Pervious concrete is a type of concrete with significantly increased water permeability, ensuring increased rates of drainage of rainfall. The high porosity is achieved by removing a large percentage of fine aggregates from the mix. The present paper is an approach for the addition of steel slag as a substitute for coarse aggregates in pervious concrete. More specifically, three types of aggregates have been used: steel slag, construction and demolition wastes and conventional limestone aggregates. The produced pervious concretes are compared for their properties, such as water permeability, compressive strength and abrasion behaviour. Also this paper contains the study of the porosity analysis of these pervious concrete mix designs by using porosity profiles produced from X-ray CT Scanning. According to the results of this paper, it is observed that the incorporation of industry by-products or of Construction and Demolition (C&D) wastes leads to better abrasion behaviour, and to the increase, in some cases, of the compressive strength and of the water permeability.


Abstract This essay reviews the three-venue exhibition ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York, which opened in July of 2015 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, El Museo del Barrio and the Loisaida Center in the Lower East Side. It assesses the three significantly different approaches of these institutions to capturing the visual and performative legacy of the Young Lords, a radical decolonial Nuyorican group of the early 1970s whose political activism engaged communities to transform space through artistic practices. In critically surveying these three approaches, this essay means to explore the cultural, art-historical, and political stakes of exhibitions like ¡Presente!, in which different kinds of loyalty and conceptions of legacy come into contact.


Summary The aim of this study is to analyse the state of the competitiveness of seven Western Balkan economies and to suggest policy recommendations in order to increase their capacity to compete. Most countries from the Western Balkans have a persistent current account deficit of about 10% of GDP which indicates their substantial lack of competitiveness. Also their goods export share makes only about 20% of GDP while it is around 70% for the new EU member states in Central Europe. Contrary to their northern neighbours, the Western Balkan countries have specialised in low and low-medium tech industries and have only little higher-tech products e.g. from the machinery and automotive or chemical industry to offer on the international markets. Several of these countries are excluded from international production networks. The quality of the institutions in the Western Balkans is weak but improving with further steps in the European integration process; the EU acts as an anchor of institutional stability. There are still considerable administrative and technical barriers to trade. Public transport infrastructure is more often than not in a very bad shape. Most of these countries are excluded from the international transport networks. Also the human capital could be improved. Unemployment is extremely high and large parts of the population are stuck in subsistence farming or are migrating. The labour market has problems to absorb the idle labour force. Financing is clearly a major restriction for an increase in much needed productive capacities. Real interest rates are high, the share of non-performing loans is large and credit growth is weak. A number of policy recommendations are made. Most of the countries need strong investment in transport infrastructure, both to connect internally as well as to connect across borders. Some also need substantial investment in their ailing energy infrastructure. Additional support for foreign direct investment could quickly generate new production capacities and transfer of technology. Given that most of the Western Balkan economies have either unilaterally adopted the euro or have pegged their currency to the euro, monetary and exchange rate policy is not available as a tool to foster competitiveness. An alternative option would be to support social partnership and a cooperative incomes policy that aims to orientate itself at full employment, productivity gains and inflation. For some of the more developed economies, investment into a dual system of vocational education could be costly but beneficial. Lower priced measures that in part could also be implemented more quickly include the following policies An administrative reform should aim at increasing the absorption capacities of EU support funds in order to identify and co-finance the most advantageous projects. A quick solution of the dragging issue of non-performing loans could cause a much needed improvement in credit activity. A measure that could be implemented in a budgetary neutral way is a fiscal devaluation, whereby an increase of the value added tax and a reduction of the employer's social security contribution could have the same competitiveness improving effects as a nominal exchange rate devaluation.


- What are the most common mistakes made by Help Desk/Service Desk Managers? - What's the trick to running a call center or help desk that is Great? - How to Create value from a Help Desk standpoint - What help desk and support system you recommend for an IT service department? - How do you measure and report staff and team performance? - What should you look for in a Help Desk/Trouble Ticketing System Regardless of the size, complexity and budget of the IT department, the first and second line support provided by Help Desk staff will play a large part in the satisfaction of customers and users regarding IT services. Placed in an incredibly challenging environment, Help Desk staff are required to apply knowledge and skills to a wide range of ICT systems by managing any request for assistance or support from the user population. To assist an individual seeking employment as a Help Desk Manager, this book aims to provide an overview of the typical knowledge and skills required, without focusing on any one technology vendor or platform. This study guide and its accompanying online learning program book focuses on the high-level practices that are important when managing Help Desk support services, including managing staff and teams, as well as the creation and execution of efficient IT Service Management processes. This certification kit contains both the study guide and access to our online program that together provides everything you need to prepare for the Help Desk Manager certification exam. Contents - Hiring The Right Staff - Topgrading - Coaching : The Topgrading-Based Model - Team Building - Motivating Your Workforce - Conducting Effective Performance Reviews - Staff Retention - It Service Management - The Service Lifecycle - Service Delivery Principles - Service Operation Principles - Service Operation Processes - Selecting / Configuring Help Desk Tools - Review Questions


Recent water sector reforms, increased scarcity and vulnerability of existing water resources, combined with declining public funding available for large-scale infrastructure investment in the sector have led to an increased awareness by the Government of Vietnam for the need to analyze water resource allocation and use in an integrated fashion, at the basin scale, and from an economic efficiency perspective. This paper presents the development, application, and results from an integrated economic-hydrologic river basin model for the Dong Nai River Basin in southern Vietnam that attempts to address these issues. The model framework takes into account the sectoral structure of water users (agriculture, industry, hydropower, households, and the environment), the location of water-using regions, and the institutions for water allocation in the basin. Water benefit functions are developed for the major water uses subject to physical, system control, and policy constraints. Based on this modeling framework, policies that can affect water allocation and use at the basin level, including both basin-specific and general macroeconomic policies, are analyzed.


A large literature examines performance pay for managers in the private sector, but little is known about performance pay for managers in public sector bureaucracies. In this paper, we study performance incentives rewarding school administrators for reducing anemia among their students. Randomly assigning 170 schools to three performance incentive levels and two orthogonal sizes of unconditional grants, we analyze performance pay and its complementarity with discretionary resources. We find that both large incentives and larger unconditional grants reduced anemia substantially, but incentives were more cost-effective. Performance incentives led administrators to innovate by working with parents, mitigating potentially offsetting compensatory behavior among households. Strikingly, we also find that larger unconditional grants completely crowded-out the effect of incentives. Our findings suggest that performance incentives can be effective in bureaucratic environments – but also that discretionary resources can fully crowd-out their effect.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To describe cardiac patients' perceptions of their responsibilities in adherence to care.

BACKGROUND
The responsibilities of cardiac patients' adherence to care is a topical issue because of the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in Western countries, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Responsibilities for cardiac patients' care have been studied, but little is described about patients' perspectives in this study.

DESIGN
A qualitative, hermeneutic inquiry.

METHODS
We used face-to-face individual semistructured interviews with 21 cardiac patients (76% male) aged 58-86 in an urban area of Finland in winter 2013. The data were analysed hermeneutically with inductive content analysis.

RESULTS
Based on our results, patients with cardiac disease understood that autonomy provided a basis for their responsibility in adherence to care. It included being able to make independent decisions, in collaboration with health professionals, or even to entrust that responsibility to healthcare professionals. Responsibilities were understood to be an expression of adherence, perceived to benefit the patient and included the duty to adopt a healthy lifestyle and care for their own medical condition. The main factors that influenced patients' responsibilities around adherence to care were their individual resources and motivation, relationships with healthcare professionals and the resources of the healthcare system.

CONCLUSION
Autonomy is an inherent part of cardiac patients' adherence to care, but there has been little focus on their responsibilities in the literature. More attention needs to be paid to the healthcare providers' abilities to support patients' duties and responsibilities in clinical practice and to future research.


Using modern micro and nano-fabrication techniques combined with superconduct- ing materials we realize quantum electronic circuits in which we create, store, and manipulate individual microwave photons. The strong interaction of photons with superconducting quantum two-level systems allows us to probe fundamental quantum efiects of microwave radiation and also to develop components for applications in quantum technology. Previously we have realized on-demand single photon sources which we have characterized using correlation function mea- surements (1) and full quantum state tomography (2). For this purpose we have developed e-cient methods to separate the quantum signals of interest from the noise added by the linear ampliflers used for quadrature amplitude detection (3). We now regularly employ superconducting para- metric ampliflers (4) to perform nearly quantum limited detection of propagating electromagnetic flelds. These enable us to probe the entanglement which we generate on demand between sta- tionary qubits and microwave photons freely propagating down a transmission line (5). Using two independent microwave single photon sources, we have recently performed Hong-Ou-Mandel ex- periments at microwave frequencies (6) and have probed the coherence of two-mode multi-photon states at the out-put of the beam-splitter. The non-local nature of such states may prove to be useful for distributing entanglement in future small-scale quantum networks. REFERENCES


We prove that almost every nonregular real quadratic map is ColletEckmann and has polynomial recurrence of the critical orbit (proving a conjecture by Sinai). It follows that typical quadratic maps have excellent ergodic properties, as exponential decay of correlations (Keller and Nowicki, Young) and stochastic stability in the strong sense (Baladi and Viana). This is an important step in achieving the same results for more general families of unimodal maps.


Abstract. Nighttime HOx chemistry was investigated in two ground-based field campaigns (PRIDE-PRD2006 and CAREBEIJING2006) in summer 2006 in China by comparison of measured and modeled concentration data of OH and HO2. The measurement sites were located in a rural environment in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) under urban influence and in a suburban area close to Beijing, respectively. In both locations, significant nighttime concentrations of radicals were observed under conditions with high total OH reactivities of about 40–50 s−1 in PRD and 25 s−1 near Beijing. For OH, the nocturnal concentrations were within the range of (0.5–3) × 106 cm−3, implying a significant nighttime oxidation rate of pollutants on the order of several ppb per hour. The measured nighttime concentration of HO2 was about (0.2–5) × 108 cm−3, containing a significant, model-estimated contribution from RO2 as an interference. A chemical box model based on an established chemical mechanism is capable of reproducing the measured nighttime values of the measured peroxy radicals and $k_{\text{OH}}$, but underestimates in both field campaigns the observed OH by about 1 order of magnitude. Sensitivity studies with the box model demonstrate that the OH discrepancy between measured and modeled nighttime OH can be resolved, if an additional ROx production process (about 1 ppb h−1) and additional recycling (RO2 → HO2 → OH) with an efficiency equivalent to 1 ppb NO is assumed. The additional recycling mechanism was also needed to reproduce the OH observations at the same locations during daytime for conditions with NO mixing ratios below 1 ppb. This could be an indication that the same missing process operates at day and night. In principle, the required primary ROx source can be explained by ozonolysis of terpenoids, which react faster with ozone than with OH in the nighttime atmosphere. However, the amount of these highly reactive biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) would require a strong local source, for which there is no direct evidence. A more likely explanation for an additional ROx source is the vertical downward transport of radical reservoir species in the stable nocturnal boundary layer. Using a simplified one-dimensional two-box model, it can be shown that ground-based NO emissions could generate a large vertical gradient causing a downward flux of peroxy acetic nitrate (PAN) and peroxymethacryloyl nitrate (MPAN). The downward transport and the following thermal decomposition of these compounds can produce up to 0.3 ppb h−1 radicals in the atmospheric layer near the ground. Although this rate is not sufficient to explain the complete OH discrepancy, it indicates the potentially important role of vertical transport in the lower nighttime atmosphere.


Recently the considerable potential of virtual reality has been recognized for the scientific study, diagnosis and treatment in the field of mental healthcare. It provides a unique opportunity to provide a natural interface and to mimic actual challenges faced by impaired subjects in their lives. In spite of certain limitations, some work has emerged which provides guidelines for future research efforts. A shortlist of such applications includes assessment and treatment of phobias; obsessive compulsive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders and hyperactive attention deficit syndromes. We highlight these recent and ongoing research projects and compare this unique paradigm with conventional nonVR techniques by discussion of potential benefits and possible shortcomings. Due to the nature of research, ethical and human factors cannot be over emphasized. We also describe the limitations of VR in the field of practical psychology as media hype has over sold its potential. With recent advances in technology, it is not unrealistic to hope that VR will soon be a part of a clinician's armoury.


People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of developing cognitive impairment (CI) compared to the general population, in fact, it has been estimated that 60% of people with CKD are cognitively impaired. Despite this high percentage, there is no adequate screening process for the detection of CI in this high risk population. Lack of a suitable diagnostic tool therefore allows impairment to go unchecked, increasing the risk of dementia evolution. Previous research has demonstrated that oculomotor tasks may be advantageous over traditional neuropsychological measures for detecting CI in early Alzheimer's disease, specifically uncorrected error rate in the anti-saccade paradigm. This particular measure examines individuals' inhibitory control, self-monitoring and executive functioning abilities. Consequently, these facets of cognitive functioning are commonly found to be impaired in people with CKD. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of uncorrected error rate in the anti-saccade paradigm as a detection tool for CI in people with CKD. In a cross-sectional design, 44 CKD patients and 25 controls completed the anti-saccade task and a neuropsychological battery that assessed global ability, working memory, and executive function. The prevalence of CI was evaluated, as was the anti-saccade task's ability in predicting the extent of cognitive impairment. Subsequently, it was found that uncorrected error rate was significantly higher in those with advanced CKD requiring haemodialysis, as was prevalence of CI according to scores in the neuropsychological battery. Furthermore, uncorrected error rate was predictive of deterioration in some cognitive abilities, namely visuospatial memory, verbal working memory, and verbal inhibitory control with small to moderate effect sizes. These results support previous research in that those with advanced CKD are more likely to have CI when compared to the general population. They also represent the first exploration of the anti-saccade paradigm as a monitoring tool for CI in CKD, and indicate that the antisaccade task has the potential to act as a cost and time-effective means of periodically assessing certain domains of cognition in people with CKD. Despite this, further work using the anti-saccade paradigm longitudinally and in larger population sizes is needed to confirm its use in clinical practice.


The study of complementation has received considerable attention in generative studies. Following Rosenbaum's (1967) pioneering study of the English complement system, there are extensive studies by Lakoff (1965), Ross (1967), Perlmutter (1971) and a large number of publications. More recent detailed studies are Emonds (1970) and Bresnan (1972) . These studies have increased enormously the body of factual knowledge about the complement system of English, and about the phenomenon of complementation in general. As a consequence there are a number of empirical hypotheses about the structure of human languages which must now be tested against facts of different languages. Of these hypotheses, perhaps the most interesting is that the grammars of all languages make use of the principle of the transformational cycle. Testing this hypothesis constitutes one of the main concerns of the present book. Furthermore, these studies have also raised numerous interesting empirical issues of great importance for linguistic theory, most of which are still awaiting fresh evidence from different languages in order to be settled. This study is directed towards resolving some of these issues by adducing relevent data, primarily from Portuguese.


Multimodal regression is a fundamental task, which integrates the information from different sources to improve the performance of follow-up applications. However, existing methods mainly focus on improving the performance and often ignore the confidence of prediction for diverse situations. In this study, we are devoted to trustworthy multimodal regression which is critical in cost-sensitive domains. To this end, we introduce a novel Mixture of Normal-Inverse Gamma distributions (MoNIG) algorithm, which efficiently estimates uncertainty in principle for adaptive integration of different modalities and produces a trustworthy regression result. Our model can be dynamically aware of uncertainty for each modality, and also robust for corrupted modalities. Furthermore, the proposed MoNIG ensures explicitly representation of (modality-specific/global) epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties, respectively. Experimental results on both synthetic and different real-world data demonstrate the effectiveness and trustworthiness of our method on various multimodal regression tasks (e.g., temperature prediction for superconductivity, relative location prediction for CT slices, and multimodal sentiment analysis).


Despite a considerable body of evidence detailing the overwhelming "maleness" of traffic offence behaviour and clear sex differences in the risky road use behaviour of young drivers, traffic psychology has paid scant attention to the issue of gender and the relationship between young men, cars and gender identity. Motor vehicle theft is a major juvenile offence both nationally and internationally and a particular example of a male dominated road use behaviour. Statistics suggest vehicle theft is primarily conducted by 16 year old males and is associated with approximately 40 fatalities per year nationally. This paper reports on two studies examining vehicle theft offenders, driving and gender identity. Study One (N = 4,529), a longitudinal study, examined the prevalence of vehicle theft in a representative adolescent cohort and their subsequent novice driver offence history. Results indicated that adolescent males were more likely than adolescent females to report vehicle theft. Adolescent males were also more likely to incur Drink Driving and Dangerous Driving offences as novice drivers. Study Two compared the gender identities of adolescent offenders' (N = 122) and non-offenders (N = 155). A new scale, the Doing Masculinity Composite Scale was developed to identify the specific behaviours adolescent males perceived as necessary to "do masculinity". Overall adolescent male offenders and non-offenders were similar in the behaviours they endorsed as "doing masculinity". Importantly both groups of adolescent males endorsed having a car and being able to drive as core masculine defining behaviours. Results indicate that adolescent males who engage in vehicle theft continue their risky driving behaviour into the novice driver period. It is also suggested that cars and driving hold particular importance to young males just about to enter the driving system. It is suggested that the gendered associations between adolescent males and cars is an overlooked area in relation to licensure and road safety education.


The 71st and 72nd 2015 and 2016 annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology (ASC) in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans focused on themes of the Politics of Crime and Justice and the Many Colors of Crime and Justice respectively. At these meetings there were important Presidential Plenaries focusing on Mass Incarceration and Sentencing Policies, including recommendations for revising sentencing provisions in laws contributing to over-incarceration. There were discussions about criminal history and other enhancements, and risk assessments. One significant 2015 presidential plenary session which this reviewer attended was a lively debate about "whether the United States can change its current carceral state", in a forum entitled The American Criminal Justice System: "Caught" or Not?, with chair Candice Kruttschnitt and discussants Daniel Nagin, Marie Gottscalk and Vincent Schiraldi. The discussion focused on issues surrounding the carceral state including sentencing policies and the role of race. Participants commented on whether America's criminal justice system reflected "The New Jim Crow," as expressed in the book by Michelle Alexander, or another approach suggested by Gottschalk in her 2015 book, reviewed here, Caught: The Prison State and the Lockdown of American Politics, that the problem of mass incarceration relates to politics, economics, and geography, and goes beyond racial disparity. Gottschalk indicates in her book that lengthy sentencing policies in addition to drug sentencing, like mandatory minimum sentences for gun and violent crimes, three strikes laws, the elimination of community treatment, probation and parole are as important to mass incarceration, and these affect Whites and Blacks alike. The carceral state also impedes reentry with after-effects on jobs, education, housing, voting, and families.


Important contributions have been made to the systematics of Eutardigrada in recent years, but these have also revealed that several taxa are polyphyletic and that cryptic species are present. To shed light on the taxonomy and systematic position of the genus Richtersius (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotoidea), six populations attributed to Richtersius coronifer were collected and analysed from morphological (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, 18S, 28S) points of view. In particular, a new morphometric index (claw common tract: length of the common tract of the claw/total claw length × 100) and a new morphological character (stalk system) were introduced. Our integrative study was able to unveil the 'cryptic' species diversity within Richtersius, showing that the genus contains more than one evolutionary lineage. A morphological peculiarity in the animals of all lineages is the dimorphism in the morphology of the cuticle. Cuticular pores are present in the newborns and are lost with the first moult; this morphological change represents a novelty in the life cycle of eutardigrades. The phylogenetic analyses carried out on Richtersius populations and other Macrobiotoidea show that Richtersius is closely related to Macrobiotus islandicus, whereas Adorybiotus granulatus is more related to Richtersius and M. islandicus than to other members of the genus Macrobiotus (type genus of Macrobiotidae); therefore, the genus Macrobiotus and the family Macrobiotidae are not monophyletic. Based on these results, the new genus Diaforobiotus (for M. islandicus) and the new family Richtersiidae (composed of Richtersius, Diaforobiotus gen. nov., and Adorybiotus) are established.


Motion forecasting is essential for making intelligent decisions in robotic navigation. As a result, the multi-agent behavioral prediction has become a core component of modern human-robot interaction applications such as autonomous driving. Due to various intentions and interactions among agents, agent trajectories can have multiple possible futures. Hence, the motion forecasting model's ability to cover possible modes becomes essential to enable accurate prediction. Towards this goal, we introduce HalentNet to better model the future motion distribution in addition to a traditional trajectory regression learning objective by incorporating generative augmentation losses. We model intents with unsupervised discrete random variables whose training is guided by a collaboration between two key signals: A discriminative loss that encourages intents' diversity and a hallucinative loss that explores intent transitions (i.e., mixed intents) and encourages their smoothness. This regulates the neural network behavior to be more accurately predictive on uncertain scenarios due to the active yet careful exploration of possible future agent behavior. Our model's learned representation leads to better and more semantically meaningful coverage of the trajectory distribution. Our experiments show that our method can improve over the state-of-the-art trajectory forecasting benchmarks, including vehicles and pedestrians, for about 20% on average FDE and 50% on road boundary violation rate when predicting 6 seconds future. We also conducted human experiments to show that our predicted trajectories received 39.6% more votes than the runner-up approach and 32.2% more votes than our variant without hallucinative mixed intent loss.


In a correlation study of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue (RASS-BSC) with the Catalogue of Principal Galaxies (PGC) 904 X-ray sources were found that possess possible extragalactic counterparts within a search radius of 100 arcsec. A visual screening process was applied to classify the reliability of the correlations. 547 correlations have been quoted as reliable identifications. From these, 349 sources are known as active galaxies. Although for the other sources no hints for activity were found in the literature, 69% of those for which we have distances show X-ray luminosities exceeding those of normal galaxies, a clear sign that these galaxies also own hitherto unreported X-ray active components. Some objects are located inside or in the direction of a known group or cluster of galaxies. Their X-ray flux may therefore be in part affected by hot gas emission. Luminosity and $\log N{-}\log S$ distributions are used to characterize different subsamples. Nuclei that are both optically and X-ray active are found predominantly in spirals. Two special source samples are defined, one with candidates for X-ray emission from hitherto unknown groups or clusters of galaxies, and one with high X-ray luminosity sources, that are likely candidates to possess hitherto unreported active galactic nuclei. Besides a compilation of X-ray and optical parameters, also X-ray overlays on optical images for all the objects are supplied as part of this work.


Research question : What is the utilization rate of ANC services by antenatal Mothers? Objectives: To assess the level of utilization of ANC services among antenatal mothers. Study Design : OPD based cross-sectional study. Setting: Rural Health Training Center (RHTC) Rajeev Nagar, Doiwala, Under Department of Community Medicine, HIMS, Jolly grant, Deharadun. Participants: Antenatal mothers attending OPD at RHTC. Study Period : January 2004 to December 2004. Study Variable : Early Registration, T.T. Immunization, Anemia, IFA, High risk. Statistical Analysis: Percentage, Chi-square. Results : From a total of 51 ante-natal mothers registered at RHTC, 31 (60.8%) and 20 (39.2%) were found to be multipara and primipara respectively. T.T. Immunization Coverage was found to be 78.4% . 31(60.78%) of pregnant mothers visited twice and 29 (56.86%) visited thrice or more. IFA distribution was 100% Mild anemia was found in 22 mothers, moderate in 4 and only one case of severe anemia was found. 34 (66.66%) mothers were found to be illiterate and majority of mothers were found to be from low socio economic status i.e, 40 (78.43%). A total of 8 (15.68%) antenatal mothers were found to be under high risk category and were referred to HIMS for regular follow-up. Conclusion : Much more is needed to improve the coverage of full ANC package because a healthy mother is the sign of a healthy society.


It has been more than 15 years since the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark decision in Community for Creative Non-Violence v. Reid 1 adopted the common law of agency for the interpretation of the term "employee" in the context of "work made for hire". Since then, despite some criticism, the agency test has become the norm. This paper argues the Supreme Court's inclination to apply the work for hire doctrine through agency law is misguided. The agency test, which is based on Tort law principles, is clearly anomalous in the context of Copyright Law, which differs significantly from Tort law in its underlying rationales. This paper further argues that lacking clear guidelines, the work for hire case law has failed in its objective to achieve consistency and certainty. My proposal is that the "work made for hire" doctrine should be applied from the vantage point of Copyright Law. The test should focus on incentives to create on the one hand and public access to created works on the other. These are the goals of Copyright Law as stated in the Constitution. Thus, the new test should re-interpret the term 'employee' in a manner that complies with the needs of Copyright Law. Most importantly, 'employee' should be interpreted to give the first entitlement to the party most apt to achieve the goals of the Constitution: Instead of using agency test factors such as employee benefits and tax treatment, the courts should consider factors such as the parties' relative incentive to create new works, public accessibility, transaction costs, and the parties relative ability and motivation to disseminate works to the public. The partnership of individual creativity with the employer's resources yields a significant engine for creative production in society. Revising the 'work made for hire' test would re-align this important issue with the rest of intellectual property law.


Objective: To describe the phenotypes, treatment response, and outcome of IgLON5 autoimmunity. Methods: Archived serum and CSF specimens from 367 patients known to harbor unclassified antibodies which stained neural synapses diffusely (mimicking amphiphysin-IgG) were reevaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using a composite of mouse tissues and recombinant IgLON5-transfected cell-based assay (CBA, Euroimmun). Results: Available specimens (serum, 25; CSF, 9) from 26/367 patients (7%) had identical IFA appearance and robust IgLON5 CBA positivity. Clinical information was available for 20/26 patients; 13 were women. Median disease-onset age was 62 years (range, 46–75 years). Most patients had insidious onset and progression of neurological symptoms affecting movement and sleep predominantly. Sleep disorders were sleep-disordered breathing (11) and parasomnias (3). Brainstem disorders were gait instability (14), dysphagia (10), abnormal eye movements (7), respiratory dysfunction (6), ataxia (5), craniocervical dystonia (3), and dysarthria (3). Findings compatible with hyperexcitability included myoclonus (3), cramps (3), fasciculations (2), and exaggerated startle (2). Neuropsychiatric disorders included cognitive dysfunction (6), psychiatric symptoms (5), and seizures (1). Dysautonomia, in 9, affected bladder function (7), gastrointestinal motility (3), thermoregulation (3), and orthostatic tolerance (1). Just 2 patients had coexisting autoimmune disease. Brain MRI findings were nonspecific and CSF was noninflammatory in all tested. Seven of 9 immunotherapy-treated patients improved: 6 of those 7 were stable at last follow-up. Three untreated patients died. Each IgLON5-IgG subclass (1–4) was readily detectable in ≥80% of specimens using CBA. Conclusions: IgLON5-IgG is diagnostic of a potentially treatable neurological disorder, where autoimmune clues are otherwise lacking.


In Chicks Digs Time Lords, a host of award-winning female novelists, academics and actresses come together to celebrate the phenomenon that is Doctor Who, discuss their inventive involvement with the show's fandom and examine why they adore the series. These essays will delight male and female readers alike by delving into the extraordinary aspects of being a female Doctor Who enthusiast. Essays include Carole Barrowman discussing what it was like to grow up with her brother John (including the fact that he's still afraid of shop-window dummies), columnist Jackie Jenkins providing a Bridget Jones' Diary-style memoir of working on Doctor Who Magazine, novelist Lloyd Rose analyzing Rose's changes between the ninth and tenth Doctors and much more. Other contributors include Elizabeth Bear (Jenny Casey), Lisa Bowerman (Bernice Summerfield), Mary Robinette Kowal (Shades of Milk and Honey), Jody Lynn Nye (Mythology series), Kate Orman (Seeing I), and Catherynne M. Valente (The Orphan's Tales). Also featured is a comic from the Torchwood Babiez creators, plus interviews with Doctor Who companions India Fisher (Charley) and Sophie Aldred (Ace).


Growth, bone, and body composition were studied at prepuberty in former very low birth weight (VLBW) infants who received dexamethasone (DEX) for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) compared with VLBW infants without DEX and term-born infants (TERM) to identify early life risk factors for later low bone mass. Children (56 girls/63 boys, 5–10 y) previously studied in neonatal life were recruited into three groups: VLBW + DEX, VLBW – DEX, and TERM children. Anthropometry and whole body bone, fat, and lean mass were measured. At prepuberty, the average height and weight for VLBW + DEX group were significantly lower than that for VLBW – DEX and TERM. Both VLBW groups had lower bone mass even adjusted for height and lean mass than TERM children and lower lean mass both total and adjusted for height. Z-scores for whole body bone mineral content below –1.5 occurred in 27.9% of VLBW + DEX children. The key factors for low bone mass were earlier gestational age and having BPD with DEX in neonatal life. In former VLBW infants, growth and bone mass attainment before puberty can be predicted from early life variables. VLBW + DEX children may be protected from overweight, but are at risk for short stature and low bone mass.


We consider the problem of estimating the fractional order of a L´evy process from low frequency historical and options data. An estimation methodology is developed which allows us to treat both estimation and calibration problems in a unified way. The corresponding procedure consists of two steps: the estimation of a conditional characteristic function and the weighted least squares estimation of the fractional order in spectral domain. While the second step is identical for both calibration and estimation, the first one depends on the problem at hand. Minimax rates of convergence for the fractional order estimate are derived, the asymptotic normality is proved and a data-driven algorithm based on aggregation is proposed. The performance of the estimator in both estimation and calibration setups is illustrated by a simulation study.


Let assume that Alice, Bob, and Charlie, the three classical people of cryptography are not limited anymore to perform a finite number of computations on real computers, but are limited to α computations and to α bits of memory, where α is a fixed infinite cardinal. For example α = א0 (the countable cardinal, i.e. the cardinal of N the set of integers), or α = C (the cardinal of the set R of real numbers). Is it possible to do secret-key cryptography? Public-key cryptography? Encryption? Authentication? Signatures? Is it possible to generalize the notion of one way function? The aim of this paper is to give some elements of answers to these questions. We will see for example that for secret-key cryptography there are some simple solutions. However for public-key cryptography the results are much less clear.


: The satellite images of Google Earth show an interesting feature of some coastal dunes of Brazil. They are leaving, during their motion, some "footprints" behind, which are sedimentary patterns. In this manner, it is possible to follow year after year the motion of such dunes.


This thesis describes a successful attempt to automate a manual process in footwear industry. The process is called skiving of leather components and it is one of the early processes necessary for the assembly of shoe uppers. Skiving is the localised thinning of leather components, mainly at some of their edge regions. The purpose of skiving is to produce quality decorative edges or more importantly to enable attaching and joining components without forming thick, discomforting and weak joints. Although other processes in footwear manufacturing have been subject to partial or full automation, skiving has been performed for decades now with a standard mechanism that requires 3-dimensional manipulation of the components by a human operator. This research work was directed towards two main aims. One was to establish a novel method on the basis of which skiving may be performed without the need of human assistance. The developed method is called dynamic matrix skiving and it is capable of performing skiving on leather components by generating and actuating skive patterns as sets of finite elements of skived area to a given resolution. Following derivation and study of the method for skiving, the second phase was aimed at implementing a fully automatic skiving system. The main requirement from the system was to be an intelligent, component oriented, flow through, processing device. This required the capability to receive input components at any orientation and position along its transport mechanism, to recognise them as to their identity and relative position, and to perform skiving upon them without moving them or disturb their continuous flow throughout the entire operation. Individual chapters in this thesis describe the study and experimentation with regards to dynamic matrix skiving, and all logical steps taken to identify the necessary elements and implement their integration to produce the automated skiving system. The concluding part of this work includes presentation of the results obtained from the automated system, and it identifies the areas where further research and development is needed in order to improve the quality of its output.


Detrital zircon ages from quartzite and metaconglomerate in the Tusas and Picuris Mountains in northern New Mexico reveal new information about age and provenance trends within a >1000 km 2 Proterozoic sedimentary basin and provide a critical test of regional correlations. Samples from the Paleoproterozoic Vadito and Hondo groups are dominated by a single detrital zircon population with age probability peaks that range from 1765 to 1704 Ma. Minor Archean and ca. 1850 Ma age probability peaks were also recognized in some samples. Close correspondence between detrital zircon ages and the age of surrounding basement rocks indicates predominately local sources, and we interpret systematic shifts in peak ages with stratigraphic position to represent changes in local sources through time. Similarities of age spectra support previous correlation of stratigraphic units between discontinuous exposures of the Hondo Group. We interpret that these supracrustal rocks were deposited in a single basin that we refer to as the Pilar basin. Two samples of the Marquenas Formation, a pebble to boulder conglomerate previously correlated with the ca. 1700 Ma Vadito Group, are dominated by Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon with age probability peaks at 1707 and 1715 Ma in the middle and upper units, respectively. Unlike the Vadito and Hondo group samples, the Marquenas Formation also contains abundant ca. 1700–1600 Ma zircon derived from Mazatzal-aged sources to the south and Mesoproterozoic zircon with age probability peaks at 1479 and 1457 Ma. Weighted averages of 1477 ± 13 Ma and 1453 ± 10 Ma for the youngest detrital zircon in the middle and upper Marquenas Formation provide new maximum depositional age constraints, indicating that it is not part of the Vadito Group. The minimum age is not well constrained but is interpreted to be ca. 1435 Ma on the basis of the timing of regional metamorphism and deformation previously documented in the Picuris Mountains. These data represent the first evidence of sedimentation directly associated with ca. 1.4 Ga regional metamorphism, plutonism, and deformation in the southwestern United States and provide an important new constraint on the tectonic evolution of southern Laurentia during this time.


In 2015, the United Nations adopted an ambitious development agenda composed of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are to be reached by 2030. Beyond SDG 11 concerning the development of sustainable cities, many of the SDGs target activities falling within the responsibility of local governments. Thus, cities will play a leading role in the achievement of these goals, and we argue that the information systems (IS) community must be an active partner in these efforts. This paper aims to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by developing a conceptual model to explain the role of IS in building smart sustainable cities and providing a framework of action for IS researchers and city managers. To this end, we conduct grounded theory studies of two green IS used by an internationally recognized smart city to manage water quality and green space. Based on these findings, we articulate a model explaining how an integrated information ecosystem enables the interactions between three interrelated spheres – administrative, political and sustainability – to support the development of smart sustainable cities. Moving from theory to practice, we use two real‐world scenarios to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Finally, we define an action framework outlining key actions for cities and suggest corresponding questions for future research. Beyond a simple call‐to‐action, this work provides a much‐needed foundation for future research and practice leading to a sustainable future for all.


The British artist Tony Cragg (b. 1949), winner of the 1988 Turner Prize, is one of today's most celebrated and popular sculptors. Before studying art, he worked as a laboratory technician, and his continuing interest in science has had an enormous influence on his practice. In his early sculptural works, he often utilized everyday objects, assembling or stacking them to generate engaging new forms. In recent years, he has turned to an astonishing variety of more traditional materials, such as wood, bronze, glass, plaster, fiberglass, and plastics. As a self-proclaimed "absolute materialist," Cragg approaches these materials with a degree of scientific curiosity, responding to their various properties to produce his expressive sculptures. This retrospective survey, made in consultation with the artist, focuses on Cragg's artistic output of the last ten years. Color illustrations demonstrate the diverse styles and materials that he employed during this time, and the book also includes earlier works and his alluring, little-known watercolors. This eye-opening book offers an up-to-date look at this respected contemporary artist.


This study estimates a panel regression model to predict bicyclist route choice. Using GPS trajectories of 600 trips from 49 participants in spring 2006 in Minneapolis, we calculate deviation, the average distance between alternative routes and actual trajectories, as the dependent variable. Trip attributes, including trip length, Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT), the number of traffic lights per kilometer, and the percentage of bike trails and separated bike lane, are included as independent variables. F-tests indicate that both fixed entity and time effect panel regression models offer better fits that the intercept only model. According to our results, routes with shorter length and higher share of bike trails tend to have less deviation in their trajectories. Traffic lights per km, VKT, and share of bike lane are not significant at 95% confidence level in this data set.


A regional, national or international innovation system's capacity to be innovative requires a commitment to collaborate between universities and industry. To facilitate this commitment, public institutions have championed the creation of interface organisations to be responsible for developing a network of university/industry partnerships. What has scarcely been acknowledged, however, is the role that professionals within these organisations should play to ensure that relationships are as productive as possible. To address this shortfall, an analysis has been proposed, which, based on the findings of a panel of international experts in innovation transfer, identifies the professional profile of the "relationship promoter" as a catalyst for university/industry relations at transregional and transnational level, and examines the strengths and weaknesses of university/industry exchange, from this approach. Finally, and based on the above analysis, the design of a strategic framework has been proposed to facilitate the commitment to collaborate between the various actors in the innovation system. This examination has enabled us to consider the value of the "relationship promoter" in the strategic analysis of the innovation system, and their role in facilitating the commitment to collaborate between actors within the system, from a dynamic perspective.


AIMS
To measure particulate matter (PM) exposure of people involved in domestic work (i.e. housework by a resident, not paid work) in urban and rural Nepal, with exposure to biomass smoke in the rural areas, and to examine the performance of photometric devices in collecting these data. This paper details the results of these measurements and derives calibration factors for two photometric devices compared to gravimetric measures.

METHODS
Between April 2006 and February 2007, respirable dust and PM(2.5) levels were measured over a 24-h period in 490 households in a range of urban and rural settings in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Sampling was carried out by photometric and gravimetric methods with the co-located gravimetric data used to derive a calibration factor for the photometric devices.

RESULTS
The time-weighted average (TWA) (24 h) respirable dust levels measured by gravimetric sampler ranged from 13 to 2600 microg m(-3) in the rural settings and 3 to 110 microg m(-3) in the urban settings. The co-located photometric and gravimetric devices indicate that the SidePak Personal Aerosol Monitor device required a calibration factor of 0.48 and 0.51 for rural and urban data, respectively, whereas the DustTrak device required a factor of 0.31 and 0.35 for rural and urban settings to correct for the particle size and density of the biomass smoke. The photometric devices provide time history data on PM concentration levels and generally indicate two distinct peaks around a morning and early evening cooking time.

CONCLUSIONS
Those involved in domestic work in rural Nepal are exposed to average respirable dust concentrations of approximately 1400 microg m(-3). Converted to an 8-h TWA, this equates to more than the current UK limit for respirable dust (4000 microg m(-3)). Homemakers, primarily women, spend a large proportion of their lives indoors in these high respirable dust concentrations and these exposures are likely to produce respiratory illness. Exposure can be controlled by the use of different fuel types and/or the use of flued stoves.


Projections of changes in the hydrological cycle from global hydrological models (GHMs) driven by global climate models (GCMs) are critical for understanding future occurrence of hydrological extremes. However, uncertainties remain large and need to be better assessed. In particular, recent studies have pointed to a considerable contribution of GHMs that can equal or outweigh the contribution of GCMs to uncertainty in hydrological projections. Using six GHMs and five GCMs from the ISI-MIP multi-model ensemble, this study aims: (i) to assess future changes in the frequency of both high and low flows at the global scale using control and future (RCP8.5) simulations by the 2080s, and (ii) to quantify, for both ends of the runoff spectrum, GCMs and GHMs contributions to uncertainty using a two-way ANOVA. Increases are found in high flows for northern latitudes and in low flows for several hotspots. Globally, the largest source of uncertainty is associated with GCMs, but GHMs are the greatest source in snow-dominated regions. More specifically, results vary depending on the runoff metric, the temporal (annual and seasonal) and regional scale of analysis. For instance, uncertainty contribution from GHMs is higher for low flows than it is for high flows, partly owing to the different processes driving the onset of the two phenomena (e.g. the more direct effect of the GCMs' precipitation variability on high flows). This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of where future hydrological extremes are projected to increase and where the ensemble spread is owed to either GCMs or GHMs. Finally, our results underline the need for improvements in modelling snowmelt and runoff processes to project future hydrological extremes and the importance of using multiple GCMs and GHMs to encompass the uncertainty range provided by these two sources.


More and more information is becoming available in digital form, most of it derived from digital sources. Digital information is made available as digital objects composed of a sequence of bits and managed by information systems. To date, these digital objects have no independent identification which can be refered outside of a specific information system. However, they normally outlive these systems and can be copied to other systems. In order for the ancestry of digital information to span more than one generation, each source, and therefore each digital object, must provide information on its ancestry. This information needs to be accessible independent of a specific information system. In this thesis, we present the theoretical foundation for the identification of digital objects independent of information systems and for enhancing digital objects with ancestry information. The ancestry information allows the identification of digital objects used in the creation of the digital object and its ancestors. We discuss the existing definition of a digital object, its equality relationships, and its identification through intrinsic properties. For the representation of ancestry relationships we propose the application of the graph theory and discuss possibilities of embedding digital object identification in existing identifier systems. We specify requirements for the information system agnostic integration of digital object ancestry with the digital object and propose a method which implements these requirements. Our method is called SIMPLE (Simple IdentifiableMetadata with Persistent Lineage Embedding) and integrates the digital object with its metadata so that these metadata become an integral part of the digital object independent of the information system. The claims are validated with a prototypical implementation of SIMPLE and its deployment in a case study with the State Archives of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. In this case, the ability to document the ancestry of a digital object results in transparency and traceability in the processing of the digital object.


Type errors reported by compilers can sometimes be cryptic, or difficult to understand. In this paper, we propose a type debugging framework that exposes a high-level representation of the typechecking decision-making process that users normally do not have access to in state-of-the-art compilers. This representation makes it easier for non-experts to analyze complex type errors. Our system is implemented by instrumenting the existing Scala typechecker, but without modifying it. We also provide generic search algorithms that can be used as basic building blocks to build a number of systems, from visual type debugging tools to customized error reporting for normal Scala users as well as to users of domain-specific languages. Using our framework, it is possible to overcome well-known limitations of local type inference by providing precise type error messages to mainline Scala users or Scala DSL users alike. In addition, the framework provides better user feedback for non-trivial type errors from existing Scala libraries and DSLs.


The Republic of Kiribati is a vast South Pacific island group with one of the largest exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the world. Kiribati waters support a wealth of marine fisheries activities. These activities occur in oceanic, coastal and inshore environments and range from large, foreign, industrial-scale oceanic fishing operations to small-scale, domestic, inshore subsistence fisheries, aquaculture and recreational fisheries. Kiribati has developed a framework of domestic and international governance arrangements that are designed to sustainably manage its wealth of marine resources. The report provides background information for fisheries projects in Kiribati that aim to build food security, improve artisanal livelihoods and strengthen community engagement in fisheries governance. It provides information on the current status of Kiribati fishery resources (oceanic and coastal), their current governance and future challenges. Fish and fisher alike pay little heed to maritime boundaries and bureaucratic distinctions. This report covers both sides of the oceanic/coastal boundary because of the I-Kiribati communities' interest in oceanic fisheries such as tuna and their heavy dependence on its fisheries resources for food security and economic development. The report focuses on two potential pilot sites for community-based fisheries management projects: North Tarawa and Butaritari.


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Although Haitian revolutionaries were not the intended audience for the Declaration of the Rights of Man, they heeded its call, demanding rights that were not meant for them. This failure of the French state to address only its desired subjects is an example of the phenomenon James R. Martel labels "misinterpellation." Complicating Althusser's famous theory, Martel explores the ways that such failures hold the potential for radical and anarchist action. In addition to the Haitian Revolution, Martel shows how the revolutionary responses by activists and anticolonial leaders to Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points speech and the Arab Spring sprang from misinterpellation. He also takes up misinterpellated subjects in philosophy, film, literature, and nonfiction, analyzing works by Nietzsche, Kafka, Woolf, Fanon, Ellison, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and others to demonstrate how characters who exist on the margins offer a generally unrecognized anarchist form of power and resistance. Timely and broad in scope, The Misinterpellated Subject reveals how calls by authority are inherently vulnerable to radical possibilities, thereby suggesting that all people at all times are filled with revolutionary potential.


PURPOSE
To characterize cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozyme activities in human trabecular meshwork cells and primary cultures of porcine trabecular meshwork cells.

METHODS
Radioimmunoassay of acetylated acid extracts was used to determine changes in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic quanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in human trabecular meshwork cells treated with phosphodiesterase isoform selective inhibitors. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities were measured using the two-step radioisotope procedure (Thompson). Enzyme activities in the supernatant of human cells were fractionated using anion-exchange chromatography. Additionally, human and porcine trabecular meshwork cell transcripts of phosphodiesterase family-specific isoforms were studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing.

RESULTS
In intact human cells, selective inhibitors for phosphodiesterase 4 (rolipram) and 5 (E4021) gene families were effective in augmenting cyclic nucleotide accumulation in response to isoproterenol or sodium nitroprusside, respectively. cAMP and cGMP hydrolytic activities, resolved using Trisacryl M anion-exchange chromatography, showed a cAMP phosphodiesterase peak that was minimally sensitivity to cGMP but modestly inhibited by rolipram and a cGMP phosphodiesterase peak that was sensitive to inhibition by E4021. Further evaluation of the cGMP phosphodiesterase demonstrated Michaelis-Menten kinetics and competitive inhibition by E4021. Messenger RNA transcripts for phosphodiesterase 4, 5, and 7 isozymes were isolated in human trabecular meshwork cells. However, in porcine trabecular meshwork cells only isozymes for phosphodiesterase 4 and 5 isozymes were detected.

CONCLUSIONS
Human trabecular meshwork cells express phosphodiesterase 4, 5, and 7 gene family isoforms and enzyme activities, suggesting that selective isoform inhibitors could be used to augment the actions of antiglaucoma drugs that use cyclic nucleotides as second messengers.


Amyloidosis is a relatively rare disease characterized by deposition of abnormal protein on any tissue or organ. It can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations depending on organ system involvement. We present here a 47-year-old Asian woman with history of hypothyroidism who came to emergency room with intermittent right upper quadrant abdominal pain for a month with worsening of symptoms for the last 3 - 4 days. Physical examination revealed mild abdomen distension, right upper quadrant tenderness, hepatomegaly and bipedal pitting edema. Her pertinent laboratory findings were serum albumin of 1.6, total bilirubin of 3.5, direct of 2.1, AST/ALT of 151/81 and alkaline phosphatase of 1,339. Her blood urea nitrogen/Cr was 20/1.6 and urinalysis was positive for proteinuria of 300 mg/dL. Ultrasound (US) of gallbladder revealed hepatomegaly, thickened gallbladder wall with 4 mm gall bladder polyps vs. non-shadowing stones concerning for acute cholecystitis. Her viral serologies were suggestive of past hepatitis B infection. Antinuclear antibody, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-mitochondrial antibody, alpha-1 antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin and iron profile were within normal limits. Liver biopsy was positive for amyloidosis. There are very few cases reported in the literature of amyloidosis initially presenting with features of acute cholecystitis and cholestatic pattern of liver function tests along with ascites. Our patient presented clinically as acute cholecystitis. The clinical dilemma was more when US commented on the findings as non-shadowing stones vs. polyps. Diffuse wall thickening of gall bladder as seen in US in this case might just be amyloid deposition rather than actual inflammation and the non-shadowing stones could as well be the amyloid deposition. Cholecystitis secondary to gallbladder localization of amyloidosis is very unusual. In conclusion, amyloidosis can rarely present as acute cholecystitis and there could be diagnostic dilemma because of inconclusive US findings. J Med Cases. 2016;7(10):459-460 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2159w


We apply the strong field approximation (SFA) to the study of harmonic generation (HG) and above threshold ionization (ATI) in intense low-frequency laser fields. We review in a systematic way the SFA model from the literature to date, and fill in some gaps regarding its analytical and computational aspects. Special attention is devoted to the analysis of the saddle point method, which is widely used to calculate the highly oscillatory integrals describing the
physical processes. Its accuracy is compared against the results from numerical integration; for the latter task, we propose two methods, which prove to be fast and reliable for all practical purposes. In the context of HG, we discuss
non-dipole effects, using a non-dipole non-relativistic method. The use of a second, weaker laser pulse is shown to allow the emission enhancement of selected harmonics. We briefly discuss the importance of relativistic effects
using the results of a fully relativistic calculation of Miloˇsevi´c et al.. In the context of ATI, quantitative comparisons are made with results obtained by integrating the exact static ionization rates over the pulse or, where possible, with ab initio results. Direct ionization in short pulses is extensively presented in the framework of a Coulomb-corrected version of the SFA, due to Krainov;
interesting interference effects are shown to take place, in particular modulations in the angle-resolved ATI spectra depending strongly on the phase of the carrier. These modulations happen for pulses that are not too long, typically fewer than (9-10) optical cycles. As a consequence, the ATI peaks in the 2 angle-integrated spectra have a good resolution or are undistinguishable from
the background, if the electric field component of the pulse is symmetrical or anti-symmetrical with respect to the pulse half duration, respectively. Partial conclusions are drawn regarding the applicability of the SFA to the study of the ionization process and possible ways to further improve the model are suggested.


Between the 1950s and 1990s the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina underwent large decreases in population size throughout most of its breeding range in the Southern Ocean. While current population estimates suggest a recent recovery, some breeding populations have continued to decrease in recent years (Macquarie and Marion Islands), others have either remained stable (South Georgia, Kerguelen and Heard Island) or have increased (Peninsula Valdes, Argentina). 2. Intrinsic hypotheses for patterns of regional decline include factors that are affected by density-dependent mechanisms: (i) paucity of males, (ii) population 'overshoot' and (iii) pandemic disease. Extrinsic hypotheses include (iv) predation, (v) competition with fisheries concerns, (vi) interspecific competition, (vii) environmental change and (viii) human distur- bance. Of the eight hypotheses proposed and examined here, we conclude that three can be discounted (i, v, viii), three are unlikely, but may require more testing (ii, iii, iv) and two are plausible (vi, vii). 3. The interspecific competition hypothesis is difficult to test because it requires the simul- taneous monitoring of species that overlap directly with elephant seals, many of which have not been identified or little is known. However, an analysis of the relationship between log variance and log abundance (Taylor's power law) for populations of southern and northern elephant seals suggests that interspecific competition is not a significant factor in the decline of the southern elephant seal. 4. The hypothesis that decreases in southern elephant seal populations between the 1950s and 1990s were caused by the environmental change is the easiest to test and most plausible of the hypotheses. We propose a framework by which to test this hypothesis to determine how food availability affects individual survival.


The steroid hormone estrogen has both pro- and antiapoptotic effects, depending on the cell type. In mammary tissue and breast cancer cell lines, the effect of estrogen 17-β-estradiol (E2) in promoting cell survival has been attributed in part to regulating the expression of anti- and proapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bak, respectively. Fernando and Wimalasena now report a nongenomic pathway by which E2 blocks apoptosis in breast cancer (MCF7) cells. E2 treatment reduced cell death in MCF7 cells that were exposed to proapoptotic stimuli including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This protective effect of E2 required the rapid phosphorylation and inactivation of BAD, a proapoptotic protein that forms a complex with Bcl-2 to destroy mitochondria integrity. BAD expression was not altered, which indicates that a nongenomic pathway is activated by E2. When MCF7 cells were treated with TNF-α, phosphorylation of BAD on two serine residues decreased. However, E2 treatment both restored BAD phosphorylation and inhibited the cell death response to TNF-α, which indicates a key role for BAD in apoptosis in this cellular context. Expression of a mutant form of BAD lacking the critical serine residues, or expression of antisense oligonucleotides to block the expression of endogenous BAD, reduced the apoptotic response to TNF-α. Expression of a dominant-negative form of Ras blocked E2-mediated phosphorylation of BAD, which suggests that E2 acts through a Ras-dependent mechanism to affect BAD and cell survival. Pharmacologic inhibitors of either the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt or the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-Rsk1 signaling cascades indicated that BAD inactivation, in response to E2, involved both Ras-controlled signaling pathways. The authors propose that the steroid hormone acts through both nongenomic signaling pathways as a mechanism to ensure cell survival when apoptotic stimuli are present simultaneously with estrogen. R. I. Fernando, J. Wimalasena, Estradiol abrogates apoptosis in breast cancer cells through inactivation of BAD: Ras-dependent nongenomic pathways requiring signaling through ERK and Akt. Mol. Biol. Cell 15, 3266-3284 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text]


We establish a broad methodological foundation for mixed-integer optimization with learned constraints. We propose an end-to-end pipeline for data-driven decision making in which constraints and objectives are directly learned from data using machine learning, and the trained models are embedded in an optimization formulation. We exploit the mixed-integer optimization-representability of many machine learning methods, including linear models, decision trees, ensembles, and multi-layer perceptrons. The consideration of multiple methods allows us to capture various underlying relationships between decisions, contextual variables, and outcomes. We also characterize a decision trust region using the convex hull of the observations, to ensure credible recommendations and avoid extrapolation. We efficiently incorporate this representation using column generation and clustering. In combination with domain-driven constraints and objective terms, the embedded models and trust region define a mixed-integer optimization problem for prescription generation. We implement this framework as a Python package ( OptiCL ) for practitioners. We demonstrate the method in both chemotherapy optimization and World Food Programme planning. The case studies illustrate the benefit of the framework in generating high-quality prescriptions, the value added by the trust region, the incorporation of multiple machine learning methods, and the inclusion of multiple learned constraints.


This paper proposes a modelization of complex social systems based on the integration of two computational methodologies: fuzzy logic and agent-based modelling. In particular, the objective of this work is to present a methodology to take into account the ambiguity of verbal interactions in learning processes. To this aim, we revise and fuzzify a classical computational model developed by March in 1991 describing how learning processes develop within organizations. We introduce fuzziness in the model in two ways: first, we propose a representation of the judgments of individuals involved in the learning process based on fuzzy sets theory, second, individual preferences are aggregated through fuzzy linguistic connectives. The results obtained through simulations show that learning processes based on verbal interactions make the organization able to better absorb the shocks produced by environmental turbulence.


A frequent question regarding quantitative investing is: What are good variables for stock selection? Traditional quantitative strategies are variations of screening techniques. Quantitative investment managers seek to narrow the investable universe to a manageable number of stocks that have desirable characteristics. The authors introduce an alternative approach to traditional methods of stock screening based on a statistical technique known as classification and regression tree (CART). CART allows screening factors to interact on a conditional basis. The end result is a hierarchical (tree) structure that assigns a probability of outperformance (or underperformance) for each stock. The authors apply two alternative CART strategies to the selection of technology stocks, and evaluate their performance. The models demonstrate significant improvement over the more ad hoc stock ranking techniques.


Iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) systems are characterized by a wide range of hydrothermal alteration types that can indiscriminately and intensively replace their host rocks over areas of > 100 km2. Element mobility and chemical changes associated with alteration can be of a magnitude beyond that of many other types of hydrothermal systems, and may also affect normally immobile elements. Principal component analysis of whole-rock geochemical data on hydrothermally altered samples coming from the Great Bear magmatic zone IOCG systems has enabled the characterization of sodic, calcic-iron, to high to low temperature potassic-iron and potassic alteration types of IOCG systems. Results show that potassic and potassic-iron alteration features are enriched in K, Al, Ba, Si, Rb, Zr, Ta, Nb, Th and U, with potassic-iron alteration being richer in Fe. In contrast, calcic-iron alteration is enriched in Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, Ni and Co. These compositional variations can be portrayed by IOCG alteration index and discriminant diagrams. Combined with an IOCG alteration sequencing model, the lithogeochemical footprint of IOCG systems provides a useful tool to assess the potential fertility and maturity of IOCG systems and ultimately a vector towards ore zones during exploration


A method for calculations of rotational-vibrational states of triatomic molecules up to dissociation threshold (and scattering resonances above it) is devised, that combines hyper-spherical coordinates, sequential diagonalization-truncation procedure, optimized grid DVR, and complex absorbing potential. Efficiency and accuracy of the method and new code are tested by computing the spectrum of ozone up to dissociation threshold, using two different potential energy surfaces. In both cases good agreement with results of previous studies is obtained for the lower energy states localized in the deep (∼10 000 cm−1) covalent well. Upper part of the bound state spectrum, within 600 cm−1 below dissociation threshold, is also computed and is analyzed in detail. It is found that long progressions of symmetric-stretching and bending states (up to 8 and 11 quanta, respectively) survive up to dissociation threshold and even above it, whereas excitations of the asymmetric-stretching overtones couple to the local vibration modes, making assignments difficult. Within 140 cm−1 below dissociation threshold, large-amplitude vibrational states of a floppy complex O⋯O2 are formed over the shallow van der Waals plateau. These are assigned using two local modes: the rocking-motion and the dissociative-motion progressions, up to 6 quanta in each, both with frequency ∼20 cm−1. Many of these plateau states are mixed with states of the covalent well. Interestingly, excitation of the rocking-motion helps keeping these states localized within the plateau region, by raising the effective barrier.


Hedgerows are increasingly being recognised as important in terms of landscape biodiversity. In Britain, recent hedgerows are not valued as highly as ancient hedgerows due to distinct differences in species-richness and historical significance. However, other potential ecological functions of species-poor hedgerows may have been overlooked, especially their potential role as corridors and habitats that help overcome the effects of habitat fragmentation. This thesis examines the spatial and temporal distributions of plant species in recent hedgerows in close proximity to remnant ancient woodland seed sources, and evaluates immigration, colonization and establishment processes that occur at this interface.
Transects were used to sample plant species distributions across the transition between remnant ancient woodland communities and adjoining Enclosure Act hedgerows in Northamptonshire. An analysis of the distribution of herbaceous plant species within the seed bank across the woodland- hedgerow transition is also presented. A census of colonizing woody plant species within the Experimental Hawthorn Hedgerows at Monks Wood, in Cambridgeshire was used to investigate the: I) influence of seed source availability, ii) immigration potential, iii) colonization and iv) establishment success under three hedgerow management regimes.
Woodland herbaceous plant species were found to have limited spatial and temporal dispersal strategies and species successfully dispersing into adjoining species-poor recent hedgerows were those able to reproduce vegetatively. The seed bank analysis showed that species of disturbed landscapes were dispersing into the woodlands, but were not successfully colonizing. Woody plant species dispersal was found to be operating at a larger spatial scale than herbaceous plant species. The abundance of seed sources and the availability of potential bird dispersers were found to correlate with the colonization success of woody plants within the Experimental Hedgerows, but the survival and establishment was related to hedgerow structure. The implications of these findings in relation to seed source-sink dynamics, corridor theory, habitat function, conservation and landscape planning were considered


To support stakeholders involved in infrastructure development, we develop evolutionary models of these complex systems, which is a formidable task with respect to data requirements, information representation and knowledge management. Re-addressing a case on bio-electricity infrastructure evolution, we demonstrate first a series of visualisations of economic and ecologic system parameters as they change during infrastructure development over simulated decades. This setup allows us to demonstrate to stakeholders a means to anticipate the consequences of decisions on (dis)investment of power generation options available. In developing these tools, our approach needed to be expanded to better handle the complexity of infrastructure systems, due to the multiple relevant social and technical contexts from which these systems need to be considered. The second part of this paper describes our work on enabling collaborative mapping of our knowledge of infrastructure systems to help integrate diverse types of knowledge. Current internet-enabled developments such as Web 2.0 and the Semantic Web offer tremendous scope to lower the transaction cost of gathering and assembling data. Already, these are changing the ways scientific collaboration is conducted. Finally, we suggest to connect this to evolutionary models to elucidate the dynamics of these systems.


This Article examines two important features of many copyright fair use cases: transformative use and commercial intermediation. While the issue of transformative use has arisen in many fair use cases, there is a lack of consistency and clear guidance on the meaning of "transformativeness" and how the degree of transformativeness is to be assessed. Additionally, in analyzing commercial use, courts have largely failed to appreciate the distinctive role played by "commercial intermediaries" in facilitating socially beneficial uses of copyrighted works. This Article advances economically grounded proposals for improving the way in which courts analyze transformative use and commercial intermediation. First, courts should focus on the economic effects of transformation instead of employing a purely conceptual analysis. In particular, courts should ascertain any complementary or substitutive effects as well as the cost and innovative-efficiency implications of the use: the more transformative the use, the more it tends to minimize market harm to the copyright owner and maximize social benefits such as transaction-cost economies and follow-on innovation. Second, courts should view commercial intermediaries favorably insofar as they facilitate educational or other beneficial fair uses of copyrighted works through cost-efficient production or substantial innovative investments. In other words, courts should view the commercial use in context and recognize that commercial uses may nonetheless produce social benefits that substantially outweigh any harm caused to copyright owners. This Article uses the 2013 Google Books decision as a primary case study, supplemented by related cases from the United States and abroad, to illustrate these arguments, concluding that the court's decision to uphold Google's fair use defense for Google Books is well-supported by the complementary relationship between Google Books and copyrighted books, Google's substantial investments in promoting productive uses of books through Google Books, and transaction-cost and innovative-incentive considerations.


Abstract Pif1 family DNA helicases are conserved from bacteria to humans and have critical and diverse functions in vivo that promote genome integrity. Pif1 family helicases share a 23 amino acid region, called the Pif1 signature motif (SM) that is unique to this family. To determine the importance of the SM, we did mutational and functional analysis of the SM from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pif1 (ScPif1). The mutations deleted portions of the SM, made one or multiple single amino acid changes in the SM, replaced the SM with its counterpart from a bacterial Pif1 family helicase and substituted an α-helical domain from another helicase for the part of the SM that forms an α helix. Mutants were tested for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, inhibition of telomerase at telomeres and double strand breaks, and promotion of Okazaki fragment maturation. Although certain single amino acid changes in the SM can be tolerated, the presence and sequence of the ScPif1 SM were essential for all tested in vivo functions. Consistent with the in vivo analyses, in vitro studies showed that the presence and sequence of the ScPif1 SM were critical for ATPase activity but not substrate binding.


Incremental heuristic search methods can often replan paths much faster than incremental or heuristic search methods individually, yet are simple to use. So far, they have only been used in mobile robotics to move a robot to given goal coordinates in unknown terrain. As far as we know, incremental heuristic search methods have not yet been applied to the problem of mapping unknown terrain. In this paper we therefore describe how to apply our incremental heuristic search method D* Lite, that combines ideas from Lifelong Planning A* and Focussed D*, to mapping unknown terrain, which is rather nontrivial. We then compare its runtime against that of incremental search and heuristic search alone, demonstrating the computational benefits of their combination. By demonstrating the versatility and computational benefits of incremental heuristic search, we hope that this underexploited technique will be used more often in mobile robotics.


The article deals with the questions concerning the immunity from civil jurisdiction of the receiving state that under international and national law is accorded to foreign diplomatic missions as a part of the sending state, as well as to certain categories of personnel of diplomatic missions and members of their families in the Republic of Lithuania. The main focus in the article is the analysis of exceptions to this immunity based on the restrictive doctrine of immunity of the state (distinction between acta jure imperii and acta jure gestionis), as well as on article 31 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The problems regarding implementation and ensuring of this immunity revealed by diplomatic and judicial practice of the Republic of Lithuania and other states are discussed as well. Finally the recommendations are given on the ways to improve legal framework existing in the Republic of Lithuania on the issue in question with a view to make Lithuanian legislation fully in line with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and current trends in modern law, as well as to prevent potential uncertainties when the question of jurisdiction of the Republic of Lithuania over foreign diplomatic missions and their employees arises in practice in the field of civil law.


Sessile droplets are non-movable droplets spanning volumes in the nL-to-μL range. The sessile-droplet-based platform provides a paradigm shift from the conventional, flow-based lab-on-a-chip philosophy, yet offering similar benefits: low reagent/sample consumption, high throughput, automation, and most importantly flexibility and versatility. Moreover, the platform relies less heavily on sophisticated fabrication techniques, often sufficient with a hydrophobic substrate, and no pump is required for operation. In addition, exploiting the physical phenomena that naturally arise when a droplet evaporates, such as the coffee-ring effect or Marangoni flow, can lead to fascinating applications. In this review, we introduce the physics of droplets, and then focus on the different types of chemical and biological assays that have been implemented in sessile droplets, including analyte concentration, particle separation and sorting, cell-based assays, and nucleic acid amplification. Finally, we provide our perspectives on this unique micro-scale platform.


There is currently limited evidence for the two-factor structure of Psychopathy. The aim was to provide evidence for the construct validity of Primary and Secondary Psychopathy. Batteries including the Five Factor Model, the Hogan Development Survey, and Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Empathy, and Aggression, were administered to 241 undergraduate psychology students. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two component structure fitted the data reasonably well (chi-square = 1.939, CFI = .799, RMSEA = 0.063). The strongest markers of Primary Psychopathy were Agreeableness, Empathy, and the HDS Bold and HDS Colourful subscales, while the strongest markers of Secondary Psychopathy were Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and HDS Excitable. It was concluded that preliminary evidence for the two-factor model of Psychopathy had been gained.


This paper presents a novel physical layer secrecy enhancement technique for multicarrier communications based on dynamic filter hopping. Using the Filter Bank Multicarrier (FBMC) waveform, an efficient eavesdropping mitigation technique is developed using time- and frequency-varying prototype filters. Without knowledge of the filter assignment pattern, an eavesdropper will experience a high level of inter-carrier (ICI) and inter-symbol interference (ISI). With this severe receive signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) degradation for an illegitimate receiver, the secrecy capacity of the communication system is increased. At the same time, the interference at the legitimate receiver is designed to be negligible in comparison to the channel noise.


Abstract. Cooking organic aerosol (COA) is currently not included in European emission inventories. However, recent positive matrix factorization (PMF) analyses of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements have suggested important contributions of COA in several European cities. In this study, emissions of COA were estimated for the UK, based on hourly AMS measurements of COA made at two sites in London (a kerbside site in central London and an urban background site in a residential area close to central London) for the full calendar year of 2012 during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) campaign. Iteration of COA emissions estimates and subsequent evaluation and sensitivity experiments were conducted with the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport modelling system with a horizontal resolution of 5 km  ×  5 km. The spatial distribution of these emissions was based on workday population density derived from the 2011 census data. The estimated UK annual COA emission was 7.4 Gg per year, which is an almost 10 % addition to the officially reported UK national total anthropogenic emissions of PM2.5 (82 Gg in 2012), corresponding to 320 mg person−1 day−1 on average. Weekday and weekend diurnal variation in COA emissions were also based on the AMS measurements. Modelled concentrations of COA were then independently evaluated against AMS-derived COA measurements from another city and time period (Manchester, January–February 2007), as well as with COA estimated by a chemical mass balance model of measurements for a 2-week period at the Harwell rural site (∼ 80 km west of central London). The modelled annual average contribution of COA to ambient particulate matter (PM) in central London was between 1 and 2 µg m−3 (∼ 20 % of total measured OA1) and between 0.5 and 0.7 µg m−3 in other major cities in England (Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds). It was also shown that cities smaller than London can have a central hotspot of population density of smaller area than the computational grid cell, in which case higher localized COA concentrations than modelled here may be expected. Modelled COA concentrations dropped rapidly outside of major urban areas (annual average of 0.12 µg m−3 for the Harwell location), indicating that although COA can be a notable component in urban air, it does not have a significant effect on PM concentrations on rural areas. The possibility that the AMS-PMF apportionment measurements overestimate COA concentrations by up to a factor of 2 is discussed. Since COA is a primary emission, any downward adjustments in COA emissions would lead to a proportional linear downward scaling in the absolute magnitudes of COA concentrations simulated in the model.


Introduction: Appropriate consumption of main nutritional groups in childhood and special in elementary school ages is one of the main priorities in all countries. The main meal is considered to be breakfast. A healthy breakfast increases the energy and mental performance. This study conducted to evaluate Breakfast and snack patterns of primary school girls in Omidieh, Khuzestan Province, Iran. Methods: This crosssectional study conducted on 155 primary school girls which sampled from three randomly selected schools in Omidieh city. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed a satisfactory breakfast consumption pattern in the studied population as 80% of cases reported that they regularly eat breakfast, during 14 days of study. Results showed that 22% of students consume Junk foods including puffs, chips and candy while 13% of them consumed traditional snacks including dried fruits and nuts. Conclusion: Eating breakfast as a main meal was at a satisfactory level in the studied population. Replacing the junk foods like puffs, chips and candy with healthier ones including nuts and dried fruits should be considered by responsible parties. It is therefore necessary to conduct educational programs regarding nutrition of school children using public media, especially television.


The aim of this paper is to outline some aspects of the self-organisation of society based on a dialectical methodology. On a very general level, society can be characterised as a re-creative system: By mutual productive relationships of social structures and actors, society can based on human activity and creativity reproduce itself. Social structures are medium and outcome of social actions. This is a synchronous description. Describing society in a diachronic way, one can say that new order emerges in phases of instability and crisis. Society can also be described as the unity of different qualitative moments such as production, consumption, distribution, politics and culture because human activity results in more permanent qualitative moments. A dialectical analysis of society means to consider societal existence as a development process. Dialectics means concretisation and speculation. Hence by ascending from the abstract to the concrete (from the logic of essence to the logic of notion), we discuss the economic self-organisation cycle of capitalism. This process of capital accumulation results in the estrangement and exploitation of the human being by the human being. Capitalist society is not a naturally given pattern, but a historical system. The human being has the ability to consciously behave towards the world, hence it's possible to change the societal conditions in such a way that true, well-rounded individuality can fully unfold.


The locus classicus of policing reform in Africa must be the landmark study by Janine Rauch and Elrena van der Spuy. The main aim of this study was to describe and analyse trends in police transformation in selected post conflict countries in Africa and it did exactly that. If that study is not yet part of the resources of those interested in policing reform, I suggest that it be incorporated as a matter of necessity.


There have been tremendous efforts to understand the biological nature of human grasping, in such a way that it can be learned and copied to prosthesis–robotics and dextrous grasping applications. Several biomimetic methods and techniques have been adopted, hence applied to analytically comprehend ways human performs grasping to duplicate human knowledge. A major topic for further study, is related to decoding the resulting EEG brainwaves during motorizing of fingers and moving parts. To accomplish this, there are a number of phases that are performed, including recording, pre-processing, filtration, and understanding of the waves. However, there are two important phases that have received substantial research attentions. The classification and decoding, of such massive and complex brain waves, as they are two important steps towards understanding patterns during grasping. In this respect, the fundamental objective of this research is to demonstrate how to employ advanced pattern recognition methods, like fuzzy c-mean clustering for understanding resulting EEG brain waves, in such a way to control a prosthesis or robotic hand, while relying sets of detected EEG brainwaves. There are a number of decoding and classification methods and techniques, however we shall look into fuzzy based clustering blended with principle component analysis (PAC) technique to help for the decoding mechanism. EEG brainwaves during a grasping and manipulation have been used for this analysis. This involves, movement of almost five fingers during a grasping defined task. The study has found that, it is not a straight forward task to decode all human fingers motions, as due to the complexity of grasping tasks. However, the adopted analysis was able to classify and identify the different narrowly performed and related fundamental events during a simple grasping task.


Gravitational amplification of Poisson noise in stellar systems is important on large scales. For example, it increases the dipole noise power by roughly a factor of six and the quadrupole noise by 50% for a King model profile. The dipole noise is amplified by a factor of fifteen for the core-free Hernquist model. The predictions are computed using the dressed-particle formalism of Rostoker & Rosenbluth (1960) and are demonstrated by n-body simulation. This result implies that a collisionless n-body simulation is impossible; The fluctuation noise which causes relaxation is an intrinic part of self gravity. In other words, eliminating two-body relaxation does not eliminate relaxation altogether. Applied to dark matter halos of disk galaxies, particle numbers of at least 10 will be necessary to suppress this noise at a level that does not dominate or significantly affect the disk response. Conversely, halos are most likely far from phase-mixed equilibrium and the resulting noise spectrum may seed or excite observed structure such as warps, spiral arms and bars. For example, discreteness noise in the halo, similar to that due to a population of 106M⊙ black holes can produce observable warping and possibly excite or seed other disk structure.


Objectives We aimed to examine the impact of a point-of-care (POC) test on overtreatment and undertreatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by comparing treatment patterns for gonorrhoea (detected with nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)) with trichomoniasis (detected by POC test) for young women seen in an emergency department (ED). Methods We reviewed the database of a quality improvement (QI) project that aims to improve follow-up care for STIs in the ED. Data included the test result and antibiotic given (if any) during visits by women age 14–21 for whom an STI test was ordered. We generated Shewhart control charts and compared overtreatment and undertreatment rates for gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis using χ2 testing. Results Of 1877 visits over 18 months, 8.8% of women had gonorrhoea and 16.5% had trichomoniasis. Overtreatment was higher for women with gonorrhoea than trichomoniasis (54% vs 23%, p<0.001). Overtreatment for gonorrhoea decreased from 58% to 47% (p<0.01) and overtreatment for trichomoniasis decreased from 24% to 18% (p<0.01), which corresponded to improvements in patient follow-up for the QI project. Undertreatment was higher for women with gonorrhoea than trichomoniasis (29% vs 21%, p=0.03), and did not change over time. Conclusions A POC test improves the accuracy of STI care in an ED compared with NAAT testing. An unanticipated benefit of QI efforts to improve patient follow-up is the observed decrease in antibiotic use in the ED. Given the ability of gonorrhoea to develop antibiotic resistance, future efforts should focus on development of an accurate POC test for gonorrhoea.