: We investigate the global asymptotic stability of the difference equation of the form

Abstract Built around the SMARDDA modules for magnetic field-line tracing [IEEE Tr. Plasma Sc. 42 (2014) 1932], the SMITER code package (SMARDDA for ITER) is a new graphical user interface (GUI) framework for power deposition mapping on tokamak plasma-facing components (PFC) in the full 3-D CAD geometry of the machine, taking as input a user-defined specification for parallel heat flux in the scrape-off layer (SOL) and a description of the equilibrium magnetic flux. The software package provides CAD model import and integration with the ITER Integrated Modelling and Analysis Suite (IMAS), parametric CAD components catalogue and modelling, CAD de-featuring for PFC surface extraction, meshing, visualization (using an integrated ParaView module), Python scripting and batch processing, storage in hierarchical data files, with several simulation cases in one study running in parallel and using message passing interface (MPI) for code speed-up. An integrated ParaView module can combine CAD geometry, magnetic field equilibrium, meshes and results for detailed setup analysis and a module is under development for full finite element computation of surface temperatures resulting from the power deposition patterns on 3-D PFCs. The code package has been developed for ITER, but can be deployed for similar modelling of any tokamak. This paper presents and discusses key features of this field-line tracing environment, demonstrates benchmarking against existing field-line tracing code and provides specific examples of power deposition mapping in ITER for different plasma configurations.

Background: The femur is supplied princially by the diaphyseal nutrient artery which enters the bone throught the nutrient foramen. This supply is essential during the growing period, the early phases of ossification, and in different surgical procedures. The aim of present study was to examine the morphology and topography of the femur nutrient foramen to provide detalied data on such features.Methods: This was a cross-sectional-descriptive study in which we observed 50 femurs. We analysed the number and location of nutrient foramina, the length of the bone, the position of the nutrient foramen regarding to values of FI, correlation between number of nutrient foramen and length of femur, correlation between position of nutrient foramen and side of extremity to which femur belongs.Results: The double foramina were common in right (57.1%) and left (42.1%) femur, mostly located in medial lip of aspera line in right (64.3%) and on the lateral lip in left femur (68.4%), with statistically significant correlation, χ = 4.85; p = 0.03, p <0.05.  The foramina in left (89.5%) and right (96.4%) femur were commonly observed at their middle third, with no statistically significant correlation between position of foramen accordingly to Foraminal Index value and side of extremity on which femur belongs (p=0.56; p>0.05). There is positive correlation between length of right and left femur and number of foramina.Conclusions: The study provides data of the nutrient foramina on femur, which is helpful for clinicians to help preserve bone vascularization during surgery.

Tobacco consumption continues to be behavior engaged in by a large percentage of Bosnia&Herzegovina (BiH) citizens. According to the official statistics, nearly half of the state’s adults, that is about 1,200,600 people, consume tobacco product on a daily bases. The state excise policy is one of the main available tool for reducing smoking prevalence because the cigarette prices are under direct impact of this policy. The specific excise on cigarettes introduced in BiH in 2009 and have increased every year so it was the main driver of cigarettes price growth. In order to provide research-based evidence for more effective tobacco taxation policies in BIH, in this paper we estimate price elasticity of demand for cigarettes using the macro level data for the period 2008 to 2017, on a semi-annual basis. The results have shown that increase in prices of cigarettes have statistically significant impact on cigarettes consumption, at significance level of 1%. The estimated price elasticity coefficient is in the range from -0.71 to -0.83, depends on the selected control variables used in the model. It means that increase in real cigarettes prices for 10% led to the decrease in cigarettes consumption in the range from 7.1% to 8.3%.

Graphs are irregular structures which naturally account for data integrity, however, traditional approaches have been established outside Signal Processing, and largely focus on analyzing the underlying graphs rather than signals on graphs. Given the rapidly increasing availability of multisensor and multinode measurements, likely recorded on irregular or ad-hoc grids, it would be extremely advantageous to analyze such structured data as graph signals and thus benefit from the ability of graphs to incorporate spatial awareness of the sensing locations, sensor importance, and local versus global sensor association. The aim of this lecture note is therefore to establish a common language between graph signals, defined on irregular signal domains, and some of the most fundamental paradigms in DSP, such as spectral analysis of multichannel signals, system transfer function, digital filter design, parameter estimation, and optimal filter design. This is achieved through a physically meaningful and intuitive real-world example of geographically distributed multisensor temperature estimation. A similar spatial multisensor arrangement is already widely used in Signal Processing curricula to introduce minimum variance estimators and Kalman filters \cite{HM}, and by adopting this framework we facilitate a seamless integration of graph theory into the curriculum of existing DSP courses. By bridging the gap between standard approaches and graph signal processing, we also show that standard methods can be thought of as special cases of their graph counterparts, evaluated on linear graphs. It is hoped that our approach would not only help to demystify graph theoretic approaches in education and research but it would also empower practitioners to explore a whole host of otherwise prohibitive modern applications.

In this paper, the stress and strain analysis of common laminated wood seat shell is performed. Experimental stiffness evaluation is conducted by measuring displacement of the point on the backrest, and experimental stress analysis is carried out by tensometric measuring at the critical transition area from the seat to the backrest. Finite element analysis is carried out layer by layer with a “2D linear elastic model” for orthotropic materials. Good matching is found between numerical and experimental results of displacement. It is also shown that the results of the principal stress in the measurement points of the seat shell compare favourably with experimental data. The applied in-plane stress analysis of each individual veneer is not applicable for interlaminar stress calculations that are a significant factor in curved forms of laminated wood. Curved forms of laminated wood products require more complex numerical analysis, but the method can be used to achieve approximate data in early phase of product design.

One of the first tasks in engineering embedded systems is the selection of the hardware; more specifically, the MicroController Units (MCUs). This selection is driven by business, technical, organizational, and legal constraints. Often, the hardware is delivered together with proprietary environments in which the software to be deployed has to be developed. This imposes architecturally significant constraints that are usually communicated inappropriately (in terms of time and format) to the engineering team. Examples are the usage of proprietary data types and programming language constructs (e.g., macros in C) and limitations to the reuse of existing software assets. To overcome this challenge, we propose an approach that has two main constituents: (i) the Embedded System Checklist, which aims at guiding the selection of MCUs according to the architecture constraints; and (ii) the Embedded System ESDT Dependency (SED) Architecture View, which connects the software design view with the technical view, describing hardware-related development environment limitations and their influences on the software architecture. We evaluated the application of these concepts in two industrial projects and show that making these dependencies transparent saves a lot of effort during software system development.

This paper aims to evaluate the trilateral relations between Turkey, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the course of a proper evaluation of the growing dynamics of diplomatic relations between these three countries, it is important to assess relations at the presidential and ministerial levels. The research analyzes official statements, declarations, and agreements that envision the tripartite mechanism. Besides putting these official statements, declarations, and agreements into perspective, the research aims to assess the major implications, activities, and results of trilateral relations. It is significant to determine to what extent trilateral relations affect diplomatic relations, regional stability, regional cooperation, tourism, trade, and economic relations. This paper also aims to put the trilateral relations into perspective by explaining constructive and proactive Turkish foreign policy in the Balkans.

Objective: We present a 17-year-old boy with an incidentally diagnosed left adrenal ganglioneuroma during the diagnostic workup of alopecia areata. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Laboratory investigations revealed vitamin D deficiency. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and ganglioneuroma was confirmed histologically. At follow-up, the vitamin D supplements improved the vitamin D levels followed by a gradual regression of alopecia areata. However, it recurred 18 months later despite the normal levels of serum vitamin D and no tumor recurrence. Conclusion: Further studies should reveal the relationship between alopecia areata and ganglioneuroma as well as the role of vitamin D in alopecia areata.