Dendritic cells, the professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) involved in T cell priming, express CD40, a molecule which triggering plays a key role in B cell growth and differentiation as well as monocyte activation. Herein we demonstrate that dendritic Langerhans cells (D-Lc) generated by culturing cord blood CD34+ progenitor cells with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) express functional CD40 at a density higher than that found on B cells. Culturing D-Lc on CD40-ligand (CD40L) transfected L cells allowed D-Lc survival as 50 +/- 15% of seeded cells were recovered after 4 d while only 5% survived over control L cells. CD40 activation induced important morphological changes with a reduction of cytoplasmic content and a remarkable increase of dendrite development as well as an altered phenotype. In particular, CD40 triggering induced maintenance of high levels of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens and upregulation of accessory molecules such as CD58, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2). CD40 engagement also seems to turn on D-Lc maturation as illustrated by upregulation of CD25, a molecule usually expressed on interdigitating dendritic cells of secondary lymphoid organs. Finally, CD40 activated D- Lc secreted a limited set of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha [MIP-1 alpha]) whereas a similar activation induced elutriated monocytes to secrete IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and MIP-1 alpha. As D-Lc activated T cells upregulated CD40L, it is likely that CD40 activation of D-Lc observed herein with a fibroblast cell line stably expressing CD40L, mimics physiological interactions between dendritic cells and T cells.


The potent of n-butanol extract of celery (Apium graveolens) seed in ameliorating the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status was investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thirty two mature male rats were assigned to four groups, non-diabetic control and three diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by single injection with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). Rats ≥ 200 mg/dl of blood glucose were used as diabetic. Diabetic groups (D, B, and I) were drenched with drinking water, n-butanol extract (60 mg/kg, b.w.), or injected with insulin (4 IU/animal), respectively for 21 days. On day 22, body weight gain was registered and male rats were sacrificed. Blood and liver subcellular fluid was obtained to assess blood glucose level and subcellular activity of Alanine aminotranferease (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase, Super oxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH)-transferase and -reductase, and assessment of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione concentrations. Diabetic rats (D) showed marked increased blood glucose, decreased weight gain, increased activity of ALT, SOD, CAT, GSH-transferase, decreased GSH-reductase and normal AST. N-butanol extract of celery seed (B) or insulin (I) therapy moderated blood glucose within normal range, enhanced body weight gain and normalized the activities of all antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, n-butanol extract of celery seed have potent role in ameliorating stressful complications accompanied by diabetes mellitus.

 Key words: Celery, Apium graveolens, diabetes mellitus, antioxidants.


Children make a rapid development physically, cognitively and affectively in preschool educational period (age 0 - 6). The cognitive dimension of a child at pre-school age is creative, independent and imaginary. The imagination unceasingly works. This period is regarded as the time that the children have high potential of learning and developing. Thus, the quality of preschool education affects the higher educational success and even the lifelong success of the child. Therefore the aims of the research are to emphasize the importance of preschool education on the development of the child, to make a comparison between the preschool education of Turkey and other developed countries and to support preschool education by explaining why and how the preschool education in Turkey should be improved. In this research, case study method from data collection methods was used; related written and electronic resources were collected, analyzed and interpreted in line with the research purpose. The following suggestions are developed in order to improve the preschool education in Turkey: Service delivery models that increase the participation to preschool education should be varied; the preschool educational facilities should be extended supporting the access of regions with limited financial means and regulations that decreasing the educational costs of families should be adopted. For all children, especially for families with low income, preschool educational institutions should be free like in more than half of European Union countries or preschool educational costs should be arranged in accordance with family incomes and other criterion, and families should be supported. The improvement and development priority should be given to preschool educational stage, accordingly physical resources (building, materials, substructure) and human resources (manager, educator, deputy manager and support staff) should be provided. Besides preschool teaching departments should be opened in faculties of education in universities and the quota of preschool teaching departments should be increased.


The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and Pakistan looks like a prime candidate for closer cooperation between the United States and China. There are various broadly shared interests in combating terrorism, containing rising extremism, and supporting the stability of both states. With its extensive influence in Pakistan and substantial economic capacity, Beijing has important assets to bring to the table. In practice, however, efforts to achieve convergence have proved frustrating. Differences run deep over how to address the extremist threat and the broader geopolitics of the region. And as is true of its foreign policy elsewhere, China pursues a relatively narrow conception of its interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan, rather than supporting a more widely shared set of goals. The problem for Beijing is that this narrow approach is proving increasingly unsuccessful. Security for its workers and major investment projects has deteriorated; the U.S. role in the region has expanded, much to China's discomfort; and Pakistan's capacity to protect Chinese interests has weakened. There is a debate starting in China about whether a strategic reassessment is needed, which has already resulted in a few tactical shifts on Beijing's part. But until China is forced to go through a more fundamental reappraisal of its strategy for dealing with extremism in the region, prospects for the United States and China to pursue complementary policies will remain limited.


This paper presents a new design for a census-based binational geographic information system. GIS has had limited application intra-censally i.e. between nations. The reasons are the formidable obstacles of standardization of attributes, matching of meaning of attributes, consistency of data-bases, and consistency of boundary files. Many problems in public administration can be solved by using GIS systems that encompass data from several nations. This challenge is even greater for GIS applications involving small area data. The present paper presents a general framework for dual-nation GIS's and then offers an example of its application to the United States and Mexico. The example is a successful GIS constructed for the twin cities of the U.S.-Mexico border. The results of the paper can apply to combining European censuses, many of which lack standardized formats or to combining censuses of European and neighbor nations, where the differences are greater. The paper discusses the results and makes suggestions for improvements in dual-censal GIS applications in public administration.


Cassie spends her days watching Grandfather and Caleb in the barn, looking out at Papa working the fields, spying on her mother, Sarah, feeding the goslings. She's an observer, a writer, a storyteller. Everything is as it should be.But change is inevitable, even on the prairie. Something new is expected, and Sarah says it will be the perfect gift. Cassie isn't so sure. But just as life changes, people change too. And Cassie learns that unexpected surprises can bring great joy.


Starting on June 2011, NGCPV has been the first coordinated project between the European Commission and Japanese NEDO in order to advance in the science and technology of concentrator photovoltaics (CPV). Research has covered all relevant areas in CPV, from solar cells to complete systems, including multijunction solar cells, novel solar cell concepts utilizing nanostructures, advanced optics and modules, thermal management, reliability and modeling at all the stages of the CPV chain, rating and round robin schemes and the development of characterization tools for cells, modules and systems (outdoor and indoor). Ending in November 2014, the NGCPV project has attained some remarkable results, such as the manufacturing of a 44.4% world record efficiency triple junction solar cell (by Sharp Corp.) and the development of a 15 kW CPV system (by Daido, BSQ and UPM) with a DC efficiency of 28% under CSOC, which is the highest reported in the world at system level. In this paper we summarize these and other relevant results concerning project activities such as the investigation of novel buffers for growing III-V materials on silicon, novel ~1eV materials for manufacturing quad-junction solar cells, the development of accurate models to forecast the electricity production in CPV plants and novel advanced optical designs for CPV modules, among others.


. This report documents results from a six-year study (1996-2001) that evaluated effects of liquid swine manure application management practices on soil nutrients, organic matter, pH, crop yield; and also discussed water quality implications. Swine manure management practices included single-rate (SR) and double-rate (DR) nitrogen (N)-based application rates (168 and 336 kg N ha -1 , respectively), three timings (fall injection [FI], winter broadcast [WB], and spring injection [SI]), and two methods (broadcast and injection) of liquid swine manure. Analysis of these practices involved comparing levels of residual soil total phosphorus (P) as Bray-1 available P (RSP), residual soil nitrate-N (RSN), percent organic matter (OM%), pH, carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio, and crop yields (kg ha -1 ) in a corn-soybean rotation. Results of this study indicated that long-term application of higher liquid swine manure rates during winter and spring application times resulted in significantly higher post-harvest accumulation of RSN and RSP in the soil profile, with no significant changes in soil OM%, pH, and C:N ratio. These results also showed that incorporation of swine manure during the spring application time produced significantly higher corn yields compared with fall and winter application times. Overall results suggest that while RSN and RSP content may be significantly higher from spring versus fall manure application times, N and P runoff losses and the potential threat to surface water quality may be substantially lower during spring and summer compared with fall and winter due to effects from crop nutrient uptake, microbial activity, leaching, and evapotranspiration during the growing season.


Arabic Language has an exceptional position in
Islam.It is the language of Quran, thus the need to learn and understand Arabic amongst Muslims is of paramount importance. For countries where their native language is not Arabic, the language is only taught in special schools. Arabic language needs to
be introduced to children at early ages such as in the kindergarten.With the advent of computer technology, various kind of multimedia tools have been developed for the purpose of language learning.Since children are attracted to computer applications especially those that involve multimedia, there is a need to develop Arabic language learning applications for them.Even though there are few applications available in the market for that purpose, most of them do not fully utilize the multimedia elements.The prime objective of this study was to propose an Arabic Language Learning (ALL) for kids of ages between 4 to 6 years old that enable them to learn the language.In the process, an interactive field-tested ALL for kids has been developed as an alternative to the traditional learning tools.The results of user evaluation on the ALL indicate that it has good usability in terms of Learn ability, Usefulness, Ease of Use and Outcome/Future Use.The results also indicate that there is a significant difference between novice and
expert users for Usefulness and Ease of Use, while no significant difference for learn ability and Outcome/Future Use.


In this response to Peter-Ben Smit's article in this volume, two questions are discussed. The first intends to review critically one of the main tenets of Peter-Ben Smit's contribution by asking exactly how fluid and discursive the construction of gender in the Pastoral Epistles was. The second question is whether hegemonic performance of masculinity is the best explanation for the manner of expressing authority in the Pastorals. As a mostly additional yet partly challenging perspective, a related interpretive frame is introduced: philosophical imitation in virtue. As authority is expressed in terms of imitation in virtuous living, it can be better understood as a form of, in Smit's vocabulary, "subhegemonic" masculinity: a critical rephrasing of the cultural hegemonic norm in terms of self-control that enables participation of "every body," male and female. Crucial to this philosophical ideal of masculinity is control over one's self (sōphrosunē) instead of the hegemonic ideal of control over the world outside. In addition to this virtue, it will be argued that in all three Pastoral Epistles the virtue of pistis, "trust" or "faithfulness," functions to create a reciprocal, inclusive, and divinely modelled network of imitation. Rather than supporting the author's masculine self-presentation, as Smit holds, pistis functions to balance hegemonically gendered power play.


This thesis seeks to contribute to the field of local historical studies of scientific and medical culture by taking examples of activity in the West of England between about 1750 and 1840. The cities of Bath and Bristol provide the centres of attention.
Bath, a tourist town with an itinerant population,
developed scientific and medical communities that reflected the nature of the local economy:it also produced a hospital that both utilised the local spa waters while forming part
of the culture of improvement and decorum that helped make the city a by-word for Enlightenment ideals. This hospital,the place of medical men in intellectual life, and the variations between medical writers as to what the Bath waters consisted in, are all discussed.Certain differences between events in the eighteenth century and those of the early nineteenth are also examined,the latter being a period of relative quiet in the history of the city.
Bristol receives more detailed attention for the
years 1790 to 1850. The general cultural background is described,with examples, such as the eighteenth century work of the 'geologist' Alexander Catcott(1725-1779) and the theme is then carried forward Into the nineteenth century city, with specific examples.The chief of these are:the Bristol career of the doctor and chemist Thomas Beddoes(1760-1808);the origins and progress of the Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science,Literature and the Arts, from about 1820 to 1850; the beginnings of new forms of medical education and medical lecturing;episodes from the history of local dispensaries and hospitals;and the various forces at work in the foundation of Bristol's first zoological gardens.The thesis finishes with a conclusion that attempts to summarise the distinct features of local elite culture in these years.


In this paper the well known problem of automatically generating tractable models (for example, but not limited to fuzzy rules) from data by learning will be given a new impetus by introduction of the concept of Autonomous Learning MAchines (ALMA). This concept increases the level of automation and autonomy of the process of model identification and design by reducing the need for human intervention in parts of the problem where this is traditionally done manually and off-line such as model structure identification. The proposed concept is generic and is not limited to fuzzy rule based (FRB) systems or neuro-fuzzy (NF) systems, but is also applicable to hidden Markov models (HMM), decision trees between others. For the specific case of FRB and NF models which are considered in this paper, the membership functions (MF) are automatically generated from (and represent) the true data distribution using kernels and data clouds and recursively estimated relative data density. In this paper we propose an original method for evolving clouds from data based on the well known mean-shift approach and we propose an evolving version of it which we call evolving local means (ELM). The proposed ALMA can be used as a basis of software algorithms and agents and hardware devices in a wide range of problems in industry, defense, security, space exploration, robotics, human behavior analysis, assisted living, etc.


Middle Jurassic strata atop the Wallowa terrane in northeastern Oregon link the Wallowa, Izee, and Olds Ferry terranes as related elements of a single long-lived and complex oceanic feature, the Blue Mountains island arc. Middle Jurassic strata in the Wallowa terrane include a dacitic ash-flow deposit and contain fossil corals and bivalves of North American affinity. Plant fossils in fluvial sandstones support a Jurassic age and indicate a seasonal temperate climate. Corals in a transgressive sequence traditionally overlying the fluvial units are of Bajocian age and are closely related to endemic varieties of the Western Interior embayment. They are unlike Middle Jurassic corals in other Cordilleran terranes; their presence suggests that the Blue Mountains island arc first approached the North American craton at high paleolatitudes in Middle Jurassic time. The authors consider the Bajocian marine strata and underlying fluvial volcaniclastic units to be a basin-margin equivalent of the Izee terrane, a largely Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) succession of basinal volcaniclastic and volcanic rocks known to overlie the Olds Ferry and Baker terranes.


As Internet users have become more savvy about the potential for their Internet communication to be observed, the use of network traffic encryption technologies (e.g., HTTPS/TLS) is on the rise. However, even when encryption is enabled, users leak information about the domains they visit via DNS queries and via the Server Name Indication (SNI) extension of TLS. Two recent proposals to ameliorate this issue are DNS over HTTPS/TLS (DoH/DoT) and Encrypted SNI (ESNI). In this paper we aim to assess the privacy benefits of these proposals by considering the relationship between hostnames and IP addresses, the latter of which are still exposed. We perform DNS queries from nine vantage points around the globe to characterize this relationship. We quantify the privacy gain offered by ESNI for different hosting and CDN providers using two different metrics, the k -anonymity degree due to co-hosting and the dynamics of IP address changes. We find that 20% of the domains studied will not gain any privacy benefit since they have a one-to-one mapping between their hostname and IP address. On the other hand, 30% will gain a significant privacy benefit with a k value greater than 100, since these domains are co-hosted with more than 100 other domains. Domains whose visitors' privacy will meaningfully improve are far less popular, while for popular domains the benefit is not significant. Analyzing the dynamics of IP addresses of long-lived domains, we find that only 7.7% of them change their hosting IP addresses on a daily basis. We conclude by discussing potential approaches for website owners and hosting/CDN providers for maximizing the privacy benefits of ESNI.


White-collar federal fraud sentencing has long been fraught with controversy and criticism. As a result, the U.S. Sentencing Commission's intensive multi-year examination of sentencing for fraud crimes generated tremendous interest among the Department of Justice, criminal defense organizations, the academy, and a wide-range of advocacy groups. In November 2015, the Commission's publicly announced proposed amendments became law without Congressional change. These amendments, while commendable in process and purpose, fall short of sorely needed reforms that would serve to realign white-collar fraud punishments with legitimate penal justifications. This Article portrays the recent historical tension between the Federal Sentencing Commission and federal judges, and presents the results of an original empirical study that demonstrates clearly the continuing need for significant reforms.The Article begins by framing the problem of fraud sentencing within modern criminal law, and examines the statistical reality of economic crime sentencing since the 1980s, which has been increasingly characterized by downward departures from harsh recommend minimum sentences. It then details an original empirical study we conducted on 240 sitting federal and state judges, just as the new sentencing guideline amendments were passing untouched through Congress. This study presented judges with a realistic pre-sentence report for a multimillion-dollar economic crime, and asked judges to sentence the defendant. We found that a remarkable 75% of federal district court judges sentenced the defendant to the precise minimum sentence of a possible seven year range. The study further compared the judges' sentences across judicial cohorts and evaluated the role of judges' individual sentencing philosophies, age, religion, and the political party of the appointing president. Despite a range of interesting differences in sentencing philosophy and self-reported attitudes found based on these factors, federal judges' overwhelming agreement regarding minimum sentencing largely transcended their other differences.The Article considers the results of the study in the context of the revised guidelines as well as scholarly reform suggestions, and offers five specific proposals to reform the guidelines, beginning with significant cuts to the so-called "loss table" as well as the specific offense characteristics that frequently lead to near-nonsensical sentencing guidelines.


False sharing occurs when processors in a shared-memory parallel system make references to different data objects within the same coherence block (cache line or page), thereby inducing "unnecessary" coherence operations. False sharing is widely believed to be a serious problem for parallel program performance, but a precise definition and quantification of the problem has proven to be elusive. We explain why. In the process, we present a variety of possible definitions for false sharing, and discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Our discussion is based on experience gained during a four-year study of multiprocessor memory architecture and its effect on the behavior of applications in a sixteen-program suite.

Using trace-based simulation, we present experimental evidence to support the claim that false sharing is a serious problem. Unfortunately, we find that the various computationally tractable approaches to quantifying the problem are either heuristic in nature, or fail to agree with intuition.


An improved method has been developed for the prediction of thermal contact conductance between two nominally flat metallic rough surfaces by analysis of the deformation of individual asperities in contact. The deformation of the asperities in contact has been taken into account by considering three different modes of deformation — elastic, elastic-plastic and plastic. The model uses an iterative procedure to determine the real area of contact between the deformed surfaces for a given load, nominal area of contact, surface profiles and material properties of the surfaces in contact. The contact conductance is then determined as a function of the ratio of the real area of contact to the apparent area of contact The predicted variation of contact conductance with load obtained from the model is compared to simplified analytical predictions in the literature as well as to experiments conducted as part of this work.


Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based piezoelectric materials (PEMs) have found extensive applications in energy harvesting which are being extended consistently to diverse fields requiring strenuous service conditions. Hence, there is a pressing need to mass produce PVDF-based PEMs with the highest possible energy harvesting ability under a given set of conditions. To achieve high yield and efficiency, solution blow spinning (SBS) technique is attracting a lot of interest due to its operational simplicity and high throughput. SBS is arguably still in its infancy when the objective is to mass produce high efficiency PVDF-based PEMs. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the critical parameters regarding design and processing of SBS is essential. The key objective of this review is to critically analyze the key aspects of SBS to produce high efficiency PVDF-based PEMs. As piezoelectric properties of neat PVDF are not intrinsically much significant, various additives are commonly incorporated to enhance its piezoelectricity. Therefore, PVDF-based copolymers and nanocomposites are also included in this review. We discuss both theoretical and experimental results regarding SBS process parameters such as solvents, dissolution methods, feed rate, viscosity, air pressure and velocity, and nozzle design. Morphological features and mechanical properties of PVDF-based nanofibers were also discussed and important applications have been presented. For completeness, key findings from electrospinning were also included. At the end, some insights are given to better direct the efforts in the field of PVDF-based PEMs using SBS technique.


Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of HC Blue No. 1 (97% pure), a semipermanent hair dye, were conducted by administering the test chemical in feed for 103 weeks to groups of 50 F344/N rats and 50 B6C3F1 mice of each sex. The dietary concentrations used were 0, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm for rats and male mice and 0, 3,000, or 6,000 ppm for female mice. These concentrations were selected on the basis of results from single-administration gavage studies and 14-day and 13-week feed studies. The survival of male and female rats and male mice was not affected by administration of HC Blue No. 1. Survival of high dose female mice was reduced (P<0.05); the early deaths in this group are believed to have been caused by hepatocellular carcinomas. Body weights of high dose rats and dosed mice were lower than those of the respective control groups; female rats and mice were more affected than were males. Administration of HC Blue No. 1 produced significant positive trends in the incidences of male rats with hepatocellular neoplastic nodules/carcinomas (neoplastic nodules: control, 0/49; low dose, 0/50; high dose, 3/50; neoplastic nodules/carcinomas: 1/49; 0/50; 6/50). In male and female mice, both doses of HC Blue No. 1 increased the incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma (male: 11/50; 20/50; 30/50; female: 1/50; 24/48; 47/49) and the low doses increased the incidences of hepatocellular adenomas (male: 4/50; 17/50; 10/50; female: 2/50; 11/48; 4/49). HC Blue No. 1 produced dose-related increases in the incidences of proliferative lesions of the lungs (adenomatous hyperplasia and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas or carcinomas) in female rats (hyperplasia: 2/50; 5/49; 8/50; adenoma/carcinoma: 1/50; 3/49; 7/50). In male mice, HC Blue No. 1 at the 6,000-ppm dose increased the incidences of thyroid gland follicular cell hyperplasia and adenomas (hyperplasia: 3/47; 7/49; 14/50; adenoma: 0/47; 0/49; 5/50). HC Blue No. 1 was mutagenic in strains TA97, TA98, and TA100 of Salmonella typhimurium in the presence or absence of Aroclor-induced male Sprague-Dawley rat or Syrian hamster liver S9; HC Blue No. 1 was negative in strain TA1535. HC Blue No. 1 was mutagenic in the absence of activation in the L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma assay and induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes in vitro. An audit of the experimental data was conducted for these carcinogenesis studies on HC Blue No. 1. No data discrepancies were found that influenced the final interpretations. Under the conditions of these feed studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity in male F344/N rats, since HC Blue No. 1 caused a marginal increase in the incidence of hepatocellular neoplastic nodules/carcinomas. For female F344/N rats, there was some evidence of carcinogenicity in that HC Blue No. 1 induced increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms. There was clear evidence of carcinogenicity of HC Blue No. 1 for male and female B6C3F1 mice as shown by increased incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas. The incidences of follicular cell adenomas of the thyroid gland were also increased in male mice receiving HC Blue No. 1. Synonym: 2,2'((4-(methylamino)-3-nitrophenyl)imino)bis (ethanol)


The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) using metabarcoding has increased in use as a method for tracking biodiversity of ecosystems. Little is known about eDNA in marine human-modified environments, such as commercial ports, which are key sites to monitor for anthropogenic impacts on coastal ecosystems. To optimise an eDNA metabarcoding protocol in these environments, seawater samples were collected in a commercial port and methodologies for concentrating and purifying eDNA were tested for their effect on eukaryotic DNA yield and subsequent richness of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). Different filter materials [Cellulose Nitrate (CN) and Glass Fibre (GF)], with different pore sizes (0.5 µm, 0.7 µm and 1.2 µm) and three previously published liquid phase extraction methods were tested. The number of eukaryotic OTUs detected differed by a factor of three amongst the method combinations. The combination of CN filters with phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol extractions recovered a higher amount of eukaryotic DNA and OTUs compared to GF filters and the chloroform-isoamyl alcohol extraction method. Pore size was not independent of filter material but did affect the yield of eukaryotic DNA. For the OTUs assigned to a highly successful non-indigenous species, Styelaclava, the two extraction methods with phenol significantly outperformed the extraction method without phenol; other experimental treatments did not contribute significantly to detection. These results highlight that careful consideration of methods is warranted because choice of filter material and extraction method create false negative detections of marine eukaryotic OTUs and underestimate taxonomic richness from environmental samples.


Passive fluid mounts are commonly used in the automotive and aerospace applications to isolate the cabin from the engine noise and vibration. Due to manufacturing and material variabilities, no two identical fluid mount designs act the same. So, fluid mounts are tuned one by one before it is shipped out to customers. In some cases, for a batch of fluid mounts manufactured at the same time, one is tuned and the rest is set to the same settings. In some cases they are shipped as is with its notch frequency not being in its most optimum location. Since none of the passive fluid mount parameters are controllable, the only way to tune the mount is to redesign the mount by changing fluid, changing inertia track length or diameter, or changing rubber stiffness. This trial and error manufacturing process is very costly. To reduce the fluid mount notch frequency tuning cycle time, a new fluid mount design is proposed. In this new fluid mount design, the notch frequency can be easily modified without the need for any redesigns. In this paper, the new design concept, and its mathematical model and simulation results will be presented.


The paper examines the association between HIV testing and the current use of modern family planning method in Uganda. Cross-sectional data on 5,243 sexually active and non-ammenorrheic women and 1,569 sexually experienced men, obtained from the 2,011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey data were used. The results show that although HIV testing was high (80.7% of women and 61.4% of men), use of modern family planning method was low (27.7% of women and 16% of men) and varies by HIV testing status. More women (30%) than men (19.1%) who have ever tested for HIV were using a modern method of family planning (p= .0001). The unadjusted results show that women and men who have ever tested for HIV were 1.88 (p= .0001) and 1.87 (p= .0001) times respectively significantly more likely to be currently using a modern family planning method. However, the adjusted effect of HIV testing on current use of modern family planning method reduced to 1.30 (p .001) times for women and 1.37 (p>0.05) times for men after controlling for the effects of other explanatory variables. We conclude that despite the high rates of HIV testing, current use of modern family planning method is low for both genders in this population. This suggests a high risk of sexual and MTCT of HIV. We recommend the integration of family planning in HIV testing to increase uptake of modern family planning.


This study analyzes the real impact of enterprise credit and household credit separately on economic growth for a selected group of 36 developed and developing countries. Since most of the available literature on growth and finance show contrast in the economic theory and does not distinguish between the household credit and enterprise credit when it measures the relationship between credit growth and economic growth respectively. The unbalanced panel data for the group of 36 countries is used over the period 2000–2016. The empirical results show that by using the full sample, enterprise credit is positively associated with economic growth but household credit tends to hamper the economic growth. However, individual analysis of developed and developing countries shows that the financial sector provide considerable growth to support its role in terms of credit to enterprise in developing countries. In contrast, the enterprise credit seems to have no role in promoting economic growth of the developed economies, which may be due to their financial crisis. However, investment is quite significant for both developed and developing countries, which indicate that investment has the potential to accelerate economic growth. The evidence also suggest that a more sophisticated enterprise credit policy should be designed in both developed and developing countries to promote economic growth in the long-run.


We compare the survival of new domestic and foreign owned firms. We analyze the determinants of the survival of new firms and investigate whether foreigness accounts for significant differences in the survival of new foreign and new domestic firms. We find survival to be determined by ownership advantages, size and growth strategies, the internal organization of firms, and by industry characteristics such as economies of scale, and industry entry and growth. After controlling for these characteristics, we find that domestic and foreign firms do not exhibit different chances of survival, that they respond in similar fashions to the determinants of survival and display identical time patterns of exit.


Abstract The aim of the study is to discursively identify student teachers' perceptions of the teaching profession early in their education and their motives for this career choice. Students wrote a letter sharing thoughts on why they want to become a teacher, how they regard the teaching profession and if someone inspired them in their career choice. The empirical data consists of 259 student texts from three Swedish teacher education programmes. The study employed a qualitative method denoting different categorizations compared to previous studies, emphasising the idea of multiple motives for career choice and the link to student teachers' evolving pedagogical identity. Major differences can be distinguished among the programmes, emphasising different main motives and shifting incipient pedagogic identities. The results indicate the value of organising teacher education programmes drawing on multiple motives, which is expected to contribute positively to completion of teacher education and teacher retention in future profession.


The use of insect-proof screens as a method of control is widespread. These agrotextiles act as physical barriers preventing the contact between insects and plants. Their effectiveness as a method of crop protection has been sufficiently demonstrated. The use of insect-proof screens reduces pest populations, decreases the incidence of insect-transmitted diseases and as a result it reduces the need to apply pesticides. There is a wide variety of screens with different properties on the market. Some of these agrotextiles are known commercially like anti-aphids or anti-thrips screens although their efficacy is not proven. During the last decades different studies have evaluated the efficacy of insect exclusion screens both under laboratory and in field conditions against various pests. The results of these works offer constant values that represent the relationship between insects and fabrics. However, that relationship is not a constant and depends on other variables in addition to the properties of the textile and the characteristics of the insect. The velocity and air temperature also influence the relationship between screen and insect and modify the exclusion capacity of the protection screens. To take into account these variables, we have built a device to evaluate the effectiveness of the screens under laboratory conditions. With this device we can measure the capacity of exclusion of the screens at different air velocities and we can interpret the data according to the measured temperature values. The results show that the efficacy of the screens varies when the conditions change and, in general, the exclusion percentage of the screens decreases when air velocity increases. The temperature is also an influential variable on the efficacy of these textiles and it has been observed that if the temperature decreases the effectiveness of the screens increases due to the lower activity of insects.


This paper presents a multiscale computational homogenisation of the coupled hygro- mechanical analysis of the fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs). This is ongoing research work for the development of a computational framework to predict the long-term durability of these materials for use in the construction industry. Textile or woven composites, in which interlaced fibres are used as reinforcement, is a class of FRPs which provides full flexibility of design and functionality due to the mature textile manufacturing industry and is commonly used in many engineering applications, including ships, aircrafts, automobiles, civil structures and prosthetics [1]. During their service life textile composites are exposed to different hygrothermal environmental conditions in addition to mechanical loading, which leads to matrix plasticisation and degradation of fibres/matrix interfaces [2]. Therefore, understanding of moisture transport mechanisms and their effect on the mechanical performance of these materials are vital for predicting their long-term durability.The heterogeneous microstructure of textile composites requires a detailed multiscale computational homogenisation. The use of multiscale computational homogenisation results in the macroscopic constitutive behaviour of the structures based on its microscopically heterogeneous representative volume element (RVE). A plain weave textile composite RVE is considered in this case, consisting of matrix and yarns embedded in the matrix. These yarns are modeled with elliptical cross section and cubic spline paths. An automated parameterised RVE geometry along with material properties, boundary conditions and meshes are generated in CUBIT with Python scrip, which allows rapid generation of different types of composites.The multiscale computational homogenisation framework is implemented in our group's FE software, MoFEM (Mesh Oriented Finite Element Method). A unified approach is used to impose the RVE boundary conditions, which allows convenient switching between displacement, traction and periodic boundary conditions [3]. The effect of moisture concentration on Young's modulus and moisture induced swelling are considered in the model. The final resultant nonlinear discretised system of equations is solved using the Newton–Raphson method. Matrix and yarns are considered as isotropic and transversely isotropic materials respectively. The required principal directions of the yarns for the transversely isotropic material model are calculated from a computationally inexpensive potential flow analysis along these yarns. Furthermore, the computational framework utilises the flexibility of hierarchic basis functions [2], which permits the use of arbitrary orders of approximation leading to very accurate results for relatively coarse meshes. Convergence studies based on hierarchical finite element analysis is also performed to show the effectiveness of the developed approach. The developed code is based on distributed memory parallel programming and is tested on high performance computer facilities. The implementation and performance of the developed computational tool are demonstrated with numerical examples.


The spectral and energy characteristics of a compact krypton glow-discharge lamp used as the ionization source in analytical devices have been investigated. The emission spectrum of the lamp in the 115–200 nm VUV region has been studied, the flux of VUV emission has been measured, and data concerning the intensity ratio of the 116.49 and 123.58 nm resonance lines of krypton emitted by the lamp have been obtained.


Specification of some cell fates in the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo is mediated by cytoplasmic localization under control of the maternal genome. Using nine newly isolated mutations, and two existing mutations, we have analyzed the role of the maternally expressed gene par-4 in cytoplasmic localization. We recovered seven new par-4 alleles in screens for maternal effect lethal mutations that result in failure to differentiate intestinal cells. Two additional par-4 mutations were identified in noncomplementation screens using strains with a high frequency of transposon mobility. All 11 mutations cause defects early in development of embryos produced by homozygous mutant mothers. Analysis with a deficiency in the region indicates that it33 is a strong loss-of-function mutation. par-4(it33) terminal stage embryos contain many cells, but show no morphogenesis, and are lacking intestinal cells. Temperature shifts with the it57ts allele suggest that the critical period for both intestinal differentiation and embryo viability begins during oogenesis, about 1.5 hr before fertilization, and ends before the four-cell stage. We propose that the primary function of the par-4 gene is to act as part of a maternally encoded system for cytoplasmic localization in the first cell cycle, with par-4 playing a particularly important role in the determination of intestine. Analysis of a par-4; par-2 double mutant suggests that par-4 and par-2 gene products interact in this system.


This thesis attempts to develop a framework for innovation in small and medium businesses which if successfully implemented should allow the business to grow and develop. This framework was developed during the author's tenure as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate at к с Engineering Ltd. Background information on innovation and its inputs and outputs is reviewed in order to gain a better understanding of what is involved in the innovation process. Firstly the role of innovation in economic growth is reviewed, then the small and medium business particularly in the North East of England is examined in order to gain an improved understanding of the constraints within which к с Engineering was operating. A framework for innovation is then proposed, this develops a guide which if used by the small or medium business, should facilitate structured and focused innovation activities which will add value to the business. The requirements of leadership and organisational structure are then discussed. Final conclusions are then drawn and recommendations for further work are made.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is an effective procedure for patients with high-risk disease, but positive margin rates need to be improved. In this video we describe our technique of super-extended RARP in patients with posterior T3a or T3b prostate cancer at multiparametric MRI, which increases the oncological safety margin. METHODS: Two cases are presented, using the Da Vinci Xi robotic system at a tertiary care referral Center. The first is a 68-year-old man with PSA of 17 ng/ml, cT3 on the right side at digital rectal examination (DRE), an MRI showing PIRADS 5 in the right seminal vesicle where there was a Gleason 4+5 at biopsy. Gleason 4+3 was present throughout the right side of the prostate. A super-extended RARP with unilateral right Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF) resection and extended lymph node dissection was performed. The second case is a 73-year-old man with PSA of 38 ng/ml, bilateral cT3 on DRE, an MRI showing PI-RADS 5 lesions in both seminal vesicles where there was a Gleason 5+3 at biopsy. A super-extended RARP with bilateral DVF resection and extended lymph node dissection was performed. After identification and isolation of the vas deferens behind the prostate, the peritoneum of the rectovesical pouch was opened, allowing us to perform an extrafascial prostatectomy, where DVF and some perirectal fat are dissected free so that they remain on the posterior surface of the seminal vesicles. The dissection is carried forwards to the anterior face of the rectum, continually pushing the perirectal fat and DVF upwards with the specimen. Thereafter, an extrafascial dissection is subsequently carried out laterally to the levator ani fascia. In the unilateral DVF resection, the seminal vesicle on the side without tumour burden was released in a standard fashion leaving DVF attached to the rectum. RESULTS: For the first case (unilateral DVF resection), final pathology showed Gleason 4+3, pT3bN0R0. 28 nodes were excised. The second case (bilateral DVF resection) demonstrated Gleason 4+4, pT3bN1R0, with 1 out of 41 positive node. Total operative time was 150 and 200 min for the unilateral and bilateral DVF resection, respectively. The length of stay was 3 days for both procedures. The estimated blood loss was 150 and 200 ml for the first and second cases, respectively. The post-operative periods were uneventful, and the bladder catheter was removed on POD day 2 in both cases CONCLUSIONS: Super-extended RARP is feasible in patients with posterior T3a or T3b prostate cancer. Long-term follow up data is needed to demonstrate that it is associate with improved oncological outcomes Source of Funding: None


Canons of statutory interpretation are sometimes said to promote continuity and stability in the law. Yet it is widely acknowledged that canons themselves often change. The presumption against extraterritoriality is a prime example. It evolved from a rule based on international law, to a canon of comity, to a tool for finding legislative intent. The presumption then fell into disuse for nearly forty years until it was reborn in EEOC v. Arabian American Oil Co. (Aramco) and substantially revised in Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd.
This Article makes three contributions. First, it describes the evolution of the presumption against extraterritoriality over two centuries, providing a detailed account of change in an important canon of interpretation. Second, the Article describes the new, post-2010 presumption, arguing — contrary to the conventional wisdom — that the current version of the presumption is superior to previous ones. Third, the Article addresses the problem of changing canons. It argues changing canons constitute a form of dynamic statutory interpretation, which imposes certain responsibilities: to justify the changed canon in normative terms, to explain the need for change, and to mitigate the transition costs.


The results of the research described above were obtained on a representative sample of Croatian youth from 15 - 24 years of age in the second half of 2002. The research was carried out in the context of a regional research project on youth under the auspices of the PRONI institute from Sweden. The main objective of the project was to provide empirical data on life, needs, attitudes and aspirations of young people as a means of assisting the process of youth policy review. The process was initiated by the Council of Europe with a view to strengthen youth participation in democratic changes of the countries in the region. This report is the most recent one in a long and well-established tradition of studying youth issues in Croatia. Therefore, it often includes comments and references to earlier research findings for the purpose of determining the changes in youth trends, as well as for the purpose of validity testing of the present data. On the other side, the data presented in this report may, together with earlier studies, be used as a reference point in the process of reviewing the National Program of Action for Youth, as well as in developing a comprehensive, efficient and youth - centred national youth policy. The core of the findings is probably that the criteria for the determining the upper - age level of youth period should be reviewed and extended to include those who are 30 years of age. The fact that more and more young people remain longer in education, that they decide to marry and have children later in their life, that they consider changing their job, and probably, if possible, enrol in re-training programmes for that purpose, as well as they desire to reach full independence by relying to their own abilities and endeavour, speaks in favour of the need to redesign our traditional approaches to the youth upper-age limits. Overall examination of the above results may be seen as an indicator of a process of relative homogenisation of young people in today's Croatia - certainly, within the issues here examined and at the present level of analysis. There is no doubt that young people here described have many characteristic in common, especially in reference to their marital status, family pattern, housing conditions, parent's educational background, attitudes towards present and future life, professional and educational aspirations, desired accommodation, sources of information, satisfaction with free time, positive feelings about themselves, feelings of security in relation to their parents and friends, as well as in reference to their abuse of psychoactive substances. They also share their desire for autonomy and independence, and for the recognition by the society at large, as well as their dreams of a more just society in which life opportunities would match individual abilities and endeavour. When they differ, it is mostly due to their varied socio - professional status and age. Residential status, father's educational background, gender, and regional background are less important. The tendencies that have been documented suggest that youth are divided primarily by their actual social status and stage of attained maturity, and only secondarily by socialization factors, such as social origin in a narrow and broad sense of the term, and a gender socialization patterns. However, further analysis of data should disclose youth dominating trends with more accuracy.


Summary
Chestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitica is a serious disease of Castanea sativa in the Black Sea region of Turkey. During disease surveys, dieback and decline symptoms were observed on trees without apparent blight and ink disease symptoms. Black necroses, similar to those caused by Phytophthora infections, were noted on some of the chestnut coppices and saplings in one nursery in Ordu and led to an investigation into this disease complex. Only symptomatic plants showing dieback symptoms were investigated. Soil samples together with fine roots were collected from two directions, north and north-east, approximately 150 cm away from the main stems. Phytophthora spp. were baited with young chestnut leaves. Three Phytophthora spp., P. cambivora, P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora, were identified from 12 soil samples collected from 73 locations, while from the nurseries, only P. cinnamomi was obtained. Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most common species, obtained from seven locations in five provinces and from four nurseries having similar symptoms mentioned above in different locations. Phytophthora cambivora and P. plurivora were less frequently obtained, from three to two stands, respectively. Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. cambivora were the most aggressive species when inoculated at the stem base on 3-year-old chestnut saplings, killing six saplings of eight inoculated in 2 months. The three Phytophthora species were first recorded on chestnut in Black sea region of Turkey with the limited samples investigated in a large area about 150 000 ha chestnut forest.


The use of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (GFRTP) is expected to contribute to weight reduction of automobiles. Traditional injection molding used for GFRTP can mold complex shapes. Because of the limitation of the fiber length and the unevenness of fiber distribution and orientation of molded products, however, injection molding is not suitable for the production of structural parts that require high mechanical properties. Although the thermoplastic composite laminates that use continuous fibers for reinforcement have excellent mechanical properties, it is difficult to mold complex shaped products such as ribs and bosses because of the limitation in formability of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Recently, to mold FRTP with excellent strength and stiffness that has complex shaped products with ribs and bosses, the hybrid molding process has been developed by combining press molding and injection molding. However, as its fracture occurs at the interface between the thermoplastic composite laminates and the rib, the interfacial strength should be improved. In this study, glass fiberreinforced polypropylene composites were molded by press and injection hybrid molding under different preheating temperatures of the thermoplastic composite laminates. The tensile tests using T-shaped specimens cut out from the molded products were performed to clarify the effect of the preheating temperature on the interfacial tensile strength. Higher interfacial tensile strength was obtained when the thermoplastic composite laminates were heated at high preheating temperature.


The historic City of Coral Gables was designed and developed starting
from 1921 as a full-fledged new town, following the dreams and vision
of its founder George Merrick. Since the very beginning the development was conceived not as a mere residential suburb but as a functionally integrated garden city. The large-scale plan reveals the influences of
the City Beautiful Movement (use of the geometric pattern, the rigorous
grid that orders the functional parts of the system, and the use of the
diagonals) and the Park Movement and Garden City principles (progressive opening up of the urban structure to accommodate the green
public spaces, the canals, the curving street), which guided the harmonious design and planning of the residential suburbs, business and craft
sections, public spaces and venues, "entrances" at the main access to
the city from Miami, "plazas" at the principal boulevard intersections,
public buildings such as schools, churches, the city hall, hotels, and the
University. Today's cityscape is almost unchanged in its essential features, in its architectural components of Mediterranean inspired style, as
well as in the urban relationships between the various historic elements
originally designed by George E. Merrick. If this is true especially for
the residential areas of the first section, built architectural elements such
as gates and squares, the scale ratio between the new buildings and the
few remaining historical fabric in the downtown area may not be fully
adjusted. The investigation of the current preservation policies and tools
has revealed that state and local laws have been effectively enforced by
the Local Administration and suggests to design the implementation of a
database, built on the Florida Master Site File, to support policy decision
making, management and research.


Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa with a population of over four million, has nine languages and a mother tongue education policy for its elementary schools. This paper investigates the impact of the policy on the design and implementation of elementary education in this developing country, and on the dissemination of information to pupils. A survey was conducted of fifty-eight interviewees drawn from the nine ethnic groups: the heads of the language panels in the National Department of Curriculum; elementary school teachers, trainee teachers, school directors; and parents. The research reveals the issues a multilingual society with minority ethnic groups faces in opting for mother tongue education at elementary level. There are not enough qualified and experienced educators to prepare the curriculum, and there are the challenges of translating and of turning spoken into written language. There is a lack of literature other than textbooks to refer to, and there are virtually no libraries in elementary schools. However, when elementary pupils learn and read through the medium of their first language it grounds their education in the real world. The curriculum is also an important tool in preserving, using and developing the languages of Eritrea.


A general method is given for constructing countably generated modules with a number of bizarre properties over any commutative Artinian ring which is not a principal ideal ring. The main result shows that if R is a commutative local Artinian ring which is not a principal ideal ring, and the residue class field of R is k, then any pathological property that holds for some k[t] -module also holds for a suitable l?-module. This method gives easy and uniform proofs of many known results (and some new ones) concerning modules over these rings. A theorem of A. L. S Corner's, concerning countable endomorphism rings of torsion-free Abelian groups, is generalized to algebras over suitable discrete valuation rings, and applied to obtain further pathological results for modules over Artinian rings.


The article begins by showing the differential impact of slum clearance on regions, conurbations and major cities through the three decades of the slum clearance campaign which began in 1955. It discusses the main methods of clearance procedure, the nature of compensation and the relation of clearance to 'unfit' housing. House condition surveys revealed an increasing mismatch between patterns of unfit housing and those of slum clearance and this began, it is argued, in the 1960s. Factors such as the development of property markets, and the rise of owner occupation, had differential economic and political effects which in turn reacted on the incidence of clearance.


This open educational resource (OER) was developed to ensure best practice and quality care based on the latest evidence, and to address inconsistencies in how clinical health care skills are taught and practised in the clinical setting. The checklist approach, used in this textbook, aims to provide standardized processes for clinical skills and to help nursing schools and clinical practice partners keep procedural practice current. Each skill/procedure is covered in a chapter that has learning objectives, a brief overview of the relevant theory, checklists of steps for procedures with the rationale behind each step of the process, and a summary of key takeaways. Key terms are set in bold throughout the book and laid out again in a Glossary in the appendix. All 88 checklists are also summarized, and hyperlinked to the original checklist, in the appendix.


We present and compare definitions of "statistically hiding" protocols, and we propose a novel statistically hiding commitment scheme. Informally, a protocol statistically hides a secret if a computationally unlimited adversary who conducts the protocol with the owner of the secret learns almost nothing about it. One definition is based on the L/sub 1/-norm distance between probability distributions, the other on information theory. We prove that the two definitions are essentially equivalent. We also show that statistical counterparts of definitions of computational secrecy are essentially equivalent to our main definitions. Commitment schemes are an important cryptologic primitive. Their purpose is to commit one party to a certain value, while hiding this value from the other party until some later time. We present a statistically hiding commitment scheme allowing commitment to many bits. The commitment and reveal protocols of this scheme are constant-round, and the size of a commitment is independent of the number of bits committed to. This also holds for the total communication complexity, except of course for the bits needed to send the secret when it is revealed. The proof of the hiding property exploits the equivalence of the two definitions.


Problem. Within a context of inadequate pre-service training, insufficient administrative support, and an ambivalent social environment regarding the teaching of ESL in Puerto Rico, a number of conscientious bilingual teachers try to overcome the odds of the system and have an impact on students' ability to speak English. Some even become exemplary teachers. How do they learn to meet so many expectations successfully in spite of real short comings found in their job, and how do they acquire the skills and competencies necessary to be exemplary bilingual teachers in Puerto Rico? Method. A qualitative multiple-case study design was used for this research. Two elementary and two intermediate bilingual teachers were observed and interviewed during the course of one school year. Their training, classroom practices, and life experiences are described in narrative form. Results. All four teachers were found to have exemplary practice, according to NABE (1992) and the Puerto Rican Teachers Association (1976) standards, in spite of insufficient pre-service training in their area of specialization and inadequate administrative support. Further analysis of similarities and differences in the teachers' experiences led to the emergence of themes such as their moral sensibility and sense of calling to the teaching vocation that made them search for ways to make up for their limitations in terms of training and administrative support. Each of the four had substantiated learning experiences in the United States. While the local communities appeared to support bilingual education, the larger context of bilingual education in Puerto Rico is not supported by a unified national agenda. Conclusions. The teachers in this study continue their personal and professional growth because they embrace it as a personal mission and as a moral act. Their life experiences strongly influence their ability to provide exemplary education to Puerto Ricans.


Grade inflation and high grade levels have been subjects of concern and public debate in recent decades. In the mid-1990s, Cornell University's Faculty Senate had a number of discussions about grade inflation and what might be done about it. In April 1996, the Faculty Senate voted to adopt a new grade reporting policy which had two parts: 1) the publication of course median grades on the Internet; and 2) the reporting of course median grades in students' transcripts. The policy change followed the determination of a university committee that "it is desirable for Cornell University to provide more information to the reader of a transcript and produce more meaningful letter grades." It was hoped that "More accurate recognition of performance may encourage students to take courses in which the median grade is relatively low." The median grade policy has remained to date only partially implemented: median grades have been reported online since 1998 but do not yet appear in transcripts. We evaluate the effect of the implemented policy on patterns of course choice and grade inflation. Specifically, we test two related hypotheses: First, all else being equal, the availability of online grade information will lead to increased enrollment into leniently graded courses. Second, high-ability students will be less attracted to the leniently graded courses than their peers. Building on these results we perform an exercise that identifies the extent to which the change in student behavior resulted in an increase in the university-wide mean grade.


The organic nonlinear optical crystal, 3-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide (POM), exhibits a negative-linear-compressibility (NLC) region as well as exceptionally large positive thermal expansion. High-pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements have revealed an anomalous reversal of NLC at 0.12 GPa, induced by the collapse of the CH...O bonded supramolecular framework and subtle rotations of the nitro group. The initial compression of the weak supramolecular network in the molecular POM crystal is analogous to the hydrostatic responses of the framework crystals with much stronger cohesion forces. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that both the subtle conformational distortions and the crystal compression modify the second-harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of POM.


Recent advances in language modeling using recurrent neural networks have made it viable to model language as distributions over characters. By learning to predict the next character on the basis of previous characters, such models have been shown to automatically internalize linguistic concepts such as words, sentences, subclauses and even sentiment. In this paper, we propose to leverage the internal states of a trained character language model to produce a novel type of word embedding which we refer to as contextual string embeddings. Our proposed embeddings have the distinct properties that they (a) are trained without any explicit notion of words and thus fundamentally model words as sequences of characters, and (b) are contextualized by their surrounding text, meaning that the same word will have different embeddings depending on its contextual use. We conduct a comparative evaluation against previous embeddings and find that our embeddings are highly useful for downstream tasks: across four classic sequence labeling tasks we consistently outperform the previous state-of-the-art. In particular, we significantly outperform previous work on English and German named entity recognition (NER), allowing us to report new state-of-the-art F1-scores on the CoNLL03 shared task. We release all code and pre-trained language models in a simple-to-use framework to the research community, to enable reproduction of these experiments and application of our proposed embeddings to other tasks: https://github.com/zalandoresearch/flair


Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is an inherited disorder of erythrocyte shape associated with spectrin deficiency and hemolytic anemia. In a subset of patients with the autosomal dominant form of HS, spectrin displays a reduced capacity to bind protein 4.1 and, therefore, actin; both functions that are critical to the membrane skeleton. A specific structural defect has not been identified in the spectrin from these patients. Chymotryptic digestion of the isolated spectrin chains shows impaired cleavage of the distal peptide of the beta subunit, the beta IV domain. In previous work, we have shown that mild oxidation markedly diminishes the binding capacity of normal spectrin for protein 4.1. Here we observe that chemical reduction of freshly isolated, untreated HS spectrin dramatically improves its function. Thus, a primary structural defect in the beta subunit of spectrin in this subtype of HS may lead to oxidant sensitivity, and secondarily, to a functional defect in the binding of spectrin to protein 4.1 and actin.


Under the TRIPS agreement, WTO members are required to enforce product patents for pharmaceuticals. The debate about the merits of this requirement has been and continues to be extremely contentious. Many poor developing economies claim that patent protection for pharmaceuticals will result in substantially higher prices for medicines, with adverse consequences for the health and well-being of their citizens. On the other hand, research-based global pharmaceutical companies, which claim to have lost billions of dollars because of patent infringement, argue that prices are unlikely to rise significantly because most patented products have therapeutic substitutes. In this paper we empirically investigate the basis of these claims. Central to the ongoing debate is the structure of demand for pharmaceuticals in poor economies where, because health insurance coverage is so rare, almost all medical expenses are met out-of-pocket. Using a product-level data set from India, which is unique in terms of its detail and coverage, we estimate key price and expenditure elasticities and supply-side parameters for the fluoroquinolones subsegment of the systemic anti-bacterials (i.e., antibiotics) segment of the Indian pharmaceuticals market. We then use these estimates to carry out counterfactual simulations of what prices, profits (of both domestic firms and multinational subsidiaries) and consumer welfare would have been, had the fluoroquinolone molecules we study been under patent in India as they were in the U.S. at the time. Our results suggest that concerns about the potential adverse welfare effects of TRIPS may have some basis. We estimate that in the absence of any price regulation or compulsory licensing the total annual welfare losses to the Indian economy from the withdrawal of the four domestic product groups in the fluoroquinolone sub-segment would be on the order of U.S. $713 million, or about 118% of the sales of the entire systemic anti-bacterials segment in 2000. Of this amount, foregone profits of domestic producers constitute roughly $50 million (or 7%). The overwhelming portion of the total welfare loss therefore derives from the loss of consumer welfare. In contrast, the profit gains to foreign producers are estimated to be only around $57 million per year. Shubham Chaudhuri Department of Economics Columbia University firstname.lastname@example.com Pinelopi K. Goldberg Department of Economics Yale University 37 Hillhouse Avenue P.O. Box 208264 New Haven, CT 06520-8264 and NBER email@example.com Panle Jia Department of Economics Yale University firstname.lastname@example.com


This thesis examines the underlying components that affect consumer behavior regarding organic food. The thesis theoretical framework is based on Ajzen and Fishbein's The Theory of Reasoned Action combined with theories regarding involvement and routine purchases. The empirical material is based on a desk research with 19 research papers between the years 1994 till 2009 and sales statistics over organic food. The thesis conclusion shows that the underlying components when looking at attitude towards conventional food are price, taste, expiration-date and healthfulness. While the components for involvement in organic food is the environment, personal health and supply. Supply, price and routine purchases are the main obstacles for buying organic food as well as the fact that the criteria's for organic food are subordinated the criteria's for conventional food.


Since the mid nineties, with the development of online access to information (journals, databases, e-books), libraries strengthened their cooperation. They set up consortia at different levels around the world, generally with the support of the public authorities, for negotiating collectively with the publishers and information providers general agreements for access to these resources. This cooperation has been reinforced at the international level with the exchange of experiences and the debates in the ICOLC seminars and statements. So did the French consortium Couperin, which is now gathering more than 200 academic and research institutions. The level of access and downloading from these resources is growing with geometrical progression, and reaches a scale with no comparison to ILL or access to printed documents, but the costs did not reduce and the libraries budgets did not increase. At first, agreements with the major journal publishers were based on cross-access, and evolved rapidly to the access at a large bundle of titles in the so-called Big deal. After experiencing the advantages of the Big deal, the libraries are now more sensitive to the limits and lack of flexibility and to cost-effectiveness. These Big deals were based on a model where online access fee is built on the cost of print subscriptions, and the problem for the consortia and for the publishers is now to evolve from this print plus online model to an e-only model, no more based on the historical amount of the print subscriptions, to a new deal. In many European countries, VAT legislation is an obstacle to e-only, and this problem must be discussed at the European level. This change to e-only takes place at a moment where changes in the scientific publishing world are important (mergers of publishing houses, growth of research and of scientific publishing in the developing countries, open access and open archives movement). The transition to e-only leads also the library consortia to deal with issues as preservation of print and electronic materials and perennial access to information.


We are leveraging the power of GIS-based transportation network analysis to provide tools for public policy analysts to understand the environmental impact trade-offs of intermodal transportation networks that integrate truck, rail, and inter-coastal waterway modes of transportation. We will describe the environmental policy analysis problem, the intermodal network model, and the creation of environmental network attributes and custom attribute evaluators. We will describe what drove our choice to use C# and the Microsoft .NET framework to design and develop evaluators that access external data from relational databases and that have their own evaluator configuration user interfaces. We will conclude with a description of possible next steps, including evaluator access of environmental data from external web services, a way for policy analysts to create new attributes and custom evaluators without any programming skills, and porting the desktop-based system to a web and server-based system for broad deployment.


The Money Doctor in the Andes is an account of the technical assistance missions to five Andean republics-Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru-undertaken by Princeton University economist Edwin Walter Kemmerer during the 1920s. Drake demonstrates that in each case the Kemmerer mission recommended an identical series of monetary, fiscal, and banking reforms, adding occasional recommendations on everything from administrative reorganization to penal code reform as local circumstances seemed to warrant. In each case, too, local legislatures adopted all the main Kemmerer proposals virtually without debate or modifications. Drake links the Kemmerer missions to vital developments in the political economic history of the Andean republics in the interwar period. He analyzes the domestic interest groups and political forces whose convergent strategies gave the Kemmerer missions their remarkable record in achieving local success for the reforms proposed. Second, Drake situates the Kemmerer missions at the center of a process of political modernization that created new institutions and policy agencies in each of the five countries; the missions thereby contributed to the expansion of the central government as an agent of development in ways that later differed sharply from Kemmerer's orthodox policies. Finally, The Money Doctor in the Andes regards developments in the Andean countries in the context of the region's developing economic ties to the United States. Expectations that Kemmerer's plans would simultaneously attract foreign capital and control inflation drew support from sectors as diverse as trade unions and landowners. When the Depression deepened, Kemmerer's policies proved counterproductive and the fragile consensus that had installed them fell apart, but the political and administrative reforms endured-with far-reaching consequences.


Contrastive language image pretraining (CLIP) encoders have been shown to be beneficial for a range of visual tasks from classification and detection to captioning and image manipulation. We investigate the effectiveness of CLIP visual backbones for Embodied AI tasks. We build incredibly simple baselines, named EmbCLIP, with no task specific architectures, inductive biases (such as the use of semantic maps), auxiliary tasks during training, or depth maps-yet we find that our improved baselines perform very well across a range of tasks and simulators. EmbCLIP tops the RoboTHOR ObjectNav leader-board by a huge margin of 20 pts (Success Rate). It tops the iTHOR 1-Phase Rearrangement leaderboard, beating the next best submission, which employs Active Neural Mapping, and more than doubling the % Fixed Strict metric (0.08 to 0.17). It also beats the winners of the 2021 Habitat ObjectNav Challenge, which employ auxiliary tasks, depth maps, and human demonstrations, and those of the 2019 Habitat PointNav Challenge. We evaluate the ability of CLIP's visual representations at capturing semantic information about input observations-primitives that are useful for navigation-heavy embodied tasks- and find that CLIP's representations encode these primitives more effectively than ImageNet-pretrained backbones. Finally, we extend one of our baselines, producing an agent capable of zero-shot object navigation that can navigate to objects that were not used as targets during training. Our code and models are available at https://github.com/allenai/embodied-clip.


BACKGROUND
Inadequate pain management after surgery increases the risk of postoperative complications and may predispose for chronic postsurgical pain. Perioperative ketamine may enhance conventional analgesics in the acute postoperative setting.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative intravenous ketamine in adult patients when used for the treatment or prevention of acute pain following general anaesthesia.

SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase to July 2018 and three trials registers (metaRegister of controlled trials, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP)) together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We sought randomised, double-blind, controlled trials of adults undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia and being treated with perioperative intravenous ketamine. Studies compared ketamine with placebo, or compared ketamine plus a basic analgesic, such as morphine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), with a basic analgesic alone.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors searched for studies, extracted efficacy and adverse event data, examined issues of study quality and potential bias, and performed analyses. Primary outcomes were opioid consumption and pain intensity at rest and during movement at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were time to first analgesic request, assessment of postoperative hyperalgesia, central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. We assessed the evidence using GRADE and created a 'Summary of findings' table.

MAIN RESULTS
We included 130 studies with 8341 participants. Ketamine was given to 4588 participants and 3753 participants served as controls. Types of surgery included ear, nose or throat surgery, wisdom tooth extraction, thoracotomy, lumbar fusion surgery, microdiscectomy, hip joint replacement surgery, knee joint replacement surgery, anterior cruciate ligament repair, knee arthroscopy, mastectomy, haemorrhoidectomy, abdominal surgery, radical prostatectomy, thyroid surgery, elective caesarean section, and laparoscopic surgery. Racemic ketamine bolus doses were predominantly 0.25 mg to 1 mg, and infusions 2 to 5 µg/kg/minute; 10 studies used only S-ketamine and one only R-ketamine. Risk of bias was generally low or uncertain, except for study size; most had fewer than 50 participants per treatment arm, resulting in high heterogeneity, as expected, for most analyses. We did not stratify the main analysis by type of surgery or any other factor, such as dose or timing of ketamine administration, and used a non-stratified analysis.Perioperative intravenous ketamine reduced postoperative opioid consumption over 24 hours by 8 mg morphine equivalents (95% CI 6 to 9; 19% from 42 mg consumed by participants given placebo, moderate-quality evidence; 65 studies, 4004 participants). Over 48 hours, opioid consumption was 13 mg lower (95% CI 10 to 15; 19% from 67 mg with placebo, moderate-quality evidence; 37 studies, 2449 participants).Perioperative intravenous ketamine reduced pain at rest at 24 hours by 5/100 mm on a visual analogue scale (95% CI 4 to 7; 19% lower from 26/100 mm with placebo, high-quality evidence; 82 studies, 5004 participants), and at 48 hours by 5/100 mm (95% CI 3 to 7; 22% lower from 23/100 mm, high-quality evidence; 49 studies, 2962 participants). Pain during movement was reduced at 24 hours (6/100 mm, 14% lower from 42/100 mm, moderate-quality evidence; 29 studies, 1806 participants), and 48 hours (6/100 mm, 16% lower from 37 mm, low-quality evidence; 23 studies, 1353 participants).Results for primary outcomes were consistent when analysed by pain at rest or on movement, operation type, and timing of administration, or sensitivity to study size and pain intensity. No analysis by dose was possible. There was no difference when nitrous oxide was used. We downgraded the quality of the evidence once if numbers of participants were large but small-study effects were present, or twice if numbers were small and small-study effects likely but testing not possible.Ketamine increased the time for the first postoperative analgesic request by 54 minutes (95% CI 37 to 71 minutes), from a mean of 39 minutes with placebo (moderate-quality evidence; 31 studies, 1678 participants). Ketamine reduced the area of postoperative hyperalgesia by 7 cm² (95% CI -11.9 to -2.2), compared with placebo (very low-quality evidence; 7 studies 333 participants). We downgraded the quality of evidence because of small-study effects or because the number of participants was below 400.CNS adverse events occurred in 52 studies, while 53 studies reported of absence of CNS adverse events. Overall, 187/3614 (5%) participants receiving ketamine and 122/2924 (4%) receiving control treatment experienced an adverse event (RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.4; high-quality evidence; 105 studies, 6538 participants). Ketamine reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting from 27% with placebo to 23% with ketamine (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.96; the number needed to treat to prevent one episode of postoperative nausea and vomiting with perioperative intravenous ketamine administration was 24 (95% CI 16 to 54; high-quality evidence; 95 studies, 5965 participants).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative intravenous ketamine probably reduces postoperative analgesic consumption and pain intensity. Results were consistent in different operation types or timing of ketamine administration, with larger and smaller studies, and by higher and lower pain intensity. CNS adverse events were little different with ketamine or control. Perioperative intravenous ketamine probably reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting by a small extent, of arguable clinical relevance.


In this paper, we present a cooperative MAC protocol called automatic relay cooperative MAC (ARC-MAC) for wireless Ad Hoc networks. ARC-MAC develops the 802.11 DCF to five handshakes, which is suitable for cooperative transmission. According to the channel condition, neighbors decide whether it is a relay by itself, and the relay helps the source transmitting packets with a definite probability. An analytical model is also presented to compute the throughput of the ARC-MAC, and the results show ARC-MAC can improve the system performance greatly.


One study from the University of Iowa found 93% of dental hygienists reported at least one musculoskeletal disorder in the past year, and they have one of the highest incidences of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Anton, 2002). To help prevent, or lessen, the number of these problems, better dental tool designs are needed. This study will explore a process for designing dental tools that considers better ergonomics, FDA and ADA guidelines, and the general design process. But first, several areas of dentistry must be studied, including anatomy, microbiology, and ergonomic problems. To develop a design process for reducing musculoskeletal disorders, one must first understand the need for dental tools. A study of dental microbiology helps with understanding the types of bacteria in the mouth, and the need for removal of the harmful ones. With research showing a direct link between plaque or oral bio-films in the mouth and the plaque that forms in the heart, dental tool design takes on a new importance. Dental anatomy studies will help the designer locate the crucial areas of hidden bacteria in the mouth. It will also show the need for improved dental tools to reach and debride these areas. After concluding the study of anatomy and microbiology, as well as the ergonomic problems facing dental personnel, this thesis will discuss a new approach to designing dental tools to better the dental industry. These tools will include hand, ultrasonic, handheld, and laser design. This tool design approach will suggest ways to aid the dental professional as well as the patient. This could also lead to improved home care product design.


The ITS region from a wide taxonomic range of nematodes, including secernentean and adenophorean taxa, and free-living, entomopathogenic, and plant-parasitic species, was evaluated as a taxonomic marker. Size of the amplified product aided in the initial determination of group membership, and also suggested groups that may require taxonomic reevaluation. Congeneric species often displayed identically sized ITS regions, but genera such as Pratylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus had species with large differences in size. ITS heterogeneity in individuals and populations was identified in several nematode taxa. PCR-RFLP of ITS1 is advocated as a method of taxonomic analysis in genera such as Helicotylenchus that contain numerous species with few diagnostic morphological characteristics.


Nutrient concentrations and exports were monitored for eight years in two agriculture-dominated watersheds in the central part of the Vastgota Plain in Sweden. The hydrology and the nutrient concentrations in the streams were very similar. Concentrations (monthly flow-weighted) of dissolved phosphate-phosphorus (PO4P) varied substantially during the year (from 0.03 to 0.27 mg 1−1) whereas concentrations of particulate phosphorus (PartP) varied less (from 0.03 to 0.16 mg −1). No trends in nutrient export during the eight years were found after flow-normalization of export data. Three wet periods dominated the long-term loads of the streams. Although a few events dominated annual yields of suspended solids (SS) from drainage pipes, standard deviation of annual mean SS concentration was reasonably constant between different years. However, when further developing phosphorus load models the variation in SS concentration should probably be considered. In-stream processes may contribute nearly as much to the phosphorus export as those occurring on and in arable soils in terms of their impact on the magnitude of phosphorus export. Total nitrogen (TotN) mean concentration was 5 mg 1−1 and was similar in drainage pipes and in the streams.


The mts1 gene, a member of the S100 family, is specifically expressed in different metastatic tumor cell lines. After transfection in some nonmetastatic cell lines Mts1 can induce a metastatic phenotype. Mts1 protein can interact with non‐muscle myosin, indicating that Mts1 plays a role in cell motility. In order to understand the function of this gene, we studied the expression of the mts1 mRNA and protein in vivo during mouse development. Both mRNA and protein were present in high concentrations from 12.5 to 18.5 days post coitum (dpc) in a variety of developing embryonic tissue of mesodermal origin. We found by double immunostaining with a macrophage‐specific antibody that Mts1 protein was highly expressed in fetal macrophages throughout the embryonic mesenchyme and in macrophages colonizing developing lymphatic and non‐lymphatic organs. Moreover, we found mts1 expression during differentiation and morphogenesis of mesenchymal tissues such as the mesenchyme surrounding the tips of digits, the mesenchyme underlying the epithelium of the bladder, and the mesenchyme between the primordia of the nasal capsule and the skin as well as in the developing dermal papilla of hair and tooth follicle. In developing bone, Mts1 was expressed in invasive mesenchymal cells and in osteoclasts. The results presented here suggest that Mts1 plays an important role in mouse development during differentiation and function of macrophages and might be involved in different processes associated with mesenchymal morphogenesis including mesenchymal‐epithelial interaction, tissue remodeling, and invasion. Dev. Dyn. 1997;210:87–95. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Forty-eight accessions of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) were evaluated for genetic diversity using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Out of 50 primers screened, 10 were able to amplify the genomic DNA giving reproducible amplification patterns with individual fragments that stained intensely. Two of the primers OPA-05 and OPE-09 were considered highly informative because they amplified one or more polymorphic bands that distinguished between accessions. RAPDs showed higher genetic diversity in the accessions from Kade than those from Bunso, where the nation's germplasm is maintained. UPGMA cluster analysis of genetic similarity estimates (Jaccard's coefficient), separated the accessions into 5 main groups, 2 of which were one member groups. The primers will be useful for further genetic analysis and provide cocoyam breeders with suitable genetic marters for the selection of parents for crop improvement and germplasm conservation. Polymorphic markers identified in the DNA fingerprinting will also be useful in the study of mutant populations, which are currently being studied in our laboratory.


Here is an author who became entranced with anarchism after reading an essay by Emma Goldman while an under-graduate. She was "disillusioned with the broken promises of [her] liberal upbringing" and Goldman captured both her "heart" and her "mind."Her discovery of anarchism, at first seen by her as completely compatible with Marxism, led her to practical involvement with the anarchist movement in Toronto. At the same time she became involved with feminist studies. Here too she found disturbing trends towards ideological repression. These experiences led ultimately to a decision to undertake a critical consideration of the political philosophy of liberal feminism.In her thesis Brown uses a framework which enables her to explore the contradictions in liberalism between what she calls existential and instrumental individualism. She then argues that if liberalism's instrumentally competitive aspects were replaced with free and voluntary association, anarchism would be the result. Her simple definition of anarchism is that it is a way of organizing society to best allow for the free expression of individuals.From the start I felt a little uneasy about this somewhat simplistic notion. What about the dangers of individualism? What about "no one is an island?" After all, Brown wishes us to gain fresh insights into certain social movements-in particular, feminism-in order to bring liberation closer. She argues that we will never understand the true nature of the individual while we live with constraints. By removing the bonds of political, social and economic domination we will begin to define for ourselves what freedom and nature really are. So her work is analysis, description and prescription.In her analysis of liberal individualism she looks first at Marx and Marxism and the authoritarian tendencies which have plagued the political movements based on Marxist ideology. In liberalism, however she finds an important link with anarchism: both share a commitment to individual autonomy and self-determination. But here the similarity ends. Anarchism is committed to the primacy of individual freedom while the property relations of liberalism ultimately lead to domination and exploitation. Because the existentialists came closest to developing the notion that individuals are best able to determine their own existence, Brown calls this kind of anarchist individualism, existential individualism. The liberal belief in property, both real and in the person, leads on the other hand to objectification of the individual and therefore to a negation of individual will. Under this system one person gains freedom at the expense of, or by using, another. This Brown calls instrumental individualism. Freedom becomes a means to an end, maybe an exploitative or dominating end, rather than an end in itself.Brown finds the same contradiction in liberal feminism as she finds in liberalism generally. On the one hand feminists argue for self-determination, on the other they want women to take their place beside men in the competitive, and therefore exploitative, labour market. …


In this special focus, we aim to bring attention to existing pathways and to create or uncover new connections between feminism and trade unionism. Our standpoint is not so much one of feminists offering critiques of the trade union movement from the outside, valuable as that is; rather, we address the issues, questions and problems of women and paid work in relation both to trade unions and to the wider women's movement. We hope to 'throw a rope bridge' [1] across the divide that too often prevents collaborative politics between feminists in different locations. When connections are made, creative and productive possibilities become available, as the contributions to this issue show. Women have long had to struggle to become members of unions and to gain recognition of their needs and interests in opposition to men's attempts to exclude them. This struggle continues. The dominance of the labour movement by men workers and unionists sees power understood in men's terms. Paid work, political activism and leadership are regarded as men's business. This is sexual politics. At the same time, it seems that union women have to struggle to gain recognition of their political concerns by the contemporary women's movement. Unions are a 'terrain of struggle that has been eschewed by many feminists.' [2] Marilyn Lake's recent history of Australian feminism mentions Working Women's Centres, but does not list trade unions or the labour movement in its index, although a chapter on work discusses feminist campaigns, with some union support for the right to work and equal pay, in the 1930s and 40s. [3] Joan Eveline and Lorraine Hayden's collection on women's leadership and activism in Australia includes one union official, Helen Creed, Secretary of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union in Western Australia and another, Pat Giles, who had been an official before she became a Federal Senator. [4] The large Oxford University Press anthology, Feminisms, claims to be comprehensive and devoted to new possibilities for political action, but none of its 86 sections ref lects on struggles around paid work or workers' associations such as trade unions. [5] In 1997, Barbara Pocock wrote in the preface to Strife: Sex and Politics in Labour Unions that gender politics are not new to trade unions but now have a sharpened dimension since union survival hinges on the recruitment and the retention of women members in the growing areas of paid work, the part time, casual and service sectors. [6] However, Judy Wajcman's recent survey of research on gender in British industrial relations demonstrates that gender issues remain marginal to much of the current work. [7] Worse, where gender is included it is generally conflated with 'women.' The Australian situation is no different. Not only are men as men obscured by this formulation, but also the active politics of resistance and hostility towards women (and non-heterosexual men) is completely hidden. 'Sexual politics' emphasises the combative and antagonistic dynamic of gender relations. 'Sexual politics' describes the complex gender relationships of power as domination, resistance, alliances and pleasures that are central to all social institutions, including the trade union movement; it is constituted and contested in specific ways that shift and change. We believe (like most feminist writers) that sexual politics and gender relations must be central to analysis and politics in and around labour movements, and that they are crucial to the success of strategic responses to the critical problems facing workers and labour movements. This raises difficult questions for feminists about how union women confront issues of sexual politics while remaining committed to codes of solidarity. How do women experience themselves within unions? What does union power mean for women leaders, and what kind of authority is available to women? Perhaps part of the difficulty for feminists stems from the way unionists are represented, in addition to the explicitly masculinised culture of the trade union movement. …