Although developing countries are characterized by high average fertility rates, they are as concerned by childlessness as developed countries. Beyond natural sterility, there are two main types of childlessness: one driven by poverty and another by the high opportunity cost of child-rearing. We measure the importance of the components of childlessness with a structural model of fertility and marriage. Deep parameters are identified using census data from 36 developing countries. As average education increases, poverty-driven childlessness first decreases to a minimum, and then the opportunity-driven part of childlessness increases. We show that neglecting the endogenous response of marriage and childlessness may lead to a poor understanding of the impact that social progress, such as universal primary education, may have on completed fertility. The same holds for family planning, closing the gender pay gap, and the eradication of child mortality.


The chemical industry has been dependent on petroleum-derived carbon for commodity chemicals for the past number of decades, but this practice is not sustainable. With the increase of energy demand, biomass has attracted attention for being an inexpensive renewable carbon source. The proposed platform chemical, triacetic acid lactone, can be produced by microbes from glucose. Triacetic acid lactone can subsequently be converted into a multitude of high-value added bio based chemicals via further chemical transformations. In this dissertation, we explore methods to functionalize triacetic acid lactone to obtain biologically important specialty molecules from biorenewable sources. Chapter 1 of the dissertation describes the synthesis of high value added specialty chemical, pogostone and its analogs from biobased triacetic acid lactone. These high value specialty chemicals are synthesized in high yields and the biological activities are investigated. Chapter 2 discusses an improved aldol protocol for the synthesis of 6-styrenylpyrones from triacetic acid lactone. Styrenyl pyrones are an emerging class of natural products, which exhibit several biological activities. This aldol condensation reaction proceeds in good yields and is compatible with a variety of functional groups. Chapter 3 describes the use of triacetic acid lactone as a common intermediate for the synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2pyridones and 4-amino-2-pyrones. As demonstrated therein, triacetic acid lactone constitutes a useful platform for the direct introduction of a nitrogen functionality. In summary, triacetic acid lactone represents a convenient biobased platform for a diverse range of important molecules.


The law embodies pictures of family that focus singularly on the patriarchal marital nuclear family. The value law places on the nuclear family is premised on its perceived essential role in the socialization of citizens as well as its presumed inherent worth as a form of intimate association. We use these pictures and consequent definitions of family to distribute resources, including financial support, fringe benefits, tax breaks, and housing. We use them to decide who is entitled to create families by reproductive technology or adoption and who is entitled to limit or reject family by access to abortion. We use them to define our vision of family, ideologically and practically, through our construction of marriage and divorce and our nonrecognition of non-marital families. The corollary to the elevation of the nuclear family is the devaluation and stigmatization of other family structures. The consequences of stigmatization to those deemed deviant are more than ideological. In this Article I focus on the stigmatization of single-parent families.Both socially and legally, we relentlessly stigmatize single parents as bad parents who have broken, incomplete, dysfunctional families which result in predictably disastrous consequences for their children. Recall the blame placed on single black mothers for the violence of young black men during the Los Angeles uprising, the condemnation of white single mother Murphy Brown (a fictional television character) for her choice of single parenthood, and the sanctioning of a young teenage mother for placing her child in day-care in order to attend college classes at the University of Michigan. Stigma is not limited to names and negative stereotypes in popular culture. We also impose economic and psychic penalties as a matter of social policy and legal structure. We continue to consign large numbers of children to poverty who have the bad luck to be born into or become the wrong kind of family. Nowhere are the penalties more evident than in the current welfare reform debate. a discourse filled with blame of single parents. I argue in this Article that this stigma is unfounded and unjustified. The negative consequences falsely associated with the form of family are strongly linked to poverty. Poverty, in turn, is caused not by family form, but rather by a number of factors including the operation of the legal system. The structures of divorce and welfare assist in creating and perpetuating poverty among single-parent families. Ironically, the ideologies of equality and choice justify and hide harsh inequality and punishment.In this Article, I concentrate on the ways that law both incorporates and creates stigma by looking at the legal structures surrounding divorce. In the first section of the Article, I outline what we know about single-parent families based on social science research. In the second section, I discuss how the law incorporates and creates stigma in the structure of divorce. In the third section, I suggest directions in which we need to move to reform a structure that unnecessarily imperils so many families. The dynamics of single-parent families also suggest alternative, non-hierarchical, non-patriarchal family forms.


Conflicts between man and wildlife have always been a part of our history. We have tried to control the damage caused by wildlife and found that this was not always in the best interest of the resource. The role of animal damage control in our profession has changed and so has the public's view of it. As professionals we must strive to explain the need and value of wildlife damage management to our peers, the public and our detractors. This can be accomplished by participation in our professional organizations, the presentation of papers at scientific meetings, and open discussion of our programs in the public forum.


Objective: To determine whether increased neonatal fat is associated with an elevated risk of cesarean delivery in infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: Of 166 infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes, 110 were born vaginally (91 spontaneous, 19 instrumental) and 56 by cesarean. Data were collected on maternal demographics, maternal anthropometries, delivery variables, and neonatal anthropometries. We compared all characteristics between women who delivered vaginally and the 29 delivered by cesarean in labor. Results: The difference in birth weight between infants delivered by cesarean and vaginally was not statistically significant (3520 ± 456 and 3374 ± 559 g, respectively [mean ± standard deviation]). There were significant differences between the cesarean and vaginal delivery groups in the rate of nulliparity (80 versus 48%, respectively), maternal pregravid body mass index (28.6 ± 7.7 versus 25.2 ± 5.8 kg/m2), fetal position at delivery (23.8 versus 96.2% occiput anterior), and all estimates of neonatal body fat (ponderal index: 2.77 ± 0.20 versus 2.67 ± 0.26 kg/m3; sum of two-site skinfold measurements: 11.7 ± 2.8 versus 10.5 ± 1.8 mm; and percent body fat: 15.1 ± 4.9 versus 13.0 ± 3.3). Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that fetal position, maternal nulliparity, and fetal fat contributed independently to the cesarean risk. Conclusion: Increased newborn fat is associated independently with an increased risk for cesarean in labor.


One of the internationally recognized journals that publishes and spreads literature concerning the relation between organizations and innovation and how creativity and imagination is organized is 'Creativity and Innovation Management' (CAIM). To date there has been only one attempt to analyze the corpus of publications in this journal from 1992-2000. As no further historical analysis of CAIM has been done after it, the purpose of this paper is to present a content analysis and verify some of the trends within published articles for the last 12 years. This study is conducted by analyzing the content of latest 360 CAIM articles (published from 2000 to 2012). Data collection and analysis are performed by utilizing Publish-or-Perish software and also, Excel statistical analysis tools. This methodology uses a multi-approach to content analysis by interpreting the text in titles and abstracts to evaluate several elements, for instance the authorship characteristics, geographical contributions or the nine themes previously proposed and visible in the CAIM journal. The study outcomes in addition to the descriptive statistics that provide an overview of the research contributions, intend to gain insights in two important aspects. First, this study confirms how the articles categorized in the nine themes have behaved in the last 12 years. Second, the study reveals that some trends in the literature came from emerging markets economies (EME), which has not been raised so far, as the relation of author's countries and the themes of their publications in the EME context.


Purpose/Objective: To establish a commissioning and acceptance test protocol for an ACelectromagnetic tracking system for use in target localization and tracking during radiation therapy. (Calypso® 4D Localization System, Calypso Medical, Seattle, WA). Materials/Methods: Following installation of infrared cameras and electromagnetic system, compatibility tests were made to ensure the system did not interfere with radiation output, MLCs or IMRT field fluence. The collision space between the linac and the Calypso System was evaluated. System verification included calibration using software and calibration tools, one of which has embedded RF transponders and optical reflectors. End‐to‐end testing to assess localization accuracy included CT scan of a radiographic phantom with RF transponders, creation of four Calypso Plans, data entry to the Calypso System and execution of treatment sessions. Tracking accuracy was measured using a precision translation table for orthogonal motions ± 5 mm. Results: Calypso System did not affect normal clinical operations of radiation output, MLC, or IMRT field segmentation. Overall accuracy on ten systems at five institutions and 40 treatment plans was 0.068 ± 0.027 cm, incorporating contributing errors from the CT scans, identification of transponders in the phantom, and effects of radiation dose delivery. With stable environment, no systematic drift was noticed over 30 minute. Translations of precise increments from −0.50 cm to +0.05cm were accurately tracked with error of 0.00cm, −0.02cm and 0.01cm (lat, long, vert). The system maintained accuracy with monthly optical calibrations. Changes in system readout of ±0.05 cm (readout quantization) were noticed at certain gantry angles. Conclusion: Evaluations demonstrate the ACelectromagnetic system with wireless transponders can be integrated into the radiotherapy environment with existing instrumentation and operates within the designed accuracy specification. Conflict of Interest: Work supported by Calypso Medical Technologies.


AIM:For many children medical and dental procedures, unfamiliar dental staff and treatment places are disturbing and stressful. Stress in children often makes them uncooperative. General anaesthesia is indicated for anxious uncooperative children or those who are disabled, immature or too young to undergo dental treatment by other means. Moreover parents' separation while entering the operative room is a traumatic experience for children. Thus premedication such as midazolam is recommended to decrease child's stress. In these situations the increased recovery time was considered as one of the midazolam side effects. There is no study that evaluated the effect of midazolam both in parents-child separation and recovery time in long dental procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nasal midazolam premedication with placebo on parents-child separation and recovery times in uncooperative paediatric patients undergoing long-lasting general anaesthesia for dental procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STUDY DESIGN:This randomised, double-blind study was done on 60 uncooperative patients (ASA physical status I or II) aged 2-4 years who were scheduled for general anaesthesia for dental treatment. Group A received 0.2 mg/kg intranasal midazolam as premedication, and group B received the same volume of intranasal placebo 20 minutes before entering the operating room for general anaesthesia. General anaesthesia was done with the same method for all patients, then parent-child separation and recovery times were compared between the two groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:Statical significance was set at P≤0.05. Statically analysis was performed using SPSS version17.Chi-squared and student t-tests were applied to analyse the data. RESULTS:We found significant differences in parents- child separation assessment between two groups. Nasal midazolam premedication had a positive effect on parents-child separation; but there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of recovery time. CONCLUSION:Premedication of nasal midazolam before induction of general anaesthesia did not prolong recovery time but made the separation of children from their parents easier by showing a better behaviour.


The dissertation not only examines the elements of formalism and decisionism in Russian legal thinking, it also takes into account the impact of conservatism on the interplay between both elements. This perspective – confirmed by a substantial analysis of Russian intellectual history and informed of the practice of application of Russian law – sheds important light on the conceptualization of rights in Russia. The author underscores that the current conservative narratives, about the distinctiveness of Russian law, reveal certain features of Russian legal culture and, specifically, the intellectual culture that is continually transmitted in legal education, scholarship and practice. Such narratives often serve as a rationale for crafting exceptions to constitutional non-discrimination principles as they are applied to political, religious, sexual and other minorities. In their turn, these exceptions are based on the idea that the validity of rights is mainly justified with reference to communitarian rather than to individual interest. Justification of these exceptions requires reconciling the formal requirement of legality with factual practices of arbitrary law-enforcement.


The low-flow method has been shown as a reliable evaluation of access recirculation. Few data is available on temporary central catheter blood recirculation; results of 2% and 4% have been reported in subclavian, 10% in 24 cm long femoral, and 18% in 15 cm long femoral catheters, mostly in indwelling catheters for chronic hemodialysis. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate blood recirculation in a larger number of recently inserted temporary intravenous catheters for acute hemodialysis, comparing subclavian and femoral sites. Fifty blood recirculation measurements were performed in 38 different temporary central venous dialysis catheters inserted in thirty-one critically ill patients from medical and surgical intensive care units presenting acute renal failure supported by intermittent hemodialysis. All the catheters used were well-functioning 11.5 French dual lumen Quinton of 13.5 or 19.5 cm length. Catheters presenting mechanical dysfunction, which did not allow a blood flow rate of 300 ml/min or for which lines had to be reversed were excluded from the analysis. Access blood recirculation was measured shortly after catheter insertion according to the low flow method applied after the first 30 minutes of hemodialysis at a blood flow rate of 300 ml/min. Mean blood recirculation for the 50 measurements was 10.3 +/- 9.2%. It was significantly higher in the 26 femoral catheters than in the 24 subclavian catheters, reaching respective means of 16.1 +/- 9.1% and 4.1 +/- 3.6% (p = 0.0001). Blood recirculation rate was not different between 13.5 cm and 19.5 cm long subclavian catheters (3.0 +/- 2.6%, n = 13, versus 5.4 +/- 4.3%, n = 11, respectively), but was significantly higher in 13.5 cm long femoral catheters (22.8 +/- 9.1%, n = 9, versus 12.6 +/- 6.9%, n = 17) (p = 0.004). Blood recirculation was measured on two separate occasions in 12 catheters randomly selected (5 femoral and 7 subclavian catheters); the obtained results were reproducible with a mean difference of only 2.1 +/- 1.8% between the two measurements and a correlation of 0.96. The mean time elapsed between catheter insertion and recirculation assessment was 2.2 +/- 3.1 days and was similar for femoral and subclavian catheters. No correlation was found between the percentage of recirculation and the arterial and venous resistances recorded during dialysis session or with the time from catheter insertion. Mean urea reduction ratio (URR) for the 50 dialysis sessions was 57.8 +/- 13.0%. It was significantly higher for sessions performed with subclavian than with femoral catheters (62.5 +/- 10.9%, n = 24, versus 54.5 +/- 14.2%, n = 26) (p = 0.03). In conclusion, the expected blood recirculation in well-functioning and recently inserted temporary dialysis catheters is under 5% for subclavian, over 12% in 19.5 cm femoral, and over 22% in shorter 13.5 cm femoral catheters at a blood flow rate of 300 ml/min. The consequently reduced dialysis efficiency with femoral catheters is another factor to be considered in the choice of a site for temporary dialysis catheter insertion in acute renal failure patients, particularly when dialysis dose delivery is a priority, such as intoxication cases treated by extracorporeal therapy.


In this paper we present the performance analysis of a novel channel assignment scheme where two non-cooperative independent users simultaneously communicate with their destination through a single relay by using only two frequency channels. The analytic derivation of the probability of symbol error for two main relay techniques will be provided, namely Amplify-and-Forward (AF) and Decode-and-Forward (DF). As shown by the obtained results, our switched-frequency approach results in a model that can achieve full- diversity by means of maximum-likelihood decoding at the receiver. Our results are especially important in the DF case, since in traditional techniques (such as half-duplex two-time slot approaches) two sources si-multaneously transmit on the same channel through the first time slot, which necessitates some sort of su-perposition coding. However, since in our scheme both users transmit over orthogonal channels, such a coding scheme is not required. In addition, it is shown that the DF approach based on our novel channel assign-ment scheme outperforms the AF scheme, especially in scenarios where the relay is closer to the receiver.


Studies examining the effects of diet (D) and diet-plus-exercise (DE) programs on resting metabolic rate (RMR) report equivocal results. The purpose of this study was to use meta-analysis to determine if exercise prevents the decrease in RMR observed with dieting. Results from the 22 studies included in this analysis revealed that the majority of studies used female subjects ages 31-45 years, who were fed a relatively low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet of less than 5,023 kJ.day-1. The predominant prescribed exercise was aerobic in nature, 31-60 min in duration, performed 4-5 days per week, and of moderate intensity (51-70% of VO2max). Contrary to what is reported in narrative reviews, RMR decreased significantly with both D and DE programs, and the drop with D was significantly greater than that with DE. In conclusion, the addition of exercise to dietary restriction appears to prevent some of the decrease in RMR observed in premenopausal women.


The presidential election results of 2016 surprised many poll-watchers, suggesting possible biases in estimated support for the major party candidates and posing a challenge for poll aggregation as a prediction tool. Using data from earlier elections and the 2016 campaign, we conducted an evaluation of poll aggregation and state-level error in estimating the percentage spread between the two major candidates. We find that state-level estimates of the error magnitude for the FiveThirtyEight and Upshot models were approximately correct in 2016. However, a proportional bias that we term "prediction shrinkage," due to non-major party preference during polling, had a large impact on state-level estimates. We suggest that prediction shrinkage may be largely avoided by using log-ratios of candidate preferences instead of percentage spread. We present a statistical rationale for simulation-based assessments of election probabilities, discussing aspects that may be understood by practitioners but not fully explicated in the literature. For 2016, we fit a smoothing mixed effects model that is sensitive to both national and state-specific trends and requires data from only a single election year. The model outperformed all the major prediction site estimates. Simulations of electoral college outcomes indicate that, on the eve of the election, the probability of a Trump victory was about 50%. The results do not support the contention that the poll averages were highly biased, but suggest that standard poll aggregation techniques were poorly equipped to respond to a late change in relative support for the candidates. We suggest that an increased emphasis on fundamental statistical tradeoffs of bias and variance, prior to focusing on poll adjustments or demographic behavior, may be the key to improved prediction.


Quantitative description of the interaction of high-speed projectiles with soils is important for many engineering applications, and provides insights into high strain rate constitutive behavior. In this paper, a novel method known as photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV), capable of producing time resolved velocity measurements, is adapted for the study of objects penetrating rapidly into sand. Fundamentals of PDV are described, and the applicability of the method is demonstrated by producing time-resolved velocity measurements of spherical projectiles penetrating Ottawa sand models at high velocities in the range of 300 m/s. Penetration tests demonstrate that PDV is capable of producing velocity measurements even after the penetrator has reached a depth well below the soil surface. Results of the tests confirmed that resistance to penetration increases as relative density of the sand deposit increases. Moreover, there appears to be a threshold penetration velocity in dense dry sand, below which resistance to penetration reduces considerably. A quantitative description of deceleration of penetrators in soils can be adequately provided for most of the penetration using a simple drag force model.


The aim: To determine the grounds of involuntary admission of a mentally ill person in the context of the possibility to restrict his or her right to liberty.
Materials and methods: The authors have studied and analyzed international legal acts, legislation of certain countries, judgments of the European Court of Human Rights,
case law on involuntary admission of a mentally ill person by using philosophical, general and special scientific research methods.
Conclusions: The imperfection of the legal regulation of relations concerning the involuntary admission of a mentally ill person leads to illegal restriction of the personal
right to liberty. It has been proven that involuntary admission and restriction of the freedom of a mentally ill person can be justified, if we take into account the requirement of "therapeutic necessity" for a mentally ill person, the requirement of protecting the rights of others and guaranteeing their safety, the requirement of ensuring the best interests of a mentally ill person.


A 37 GHz total power radiometer and a temperature control system which are developed for calibration of radiometers with temperature distribution are described. The radiometer is physically divided into three system units which are RF, LO, and LF unit for thermal isolation between the units. The developed radiometer performs with good linearity and the temperature control system is able to allow temperature of target and each system unit within a range of 10° to 43°. Finally, drift of estimated target temperature which is due to variation of RF unit temperature is obtained by using the radiometer and the temperature control system. The results indicate that the developed system is capable of empirical studies for the temperature compensation method with multitemperature variables.


et al' had the word "alone" missing from the title. Median survival figures are not given in this study and although higher remission rates were obtained with the multiple agent regimens in this three arm study, no significant difference was recorded in survival at three years. The reference to Vogl et a12 is also incorrect, in that the original title refers to those aged 50 or more and with a tumour diameter of more than 2 cm and not that which was quoted. In this study melphalan was compared with a four drug combination in patients with ovarian cancer. The title of the article is based on the differences obtained in response rates in this carefully defined subgroup. Survival curves were not given, but the median projected survival was 19 months for the combination and 17 months for melphalan. The authors noted that they had as yet failed to show advantages for those aged less than 50 years or with small tumour burdens or to show that the combination prolonged survival. The conclusive title of this paper probably results from overanalysis leading to a chance finding of statistical significance but doubtful clinical importance. This interpretation may be supported by the results from the same group published one year later,3 in which the same four drug combination was used, but on this occasion they concluded that the combination had a curative potential only in those with a tumour burden of 2 cm or less. The study by Decker et al' relates to a comparison between patients treated with cyclophosphamide and those treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide and cisplatin. Twenty one patients were entered into each arm of the study, but the two groups in the study were not strictly comparable, in that twice as many patients in the cyclophosphamide arm had residual tumour nodules of 5 cm diameter as in the combination group and, furthermore, the combination group had an overall differentiation pattern which favoured survival when compared with the cyclophosphamide group. I agree with Mr Lawton's and Dr Blackledge's sentiment, in that "advance in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer will come about through the development of well designed clinical studies with the accurate documentation of all the prognostic factors"-would that we had such studies to quote. DAVID GUTHRIE Radiotherapy Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE


Small children will delight in making the connection between words and pictures, as a mischievous mouse shows Mr. Bird around a "People House", pointing out all the everyday things to be found, from peanuts and paper to scissors and string. This title belongs to the Bright and Early Beginner Book series, developed by Dr. Seuss especially for "Beginning Beginners" - preschool children on the threshhold of learning to read. Using an exuberant combination of bright, bold pictures and rhythmic rhyme, Dr. Seuss introduces simple stories and concepts, adding a large helping of zany humour to help the youngest child make the all important connection between word and picture. Originally published under the pseudonym of Theo. LeSieg, The Eye Book is being relaunched with a stylish new cover design which reveals, for the first time, the true identity of the author - Dr. Seuss himself!


We studied the relation between vertical eye movements and binocular torsion in five subjects with dissociated vertical deviation (DVD). During trials, subject viewed a well illuminated Snellen letter chart, with both eyes uncovered during 4 seconds, Subsequently, DVD was induced by covering one eye during 4 seconds. Finally, both eyes were uncovered during 4 seconds. Several trials were recorded for each subject and covered eye. Eye movements were measured with scleral coils. We found that in all subjects, the vertical divergence followed an exponential course with a time constant of 0.67 ± 0.14 seconds on average. In three of the five subjects this vertical divergence was associated with binocular torsion (cycloversion), partly, in the form of a cycloversional nystagmus. The time course of the vertical divergence as well as the direction and nystagmic nature of the cycloversion was similar to the behaviour that was previously observed in disparity induced vertical vergence in normal subjects. In two of the subjects, the torsion that was associated with the vertical divergence was monocular. Our results indicate that DVD and disparity induced vertical vergence share the same characteristics. In addition, they demonstrate that extorsion associated with the elevation in DVD possibly but not necessarily points at a dissociated torsional deviation.


We revisit convex relaxation based methods for stochastic optimization of principal component analysis (PCA). While methods that directly solve the nonconvex problem have been shown to be optimal in terms of statistical and computational efficiency, the methods based on convex relaxation have been shown to enjoy comparable, or even superior, empirical performance – this motivates the need for a deeper formal understanding of the latter. Therefore, in this paper, we study variants of stochastic gradient descent for a convex relaxation of PCA with (a) `2, (b) `1, and (c) elastic net (`1 +`2) regularization in the hope that these variants yield (a) better iteration complexity, (b) better control on the rank of the intermediate iterates, and (c) both, respectively. We show, theoretically and empirically, that compared to previous work on convex relaxation based methods, the proposed variants yield faster convergence and improve overall runtime to achieve a certain userspecified -suboptimality on the PCA objective. Furthermore, the proposed methods are shown to converge both in terms of the PCA objective as well as the distance between subspaces. However, there still remains a gap in computational requirements for the proposed methods when compared with existing nonconvex approaches.


We reviewed the indications for and results of 788 consecutive upper gastrointestinal radiographs (UGIs) performed for ambulatory patients. Sixty-three percent of tests were ordered for the evaluation of abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or esophageal reflux. Of these tests, only 4.8% yielded results of major clinical importance to patient management. The yield for patients greater than 50 years of age was greater than for patients less than 50, 6.9 versus 3.0% (p = 0.04). There was a significant increase in yield with increasing age (chi trend = 11.6, p less than 0.001). Among patients with an indication of esophageal reflux alone (n = 62), there were no patients younger than age 60 with a test result that would significantly affect therapy or outcome. Among patients evaluated for fecal occult blood or weight loss (n = 120), 11.7% of tests ordered showed a finding of major clinical importance. In this group, the yield was higher in those greater than or equal to 50 years of age than in those less than 50, 14.7 versus 6.7%, (p = 0.2). These results indicate that UGIs ordered to evaluate pain or symptoms of esophageal reflux in the absence of bleeding or weight loss rarely yield results that significantly influence therapy. Such patients may be best served by an initial trial of empiric therapy or some other test. The UGI has greatest value when indications for it include bleeding or weight loss.


Twenty-eight young adult boars (age 7 to 8 mo) genetically selected for four generations for high (HG) or low (LG) plasma cholesterol were studied to assess dietary and genetic effects and their interactions on cholesterol metabolism. Boars within a genetic group were paired according to their plasma cholesterol concentration at 8 wk of age and were fed for 15 wk (2.7 kg/d) one of two diets (16.5% fat and 1,156 mg of cholesterol/kg diet, HD; or 3.1% fat and 0 cholesterol diet, LD) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Plasma total cholesterol (P < .01) and HDL-cholesterol (P < .01) concentrations were higher in boars fed HS (P < .01) and in HG boars (P < .01). There was a trend toward a diet x genotype interaction for plasma HDL-cholesterol (P < .06). Plasma insulin concentration tended to be lower in boars fed HD (P < .09) or HG boars (P < .10). There was a diet x genotype interaction for plasma glucagon (P < .04) concentration and a trend toward an interaction for insulin (P < .07). After 15 wk, all boars were killed by electrocution and exsanguination and measurements were taken. Backfat thickness was greater (P < .01) and carcass length (P < .01) and weights of the four lean cuts (P < .02) were lower in LG than in HG boars. No microscopic atherosclerotic plaques were observed in aorta or coronary arteries. Cholesterol concentration in subcutaneous fat was lower (P < .04) in LG boars, suggesting that cholesterol content of depot fat can be reduced by genetic selection in swine.


Activation of N- and P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels triggers neurotransmitter release at central and peripheral synapses. These channels are targets for regulatory mechanisms, including inhibition by G-protein-linked receptors. Inhibition of P/Q-type channels has been less well studied than the extensively characterized inhibition of N-type channels, but it is thought that they are inhibited by similar mechanisms although possibly to a lesser extent than N-type channels. The aim of this study was to compare the inhibition of the two channel types. Calcium currents were recorded from adrenal chromaffin cells and isolated by the selective blockers ω-conotoxin GVIA (1 μm) and ω-agatoxin IVA (400 nm). The inhibition was elicited by ATP (100 μm) or intracellular application of GTP-γ-S. It was classified as voltage-sensitive (relieved by a conditioning prepulse) or voltage-insensitive (present after a conditioning prepulse). The voltage-insensitive inhibition accounted for a 20% reduction of both currents, whereas the voltage-sensitive inhibition reduced the N-type current by 45% but the P/Q-type current by 18%. However, the voltage dependence of the inhibition, the time course of relief from inhibition during a conditioning prepulse, and the time course of reinhibition after such a prepulse showed few differences between the N- and P/Q-type channels. Assuming a simple bimolecular reaction, our data suggest that changes in the kinetics of the G-protein/channel interaction alone cannot explain the differences in the inhibition of the N- and P/Q-type calcium channels. The subtle differences in inhibition may facilitate the selective regulation of neurotransmitter release.


Purpose: To conduct rapid qualitative analysis early in the intervention design process to establish the perceived value of reducing sedentary behavior in the truck driver population. Methods: A rapid assessment process for qualitative data collection was used to examine managerial and employee perceptions quickly and iteratively to inform intervention design. Managerial insights were collected during semi-structured interviews and employee insights were collected via an online survey and focus group. Thematic analyses were guided by the constructs of the Health Belief Model to establish; (a) perceived susceptibility to the health problem; (b) perceived severity of the health problem; (c) perceived benefits of the potential solutions; (d) perceived barriers to adopting the recommended solution; (e) cues to action; and (f) self-efficacy. Results: Three managers (2 females; 1 male) participated in semi-structured interviews. Seven truck drivers (1 female; 6 males) took part in a focus group. Sixteen survey responses (all male, mean age 49.8 ± 12.4 years, 86% white Caucasian) were collected in total (11 paper based; 6 online). The most important managerial motivators for engagement in an intervention included; improved sleep, alertness and quality of life. The most important employee motivators included; stress reduction (3.3 ± 1.3), improved quality of life (3.3 ± 1.3) and alertness (3.2 ± 1.4). Managerial and employee perspectives indicated that sedentary behavior may be of lower priority than diet and exercise, and may not resonate with the truck driving population as a health risk. Conclusion: Application of the Health Belief Model indicated a disconnect between the researcher, managerial and employee perspective and the perceived value of a sedentary behavior reduction intervention. Within the truck driving population, researchers should endeavor to include safety as well as health outcomes, use multi-level strategies, design for outcomes of high perceived value and leverage health communication strategies to communicate benefits that resonate with the end-user.


A B S T R A C T. Multi-packer hydraulic tests and radioactive tracer experiments carried out in boreholes in the Carnmenellis granite have shown that the flow of water through the rock is largely confined to narrow zones separated by zones of very low permeability. Correlation of the hydraulic data with geological data from oriented cores has shown that most of the flow is associated with discrete geological features, including pegmatitic and other veins, and elvan (quartz-feldspar porphyry) dykes, characteristic features of the granite of the area. Joints have also been found to conduct water, particularly in the upper 250 m of the granite. The permeability of the granite has been found not to be simply a function of fracture frequency, long sections of highly fractured rock having no associated flow under test conditions. While flow paths have been found to become less frequent with depth, flow rates do not vary over the depths studied, the highest flow rate recorded at the site being associated with a vein at 637 m. Water-conducting fractures have been found to have certain preferred orientations which vary with depth. A set striking 155 ~ is particularly well developed in the upper 250 m of the granite. This orientation is significant in that it is parallel to the cross-courses in the nearby mineralized belt with which the younger (Tertiary) mineralization tends to be associated and from which thermal brines issue into several local mines. These fractures are also approximately parallel to the maximum horizontal stress which affects the granite and which appears to be responsible for the selective opening of joints of certain orientations.


The Ensemble Karakorum, consisting of five musicians from the city of that name, recorded these nineteen selections of Mongolian folk songs and instrumental pieces. This diverse collection includes performances on the horse-head fiddle (morin chuur), the long-necked lute (tobschuur), the spiked fiddle (chuutschir) and the board zither (jatga). In addition to songs highlighting overtone singing, examples of the bogino duu "short song," the urtyn duu "long song, " and heroic epics are also presented here.


Coverage planning by means of controlling cell Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) power is an important task in deploying UMTS networks. In addition to determining coverage, CPICH power heavily influences the amount of Soft Handover (SHO). Non-uniform cell CPICH power allows for significant power saving and thereby higher capacity for traffic channels. However, optimizing non-uniform CPICH is challenging in terms of computational effort, if the resulting coverage pattern is required to satisfy a desired level of SHO. We present a very fast algorithm for this planning problem. The algorithm has utilized the fact that SHO is strongly correlated with cell overlap. Using overlap as a very good approximation of SHO, the algorithm can compute a near optimal coverage pattern within a few seconds even for large networks. Next, the solution is further polished to deal with SHO accurately. Simulation results show that our solution strategy is able to perform non-uniform CPICH optimization very time-efficiently, making it possible to tackle large scale UMTS coverage planning under SHO consideration.


The intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (K(Ca)3.1) was first described by Gardos in erythrocytes and later confirmed to play a significant role in T-cell activation and the immune response. More recently, K(Ca)3.1 has been characterized in numerous cell types which contribute to the development of vascular disease, such as T-cells, B-cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and dedifferentiated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Physiologically, K(Ca)3.1 has been demonstrated to play a role in acetylcholine and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) induced hyperpolarization, and thus control of blood pressure. Pathophysiologically, K(Ca)3.1 contributes to proliferation of T-cells, B-cells, fibroblasts, and vascular SMCs, as well as the migration of SMCs and macrophages and platelet coagulation. Recent studies have indicated that blockade of K(Ca)3.1, by specific blockers such as TRAM-34, could prove to be an effective treatment for vascular disease by inhibiting T-cell activation as well as preventing proliferation and migration of macrophages, endothelial cells, and SMCs. This vasculoprotective potential of K(Ca)3.1 inhibition has been confirmed in both rodent and swine models of restenosis. In this review, we will discuss the physiological and pathophysiological role of K(Ca)3.1 in cells closely associated with vascular biology, and the effect of K(Ca)3.1 blockers on the initiation and progression of vascular disease.


Author Institution: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803; Department of Chemistry, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803


Interictal epileptiform discharges on EEG are integral to diagnosing epilepsy. However, EEGs are interpreted by readers with and without specialty training, and there is no accepted method to assess skill in interpretation. We aimed to develop a test to quantify IED recognition skills. A total of 13,262 candidate IEDs were selected from EEGs and scored by eight fellowship-trained reviewers to establish a gold standard. An online test was developed to assess how well readers with different training levels could distinguish candidate waveforms. Sensitivity, false positive rate and calibration were calculated for each reader. A simple mathematical model was developed to estimate each reader's skill and threshold in identifying an IED, and to develop receiver operating characteristics curves for each reader. We investigated the number of IEDs needed to measure skill level with acceptable precision. Twenty-nine raters completed the test; nine experts, seven experienced non-experts and thirteen novices. Median calibration errors for experts, experienced non-experts and novices were -0.056, 0.012, 0.046; median sensitivities were 0.800, 0.811, 0.715; and median false positive rates were 0.177, 0.272, 0.396, respectively. The number of test questions needed to measure those scores was 549. Our analysis identified that novices had a higher noise level (uncertainty) compared to experienced non-experts and experts. Using calculated noise and threshold levels, receiver operating curves were created, showing increasing median area under the curve from novices (0.735), to experienced non-experts (0.852) and experts (0.891). Expert and non-expert readers can be distinguished based on ability to identify IEDs. This type of assessment could also be used to identify and correct differences in thresholds in identifying IEDs.


Introducing redundancy into facility layout designs reduces material handling costs by shortening the total distance travelled by materials and tools, since redundancy allows for shorter flow routes. In our setting, jobs and volumes (demands) are random, and machines have limited capacities. We present a model for determining which machine types should be duplicated (i.e. having more copies than necessary), given the number of extra positions available in the facility. The model is naturally an extension of the quadratic assignment model, and hence very hard, if not impossible, to solve exactly for even moderate problem dimensions. A myopic approach is proposed. We show numerically that the myopic approach is valid, before we, qualitatively, based on the approach, describe a decision-rule determining a good choice of redundant machine types. This very simple description produces the optimal choice of redundant machine types in most situations. In this way, our results add to the understanding of the problem itself, not just to its solution.


A list of recent records of stag beetles (Coleoptera Lucanidae) species occurring in Mediterranean countries is given to improve the current knowledge on their geographic distribution. The saproxylic larvae of the stag beetles are very important for forest ecosystems, and some lucanid species are included in the IUCN Red List and in several national protection lists. However, the knowledge on their distribution is rather heterogeneous for several countries and taxa because the distribution records are scattered in poorly known papers or hidden in Museum or private collections. This paper is an attempt to better understanding the distribution of the stag beetle species across the Mediterranean region, to facilitate research and conservation efforts.


This systematic review examined the evidence on the extent to which practitioners are equipped to recognize and respond to the indications that a child's needs are likely to be, or are being neglected. This paper examines the methodological issues arising from the review. A systematic process of progressive filtering yielded 112 papers representing primary studies that inform the international research agenda for child neglect. A final dataset of 63 studies was of sufficient quality and usefulness for inclusion. The review raised a number of methodological issues of relevance for research in child protection in general, and on neglect in particular. Researchers and practitioners can benefit from an enhanced understanding of the issues that make neglect difficult to understand. Common issues were identified to inform future research. For example, there was a tendency for studies to use a range of proxy measures rather than direct observation of the outcome of interest, and a wide range of different outcome measures was used. Many of the studies were small scale or retrospective in design. Many studies conflated neglect and other forms of maltreatment, and it was often difficult to extract specific messages for neglect.


The aims of this study were: (1) to determine the within‐subject, between‐day variability in end‐tidal PCO2 (PET,CO2); (2) to determine whether the within‐subject, between‐day variability in PET,CO2 was caused by variations in metabolic acid‐base status; and (3) to determine whether between‐subject variations in blood gas variables arose predominantly through variations in respiratory or renal pH control mechanisms. Fourteen healthy males were studied, of whom 12 provided adequate data for further analysis. Each subject was studied on at least six different occasions, with each visit separated by at least 1 week. On each occasion, PET,CO2 was determined over a 4‐10 min period using a fine nasal catheter taped just inside the nose, and an arterialised capillary blood sample was obtained from each ear and analysed for blood gases. The following results were obtained. (1) PET,CO2 showed a standard deviation (S.D.) for the within‐subject, between‐day variation of 1.06 mmHg. (2) Less than 5 % (P = NS) of the variability in PET,CO2 could be explained by underlying variations in metabolic acid‐base status. (3) The variation in blood gas values between individuals did not fit a pattern associated with either a predominantly respiratory or a predominantly renal origin. Furthermore, the pattern of variation in the blood gas data suggested that variations in the renal controller for pH and the respiratory controller for pH were not independent. The precise origins of variability in blood gas regulation remain obscure.


Much of the recent research on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) seeks to link the market valuations of individual companies, as well as overall stock market levels, with merger activity and performance.

In their review of work conducted in this field, the authors present a primer on ways to measure whether M&A actually creates value and then offer an overview of the "winners" and "losers."

But the long-held observation that stock prices affect merger activity was confirmed in 2001, they say, by work that revealed a correlation between high merger activity and high market valuations. Several other studies have shown that acquirers who pay with stock underperform their peers in the long run, whereas acquirers who pay cash outperform their peers.

Another line of inquiry, according to the authors, finds that the level of the stock market when an acquisition is announced affects short-term and long-term merger performance. The short-term effects are positive for acquisitions announced in high-valuation markets and negative for those undertaken in low-valuation markets.

Supporting evidence is provided in other recent work too: Acquisitions that take place during periods of below-average economic growth create more shareholder value than strong-economy acquisitions. The strong performance of low-valuation acquirers and weak-economy acquirers suggests that they are not distracted by short-run market reactions, but instead focus on business fundamentals and true potential synergies. Two articles published in 2002, suggesting that the root cause of such links between valuation and performance may be incorrect valuation by the market, are empirically supported by current work that Bouwman et al. also describe.

The conclusion of these various research streams is that stock prices matter, say the authors. The key implication for managers: Be wary of acquisitions made when market or firm valuations are high, and be optimistic about acquisitions when valuations are low.

This review includes a comprehensive sidebar of all referenced and relevant research.


We developed a detailed Monte Carlo simulation method to study the time resolution of detectors for time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF PET). The process of gamma ray interaction in detectors, scintillation light emission and transport inside the detectors, the photoelectron generation and anode signal generation in the photomultiplier tube (PMT), and the electronics process of discriminator are simulated. We tested this simulation method using published experimental data, and found that it can generate reliable results. Using this method, we simulated the time resolution for a 13 times 13 detector block of 4 times 4 times 20 mm3 lutetium orthosilicate (LSO) crystals coupled to four 2-inch PMTs using PMT-quadrant-sharing (PQS) technology. We analyzed the effects of several factors, including the number of photoelectrons, light transport, transit time spread (TTS), and the depth of interaction (DOI). The simulation results indicated that system time resolution of 360 ps should be possible with currently available fast PMTs. This simulation method can also be used to simulate the time resolution of other detector design method.


Oral cancer is one of the major global threats to public health. The development of oral cancer is a tobacco-related multistep and multifocal process involving field cancerization and carcinogenesis. The rationale for molecular-targeted prevention of oral cancer is promising. Biomarkers of genomic instability, including aneuploidy and allelic imbalance, are possible to measure the cancer risk of oral premalignancies. Understanding of the biology of oral carcinogenesis will yield important advances for detecting high-risk patients, monitoring preventive interventions, and assessing cancer risk and pharmacogenomics. In addition, novel chemopreventive agents based on molecular mechanisms and targets against oral cancers will be derived from studies using appropriate animal carcinogenesis models. New approaches, such as molecular-targeted agents and agent combinations in high-risk oral individuals, are undoubtedly needed to reduce the devastating worldwide consequences of oral malignancy.


The effects of common variants of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (TaqIB), hepatic lipase (HL) (-514C>T), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) (S447X) and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) (S208T) on the determination of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) levels were examined in 2773 healthy middle-aged men participating in the second Northwick Park Heart Study. The extent of gene:gene, gene:smoking and gene:alcohol interactions were determined. For HDL-C levels, only CETP genotype was associated with significant effects (p&0.0001), with the B2 allele being associated with higher levels in both smokers and non-smokers. This interaction was significant at the lowest tertile of TG, suggesting that TG levels were rate limiting. As previously reported, CETP, LPL and HL genotypes were all associated with significant effects on apoAI levels (all p&0.01), with carriers of the rare alleles having higher levels and with no evidence of heterogeneity of effects in smokers and non-smokers. LCAT genotype was not associated with significant effects on either trait. There was no significant interaction between any of the genotypes and alcohol consumption on either HDL-C or apoAI levels. All genotypic effects were additive for HDL-C and apoAI. Environmental and TG levels explained more than 20% and 5.5% of the variance in HDL-C and apoAI, respectively. The novel aspect of this finding is that genetic variation at these loci explained in total only 2.5% of the variance in HDL-C and 1.89% of the variance in apoAI levels. Thus despite the key roles played by these enzymes in HDL metabolism, variation at these loci, at least as detected by these common genotypes, contributes minimally to the variance in HDL-C and apoAI levels in healthy men, highlighting the polygenic and multifactorial control of HDL-C.


-Bromus inermis Leyss (smooth brome) is an invasive perennial grass in Fescue Prairie in North America. Prescribed burning is a potential method of controlling this exotic, but its responses to burning in this grassland are not known. This study was conducted to determine the impacts of a single burn in the autumn or spring on the growth and water relations of B. inermis in Fescue Prairie in central Saskatchewan. In 1 yr, leaf xylem water potential and stomatal conductance were lower in plants burned in the autumn than the reference and the spring burn. In another year they were generally similar among the burns and reference. Regardless of water stress following burning, tiller densities, standing crop and the leaf area indices of B. inermis were not significantly different among the reference, autumn and spring burns. Because B. inermis is apparently resistant to fire effects and native species are suppressed by burning, fire may increase B. inermis in Fescue Prairie. Unlike grasslands dominated by C4 species, a single burn in autumn or spring while plants are dormant is not expected to reduce B. inermis in the C3-dominated Fescue Prairie.


A two-pole induction machine with flexible rotor shaft and whirling rotor motion is considered. A 30 kW test machine is built with four-pole damper winding in stator. The construction of the machine and the test-setup are presented. The amplitude of measured vibration oscillates at twice the slip frequency. This is shown to be caused by the unipolar flux and the stator slot harmonics. The magnetic forces are shown to depend greatly on the position of the rotor with respect to the direction of the two-pole flux. The dependence is derived analytically. Finite-element model simulations are presented to provide further analysis and to assess the contribution of the extra stator winding.


In this paper the results of a study on the energy potential of residual materials in 5 regions in the Northern Central European area are presented. The highest potential for waste-to-energy is provided by the incineration of municipal residual waste and the digestion of manure. Related to the number of inhabitants, the potential is the highest in North Savo, whereas the current utilisation is by far the highest in the County of Vastmanland. The total potential of waste-to-energy for the considered regions is the highest for Western Lithuania at app. 7%, with the other regions varying between 2,5 and 4% of the total primary energy use. The following waste-to-energy installations should be planned: waste incinerators (Estonia, Western Lithuania and Lower Silesia); energy recovery from waste derived fuels (North Savo, Lower Silesia and the County of Vastmanland); anaerobic digestion of biodegradable part of municipal waste and of agricultural waste and by-products (Lower Silesia) as well as sewage sludge drying in Western Lithuania and Lower Silesia.


Stockpiling neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) such as oseltamivir and zanamivir is part of a global effort to be prepared for an influenza pandemic. However, the contribution of NAIs for treatment and prevention of influenza and its complications is largely debatable. Here, we developed a transparent mathematical modelling setting to analyse the impact of NAIs on influenza disease at within-host and population level. Analytical and simulation results indicate that even assuming unrealistically high efficacies for NAIs, drug intake starting on the onset of symptoms has a negligible effect on an individual's viral load and symptoms score. Increasing NAIs doses does not provide a better outcome as is generally believed. Considering Tamiflu's pandemic regimen for prophylaxis, different multiscale simulation scenarios reveal modest reductions in epidemic size despite high investments in stockpiling. Our results question the use of NAIs in general to treat influenza as well as the respective stockpiling by regulatory authorities.


The article presents the results of the examination and treatment of 30 patients with overactive bladder receiving M-anticholinergic drug tolterodine at a dose of 2 mg twice a day for 1 month. Evaluating the effectiveness of the drug was performed on the basis of the data on voiding diary, urodynamic changes, and results of ultrasound examination. The analysis showed that treatment with tolterodine within 15 days has a positive trend: normalization of urination was observed in 96.6% of patients, 76.6% of patients have reported decrease of the frequency of urgency urination, and episodes of imperative urinary incontinence decreased in 83.3% of patients. The therapy promoted the increase the duration and volume of urination, reduction of maximum uroflow rate, indicating that the effectiveness of treatment. On the 30th day of treatment, the vast majority (80%) of the patients reported improvement of their wellbeing.


1. The perturbing effect of glycerol on the direct spectrum of Escherichia coli DNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been studied. 2. By comparison with model compounds and with the unfolded polymerase in 3.8m-urea it was possible to determine the ratio of tyrosine and tryptophan residues present. On reduction of the urea-treated enzyme with 2-mercaptoethanol, no further change in the difference spectrum occurred. 3. The amino acid composition of the enzyme is given. 4. In the intact protein approx. 30% of the tryptophan and 54% of the tyrosine residues were exposed. In conjunction with the extinction value and molecular weight this corresponded to 7 tryptophan residues and 57 tyrosine residues on the surface and 16 tryptophan residues and 48 tyrosine residues ;buried'. 5. The optical rotatory dispersion of the enzyme was unaffected by 20% glycerol. 6. The helix content calculated from Moffit plots over 560-300nm was 13%, and from the 233nm trough 13%.


Securing stable housing may be difficult for returning offenders in general, and these concerns may be exacerbated for sex offenders. In addition to the barriers faced by other returning offenders, sex offenders face intense stigma and once released to the community, they are also subject to additional legal restrictions. The current study explores the effect of statewide residency restriction policies on housing mobility using a unique sample of male sex offenders released in a Midwestern state. The research is based on a quasi-experimental cohort control group design and it describes the frequency and correlation of movement for pre- and post-statewide residency restriction legislation samples. Sex offenders released after the implementation of residency restrictions moved more often and had relatively high degrees of housing mobility compared to offenders released prior to the legislation. The results have important implications for reentry programming and post-release services for sex offenders.


ABSTRACT Atherosclerosis, a disease condition resulting from the buildup of fatty plaque deposits within arterial walls, is the major underlying cause of ischemia (restriction of the blood), leading to obstruction of peripheral arteries, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and stroke in humans. Emerging research indicates that factors including inflammation and infection may play a key role in the progression of atherosclerosis. In the current work, atherosclerotic carotid artery explants from 15 patients were all shown to test positive for the presence of eubacterial 16S rRNA genes. Density gradient gel electrophoresis of 5 of these samples revealed that each contained 10 or more distinct 16S rRNA gene sequences. Direct microscopic observation of transverse sections from 5 diseased carotid arteries analyzed with a eubacterium-specific peptide nucleic acid probe revealed these to have formed biofilm deposits, with from 1 to 6 deposits per thin section of plaque analyzed. A majority, 93%, of deposits was located proximal to the internal elastic lamina and associated with fibrous tissue. In 6 of the 15 plaques analyzed, 16S rRNA genes from Pseudomonas spp. were detected. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms have been shown in our lab to undergo a dispersion response when challenged with free iron in vitro. Iron is known to be released into the blood by transferrin following interaction with catecholamine hormones, such as norepinephrine. Experiments performed in vitro showed that addition of physiologically relevant levels of norepinephrine induced dispersion of P. aeruginosa biofilms when grown under low iron conditions in the presence but not in the absence of physiological levels of transferrin. IMPORTANCE The association of bacteria with atherosclerosis has been only superficially studied, with little attention focused on the potential of bacteria to form biofilms within arterial plaques. In the current work, we show that bacteria form biofilm deposits within carotid arterial plaques, and we demonstrate that one species we have identified in plaques can be stimulated in vitro to undergo a biofilm dispersion response when challenged with physiologically relevant levels of norepinephrine in the presence of transferrin. Biofilm dispersion is characterized by the release of bacterial enzymes into the surroundings of biofilm microcolonies, allowing bacteria to escape the biofilm matrix. We believe these enzymes may have the potential to damage surrounding tissues and facilitate plaque rupture if norepinephrine is able to stimulate biofilm dispersion in vivo. This research, therefore, suggests a potential mechanistic link between hormonal state and the potential for heart attack and stroke. The association of bacteria with atherosclerosis has been only superficially studied, with little attention focused on the potential of bacteria to form biofilms within arterial plaques. In the current work, we show that bacteria form biofilm deposits within carotid arterial plaques, and we demonstrate that one species we have identified in plaques can be stimulated in vitro to undergo a biofilm dispersion response when challenged with physiologically relevant levels of norepinephrine in the presence of transferrin. Biofilm dispersion is characterized by the release of bacterial enzymes into the surroundings of biofilm microcolonies, allowing bacteria to escape the biofilm matrix. We believe these enzymes may have the potential to damage surrounding tissues and facilitate plaque rupture if norepinephrine is able to stimulate biofilm dispersion in vivo. This research, therefore, suggests a potential mechanistic link between hormonal state and the potential for heart attack and stroke.


The computer game industry has exploded reaching sales of several billion dollars a year and, consequently, a majority of college students are familiar with the gaming environment. In fact, videogame development has been cited as one way to motivate students to explore the world of Computer Science. However, most videogames are extremely complex computer programs created by a team of developers including programmers and graphic artists and represent thousands of hours of work. Fortunately there are software tools available that provide a way for simple computer games to be created fairly easily using a building block approach. This paper discusses the successes and challenges of teaching a videogame design and development summer program using the software development tool, Game Maker, and from this experience examines how videogame development might be incorporated into a Computer Science curriculum. The first section provides an overview of the Game Maker program and outlines the material taught in the program. Observations of the most successful teaching methods and approaches utilized are also explored. We conclude with a discussion of where videogame design might best be suited in a Computer Science curriculum citing its attractiveness to non-Computer Science majors, its use as a way to introduce introductory programming concepts and as a way to help students learn to read code. While Game Maker is not sophisticated nor is it a substitute for teaching a standard programming language, it can be easily integrated into introductory Computer Science courses.


In this paper, we present LU-Logging, an eecient transaction recovery method. The method is based on exible-redo/minimal-undo algorithm. The paper describes an implementation which avoids the overheads of deferred updating used in previous no-undo implementations. An update by a transaction to a data record does not immediately update the data record. Instead, it generates a redo log record and associates it with the data page. Each page in the data base has an associated log page, which contains the still-uncommitted log records of the updates for the data page. The log page is read from and written to the disk along with the corresponding data page. This gives the exibility of applying the redo log records any time after the transaction commits, in particular when the data page is read by another transaction. We call this updating as lazy. For aborted transactions the redo log records are just discarded. Simulation studies show that the overhead during normal transaction processing for LU-Logging is comparable to that of traditional Logging. The crash recovery time is shown to be an order of magnitude faster than that for traditional Logging.


When small droplets are formed in the wet steam stage of a steam turbine, they may impact the blade surface at a high velocity and repetitive impacts cause water drop erosion, which emerges as one of the primary reliability concerns of the turbine. We propose an effective numerical framework that couples fluid mechanics with solid mechanics. The movements of water drops in a blade channel are analyzed based on the solution of the flow field of water steam in turbine, and impact statistics such as impact frequency, velocity, and position are obtained as the working condition and particle size are varied. A nonlinear wave model is established for high velocity liquid-solid impact, from which the characteristic impact pressure in liquid and peak impact stress in solid are obtained; the solutions are then superimposed with the pathways of water particles, and a fatigue analysis is carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of water drop erosion. The lifetime map on a blade surface with two different materials (1Cr13 and Ti-6Al-4V) under typical working conditions are obtained, in terms of operation hours, and the most dangerous water drop erosion regions and operating conditions of the steam turbine are deduced. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MRA2008025]


We present the analysis and measurements of scattering signals of a terahertz pulse scattering-type near-field microscope. We used a self-consistent line dipole image method for the quantitative analysis of the THz near-field interaction. The line scan across a gold film demonstrated that the terahertz microscope has a nanoscale resolution of ~80 nm. The measurements of scattering signals on gold and silicon substrates were in good agreement with calculations.


The land-use and cover changes are the major causes of the biodiversity loss. This is particularly true in the contexts of Alpine valley floor, where increasing human-driven pressures affect remnant habitats and fragile ecosystems. To pursue biodiversity conservation, aiming environmentally sustainable development, spatial planning should maintain landscape ecological functions in order to guarantee the habitats and supporting processes for as many species as possible. Besides, planners as well as other stakeholders involved in land-use changes need value-based information or at least information easily obtainable that provides clear insights on the ecological consequences of these land-use changes.
Currently, the assessments of the ecological impact of project or plan proposals have several shortcomings. Spatial planning often disregards the different biodiversity components, just focused on species richness of protected areas. Most of landscapeoriented indices fails especially in providing an understanding of disruptive changes of ecological processes.
A former project, to which I contributed, was meant to provide an assessment of biodiversity assets for the Trento Province (northern Italy) in order to support environmental decision by a decision support system: the Information System of Ecological Value, or Sistema Informativo della Sensibilita Ambientale (SISA). This has been furnishing to planners value-based information, through a reliable and transparent evaluation, based on expert judgments, but this has some limitations for contexts of the valley floor and concerning ecological processes.
The attempt to solve the above mentioned shortcomings and the SISA limitations fostered the motivation behind this study. To this end, a methodology for ecological assessment was proposed. The overall objective is to support land-use planning towards development of ecologically sustainable landscapes. In particular, the ecological assessment concerns the main processes supporting local biodiversity in human dominated and fragmented landscapes: habitat functioning and functional connectivity. The study has focused on one specific environmental context, i.e. the landscapes of the Alpine valley floor.
A secondary objective of the study was to develop a decision support system easily applicable by environmental agency officers or planners. This means requiring as few data as possible in order to permit reliable evaluation of planning ecological consequences even in the cases where poor data sets are available. These objectives were pursued through the following steps and intermediate objectives:
a) Review the current studies on ecological/biodiversity impact assessment applications, in order to identify the shortcomings and key-issues that need to be addressed (chapter 2).
b) Description of the relevant characteristics of targeted environment. In this study the chosen environment was Alpine valley floor, showing it requires urgent attention regarding biodiversity conservation (chapter 3).
c) Development of a methodology for the assessment of landscape ecological functioning, attempting to overcome the literature limitations reported from literature review (chapter 4)
d) Application of the proposed methodology on a case study within Alpine valler floor, to test the applicability and usefulness of the proposal (chapter 5 and 6).
The study derived the main theoretical foundation from landscape ecology; in particular, the main theoretical references were meta-population and spatial graph theory.
The proposed approach starts by acknowledging that patches of habitats are open or constrained by landscape barriers and interact with others throughout habitat networks. The evaluation approach relies on a dynamic, rather than a static, interpretation of ecosystems and living communities, by considering spatial attributes of habitat functioning. This is meant to include more components of biodiversity, rather than simple species number. Thus, different ecosystems could have been valued not only by the presence of species, but also by the virtue of the processes acting in the landscape and sustaining them.
The assessment framework involves three nested levels, each characterized by its own objects and properties, according to the complexity of hierarchical systems. The quality of each object depends on the quality of nearby objects at the same level and on the quality of upper-level (or lower-level) objects. This enables to evaluate "emergent properties" of a landscape; consequently allows assessing cumulative impacts on habitat functioning due to land-use changes, as shown in the case of master plans' mosaic for study area. The overall habitat loss resulted larger than that resulted by summation of single habitat losses.
The connectivity analyses include both structural and functional characteristics, using barrier effect and spatial graph concepts. Besides the distances, the species response to landscape features and finer-scale movement decisions are considered. The spatial graph of connectivity allows evaluating importance of patches by their contribution to overall connectivity. Thus, it permits to visualize remnant possible paths for species dispersal in highly fragmented areas. Moreover, the spatial-graph based approach allows assessing indirect impacts due to fragmentation. Since the loss of a habitatnode may affect not only nearby habitats but even the functioning of the whole habitat network, it is possible to scan the impacts "spreading" along the habitat networks.
The methodology output consists in a GIS-layer and rule sets hierarchically structured in a geodatabase. Once a land use changes, by performing the rule sets is possible update all related information providing assessment for land-use change scenarios (i.e. planning or project proposal).
The qualitative multi-attribute evaluation, proposed at the end of methodology procedure, performs a clear separation between prediction and assessment of impacts, according to guidelines for environmental impact assessment. This evaluation is meant to translate species-specific assessments into ecological relevance values.
This makes the proposed methodology suitable for EIA applications and consequently may support the same environmental decision targeted by the SISA project.


PROBLEMS IN NONLINEAR HOMOGENIZATION: BOUNDS, ESTIMATES, MACROSCOPIC INSTABILITIES, AND POST-BIFURCATION RESPONSE Joshua Robert Furer Pedro Ponte Castañeda Due to the ever-growing interest in composite materials designed with complex microstructures and capable of possessing exotic properties, it has become increasingly important to be able to accurately capture the interplay between the macroscopic response and the underlying microstructure, as the former is greatly influenced by the latter. Of the different approaches available, this thesis is concerned with the use of nonlinear homogenization to study the effective response of composites. We look to illustrate the effect that constitutive assumptions have on the methods by which such estimates can be obtained, and on the actual effective, or homogenized, response of the material. For materials whose constitutive response is governed by convex functions, we show how the convexity itself can be utilized to obtain rigorous bounds and improved estimates. We prove the optimality of variational linear comparison bounds over the class of nonlinear anisotropic composites with linearly isotropic response and introduce a new symmetric fully optimized second-order method which is able to generate estimates for the effective response of nonlinear composites. On the other hand, convexity is often inconsistent with certain physical requirements (e.g. objectivity). Such is the case of hyperelasticity, where the lack of convexity of the stored-energy functions has long been known to lead to the development of instabilities. We present a framework for studying the post-bifurcation response of such systems and apply it to a specific class of reinforced hyperelastic composites under general three-dimensional loading conditions. We also consider the class of magnetoelastic composites, which consist of hyperelastic materials that are also magnetically susceptible. Unlike in the case of hyperelasticity, there lacks a complete mathematical framework for obtaining the effective response of such materials, and researchers have only begun to investigate the potential for instabilities in these materials. We therefore generalize the same methodology used successfully in the purely mechanical context to study the post-bifurcation behavior of magneto-elastic composites. This in part requires a rigorous generalization of the theoretical aspects that underlie the iii method. We then calculate the post-bifurcation response of a magneto-elastic material under general plane-strain loading conditions with a magnetic field applied in the plane of deformation.


One of the fundamental organisational questions is how organisations identify anomalies, monitor and compare email communications between staff-staff or staff-clients or staff-customers relationships on a daily basis. The tenacious and substantial relationships are built by the combination of timely replies, frequent engagement and deep interaction between the individuals. To watchdog this periodically, we need an interactive visualisation tool that can help organisational analysts to reconnect some lost relationships and/or strengthen an existing relationship or in some cases identify inside persons (anomalies). From our point of view, Social Intelligence (SI) in an organisation is a combination of self-, social- and organisational-awareness that will help in managing complex socio-organisational changes and can be interpreted in terms of socio-organisational communication efficacy (that is, one's confidence in one's ability to deal with social and organisational information). We considered a case study, an Enron Organisation Email Scandal, to understand the relationships of staff during various parts of the years and we conducted a workshop study with legal experts to gain insights on how they carry out investigation/analysis with respect to email relationships. The outcomes of the workshop helped us develop a novel small multiples matrix-based visualisation in collaboration with our industrial partner, Red Sift UK, to find anomalies, monitor and compare how email relationships change over time and how it defines the meaning of socio-organisational communication efficacy.


Abstract: Cultural property offers a significant yet ambiguous example of the development of global regulatory regimes beyond the State. On the one hand, traditional international law instruments do not seem to ensure an adequate level of protection for cultural heritage; securing such protection requires procedures, norms and standards produced by global institutions, both public (such as UNESCO) and private (such as the International Council of Museums (ICOM)). On the other hand, a comprehensive global regulatory regime to complement the law of cultural property is still to be achieved. Instead, more regimes are being established, depending on the kind of properties and on the public interest at stake, although the complex of cultural property regimes appears to operate largely in isolation. Moreover, the huge cultural bias which dominates the debate about cultural property can accentuate the «clash of civilizations» and the cultural bias that already underlie the debate about global governance. The analysis of the relationship between globalization and cultural property allows us to shed light on broader global governance trends affecting areas such as the role of States in global regimes, the development of public-private partnerships, and the proliferation of global norms and procedures. Cultural property, however, keeps its specificity and peculiarities, and this helps highlight the points of weakness and of strength in the adoption of administrative law techniques at the global level.


A primary motivation for investing in hedge funds and commodity funds is to diversify against falling stock prices. The authors evaluate the performance of 16 different such funds during rising and falling stock markets between 1990 and 1998 both as stand–alone assets and as portfolio assets. They use the Sharpe ratio and alternative safety–first criteria to evaluate performance. The conclusion is that commodity funds generally provide more downside protection than hedge funds. Commodity funds have higher returns in bear markets than hedge funds, and generally have an inverse correlation with stock returns in bear markets. Hedge funds typically exhibit a higher positive correlation with stock returns in bear markets than in bull markets. Three hedge fund styles—market–neutral, event–driven, and global macro—provide fairly good downside protection with more attractive returns over all markets than commodity funds.


This paper studies the interest-rate-driven business cycles of a small open economy (SOE). For than end a costly operated banking system is added to the standard real-business-cycles model. Banks are the only domestic agents considered worthy of credit in international capital markets. They borrow from the rest of the world and lend domestically in a competitive credit market. Existent quantitative models of business cycles in SOE's indicate that interest-rate shocks are unable to cast the kind of output variability produced by productivity or terms-of-trade shocks. Contrary to this finding, it seems that the macroeconomic performances of several SOE's are tightly related to international interest rates and capital flows. Neumeyer and Perri (1999) points out that the introduction of working capital needs may close the gap between the standard model's predictions and the observed consequences of interest-rate shocks. This paper shows that a more careful analysis of the microfoundations of working capital may give rise to an intermediate position where working capital matters in explaining output fluctuations, but not as much as Neumayer and Perri suggest. For that end, the model is calibrated to the Argentinean economy.


Seven cases of tangential shrapnel injury of the spine with sensory and motor paralysis were discovered to have subdural arachnoid cysts with compression of the cord also. In one of them an extradural cyst coexisted. Detection of the cysts was only possible after myelographic screening of all cases of tangential trauma. The clinical, laboratory, radiological, surgical and histopathological data were studied. Follow-up for eight weeks was recorded including one case of recurrence of a cyst. A theory of the mechanism of injury and of the formation of the cysts is given. The number of cyst cases constituted about 33% of all tangential injuries, and 8.8% of all shrapnel injuries received in Maadi Hospital during the October Middle East Conflict, 1973. Removal of the cysts improved the prospects of neurological recovery.


A total of 36 reference case operating models for Atlantic bluefin tuna are described that span a range of scenarios for future recruitment dynamics, current abundance levels, natural mortality rate and age at maturity. Of these operating models 12 required fitting to historical data. The fits of these models to data are presented in this paper. The various operating models fitted similarly well to the indices and none appeared to warrant rejection from the reference set. The fitted reference operating models span a reasonably wide range of estimates for stock status and productivity. A number of fishery-independent and assessment CPUE indices had acceptable fitting diagnostics. These indices span younger and older life stages in both eastern and western areas and could index-based MPs of varying complexity.


Introducing competition into the NHS in England to try to drive up quality had the perverse effect of lowering it for some elective procedures, a team of economists from Surrey and York universities has found.

In a paper presented this week at the Royal Economic Society's conference in Warwick, the authors said that emergency readmissions after hip and knee replacements rose after patient choice was introduced between 2006 and 2008.1 Greater numbers of emergency readmissions imply a lower quality of care.

Emergency readmissions after hip replacements rose by 8.5% and after knee replacements by 7.7%, …


In the present study, several water recovery and end-of-pipe wastewater treatment alternatives were evaluated towards the evaluation of Best Available Techniques (BATs) for the management of wastewaters from a denim textile mill in accordance with the European Union's Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. For this purpose, an assessment that translates the key environmental aspects into a quantitative measure of environmental performance and also financial analysis was performed for each of the alternatives. The alternatives considered for water recovery from dyeing wastewaters were nanofiltration (NF) with coagulation and/or microfiltration (MF) pre-treatment, ozonation or peroxone and Fenton oxidation. On the other hand, for the end-of-pipe treatment of the mill's mixed wastewater, ozonation, Fenton oxidation, membrane bioreactor (MBR) and activated sludge (AS) process followed by membrane filtration technologies were evaluated. The results have indicated that membrane filtration process with the least environmental impacts is the BAT for water recovery. On the other side, MBR technology has appeared as the BAT for the end-of-pipe treatment of the mill's mixed wastewater. A technical and financial comparison of these two BAT alternatives revealed that water recovery via membrane filtration from dyeing wastewaters is selected as the BAT for the water and wastewater management in the mill.


Using weekly stock-bond correlations estimated with highfrequency data, the authors find that a lower (more negative) stock-bond correlation forecasts falling 10-year interest rates over the coming weeks. It also forecasts falling oneyear interest rates over the next year. The reverse is true when the stock-bond correlation is higher (more positive). Therefore investors, in particular those with long-term, bond-like liabilities, should take greater duration risk when the recent stock-bond correlations are lower. The authors propose two possible explanations of such predictive power: (1) the markets and/or policymakers' underreaction to the changing economic conditions the stock-bond correlation implies; and (2) the markets' initial underreaction to the long-term bonds' safe-haven status.


Preface. 1 Electromagnetic radiation. 1.1 Brief history of the interaction of light and matter. 1.2 Light in vacuum. 1.3 Matter-source of light. 2 Phenomenology of light propagation in matter. 2.1 Absorption of light. 2.2 Nonlinear absorption. 2.3 Index of refraction. 2.4 Optical phenomena in nonisotropic media. 2.5 Electric field effects. 2.6 Acousto-optic effects. 2.7 Magnetic field effects. 3 The interaction of light and matter. 3.1 Lorentz force law. 3.2 Motion of a charged particle in static electric and magnetic fields. 3.3 Motion of a bound electron in an electromagnetic field. 3.4 Radiation due to acceleration of charges. 3.5 Multipole radiation. 3.6 Scattering of a light wavepacket. 3.7 Cooling and trapping of atoms. 4 Magnetic phenomena, constitutive relations and plasmas. 4.1 Magnetic moments. 4.2 Magnetization. 4.3 Magnetic resonance. 4.4 Polarization and magnetization as source terms. 4.5 Atomistic derivation of macroscopic electromagnetism and the constitutive relations. 4.6 Microscopic polarizability and macroscopic polarization. 4.7 Dielectric relaxation. 4.8 Plasmas 275 5 Quantum description of absorption, emission and light scattering. 5.1 Charged particle in an electromagnetic field. 5.2 Absorption and emission. 5.3 Rayleigh and Raman scattering. 5.4 Thomson scattering. 6 Spectroscopy. 6.1 Atoms. 6.2 Molecules. 6.3 Diatomic molecules. 6.4 Polyatomic molecules. 6.5 Condensed-phase materials. 7 Lasers. 7.1 Laser dynamics. 7.2 Threshold. 7.3 Steady state. 7.4 Pulsed laser operation. 7.5 Cavity modes. 7.6 Amplified spontaneous emission. 7.7 Laser linewidth. 7.8 Laser coherence. 7.9 Specific laser systems. 8 Nonlinear optics. 8.1 Expansion of the polarization in the electric field. 8.2 Phase-matching. 8.3 Second harmonic generation. 8.4 Three-wave mixing. 8.5 Third harmonic generation. 8.6 Self-focusing and self-phase modulation. 8.7 Four-wave mixing. 8.8 Stimulated Raman processes. 8.9 Stimulated Brillouin processes. 8.10 Nonlinear matter-wave optics. 9 Quantum-optical processes. 9.1 Interaction of a two-level system with an electromagnetic field. 9.2 Liouville-von Neumann equation for the density matrix. 9.3 Three-level system. 9.4 Coherent states and squeezed states. 9.5 The Jaynes-Cummings model. 9.6 Interaction between modes of a quantum field. 10 Light propagation in optical fibers and introduction to optical communication systems. 10.1 Fiber characteristics. 10.2 Transverse modes of an optical fiber. 10.3 Nonlinear processes in fibers. 10.4 Fiber-optic communication systems. Appendices. Appendix A: vector analysis. Appendix B: Electromagnetism and Maxwell's equations. Appendix C: Quantum mechanics and the Schr..odinger equation. Appendix D: perturbation theory. Appendix E: Fundamental constants. References. Bibliography. Index.


In this paper, a transient preventive control method for wind power system, based on the information of generator power angle, angular velocity and voltage, is proposed. The objective function is the minimum of the total control amount. The required preventive control action can be efficiently solved via a linear programming model with the phase trajectory sensitivities-based constraints. The method aims to keep the online preventive transient stability with the wind power integration. The validity of the method is verified through 2DC system.


In a previously reported retrospective study of 32 prelingually and postlingually deaf adult Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant users, multiple parameters were analyzed to determine which were predictive of postimplant speech recognition. Duration of deafness divided by age at implantation, and the psychophysical measures of 1) the threshold slope function (50 to 400 Hz) and 2) detection threshold at 400 Hz obtained preimplantation by means of a round window ball electrode were found to correlate most highly with postimplant performance. A more recent prospective study of 22 consecutive perilingually and postlingually deaf adult Nucleus users has reaffirmed the previous findings. Results revealed a highly significant correlation (r = .873, p < .0001, df = 20) between estimated and realized speech perception. In view of these findings, it would appear that there are variables that can be used preoperatively to predict perilingually and postlingually deaf adults' speech performance. The implications of these findings with respect to patient counseling and realistic expectations both for the patient and the implant team are obvious.


While most sexual offender treatment programs take an aggressive, confrontational approach that targets the offenders' denial, research has shown that this common approach does not alter actual criminogenic factors related to reoffence rate. Furthermore, this approach can alienate and demoralise offenders, who often report ""not getting anything out of it."" Over the past 40 years, William Marshall and colleagues have developed and refined a motivational, strength-based approach emphasising warmth, empathy, and support for the offenders. Backed by research, this positive approach does not ignore criminogenic factors, but presents them to clients as targets for the development of strengths rather than as deficits to be overcome. The approach has paid off: such programmes in both prison and community settings consistently achieve a broad range of treatment targets and reduce recidivism for both sexual and nonsexual crimes. This book presents the evolution and distinctive features of Marshall's positive approach to treating sexual offenders. The first five chapters review research and theory on sexual offender treatment, including assessment, procedural factors, personal and interpersonal factors (such as therapist features, therapeutic alliance, and group climate), problems with common cognitive-behavioural approaches, and evaluation of treatment programmes. The last three chapters describe three treatment programs developed by Marshall and colleagues for the Canadian prison system: the Preparatory Program, which engages sexual offenders in the process of change before the main treatment program begins; the Primary Program, which targets criminogenic factors that are known to predict reoffence (problems with attitudes and cognitions, self-regulation, relationships, and sexual issues); and the Deniers' Program, which also targets criminogenic factors but is tailored to the specific needs of those who deny committing a sexual offence. This landmark volume will challenge how sexual offender treatment is typically conducted. It is essential reading for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, and parole and probation officers working with sexual offenders.


This science-fiction prototype comprises two stories discussing potential futures of human hearing. The stories focus on the potential consequences of two speculative factors affecting human behaviour and societies: 1) sound conditioning technology, and 2) the mass hearing impairment. The stories will also be presented in a gallery space by means of the communicating arts: a prototype, moving image and a performance. By confronting the science-fiction prototype with the public, a possibility of educating the audience and collecting feedback is identified. This feedback can be used to inform scientific research and product design in the future.


OBJECTIVE
The effect of bundling and ambient heat on newborn body temperature has not been systematically studied. It was hypothesized that bundling and warm environments can elevate the newborn's temperatures to the range that would prompt clinical concern of neonatal sepsis.

METHODS
Twenty well, term newborns more than 1 day old were assigned to the control group (one blanket; 24.0 degrees C room) or the experimental group (five blankets and hat; 26.6 degrees C room). Continuous rectal probe temperatures were monitored over a 2 1/2-hour period.

RESULTS
There were 8 control and 12 experimental newborns. The mean change in rectal temperature after 2 1/2 hours was -0.04 degrees C (SD +/- 0.23) in control newborns and +0.56 degrees C (SD +/- 0.12) in the treatment group (P < .0001, t test). Temperatures in the treatment group rose, after an initial half-hour lag, at a linear rate of 0.27 degrees C per hour without a plateau. Two newborns reached 38.0 degrees C, a rectal temperature that may raise concern of infection.

CONCLUSIONS
Bundling and warm environments can elevate newborn body temperature to the "febrile" range in this age group. Physicians treating neonates with elevated temperature should ask about bundling and environmental conditions to differentiate endogenous from exogenous "fevers."