Gamma oscillations are involved in long-range coupling of distant regions that support various cognitive operations. Here we show in adult male rats that synchronized bursts of gamma oscillations bind the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during slow oscillations and slow-wave sleep, a brain state that is central for consolidation of memory traces. These gamma bursts entrained the firing of the local HPC and mPFC neuronal populations. Neurons of the nucleus reuniens (NR), which is a structural and functional hub between HPC and mPFC, demonstrated a specific increase in their firing before gamma burst onset, suggesting their involvement in HPC–mPFC binding. Chemical inactivation of NR disrupted the temporal pattern of gamma bursts and their synchronization, as well as mPFC neuronal firing. We propose that the NR drives long-range hippocampo–prefrontal coupling via gamma bursts providing temporal windows for information exchange between the HPC and mPFC during slow-wave sleep. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Long-range coupling between hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is believed to support numerous cognitive functions, including memory consolidation occurring during sleep. Gamma-band synchronization is a fundamental process in many neuronal operations and is instrumental in long-range coupling. Recent evidence highlights the role of nucleus reuniens (NR) in consolidation; however, how it influences hippocampo–prefrontal coupling is unknown. In this study, we show that HPC and mPFC are synchronized by gamma bursts during slow oscillations in anesthesia and natural sleep. By manipulating and recording the NR–HPC–mPFC network, we provide evidence that the NR actively promotes this long-range gamma coupling. This coupling provides the hippocampo–prefrontal circuit with a novel mechanism to exchange information during slow-wave sleep.


Among adolescent girls and women, higher weight status is associated with greater body dissatisfaction and weight concerns. This study investigated the etiology of body dissatisfaction and weight concerns among 5-year-old girls by assessing associations among girls' and parents' weight status, body dissatisfaction, and weight concerns. Weight status, body dissatisfaction, and weight concerns were assessed for 197 5-year-old girls and their parents, and relationships among these variables were investigated using multiple regression in the form of path analysis. For girls and parents, higher weight status was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, which in turn was associated with higher weight concerns. No direct relationship was found between girls' weight status and girls' weight concerns. Girls' body dissatisfaction and mothers' weight concerns, however, were independently and positively associated with higher weight concerns among girls. In conclusion, relationships among weight status, body dissatisfaction, and weight concerns for 5-year-old girls parallel those reported among adults. In addition, results suggest that the etiology of weight concerns in young girls may be linked to girls' subjective evaluations of their weight status (body dissatisfaction) in combination with weight concerns expressed by their mothers.


Background: Vitreoretinal surgery is associated with undesirable intraoperative and postoperative complications including pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and oculocardiac reflex (OCR). Systemic analgesics have side effects and are contraindicated in some cases. We hypothesized that the preoperative sub-Tenon's injection of levobupivacaine with general anesthesia would decrease postoperative pain and intraocular pressure as well as the incidence of complication. Methods: Eighty patients who were presented for vitreoretinal surgery, aged 30–60 years, were enrolled in the study. General anesthesia was administrated to all patients; then, they were randomized into two equal groups (40 each) – Group I: patients received 5 mL placebo solution for sub-Tenon's block and Group II: patients received 4 mL levobupivacaine 0.5% in 1 mL saline for sub-Tenon's block. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a verbal pain scale. Surgeon satisfaction, postoperative analgesic consumption, and perioperative hemodynamics were also reported. Results: Verbal rating pain scores were significantly lower at the first 6 h postoperative in Group II (sub-Tenon's levobupivacaine) compared to Group I (sub-Tenon's placebo). First analgesic rescue time and total dose of analgesic consumption were significantly reduced in Group II compared to Group I. There was a lower incidence of OCR with sub-Tenon's levobupivacaine (Group II), also surgeon satisfaction was significantly superior in the same group. Conclusion: The combination of general anesthesia with sub-Tenon's block using levobupivacaine in retinal surgery patients reduces pain scores after surgery; total analgesia requirement also decreases the incidence of OCR.


Introduction Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV) is used to treat central sleep apnoea (CSA), but evidence for its use is limited. A large trial, SERVE-HF, randomised patients with CSA and left ventricular heart failure to ASV or control. Their results led to a field safety notice in May 2015, advising ASV is contraindicated in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Sleep Centres therefore reviewed ASV in clinical practice; we sought information about ASV use in the UK. Methods A survey was sent to 187 UK sleep centres, asking about the use of ASV. Results Seventy-five surveys were returned (40% response rate). ASV was not used in 53% of centres. Of the 47% (n = 35) of sleep centres using ASV, the average number of patients on ASV per centre was 13 (range 1–69). For comparison, the average number on CPAP was 3368 (range 100–12000). Of the 454 patients using ASV, the reasons are shown in Table 1.Abstract P113 Table 1 N (total 454) % 149 33 CSA with Cheyne Stokes Respiration (CSR) 126 28 "Central" 61 13 Mixed sleep apnoea 61 13 Reasons not stated/unclear 23 5 Complex sleep apnoea 22 5 Due to opioid/narcotic use 12 3 "Idiopathic"/other causes Following the field safety notice, 66% of centres reviewed patients in clinic. Others contacted patients by phone (45%) or in writing (31%), or used a combination of these. Five centres did not contact their patients and five centres had to run between one and two additional clinics to review their ASV patients. Some repeated echocardiography. Seventy-two (48%) CSA-CSR patients were advised to stop using ASV. Fifteen chose to continue, 32 changed to CPAP/NIV, 14 stopped ASV, 11 were not specified. Clinicians rated ASV as very useful (26%), quite useful (23%) and occasionally useful (49%). Conclusions There is a wide range of clinical ASV use in sleep centres across the UK; many do not use it. Apart from SERVE-HF, there are few randomised clinical trials to inform who would benefit from ASV. Use may be determined by case series, expert opinion and individual response. This highlights the need for further research in this area.


Abstract
 All Onagraceae for which data are available have vestured pits on vessel-to-vessel pit pairs. Vestures may also be present in some species on the vessel side of vessel-to-ray pit pairs. Herbaceous Onagraceae do not have fewer vestures, although woods with lower density (Circaea L. and Oenothera L.) have fewer vestures. Some Onagraceae from drier areas tend to have smaller vessel pits, and on that account may have fewer vestures (Epilobium L. and Megacorax S. González & W. L. Wagner). Pit apertures as seen on the lumen side of vessel walls are elliptical, occasionally oval, throughout the family. Vestures are predominantly attached to pit aperture margins. As seen from the outer surfaces of vessels, vestures may extend across the pit cavities. Vestures are usually absent or smaller on the distal portions of pit borders (except for Ludwigia L., which grows consistently in wet areas). Distinctive vesture patterns were observed in the several species of Lopezia Cav. and in Xylonagra Donn. Sm. & Rose. Vestures spread onto the lumen-facing vessel walls of Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P. H. Raven. Although the genera are presented here in the sequence of a recent molecular phylogeny of Onagraceae, ecology and growth forms are more important than evolutionary relationships with respect to abundance, degree of grouping, and morphology of vestured pits. Designation of vesture types is not warranted based on the distribution of named types in Onagraceae and descriptive adjectives seem more useful, although more data on vesturing in the family are needed before patterns of diversity and their extent can be fully ascertained. Vestures are less common and may have a more complicated genetic basis than helical thickenings in vessels, but may be a more effective form of water column maintenance.


The surface snow density of glaciers and ice sheets is of fundamental importance in converting volume to mass in both altimetry and surface mass balance studies, yet it is often poorly constrained. Site-specific surface snow densities are typically derived from empirical relations based on temperature and wind speed. These parameterizations commonly calculate the average density of the top meter of snow, thereby systematically overestimating snow density at the actual surface. Therefore, constraining surface snow density to the top 0.1 m can improve boundary conditions in high-resolution firn-evolution modeling. We have compiled an extensive dataset of 200 point measurements of surface snow density from firn cores and snow pits on the Greenland ice sheet. We find that surface snow density within 0.1 m of the surface has an average value of 315 kg m−3 with a standard deviation of 44 kg m−3, and has an insignificant annual air temperature dependency. We demonstrate that two widely-used surface snow density parameterizations dependent on temperature systematically overestimate surface snow density over the Greenland ice sheet by 17–19%, and that using a constant density of 315 kg m−3 may give superior results when applied in surface mass budget modeling.


On December 8, 2003, the United States Department of the Interior issued proposed amendments to the regulations governing livestock grazing on over 160 million acres of western public lands managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). According to the Federal Register notice proposing the amendments, they are designed to 'improve working relationships with permittees' and to 'protect the health of rangelands.' However, the amendments would exclude the non-ranching public from critical BLM decision making by deleting requirements for consultation with interested parties when BLM issues, modifies, or renews grazing permits. The amendments would also repeal some environmental standards applicable to public rangelands, delay implementation of others, and impose data collection requirements that would render most such standards unenforceable. Finally, by allowing livestock ranchers to hold title to range improvements and water rights on public lands, the amendments would limit BLM's ability to manage these lands for public purposes including wildlife conservation, recreation, and watershed protection. An internal draft of an environmental impact statement (EIS), prepared by BLM staff, revealed some of the negative environmental consequences of the proposed regulatory amendments. However, before it could be released to the public, the internal draft was replaced by a sanitized draft EIS with the critical portions removed. This article exposes the degree to which the proposed regulations close the door to improved management of the public lands, and encourages reconsideration of those regulations before they become final.


The past editors are pleased to present last year's best paper award for Volume 13 of the Journal of Map & Geography Libraries to Ms. Tamar Ganor for her article "An Integrated Spatial Search Engine for Maps and Aerial Photographs on a Google Maps API Platform." The article was published in the second issue. This article presents a unique approach to collection discovery through a spatial search engine that accommodates the unique spatial metadata components found in maps and aerial photographs. Ganor outlines the problems associated with attempting a single search of both maps and aerial photos based on these variations, and then describes the concepts and technologies to support this alternate approach. This article is a clearly written overview with a timeline of processes. It also provides specific details about the HuFind platform and its outcomes. It is supported with helpful illustrations and meaningful background research and references. Ganor states, "[t]his article presents the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's (HUJI) map and aerial photograph collections and the spatial search engine that was developed in order to provide users with a tool to conduct preliminary independent research, enable access to material that is stored in closed stacks, and introduce complementary cartographic collections side-by-side. The rationale for displaying both material types together is discussed and the process of devising such a search engine is portrayed. This article also presents other spatial search engines that address these issues in different ways, as well as future prospects for the HUJI platform." The additional unique aspect of this research, beyond that it successfully integrates spatial search outcomes between and across two cartographic formats, is that it encompasses the country of Israel. The Best Paper Award Committee believes that Ganor's concept, technical approach, and presentation of research will offer valuable new insights and will enable and inspire others with geospatial data platforms to learn from the processes that she has described. In addition, Ganor's work serves as a positive example of collaboration between different


Purpose

Problem solving is a skill in mathematics which although always relevant has heightened priority due to the changes in the new mathematics GCSE (Department for Education, 2013). It has previously been a skill which is deemed underdeveloped within mathematics and therefore is a theme which teachers are seeking to improve and nurture in order to align with the new changes. The GCSE is the formal qualification that students take at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) in the UK. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of the enquiry was to explore, using lesson studies, the differences in students' approaches to problem solving. Consequently, key themes relating to the mediation of gender, ability, and academic motivation surfaced. Considering these themes, the paper subsequently reflects upon pedagogical practices which might effectively develop students' ability to problem solve. The study took part in a mixed gender comprehensive secondary school with students taking part in the observation lesson ranging in age from 11 to 12 years old. The authors are the teachers who took part in the lesson study. The teachers implemented observation techniques in the form of video and peer observation with the accompanying teacher. In addition, students provided feedback on how they approached the problem-solving tasks through a form of semi-structured interviews, conducted via the use of video diaries where no teachers were present to prevent power bias. Following this, a thematic analysis of both the observations and student video diaries generated conclusions regarding how said key themes shaped the students' approaches to problem solving.

Findings

Students' frustration and competitive need to find a specific answer inhibited their ability to thoroughly explore the problem posed thus overseeing vital aspects needed to solve the problem set. Many students expressed a passion for problem solving due to its freedom and un-rigid nature, which is something teachers should nurture.

Originality/value

Generally, teachers are led by a culture in which attainment is the key. However, an atmosphere should be developed where the answer is not the key and students can explore the vibrant diversity mathematics and problem solving can offer.


Purpose The purpose of this project was to determine the spectrum and frequency of mutations in the small nuclear riboprotein 200 kDa gene (SNRNP200) that cause autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Methods A well-characterized adRP cohort of 251 families was tested for mutations in the exons and intron/exon junctions of SNRNP200 using fluorescent dideoxy sequencing. An additional 21 adRP families from the eyeGENE® Network were tested for possible mutations. Bioinformatic and segregation analysis was performed on novel variants. Results SNRNP200 mutations were identified in seven of the families tested. Two previously reported mutations, p.Arg681Cys and p.Ser1087Leu, were found in two families each. One family had the previously reported p.Arg681His mutation. Two novel SNRNP200 variants, p.Pro682Ser and p.Ala542Val, were also identified in one family each. Bioinformatic and segregation analyses suggested that these novel variants are likely to be pathogenic. Clinical examination of patients with SNRNP200 mutations showed a wide range of clinical symptoms and severity, including one instance of non-penetrance. Conclusions Mutations in SNRNP200 caused 1.6% of disease in our adRP cohort. Pathogenic mutations were found primarily in exons 16 and 25, but the novel p.Ala542Val mutation in exon 13 suggests that variation in other genetic regions is also responsible for causing dominant disease. SNRNP200 mutations were associated with a wide range of clinical symptoms similar to those of individuals with other splice-factor gene mutations.


In recent years, alternative medicine is increasingly used among physicians and researchers. Lack of success in controlling chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer by conventional medicine, and public acceptance of alternative medicine, due to the use of herbal and natural medicines instead of chemicals, are the major reasons for this trend. Iranian traditional medicine is a school based on humeral medicine. There is difference between diagnostic model of traditional medicine and that of conventional medicine. In this approach, diagnosis and treatment are based on identifying the temperament and returning it to health state, if it is not in the normal state. Then we should consider the causes of deviation of temperament from health state. Male erectile dysfunction is a common disorder that Iranian traditional medicine has offered some effective treatments for it. Erectile dysfunction is inability to achieve or maintain an erection to engage in sexual intercourse. Before 1992, erectile dysfunction was equal to impotence which included orgasm dysfunction and premature ejaculation, as well. Nowadays, there are effective remedies including oral, local or infusional treatments for erectile dysfunction. These treatments, however, have a lot of side effects and do not result in complete cure. In Iranian traditional medicine, impotence is known as weakness of Baah and its treatment is based on involving chief organs (heart, liver and brain) and returning them to health temperament. Most of these remedies involve prevention and regimen. Although there are a lot of discrepancies between conventional and traditional treatments, the traditional interventions can be investigated in clinical trials. This research aimed to facilitate further research for those without familiarity with basics of Iranian medicine in this connection.


Automated journalism—the use of algorithms to translate data into narrative news content—is enabling all manner of outlets to increase efficiency while scaling up their reporting in areas as diverse as financial earnings and professional baseball. With these technological advancements, however, come serious risks. Algorithms are not good at interpreting or contextualizing complex information, and they are subject to biases and errors that ultimately could produce content that is misleading or false, even libelous. It is imperative, then, to examine how libel law might apply to automated news content that harms the reputation of a person or an organization.
 Conducting that examination from the perspective of U.S. law, because of its uniquely expansive constitutional protections in the area of libel, it appears that the First Amendment would cover algorithmic speech—meaning that the First Amendment's full supply of tools and principles, and presumptions would apply to determine if particular automated news content would be protected. In the area of libel, the most significant issues come under the plaintiff's burden to prove that the libelous content was published by the defendant (with a focus on whether automated journalism would qualify for immunity available to providers of interactive computer services) and that the content was published through the defendant's fault (with a focus on whether an algorithm could behave with the actual malice or negligence usually required to satisfy this inquiry). There is also a significant issue under the opinion defense, which provides broad constitutional protection for statements of opinion (with a focus on whether an algorithm itself is capable of having beliefs or ideas, which generally inform an opinion).


In 2019, Madagascar experienced the nation's largest documented measles outbreak ever. From September 2018 to January 2020, nearly 225,000 individuals were infected, slightly more than 1,000 of whom died. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world with one of the least funded health systems. Here, we present the experience of how Madagascar's Ministry of Health (MoH) partnered with a non-governmental organization, PIVOT, to rapidly respond to a measles outbreak in the rural district of Ifanadiana, in the southeast of the country. The epidemic reached Ifanadiana in January of 2019. By August, there were more than 4,800 identified cases of suspected measles, including 157 hospitalizations. Over the course of two weeks in February 2019, the MoH and PIVOT mobilized nine teams of 220 total staff to vaccinate 69,949 children aged 6 months to 10 years at schools and community events. Surrounding the campaign, health workers were trained in measles identification and provided with medication for symptom management. The measles response required overcoming health system weaknesses and geographic barriers which are endemic throughout the country and create chronic challenges for the provision of routine preventive and curative care. This response demonstrates that rapid mobilization of an organized health system response is feasible even in hard-to-reach areas.


Deflection was adopted as control criteria in asphalt pavement construction quality management in China. Static parameters and Burmister layered system were used to calculate deflection in existing design procedure, but the difference between the deflections calculated from this way and deflections measured from FWD could reach 50%. This study introduced a deflection synthetic correction coefficient, F, to shorten the difference gap. Through Deflections collected from indoor and in-field full scale test sections combined with test roads in six freeways, meanwhile, ABAQUS was used to create three dimension finite element module to simulate the response of test sections and calculate their deflections under moving vehicle loads, then comparison was conducted between deflections measured by FWD and deflections calculated from ABAQUS. Finally, the grey entropy theory was utilized to determine the influence factors which are prepared for constructing the formula of F. The study concluded that the difference between calculated deflection after correction and deflection measured in field decreased to 30%, which enhanced the precision of management of construction quality through surface deflection, and an encouraging way to judge the reasonability of deflection measured by FWD.


A short-turnaround graphical hard-copy system called Stare 2 has been designed and is in use at Bell Telephone Laboratories. It produces prints using a 1024x1436 matrix of overlapping dots on 11-by 17-in paper, at a speed of 2 to 10 prints per min. The system is connected to a large central computer (IBM System/370 Model 165), thus making pictures available within seconds of a program run. The output mechanism is a Gould Clevite 4800 electrographic printer with the stylus assembly modified to permit overlapping dots. A DEC PDP-15 computer controls the printer and also converts the data to the format required to drive the printer. Output may be produced at a location remote from the central computer since the connection to the hard-copy system is via a 2000-Bd transmission system.


OBJECTIVES
Progress notes communicate providers' assessments of patients' diagnoses, progress, and treatment plans; however, providers perceive that note quality has degraded since the introduction of electronic health records. In this study, we aimed to (1) develop a tool to evaluate progress note assessments and plans with high interrater reliability and (2) assess whether a bundled intervention was associated with improved intern note quality without delaying note file time.

METHODS
An 8-member stakeholder team developed a 19-item progress note assessment and plan evaluation (PNAPE) tool and bundled intervention consisting of a new note template and intern training curriculum. Interrater reliability was evaluated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. Blinded assessors then used PNAPE to evaluate assessment and plan quality in pre- and postintervention notes (fall 2017 and 2018).

RESULTS
PNAPE revealed high internal interrater reliability between assessors (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.66-0.95). Total median PNAPE score increased from 13 (interquartile range [IQR]: 12-15) to 15 (IQR: 14-17; P = .008), and median file time decreased from 4:30 pm (IQR: 2:33 pm-6:20 pm) to 1:13 pm (IQR: 12:05 pm-3:59 pm; P < .001) in pre- and postintervention notes. In the postintervention period, a higher proportion of assessments and plans indicated the primary problem requiring ongoing hospitalization and progress of this problem (P = .0016 and P < .001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
The PNAPE tool revealed high reliability between assessors, and the bundled intervention may be associated with improved intern note assessment and plan quality without delaying file time. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether these improvements can be sustained throughout residency and reproduced in future intern cohorts and other inpatient settings.


This thesis attempts to find the least-cost strategy to reduce CO2 emission by replacing coal by other energy sources for electricity generation in the context of the proposed EPA's regulation on CO2 emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. An ARIMA model is built to forecast coal consumption for electricity generation and its CO2 emissions in Michigan from 2016 to 2020. CO2 emission reduction costs are calculated under three emission reduction scenariosreduction to 17%, 30% and 50% below the 2005 emission level. The impacts of Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the intermittency of renewable energy are also discussed. The results indicate that in most cases natural gas will be the best alternative to coal for electricity generation to realize CO2 reduction goals; if the PTC for wind power will continue after 2015, a natural gas and wind combination approach could be the best strategy based on the least-cost criterion.


This report discusses the currently volatile political and security situation in Chad. Some issues Chad is currently facing include ethnic clashes, banditry, and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; a large number of displaced persons who have fled Chad to the neighboring nation of Cameroon; an increasing number of refugee influx from the nearby troubled regions of the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan's Darfur; and inadequate security forces.


This paper deals with the generalization to three-dimensional elasticity of the physically-based approach to non-local mechanics, recently proposed by the authors in one-dimensional case. The proposed model assumes that the equilibrium of a volume element is attained by contact forces between adjacent elements and by long-range central forces exerted by non-adjacent elements. Specifically, the long-range forces are modeled as central body forces depending on the relative displacements between the centroids of the volume elements, measured along the line connecting the centroids. Furthermore, the long-range forces are assumed to be proportional to a proper, material-dependent, distance-decaying function and to the products of the interacting volumes. Consistently with the modeling of the long-range forces as central body forces, the static boundary conditions enforced on the free surface of the solid involve only local stress due to contact forces. The model coalesces with the well-known Kröner-Eringen (KE) integral model of non-local elasticity for unbounded domains but it remains substantially different in case of bounded domain.


Petri Net is an important tool of modeling asynchronous and subsequent events. The asynchronous circuit which represented by asynchronous processor has been given great attention for its advantage in solving clock skew and reducing power consuming. A major problem is the absence of mature asynchronous EDA (Electronic Design Automatic) tools to support the asynchronous design style. In this paper we will study the asynchronous circuit by using Petri net method which can describe the behavior of circuits in low-level, including sequential information and describe concurrent behavior clearly. It doesn't depend on the EDA tools which is designed for asynchronous circuit. We also construct a Petri model of an asynchronous controller, then simulating and implement. At last implement a FIFO by this way. The result shows that it can design the asynchronous circuit efficiently.


Potato peels (PP) are a major agri-food side-stream originating from potato processing, but to date, their green valorization as a bioresource of antioxidant polyphenols is limited to extraction processes involving mainly water/ethanol-based solvents, whereas other eco-friendly methodologies are scarce. This study aimed at developing a simple, straight-forward and green extraction methodology to effectively recover PP polyphenols, using hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). After an initial assay to identify the optimal HP-β-CD concentration that would provide increased extraction yield, optimization based on response surface methodology enabled maximization of the extraction performance, providing a total polyphenol yield of 17.27 ± 0.93 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent g−1 dry mass, at 30 °C. Testing of temperatures higher than 30 °C and up to 80 °C did not favor higher yields. The extracts obtained with HP-β-CD were slightly richer in polyphenols than extracts prepared with conventional solvents, such as aqueous ethanol and methanol, displaying similar antioxidant characteristics. The major polyphenols that could be identified in the extracts were neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acids. The outcome of this study demonstrated that HP-β-CD may be used as a highly effective green means of recovering PP polyphenols, at near-ambient temperature.


Using writing as a means of inquiry, I aim to analyse a change over-time in my creative writing and consider what this change tells me about myself. In doing so, I endeavour to explore creative writing as both a research and a therapeutic tool and to be innovative in the presentation of research. I intend to encourage all therapists, academics and researchers to uninhibitedly dive into their creative selves in order to become more reflexive and gain understanding, as well as for the pure enjoyment of it.


This study introduced a new approach for coastal erosion and sedimentation monitoring. In doing so, the airbone topographic synthetic aperture radar (TOPSAR) polarized data is used with the conventional techniques of mapping shoreline rate changes, which is based on the estimation of historical vector layers. The main problem for shoreline identification is raised up due to speckles impact. Therefore, the speckle reductions are performed by using an adaptive filter algorithm to identify the coastline edge morphology. In this context, Lee algorithm, combination of linear contrast, Gaussian and histogram equalization enhancement is used. Thus the manual vector layer digitizing is applied to extract the coastline for the different polarized bands. Further, the accuracy assement is determined based on the statistical analysis of T-test. Indeed, T-test is used to determine the significant distinction between the TOPSAR different polarized bands. For more precisely, SPOT satellite data are used with near real time in situ measurements to determine appropriate band for shoreline change estimation. The results show that the C vv band is performed better than other bands with root mean square error of ± 0.9 m and r 2 of 0.73. This confirms with T-test in which there is a major difference between C and L bands.


This article investigates, both theoretically and empirically, the relationships between democratization, gender equality and peace. We argue that there is a need to scrutinize both the level of democracy as well as the level of masculine hegemony in societies. Methodologically, we use a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses to support our argument. We employ regression analysis to show that the relationship between the extent of democracy and the representation of women in politics appears, at first glance, to be nonexistent but turns out to be a curvilinear one. We also show that democracy can facilitate peace, but only in interaction with the level of political gender equality, so that more democratic societies are more peaceful only if there have been moves to gender equality. Our interpretation of these findings is illustrated by the contemporary politics of Thailand. Recent political violence in southern Thailand can be accounted for in the context of it being only partly democratized, where a culture of militarized masculinity persists alongside with, and even within, democratic institutions. Such a culture makes it both difficult for women to enter the political sphere, despite democratic elections, and fosters political violence.


This is an inquiry into the problem of how practicing educators can build the conviction to act in response to social and ethical concerns they hold about technology and education. The inquiry is essentially philosophical in that it consists of a close examination of the language, concepts, and meanings people employ in thinking and talking about these matters. It is not an empirical study of the nature, extent, or frequency of teachers' concerns about computers nor of the ways they actually do respond to their concerns. Rather, it is an effort to show by example how educators who are concerned about one issue—dehumanization—could examine their concern and reach a responsible, informed judgment about its validity and seriousness. The method we use to examine these concerns combines the conceptual analysis characteristic of analytic philosophy with the review and interpretation of social science research on important empirical questions. We refer to this as a grounded approach. The goal of the inquiry is to use the grounded approach to examine and evaluate one particular set of concerns and to show how it can offer responsible educators a justifiable basis for acting (or refraining from action) on their concerns.


Summary In developing and transition economies, microlending has become an effective instrument for providing micro businesses with the necessary financial resources to launch operations. In industrialized countries, with their highly developed banking systems, however, there has been ongoing debate on the question of whether an uncovered demand for microlending services exists. The present pilot study explores customer preferences formicrolending products in Germany. Among the interviewed business owners, 15 % reported revolving funding needs and an interest in microloans. We find that potential recipients of microloan products are retail business owners, foreign business owners, and persons who had previously received private loans. Furthermore, financial products should feature rapid access to short-term loans.


A position-finding method for machining huge workpiece is presented in this paper, and the principle of intelligent position-finding machining system is proposed. Based on automatic determining the position and orientation of the fixed workpiece frame relative to the movable machine-tool frame, the position-finding model is erected and solved by modified Euler angle and Hong-Tan algorithm. The theoretical analysis and simulation examples demonstrate the validity of the proposed method, and the results indicate that the method is suitable for machining huge workpiece in significant scientific projects.


ABSTRACT As discourses of globalisation and the knowledge-based economy become increasingly influential in both policy-making and in public debates about education, employability and national competitiveness – the choice of language in the classroom takes on a strategic importance. The paper employs a critical realist Cultural Political Economy lens to explore the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) at tertiary level in the East Asian context. The discussion builds on existing theoretical framings and on empirical research into the language–globalisation nexus, as well as on language-in-education policy and practice. By doing so, the paper seeks to develop a theoretical account of historically and spatially situated socio-political and socio-economic processes that have favoured the use of EMI in the region. The focus here is on the dialectical relationship between hegemonic imaginaries (semiosis) and material practices in relation to the value attached to particular linguistic resources, where value is understood in both economic and symbolic terms, and how this is often tied to neoliberalism and discourses of competiveness.


The aim of this study was to compare tillage methods and plant density on yield and yield components of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] grown under main and double cropping systems. The field experiments were carried out at the experimental area of Agricultural Faculty, Dicle University during 2013 and 2014. The experiments were conducted as split-split plot design based on randomized complete blocks with two sowing dates (normal and late) as the main plot, three tillage methods (no-tillage, reduced and conventional) as sub-plot, and three between row spacing (35, 55 and 70 cm) sub-sub plot factor. The experiments were performed in three replications and soybean cultivar Nova (MG III) was used. The combined analysis of the data showed that yield means of reduced tillage (2015.4 kg/ha) and conventional tillage (2036.1 kg ha-1 ) were significantly different (P>0.01) compared with no-tillage (1881.1 kg/ha). Significant interaction was observed. among experimental factors. The highest value was obtained at early sowing x conventional tillage x 70x5 cm as of 2206.1 kg ha-1


The liquid flow and the thermal characteristics in a three-dimensional microchannel of varying rectangular cross-section was numerically investigated. The forced heat flux on the bottom and upper microchannel wall, the Joule heating due to the applied electric potential at the microchannel inlet and outlet, the electro-osmosis and the pressure-driven flow were taken into account. Using the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski electroosmotic velocity as boundary condition, the liquid velocity and the temperature distributions were found respectively solving the Navier-Stokes and the energy equations for a laminar flow in an incompressible liquid. The results obtained demonstrate the impact of the heat flux, the pressure difference and the electric potential on the liquid flow and the thermal behaviors in a microchannel of constant height and varying cross-section. A comparison of the results of the developed model with those of a microchannel of a constant cross-section was made.


The lethality of lung cancer is related to the advanced stage at diagnosis. Initial studies have demonstrated that screening computed tomography (CT) is effective in diagnosing lung cancer at an earlier stage when compared with current clinical practice, however the best clinical approach for screening detected nodules has to be defined. The population to be identified as high risk should be over 50 years of age and should have smoked at least one pack/day for 20 years. CT protocols should use multidetector CT, low dose and a 2.5 reconstruction interval. Diagnostic work-up on detected nodules should be designed according to size and consider CT at 3 or 12 months to evaluate doubling time, CT enhancement, PET/CT and/or FNAB or VATS. The prevalence of lung cancer in the screened population is 1.1%–2.7%, and the incidence is 0.2%–1.1%. Eighty-one percent of cancers are diagnosed in stage I. The percentage of surgery performed for benign lesions ranges from 21% to 55%. In our series, the overall mortality rate was 3.2% in 5 years. The results of randomized clinical studies, when available, will assess the real efficacy of CT in reducing lung cancer related mortality.


We report a finite-element study of magnetic configurations in submicron permalloy disks using micromagnetics principles. Depending on the disk size, many (meta)stable magnetic states such as normal and twisted onion, in-plane vortex, and various buckle states are observed. A diagram is constructed to bring out the dependence of the different remanent states on the disk diameter and thickness. It shows that the disk thickness is the decisive factor in determining whether a vortex state is energetically more favorable than an onion state, and that the disk diameter determines whether some in-plane buckling can be sustainable.


To be effective managers, student affairs professionals must understand the structures and processes that form the organizational context in which they work, and must be able to work within them. These structures are often characterized by a rigid division of labor and an expectation that good managers can predict the outcomes of their efforts and can and should exercise control over the inputs. However, to be effective leaders, they must be able to perceive new possibilities beyond those structures and expectations. How can they do both? "Rethinking Student Affairs Practice" offers an answer to that question. Love and Estanek challenge their readers to perceive their responsibilities, institutions, and relationships through multiple lenses. They have developed a model for change based in four concepts that will help their readers do this. The four concepts are valuing dualisms, transcending paradigms, recognizing connectedness, and embracing paradox.


The emerging picture of prehistoric Arabia suggests that early modern humans were able to survive periodic hyperarid oscillations by contracting into environmental refugia around the coastal margins of the peninsula. This paper reviews new paleoenvironmental, archaeological, and genetic evidence from the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran to explore the possibility of a demographic refugium dubbed the "Gulf Oasis," which is posited to have been a vitally significant zone for populations residing in southwest Asia during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. These data are used to assess the role of this large oasis, which, before being submerged beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean, was well watered by the Tigris, Euphrates, Karun, and Wadi Batin rivers as well as subterranean aquifers flowing beneath the Arabian subcontinent. Inverse to the amount of annual precipitation falling across the interior, reduced sea levels periodically exposed large portions of the Arabo-Persian Gulf, equal at times to the size of Great Britain. Therefore, when the hinterlands were desiccated, populations could have contracted into the Gulf Oasis to exploit its freshwater springs and rivers. This dynamic relationship between environmental amelioration/desiccation and marine transgression/regression is thought to have driven demographic exchange into and out of this zone over the course of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, as well as having played an important role in shaping the cultural evolution of local human populations during that interval.


SCFCdc4 (Skp1, Cdc53/cullin, F-box protein) defines a family of modular ubiquitin ligases (E3s) that regulate diverse processes including cell cycle, immune response, and development. Mass spectrometric analysis of proteins copurifying with Cdc53 identified the RING-H2 finger protein Hrt1 as a subunit of SCF. Hrt1 shows striking similarity to the Apc11 subunit of anaphase-promoting complex. Conditional inactivation of hrt1(ts) results in stabilization of the SCFCdc4 substrates Sic1 and Cln2 and cell cycle arrest at G1/S. Hrt1 assembles into recombinant SCF complexes and individually binds Cdc4, Cdc53 and Cdc34, but not Skp1. Hrt1 stimulates the E3 activity of recombinant SCF potently and enables the reconstitution of Cln2 ubiquitination by recombinant SCFGrr1. Surprisingly, SCF and the Cdc53/Hrt1 subcomplex activate autoubiquitination of Cdc34 E2 enzyme by a mechanism that does not appear to require a reactive thiol. The highly conserved human HRT1 complements the lethality of hrt1Delta, and human HRT2 binds CUL-1. We conclude that Cdc53/Hrt1 comprise a highly conserved module that serves as the functional core of a broad variety of heteromeric ubiquitin ligases.


An increase in the demand for renewable energy is driving hydropower development and its integration with variable renewable energy sources. When hydropower is produced flexibly from hydropower plants, it causes rapid and frequent artificial flow fluctuations in rivers, a phenomenon known as hydropeaking. Hydropeaking and associated hydrological alterations cause multiple impacts on riverine habitats with cascading effects on ecosystem functioning and structure. Given the significance of its ecological and socio‐economic implications, mitigation of hydropeaking requires an inter‐ and transdisciplinary approach. An interdisciplinary network called HyPeak has been conceived to enrich international research initiatives and support hydropower planning and policy. HyPeak has been founded based on exchange and networking activities linking scientists from several countries where hydropeaking has been widespread for decades and numerous studies dedicated to the topic have been carried out. HyPeak aims to integrate members from other countries and continents in which hydropower production plays a relevant role, and grow to be a reference group that provides expert advice on the topic to policy‐makers, as well as researchers, stakeholders, and practitioners in the field of hydropeaking.


It will find in the article a review of the oldest companies of the world and some of oldest of Colombia and Latin America, its country of origin, the main products or services that offer and the competitive advantages that have to them I allow to last but of 1000 years. These companies have become points of comparison and admiration by the other competitors, to the point of being envied. Other words they have become true enterprise myths to the interior of his industrial sectors. So that to consider them a myth? ; Which is the implication to use that term. The answers are developed in the document. Many of them are familiar companies and from the financial point of view their utilities have allowed them to survive but not to excel, nevertheless the single fact to have a history of many generations does them worthy to be studied and to assign them in the enterprise Myth category.


In the 1970s Jagdish Bhagwati proposed the introduction of a brain drain tax to compensate less developed countries for the welfare losses they suffered as a result of outward skilled migration, but the proposal was never implemented. In light of tensions in Europe caused by the mobility of highly-skilled labour from 'East' to 'West' following the 2004 EU enlargement, this paper re-examines the feasibility of such a proposal within the Union. The disparity between levels of income and economic development in (some of) the 'new' and 'old' member states, combined with the specific European institutional environment to trigger a brain drain from the accession countries to the EU-15. Mindful of the values and specificities of the EU, I address the question of whether Bhagwati's brain drain tax could provide a solution to this problem in the European context. Combining empirical research with EU integration theory, I argue that it cannot: implementation would face obstacles even in the limited context of the EU because of the lack of appropriate supranational competences; moreover, the tax – as a compensation mechanism - could not reduce the major differences in development levels, which is the underlying cause of the problem. Nonetheless, addressing this question illuminates broader issues of the politics of enlargement and the inequities of the current EU, in spite of the benefits it has brought to its 2004 and 2007 entrants.


Sequences encoding the transmembrane domain of the Rous sarcoma virus envelope (Env) glycoprotein were deleted and replaced with sequences that signal addition of a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor. Stable NIH 3T3 cell lines expressing either the wild-type transmembrane-anchored Env or the Env chimera with a GPI tail were established. The GPI-anchored envelope glycoprotein is expressed, oligomerized, and transported to the cell surface in a manner identical to that of its wild-type transmembrane-anchored counterpart. The GPI-linked protein is quantitatively removed from the cell surface by treatment with phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C. The phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C-released, water-soluble Env glycoprotein ectodomain retains the wild-type oligomeric structure and provides a useful tool for studying the subgroup-specific binding and fusion activities of a prototypic retroviral Env glycoprotein.


The state of antimicrobial resistance of the organism of puerperal women and newborn children was studied by determining the number of skin autoflora microbes according to N. N. Klemparskaya and G. A. Shal'nova (1966). A total of 125 puerperal women and 120 newborn were examined during the 5 days of their stay in maternity hospital. A continuous increase in the number of skin autoflora microbes were observed in the newborn. From the 1st to the 5th day, the group of children with a raised concentration of microbes on their skin made up 6.0, 15.7, 24.5, 36.8 and 46.0%, respectively. Among puerperal women, the number of those with a raised concentration of skin autoflora microbes reached its maximum (43.2%) on the 3rd day after delivery. It decreased to 18% by the moment of discharge from maternity hospital. The number of newborn with a high concentration of skin microbes was found to be significantly higher among children who had suffered purulent- inflammatory infections during the first month of life as compared with the group of children who had not fallen ill. The establishment of the number of skin autoflora microbes can serve as a prognostic test for detecting groups of newborn with a higher risk of falling ill with purulent infections.


As part of a study of the peptidase content of Escherichia coli K-12, two peptidase-deficient amino acid auxotrophs isolated and characterized by Miller as pepD- (strain CM17) and pepD- pepN- pepA- pepB- pepQ- (strain CM89) were examined for the presence of several peptidases previously obtained from strain K-12 in this laboratory. The soluble fraction of each mutant was found to lack the broad-specificity strain K-12 dipeptidase DP and the strain CM89 fraction also lacked activity characteristic of the strain K-12 aminopeptidases AP, L, and OP; like strain CM17, strain CM89 contained the tripeptide-specific aminopeptidase TP. Strain CM89 (but not CM17) appeared to contain little if any activity attributable to the ribosome-bound aminopeptidase I of strain K-12. Whereas loss of DP, AP, OP, and aminopeptidase I activity may be attributed to the pepD-, pepB-, pepN-, and pepA- mutations, respectively, the reason for the loss of L activity remains uncertain. Grown responses of strain CM89 in liquid media containing di- or tripeptides were in accord with absence of enzymes catalyzing rapid hydrolysis of dipeptides. In synthetic liquid media supplemented with the required amino acids per se or with peptone, cultures of both CM strains grew more slowly than strain K-12 and produced smaller cell-yields than those produced by strain K-12.


The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) commissioned a study to assemble high-quality, unpublished data on 61 trace organic chemicals (TOrC) detected in biosolids. The chemical classes of the TOrC included antibiotics, steroids, hormones, organotins, surfactants, organosiloxanes, fragrance raw materials, antimicrobials, and alcohol ethoxylates. Data on physical-chemical, environmental fate, ecotoxicology, and mammalian toxicology endpoints were compiled by queries of 48 electronic databases, and by direct communications with corporations, trade associations, water and wastewater utilities, and regulatory authorities. A substantial volume of unpublished (or recently published) experimental data was collected. Of the 61 TOrC evaluated, mammalian toxicology data and pharmacological data that can be used to derive human health benchmarks were identified for 29 of the TOrC. Empirical data for the physical-chemical, environmental fate, and ecotoxicological endpoints were less abundant; however, estimates predicted by structure-activity modeling were more readily available for these endpoints. This investigation identified numerous outstanding data gaps for the 61 TOrC. Recommendations on how to prioritize and satisfy remaining data gaps are proposed, including read-across, structure-activity relationships, and derivation approaches for toxicological benchmarks. WERF subscribers and the broader technical community can leverage the data in this study, with those compiled previously by WERF and the U.S. EPA, to prioritize further data collection needs and approaches for all chemicals evaluated to date. Consideration of commercial market trends for chemicals, in addition to exposure and hazard criteria, could help to prioritize future chemicals for further study. Ultimately, this study contributes to the goal of the WERF biosolids research program: to support sound risk characterizations for trace organic chemicals in biosolids and amended soils.

This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series .

ISBN: 9781780401102 (eBook)


Functional social support can be described as emotional (i.e., caring, esteem, etc.) or instrumental (i.e., informational, tangible) support. Hypothesizing that instrumental support often is interpreted as helpful because of its emotional meaning (signalling caring, understanding, esteem), we asked hospital patients (N = 67) to describe situations (N = 109) during which they were supported, and to indicate why this support was helpful. Both the description of the supportive behaviors and the meaning attributed to them were coded with regard to their instrumental versus emotional quality. As expected, many situations that were instrumental in descriptive terms were emotional in terms of meaning; the reverse occurred very seldom. This effect was confined to "private" interactions (i.e. interactions involving family and friends), whereas instrumental behaviors of medical professionals were largely instrumental in meaning as well. Results underscore the importance of giving instrumental support in a way that communicates care and esteem.


Preface Introduction Part I. Years of Consensus, 1945-1960 1. Defining the Cold War George F. Kennan: The Origins of Containment Henry A. Wallace: The Case for Cooperation 2. Fighting the Cold War at Home I.F. Stone: Dissent in an Age of Conformity J. Edgar Hoover: Combating the Red Menace 3. The Transformation of Popular Culture Marilyn Monroe: The New Sexuality Elvis Presley: The Birth of Rock and Roll 4. Outsiders in a Conformist Society Jackie Robinson: The National Pastime and the Issue of Race Allen Ginsberg: Avatar of the Beats 5. Defending Democracy in the Nuclear Age Curtis LeMay: Planning for Armageddon C. Wright Mills: Prophet of the New Left Part II. From Confidence to Crisis, 1960-1980 6. Civil Rights and Social Justice Fannie Lou Hamer: The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Cesar Chavez: The United Farm Workers Union 7. Challenges to the Liberal Consensus Tom Hayden: The Birth of the New Left Barry Goldwater: The Roots of the New Right 8. 1968: The Hope and the Fear Robert Kennedy: The Promise of the New Politics George Wallace: The Politics of Rage 9. Implosions: The Collapse of the Counterculture and the New Left Jimi Hendrix: The Limits of Cultural Radicalism Bernardine Dohrn: The Death of the New Left 10. The Women's Movement: Revolution and Reaction Gloria Steinem: New Directions for Feminism Phyllis Schlafly: Counterrevolution on the Right Part III. The Search for New Directions, 1980-Present 11. The Roaring Eighties: Patriotism, Piety, and Profit Jerry Falwell: The Emergence of the Christian Right Bill Gates: The Profitability of Techno-Times 12. After the Revolution: New Horizons for Black Americans Tiger Woods: Golf's Great Black Hope Clarence Thomas: Black Conservatism in Judicial Robes 13. America and the New World Order Paul Wolfowitz: Democratic Imperialist Noam Chomsky: Radical Gadfly About the Authors.


Research has been undertaken in Hungary asking representatives of food industrial companies, new-type co-operations, associations and other agents in connection with their trust to business partners, making collective actions and development of collective agricultural marketing (CAM). It has also been examined whether food industry businesses would undertake a larger amount of financing and a deeper involvement arranging CAM actions. Arguments were supposed to be found concerning their willingness of cooperation, propensity of investing their own money and involvement in activities of collective actions. Based on findings one can say that agents in the food industry are ready to take part in developing collective agricultural marketing and, they are open for co-financing collective actions. Having an increased budget of co-financing and using modern marketing tools backed by a mid term agricultural collective marketing strategy would ensure the competitiveness of food products and strengthening the patriot approach of consumers.


A new process for recycling feedlot waste involves the fermentation of liquid from this waste combined with corn. Changes in the flora of this silage-like fermentation were followed. The fermentation was dominated by lactobacilli and yeasts, which initially constitute 1% or less of the natural flora. The species of yeasts and lactics involved were characterized. The fermentation has two phases. A single heterolactic species multiplied rapidly for the first 24 h until it represented 95% of the lactobacilli and more than 90% of the total microflora. It displaced the betabacterium predominant among lactics of the original waste; the acid produced killed coliforms and other organisms in feedlot waste; and the acetic acid produced probably caused the death of the dominant native yeast Trichosporon cutaneum (de Beurm., Gougerot et Vaucher) Ota. The peak lactobacillus count remained constant (about 2 x 10 organisms/g [wet weight]) throughout the rest of the fermentation. Homolactics dominated the later phase and yeasts increased to 9.5 x 10 organisms/g (wet weight). At 6 days, a stable mixture of three lactobacilli was present, one streptobacterium, one thermobacterium, and one betabacterium. Similarly, yeasts stabilized as a mixture of two Candida sp. and one Pichia sp. The dominant species of lactics were characterized. Information on the sequence of microorganisms provides a basis for enhanced protein synthesis in the fermentation.


Abstract As consumers we make decisions every day—about whether or not to purchase a product, which brand to buy, what price is appropriate, or what quantity is needed. People make decisions everyday of their life. In most circumstances, having more options to choose from is desirable. But what if we have too many alternatives to consider when we make a decision? In the present work we investigate how two aspects of a consumer decision, namely decision control and the number of alternatives, affect consumers. Two studies examine how consumers' (a) decision control and (b) the number of alternatives affect consumers when they shop online. In Study 1 we find that the positive aspects of a decision (product attitude and purchase intention) can be enhanced by presenting consumers with control of the decision. In Study 2, we further explored how consumers can achieve more positive responses in a situation prompting potential choice overload. Two studies were held in a computer lab, where the participants could visit an online shopping mall website. The participants in study 1 had the goal of buying an MP3 player and in study 2, a USB security memory stick. An artificial online shopping mall was used to control for the possible influence of specific brand name. We found that all negative measures of the decision, viz., regret, hesitation, and difficulty, were lower when an advertisement for the product was present during the decision and there were many alternatives to choose between. In addition to reducing negative reactions, the presence of an ad also bolstered positive aspects of the decision. Satisfaction, purchase intention, and attitude toward the product all increased in the presence of ad when there were many alternatives. Increased positive feelings were also associated with the presence of ad in the condition with few alternatives, but generally to a lesser degree. Evidently when an ad is present, consumers tend to unconsciously simplify their decision process, thus decreasing the negative reactions and enhancing the positive ones. There are managerial implications. First, from the marketer's point of view, it is important to ensure consumers have control. Second, although past research has studied how decision makers themselves invoke heuristics to simplify their decisions, the findings from the present work suggest a basis for how companies might install in consumers a proclivity to adopt a heuristic-based rather than a systematic approach to processing large quantities of product data. In order to improve this research, the following points should also be considered. First of all, the on-line purchase decisions conducted were only hypothetical in nature. Would shoppers respond the same way in a real purchase situation? Second, to fully understand when the presence of an ad would lead to heuristic processing, and when it would not needs more investigation. Furthermore, future studies should also control for factors such as consumers' knowledge, and motivational factors should be considered as well as additional situational factors.


Algorithms are presented for evaluating gradients and Hessians of logarithmic barrier functions for two types of convex cones: the cone of positive semidefinite matrices with a given sparsity pattern and its dual cone, the cone of sparse matrices with the same pattern that have a positive semidefinite completion. Efficient large-scale algorithms for evaluating these barriers and their derivatives are important in interior-point methods for nonsymmetric conic formulations of sparse semidefinite programs. The algorithms are based on the multifrontal method for sparse Cholesky factorization.


Abstract The energetics of macromolecular interactions are complex, particularly where protein flexibility is involved. Exploiting serendipitous differences in the plasticity of a series of closely related trypsin variants, we analyzed the enthalpic and entropic contributions accompanying interaction with L45K-eglin C. Binding of the four variants show significant differences in released heat, although the affinities vary little, in accordance with the principle of enthalpy-entropy compensation. Binding of the most disordered variant is almost entirely enthalpically driven, with practically no entropy change. As structures of the complexes reveal negligible differences in protein-inhibitor contacts, we conclude that solvent effects contribute significantly to binding affinities.


The last major study of causes of vision loss in 600 eyes with uveitis was published over 10 years ago and there have been many advances in treatment over this time. In this thesis I undertook a study of 1594 patients (2593 eyes) with uveitis currently attending the clinic, 75% of whom were aged between 24 and 63 years. The type of uveitis, sight threatening complications that developed and treatment were followed from presentation to final follow up. At presentation, 16% of eyes had BCVA ≤ 6/18 (e.g. 6/18-6/36) and 14% of affected eyes had BCVA 6/60 or worse. At one year follow-up, we found 11% of eyes with vision loss to 6/18-6/36 and 8% of eyes with severe visual loss or blindness. In the group of eyes followed up for 10 years or more, 19% developed severe visual loss or blindness and 16% developed vision loss to 6/18-6/36. Chronic macular damage was the main cause of visual loss, accounting for both for visual impairment and for severe visual loss, accounting for 41% and 36% respectively. Cystoid macular oedema accounted for 29% in visual impairment and 19% in severe visual loss or blindness. When classified by uveitis types, CMO was the main cause of vision loss in intermediate uveitis (38%), glaucoma was the leading cause in anterior uveitis (32%), and chronic macular damage accounted for 46% in posterior/panuveitis. Additionally, I looked at the outcome and subsequent impact on vision of ocular surgery for cataract, glaucoma and vitreo-retinal procedures. Visual prognosis after cataract surgery was favourable in anterior and intermediate uveitis. Eyes which underwent glaucoma surgery had vision stabilised or slightly improved over time. The mean log MAR BCVA prior to glaucoma surgery was 0.53+/- 60, and 0.31+/- 49 at final follow-up visit. (P= 0.012). There was no statistically significant improvement in visual acuity in eyes which had undergone vitreo-retinal procedures. The mean logMAR BCVA were 1.1+/-0.82 and 0.87+/-0.80 respectively pre-operative and at last post- op visit. (P=0.28) The 3rd main results chapter looks at patients presenting with retinal vasculitis who had ischemia and the long term outcome for these eyes. Of the 106 eyes which developed ischemia, 24% had vision loss to 6/18-6/36 at presentation, 23% of these had BCVA 6/60 or worse. Chronic macular damage was the main cause of visual impairment and accounted for 36%, macular ischemia accounted for 67% of severe visual loss or blindness. I found that in most eyes with ischemia, visual loss developed early in the first 5 years and do not worsen with time.


A series of experiments were conducted across two locations in Arizona to evaluate 32 advanced and preliminary strains from the Arizona Cotton Growers Breeding Program. These trials were conducted in Yuma, AZ (130 ft. above MSL) and Maricopa, AZ (1170 ft. above MSL). Strains were planted in four row plots extending 38 feet in a randomized complete block design with a minimum of four replications. Each location had three commercial cotton varieties included as control treatments for comparison. Data collected on these trials included a series of plant measurements at three growth stages over the course of the season and yield and fiber quality data. All data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for differences among strains for yield and fiber quality. Both locations produced high yields despite high levels of heat stress in the lower deserts. Statistically significant differences were observed in yield and all fiber quality parameters at each location. Yield was down in Yuma as compared to previous years ranging from 1100 to 1800 lbs lint/acre. Yield at Maricopa was up significantly from last year with yields ranging from 1400 to 2100 lbs lint/acre. Significant increases in staple length was observed with several ACGA lines over control varieties at both locations with one line in particular producing a staple length of nearly 40 (ACGA 107). Several ACGA lines possess excellent fiber quality and performed well in terms of yield at both locations.


In developed countries in everyday business, payment delays often present a problem. Payment delays have already been a matter of discussion in Slovenia for several years. Irrespective of some positive movements in the past years, the state of payment discipline in Slovenia is not at a satisfactory level. In this area, Slovenia could be classified among the less successful countries when compared to other countries in Europe. Our paper determines factors behind this fact. The findings are important not only for Slovenia, but also for other EU candidate countries faced with similar problems of transition. The paper has led to the following conclusions. Firstly, the more indebted companies have longer payment delays. Secondly, the longer the contractual payment period, the shorter the payment delay. Longer payment periods are mostly received by larger companies. And thirdly, the longer the payment delays on the side of companies? buyers, the higher the incidence of late payments by the company. We can therefore conclude, based on our research, that payment delays in Slovenia depend mostly on risks involved with doing business with firms in financial distress, in particular with small businesses.


Healthcare is major issue and challenge now-a-days for human being in a daily life. Parkinson Disease or P.D is a one of the disorders that affected in the mid of nervous system. Parkinson Disease affected person cannot be act as normal human being. Among the innumerable disease listed so far, the Parkinson disease occupies an alarming position due to its life threaten concern. Early prediction of Parkinson disease from large volume of electronic health records leads to protect various health issues. There are various challenges and issues such as scalability, accuracy, risk factor, time complexity and sparsity in early prediction of Parkinson disease. There are various conventional algorithms have been proposed to solve these issues and challenges and still needs improvement. The present study, systematic predictive analytics using various classification algorithms such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest, AdaBoost, Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Naive Bayes, Decision table, J48, Logistic Regression is presented and evaluated using benchmarking Parkinson disease data set which are collected from UCI machine learning repository. The extraction of hidden data present in the dataset is obtained using WEKA environment. The results from the prediction models gives better clinical decision-making support to the doctors in predicting disease earlier and risk level.


The number of network connected computing devices is continuing to increase substantially, which is made evident as the IPv4 address space continues to run out. This trend of increased devices with network connectivity demands an advancement in the complexity and scale of techniques to properly manage and secure networked devices. When networking was in its infancy, there was a lack of diversity in the types of applications used across a network. Today, however, there is a diverse ecosystem of applications that are driving up bandwidth demands and driving down the effectiveness of ubiquitous security solutions. Context, which refers to the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs, is needed in order to effectively manage the network and its resources. This dissertation examines the use of context in order to enhance computer security and 802.11 wireless network performance.
The first portion of this work focuses on enhancing computer security with the use of context. The common techniques of securing a network device based on port number, e.g. traditional firewalls, are too coarse grained because port number is no longer a direct inference of the type of application being used. Rather, a finer grained technique is needed to provide sufficient security management for a network. The use of context from an end-host that describes the interrelated conditions of a network connection is needed for an accurate account of the activities a machine is conducting so that network policy can be adequately enforced. When a network connection is encrypted an end-host solution is capable of gathering context, whereas a centralized solution would struggle.
The second portion of this work focuses on wireless performance and the need for context to enhance performance. When 802.11 wireless was in its infancy, there were fewer devices using the spectrum than today. This paucity of wireless devices made it acceptable for these devices to locally optimize their own performance without consideration for the performance of other devices around them. However, as the number of wireless devices increases, the decisions made by one device can have a detrimental effect on the performance of other devices. In this case, a solution is needed that takes into account the context or performance metrics of neighboring nodes in order optimize and guide the performance adaptation of a single node.
It is the goal of this work to make computing devices aware of the events occurring within their networks via the addition of context in order to improve the security and the performance of wireless devices. In regard to security, techniques are presented that enable fine-grained end-host enforcement with the Linux Security Module framework. In terms of wireless networking, an in depth study involving real-world, laboratory, and simulation experiments about the function of 802.11 is presented, which leads to the creation of a context aware adaptation algorithm. Through these two contributions to both computer security and networking, advancements can be made in the management and performance of wireless devices.


Reaming is a very common machine tool operation, which is performed to enlarge previously drilled holes to a precise size. If a reamer with evenly spaced teeth oscillates transversely as it cuts, the resulting hole is not round. Typically the hole profile exhibits N-1 or N+1 "lobes", where N is the number of cutting flutes on the tool. This type of profile is caused by periodic motion, or "whirl", of the tool at N cycles/revolution (the tooth passing frequency). From kinematics, it is clear that the direction and frequency of whirl determines the number of lobes on the hole profile. However, the mechanism that causes the oscillation has remained unclear, especially when the tooth passing frequency is well below the natural frequency of the tool. In this paper, a simplified model of the reamer is proposed which includes cutting forces and forces on the sides and clearance faces of the flutes. The cutting forces include a time-delayed component due to the effect of the previous tooth's passage. In order to study efficiently the response of the tool at low speeds, a quasi-static numerical method is used. A Newton-Raphson method is used to solve the nonlinear equations of static equilibrium at every point in the simulation. The model remains dynamic because of the regenerative effect of the time delay, and successfully predicts the qualitative behavior of the reamer under several different cutting conditions.


INTRODUCTION: Carcinoid heart disease is acquired form of valvular heart disease occurring in patients with carcinoid syndrome. We sought to identify the prevalence, predictive biomarkers, advanced echocardiographic features, risk factors for development and outcomes of cardiac surgery for carcinoid heart disease.
METHODS: A prospective, observational, cohort study of 252 patients with a history of carcinoid syndrome attending a neuroendocrine tumour clinic was undertaken. Patients underwent serial evaluation of symptoms (cardiac and neuroendocrine), functional status, biochemical markers, echocardiography, and tumour staging over a three year period.
RESULTS:
Carcinoid heart disease was initially identified in 20% of patients with carcinoid syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP, at a cut-off level of 260pg/ml, for detection of carcinoid heart disease was 0.92 and 0.91, respectively. Involvement of the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves were found in 90%, 69%, 29% and 27% of patients respectively. Myocardial metastases were found in 3.8% of patients. 3D echocardiography provided more detailed anatomical assessment, particularly for tricuspid and pulmonary valves, than 2D techniques.
Independent predictors of the development or progression of carcinoid heart disease were a 5-HIAA greater than 300 ųmol/24hr and greater than 3 episodes of flushing per day. Overall 30 day mortality of cardiac surgery was 18.2%. 2 year survival was 44.4 %. Long term causes of death were related to advanced metastatic carcinoid tumour. No patient required re-operation for bio-prosthetic degeneration.
CONCLUSION:
The prevalence of carcinoid heart disease is significantly less than reported in previous decades. The high negative predictive value of NT-proBNP may allow its use as a screening test for carcinoid heart disease. 3D echocardiography allows more detailed assessment of valvulopathy than 2D techniques. A 5-HIAA > 300 ųmol/24hr and >3 episodes of flushing per day are predictors of the development and/or progression of carcinoid heart disease. Cardiac valve surgery is high risk but provides symptomatic relief.


Coal pyrolysis and gasification incorporating synthesis gas (syngas) combustion are investigated experimentally in the present study. Two different coals are considered; one pertains to high-volatile bituminous and the other low-volatile one. For the pyrolysis, using thermogravimetry in association with mass spectrometry reveals that the concentrations of CO and CO 2 increase with increasing temperature, whereas those of H 2 and CH 4 undergo increase followed by decrease. Regarding the gasification, the formations of the four gases between the two different coals are similar. However, when the reaction temperature is relatively low such as 800°C, carbon reactivity of the low-volatile coal decays in a significant way. Furthermore, with the reaction temperature of 1000°C the entire gasification histories of the two coals can be divided into five periods in accordance with syngas combustion. They are initiated, growing, rapidly decaying, progressively decaying, and frozen periods, sequentially. The flame is wrinkled in the growing and rapidly decaying periods where the reaction strength is much higher than that near extinction. When the reaction temperatures are 800 and 900°C, the growing and rapidly decaying periods tend to wither. Recognizing the syngas combustion characteristics, one is capable of figuring out the coal gasification process in more detail.


The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stem bark of Bosqueia angolensis (Moraceae) and Berlinia grandiflora (Fabaceae) using hydrodistillation were analysed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The percentage yields of the essential oils are: B. angolensis leaves (0.53%), B. angolensis stem bark (0.49%), B. grandiflora leaves (0.45%) and B. grandiflora stem bark (0.51%). A total of 10 and four compounds representing 84.3% and 96.1% were identified in the leaves and stem bark of B. angolensis, respectively while B. grandiflora leaves and stem bark essential oils had 12 and 22 constituents accounting for 74.4% and 79.5%, respectively of the total oil. The principal constituents in the essential oils of B. angolensis are nerylacetone (5.8%), neophytadiene (15.7%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (34.2%) and phytol (10.4%) in the leaves, while the stem bark had trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalinol (17.9%), 6-butyl-7-hexyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (69.9%) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.6%). On the other hand, B. grandiflora contained α-ionone (5.4%), β-ionone (17.2%), kaur-16-ene (5.3%) and phytol (6.5%) for leaves and the stem bark had (E, E)-2,4-decadienal (32.7%), E-tetradec-2-enal (4.8%), 4-heptenal (6.7%), linoelaidic acid (11.9%) as the most abundant compounds. All the four essential oils possessed moderate level of toxicity (˂100 μg/ml) to Artemia salina with LC 50 of 76.14 µg/ml and 11.33 µg/ml for the leaves and stem bark of B. angolensis; 88.13 µg/ml and 28.72 µg/ml for the leaves and stem bark of B. grandiflora, respectively. Keywords: Bosqueia angolensis, Berlinia grandiflora, lethal concentration, hydrodistillation Cite this Article Aboaba S, Ibitoye M. Chemical Composition and Toxicity Profile of the Essential Oils of Bosqueia angolensis Ficalho and Berlinia grandiflora (Vahl) Hutch & Dalziel. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology . 2018; 8(2): 15–20p.


Zymosan depletion of serum complement in guinea pigs rendered them highly resistant to lesion by Loxosceles reclusa spider venom. Guinea pigs deficient in C4 of the complement system are as sensitive to the venom as normal guinea pigs. The injection of 35 micrograms of whole recluse venom intradermally into guinea pigs lowered their complement level by 35.7%. Brown recluse spider venom in concentrations as slight as 0.02 micrograms protein/ml can totally inactivate one CH50 of guinea pig complement in vitro. Bee, scorpion, and other spider venoms had no influence on the hemolytic titer of complement. Fractionation of recluse spider venom by Sephadex G-200 filtration separated the complement-inactivating property of the venom into three major regions which could be distinguished on the basis of heat stability as well as size. None was neutralized by antivenom. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of venom resolved the complement inactivators into five fractions. Complement inactivated by whole venom or the Sephadex fractions could be restored to hemolytic activity by supplements of fresh serum but not by heat-inactivated serum, pure C3, pure C5, or C3 and C5 in combination.


Urbanization is arguably the most dramatic form of irreversible land transformation. Though urbanization is
a worldwide phenomenon, it is especially prevalent in India, where urban areas have experienced an unprecedented rate of growth over the last 30 years (UN, 2007). This paper focuses on the capabilities of remote sensing to identify and derive spatial urban location factors which influence future urban growth. We utilize multitemporal remotely sensed data sets from Landsat and TerraSAR-X sensors as well as a digital
elevation model (DEM) from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM).
The land cover of the test site, the highly dynamic incipient mega city of Hyderabad in India, was classified and a change detection analysis was performed to monitor the dimension and the spatial configuration of urban growth since the 1970s. The results of the change detection as well as the DEM serve as basis to derive and develop spatial location factors influencing urban growth. Parameters like the slope, the major street network, continuous intra-urban open spaces, main direction of growth, etc. were calculated. Furthermore
external data sets on locations of commercial centers, airports, etc. were integrated. Based on regional theory
for every single parameter a specific hypothesis was stated. For example: We assumed that high slope gradients have a lower probability for future settlements or that new commercial centers have a positive influence for future settling. In addition, results from a comparative study of the 12 largest Indian cities (Taubenbock et al., 2009), like saturation effects for built-up density, were integrated as additional information.
An approach combining all urban location factors for the metropolitan area of Hyderabad was developed to
identify areas that are theoretically highly probable for future settlements. The approach was applied to the spatial physical extension of the urban area of 2001, the so called urban footprint. Accuracy was assessed for predicted areas of urban growth comparing the result to the actual urban footprint acquired in 2009. The results of the method basically showed high probabilities for those areas which actually have experienced growth, but the limitations of the approach revealed low absolute accuracy. This is due to the manifold
parameters having an impact on spatial growth – e.g. socio-economic, physical, demographic or political parameters – which could not be derived using remotely sensed data. Thus, the method basically enables location study to differentiate between preferred and unlikely areas of future urbanization.


In all its diversity, Lutheran ethics places a pronounced emphasis on the universal aspects of theological ethics. This article argues that due to the increasing pluralization of many societies in recent decades, however, it is becoming more and more relevant to develop the particular aspects of theological ethics in the Lutheran tradition. Holding together both the universal and particular aspects of theological ethics constitutes a position of relevance for a pluralistic societal situation. Such a position enables the Christian church to maintain its distinctiveness and, at the same time, to be engaged in dialogue with other positions. In this way, the church will at once stand for a tradition-determined distinctiveness and be engaged in a tradition-transcending dialogue. Consequently, this position is characterized by both distinctiveness and openness.


Given the global prevalence and long-term complications of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV constitutes one of the greatest challenges to human health of this decade. Considerable efforts have focused on the development of new effective treatments, but about three to four million individuals become infected each year, adding to the world reservoir of HCV infection. The development of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis C virus has thus become an important medical priority. Only a few vaccine candidates have progressed to the clinical phase, and published data on both the efficacy and safety of these vaccines are limited, due to many scientific, logistic and bioethic challenges. Fortunately, new innovative vaccine formulations, modes of vaccination and delivery technologies have been developed in recent years. Several preclinical trials of virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccination strategies are currently underway and have already generated very promising results. In this commentary, we consider the current state of prophylactic HCV vaccines, the hurdles to be overcome in the future and the various VLP-based vaccination approaches currently being developed.


This written thesis constitutes a practice-led PhD. Many practice-led PhDs in art and design are comprised of two things – artistic practice in some form or other, for example an artist's book or a film – and an accompanying theoretical text. By contrast, what I present here is a single text. The artistic practice is embedded within this document, taking the form of an intermingling of theoretically-informed and personally-informed writing.
The thesis looks at the photograph through writing; and at writing through photography, thereby forming a deterritorialization of both worlds. The contribution to knowledge, broadly made within two areas, art writing and material culture studies, turns on presenting the world of photography as one informed by nurturing aspects of photographic practice. It looks at past experiences of being loved and loving; and at how these things link to the evocative qualities of the photograph.
Within this text, words and writing (as things and actions) are linked back to personal experiences of learning to read and write, and to books as safe places, providing intimations of what could be, and of hope. The formation of letters and reading is directly linked to women's gestures of care and attendance, and to my own present-day experiences of motherhood and my son's first understanding of the formation of letters and words.
It is as an artist, that I have pursued the possibility of a continuity between writing and the photograph. I have found a space opening up between them that has been focused through my approach to theory. This space has come to constitute my research methodology, referred to in the thesis as evaporation, and writing in waiting.
This methodology is used to create a subjective imagery that 'transcribes' the entwining of subjective and theoretical voices relating to the experience of being in writing. Theory is understood here as an inhabiting of the space of 'in between' – a space before words, a space of 'attempting to make sayable.' In this sense theory is approached in this study as a mode of experiencing: aspects of theory are perceived as belonging to everyday places, while at the same time, everyday
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places come to form an improvisatory place from within which to produce a response to aspects of affecting theory.
Three overlapping tensions are developed through the research:
- Barthes' notion of punctum in Camera Lucida ([1980] 2000, pp.96). While retaining the power of the punctum in relation to loss as read in Barthes, I seek to unsettle fixed readings of the object (arguably suggested by Barthes' account). To do this I draw on my own understanding of the punctum and Maria Lind's considerations about Christine Borland's work From Life (Glasgow), 1994, (Lind, 2006, pp.38-40) in relation to Barthes' noeme of photography as 'that-has-been'. Lind writes: 'while the objects that I have in my hands are certainly not photographs, their Modus Vivendi is much the same – they function as spectra and they are proof that this individuality really existed' (2006, p.39). In the study punctum is used to suggest a movement beyond the photograph's surface and beyond Barthes' notions of representation, as something extending outside the medium of photography (a transferability signalled by evaporation in the research).
- Deleuze's notion of multiplicity ([1966] 1991; Deleuze and Guattari, [1980] 2004) as an assemblage of elements deterritorializing, yet attaining some consistency for a pre-indeterminable duration. The research attends to, but also departs from Deleuze's notion of multiplicity. For Deleuze, the first pronoun is potentially centralizing and directing, and the third pronoun conveys the potentiality to become inhered in the abstract folding and unfolding of connections (Deleuze, 1980b, part 6). In this study, while acknowledging notions of multiplicity, close relations between subject and object are understood as part of the folding and unfolding of relational connections. By exploring the use of the first pronoun, affect through gestures is viewed as a nourishing force, carrying with it an intention for language as a bridging between places.
- Ingold's view of the object as something regulated by representation (2007a; 2010). For Ingold, the object is positioned exclusively within representation, which in his eyes is directly opposed to the openness of the 'worlding thing' (Ingold, 2010, p.3). He rejects the object as an analytical tool and as an everyday term, favouring instead the concept of 'material' which allows for a translating of lived experience, through tracing the flow of materials (ibid, pp.12-13). In this thesis, the opposition Ingold sets up between object and material is revealed as problematic,
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in as much as it places language, ideas and imaginaries further apart from the gestures of everyday affects, a distance I seek to narrow.
In placing the photograph in a state of possibility between objects and things, the study comes to view material objects as temporary surfaces of things, close to the vulnerability of skin (and therefore of hope) and of everyday gestures. Following on from this state of possibility, acts of creativity through photography and writing can then be understood to be both form-making and un-forming. Surfaces are the material where the gestures of those who have manipulated or kept objects, are portrayed; but also where in attempting to disclose a connection with objects, a space in between is formed.
In coming to consider the photograph as a material, affect comes to the fore of the research. Affect is viewed not only as a force, a movement of inclusion – 'found in (...) intensities that pass body to body (human, nonhuman, part-body, and otherwise), in those resonances that circulate about, between, and sometimes stick to bodies and words (...)' (Greg and Seigworth, 2010, p.2) – but also as a sentiment of everyday places, allowing a sort of attentiveness to language when, from vulnerability, language steps aside from the literal, creating marginal spaces, operating as an improvisatory continuation of form.
The format of the research, a series of notes where some elements re-appear and re-occur throughout the chapters – for example grains of sand, the tree, the glass – forms an improvisatory response to theory. These responses foment returns to a series of situations and places positioned in-between 'familiar and foreign' territories.
The thesis has emerged out of encounters between notions and places inside and outside books, inside and outside the academe, continuing (and confounding) each other, rather than separating from one another. 'Place' refers to such sites, often physical, geographical and material, but crucially, sites which carry an affective and imaginative charge.
Theory takes place in the writing of this thesis as 'systematic' language (Nyrnes, 2006, p.17). It is 'implemented' in the work and informs the work, despite not always being outwardly denoted or explicitly present. In this respect, it keeps faith
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with artistic research practices which seek to welcome qualities that formal research produces in terms of structure, rigour and constraints but retains artistic creativity's 'wide-eyed, experiential way of being in the world' (Coessens et al., 2009, p.57). While the awareness of theoretical frames helps to challenge those frames and the artistic practice, theory forms informative and motivational movements to create a place both beside and within the art work.


We illustrate how the liberal use of high-order procedural abstractions and infinite streams helps us to express some of the vocabulary and methods of numerical analysis. We develop a software toolbox encapsulating the technique of Richardson extrapolation, and we apply these tools to the problems of numerical integration and differentiation. By separating the idea of Richardson extrapolation from its use in particular circumstances we indicate how numerical programs can be written that exhibit the structure of the ideas from which they are formed.


Objectives: To determine the prevalence of optimal temperature of cold chain and its associated factors among general practitioners. Method: Cross sectional study was conducted between April and November 2010 among general practitioners in Kelantan. Refrigerator inspection and recording of temperature after 24hours using minimax thermometer were done. Sample size calculated using single proportion formula was 115. Data was analyzed by Simple and Multiple Logistic Regression using SPSS 12.0 . Results: There were 89 general practitioners involved with response rate of 80.9%. A total of 14 (15.7%) refrigerators were within optimal temperature. Total working experience and duration of working as general practitioners were significant associated factors for acquiring optimal. For every 1 year increase in total working experience, there will be 0.78 times at odds of optimal temperature and for every 1 year increase in the duration working as general practitioners there will be 1.22 times at odds of optimal temperature. Conclusion: The difference in working experience does not contribute to optimal temperature as cold chain management in health clinics was performed by paramedics such as staff nurses. Quality improvement activities such as educational material, having dedicated person in charge of vaccine and distribution of thermometer may improve cold chain management.


An LC method was developed and validated in 2007 for analyzing Withania somnifera raw material (root) and dried extracts for withanolide content, including withanoside IV, withanoside V, withaferin A, 12-deoxywithastromonolide, withanolide A, and withanolide B. The method involved the extraction of the analytes with methanol, their subsequent filtration, and then analysis on a C18 column with an acetonitrile gradient and UV detection. Single-laboratory validation yielded linearity generally in the range of 20 to 200 μg/mL for each analyte, with a repeatability precision of RSD < 3% in most cases, and recovery in the range of 90 to 105%. These results compare well with the performance criteria recently detailed in AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirement 2015.007. The method was shown to be rugged with respect to different analysts, equipment, and days of analysis, and the sample solution was shown to be stable for 24 h at room temperature after extraction. The method was reviewed by the AOAC Expert Review Panel on Dietary Supplements (Set 2 Ingredients) and approved for First Action Official MethodSM status.