Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 310 to the reef terraces around Tahiti, French Polynesia, was the second expedition to utilize a mission-specific platform and was conducted by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) Science Operator (ESO). The objectives of Expedition 310 are to establish the course of last deglacial sea level rise at Tahiti, to define sea-surface temperature variations for the region over the period 20,000–10,000 cal. y BP, and to analyze the impact of sea level changes on reef growth and geometry. To meet these objectives, the last deglacial reef sequence, which consists of successive reef terraces seaward of the living barrier reef, was cored from a dynamically positioned vessel during October and November 2005. A total of 37 boreholes at 22 sites were cored in water depths ranging from 41.65 to 117.54 m. Borehole logging operations in ten boreholes at seven sites provided continuous geophysical information about the drilled strata. Cores were described during the Onshore Science Party at the IODP Bremen Core Repository during February and March 2006, where minimum and some standard measurements were made. Further postcruise research on samples taken during the Onshore Science Party is expected to fulfill the objectives of the expedition.


Mitoxantrone cardiotoxicity was investigated in isolated neonatal rat heart myocytes treated for 3 h in the presence or absence of the metal chelator ICRF-187. Electron microscopy studies of mitoxantrone-treated myocytes showed disorganized myofibrillar structures, swollen mitochondria, and extensive vacuolization. Cardiotoxicity, reflected as the ratio of intracellular ATP/protein and the loss of spontaneous beating, was only partially reduced by continuous ICRF-187 concentrations up to 50 micrograms/ml. ICRF-187 induced myocyte protection which was dependent on the dose and duration of exposure. ICRF-187 also reduced the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin to a lesser extent and reduced the toxicity of a postulated cyclic mitoxantrone metabolite. However, the cardiotoxicity of ametantrone, a nonmetal-binding analogue of mitoxantrone, was unaltered with ICRF-187. The antitumor activity of mitoxantrone was unaltered by ICRF-187 in human tumor cells and in P-388-bearing mice. In addition, ICRF-187 allowed for 50% greater cumulative dosing in normal mice that, nonetheless, showed extensive histological heart damage 7 wk after dosing. These studies show that ICRF-187 provides partial protection from mitoxantrone cardiotoxicity in vitro without impairing the drug's antitumor activity in vitro or in vivo. This facilitates greater cumulative drug dosing in normal mice. The postulated mechanism of cardioprotection is metal chelation, because ICRF-187 did not alter the toxicity of a nonchelating mitoxantrone analogue.


Interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) is a non‐canonical member of the interferon regulatory factor family of transcription factors. We recently identified IRF6 as a novel Maspin‐interacting protein in mammary epithelial cells. Maspin is a tumor suppressor in the breast and has also been implicated in mammary gland morphogenesis. To explore a possible role for IRF6 in conjunction with Maspin during mammary gland growth and differentiation, we examined the expression of IRF6 and Maspin during post‐utero mammary gland development using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches. The data revealed that the expression of IRF6 and Maspin is temporally and spatially regulated throughout mammary gland development, with maximal expression of both proteins occurring in fully differentiated, lactating lobuloalveolar cells. We further show that IRF6 adopts a lumenal localization pattern following complete epithelial cell polarization and present new evidence for the secretion of IRF6 into the milk. These results support the hypothesis that IRF6 and Maspin are important for mammary epithelial cell differentiation, and advance our understanding of the Maspin‐IRF6 partnership during normal mammary gland development.


In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that higher education in the United States is experiencing somewhat of a paradigm shift. We are being challenged to reform our institutions in order to respond to changing societal needs resulting from the fast-paced, digital transformation of industries, societal systems, and our daily lives. The member institutions of the American Academy of Kinesiology will need to think long and hard about how they will respond to these challenges. America's universities have a responsibility to be a catalyst for the human-centric, technology-driven transformation of sectors such as transportation, agriculture, medicine, public health, clean energy, and manufacturing, among others, and to provide the vision, leadership, and innovation that such workforce transformation demands. Within the academy, we rightly take great pride in our long-standing contributions to the development and deployment of breakthrough discoveries and innovations that have contributed to the transformation of society. However, we have begun to realize that our institutions will need to bring this same commitment to innovation to our teaching, curricula, and instructional programs. Addressing these new areas of need and opportunity will require institutional innovation and reform, for us and for the postsecondary education sector generally. I believe that American Kinesiology Association member departments can play a significant role in the transformation of higher education at our institutions. I am delighted that the American Kinesiology Association has begun to think through how these changes will impact the future of our discipline. I am both optimistic and excited about the many ways that American Kinesiology Association member institutions will continue to play a leading role in the new higher education reality.


Objective : The aim of this study was to explore co-crystallization to enhance the solubility of simvastatin (SV) as a drug of choice for hypercholesterolemia using saccharin (Sacch) as co-former. Methods: Molecular modeling of sacch against SV has been conducted by in silico using auto dock 4.2. Preparation of co-crystal has carried out by solvent evaporation (SE) using an equimolar ratio of SV and Sacch. Co-crystal of SV- Sacch was evaluated by the saturated solubility test and intrinsic dissolution test. Afterward, the co-crystal was characterized by infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), binary phase diagram and stability studies in storage condition 400C and relative humidity (RH) 75% for three months. Results: In silico studies showed that the interaction of SV against sacch has hydrogen bonding as molecular synthon. Evaluations of solubility and intrinsic dissolution have shown an increased in rate properties significantly of co-crystal as compared to pure SV and its physical mixer (PM). Characterizations of a co-crystal SV: sacch (1: 1) has indicated the formation of different new solid crystal phase as compared to SV, sacch, and its PM, and stable for 400C and RH 75% in 3 months. Conclusion: Co-crystallization has been used to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of simvastatin and all characterization has shown the formation of co-crystal SV: sacch (1: 1). Key words: Co-crystal, Simvastatin, Saccharin, Solubility, Dissolution.


We present a systematic analysis of the optical properties of bcc transition metals in the groups VB: V, Nb, and Ta, and VIB: paramagnetic Cr, Mo, and W. For this we use our formulation of time-dependent currentdensity-functional theory for the linear response of metals. The calculated dielectric and electron energy-loss functions are compared with our ellipsometry measurements and with data reported in literature, showing an overall good agreement. The experimental data of the dielectric functions presented by Nestell and Christy and by Weaver et al. differ mostly in the low-frequency region. However, we found that their reflectivity data are in very good agreement up to about 3 eV. We attribute this apparent discrepancy to the Drude-like extrapolation model used by Weaver et al. in the Kramers-Kronig procedure to extract the optical constants from their reflectivity data. Our experiments are in good agreement with Nestell and Christy's data. The calculated absorption spectra show some deviations from the experiments, in particular in the 3d metals. We assign the spectra in terms of transitions between pairs of bands and we analyze which parts of the Brillouin zone are mainly involved in the absorption. Our results suggest that the blueshift of some spectral features in our calculations can be attributed mainly to the incorrect description of the virtual d bands by the approximations used for the ground state exchange-correlation functional. These virtual bands are too weakly bound by the local density and generalized gradient approximations, in particular in the 3d metals. We calculate separately the inter- and intraband contributions to the absorption and we show using a k·p analysis that, within the scalar-relativistic approximation, interband transitions contribute to the absorption already at frequencies well below 0.5 eV. This finding makes questionable the Drude-like behavior normally assumed in the experimental analysis of the linear response. We find that the combination of the Drude model in which we use the calculated plasma frequency and an optimized relaxation time, and the calculated interband response can well describe the experimental spectra. The electron energy-loss spectra are very well reproduced by our calculations showing in each metal a dominant plasmon peak at about 22‐24 eV, well above the corresponding Drude-like freeelectron plasma frequency, and additional features in the range 10‐15 eV. We show that the renormalization of the plasma frequency is due to the interplay between inter- and intraband processes, and that the additional features arise from the rich structure in the dielectric function caused by interband transitions.


The aim of this paper is to discuss recent developments in Africa regarding the joint management of international non-maritime water resources. While it concentrates mainly on the structure and powers of existing organisations, Africa's most recent development, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, is discussed in more detail. The following organisations are be dealt with - The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), established in 1964; - The Organisation for the Management and Development of the River Senegal (OMVS), established in 1972; - The Organisation for the Management and Development of the Kagera River Basin, established in 1977; - The Niger Basin Authority (NBA), established in 1987; and - The Structures for the Management of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), established in 1986. The Niger Basin Authority was established a year later than the Structures of the LHWP. The NBA is a product of years of development and is in effect just a revision of a similarly named authority established in 1980. The LHWP is a new development and will, for that reason, be dealt with last.


This presentation will discuss problems that occasionally occur between the WebCT global database and individual course databases. When the linkage between the global and course databases becomes corrupt, both students and designers can become "orphaned", resulting in their access to the course becoming compromised. These problems can be difficult to resolve, unless the underlying architecture of the WebCT global database is understood.

We will present an overview of the file structures which make up the global and course databases, describing the key files and what they contain. In this context, we will discuss common problems, such as orphan students and disconnected students. We will describe how these occur, and how to fix them, either manually or using simple scripts. We will also discuss the distinction between primary designers and shared designers, and how to change these. The differences between Version2.x and Version3.x will be highlighted in each case.


The 1971 San Fernando earthquake in California caused highway bridges to collapse because of excessive longitudinal movement at expansion joints and supports. Since then, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has installed longitudinal cable restrainers to prevent such collapse. In the study presented in this report, two existing design methods, the Caltrans and AASHTO methods, were evaluated for simply-supported bridges. In addition, three new design methods for restrainers were proposed and evaluated. The adequacy of the design methods was determined using nonlinear response history analyses of a large number of two- and five-span bridges. The models represented highway bridges that would be retrofitted with restrainers. All of the procedures considered in this study were found to be effective in preventing spans from unseating in most bridges even under strong earthquakes. In the most critical cases with narrow supports and skew, however, it was found that the Caltrans and a modified version of the Caltrans methods (a new method developed in this study) were the procedures that prevented unseating.


"Old Masters (1985)" is Thomas Bernhard's devilishly funny story about the friendship between two old men. For over thirty years Reger, a music critic, has sat on the same bench in front of a Tintoretto painting in a Viennese museum, thinking and railing against contemporary society, his fellow men, artists, the weather, even the state of public lavatories. His friend Atzbacher has been summoned to meet him, and through his eyes we learn more about Reger - the tragic death of his wife, his thoughts of suicide and, eventually, the true purpose of their appointment. At once pessimistic and exuberant, rancorous and hilarious, "Old Masters" is a richly satirical portrait of culture, genius, nationhood, class, the value of art and the pretensions of humanity.


For the past 43 years, NASA has devoted its facilities, labor force, and expertise to sharing the abundance of technology developments used for its missions with the nation's industries. These countless technologies have not only successfully contributed to the growth of the U.S. economy, but also to the quality of life on Earth. For the past 25 years, NASA's Spinoff publication has brought attention to thousands of technologies, products, and services that were developed as a direct result of commercial partnerships between NASA and the private business sector. Many of these exciting technologies included advances in ceramics, computer technology, fiber optics, and remote sensing. New and ongoing research at the NASA field centers covers a full spectrum of technologies that will provide numerous advantages for the future, many of which have made significant strides in the commercial market. The NASA Commercial Technology Network plays a large role in transferring this progress. By applying NASA technologies such as data communication, aircraft de-icing technologies, and innovative materials to everyday functions, American consumers and the national economy benefit. Moving forward into the new millennium, these new technologies will further advance our country's position as the world leader in scientific and technical innovation. These cutting-edge innovations represent the investment of the U.S. citizen in the Space Program. Some of these technologies are highlighted in Spinoff 2001, an example of NASA's commitment to technology transfer and commercialization assistance. This year's issue spotlights the commercial technology efforts of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy's extensive network of commercial technology opportunities has enabled them to become a leader in technology transfer outreach. This kind of leadership is exemplified through Kennedy's recent partnership with the State of Florida, working toward the development of the Space Experiment Research and Processing Laboratory. The new laboratory is the first step toward the development of a proposed 400-acre Space Commerce Park, located at Kennedy Space Center. Spinoff, once again, successfully showcases the variety of commercial successes and benefits resulting from the transfer of NASA technology to private industry. It is with great pride and pleasure that we present Spinoff 2001 with a Special Millennium Feature. With help from U.S. industry and commercial technology programs, NASA will continue to assist in the presentation of innovative new products to our nation.


We study the effect of energy-storage systems in dynamic real-time electricity markets. We consider that demand and renewable generation are stochastic, that real-time production is affected by ramping constraints, and that market players seek to selfishly maximize their profit. We distinguish three scenarios, depending on the owner of the storage system: (A) the supplier, (B) the consumer, or (C) a stand-alone player. In all cases, we show the existence of a competitive equilibrium when players are price-takers (they do not affect market prices). We further establish that under the equilibrium price process, players' selfish responses coincide with the social welfare-maximizing policy computed by a (hypothetical) social planner. We show that with storage the resulting price process is smoother than without.
 We determine empirically the storage parameters that maximize the players' revenue in the market. In the case of consumer-owned storage, or a stand-alone storage operator (scenarios B and C), we find that they do not match socially optimal parameters. We conclude that consumers and the stand-alone storage operator (but not suppliers) have an incentive to under-dimension their storage system. In addition, we determine the scaling laws of optimal storage parameters as a function of the volatility of demand and renewables. We show, in particular, that the optimal storage energy capacity scales as the volatility to the fourth power.


Distortion as a significant feature of electric guitar playing is indispensable to rock music. Despite its relevance for the genre, distortion has not received much academic attention so far. This article aims at two interrelated issues. Firstly, it analyses physical and psychoacoustic characteristics of guitar distortion. Secondly, the effect of distortion on rhythm guitar of early hard rock and heavy metal is examined. The experimental results highlight the relevance of temporal frequency development and spectral fluctuations while questioning the dominance of roughness as the primary factor of dissonance in research on the distorted electric guitar. The findings also extend our knowledge about the aspects contributing to the distorted guitar's distinct sound. The reasons lie mainly in frequency-related compression and the rough timbre due to the perception of partial and combination tones in the critical bandwidth and inharmonic string spectra. The outcome indicates that the interplay of physical and psychoacoustic aspects is essential for the development of genre-specific styles of guitar playing and riff construction.


Generally, the ASEAN and other East Asian countries are currently facing a
severe economic crisis. It started with a currency crisis across the region
triggered when the Thai baht had to be floated on 2 July 1997. It later
developed into a stock market crisis and financial crisis, culminating in a full
blown economic crisis. The possible causes underlying the crisis revolve
around the attitude towards risks and debts, unhealthy practices, and rapid
movement of capital with the advent of globalisation. The effects of the crisis
generally touches the issues of economic growth, credit crunch, decreasing
wealth, unemployment, debt burden, political and social repercussions, and
ultimately, uncertainty about the future. The various governments, some with
the help of the International Monetary Fund, are taking several measures to
overcome the crisis, although some with questionable effectiveness.
Nevertheless, looking forward, measures must also be taken to try to prevent
and mitigate, even if only partially, such crisis in the future.


Background & Aims: Pharmacological treatment of cancer is associated with serious adverse effects including drug-drug interaction (DDI). The purpose of this study was evaluating DDIs in cancer patients hospitalize in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and identifying the type and severity of DDI.
Materials & Methods: The study population was all patients with cancer admitted to the ICU of Imam Khomeini hospital during 21 March 2013 to 20 March 2014. Patients' information were extracted from the medical records. Then the recording demographic features and prescribed drugs in the first 24 hours of hospitalization were extracted and were investigated. DDIs were classified in terms of severity to as mild, moderate and severe into five groups.
Results: Almost 101 patients were evaluated (63 male and 38 female). The mean age was 59.47±1.69 and the average prescribed medications was 5.23±0.23. Then, 162 DDIs were identified that 14.81% of them were major, 77.16% moderate and 8.03% minor in the point of severity. In the basis of documentation 14.19% of DDIs were established. The most DDIs were in the age group 61-80 years and the most involved drugs were: ranitidine (79.16), cephalosporins (63.162), anticoagulants (24.162) and narcotic analgesics (18.162).
Conclusion: This study shows that a high percentage of DDIs occurs in the ICU. Therefore, we suggest treating patients in ICU relying on a teamwork in drug prescribing.
Keywords: Drug-drug interaction, Intensive Care Unit, Hospital, Cancer patients


To function on programs written in languages such as C that make extensive use of pointers, automated software engineering tools require safe alias information. Existing alias-analysis techniques that are sufficiently efficient for analysis on large software systems may provide alias information that is too imprecise for tools that use it: the imprecision of the alias information may (1) reduce the precision of the information provided by the tools and (2) increase the cost of the tools. This paper presents a flow-insensitive, context-sensitive points-to analysis algorithm that computes alias information that is almost as precise as that computed by Andersen's algorithm — the most precise flow- and context-insensitive algorithm — and almost as efficient as Steensgaard's algorithm — the most efficient flow- and context-insensitive algorithm. Our empirical studies show that our algorithm scales to large programs better than Andersen's algorithm and show that flow-insensitive alias analysis algorithms, such as our algorithm and Andersen's algorithm, can compute alias information that is close in precision to that computed by the more expensive flow- and context-sensitive alias analysis algorithms.


Abstract Methods to obtain monoenergetic viscosity coefficients by combining analytical approximations of the linearized drift kinetic equation are studied for a previously formulated full neoclassical transport matrix in general nonsymmetric toroidal plasmas. A unified analytical treatment of two coefficients due to the non-bounce-averaged radial drifts of guiding centers is shown. These coefficients were previously obtained by a direct numerical calculation of the kinetic equation in the three-dimensional (3-D) phase-space (pitch-angle, poloidal and toroidal angles). In a present study, the radial drift term in the equation is divided into three parts, and then the perturbed distribution and the resulting monoenergetic coefficients are expressed by superposed components, which can be calculated by combining analytical methods. An analytical expression for the boundary layer correction to the parallel viscosity in the 1/ν regime also is newly derived to complete the full matrix without a numerical calculation in 3-D phase-space. Analytical results given by adding these components approximately reproduce results of the direct numerical calculation of the kinetic equation.


An attempt has been made to study the influence of ring frame parameters i.e. yarn twist multiplies, spindle speed and ring frame draft on yarn characteristics to exploit the translation of yarn structures into the fabric assistance. Understanding the relationship between yarn structure and fabric strength helps in engineering the yarn structure to improve the strength translation of yarns to fabric strength. Accordingly, study on fabric strength in weft/warp direction per yarn, weft/ warp break force inside fabric, weft/warp pull-out force and yarn failure zone length are also carried out. Yarn structure is found to affect the fabric thickness and fabric tensile behaviour. The yarn diameter has a direct effect on the yarn pull out force. The yarn structure also plays a dominant role in deciding the yarn failure zone length.


The paper argues in favor of a radical disconnection between the exchange function and the valuation function of financial markets. It defends it from an investee's point of view, mainly on the grounds that valuing financial assets is a matter of judgment. Financial assets do not have any intrinsic utility; hence allowing markets to price them implies their price changes are determined by expectations. These latter rely on information that can be variously framed and interpreted, hence no a priori and stable valuation criteria can prevail. Consequently, investees bear the consequences of judgments that do not meet basic criteria of justice. Insulating the valuation function from the transaction function of financial markets through the creation of independent valuation institutions could be a way to tackle this problem.


Abstract : The United States is committed to helping Colombia fight its struggle against the violence and corruption engendered by the traffic in narcotics. This report examines the strategic theory within Plan Colombia, the master plan which the government of Colombia developed to strengthen democracy through peace, security, and economic development. The author argues that the United States and the international community must support this beleaguered nation. He cautions, however, that the main responsibility for success lies with the Colombians. They must mobilize the national resources and make the sacrifices to win back the country from the narco-traffickers, the insurgents, and the paramilitaries. To that end, Plan Colombia is a well-conceived strategy that must be sustained for the long term.


Rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reportedly improves fertility in lactating dairy cows by reducing the postpartum interval to first ovulation and enhancing the circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the blood metabolites, hormones, follicular fluid (FF) and liver for the effect of CLA supplementation (50 g top-dressed daily from 15 days pre-partum to 65 days in milk –DIM -). Pre-partum Holstein cows (n = 24) were assigned to two treatments: a Control and CLA group (n = 12 cows/group). Dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production were recorded daily. At 26 DIM, ovulation was synchronized and at 34 DIM, plasma and FF were analysed for paraoxonase 1(PON) levels. Moreover plasma was analysed for IGF binding protein 2 and 3 (IGFBP). From 34 DIM, blood samples and FF from follicles >9 mm were collected and analysed for estradiol, progesterone, IGF-I and lipoproteins. A liver biopsy was performed at 65 DIM and analysed for the expression of IGF-I, growth hormone receptor (GHR), pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PECK). CLA supplemented cows, compared to the control group, recorded a significant lower milk fat production, improved DMI and energy balance and recorded significant increased plasma concentrations of IGF-I, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and IGFBP-3 (interaction treatment x DIM). The concentration of IGF-I, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL tended to be higher in FF than plasma. This study confirms the positive effects of dietary CLA supplementation on the metabolism, by improving the energy intake and reducing the negative energy balance. Moreover, the improvement of plasma IGF-I levels observed in this study, coupled with a better energy balance support previous studies showing a positive effect of CLA supplementation on reproduction. However, CLA did not alter the plasma and the FF concentration of PON, nor the liver gene expression.


Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications and cell densification are the key techniques for the future evolution of cellular systems beyond 5G. Although the current mmWave radio designs are focused on hybrid digital and analog receiver array architectures, the fully digital architecture is an appealing option due to its flexibility and support for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). In order to achieve reasonable power consumption and hardware cost, the specifications of analog circuits are expected to be compromised, including the resolution of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the linearity of radio-frequency (RF) front end. Although the state-of-the-art studies focus on the ADC, the nonlinearity can also lead to severe system performance degradation when strong input signals introduce inter-modulation distortion (IMD). The impact of RF nonlinearity becomes more severe with densely deployed mmWave cells since signal sources closer to the receiver array are more likely to occur. In this work, we design and analyze the digital IMD compensation algorithm, and study the relaxation of the required linearity in the RF-chain. We propose novel algorithms that jointly process digitized samples to recover amplifier saturation, and relies on beam space operation which reduces the computational complexity as compared to per-antenna IMD compensation.


Satellite communication can empower ITS to deploy safety critical services and services of the future, while reaching an unprecedented large number of road users in an eco-friendly and economical way. The SafeTRIP project embraces S-Band communication, creating a powerful and flexible open platform for services that road users need. In this paper, the authors firstly present an overview of the SafeTRIP project, the salient aspects of the platform and its communication infrastructure. Secondly, they emphasize on the focus the project has on user needs to shape services that would be supported by the SafeTRIP open platform. Finally, they describe the subset of services that have been selected on their relevance to road safety which will part of the trials and demonstrators within the project. They conclude by describing the road map and the project evolution in future.


The infrared (IR) detection capability of SnO2–Fe2O3 composite films is demonstrated. The samples were fabricated on glass substrates via spray pyrolysis at deposition temeratures of 240°C, 300°C, and 370°C. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SnO2 and Fe2O3 phases in the composite films. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that a variation of band gap was evident and was attributed to the segregation of the phases during deposition. It also showed that increasing the deposition temperature widens the direct band gap of the composite, approaching that of crystalline SnO2. Lastly, IR detection was demonstrated with the periodic illumination with IR radiation. The voltage response of the composite showed a maximum peak at 46.52 µV, due to the primary pyroelectric effect, and a plateau at 27.95 µV, due to the secondary pyroelectric effect.


The ability to initialize quantum registers in pure states lies at the core of many applications of quantum technologies, from sensing to quantum information processing and computation. In this paper, we tackle the problem of increasing the polarization bias of an ensemble of two-level register spins by means of joint coherent manipulations, involving a second ensemble of ancillary spins and energy dissipation into an external heat bath. We formulate this spin refrigeration protocol, akin to algorithmic cooling, in the general language of quantum feedback control, and identify the relevant thermodynamic variables involved. Our analysis is two-fold: on the one hand, we assess the optimality of the protocol by means of suitable figures of merit, accounting for both its work cost and effectiveness; on the other hand, we characterise the nature of correlations built up between the register and the ancilla. In particular, we observe that neither the amount of classical correlations nor the quantum entanglement seem to be key ingredients fuelling our spin refrigeration protocol. We report instead that a more general indicator of quantumness beyond entanglement, the so-called quantum discord, is closely related to the cooling performance.


Background: Dupuytren disease is a fibroproliferative disease of palmar fascias of the hand. The prevalence of Dupuytren disease and the association with potential risk factors have been the subject of several studies, although there is a paucity of such data from The Netherlands. Methods: To study the prevalence of Dupuytren disease, the authors drew a random sample of 1360 individuals, stratified by age, from the northern part of The Netherlands. Of this sample, 763 individuals aged 50 to 89 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The authors examined both hands for signs of Dupuytren disease, and a questionnaire was conducted to identify potential risk factors. The effects of these risk factors were investigated using logistic regression analysis. Additional analyses were performed to develop a logistic prediction model for the prevalence of Dupuytren disease. Results: The prevalence of Dupuytren disease was 22.1 percent. Nodules and cords were seen in 17.9 percent, and flexion contractures were present in 4.2 percent of the study population. Prevalence increased with age, from 4.9 percent in participants aged 50 to 55 years to 52.6 percent among those aged 76 to 80 years. Men were more often affected than women; 26.4 percent versus 18.6 percent, respectively (p = 0.007). Other significant risk factors were previous hand injury, excessive alcohol consumption, familial occurrence of Dupuytren disease, and presence of Ledderhose disease. Conclusions: The results show a high prevalence of Dupuytren disease in The Netherlands, particularly the nodular form. Using the developed logistic prediction model, the prevalence of Dupuytren disease can be estimated, based on the presence of significant risk factors. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.


Underactive bladder (UAB) is a symptom syndrome reflecting the urodynamic observation of detrusor underactivity (DU), a voiding contraction of reduced strength and/or duration, leading to prolonged or incomplete bladder emptying. An International Continence Society Working Group has described UAB as characterised by a slow urinary stream, hesitancy and straining to void, with or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying and dribbling, often with storage symptoms. Since DU often coexists with bladder outlet obstruction, or storage dysfunction (detrusor overactivity or incontinence), the exact contribution of the DU to the presenting complaints can be difficult to establish. The presence of voiding and post voiding lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is implicitly expected in UAB, but a reduced sensation of fullness is reported by some patients, and storage LUTS are also an important factor in many affected patients. These may result from a postvoid residual, but often they do not. The storage LUTS are often the key driver in leading the patient to seek healthcare input. Nocturia is particularly common and bothersome, but what the role of DU is in all the range of influences on nocturia has not been established. Qualitative research has established a broad impact on everyday life as a result of these symptoms. In general, people appear to manage the voiding LUTS relatively well, but the storage LUTS may be problematic.


ABSTRACT The currently used method for immunological detection of tuberculosis infection, the tuberculin skin test, has low specificity. Antigens specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to replace purified protein derivative are therefore urgently needed. We have performed a rigorous assessment of the diagnostic potential of four recently identified antigens (Rv2653, Rv2654, Rv3873, and Rv3878) from genomic regions that are lacking from the Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine strains as well as from the most common nontuberculous mycobacteria. The fine specificity of potential epitopes in these molecules was evaluated by sensitive testing of the T-cell responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from M. bovis BCG-vaccinated healthy individuals to synthesized overlapping peptides. Three of the four molecules contained regions with significant specificity problems (Rv2653, Rv3873, and Rv3878). We selected and combined the specific peptide stretches from the four proteins not recognized by M. bovis BCG-vaccinated individuals. These peptide stretches were tested with peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with microscopy- or culture-confirmed tuberculosis and from healthy M. bovis BCG-vaccinated controls. The combination of the most promising stretches from this analysis showed a sensitivity level (57%) comparable to the level found with the two well-known M. tuberculosis-specific proteins ESAT-6 and CFP-10 (75 and 66%, respectively). The combination of ESAT-6, CFP-10, and the novel specific peptide stretches gave an overall sensitivity of 84% at a specificity of 97%. In a validation experiment with new experimental groups, the sensitivities obtained were 57% for the combination of peptides and 90% for the combination of the peptides, ESAT-6, and CFP-10. This combination gave a specificity of 95%.


The purpose of this study was to examine group dynamics of educational leadership students in cohorts and make comparisons with the group dynamics characteristics of non-cohort students. Cohorts have emerged as dynamic and adaptive entities with attendant group dynamic processes that shape collective learning and action. Cohort (n=42) and non-cohort (n=51) students were surveyed on group variables of participation, communication, influence, trust, cohesiveness, empowerment, collaboration, and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and effect size analyses were used for data analysis. Significant differences were identified in trust, cohesiveness, and satisfaction. However, findings show little effect on cohort structures in the areas of participation, communication, influence, empowerment, and collaboration.


Abstract. The CRISTA-NF (Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescope for the Atmosphere – New Frontiers) instrument is an airborne infrared limb sounder operated aboard the Russian research aircraft M55-Geophysica. The instrument successfully participated in a large Arctic aircraft campaign within the RECONCILE (Reconciliation of essential process parameters for an enhanced predictability of Arctic stratospheric ozone loss and its climate interactions) project in Kiruna (Sweden) from January to March 2010. This paper concentrates on the measurements taken during one flight of the campaign, which took place on 2 March in the vicinity of the polar vortex. We present two-dimensional cross-sections of derived volume mixing ratios for the trace gases CFC-11, O3, and ClONO2 with an unprecedented vertical resolution of about 500 to 600 m for a large part of the observed altitude range (≈ 6–19 km) and a dense horizontal sampling along flight direction of ≈ 15 km. The trace gas distributions show several structures, for example a part of the polar vortex and a vortex filament, which can be identified by means of O3–CFC-11 tracer–tracer correlations. The observations made during this flight are interpreted using the chemistry and transport model CLaMS (Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere). Comparisons of the observations with the model results are used to assess the performance of the model with respect to advection, mixing, and the chemistry in the polar vortex. These comparisons confirm the capability of CLaMS to reproduce even very small-scale structures in the atmosphere, which partly have a vertical extent of only 1 km. Based on the good agreement between simulation and observation, we use artificial (passive) tracers, which represent different air mass origins (e.g. vortex, tropics), to further analyse the CRISTA-NF observations in terms of the composition of air mass origins. These passive tracers clearly illustrate the observation of filamentary structures that include tropical air masses. A characteristic of the Arctic winter 2009/10 was a sudden stratospheric warming in December that led to a split of the polar vortex. The vortex re-established at the end of December. Our passive tracer simulations suggest that large parts of the re-established vortex consisted to about 45% of high- and mid-latitude air.


This dissertation consists of two essays. The first essay develops a new methodology for estimating the probability of informed trading from the observed quotes and depths, by extending the Copeland and Galai (1983) model. This measure (PROBINF) can be computed for each quote and it represents the specialist's ex-ante estimate of the probability of informed trading. I show that PROBINF exhibits a strong and robust relationship with the observed level of insider trading and with measures of the price impact of trades (λ) estimated based on the models of Glosten and Harris (1988), Madhavan and Smidt (1991) and Foster and Viswanathan (1993). In contrast, the alternative measure of the probability of informed trading (PIN) developed by Easley, Kiefer, O'Hara and Paperman (1996) exhibits a weaker and less robust relationship with insider trading and price impact of trades. The time series pattern of PROBINF in an intra-day analysis around earnings announcement is consistent with previous findings regarding informed trading. An important advantage of PROBINF over PIN and other measures of information asymmetry such as price impact of trades and adverse selection component of the spread is that, unlike these measures, it can be estimated for each quote, and thus can also be used to measure intra-day changes in informed trading and information asymmetry. In the second essay, I examine whether the underwriting syndicate composition influences the secondary market liquidity for initial public offerings (IPOs). Specifically, I argue that comanagers improve the liquidity of IPOs through the other services they provide, besides market making. Using a comprehensive sample of initial public offerings completed between January 1993 and December 2005, I find that IPOs with a high number of co-managers in their syndicates have lower spreads and a lower level of information asymmetry in the aftermarket. I argue that the information produced during the premarket and the analyst coverage in the aftermarket are the main channels through which co-managers mitigate the information asymmetry risk in the secondary market.


Using a band pass filter, this paper estimates plant-level job flows at different frequencies and examines the characteristics of the high frequency (transitory) and low frequency (permanent) component flows. Because high frequency employment movements, which likely result in changes in the utilization of plant assets, and low frequency movements, which likely coincide with the restructuring of plant assets, result in different costs to the economy, understanding their separate behavior is important. High frequency plant-level employment fluctuations account for the majority of cyclical movements in aggregate manufacturing employment, but the temporal separation between job destruction and job creation is more pronounced for low frequency job flows, suggesting that permanent job flows reflect a more protracted employment adjustment process. To facilitate the evaluation of job flow models, many of which describe either transitory or permanent job flows, time series of job flows at different frequencies are presented in the appendix.


This paper addresses trends in computer-aided productivity tools for Civil Engineers in the eighties. Certain aspects of the past history, present status, and future of CAD/CAM and CAE are covered. Knowledge-based expert systems, artificial intelligence, integrated relational project databases, solids modeling, 32-bit supermicrocomputers, intelligent graphic display processors with display lists are included. A few examples of currently available applications are reviewed. This paper concludes with a discussion of what Civil Engineers can expect to see in productivity tools by the end of the decade.


Abstract This article analyses the implementation of managerial ideas in Kazakhstan using the case of a combined public service delivery called "One Stop Shops". Several public services are provided in a single building rather than different government offices in a business-like style of service delivery and in a modern physical environment. The service integration policy is an attempt of Kazakhstani government to improve the quality of public services and reduce corruption. Some positive progress in improving the accessibility of public services has been noted. However, as this article argues, the country-specific model of "alternative-access" service delivery was not able to implement in-depth changes in the work of the public sector and improve service quality. Implementation of the managerial ideas has been limited and constrained by the institutional framework and culture prevailing in the Kazakhstani bureaucracy. The main conclusion is that the governments of transitional countries need to critically analyze the pros and cons of the new policies and reflect on their cultures before making further steps to adopt Western managerial initiatives.


Ultrasound (US) waves due to their unique features can be a treatment option for osteoporosis. Initial studies have shown promising but controversial outcomes. Several preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted on osteoporosis and studies are ongoing to find optimum US parameters, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic efficacies of these techniques for osteoporosis treatment. This paper was aimed to review the recent advances of using US waves in the treatment of osteoporosis and possible mechanisms of actions. The databases of PubMed (1980-2016), EMBASE (1980-2016), Web of Sciences (1980-2016), and Google Scholar (1980-2016) were searched using the set terms. The obtained records were reviewed, and relevant studies were selected for comprehensive review of the current literature. Low-intensity pulsed US (LIPUS) has biological effects on the bone healing process and it can accelerate bone regeneration. Current evidence is limited on the efficacy of US waves for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis; however, the initial studies are promising. The US waves can promote osteoblast and inhibit osteoclast, enhance angiogenesis, trigger expression of different genes associated with osteogenesis. No definite dose-response existed on the clinical trials of US wave applications. The current evidence shows the therapeutic efficacy of US waves particularly LIPUS for osteoporosis treatment; however, to observe therapeutic outcomes long-term US stimulation is required. No definitive dose-response is proposed for osteoporosis. Further in vitro and clinical trials should be conducted to develop US-based techniques for the treatment of osteoporosis as a clinical treatment option.


Vesicle size distributions in two and three dimensions of two samples were independently measured by three different researchers to investigate whether or not such measurements are reproducible. Additionally, two different software programs were used to measure the three-dimensional vesicle size distributions: the 3D Object Counter plugin for ImageJ and Blob3D. Manual thresholding by each of the authors produced similar results for both samples using both programs; however, use of the automatic, maximum entropy technique for thresholding produced measurably different results because it did not discriminate between vesicles and plagioclase crystals in one case and between vesicles and some cracks in another. Use of asymmetric erosion and dilation processes on the images is shown to affect the vesicle size distribution, but it does not have a significant effect on the power-law exponent that describes intermediate-sized vesicles or on the vesicle number density in these samples. However, such a technique is not recommended.


Mergers and acquisitions have significantly changed the U.S. banking industry over the past quarter century. This study examines patterns in the 3,517 mergers consummated among commercial banks and thrift institutions (savings banks, savings and loan associations, and industrial banks) during the ten years from 1994 to 2003. The data used in this study include the vast majority of consolidation activity that took place during the period and are more detailed and comprehensive than any data available for the years preceding 1994.> About $3.1 trillion in assets, $2.1 trillion in deposits, and 47,300 offices were acquired during the ten-year period. The annual number of mergers was fairly steady between 1994 and 1998 and then declined to a much lower level by 2003. Roughly three-fourths of all deals involved two commercial banking organizations. The remaining mergers involved a thrift institution as the acquirer, the target, or both. The target in the median merger during the period had $102 million in assets, $86 million in deposits, and 3 offices. Mean (average) values are substantially higher because of a relatively small number of extremely large deals: $874 million in assets, $601 million in deposits, and 13 offices.> Whether calculated as a mean or median, roughly 5 percent of the industry's assets, deposits, and offices were acquired in mergers in the typical year in the period. The peak was in 1998. The number of deals completed then (493) was not far larger than the number in earlier years, but the aggregate amounts of assets and deposits purchased in 1998 were roughly twice the second-highest annual levels of the period (recorded in 1996).> Most deals involved the acquisition of a small organization with operations in a fairly limited geographic area. In the aggregate these small mergers tended to account for a relatively small share of the assets, deposits, and offices that were purchased. In contrast, the few acquisitions of very large banks accounted for a large share of the assets, deposits, and offices acquired, and they were responsible for many of the changes to the banking industry caused by consolidation.> Urban markets had disproportionately more mergers than rural markets, and mergers with targets in urban areas accounted for an even larger share of acquired deposits and offices. Urban markets were also more likely than rural markets to be the location of a merger in which the acquirer already had an office in the market.> Acquisitions took place in every state, but the level of activity varied greatly by state. The large majority of mergers involved a target that operated in a single state and an acquirer with at least one office in that state.


The global energy consumption is increasing steadily while natural energy sources are running out sooner or later. Solar electricity is one of many renewable energy sources that contributes to the world's demand. Organic solar cells (OPV) are an attractive 3rd generation solar technology that can be produced cheaply and very fast from solution with printing processes. The current research all around the world is still focused on lab-scale sized devices ≪1 cm, ITO-glass substrates, and spin coating as the main fabrication method. These OPV devices are far from any practical application although record efficiencies beyond 10% could be achieved. This dissertation describes process workflows and roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication methods for upscaling the OPV technology to solar module sizes that enable real power production even at efficiencies <2%. The fundamental cell technology was based on flexible plastic substrates and ITO-free transparent conductive electrodes made from special designed flexo printed silver grids, rotary screen printed PEDOT:PSS, and slot-die coated ZnO (= Flextrode). The organic solar cell was fabricated by slot-die coating a light absorbing photoactive layer (e. g. P3HT:PCBM) on top of the Flextrode substrate and completed by rotary screen printed PEDOT:PSS and silver electrodes. All layers were R2R printed and coated from solution under full ambient vacuum-free conditions with fabrication speeds reaching 25mmin for some of the layers. Fabrication of modules with high power output requires intelligent connection of single cells that should involve as less as possible manual processes such as wiring or soldering. The problem was solved by serially connecting thousands of single cells entirely during the R2R processing by printing thin-film silver conductors. High voltage networks require only thin conductors to efficiently transport the relatively low current of the organic solar cells. The serial connection was possible through a special designed pattern layout that combined 1-dimensional coating and 2-dimensional printing processes. The so-called Infinity concept allowed the fabrication of virtually infinitely large module sizes without manual wiring. High voltage modules with 21000 cells, open circuit voltage >10 kV and power output >220Wpeak could be successfully manufactured while having only two terminal contacts. Real energy production from these modules was studied by setting up a whole solar park based on OPV modules. Infinity modules with a length of 100m (width 0.3m) were rolled out and taped onto a wooden structure. The maximum power output of six parallel-connected modules with a total active area of 88.2m was beyond 1.3 kW while having energy payback times ≪1 year. Alternative installation concepts such as a balloon or special designed solar tubes on land or water were proved to be functional as well. Solar tubes with Infinity modules of around 200W generated 18 kWh in 5 weeks. The energy was fed back into the Danish power grid. The dissertation contains a brief introduction of organic solar cell technology and reviews important R2R compatible manufacturing methods including photonic sintering. The fabrication, design, and challenges of Flextrode and Infinity modules are described in detail. The potential future energy production is presented through large-scale OPV installation scenarios and performance analyses. Fatal failures such as fully burned cells are described while easy repair mechanisms are shown that avoid costly replacements of full modules. A conclusion and outlook finalizes the dissertation.


From an active labor market policy perspective, start-up subsidies for unemployed individuals are very effective in improving long-term labor market outcomes for participants. From a business perspective, however, the assessment of these public programs is less clear since they might attract individuals with low entrepreneurial abilities and produce businesses with low survival rates and little contribution to job creation, economic growth, and innovation. In this paper, we use a rich data set to compare participants of a German start-up subsidy program for unemployed individuals to a group of regular founders who started from nonunemployment and did not receive the subsidy. The data allows us to analyze their business performance up until 40 months after business formation. We find that formerly subsidized founders lag behind not only in survival and job creation, but especially also in innovation activities. The gaps in these business outcomes are relatively constant or even widening over time. Hence, we do not see any indication of catching up in the longer run. While the gap in survival can be entirely explained by initial differences in observable start-up characteristics, the gap in business development remains and seems to be the result of restricted access to capital as well as differential business strategies and dynamics. Considering these conflicting results for the assessment of the subsidy program from an ALMP and business perspective, policy makers need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of such a strategy to find the right policy mix.


Acclimatization to altitude can improve endurance performance above levels achieved solely by training at sea level. There is natural limitation in the applicability of employing terrestrial altitude training – namely proximity. A simple, non-cumbersome method of simulating altitude is desirable to many types of endurance athletes. The Alto2Lab (Pharma Pacific Inc.), consisting of primarily a breathing tube and silo stack, has shown some potential in this role. There is a lack of evidence regarding whether simulated altitude exposure triggers abnormal cardiovascular responses. The aim of this study was to provide initial evidence of cardiac changes associated with usage patterns that follow distributor guidelines. Twenty-five participants (mean age 29 ± 10.7; 16 males; 9 females) volunteered for the study. Subjects underwent a baseline ECG recording followed by ECG recording during sham (4-5 mins), hypoxia (~6 mins), and recovery (3-4 mins) phases. The sham phase consisted of subjects breathing normoxive air through a foamfilled silo system. The sham stack mimicked the look and feel of the silo system used to produce hypoxia with the difference being a single, soda lime-filled silo. A recovery phase followed hypoxia. Pulse oximetry (SpO2) was used to assess oxygen saturation. Cochran's Q was employed to test the frequencies of responses across the phases. An independent, blinded, experienced clinician (DK) analyzed the recordings. Two subjects were removed from the final analysis (inability to finish the protocol, baseline right bundle branch block). All subjects demonstrated an increase in heart rate (mean = +16.8 ± 8.0) during the hypoxia (mean oxygen saturation = 82 ± 4.1%) phase. No ECG ischemic changes were seen across any of the phases. Benign conduction abnormalities (sinus arrhythmia = 9; junctional rhythms = 4) occurred with some regularity during hypoxia. These abnormalities occurred with less frequency during the sham and recovery phases. It is possible that an altered breathing pattern or an inadequate washout period between phases might account for these findings. Overall, there was no significant relationship between the heart response and phase (p = .375). While the Alto2Lab did not produce any ECG changes indicative of an ischemic response, the present study used a small sample of healthy, recreationally-active participants. A larger study employing patients among higher risk categories would provide data that is not currently present in the literature and to which this trial cannot speak.


A nanophotonic polarization-independent visible wavelength filter is presented, incorporating a symmetric metal-dielectric resonant structure on quartz substrate, where a sub-wavelength grating, made up of a two-dimensional array of Al square sheets, is integrated with a Si(3)N(4) slab waveguide via an oxide layer. Incident light is orthogonally diffracted by the symmetric grating towards two directions of the grating groove, and then resonantly coupled to both transverse electric and transverse magnetic guided modes associated with the underlying waveguide, irrespective of light polarization. Polarization independent bandpass filtering was thus achieved around specific wavelengths, determined by the grating pitch and the effective index of the waveguide. Three devices, operating in the blue, green and red spectral bands, were built through design and analysis drawing upon the finite-difference time-domain method. The devices, DEV I, II, and III, were constructed with grating pitches of 285, 355 and 395 nm, respectively, while the core was 100 nm thick. They were inspected to function as an efficient bandpass filter, centered at 460, 560 and 610 nm, with bandwidths of about 13, 14 and 17 nm, respectively; the peak transmission efficiencies were consistently over 85%. Furthermore, the transfer characteristics, insensitive to light polarization, were satisfactorily confirmed for normal incidence.


This dissertation investigates how the settings of drug use influence the affective and neurobiological response to heroin versus cocaine in addicts.

Chapter 1 reviews the neuropharmacology of heroin and cocaine and the theoretical background for drugs-settings interactions, including a detailed discussion of findings from previous studies in animals and humans that show how the same settings can influence in opposite directions the reinforcing effect of heroin and cocaine. Cocaine self-administration, for example, was greatly facilitated when rats were tested outside the home environment relative to rats test at home. The opposite pattern was found for heroin. Translational studies in humans yielded similar results. Indeed, heroin and cocaine co-abusers reported using the two drugs in distinct settings: heroin preferentially at home and cocaine preferentially outside the home. The aim of this dissertation is to determine whether the setting could also influence in opposite manner the affective and neurobiological response to heroin and cocaine in human addicts.

Chapter 2 illustrates the findings of a study aimed at testing the hypothesis that the affective state experienced under cocaine or heroin is the result of an interaction between central and peripheral drug effects and the surroundings of drug use. According to this hypothesis, when cocaine is taken at home there is a mismatch between the familiar environment and the peripheral effects such as arousal, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and increased muscular tension (which are usually produced in stressful situations). This mismatch dampens cocaine-rewarding effects. A mismatch would also occurs when heroin (which produces sedation and decreases heart rate, respiratory rate, and muscular tension) is used outside the home in contexts requiring vigilance. We found indeed that co-abusers subjectively experienced opposite changes in arousal, heart rate, respiratory rate, and muscular tension in response to cocaine (increase) versus heroin (decrease). Most important, using a novel two-dimensional visual test, we found that in agreement with the working hypothesis the valence of the affective state produced by heroin and cocaine shifted in opposite directions as a function of the setting of drug use: heroin was reported to be more pleasant at home than outside the home, and vice versa for cocaine.

Chapter 3 illustrates the results of in which emotional imagery was combined with fMRI to investigation the neurobiological underpinnings of drug and setting interactions in addicts. Heroin and cocaine co-abusers were asked to recreate real-world settings of drug use during fMRI. In agreement with the working hypothesis, we found that heroin and cocaine imagery produced opposite changes in BOLD in the prefrontal cortex and in the striatum, regions implicated in brain reward in humans. Furthermore the same pattern of dissociation was observed in the cerebellum, suggesting that that a fronto-triatal-cerebellar network is implicated in processing drug-setting interactions.

Chapter 4 includes a summary of the results, a general discussion, and suggestions for future research and implication. The major finding is that the environment surrounding drug use can influence in opposite manner the affective and neurobiological response to heroin and cocaine, suggesting that therapeutic approaches to the treatment of drug addiction should take into account the distinctive effects of different classes of drugs as well as the contexts of drug use.

The Appendix includes reprints of two papers reporting on additional studies conducted during the course of the Ph.D. program, which are not directly germane to the aims of the dissertation. Other three papers are in the pre-submission stage.


There is a large body of research on cognitive interventions for older adults the review which suggests the following: (1) Cognition remediation therapy is indicated for healthy elderly, and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), early dementia, brain disease and injury, and severe mental illness (SMI). (2) Studies on healthy elderly demonstrate that with cognitive training (CT), cognitive stimulation (CS), and/or cognitive rehabilitation (CR) age-related cognitive decline can be reversed, at least partially if not fully, even in advanced age, with improved social functioning and quality of life. Better results are obtained if cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) is combined with vocational/psychosocial rehabilitation. Generalization of training to activities of daily living (ADL) and to secondary outcome measures such as quality of life and self-esteem are issues that need to be addressed in older adults. (3) Research in MCI has indicated that CRT, especially memory training, has some role. Future studies should place focus on the assessment of dose-response relationship, training generalization, and ecologically relevant approaches. (4) Findings of earlier work in early-stage dementia were frustrating, more recent work, especially randomized controlled trials of high quality, has provided a ray of rope with respect to effectiveness of CT and CR. Further well-designed studies are required to provide more definitive evidence. (5) Significant therapeutic effects of CR have been observed on cognitive function and ADL in the elderly patients with stroke. Routine screening for stroke patients and those with brain injury for cognitive impairment is recommended. (6) Available research provides evidence that cognitive remediation benefits people with SMI, and when combined with psychiatric rehabilitation this benefit generalizes to functioning. Elderly with SMI need special focus. Further needs to be carried out on older people with SMI.


This article offers a new understanding of the dynamic between the Supreme Court and Congress. It responds to an important literature that for several decades has misunderstood interbranch relations as continually fraught with antagonism and distrust. This unfriendly dynamic, many have argued, is evidenced by repeated congressional overrides of Supreme Court cases. While this claim is true in some circumstances, it ignores the friendly relations that exist between these two branches of government—relations that may be far more typical than scholars suspect.

This Article undertakes a comprehensive study of congressional responses to Supreme Court tax cases and makes a surprising finding: Overrides, although the main focus of the extant literature, account for just a small portion of the legislative activity responding to the Court. In fact, Congress is nearly as likely to support and affirm judicial decisionmaking through the codification of a case outcome as it is to reverse a decision through a legislative override. To investigate fully the nature of congressional oversight of Supreme Court decisionmaking, this Article undertakes both qualitative and quantitative analyses of different types of legislative review of Supreme Court decisions—examining codifications and citations, as well as overrides, in legislative debates, committees, and hearings. The result is a series of important and robust findings that challenge and build on the Court-Congress literature, identifying the legal, political, and economic factors that explain how and why legislators take notice of Supreme Court cases.

The study reveals a complex and nuanced interbranch dynamic and shows that the Justices themselves affect the legislative agenda to a greater extent than previously understood. This result challenges scholars who have questioned whether the Supreme Court should have jurisdiction over complex issues, such as those in the economic context, in which the Justices may lack sufficient training. This Article argues that scholars have little need to worry about Court decisionmaking in these areas: Not only do legislators routinely review the Court's decisions, but they also frequently confirm the outcomes as valuable contributions to national policymaking via the codification process.


The International Olympic Committee advocates that one of the three ultimate goals of Olympism is to build a peaceful and better world through sport. The International Paralympic Committee, on the other hand, is slightly less grandiose when stating its key aim of enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world. However, it does state that in inspiring and exciting the world, its aim is to contribute to a better world for all people with a disability. The objective of this paper is, therefore, firstly to outline some of the reasons why the world might need to be made better for people with disabilities. It will then look at some of the ways the Paralympic Games have contributed to this process since their inception as the Stoke Mandeville Games in the late 1940s. Overall, the objective of this paper is to highlight the ways in which disability sport and the Paralympic Games, in particular, have helped to break down some of the perceptual barriers that exist amongst non-disabled members of society regarding people with disabilities, thus promoting greater inclusion of people with disabilities and allowing them to live in more peaceful coexistence with their peers.


Coty Germany, GmbH v. Parfumerie Akzente, GmbH, a late 2017 decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), set off something of a tizzy along North Atlantic shores concerning the future of vertical restraints and distribution relationships in online commerce sectors. Generally, Coty seemed to reflect the sense that online distribution posed threats to them that were new or special. Firms and their lawyers saw need to protect their brands from the rapacity of big, no-frills, price-cutting online retailers, including above all Amazon. Sure enough, the same anxieties find expression in other broad policy initiatives relating to online commerce, including the "Better Deal" program of Democrats in the U.S. Congress and the European Union's ambitious new "Digital Single Market" program. But all this anxiety might look rather different if—contrary to our usual habit—consider it in historical context. In fact recent developments may not really be so new, at least not any ways relevant to competition policy. In fact, technological innovation in distribution, and the tension that has always characterized relations of suppliers and distributors, is an old story, and has been associated with some of the bitterest politics in antitrust history. And in times past, when similar anxieties of aggressive or innovative distributors have been met with private trade restraints or lobbying for protectionist government intervention, it has often enough turned out that the motives were not so pure and the changes that were feared were not ultimately so bad.


If one factor explains Benoit Hamon's insurgent victory in France's Socialist party presidential primary it is the attention and support he gained by enthusiastically placing the idea of a universal basic income (UBI) at the centre of his campaign. Indeed, as the centre left searches for a big idea that can capture the public imagination, UBI has rapidly become widely fashionable.

Experiments in different form of a basic income are also either running or being considered in Finland, the Netherlands and Scotland. In the UK, Labour recently announced a plan to 'investigate' basic income.

What has for centuries been an outpost of radical, even obscure, philosophical and economic debates could soon become a reality. So has the time finally come for a universal basic income?

In their latest Policy Network paper on 'Europe's new social reality', produced with the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (Feps), Daniel Sage and Patrick Diamond make a determined argument that as policy answer to profound challenges around the future of both work and welfare UBI is in fact unclear and unpersuasive.


The hymenosomatid crab Amarinus lacustris is abundant in some south-eastern Australian rivers; however, little is known of its ecology. Patterns of habitat use by crabs in rivers may be affected by seasonal changes in river discharge. This study investigates population characteristics, timing of reproduction and patterns of habitat use by A. lacustris in five riffle and pool habitats from each of the Hopkins and Merri Rivers in south-west Victoria, Australia, sampled over a twelve-month period. Distribution of Amarinus lacustris was similar between the two rivers, but log-linear modelling showed that there was a strong association between crab sex, habitat occupied and time of year because female A. lacustris showed a shift from riffle to pool habitats during March and April, coinciding with the non-gravid period of the year. Male crabs also showed a change in relative occurrence, occurring most often in riffles during winter–spring (July–November) but being equally common in both habitats in summer–autumn (January–May). These patterns are probably the result of the reproductive cycle of A. lacustris, which appears to show both ontogenetic and sex-related changes in habitat use during its life cycle, taking advantage of seasonal fluctuations in flow regime that may assist egg/larval development and dispersal.


Rabies is an acute highly fatal viral disease of the CNS caused by Lyssavirus Type-I. It has a long and variable incubation period. It is a communicable disease of man that is always fatal. The combined administration of a single dose of anti rabies serum with a course of vaccine, together with local treatment of the wound is the best specific prophylactic treatment after exposure of man to rabies. Here, we report a case of rabies, who developed the disease in spite of having taken three doses of anti rabies vaccine (Post exposure).


A search for physics beyond the standard model in events with at least three leptons is presented. The data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collisions with center-of-mass energy sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, was collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC during 2012. The data are divided into exclusive categories based on the number of leptons and their flavor, the presence or absence of an opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pair (OSSF), the invariant mass of the OSSF pair, the presence or absence of a tagged bottom-quark jet, the number of identified hadronically decaying tau leptons, and the magnitude of the missing transverse energy and of the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta. The numbers of observed events are found to be consistent with the expected numbers from standard model processes, and limits are placed on new-physics scenarios that yield multilepton final states. In particular, scenarios that predict Higgs boson production in the context of supersymmetric decay chains are examined. We also place a 95% confidence level upper limit of 1.3% on the branching fraction for the decay of a top quark to a charm quark and a Higgs boson (t to c H), which translates to a bound on the left- and right-handed top-charm flavor-violating Higgs Yukawa couplings, lambda[H, tc] and lambda[H, ct], respectively, of sqrt(abs(lambda[H, tc])^2 + abs(lambda[H, ct])^2)<0.21.


To what extent can the devising of an 'age-appropriate' music theatre work, which possesses a profound undercurrent of 'choice' underpinning its performative ethos challenge notions of what young people with SENs can or should be allowed to creatively explore, achieve and express in public to an adult audience, alongside adult music and theatre professionals. It will be argued that the realisation of such a work promoted profound ideas of agency in the individuals that participated, through a variety of methodological modes that could readily add to the techniques of creative education employed in SENs classrooms up and down the country.
Context

In Search of the Phoenix is a music theatre work composed by Stephen Davismoon; directed by Sadie Smith. It is based upon the Russian folk-tale of Sadko - a popular sea-faring town musician, who dreams of setting sail one day to find the bird of happiness and bring it home to his beloved 'Chatsville.' Through his many adventurous voyages he attains the realisation of true 'riches' and happiness. It is a tale of love, courage and sincerity told through the power of music.

In the summer of 2015 the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra commissioned the composer Stephen Davismoon to realise a work for the students of Chatsworth Community High School and Community College – a very forward-thinking and innovative SENs School in Salford, Greater Manchester. Immediately Stephen Davismoon began to work with Sadie Smith the principle Drama Teacher at Chatsworth Community High School.

Davismoon has worked on many SEN creative projects over the last three decades, a recurring frustration has been that all too often there was not really enough time to fully and truly devise a work in partnership with SENs students. What has been powerful for Davismoon and Smith with this project is that, as they argue, they have gotten much closer to a true devising of a work within an SENs context. Since the project's inception - some 18 months before its eventual performance – Davismoon and Smith have spent, some 300 hours in the company of the students where, initially Davismoon remained in observer mode, noting musical likes/dislikes, their performative abilities and disabilities etc.

Davismoon then moved on to interacting rather more visibly with the students, allowing him to explore in a more relaxed way their performative likes and dislikes, their abilities and disabilities. Whilst Davismoon and Smith can't say that the students wrote the piece that was eventually performed, they do argue that all of the students that remained part of the performance were there because they wanted passionately to be part of it and owned the piece in a profound way.

Furthermore Davismoon and Smith argue that while the students didn't write the music nor create the sound effects, they were very much part of the creative decision proceses by discussing the types of music/sounds that might be included in the work with certain scenes etc. Through the playing of the music/sound we can tell whether or not the students feel that it is apposite.

While the students didn't write the script nor finalise the work's blocking, the proposed paper will assert that they had a profound influence upon it, causing the re-drafting scripts, through repeated workshopping of scenes and improvising movement pieces. Davismoon and Smith contend that the work's funniest lines often came from the students of Chatsworth!

All of this though took more time than one might ordinarily spend in the devising of a new work. But then perhaps a project for participants with SENs is demanding of a different time scale in terms of production – Davismoon and Smith definitely think that it is deserving of one.


Objective 10% of all individuals in Germany develop persistent symptoms due to nonspecific back pain (NSBP) causing up to 90% of direct and indirect expenses for health care systems. Evidence indicates a strong relationship between chronic nonspecific back pain and psychosocial risk factors. The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) and the German Heidelberger Kurzfragebogen Rückenschmerz (HKF-R 10) are deemed valid in prediction of persistent pain, functional loss or amount of sick leave. This study provides and discusses validity criteria for these questionnaires using ROC-curve analyses. Quality measurements included sensitivity and specificity, likelihood-ratio related test-efficiencies and clinical utility in regard to predictive values. Methods 265 patients recruited from primary and secondary care units completed both questionnaires during the same timeframe. From the total, 133 patients returned a 6-month follow-up questionnaire to assess the validity criteria for outcomes of pain, function and sick leave. Results Based on heterogeneous cut-offs for the ÖMPSQ, sensitivity and specificity were moderate for outcome of pain (72%/75%). Very high sensitivity was observed for function (97%/57%) and high specificity for sick leave (63%/85%). The latter also applied to the HKF-R 10 (pain 50%/84%). Proportions between sensitivity and specificity were unbalanced except for the ÖMPSQ outcome of pain. Likelihood-ratios and positive predictive values ranged from low to moderate. Conclusion Although the ÖMPSQ may be considered useful in identification of long-term functional loss or pain, over- and underestimation of patients at risk of chronic noncspecific back pain led to limited test-efficiencies and clinical utility for both questionnaires. Further studies are required to quantify the predictive validity of both questionnaires in Germany.


This article explores the representation of youth masculinity in contemporary Hollywood comedy. By focusing on the intersection of gender and generation, it emphasizes the importance of relationality in a consideration of representations of boyhood. Using Superbad as a case study, this article reveals the nuanced ways in which the crisis of masculinity is represented in popular culture in a postfeminist context. Foregrounding issues of homosociality in coming-of-age narratives, it emphasizes the tensions between generational expectations and performances of gender. Themes of loss and nostalgia are explored through analysis of the juxtaposition of adult and adolescent male characters in Superbad , providing insight into and understanding of the complexities of boyhood. Superbad is contextualized in relation to teen comedy more broadly, highlighting the important cultural space that contemporary Hollywood comedies play in (re)constructing discourses of masculinity.


Objective: The objective of this standardised experimental study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of the combination of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and the anti-inflammatory pro-vitamin dexpanthenol, which stimulates wound-healing, in the form of Bepanthen® Antiseptic Wound Cream, in order to rule out possible antagonistic combination effects of CHX and the alcohol analogue of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) dexpanthenol. Method: Testing was carried out using the quantitative suspension test at conditions simulating wound bio-burden. Test strains included Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) in accordance with the standard methods of the German Hygiene and Microbiology Society with the following three organic challenges: i) cell culture medium MEM with Earle's salts, L-glutamine and 10% foetal calf serum (CCM); ii) 10% sheep's blood; iii) or a mixture of 4.5% albumin, 4.5% sheep's blood and 1% mucin. For methodological reasons, the wound cream was tested as a 55% dilution, prepared with 1% Tween 80 (equivalent to a content of 0.275% CHX instead of 0.5% as in the original preparation). CHX 0.275% was tested as control in an aqueous solution and in 1% Tween 80. Additionally, 1% Tween 80 was tested in order to rule out an interfering effect of the dilution medium. A combination of 3% Tween 80, 3% saponin, 0.1% histidine, 0.3% lecithin, 0.5% Na-thiosulphate and 1% ether sulphate was identified as the most appropriate neutraliser during the experiments. Results: Exposed to CCM or 10% sheep's blood, the tested wound cream fulfilled the requirements for a wound antiseptic against both test species with ≥3 log reduction at 10 minutes. Even at the the worst-case challenge test with 4.5% albumin, 4.5% sheep's blood and 1% mucin, the requirement for a ≥3 log reduction was met after 24 hours of exposure. Interestingly, the aqueous solution of 0.275% CHX tested as control did not achieve the antimicrobial efficacy of the combination of CHX and 5% dexpanthenol. 1% Tween 80 was ineffective against both test species. Conclusion: Bepanthen® Antiseptic Wound Cream achieves the in vitro bactericidal and fungicidal efficacy required for a wound antiseptic under three different challenges, despite dilution to 55% of the original preparation. So far, the addition of dexpanthenol was intended to support wound healing. However, our results indicate that the antiseptic efficacy of CHX is synergistically increased by adding 5% dexpanthenol. Acknowledging the antimicrobial and residual efficacy of CHX, and bearing in the mind the contraindications to CHX (allergy and anaphylaxis), the tested wound cream should be regarded as better suitable to be used as wound antiseptic than preparations on basis of CHX alone.


This project utilized the Connected Vehicle (CV) environment, which provides two-way wireless communications between vehicles and infrastructure, to (1) improve the Cumulative Travel-time Responsive (CTR) Intersection Control Algorithm under low CV market penetration by utilizing Bluetooth technology, and (2) assess potential benefits of the CTR algorithm by examining mobility, energy, and greenhouse emissions measures. The project team developed and evaluated a hardware-in-the-loop simulation to ensure that the developed CTR algorithm will work with an existing traffic controller on the Northern Virginia Connected Vehicle Test Bed. The team enhanced the CTR algorithm and evaluated its impact to verify the feasibility of field implementation. Two prediction techniques, a standard Kalman filter (SKF) and an adaptive Kalman filter (AKF), were applied to estimate cumulative travel time for each phase in the CTR algorithm. In addition, traffic demand, the market penetration rate (MPR), and the types of available data were also considered in evaluating CTR algorithm performance. The Lee Highway and Nutley Street intersection on the Northern Virginia Connected Vehicle Test Bed was selected for a case study and simulated within VISSIM. The results showed that the CTR algorithm's performance depends on the MPR, as the information collected from CVs is a key CTR algorithm-enabling factor. However, this study found that the MPR could be relaxed (1) when the data were collected from both CV and infrastructure sensors, and (2) when an AKF was adopted in the CTR algorithm. The minimum MPRs required to outperform the current actuated traffic signal control were empirically found for each prediction technique and types of available data—data from both Connected Vehicle and infrastructure sensors, or Connected Vehicle's data only. Even without the infrastructure sensors, the CTR algorithm could be considered for implementation at an intersection with high traffic demand and a 50% to 60% MPR. As the MPR for this field evaluation was around 14%, much lower than the minimum 20% required with an AKF incorporated, the project team could not implement the proposed algorithm. Instead, the team developed an implementation plan that can be easily adopted by traffic engineers once the MPR reaches 20% or higher.


Risbec (1957) descriptionbed Ruandella, a monobasic genus from Africa. This genus, like others descriptionbed by that author, has remained unrecognized. Recently, Subba Rao (March 1971) descriptionbed a new genus, Turnerella, and a month later Annecke (1971) descriptionbed Macchiencyrtus. Annecke based his genus on three species that were reared from known hosts. Turnerella Subba Rao is preoccupied by Turnerella Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and my recent studies have shown that both Turnerella Subba Rao and Macchiencyrtus Annecke are junior subjective synonyms of Ruandella Risbec. This new synonymy is shown below.


The woods are full of puzzles to be solved, clues to be found. Inspired by this book's hints and fun-filled experiments and activities, and using only simple equipment, young readers unlock the closely guarded secrets of the woodsfrom the strange meetings of lazy butterflies, to the miraculous "walking" of a twig, to the riddle of why the leaves turn color and fall. One small square at a time, these "detectives" plunge deeper and deeper into ancient mysterieswithout ever getting lost. Beautifully illustrated, Woods offers a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.

Table of contents
Introduction.One Small Square of Woods.Catch a Falling Clue.Whodunit.Barking Up a Tree.Nobody Said.Get Carried Away.In a Nutshell.Wanted: Dead and Alive.In Winter's Grip.In a Hurry.A Tale Told by a Clue.Clued In.


Depositional (facies) models of fluvial architecture permit straightforward categorization of deposits, but are necessarily simplistic. Here we describe a complementary database methodology which is designed to encapsulate the inherent complexity of fluvial systems and their preserved deposits. The database is implemented as a series of tables (characterizing qualitative and quantitative architectural and geomorphological properties and system attributes) populated with data derived from peer-reviewed studies of both modern rivers and ancient fluvial successions, and from other reliable sources. Architectural properties (geometries, internal organization, spatial distribution and reciprocal relationships of lithosomes) are assigned to three different orders of genetic bodies organized in a hierarchical framework, ultimately belonging to stratigraphic volumes that are homogeneous in terms of their controlling factors and internal parameters. Interrogation of the database generates a varied suite of quantitative information, whose principal applications include: (i) the quantitative comparison of fluvial architecture to evaluate the relative importance of intrinsic and extrinsic controls; (ii) development of quantitatively justified fluvial depositional models through the integration of data from multiple sources; (iii) development of better constraints on the workflows used to infer borehole correlations and to condition stochastic models of subsurface architecture; (iv) identification of appropriate modern and ancient analogues for hydrocarbon reservoirs.


— One of the main issues in Computer Vision is to extract the movement of one or several points or objects of interest in an image or video sequence to conduct any kind of study or control process. Different techniques to solve this problem have been applied in numerous areas such as surveillance systems, analysis of traffic, motion capture, image compression, navigation systems and others, where the specific characteristics of each scenario determine the approximation to the problem. This paper puts forward a Computer Vision based algorithm to analyze fish trajectories in high turbulence conditions in artificial structures called vertical slot fishways, designed to allow the upstream migration of fish through obstructions in rivers. The suggested algorithm calculates the position of the fish at every instant starting from images recorded with a camera and using neural networks to execute fish detection on images. Different laboratory tests have been carried out in a full scale fishway model and with living fishes, allowing the reconstruction of the fish trajectory and the measurement of velocities and accelerations of the fish. These data can provide useful information to design more effective vertical slot fishways.


Problems of discovering and representing reality, of making and transcribing rules into linguistic and other symbolic forms, of fact-finding and interpretation routinely confront policy-makers and lawyers. But, in a sense, everyone is a lawyer because ordinary human interaction is saturated with norms and normative processes, institutions, structures, and cultures. Everyday life thus provides an unlimited supply of images and events that raise some of the most complex issues of legal theory. In Lessons of Everyday Law Roderick MacDonald shows that stories of everyday law are revealing not just for what they can teach about policy-making and law reform but as accounts of practices internal to the little legal systems of everyday life. The norms governing ordinary encounters reveal how human beings make sense of their relationships with each other and translate these relationships into discrete, culturally determined legal forms and values. Most of these small-scale norms can also be found in larger normative settings, such as the official legal system of the political state and the multiple regimes of international law. Lessons of Everyday Law suggests that the stream of influence between the micro-law of everyday life and the macro-law of the world legal order flows both ways. Attending to the normative dimensions of everyday human interaction enriches our understanding of the forms, aspirations, and limits of law - wherever it is found.


Without doubt the final hymn of the Psalter can be described as the climax, or grand finale, of the Israelite faith's most known hymnbook. In this psalm, sound and action are blended into a picture of ecstatic joy. The whole universe is called upon to magnify Yah(weh), the God of Israel. The text poses various exegetical challenges. In the past, Psalm 150 was traditionally analysed as a single text; but with the advent of the canonical and redactionhistorical approaches to the interpretation of the Book of Psalms, Psalm 150 can be interpreted as part of the final Hallel (Pss 146–150), or Book V (Pss 107–150) of the Psalter. This view opens up new possibilities for reading the psalm in broader contexts and its broader literary context(s) illuminate its theological significance. This article is an attempt at reflecting on the psalm's context(s), structure, Gattung and dates of origin, tradition-historical relations to the Pentateuch, Psalms and other Old Testament texts. Ultimately some reflections on the psalm's theological significance will be suggested.


Online markets pose a difficulty for evaluating products, particularly experience goods, such as used cars, that cannot be easily described online. This exacerbates product uncertainty, the buyer's difficulty in evaluating product characteristics, and predicting how a product will perform in the future. However, the IS literature has focused on seller uncertainty and ignored product uncertainty. To address this void, this study conceptualizes product uncertainty and examines its effects and antecedents in online markets for used cars (eBay Motors).

Extending the information asymmetry literature from the seller to the product, we first theorize the nature and dimensions (description and performance) of product uncertainty. Second, we propose product uncertainty to be distinct from, yet shaped by, seller uncertainty. Third, we conjecture product uncertainty to negatively affect price premiums in online markets beyond seller uncertainty. Fourth, based on the information signaling literature, we describe how information signals (diagnostic product descriptions and third-party product assurances) reduce product uncertainty.

The structural model is validated by a unique dataset comprised of secondary transaction data from used cars on eBay Motors matched with primary data from 331 buyers who bid on these used cars. The results distinguish between product and seller uncertainty, show that product uncertainty has a stronger effect on price premiums than seller uncertainty, and identify the most influential information signals that reduce product uncertainty.

The study's implications for the emerging role of product uncertainty in online markets are discussed.


The information age is posing new challenges for organisations. The role of technology as a source of competitive advantage has long been recognised as dependent upon how effectively those within the organisation deploy it. The contribution of technologists in shaping strategy is also well recognised. However, technologists are often seen as not having sufficient input into the strategic decision making process. Many turn to MBA programs to develop their knowledge, understanding and personal competences. In this paper, the authors describe how the case method has traditionally been used to aid in this process. They then discuss the opportunities afforded by multimedia and groupware to create enhanced learning opportunities based on a dynamic case analysis. Such a system is seen by the authors as having the potential to be the backbone of a knowledge management system to support everyday decision-making.