Introduction Humans first peopled the North American Arctic (northern Alaska, Canada, and Greenland) around 6000 years ago, leaving behind a complex archaeological record that consisted of different cultural units and distinct ways of life, including the Early Paleo-Eskimos (Pre-Dorset/Saqqaq), the Late Paleo-Eskimos (Early Dorset, Middle Dorset, and Late Dorset), and the Thule cultures. Genetic origins of Paleo-Eskimos and Neo-Eskimos. All Paleo-Eskimos represent a single migration pulse from Siberia into the Americas, independent of the Neo-Eskimo Thule people (ancestors of modern-day Inuit) and the related extinct Sadlermiut population. The Siberian Birnirk people were likely cultural and genetic ancestors of modern-day Inuit. We also show ancient admixture between the Paleo- and Neo-Eskimo lineages, occurring at least 4000 years ago. Rationale We addressed the genetic origins and relationships of the various New World Arctic cultures to each other and to modern-day populations in the region. We obtained 26 genome-wide sequences and 169 mitochondrial DNA sequences from ancient human bone, teeth, and hair samples from Arctic Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, and high-coverage genomes of two present-day Greenlandic Inuit, two Siberian Nivkhs, one Aleutian Islander, and two Athabascan Native Americans. Twenty-seven ancient samples were radiocarbon dated for accurate cultural assignment, of which 25 were corrected for marine reservoir effect to account for the dominant marine component in these individuals' diets. Results Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA data unequivocally show that the Paleo-Eskimos are closer to each other than to any other present-day population. The Thule culture represents a distinct people that are genetic and cultural ancestors of modern-day Inuit. We additionally find the Siberian Birnirk culture (6th to 7th century CE) as likely cultural and genetic ancestors of the Thule. The extinct Sadlermiut people from the Hudson Bay region (15th to 19th century CE), considered to be Dorset remnants, are genetically closely related to Thule/Inuit, rather than the Paleo-Eskimos. Moreover, there is no evidence of matrilineal gene flow between Dorset or Thule groups with neighboring Norse (Vikings) populations settling in the Arctic around 1000 years ago. However, we do detect gene flow between the Paleo-Eskimo and Neo-Eskimo lineages, dating back to at least 4000 years. Conclusion Our study has a number of important implications: Paleo-Eskimos likely represent a single migration pulse into the Americas from Siberia, separate from the ones giving rise to the Inuit and other Native Americans, including Athabascan speakers. Paleo-Eskimos, despite showing cultural differences across time and space, constituted a single population displaying genetic continuity for more than 4000 years. On the contrary, the Thule people, ancestors of contemporary Inuit, represent a population replacement of the Paleo-Eskimos that occurred less than 700 years ago. The long-term genetic continuity of the Paleo-Eskimo gene pool and lack of evidence of Native American admixture suggest that the Saqqaq and Dorset people were largely living in genetic isolation after entering the New World. Thus, the Paleo-Eskimo technological innovations and changes through time, as evident from the archaeological record, seem to have occurred solely by movement of ideas within a single resident population. This suggests that cultural similarities and differences are not solid proxies for population movements and migrations into new and dramatically different environments, as is often assumed. Arctic genetics comes in from the cold Despite a well-characterized archaeological record, the genetics of the people who inhabit the Arctic have been unexplored. Raghavan et al. sequenced ancient and modern genomes of individuals from the North American Arctic (see the Perspective by Park). Analyses of these genomes indicate that the Arctic was colonized 6000 years ago by a migration separate from the one that gave rise to other Native American populations. Furthermore, the original paleo-inhabitants of the Arctic appear to have been completely replaced approximately 700 years ago. Science, this issue 10.1126/science.1255832; see also p. 1004 Early Arctic humans differed from both present-day Inuit and Native Americans. [Also see Perspective by Park] The New World Arctic, the last region of the Americas to be populated by humans, has a relatively well-researched archaeology, but an understanding of its genetic history is lacking. We present genome-wide sequence data from ancient and present-day humans from Greenland, Arctic Canada, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Siberia. We show that Paleo-Eskimos (~3000 BCE to 1300 CE) represent a migration pulse into the Americas independent of both Native American and Inuit expansions. Furthermore, the genetic continuity characterizing the Paleo-Eskimo period was interrupted by the arrival of a new population, representing the ancestors of present-day Inuit, with evidence of past gene flow between these lineages. Despite periodic abandonment of major Arctic regions, a single Paleo-Eskimo metapopulation likely survived in near-isolation for more than 4000 years, only to vanish around 700 years ago.


The aim of this research is to identify the motives and the benefits that the experience of seeking for natural materials offers to crafters. This experience has been considered as an interaction between the erson, the crafter in this case, the process of seeking for materials and the place where materils exist. Through a phenomenological perspective, six semi-structured interviews were conducted with crafters who seek for natural materials outdoors themselves. The data driven thematic analysis of these interviews revealed five main subject-themes rising as answers to my questions: 1) the social influence, 2) the materials' natural characteristics and attributes, 3)the active role of the crafter in this process, 4) the emotions involved in it, and 5) the level of independence both economically and in process control.


A graphical process control language has been developed as a means of defining process control software. The user configures a block diagram describing the required control system, from a menu of functional blocks, using a graphics software system with graphics terminal. Additions may be made to the menu of functional blocks, to extend the system capability, and a group of blocks may be defined as a composite block. This latter feature provides for segmentation of the overall system diagram and the repeated use of the same group of blocks within the system. The completed diagram is analyzed by a graphics compiler which generates the programs and data structure to realise the run-time software. The run-time software has been designed as a data-driven system which allows for modifications at the run-time level in both parameters and system configuration. Data structures have been specified to ensure efficient execution and minimal storage requirements in the final control software. Machine independence has been accomodated as far as possible using CORAL 66 as the high level language throughout the entire system; the final run-time code being generated by a CORAL 66 compiler appropriate to the target processor.


An × 86 standard operating system compliant System-on-Chip (SoC) with a dual core ATOM processor and a custom interconnect fabric to enable modular design is presented. The 32 nm SoC includes integrated PCI-e Gen 2, DDR3, legacy I/O, voltage regulators, clock generation, power management, memory controller and RF portion of a WiFi transceiver in a 32 nm high-k/metal-gate RF CMOS process with high resistivity substrate. The integrated RF transceiver for 2.4 GHz 802.11g operation achieves a receive sensitivity of -74 dBm, -8 dBm IIP3 and a transmit output power of 20.3 dBm (-25 dB EVM) at 14% TX RF efficiency.


Heavily revised and updated with the latest data from the field, the Seventh Edition of Concepts of Athletic Training focuses on the care and management of sport and activity related injuries while presenting key concepts in a comprehensive, logically sequential manner that will assist future professionals in making the correct decisions when confronted with an activity-related injury or illness in their scope of practice. New to the Seventh Edition: - An extensively revised and rewritten Chapter 3, The Law of Sports Injury, includes new material on the ethics of sports-injury care and the role of the athletic trainer in risk assessment and liability - Chapter 4, Sports-Injury Prevention, provides new material on training benefits of anaerobic fitness - Chapter 7, Emergency Plan and Initial Injury Evaluation, includes an expanded section on the assessment of the injured athlete's physical exam that urges coaches to collect as much information about the injury, as well as the health history of the athlete. - Chapter 13, Injuries to the Thorax and Abdomen, contains new sections on muscle strains and cardiac defects Key Features include: - New and revised What if? scenarios encourage students to work on critical decsion-making skills, alone or in a group setting with role-playing activities - Time Out boxes provide additional information related to the text, such as NATA Athletic Helmet Removal Guidelines, how to recognize the signs of concusiion, and first aid for epilepsy - Athletic Trainers Speak Out boxes feature a different athletic trainer in every chapter who discusses an element of athlete care and injury prevention - Anatomy Reviews introduce body parts to students unfamiliar with human anatomy and acts as a refresher for those students with some anatomy background


Microfaunal assemblages of benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and tintinnids from two marine sediment cores retrieved from the Herschel Basin of the Canadian Beaufort Sea shelf document relationships with environmental parameters such as salinity, sea-ice cover, and turbulence. Cores YC18-HB-GC01 and PG2303-1 were collected at 18 and 32 m water depth, respectively. At these sites, sediment accumulation rates range between 0.6 and 1.7 cm yr–1 allowing a near-annual temporal resolution over the last 50 years. Multivariate analyses indicate that benthic foraminiferal assemblages respond primarily to food supply. Dissimilarities between the microfaunal assemblages of the two cores are mainly the result of bottom water salinity levels linked to water depth. High abundance of the benthic foraminiferal species Elphidium clavatum and occurrences of Elphidium bartletti point to varying, but relatively low, salinities at the shallow core site YC18-HB-GC01, which may be affected by variations in the summer halocline depth. Higher species diversity and more abundant Cassidulina reniforme and Stainforthia feylingi characterize the deeper core PG2303-1, which might reflect more stable conditions and higher bottom-water salinities throughout the studied time interval. The most important microfaunal shift of the last 50 years, observed in the shallower longer core YC18-HB-GC01, occurred at the turn of the 21st century. Prior to ∼2000 CE, the presence of Islandiella norcrossi indicates more stable and saline conditions. Since ∼2000 CE, increased abundances of Haynesina nivea and of the ciliate Tintinnopsis fimbriata suggest decreased salinity and increased turbidity. An increased abundance of Eoeponidella pulchella after ∼2000 CE suggests a concurrent increase in productivity in the last two decades. This shift is nearly synchronous with a decrease in mean summer sea-ice concentration, which can play an important role in bottom water stability on the shelf. Easterly winds can induce a reduction in the sea-ice cover, but also foster a westward spreading of the Mackenzie River plume and the upwelling of nutrient-rich Pacific waters onto the shelf. Both factors would explain the increased freshening and productivity of the Herschel Basin. The last two decades were also marked by a decrease in ostracod abundance that may relate to higher water turbidity. This study shows that combining information from benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and tintinnids provides a comprehensive insight into recent hydrographic/climatic changes in nearshore Arctic habitats, where productivity is critical for the food security of local communities.


The phenolic composition in the flesh and peel of 19 advanced apple breeding lines and cultivars to be released for fresh market and processing was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total phenolic content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) method and total antioxidant capacity using ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) were also determined. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of several sub-classes of phenolics: proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamate acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and dihydrochalcones. The profile of phenolic compounds varied among the 19 tested genotypes and the peel showed higher concentrations than the flesh. Proanthocyanidins were the most predominant sub-class in both flesh and peel and contributed 49.7% and 48.7% of the total phenolic index (TPI), respectively. Flavonols were not found in the flesh, except quercetin 3-rhamnoside, which was detected in almost all tested genotypes. In contrast to all other genotypes, flavan-3-ols were not detectable in the flesh of 'Eden'. Cyanidin glycosides were exclusively found in the peel, except for 'Floribunda Rosea', which contains in both peel and flesh. 'Floribunda Rosea' was found to possess the highest concentrations of polyphenols and TAC, whereas 'Eden' had the lowest. The significant variation in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), TPI and TPC indicates the potential use of some new cultivars and advanced lines as parents in breeding programs targeted towards developing superior apple genotypes with higher levels of antioxidants.


This thesis considers the archaeological evidence for early settlement in Upper Teesdale from its beginnings in the early mesolithic up to the Norman conquest. The area is defined as the valley of the river Tees and its tributaries from watershed to watershed between Cross Fell in the west and Middleton in Teesdale to the east. A preliminary chapter presents background information including the geology and climate of the area which affected early settlement. The archaeological material is dealt with chronologically, a separate chapter being devoted to each period. Each chapter considers the available evidence for settlement derived from strayfinds, pollen analysis, excavation and field survey. Mining of lead and iron is given a separate chapter as also is farming practice. The thesis is concluded by a chapter summarising the results of the study. There are gazetteers of strayfinds, archaeological sites and industrial sites. There is evidence for early mesolithic presence in Upper Teesdale and also for later mesolithic woodland clearance. Pollen analysis and finds of axes show that this process continued during the neolithic and though no site has so far been identified these probably exist beneath blanket peat. Clearance was intensified in the early bronze age and extensive field systems occupy much of the south bank of the valley between 105m and 457m. During the later prehistoric settlement appears to have moved downhill and Roman-British sites are usually at or below 305m. The post-Roman forest regeneration found in the north-east does not seem to have occurred in Teesdale and there seems to be little change in the settlement pattern until after the Norman conquest. Interestingly almost all the evidence for early settlement is derived from the south side of the valley while mediaeval and modern settlements occupy the north bank.


Salinization in coastal regions of Bangladesh challenges sustainable development of different sectors like agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock, and health. Particularly its southwest region largely faces increased salinity risks because of its geographical location and environmental settings. This study analyzes the causes of salinity increase, their cascading impacts on different coastal systems, and their livelihood implications, and assesses potential coping measures through innovative adaptation pathways for the most affected coastal systems. These pathways integrate bottom-up and top-down perceptions in adaptation planning through a driver-pressure-state-impact-response framework, multicriteria analysis, and adaptation turning point approaches. We surveyed 200 households and interviewed 20 key informants. We observed that household-level respondents' perceptions are more closely related to socioeconomic aspects than to the biophysical environmental aspects and focus on issue-based action. However, the key informants focus more on the biophysical changes and the large-scale measures. The developed framework shows that salinity increase is an interconnected process of climatic-social-ecological-economic systems in the coastal environment. It also shows that responses already taken, i.e., polders and shrimp farming, to cope with salinization have later become pressures, i.e., riverbed siltation, waterlogging, and intensive salinization, on the systems. In total, we identified six interconnected causes of salinity increase and 24 potential measures to address them. Also we distinguished three coastal systems, i.e., crop-agriculture, drinking water sources, and the Sundarbans mangrove, most affected by salinity increase. Finally we proposed 16 adaptation pathways for these coastal systems based on the multicriteria analysis and adaptation turning points of the potential measures.


We present an overview and discussion of the Colloquium «Narrative, Media and Cognition», which took place at Porto's Centre of Catholic University of Portugal in July of 2015, under the organization of the Research Centre for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR). Several scholars of different areas presented research about the uses and advances in narrative study and practice in a broad range of areas, giving some important insights about the latest developments in Narrative Studies, Ontology of Narrative and the uses of Narrative in Art, Cinema, Performance, Journalism, Marketing and Literature, among other fields. After briefly describing the main points of each presentation in the Colloquium we try to draw some conclusions and possibilities raised by the Colloquium and take a glimpse of future paths that the use of Narrative can end up taking.


Abstract The ability to quickly detect transient sources in optical images and trigger multi-wavelength follow up is key for the discovery of fast transients. These include events rare and difficult to detect such as kilonovae, supernova shock breakout, and 'orphan' Gamma-ray Burst afterglows. We present the Mary pipeline, a (mostly) automated tool to discover transients during high-cadenced observations with the Dark Energy Camera at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). The observations are part of the 'Deeper Wider Faster' programme, a multi-facility, multi-wavelength programme designed to discover fast transients, including counterparts to Fast Radio Bursts and gravitational waves. Our tests of the Mary pipeline on Dark Energy Camera images return a false positive rate of ~2.2% and a missed fraction of ~3.4% obtained in less than 2 min, which proves the pipeline to be suitable for rapid and high-quality transient searches. The pipeline can be adapted to search for transients in data obtained with imagers other than Dark Energy Camera.


By deploying the concepts of the international society and the international community this article constructs and defends an explanatory framework that enables us to better understand the complex international political and legal structure of the contemporary world order and better explain why violations of international peace and security occur. The international community describes an association of liberal states that has formed within the politically pluralist international society of sovereign states since the end of the Cold War and which considers only those states that exhibit respect for liberal values as legitimate. Moreover, it argues that the international community has demonstrated a tendency to deny non-liberal states their previously held sovereign right to non-intervention and has instituted a global campaign for their liberal reformation. The existence of the international community is evidenced by reference to the practice of liberal states vis-a-vis non-liberal states since the end of the Cold War and particular attention is paid to the reaction of the international community to the overthrow of the democratic regimes in Honduras and the Ivory Coast and the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations in Libya and Syria. In light of these developments, this article assesses the impact of the international community upon international law and suggests that international law is being reformulated in order to construct a liberal international law that allows for the effective promotion of liberal values.


A multidimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is presented for signals with arbitrary symmetries and periodic on arbitrary lattices. Applications that can benefit from such an algorithm include Volterra filtering and analysis of x-ray diffraction data. The presented algorithm exploits signal redundancy to achieve a computational complexity of N log N, where N is the number of independent samples. To the authors' knowledge, this is the only FFT that makes the frequency domain computation of Volterra filtering more convenient than the time domain approach.


Since 1999, nine (9) irrigation districts in the Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy and Maverick Counties have installed nine (9) different types of synthetic canal lining materials, totaling approximately 26 miles. In 2005, we began a program to track the long‐term effectiveness and durability of these lining projects and to document the damage caused by such factors as weather, animals, intentional and unintentional vandalism, and normal irrigation district operation and maintenance activities. We visually inspected each project and documented any changes using a lining evaluation form which we developed. For analysis purposes, we grouped all the projects into two general categories: liners with a protective barrier, and liners without a protective barrier. The projects with a protective barrier performed very well. The synthetic liner significantly reduces seepage, while the shotcrete layer protects the liner from damage. This lining system needs little to no maintenance. There were two types of liners used: PVC and polyester. Each performed equally as well. The performance of synthetic liners without a protective barrier varied dramatically. One important factor was the location of the project. Liners located in high traffic areas (people and animals) showed significantly more damage than those installed in remote areas. Damage caused by mowing and canal cleaning operations was common. Liners carelessly or improperly installed were more susceptible to damage. For example, the smoothness and stability of the material underneath the liner, and the shrinking properties of some liners must be taken into consideration. The PVC Alloy is the toughest material, is more difficult to cut and less likely to be damaged by unintentional vandalism. Nevertheless, its high shrinking tendency needs to be taken into consideration at installation. The reinforced rubber liners installed in 2009 have performed very well over the past two years. Additional details are provided in this report, along with considerations when planning a lining project. A summary of the factors that appear to have highest impact on the liner performance is given in Table A-5.


This paper proposes a design based research (DBR) framework for designing mobile virtual reality learning environments. The application of the framework is illustrated by two design-based research projects that aim to develop more authentic educational experiences and learner-centred pedagogies in higher education. The projects highlight the first two phases of the DBR framework, involving the exploration of mobile virtual reality (VR) to enhance the learning environment, and the design of prototype solutions for the different contexts. The design of the projects is guided by a set of design principles identified from the literature.


Communication systems leverage the respective strengths of optics and electronics to convey high-bandwidth signals over great distances. These systems were enabled by a revolution in low-optical-loss dielectric fiber, complex integrated circuits as well as devices that link together the optical and electrical worlds. Today, another revolution is leveraging the advantages of optics and electronics in new ways. At its center is the laser frequency comb which provides a coherent link between these two worlds. Significantly, because the link is also bidirectional, performance attributes previously unique to electronics and optics can be shared. The end result has been transformative for time keeping, frequency metrology, precision spectroscopy, microwave-generation, ranging and other technologies. Even more recently, low-optical-loss dielectrics, now in the form of high-Q optical resonators, are enabling the miniaturization of frequency combs. These new (microcombs) can be integrated with electronics and other optical components to potentially create systems on-a-chip. I will briefly overview the history and elements of frequency combs as well as the physics of the new microcombs. Application of the microcombs for spectroscopy and LIDAR will be discussed. Finally, efforts underway to develop integrated optical clocks and integrated optical frequency synthesizers using the microcomb element are described.


After iron, zinc is the most abundant essential trace metal. Intracellular zinc ([Zn]i) is maintained across a wide range of cells and species in a tight quota (100 to 500 μM) by a dynamic process of transport, intracellular vesicular storage, and binding to a large number of proteins (estimated at 3-10% of human proteome). As such, zinc is an integral component of numerous metalloenzymes, structural proteins, and transcription factors. It is generally assumed that a vanishingly small component of [Zn]i referred to as free or labile zinc, and operationally defined as the pool sensitive to chelation (by agents such as N, N, N', N'-tetrakis [2-pyridylmethyl] ethylenediamine [TPEN]) and capable of detection by a variety of chemical and genetic sensors, participates in signal transduction pathways. Zinc deficiencies, per se, can arise from acquired (malnutrition, alcoholism) or genetic (mutations in molecules affecting zinc homeostasis, the informative and first example being acrodermatitis enteropathica) factors or as a component of various diseases (e.g., sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, sepsis). Hypozincemia has profound effects on developing humans, and all facets of physiological function (neuronal, endocrine, immunological) are affected, although considerably less is known regarding cardiovascular pathophysiology. In this review, we provide an update on current knowledge of molecular and cellular aspects of zinc homeostasis and then focus on implications of zinc signaling in pulmonary endothelium as it relates to programmed cell death, altered contractility, and septic and aseptic injury to this segment of the lung.


In September 2010, a Bulletin article set out the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's role and responsibilities with regard to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 ("the Act"). It briefly explained the regulatory and supervisory framework established by the Act, discussed the Reserve Bank's risk -based approach in this context and outlined some of the major areas of work to be undertaken to develop and implement the Reserve Bank's supervisory framework. This article updates material that has been published since that article and provides further detail on the Reserve Bank's proposed supervisory approach.


BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be treated using a maze procedure during planned cardiac surgery, but the effect on clinical patient outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness compared with surgery alone, are uncertain.

OBJECTIVES
To determine whether or not the maze procedure is safe, improves clinical and patient outcomes and is cost-effective for the NHS in patients with AF.

DESIGN
Multicentre, Phase III, pragmatic, double-blind, parallel-arm randomised controlled trial. Patients were randomised on a 1 : 1 basis using random permuted blocks, stratified for surgeon and planned procedure.

SETTING
Eleven acute NHS specialist cardiac surgical centres.

PARTICIPANTS
Patients aged ≥ 18 years, scheduled for elective or in-house urgent cardiac surgery, with a documented history (> 3 months) of AF.

INTERVENTIONS
Routine cardiac surgery with or without an adjunct maze procedure administered by an AF ablation device.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcomes were return to sinus rhythm (SR) at 12 months and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) over 2 years after randomisation. Secondary outcomes included return to SR at 2 years, overall and stroke-free survival, drug use, quality of life (QoL), cost-effectiveness and safety.

RESULTS
Between 25 February 2009 and 6 March 2014, 352 patients were randomised to the control (n = 176) or experimental (n = 176) arms. The odds ratio (OR) for return to SR at 12 months was 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20 to 3.54; p = 0.0091]. The mean difference (95% CI) in QALYs at 2 years between the two trial arms (maze/control) was -0.025 (95% CI 0.129 to 0.078; p = 0.6319). The OR for SR at 2 years was 3.24 (95% CI 1.76 to 5.96). The number of patients requiring anticoagulant drug use was significantly lower in the maze arm from 6 months after the procedure. There were no significant differences between the two arms in operative or overall survival, stroke-free survival, need for cardioversion or permanent pacemaker implants, New York Heart Association Functional Classification (for heart failure), EuroQol-5 Dimensions, three-level version score and Short Form questionnaire-36 items score at any time point. Sixty per cent of patients in each trial arm had a serious adverse event (p = 1.000); most events were mild, but 71 patients (42.5%) in the maze arm and 84 patients (45.5%) in the control arm had moderately severe events; 31 patients (18.6%) in the maze arm and 38 patients (20.5%) in the control arm had severe events. The mean additional cost of the maze procedure was £3533 (95% CI £1321 to £5746); the mean difference in QALYs was -0.022 (95% CI -0.1231 to 0.0791). The maze procedure was not cost-effective at £30,000 per QALY over 2 years in any analysis. In a small substudy, the active left atrial ejection fraction was smaller than that of the control patients (mean difference of -8.03, 95% CI -12.43 to -3.62), but within the predefined clinically equivalent range.

LIMITATIONS
Low recruitment, early release of trial summaries and intermittent resource-use collection may have introduced bias and imprecise estimates.

CONCLUSIONS
Ablation can be practised safely in routine NHS cardiac surgical settings and increases return to SR rates, but not survival or QoL up to 2 years after surgery. Lower anticoagulant drug use and recovery of left atrial function support anticoagulant drug withdrawal provided that good atrial function is confirmed.

FURTHER WORK
Continued follow-up and long-term clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analysis. Comparison of ablation methods.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN82731440.

FUNDING
This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 19. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.


In line with Talmy's typology of lexicalisation patterns (1985, 2000), languages differ in the way they express the semantic constituents of motion events into surface elements. English and Arabic motion constructions differ in whether [path] of motion is expressed on a verb, or by a separate particle. Acquisition of the expression of [path] is expected to cause difficulty for second language learners.
In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis in minimalist approaches to L2 acquisition on the importance of the lexicon in accounts of syntactic variation across languages as explained by the feature-based contrastive analysis. This study extends the view of feature reassembly articulated by Lardiere (2000, 2005, 2008, 2009) into the realm of motion events in Arabic and English context following this line of research carried out by Stringer (2012) in the area of spatial morphology.
Within the Feature Reassembly approach, Lardiere (2008, 2009) argues that reassembling features that are represented in one way in the first language and mapping them into different lexical items in the L2 will present a greater difficulty. Data collected from a total of 120 participants (60 Arabic learners of English, 20 English learners of Arabic and two control groups of 20 native speakers of Arabic and English), who successfully completed acceptability judgment and animation description tasks, corroborate this postulation. The results strongly suggest that meanings that are encoded differently in the L2 from the L1 are the most challenging, whilst those which are comparable to their L1 representations present less difficulty. On the basis of the learners' developmental patterns observed in this particular study, I argue that feature reassembly appears to be a significant factor in second language development. This study also supports Stringer's (2012) conclusions that L2 development in this realm is not connected to simple parameter resetting, but to mastery of lexicons.


The low quality of education is a persistent problem in many developed countries. Parallel to in the last decades exists a tendency towards decentralization in many developed and developing countries. Using micro data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) referred to 22 countries, we test whether there exists an impact of fiscal and political decentralization on student performance in the areas of mathematics, reading skills and science. We observe that fiscal decentralization exerts an unequivocal positive effect on students' outcomes in all areas, while the effect of political decentralization is more ambiguous. On the one hand, the capacity of the subnational governments to rule on its region has a positive effect on students' performance in mathematics. On the other hand, the capacity to influence the country as a whole has a negative impact on mathematics achievement. As a general result, we observe that students' performance in Mathematics is more sensible to these exogenous variations than in Sciences and reading skills. Keywords: School outcomes, PISA, fiscal decentralization, political decentralization JEL codes: H11, H77, I21


Abstract The current study describes the phytochemical profile, antimicrobial, mutagenic, and antimutagenic activity of Perovskia atriplicifolia. Benth. essential oil, collected in Pakistan. The sample of essential oil was obtained from aerial parts of the plant by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. From the 18 compounds identified, the major compounds were camphor (28.91%), limonene (16.72%), α.-globulol (10.21%), trans.-caryophyllene (9.30%), and α.-humulene (9.25%). Antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated using agar diffusion method and agar dilution method. The antimicrobial test results showed that the oil had a significant potential antimicrobial activity against 10 bacteria and 5 fungal strains. Furthermore, the mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of the oil was investigated through the Salmonella./microsome test system, with and without S9 metabolic fraction in Salmonella typhimurium. TA98 and TA100. None of the tested concentrations of oil was found mutagenic. However, all tested concentrations did show an increase in antimutagenic activity with or without S9 fraction against 2-aminofluorene and daunomicina, but not sodium azide. Results presented here suggest that the essential oil of P. atriplicifolia. possesses antimicrobial properties and is therefore a potential source of antimicrobial ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industry. In addition, that it also has antimutagenic activity raises the importance of this essential oil in this area.


Higher education research highlights the difficulties students face when transitioning from a junior college to a traditional university. This study explored a gap between junior vs. traditional university students' academic self-efficacy beliefs. This study also controlled for the effects of the student role-identity and academic performance on academic self-efficacy. Results found that junior college students experienced lower academic self-efficacy beliefs despite having higher overall grade point averages. Additionally, junior college students reported that their student role-identity was less important to them compared to students at the large public university. Findings suggest that structural disadvantage at the institutional level of higher education reproduces inequalities found in society at large.


The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) uses computed satellite orbits in its geodesy program and for studies of the gravitational field and other parameters of the earth. As the accuracy of these orbits increases, so does their field of application. The measurement of temporal changes, such as continental drift or other crustal motion, is in prospect. Laser systems are providing satellite-range measurements from which orbits are computed with significantly increased accuracy. SAO uses three pulsed ruby-laser systems routinely in its worldwide network of satellite observing stations and cooperates on an international basis with other agencies who have their own systems. The 500-MW laser at Smithsonian's Mt. Hopkins Observatory in Arizona is described. This system uses currently available orbits to position the laser transmitter and receiving telescope in azimuth and altitude. The laser is pulsed at the proper epoch without the satellite's being acquired visually. The accuracy of this method of positioning, its advantages for the present application, and its future potential will be discussed.


The concept of community disaster resilience is an increasingly important discourse on environmental changes and has been under debate on international academic and policy circles over the past decade. While conceptualizing disaster resilience is increasingly seen as a significant and requisite undertaking in hazard mitigation, reduction, and planning, there exist only a few number of frameworks in the literature presenting systematic methodology and guideline for empirical measurement of the concept. In addition, the question of whether such a measurement can adequately address the ongoing or emerging needs of local stakeholders and governments remains in agenda.
To tackle this challenge, this study first intends to synthesis the needs of local stakeholders in community resilience measurement to serve both as a shared vison of resilience measurement missions and as a basis for developing a technical procedure for operationalizing community disaster resilience. Next, based on the defined needs, we propose a synthesized procedure that highlights how the needs of local stakeholders can be translated in measurement process. Finally, the developed framework is applied in order to perform a quality assessment of the 10 most well-known and related measurement frameworks.
This synthesized approach, therefore, can bridge the gap between the visions and actions in resilience measurement and provide a measurement that is need-based, proactive rather than reactive, and action-oriented. Furthermore, it can predispose local stakeholders, leaders, and planners to prioritize those actions that are needed more to build and sustain resilience. The quality assessment demonstrates in-depth information regarding the characteristics of each measurement framework, which can be used to identify weaknesses and limitations of current disaster resilience measures and to improve them where needed, in order to meet the risk preparation and planning needs of stakeholders, decision makers, and urban planners.


Abstract Electrospun nonwoven veils comprising thermoplastic fibres (average diameter 400–600 nm) based on polysulfone (PSU), polyamide (PA-6,6), and polyetherimide (PEI) have been fabricated and used as interlaminar reinforcements in carbon fibre composites containing a commercial epoxy resin (8552/IM7). Samples were tested for their interlaminar properties and improvements were observed in the initial mode I interlaminar toughness of 30% (PA-6,6), 36% (PEI), and 44% (PSU), while improvements of 7% (PSU) and 8% (PEI) were observed in the propagation of the mode I interlaminar toughness. A reduction of 11% was observed for the propagation of the mode I interlaminar toughness for PA-6,6. Post-testing analysis of the cross-section and the fracture surface revealed that the crack front avoids the reinforcement significantly for PA-6,6. For mode II, however, this failure mechanism leads to improvements of 30% in interlaminar toughness for the PA-6,6, whereas the other reinforcements display negligible (PEI) and 31% reduction (PSU) interlaminar toughness. Graphical Abstract


Digital document collections have been created with the transfer of a large number of documents to digital media. These digital archives have provided many benefits to users. As the diversity and size of digital image collections have grown exponentially, it has become increasingly important and difficult to obtain the desired image from them. The images on the document might contain critical information about the subject of it. In this study, an architecture is developed that can work on large‐scale data by creating regular expressions together with full‐text search approaches. The performance of the system has been tested on different academic documents and Elasticsearch and Apache Solr insert times are compared. Compared to Elasticsearch, Apache Solr achieved faster and more successful results.


The Spectral Hash algorithm is one of the Round 1 candidates for the SHA-3 family, and is based on spectral arithmetic over a finite field, involving multidimensional discrete Fourier transformations over a finite field, data dependent permutations, Rubic-type rotations, and affine and nonlinear functions. The underlying mathematical structures and operations pose interesting and challenging tasks for computer architects and hardware designers to create fast, efficient, and compact ASIC and FPGA realizations. In this paper, we present an efficient hardware architecture for the full 512-bit hash computation using the spectral hash algorithm. We have created a pipelined implementation on a Xilinx Virtex-4 XC4VLX200-11 FPGA which yields 100 MHz and occupies 38,328 slices, generating a throughput of 51.2 Gbps. Our fully parallel synthesized implementation shows that the spectral hash algorithm is about 100 times faster than the fastest SHA-1 implementation, while requiring only about 13 times as many logic slices.


Abstract Background Pentraxin-3 (PXT-3) and cystatin-C (Cys-C) are robustly related with central obesity and insulin resistance in prediabetes/metabolic syndrome (preDM-MetS). Materials and methods This cross-sectional study aimed to compare and correlate PXT-3 and Cys-C plasma levels in 29 normoglycemic MetS patients, 30 newly diagnosed drug naive preDM-MetS cases vs. 29 normoglycemic lean controls. Results Unlike PXT-3; Cys-C level was significantly higher in normoglycemic MetS (but not preDM-MetS) vs. healthy controls. Except for fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c; no further intergroup discrepancy could be identified between the MetS arms. Adiposity indices [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist/height ratio (WHtR), body adiposity index (BAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) but not conicity index (CI)], atherogenicity index of plasma (AIP) (but not non-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (nonHDL)-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio or total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio) or any of blood indices were substantially higher in both MetS (normoglycemic and preDM) groups vs. controls. Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-C/HDL-C ratio, visceral adiposity index (VAI) and WHR were exceptionally greater in MetS-preDM vs. controls. Marked proportional PTX-3-Cys-C correlation was noted in 59 MetS participants (normoglycemic and preDM). PTX-3 (but not Cys-C) correlated proportionally with each of neutrophils, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio but inversely with the lymphocyte count. Substantially, Cys-C (but not PXT-3) positively associated with both VAI and AIP but inversely with HDL-C. Neither biomarker in MetS pool had relations with red blood cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV%), BMI, WC, HC, CI, WHR, WHtR, BAI, LAP, non-HDL-C, ratios of non-HDL-C/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C or TC/HDL-C. Conclusion PXT-3 and Cys-C can be surrogate prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers or putative MetS therapy targets.


This thesis deals with certain problems in nonparametric estimation and testing. In the first part of the thesis, we propose a method to improve nonparametric regression estimates of regression functions with a similar shape. This is achieved by first estimating the unknown parameters in the parametric relationship between the regression functions, and subsequently using the estimated transformation to pool the two data sets. The second part is concerned with nonparametric tests for serial independence. We extend an idea by Robinson (1991a) to use the Kullback-Leibler information criterion to measure the distance between the joint and marginal densities of consecutive observations in a stationary time series, and we also propose an entirely new test in which the joint and marginal characteristic functions of afore-mentioned observations are used.


The mechanical hardness of the different phases of tantalum nitride (TaNx, x ≤ 1) thin films grown by the reactive planar dc magnetron sputtering technique at 300 °C have been evaluated. The different phases have been prepared by varying the nitrogen (N2) to argon (Ar) gas ratio R in the range 0.04–0.30. The phases present in each sample and their volume fractions are obtained from x-ray diffraction and Ta 4f7/2 binding energy x-ray photoelectron spectra, respectively. The grown TaN thin films are found to contain mainly cubic-TaN0.1, orthorhombic-Ta4N, orthorhombic-Ta6N2.5, hexagonal-TaN0.8 and cubic-TaN phases. The hardness corresponding to each phase has been derived from the experimental hardness values using 'rule of mixtures'. A super hardness of ∼61.9 GPa is observed in orthorhombic Ta4N phase. With increase in R, a decrease in the surface oxidation of TaN has been observed. The reduced surface oxidation is attributed to the formation of stoichiometric TaN thin films. The surface morphology is found to change considerably with increase in R.


The rough sleeping homeless cohort is a marginalised population that has steadily increased over the past 10 years, across the United Kingdom (UK). Understanding this type of homelessness and the vulnerabilities associated with it is crucial, as it is often misconstrued due to policy ambiguity. This article examines rough sleepers as a vulnerable cohort and explores the precursors that lead to them becoming vulnerable and subsequently victimised. The key findings revealed that rough sleepers frequently endure implicit and explicit modes of exploitation. Their implicit exploitation puts them in a position of vulnerability that affects their ability to trust the public, statutory and third sector organisations. This questions their belonging in society and forces them to establish new ties and bonds, which exposes them to additional vulnerabilities. The explicit exploitation is the mere exposure of living in the streets, which puts them at greater risk of being victimised by the public, statutory bodies and criminal groups. This article concludes by offering practical recommendations of how the issue of rough sleeping can be better addressed via multi-agency, governmental, and academic work.


Abstract. In the area of Trujillo (Extremadura, Spain) we have found a variety of striking bluish and secondary yellow granites outcropping within the Plasenzuela pluton. They are all quarried under different names and are characterized by leucocratic minerals in which a bluish phosphate is dispersed throughout the rock. Their physical and mechanical properties make these granites a perfect option for most applications as ornamental rocks. Within the pluton the radiological background is fairly homogeneous, with no significant differences between the gamma ray fluxes of the different facies. U (6.4 ± 0.51 ppm), Th (2.9 ± 0.47 ppm) and K2O (4.32 ± 0.26%) contents determined in the laboratory by gamma-ray spectrometry from representative samples are in good accordance with fast in situ measurements carried out with the same technique and also with conventional chemical analysis. Estimated activities for K-40, Ra-226 and Th-232 were, on average, 1022 ± 36 Bq kg−1, 84 ± 9 Bq kg−1 and 6.8 ± 1.6 Bq kg−1. On the basis of these results, the I index of EU technical document 112 was determined, with an average result of 0.66 ± 0.03. This suggests that the rock can be used with no restrictions for all types of construction purposes. Striking differences were observed between the blue facies and the yellow facies in radon exhalation tests from crushed material (0.03 Bq kg−1 vs. 0.20 Bq kg−1). Since both granites have similar uranium contents (6.3 ppm and 6.5 ppm, respectively), these results can probably be explained in terms of important differences in the mineralogical distribution of this chemical element, radon emanation being enhanced in the yellow facies. However, due to the ordinary use as ornamental stone, the yellow facies does not present a radiological risk in terms of excess effective dose due to internal exposure to radon.


Study Objective: Sleep is influenced by cultural norms. Scant data is available regarding sleep habits and associated phenomenon in Indian adults; the study designed evaluated these. Methods: This is a descriptive study on attendants of patients at Department of Neurology, AIIMS, utilizing a Sleep Questionnaire, modified from NSF Sleep Habits Questionnaire 2002 and 2005. Data from 104 subjects was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: Subjects clustered in the age range of 21–50 years. Most subjects slept between 2200 and 2400 hours, with rise time between 0500 and 0700 hours, delayed rise time on weekends, and sleep time between 7–9 hours. Subjects rated their sleep quality as high with few awakenings of short duration. Use of sleep aids was infrequent. Snoring was reported by 24% with no difference between men and women. A very small percentage had symptoms suggestive of sleep disordered breathing or restless legs. Women in general took longer to fall asleep, slept less, woke up earlier, napped more frequently, co-slept with children, had increased care giving responsibilities, admitted racing thoughts prior to bedtime, and less daytime sleepiness compared with men in this sample. The napping behavior and caregiving duties attained statistical significance (p=0.005 and p=0.005, respectively). Conclusion: The study described sleep patterns in Indian adults and highlighted differences between the two sexes.


Observations suggest that the effective radii of high-redshift massive spheroids are as much as a factor of ~6 smaller than low-redshift galaxies of comparable mass. Given the apparent absence of low-redshift counterparts, this has often been interpreted as indicating that the high-density, compact red galaxies must be 'puffed up' by some mechanism. We compare the ensemble of high-redshift observations with large samples of well-observed, low-redshift ellipticals. At the same physical radii, the stellar surface mass densities of low- and high-redshift systems are comparable. Moreover, the abundance of high surface density material at low redshift is comparable to or larger than that observed at z > 1-2, consistent with the continuous buildup of spheroids over this time. The entire population of compact, high-redshift red galaxies may be the progenitors of the high-density cores of present-day ellipticals, with no need for a decrease in stellar density from z = 2 to 0. The primary difference between low- and high-redshift systems is thus the observed low-density material at large radii in low-redshift spheroids (rather than the high-density material in high-redshift spheroids). Such low-density material may either (1) assemble at z 2. Mock observations of low-redshift massive systems suggest that the amount of low-density material at high redshifts is indeed significantly less than that at z = 0. However, deeper observations will be important in constraining the exact amount (or lack thereof) and distribution of this material, and how it builds up with redshift. We show that, without deep observations, the full extent of such material even at low redshifts can be difficult to determine, in particular if the mass profile is not exactly a single Sersic profile. We discuss the implications of our results for physical models of galaxy evolution.


Rapid, large-scale genome as well as diagnostic DNA sequencing projects are, at present, dependent on the use of sensitive automated sequencers that rely on the detection of fluorescent signals. This emission is not an intrinsic property of the biomolecules but is a property of an optical label that must be incorporated before, during or after the sequence specific reaction. The choice of strategy, that is to be reviewed here, is a function of both the chemistry and the enzymology of the system as well as the nature of the fractionation and the physical parameters of the detection. One may differentiate beween the labelling of the primer, incorporation of the label during elongation or base specific termination with labelled terminators. In reviewing the development of each of these strategies, the conclusion is reached that, whereas labelled primers have universal applicability, the current generation of fluorescent terminators have in, conjunction with appropriate DNA polymerases, attained a refinement that strongly favours their use. However, since they are not available for all commercial sequencing systems, the alternative procedures are not merely of historic interest but are an essential component in DNA sequencing protocols. The possibility of automated direct sequence analysis of RNA has not been ignored completely.


Scenario‐based assessments are a useful tool to explore unknown futures and inform decision makers and the public of the consequences of different courses of action. Scenario developments in industrial ecology have focused on disparate components of the socioeconomic metabolism and case studies, and few efforts of comprehensive and cumulative scenario formulation are documented. Many important, empirically derived relationships between material cycles, end‐use services, and energy use are relevant to global scenario modeling efforts, for example, of integrated assessment models (IAMs), which do not routinely describe material cycles or the life‐cycle impacts of various technology shifts. These inconsistent depictions of material cycles and their environmental impacts hinder the assessment of sustainable development strategies such as demand‐side sufficiency, material efficiency, and energy efficiency. We developed three highly detailed scenarios covering 20 global regions to 2060 for the service provisioning of dwelling area and personal transport grounded in salient building and vehicle operation parameters. Our scenarios are based on, and interface with, the Low Energy Demand (LED) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1 and SSP2) narratives. The results comprise scenario‐, region‐, and period‐specific narratives and corresponding parameter values, including per‐capita floor space and vehicle stocks, building and vehicle archetype mixes, passenger‐km, vehicle‐km, vehicle occupancy rates, and implementation potentials of nine material efficiency strategies. The explicit storyline extension approach presented here is an alternative to the aggregate GDP‐driven or historical trend extrapolations of service or energy demands. We describe the scenario formulation processes, resulting parameters, their applications, and offer an outlook for prospective sustainability models. This article met the requirements for a Gold‐Gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.


Over a decade of converging findings from clinical, observational and basic science research indicate that estrogen administration during the menopausal transition exerts beneficial effects on cognition and decreases a woman's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life. This review article stresses the research focus of AD prevention, and introduces hormone therapy (HT) as a probable catalyst that may achieve this goal. Furthermore, this article outlines 3 mechanisms proposed to mediate estrogen's beneficial effects, discusses the controversy surrounding HT administration, and presents the most promising estrogen related research in AD prevention and treatment. Although controversial, cumulative evidence suggests that the potential of estrogen initiated during perimenopause to prevent AD needs to be systematically evaluated.


Experimental data on the mechanism accounting for the action of a new antianginal drug nonachlazine are presented. Nonachlazine was found to intensively (120+/-9.5 per cent) and protractedly (30--40 min) augment the blood flow in the coronary vessels, increasing the oxygen reserve of the myocardium. The contractile function of the heart and beat ejection considerably gain in their intensity, after an initial short-lived fall (by an average of 26.5+/-3.4 per cent), with the resistance of the coronary vessels declining (21+/-1.0 per cent). Administration of nonachlazine made against the background of a propranol (0.5 mg/kg) block of the beta-adrenergic structures of that by practolol (5 mg/kg) is not accompanied by the above effects. The prevalent influence of nonachlazine on the blood circulation and the function of the heart muscle may be explained by its action on the extravascular factors of the venous blood flow regulation (changes in the metabolism activity of the heart, caused by the stimulation of the beta-adrenergic structures of the myocardium).


The ultra-low gate charge characteristics and low gate voltage limitation of a GaN enhancement mode HEMT in combination with stray circuit elements poses many challenges of driving them in power electronic applications. This paper investigates the effect of changing gate resistances and including a Zener diode for overvoltage protection in the gate circuit. The goal is to achieve low switching losses and low EMC signature. Due to the very low gate capacitance of the GaN HEMT compared to the junction capacitance of the Zener diode, the addition of the Zener diode has an effect on the switching waveforms. The effects were investigated through simulation and measurements on a 1 kW PFC boost converter. The Zener diode was shown to increase time delay between the PWM signal and the switching of the GaN device. Furthermore, both fall and rise times of the drain-source voltage were influenced. Efficiency and EMC measurements highlight that the choice of gate resistor is an optimization problem, as faster switching increases efficiency but increase the EMC signature of the converter.


We used an experimental model of atherogenesis to evaluate the effect of vitamin E on oxidative stress induced by hyperfibrinogenemia (HF) and the possible normalization of oxidative stress markers. The following variables were studied: nitric oxide (NO), L-citrulline, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and regression of histopathological lesions in the thoracic aorta. The study was performed in 36 Wistar rats that were divided into three groups of 12 rats each: A, control group; B, HF for 90 days; C, HF for 90 days + vitamin E. Hyperfibrinogenemia was induced by the injection of epinephrine (0.1 ml/day/rat) during 90 days. The dose of vitamin E was 2 mg/day/rat during 75 days. We measured the plasma levels of fibrinogen (mg/dl), NO (uM) and L-citrulline (mM); SOD activity (U/ml) was assayed in red cell lysates using spectrophotometry. The histopathological sections of the thoracic aorta were examined using light microscopy (LM). Statistical analysis was performed using MANOVA and Fisher's test; a p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Rats in group B had a significant increase in fibrinogen levels B (407±8.9 mg/dl) compared to groups A (203±9 mg/dl) and C (191.58±17.79 mg/dl) (p<0.001). We observed a significant decrease in NO in group B (13.73±1.76 uM) versus groups A (23.58±0.08 uM) and C (26.64±3.65 uM) (p<0.001). L-citrulline increased significantly in groups B (4.99±0.18 mM) and C (6.60±0.16 mM) compared to group A (3.03±0.13 mM) (p<0.001). SOD activity was greater in groups B (251.67±10.34 U/ml) and C (304.75±10.43 U/ml) versus group A (139.44±4.74 U/ml) (p<0.001). Light microscopic examination revealed the presence of endothelial denudation, intimal thickening and vessel wall protrusion in group B (90%), while recovery of endothelial denudation and a 50% reduction in intimal thickening was observed in group C (p<0.001).  High SOD activity might be insufficient to prevent abnormalities in the oxidative stress pathway induced by HF. Vitamin E would stop the chain reaction initiated by free radicals and thus decrease the superoxide anion, stimulating the bioavailability of NO with normalization of fibrinogen plasma levels.


This Note for the Yearbook of Consumer Law first updates on proposals to reform Australia's consumer product safety regulation regime. Discussions have largely stalled, despite legitimacy and efficiency concerns evident from a related review of its main standard-setting body. By contrast, Australia's major trading partner, Japan, has developed more momentum towards comprehensive reform. Ironically, this comes out of an anno horribilis involving four major product safety issues in quick succession from mid-2005: asbestos, defective buildings, second-hand electrical goods, and then elevators made by Swiss-based Schindler. Further incidents keep being reported too. Admittedly, tort law remains on an upward trajectory in Japan, and in parallel with economic deregulation since the late 1990s the government has been implementing civil justice reforms aimed to encouraging active pursuit of rights through the courts as a more indirect means of socio-economic ordering, in lieu of ex ante regulation by public authorities. However, many tort claims have been directed specifically against the government after World War II. Criminal prosecutions for professional negligence remain another salient feature of the way the Japanese legal system deals with safety issues. This underpins re-regulatory reforms underway or called for in specific areas, such as asbestos products and construction. It also makes it easier to generate 'horizontal' reforms (covering all types of goods) like those enacted on 28 November 2006 for the Consumer Product Safety Law of 1973. As now in the EU, firms in Japan will generally need to report serious accidents to the authorities. Such developments may yet feed back into reform discussions ongoing in Australia. Nonetheless, Japan's revised Law does not go as far as the new EU regime, and Japan's bureaucrats still try to retain their influence through sector-specific legislation. In addition, over 2001-2006 the Koizumi government accelerated deregulation, at least in some areas and certainly in the overall rhetoric of policymaking. The analysis therefore concludes by highlighting the shared challenges faced by law reformers in our 'world risk society'.


Abstract Loy and Morford focus on "agon" as an important window through which to understand human life and development. Competition in war and sport was culturally significant then, and it is culturally significant today, albeit in modified forms. In this commentary, I attempt to do two things – first, identify implications of some conceptual distinctions, and second, point out normative questions raised by the Loy/Morford analysis. I find it worthwhile to differentiate clearly between tests and contests. If the historical and sociocultural spotlight were turned on sporting "tests" rather than "contests", that is, on trying to solve physically demanding problems well rather than trying to solve them better than at least one other party, then another story than the agonal account could be told. War would probably no longer serve as the best historical and prehistorical analogue for sport. Rather, it might be hunting. I add, that, on one hand, competitive sport is far less violent and, therefore, far more defensible today than it was previously. On the other hand, joy in playing is often sacrificed on the altar of any number of extrinsic rewards. Success, even gained by questionable means, replaces skill-based and virtue-generated achievement. This threatens the connection endorsed by MacIntyre between practices and virtues.


"Topographic" mappings occur frequently in the brain. A popular approach to understanding the structure of such mappings is to map points representing input features in a space of a few dimensions to points in a 2 dimensional space using some self-organizing algorithm. We argue that a more general approach may be useful, where similarities between features are not constrained to be geometric distances, and the objective function for topographic matching is chosen explicitly rather than being specified implicitly by the self-organizing algorithm. We investigate analytically an example of this more general approach applied to the structure of interdigitated mappings, such as the pattern of ocular dominance columns in primary visual cortex.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a critical analysis of the innovation discourse, arguing that a more contextualised understanding of the challenges of innovation for development and poverty reduction in low-income economies will help the authors' to unravel new development opportunities and provide alternatives to conventional capitalist paths to innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors offer an integrative review of the literature addressing the topic of innovation emerging from within developing countries. Because existing innovation models are generally presented in ways that reflect practices and thought patterns inherent to the industrialised world, a literature review that offers an initial conceptualisation and synthesis of the literature to date on the theme of innovation from within developing countries provides for a more valuable contribution than a reconceptualization of existing models.

Findings

The paper highlights different narratives of innovation, how they emerge and what are their implications. The authors outline a research agenda for generating new knowledge about innovation capabilities in what is generally known as the developing world.

Originality/value

This paper shows that the recent evolution of the discourse of development is increasingly intertwined with elements that originated in other discursive worlds. The last three decades of innovation research have been characterised by a "cross-pollination" between different disciplines: development studies, science and technology studies, business management and organisation studies. By reviewing major research works conducted by scholars in these disciplines, this paper weds literature that heretofore have remained largely isolated from each other. The key innovation narratives that the study unveils – e.g. inclusive growth, bottom of the pyramid, grassroots innovation – address major questions of concern to these academic scholars around the political and socio-technical aspects that influence a firm's capacity to innovate in the context of developing countries.


Background: Astonishing growth in the internet's popularity with improvements in its availability and affordability has led to internet overuse and addiction. School students who have social, peer or behavioural problems are more susceptible to internet addiction. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of internet addiction in the school-going adolescents of Aligarh, and to measure the association of internet addiction with the socio-demographics of the study participants. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the schools of Aligarh. 1020 participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique proportional to the number of students in each class. Data Collection was done using a questionnaire that included Young's 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results: About 35.6% of the students had internet addiction. Males (40.6%) were significantly (p=0.001) more addicted to the internet than females (30.6%). On bivariate analysis, a higher age group (17-19 years) (OR= 2.152, 95% CI- 1.267- 3.655), male gender (OR= 3.510, 95% CI- 2.187 – 5.634) and internet access at home (OR= 2.663, 95% CI- 1.496 – 4.740) were found to have a significantly higher odds' for internet addiction. Conclusions: Internet addiction is widely prevalent among school going adolescents and needs attention.


The development of Web 2.0 has favoured a closer relation between Internet users and the different web applications that facilitate creating, sharing and structuring digital information in a horizontal and collaborative way through so-called social software. Social software includes tools that are familiar to us all, such as chats, forums, blogs, wikis, syndication standards (RSS type), social tagging, multimedia file sharing, social networking, etc. They are tools oriented to give the user a greater capacity of interaction, and a stronger control over the content and the format in which they can be presented.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the clinical relevance and pathogenic significance of anti-salivary duct autoantibodies (ASDA) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by examining (1) their frequency in healthy controls, patients with sicca symptoms, and patients with various autoimmune and infective disorders; (2) their localization by confocal microscopy; and (3) their tissue distribution and cross reactivity with blood group antigens.

METHODS
Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) was performed on commercial cryostat sections of monkey parotid salivary gland. Sections were examined by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Sera giving positive staining on the ducts were tested by IF on a range of monkey tissues and salivary glands from several mammalian species. Blocking experiments were performed with human erythrocytes of different ABO blood groups and AB antigens.

RESULTS
We identified 2 distinct ductal staining patterns. The first resembled ASDA described in earlier studies and showed patchy bright staining of the apical (luminal) surfaces of the ducts and staining of apical cytoplasmic vesicles. The other was only observed with anti-mitochondrial antibody positive sera and stained the mitochondrial-rich ductal epithelium in a distinctive punctate pattern. Antibodies staining the apical surface of ducts were detected rarely in patients with antiRo/La autoantibody-positive primary SS (1/76) and RA (1/36) and were found in only 1115 with RA and secondary SS. ASDA were detected in sera from 13/51 (25.5%) of patients referred to our clinic with limited sicca symptoms who were anti-Ro/La antibody-negative and had no typical clinical or laboratory features of classical primary SS. The apical ductal staining pattern was not observed with sera from 63 healthy controls without sicca symptoms or in patients with autoimmune and infective disorders. Twelve of the 13 patients whose sera gave ASDA-like staining were blood group O and one group A. Ductal staining was abolished in all sera after absorption with blood group AB erythrocytes or AB antigen. In 5 patients ductal staining was removed by absorption with B erythrocytes but not with A erythrocytes; in the remainder ductal reactivity was abolished by both A and B erythrocytes.

CONCLUSION
ASDA seem to occur rarely in patients with primary SS and RA. However, isotype-switched IgG AB blood group antibodies cross react with primate salivary ducts and may produce false positive ASDA staining. Detection of ASDA may be of value in identifying a subset of patients who present with mild sicca symptoms without other autoimmune features.


Abstract 1. Introduction Our three commentators raise such a host of deep and interesting issues that we cannot hope to answer them all within the time and space at our disposal. To begin with, we would like to thank them for pushing us to articulate the reasons for our arguments more clearly, and for getting us to spell out a number of assumptions and intermediate argumentative steps that we did not make sufficiently clear or explicit in our original article. We will deal with the three commentators one by one, limiting ourselves to a few key points.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop the models of the dielectric permittivity dispersion of heterogeneous systems based on semiconductors to a level that would allow to apply effectively the method of broadband dielectric spectroscopy for the study of electronic processes in ceramic and composite materials.

Design/methodology/approach

The new approach for determining the complex dielectric permittivity of heterogeneous systems with semiconductor particles is used. It includes finding the analytical expression of the effective dielectric permittivity of the separate semiconductor particle of spherical shape. This approach takes into account the polarization of the free charge carriers in this particle, including capturing to localized electron states. This enabled the authors to use the known equations for complex dielectric permittivity of two-component matrix systems and statistical mixtures.

Findings

The presented dispersion equations establish the relationship between the parameters of the dielectric spectrum and electronic processes in the structures like semiconductor particles in a dielectric matrix in a wide frequency range. Conditions of manifestation and location of the different dispersion regions of the complex dielectric heterogeneous systems based on semiconductors in the frequency axis and their features are established. The most high-frequency dispersion region corresponds to the separation of free charge carriers at polarization. After this region in the direction of reducing of the frequency, the dispersion regions caused by recharge bulk and/or surface localized states follow. The most low-frequency dispersion region is caused by recharging electron traps in the boundary layer of the dielectric matrix.

Originality/value

Dielectric dispersion models are developed that are associated with: electronic processes of separation of free charge carriers in the semiconductor component, recapture of free charge carriers in the localized electronic states in bulk and on the surface of the semiconductor and also boundary layers of the dielectric at the polarization. The authors have analyzed to situations that correspond applicable and promising materials: varistor ceramics and composite structure with conductive and semiconductor fillers. The modelling results correspond to the existing level of understanding of the electron phenomena in matrix systems and statistical mixtures based on semiconductors. It allows to raise efficiency of research and control properties of heterogeneous materials by dielectric spectroscopy.


The phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system plays a crucial role in carbon metabolism of Bacillus subtilis. Besides uptake of different sugars the components of the PTS exert regulatory functions. This also accounts for the paralogue of HPr, Crh.
As a unique function of Crh in B. subtilis, it regulates the flux through the harmful methylglyoxal bypass of the glycolysis. Non-phosphorylated Crh inhibits the enzymatic activity of the key enzyme MgsA by direct protein-protein interaction. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Crh depend on the metabolic state of the cell. In the presence of preferred substrates such as glucose, the FBP level increases within the cell and activates the kinase function of HPrK/P. This results in the formation of Crh~P and subsequently in the release of MgsA from inhibition and thus to activation of the methylglyoxal bypass.
To shed further light into regulation of MgsA we conducted a genetic screen to identify the interaction surface of MgsA and Crh. We isolated several mutants carrying exchanges in the N-terminus of MgsA. All of these mutants show a significantly reduced ability to interact with Crh. Vice versa we restored interaction of Crh. Amino acid exchanges that restore interaction are located within α-helices 1 and 2 of Crh. Proposing a similar mode of action for the interaction of Crh and MgsA, as it was show for all interaction partners of HPr and Crh.
Furthermore, we confirmed the genetic data by X-ray crystallography. The active form of MgsA is a "Trimer of Dimers". Upon binding of Crh the MgsA complex dissolves into 3 dimers thereby inactivating MgsA.
In addition, we followed the question whether the citric acid cycle and its anaplerotic reaction are essential or not. Based on a series of single and multiple deletion strains of Bacillus subtilis lacking genes that encode for the citric acid cycle and its anaplerotic reaction, we were able to show that these reaction are not essential for live under ideal growth conditions. In this context we focused on the importance of the minor citrate synthase CitA. We obtained strong evidence that CitA is able to compensate for the loss of the major citrate synthase CitZ.


The Kepler space telescope has revolutionised our knowledge about exoplanets and stars and is continuing to do so in the K2 mission. The exquisite photometric precision, together with the long, uninterrupted observations opened up a new way to investigate the structure and evolution of stars. Asteroseismology, the study of stellar oscillations, allowed us to investigate solar-like stars and to peer into the insides of red giants and massive stars. But many discoveries have been made about classical variable stars too, ranging from pulsators like Cepheids and RR Lyraes to eclipsing binary stars and cataclysmic variables, and even supernovae. In this review, which is far from an exhaustive summary of all results obtained with Kepler, we collected some of the most interesting discoveries, and ponder on the role for amateur observers in this golden era of stellar astrophysics.


Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants passaged in T-cell lines, often called laboratory isolates, are potently neutralized by soluble CD4 (sCD4), whereas primary HIV-1 variants are highly resistant to sCD4 neutralization. Previously, it was demonstrated that the domain from V1 to V3 of the HIV-1 gp120 molecule contains one of the major determinants of sCD4 neutralization sensitivity, and the same region has also been implicated as influencing syncytium-inducing (SI) capacity and T-cell-line tropism. To determine possible differences in sCD4 neutralization sensitivity between phenotypically distinct primary HIV-1 variants, a panel of non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) and SI HIV-1 variants was studied. Primary NSI and SI HIV-1 variants appeared to be equally resistant to sCD4 neutralization. Consistent with this observation, sCD4 did not induce gp120 shedding from either primary NSI or SI HIV-1 variants at 37 degrees C. Thus, it is not the potential of certain primary HIV-1 variants to infect T-cell lines but rather their adaptation to T-cell lines that is reflected in specific properties of the viral envelope which influence sCD4 neutralization sensitivity.


In the process of eradicating poverty, Bank Muamalat with the collaboration with the Baitul Maal Muamalat (BMM), has undertaken the Mosque Based Micro Muamalat Community Program (KUM3). The problem identified in the program is that many members of KUM3 cannot make a capital return at the right time, causing them to fail in re-threading the capital. This study aims to determine the factors that affect the KUM3 member's capital returns. Investigations carried out in four districts in Bogor City namely the Community of Loji, Pamoyanan, Pasar Anyar and Situ Gede. Eight factors that might affect the business capital was studied i.e. the value of social capital, the theory, the economy, the religion, marketing, finance, management and technical. The method used in analysing the data is the multiple logistic model . The analysis obtained a good results  in the social value, theoretical value, the economy, the religion, marketing, finance, management , and technical for the  KUM3 participants in Bogor City.  The most influential factor in the return of capital is the social value. Two factors were studied in this value i.e. family factor and community factor. It  has a tendency to break on time 6.46 times faster with the value of the regression coefficient  1.946 and value of -p 0.010 (<0.05) compared to the social disadvantage significance level of 5% . The good social value has a tendency to break even at 7,000 times compared to the less good social value. Based on the comparison between the family factor and the community factor, both have an impact on the capital returns


This thesis explores the emergence of a Welsh voice in exile in London at the turn of the twentieth century. Through readings of works by four London-Welsh writers active during the period 1890-1915 - Ernest Rhys (1859-1946), Arthur Machen (1863-1947), W. H. Davies (1871-1940) and Caradoc Evans (1878-1945) - it argues that the London context of these works makes possible the construction of various modes of Welsh identity. The introduction begins by noting how theorists of national identity have identified cultural practices, including literature, as important in shaping the imagined community of the nation. It then incorporates, and adapts, Raymond Williams's thinking about the interplay of residual, dominant, and emergent currents operating within a culture by arguing that residual elements within a society can be harnessed and endowed with the potential to become newly emergent. The introduction concludes by identifying Matthew Arnold's description of the Celt in his On the Study of Celtic Literature (1867) as a residual element. Nevertheless, it points out how, in various ways, Arnold's Celt is recuperated by London-Welsh writers (among others) at the turn of the twentieth century. Chapter One argues that the work of Ernest Rhys constructs a self-conscious Welsh literary tradition by reclaiming Welsh-language literature and Arnold's Celt and mobilising them as part of a cultural-nationalist aesthetic London is an important influence on this development for material and aesthetic reasons. Chapter Two considers how Celtic history and mythology haunt the representation of the Gwent border country in the work of Arthur Machen, arguing that Machen's Celt is also derived from Arnold but recast as a spectral, ghosdy figure. Chapter Three discusses Machen's fellow son of Gwent, W. H. Davies. Davies's work, both poetry and prose, frequendy contrasts country and city, yet this chapter argues that Davies's work articulates a hybrid voice which anticipates several of the themes and techniques present in later Welsh writing in English. Chapter Four extends this by considering the early work of Caradoc Evans, whose early 'Cockney' stories carry structural and thematic similarities with both Davies's poetry and his own later collections. By this reading, Evans's My People (1915) stands as a text which inherits earlier works and draws on an already-existing London-Welsh literary culture. This thesis concludes by arguing that the London context to these writers' works makes possible the consolidation of a Welsh literary structure of feeling into an emergent literary voice in English: London enables each of these writers to reassess their relationship with a Wales left behind, but a Wales which nonetheless provides an impetus to new creative developments.


Winter maize is an innovation in Indian cropping systems. It grows 50-60 days longer than rainy-season maize and is a heavy feeder cereal. It lacks proper management of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous. N and P determine the photosynthetic and reproductive capacity of plants. The response of maize to these nutrients is season-dependent and location-specific, but has seldom been studied in winter maize areas in India. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of N and P independently and interactively on winter maize. Maize yield was highest at 240 kg N ha-1, but the yield obtained at 160 kg N ha-1 was comparable. Every kg N applied produced 44.34 kg grain, and the N-use efficiency was reduced with increased N dose (67.4, 38.4, and 27.2 kg grain kg-1 N for 80, 160, and 240 kg N ha-1, respectively). Phosphorus application increased yield up to 26.4 kg ha-1. A combi¬nation of 240 kg N ha-1 and 26.4 kg P ha-1, providing highest gross returns, net returns and net benefit: cost, was most profitable. The economic optimum dose for N and P was 196 kg N ha-1 and 23.4 kg P ha-1, respectively. This study shows that winter maize is responsive to higher levels of N up to 240 kg ha-1 compared to 120 kg N ha-1 recommended for rainy-season maize, but P application at 26.4 kg ha-1 remains same for both the seasons. The study provides recommendation of N and P for winter maize based on economics. The data would be useful for fitting models and simulating yields across the doses of N and P.


Racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care in the United
States are persistent and well documented. Communities
of color fare far worse than their white counterparts across a
range of health indicators: life expectancy, infant mortality,
prevalence of chronic diseases, self-rated health status, insurance
coverage, and many others.1 As the nation's population
continues to become increasingly diverse—people of color are
projected to comprise 54% of the U.S. population by 2050 and
more than half of U.S. children by 20232— these disparities
are likely to grow if left unaddressed. Recent health care
reform legislation, while not a panacea for eliminating health
disparities, off ers an important fi rst step and an unprecedented
opportunity to improve health equity in the United States.
Reforming the nation's health care system was President
Obama's top domestic priority when he was sworn into offi ce in
January 2009. Th e road to reform was complex and unoffi cially
started in summer of 2009 when House and Senate committees
began to draft legislation. On November 7, 2009, the House
of Representatives passed its health care reform proposal, Th e
Aff ordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3962). On
December 24, 2009, the Senate passed its own proposal for
health care reform, Th e Patient Protection and Aff ordable Care
Act (H.R. 3590)*, which was a merged version of the Senate
Finance Committee's America's Health Future Act (S.1796)
and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions' Aff ordable Health Choices Act (S. 1697).† Eff orts to
reconcile diff erences between the Senate and House bills were
stymied by the death of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), a
lifelong proponent of health care reform and critical force in
securing a proposal's passage in the Senate.
Faced with limited options and expecting that a compromise
bill could not get Senate support, the House passed the
Senate's proposal and Th e Patient Protection and Aff ordable
Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama on
March 23, 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-148).‡ On March 30, 2010,
the ACA was amended by Th e Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872). According to Congressional Budget Offi ce (CBO) estimates, the ACA, as
reconciled by H.R. 4872, will reduce the defi cit by $143 billion
over the next decade and decrease the number of non-elderly
uninsured by 32 million, leaving 23 million uninsured—
approximately one-third of whom would be undocumented
immigrants.3
Th is report provides a comprehensive review of general and
specifi c ACA provisions with the potential to signifi cantly
improve health and health care for millions of diverse
populations and their communities. Th e narrative that follows
identifi es these provisions, discusses why they are important,
and considers challenges that may lie ahead in implementing
them. We have organized this presentation in three major
sections. Th e next section discusses provisions that explicitly
address health disparities, such as those concerning data
collection by race/ethnicity, workforce diversity, cultural
competence, health disparities research, health disparities
initiatives in prevention, and health equity in health insurance
reform, and discusses their implications for racially and
ethnically diverse communities. Section III describes general
provisions, including health insurance reforms, access to care,
quality improvement, cost containment, public health and
social determinants of health, all of which are likely to have
major implications for diverse communities.
An accompanying appendix identifi es these provisions, provides
a timetable and, where identifi ed in the legislation, the federal
agencies responsible for implementation, as well as allocations
as of June 30, 2010. Section IV discusses issues that will be
critical in realizing the full potential of health care reform and
highlights questions and directions for the future, particularly
in context of important priorities for reducing racial/ethnic
health disparities that were left unaddressed.


Background: The extent of lymph node involvement is the most important prognostic factor in resected locoregional colorectal cancer. Currently, examination of at least 12 lymph nodes is recommended for adequate colorectal cancer staging. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of lymph node staging in 250 patients with colorectal cancer and analytical literature review. Patients and Methods: Two hundred fifty patients with histologically proven locoregional invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma from 2005 to 2011 were included. All patients were treated by standard surgical resection for their disease. Twenty-three patients with rectal cancer received neoadjuvant treatment. All potential tumor, patient and treatment variables were evaluated for their impact on the average total number of lymph node examined. Results: In this study, 147 men and 103 women with a median age of 54 (range 23-84) years were included. The median total number of lymph nodes examined was 7 (mean 9.35). Sixty-nine patients (27.6%) had adequate (≥ 12) lymph nodes examination, and twenty patients (8%) had no nodes examined. In univariate analysis, younger age, colon primary site, larger tumor size, the presence of lymphatic vascular invasion, the lack of neoadjuvant treatments, individual surgeon B and Hospital B were more associated with the average total number of lymph node examined. Conclusion: This study indicates that only less than a third of patients with colorectal cancer underwent adequate lymph nodes examination. Further investigation using careful pathologic reviewing of specimens with inadequate lymph node examined is suggested for differentiating true inadequate lymph node dissection from inadequate lymph node detection.


Argument Several recent works in sociology examine the manufacture of public identities through the notion of celebrity. This paper explores the imagery of Charles Darwin as a nineteenth-century scientific celebrity by comparing the public character deliberately manufactured by Darwin and his friends with images constructed by the public as represented here by caricatures in humorous magazines of the era. It is argued that Darwin's outward persona drew on a subtle tension between public and private. The boundaries between public and private were blurred by the ritual of Darwin "showing" himself in the flesh, either at home to visitors or, more rarely, on public occasions. The reputation for privacy and illness that he built up added materially to this public face. By contrast, caricatures tended to depict him as an ape. These apish representations played a significant role in associating Darwin, rather than any other thinker, with the notion of evolution, and in creating an alternative public persona over which he had no direct control.