Introduction: Rural populations have many barriers to quality health care including lack of access to primary care and specialty care and a greater likelihood to be underinsured or uninsured. They are also less likely to use preventive screening, or to participate in self-care and engage in their health when compared to urban residents. The purpose of this paper was to describe patients' healthcare experiences in a rural western state focusing on their healthcare expectations and engagement.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a focus group protocol to elicit rural patients' healthcare experiences. A purposeful sample of English speaking adult residents from a single county who were willing to discuss their healthcare experiences was included. Patients and community members (21 years and older) were recruited through a local hospital as well as via flyers posted throughout the community. Each audio-recorded group took about two hours. A total of 15 focus groups were conducted to obtain sufficient text for theoretical saturation and thematic analysis. Each group had a range of 3-8 participants. A $25 visa gift card and lunch were provided for each participant as an incentive.
Results: 'Encounters with Healthcare Professionals' and 'Engagement in Health' were the two dominant dimensions with two themes each. Themes centered around what characterized the best or worst encounters. Trust and Communication - both were based on time spent with the provider and establishment of rapport with the providers. The best encounters were those with health care providers or pharmacists who had sufficient time, adequately explained a diagnosis and new medications did not dismiss patient concerns, and treated individuals with respect. Typical responses describing the worst encounters included examples of misdiagnosis, dismissing patient's symptoms, healthcare professionals whose attention was not focused on the patient, pushing too many medications, rushed encounters, and providers with poor bedside manner. 'Engagement in Health' dimension included the theme of Self-management Process such as taking things one day at a time, taking medication daily, and good stress management. The second theme was Barriers to Engagement and included issues regarding inclement weather, lack of sidewalks, stress, lack of time and the financial constraints for eating healthy, going to a gym, and/or problems with payer source. Participants also described a number of technological tools they utilized to engage with their healthcare including appointment reminders, health-based websites, symptom trackers, online portal systems for health care records, and online bill pay. Many used apps on smart phones to track calories and exercise as well as online community groups to encourage fitness.
Conclusions: The results from this study highlighted some of the gaps in healthcare for rural areas. A large number of participants indicated a lack of trust of their providers and only a few had any communicative interaction with their pharmacist. Future studies could evaluate training designed to teach healthcare providers and pharmacists how to engage patients in their own care. Use of technology by healthcare providers might be another way to improve healthcare engagement.
Conflict of Interest "We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties".
Acknowledgements: This study was funded by the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences (UW CHS) Faculty Seed Grant awarded to first author Dr. Singh in April 2015. Interim results of this study have been presented at the Health Literacy Research Conference (HARC) in November 2015.
Treatment of Human Subjects: IRB review/approval required and obtained

Type: Original Research


This paper studies the role of social media in the do-it-yourself air quality testing initiatives in multiple cities in China, through interviews with leaders of small NGOs and analyses of their blogging contents. To advocate for more accuracy and transparency in pollution data, environmental NGOs mobilized volunteers to measure air quality and post the results online. The paper examines how the DIY activism, assisted by the internet, constitutes citizen participation and political involvement through informal and diffused ways of collective action. The paper also studies how a combination of online and offline activities contributes to the networking process and the creation of a community, though temporary and fragile, and discusses the mobile nature of grassroots environmental activism in urban China.


Between 1950 and 2000, the total population of West Africa increased fourfold, with almost one third now living in urban centres. Alongside growing urbanisation, many countries in the region increasingly rely on food imports for certain staples. These imports mix with local and regional foods to create a complex food system in terms of how and where food is purchased and consumed. Indeed, imported food may actually be integrated within traditional meals. At a workshop in Dakar, Senegal, participants reviewed current knowledge on these trends and how they affect low-income groups. They agreed that informal actors such as small-scale food processors and producers must develop greater capacity to meet evolving consumer demands, as well as health and safety standards. Decision makers must recognise informal actors as key players in food systems; for their part, informal actors must develop skills to engage more effectively in policy dialogue. (Resume d'auteur)


Introduction: Prenatal nutritional status plays a remarkable role in neurocognitive development of an offspring. Although, essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins are being supplemented during pregnancy, very few studies have focussed on essential brain nutrients and its role on foetal mental development and neurocognitive outcomes through ageing. Studies show that prenatal supplementation of essential brain nutrient such as choline alone enhances learning and memory functions and protects adult rats against spatial memory deficits across the lifespan. Similarly, studies also show that supplementation of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) during pregnancy confers positive developmental outcomes in the offspring such as increased birth weight, enhanced visual acuity, hand to eye coordination, attention, problem solving and information processing. Aim: To assess the neurocognitive developmental outcomes of early adolescent rats prenatally supplemented with either choline or DHA or both.
Materials and Methods: E0 Day pregnant dams were divided into five groups 1: Normal control, 2: Saline control 3: Choline 4: DHA, 5: Choline+DHA. Pregnant dams from the normal control group were undisturbed in their home cage and were provided normal animal feed and water ad libitum. Saline, choline (4.6 mmol/kg/day) and DHA (400 mg/day of DHA) were supplemented to appropriate groups during the same period. Subsequent to weaning period, rat pups from all groups of dams were subjected to t-maze and passive avoidance tests. Results: The behavioural studies indicate that offspring prenatally treated with (Group 5) both choline and DHA showed significantly (p<0.001) enhanced memory and learning ability, when compared to the same in age matched untreated groups or those treated with choline and DHA alone separately. Conclusion: Synergistic supplementation of choline and DHA rather than anyone of them singly during foetal development periods enhances their neurocognitive outcomes during early adolescence.


The beauty of science may be pure and eternal, but the practice of science costs money. And scientists, being human, respond to incentives and costs, in money and glory. Choosing a research topic, deciding what papers to write and where to publish them, sticking with a familiar area or going into something new--the payoff may be tenure or a job at a highly ranked university or a prestigious award or a bump in salary. The risk may be not getting any of that. At a time when science is seen as an engine of economic growth, Paula Stephan brings a keen understanding of the ongoing cost-benefit calculations made by individuals and institutions as they compete for resources and reputation. She shows how universities offload risks by increasing the percentage of non-tenure-track faculty, requiring tenured faculty to pay salaries from outside grants, and staffing labs with foreign workers on temporary visas. With funding tight, investigators pursue safe projects rather than less fundable ones with uncertain but potentially path-breaking outcomes. Career prospects in science are increasingly dismal for the young because of ever-lengthening apprenticeships, scarcity of permanent academic positions, and the difficulty of getting funded. Vivid, thorough, and bold, How Economics Shapes Science highlights the growing gap between the haves and have-nots--especially the vast imbalance between the biomedical sciences and physics/engineering--and offers a persuasive vision of a more productive, more creative research system that would lead and benefit the world.


The present work involves an investigation of the possible use of activated carbon developed from rice husk by chemical activation with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) under different activation conditions for the removal of phenol from artificial wastewater. The physical and surface properties of the developed adsorbents were characterised using FTIR and SEM. A comparison between ZnCl2 and H3PO4 shows that the efficiency of phenol removal by H3PO4 activated carbon is generally lower than that of ZnCl2 activated carbon for both activation temperatures. After 24 hrs, removal efficiency of up to 90% could be achieved with 0.5 g ZnCl2 activated carbon, either prepared at 500°C or 600°C activation temperature. However, for 0.1g ZnCl2 activated carbon, an efficiency of 80% to 85% and 69% to 74% could be achieved at 500°C and 600°C activation temperatures, respectively. For H3PO4 activated carbon prepared at 500°C, the efficiency was 45% to 48% and 48% to 56% for 0.1 g and 0.5 g of adsorbent respectively. While for H3PO4 activated carbon prepared at 600°C, an efficiency of 41% to 45% and 43% to 51% could be achieved with 0.1 g and 0.5 g, respectively. The kinetics of phenol adsorption on both ZnCl2 and H3PO4 activated carbons were found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.


Power conversion cycle efficiency is a key factor in the design of new generations of power plants irrespective of the heat source. In response to increasingly demanding emission regulations throughout the world there is now a drive to improve on the existing cycles, a drive which is supported by public opinion. This has resulted in the promotion of several new concepts for power conversion cycles. Of these new cycles the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SCO2) Brayton cycle is one of the most promising. Over the last few years many SCO2 brayton cycles have been designed to operate at pressures ranging between 20 MPa and 30 Mpa and with turbine inlet temperature between 500 °C and 600 °C. In order to obtain higher efficiencies wide use is made of heat exchangers and recuperators. To achieve efficiences of 45% and above intermediate heat exchangers and recuperators must be able to provide very close temperature approaches while withstanding demanding operating pressure and temperature combinations that require very high mechanical integrity. Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHEs) have been used on the Barber-Nicholls/Sandia National Laboratory test loop for the cooler, low temperature recuperator and a high temperature recuperator applications. The compact diffusion bonded PCHE offers many advantages which contribute to the performance, safety and viability of the SCO2 brayton cycle. The use of diffusion bonded construction delivers high mechanical integrity. Their high surface area per unit volume allows a closer temperature approach in a more compact space envelope compared to an equivalent Shell and Tube heat exchanger. The PCHE can be manufactured with a wide range of materials including high grade alloys which are useful for higher temperature or pressure applications where the use of SS316L is restricted. The PCHE has great flexibility to including variable angles and flow paths to increase heat exchange while balancing pressure drop as well as the potential for multi-stream heat exchange. Many papers have been published on the PCHE for use in power generation by various entities other than Heatric, predominently for nuclear applications associated with Gen IV cycles. A lot of these papers have been built on assumptions resulting from interpretation or reverse engineering of public domain information provided by Heatric who have been designing and manufacturing PCHEs for more than 25 years. This has resulted in many papers with various, often contradictory, claims about PCHE performance which ignore the impact of mechanical design issues on the design of PCHEs. The aim of this paper is to review some of these assumptions in order to clarify and correct them, as well as to introduce some of the mechanical design considerations and challenges which significantly affect the final geometry of the PCHE being engineered condition.


Although LEEs are meant to be self-sustaining, if not revenue-generating units, many of them actually incur losses on a continuing basis. Current practice in many LGUs does not engender a clear appreciation of the true cost of the local economic enterprise. COA has documented many cases where the operation of LGU economic enterprises was not treated as special accounts in the General Fund contrary to the provisions of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991. The less than transparent reporting of the actual financial condition and profitability of these enterprises may have some adverse effect on decisions taken by LGU officials. On the one hand, economic enterprises are oftentimes used as the vehicle for charging casual employees who are utilized elsewhere in the LGU system so as to circumvent the 45%-55% limitations on personal services (PS) expenditures of LGUs. On the other hand, part of the cost of LEE operation and management is sometimes charged under other offices in the LGU. Overall, the less than business-like approach to local enterprise management has resulted in large arrearages and low collection efficiency.


MOTIVATION
Many genes in the human genome produce a wide variety of transcript variants resulting from alternative exon splicing, differential promoter usage, or altered polyadenylation site utilization that may function differently in human cells. Here, we present a bioinformatics method for the systematic identification of human-specific novel transcript variants that might have arisen after the human-chimpanzee divergence.

RESULTS
The procedure involved collecting genomic insertions that are unique to the human genome when compared with orthologous chimpanzee and rhesus macaque genomic regions, and that are expressed in the transcriptome as exons evidenced by mRNAs and/or expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Using this procedure, we identified 112 transcript variants that are specific to humans; 74 were associated with known genes and the remaining transcripts were located in unannotated genomic loci. The original source of inserts was mostly transposable elements including L1, Alu, SVA, and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). Interestingly, some non-repetitive genomic segments were also involved in the generation of novel transcript variants. Insert contributions to the transcripts included promoters, terminal exons and insertions in exons, splice donors and acceptors and complete exon cassettes. Comparison of personal genomes revealed that at least seven loci were polymorphic in humans. The exaptation of human-specific genomic inserts as novel transcript variants may have increased human gene versatility or affected gene regulation.


We propose a theory of tax centralization and intergovernmental grants in politico-economic equilibrium. The cost of taxation differs across levels of government because voters internalize general equilibrium effects at the central but not at the local level. The equilibrium degree of tax centralization is determinate even if expenditure-related motives for centralization considered in the fiscal federalism literature are absent. If central and local spending are complements, intergovernmental grants are determinate as well. Our theory helps to explain the centralization of revenue, introduction of grants, and expansion of federal income taxation in the U.S. around the time of the New Deal. Quantitatively, the model can account for the postwar trend in federal grants, and a third of the dramatic increase in the size of the federal government in the 1930s.


The thesis aims to produce a reconsideration of the queer spaces articulated in 1980s and 1990s literary criticism through the corporealising theory of gender and sexuality in the recent development of Australian material feminism and Rita Felski"s idea of transient time. It particularly focuses on interpretations of transgender characters in critical readings of Renaissance drama and contemporary fiction. The academic fields investigated are thus late twentieth-century Renaissance criticism of gender and sexuality, late twentieth-century queer interpretations of transgenderism and transgender characters in contemporary literature, contemporary transgender studies and material feminist theory. Chapter 1 introduces a queer space articulated by discourses of gender and sexuality in 1980s and 1990s criticism of Renaissance drama. It concludes that the historical methodology of the critics is flawed and that the idea of Renaissance queerness is built as a contrast to late twentieth-century queerness. Chapter 2 is a reconsideration of the Renaissance anatomical sources used by the canonical critics introduced in the previous chapter. It establishes that the queer idea of sex and gender developed through these should rather be read in light of the more corporeal Renaissance discourse of monstrosity. Chapter 3 reconsiders the transgender characters in Shakespeare"s Twelfth Night and As You Like It and introduces a reading of Middleton and Dekker"s The Roaring Girl from a point of view that introduces Renaissance sexual monstrosity as a formation of corporealised though flexible gender subjectivity. Chapter 4 introduces a late twentieth-century queer space partly articulated in relation to the Renaissance queer space. It critiques the theoretical foundations of late twentieth-century queer theory, introducing transgender responses to "queering" readings of transgender bodies, as well as queer theorists" own attempts to narrativise themselves as points of incoherence in Butler"s model and introduces a corporealising material feminist perspective of gender subjectivity as a more accommodating alternative. Chapter 5 reconsiders queer readings of transgender characters in Angela Carter"s The Passion of New Eve. It concludes that the novel has been evaluated from a queer perspective and that it offers a more interesting comment on sex and gender if read from a material feminist point of view. Chapter 6 discusses John Cameron Mitchell"s Hedwig and the Angry Inch as one transgender narrative that has been critiqued by transgender academia and Gore Vidal"s Myra Breckinridge as a transgender narrative that has been approved. It analyses and critiques the reasons for the texts" reception and formulates a new poetics of corporeal gender based on the idea of nomadic gender subjectivity developed in the works of the Australian school of material feminists. The thesis finally exchanges a queer reading of transgender characters for a nomadic corporeal reading that better accommodates the historical discourses surrounding the Renaissance material, the literary content of the contemporary fiction, and the idea of transgender identity as it is considered in transgender studies.


Non-permissible concentration of fluoride salts in ground water induces various anomalies in human beings. Bhagalpur city's ground water contains 1–2 ppm of fluoride. Its genotoxic effects were assessed in Swiss albino mice Mus Musculus. 25% (50 mg/l) and 50% (100 mg/l) concentrations were found to increase the frequency of abnormal cells by 10.33 and 19.33% and chromosome abnormalities by 10.33 and 20.00% in bone marrow cells. The increase in frequency of chromosome anomaly was mainly due to significant increase in individual type, viz. chromatid breaks, gaps and acentric fragments. The effect is dose dependent. Fluoride salts present in the ground water might have interfered the phagocytosis and produce oxygen free reactive radicals that attack the nucleophilic sites of the DNA leading to the loss of important gene segments responsible for cell growth and the ageing.


OBJECTIVE
Widespread deep tissue pain hyperalgesia was evaluated in women with chronic whiplash associated disorder (n = 25) and controls (n = 10) using computerized cuff pressure algometry and hypertonic saline infusion.

METHODS
A pneumatic double-chamber cuff was placed around: (i) the arm and (ii) the leg. Cuff inflation rate was constant and the pain intensity was registered continuously on a visual analogue scale (VAS); thresholds of detection and tolerance were extracted. For assessment of spatial summation the protocol was repeated with a single-chamber cuff inflated around the leg. Temporal summation of pain was assessed from the leg with constant cuff pressure stimulation at 2 different pressure intensities for 10 min. Hypertonic saline was infused in the tibialis anterior muscle.

RESULTS
Cuff pressure pain thresholds were lower in subjects with whiplash associated disorder compared with controls (p < 0.05). Tonic pressure stimulation evoked higher maximal VAS and larger areas under the VAS curve in subjects with whiplash associated disorder compared with controls (p < 0.05). The pain threshold and tolerance were higher during single cuff than double cuff stimulation. The area under the VAS curve after intramuscular saline infusion was larger in whiplash associated disorder (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The results indicated widespread hyperalgesia in chronic whiplash associated disorder and facilitated temporal summation outside the primary pain area, suggesting involvement of central sensitization.


Vibration of an array of stacked annular plates, in which adjacent plates couple weakly through an acoustic layer, is investigated through experimental and theoretical methods. Such acoustic coupling manifests itself through split natural frequencies, beating in the time responses of adjacent or separated plates, and system-level modes in which plates in the array vibrate in- or out-of-phase at closely-spaced frequencies. Laboratory measurements, including a technique in which the frequency response function of all in-phase modes but no out-of-phase modes, or visa versa, is measured, demonstrate the contribution of coupling to the natural frequency spectrum, and identify the combinations of design parameters for which it is important. For the lower modes of primary interest here, the natural frequencies of the out-of-phase system modes decrease as the air layer becomes thinner, while those of the in-phase mode remain sensibly constant at the in vacuo values. A vibration model comprising N classical thin plates that couple through the three-dimensional acoustic fields established in the annular cavities between plates is developed, and its results are compared with measurements of the natural frequencies and mode shapes.


Figure 12 of the paper "Space Density of Optically Selected Type 2 Quasars" compares the obscured quasar fractions derived in our work with those of other studies. Unfortunately, some of the points from these other studies were shown incorrectly. Specifically, the results from X-ray data—Hasinger (2004; open circles) and Ueda et al. (2003; open squares)—which we had taken from Figure 16 of Hopkins et al. (2006), were affected by a luminosity conversion error, in the sense that the displayed luminosities for these data were too high by ~1 dex. With this erratum, we correct this problem and update the figure. The new version (Figure 12) shows more recent results from Hasinger (2008), in lieu of the Hasinger (2004) data points. These are based on data in the redshift range z = 0.2-3.2 (open circles) in that work. The best linear fit to these data (black dashed line) is consistent with that derived for the redshift slice z = 0.4-0.8, which overlaps with the highest redshift bin in our study, and is higher than that derived for redshifts smaller than 0.4 (corresponding to a shift of ~0.7 dex in luminosity). Figure 12 also shows estimates of the obscured quasar fraction derived from the ratio of IR to bolometric luminosities of an AGN sample at redshift z ~ 1 (Treister et al. 2008; filled triangles). Because the obscured quasar fractions derived from our analysis (colored arrows) are strict lower limits, there was already a hint in the previous version of Figure 12 that at high quasar luminosities, we find higher obscured quasar fractions than X-ray surveys. The correction and updates of Figure 12 strengthen this conclusion. At face value, our derived obscured quasar fractions are consistent with those from IR data (Treister et al. 2008; filled triangles). However, we find that they are significantly higher than those derived from X-ray surveys at , especially those from the recent analysis by Hasinger (2008). This comparison strongly suggests that optical selection successfully identifies a population of luminous obscured quasars that are missed by X-ray selection.


This expansive book reveals the great diversity and range of art of the Arab lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and later South Asia. Published to coincide with the historic reopening of the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum's Islamic Art Department, it presents nearly three hundred masterpieces from one of the finest collections in the world. The works range chronologically from the origins of Islam in the seventh century through the nineteenth century, and geographically from as far west as Spain and Morocco to as far east as India. Outstanding miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, textiles, carpets, glass, and metalwork reflect the mutual influence of artistic practice in the sacred and secular realms. Many of these beautiful objects display the rich traditions of calligraphy, vegetal ornament (the arabesque), and geometric patterning that distinguish the arts of the Islamic world. With seven informative essays and almost three hundred catalogue entries-supplemented by introductory essays on the collection and its display-this handsome and comprehensive overview will enlighten the specialist and the general reader alike.


Rebus is juggling four cases trying to nail one killer - who might just lead back to the infamous Bible John. And he's doing it under the scrutiny of an internal inquiry led by a man he has just accused of taking backhanders from Glasgow's Mr Big. As if this wasn't enough, there are TV cameras at his back investigating a miscarriage of justice, making Rebus a criminal in the eyes of a million or more viewers. Just one mistake is likely to mean an unpleasant and not particularly speedy death or, worse still, losing his job.


Abstract. A time-resolved model of the Na layer in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere region is described, where the continuity equations for the major sodium species Na, Na+ and NaHCO3 are solved explicity, and the other short-lived species are treated in steady-state. It is shown that the diurnal variation of the Na layer can only be modelled satisfactorily if sodium species are permanently removed below about 85 km, both through the dimerization of NaHCO3 and the uptake of sodium species on meteoric smoke particles that are assumed to have formed from the recondensation of vaporized meteoroids. When the sensitivity of the Na layer to the meteoroid input function is considered, an inconsistent picture emerges. The ratio of the column abundance of Na+ to Na is shown to increase strongly with the average meteoroid velocity, because the Na is injected at higher altitudes. Comparison with a limited set of Na+ measurements indicates that the average meteoroid velocity is probably less than about 25 km s-1, in agreement with velocity estimates from conventional meteor radars, and considerably slower than recent observations made by wide aperture incoherent scatter radars. The Na column abundance is shown to be very sensitive to the meteoroid mass input rate, and to the rate of vertical transport by eddy diffusion. Although the magnitude of the eddy diffusion coefficient in the 80–90 km region is uncertain, there is a consensus between recent models using parameterisations of gravity wave momentum deposition that the average value is less than 3×105 cm2 s-1. This requires that the global meteoric mass input rate is less than about 20 td-1, which is closest to estimates from incoherent scatter radar observations. Finally, the diurnal variation in the meteoroid input rate only slight perturbs the Na layer, because the residence time of Na in the layer is several days, and diurnal effects are effectively averaged out.


The doctrine of double effect (DDE) is a principle of crucial importance in law and medicine. In medicine, the principle is generally accepted to apply in cases where the treatment necessary to relieve pain and physical suffering runs the risk of hastening the patient's death. More controversially, it has also been used as a justification for withdrawal of treatment from living individuals and physician-assisted suicide. In this paper, I will critique the findings of the controversial Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia. In that hearing, Dr Rodney Syme, a urologist and euthanasia advocate, was defending his practice of prescribing barbiturates to terminally ill patients. Syme claimed that he prescribed the drugs with the intention of relieving their existential suffering and not to assist in suicide; he argued that the DDE could be applied. Pace VCAT, I argue that this is an illegitimate application of DDE. I argue that a close scrutiny of Syme's actions reveals that, at the very least, he intended to give patients the option of suicide. He furthermore used what on a traditional definition of DDE would be considered a 'bad' means—the prescription of Nembutal—to achieve a 'good' end—the relief of suffering. The case demonstrates the crucial importance of analysing an agent's 'intention' and the 'effects' of their actions when applying DDE. Ethicists and, indeed, the judiciary need to attend to the ethical complexities of DDE when they assess the applicability of DDE to end of life care. If they fail to do this, the doctrine risks losing its legitimacy as an ethical principle.


Single-crystalline host materials doped with transition-metal ions are of high interest for applications as tunable lasers. Mn6+ ions exhibit broadband luminescence, however, Mn6+-doped crystals or waveguide structures could as yet not be grown in sufficient quality. The active material has to be free of inclusions or defects larger than λ/10, with λ, the wavelength of the porpagating beam. The interface between active layer and substrate must be optically flat to receive low-loss guiding properties. Finally, in the case of homo-epitaxy of BaSO4, the doped layer has to be arranged on the substrate (001) direction, because … .
The growth temperature of BaSO4:Mn6+ is limited by the decomposition of BaSO4 at 1590°C, its phase transition above 1010°C, and especially the chemical reduction of the manganese dopant from Mn6+ to Mn5+ above 620°C. Therefore, the growth of BaSO4:Mn6+ from a solution at lower temperatures is the most suitable method. Liquid phase growth is close to the thermodynamic equilibrium and has enabled us to grow high-quality layers.
First, we prepared undoped BaSO4 crystals of 10 x 5 x 1 mm3 in a, b, and c-direction, respectively, using the flux method with LiCl as solvent. Subsequently, growth of high-quality undoped BaSO4 was performed by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE), using the additive ternary CsCl-KCl-NaCl solution. We obtained crystalline layers free of inclusions, grown in the Frank-Van der Merwe mode (layer-by-layer growth). Finally, layers of BaSO4:Mn6+ were fabricated with thicknesses up to 150 μm, at growth rates of 3 μm/h and temperatures of 500–580°C. The thickness was controllable with a precision of 0.1 μm. The Mn6+ concentration in the doped layer was up to 1 mol.% with respect to S6+.
In collaboration with the University of Hamburg, absorption and emission spectra were measured, which confirmed that the manganese ion was incorporated in the layer solely in its sextavalent oxidation state. Room-temperature luminescence in the wavelength range 850-1600 nm was observed.


This paper is premised on the assumption that education research, in order to be relevant, needs to generate explanations that have educational significance and applicability. It argues that much of the health sciences education research showcased at conferences falls short of generating explanations that have practical applicability because the reported studies do not move beyond description. The paper suggests ways in which health professions educators might move beyond description in order to generate explanations of teaching and learning that can be used to inform 'best practice' in education. The paper commences with a discussion of the role of theory in education research. Three forms of theory are identified – personal theoretical assumptions, theory from literature, and generation of theory from research. The paper highlights the limitations of research without theory and the role that theory might play in generating understandings of teaching and learning. Practical ways to ensure theoretical rigor in education research are suggested.


Species may be driven extinct by climate change, unless their populations are able to shift fast enough to track regions of suitable climate. Shifting will be faster as the proportion of suitable habitat in the landscape increases. However, it is not known how the spatial arrangement of habitat will affect the speed of range advance, especially when habitat is scarce, as is the case for many specialist species. We develop methods for calculating the speed of advance that are appropriate for highly fragmented, stochastic systems. We reveal that spatial aggregation of habitat tends to reduce the speed of advance throughout a wide range of species parameters: different dispersal distances and dispersal kernel shapes, and high and low extinction probabilities. In contrast, aggregation increases the steady-state proportion of habitat that is occupied (without climate change). Nonetheless, we find that it is possible to achieve both rapid advance and relatively high patch occupancy when the habitat has a "channeled" pattern, resembling corridors or chains of stepping stones. We adapt techniques from electrical circuit theory to predict the rate of advance efficiently for complex, realistic landscape patterns, whereas the rate cannot be predicted by any simple statistic of aggregation or fragmentation. Conservationists are already advocating corridors and stepping stones as important conservation tools under climate change, but they are vaguely defined and have so far lacked a convincing basis in fundamental population biology. Our work shows how to discriminate properties of a landscape's spatial pattern that affect the speed of colonization (including, but not limited to, patterns like corridors and chains of stepping stones), and properties that affect a species' probability of persistence once established. We can therefore point the way to better land use planning approaches, which will provide functional habitat linkages and also maintain local population viability.


This thesis is concerned with the development of cold sealing treatments for porous
anodized aluminium. The need for such treatments arises because of the need to
conserve energy resources and the rapid rise in energy costs over recent years.
The extensive literature has been reviewed with special emphasis on recent studies of
chemical/cold sealing processes. The review has considered both theoretical aspects,
practical considerations of pore sealing and the substantial patent literature. It is shown
that:
(a) virtually all cold sealing solutions are based on nickel fluoride and operate
in a temperature range of I5-60oe for 5-35 minutes and at a pH of 5.0-
6.5;
(b) anodized aluminium sealed in the above solution(s) can not be tested for
seal quality immediately.
Original research data has been obtained by studying the nickel fluoride solution.
A study of the ageing phenomenon was carried out An additional process after cold
sealing namely 'post-treatment' was considered. Once these criteria for good sealing
were established the next stage was to study the effect of additives in the nickel fluoride
cold seal bath.
As the importance of a surfactant in cold seal baths was suggested by one of the patents
and claimed to be crucial for successful sealing, various types of surfactant such as
ionic and nonionic were studied.
Various analytical techniques and seal quality tests were used in studying the
mechanism of nickel fluoride cold sealing and a new mechanism of cold sealing was
proposed. \
Studies were carried out using other metal ions than nickel including copper, cobalt,
zinc and zirconium with fluoride. Most were used at room temperature bearing in mind
the need to save energy.
It was found that the nickel fluoride cold sealed finishes performed well with ageing.
However, depending on the test method used, sufficient ageing (from 5 hours to 28
days at room-temperature) must be allowed prior to carrying out seal quality tests which
are designed for conventional hydrothermal sealing.
Accelerated ageing by post-treatment was found to improve substantially the seal quality
of anodized aluminium. It was found that the degree of sealing depends on the method
of post-treatment carried out.
The study of surfactant in cold seal baths showed that seal quality is marginally
improved with the addition of surfactant and depends on the type and concentration of
surfactant used.
Amongst the alternative metal fluorides examined, copper, zinc and cobalt resulted in
partial sealing whereas zirconium produced a good seal quality superior to nickel
fluoride and hydrothermal sealing in terms of acid dissolution and corrosion tests.
However, it produced a silvery white appearance and high admittance value. Such
problems were reduced by using potassium fluorozirconate.


In this work, an advanced calibration routine is proposed to determine the frequency response of a feedback receiver over a targeted linearization bandwidth, when only subNyquist (aliased) samples are available. A new approach is then devised to apply a direct learning algorithm along with the proposed receiver calibration routine, and thus linearize a millimeter wave power amplifier (PA), driven by a modulated signal, using digital predistortion (DPD) with a reduced feedback sampling rate. The proposed new calibration routine and DPD approach are successfully applied to linearize a PA under test, operating at 24 GHz and driven by single carrier 16-QAM and carrier aggregated LTE signals of 200MHz modulation bandwidth using a feedback receiver with sampling rates of 2 Gsps, 1 Gsps and 500 Msps. Adjacent channel power ratio of about 49 dBc and normalized mean square error of about 2% are obtained at the linearized PA output using the three sampling rates.


The prediction of future energy needs mention that people are bigger and energy sources in use currently predicted will fail. And it will really happen in about year 2300. Based on those problems, and we take an idea to make renewable energy source that we call independent energy company. We know that every building available almost had drainages on pipe. The Principle on mikrohidro we use to make an instrument that utilizes the flow of water to convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy. This system apply the principle of fluid mechanics. Water flowing on water pipes have potential and kinetic energy that can be utilized to rotate turbine which connected with the generator axis that would change this mechanical energy into electrical energy. Furthermore, electrical energy can directly used or stored first in a battery and used anytime. With the success of this system work, the industry is expected to meet its own electricity needs to be able to reduce the amount of electrical energy consumption sourced from fossil fuels or petroleum.


Abstract In the 1998 Taiwanese national curriculum revision, environmental education was one of six new "Important Issues". To some early observers, the generic "framework" sections of this 1998 curriculum (Aims, Goals, Core Competences) resonated well with the integrative and transdisciplinary nature of environmental education. This synergy held out promise for the successful introduction of environmental education to Taiwan, despite it not being one of the seven new Learning Areas (or subjects). However, this study suggests that a pervasive nation-wide exam-driven, subject-dominated educational climate resulted in a somewhat truncated "Taiwan-ness" in the environmental education that emerged. In three Junior High Schools preparing for curriculum implementation, there was little early focus on, either the national curriculum's framework aspects or the intended integrative nature of environmental education. Rather, by 2004 curriculum integration had become offcially non-compulsory, and environmental education was conceived as a minor priority, to be wedged where possible into spaces within the traditional subjects.


Abstract The usefulness and desirability of representation schemes which explicitly show musical structure has often been commented upon. A particular aim of music theory and analysis has been to describe and derive musical structure, and this article discusses computational systems based on this work. Six desirable properties of a structural representation are described: that it should be constructive, derivable, meaningful, decomposable, hierarchical, and generative. Previous computational work based on the generative and reductional theories of Schenker and of Lerdahl and Jackendoff is examined in the light of these properties. Proposals are made for a representational framework which promises the desirable properties. The framework shares characteristics with earlier work but does not use pure trees as a representational structure, instead allowing joining of branches in limited circumstances to make directed acyclic graphs. Important issues in developing a representation scheme within this framework are discussed, especially concerning the representation of polyphonic music, of rhythmic patterns, and of up-beats. An example is given of two alternative representations within this framework of the same segment of music used to exemplify earlier work: the opening of the theme of Mozart's piano sonata in A major, K.331.


Indonesia is one of the most important mangosteen producing countries whose the growing areas are scattered on almost all of the islands. Mangosteen variability was observed based on field expeditions from 1992 to 2005. The data were collected on morphological observations on mangosteen production centres in West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Bangka/Belitung, West Java, Central Java, and East Java based on a total number of 192 mangosteen trees. The objectives of the research were to find out the variability of Indonesian mangosteen based on the morphological characters and to determine the morphological characters that can be used to distinguish mangosteen accessions. Leaves and mature fruits were observed for morphological variations. The results show that mangosteens vary in their morphological appearances. Among the morphological variations obtained, there are 11 specific characters that can be used to distinguish the apomictic mangosteen. These characters are canopy shape, mature leaf colour, number of flowers and fruits per cluster, pedicel length, fruit shape, fruit-base shape, stigma lobe shape, size, and thickness, the number of fruit segments, and rind thickness. Based on the morphological characters the mangosteen in Sumatra and Java can be divided into seven kinds. This information will be useful for researchers and will make the task of the curators easier in the area of mangosteen germplasm evaluation.


This study assesses the performance of supply chains for two major export crops produced in Nepal (ginger and large cardamom) from a smallholder perspective. It aims to identify factors that constrain marketing choices available to smallholders, limiting the chain's robustness from their perspective. A qualitative case study method was used to gather and analyse data on farmer-buyer dyads in the ginger and cardamom chains. These case studies were informed by a conceptual model based on Transaction Cost Economics. The analysis included a cross-case comparison to identify the effects of exogenous chain attributes on the channels available to smallholders. Informal market trading was the only form of smallholder engagement observed in both chains. However, there was evidence that smallholders had previously engaged in relational contracts in the ginger chain, and in 'captive' relational contracts in the cardamom chain. There was no evidence that smallholders had ever engaged in either spot markets or conventional contracts in these chains. Although the informal market channel continues to operate, the ginger and cardamom chains are not robust from a smallholder perspective as producers are unable to select channels that better match their risk-reward preferences. The analysis suggests that access to other channels is constrained mainly by underinvestment in value-adding assets. Government should give more attention to the cooperative model that it supports to promote collective marketing. Traditional cooperatives can and do help to resolve problems of asymmetric information and high unit transaction costs, but more innovative cooperative models are required to encourage the investment needed to finance value-adding assets and activities.


Professionalism has been increasingly recognised as an explicit component of medical education, especially in the western world. Professionalism is culture-sensitive. Few efforts have been made to conceptualise professionalism in relation to the Arabian context. The aim of this study is to validate the components of professionalism framework of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to the Arabian context. The authors invited a heterogeneous group of native Arab health professionals and academics to contribute to a reference panel. They represented a variety of disciplines, and seniority levels, and from different healthcare institutions and medical schools in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. They were queried about their perception of the importance of each domain of professionalism as proposed by the ABIM, and were encouraged to suggest new domains if they thought it necessary. Thirty two out of the 45 invited health professionals and educators (71%) contributed to the reference panel. The panel confirmed the appropriateness of the six ABIM domains to the Arabian context, and further proposed the Autonomy of professionals as an additional domain. The modified framework, based on ABIM domains, demonstrated the Arabian conceptualisation of professionalism.


Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) has opened up a new global discussion on forest monitoring and carbon accounting in developing countries. We analyze and compare the extent to which the concept of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for REDD+ has become institutionalized in terms of new policy discourses, actors, resources, and rules in Indonesia, Peru, and Tanzania. To do so, we draw on discursive institutionalism and the policy arrangement approach. A qualitative scale that distinguishes between "shallow" institutionalization on the one end, and "deep" institutionalization on the other, is developed to structure the analysis and comparison. Results show that in all countries MRV has become institutionalized in new or revised aims, scope, and strategies for forest monitoring, and development of new agencies and mobilization of new actors and resources. New legislations to anchor forest monitoring in law and procedures to institutionalize the roles of the various agencies are being developed. Nevertheless, the extent to which MRV has been institutionalized varies across countries, with Indonesia experiencing "deep" institutionalization, Peru "shallow-intermediate" institutionalization, and Tanzania "intermediate-deep" institutionalization. We explore possible reasons for and consequences of differences in extent of institutionalization of MRV across countries.


This study investigates reference management of two groups of 8–12 year old Greek–German bilinguals, resident in Greece (Bilinguals_GR N = 38) and in Germany (Bilinguals_GE N = 39). We analyze the bilinguals' retellings in each language and compare them with data from two monolingual control groups of Greek and German children (Monolinguals_GR and Monolinguals_GE, N = 20 respectively). We seek to establish how the use of referential forms in character introduction, maintenance and reintroduction in the bilinguals' narrative retellings is affected by language dominance and whether proficiency in each language patterns similarly with respect to dominance in input. Our results indicate that differences in choice of referential form can be attributed to language dominance. Bilingual production of referential expressions differed from that of monolinguals when exposure to one language outweighed the other, as in the case of Bilinguals_GE. Similarly, proficiency in terms of vocabulary, verb diversity and syntactic complexity was affected in the weaker language for this group, which showed a strong dominance in German input. When exposure was more balanced (Bilinguals_GR), proficiency measures in both languages were affected, but to a lesser degree.


Hypovitaminosis D is particularly common among older people with a proximal femoral (hip) fracture and has been linked with poorer lower extremity functioning, falls, and fractures. There is evidence that disability severity and fall rates may be reduced by adequate vitamin D replacement. However, the ideal regimen for vitamin D administration to have these benefits in older people who have been in the hospital has not been established. This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of an oral vitamin D loading dose with maintenance oral vitamin D and calcium on lower extremity function (gait velocity), correction of hypovitaminosis D, falls, and fractures among older people after hip fracture surgery. The cost-effectiveness of the REVITAHIP program from the health and community service provider's perspective will also be established, as will predictors of adherence with the treatment. A total of 450 older people who have recently had a hip fracture requiring surgical intervention will be screened to achieve 250 participants for the study. Participants will have no medical contraindications to vitamin D replacement. The primary outcome measure will be mobility-related disability as measured with the 2.4-m gait velocity test. Secondary measures will be 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels at 2, 4, and 26 weeks, number of falls and fractures, and additional measures of mobility, disability, quality of life, health system and community–service contact, adherence to the intervention, and adverse events. After surgical fixation and being deemed medically stable, participants will be randomly allocated to an intervention or placebo-control group. Participants of the intervention group will receive initial oral 250 000 IU (5 × 50 000 IU) vitamin D3 tablets. Both groups will receive oral maintenance vitamin D3 and calcium and will follow the usual hip fracture rehabilitation pathway. The study will determine the impact of a vitamin D loading dose on mobility-related disability in older people following hip fracture and will discuss the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a loading dose vitamin D replacement more generally. The results will have direct implications for future use of vitamin D therapy for this high-risk group.


Fibrotic processes in chronic kidney diseases are the leading cause of renal failure. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), effecting organ restructuring by its mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic and anti-apoptotic activities, is one of the central mediators involved in tubular repair and regeneration after acute renal injury. In addition, HGF acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic factor antagonizing pro-fibrotic actions of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrotic function of HGF in chronic kidney disease are not well understood. Therefore, in the present study HGF signaling and HGF induced expression profiles were studied in renal interstitial fibroblasts that represent a central cell type in tubulointerstitial fibrosis due to their prominent production of extracellular matrix proteins. Furthermore, gene therapeutical HGF application using different serotypes of the adeno-associated viral vector (AAV), namely AAV2, AAV8 and AAV9, was tested in order to treat tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a COL4A3 knockout mouse model. Analyses of HGF signaling demonstrated that in agreement to signaling in epithelial cells HGF stimulation results in the activation of the Erk1/2 and the Akt pathway. However, the Stat3 signal transducer was not phosphorylated. Smad2/3 phosphorylation in response to Erk1/2 activation in HGF stimulated fibroblasts supports previous data showing the antagonistic interaction of the HGF- and TGF-beta-signaling. A comprehensive expression profiling of HGF-stimulated renal fibroblasts by microarray hybridisation could further define the anti-fibrotic signals mediated by HGF. Functional cluster analyses and quantitative PCR assays indicated that the HGF-stimulated pathways transfer the anti-fibrotic effects in renal interstitial fibroblasts by reducing expression of extracellular matrix roteins, various chemokines, and members of the CCN family. Interruption of the HGF signaling via the Akt pathway or support of the HGF signaling via the Erk1/2 pathway by RNA interference, using Akt-siRNA or Smad4-siRNA, proved that not only Erk1/2 activation but also Akt activation is responsible for anti-fibrotic signal transduction by HGF. These data clearly point out that the Akt signaling upon HGF stimulation acts as an auxiliary pathway in the anti-fibrotic function of HGF. In order to apply the anti-fibrotic effect of HGF to chronic kidney diseases, a gene therapeutical system was established, intended to reduce renal interstitial fibrosis by the use of HGF as transgene and the adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) as gene vehicle. COL4A3 knockout mice mimicking the human Alport syndrome served as model system for renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Different natural occurring AAV serotypes, namely AAV2, AAV8 and AAV9, were studied with regard to their capability to target renal epithelial cells compared to liver parenchyma. Furthermore, a mammalian promoter construct was generated that restricted transgene expression to the kidney and the liver for a combined endocrine and paracrine expression of HGF. Systemic application of AAV8 and AAV9 carrying HGF as transgene resulted in high serum levels of HGF in COL4A3 knockout mice, however, AAV9 achieved the highest HGF expression in both the liver and the kidney. HGF serum levels were associated with pronounced repression of fibrotic markers such as collagen1A1, PDGF-receptor-beta, and alpha-smooth-muscle actin. In addition, AAV mediated HGF expression resulted a remarkable reduction in the severity of fibrosis. In conclusion, HGF is a promising anti-fibrotic agent for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. Additionally, this study established a proof-of-concept of AAV-based therapy as a promising vector platform to treat chronic kidney diseases.


Prostate cancer is a biologically heterogeneous disease with variable molecular alterations underlying cancer initiation and progression. Despite recent advances in understanding prostate cancer heterogeneity, better methods for classification of prostate cancer are still needed to improve prognostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes. In this study, we computationally assembled a large virtual cohort (n = 1,321) of human prostate cancer transcriptome profiles from 38 distinct cohorts and, using pathway activation signatures of known relevance to prostate cancer, developed a novel classification system consisting of three distinct subtypes (named PCS1-3). We validated this subtyping scheme in 10 independent patient cohorts and 19 laboratory models of prostate cancer, including cell lines and genetically engineered mouse models. Analysis of subtype-specific gene expression patterns in independent datasets derived from luminal and basal cell models provides evidence that PCS1 and PCS2 tumors reflect luminal subtypes, while PCS3 represents a basal subtype. We show that PCS1 tumors progress more rapidly to metastatic disease in comparison with PCS2 or PCS3, including PSC1 tumors of low Gleason grade. To apply this finding clinically, we developed a 37-gene panel that accurately assigns individual tumors to one of the three PCS subtypes. This panel was also applied to circulating tumor cells (CTC) and provided evidence that PCS1 CTCs may reflect enzalutamide resistance. In summary, PCS subtyping may improve accuracy in predicting the likelihood of clinical progression and permit treatment stratification at early and late disease stages. Cancer Res; 76(17); 4948-58. ©2016 AACR.


A system is described for calibrating high-bandwidth oscilloscopes using pulse signals. The fast-pulse oscilloscope calibration system (FPOCS) is to be used to determine the step response parameters for digitizing oscilloscopes having bandwidths of /spl sim/20 GHz. The system can provide measurement traceability to standards maintained at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It comprises fast electrical step generation hardware, a personal computer (PC) and software, and a reference waveform, i.e., a data file containing an estimate of the step generator output signal. The reference waveform is produced by prior measurement by NIST of the step generator output signal (calibration step signal). When the FPOCS is in use, the calibration step signal is applied to the device under test, which is an oscilloscope sampling channel. The measured step waveform is corrected for timebase errors, then the reference waveform is deconvolved from it. The results are impulse, step, and frequency response estimates, and their associated parameters (e.g., transition duration, transition amplitude, -3 dB bandwidth) and uncertainties. The system and its components are described, and preliminary test results are presented.


We have studied the insertion of p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) on selected allenyl and propargyl complexes of palladium bearing diphenylphosphine quinoline as a spectator ligand. The fast process gives different products depending on the tautomer involved in the reaction. Thus, the unsubstituted allenyl species yields an insertion complex with the isocyanide coordinated between the metal and the first allenyl carbon. On the other hand, a mixture of phenyl substituted allenyl and propargyl palladium complexes yields a novel species characterized by a cyclo-butenyl fragment directly coordinated to palladium. The solid state structure of such a complex together with an exhaustive kinetic study of the whole process is reported.


This paper discussed on the application of the enhanced maintenance problem recognition techniques. The main contribution of this study is on the proposed combined techniques, namely snapshot model, failure mode, effect and criticality analysis (FMECA), Pareto analysis and decision analysis by using information technology (IT). The snapshot model is part of maintenance modelling technique while FMECA, Pareto analysis and decision analysis are part of maintenance reliability techniques. Each of the techniques and the proposed combined techniques will be explained. The case study use for this enhanced technique is using palm oil mills plant maintenance problem. The result and possible further enhancement will also be discussed.


In the past decades, urban development and the increase in densely populated urban areas have led to expansion of the impervious surfaces. This resulted in an increase in the volume and peak discharge of runoff. To face the intensified urban floods problems worldwide, many management practices have been proposed and implemented. This study attempted to investigate and prioritize suitable urban runoff management scenarios for Bojnord city. Based on a thorough literature review on international experiences and examples, local experts' opinions, and operational feasibility, a total of six management alternatives including Bioretention, Infiltration Trench, Pervious Asphalt, Pervious Paver Blocks, Green Roof, and Rain Barrels were chosen. The hydrological, social and economic implications were then assessed for these alternatives for the Bojnord city. A total of 60 questionnaires were filled out by face to face interviews with citizens. Likewise, an extra set of 30 questionnaires was filled out by the relevant experts and authorities. The cost of each management alternative along with their potential to reduce the runoff volume resulting from a rainfall with a five-year return period was analyzed using SWMM. The Multi Criteria Decision Making Method (MCDM) was used for prioritizing these alternatives. Then MCDM in this study used TOPSIS technics and was performed using different weighting conditions (equal weighting, Delphi, Shannon entropy, emphasizing on hydrologic, social and economic criteria).The result of this study indicated that when applying equal weighting method, Delphi and social criteria, Infiltration Trench scenario were considered as the most compatible option to ideal solution. While Rain Barrels scenario was considered as the top priority when Shannon entropy and economic criteria were emphasized. And finally, applying a hydrologic criterion put the Green Roof scenario on top priority


A prominent approach in modern software development is to reuse existing code and functionality by wrapping them with service descriptions. These services are then made available to other applications via the Internet. As this service-based approach to software engineering is influencing all areas of information technology, agent-oriented technologies are also being refined with this paradigm. To achieve the combination of service-oriented architecture (SOA) and multi-agent system, we describe an agent architecture named JIAC V that follows the defining principles of service-oriented architectures. This means that the traditional strengths of agent technology, namely coordination, cooperation, and intelligent behavior, are employed to realize and augment the vision of a flexible service-oriented architecture. Our architecture features three types of agents that follow the SOA principles. These range from agents that simply provide basic services up to agents that are able to compose the services and reason about their objectives. In detail, we describe a simple reactive agent type, a BDI-based agent type, and last but not least an agent that supports learning, reasoning, and other advanced AI-techniques. All of these coexist within the same architecture and consequently within the same applications, as we regard an architecture with only a single agent model as too static for real world applications. The objective of this approach is to create an agent framework for the development of various applications that provides appropriate tools for different tasks. For example, simple tasks within an application can be solved by simple agents, while the more complex and powerful agent types are employed for the real challenges. The core components and concepts of the JIAC V architecture have been tested and evaluated within proof-of-concept implementations and application projects. We describe our experience with these projects and give an analysis of the performance of the architecture in different applications.


PURPOSE: this study aimed to compare the quality of life and areas of occupational performance in epileptic patients before and twelve months after surgery. METHODS: the sample consisted of 30 epileptic patients from the Centro de Cirurgia de Epilepsia da Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto - FAMERP. All participants responded to a semi-structured interview to collect socio-demographic data, the Questionnaire Quality of Life in Epilepsy - 31 (QOLIE-31) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure - COPM. RESULTS: nineteen patients (63.3%) were female and eleven (36.7%) males, aged between 22 and 65 years (42.1±11.9). The results obtained with the QOLIE-31 showed significant differences in six of the seven areas that composed the questionnaire when compared to pre-and post-surgical period. The comparison of the results of COPM shows significant increase both in performance and in patients' satisfaction with their activities of daily living, instrumental in daily life and leisure. CONCLUSION: the surgical treatment is effective in improving the quality of life and occupational performance in what could be the medium and long-term social integration most appropriate for epileptic patients.


Abstract Background: Chemokines and their receptors are known to play an important role in tumor progression, particularly as key mediators of tumor-stroma interactions. Studies have investigated the impact of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) polymorphisms on the susceptibility of cancer, but the results remain inconclusive. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis using 20 eligible studies to summarize the data on the association between MCP-1 A2518G and CCR2 V64I polymorphisms and cancer risk. Q-statistics and I2 statistics were calculated to examine heterogeneity, and summary odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a random effects model. Potential sources of heterogeneity were sought out via stratification and sensitivity analyses, and publication biases were estimated. Results: In overall, MCP-1 and CCR2 polymorphisms showed no significant association with cancer risk (MCP-1 A2518G, GG + GA versus AA: OR = 0.94, 95% CI=0.76, 1.17; CCR2 V64I, AA + AG versus GG: OR= 1.30, 95% CI = 0.86, 1.95). The effect of these polymorphisms was further evaluated in stratification analyses. It was demonstrated that the increased risk of cancer was observed among Asian populations carrying at least one A allele of CCR2 V64I than those with GG homozygotes (AA + AG versus GG: OR=1.80; 95% CI=1.40, 2.33). Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that gene polymorphism of CCR2 V64I may influence the susceptibility of cancer in Asian populations. Further well-designed studies with large sample size should be conducted. Citation Format: Jeongseon Kim, Young Ae Cho. Association of polymorphisms in MCP-1 and CCR2 genes with the risk of cancer: A meta-analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 18.


We present a web-based network visual analytics platform called GraphVis that combines interactive visualizations with analytic techniques to reveal important patterns and insights for sense making, reasoning, and decision-making. The platform is designed with simplicity in mind and allows users to visualize and explore networks in seconds with a simple drag-and-drop of a graph file into the web browser. GraphVis is fast and flexible, web-based, requires no installation, while supporting a wide range of graph formats as well as state-of-the-art visualization and analytic techniques. In particular, the multi-level network analysis engine of GraphVis gives rise to a variety of new possibilities for exploring, analyzing, and understanding complex networks interactively in real-time. Finally, we also highlight other key aspects including filtering, querying, ranking, manipulating, exporting, partitioning (community/role discovery), as well as tools for dynamic network analysis and visualization, interactive graph generators (including two new block model approaches), and a variety of multi-level network analysis and statistical techniques.


MRAM has emerged as one of the most attractive non-volatile solutions due to fast read access, low leakage power, high bit density, and long endurance. However, the high power consumption of write operations remains a barrier to the commercial adoption of MRAM technology. This paper addresses this problem by introducing low-current probabilistic writes (LCPW), a technique that reduces write access energy by lowering the amplitude of the write current pulse. Although low current pulses no longer guarantee successful bit write operations, we propose and evaluate a simple technique to ensure correctness and achieve significant power reduction over a typical MRAM implementation.


Rett Syndrome (RS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused primarily by mutations in a Mecp2 gene on the X chromosome that encodes methyl-cytosine binding protein (MeCP2). MeCP2 acts as a transcriptional repressor and an activator for a number of genes such as DLX5/ Dlx5 and Bdnf. One of the effects of diminished Mecp2 expression activity is the appearance of a Rett-like phenotype including tremors, severe breathing irregularities, and hypoactivity. Neurons of pre-Botzinger complex (preBotC), the most important component of the complex respiratory network on which the generation of respiratory rhythm in mammals is relied were used to study possible origins of breathing disturbances. The research was focused on two major players of intracellular signal transduction, Ca2+ and cAMP, involved in various events of neuronal activity and plasticity, to establish disturbances in signal transduction, excitability, and higher vulnerability of the Mecp2-/y (KO) preBotC neurons during early postnatal development. Using recently developed methods of transduction of living neural tissue with neuron-specific fluorescent sensors, D3cpv calcium sensor and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac1-camps) were introduced into the organotypic slices from wild-type (WT) and model knockout (KO) mice. Thereby differences in the spatial organisation of neurons in preBotC and disturbances in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and cAMP ([cAMP]i) homeostasis in mutant mice which appeared in RS mouse model during early postnatal development were observed.
Calcium buffering in KO neurons was indicated by increased amplitude and kinetics of depolarisation-induced calcium transients related to insufficient calcium uptake into the endoplasmic reticulum. Brief hypoxia and calcium release from internal stores induced global calcium increases, after which the processes of many KO neurons were retracted. The effects were restored after a treatment with BDNF while inhibition of BDNF signalling in WT neurons produced disturbances in calcium buffering similar to those observed in KO mice. The data obtained recently point to a direct connection between calcium homeostasis and long-term changes in neuronal connectivity. It can be therefore proposed that calcium-dependent retraction of neurites in preBotC neurons can retard the development of the neural network and set up conditions for appearance of breathing irregularities in RS.
Transduction of organotypic slices with a sensor based on a cAMP-dependent GTP-exchange factor (Epac1-camps) allowed us to measure the intracellular distribution of cAMP, its absolute levels and time-dependent changes in response to different physiological stimuli. After modulation by adenylate cyclase (AC), inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and activation of G-protein-coupled metabotropic receptors, [cAMP]i changes in μM range were recorded. Membrane depolarisation and Ca2+ release from internal stores slowly increased [cAMP]i levels. These effects were suppressed after AC blockade with 2′5′-dideoxyadenosine, and potentiated after inhibiting PDE with isobutylmethylxanthine or rolipram. Inhibition of proteinkinase A (PKA) with N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide hydrochloride (H-89) in turn abolished these effects. This indicates the important role of phosphorylation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in the potentiation of [cAMP]i transients. A crosstalk between Ca2+ and cAMP signalling that revealed a synergism of actions of these two second messengers was investigated. Resting [cAMP]i levels in KO neurons were lower and transient [cAMP]i changes were smaller and faster, but both features were corrected by BDNF to those of the WT.
The results obtained indicate that KO neurons have significant disturbances in calcium and cAMP homeostasis that is possibly responsible for higher excitability and vulnerability of neurons. Calcium-induced retraction of neurites can retard formation of properly functioning respiratory network and produce instabilities in regular breathing. An important result that BDNF corrected both calcium and cAMP homeostasis corroborates the present view of the important role of MeCP2-regulated expression and secretion of BDNF in neuronal development. This supports the current opinion about the special role of BDNF in the development of RS that has been derived from biochemical and molecular biology studies.


This study presents a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study of Dimethyl Ether (DME) gas adsorptive separation and steam reforming (DME-SR) in a large scale Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) reactor. The CFD model is based on Eulerian-Eulerian dispersed flow and solved using commercial software (ANSYS FLUENT). Hydrogen is currently receiving increasing interest as an alternative source of clean energy and has high potential applications, including the transportation sector and power generation. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling has attracted considerable recognition in the engineering sector consequently leading to using it as a tool for process design and optimisation in many industrial processes. In most cases, these processes are difficult or expensive to conduct in lab scale experiments. The CFD provides a cost effective methodology to gain detailed information up to the microscopic level. The main objectives in this project are to: (i) develop a predictive model using ANSYS FLUENT (CFD) commercial code to simulate the flow hydrodynamics, mass transfer, reactions and heat transfer in a large scale dual fluidized bed system for combined gas separation and steam reforming processes (ii) implement a suitable adsorption models in the CFD code, through a user defined function, to predict selective separation of a gas from a mixture (iii) develop a model for dimethyl ether steam reforming (DME-SR) to predict hydrogen production (iv) carry out detailed parametric analysis in order to establish ideal operating conditions for future industrial application. The project has originated from a real industrial case problem in collaboration with the industrial partner Dow Corning (UK) and jointly funded by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (UK) and Dow Corning. The research examined gas separation by adsorption in a bubbling bed, as part of a dual fluidized bed system. The adsorption process was simulated based on the kinetics derived from the experimental data produced as part of a separate PhD project completed under the same fund. The kinetic model was incorporated in FLUENT CFD tool as a pseudo-first order rate equation; some of the parameters for the pseudo-first order kinetics were obtained using MATLAB. The modelling of the DME adsorption in the designed bubbling bed was performed for the first time in this project and highlights the novelty in the investigations. The simulation results were analysed to provide understanding of the flow hydrodynamic, reactor design and optimum operating condition for efficient separation. Bubbling bed validation by estimation of bed expansion and the solid and gas distribution from simulation agreed well with trends seen in the literatures. Parametric analysis on the adsorption process demonstrated that increasing fluidizing velocity reduced adsorption of DME. This is as a result of reduction in the gas residence time which appears to have much effect compared to the solid residence time. The removal efficiency of DME from the bed was found to be more than 88%. Simulation of the DME-SR in FLUENT CFD was conducted using selected kinetics from literature and implemented in the model using an in-house developed user defined function. The validation of the kinetics was achieved by simulating a case to replicate an experimental study of a laboratory scale bubbling bed by Vicente et al [1]. Good agreement was achieved for the validation of the models, which was then applied in the DME-SR in the large scale riser section of the dual fluidized bed system. This is the first study to use the selected DME-SR kinetics in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) system and for the geometry size proposed for the project. As a result, the simulation produced the first detailed data on the spatial variation and final gas product in such an industrial scale fluidized bed system. The simulation results provided insight in the flow hydrodynamic, reactor design and optimum operating condition. The solid and gas distribution in the CFB was observed to show good agreement with literatures. The parametric analysis showed that the increase in temperature and steam to DME molar ratio increased the production of hydrogen due to the increased DME conversions, whereas the increase in the space velocity has been found to have an adverse effect. Increasing temperature between 200 oC to 350 oC increased DME conversion from 47% to 99% while hydrogen yield increased substantially from 11% to 100%. The CO2 selectivity decreased from 100% to 91% due to the water gas shift reaction favouring CO at higher temperatures. The higher conversions observed as the temperature increased was reflected on the quantity of unreacted DME and methanol concentrations in the product gas, where both decreased to very low values of 0.27 mol% and 0.46 mol% respectively at 350 °C. Increasing the steam to DME molar ratio from 4 to 7.68 increased the DME conversion from 69% to 87%, while the hydrogen yield increased from 40% to 59%. The CO2 selectivity decreased from 100% to 97%. The decrease in the space velocity from 37104 ml/g/h to 15394 ml/g/h increased the DME conversion from 87% to 100% while increasing the hydrogen yield from 59% to 87%. The parametric analysis suggests an operating condition for maximum hydrogen yield is in the region of 300 oC temperatures and Steam/DME molar ratio of 5. The analysis of the industrial sponsor's case for the given flow and composition of the gas to be treated suggests that 88% of DME can be adsorbed from the bubbling and consequently producing 224.4t/y of hydrogen in the riser section of the dual fluidized bed system. The process also produces 1458.4t/y of CO2 and 127.9t/y of CO as part of the product gas. The developed models and parametric analysis carried out in this study provided essential guideline for future design of DME-SR at industrial level and in particular this work has been of tremendous importance for the industrial collaborator in order to draw conclusions and plan for future potential implementation of the process at an industrial scale.


We assessed nutrient limitation in the Mississippi River plume and Louisiana continental shelf during the summer of 2002 (04‐08 July). We measured nutrient concentrations, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations, and four fast repetition rate fluorescence (FRRF) parameters: the maximum quantum yield of photochemistry in photosystem II (PSII), Fv:Fm; the functional absorption cross section for PSII, σPSII; the time for photosynthetic electron transport on the acceptor side of PSII, τQa; and the connectivity factor, p, in 24‐h‐long nutrient addition bioassays near the Mississippi River delta. Low phosphorus (P) concentrations, elevated inorganic nitrogen‐to‐phosphorus ratios, high AP activities, and Chl a increases in response to P additions in the bioassays all indicated phosphorus limitation that was confirmed by the response of FRRF parameters. This is the first study to use FRRF to confirm results from basic oceanographic methods to demonstrate phosphorus limitation in a marine setting. Fv:Fm and p responded positively to phosphorus addition, while σPSII and τQa decreased in the same treatments. When nitrate alone was added, none of the measured parameters differed significantly from the control. We therefore suggest that FRRF can be used to rapidly detect phosphorus limitation in marine ecosystems.


Alarcon was writing at a time when Spaniards increasingly came to perceive Spain as a nation in decline, and to seek the remedy for their country's malaise in a whole series of economic, political, social, and, in particular, moral reforms. One consequence of this was to intensify the debate concerning effect of the theatre on the moral values of the young, another was to stimulate a renewed interest in the art of war and the martial virtues which were held to have been the source of earlier glories, and yet another was to impel political philosophers and theologians alike to consider anew how the necessities of government in this uncertain political and economic climate might be reconciled with the ethical principles promoted by the Catholic Church. This study contends that both the style and the content of his plays show Alarcon to have been both well-informed and keenly interested in such matters, and indicate that, whilst he concurs with many contemporary moralists in identifying the source of the national malaise as a self-indulgent obsession with sensual pleasure and social posturing, and in suggesting that the cure lies in an adoption of a moral code based upon stoic self-discipline and other such virtues, he makes it clear that the implementation of these virtues in the complex situations encountered in everyday life depends to a large extent upon the prudent use of deception. Thus, in his work, Alarcon presents two principal forms of deception: the lies, slanders, illusions, and acts of imposture of those who seek the illicit gratification of their worldly desires; and the cautious equivocation, concealments, disguises, and stratagems of those who know that appearances deceive and who seek to ensure the reputation, integrity and safety of their compatriots and co-religionists. I also maintain that this is a distinction which applies to the comedia as much as to the world which it portrays, and that Alarcon is critical of the indecorous actions and the ornate language, music and spectacle of the comedia as popularised by Lope, and develops a dramatic technique which requires the spectator to submit his initial emotional and imaginative response to the drama to the scrutiny of reason if he is to understand the play. In this way, Alarcon's own creative technique proves to be yet another example of the prudent use of deception illustrated in his plays.


The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate relations between sustainable agriculture and environmental agriculture programmes. Sustainable agriculture covers not only environmental, but social and economic activities which are not typical for environmental agriculture. It is also analyzed development of sustainable agriculture as well as agri – environmental programmes. In spite that sustainable agriculture cover social and economic activities, but it cannot be compared with traditional agriculture. Agri – environmental measures are wider used in the European Union countries, meanwhile sustainable agriculture is no very popular between farmers. It is discussed different scientific viewpoints and reasons why agri – environmental programmes are not sustainable. The article evaluate why implemented agri – environmental and conventional farming are not sustain in Lithuania. In order to investigate Lithuanian farmer's willingness to participate in sustainable farming, interviews with farmers were conducted. The results discovered that lack of knowledge on sustainable farming is main barrier and farmers are practices traditional farming. The investigation also discovered that insufficient understanding is main reason not to participate in voluntary programmes and farmers are willing to participate in more attractive social and economic measures.


This study investigated the problems the teachers encountered in integrating students with visual impairment. The study sought to find out whether teachers were adequately trained to teach students with visual impairment. It also investigated the problems the teachers faced in adopting the syllabus for students with visual impairment. It investigated whether teachers were guided on how to teach students with visual impairment. The study also sought to find out the opinion of teachers towards the integration of the learners with visual impairment into the mainstream. The locale for the study was Moi Girls" School, Nairobi where there was integration programme. The institution is in Nairobi province where there is integration programme of students with visual impairment and is the most prominent with the highest number of students with visual impairment in Nairobi. The school is easily accessible in terms of distance from the city center and is one of the pioneer schools to implement the programme of integration in Nairobi. The data for the study was collected using a questionnaire to investigate challenges the teachers faced in teaching students with visual impairment in integrated schools. The study targeted the teachers at Moi Girls" School Nairobi. A purposive random sampling technique was applied to identify the teachers. Forty-seven teachers were selected from the school whereby 25 of them were female while 22 were male. This was a sample taken from 63 teachers teaching in the institution. The data was collected, coded and summarized on the basis of the objectives of the study. The analysis and results were presented through tables. The theory that guided the study was normalization theory. The argument behind it is that a child with whatever kind of disability can live a normal life if given all kind of support just like any other normal child. Test-retest technique was used to test the reliability of the research instrument. The study found out that the specialized facilities were limited. It also found out that teachers teaching students with visual impairment lacked support from the school administration. Recommendations were made based on the research findings. It was recommended that Ministry of Education help in construction of specialized facilities for use by students with visual impairment. It also recommended that Kenya Institute of Education prepare more teaching materials in line with the current trend in the field of teaching students with visual impairment. It also recommended for more in-service courses, workshops and seminars to keep the teachers abreast with current trend in the area of teaching learners with visual impairment.


Purposes The aims of this study were to assess the performance of 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT, with diagnostic CT quality, compared with SPECT alone for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas and to assess the influence of adenoma weight on the correct adenoma lateralization with SPECT/CT and with SPECT alone. Methods Two hundred forty-nine consecutive patients, biochemically diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism, were examined with a combined SPECT/CT scanner. Subsequently, 200 patients with confirmed histopathology and biochemical cure after parathyroidectomy were included in this study (16 with multiglandular disease). For each patient, the SPECT-alone data were analyzed first. Thereafter, the CT information was added, and a new evaluation was performed with the combined data. In addition, for each patient, the diagnostic confidence with each method was graded on a scale based on the presence of different image features. The preoperative diagnostic findings were then compared with the surgical and histopathologic reports. Results The distribution of adenoma weights showed a peak at 210 mg, with a median at 338 mg. The sensitivity and specificity (multiglandular disease included) for correct classification of adenomas were significantly higher for SPECT/CT, 83% and 96%, respectively, than for SPECT alone, 80% and 93% (P < 0.01). Below 210 mg, the differences between SPECT/CT and SPECT alone in accurate adenoma lateralization were more prominent. Sixty-seven percent of all adenomas were graded with the highest confidence score with SPECT/CT compared with 53% with SPECT. Conclusions SPECT/CT yields fewer false-positive findings than SPECT alone. The advantage of SPECT/CT over SPECT alone was most apparent for correct lateralization of small adenomas (<210 mg).


For the past three years, women leaders from national groups, grassroots organizations, academia and beyond have gathered to address dissonance in the women's movement, particularly dissatisfaction with the movement's emphasis on women privileged on account of their race, class, or sexuality. At these meetings of the New Women's Movement Initiative (NWMI), advocates who no longer want to do feminism have articulated a desire for social justice feminism. This article analyzes what such a shift might mean for feminist practice and legal theory. Drawing on history, specifically the work of the women behind the Brandeis brief in the Muller v. Oregon workers' hours' restriction case and the National Women's Conference of 1977, this article takes initial steps at broadly defining social justice feminism as that which is productive, constructive, and healing. Moving from practice to theory, it suggests a new way of articulating and understanding the feminist work that is being done in this current stage of feminist jurisprudence, after the path-breaking interventions of anti-essentialism and intersectionality. This article also sets forth certain methodological tools for doing social justice feminism and then uses them to examine the recent Supreme Court case, Long Island Care at Home v. Coke, a case upholding the lack of wage protections for certain domestic workers. With this article, we hope to advance the conversation that has already begun, both in the world of practice as evidenced by the work of the NWMI, as well as the world of feminist legal theory. Social justice brings to feminism a particular emphasis on fairness and transformation; it is a modification that signals change. At this critical time, with efforts to exacerbate the divides of race and gender, social justice feminism provides a new paradigm for talking about and examining these and other issues that threaten movements dedicated to dismantling oppression and bettering people's lives.


This paper provides an analytical explanation to the empirical association between monetary policy conducted according to the inflation targeting (IT) framework and the appreciation of the exchange rate, relating it to the literature on the effects of the exchange rate on growth. A two sector small open economy model is developed in which the behavior of the non tradable inflation and the nominal exchange rate are analyzed. The results indicate that the response to inflation variance under the IT regime causes the appreciation trend. Since this trend is not reversed immediately, increasing returns in the tradable sector affect capital accumulation.


BACKGROUND
We studied the incidence and relative risk factors for postsphincterotomy bleeding and the efficacy of epinephrine injection in hemostasis.

METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of postsphincterotomy bleeding in 983 consecutive patients with sphincterotomy for common duct stones and risk factors for such bleeding, i.e., presence of coagulopathy, stone impaction, periampullary diverticulum, extension of previous sphincterotomy, and use of needle knife precut sphincterotomy in sphincterotomy-induced bleeding. Epinephrine irrigation was performed for mild bleeding, and injection with 1:10,000 epinephrine was performed to control more severe bleeding.

RESULTS
119 patients (12.1%) developed postsphincterotomy bleeding; 114 patients had immediate bleeding and 5 had delayed hemorrhage. Stone impaction at the papilla, periampullary diverticulum, and extension of a previous sphincterotomy were independent variables that increased the risk of bleeding. Forty-six percent of 119 patients with mild bleeding responded to epinephrine irrigation. The remaining required injection therapy with 1:10,000 epinephrine. Initial hemostasis was achieved in all. Rebleeding occurred in 5 patients but all responded to conservative management. None required emergency surgery and there was no mortality related to uncontrolled hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION
Epinephrine injection is a safe treatment for sphincterotomy-induced bleeding.


Causal knowledge is sought after throughout data-driven fields due to its explanatory power and potential value to inform decision-making. If the targeted system is well-understood in terms of its causal components, one is able to design more precise and surgical interventions so as to bring certain desired outcomes about. The idea of leveraging the causal understanding of a system to improve decision-making has been studied in the literature under the rubric of structural causal bandits (Lee and Bareinboim, 2018). In this setting, (1) pulling an arm corresponds to performing a causal intervention on a set of variables, while (2) the associated rewards are governed by the underlying causal mechanisms. One key assumption of this work is that any observed variable (X) in the system is manipulable, which means that intervening and making do(X = x) is always realizable. In many real-world scenarios, however, this is a too stringent requirement. For instance, while scientific evidence may support that obesity shortens life, it's not feasible to manipulate obesity directly, but, for example, by decreasing the amount of soda consumption (Pearl, 2018). In this paper, we study a relaxed version of the structural causal bandit problem when not all variables are manipulable. Specifically, we develop a procedure that takes as argument partially specified causal knowledge and identifies the possibly-optimal arms in structural bandits with non-manipulable variables. We further introduce an algorithm that uncovers non-trivial dependence structure among the possibly-optimal arms. Finally, we corroborate our findings with simulations, which shows that MAB solvers enhanced with causal knowledge and leveraging the newly discovered dependence structure among arms consistently outperform causal-insensitive solvers.