Sumberbrantas is an Agroindustrial village in Malang, East java, with the main commodities are potatoes. One of the farmer groups engaged in potatoes agricultural sector is Anjasmoro farmer groups III. This farmer groups special program is perform independently potato seeding in the greenhouse. But, this process is not optimal because of less lighting so the potatoes seed produced susceptible to disease and has a small size. Therefore, we innovate to apply LUMOS technology. LUMOS is an automatic lighting system based on photoperiodic. The purpose of this program is to determine a method of designing, manufacturing, Lumos application influences and effective way of socialization. Lumos has a size of 25m × 5m. there are 4 18 watt lights, there are control Box size 15cm × 21cm × 5cm, and can be used for 5 years. Making Lumos begins with assembly hardware, sensor calibration and software development. The results showed that potatoes produced has a diameter of 8.128 mm and a mass of 31.3 grams greater than before. This technology is able to produce potatoes seed up to 7,000 seeds/period and profit reached Rp 20,169,000.00 annually. It is expected that this technology into a technology demonstration for other potato farmers in Indonesia. Keywords: automatic lighting, potatoes seeding, photoperiodic


The present experiment addressed the effects of two harvest stages, namely breaker (S1) and turning (S2), on compositional and sensory profile of grafted, greenhouse elongated tomatoes cv. "Sir Elyan". The rootstocks "He-Man", "Interpro", and "Armstrong" were used. The S1 fruits showed a higher dry matter content, firmness and titratable acidity when compared to the S2 ones (by 6%, 3%, and 15%, respectively). They showed, also, the highest L-ascorbic acid concentration and antioxidant activity. Differently, soluble solid content, lycopene and β-carotene increased in the S2 fruits (by 4%, 92%, and 26%, respectively). Excepting methyl salicylate, all the volatiles detected peaked in the S2 fruits, which were scored by panelists as sweeter and more flavorful than the S1 ones. Among the rootstock genotypes, "He-Man" promoted fruits firmness, carotenoids concentration and antioxidant activity, irrespective of the harvest stage. "Interpro" enhanced the sensory attributes of the S1 fruits in terms of bitterness, sourness, sweetness and flavor. Differently, sweetness, sourness, and tomato flavor of the S2 fruits were promoted by "Armstrong". The results highlight the influence of rootstock genotype on the nutraceutical and sensorial profile of "Sir Elyan" fruits harvested at early ripening stages.


Platelet activating factor, a potent inducer of in vivo platelet activation and thrombosis, has been shown to be excessively active in acute ischemic stroke patients. Therefore, we studied the effect of aspirin/dipyridamole therapy in inhibiting platelet activating factor-induced platelet activation in acute ischemic stroke patients, 23 taking aspirin/dipyridamole and 21 untreated. Aspirin/dipyridamole-treated patients failed to show suppression of platelet activating factor-induced platelet aggregation even though collagen-induced activation was inhibited, suggesting that platelet activating factor acts by cyclooxygenase-independent mechanisms. Failure to suppress cyclooxygenase-independent mechanisms of platelet activation may explain the limited usefulness of current antiplatelet therapy, aspirin in particular, in stroke prevention. The role of selective platelet activating factor antagonists both in isolation and combined with aspirin needs to be investigated for their usefulness in the treatment and prevention of ischemic stroke.


We use the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) method to model silica tapermicrofiber structures integrated on substrates. The dependence of the transmission on the length of the microfiber is investigated for two different structures. Optimization of the geometric parameters is provided and two substrate materials, namely MgF2 and fluorosilicate glass, are considered. We also investigate the case where the structure is covered with a dielectric material.


Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSVVV) occurs sporadically in potato (Solanum tuberosum) crops in
Australia, sometimes causing severe losses. Very little is known about the disease in potato as
evidenced from the literature review (Chapter 1). Part of the problem stems from the sporadic nature
of the disease in potato, which makes it hard to find a consistent data set at the desired level of
aggregation, both for disease incidence and intensity as the variables to be explained and for
explanatory variables. This makes it difficult to formulate empirical descriptions of risk factors and
statistical exploration of interactions of different variables that develop into functional complexes
causing the epidemics.
Surveys were conducted from June 2001 to March 2004 in commercial potato fields in the southern
States of Australia. Data sets from these surveys were used to develop dynamic mathematical
models, defining spatio-temporal oscillations, in both population structure and demography, of the only
two thrips vector species, Thdps tabad and Frankliniella schulei, found in potato crops (Chapter 2).
The Gompertz and Exponential curves best described the relationships between the vector and the
regional weather variables. In general, the optimum daily minimum air temperature (°C) required by
T. tabaci population to start rising within potato crops ranged between 10°C and 12.0°C and daily
maximum air temperature (°C) range was 14.5°C and 22°C. The observed versus predicted estimates
for the daily relative humidity at 3pm in Tasmania had low percentage variance (r2) values for
T. taboo: The general optimum daily minimum air temperature (°C) range for F schultzei populations
to start rising was between 4°C and 6°C and daily maximum air temperature (°C) range of 20°C and
22°C. Less than favourable daily relative humidity at 3pm of more than 40% depresses F. schultzei
populations in both Victoria and South Australia. Both T. tabaci and F. schultzei populations are
depressed by precipitation as indicated by three models across the sampling sites. The models can be
used as a hazard prediction to orient integrated TSWV disease management. To test the significance of the potato cultivars being grown in affecting the epidemiology of TSVVV,
27 cultivars were evaluated for two seasons in both glasshouse and natural field conditions. Variations
in susceptibility to infection were exhibited by potato cultivars and were conditioned by the age of the
plant at the time of infection as measured by symptom expression, shoot and tuber infections in both
mechanical and thrips transmissions (Chapter 3). For both foliar and tuber infections, more cultivars
exhibited symptoms when infected late than early. TSVVV infections between cultivars were not
significantly different (P>0.05), except in tubers from mechanically inoculated plants during 2002/2003. Foliar infections in a number of cultivars did not translate into virus translocation to tubers
except in Atlantic, Bintje, Fontenot, Kennebec, Kipfler, McCains 1 and Shepody. Thrips had a high
feeding preference for the cultivar Royal Blue, but this did not translate into high TSVVV infections. The
cultivar Bismarck, which despite being highly susceptible to foliar and tuber TSVVV infections through
mechanical inoculations, exhibited strikingly robust field resistance to thrips feeding and consequently
TSVVV infection in the field. The study suggests that the risk of TSVVV epidemics depends on when
and to what extent the plants develop resistance in relation to the age of the crop. Certification
guidelines for tolerance levels of TSVVV infection in seed potatoes in Australia should reflect this on a
cultivar specific basis. The independent and interactive effects of temperature with plant age at the time of inoculation on
viral movement restriction, symptom expression and foliar and tuber infections were assessed and
quantified in potato cv. Shepody (susceptible) and Russet Burbank (tolerant) under controlled conditions
(Chapter 4). Plants exposed immediately after inoculation or after 72 hours to four different
temperature regimes at two different stages of growth (early versus late) showed variations in
symptom expressions and virus movement patterns. In inoculated plants immediately exposed to
different temperature treatments, foliar infections and symptoms were generally restricted to lower and
middle leaves of the canopies and auxiliary shoots. More leaves of early-inoculated plants expressed
symptoms than in late inoculations. In early-inoculated cv. Shepody plants continuously exposed to
22°C, virus migration reached top canopies two days earlier (5 days after inoculation) and induced
TSVVV symptoms than similar plants under continuous 16 °C. In both cultivars, plants were more
resistant to TSVVV infections when inoculated late and immediately exposed to 22 °C for 48 hours,
inoculated and then transferred to 16°C. Under these conditions, some infections were detected in
lower inoculated leaves of cv. Russet Burbank plants at 12 days after inoculation. When plants had a
72 hours delayed exposure to different temperature regimes, the number of plants with detectable
TSVVV in shoots, number of leaves on each plant and total leaf areas with symptoms were in the
middle and top canopies. The virus was detected only in early-inoculated plants. Most plants did not
exhibit TSVVV symptoms and the virus was not detectable by ELISA, except in Shepody plants
exposed to 16°C continuously and 22°C for 48 hours, inoculated and then transferred to 16°C. In
these plants the virus reached the middle and top canopies where it was detected in cvs. Russet
Burbank and Shepody at 28 and 43 days after inoculation, respectively. The underlying mechanism by
which temperature influences these virus movements and symptom expressions in TSVVV infections is
still unclear. Results from this study would be useful in the rational selection of suitable conditions
when screening potato cultivars for TSVVV resistance by breeding programs and production in
appropriate climatic conditions. In summary, the results from the above studies, collectively, contribute to uncover some ecological
relationships and patterns of both TSWV and its vector thrips that can be integrated with plausible
mechanisms to explain the epidemiology of the virus in potato crops and advance the rationale for
future research in this direction.


The focus on employer-provided health insurance in the United States may restrict business creation. We address the limited research on the topic of "entrepreneurship lock" by using recent panel data from matched Current Population Surveys. We use difference-in-difference models to estimate the interaction between having a spouse with employer-based health insurance and potential demand for health care. We find evidence of a larger negative effect of health insurance demand on business creation for those without spousal coverage than for those with spousal coverage. We also take a new approach in the literature to examine the question of whether employer-based health insurance discourages business creation by exploiting the discontinuity created at age 65 through the qualification for Medicare. Using a novel procedure of identifying age in months from matched monthly CPS data, we compare the probability of business ownership among male workers in the months just before turning age 65 and in the months just after turning age 65. We find that business ownership rates increase from just under age 65 to just over age 65, whereas we find no change in business ownership rates from just before to just after for other ages 55-75. We also do not find evidence from the previous literature and additional estimates that other confounding factors such as retirement, partial retirement, social security and pension eligibility are responsible for the increase in business ownership in the month individuals turn 65. Our estimates provide some evidence that "entrepreneurship lock" exists, which raises concerns that the bundling of health insurance and employment may create an inefficient level of business creation.


Research into the teaching of science has suggested that student learning resulted from personal and social processes promoting communication and construction of knowledge. The teacher has an interventionist role. The current research project aims to investigate the process of student involvement during instruction by dialogue and if such involvement has an effect on learning outcomes. Videotapes were made of thirteen biology lessons for year 10 students in a girls independent selective school. Individual student behaviour profiles in relation to answering and asking questions, the psychological cognitive demands made of the students in answering questions, and the teacher's questions and immediate help provided for the students to answer them, added to the picture of the interactions. The evidence suggested that the teacher made the students a resource to learning. Qualitative analysis showed how the teacher's strategies helped students locate and link topic information. Socratic questioning and scaffolding techniques were identified but scaffolding did not involve fading. The students utilised prior and new information, and scaffolded one another. Concept maps were used to represent how teacher and student interaction lead to expanded networks of information. A theoretical analysis of the dialogue illustrated parallel and reciprocal teacher and student activities. This allowed the construction of a model of learning within an integration theory framework.
Individual student profiles showed that low participation was associated with low success in answering questions in lessons. Greater participation in the dialogue was linked to greater success. There was not a direct relationship between participation and success. A comparison of students' behaviour during lessons and examinations results showed that the lower rates of participation in the dialogue led to the least successful examination performance. Higher level participation in the lessons led to more successful examination performance, but there was not a simple relationship between the two.


Background Peritoneal inflammation may induce changes in peritoneal microvessels, including neoangiogenesis/vasculogenesis, leading to increased peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) and loss of ultrafiltration capacity. We hypothesized that an inflammatory reaction in the peritoneal cavity during peritonitis induces increased synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We therefore studied the relationship between peritoneal inflammation markers, VEGF, and transport of fluid and solutes in rats during acute peritoneal inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) added to standard glucose-based dialysis solution. Methods Under ether anesthesia, male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mL Dianeal 3.86% without (Control; n=6) or with LPS (μg/mL): 0.001 (LPS 0.001; n=6), 0.01 (LPS 0.01; n=7), 0.1 (LPS 0.1; n=7), 1.0 (LPS 1.0; n=8). After 8 hours, dialysate volume (IPV), peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) and dialysate cell count (DCC) were measured and effluent samples were collected. Results LPS i.p. resulted in increased PSTR and decreased IPV (p<0.005). DCC (cells/μL) and the neutrophil/macrophage ratio were higher for all LPS concentrations compared to the control group. After 8 hours, LPS-exposed rats had significantly higher dialysate levels of all investigated cytokines (TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-10) than the control group. Addition of LPS resulted in increased dialysate VEGF concentrations (pg/mL) (LPS 0.001, 28.2±5.9; LPS 0.01, 38.9±11.6; LPS 0.1, 43.0±5.9; LPS 1.0, 46.6±11.3; Control, 14.5±9.8; p<0.0005 for all LPS vs. Control). Conclusions The infusion of Dianeal 3.86% with different doses of LPS induced a strong acute intraperitoneal inflammatory reaction with increased DCC and cytokine levels, resulting in increased peritoneal solute transport and decreased IPV LPS induced a dose-dependent parallel increase of the intraperitoneal concentrations of MCP-1, IL-10 and TNF-α, as well as of VEGF. These results suggest that intraperitoneal VEGF synthesis is induced in response to inflammation, and that this may be an important component in the process leading to peritoneal transport alterations.


With the nation's shifting ethnic and cultural texture, multicultural education has become imperative in the 21st century. As an outcome of the shifting diversity in our country, more than 6.3 million students with English as their second language and as many as 13 million students living in poverty are enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade public schools (Children's Defense Fund, 2005). In contrast to student diversity in the U.S., most of the current teaching force, those coming into teaching, and those who teach prospective teachers are White females who have been raised in middle class homes in rural and suburban communities (http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/minoritytrends/ind_1_1.asp). With such dramatic changes in our nation's cultural landscape, it is not surprising that one major goal of many teacher education programs is to better prepare a mostly White, female monolingual teaching force to work effectively with students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Yet, even though most teacher education programs report that they have thoroughly incorporated diversity perspectives and multicultural content into the curriculum, external examinations often prove the contrary (Bartolome, 2004; Darling-Hammond, Hammerness, Grossman, Rust, & Shulman, 2005). Many teacher preparation programs attempt to infuse multicultural perspectives by simply adding one or two courses in multicultural education and/or requiring teacher candidates to complete assignments that explore surface level differences in culture and language such as sampling different "cultural" foods or learning to say hello in several languages. Such practices can be superficial and partial rather than infused into a coherent multicultural curriculum (Irvine, 2003; Ladson-Billings, 1999;Villegas & Lucas, 2002; Zeichner & Hoeft, 1996) and can reinforce the idea that only a few individuals are responsible for preparing teacher candidates for a diverse society. Even when multicultural courses are thoroughly infused into the curriculum, many teacher educators in the same teacher preparation program tend to have very different ideas about multicultural perspectives on teaching and teacher education and how important they are. According to Darling-Hammond, Hammerness, Grossman, Rust, and Shulman (2005) one way to make long-lasting changes in the way teacher candidates are prepared to work with diverse students is to create coherent programs where teacher educators build a shared vision of good teaching, use common standards of practice that guide and assess coursework and clinical work, and demonstrate shared knowledge and common beliefs about teaching and learning. For Tatto (1996), having a coherent program does not necessarily suggest that all faculty think alike, instead the coherence of a program should consider how faculty members can reach common ground around professional norms and expectations, as well as in the way that learning experiences are organized and conceptualized. In other words, creating a coherent multicultural teacher education program requires faculty members to strive for and identify a central focus for teacher learning, to be collectively responsible, and to have the opportunity to influence policies and practices. Such program coherence is sustained by a collective purpose and promotes focused and sustained program development (King & Newmann, 2000). Although the literature on multicultural teacher education asserts that coherence may be one of the most critical aspects of teacher preparation programs (Nieto, 2000; Villegas & Lucas, 2002), there is very little research on this topic. And like Gay and Howard (2000), we believe that teacher education programs and the faculty who teach in these programs "must be held accountable for implementing quality multicultural education as they expect their students in K-12 classrooms" (p. 15). The purpose of this study was to examine teacher educators' perspectives about multicultural education in an elementary and middle school teacher preparation program. …


Summary Background Cardiac complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in children with HIV/AIDS. These rates have been under-reported in sub-Saharan African children. Methods This was an observational, cross-sectional Doppler echocardiographic study of ventricular systolic function, performed at a tertiary clinic on children with HIV/AIDS. Results Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was present in 27.0% of the children with HIV infection and 81.2% of those with AIDS. The mean fractional shortening in the AIDS group (31.6 ± 9.5%) was significantly lower than in the HIV-infected group (35.3 ± 10.5%, p = 0.001). A significant correlation was found with CD4+ cell count and age, and these were the best predictors of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the stepwise multiple regression analysis (r = 0.396, p = 0.038; r = –0.212, p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusion Left ventricular systolic dysfunction is common in Nigerian children with HIV/AIDS.


One way to help ensure the future of human life on the planet is to reduce the total number of people alive as a hedge against dangers to the environment. One commentator has proposed withdrawing government and insurance subsidies from all fertile people to help reduce the number of births. Any proposal of this kind does not, however, offer a solution commensurate with current problems of resource use and carbon emissions. Closing off fertility medicine to some people—or even to all—would have only negligible effects on environmental protection. Moreover, the proposal to withdraw financial subsidies from fertile individuals would have prejudicial effects on lesbian and gay people, who must always reach beyond their same-sex relationships for help in having children. It is, moreover, entirely unclear why some people turning to fertility medicine for help in having children should have to pay their own way even though they contribute to the pool of money available for government and insurance subsidies. Entitlements based on an alleged moral difference between the 'fertile' and the 'infertile' cannot support such a conclusion.


The objective of this book is to provide detailed advice on how to design multi-topic household surveys based on the experience of past household surveys. The book will help identify define objectives, identify data needed to analyze objectives, and draft questionnaires to collect such data. Much of the book is based on the experience of the World Bank's Living Standard's Measurement Study (LSMS) program, established in 1980 to explore ways the accuracy, timeliness, and policy relevance of household survey data collected in developing countries. It is part of an attempt to extend the range of policy issues that can be analyzed with LSMS data; to increase the reliability and accuracy of the surveys; and to make it easier to implement LSMS surveys. The books first discuss the "big picture" concerning the overall design of surveys, modules to be used, and procedures for combining modules into questionnaires and questionnaires into surveys. Individual modules are discussed in depth as well as major policy issues. The process of manipulating modules to form a better 'fit' in the case of a specific survey is examined. Specific modules include: consumption, education, health employment, anthropometry, non-labor income, housing, price data, environmental issues, fertility, household income, savings, household enterprises, and time use. The third volume provides draft questionnaires, referenced in the prior chapters.


Because pain signals potential harm to the organism, it immediately attracts attention and motivates decisions and action. However, pain is also subject to motivations—an aspect that has led to considerable changes in our understanding of (chronic) pain over the recent years. The relationship between pain and motivational states is therefore clearly bidirectional. This review provides an overview on behavioral and neuroimaging studies investigating motivational aspects of pain. We highlight recent insights into the modulation of pain through fear and social factors, summarize findings on the role of pain in fear conditioning, avoidance learning and goal conflicts and discuss evidence on pain-related cognitive interference and motivational aspects of pain relief.


Abstract This paper estimates national methane emissions from solid waste disposal sites in Panama over the time period 1990–2020 using both the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Waste Model spreadsheet and the default emissions estimate approach presented in the 1996 IPCC Good Practice Guidelines. The IPCC Waste Model has the ability to calculate emissions from a variety of solid waste disposal site types, taking into account country- or region-specific waste composition and climate information, and can be used with a limited amount of data. Countries with detailed data can also run the model with country-specific values. The paper discusses methane emissions from solid waste disposal; explains the differences between the two methodologies in terms of data needs, assumptions, and results; describes solid waste disposal circumstances in Panama; and presents the results of this analysis. It also demonstrates the Waste Model's ability to incorporate landfill gas recovery data and to make projections. The former default method methane emissions estimates are 25 Gg in 1994, and range from 23.1 Gg in 1990 to a projected 37.5 Gg in 2020. The Waste Model estimates are 26.7 Gg in 1994, ranging from 24.6 Gg in 1990 to 41.6 Gg in 2020. Emissions estimates for Panama produced by the new model were, on average, 8% higher than estimates produced by the former default methodology. The increased estimate can be attributed to the inclusion of all solid waste disposal in Panama (as opposed to only disposal in managed landfills), but the increase was offset somewhat by the different default factors and regional waste values between the 1996 and 2006 IPCC guidelines, and the use of the first-order decay model with a time delay for waste degradation in the IPCC Waste Model.


Embedded in traditional culture perpetuating family-centered elderly care, informal care is still viewed as a family or moral issue rather than a social and policy issue in South Korea. Using newly available microdata from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, this study investigates the effect of informal caregiving on labor market outcomes in South Korea. By doing so, this study provides evidence to inform elderly long-term care policy in South Korea, and also fills a gap in the international literature by providing results from an Asian country. Empirical analyses address various methodological issues by investigating gender differences, by examining both extensive and intensive labor market adjustments with two definitions of labor force participation, by employing different functional forms of care intensity, and by accounting for the potential endogeneity of informal care as well as intergenerational co-residence. Robust findings suggest negative effects of informal caregiving on labor market outcomes among women, but not among men. Compared with otherwise similar non-caregivers, female intensive caregivers who provide at least more than 10 hours of care per week are at an increased risk of being out of the labor force by 15.2 percentage points. When examining the probability of employment in the formal sector only, the effect magnitude is smaller. Among employed women, more intensive caregivers receive lower hourly wages by 1.65K Korean Won than otherwise similar non-caregivers. Informal care is already an important economic issue in South Korea even though aging is still at an early stage.


BACKGROUND
Postherpetic neuralgia, a persistent pain condition often characterized by allodynia and hyperalgesia, is a deleterious consequence experienced by patients after an acute herpes zoster vesicular eruption has healed. The pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia can severely affect a patient's quality of life, quality of sleep, and ability to participate in activities of daily living. Currently, first-line treatments for this condition include the administration of medication therapies such as tricyclic antidepressants, pregabalin, gabapentin, and lidocaine patches, followed by the application of tramadol and capsaicin creams and patches as second- or third-line therapies. As not all patients respond to such conservative options, however, interventional therapies are valuable for those who continue to experience pain.

OBJECTIVE
This review focuses on interventional therapies that have been subjected to randomized controlled trials for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; local botulinum toxin A, cobalamin, and triamcinolone injection; intrathecal methylprednisolone and midazolam injection; stellate ganglion block; dorsal root ganglion destruction; and pulsed radiofrequency therapy.

STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review.

SETTING
Hospital department in Taiwan.

METHODS
Search of PubMed database for all randomized controlled trials regarding postherpetic neuralgia that were published before the end of May 2017.

RESULTS
The current evidence is insufficient for determining the single best interventional treatment. Considering invasiveness, price, and safety, the subcutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A or triamcinolone, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and stellate ganglion block are recommended first, followed by paravertebral block and pulsed radiofrequency. If severe pain persists, spinal cord stimulation could be considered. Given the destructiveness of dorsal root ganglion and adverse events of intrathecal methylprednisolone injection, these interventions should be carried out with great care and only following comprehensive discussion.

LIMITATIONS
Although few adverse effects were reported, these procedures are invasive, and a careful assessment of the risk-benefit ratio should be conducted prior to administration.

CONCLUSION
With the exception of intrathecal methylprednisolone injection for postherpetic neuralgia, the evidence for most interventional procedures used to treat postherpetic neuralgia is Level 2, according to "The Oxford Levels of Evidence 2". Therefore, these modalities have received only grade B recommendations. Despite the lack of a high level of evidence, spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation are possibly useful for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

KEY WORDS
Interventional treatment, postherpetic neuralgia, botulinum toxin, steroid, stellate ganglion block, peripheral nerve stimulation, paravertebral block, radiofrequency, spinal cord stimulation.


Long Term Evolution (LTE) is expected to substitute the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) as the radio access technology for railway communications. Recently, especial attention has been devoted to high-speed trains since this particular environment poses challenging problems in terms of performance simulation and measurement. In order to severely decrease the cost and complexity of high-speed measurement campaigns, we have proposed a technique to induce effects caused by highly-time varying channels on Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals while conducting measurements at low speeds. In this work, we evaluate this technique by comparing the results of LTE measurements at different velocities as well as by simulations. Additionally, we use this technique to show the performance of LTE for high-speed train scenarios up to 600 km/h. To accomplish this, we use both a controlled high-speed measurement setup as well as a channel model developed according to the guidelines of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) for the evaluation of radio interface technologies for IMT- Advanced systems.


Purpose: At the dynamic innovation market, it is very difficult for an enterprise to accomplish innovation individually; technology innovation is shifting towards collaborative R&D chain mode. Thus, supplier selection based on individually innovation efficiency of enterprise is inapplicable to construct collaborative R&D innovation chain. This study is seeking to address how to select R&D innovation chain supplier in manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach: Firstly, Delphi method and AHP method are applied to establish an index system evaluating the suppliers of innovation chain, and then each index is weighted by experts with AHP method. Thirdly, optimized PSO algorithm is put forwarded based on the optimal efficiency of innovation chain to discriminate ideal suppliers meeting realistic conditions. Fourthly, innovation chain construction at generator manufacturing industry was taken as empirical case study to testify the improved PSO model. Findings: The innovation chain is comprised up by several enterprises, innovation performance of a single enterprise is not always positively correlated to that of one innovation chain, and the proposed model is capable to find out the best combination to construct an innovation chain. Research limitations/implications: The relations between these constructs with other variables of interest to the academicals fields were analyzed by a precise and credible data with a clear and concise description of the supply chain integration measurement scales. Practical implications: providing scales that are valid as a diagnostic tool for best practices, as well as providing a benchmark with which to compare the score for each individual plant against a chain of industrial innovation from machinery. Originality/value: Innovation chain integration is an important factor in explaining the innovation performance of companies. The vast range of results obtained is due to the fact that there is no exactness to the group of scales used. An analysis of the measurement models nor clear benchmarks as to the variety of the scales used has not been published before.


Exploration of the communicative nature of innovation processes and the impact of this on innovation management has largely been ignored in innovation research. This paper suggests that the adoption of a complex responsive processes perspective opens up for insight and implications that depart from the prevailing view of what it means to manage joint efforts for innovation in business organizations. A key contribution is the suggestion that a change of perspective on organizations from conceptions of "whole" to notions of joint human interaction implies a need to increase management attention to the detail of local interaction between people striving to construct meaning out of new and ongoing themes, for the company and for them. We base our claims on an empirical example, drawn on a longitudinal research initiative conducted in cooperation with the Norwegian petroleum company Statoil.


Mobile devices are now ubiquitous in daily life and the number of activities that can be performed using them
is continually growing. This implies increased attention being placed on the device and diverted away from
events taking place in the surrounding environment. The impact of using a smartphone on pedestrians in the
vicinity of urban traffic has been investigated in a multimodal, fully immersive, virtual reality environment.
Based on experimental data collected, an agent to improve the attention of users in such situations has been
developed. The proposed agent uses explicit, contextual data from experimental conditions to feed a statistical
learning model. The agent's decision process is aimed at notifying users when they become unaware of critical
events in their surroundings.


BACKGROUND
Fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation is a treatment option for young patients with osteochondral lesions of the knee. The present study evaluated the surgical complexity of, and the prevalence of complications related to, total knee arthroplasty in patients who had had a previous osteochondral graft transplantation.

METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on thirty-three consecutive patients (thirty-five knees) who underwent total knee arthroplasty from 1974 to 2000 after having had a previous transplantation of a fresh osteochondral allograft into the same knee. The mean duration of follow-up was ninety-two months. Perioperative data were analyzed with regard to etiology, preoperative impairment, intraoperative technical complications, early and late postoperative complications, and postoperative functional and subjective outcomes. The Knee Society clinical rating system was used for clinical evaluation beginning in 1990.

RESULTS
Four knees required additional techniques for exposure. Three knees required stemmed components, one knee required a tibial augment, and two knees required morselized grafts. The mean Knee Society objective score (available for eighteen knees) improved from 34.7 preoperatively to 87.9 at the time of the latest follow-up, and the mean Knee Society function score improved from 45 to 82. The mean range of motion of all knees improved from 85 degrees to 105 degrees . Six of the thirty-five knees underwent revision total knee arthroplasty because of aseptic loosening, with two knees being revised within two years after the index total knee arthroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS
Total knee arthroplasty after previous fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation provides improvements in knee function and range of motion, with manageable technical difficulties. Compared with routine total knee arthroplasty, an increased rate of early revision can be expected.


The official self-study test preparation guide for the Cisco CCNA INTRO exam 640-821Master CCNA INTRO exam topics, including: TCP/IP and OSI networking models Operating Cisco routers and LAN switches LAN switching basics, VLANs, and Trunking IP addressing and subnetting Basic router configuration and operation Discovering information about an IP network Dynamic routing protocols Analog modems, PAP/CHAP, DSL and CableCCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide is a best-of-breed Cisco® exam study guide that has been completely updated to focus specifically on the objectives for the CCNA INTRO exam. Senior instructor and best-selling author Wendell Odom shares preparation hints and test-taking tips to help you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual and hands-on knowledge. This new edition is organized in a modular fashion, segmenting larger chapters into smaller, more easily digestible components. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. "Do I Know This Already?" quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Chapter subject lists and Foundation Summary tables make referencing easy and give you a quick refresher whenever you need it. Challenging chapter-ending review questions help you assess your knowledge and reinforce key concepts. Scenario-based exercises help you think about exam objectives in real-world situations, thus increasing recall during exam time.The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful new testing engine that allows you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams from INTRO or unified CCNA test banks. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and presents feedback on a module-by-module basis, providing question-by-question remediation to the text and laying out a complete study plan for review. The CD-ROM also includes a wealth of hands-on practice exercises and a copy of the Boson NetSim™ for CCNA INTRO, Learning Edition, network simulation software that allows you to practice your hands-on skills in a virtual lab environment that has been customized for the labs in the book. The supporting website keeps you fully informed of any exam changes.Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and hands-on exercises, this book helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide is part of a recommended study program from Cisco Systems® that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.Companion CD-ROMThe CD-ROM contains more than 400 practice questions for the ICND, INTRO, and CCNA exams, including simulation-based questions. Also contains hands-on exercises and a customized copy of the NetSim LE network simulation software.CD-ROM test engine powered by www.boson.com. Boson Software is a Cisco Learning Partner.This volume is part of the Exam Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press®. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.


This study estimates the proportion of dry bean yield increase in South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) released dry bean cultivars that are attributable to genetic improvements through the ARC breeding program. Using data from 32 test plots across South Africa, the study quantifies the yield and yield variance evolution attributable to the breeding program. In addition, this study calculates the economic benefits to small landholder's attributed to the ARC dry bean breeding program. Results indicated that by releasing modern dry bean cultivars, the ARC dry bean breeding program increased average producer yield by 11.42 kg/ha annually. During the period of 1972 to 2014, the ARC Breeding Program contributed 489.36 kg/ha cumulatively (11.42*42) to dry bean yields solely from genetic improvements, which is equivalent to a 23.15% (489.36/1130.78) increase in producer yields. The benefits associated only with the genetic gains from the breeding program are estimated to be 701.4 million Rand (46.8 million USD) from 1992-2014. Using historic ARC breeding costs the benefit cost ratio was estimated to be 5.67:1. Like every other country in the world South Africa continuously has to battle for agricultural R&D funds to support programs like ARC whose role is to help small scale producers in Africa. As such, we find the annual genetic gain attributed to the ARC Breeding Program has increased, and the returns to the breeding program continue to play a large role for dry bean farmers and consumers in combating food insecurity.


Context: This study set out to investigate the mental health literacy
(MHL) about eight anxiety disorders (ADs), using vignette methodology. Methods:
In all 317 British Adult participants completed a questionnaire with vignettes
describing eight anxiety disorders including OCD, PTSD, Agoraphobia, Specific
Phobias, Social Phobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, GAD and Panic Disorder.
Recognition, beliefs about treatments and perceived life adjustment (happiness,
success at work) of specific people with these disorders were assessed.
Results: Literacy levels varied across anxiety disorders, with high
recognition of OCD (64.67%), but very poor for panic disorder (1.26%), GAD
(2.84%) and separation anxiety disorder (5.99%). There were few significant
effects of vignette gender on literacy levels. MHL for most anxiety disorders
was relatively low; particularly panic disorder, GAD and separation anxiety disorder. Social Phobics were judged as least happy and adjusted and agoraphobics least successful at work
and would benefit most from psychological help. Conclusions: Overall
recognition of the anxiety disorders was poor. Beliefs about adjustment and
treatment varied widely as a function of each disorder. Implications of the
research for education of the public and limitations of this research are considered.


The Magnus-Derek game (also called the maximal variant of the vector game), introduced by Nedev and Muthukrishnan is the following: a token is moved around a table with n positions. In each round of the game Magnus chooses a number and then Derek chooses a direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), and the token moves that many positions into that direction. The goal of Magnus is to maximize the number of positions visited, the goal of Derek is the opposite. In the minimal variant of the game the goals of the two players are exchanged: Magnus wants to minimize the number of positions visited and Derek wants the opposite. Here we introduce a generalization of these games: the token is moved in a group, Magnus chooses an element of the group and Derek decides if the current position is multiplied or divided by that element.


Qumran Cave 1Q was the first site of Dead Sea scroll discoveries. Found and partly emptied by local Bedouin, the cave was excavated officially in 1949 and published in the series Discoveries in the Judaean Desert (Volume 1) in 1955. Contents of the cave are found in collections worldwide, and in different institutions in Jerusalem and Amman. While the scrolls are the most highly prized artefacts from this cave, in archaeological terms they are part of an assemblage that needs to be understood holistically in order to make conclusions about its character and dating. This study presents all of the known items retrieved from the cave, including those that are currently lost, in order to consider what we might know about the cave prior to its emptying and the changes to its form. It constitutes preliminary work done as part of the Leverhulme funded International Network for the Study of Dispersed Qumran Caves Artefacts and Archival Sources [IN-2015-067].


Wireless local area network (WLAN) has become more popular in recent years. With increase in demand users are expecting quality of service (QoS) for multimedia services in WLAN. To improve scalability and manageability for the quality of service (QoS) guaranteed wireless LAN (WLAN) access point (AP) using a simple mechanism. The IEEE 802.11e standard can be used as QoS-guarantee technology in the existing WLAN communication. Thus, a large number of enhancements to the standard are being proposed. Keywords-IEEE 802.11, Contention free period, QoS.


Very few neurons in the telencephalon have been shown to express functional postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), among them, the noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons. However, there is no evidence for postsynaptic nAChRs on serotonergic neurons. In this study, we asked if functional nAChRs are present in serotonergic (5‐HT) and nonserotonergic (non‐5‐HT) neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). In rat midbrain slices, field stimulation at the tegmental pedunculopontine (PPT) nucleus evoked postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) with different components in DRN neurons. After blocking the glutamatergic and GABAergic components, the remaining eEPSCs were blocked by mecamylamine and reduced by either the selective α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) or the selective α4β2 nAChR antagonist dihydro‐β‐eritroidine (DHβE). Simultaneous addition of MLA and DHβE blocked all eEPSCs. Integrity of the PPT‐DRN pathway was assessed by both anterograde biocytin tracing and antidromic stimulation from the DRN. Inward currents evoked by the direct application of acetylcholine (ACh), in the presence of atropine and tetrodotoxin, consisted of two kinetically different currents: one was blocked by MLA and the other by DHβE; in both 5‐HT and non‐5‐HT DR neurons. Analysis of spontaneous (sEPSCs) and evoked (eEPSCs) synaptic events led to the conclusion that nAChRs were located at the postsynaptic membrane. The possible implications of these newly described nAChRs in various physiological processes and behavioral events, such as the wake‐sleep cycle, are discussed. Synapse 62:601–615, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


SSI was established in 1972, born out of a compromise at the time between those wanting to provide a guaranteed income floor and those wishing to limit it to individuals not expected to work: the aged, blind, and disabled. SSI is now the largest federal means-tested program in the United States, serving a population dominated by low-income adults and children with disabilities. With other forms of federal support devolving to state programs (e.g., welfare), policymakers pressing to redefine social expectations about who should and should not work, and the Americans with Disabilities Act guaranteeing people with disabilities the right to employment, the goals and design of SSI have come under scrutiny. In this article we review the role that SSI has played to this point and consider the directions SSI might take in a work-dominated welfare environment where people with disabilities increasingly wish to be included in the labor market.


Utilizing a novel data set on remittance data for India that matches household surveys to administrative bank data, we investigate the differences in self-reported and actual deposits to Non-Resident Indian (NRI) accounts. There is a striking difference between the perceived and actual frequency, as well as the amount of deposits, to NRI accounts. Our results indicate the presence of non-classical measurement error in the reporting of remittances in the form of deposits to NRI accounts. As a consequence, regression analyses using remittances as an explanatory variable may contain large upward biases instead of the usual attenuation of results under classical measurement error. Instrumental variables estimates are no better; the estimated coefficients from these regressions are more than three times the size of the OLS regression results. The results point to the need to more carefully check the accuracy of the international remittance flows. The wide discrepancies in the Indian case could be both because of inaccuracies in the household survey as well as mis-classification of the Balance of Payment data with some fraction of reported remittances being disguised capital flows (and hence likely to be less stable) rather than current account flows for family maintenance


Internal tandem duplication (ITD) in the juxtamembrane portion of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), a type III receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), is the most common molecular defect associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The high prevalence of this activating mutation makes it a potential target for molecularly based therapy. Indolinone tyrosine kinase inhibitors have known activity against KIT, another member of the type III RTK family. Given the conserved homology between members of this family, we postulated that the activity of some KIT inhibitors would extend to FLT3. We used various leukemic cell lines (BaF3, MV 4-11, RS 4;11) to test the activity of indolinone compounds against the FLT3 kinase activity of both wild-type (WT) and ITD isoforms. Both SU5416 and SU5614 were capable of inhibiting autophosphorylation of ITD and WT FLT3 (SU5416 concentration that inhibits 50% [IC(50)], 100 nM; and SU5614 IC(50) 10 nM). FLT3-dependent activation of the downstream signaling proteins mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) was also inhibited by treatment in the same concentration ranges. FLT3 inhibition by SU5416 and SU5614 resulted in reduced proliferation (IC(50), 250 nM and 100 nM, respectively) and induction of apoptosis of FLT3 ITD-positive leukemic cell lines. Treatment of these cells with an alternative growth factor (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) restored MAPK signaling and cellular proliferation, demonstrating specificity of the observed inhibitory effects. We conclude that SU5416 and SU5614 are potent inhibitors of FLT3. Our finding that inhibition of FLT3 induces apoptosis of leukemic cells supports the feasibility of targeting FLT3 as a novel treatment strategy for AML.


Allozyme electrophoresis was used to estimate the genetic divergence between three species of South African Helcion and the north-east Atlantic H. pellucidum (Patellidae). At a finer level the genetic relationships among South African Helcion were explored. Twenty-one loci were resolved for all the species. High values of expected heterozygosities (0·202–0·341) were found for the genus. Phenetic analysis (UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with artihmetic averaging) and Distance Wagner Procedure) and cladistic parsimony methods (alleles as binary characters and loci as multistate unordered characters) agreed in showing the same topology for the tree which represents the genetic relationships among Helcion species. The north-east Atlantic H. pellucidum was the most divergent species showing high values of Nei's genetic distances (1·423–1·654) with its South African congeners. In the literature such values of genetic divergence have been associated with non-congeneric species. The degree of genetic divergence (0·351–0·615) found within the South African branch was characteristic for congeneric species. The results of this study supported the monophyletic condition of this branch, and showed H. pectunculus and H. pruinosus to be more closely related to each other than to H. dunkeri. Nevertheless, the monophyly of the genus Helcion is uncertain and therefore its taxonomic status was questioned. A possible independent origin for northern and southern hemisphere species of Helcion is considered.


The Science and Mathematics Education Centre (SMEC) at Curtin University of Technology operates within the School of Science & Computing in the Faculty of Science & Engineering. SMEC has a close relationship with the School of Education. The Centre offers postgraduate studies in science, mathematics and technology education and has a national and international reputation for excellence in research and development.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the benefits and problems of a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) support organization as reported by its participants.

METHODS
Active members (n = 32) and inactive members or dropouts (n = 135) of a regional support organization for people with CFS and FM completed a 26 item questionnaire by telephone interview or by self-completion and postal return.

RESULTS
The most frequently endorsed benefits of membership were illness legitimization (67.8%), finding out helpful new information (66.4%), and feeling understood by others (62.2%). Lower frequency endorsements were given to: helped to find (35.0%) or deal with (38.5%) doctors, and helped to improve my illness (36.4%). The most frequently reported reasons for dropping out were inconvenient location (37.8%) or time (37.0%), too much negative talk or complaining (33.3%), too sick to attend (28.8%), and illness or coping improvement (29.6% each). The active-member group showed significantly higher (p < 0.04) symptom severity scores and less illness improvement (p < 0.01) in comparison to the inactive/dropout group.

CONCLUSION
This cross-sectional study suggests that support groups for CFS are viewed as helpful by participants on a number of illness related issues. On the other hand, active members reported greater symptom severity and less illness improvement than inactive members or dropouts.


While an immensely rewarding role, the work of a school principal can be a lonely one, made up of brief encounters and regular interruptions, steep in responsibilities and accountabilities and free from accolades. Research shows that principals often feel there is nothing that really prepares them for assuming full and ongoing responsibility for a school. The I'm the Principal project utilised the Australian Professional Standard for Principals as a framework to consider key aspects and contributors to principal learning, action, influence and identity through interviews with 50 practising principals drawn from the various sectors and levels of Australian school education. I'm the Principal is a record of the study of the work of the principal today, containing personal, first-hand comments, experiences, values, beliefs and concerns. It speaks to the successes and the challenges of the role. I'm the Principal is a timely and thoughtful must-read for anyone wanting to explore and understand the value and worth of a school.


The mitotic kinase Aurora A regulates microtubule dynamics during neurite extension. Mori et al. have uncovered an unexpected role for the mitotic kinase Aurora A in neurite extension, a process that, like mitosis, depends on regulation of microtubule dynamics. In neurons, the protein NDEL1 interacts with the microtubule motor protein dynein, promoting neuronal growth and migration (see Lefkowitz and Gleeson). Thus, Mori et al., who previously showed that Aurora A phosphorylates NDEL1 to regulate microtubule organization during mitosis, looked to see whether Aurora A was present in postmitotic neurons. They found that Aurora A was indeed abundant in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and, with its activated form (phosphorylated on T288), accumulated at the neurite hillock (the region where the DRG soma connects to the neurite). Phosphorylated NDEL1 colocalized with phosphorylated Aurora A at the hillock, as did the activated (phosphorylated on T410) form of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC)-ζ/λ, and phosphorylation of all three increased during neurite extension. Tagged forms of Aurora A and PKC-ζ were coimmunoprecipitated from COS-7 cells, and a combination of in vitro phosphorylation assay, mutational analysis, and mass spectrometry indicated that PKC-ζ phosphorylated Aurora A at T287, promoting its interaction with TPX2 (known to bind Aurora A) and its activation. Using phosphorylation-specific antibodies and a combination of techniques, including time-lapse microscopy, in vitro phosphorylation assay, mutational analysis, immunoprecipitation, and selective suppression of each of the major players, the authors determined that PKC-ζ and TPX2 functioned upstream of Aurora A, and NDEL1 downstream, to regulate microtubule dynamics and promote neurite extension. Thus, phosphorylation of NDEL1 by Aurora A appears to be crucial to regulating microtubule dynamics not only during mitosis but also during neurite extension. D. Mori, M. Yamada, Y. Mimori-Kiyosue, Y. Shirai, A. Suzuki, S. Ohno, H. Saya, A. Wynshaw-Boris, S. Hirotsune, An essential role of the aPKC–Aurora A–NDEL1 pathway in neurite elongation by modulation of microtubule dynamics. Nat. Cell Biol. 11, 1057–1068 (2009). [PubMed] G. K. Lefkowitz, J. G. Gleeson, Aurora A moonlights in neurite extension. Nat. Cell Biol. 11, 1053–1054 (2009). [PubMed]


The major health promoting probiotic bacteria found in the human gut are of
the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The main objectives of the present
studies were to isolate, characterise and identify the suitable probiotic strains of
Lactobacillus (LAB) and Bifidobacteria (BB) from faeces of breast fed infants which
could be used as effective probiotic for the control of infant diarrheal diseases.
From the isolation studies, the Lactobacillus was found to be Gram-positive,
non-motile, short rods and catalase, nitrate, oxidase negative. The Bifidobacteria
were Gram-negative, curved with characteristics of Y and V shapes. The high
performance of liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that almost all strains of BB
produced more or less or equal amount of acetic and lactic acids. Based on the
carbohydrate fermentation profile using API-CH-50 kits, out of 21 Lactobacillus, 16
species belong to the L. casei, four to L . brevis, one species to L. plantarum and one
sub species casei. Twenty of Bifidobacteria were B. infantis species, where 13
belong to subspecies infantis, 7 were lacentis
The antagonistic activities of LAB and BB were tested against ETEC E.coli
01 57:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium S-285 using double layered assay, results
showed that strains LAB-3, 11, 21 and Bifi- l l , 1 9, 20 produced wider inhibition
zone compared to others.


Increasing rates of natural disturbances under a warming climate raise important questions about how multiple disturbances interact. Escalating wildfire activity in recent decades has resulted in some forests re-burning in short succession, but how the severity of one wildfire affects that of a subsequent wildfire is not fully understood. We used a field-validated, satellite-derived, burn-severity atlas to assess interactions between successive wildfires across the US Northern Rocky Mountains a 300,000-km2 region dominated by fire-prone forests. In areas that experienced two wildfires between 1984 and 2010, we asked: (1) How do overall frequency distributions of burn-severity classes compare between first and second fires? (2) In a given location, how does burn severity of the second fire relate to that of the first? (3) Do interactions between successive fires vary by forest zone or the interval between fires? (4) What factors increase the probability of burning twice as stand-replacing fire? Within the study area, 138,061 ha burned twice between 1984 and 2010. Overall, frequency distributions of burn severity classes (low, moderate, high; quantified using relativized remote sensing indices) were similar between the first and second fires; however burn severity was 5-13% lower in second fires on average. Negative interactions between fires were most pronounced in lower-elevation forests and woodlands, when fire intervals were <10 yr, and when burn severity was low in the first fire. When the first fire burned as high severity and fire intervals exceeded 10-12 yr, burn-severity interactions switched from negative to positive, with high-severity fire begetting subsequent high-severity fire. Locations most likely to experience successive stand-replacing fires were high-elevation forests, which are adapted to high-severity fire, and areas conducive to abundant post-fire tree regeneration. Broadly similar severities among short-interval "re-burns" and other wildfires indicate that positive severity feedbacks, an oft-posited agent of ecosystem decline or state shift, are not an inevitable outcome of re-burning. Nonetheless, context-dependent shifts in both the magnitude and direction of wildfire interactions (associated with forest zone, initial burn-severity, and disturbance interval) illustrate complexities in disturbance interactions and can inform management and predictions of future system dynamics.


The method of projections onto convex sets can be used to solve many problems in image restoration, e.g., restoration from phase, spectral extrapolation, and signal recovery in computer-aided tomography. However, image-restoration problems involving nonconvex constraints cannot be handled by the method of projection onto convex sets in a fashion that ensures convergence. The restoration-from-magnitude (RFM) problem is such a case. To handle the RFM as well as other nonconvex constraints, we describe an algorithm known as generalized projections and discuss its properties. When sets are nonconvex, it is possible for the algorithm to exhibit pathological behavior that is never manifest in convex projections. We introduce an error criterion called the summed-distance error (SDE) and show under what circumstances the SDE is a monotonically decreasing function of the number of iterations. Near-optimum performance of the algorithm is achieved by relaxation parameters. Comparisons with other RFM methods are furnished for synthetic imagery.


After Paul Left Corinth gathers for the first time all the relevant extant material from literary, nonliterary, and archaeological sources on what life was like in the first-century Roman colony of Corinth. Using this evidence, Bruce Winter not only opens a fascinating vista on day-to-day living in the Graeco-Roman world but, more importantly, helps us understand what happened to the Christian community after Paul left Corinth. As Winter shows, the origin of many of the problems Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthians can be traced to culturally determined responses to aspects of life in Corinth. The significance of the role that culture played in the life of the Corinthian Christians has either been ignored or underestimated in explaining the reasons for their difficulties after Paul left. Winter first examines the extent to which Paul communicated alternative ways of behaving while he was in Corinth. Winter then explores the social changes that occurred in Corinth after Paul left. Severe grain shortages, the relocation of the Isthmian Games, the introduction of a new federal imperial cult, the withdrawal of kosher meat from the official market-all of these cultural events had a substantial impact on the life of the emerging Christian community. Accentuated with photos of relevant archaeological artifacts, this volume provides a significant new perspective from which to read Paul's Corinthian correspondence.


The annual depositional flux of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P) to the sediments under a northeast Spain Posidonia oceanica meadow was evaluated, and the sources and fate of the material deposited elucidated. The annual deposition of carbon represented 198 g C m−2 yr−1, 72% of which was derived from the seston and 28% from P. oceanica detritus. The depositional flux was poor in nitrogen (13.4 g N m−2 yr−1) and phosphorous (2.01 g P m−2 yr−1), although comparable to the nutrient inputs required to support the growth of P. oceanica. Remineralization in the sediment only returned 15.6 g C m−2 yr−1, yielding a net carbon accumulation of 182 g C m−2 yr−1. Our results show that in the Mediterranean littoral P. oceanica meadows are important sites of net organic carbon burial, derived from sedimented sestonic particles and seagrass detritus.


The 2008-2012 Country Program Evaluation for Guyana concludes that the Bank's strategy was aligned with the development objectives and economic priorities of the government. Nevertheless, its program has produced mixed results. In infrastructure, progress was achieved by consolidating the primary road network and extending the electrical grid to unserved areas; however, efforts to reduce losses in the electricity sector did not meet their target. In competitiveness, the financial and judicial sectors benefitted from institutional and structural reforms, and the business environment was strengthened through the adoption of streamlined procedures. However, key initiatives to deepen the financial market and increase access to credit have met with less success. Gains have also been made towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; however, the absence of updated data in the social sectors hinders the evaluation of results. The average age of the loan portfolio is 4.56 years, the oldest in the Bank. With the launch of the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Guyana has an opportunity to benefit from global commitments for rainforest conservation and climate change. The Bank should continue to support new initiatives that lie within the LCDS, and should work closely with Guyana to enhance its national capacity to monitor and report the results. Although Guyana has shown the greatest improvement among D-2 countries in terms of its Country Institutional and Policy Evaluation score, FSO resources available to the country under the current program were 32% less than the allocation under the previous program. The sustainability of the Bank?s work and its relevance in Guyana could be affected by a further reduction in future FSO allocations. The CS emphasized the strengthening and use of national systems by Bank projects. Several operations use the Integrated Financial Management System for accounting, and the intention is to use this for all new Bank-funded operations. Given the findings in this CPE, OVE recommends that the Administration: (i) take advantage of the current period of stability and growth to support Guyana on its path toward becoming a green economy; (ii) seek to leverage declining FSO resources; and (iii) continue strengthening Guyana's national systems.


Abstract The development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers to identify theY chromosome of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann has permitted the detection of sperm transferred to females during mating. However, a molecular technique to quantify the sperm transferred has not yet become available. The current method to quantify the amount of sperm has been the direct counting of sperm heads. Thus, the purpose of this research was to develop and validate an accurate molecular method of diagnosis based on the application of an absolute quantitative real-time PCR, which allows the assessment of the quantity of sperm stored in the spermathecae. For this, Y-specific sequences were used to re-design and test distinct sperm markers. From the amplification product of samples detected as strong positives in conventional PCR, a cloning process of the target sequence was carried out to build the required standard curve. A series of known dilutions of this standard material was prepared for the absolute quantification process. A Roche Lightcycler 480 Real-Time PCR System and SYBRGreen fluorescent dye were used to quantify the sperm contained in the spermathecae of 4-d-old mated females and virgins. Wild-type and Vienna-8 strain sterile males were used to quantify the sperm transferred at four mating durations (10, 30, 60, and 90 min) under laboratory conditions. To validate the reported quantitative method, our results were compared by counting sperm heads under a fluorescent microscope using the same experimental design. In addition, DNA samples were also evaluated and compared by conventional PCR.


There is a growing number of women in politics today, but many countries still struggle to obtain a number of women in politics that accurately represents the female population. Political parties and government organizations are searching for ways to get more women involved in the politics of their country. One way that they are doing this is by setting a quota for the number of women required to be representatives in their political party, or even a number of women to be in their government. The research of this essay looks at the quotas in various parts of the world that are set in place in order to increase the number of women in politics in certain countries and political parties. The sources draw upon research of political scientists from around the world and a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the spread of human rights and gender equality. The introduction briefly discusses the positive points of these quotas, but the essay focuses mostly on the quotas' downfalls and how they can be fixed. The negatives discussed are that quotas can cause a more qualified person not to be voted into office, contradict the idea of equal opportunity, and the quota laws have to be very specific in order for the quotas to be effective. The essay concludes with a statement about how the quotas can be successful and beneficial for increasing the number of women in politics, if the problems are fixed.


Irradiation with high energy (500 keV) C+ ions at fluences from 11013 to 11014 cm-2 was used to introduce controlled amounts of defects in single layers of graphene deposited on a SiO2(100 nm)/n+Si substrate. Scanning Capacitance Spectroscopy (SCS) was used as non-destructive characterization technique to probe the effect of irradiation on the electrical properties of graphene. In particular, a comparative study between the local capacitance of pristine graphene and irradiated graphene is presented, showing that lateral variations in irradiated graphene are distinctly higher. The local quantum capacitance per unit area C'q of graphene was extracted from raw data. While a narrow distribution of C'q values was obtained in pristine graphene, two distinct distributions were obtained in irradiated monolayers, associated to locally damaged and not damaged regions, respectively.


Aim: The aim of this study was to develop an age estimation table based on mineralization stages of third molars in a survey in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Forensic dentistry has largely contributed to solve age estimation cases. Radiographic study on tooth mineralization stages has shown major importance on age estimation with forensic application. Methods: This investigation was a crosssectional study developed at the clinic of the local branch of the Brazilian Dental Association in Alagoas. Three hundred and twelve patients of both genders aged 9 to 21 years were enrolled. Three calibrated examiners (kappa=0.789, p<0.001) determined the mineralization stages of each third molar from radiographs collected in the survey. The age of each patient was also recorded. Results: A third molar chronological mineralization table based on the study's survey was developed. There was correlation (Spearman=0.869; p<0.01) between real and estimated ages, mainly when both upper and lower third molars were considered together. Conclusions: It is important to develop regional age estimation tables based on local surveys mainly considering ages of forensic interest.


Positive-strand RNA viruses such as poliovirus replicate their genomes on intracellular membranes of their eukaryotic hosts. Electron microscopy has revealed that purified poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase forms planar and tubular oligomeric arrays. The structural integrity of these arrays correlates with cooperative RNA binding and RNA elongation and is sensitive to mutations that disrupt intermolecular contacts predicted by the polymerase structure. Membranous vesicles isolated from poliovirus-infected cells contain structures consistent with the presence of two-dimensional polymerase arrays on their surfaces during infection. Therefore, host cytoplasmic membranes may function as physical foundations for two-dimensional polymerase arrays, conferring the advantages of surface catalysis to viral RNA replication.


1. In male Wistar rats, three doses of frusemide (0·5, 5·0 and 50·0 mg/kg) were injected subcutaneously. A dose-related increase in urine flow and natriuresis occurred, whereas there was a biphasic response in kallikrein excretion with an initial, dose-related transient increase and a secondary reduction. When the urine losses were replaced by the infusion of 0·9% NaCl solution, the biphasic response of urinary kallikrein excretion was maintained. 2. In all experiments, urinary excretion of kallikrein correlated with the excretion of potassium. Frusemide enhanced the excretion of kinins, which correlated with the urine volume and the natriuresis, but not with kallikrein excretion. 3. In contrast to the initially increased excretion of kallikrein, kallikrein activity in the renal cortex remained unchanged or was even reduced. Kininogen content of the perfused tissue of the renal cortex did not vary throughout the experiment, but decreased markedly in the non-perfused tissue of the cortex 30 min after the injection of frusemide. 4. It is concluded that forced diuresis induced by frusemide causes a 'wash out' of renal kallikrein in urine, probably not indicating the true changes in the activity of the renal kallikrein-kinin system within the kidney. Kinin excretion in urine was not correlated with kallikrein excretion but with changes in diuresis. Thus it might be suggested that the renal kallikrein-kinin system could be involved by kinins in the regulation of renal water and sodium excretion as well as of renal plasma flow.


When we're young students, we're assigned to groups to learn to work together with peers. This teaches us how to effectively communicate, be open-minded, and respect  differing opinions; essentially, it shows us how to come to a compromise and arrive at a common goal. These skills are taught early and practiced throughout young adulthood with the hope that we bring them to our respective careers. Group work presents many challenges and reveals a person's character as he or she settles into a role. As effective leaders, we need to master the art of leading our team members toward success while encouraging and mentoring them. You're only as strong as your weakest player: Without the team, you can't effectively deliver the message of success and growth. Natural leaders often emerge when placed in a group situation. These individuals possess the ability to clearly communicate with each team member and articulate each member's role and the objectives at hand to ensure the project's success. We must mentor individuals who have this natural ability to positively influence and lead peers. Their support is essential to the department's mission and vision, and implementation of new and innovative initiatives. We need to foster team development to encourage future growth, both individually and organizationally. Creating a cohesive and collaborative environment among team members and management fosters mutual respect. Accountability for individual and team performance ensures fair treatment and clear work expectations among all members. As the leader of your team, you must lead by example. Be visible and engaged in the process. Celebrate successes, and share the praise with your team members. If a member of the team stands out, credit that individual. Remember that failure is never an opportunity for finger pointing and blame; it's a chance to reflect and grow. As the leader, you're ultimately responsible for your team's actions and decisions. Provide your team with constructive criticism and guidance that produce solutions for future improvement. Don't forget to be an active listener. You need to really hear what your employees are saying. Active listening—to listen without thinking of a response before the person is finished presenting his or her concern—is a mastered quality. Allow yourself the time to collect all the information needed before responding. Even if the team member doesn't agree with your response, he or she will know that you investigated the problem and gave a thoughtful suggestion. Avoid judgment and mentor staff members to arrive at potential solutions. In healthcare, we consistently work with different multidisciplinary teams to provide quality care to our patients. As the old saying goes, there's no "I" in team. Success and longevity hinge on each and every person. NM


The main objective of this study is to analyze the relation between prospective classroom teachers' critical thinking standards and their attitudes towards democracy. The research was carried out with prospective teachers who are from the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th grades and who study at the Department of Elementary Teaching at Cukurova University. The study used random sampling method. The research group holds a total of 326 prospective teachers. The study deployed two data collection tools. "Attitude Scale for Democracy" and "Critical Thinking Standards Scale". Pearson product-moment correlation and multivariate variance analysis were used during the data analysis. Research results have demonstrated a positive and medium level of significant relationship between prospective teachers' critical thinking standards and their attitudes towards democracy. The dimensions of critical thinking standards such as depth-breadth-sufficiency, precision-accuracy and significance-relevance-clarity dimensions were found to have a significant relationship with the attitude towards democracy and three variables account for about 38% of the attitude towards democracy.


Ferroxidases are essential components of the high-affinity reductive iron assimilation pathway in fungi. Two ferroxidase genes, FET3-1 and FET3-2, have been identified in the genome of the maize anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. Complementation of growth defects of the ferroxidase-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Δfet3fet4 showed that both Fet3-1 and Fet3-2 of C. graminicola represent functional ferroxidases. Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein fusions in yeast and C. graminicola indicated that both ferroxidase proteins localize to the plasma membrane. Transcript abundance of FET3-1 increased dramatically under iron-limiting conditions but those of FET3-2 were hardly detectable. Δfet3-1 and Δfet3-2 single as well as Δfet3-1/2 double-deletion strains were generated. Under iron-sufficient or deficient conditions, vegetative growth rates of these strains did not significantly differ from that of the wild type but Δfet3-1 and Δfet3-1/2 strains showed increased sensitivity to reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, under iron-limiting conditions, appressoria of Δfet3-1 and Δfet3-1/2 strains showed significantly reduced transcript abundance of a class V chitin synthase and exhibited severe cell wall defects. Infection assays on intact and wounded maize leaves, quantitative data of infection structure differentiation, and infection stage-specific expression of FET3-1 showed that reductive iron assimilation is required for appressorial penetration, biotrophic development, and full virulence.


The Measure of Injury is an intellectual tour de force of gender and race-based jurisprudence applied to critical issues in the law of torts. In this volume, Martha Chamallas and Jennifer B. Wriggins shed light on numerous issues related to law governing accidents and intentional injuries, while offering insights into the American tort system and the challenges it faces.
Chamallas and Wriggins draw upon the feminist theory, critical race theory, and general critical theory in analyzing tort doctrines and evaluating potential reforms. The authors explore how racial perceptions can distort even seemingly neutral inquiries, such as those related to factual causation. In their review of tort precedent related to race and gender, the authors explore a number of important historical topics: the doctrine of coverture, the "nervous-shock" cases, wrongful-death cases, and wrongful-birth cases. Viewed in all of its complexity, the authors' argument seems to be that matters of race should be taken into account by tort law when cognizance will benefit persons who are members of classes that have historically suffered from discrimination, but not otherwise. To the extent that the author's arguments are found to be persuasive, The Measure of Inquiry may play a key role in revolutionizing the compensation of intentional injuries and accidents.


This thesis describes the fabrication and testing of electroluminescent diodes made from silicon subjected to plasma ion implantation. A silicon-compatible, electrically driven light source is desired to increase the speed and efficiency of shortrange data transfer in the communications and computing industries. As it is an indirect band gap material, ordinary silicon is too inefficient a light source to be useful for these applications. Past experiments have demonstrated that modifying the structural properties of the crystal can enhance its luminescence properties, and that light ion implantation is capable of achieving this effect. This research investigates the relationship between the ion implantation processing parameters, the post-implantation annealing temperature, and the observable electroluminescence from the resulting silicon diodes. Prior to the creation of electroluminescent devices, much work was done to improve the efficiency and reliability of the fabrication procedure. A numerical algorithm was devised to analyze Langmuir probe data in order to improve estimates of implanted ion fluence. A new sweeping power supply to drive current to the probe was designed, built, and tested. A custom software package was developed to improve the speed and reliability of plasma ion implantation experiments, and another piece of software was made to facilitate the viewing and analysis of spectra measured from the finished silicon LEDs. Several dozen silicon diodes were produced from wafers implanted with hydrogen, helium, and deuterium, using a variety of implanted ion doses and post-implantation annealing conditions. One additional device was fabricated out of unimplanted, unannealed silicon. Most devices, including the unimplanted device, were electroluminescent at visible wavelengths to some degree. The intensity and spectrum of light emission from each device were measured. The results suggest that the observed luminescence originated from the native oxide layer on the surface of the ion-implanted silicon, but that the intensity of luminescence could be enhanced with a carefully chosen ion implantation and annealing procedure.


This article presents a hypothetical dialogue between a notational analyst (NA) recently schooled in the positivistic assessment of athletic performance, an 'old-school' traditional coach (TC) who favours subjective analysis, and a pragmatic educator (PE). The conversation opens with NA and TC debating the respective value of quantitative and qualitative methods of performance analysis. Having considered their arguments from a-distance, PE offers a philosophically underpinned point of view that helps to practically reconcile NA's and TC's opposing positions. While primarily focusing on practical issues relating to the analysis of athletic performance, PE contends that 'quantitative' and 'qualitative' approaches can be legitimately used in combination. Such a stance would appear in-line with a pragmatic philosophical perspective, which by focusing on practical issues embraces pluralistic methods. It is hoped that this dialogue will facilitate further philosophical and practical debate to generate knowledge that could enrich coaches' understanding by presenting an approach to performance analysis that is more realistic for practitioners.


The thematic issue presents a psycho-societal approach to qualitative empirical research in several areas of everyday social life. It is an approach which integrates a theory of subjectivity and an interpretation methodology which integrates hermeneutic experiences from text analysis and psychoanalysis. Its particular focus is on subjectivity—as an aspect of the research object and as an aspect of the research process. By the term "approach" is indicated the intrinsic connection between the theorizing of an empirical object and the reflection of the research process and the epistemic subject. In terms of methodology it revives the themes originally launched in FQS exactly ten years ago: "Subjectivity and Reflectivity in Qualitative Research" (BREUER, MRUCK & ROTH, 2002; MRUCK & BREUER, 2003). This editorial introduction presents the intellectual background of the psycho-societal methodology, reflects on its relevance and critical perspectives in a contemporary landscape of social science, and comments the way in which an international and interdisciplinary research group has developed this approach to profane empirical research. depth hermeneutic; unconscious; constructivism; practicism; interdisciplinarity; reflexivity; material; embodying


Many studies dealing with the synthesis of tourmaline report a sharp intragranular chemical gradient and extensive porosity in the core zones of the crystals, both of which still lack a reliable explanation. Using the example of olenitic tourmaline, we show that these features are likely explained by the occurrence of a precursor phase during tourmaline formation. Time-dependent piston–cylinder synthesis experiments were performed in the system SiO2–Al2O3–B2O3–NaCl–H2O at 700 °C/40 kbar with run durations of 0.5 h, 2.5 h and 216 h, starting from quartz–Al2O3–H3BO3 solid mixtures and NaCl solutions. Sharply zoned olenitic tourmaline ([4]B-rich cores, [4]B-poor rims) formed in all experiments, with its abundance increasing with increasing run duration. The amount of the additional solid product phases coesite and jeremejevite decreased with time. Extensive porosity is recognized in jeremejevite and in the cores of early grown acicular tourmaline. Textural relationships indicate that olenitic tourmaline grows at the expense of jeremejevite which acts as a crystalline precursor in this system. A possible reaction is: ![Formula][1] The transformation likely proceeds via a dissolution/re-precipitation mechanism, which triggers the sharp chemical zonation in olenite. Based on Rayleigh fractionation modelling, we estimate a minimum B isotope fractionation between jeremejevite and fluid with Δ11Bjer-fluid ≈ −2.8‰ at 700 °C/40 kbar. Due to the progressive dissolution of jeremejevite, the fluids δ11B values continuously decrease with increasing run duration. Hence, olenite growth concomitant with the dissolution of jeremejevite will produce scattered or inverse boron isotope patterns (heavy cores, light rims) in tourmaline, which cannot result from simple Rayleigh fractionation. Similar reactions involving jeremejevite or other precursor phases might explain chemical zonation and porous textures in tourmaline core zones reported in many experimental studies. The occurrence of natural tourmaline overgrowing jeremejevite in pegmatites of the Erongo Mountains, Namibia, gives rise to the assumption that jeremejevite might also act as a precursor for tourmaline formation in natural systems.

 [1]: /embed/mml-math-1.gif


The approach to language and grammar that motivates this book is unabashedly functional; grammar is not just a system of empty rules, it is a means to an end, an instrument for constructing concise coherent communication. In grammar as in music, good expression rides on good form. Figuratively and literally, grammar like musical form must make sense. But for the instrument to serve its purpose, it must first exist; the rules must be real, they can be explicitly described and taught. This book is intended for both students and teachers, at college level, for both native and nonnative speakers. With the guidance of a teacher this book will serve as a thorough introduction to the grammar of English. Volume I begins with words and their meanings, then on to propositions and simple state or event clauses – participant roles, verb types, transitivity, subjects and objects. It then covers the grammatical sub systems commonly found in simple clauses: Verbal inflections, auxiliaries and the grammar of tense-aspect modality and negation; articles determiners, pronouns and the grammar of referential coherence; the variety of noun phrases and noun modifiers.


The Draft Guidelines on the assessment of non-horizontal mergers released by the Commission in February 2007 provides academia, industry and the larger public with an opportunity to comment on the treatment of non-horizontal concentrations under the new substantive test of the 2004 EC Merger Regulation. The Draft Guidelines is one of the continuous steps towards clarification of both substantive and procedural aspects of the reformed EC merger control. One of the issues that was expected to be clarified in the future Non-Horizontal Guidelines is the treatment of the efficiencies and incorporation of the efficiency defence in merger assessment process. As economic theory demonstrates, vertical and conglomerate concentrations are more likely to generate efficiencies that reduce costs and improve production or distribution processes and quality of the products thus ultimately benefiting the final consumer. As the efficiency defence was recognized in principle, but not yet applied by the Commission or Community courts, the future Non-Horizontal Guidelines have special importance in clarifying this legal concept and its practical application. Present work analyses the Draft Guidelines in the light of the preceding administrative guidelines issued by the Commission and recent case law developments in the area of EC merger control. The author submits that the Draft Guidelines fall short of improving the chances of the efficiency defence being effectively applied by the merging parties in view of the increasing standard of proof and judicial review. The article advocates the elaboration of more detailed and specific rules concerning the efficiency defence that would provide the parties with a functioning procedural mechanism giving a chance for efficiency claims to be considered against the alleged competitive harm.


Several recent studies indicate that revolutions of non-violent civil resistance lead to more democratic and peaceful political transitions than either violent revolutions or elite-led political transitions. However, this general trend has not been disaggregated to explain the many prominent cases where nonviolent revolutions are followed by authoritarianism or civil war. Understanding these divergent cases is critical, particularly in light of the problematic transitions following the "Arab Spring" revolutions of 2011. In this paper I explain why nonviolent revolutions sometimes lead to these negative outcomes. I show, through quantitative analysis of a dataset of all successful non-violent revolutions from 1900-2006 and comparative case studies of the revolutions in Egypt and Yemen, that the mechanism of success whereby the non-violent revolution achieves its goals, such as an negotiation, election, or coup d'etat, has a significant impact on the likelihood of democracy and civil war. Most centrally, mechanisms which involve pretransition capacity-building, civil resistance campaign initiative, and broad political consensus are significantly more likely to lead to democracy and peace. This research has powerful implications for understanding both the options available to non-violent activists seeking revolutionary goals and the choices likely to lead to optimal outcomes during the post-revolutionary transition.


This qualitative study explores the psychological and social processes underlying the issue of generational transmission of coloured identity within the South African contexts of colonialism (pre-apartheid), apartheid and democracy. The concept of identity was guided by the theoretical approaches of Object Relations and the reflexive project of the selfto further explore the lived experience and transmission of this identity. The lived experience of coloured identity of four generations of women within one family was examined. The four women ranging in age from 89 years to 23 years participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The data was thematically analysed. The major themes highlighted were: the interaction of personal identity and social identity; the politics of power and control on identity; the influence of socialization on issues of gender and culture; shifts or changes in identity within a generation or trans-generationally; and the generational transmissions in the reflexive project of the self. This study illustrates the challenges facing individuals, particularly women, with contested identities of marginalized groups. It provided insight into the underlying feelings of trust, shame, pride and guilt as these women negotiate the changing socio-politicallandscape of their country. It also explores the challenges of dual roles of insider and researcher.


This paper presents a parallel implementation technique of digital equalizer for high-speed wireline serial link receiver (RX). In wireline RX, inter-symbol interference (ISI) is mitigated by continuous-time linear equalizer, and the remaining ISI is cancelled out by decision-feedback equalizer (DFE). However, due to the existence of feedback loop in DFE, there is no trivial way to parallelize it, making it difficult to be realized in digital circuits for wireline RX based on analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with ≥ 56 Gb/s data rate. In this work, convolution theorem is applied for achieving parallel digital equalizer implementation. The digital equalizer datapath consists of discrete Fourier transform (DFT) core, inverse-DFT (IDFT) core, complex multipliers between DFT and IDFT cores, and overlap-add circuit. Design considerations for low-area VLSI implementation of such architecture is discussed.


This paper assesses the suitability of mechanochemistry as a convenient low-energy processing option in CO2 mineralization. Whereas some success has been reported in milling alkaline earth-containing minerals under gaseous CO2, this work focuses instead on a purely solid-state approach towards two key objectives: (a) Mg extraction from serpentine using ammonium bisulfate; and (b) direct or indirect CO2 sequestration using ammonium bicarbonate in a natural extension of its role as "CO2 carrier" in the chilled ammonia scrubbing process. In Mg extraction work, dry milling of serpentine with ammonium bisulfate gave respectable yields (>60% Mg) as boussingaultite [(NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O] in 2 to 4 h. In CO2 sequestration, dry milling anhydrous magnesium sulfate with ammonium bicarbonate yielded only mixed sulfate products. Carbonation of the heptahydrate, epsomite, was found to proceed via ammonium magnesium carbonate hydrate [(NH4)2Mg(CO3)2·4H2O], which dissolves incongruently to yield nesquehonite [MgCO3·3H2O]. The modest conversion (∼30%) is probably due to equipartition of Mg into the double sulfate co-product. A similar route is followed in magnesia and brucite, in which the existence of an amorphous native carbonate precursor to nesquehonite in the same molar ratio (Mg : CO2 = 1) was inferred from inconsistency in the XRD intensities. This was largely responsible for the high carbonation yields in the unwashed products, ∼70% and ∼85% in MgO and Mg(OH)2, respectively, as confirmed by TG-FTIR. The same intermediate is probably formed in serpentine, but it is apparently soluble in the aqueous mineral environment. When the unwashed product is subjected to mild thermal consolidation, stable hydromagnesite [Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O] is formed in ∼20% yield after milling for 16 h. Possible identities for the amorphous precursor are briefly considered.