A learned system uses machine learning (ML) internally to improve performance. We can expect such systems to be vulnerable to some adversarial-ML attacks. Often, the learned component is shared between mutually-distrusting users or processes, much like microarchitectural resources such as caches, potentially giving rise to highly-realistic attacker models. However, compared to attacks on other ML-based systems, attackers face a level of indirection as they cannot interact directly with the learned model. Additionally, the difference between the attack surface of learned and non-learned versions of the same system is often subtle. These factors obfuscate the de-facto risks that the incorporation of ML carries. We analyze the root causes of potentially-increased attack surface in learned systems and develop a framework for identifying vulnerabilities that stem from the use of ML. We apply our framework to a broad set of learned systems under active development. To empirically validate the many vulnerabilities surfaced by our framework, we choose 3 of them and implement and evaluate exploits against prominent learned-system instances. We show that the use of ML caused leakage of past queries in a database, enabled a poisoning attack that causes exponential memory blowup in an index structure and crashes it in seconds, and enabled index users to snoop on each others' key distributions by timing queries over their own keys. We find that adversarial ML is a universal threat against learned systems, point to open research gaps in our understanding of learned-systems security, and conclude by discussing mitigations, while noting that data leakage is inherent in systems whose learned component is shared between multiple parties.


This paper describes four techniques of mapping knowledge through concept maps for developing inquiry-based research projects. This qualitative study based on participatory action research focuses on identifying benefits and difficulties of research students in applying these techniques in their academic investigations. The background for this work is based on collaborative learning environments (CLE) for engaging students in learning mapping techniques and software tools together, and sharing ways in which they can apply knowledge mapping to elaborate their inquiry-based projects. Quantitative data is also presented to describe the fieldwork: an online course, which was organized by the author. The participants were lecturers and research students from different countries: Brazil, United Kingdom and Portugal. This research group is now interacting in the CoLearn community in the OpenLearn project. Findings based on qualitative analysis of their research maps, discussion forum and learning diaries show some benefits and challenges of using concept maps for developing research projects.


A new fall cone device capable of measuring undrained shear strength of extremely soft cohesive soils is described and evaluated. The Automated MIT Fall Cone has a unique mechanical counterweight system that enables the use of effective cone weights as low as 0.005 N. This weight is an order of magnitude lower than possible with a standard fall cone apparatus. The new device also uses a data acquisition system to record cone penetration versus time throughout the test. An extensive experimental program was performed on a remolded marine clay (Boston Blue Clay) to evaluate the new fall cone apparatus. The program includes measurements of cone velocity and penetration to study the dynamics of the new device. The cone velocities and penetration times agree with theoretical predictions that account for the inertia of the counterweight system. The experimental program includes strength measurements using various cone weights and geometries to check the validity of the strength-penetration relationships over a wide range of liquidity index values (0.75 to 5.6).


Papilliferous keratoameloblastoma (PKA) is a rare entity, and not much is known about its clinicodemographic features or biological nature. This review aimed to provide clarity regarding the characterisation of the demographic, clinical, radiological and histopathological features of PKA. Case reports of PKA were identified through a systematic search across multiple databases. The search yielded a total of 10 cases, half of which were of Indian origin. All the cases invariably occurred in the mandibular posterior region and involved the right side; only one case primarily involved the left side of the mandible. PKA should be considered a variant of the conventional ameloblastoma that is towards the more aggressive end of the spectrum. It tends to occur in older individuals (in their fifth decade or older), with a marked propensity to occur in the right mandibular posterior region. Surgical resection with diligent follow-up is warranted in the treatment of PKA.


One hundred seventy-nine tumor-bearing dogs were treated with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) between 1995 and 2001. CCNU was given as a single dose of 50-110 mg/m2 body surface area PO. Treatment interval varied, but the minimal interval between CCNU doses was 3 weeks. After treatment, 11 dogs (6.1%) developed hepatic toxicity. The median number of CCNU doses and the median total cumulative CCNU dose were significantly higher in dogs that developed hepatic toxicity (4 doses; 350 mg/m2) than in dogs without hepatic damage (3 doses; 230 mg/m2). Median duration to detection of hepatic toxicity from the last dose of CCNU was 11 weeks (range 2-49 weeks). Common biochemical abnormalities were abnormally high serum liver enzyme activities and hypoalbuminemia. Six dogs with CCNU-associated hepatic toxicity had ascites, and 3 dogs had concurrent pleural effusion. Serum concentrations of bile acids were abnormally high in 4 of 5 dogs tested. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsies were performed in 10 dogs, and findings were nonspecific and chronic in nature. Seven dogs were euthanized because of progressive liver failure, and their median survival from diagnosis of liver disease was 9 weeks. Three dogs died of other causes and 1 dog of unknown cause. Although clinical signs resolved in 3 dogs, biochemical abnormalities and histopathologic lesions persisted 4 to 38 months from the time of diagnosis of liver disease. Our findings suggest that CCNU can cause delayed, cumulative dose-related, chronic hepatotoxicity that is irreversible and can be fatal.


Presenting new data on the now classical aspects of Gondwana geology, this work also highlights the increasing international interest as to how the Gondwana supercontinent was assembled. The book is organized according to three themes: assembly, evolution and dispersal, containing 57 papers of specialists in the area. Assembly: Late Proterozoic-Early Palaeozoic mobile belts of Gondwana, South America, Africa & Australo-Antarctica. Evolution: Detailed palynological & palaeontological research of Late Palaeozoic- Mesozoic palaeoclimate. Dispersal: Novel approach to predicting past plate motions followed by series of papers covering the break-up history of Gondwana;


Chrysomya bezziana is primer agent causing myiasis in livestock and human throughout Africa to Asia. At present, treatment of myiasis using chemical synthetic insecticide causing environment and livestock production contaminations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hexane extract of Annona squamosa L seed to kill C. bezziana as botanical insecticide. Three level and method preparation of larvae (L1, L2 and L3) were carried out. Meat blood mixture (MBM) and larval rearing media (LRM) were mixed with hexane extract of A. squamosa L seed and tested to 625 and 750 larvae (L1and L2 respectively), while for L3 625 larvae were soaked in the solution containing the hexane extract. This last preparation was carried out to observe the effect of toxic contact. Each larvae treatment was divided into 5 levels such as negative control using distillation water (PO), given 0.25% hexane extract (P I); 0.50% (P II); 0.75% (P III) and positive control was given with 0.10% Asuntol®. This assay was to know digest toxic effect of hexane extract of A . squamosa L seed for those larvae. Number of 625 instar III larvae (L3) was soaked in the solution containing the hexane extract of A. squamosa L seed for 10 second, placed into vermicullite and incubated on 36oC. This assay was to know contact toxic effect of them. All of larvae were allowed to become pupae. Parameters oberserve were number of larvae death, pupae weight and number of pupae become into fly. The data was analyzed using Anova (5%) and Z test (5%) then smallest significant difference test (BNT 5%). The results showed that 0.50% of hexane extract of A. squamosa L seed was able to decrease pupae weight for L1 and L2 and to cause fail pupae become fly (P 0.05). Key words: Chrysomya bezziana , myasis, srikaya, A. squamosa L, in vitro


The aim of this study is to promote the use of satirical content in the English classroom.This study provides an analysis of three interviews with English teachers in the upper secondary school. The analysis compares earlier research with the findings from the interviews. Interview answers show through real experiences that satirical content may help students become more engaged, not only in learning English but in other social and cultural issues as well. Teachers will have to fight their insecurities about satire in order to use satirical content to its fullest potential. However, it is concluded that satire has a great potential in the English language classroom because of the number of advantages it can provide.


A remarkable synergistic effect has been uncovered between ppm levels of Pd and Ni embedded within iron nanoparticles that leads to mild and selective catalytic reductions of nitro-containing aromatics and heteroaromatics in water at room temperature. NaBH4 serves as the source of hydride. Broad substrate scope is documented, along with several other features, including low catalyst loading, low residual metal in the products, and recycling of the catalyst and reaction medium, highlight the green nature of this new technology.


Goody (1996: The East in the West) contests the arguments of Weber and others that Western accounting developments — and in particular double-entry bookkeeping ('DEB') which first appeared in Italy around the end of the 13th century AD — provided a new calculative rationality that drove the economic transformations of early capitalism. Recently Gleeson-White's (2012) best selling Double Entry: How the Merchants of Venice Created Modern Finance attempts to re-establish the myth while a further variation on this theme appears in Padgett and Powell's (2012) The Emergence of Organizations and Markets. Here we explore how arguments relating to the form of DEB are frequently confused with arguments about its content — and how historically differing modes of its actual use have been treated as 'the same' — and why the various claims for its crucial significance in focusing economic rationality continually re-emerge. We suggest that the wider issues can now more fruitfully be debated in the broader context of parallels and contrasts with the development of the economy in late Imperial China and of its bookkeeping and accounting systems. We explore how the myth of an indigenous 'Chinese double-entry bookkeeping' ('CDEB') appears to have emerged as a counterweight to the power of the perceived rationality of Western DEB.


Acoustic signals are often characterized by pitch, timbre, loudness, forms of modulation, and onset/offset instants. These descriptors of sound quality have a close relationship to the instantaneous spectral properties of the sound waves. The auditory system has developed elegant mechanisms to extract and represent this spectro-temporal information through noise-robust perceptual features. After decades of research, the anatomical organization and functional significance of many of the underlying mechanisms are now becoming understood. Consequently, mathematical descriptions of the various early and central auditory stages have become feasible and functionally relevant, and can be fruitfully used to derive principles underlying time-frequency analysis in the auditory system. Here, the authors review examples of such approaches from their recent efforts to model the early and central stages of the mammalian auditory systems. It is within the hope of this study to better understand the nature of hearing, and to eventually apply these functional principles to designing engineering applications, such as audio coding algorithms that are closely optimized under perceptual criteria, and automatic speech recognition systems that have performance comparable to humans. >


Funding information German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Abstract While competition in the financial system generally mitigates smalland medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) financing constraints, this paper theorises that competition by microfinance institutions (MFIs) has adverse effects through aggravating the 'graduation problem': Small firms outgrowing microfinance struggle to find financing as conventional financial institutions abstain from downscaling and developing suitable lending instruments for smaller firms if these market segments are narrowed down by upscaling MFIs. Using data from 51 countries between 2002 and 2015, microfinance is found to significantly lower SMEs' access to credit. Credit bureaus can reverse this effect indicating that credit information infrastructure can reconcile a strong microfinance sector with functioning SME finance.


The conservation of forest bioresources is hampered by lack of information on the resources and on how communities interact with the resources. Historically, the association of local
communities with resources such as forests through their Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) has played an important role in the conservation of natural resources. Unfortunately,
IKS is fast getting eroded due to what can be loosely termed as "modernization". As such Kenyan forest resources are threatened because some current conservation methods may not be compatible with forest community livelihoods. This study was undertaken in Boni Forest, Ijara Sub County in Garissa County which is rated as one of the poorest sub counties in
Kenya. The aim of the study was to generate information on the forest status in terms of species composition and distribution and to identify how the community has traditionally
interacted with the ecosystem. The study findings point towards the need for forest conservation methods which incorporate indigenous conservation. Vegetation data was collected from 6 transects sampled to represent the variety of ecological conditions in the forest. These were: Mararani (Coastal forests), Mangai (Acacia- Commiphora woodland), Bodhai (Riverine influence on forests), Sankuri (Lungi block of
Boni Forest), Hulugho (Acacia–Commiphora woodland), Sangailu (Dryland forests & not gazetted). The data collected included a detailed species inventory and distribution, plant
species information on horizontal and vertical dominance, threats to the forest resources, details of plant utilization by communities, information on existing indigenous knowledge
systems on plant conservation as well as threats to this knowledge. The data collected was analyzed using parametric and non parametric methods. The findings indicated that the forests of Ijara Sub County are rich in species composition with a total of 386 plant species recorded of which 130 were woody species. The forests of the southern parts of the sub county had a higher species diversity as indicated by the Shannon Wiener diversity index. The dominant families, namely Mimosaceae and Euphorbiaceae accounted for 10.8% and 9.2% respectively of all plant species recorded. Croton pseudopulchellus (Pax) was the most abundant while Dobera glabra (Forssk), Newtonia hildebrandtii (Vatke), Adansonia digitata (L), Diospros cornii (Chiov) and Lannea schweinfurthii (Engl.) dominated in terms of basal area coverage. Other dominant species were Brachylaena huillensis O. Hoffm., Manilkara sulcata (Engl.), Acacia nilotica (L.), Willd.ex Delile and Combretum constrictum (Benth) in terms of height and crown. The research established that the forests of the study area were facing a wide range of threats including fires, illegal
logging and clearances for agriculture as well as over exploitation for wood fuel. The remote sensing data indicated that the health of the forests was more influenced by climatic
variations of rainfall than by human encroachment. The local communities in the area of study had a rich knowledge of the forests as indicated by the diversity of local names, uses of
plants and regeneration methods. The communities, especially among the Boni as compared to the Somali, demonstrated good knowledgeof traditional control mechanisms that limited
the exploitation of certain species. The study found that the transmission of indigenous knowledge systems from the elderly to the youth was hampered by conversions to new
religions, attainment of formal education and the lack of written documents that explained the specific indigenous conservation methods. Indigenous conservation knowledge is therefore an asset that needs to be tapped to sustainably conserve the landscape along with the biodiversity in the forests. The study recommended the streamlining of government policies on forest conservation to incorporate both scientific and indigenous knowledge systems for conservation of community natural resources. The study also recommended the
importance of augmenting conservation measures in order to safeguard the ecosystem services that biodiversity provides and human society needs. Current anthropogenic threats
may lead to detrimental and irreversible ecosystem degradation. The findings provide strong arguments to strengthen the case for further research which should be focused on evaluating the response of ecological communities to various anthropogenic pressures. The study specifically recommended the securing of Boni forest by giving it full protection, empowerment of Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and development of a participatory forest management plan. Key Words: Indigenous knowledge systems, species composition, species density, threats, clearance for agriculture.


Lead rubber bearings (LRB) is a new type of earthquake-resistance rubber bearings, formed by inserting lead-core into ordinary laminated rubber bearings, vertical supporting, horizontal displacement and hysteretic damping are hung in single unit together. Because lead-core can dissipate seismic energy and increase stiffness under load simultaneously, most of the requirements of the Seismic isolation system can be satisfied , the material-device has been found widespread application prospect in bridge Engineering. Equivalent linear model of hysteretic characteristics, computational method and the varying range of design parameters of LRB are presented. A full-bridge model of multi-span simple supported bridge with LRB is established in which box beam、LRB and piers are taken into account as a whole. By changing the property of earthquake excitation, ground motion intensity, vehicle speed and so on, the response of Bridge vibration system are analyzed, response law and characteristics of Bridge with LRB under different excitations are investigated systematically, compared with bridge with common bearings.


We study the 2D seismic velocity structure of the south edge of the Jiyang depression, in the Bohai Bay Basin, northern China, using recordings from 28 broadband seismic stations and a method combining an shear horizontal (SH) forward synthetic calculation and waveform inversion. The forward synthetic cal- culations are performed by a finite-difference (FD) method, with its computational domain localized in the basin area and input motions at the base of the model ex- trapolated from the displacement recorded at a nearby hard-rock station. In waveform inversion, the shapes of the strata are varied to search for a best-fitting model based on the fit of relative timing, amplitude, and phase of the synthetics to the seismic data. Numerical experiments using synthetic data and test models demonstrate the validity, resolution, and sensitivity of our technique. With this technique, we obtain two cross sections of the south edge of the Jiyang depression, the Bohai Bay Basin, northern China. The waveform inversions using the seismic data from four teleseis- mic events show consistent results for both cross sections. Those inversion results are also in agreement with a geological cross section available in the region. Our models estimate that the south edge of the Jiyang depression is juxtaposed against the Luxi uplift and its structures. Our inversion results also reveal a blind fault in the region and features suggesting major extensions in Paleogene.


A new design technique for irreversible textile patterns has been developed. This technique can be compared with commonly used burn-out techniques (Ausbrenner etc.), but without using chemicals. Kanthal, a highly resistant heating wire, was knitted together with a blend of "conventional" textile yarns like cotton, wool, polyester and viscose into twelve different textile samples. In the samples, about five courses of heating wire were embroidered into parallel connections with a copper yarn. The textile samples were put on wooden frames and connected to a power supply. As the heating wires get hot, burned out patterns appear. The material combinations react to heat in different ways and the grade of expression varies in the samples. Some materials melt, others become dark/burned and some vanish or burn very quickly. The burned out expression depends on a range of factors such as the textile construction, access to oxygen, yarn combinations, length and number of heating wires used for the parallel connections, power supply etc. Being able to design a textile material by incorporating heat directly into the textile construction is considered as a new design technique for burned out patterns. By this technique, colour and structure changes in the material can be affected to create an aesthetic expression designing holes, stripes or cuts etc. The design technique enables a novel way of decorating a textile after a fabric is produced. It would be possible use this technique for showing information through colour- and structure changes in the textile using it as an ambient textile display. Technique: knitting, embroidery Materials: Kanthal, Kevlar, cotton, wool, polyester, viscose


We describe the first sub-quadratic sampling algorithm for the Multiplicative Attribute Graph Model (MAGM) of Kim and Leskovec (2010). We exploit the close connection between MAGM and the Kronecker Product Graph Model (KPGM) of Leskovec et al. (2010), and show that to sample a graph from a MAGM it suffices to sample small number of KPGM graphs and \emph{quilt} them together. Under a restricted set of technical conditions our algorithm runs in $O((\log_2(n))^3 |E|)$ time, where $n$ is the number of nodes and $|E|$ is the number of edges in the sampled graph. We demonstrate the scalability of our algorithm via extensive empirical evaluation; we can sample a MAGM graph with 8 million nodes and 20 billion edges in under 6 hours.


OF THESIS DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY: PRODUCT LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS IN ALUMINUM AUTO BODY APPLICATIONS The scope of this work is to generate quantifiable measures of sustainability elements that apply to manufactured products in terms of environmental, social and economic benefits. This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis for developing a methodology to compare the costs encountered by a vehicle over its entire life-cycle (Pre-manufacturing, Manufacturing, Use, and Post-use stages), considering two different material scenarios, aluminum versus steel, used in body-in-white (BIW) structures and exterior body panels. The potential benefits of using lighter materials in auto body applications are further evaluated through a "Sustainability Scoring" method. The proposed six major integral sustainable elements considered in this work are: product's environmental impact, societal impact, functionality, resource utilization and economy, manufacturability and recyclability/remanufacturability. Each of these elements has corresponding subelements and influencing factors which are categorized as having equal importance to the product.


The major structural proteins capsid and nucleocapsid (NC) of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae retroviruslike element Ty3 are produced as domains within the Gag3 and Gag3-Pol3 precursor polyproteins. Ty3 NC contains one copy of the conserved motif CX2CX4HX4C found in most retroviral NC proteins. We show here that NC proteins derived by processing of these different precursor species differ at their carboxyl termini. To determine whether the Cys-His motifs of these nascent NC domains contribute differently to replication, Gag3 and Gag3-Pol3 fusion proteins containing wild-type or mutant Cys-His domains were expressed from separate constructs. Although the Cys-His box was shown to be essential for polyprotein processing of a wild-type Ty3 element, this domain could be contributed from Gag3 or as part of Gag3-Pol3. These data suggest that the functions of the retroviral NC Cys-His domain contributed from Gag and Gag-Pol are redundant.


An Introduction to Philosophical Methods is the first book to survey the various methods that philosophers use to support their views. Rigorous yet accessible, the book introduces and illustrates the methodological considerations that are involved in current philosophical debates. Where there is controversy, the book presents the case for each side, but highlights where the key difficulties with them lie. While eminently student-friendly, the book makes an important contribution to the debate regarding the acceptability of the various philosophical methods, and so it will also be of interest to more experienced philosophers.


The development of a synthetic baseline navigation technique that self-localizes an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) using intermittent acoustic communications signals received by a single transducer is described, along with field results from in-ocean tests. The method uses the phase measurement at the output of a second-order phase-locked loop to create fine-scale pseudorange estimates in addition to, or in the absence of, a one-way travel time measurement based on the arrival time of the acoustic data packet. These range measurements are incorporated by an adaptive particle filter. This technique allows the vehicle navigation system to take advantage of multiple phase-derived range measurements made over the duration of a communication packet. These measurements, when incorporated with an appropriate filter and vehicle kinematic model, improve vehicle navigation at no additional cost in navigation-specific acoustic transmissions. This approach was demonstrated and evaluated with data collected at-sea using a REMUS 100 AUV (Hydroid, Inc., Pocasset, MA).


Abstract Conclusion: Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) may be a contributing factor in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Direct exposure of organ of Corti to cisplatin and oxaliplatin gives equal loss of hair cells. Objectives: Platinum-containing drugs are known to target the anti-oxidant selenoprotein TrxR in cancer cells. Two such anti-cancer, platinum-containing drugs, cisplatin and oxaliplatin, have different side effects. Only cisplatin induces hearing loss, i.e. has an ototoxic side effect that is not seen after treatment with oxaliplatin. The objective of this study was to evaluate if TrxR is a target in the cochlea. Loss of outer hair cells was also compared when cisplatin and oxaliplatin were administered directly to the organ of Corti. Methods: Organ of Corti cell culture was used for direct exposure to cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Hair cells were evaluated and the level of TrxR was assessed. Immunohistochemical staining for TrxR was performed. An animal model was used to evaluate the effect on TrxR after treatment with cisplatin and oxaliplatin in vivo. Results: Direct exposure of cochlear organotypic cultures to either cisplatin or oxaliplatin induced comparable levels of outer hair cell loss and inhibition of TrxR, demonstrating that both drugs are similarly ototoxic provided that the cochlea becomes directly exposed.


Theoretical modeling and numerical simulation have been performed at λ=2100  nm on silicon-on-insulator channel-waveguide directional couplers in which the outer two Si waveguides are passive and the central waveguide(s) are electro-optical (EO) "islands." The EO channel(s) utilize a 10 nm layer of Ge2Sb2Te5 phase-change-material sited at midlevel of a doped Si channel. A voltage-driven phase change produces a large change in the effective index of the TE(o) and TM(o) modes, thereby inducing crossbar 2×2 switching. A mode-matching method is employed to estimate EO switching performance in the limit of strong interguide coupling. Low-loss switching is predicted for cross-to-bar and bar-to-cross coupling lengths. These "self-holding" switches had active lengths of 500-1000 μm, which are shorter than those in couplers relying upon free-carrier injection. The four-waveguide devices had lower cross talk but higher loss than the three-waveguide devices. For the crystalline phase we sometimes used an active length that was smaller than that for the amorphous phase.


Background and Objectives With often florid allegations about health problems arising from wind turbine exposure now widespread, nocebo effects potentially confound any future investigation of turbine health impact. Historical audits of health complaints are therefore important. We test 4 hypotheses relevant to psychogenic explanations of the variable timing and distribution of health and noise complaints about wind farms in Australia. Setting All Australian wind farms (51 with 1634 turbines) operating 1993–2012. Methods Records of complaints about noise or health from residents living near 51 Australian wind farms were obtained from all wind farm companies, and corroborated with complaints in submissions to 3 government public enquiries and news media records and court affidavits. These are expressed as proportions of estimated populations residing within 5 km of wind farms. Results There are large historical and geographical variations in wind farm complaints. 33/51 (64.7%) of Australian wind farms including 18/34 (52.9%) with turbine size >1 MW have never been subject to noise or health complaints. These 33 farms have an estimated 21,633 residents within 5 km and have operated complaint-free for a cumulative 267 years. Western Australia and Tasmania have seen no complaints. 129 individuals across Australia (1 in 254 residents) appear to have ever complained, with 94 (73%) being residents near 6 wind farms targeted by anti wind farm groups. The large majority 116/129(90%) of complainants made their first complaint after 2009 when anti wind farm groups began to add health concerns to their wider opposition. In the preceding years, health or noise complaints were rare despite large and small-turbine wind farms having operated for many years. Conclusions The reported historical and geographical variations in complaints are consistent with psychogenic hypotheses that expressed health problems are "communicated diseases" with nocebo effects likely to play an important role in the aetiology of complaints.


Urban metabolism (UM) is a way of characterizing the flows of materials and energy through and within cities. It is based on a comparison of cities to living organisms, which, like cities, require energy and matter flows to function and which generate waste during the mobilization of matter. Over the last 40 years, this approach has been applied in numerous case studies. Because of the data‐intensive nature of a UM study, however, this methodology still faces some challenges. One such challenge is that most UM studies only present macroscopic results on either energy, water, or material flows at a particular point in time. This snapshot of a particular flow does not allow the tracing back of the flow's evolution caused by a city's temporal dynamics. To better understand the temporal dynamics of a UM, this article first presents the UM for Brussels Capital Region for 2010, including energy, water, material, and pollution flows. A temporal evaluation of these metabolic flows, as well as some urban characteristics starting from the seminal study of Duvigneaud and Denayer‐De Smet in the early 1970s to 2010, is then carried out. This evolution shows that Brussels electricity, natural gas, and water use increased by 160%, 400%, and 15%, respectively, over a period of 40 years, whereas population only increased by 1%. The effect of some urban characteristics on the UM is then briefly explored. Finally, this article succinctly compares the evolution of Brussels' UM with those of Paris, Vienna, Barcelona, and Hong Kong and concludes by describing further research pathways that enable a better understanding of the complex functioniong of UM over time.


Background: The relationship of enterovirus (EV) infection and Kawasaki disease (KD) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to conduct a population-based cohort study to determine the relationship between KD and EV infection in Taiwan. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted to analyze the children file (age < 18 years) of the Taiwan National Health Insurance program between 2000 and 2008. In total, 285,636 children with EV infection and 285,636 children without EV infection were included and followed up. The subsequent KD was the major outcome event. Results: The cumulative incidence of KD was significantly higher in the EV-infected cohort than in the non-EV–infected cohort (log-rank test, P < 0.001). The overall incidence of KD was 56% higher in the EV-infected cohort than in the non-EV–infected cohort, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval: 1.44–1.69). Stratified analysis showed higher KD risk associated with previous EV infection in children 3–5 years old, in girls, in children living in less urbanization levels, in children with parental low-income occupation, and in children with allergic diseases. Conclusions: There is a higher association between KD and previous EV infection in Taiwanese children, especially in those 3–5 years old, with female sex, with less urbanization level, with low-income parental occupation, and with allergy.


There are presented data, obtained by the author and his colleagues in the investigations of the neuropeptides participating in different forms of the experimental CNS pathology. It is shown, that the purified brain fractions, extracted from the rats suffering from the vestibulopathia , induced or by hyperactivation (formation of the generator of pathologically enhanced excitation, GPEE) or coagulation of the Deiter 's nucleus under the conditions of the intracisternal or intraventricular injection resulted in the muscle's tone changes in rats-recipients. These changes represent by themselves the fragments of vestibulopathia rotation syndrome. The described effect is specific towards the localisation side of GPEE: "rightside" and "leftside" brain extractions cause the muscle's tone in the accordance with the direction of the rotation syndrome. Peptides, extracted from the left and right part of the healthy bull's brain cause changes of the muscle's tone in the accordance with the side (the lateralisation effect). Fragments of the AKTH4-7 and lysil-vasopressin produce the extension of the duration of the activity GPEE formed in the spinal cord. Synthetic hexapeptide normally causing the strengthening of the natural lateralisation of the muscle's tone may reactivate the GPEE at the early stage after its clinical disappearance (according to the electrographic data). The presented and any of the other literary data allow to make a general conclusion of the peptide's role played in the mechanisms of the occurrence, maintenance and elimination the pathological processes in the central nervous system.


This article provides a reflective discussion of and narrative approach to incarcerated fathers based on the attendees of a Fatherhood Faith-Based Values Intervention programme at the Potchefstroom Remand Detention Facility. It is important to note that one-third of South African inmates are between the ages of 18 and 25 years – hence the reason why the majority of intervention and community engagement programmes at correctional services take place amongst the youth age group. The Department of Correctional Services reported in 2011 that South Africa had 159 265 incarcerated inmates at the time, of whom 110 905 were sentenced offenders and 48 360 were awaiting trial. In 2013, the World Incarcerated Brief reported that South Africa had the largest incarcerated population in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. Seventeen-year-olds comprised 53 000 of this number and were guilty of committing serious crimes. These numbers increased tremendously over the years. According to the former South African Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, in 2013, 30% of inmates were awaiting trial, and most of them were young black men. He also indicated that, although 23 000 inmates were being released each year, 25 000 were introduced into the correctional services system. South Africa currently has overcrowded places of incarceration even though the president of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, granted special remission to 14 647 offenders in 2019. Incarcerated fathers are traumatised and affected by these places of captivity, even when they are on parole or released from detention. The effect of incarceration on fathers is a serious concern in South African society and challenge to the researcher who studies the fatherhood phenomenon and the dilemma of father absence.


The Indianapolis Zoo maintains a large collection of smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis). During the first several years of captivity, there was a period of high mortality in adult, wild-caught sharks in the collection. Smooth dogfish with superficial abrasions would rapidly succumb to infection and death, regardless of the treatment approach. Although the sharks did successfully produce viable offspring, there was an elevated pup mortality rate, with 0% of the pups reaching 1 yr of age during the same period of high mortality in adult sharks. This poor response to captivity prompted interest in the physiologic response of these animals to illness. The objective of this investigation was to establish a preliminary data set of hematologic and plasma chemistry reference intervals, along with select nutrient parameters specific to wild-caught adults maintained in prolonged captivity (i.e., greater than 22 mo). Blood samples were collected from 20 clinically healthy, male (n = 10) and female (n = 10) dogfish sharks at the Oceans facility at the Indianapolis Zoo. Although gender differences in mortality rate were not apparent, complete blood cell counts, plasma biochemical profiles, and select nutrient analyses were performed and analyzed accordingly. Statistically significant differences (P < or = 0.05) specific to sex were determined for parameters including packed cell volume (PCV), absolute and relative fine eosinophilic granulocytes, relative percentage of coarse eosinophilic granulocytes, globulins, the albumin/globulin ratio, total protein, phosphorus, iron, selenium and copper. White blood cell counts appear to be lower in this species compared to other captive elasmobranchs. Further research into appropriate hematology standards including nutritional parameters appears warranted.


This paper uses a recent lobster traceability project in the Canadian Maritimes to examine the emerging governance institutions in our global food systems. Given the central importance of lobster to family-based, independent fishing enterprises, this lobster traceability project was a unique opportunity to investigate the people, organizations and governance institutions that are impacting lobster fisheries enterprises and management. This case study illustrates the many "jurisgenerative institutions" (Anderson 1998) at various scales that are currently involved in governing lobster as it enters our food systems, and also traces some of the impacts of those multiple institutions on each other, and on the fishing enterprise. We conclude that legal pluralism is an important constituent in global food security and food governance, and that this characteristic of our emerging food governance institutions requires more careful study.


Background: Acinetobacter baumannii complex is an increasingly important cause of osteomyelitis. It is considered a difficult to treat agent, due to increasing antimicrobial resistance and few available therapeutic options. Objective: To compare effectiveness and tolerability of tigecycline and colistin in patients with osteomyelitis caused by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii complex (CRABC). Methods: This retrospective review included all patients admitted to a 150-bed tertiary hospital from 2007 to 2015 with microbiologically confirmed CRABC osteomyelitis for which they received tigecycline or colistin. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, adverse events, and outcomes 12 months after the end of antimicrobial treatment were analysed and stratified according to the antimicrobial used. Results: 65 patients were included, 34 treated with colistin and 31 with tigecycline. There were significantly more men (P = 0.028) in the colistin group, and more smokers (P = 0.021) and greater occurrence of chronic osteomyelitis (P = 0.036) in the tigecycline treatment group. Median duration of therapy was 42.5 days for colistin and 42 days for tigecycline, with no significant difference. Overall incidence of adverse events was higher in the colistin group (P = 0.047). In particular, incidence of renal impairment was also higher in this group (P = 0.003). Nausea and vomiting were more frequent with tigecycline (P = 0.046). There were no significant differences between groups in relapse, amputation, or death. Conclusions: Tigecycline had a better safety profile than colistin in the treatment of osteomyelitis due to CRABC, with no significant difference in outcomes after 12 months of follow-up.


Population ageing combined with a shrinking potential workforce are main factors influencing future socio-economic development and the labour market. This paper has the objective to show the impact of population change on one important sector of the economy, the health care market. As the need for health care services increases with age, the population ageing is expected to have a direct influence on the demand for services and the workforce needed. The shrinking labour force and the currently high share of elderly health professionals will have an impact of the future supply of health workforce. Based on the NEUJOBS demographic scenarios tough and friendly and age- and gender specific utilization rates the changes in the health workforce needed are calculated. Changes in labour supply and employment are shown using the results of the econometric model NEMESIS. In both scenario a decline in population size and an ageing of the population is expected. In the friendly scenario the demand for health care services is expected to increase, although the population size declines. The population ageing has a higher effect on the demand as the shrinking population size. In the tough scenario the significant decline in population dominates the demand for health workforce. Due to the demographic change also a decline in labour supply is calculated, while the employment in health care is estimated to increase in both scenarios. In 2025, the estimated employment is higher than the demand for health workforce. But on the demand side the calculations show only the pure demographic effect. Due to data restrictions we could not take into account the technological medical progress, changes in health utilization behaviour or changes in health status of the population. All these factor have an influence on the future health workforce demand.


At the beginning of the 1990s, Sweden found herself in an economic crisis that led to a worsening of living conditions and increases in the level of inequality between different social groups. The object of this article is to describe the levels of victimization that have been experienced by a number of different social groups. The central focus is directed at the way victimization is linked to other forms of welfare problem. The analysis focuses on the period 1988-1999, examining both differences in levels of problems experienced, and trends over time, among groups whose level of well-being and financial situation have developed in different directions.


Genetic divergence of five mulberry accessions including Embu, Thika, Thailand (M. alba), Kanva-2 and S41 (M. indica) grown in Kenya were examined using twelve phenotypic traits. The assessment of phenotypic traits was done in a field study in two localities, Nairobi and Eldoret. The traits that were significantly different across the mulberry accessions included lamina width and petiole length (P ? 0.01), petiole width and growth height (P ? 0.05), internodes distance and number of branches (P ? 0.001). The Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) results were used to generate a dendrogram derived from hierarchical cluster analysis that further partitioned the mulberry accessions into four groups. Embu and Thailand accessions grouped together while S41, Thika and Kanva-2 accessions grouped separately. Embu and Thailand accessions were characterized by fewer numbers of branches than the rest of the accessions. Thika accession had high number of branches and short internode distance. Significant and positive correlations were found between leaf yield traits except in internode distance and number of branches which were significant and negatively correlated. Significant and positive correlations can be utilized since they are rewarding for mulberry leaf yield improvement.


This paper presents the design of the NEDA (Neutron Detector Array) electronics, a first attempt to involve the use of digital electronics in large neutron detector arrays. Starting from the front-end modules attached to the PMTs (PhotoMultiplier Tubes) and ending up with the data processing workstations, a comprehensive electronic system capable of dealing with the acquisition and pre-processing of the neutron array is detailed. Among the electronic modules required, we emphasize the front-end analog processing, the digitalization, digital pre-processing and communications firmware, as well as the integration of the GTS (Global Trigger and Synchronization) system, already used successfully in AGATA (Advanced Gamma Tracking Array). The NEDA array will be available for measurements in 2016.


We report a 16-year-old previously healthy boy who was admitted to hospital with fever, constitutional symptoms, purpura, additive arthritis, dysentery, rapid progressive renal failure, resembling Henoch- Schuenlein purpura, accompanied with retropharyngeal abscess. Kidney biopsy revealed rapid progressive glomerulonephritis with crescent formation, without immune deposition in immune fluorescent study. Serologic study revealed positive proteinase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Intravenous methyl prednisolone plus and cyclophosphamide pulse were administered with a diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis. Serum creatinine level reduced during the treatment and the patients was discharged with good clinical condition. This was the first case in which the ANCA-associated vasculitis was presented with retropharyngeal abscess. Other unusual findings were bloody diarrhea, raised purpura, and additive arthritis in an adolescence, which are more characteristic for Henoch-Schuenlein purpura.


This thesis outlines the development and evolution of a method for the analysis of biological fluids for acylcamitines. These compounds are of interest due to their role in the metabolism of fatty acids and their use as indicators of metabolic defects, which have been associated with SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). These compounds are zwitterionic and thermally labile in nature and would not traditionally lend themselves to gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. Described in this thesis is a method whereby lactonisation of the acylcamitine facilitates the volatility required for GC analysis while retaining the side chain identifier to the original acylcamitine for mass spectrometric identification. Using this method it has been possible to characterize acylcamitines which are metabolic indicators, distinguish isomeric acylcamitines chromatographically and show diagnosis of a number of diseases from clinical samples. Sample analysis has been demonstrated for both blood and urine. In the case of urine samples an example has been provided to illustrate the advances in analytical techniques available for these analyses, to show the stability of these compounds in the matrix and the wealth of diagnostic information which can be obtained for an individual sample. The development of a method for the analysis of acylcamitines from blood spots has been detailed. The application of this methodology to a number of disorders of fatty acid metabolism has been illustrated. The extension of the technique to the analysis of dicarboxylic acylcamitines has also been investigated. Finally with advances in modem technology the area of eléctrospray mass spectrometry has been evaluated for the analysis of samples without lactonisation. Results from this investigation are presented.


Physical layer security can provide alternative means for securing the exchange of confidential messages in wireless applications. In this paper, the resilience of wireless multiuser networks to passive (interception of the broadcast channel) and active (interception of the broadcast channel and false feedback) eavesdroppers is investigated under Rayleigh fading conditions. Stochastic characterizations of the secrecy capacity (SC) are obtained in scenarios involving a base station and several destinations. The expected values and variances of the SC along with the probabilities of secrecy outages are evaluated in the following cases: (i) in the presence of passive eavesdroppers without any side information; (ii) in the presence of passive eavesdroppers with side information about the number of eavesdroppers; and (iii) in the presence of a single active eavesdropper with side information about the behavior of the eavesdropper. This investigation demonstrates that substantial secrecy rates are attainable on average in the presence of passive eavesdroppers as long as minimal side information is available. On the other hand, it is further found that active eavesdroppers can potentially compromise such networks unless statistical inference is employed to restrict their ability to attack. Interestingly, in the high signal to noise ratio regime, multiuser networks become insensitive to the activeness or passiveness of the attack.


This article presents particular themes from an audience study with viewers of the British reality show Embarrassing Bodies (Channel 4). A methodology based on the Freudian technique of free association was used to research viewers' narratives about the programme. I focus on two participants who spoke about the show in terms that make use of internalised neoliberal discourses about the limits to entitlement to public healthcare as well as self-responsibility for staying healthy. They also discussed aspects which contradicted those themes. The narratives were of an ambiguous nature and shifting views were outlined in the course of each interview. I theorise such shifting with Sigmund Freud's concept of 'negation' whereby an idea is rejected in order to avoid further engagement with it. Rather than accusing the viewers of lying or having false consciousness, psychoanalysis opens up nuanced ways of interpreting the data. It helps us to understand how individuals are (un)consciously positioned in contemporary austerity and crisis discourses around healthcare. Given the ambivalent interview narratives, I conclude that the current economic climate in the UK has resulted in the formation of subjectivities who struggle to make sense of it as they simultaneously resist and embrace it.


Playing football competition at terrestrial altitude is not an isolated phenomenon. For instance, eight of the last 19 football FIFA World Cup tournaments were hosted by countries located at low-to-moderate altitude. While football-required fitness and technical qualities are affected by the development of neuromuscular fatigue at sea level, hypoxia-induced decrease in convective oxygen transport further hinders the aerobic capacity but also the ability to perform consecutive sprints, eventually impacting the outcome of a game. This results from the decrease in partial pressure of oxygen which reduces maximal aerobic power. The later, in turn, increases the relative intensity of any given absolute level of work, potentially delaying recovery of high-energy phosphates between high intensity intermittent efforts. Despite reduction in air resistance (caused by the decrease in air density) could facilitate high-velocity running, it can also alter drag and lift, thereby impairing sensorimotor skills. Conversely, altitude/hypoxic training could help footballers preparing for competition at altitude, but also at sea level. Traditional altitude training camps involve chronic exposure to low-to-moderate terrestrial or simulated altitudes (14%) for improving oxygen-carrying capacity. While "live high-train high" or "live high-train low" paradigms are actually implemented by many elite club or national team football squads, the benefits they may have on (repeated-) sprint performance are still debated. The development of hypoxic technologies has led to the emergence of "live low-train high" methods, in isolation (i.e., the "repeated-sprint training in hypoxia" and "resistance training in hypoxia") or in combination with hypoxic/altitude residence (i.e., "live high-train low and high"). Today, the panorama of altitude/hypoxic training methods is wider than ever and includes also practices such as "blood flow restriction" or "ischemic preconditioning", which demonstrate encouraging preliminary results. The aims of this chapter are twofold: First, to summarize the effects of acute altitude/hypoxia exposure on football-specific qualities measured in the laboratory and/or during games at terrestrial altitude. Second, to discuss the potential benefits of each altitude/hypoxic training method in respect to sport-specific physiological and fitness development and/or in-game performance.


Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths, is responsible for 1.3 million lives lost worldwide every year. Good animal models that can faithfully recapitulate the human disease are in great need for pre-clinical studies. Based on the different responses to treatment, lung cancer is divided into two major classes: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have developed a novel lentiviral gene delivery system to study the initiation and development of both types of lung cancer. We use lentiviral vectors to establish lung tumors in mice for the following reasons: 1) lentiviruses infect almost any type of cells, and transgene expression can be controlled by a tissue-specific promoter, which allows a more precise tracing of the origin of the cancer cell; 2) lentiviruses integrate into genomic DNA so that it is possible to stably deliver oncogenes and shRNAs against tumor suppressors, and bypass the requirement of numerous conventional genetic crossings; 3) viral titers can be controlled so as to infect only a few cells, in order to more precisely recapitulate human cancer initiation. We used CA2Cre-shp53 lentiviral vector to initiate lung adenocarcinoma in KrasG12D mice and studied the role of NF-κB/IKK2 in tumor development. We found that IKK2 depletion in tumor cells significantly attenuated tumor proliferation and significantly prolonged mouse survival. We identified Timp-1 (a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases), one of the NF-κB target genes, as a key mediator for tumor growth. Timp-1 binds to its receptor CD63, activates Erk signaling pathway and stimulates cell proliferation. Knockdown of either IKK2 or Timp-1 by shRNAs reduced tumor growth in both xenograft and lentiviral models, suggesting the possible application of IKK2 and Timp-1 inhibitors in treating lung cancer. Due to the safety concerns of systemic NF-κB inhibition, IKK2 inhibitors haven't been applied to the clinical trials. Our identification of Timp-1 may serve as an alternative target for blocking tumor proliferation. Timp-1 neutralizing antibodies are currently being tested to treat mice carrying Kras adenocarcinomas. SCLC is the most malignant form of lung cancer with a five-year survival less than 6%. A mouse model with p53/Rb deletions activated by Adeno-Cre has been established in Berns lab. To improve the model and study other genes that are frequently mutated in human SCLC, we designed a single lentiviral vector to deliver oncogenes (L-myc) and shRNAs against tumor suppressors (p53, Rb etc) and successfully initiated SCLC in wild-type mice. Furthermore, we included luciferase or fluorescence protein genes in the same vector to follow tumor growth and metastasis in the live animal. Using this new model, we are now studying the crosstalk of multiple mutations in the SCLC development. We hope that our unique lentiviral tool can simplify and accelerate the lung cancer study to understand the big signal pathway complex leading to tumorigenesis in the lung and search for new therapies for this deadly human disease. This abstract is also presented as Poster A45.


Discovery of petroleum resources in Arctic waters and the rapid loss of sea ice raise concerns over environmental risks of oil development in Arctic waters. One of the biggest threats to the marine environment from offshore oil production is a large-scale oil spill, akin to Deepwater Horizon. The challenging operating conditions, lack of infrastructure and effective clean-up techniques in the Arctic conditions exacerbate the need to ensure robust regulation of petroleum activities in the region. Whereas national laws vary extensively across the Arctic States, international law does not offer a uniform approach to prevention of and response to oil spills. This paper examines the scope and application of the relevant treaties and argues that a regulatory gap exists in the prevention of oil spills and addressing the challenges of response in Arctic conditions. It further suggests that there is an increasing role for soft-law regional cooperation in addressing these gaps.


The purpose of this paper is to offer a short and systematic review of the variety of nucleophilic aromatic substitution and to explain the differences between the reactivity of aromatic substrates in order to find the best conditions for these transformations. In spite of the fact that nucleophilic aromatic substitution is a transformation thermodynamically allowed, it is kinetically forbidden by the antiaromatic transition states that develop by the interaction between the aromatic electron configuration and the two extra electrons from the nucleophilic reagent. The increase in the rates of these transformations is dependent on the procedures for avoiding 4n electron transition states. This goal can be achieved by one of the following procedures: adequate substituerts able to accept 1 or 2 electrons, strong basic media, conditions that favor one electron transfer prior to interaction of the reagents, irradiation of the substrate or transition metals that can change the orbital symmetry of the transition state.


We present the COLIBRI code for computing the evolution of stars along the TP-AGB phase. Compared to purely synthetic TP-AGB codes, COLIBRI relaxes a significant part of their analytic formalism in favour of a detailed physics applied to a complete envelope model, in which the stellar structure equations are integrated from the atmosphere down to the bottom of the hydrogen-burning shell. This allows to predict selfconsistently: (i) the effective temperature, and more generally the convective envelope and atmosphere structures, correctly coupled to the changes in the surface chemical abundances and gas opacities; (ii) the conditions under which sphericity effects may significantly affect the atmospheres of giant stars; (iii) the core mass-luminosity relation and its possible break-down due to the occurrence of hot bottom burning (HBB) in the most massive AGB stars, by taking properly into account the nuclear energy generation in the H-burning shell and in the deepest layers of the convective envelope; (iv) the HBB nucleosynthesis via the solution of a complete nuclear network (including the pp chains, and the CNO, NeNa, MgAl cycles) coupled to a diffusive description of mixing, suitable to follow also the synthesis of 7 Li via the Cameron-Fowler beryllium transport mechanism; (v) the intershell abundances left by each thermal pulse via the solution of a complete nuclear network applied to a simple model of the pulsedriven convective zone; (vi) the onset and quenching of the third dredge-up, with a temperature criterion that is applied, at each thermal pulse, to the result of envelope integrations at the stage of the post-flash luminosity peak. At the same time COLIBRI pioneers new techniques in the treatment of the physics of stellar interiors, not yet adopted in full TP-AGB models. It is the first evolutionary code ever to use accurate on-the-fly computation of the equation of state for roughly 800 atoms, ions, molecules, and of the Rosseland mean opacities throughout the atmosphere and the deep envelope. This ensures a complete consistency, step by step, of both EoS and opacity with the evolution of the chemical abundances caused by the third dredge-up and HBB. Another distinguishing aspect of COLIBRI is its high computational speed, that allows to generate complete grids of TP-AGB models in just a few hours. This feature is absolutely necessary for calibrating the many uncertain parameters and processes that characterize the TP-AGB phase. We illustrate the many unique features of COLIBRI by means of detailed evolutionary tracks computed for several choices of model parameters, including initial star masses, chemical abundances, nuclear reaction rates, efficiencyof the third dredge-up, overshooting at the base of the pulse-driven convection zone, etc. Future papers in this series will deal with the calibration of all these and other parameters using observational data of AGB stars in the Galaxy and in nearby systems, a step that is of paramount importance for producing reliable stellar population synthesis models of galaxies up to high redshift.


Industrial Control Systems(ICS) of the past have been shielded from network intrusions by means of an "air gap" separating the system from the open internet. However, this protection is no longer universally present in modern networked ICS. With the development and execution of new malware targeting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) in ICS, it has become increasingly urgent for new techniques for discovering and identifying industrial and manufacturing behavior indicative of a malicious intrusion.We aim to develop a modular and process-isolated sensor-based addition to current Intrusion Detection Systems. We plan to design and implement an "add-on" IDS aimed at monitoring the physical processes controlled by the PLC. Our proposed system will be isolated from the potentially compromised PLC, and shall be monitoring the behavioral patterns of physical processes by processing the data collected from the sensors that are isolated from those controlled by the PLC, in order to detect potential presence of anomalies.


Conservation projects normally involve work that cannot accurately predetermine in terms of extent, specification, duration or cost. It was because conservation projects were unique and non-duplicate project which do not have precedent case to study. It was also fewer specialists in the sense of knowledge about the conservation projects. The aim of the research was to identify the risk in conservation faced by contractor and consultant at pre-contract and post-contract stage. The objectives of study were to identify the type of risk in conservation such as cost risk, time risk and safety risk. The barriers in the conservation refurbishment works also been identified through study. Finally, various possible solutions to reduce risk in conservation refurbishment works been identified. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted to achieve the objectives of the study. Both methods were used to cross-tabulated each other to reinforced the opinion from the practitioners. It was found that risk in conservation refurbishment work was higher that new-built projects. Besides that, it was found that risk management in conservation refurbishment projects had been poorly applied and practiced nowadays. Conservation works was contribute to a new era and ways in construction industry which can helps in growth of country's economy and to preserve the ancient's properties from time to time in order to attract more tourism visit our country .


Faceted dendrites of icosahedral AL6Li3Cu have been studied by high-resolution x-ray scattering. The samples display long-range icosahedral symmetry both in their diffraction patterns and in their macroscopic morphology. Despite the appearance of well-defined facets, the samples have a high degree of atomic disorder. The Bragg peaks have symmetry-dependent shapes and widths that scale linearly with G⊥ (phason momentum). The peak widths are surprisingly similar to those found in icosahedral Al-Mn-Si alloys in both their absolute magnitude and their dependence on G⊥. The origin of these features in models for the icosahedral phase is discussed.


A number of reasons led to the attempts to resort to flexible forms of employment in Lithuania. Among them is the process of integration to the European Union, globalization of economics and related changes in labour market, the need to increase the level of employment, reconcile professional and family life, the need to secure equality of women and men. By means of comparative and analytical methods the article focuses on legal regulation of employment in general and flexible forms of employment in particular, also recent amendments to the legal regulation and possible venues of its improvement. The author does not seek to provide a comprehensive analysis of the issues mentioned; instead the major focus is on certain aspects of flexible forms of employment that the author considers essential in order to disclose the problematic aspects of current legal regulation. Declaring the need to improve the living and working conditions of workers Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights for Workers besides open-ended contracts suggests maintaining also other forms of employment such as the fixed-term contracts, part-time, temporary work and seasonal work contracts. Recently in the EU the number of workers working under the flexible forms of employment has improved significantly. The reasons for this phenomenon are numerous: the need to reduce the costs of production, increase the productivity, flexibility of employers on the market, changes in the nature of work, increase of a number of working women, etc. A reasonable question is whether Lithuania should implement the flexible forms of employment, which groups of the society would be affected by this and whether necessary political, economic and legal conditions are satisfied for this purpose. It is also important to foresee whether introduction of flexible forms of employment and their application would have negative consequences on such social benefits like health insurance, pensions, holidays, guarantees and compensations to be paid upon dismissal from work.


Interdiffusion at 700°C for Ni-22at.%Cr (fcc γ phase) alloys with small additions of Al, Si, Ge, or Pd was examined using solid-to-solid diffusion couples. Rods of Ni-22at.%Cr, Ni- 21at.%Cr-6.2at.%Al, Ni-22at.%Cr-4.0at.%Si, Ni-22at.%Cr-1.6at.%Ge and Ni-22at.%Cr-1.6at.%Pd alloys were cast using arc-melt and homogenized at 900°C for 168 hours. The diffusion couples were assembled with alloy disks in Invar steel jig, encapsulated in Argon after several hydrogen flushes, and annealed at 700°C for 720 hours. Experimental concentration profiles were determined from polished cross-sections by using electron probe microanalysis with pure standards of Ni, Cr, Al, Si, Ge and Pd. Interdiffusion fluxes of individual components were calculated directly from the experimental concentration profiles, and the moments of interdiffusion fluxes were examined to determine average ternary interdiffusion coefficients. Effects of ternary alloying additions on the interdiffusional behavior of Ni-Cr-X alloys at 700°C are presented in the light of the diffusional interactions and the formation of protective Cr2O3 scale.


BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results and complications of laparoscopic varicocelectomy in children.

METHODS
Over a 36-month period, 211 children underwent laparoscopic treatment of varicocele. Their ages ranged between 6 and 17 years; the varicocele was located on the left side in 209 cases (99.1%) and was bilateral in 2 (0.9%). In 195 patients the laparoscopic transperitoneal approach was used and in 16 retroperitoneoscopy was used. Thirty children (14.2%) underwent ligation of the veins alone, and 181 (85.8%) underwent ligation of testicular veins and artery. In 15 (7.1%) cases an additional procedure was applied during the same operation.

RESULTS
Average operating time was 30 minutes and hospitalization about 24 hours. At an average follow-up of 26 months, there were 19 (9%) postoperative complications: 14 children had a left hydrocele, 3 children a scrotal emphysema, and 2 an umbilical granuloma. There were 5 recurrences of varicocele in our series: 2 (2 of 30, 6.6%) after the Ivanissevitch procedure, and 3 (3 of 181, 1.6%) after Palomo's. Testicular atrophy did not occur in any patient of this series.

CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary experience shows that the results of the laparoscopic approach are comparable to those of the open approach. The ligation of testicular veins and artery is preferable to the ligation of the testicular veins alone. Hydrocele seems to be the most frequent postoperative complication and a potential problem, especially in children operated on with the Palomo procedure.


Frequently laser surface treatments use a powder jet in conjunction with the laser beam. In this study we present a physical–computational model to describe the interaction between a laser beam and a powder jet. The model can be used to calculate the spatial distribution of particle temperature and laser beam attenuation at any moment and all over the region where the laser and particle beams interact. In calculating particle temperature, the attenuation of the laser beam by the particles themselves is taken into account. In the model, the influence of the physical parameters of the particles, of the laser beam, and of the interaction between them are clearly identified and easy to manipulate so that they can be adjusted to optimize the laser surface treatment. With certain simplifying assumptions, the computational structure of the model enables to take into consideration the variation of the materials properties that govern the process with temperature. The model was applied to two cases studies, the first assuming that all parameters are constant with temperature, and the second one considering that the specific heat and reflectivity vary with temperature. A systematic study of the behavior of the average particle temperature, power attenuation, and mass of particles melted as a function of the powder feed rate, and diameter and velocity of the particles was carried out.Frequently laser surface treatments use a powder jet in conjunction with the laser beam. In this study we present a physical–computational model to describe the interaction between a laser beam and a powder jet. The model can be used to calculate the spatial distribution of particle temperature and laser beam attenuation at any moment and all over the region where the laser and particle beams interact. In calculating particle temperature, the attenuation of the laser beam by the particles themselves is taken into account. In the model, the influence of the physical parameters of the particles, of the laser beam, and of the interaction between them are clearly identified and easy to manipulate so that they can be adjusted to optimize the laser surface treatment. With certain simplifying assumptions, the computational structure of the model enables to take into consideration the variation of the materials properties that govern the process with temperature. The model was applied to two cases studies, the fi...


Original Article The effects of cardiac rehabilitation on physical tolerance in patients after coronary artery bypass graft B. Eftekhar Sadat, M. Toofan Tabrizi, S.K. Shakouri, S. Aalavi Milani, L. Kazemi Background and Aim: Coronary artery disease is the most important cause of mortality in most countries including Iran; which leads to significant disability, decrease in the quality of life, and death. According to previous studies, cardiac rehabilitation causes a significant decrease in mortality and has an important role in secondary prevention. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on patients' physical tolerance after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Materials and Methods: This research was a preand post-clinical trial in which 50 patients participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program for 2 months, 6 to 8 weeks following CABG surgery. The following variables had been studied before and after cardiac rehabilitation program: Maximum achieved heart rate and metabolic equivalent index which implies the functional capacity of every patient was investigated. The obtained data was analyzed at the significant level of P<0.05 using SPSS (version 13) and relevant statistical tests. Results: Out of 50 patients: 72% were male and 28% female. Achieved maximum heart rate in 60% of the patients had increased after cardiac rehabilitation and metabolic equivalents of 88% of them had increased after rehabilitation. Besides, there was an increase in exercise tendency in 28% of the cases. Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation has important effects on functional capacity in patients after CABG.


Background Recent studies have suggested that a restrictive pattern assessed with a single spirometric test is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to determine demographic, clinical and mortality profiles of subjects with either a recurrent or an inconsistent restrictive spirometric pattern assessed prospectively. Methods Data from 2048 adult participants in the population-based TESAOD study were analysed. Normal (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio ≥70% and FVC ≥80% predicted), restrictive (FEV1/FVC ≥70% and FVC <80% predicted) and obstructive (FEV1/FVC <70%) patterns were assessed at the enrolment survey in 1972 and in 11 subsequent follow-up surveys up to 1996. Demographic and clinical characteristics were measured at enrolment and vital status and cause of death were assessed at January 2005. Results Overall, 12% of participants had a restrictive spirometric pattern at enrolment. They were less likely to be male, to smoke and to have asthma, and had lower IgE levels than subjects in the obstructive group. Among subjects with a restrictive pattern at enrolment, 38% developed an obstructive pattern during follow-up. The remaining 62% had either a recurrent (restrictive pattern ≥50% of follow-up surveys) or inconsistent (restrictive pattern <50% of follow-up surveys) longitudinal restrictive pattern. The recurrent and inconsistent restrictive groups had increased mortality risk for all-cause (adjusted HR 1.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.3) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.6), respectively), heart disease (2.0 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.1) and 2.7 (95% CI 1.7 to 4.3)), stroke (2.4 (95% CI 0.9 to 6.3) and 3.5 (95% CI 1.2 to 9.8)) and diabetes (8.0 (95% CI 2.9 to 21.8) and 6.0 (95% CI 1.9 to 19.2)). Conclusions The restrictive spirometric pattern identifies a pulmonary condition that is distinguishable from obstructive lung disease and is associated with an increased risk of life-threatening comorbidities.


The consequences of the partially coerced opening of Japan to the Western world in the second half of the 19th century went far beyond economic and political goals and considerations. The previously secluded land almost instantly became a source of artistic inspiration and endless fascination. Japonisme, the term by which the latest craze become known in France, was no passing fad. For many decades, Western artists, most of whom had never set foot in Japan, derived profound inspiration from all facets of the mysterious culture which unfolded in the period. Thus, with scant information and a lack of accurate records being available, common gossip and unfounded rumor filled in the blanks of official reports and naval tales, connecting the dots between the real and the imagined.
In this paper, I succinctly examine the story of Madame Butterfly, cutting across time, genre and borders in the works of John Luther Long, David Belasco, Giacomo Puccini and Claude-Michel Schönberg/Alain Boublil. I contextualize the selected narratives within their socio-political frameworks, but also consider the ramifications of the past and present-day adaptations from the 21st-century perspective, in the light of current struggles for (adequate) representation. Lastly, I examine the production of Miss Saigon (2019–22) at the Music Theatre of Łódź, Poland to compare how the staging of such a musical in a predominantly racially homogenous country affects the perception of Orientalist works. As such this section is a case study based on personal interviews conducted by the author with the producers and cast members.


To generate a tiny and steady force for the calibration of the ocean current sensor, a force-reduction mechanism has been performed in this paper. The paper focuses on the whole process of this mechanism based on the flexible hinges from the working principle, parameter determination to FEM simulation and so forth. By analyzing the relationship between reduction multiple and structural parameters of the levers and hinges, material and geometric dimension are chosen reasonably. Finally, applicability of the choice of the mechanism is verified through finite element analysis. The simulation results show that using this mechanism the input force can reduce to required force of µN for the calibration.


U.S. constitutional law is frequently described as formalistic. For example, the U.S. is one of the few nations where originalism is taken seriously as an interpretive method. This method sometimes involves searching through 18th Century American dictionaries to see how key words in the Constitution were defined to answer questions today. Moreover, conservative politicians constantly beat the drum against "judicial activism," supposedly seeking a strictly construed Constitution. Conservative scholars and judges can be part of this chorus (though sometimes they are the real judicial activists). Alexander Bickel highlighted the "passive virtues." Herbert Wechsler doubted the correctness of Brown v. Board of Education because it was not based on "neutral principles." Free speech case law is supposedly categorical, and equality law purportedly depends on three scrutiny levels. Foreign law's influence is frowned upon by several Justices. And the U.S. Constitution supports individualistic liberty with no affirmative socio-economic rights, only negative civil and political rights, as well as strong principles of state sovereignty. This symposium paper, however, seeks to unmask the flexibility, functionalism and other factors that lie behind this pretense of formalism.
Specifically, this paper insists that American constitutional law often is, and should be pragmatic, purpose oriented, and contextual. Facts and evidence should matter, not out of date abstractions. Indeed, many of those who defend the formalist conservative view are actually masking flexible balancing analysis and proportionality review. Moreover, the paper argues that unmasking and openly balancing would make U.S. constitutional law more coherent and enhance the U.S. Supreme Court's fading reputation.


BACKGROUND
The health and well-being of volunteer donors is of critical concern for blood collection agencies responsible for ensuring a stable supply of blood products. However, lay understandings of the impact of donating blood on health remain poorly understood. As lay perceptions are likely to influence critical decisions about donation, understanding these perceptions is key for informing evidence-based approaches to donor retention and recruitment. As such, we conducted a systematic review of the blood donation literature to identify donors' and non-donors' perceptions of the short and longer-term physiological health effects of whole-blood and/or blood product donation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. Studies published from January 1995 to February 2021 were included. Perceptions were defined as both experiences and beliefs. Psychological effects were considered outside the scope of the review.

RESULTS
A total of 247 studies were included. Most studies (89.5%) had donation-related health perceptions as a background rather than a central (10.5%) focus, and they were only assessed in relation to whole blood donation. More results focused on health-related beliefs than experiences (82 vs 18%), specific rather than general beliefs and experiences (80 vs 20%) and more frequently examined negative than positive beliefs and experiences (83 vs 17%). The most commonly studied and reported specific negative beliefs related to increased risk of infectious disease, reduced vitality, vasovagal reactions and low iron. Most studies examining specific negative beliefs were conducted in Asian countries.

DISCUSSION
Findings reinforce that lay perspectives on how donation impacts health are under-researched, and it is difficult to know how important these are in informing critical decisions about donation for donors and non-donors. We suggest that further research with donation-related health beliefs and experiences as the central focus is needed to provide insights to inform communications with donors and the public.


Viruses have evolved various strategies to ensure efficient translation using host cell ribosomes and translation factors. In addition to cleaving translation initiation factors required for host cell translation, poliovirus (PV) uses an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to bypass the need for these translation initiation factors. Recent studies also suggest that viruses have evolved to exploit specific ribosomal proteins to enhance translation of their viral proteins. The ribosomal protein receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), a protein of the 40S ribosomal subunit, was previously shown to mediate translation of the 5′ cricket paralysis virus and hepatitis C virus IRESs. Here we found that while translation of a PV dual-luciferase reporter shows only a moderate dependence on RACK1, PV translation in the context of a viral infection is drastically reduced. We observed significantly reduced poliovirus plaque size and a delayed host cell translational shut-off suggesting that loss of RACK1 increases the length of the virus life cycle. Our findings further illustrate the involvement of the cellular translational machinery in PV infection and how viruses usurp the function of specific ribosomal proteins.


The reaction kinetics for synthesis of vanillyl nonanoate (VN) by lipase-catalyzed transesterification of vanillyl alcohol and methyl nonanoate in acetone was investigated in this study. The reaction catalyzed by lipase was carried out as follows: A reaction mixture containing given concentration of substrates (1ml) and lipase Novozyme 435 (20mg) in acetone (1ml) was shaken at 30°C for 10min. The initial velocity of the reaction was calculated according to the concentration of VN detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the kinetic equation was obtained by analysis of the double reciprocal plot of initial velocity versus substrate concentration. The data calculated by the kinetic equation were basically in agreement with the experimental data with a correlation coefficient at 0.997. The inhibitory action of methanol (by-product) in the reaction was also investigated and the results indicated that the concentration of methanol influences both slope and intercept of y-axis of the double reciprocal curve, and the lines intersect on the X-axis. These results revealed that this transesterification follows the Ping-Pong reaction mechanism.


Paleoglaciological reconstructions based on glacial geological and geomorphological traces are the basis for testing and constraining numerical models of ice sheet extent and dynamics. In MAGIC-DML ("Mapping, Measuring and Modelling Antarctic Geomorphology and Ice Change, in Dronning Maud Land") we aim to reconstruct the timing and pattern of ice surface elevation changes since the mid-Pliocene across western Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. The choice of study area is motivated by an absence of empirical field data and considerable ice sheet model uncertainties.
We present a remote sensing-based mapping of glacial geomorphology and structures on the ice sheet surface for a coastal-inland transect including Ahlmannryggen-Borgmassivet-Kirwanveggen using high-resolution WorldView imagery. The primary aim of the study is to map traces of a thicker ice sheet on nunatak slopes that were formerly partly or entirely covered during surface highstands. Panchromatic and multispectral images were analysed in a multi-step procedure using ArcGIS, including image processing and mosaicking, visual feature recognition, and mapping. The identification of crucial landforms (such as till veneers and erratic boulders) required the adoption of some assumptions to differentiate, for example, till from regolith. Where patterned ground was mapped, we infer a presence of till rather than regolith since subglacial erosion is more likely to produce fine material than subaerial weathering. Huge boulders on plateau surfaces are mapped as erratics because they could not have been delivered by slope processes to local highpoints. Sediment veneers with ridges were mapped as till because the ridges are inferred to originate from reworking by ice. However, because of the necessity to invoke assumptions and the absence of crosscutting relationships between landforms, we are unsure of the reliability of derived paleo-ice sheet reconstructions. At face value, the data indicates thicker ice in the past from the altitude above present ice surface of till cover and erratics on some nunataks. Mapping and landform interpretations will be verified during the MAGIC-DML 2017-18 field season. The mapping of structures on the ice sheet surface is used to (i) infer ice flow characteristics; This was possible by assessing the distribution of primarily blue ice areas, crevasse fields, and supraglacial moraines, and by analysing their connection to wind directions and ablation rates; and (ii) yield target field routes to potential cosmogenic nuclide (CN) sampling locations along vertical transects on nunataks. The timing derived from CN dating will permit the delineation of ice sheet surface elevations as targets for ice sheet modeling.


Surface bacterial flora, as well as homogenates, of medical leeches, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudinaria manillensis, were surveyed and the susceptibility of these isolates to 15 antimicrobial agents was examined. Aeromonas spp. were isolated from all leeches, and Pseudomonas fluorescens and other glucose-non-fermenting gram-negative rods (NF-GNR) were frequent isolates. Isolates were highly resistant to cephalosporins but susceptible to carbapenems, aminoglycosides and ofloxacin. The results indicate that prophylaxis with antimicrobial agents active against Aeromonas spp. and NF-GNR is necessary to avoid opportunist infections caused by indigenous leech flora during medical leech therapy on immunocompromised patients.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Despite improvements in noninvasive imaging, some patients with contraindications to iodine-based contrast material still require angiography for the evaluation of carotid stenosis. Our aim was to assess the utility of gadopentetate dimeglumine as an intraarterial contrast agent in common carotid angiography.

METHODS
Twelve patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis were enrolled in the study. In addition to the standard injection sequences with iohexol, common carotid arteriograms were obtained after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Neurologic status and vital signs were monitored during and for 6 hours after the examination. For each injection, five independent observers, blinded to the contrast agent used, measured the percentage of carotid stenosis and assessed their confidence in grading the stenosis, the overall quality of the examination, and, in cases of decreased quality, the reason(s) for it. Statistical analysis was done with paired and unpaired t-tests with equal variances.

RESULTS
No patient had an adverse clinical outcome, and measurements of carotid artery stenosis showed no statistically significant differences between the gadopentetate dimeglumine and iohexol examinations. Overall image quality and observer confidence in measurements of stenosis on the gadolinium-based studies were slightly but significantly lower than those of identical iodine-based studies.

CONCLUSION
Gadopentetate dimeglumine may be an alternative to iodine in selected patients undergoing carotid angiography. Although overall image quality of the gadolinium studies is slightly inferior to that of the iohexol studies, measurements of carotid artery stenosis are similar for the two examinations.


Classical conditioning of heart rate (HR) was examined in unrestrained preweanling and weanling (16-, 19-, 21-, 25-, and 28-day-old) rats, with tone and light as the conditioned stimuli (CS) and electric shock as the unconditioned stimulus. The conditioned cardiac response was a sustained deceleration in HR which did not emerge until Day 21 for the tone CS and until Day 28 for the light CS. In contrast, when suppression of a behavioral response (running in a straight alley for dry suckling as reward) was used as the index of conditioning, the suppressive effects of the CS were evident around Day 16 for the tone and around Day 19 for the light. These findings indicate that during ontogenesis (a) the behavioral and autonomic responses to the same conditioned stimulus do not develop at the same pace, (b) the emergence of conditioned responses to tone and light stimuli parallel the sequential order in which the relevant sensory modalities achieve maturity (first audition, next vision), and (c) there is no clear-cut interdependence between development of the HR orienting response and conditionability of HR because unconditioned cardiac deceleration to both auditory and visual stimuli first appears about Day 16 in the developing rat, well before conditioned HR responses can be established to either stimulus.


ObjectivesTo produce open access Primary Care Data Reports using standard health administrative measures in primary care in conjunction with measures for attachment to a primary care provider. Illustrate the importance of incorporating patient attachment data as an essential component in Human Health Resource (HHR) planning.
ApproachThis cohort study uses standard health administrative linked data in primary care in conjunction with measures of attachment to a primary care provider for the population of Ontario, Canada (14,632,575). Data includes attached and uncertainly attached patients stratified according to key demographics, patient characteristics, health care utilization and primary care indicators. We stratified based on health utilization characteristics and produced 6 priority populations of interest by region.
ResultsThe factors most often utilized in informing human health resource planning were based on policy and practice users input and included:1.Patient enrolment model, 2.Attachment to a primary care provider, 3.Who does and does not receive care, 4.Continuity with regular source of care. Policy planners use the reports for improved understanding of the scope of issues in regions and improved understanding of primary care involvement with priority populations. Policy planners have used this report as a data support and measurement tool to identify supply (physician) and demand (patient) data essential in HHR planning.   Health system reform initiatives can use this data to inform improvements in the quality of, and equitable access to, primary care services in specific jurisdictions.
ConclusionsThese reports contain key physician and patient data characteristics that correspond to primary care attachment rates. This data is essential to HHR planning when the goal is improving access to primary care for both attached and uncertainly attached patients. Data visualization in the form of mapping is especially impactful for policy and practice stakeholders.


This research is based on the 2009 legislative elections which gave the opportunity for women to fight and become an active political actors. Each party has a female legislative candidates who were sent to Parliament, DPD, and the House of Representatives. Itupun strengthened by the existence of affirmative action (quotas of women seats in the House as much as 30%). Not just a matter of authoritative figures and be able to trust people, but they
are Members of the Legislative (Aleg) women should have their own tricks and displays to provide the best for the people entrusted to his election in 2009. One way or the strategy is also supported with an interesting message, it weighs in accordance with the issues that become the subject is, and remains on track to run a healthy politics. In addition, the use of media during the campaign also supports the activities of political communication is
executed. Formulation of the problem at this writing is what the strategy undertaken by women legislators in Batu 2009-2014 parliament as a form of political communication is executed.
The strategy is essentially a planning (planning) and management (management) to achieve specific objectives in operating practices (Rosady Ruslan). Similarly, communications strategy, a combination of communications planning (communication planning) and management (management communication) to achieve a goal. Political communication itself is one of the functions of political parties that distribute a variety of opinions and aspirations of the people and set them in such a way, combining the interests (interest aggregation) and
the formulation of interest (interest articulation) to fight for a public policy (Miriam Budiarjo). The message is removed primarily in the political world should be in accordance with the issues emerging in the community (Firmanzah). Also supported also by the use of
the media as supporting or supporting the success of a communication. Bermedia communication process is the use of communication channels or means to carry a message to
the remote communicant place, and / or lot number (Onong Uchyana).
The method used in this research is the study of phenomenology. Phenomenology is defined as the subjective experience or experience fenomenologikal and a study of consciousness from the perspective of one's subject (Husserl in Qualitative Research Methods, 2006:14).
And by using a qualitative approach and descriptive type of research. Collecting data using interviews and documentation, and as many as eight people informant.
Data findings indicate, the political communications strategies that made the informants is to jump directly to the public in order for people to know their figures. Informants communicate with all walks of Batu Town. With direct communication, the informants expect people really
know their figures as a potential representative of the people who really populist. Especially to women, mothers and young girls. Communication is done, the informants can be said to be the emotional intimacy among women. With the emotional closeness that will help facilitate what you want delivered the informants as women legislative candidates. This was supported by utilizing groups or routine activities were held such as the PKK, study, social gathering, and jama'ah-jama'ah tahlil or Yassin.
The next communication message conveyed is associated with women's issues, matters relating to economic, political, and education. Women who discussed the issue of female self-
improvement to continue to work without leaving their nature as women. Then on improving the economic standard of living or well-being through skills and crafts. In the political field is more on explaining the electoral system is running and confirm that the party did not specify
whether or not a person as a representative of the people, but more on his personal figure.
Own education related to the assertion that education must be taken since the primary school level to the highest level, or at least take advantage of secondary vocational schools (SMK) and chased package C as an increase in the quality of public education. While media campaigns used by the informants is the mass media and media nirmassa. Mass
media using the print media of newspapers and electronic media ie television and tabloids.
Media nirmassa using stickers, business cards, banners, posters, and calendars. From the results of these studies, is still necessary to improve the quality of the individual to increase the references relating to political communication strategies and consultation with political
experts to add insight and political knowledge. Also coupled with the increased use of media, especially the mass media. Because at least, the effects of mass media is able to reach the number of people very much and the whole society. Although no direct feedback received. As local television, local radio, magazines, tabloids, and the local newspaper.