Respiratory rate is a vital physiological signal that may be useful for a multitude of clinical applications, especially if measured in the wild rather than controlled settings. In-the-wild respiratory rate monitoring is currently done using dedicated chest band sensors, but these devices are specialized, expensive and cumbersome to wear day after day. While recent works have proposed using smartwatch based accelerometer and gyroscope data for respiratory rate monitoring, current methods are unreliable and inaccurate in the presence of motion and have therefore only been applied in controlled or low-motion settings. Thus, measuring respiratory rate in the wild remains a challenge.

We observe that for many applications, having fewer accurate readings is better than having more, less accurate readings. Based on this, we develop WearBreathing, a novel system for respiratory rate monitoring. WearBreathing consists of a machine learning based filter that detects and rejects sensor data that are not suitable for respiratory rate extraction and a convolutional neural network model for extracting respiratory rate from accelerometer and gyroscope data. Using a diverse, out-of-the-lab dataset that we collected, we show that WearBreathing has a 2.5 to 5.8 times lower mean absolute error (MAE) than existing approaches. We show that WearBreathing is tunable and by changing a single threshold value, it can, for example, deliver a reading every 50 seconds with a MAE of 2.05 breaths/min or a reading every 5 minutes with an MAE of 1.09 breaths/min. Finally, we evaluate power consumption and find that with some power saving measures, WearBreathing can run on a smartwatch while providing a full day's worth of battery life.


We experimentally demonstrate a novel silicon waveguide structure for guiding and confining light in nanometer-wide low-refractive-index material. The optical field in the low-index material is enhanced because of the discontinuity of the electric field at high-index-contrast interfaces. We measure a 30% reduction of the effective index of light propagating in the novel structure due to the presence of the nanometer-wide low-index region, evidencing the guiding and confinement of light in the low-index material. We fabricate ring resonators based on the structure and show that the structure can be implemented in highly integrated photonics.


Perversion - its ubiquity in infantile life and its persistence in the psychical and sexual lives of some adults - was a central element of Freud's lifelong work. The problem of perversion has since been revisited by many psychoanalytic schools with the result that Freud's original view of perversion has been replaced by numerous - often contradictory - perspectives on its aetiology, development and treatment. The concept of perversion has also been significant for the disciplines of cultural studies and gender and queer theory, which have explored the creative and dissident powers of perversion, while expressing a suspicion of its operation as a pathological category. This bi-partite collection offers a series of perspectives on perversion by a range of psychoanalytic practitioners and theorists (edited by Dany Nobus), and a selection of papers by scholars who work with, or critique, psychoanalytic theories of perversion (edited by Lisa Downing). It stages a serious dialogue between psychoanalysis and its commentators on the controversial issue of non-normative sexuality.


Since the publication of the Stern Review, economists have started to ask more normative questions about climate change. Should we act now or tomorrow ? What is the best theoretical carbon price to reach long-term abatement targets? How do we discount the long-term costs and benefits of climate change? This provocative book argues that these are the wrong sorts of questions to ask because they don't take into account the policies that have already been implemented. Instead, it urges us to concentrate on existing policies and tools by showing how the development of carbon markets could dramatically reduce world greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, triggering policies to build a new low-carbon energy system while restructuring the way agriculture interacts with forests. This provides an innovative new perspective on how a post-Kyoto international climate regime could emerge from agreements between the main GHG emitters capping their emissions and building an international carbon market.


Abstract. The propagation of spatio-temporal errors in precipitation estimates to runoff errors in the output from the conceptual hydrological HBV model was investigated. The study region was the Giman catchment in central Sweden, and the period year 2002. Five precipitation sources were considered: NWP model (H22), weather radar (RAD), precipitation gauges (PTH), and two versions of a mesoscale analysis system (M11, M22). To define the baseline estimates of precipitation and runoff, used to define seasonal precipitation and runoff biases, the mesoscale climate analysis M11 was used. The main precipitation biases were a systematic overestimation of precipitation by H22, in particular during winter and early spring, and a pronounced local overestimation by RAD during autumn, in the western part of the catchment. These overestimations in some cases exceeded 50% in terms of seasonal subcatchment relative accumulated volume bias, but generally the bias was within ±20%. The precipitation data from the different sources were used to drive the HBV model, set up and calibrated for two stations in Giman, both for continuous simulation during 2002 and for forecasting of the spring flood peak. In summer, autumn and winter all sources agreed well. In spring H22 overestimated the accumulated runoff volume by ~50% and peak discharge by almost 100%, owing to both overestimated snow depth and precipitation during the spring flood. PTH overestimated spring runoff volumes by ~15% owing to overestimated winter precipitation. The results demonstrate how biases in precipitation estimates may exhibit a substantial space-time variability, and may further become either magnified or reduced when applied for hydrological purposes, depending on both temporal and spatial variations in the catchment. Thus, the uncertainty in precipitation estimates should preferably be specified as a function of both time and space.


Copyright © Interdisciplinary Encyclopedia of Religion and Science ISSN: 2037-2329 and the author. No part of this article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior permission of the Editors. To refer to the content of this article, quote: INTERS – Interdisciplinary Encyclopedia of Religion and Science, edited by G. Tanzella-Nitti, I. Colagé and A. Strumia, www.inters.org Date: 2008 DOI: 10.17421/2037-2329-2008-GT-2 Giuseppe Tanzella-Nitti [1]


ABSTRACT This paper analyses the controversial discourses around the significance of the Arabic language in Eritrea. It challenges the arguments of the government and some scholars, who claim that the Arabic language is alien to Eritrean society. They argue that it was introduced as an official language under British rule and is only spoken by the Rashaida minority and by a small educated elite. By contrast, this paper demonstrates that Arabic has served as the established lingua franca among the Eritrean Muslims and as the administrative language and medium of education for centuries. The main focus of the paper is a critique of the government's post-independence language policy, which replaced Arabic as the medium of instruction by mother tongue education under the purported aim of establishing the equality of all nine Eritrean languages. I argue that the promotion of this policy has political implications and that one of its purposes is to alienate the Muslim community from the use of the Arabic language as a marker of their common identity. The article is written from a sociological perspective and draws on numerous conversations with mother tongue school teachers, students and parents, and on participant observation of the public debate.


During several periods of volcanic-ash eruption at Mount St. Helens, Wash., (March 30, May 25-26, May 30-June 2, and June 12-13, 1980) strong winds from the north occurred at high altitudes. As a result, the volcanic ash fell some 50 miles to the south in the Bull Run watershed, the principal water-supply source for the metropolitan area of Portland, Oreg. Water samples collected from three stream sites within-the watershed where compared with samples collected during the same season in previous years. No detectable changes were noted in chemical characteristics. Precipitation samples collected immediately after the June 12-13 ash fall ranged in specific conductance from 20 to 41 micromhos per centimeter at 25°C and in pH from 4.0 to 4.3 pH units. Stream samples collected during the May-June period ranged in specific conductance from 18 to 28 micromhos per centimeter at 25 oc and in pH from 6. 7 to 7.5 pH units. Volcanic-ash samples were collected and analyzed for particles size, chemical composition, and weight. Significant differences in particle size of ash were found in samples from two separate eruptions.


Entrepreneurship research concerning networks has largely focused on network structure, content and governance. We believe that further research is required in order to gain a richer understanding of why specific network forms and types originated. The purpose of this paper is to explore the existence, importance, values and meanings of both the informal and formal networks and networking behaviours of small-scale hotel owner-managers embedded in the socio-economic context of Croatia. In order to gain richer and more detailed understanding of entrepreneurial networks and to understand the influence of socio-economic setting on entrepreneurial networking, we have employed qualitative, in-depth study with small hotel owners. Results suggest that entrepreneurs do not establish strong personal and firm-to-firm ties, but rather focus on formal associations. Reported findings identify socio-cultural factors apparently unique to the context of former socialist economy which have the potential to explain the reported networking behaviour. The adopted research approach brings another dimension to existing theoretical underpinnings, which can encourage researchers to extend or revise theories with new contextual variables.


Various recent studies have shown that observer variability can be a significant issue in modern display olorimetry, since narrow-band primaries are often used to achieve wider color gamuts. As far as industrial applications are concerned, past works on various aspects of observer variability and metamerism have mostly focused on cross-media color matching, an pplication context that is different from color matching on two displays, both in terms of human visual performance and the application requirements. In this paper, we report a set of three preliminary color matching experiments using a studio Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display with broadband primaries, and a modern wide-color gamut Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) with narrow-band primaries, with and without surround. Two principal goals of these pilot tests are to validate the experimental protocol, and to obtain a first set of metameric data of display color matches under different viewing conditions. In this paper, various experimental design considerations leading to the current test setup are discussed, and the results from the pilot tests are presented. We confirm the validity of our test setup, and show that the average color matches predicted by the 1964 CIE 10° standard observer, although acceptable as average matches, can often be significantly and unacceptably different from individual observer color matches. The mean, maximum and the 90th percentile values of the standard observer-predicted color difference of individual observer color matches were 1.4, 3.3 and 2.6 ΔE*00 respectively.


Background Several studies showed that maternal smoking in pregnancy is related to behavioural and emotional disorders in the offspring. It is unclear whether this is a causal association, or can be explained by other smoking-related vulnerability factors for child behavioural problems. Methods Within a population-based birth cohort, both mothers and fathers reported on their smoking habits at several time-points during pregnancy. Behavioural problems were measured with the Child Behavior Checklist in 4680 children at the age of 18 months. Results With adjustment for age and gender only, children of mothers who continued smoking during pregnancy had higher risk of Total Problems [odds ratio (OR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21–2.08] and Externalizing problems (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.15–1.84), compared with children of mothers who never smoked. Smoking by father when mother did not smoke, was also related to a higher risk of behavioural problems. The statistical association of parental smoking with behavioural problems was strongly confounded by parental characteristics, chiefly socioeconomic status and parental psychopathology; adjustment for these factors accounted entirely for the effect of both maternal and paternal smoking on child behavioural problems. Conclusions Maternal smoking during pregnancy, as well as paternal smoking, occurs in the context of other factors that place the child at increased developmental risk, but may not be causally related to the child's behaviour. It is essential to include sufficient information on parental psychiatric symptoms in studies exploring the association between pre-natal cigarette smoke exposure and behavioural disorders.


Broadcast is becoming an increasingly attractive data-dissemination method for large client populations. In order to effectively utilize a broadcast medium for such a service, it is necessary to have efficient on-line scheduling algorithms that can balance individual and overall performance and can scale in terms of data set sizes, client populations, and broadcast bandwidth. We propose an algorithm, called R/spl times/W, that provides good performance across all of these criteria and can be tuned to trade off average and worst-case waiting time. Unlike previous work on low overhead scheduling, the algorithm does not use estimates of the access probabilities of items, but rather, it makes scheduling decisions based on the current queue state, allowing it to easily adapt to changes in the intensity and distribution of the workload. We demonstrate the performance advantages of the algorithm under a range of scenarios using a simulation model and present analytical results that describe the intrinsic behavior of the algorithm.


Abstract Generally, in liberal democratic systems, it is assumed that government should forbear from interference with existing individual property entitlements. It is assumed that existing individual property entitlements should be respected, with government reluctant to interfere. Despite the ubiquity of this assumption, the theoretical underpinning for it is not obvious. A sovereign must respond to the needs of all of the members of the greater community for which it speaks. In view of this obligation, irrevocably assigning property rights to some, and not to others, is an inherently troublesome proposition. In this Article, the reasons for this state of affairs are examined. The conclusion is reached that conventional theories advanced by courts and commentators for government forbearance — such as protecting individual reliance interests, or advancing other independent policies — fail to explain the forbearance phenomenon. A more convincing reason can be found in a public fiduciary theory of government. However, recognition of this reveals that the property/sovereignty relationship is far more complex than a simple forbearance model would dictate. In fact, it mandates — in some circumstances — government nonforbearance, as well.


ABSTRACT Ron Dudai ('Entryism, mimicry and victimhood work: the adoption of human rights discourse by right-wing groups in Israel') makes the argument that 'right-wing' groups imitate, seek to be included in, and to exploit human rights discourse in order to pursue a 'right-wing' agenda. The ostensible objective of this effort is to hijack the movement from within, defend Israel and undermine the Palestinian struggle for human rights. The choice and reliability of evidence and the argument are highly problematic, in two core dimensions. First, the reification of the 'right–left' dichotomy in the context of debates regarding human rights, with repeated references to 'right-wing' without independent, consistent and verifiable definitions or criteria. Second, according to the paradigm, those who are not sufficiently progressive cannot possibly care about human rights, and are acting on the basis of imputed motivations. Thus, these Israeli civil society organisations are falsely categorised as 'government-aligned groups masquerading as independent civil society actors' 'state marionettes' or 'phantom organizations'.


Studying the sources of errors in memory recall has proven invaluable for understanding the mechanisms of working memory (WM). While one-dimensional memory features (e.g., color, orientation) can be analyzed using existing mixture modeling toolboxes to separate the influence of imprecision, guessing, and misbinding (the tendency to confuse features that belong to different memoranda), such toolboxes are not currently available for two-dimensional spatial WM tasks. Here we present a method to isolate sources of spatial error in tasks where participants have to report the spatial location of an item in memory, using two-dimensional mixture models. The method recovers simulated parameters well and is robust to the influence of response distributions and biases, as well as number of nontargets and trials. To demonstrate the model, we fit data from a complex spatial WM task and show the recovered parameters correspond well with previous spatial WM findings and with recovered parameters on a one-dimensional analogue of this task, suggesting convergent validity for this two-dimensional modeling approach. Because the extra dimension allows greater separation of memoranda and responses, spatial tasks turn out to be much better for separating misbinding from imprecision and guessing than one-dimensional tasks. Code for these models is freely available in the MemToolbox2D package and is integrated to work with the commonly used MATLAB package MemToolbox.


Abstract Increased ecological disturbances, species invasions, and climate change are creating severe conservation problems for several plant species that are widespread and foundational. Understanding the genetic diversity of these species and how it relates to adaptation to these stressors are necessary for guiding conservation and restoration efforts. This need is particularly acute for big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata; Asteraceae), which was once the dominant shrub over 1,000,000 km2 in western North America but has since retracted by half and thus has become the target of one of the largest restoration seeding efforts globally. Here, we present the first reference-quality genome assembly for an ecologically important subspecies of big sagebrush (A. tridentata subsp. tridentata) based on short and long reads, as well as chromatin proximity ligation data analyzed using the HiRise pipeline. The final 4.2-Gb assembly consists of 5,492 scaffolds, with nine pseudo-chromosomal scaffolds (nine scaffolds comprising at least 90% of the assembled genome; n = 9). The assembly contains an estimated 43,377 genes based on ab initio gene discovery and transcriptional data analyzed using the MAKER pipeline, with 91.37% of BUSCOs being completely assembled. The final assembly was highly repetitive, with repeat elements comprising 77.99% of the genome, making the Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata genome one of the most highly repetitive plant genomes to be sequenced and assembled. This genome assembly advances studies on plant adaptation to drought and heat stress and provides a valuable tool for future genomic research.


In cyclodextrin (CD)-mediated aqueous biphasic catalysis, favoring contacts between the CD ("host"), the organic substrate ("guest") and the water-soluble catalyst is crucial for the reaction to proceed efficiently at the aqueous/organic interface. Grafting the catalyst onto the CD backbone thus appears as an attractive approach to favor the molecular recognition of the substrate and its subsequent catalytic conversion into products. In this context, a new water-soluble β-CD-based phosphane was synthesized and characterized by NMR, tensiometric and ITC measurements. The β-CD-based phosphane consisted of a 3,3′-disulfonatodiphenyl phosphane connected to the primary face of β-CD by a dimethyleneamino spacer. Intra- and intermolecular inclusion processes of one of the two sulfophenyl groups into the β-CD cavity were identified in water. However, the association constant (Ka) related to the β-CD/sulfophenyl group couple was low. Accordingly, the inclusion process was easily displaced upon coordination to rhodium complexes. The efficacy of the resulting Rh-complex coordinated by β-CD-based phosphanes was assessed in Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of higher olefins. The catalytic system proved to be far more successful and efficient than a system consisting of supramolecularly interacting phosphanes and CDs. The catalytic activity was up to 30-fold higher while the chemo- and regioselectivities remain rather unchanged.


Recent studies have concluded that coal-tar-based pavement sealants are a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban settings in large parts of the United States. In 2006, Austin, TX, became the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to ban the use of coal-tar sealants. We evaluated the effect of Austin's ban by analyzing PAHs in sediment cores and bottom-sediment samples collected in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2012, and 2014 from Lady Bird Lake, the principal receiving water body for Austin urban runoff. The sum concentration of the 16 EPA Priority Pollutant PAHs (∑PAH16) in dated core intervals and surficial bottom-sediment samples collected from sites in the lower lake declined about 44% from 1998-2005 to 2006-2014 (means of 7980 and 4500 μg kg(-1), respectively), and by 2012-2014, the decline was about 58% (mean of 3320 μg kg(-1)). Concentrations of ∑PAH16 in bottom sediment from two of three mid-lake sites decreased by about 71 and 35% from 2001 to 2014. Concentrations at a third site increased by about 14% from 2001 to 2014. The decreases since 2006 reverse a 40-year (1959-1998) upward trend. Despite declines in PAH concentrations, PAH profiles and source-receptor modeling results indicate that coal-tar sealants remain the largest PAH source to the lake, implying that PAH concentrations likely will continue to decline as stocks of previously applied sealant gradually become depleted.


Digital cameras, as well as film cameras, are designed to record light so that it can be displayed on computer screen or photographic paper. Unfortunately this limitation prevents the normal cameras to capture the dynamic range of colours (ratio between dark and bright regions) as it is presented in the real world. High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography overcomes this limitation by using a bracketed exposure sequence of the same scene to reproduce a single image, allowing in this way the reproduction of the compressed dynamic range of colors as they are presented in the real world. Unfortunately HDR imagery is not suitable for dynamic scenes. In fact moving objects in the scenes produce in the final HDR images undesirable artefacts called ghosts. For the same reasons a perfect alignment of each image in the sequence is strictly required to obtain consistent and flawless HDR images. In this work, we propose different techniques to adapt HDR imaging to dynamic scenes. These techniques are responsible to detect moving objects in a scene described by a bracketed exposure sequence and to erase the ghosts generated by these movements in the corresponding HDR images. We introduce several techniques based on pixel intensity variance, pixel median value difference and background subtraction. We also tested and defined the best algorithm overall which we identified as the background subtraction based algorithm called FRABS. Besides Movement Detection we propose also two different techniques to align a set of images taken with different exposure times. The first method is based on SIFT feature descriptors, while the second technique is an extension of the Median Threshold Bitmap algorithm originally proposed by Reinhard, Ward et al. Finally we suggest a way to integrate the proposed alignment algorithms and the motion detection techniques into the original Exposure Fusion framework, a novel technique to generate low dynamic range, HDR-like images and proposed by Mertens, Kautz and Van Reeth.


Abstract This article concerns the use of sport as an asset of knowledge in academia. The background to this is sport's neglected role and isolation in academia, save for in sundry sports sciences. By mapping the academic use of philosopher Michel Serres' sport metaphors, a new perspective of the relationship between sport and science is explored. A mixed-methods approach was chosen to review the literature using Serres' concept of the 'quasi-object'. The findings show that the concept appeals to a wide array of disciplines within the social sciences and the humanities. The article suggests that there exists a parallel sport science in academia that flies under the radar of regular sport disciplines, a sort of 'sport AS humanities'. This proposed 'sportive science' focuses on other aspects of sport than its already existing sport study counterparts. Thus, sport qua science acknowledges its topic as an asset of knowledge, not as a mirror of society.


Abstract Why did a comprehensive racial consciousness emerge early among African‐Americans in the United States, but only relatively recently among Native Americans? An understanding of group formation must take into account the opportunity structures ‐ not only economic and political but conceptual ‐ that foster or discourage particular bases of collective identity and action. Critical to the Indian/Black comparison is the fact that Blacks were of interest to the larger society primarily for their labour, Indians primarily for their lands. This difference set in motion two distinct trajectories of group formation which, in turn, were shaped by particular political relationships and by the classifications made by dominant‐group members. In the Black case labour‐based relations broke down indigenous group boundaries and encouraged comprehensive racial consciousness. In the Indian case land‐based relations sustained indigenous group boundaries and discouraged the rapid emergence of comprehensive group consc...


W. T. STACE. Positivism. Mind, n. s. vol. 53 (1944), pp. 215-237. By positivism Mr. Stace understands any philosophy which maintains the Positivist Principle. This principle asserts, roughly, that a sentence purporting to express a factual proposition P is significant if and only if it is possible to infer from it, or from it conjoined with other premisses, at least one proposition Q whose truth or falsity it is logically possible to verify by direct observation. The situation envisaged by this principle is symbolized by 'P —• Q'. Mr. Stace maintains that the Positivist Principle "really rests upon" the Principle of Observable Kinds, which he states as follows: "A sentence, in order to be significant, must assert or deny facts which are of the kind or class such that it is logically possible directly to observe some facts which are instances of that class or kind. And if a sentence purports to assert or deny facts which are of a class or kind such that it would be logically impossible directly to observe any instance of that class or kind, then the sentence is nonsignificant." The aim of his paper is to show that the Positivist Principle implies the Principle of Observable Kinds, and that the latter is false. The argument for the first part of the thesis is developed under two heads: P —»Q is either a deductive argument, or it is a "cause-effect inference." The first alternative is examined on the hypothesis that "Q states the same facts as P, either in whole or in part." Mr. Stace concludes that if Q states facts of a kind which it is logically possible to observe, then P must also state such facts, "since P and Q merely state the same facts in different terms." However, this reasoning seems less than conclusive. For suppose that P is the conjunction of some theory (e.g., a theory dealing with electrons, which Mr. Stace himself admits to be "unobservables") with a proposition specifying a definite initial condition for the application of the theory; and let Q assert the occurrence of some directly observable event (e.g., the click of a Geiger counter). By hypothesis the facts formulated by P taken as a whole are therefore not capable of direct observation, although the fact stated by Q is. Accordingly, if this example is at all relevant to what Mr. Stace has in mind, it refutes his conclusion. In considering the second alternative (i.e., when P —»Q is a cause-effect inference), Mr. Stace argues that the causal law upon which the inference rests could not be established unless the effect is observed to follow the cause, and that therefore if the facts asserted by Q are observable so must be the facts asserted by P. But the argument appears to rest on a highly over-simplified view as to the way in which "causal laws" are in fact established. Thus, physicists surely do not accept the law connecting the passage of an electron with the sound produced by a Geiger counter in virtue of directly observing the sequence of "cause" and "effect" in this transaction. Mr. Stace's argument in connection with his second alternative is obviously incomplete. Mr. Stace next tries to show that the Principle of Observable Kinds is neither self-evident, nor an arbitrary definition of 'significance,' nor a valid inductive generalization obtained from an examination of the conditions under which sentences are significant, nor, finally, a logical outgrowth of the "general principle of empiricism." This latter principle, to which Mr. Stace apparently subscribes, maintains that all our ideas are based on experience in the following sense: a sentence asserting a complex fact F is significant if and only if each of the simple constituents of F is directly observable. The Principle of Observable Kinds, on the other hand, requires that the total fact F must be observable as a whole, a requirement Mr. Stace finds to be unwarranted. However, Mr. Stace advances no reasons why his general principle of empiricism should be adopted; and his argument proves at best nothing more than that the principle of empiricism does not imply the Principle of Observable Kinds. Nothing that he says does establish the falsity of this latter principle.


An efficient three-component thieno[2,3-b]indole formation method was developed under metal-free conditions. The cascade cyclization was enabled by acid-promoted annulation of indoles, ketones and sulfur powder, which enabled modular synthesis of 2-substituted and 3-substituted thieno[2,3-b]indoles with excellent regioselectivity and broad functional group tolerance. DMF solvent played an important role in the regioselectivity control.


In recent years there have been a number of high-profile plant closures in the UK. In several cases, the policy response has included setting up a task force to deal with the impacts of the closure. It can be hypothesised that task force involving multi-level working across territorial boundaries and tiers of government is crucial to devising a policy response tailored to people's needs and to ensuring success in dealing with the immediate impacts of a closure. This suggests that leadership, and vision, partnership working and community engagement, and delivery of high quality services are important. This paper looks at the case of the MG Rover closure in 2005, to examine the extent to which the policy response to the closure at the national, regional and local levels dealt effectively with the immediate impacts of the closure, and the lessons that can be learned from the experience. Such lessons are of particular relevance given the closure of the LDV van plant in Birmingham in 2009 and more broadly – such as in the case of the downsizing of the Opel operation in Europe following its takeover by Magna.


The current research investigates the relationship between changes in crude oil prices and Pakistan and the macro-economy. A multivariate VAR analysis is carried out among five key macroeconomic variables: real gross domestic product, short term interest rate, real effective exchange rates, long term interest rate and money supply. From the VAR model, the impulse response functions reveal that oil price movements cause significant reduction in aggregate output and increase real exchange rate. The variance decomposition shows that crude oil prices significantly contribute to the variability of real exchange rate long term interest rate in the Pakistan economy while oil price shocks are found to have significant effects on money supply and short term interest rate in the economy. Despite these macro econometric results, caution must be exercised in formulating energy policies since future effects of upcomming oil shocks will not be the same as what happened in the past. Explorations and development of practicable alternatives to imported fuel energy will cushion the economy from the repercussions of oil shocks. Oil price shock has negative impact on the GDP and as well as economy of Pakistan.


The account of Vespasian's use of spittle to heal a blind man at Alexandria has long been noted as a parallel to the use of spittle in Mark's healing of the Blind Man of Bethsaida, but little has been made of the temporal proximity of these two stories. Vespasian's healings formed part of the wider Flavian propaganda campaign to legitimate the new claimant to the imperial throne; to many Jewish ears this propaganda would have sounded like a usurpation of traditional messianic hopes. This article argues that Mark introduced spittle into his story of the Blind Man of Bethsaida to create an allusion to the Vespasian story as part of a wider concern to contrast the messiahship of Jesus with such Roman imperial 'messianism'.


Background : Several slimming aids being sold as food supplements are widely available. One of them is pyruvate. Its efficacy in causing weight reduction in humans has not been fully established. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the efficacy of pyruvate in reducing body weight. Methods: Electronic and nonelectronic searches were conducted to identify all relevant human randomized clinical trials. The bibliographies of all located articles were also searched. No restrictions in language or time were applied. Two independent reviewers extracted the data according to predefined criteria. A fixed-effect model was used to calculate mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Nine trials were identified and 6 were included. All had methodological weaknesses. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in body weight with pyruvate compared to placebo (MD: −0.72 kg; 95% CI: −1.24 to −0.20). The magnitude of the effect is small, and its clinical relevance is uncertain. Adverse events included gas, bloating, diarrhea, and increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Conclusion: The evidence from randomized clinical trials does not convincingly show that pyruvate is efficacious in reducing body weight. Limited evidence exists about the safety of pyruvate. Future trials involving the use of this supplement should be more rigorous and better reported.


The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 mandates the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to report annually on the implementation of the Child Justice Act to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. On 1 April 2011 a year had passed since the implementation of the Child Justice Act. This article interrogates the annual report presented to parliament on the first year of implementation of the Act, and concludes that it is not possible to accurately assess whether the Child Justice Act was implemented fully during the year, as the statistics provided in the annual report by different departments are unclear and incomparable. The article also reflects those aspects of the Act that have been implemented.


Estimating daily solar radiation ( R s ) provides an important alternative in situations where it cannot be measured by conventional pyranometers. This study used meteorological data from nine cities in the north of the Minas Gerais state, Brazil, for the period from 2008 to 2010 with the aim of evaluate the accuracy and applicability of some simple models to help regions where R s is impossible to be measured. Five models were evaluated for their estimates of R s based on simple available data. For each city studied, the equations were previously calibrated. Meteorologically based empirical models to estimate daily global solar radiation are an appropriate tool if the parameters can be calibrated for different locations. These models have the advantage of using meteorological data, which are commonly available. Based on the overall results, we conclude that the accuracy of estimation by available meteorological data is acceptable and comparable with the accuracy of classical models. Considering the greater availability of air temperature data and application in studies that do not require great accuracy in estimating R s , all models were adequate for use. The accuracy of R s was only slightly improved by adding rainfall records as input variable. Therefore, in the region studied, the choice of simpler models, having as input the daily maximum and minimum air temperature would not imply large error in the estimates. For most sites, Bristow and Campbell model had the best estimate of R s with a RMSE of 2.69 MJ m -2 and R 2 = 0.69, with the possibility to calibrate with available temperature data, becoming a practical and reliable model. Hargraves model should be avoided due to its lower performance compared to the other models applied.


The rate, timing, and pattern of change in different regions and paleoenvironments are critical for distinguishing among potential causes for the Permian-Triassic (P-T) extinction. Carbon isotopic stratigraphy can provide global chronostratigraphic control. We report a large δ 13 C excursion at the P-T boundary and no long-term Permian δ 13 C trends for samples from the interior of Pangea. Stratigraphic gaps between available samples limit the resolution of our δ 13 C curve, but the excursion is within a 15-m-thick zone of overlap between Permian and Triassic taxa. Sedimentological and taphonomic observations demonstrate that this 15 m interval does not represent geologically instantaneous deposition. Together these data support a rapid and globally synchronous P-T event, but suggest that it occurred over a geologically resolvable interval of time.


Knowledge of CT anatomy is increasingly vital in daily radiotherapy practice, especially with more widespread use of cross-sectional image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) techniques. Existing CT anatomy texts are predominantly written for the diagnostic practitioner and do not always address the radiotherapy issues while emphasising structures that are not common to radiotherapy practice.

CT Anatomy for Radiotherapy is a new radiotherapy-specific text that is intended to prepare the reader for CT interpretation for both IGRT and treatment planning. It is suitable for undergraduate students, qualified therapy radiographers, dosimetrists and may be of interest to oncologists and registrars engaged in treatment planning. All essential structures relevant to radiotherapy are described and depicted on 3D images generated from radiotherapy planning systems. System-based labelled CT images taken in relevant imaging planes and patient positions build up understanding of relational anatomy and CT interpretation. Images are accompanied by comprehensive commentary to aid with interpretation. This simplified approach is used to empower the reader to rapidly gain image interpretation skills. The book pays special attention to lymph node identification as well as featuring a unique section on Head and Neck Deep Spaces to help understanding of common pathways of tumour spread. Fully labelled CT images using radiotherapy-specific views and positioning are complemented where relevant by MR and fusion images. A brief introduction to image interpretation using IGRT devices is also covered. The focus of the book is on radiotherapy and some images of common tumour pathologies are utilised to illustrate some relevant abnormal anatomy. Short self-test questions help to keep the reader engaged throughout.


Since the 1930s, corporate law scholarship has focused narrowly on the public corporation and the problem of the separation of ownership and control — a problem many now believe has been mitigated or even solved. With rare exceptions, scholars have paid far less heed to other business forms that still play important roles in the American economy. In this Article we examine a significant, and almost completely overlooked business form, the Rural Electrical Cooperative (REC). RECs were founded in a moment of optimism during the New Deal. As with other cooperatives, their organizational rules differed sharply from those of for-profit corporations. They were owned by their customers, with each customer member having one vote irrespective of their energy consumption -- and it was hoped these owners would provide active oversight of the REC's managers and activities. The reality has proven otherwise. Corporate governance innovations of the last forty years have passed RECs by, leaving an organizational sector mired in governance dysfunctions stemming from the separation of ownership and control. Here we explain why RECs evolved as they did, and why New Deal planners seized on the cooperative form to electrify the countryside; how significant governance problems have persisted, largely unaddressed, from the 1930s to today; and how a change in corporate governance rules, one allowing for a market for corporate control in RECs, could fix some persistent problems in this still-important sector. Alternatively, we propose that RECs take up a new public role as rural broadband internet providers with a reinvigorated federal regulator to police governance failures.


Improving positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence is crucial to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment success. We have previously shown the potential of utilizing Deep Neural Network (DNN) models to accurately predict future PAP usage, based on predefined compliance phenotypes, to enable early patient outreach and interventions. These phenotypes were limited, based solely on usage patterns. We propose an unsupervised learning methodology for redefining these adherence phenotypes in order to assist with the creation of more precise and personalized patient categorization.

 We trained a DNN model to predict PAP compliance based on daily usage patterns, where compliance was defined as the requirement for 4 hours of PAP usage a night on over 70% of the recorded nights. The DNN model was trained on N=14,000 patients with 455 days of daily PAP usage data. The latent dimension of the trained DNN model was used as a feature vector containing rich usage pattern information content associated with overall PAP compliance. Along with the 455 days of daily PAP usage data, our dataset included additional patient demographics such as age, sex, apnea-hypopnea index, and BMI. These parameters, along with the extracted usage patterns, were applied together as inputs to an unsupervised clustering algorithm. The clusters that emerged from the algorithm were then used as indicators for new PAP compliance phenotypes.

 Two main clusters emerged: highly compliant and highly non-compliant. Furthermore, in the transition between the two main clusters, a sparse cluster of struggling patients emerged. This method allows for the continuous monitoring of patients as they transition from one cluster to the other.

 In this research, we have shown that by utilizing historical PAP usage patterns along with additional patient information we can identify PAP specific adherence phenotypes. Clinically, this allows focus of PAP adherence program resources to be targeted early on to patients susceptible to treatment non-adherence. Furthermore, the transition between the two main phenotypes can also indicate when personalized intervention is necessary to maximize treatment success and outcomes. Lastly, providers can transition patients in the highly non-compliant group more quickly to alternative therapies.
 Support (if any):


College students are at an elevated risk for engaging in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including disordered eating and low levels of exercise. Evidence also suggests that college students inaccurately estimate their weight status (e.g., reporting they are overweight when they are at a normal weight) and report high levels of body dissatisfaction. Efforts to promote healthy behavior change and body satisfaction first require an accurate perception of the problem. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the accuracy with which college students estimate their weight and body composition, and 2) better understand the relationship between body composition and body satisfaction. Methods: Forty-five college students (males = 21 and females = 24), between 18 and 30 years of age, completed a survey with items assessing demographic characteristics, weight status estimation, body composition estimation, and the Body Part Satisfaction Scale (BPSS). Body composition was assessed using Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Paired samples t-tests were used to compare means between participant's objective measurements and their estimated measurements. Bivariate analyses were used to determine relationships between body part dissatisfaction and body composition. Results: Males and females accurately estimated their weight (d =.16, SD = 2.56, t(44) = -.414, p = 0.68), but significantly underestimated their body fat percentage (d =-4.37, SD = 7.62, t(44) = -3.85), p = 0.001). Greater body dissatisfaction was associated with a higher body fat percentage (r =. 353), but not body fat percentage estimation (r = .164). In the trunk region, a higher body fat percentage in that region was significantly associated with greater dissatisfaction for abdomen size (r = .323); higher body fat percentage in the arms and legs were mildly associated with greater dissatisfaction in the respective areas (r = .268; r = .260), though not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although college students accurately estimated their weight, they significantly underestimated their fat mass, indicating a misunderstanding regarding the proportion of their body weight composed of fat tissue. As expected, greater fat mass in specific body parts (e.g., arms, legs, and truck) was related with greater dissatisfaction in those specific areas. Future research should continue to investigate these relationships and body composition estimation accuracy in more diverse samples. Health promotion initiatives should aim to educate students on body composition and continue to promote healthy behavior change along with body satisfaction.


Policy makers and media claim that teenage parenthood ruins young people's lives and those of their children, as well as threatening wider social and moral breakdown. Yet research increasingly shows that parenthood is not necessarily a disaster for young women and young men, and indeed can sometimes improve their lives. Why is that becoming a mother or father can make sense for and be valued by some young people? And why is that policy makers ignore the research evidence that teenage parenthood is not an inevitable catastrophe? Teenage Parenting – What's the Problem? presents recent quantitative and qualitative research on teenage motherhood and fatherhood, in an accessible manner. Contributors look at: • the relationship between age, pre-existing disadvantage and social outcomes for mothers and their children • the gulf between government policy assumptions and the understandings of teenage parents and their families • the variable ways in which young mothers' and fathers' ethnic identification articulates with gender, class and age • how young parents see themselves as 'just another mum or dad' when it comes to parenting, education and employment • commonalities in resilience and family support for teenage parents between and over generations, • links between experiences of parenting and self-identity, and how these can be affected by support from family and friends, and by formal service delivery. These issues are placed in the context of a wide-ranging review of research evidence on teenage parenting, and a consideration of why government policy seems to ignore this evidence. This book will appeal to academics, policymakers and professionals with an interest in new and challenging perspectives on policies around teenage parenthood and on young mothers and fathers' experiences.


Introduction: We report a cost-effectiveness evaluation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) for prevention of febrile neutropenia (FN) following chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: A mathematical model was constructed simulating the experience of patients with NHL undergoing chemotherapy. Three strategies were modelled: primary prophylaxis (G-CSFs administered in all cycles); secondary prophylaxis (G-CSFs administered in all cycles following an FN event), and no G-CSF prophylaxis. Three G-CSFs were considered: filgrastim; lenograstim and pegfilgrastim. Costs were taken from UK databases and utility values from published sources with the base case analysis using list prices for G-CSFs and a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained. A systematic review provided data on G-CSF efficacy. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses examined the effects of uncertainty in model parameters.

Results: In the base-case analysis the most cost-effective strategy was primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim for a patient with baseline FN risk greater than 22%, secondary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim for baseline FN risk 8-22%, and no G-CSFs for baseline FN risk less than 8%. Using a WTP threshold of £30,000, primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim was cost-effective for baseline FN risks greater than 16%. In all analyses, pegfilgrastim dominated filgrastim and lenograstim. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that higher WTP threshold, younger age, or reduced G-CSF prices result in G-CSF prophylaxis being cost-effective at lower baseline FN risk levels.

Conclusions: Pegfilgrastim was the most cost-effective G-CSF. The most cost-effective strategy (primary or secondary prophylaxis) was dependent on underlying FN risk level, patient age, and G-CSF price.


PURPOSE
To describe the effects of genetics and genomics on children's health care.

ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT
The breakthroughs in the Human Genome Project have great potential for disease prediction, treatment, and prevention in the health care of children with chronic health conditions. Most childhood conditions based on a single gene are influenced by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors.

METHODS
A review of the literature was conducted to determine the most common childhood diseases linked to genetic causes.

FINDINGS
Two examples were selected to depict how a health professional would use genetic knowledge to provide holistic health promotion and disease prevention.

CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the interaction of the genetic profile coupled with a person's lifestyle, work environment, and family context provide a more holistic picture of a person's health profile. The clinical implications are that this knowledge will provide opportunities for health professionals to advise families on individualized treatment options or to tailor health promotion to future disease states based on genes and their interaction with the environment.


Microchannel manufacturing is one of the fastest growing areas in advanced manufacturing with numerous applications, including turbine blade cooling structures, compact microchannel heat exchangers, and electronic cooling devices. Recent development of metallic additive manufacturing (AM) based on direct metal laser sintering technology is capable of fabricating microscale structures with high complexity and design flexibility. However, powder bed laser sintering process produces rough surface characteristics caused by hatch overlaps and particle attachments, leading to channel size reductions and rough surfaces. In this paper, dimensional metrology of cross-sectional views of multirow microchannels made by AM was conducted by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at different locations along the printing direction. Channel size reduction, surface roughness, and circularity tolerance of the as-printed channels were analyzed based on micrographs captured by SEM. Results showed that both channel sizes and hole pitches affected the printing qualities of microchannels. The as-printed channel sizes reduced by more than 15% compared to the designed values. Two approaches were made in this paper to improve printing qualities. The first one was to redesign channel size in computer-aided design (CAD) model to make the as-printed channel sizes closer to the objective values. Electrochemical polishing (ECP) was then applied as a second way using sulfuric acid solutions. Surface roughness value was reduced by more than 40% after the ECP process.


The berries and leaves are mainly used for medicinal purposes, besides the other parts of the whole plant. The leaves are used as poultice for rheumatic and gouty joints, skin diseases, used in the treatment of antituberculosis and are said to produce Diaphoresis. Leaves are also used in dropsy, nausea and nervous disorders. The decoction of the berries and flowers are useful in cough. These are remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchitis, diuretic. The juice of the berries used as an antidiarrhoeal, ophthalmopathy and hydrophobia. It is also used in heart disease. Berries are used to posses tonic, diuretic and cathartic properties. They are also useful in inflammations and skin diseases. The roots are useful in osteopathy, ophthalmopathy, rhinopathy and hepatitis. The whole plant used as antiseptic, antiinflammatory, expectorant, cardiotonic, digestive, diuretic, laxative, diaphoretic, sedative, swelling, cough, asthma. The plant is also effective in curing cardiopathy, leprosy, hemorrhoids, nephropathy, ophthalmopathy, dropsy and general debility. Decoction of the plant depresses the CNS and reflexes of the spinal cord. In antibacterial screening performed by disc diffusion method against two gram negative bacteria namely Xanthomonas campestris (plant pathogen) and Aeromonas hydrophila (animal pathogen), it was found that the methanol extracts of all the plant samples showed significant activity against the two tested bacteria. The methanol extracts of S. nigrum exhibited clear zone of inhibition against the tested microorganisms. The ethanolic extract of the dried fruit of Solanum nigrum L. was assessed for its possible antimicrobial activity. The ethanolic extract showed moderate antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of Solanum nigrum was detected against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


Following the TRIPs Agreement and amendments in the Indian Patent Act, India is now part of a global treaty in which technological innovations are encouraged and protected, not just in few but a very large number of countries. Copying drugs is now no longer possible because of product patents. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has also understood the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) especially patents have to be integrated into business strategies – there is no way out. Patents are powerful tools for enhancing the Research and Development (R&D) quality and also business profits. The fast changing global scenario and challenges imposed by the new patent regime make 'IPR compliance', the need of the hour. Even so, opinion is evenly divided on their beneficial and adverse effects on developing economies like India's. By and large, most developed countries are for strong IPR protection and highlight its virtues in creating knowledge wealth, encouraging innovation, providing access to technology, stemming brain drain and improving of quality of life. For emerging countries like ours, having good educational institutions, strong manufacturing base and talented manpower, IPRs offer enormous opportunities. This is especially true in the field of Biotechnology, Information Technology and Pharmaceuticals. This paper provides a theoretical analysis of product and process patent regimes in the context of Indian Patent Law particular after the 2005 amendment in Indian Patent Act, 1970 in consequence to the TRIPs Agreement. The purpose is to bring forth the current position of trade between India as a developing country and the developed countries in terms of product and process patent. The researcher has made the best possible efforts to study present legal position related to the patent system in India, particularly in relation to the TRIPs agreement and the new amendment made to the Patents Act in 2005. What will be the impact after introducing product patent system in place of process patent system in India. The researcher also thinks there is ample scope for further research in this issue. The only solution for the proper patent system in India is to have proper implementation of law. Strict laws for the patent protection are required to ensure the development in pharmaceutical industry. People will be motivated to do more and more research and development and come up with new innovations only when their efforts are given proper protection of law.


In order to estimate the impact of climate change it is necessary to monitor the surface mass balance of the ice sheets. Much effort has gone into developing accurate methods for surface mass balance estimation over the past years. Mass balance is defined as the sum of mass gain and mass loss. Still, it remains difficult to quantify surface accumulation, which is the net gain term of the balance equation. This is due to the fact that the polar ice sheets are difficult
to access, so in-situ measurements are sparse. Therefore, it is important to employ remote sensing techniques to obtain accumulation data with a better spatial and temporal resolution. However, the resulting datasets still exhibit large amounts of uncertainty.
This thesis seeks to improve the currently available methods to derive snow accumulation rates from microwave remote sensing data. For this purpose, different types of microwave data are systematically evaluated with respect to their suitability for accumulation rate retrieval. The approach taken here makes use of the fact that microwaves interact with a volume of dry polar firn and are sensitive to accumulation rate-dependent firn characteristics. For this reason, firn microstructure is examined in more detail. On the basis of this analysis, an improved parameterization of firn properties (grain size and density) is developed, which is valid for the layers of the firn column that interact with the microwave radiation. The improved microstructure model is used in conjunction with a simple radiative transfer model to simulate firn-microwave interaction, resulting in a synthetic microwave signal. Accumulation rates can
subsequently be inverted by matching the signal from the model to microwave data measured by satellite sensors. A number of assumptions made in the radiative transfer model have proven to be invalid. In this work, the radiative transfer model is improved by including Mie scattering instead of the widely-used Rayleigh approximation for the combination of scatterer sizes and
microwave frequencies investigated. The results from the accumulation retrieval algorithm developed in this work are validated with in-situ data, and limits in its applicability are evaluated. Accumulation rates inverted from the method introduced in this work are found to agree with field data as well as with accumulation maps from external sources within the range of the model's validity.


Muneer Awad, an American-Muslim resident of Oklahoma, wrote his last will and testament. However, unlike the wills of most Americans, his might not be probated by the courts of Oklahoma, because it is based on his Muslim faith. Under Oklahoma's "Save our State Amendment," state courts are prohibited from considering the legal precepts of foreign nations or religions. This amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2010, is part of a recent wave of anti-Sharia enactments targeting foreign and religious laws, many of which particularly target Islamic law (Sharia). While these enactments have yet to receive much judicial scrutiny because of their novelty, they have created a firestorm of public controversy and galvanized both supporters and opponents. The American Bar Association (ABA) also joined the controversy, adopting a resolution opposing these enactments as unconstitutional. This drew accusations from some supporters of anti-Sharia enactments that the ABA "has decided to undertake the fight for Sharia law." As courts around the country are likely to soon consider the constitutionality of these enactments, a deeper understanding of the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment and their application to these enactments becomes increasingly important. Specifically, this Comment addresses the implications of anti-Sharia enactments for parties who incorporate religious laws into their contracts and seek to introduce extrinsic evidence to explain their intent when a dispute arises over the parties' intent or the meaning of a contract term. Although most anti-Sharia enactments target Sharia law overtly or covertly, they also have a major impact on certain practices among some Jewish American communities, and thus this Comment explores the adverse consequences for both religious groups. Ultimately, this Comment argues that anti-Sharia enactments that target one religion or religion in general violate the Free Exercise Clause. These enactments prohibit parties from voluntarily incorporating contract terms based on their religious beliefs even where courts would be able to enforce those terms without violating the Establishment Clause. Furthermore, anti-Sharia enactments that prohibit courts from enforcing contracts or arbitration decisions based on laws that do not provide the same rights guaranteed by the Constitution violate the Establishment Clause by requiring courts to pass judgment on matters of religious doctrine. However, religious communities that seek to govern their private transactions by religious laws can avoid the adverse effects of anti-Sharia enactments by employing more specific contract terms and increasing their reliance on religious arbitration panels. Courts can also avoid the constitutional problems created by anti-Sharia enactments by interpreting them narrowly so as to only prohibit courts from applying religious laws in a manner that violates the Establishment Clause. Part I of this Comment provides a background to this topic by giving an introduction to Sharia law, surveying the different forms that anti-Sharia enactments have taken, and addressing the different contexts in which foreign and religious laws may be applicable in American courts. Part II explains the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment. Part III analyzes the constitutionality of anti-Sharia enactments under the Religion Clauses. Part IV discusses why the limited consideration of religious laws within the framework of the "neutral principles of law" approach as applied to contracts incorporating religious laws does not offend the Establishment Clause. Finally, Part V proposes three solutions to the constitutional problems created by anti-Sharia enactments and discusses limitations on those solutions.


Under a certain temperature difference, the maximum power of a thermoelectric module can be estimated by the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current. In practical measurement, there exist two switch modes, either from open to short or from short to open, but the two modes can give different estimations on the maximum power. Using TEG-127-2.8-3.5-250 and TEG-127-1.4-1.6-250 as two examples, the difference is about 10%, leading to some deviations with the temperature change. This paper analyzes such differences by means of a nonlinear numerical model of thermoelectricity, and finds out that the main cause is the influence of various currents on the produced electromotive potential. A simple and effective calibration method is proposed to minimize the deviations in specifying the maximum power. Experimental results validate the method with improved estimation accuracy.


Research objective. This paper aims to explore whether a causal relationship exists between performance-based compensation (PBC) for white-collar workers (WCWs) and future firm performance. The paper also analyzes whether and how demographic factors of firm employees influence the outcomes of PBC schemes. Finally, the paper aims to contribute to prior literature regarding the effectiveness of individual and team incentives, and to shed light on how the effectiveness of these two types of schemes varies in companies with different employee demographics. Data and methodology. The quantitative research employs a large and unique pay data covering over one million employee-year observations in Finnish industrial companies that are members of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). Accounting data about firm performance and other firm-specific facts was collected from Voitto+ database. The final sample consists of 4511 firm-year observations for years 2007-2010. The statistical research methods applied include descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and OLS regression analysis for testing the theory-based hypotheses. Results. It is argued that the performance contingent incentives for white-collar workers can improve firm future performance. Weak support is found also for the argument that PBC effectiveness varies in companies with different demographic characteristics of employees. Interestingly, the results also weakly indicate that higher amount of incentives paid out does not yield superior firm performance. Finally, it seems that demographic factors may also influence the effectiveness of individual-based and team-based incentives. However, this indication is very weak and thus further research is required for drawing conclusions.


Legal barriers or "collateral consequences" arising from criminal convictions came to the forefront of the legal and policy discourse at the dawn of the twenty-first century, as the population of people with criminal convictions skyrocketed. These barriers act as restrictions to post-incarceration reentry into society, including the resumption of employment, occupational licensing, access to housing and public benefits, driving privileges, educational loans, immigration, voting rights, and other means of economic survival and civic re-engagement. What is barely examined are the ways in which these barriers affect family law, specifically in the area of child support and the debt accrued by incarcerated parents. This article examines the recent convergence of incarceration, collateral sanctions, and child support debt, and argues that the current system of aggressive support enforcement against incarcerated parents serves as a de facto civil sanction in many jurisdictions, creating yet another collateral consequence that serves as a prominent barrier to successful reentry.


Infectious diseases caused by parasites continue to cause disease burdens which influence the quality of life, retards economic progress and dampens overall development especially in developing countries. The emerging group of protozoan parasites namely Blastocystis , Cryptosporidium , Isospora and Cyclospora causes generally diarrhea, bloating stomach, abdominal cramps and other gastrointestinal disturbances. Prevalence of these parasites varies from community to community and from country to country but they possess the same fecal-oral route of transmission. Contaminated water and food are the main causes of transmission with sporadic reports providing evidence for zoonotic transmission. High risk groups are the HIV-infected population, children and pet lovers. The presentation highlights the biology, prevalence, transmission, diagnosis and treatment on Blastocystis which is one of the most enigmatic protozoan. Blastocystis infection occurs worldwide but generally developing countries have higher prevalence of B. hominis (approximately 30 to 50%) than developed countries (approximately 1.5 to 10%). The parasite has been incriminated to be waterborne and our findings of cysts in the lakes and rivers screened around Klang Valley, Malaysia provides further evidence of the potential of the organism to be transmitted to humans. Moreover, river isolates of Blastocystis were found to be either subtype 1, 3 or 5 which could be of human origin and may potentially result in transmission. Detection of Blastocystis cysts has been challenging using light microscopy. The presentation will highlight the technical challenges involved in enumerating the cyst collected from water sources, the density gradient centrifugation used with both Ficoll-paque and Lymphoprep and the usage of DAPI staining and in vitro culture for detecting the parasite. Results using 0.5 L water samples from rivers showed that 28% and 72% of samples were positive for Blastocystis using in vitro culture and DAPI staining respectively. Standardization protocols involving large amount of water to be screened, the processes and steps involved especially in the centrifugation, the influence of timing of collection as well as the frequency of collection etc will be discussed.


Using mRNA-Seq and de novo transcriptome assembly, we identified, cloned and characterized nine previously undiscovered fluorescent protein (FP) homologs from Aequorea victoria and a related Aequorea species, with most sequences highly divergent from avGFP. Among these FPs are the brightest GFP homolog yet characterized and a reversibly photochromic FP that responds to UV and blue light. Beyond green emitters, Aequorea species express purple- and blue-pigmented chromoproteins (CPs) with absorbances ranging from green to far-red, including two that are photoconvertible. X-ray crystallography revealed that Aequorea CPs contain a chemically novel chromophore with an unexpected crosslink to the main polypeptide chain. Because of the unique attributes of several of these newly discovered FPs, we expect that Aequorea will, once again, give rise to an entirely new generation of useful probes for bioimaging and biosensing.


This study is concerned with the making of regulatory policy for pharmaceuticals in the European Union. It proposes that an ad hoc development of Community competencies which does not amount to coherent strategy, far less a single medicines market, has resulted in a regulatory framework which favours the interests of industry. This is important on two fronts. First, it appears to run counter to contemporary research into EU regulation, which finds that consumer interests prevail over those of producers generally. Second, this pro-industry leaning seems not to be in keeping with member states' regulatory frameworks at home, which developed primarily as a means of protecting consumers' health (patients) following the Thalidomide tragedy. In providing support for this contention, rather than adopting an economic frame of analysis to assess - quantitatively - how the industry benefits, the study instead proposes a political perspective to understand how policy decisions have been taken. Specifically, the study examines how supranational policy for pharmaceuticals is made with the context of a clash between the European Community's free movement of goods principles and, via the principle of subsidiarity, the right of the member states to decide their national healthcare priorities. The agenda and roles of the European Commission, the member states, consumer interests, and the industry as the sector's four primary stakeholders are scrutinised within this context. The analysis concentrates on policy level interactions, examining how the political considerations at stake over medicines have affected policy outcomes in specific instances. It is shown that the incomplete development of competencies is not just a result of the policy clash, but also because different policy impetuses (and stakeholders) have spurred different aspects of the framework. This involves the development of a multi-faceted theoretical lens in order to capture the complexities of making pharmaceutical policy at EU level. This lens is based on the understanding that EU pharmaceutical policy is made within policy networks consisting of the four stakeholders. To gain a better grasp of the dynamics at play, these networks are tied to a regulatory policy-making framework known as the 'politics of policy'. It is a view which identifies different modes of regulatory politicking on the basis of the perceived costs and benefits the proposed intervention would bring to affected interests. Linked with wider European integration and policy-making theories, including neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism and multi-level governance, this allows for a more complete perspective on how policy is made for the sector. Via its broader approach, therefore, the study provides insight into the complexities of making supranational policy for medicines, especially with regard to the need to balance conflicting interests within the harmonisation process.


One of the objectives of instruction process is to transfer knowledge from teachers to learners, and this knowledge has to be interpreted, to be clear and to be retained from learners. Taking in consideration one of the roles of the knowledge representation, that one of expression's mode of the humans, the languages in which the teachers can present things, theories, facts and so forth, visual methods of knowledge representation have a lot of applications in the process of education.This paper presents the utilization of the informal and formal concept map, and theirs associate visual languages. Visual knowledge representation and the active participation of the learners in instruction process are certain keys of the success of teaching and learning process. All of these can be realized using concept map as tools of instruction and making the learners to take part in designing and realizing informal concept map, conceptual graphs and even conceptual dependency for the objects of the course's content.


The paper proposes an efficient associative algorithm for dynamic update of the shortest paths tree of a directed weighted graph after deletion of an edge. To this end, we use the STAR–machine that simulates the run of associative (content addressable) parallel systems of the SIMD type with bit–serial (vertical) processing. We provide a data structure that allows us to perform access to data by contents. On the STAR–machine, the associative algorithm is represented as the main procedure DeleteArcSPT that uses a group of auxiliary procedures. By means of the auxiliary procedures, we execute some parts of the associative parallel algorithm for dynamic update of the shortest paths tree after deleting an arc from the graph. We prove correctness of the procedure DeleteArcSPT and all its parts. On the STAR–machine, this procedure takes O(hk) time, where h is the number of bits required for coding the maximum of the shortest paths weights and k is the number of vertices, whose shortest paths change after deleting an edge from the given graph.


Management of native forests offers opportunities to store more carbon in the land sector through two main activities. Emissions to the atmosphere can be avoided by ceasing logging. Removals of arbon dioxide from the atmosphere can be increased by allowing forests to continue growing. However, the relative benefits for carbon storage of managing native forests for wood production versus protection are contested. Additionally, the potential for carbon storage is impacted upon by disturbance events, such as wildfire, that alter the amount and longevity of carbon stocks. Using a case study of montane ash forests in southeastern Australia, we demonstrated that the total biomass carbon stock in logged forest was 55% of the stock in old growth forest. Total biomass included above- and belowground, living and dead. Biomass carbon stock was calculated spatially as an average across the landscape, accounting for variation in environmental conditions and forest age distribution. Reduction in carbon stock in logged forest was due to 66% of the initial biomass being made into products with short lifetimes (,3 years), and to the lower average age of logged forest (,50 years compared with 100 years in old growth forest). Only 4% of the initial carbon stock in the native forest was converted to sawn timber products with lifetimes of 30-90 years. Carbon stocks are depleted in a harvested forest system compared with an old growth forest, even when storage in wood products and landfill are included. We estimated that continued logging under current plans represented a loss of 5.56 Tg C over 5 years in the area logged (824 km2), compared with a potential gain of 5.18-6.05 TgC over 5 years by allowing continued growth across the montane ash forest region (2326 km2). Avoiding emissions by not logging native forests and allowing them to continue growing is therefore an important form of carbon sequestration. The mitigation value of forest management options of protection versus logging should be assessed in terms of the amount, longevity and resilience of the carbon stored in the forest, rather than the annual rate of carbon uptake.


In the Putorana region of the Siberian continental flood basalt province, tuffs form thin layers or small bodies between single basaltic lava flows. Based on our fieldwork, these ash fall deposits have relatively small volumes (≤100 000 m3) compared with the associated basaltic flows and the tuffs of the adjacent Noril'sk region in the north. Six tuff units with different degrees and modes of alteration were analysed by XRD, SEM and XRF in order to determine mineralogical and chemical changes which occurred during progressive alteration. Pyroxene compositions and immobile element ratios suggest that the tuffs were derived from a basaltic lava like the flood basalts. Post-eruptive, low-temperature alteration processes have significantly changed the primary composition of the tuffs. Therefore the different tuffs have variable petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry (MgO 5.2–9.2 wt %, SiO2 33.6–69.1 wt % and TiO2 0.6–1.6 wt %) compared to the tholeiitic basalts in which they are interbedded. Crystallization of secondary minerals, such as carbonate, clay minerals, zeolites and analcime, occurred from circulating fluids. The results show that the fluid compositions varied significantly between the different tuffs. This implies that the elements behaved differently depending on the circulating agent, which led to the formation of different minerals. In addition, two samples show an input of quartz, derived either by wind from terrigenous sediments or generated by magma–sediment interaction, and one sample was deposited in a subaqueous, possibly lacustrine environment. These results indicate that the conditions during alteration varied despite the close spatial relationship of the tuffs and that a generalization about the alteration processes cannot be made in the Putorana region. The analyses of the clay minerals show alteration of chlorite to vermiculite. Interestingly, corrensite (a regularly stacked, 50/50 mixed layered clay mineral composed of chlorite and vermiculite) is still preserved in two samples. This indicates different alteration stages in the different tuff outcrops. The state of alteration deduced from immobile element ratios, plagioclase compositions and mineral assemblages shows contradictory results. This suggests that the state of alteration is best deduced from clay minerals, as one can follow this process step by step.


During development, cranial motor neurons extend their axons along distinct pathways into the periphery. For example, branchiomotor axons extend dorsally to leave the hindbrain via large dorsal exit points. They then grow in association with sensory ganglia, to their targets, the muscles of the branchial arches. We have investigated the possibility that pathway tissues might secrete diffusible chemorepellents or chemoattractants that guide cranial motor axons, using co-cultures in collagen gels. We found that explants of dorsal neural tube or hindbrain roof plate chemorepelled cranial motor axons, while explants of cranial sensory ganglia were weakly chemoattractive. Explants of branchial arch mesenchyme were strongly growth-promoting and chemoattractive for cranial motor axons. Enhanced and oriented axon outgrowth was also elicited by beads loaded with Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF); antibodies to this protein largely blocked the outgrowth and orientation effects of the branchial arch on motor axons. HGF was expressed in the branchial arches, whilst Met, which encodes an HGF receptor, was expressed by subpopulations of cranial motor neurons. Mice with targetted disruptions of HGF or Met showed defects in the navigation of hypoglossal motor axons into the branchial region. Branchial arch tissue may thus act as a target-derived factor that guides motor axons during development. This influence is likely to be mediated partly by Hepatocyte Growth Factor, although a component of branchial arch-mediated growth promotion and chemoattraction was not blocked by anti-HGF antibodies.


The management of congenital primary obstructive megaureter (POM) is usually conservative, especially during the first year of life. Endoscopic high-pressure balloon dilatation (EHPBD) is indicated when symptoms, increasing dilatation and progressive renal damage are recorded, particularly in children younger than one year of age. We identified and described endoscopic prognostic factors predicting the success or failure of endoscopic dilatation. Thirty-eight patients (33 M;5 F) with POM from 2005-2018 were included. Diagnosis was based on US distal ureter dilatation (>7 mm), obstructive MAG-3 diuretic renogram and absence of vesicoureteral reflux (cystography). 24 patients were under 1 year of age. All patients underwent cystoscopy and high-pressure balloon dilatation with 3,5 Fr dilating balloon, after ascending pyelography. Median follow-up was of 6.5 years. We identified characteristics with poor prognosis: stenotic punctiform ureteral ostium and/or ostium located in a bladder diverticulum (9 pts) and stenotic tract longer than 1 cm (5 pts). The patients with a stenotic tract shorter than 1 cm (18 pts) were divided into two groups: <5 mm (5 pts) and between 5 and 10 mm (13 pts) showed a good response to dilatation. Endoscopic evaluation of ureteral ostium with pneumatic dilatation when possible is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic solution for POM treatment, especially under one year of age. EHPBD is effective in short stenotic tracts (<5 mm). It may also be repeated with good results in intermediate stenotic sections (5 mm-1 cm). According to our preliminary results, the procedure is more effective if performed earlier (3-7 months of life). Greater cohort and longer follow-up are needed to verify the stability of these results.


OF THESIS COVER CROPS AND COVER CROP MIXES: STRATIFICATION OF BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS The potential nutrient cycling benefits from legumes (e.g. N2-fixation) and the high biomass potential of cereal rye are well known. Further studies are warranted to evaluate bi-culture mixtures and their effects on soil nutrient stratification and microbial enzyme activity because these two properties may be differently expressed (enhanced) by legume/grass mixes. The objectives of this study were: (1) show different cover crops and cover crop mixes containing grasses and legumes differentially stratify carbon and N; (2) show the change in microbial enzyme activity in soils planted with individual cover crops relative to cover crop mixes; 3) determine the persistence of any changes after a summer annual crop. Baseline samples were collected in fall 2016 at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths after a seasonal fallow and a summer maize crop. Cover crop mixes were planted in fall 2016, terminated in spring 2017, and a summer hemp crop (Cannabis sativa) planted. After cover crop termination and hemp harvest, soils were sampled at 0-7.5, 7.5-15, and 15-30 cm depths. Total C, total N, total P, mineralizable N, POXc (labile C), and four soil enzymes (phosphatase, sulfatase, glucosidase, and urease) were evaluated. Stratification ratios decreased following cover crops. Cover crop mixes stratified mineralizable N deeper than legumes alone in five of six instances. Enzyme activity increased following cover crops, but there was little significance due to cover crop type. Cover crop mixtures did not significantly increase measured variables more than single species did. This study did not demonstrate an advantage to using either an individual grass or legume or mixture in terms of enhancing soil quality parameters.


The machine tool data model of STEP-NC (ISO 14649) was conceived as a necessary extension to the original STEP-NC set of standards to make efficient control possible. The intention of this paper is to describe the background to the data model as well as related research work building on a higher level of information than can currently be found in the control information. The development of STEP-NC controllers promises improved manufacturing and resource use. However, even with legacy controllers there are advantages in using STEP-NC as an intermediate representation. This paper describes how the data model for describing machine capability was developed and what can be delivered by using this standard data model for machine tool. A machine tool selection algorithm is developed in order to validate the data model. Technical issues were derived from developing a system for process planning based on STEP-NC. Machine tools are selected automatically by the comparison with machine capability, work space and tolerance with the proposed data model. This function can contribute reconfigurable manufacturing systems and distributed and multi-controller-based manufacturing environment.


Abstract Background The oral, fixed-combination NEPA containing netupitant and palonosetron target crucial pathways involved in both acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with highly emetogenic chemotherapy.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with infectious complications, especially bloodstream infections (BSI). The risk factors associated with BSI include presence of indwelling vascular catheters. NEPA eliminates accessing intravenous catheters leading to a decreased risk of infection in HSCT recipients.There is a paucity of studies about the management of CINV during preparative regimens for HSCT. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of NEPA during and after HSCT conditioning. Methods Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and acute myeloid leukemia who received an allogeneic HSCT between 2017 and 2018 were retrospective studied. Conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine and busulfan. Graft versus host disease prophylaxis was done with high-dose cyclophosphamide on days +3 to + 4 post-HSCT. Patients received a single capsule of NEPA prior to conditioning regimen and before cyclophosphamide, both with oral dexamethasone on days 1-3 . Safety was assessed by evaluation of adverse events and use of rescue medications (baclofen for hiccups and lactitol, macrogol and sennosides for constipation). Results Six patients were included: 4/6were male and median age was 50 years (IQR: 46-53 years). Two patients reported hiccups needing baclofen and 6 required rescue medications for constipation. Five out of six patients presented neutropenic enterocolitis on day +7, oral intake was stopped in 4 of them, total parenteral nutrition was started in 3 cases, 3 patients required extra antibiotic coverage, and 4 received analgesic therapy. All patients improved with conservative measures. Conclusions In this real-world observational study, the incidence of neutropenic enterocolitis was considerably higher than previous reports in HSCT recipients. It may be associated with NEPA administration but future studies will be needed to confirm this relationship. Legal entity responsible for the study Hospital Clinic Barcelona. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


We propose a feasible scheme to create macroscopically entangled atom-photon pairs by preparing an input optical superposition state. Several interesting non-classical quantum statistical effects like the atomic squeezed effects are clearly demonstrated. The making and manipulation of entangled atom-photon pairs are useful for, e.g., high-precision interferometry and quantum information science.


Both intact mammalian cardiac muscle and single adult Ca2+-tolerant myocytes, under appropriate experimental conditions, exhibit periodic, spontaneous myofilament oscillations that originate locally within a cell and propagate longitudinally as contractile waves. We have used microscopic imaging techniques to study the effect of electrical stimulation on the oscillation characteristics in single rat and rabbit myocytes. Unstimulated rat cells bathed in Cao of 1-3 mM exhibited these oscillations. During stimulation at rates between 6 and 120 min-1, oscillations did not occur in the interval between stimulated contractions, and following termination of stimulation a transient suppression of the spontaneous oscillation frequency occurred. Conversely, with higher cell Ca2+ loading, achieved by increasing the [Ca2+]o or by addition of isoproterenol or ouabain, stimulation caused de novo oscillations in rabbit cells and increased the spontaneous oscillation frequency in rat cells to levels that resulted in their appearance between stimulated contractions. The tendency for myofilament motion to occur simultaneously at multiple foci was also increased by stimulation at high frequencies, and partial synchronization of these foci resulted in oscillations of an increased amplitude. The modulation of the spontaneous oscillation characteristics in single cells by stimulation may explain, in part, some effects of stimulation on Ca2+-dependent oscillatory phenomena in intact cardiac tissues.


A bench-scale SBR was operated for almost three years in an attempt to optimise the treatment of leachates generated in old landfill. The results of the first two years were used to design a monitoring and control system based on artificial intelligence concepts. Nitrogen removal was optimized via the nitrite shortcut. Nitrification and N removal were usually higher than 98% and 90%, respectively, whereas COD (of the leachate) removal was approximately 30-40%. The monitoring and control system was demonstrated capable of optimizing process operation, in terms of phase length and external COD addition, to the varying loading conditions. Using the control system developed, a significant improvement of the process was obtained: COD and N load were increased (HRT decrease) and a significant decrease (approximately 34%) of the ratio of COD added to N leachate content was observed.


We demonstrate micro structuring of fused-silica laser mirror substrates by Inverse Laser Drilling. Slits of a width down to ~80 µm and circular holes with diameters down to ~50 µm have been structured into quarter-inch thick substrates. Except for chipping, the surface areas around these openings have not been irreversibly affected by the manufacturing process. The micro structured mirrors can be used for geometrical output coupling of coherent EUV radiation from cavity-enhanced high harmonic generation.


OBJECTIVE
Folic acid fortification of breads and grains was implemented in the United States in 1998 in an attempt to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Outcome data from birth registries have shown a 20% drop-less than originally predicted. In this study, we ascertain if the impact of folic acid fortification is better seen at the time of midtrimester prenatal diagnosis by looking at incidence of high maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) values.

METHODS
Data regarding MSAFP levels in 61,119 patients undergoing maternal serum screening at a large commercial laboratory were categorized by multiples of the median (MoM). The data were compared between 2 groups: before mandatory supplementation in the United States in 1997 and after mandatory supplementation in 2000. High MSAFP values were further categorized as high (2.75-4.00 MoM) or very high (more than 4.00 MoM). Data were analyzed by chi(2) analysis.

RESULTS
Comparative data showed a 32% decrease of patients with MoM greater than 2.75 + (2.5% -1.7%). Further categorizations revealed similar decreases.

CONCLUSION
The introduction of folic acid fortification has produced a profound decrease in the number of high MSAFP values, reflective of a decreased incidence of neural tube defects. Our results help to validate the decision to fortify food with folic acid, which represents a highly successful public health policy for primary prevention of birth defects.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
II-2


The global spread of COVID-19 is one of the largest threats to people and governments since the Second World War. The on-going pandemic and its countermeasures have led to varying physical, psychological, and emotional experiences, shaping not just public health and the economy but also societies. We focus on one pillar of society—trust—and explore how trust correlates with the individual experiences of the pandemic. The analysis is based on a new global survey—'Life with Corona'—and uses simple correlational statistics. We show that those who have had contact with sick people and those that are unemployed exhibit lower trust in people, institutions, and in general. By contrast, no such differences exist for those who have personally experienced symptoms of the disease. These associations vary across contexts and are not driven by concerns about personal health or the health of loved ones, but rather by increased levels of worry and stress. Our findings suggest that the effects of the pandemic go well beyond immediate health concerns, leading to important normative changes that are likely to shape how societies will emerge from the pandemic


Current research in Micro, Nan0 and Swarm Robots as results of the European projects Miniman, MiCFloN and I-SWARM will be presented. First, the design and the control of 5 to 10cm3 sized mobile micro robots with five degrees of freedom will be shown.They can handle miniaturized parts as for example an optical component or a biological cell with a size in the micrometre-area with an accuracy of lOOnm under a microscope or a raster-electron microscope. Second, the design and the control of a km3-sized mobile untethered micro robot will be demonstrated. Here, the robot consists of five parts: the Piezzo locomction module, the micro control unit, the communication unit, the navigation system and the micro gripper. The mobile robot can be guided and positioned in an arena with an accuracy of 5 micrometre and can be programmed and controlled over the wireless communication unit. Third, the design and the control of 3 x 3 x 3 mm3 sized micro-/nanorobots with 2 degrees of freedom will be presented. The transmission of energy and the communication between the robots is realized via infrared. The robot controller is fully integrated and has limited functionalities. Via basic sensors communication functions and elementary rules and behaviours the micro robot can act in a swarm consisting of hundreds and thousands of robots. Future applications could be monitoring-, inspection-, exploring-tasks etc. of big areas or objects.


Background Myocilin is a gene linked directly to juvenile- and adult-onset open angle glaucoma. Mutations including Gln368stop (Q368X) and Pro370Leu (P370L) have been identified in patients. The exact role of myocilin and its functional association with glaucoma are still unclear. In the present study, we established tetracycline-inducible (Tet-on) wild type and mutant myocilin-green fluorescence protein (GFP) expressing RGC5 stable cell lines and studied the changes in cell migration and barrier function upon induction. Methodology/Principal Findings After several rounds of selection, clones that displayed low, moderate, or high expression of wild type, Q368X or P370L myocilin-GFP upon doxycycline (Dox) induction were obtained. The levels of wild type and mutant myocilin-GFP in various clones were confirmed by Western blotting. Compared to non-induced controls, the cell migration was retarded, the actin stress fibers were fewer and shorter, and the trypsinization time needed for cells to round up was reduced when wild type or mutant myocilin was expressed. The barrier function was in addition aberrant following induced expression of wild type, Q368X or P370L myocilin. Immunoblotting further showed that tight junction protein occludin was downregulated in induced cells. Conclusions/Significance Tet-on inducible, stable RGC5 cell lines were established. These cell lines, expressing wild type or mutant (Q368X or P370L) myocilin-GFP upon Dox induction, are valuable in facilitating studies such as proteomics, as well as functional and pathogenesis investigations of disease-associated myocilin mutants. The barrier function was found impaired and the migration of cells was hindered with induced expression of wild type and mutant myocilin in RGC5 cell lines. The reduction in barrier function might be related to the declined level of occludin. The retarded cell migration was consistent with demonstrated myocilin phenotypes including the loss of actin stress fibers, lowered RhoA activities and compromised cell-matrix adhesiveness.