for the selection and cultivation of talent, as well as providing a basis for fundamental development of the solar engineering curriculum

"An Econometric Analysis of SARS and Avian Flu on International Tourist Arrivals to Asia"

This paper compares the impacts of SARS and human deaths arising from Avian Flu on international tourist arrivals to Asia. The effects of SARS and human deaths from Avian Flu will be compared directly according to human deaths. The nature of the short run and long run relationship is examined empirically by estimating a static line fixed effect model and a difference transformation dynamic model, respectively. Empirical results from the static fixed effect and difference transformation dynamic models are consistent, and indicate that both the short run and long run SARS effect have a more significant impact on international tourist arrivals than does Avian Flu. In addition, the effects of deaths arising from both SARS and Avian Flu suggest that SARS is more important to international tourist arrivals than is Avian Flu. Thus, while Avian Flu is here to stay, its effect is currently not as significant as that of SARS.

Analysis of Trade Patterns and Duration: Evidence from Food Industry in the OECD countries

This study conducts Kaplan-Meier survival estimates on food trade patterns among the OECD countries and explores whether different survival conditions exist in different t rade patterns of food sub-industries. By applying the extended Cox proportional hazard model, this study examines the effects of consumption on the survival rate for horizontal intra-industry trade pattern at the SITC four-digits level. Our findings show an important policy implication that the stability of horizontal intra-industry trade on the survival duration is driven by consumption in food industry among the OECD countries. Therefore, we suggest that policies should encourage the support of the horizontal intra-industry trade within the food industry to avoid unstable durations of trade in the global supply chain caused by the severe employment adjustments associated with traditional comparative advantage

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TIBIA ANGLES TO LOADING OF KNEE DURING SPLIT SQUAT

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of knee joint force and moment during split squats of different front tibia angles. Twelve healthy male college students performed six repetitions of four different split squat types with a standard additional load of 25% BW added using a barbell. Using 10 camera 3D motion capture system and a force plate to collect data. The peak force and moment of knee flexion (sagittal plane) were calculated by using self-designed MATLAB programs. One-way ANOVA test was undertaken using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The analysis results of the study indicated that all kinetic parameters of the four types split squats were achieved high significant differences (p less than .000). A better understanding of different loading in specific joints and correct exercise execution during training will help protecting practitioners from sport injury

Bus route design with limited travel time

Routing problems are especially important for public transport and especially for urban transport. This research deals with designing a bus route to satisfy the demands of most passengers within a limited total bus travel time. A Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm is proposed for optimizing the routing design. Before applying the proposed SA algorithm, the Taguchi method is adopted for optimizing the setting of parameters. The experimental results show that the proposed SA algorithm with the optimal parameters setting results in better routes than those designed by other research methods