Purpose: To develop an accurate patient‐specific PET attenuation coefficients map to be used in hybrid MRI‐PET systems for braintumorimaging. The attenuation maps are obtained by warping a general (atlas) CT dataset to the patient‐specific MRI dataset using a deformable registration model.Method and Materials: Patient MR images and the atlas CTimages are registered using a B‐Spline deformable model and the Mattes formulation of the mutual information metric as registration criterion. The registration establishes a voxel‐to‐voxel correspondence that maps each voxel in the CT atlas voxels to the MRI dataset, creating an artificial, individualized CT scan of the patient's anatomy as observed in the MRI dataset. To evaluate the accuracy of the deformable‐based attenuation correction, ten clinical braintumor cases are studied with MR‐CT image sets. For each case an artificial CT is computed by warping the atlas to the MRI datasets. This artificial CT is compared to the true patient's CT in terms of geometrical accuracy of the deformation module as well as a voxel‐to‐voxel comparison of HU units. Results: In all cases, mapping form the atlas CT to the individual MR was achieved with great geometrical accuracy as visually judged using the qualitative visual inspection tools. The mean distance between the artificial and true CT's external contour and bony anatomy was 1 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively. In terms of HU unit comparison, the mean voxel‐to‐voxel difference was less than 5%. Conclusion: Attenuation correction for hybrid MRI‐PET scanners can be easily achieved by individualizing an atlas CT to the MRI dataset using the BSpline deformable model, with no user interaction required. The method provides clinical accuracy while eliminating the need for an additional CT scan for PET attenuation correction.


The Public Private Partnership (PPP) model offers a solution to the current health care financing crisis in the public sector. By implementing the project as a PPP project the public administration intends to reduce the costs of running the hospital as a result of both increased efficiency in building and facilities management and transfer of construction and design risk to the private sector. Health Departments can focus on their core function without concentrating on functions of the facilities. The facilities are operated by a private company which has also been in charge of the new building or renovating process. One main objective for selecting the PPP model is transferring the risk to the private sector. In a PPP project the structural and procedural risks are no longer on the public side. The Health Department only provides medication and pharmaceuticals. The result of a PPP model offers a totally integrated health facility that incorporates the latest in information and management systems such as electronic patient records as well as leading edge medical equipment, including imaging modalities, laboratory equipment and patient monitoring. And to ensure that the consortium keeps the contract, a heavy penalty regulation may be applied in the event of insufficient performance or delivery failure. With PPP hospital projects lasting as long as the hospitalsi runtime and the macroeconomic situation of German hospitals, a general need of a change in planning behaviour of the public hospital provider comes up. As shown in prior projects in the education and administration sector PPP projects demonstrate the existence of synergies which should be also used within the health care sector. The required changes in interior hospital structures cause the need for new concepts like operating concepts. The operating concepts with the associated room program and the room equipment catalogues is the basis for the tender document issue and the performance description of a private PPP consortium by means of output specifications. The output specifications differ very much from conventional performance specifications for planning and building achievements or services and require a changed tender behaviour of the public hospital provider. IPM is involved as a project manager for the Asklepios Clinic AK Barmbek/ Hamburg, Germany. The new construction of the hospital is an important component of the future hospital care in Hamburg and is financed by Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg. The investment volume amounts to A 162 millions. After completion of the building project at the end of 2005 one of the recent hospitals of Germany is available with 676 beds in 2-storey to 5-storey buildings. The total construction period of the new building starting with laying the foundation stone in December 2002 was just three years of intensive construction time. The new clinic building is a compact nucleus, concentrating the latest technology available in medicine and communications. On 34,000 sqm floor space, eight operation theatres, seven smaller rooms for surgeries and other operations, as well as numerous single and double rooms for patients, equipped with media- and Internet plugs, TV sets, and ensuites. The building owner in this project is Molita which is represented by the CommerzLeasing. The user of the facility is the SBG (Servicebetrieb Geb‰udemanagement). The consortium imedical center Barmbeki, consisting of STRABAG AG and Imtech, is responsible for the building construction. The design was elaborated by the architects APB.


This report presents a study aimed at exploring the reliability of self-reported data in analyses of accident liability. Data from two comparable postal questionnaire surveys of accidents carried out in 1987/8 and 1990/91 has provided the opportunity to compare accident and exposure data collected from the same respondents on two occasions three years apart. The report also includes some overall comparisons between the accident data collected in these surveys with similar data collected during the course of two later accident liability surveys. The study shows that although in an overall statistical sense the annual mileage reported by drivers in the first survey is proportional to that reported by the same drivers in the second survey, there is a great deal of variability in the individual mileage estimates. In contrast, providing the accident reporting period is constant from survey to survey and memory loss effects can thereby be avoided, the study shows that considerable consistency in the accident liabilities resulting from the surveys of this kind can be expected. The similarity of the average accident frequencies reported in the '87 and '91 surveys with those obtained in two more recent studies confirms the reliability of the self-report method for use in accident studies. (A)


Objectives. Oral caries is the most prevalent chronic disease among US children, and disproportionately impacts those of low socioeconomic status. Studies have shown that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) improves access to dental care among Medicaid children. This study investigated the impact of WIC, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on the prevalence of dental caries among low-income children. Methods. The 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 NHANES data were utilized for this analysis. Children 2-4 years old who participated in WIC, Medicaid, or SCHIP, or who were uninsured, and for whom both interview and complete oral health exam data were available (n = 597) were included in the study. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was conducted to examine the effects of program participation on caries. Results. There was no statistically significant association between dental caries and participation in public assistance programs. The risk of dental caries for children in MedicaidSCHIP only was comparable to the risk for children in WIC and MedicaidSCHIP (OR = 1.04; 95%CI = 0.622, 1.745) and also to uninsured children (OR = 0.96; 95%CI = 0.523, 1.773). Dental caries were not impacted if the child did not have a preventive dental visit in the past 6 months (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.436, 1.063) or did not have a regular dental care provider (OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.646, 2.044). Conclusions. Participation in WIC and MedicaidSCHIP does not improve the oral health of low-income children. Because this population is a high-risk group requiring more specialized efforts, improving access to care is not sufficient to improve oral health. In addition to increased utilization of services, the program partnership between WIC and MedicaidSCHIP must provide targeted, educational interventions to prevent dental caries. It may also be necessary to increase the recommended number of preventive visits for low-income children.


Background : Hydrocephalus is the most frequent neurological complication in children with tuberculous meningitis. Tuberculosis infection cannot be separated from nutritional status. Children with undernutrition have decreased immunity thus could affect clinical manifestation of tuberculous meningitis. This study was conducted to identify the relationship between undernutrition and the prevalence of hydrocephalus in tuberculous meningitis. Methods : An analytic observational study was carried out to 38 medical records of children with tuberculous meningitis in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from 2007 to 2015. Variables that were studied included gender, age, advanced stage of disease, motoric paralysis, history of seizure, nutritional status and hydrocephalus. The collected data were analyzed using Chi-Square test. Results : Out of 21 subjects with undernutrition, 11 subjects were found to have hydrocephalus. The analysis using chi-square was statistically significant (p=0.009). Prevalence ratio=4.45 (CI 95% 1.14−45.43), meaning tuberculous meningitis children with undernutrition were at risk of hydrocephalus 4.45 times greater than children with normal nutritional status. Conclusions : Undernutrition may increase the risk of hydrocephalus in children with tuberculous meningitis. [AMJ.2017;4(1):143–7] DOI : 10.15850/amj.v4n1.1036


Abstract. Knowledge of the evolution of arboreal forests is necessary to interpret the cause of climate formation in intracontinental regions. Paleoproxy records of sediment cores from Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia show that watershed conditions have fluctuated widely during the last 30 ka because of changing orbital parameters. Termination of glacial cooling and the subsequent prevalence of deglacial warming were consequences of solar forcing. Arboreal forests exerted an important influence on the atmospheric moisture cycle at high latitudes. Air pressure decreased because of raised humidity from water vapor penetration into inland regions that occurred along with summer monsoons. Data showing utilization of solar energy are necessary for establishing climate conditions. Atmospheric warming under increased insolation caused a shift of the monsoon limit to the north, amplifying the summer moisture supply to the watershed. That amplification engendered the appearance of the maximum vegetation in the Hovsgol drainage basin at the beginning of the Holocene. The retreat of arboreal forests that occurred along with decreased solar energy shrank the humidification-vegetation feedback loop, thereby decreasing the atmospheric humidity. The consequently lowered vapor pressure contributed to the incursion of cool air masses from the north.


This article focuses on three separate "moments of change" - 1968, 1989 and 2011 – in order to trace the changes in the way in which social movements were theoretically framed on a research level ever since the 1960s. Rather than focusing on the real or imaginary connections that activists often create with the contestatory past – or the rejection thereof – it demonstrates the ways in which those moments were theorised and the genealogies that were forged by specialists, who more often than not were implicated in the events themselves. In this respect, it argues that 1968 was the starting date that defined to a greater or lesser extent how we still view and experience collective mobilisations.


This paper is devoted to a class of iterative methods for solving nonsymmetric or indeenite problems that are dominated by some SPD (symmetric positive deenite) problems. The algorithm is based on a direct solver for the original equation restricted on a small subspace and a given iterative method for the SPD equation. It is shown that any convergent iterative method for the SPD problem will give rise to an algorithm that converges with a comparable rate if the small subspace is properly chosen. Furthermore a number of preconditioners that can be used with GMRES type methods are also obtained.


In recent years, there has been much debate about the need for intellectual property protection for fashion designs. Two bills introduced before the 111th Congress purported to provide a solution for this need. The Design Piracy Prohibition Act ("DPPA"), which was introduced in the House April 3, 2009, and the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act ("IDPPPA"), which was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2010 would have amended Chapter 13 of the Copyright Act to provide sui generis protection for fashion designs. While some scholars worry that bills like the DPPA and the IDPPPA would stifle creativity, many designers think that such protection would afford them more freedom to create new and innovative designs. Scholarly debate aside, piracy is a $12 billion drain on the fashion industry that "steals the very essence of enterprise" by diluting branding and making it more difficult for new designers to begin their careers. Because current intellectual property laws do not address the unique issues involved in fashion design, pirates appropriate, or even directly replicate, others' designs even while facing a constant stream of lawsuits. For example, the company Forever 21, one of the most notorious design thieves, has been the subject of over fifty lawsuits between 2006 and 2009 alone. Unfortunately, intellectual property law's current status makes it very difficult for designers to find relief for their pirated designs. This Comment discusses the piracy problems plaguing the fashion industry and offers a potential solution based on combining the best aspects of the DPPA and the IDPPPA. Part II examines design piracy - both what it is and the attempts that have been made to gain protection against it - and discusses why current jurisprudence insufficiently addresses the needs of the American fashion industry. Part III.A analyzes the need to protect fashion designs and addresses opponents' concerns. In light of those concerns, Part III.B examines how each bill addresses design piracy and suggests potential changes that would make each bill more effective at protecting fashion designs. Finally, Part IV offers parting commentary.


The life span of each main class of sedimentary basin is estimated from published data. Life spans vary over at least three orders of magnitude, from 100 m.y. for passive-margin and intracratonic basins. The life-span estimates are used to calibrate a chart of basin groups that focuses on the likely basin fates; i.e., depositional, deformational, or thermal. Consequent fates, predetermined by the tectonic setting of a particular basin class, are distinguished from contingent fates, which are independent of basin type. Accretion of trench-basin fill is, for example, a consequent fate, whereas inversion (far-field shortening) of a rift basin is a contingent fate. Life-span data are also used to calibrate the Wilson Cycle and indicate that it has an average duration of ∼260 m.y. This is certainly an underestimate, because basin life spans are an imperfect proxy for the duration of subduction and collision zones.


The capitalization of 'certified' sustainable building sector will be investigated over the power theory of value approach of Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler. The study will be initiated by questioning why the environment problems are one of the first items on the agenda and by sharing the ideas of scholars who approaches the subject skeptically, because the predominant literature underlying the necessity and prominence of the topic is already well-known and adapted by the majority. Over the theory developed by Nitzan and Bichler, the concepts of capitalization, strategic sabotage, power, legitimacy, and obedience will be discussed. The hypothesis of "the absentee owners of the construction sector, holding the whip hand and capitalizing the ecology, control the growth and the creativity of green building production and make it carbon-dependent, in order to increase their profit margin" will be questioned. To strengthen the arguments in the hypothesis, the factors, the institutional arrangements, value measurement methods, which affect directly the net present value, will be investigated both in corporation and in building scale in detail, because net present value/ capitalization is asserted as the most important criteria by Nitzan and Bichler to make the investment decisions in the capitalist economic system. To trace the implications of power and the strategic sabotage that power caused, as the empirical dimension of this dissertation, an interface exploring the correlational ties between the climate responsive architecture and the ever changing political, economical, and social contexts and building economics praxis by decades will be developed and the expert interviews will be conducted with the design teams and the appraisers.


Evaluation of the efficacy of school policies requires measures of student performance across schools and states, but conventional approaches to constructing the relevant data can be very misleading. This paper develops an approach to estimating marginal school effects at the state level. It then documents and estimates the magnitude of biases introduced by commonly employed estimators of school quality. Direct estimates of achievement growth, or value-added, are shown to be far superior to any alternative correction that is commonly employed. Especially at the state level, nonrepresentative data such as aggregate SAT scores provide very biased measures of school quality differences-even when statistical adjustments for demographic differences and varying participation rates are employed.


For the diagnosis of prostate cancer trans-rectal prostate biopsy (TRPB) is used commonly, the procedure is associated with infective complications. There is evidence that antibiotics (ABx) decrease infective events after TRPB, but different regimens are used. To systematically review different regimens of prophylactic oral ABx in TRPB. MEDLINE, EMBASE, clinical trials site, and Cochrane library were searched, experts were consulted for relevant studies. Randomized clinical trials conducted in the last 20 years, which investigated the different oral antibiotic regimens in TRPB, and compared their efficacy to reduce infectious complications were analyzed. Primary outcomes were bacteriuria, urinary tract infection (UTI), fever, bacteremia, and sepsis. Secondary outcomes were the hospitalization rate and the prevalence of ABx-resistant bacteria. Nine trials were eligible with 3012 patients. ABx prevented bacteriuria (3.5% vs. 9.88%), UTI (4.46% vs. 9.75%), and hospitalization (0.21% vs. 2.13%) significantly in comparison with placebo or no treatment. No significant difference was found in all the outcomes of the review between the single dose regimen and the 3 days. The single dose regimen was as effective as the multiple doses except in bacteriuria (6.75% vs. 3.25%), and the prevalence of ABx-resistant bacteria (1.57% vs. 0.27%). Quinolones reduced only UTI significantly in comparison with other ABx (chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol). It is essential to prescribe prophylactic ABx in TRPB. No conclusive evidence could be claimed about the superiority of the multiple or the 3 days regimens to the single dose regimen. Unexpectedly, ABx-resistant bacteria were identified more often in the single dose cohorts.


Concern about environmental impacts of nitrogen fertilizer use is increasing. Mainstream agriculture is dependent on nitrogen fertilizer and use patterns are polluting water resources. A five cent tax on nitrogen fertilizer is shown to have three benefits. National nitrogen fertilizer use is estimated to decline about 10 percent. Use of legume-produced nitrogen increases and crop use of nitrogen declines only 5 percent. A reduction in wasted legume-produced nitrogen equal to 2.5 percent of nitrogen application in the baseline occurs due to more growing of legumes and other crops in rotation. The nitrogen tax is not without costs. Soil erosion and pesticide use are estimated to increase 2.2 and 1.7 percent, respectively, in response to the tax.


"Kenya's economy is relatively diverse, with both agricultural and industrial potential. However, the economy has performed poorly over the last decade, and poverty and inequality have risen. This paper examines the impact of alternative growth paths and rural investments on poverty using an economy-wide model. It finds that if Kenya continues along its current growth path, its economy will have to grow by more than 10 percent per year over the coming decade to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty by 2015. Therefore, Kenya must search for alternative sources of poverty-reducing growth. The results of the model indicate that poverty is unlikely to decline significantly without an acceleration of agricultural growth. Growth in agriculture is found to benefit both urban and rural households, whereas industry-led growth benefits a smaller segment of the urban population, thus exacerbating inequality. Kenya's current Economic Recovery Strategy, however, is not optimistic about agriculture's growth potential, focusing more heavily on industry-led growth. Therefore, as Kenya prepares its new national strategy, the country should place greater emphasis on and direct resources toward accelerating agricultural growth. In assessing the impact of rural investments on growth and poverty, the paper finds that increasing agricultural spending to meet the 10 percent target set by the Maputo Declaration would lift an additional 1.5 million people above the poverty line by 2015. Specific agricultural investments have higher returns in different parts of the country, however. Irrigation favors the lowlands and the poorest segment of the population, while research and extension (R&E) favors the midlands and highlands. Investment in R&E is also found to have the highest returns in both growth and poverty reduction. However, increasing agricultural spending to 10 percent of total spending is insufficient to meet either the MDG or the 6 percent agricultural growth target of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program, which Kenya has recently adopted. . Achieving this target requires nonagricultural investments, such as in roads and market development. Building rural roads and reducing agricultural transaction costs significantly reduces poverty and encourages growth beyond rural areas. While it is necessary to increase spending on agriculture, the fiscal burden of an agricultural strategy can be greatly reduced by improving investment efficiency." from Author's Abstract


The Web as a Space for Interpretation of the Real in Archaeology The Web has been well supported as a platform for the dissemination of data relating to Archaeology.   The Web has been adopted by many within the archaeology sector as a method for presenting narratives and as a place for the display of media-rich information. Increasingly, there is real potential for the Web to facilitate interpretation of archaeological data.  In particular, developments in social web tools and platforms have led to the provision of spaces for truly democratic sharing and deliberative reading and presenting of information. This contribution offers to the round-table session the inclusion of the Web as a space for real interpretation of archaeological data.  Offering the social web as a phenomenon that allows for polyvocal remediation of individual perspectives on narratives, this paper argues that recent developments on the Web allow for the decentralisation of archaeological discourse, with potential for meaningful multivocal events, resulting in peripatetic narratives which constantly evolve.  This paper will explore the extent to which the Web is still regarded with the original conception of hypertext as a platform for narrative, and argues that a more participatory Web, in line with current web trends for curation and storytelling using collaborative platforms can contribute to enhanced interpretation of archaeological records.


In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive backstepping controller is designed to control the bidirectional power flow (charging/ discharging) of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) in a DC microgrid under different operating conditions. The controller is designed in such a manner that the BESSs can store the excess energy from the renewable energy sources (RESs) in a DC microgrid after satisfying the load demand and also feeding back the stored energy to the load when RESs are not sufficient. The proposed controller is also designed to maintain a constant voltage at the DC bus, where all components of DC microgrids are connected, while controlling the power flow of BESSs. This paper considers solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as the RES whereas a diesel generator equipped with a rectifier is used as a backup supply to maintain the continuity of power supply in the case of emergency situations. The controller is designed recursively based on the Lyapunov control theory where all parameters within the model of BESSs are assumed to be unknown. These unknown parameters are then estimated through the adaptation laws and whose stability is ensured by formulating suitable control Lyapunov functions (CLFs) at different stages of the design process. Moreover, a scheme is also presented to monitor the state of charge (SOC) of the BESS. Finally, the performance of the proposed controller is verified on a test DC microgrid under various operating conditions. The proposed controller ensures the DC bus voltage regulation within the acceptable limits under different operating conditions.


This constructivist grounded theory study conceptualized how Black undergraduate women enrolled at a predominately White institution (PWI) developed their identity as Black women. The examination of their notions of self and explanations of social interactions with others resulted in the co-construction of a theoretical model of their identity development. During two rounds of individual semi-structured interviews, 13 undergraduate women discussed their identities as Black women, the intersections of and relationships between their identities, who and what influenced their identity development, their interactions with other people, and the challenges they have encountered while attending a PWI. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. The focused and axial coding process revealed 82 themes that were then condensed into 17 categories and generated the results of this study. Participants' ability to define and articulate their identity as Black women in relation to their environment and interactions with other people varied. As a result of the experiences of the participants in this study, the identity development in Black undergraduate women encompasses both pre-collegiate and collegiate socialization, articulation of identity, and interactions with others. Central to development is whether Black women are able to articulate the intersections of their identities. The influences of media and role modeling throughout various stages of Black women's lives were also relevant. The implications for practice and future research relating to Black undergraduate women are discussed. INDEX WORDS: Identity Development, Black, Women, Undergraduate, Grounded Theory, Intersectionality, Psychosocial, Cognitive, Student Development IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT IN BLACK UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY


We have developed a simple and efficient procedure for adding an epitope-encoding tail to one or more genes of interest in the bacterial chromosome. The procedure is a modification of the gene replacement method of Datsenko and Wanner [Datsenko, K. A. & Wanner, B. L. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 6640–6645]. A DNA module that begins with the epitope-encoding sequence and includes a selectable marker is amplified by PCR with primers that carry extensions (as short as 36 nt) homologous to the last portion of the targeted gene and to a region downstream from it. Transformation of a strain expressing bacteriophage λ red functions yields recombinants carrying the targeted gene fused to the epitope-encoding sequence. The resulting C-terminal-tagged protein can be identified by standard immuno-detection techniques. In an initial application of the method, we have added the sequences encoding the FLAG and 3xFLAG and influenza virus hemagglutinin epitopes to various genes of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, including putative and established pathogenic determinants present in prophage genomes. Epitope fusion proteins were detected in bacteria growing in vitro, tissue culture cells, and infected mouse tissues. This work identified a prophage locus specifically expressed in bacteria growing intracellularly. The procedure described here should be applicable to a wide variety of Gram-negative bacteria and is particularly suited for the study of intracellular pathogens.


Supply of potable water requires energy and unfortunately most of the countries with minimal access to safe drinking water are also poor in terms of access to reliable energy grids. However, many of such regions have access to other sources of water (such as brackish and groundwater) that can be treated for producing drinking water if correct treatment systems are put in place. Moreover, many of the electrically remote areas are rich in terms of renewable energy (RE) resources (such as wind and solar) which can be potentially employed as the main source of energy for powering water purification systems. Therefore, development and implementation of off‐grid RE powered contaminant removal systems, for producing freshwater from available resources (such s brackish and groundwater), can be considered as an effective and potentially sustainable solution for overcoming the drinking water scarcity issue in remote regions
of developing countries. This chapter revises the state of the art related to desalination systems using electrodialysis technology powered by wind energy for decentralised water production.


PORCINE circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are the two most important pathogens currently responsible for major economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. PCV2 vaccines are extensively used and are able to reduce the clinical signs of PCV2-associated disease. The efficacy of PCV2 vaccination likely depends on both humoral and cellular immunity that can either be maternally acquired (sow vaccination) or actively induced (piglets vaccination) (Fort and others 2008, 2009, Opriessnig and others 2010, Martelli and others 2011). Taking into account that PRRSV suppresses innate immunity and influences the development and the activation of the specific immune response (Butler and others 2014), this study is aimed at evaluating the effects of PRRSV viraemia on the immune response to PCV2 vaccination in four-week-old piglets. Indeed, PCV2 vaccination in two- to four-week-old piglets is extensively applied where PCV2 infection and associated disease are present.

Two hundred piglets from a 1000 farrow-to-wean PRRSV infected and unstable sows herd were divided into two treatment groups (100 animals each); one group was vaccinated at four weeks of age with a PCV2 commercial vaccine (Porcilis PCV – MSD) and the second group was not vaccinated. The animals were assigned to the different groups as they came to hand …


Abstract. Since the settlement of S. Miguel Island (Azores), in the XV century, several earthquakes caused important human losses and severe damages on the island. Sete Cidades Volcano area, located in the westernmost part of the island, was attained by strong seismic crises of tectonic and volcanic origin and major events reached a maximum historical intensity of IX (European Macroseismic Scale 1998) in this zone. Aiming to evaluate the impact of a future major earthquakes, a field survey was carried out in ten parishes of Ponta Delgada County, located on the flanks of Sete Cidades volcano and inside it is caldera. A total of 7019 buildings were identified, being 4351 recognized as dwellings. The total number of inhabitants in the studied area is 11429. In this work, dwellings were classified according to their vulnerability to earthquakes (Classes A to F), using the structure types table of the EMS-98, adapted to the types of constructions made in the Azores. It was concluded that 76% (3306) of the houses belong to Class A, and 17% (740) to Class B, which are the classes of higher vulnerability. If the area is affected by a seismic event with intensity IX it is estimated, that 57% (2480) to 77% (3350) of the dwellings will partially or totally collapse and 15% (652) to 25% (1088) will need to be rehabilitated. In this scenario, considering the average of inhabitants per house for each parish, 82% (9372) to 92% (10515) of the population will be affected. The number of deaths, injured and dislodged people will pose severe problems to the civil protection authorities and will cause social and economic disruption in the entire archipelago.


A correlation and statistical study has been performed on crystal structures reported in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) that contain solvated dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) molecules, with an aim to explore the existence of a plausible relationship between the variability of predicted aqueous solubility values and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds present between the solvent and the host molecule. Contour plots were used to demonstrate how the electronegativity of a hydrogen donor highly affected the distribution of hydrogen bonds around the DMSO solvent molecule. The existence of an inverse relationship between the distance and angle of an interaction was established, as was the influence of the total number of hydrogen bonds within a solvent molecule on such properties. It was confirmed that generally, the individual strength of a contact decreased with an increase in the amount of interactions with the same hydrogen bond acceptor. A negative association was detected between the theoretical aqueous solubility values and both the number of coordinates as well as the number of contacts. A regression model was fitted using the logarithmic transformation of the predicted solubility values as the dependent variable. The model retained the following predicators: the number of coordinates, the dimensions of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds, the classification of contacts according to the environment of their respective solvent molecules and the number of interactions within the asymmetric unit. These characteristics were discovered to be statistically significant factors which affected the extent of aqueous solubility of DMSO solvates to different degrees.


Introduction: The myelodysplastic syndromes integrate a group of clonal disorders characterized by progressive cytopenias and dishematopoiesis causing a disruption in the normal function of the three hematopoietic lines. There are two types of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), the primary one which is idiopathic and the secondary type or acquired commonly associated with antineoplastic drugs. Diagnosis can be clinically suspected or found out in control routine blood studies. However, it is a matter of necessity to know the clinical manifestations, treatment options and prognosis of patients who suffer from these syndromes. Methods: Retrospective, observational study in which we present the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented idiopathic myelodysplastic syndrome, we obtained and analyzed information with the clinical chart of the patient, not only do we evaluate the clinical history but also her risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment, and final outcomes. A bone marrow sample corroborated a refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts type of MDS in this patient. Added to this case report we made a short literature review of myelodysplastic syndromes. Results: In spite of all medical and therapeutical efforts, after a long-time treatment, multiple blood transfusions and clinical progressive deterioration with recurrent low hemoglobin ranges and chronic anemia, the patient deceased six months after MDS diagnosis.


Summary: Twelve critically ill neonates mechanically ventilated for respiratory failure (mean weight 1.33 kg, mean gestation 31 wk) were studied to quantitate the effects of radiant power from a radiant warming device, body weight, and body surface area on insensible water loss. Radiant power density (Mw/cm2) was measured using a wattmeter and thermopile transducer. Insensible water loss was measured using a Potter Baby Scale. Weight correlated inversely with insensible water loss, (r = −0.86, P < 0.001). Radiant power density correlated inversely to weight, (r = −0.71, P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in insensible water loss as radiant power density increased, (r = 0.54, P < 0.05). Net radiant power received (W/kg) by infants over their exposed surface area, correlated directly to insensible water loss, (r = 0.67, P < 0.01) irrespective of body weight. Critically ill neonates ventilated for respiratory failure and nursed under radiant warmers incurred greater insensible water losses than previously reported for well infants. The magnitude of this increased insensible water loss is inversely related to body size and is determined directly by the radiant power density required to maintain body temperature.Speculation: Quantitative measurement of radiant power density delivered to critically ill newborn infants nursed under servocontrolled radiant warmers facilitates estimation of insensible water loss. Used in conjunction with body mass and surface geometry, quantitative radiant power assessment is clinically applicable to monitoring insensible water loss. Calculation of parenteral fluid requirements might be enhanced using this technique.


This article presents SAL, a general purpose scripting language for the rapid development of distributed software agents seamlessly embedded in a visual environment. Integrated facilities for dynamic visualization provide sample but powerful means for debugging and domain-oriented animation. SAL agents are arranged on a set of 2D worksheets which can be distributed over different machines. An agent's program is defined by the means of a table specifying a set of state transition rules with a condition and a sequence of actions each. Beyond basic computation and communication, actions can dynamically modify the agent's depiction, its program, and spawn arbitrary processes. A couple of examples demonstrate SAL's applicability in various domains like electronic systems design and process management.


Abstract Eating disorders continue to be a major cause of concern worldwide. The continuum model of eating disorders proposes (1) that there are sub-clinical behaviours or symptoms that differ only by being less frequent and/or severe when compared to those with clinically diagnosed eating disorders and (2) that these behaviours should be studied, including in non-clinical populations. In the present study, perceived social pressure to aspire to a thin ideal was tested as a potential mediator in the relationships between selected sociocultural factors and eating disorder symptomology in a non-clinical sample (comprised of 265 participants aged 18–40 years). Participants completed a series of self-report measures assessing levels of body dissatisfaction and several sociocultural factors (e.g. internalisation of a thin ideal-general and athlete, effects of media pressure and Media Information Influence). The role was also examined of sociocultural pressure as a mediator in the relationships between internalisation (using the media as a source of information regarding physical appearance) and eating disorder symptoms. The results showed that perceived sociocultural pressure was a significant mediator in the relationship between internalisation of the thin ideal (general and athletic) and eating disorder symptoms, and also between Media Information Influence and eating disorder symptoms. We concluded that sociocultural factors increase the risk of eating disorder symptoms occurring before diagnosis of an eating disorder is made, for those who are susceptible to societal pressures.


Rabies is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to man. It is always fatal once symptoms have started, but can be prevented if appropriate wound treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis is given. Animal rabies is endemic in South Africa and dog bites are responsible for most human cases. Although a number of cases are confirmed, many are not, as they occur in the rural areas or may be misdiagnosed. Rabies immunoglobulin and effective vaccines are available in South Africa. A pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for those who are at risk of being exposed to rabies. Post-exposure vaccination is life-saving for those who have been exposed to rabies. This article gives insight into when to administer the vaccine and immunoglobulin and the appropriate schedules.


This paper presents a comprehensive set of stylised facts for business cycles in India from 1950 - 2009. We find that the nature of the business cycle has changed dramatically after India's liberalisation reforms in 1991. In particular, after the the mid 1990s, the properties of India's business cycle has moved closer in key respects to select advanced countries. This is consistent with India's structural transformation from a pre-dominantly agricultural and planned developing economy to a more mar- ket based industrial-income economy. We also identify in what respects the behaviour of the Indian business cycle is different from that of other advanced economies, and closer to that of other less developed economies. This is the first exercise of this kind to generate an exhaustive set of stylised facts for India using both annual and quarterly data.


Learning under a Wasserstein loss, a.k.a. Wasserstein loss minimization (WLM), is an emerging research topic for gaining insights from a large set of structured objects. Despite being conceptually simple, WLM problems are computationally challenging because they involve minimizing over functions of quantities (i.e. Wasserstein distances) that themselves require numerical algorithms to compute. In this paper, we introduce a stochastic approach based on simulated annealing for solving WLMs. Particularly, we have developed a Gibbs sampler to approximate effectively and efficiently the partial gradients of a sequence of Wasserstein losses. Our new approach has the advantages of numerical stability and readiness for warm starts. These characteristics are valuable for WLM problems that often require multiple levels of iterations in which the oracle for computing the value and gradient of a loss function is embedded. We applied the method to optimal transport with Coulomb cost and the Wasserstein non-negative matrix factorization problem, and made comparisons with the existing method of entropy regularization.


This article presents a new model for word sense disambiguation formulated in terms of evolutionary game theory, where each word to be disambiguated is represented as a node on a graph whose edges represent word relations and senses are represented as classes. The words simultaneously update their class membership preferences according to the senses that neighboring words are likely to choose. We use distributional information to weigh the influence that each word has on the decisions of the others and semantic similarity information to measure the strength of compatibility among the choices. With this information we can formulate the word sense disambiguation problem as a constraint satisfaction problem and solve it using tools derived from game theory, maintaining the textual coherence. The model is based on two ideas: Similar words should be assigned to similar classes and the meaning of a word does not depend on all the words in a text but just on some of them. The article provides an in-depth motivation of the idea of modeling the word sense disambiguation problem in terms of game theory, which is illustrated by an example. The conclusion presents an extensive analysis on the combination of similarity measures to use in the framework and a comparison with state-of-the-art systems. The results show that our model outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms and can be applied to different tasks and in different scenarios.


When Ghana became independent in 1957 it had one of the most developed education systems in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the next forty years its education system expanded to provide places for most, but not all, of its children. Since the education reforms of the late 1980s enrolments have grown steadily; this contrasts with some SSA countries with universal free primary education policies, which have experienced short periods of rapid growth. Education reforms in Ghana, however, have fallen below expectations. The Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme introduced in 1995 promised universal education by 2005. This paper revisits Ghana's FCUBE policy for clues as to why it did not achieve the target goal and especially why poorest households seem to have benefited least from it. One disappointment with FCUBE is that its input did not go far enough to offset the opportunity costs of schooling for the poorest households by abolishing all forms of fees and reducing significantly the indirect costs associated with attending school. The incidence of late entry, overage attendance and poor households' need for child labour also posed a further threat to the benefits FCUBE promised.


The following article, published online on {First published: 07 October 2022} in Wiley Online Library {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hsr2.868} has been retracted by agreement between the journal's Editor‐in‐Chief, Esmaeil Mehraeen and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed given the journal has received evidence confirming that the peer review process of this paper was manipulated. As a result, the conclusions reported in the article are not considered reliable.


Three quartzitic metapelites with garnet-chloritoid-kyanite assemblage from the Eclogite Zone, Tauern Window, Austria have been studied based on pseudosections in the KNCFMMnASTH and partly KNCFMMnASTHO system compared with measured and calculated garnet zonations along three P-T paths. Deduced garnet core growth is in the range 502–521 °C, 20.2–21.4 kbar, corresponding to overstepping the garnet-in reaction by ~25–100 °C for P-T paths 1, 2 and ~72–133 °C for P-T path 3. The peak assemblage garnet-chloritoid-kyanite-phengite-paragonite-rutile-quartz in sample A is stable in a narrow maximum ~10 °C band from ~598 °C/14 kbar to ~570 °C/24.9 kbar. In sample B and C this stability is much more restricted with ~ 2 °C width from ~581 °C/22.3 kbar to ~572 °C/24.5 kbar and ~4 °C/0.7 kbar width at ~570 °C/24.8 kbar. Temperature differences between measured and calculated pyrope and grossular isopleths are generally in the range from 0 to 20 °C, however larger values are sometimes obtained. The proposed P-T paths reach peak values around 570–575 °C/24.6 kbar. Comparison of measured and calculated garnet zonation suggests a better accordance for unfractionated than for fractionated models. Several factors could be responsible for this and the partly large overstepping values, e.g . insufficient thermodynamic data, or non-equilibrium reactions due to sluggish nucleation or breakdown reactions and later garnet re-equilibration.


In this study, a new analytical approach is presented and validated to predict wind farm power production. The new model is an extension of the recently proposed by Bastankhah and Porté-Agel for a single wake. It assumes a self-similar Gaussian shape of the velocity deficit and satisfies conservation of mass and momentum. To estimate the velocity deficit in the wake, this model needs the local wake growth rate parameter which is calculated based on the local turbulence intensity in the wind farm. The interaction of the wakes is modeled by use of the velocity deficit superposition principle. Finally, the power curve is used to estimate the power production from the wind turbines. The wind farm model is compared to large-eddy simulation (LES) data and measurments of Horns Rev wind farm for a wide range of wind directions. Reasonable agreement between the proposed analytical model, LES data and measurments is obtained. This prediction is also found to be substantially better than the one obtained with a commonly used wind farm wake model.


The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) isolates are classified in three main groups: group M (main), group O (outlier) as well as group N (non-M/non-O). The HIV-1 M group, responsible for the majority of infections in the HIV-1 worldwide epidemic, can be further subdivided into 10 recognized phylogenetic subtypes or clades, A–D and F-K. HIV-1 phylogenetic classifications are currently based on nucleotide sequences derived from such as gag p17 region of the same isolates or on full-length genome sequence analysis. We do not know HIV subtype distribution in HIV suspected patients, in Surabaya, East Java. The aims of this study was to do molecular analysis HIV in patients with HIV infection, in Surabaya, East Java. Antibody to HIV were detected using 3 methods, paper and EIA (Acon) and ELISA (Axion) techniques from 51 plasma obtained from the patients suspected HIV infection, in Surabaya, Indonesia All of the samples were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using pairs of primers based on HIV gag p17 genes. The PCR positive samples were sequenced and analysed to identify the HIV subtype using Genetic Version 9 program. Fourty nine (96.08%) HIV antibody were detected from 51 patients suspected HIV infection and 57.14% (28/49) HIV RNA determination positives. All of 21 positives HIV DNA except one sample that have been analyzed was CRFs of HIV with mayority CRF01-AE subtype similar with HIV CRF01-AE subtype in Asia countries, e.g. Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Cina and Hongkong. Those one sample has 18 nucleotides insertion look like a HIV new subtype but it is needed to confirm further. From gag p7 HIV gene in this study, one HIV has and CRF01-AE is majority HIV subtype in Surabaya, East Java which is located in the same branch with HIV common CRF01-AEHIV subtype in Asia. Keywords: HIV subtype, gag p17 gene, Surabaya, Indonesia


Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) use as an underseeded cover crop in winter cereals has declined due to inability of growers to consistently establish uniform stands. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of light and soil moisture competition on underseeded red clover establishment and end of season dry matter production. Field trials were conducted at multiple locations in 2005 and 2006 in Ontario, Canada. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) N rate (67 and 135 kg N ha -1 ) and row thinning treatments (19-cm rows, every third 19-cm row removed at the 4-5 leaf stage) were used to alter light penetration and soil moisture competition. The high N rate and row thinning treatments consistently reduced light penetration, beginning as early as wheat stem elongation initiation, but had no effect on soil gravimetric moisture content. Soil moisture was primarily affected by location and year. Red clover dry weight in 2005, a relatively dry year, ranged from 688 to 1184 kg ha -1 , and in 2006, a relatively wet year, ranged from 2336 to 2805 kg ha -1 . Average final red clover stand count was 23 plants m -2 in 2005 and 55 plants m -2 in 2006. In 2005, plant mortality occurred before wheat anthesis. In both years, and at most locations, red clover final dry weight was positively correlated with light penetration, again beginning as early as initiation of wheat stem elongation. Final red clover dry weight in both years and red clover stand count in 2005 were correlated with soil gravimetric water content during wheat anthesis, but this was primarily due to location and year effects. Although both light penetration through the wheat canopy and soil moisture influence biomass production of underseeded red clover, soil moisture has the greater influence and is altered very little by wheat management.


Malfunctions in transcriptional regulation are associated with many human diseases and there is considerable interest in biomedical and biotechnological field in developing artificial transcription factors (ATFs) that must minimally contain a DNA binding domain (DBD) and a transactivation domain (TAD).
Designing artificial TADs is proven difficult because these systems interact with
multiple target proteins as part of their normal function and, moreover, there are only a limited number of high-resolution structures of TADs in complex with target proteins.
The p53 protein is a transcriptional activator factor with a fundamental role in cellular survival. Recent structural studies by Omichinski and co-workers gave insights into interaction between p53 TAD2 and tfb1/p62 subunit of the transcription factor TFIIH and contributed to the understanding of the way p53 protein works in transcriptional activation.
On the basis of these information new molecules, able to interfere with the binding between p53 TAD2 and tfb1 of TFIIH, were designed. In our hypothesis peptide analogues of p53 TAD2 with enhanced helical propensity could yield a more potent artificial TAD. Therefore, several peptides mimicking the helical fragment 47-55 of p53 TAD2 were designed by using different molecular tools, such as N- and C-capping boxes, and synthesized.
A structural analysis of all obtained peptides by CD experiments highlighted an
increased helical content relative to native p53-13 peptide and one of these peptides, E-Cap, showed a higher binding affinity than other peptides in ITC experiments.
Furthermore NMR experiments were performed to elucidate how E-Cap peptide
interacts with tfb1. NMR titrations spectra displayed that E-Cap peptide binds along the same interface of p5325-75, forming a 9-residue α-helix when in complex with tfb1. NMR studies of E-Cap peptide in complex demonstrated the presence of both the i, i+3 and the i, i+4 interactions for Leu6 with Leu9 and Trp10 residues, respectively.
The potential ability of E-Cap peptide to activate transcription in vivo was investigated in yeast cells by activation assay of lacZ with LexA fusion peptide. E-Cap peptideshowed to be a more potent transcriptional activator than positive control Gal4, p53-
13 native sequence and AH and VP2 transcriptional activators.
Besides mutation studies for E-Cap and p53-13 peptides provided evidence that both
i, i+3 interaction between Leu6-Leu9, and i, i+4 interaction between Leu6-Trp10 have
an important role for the in vivo activity. In conclusion, a new peptide with high content of helical conformation and able to activate transcription in vitro was designed using only proteinogenic amino acids.
This result will be used to develop a new interesting biotechnological system such as "programmable ATF", linking obtained TAD to new synthetic DBD.

BTB/POZ domain-containing proteins are identified in diverse cellular locations and participate in different processes ranging from transcriptional repression/activation to cytoskeletal organization. In particular, KCTD are a class of protein containing BTB/POZ domains with different biological function as KCTD11 that inhibits tumor growth in medulloblastoma. POZ/BTB domain of KCTD proteins mediates interaction with Cullin, a family of proteins ubiquitin ligases that induce proteolysis of target proteins by proteasome. Recently, different studies highlighted that several members of KCTD family protein bind to Cullin3 (Cul3).
The understanding of the structural features required for the interaction of the Cul3 with KCTDs is an intriguing challenge and is the basis for the future design of molecules with agonist/antagonist function for biotechnological applications.
To achieve this goal the attention was focused on KCTD11 that mediates interaction with Cul3 by its POZ/BTB domain at N-terminus.
Starting from the proposed model of KCTD11-Cul3 interaction, peptide molecules mimicking the helical fragment of Cul3 49-68, were designed. To evaluate the role of some aromatic residues of Cul3 in the interaction with KCTD11 two mutant peptides were developed (Cul3-KK and Cul3-Y(P)). Structural analysis by CD experiments highlighted that these peptide and Cul3-wt native sequence peptide are unfolded. ELISA assays showed that Cul3-KK and Cul3-Y(P) have a lower affinity than Cul3-wt for KCTD11.
Subsequently, in order to test if the enhance of the helical propensity match with a gain in binding affinity, opportunely constrained sequences were designed and synthesized. Cul3 stapled peptide, with a hydrocarbon bridge in central position of sequence, showed indeed a higher helical structure than the native Cul3-wt peptide.
Preliminary ELISA assays indicate that both Cul3-wt and Cul3 stapled peptides were able to interact with KCTD11. Future studies by ITC and NMR will allow the evaluation of the Kd and the molecular features governing the interaction with KCTD11 required for the future perspectives in biotechnology field.


Bridge scour and waterway instability in the coastal region where waterways are subjected to tidal flow can be subjected to mass density stratification, water salinity, sedimentation (littoral drift and/or riverine transport), unsteady reversible flows from astronomical tides and storm surge, as well as riverine flows. Nevertheless, bridge foundation scour depths can be determined and waterway instability countered using existing scour equations and geomorphology techniques. A major difference for non-tidal streams (riverine) is that the design discharge (50-, 100-, or 500-return period flows) has a constant value. Whereas, with tidal waterways, the design discharge for the same return periods may increase because it is dependent on the design storm surge elevation, volume of water in the tidal prism upstream of the bridge, and the area of the waterway under the bridge at mean tide. If there is erosion of the waterway from the constant daily flow from the astronomical tides which increase waterway area, the discharges can increase. An existing clear-water scour equation can be used to predict the magnitude of this scour, but not its time history. Recent experience indicates that this long-term degradation can be as large as 1 to 3 feet per year.


In this paper, we proposed a Secured E-Counselling Framework using Composite Web services to enhance the counselling, which is fully works as an online. This framework will be a great relief to the students in terms of reporting, registration and searching the information about college and university. Moreover this software gives an overview of the entire institute in a sort interval time and will be also great help to University to manage in the whole counselling procedure by reduce their paper work and their time. Students counselling system for Engineering/MBA/MCA is conducted by face to face communication in between the student and staff. This is suitable only for the students who are nearer to that university which conduct counselling. But this system will not be a comfortable one for the students who are coming from long distance. To avoid this problem, attending the counselling through the online from their own place with proper authentication is proposed. This task is accomplished by Student Online Counselling system.


Devices with controllable-polarity, such as Double-Gate Vertically-Stacked Nanowire FETs, have shown promising interests in recent years to implement XOR-based logic functions in an unprecedented compact way. Such a compactness is obtained at the cost of a denser interconnect, that can be mitigated by designing an efficient hyper-regular layout structure, called Sea-of-Tiles. In this paper, we propose a methodology, based on Boolean satisfiability, to map netlists of transistors on such a structure. The methodology endeavors to minimize the wiring complexity, by maximizing the sharing of the different terminals. We showed that its implementation, SATSoT, is able to automatically generate compact mappings with wiring complexities similar to manual layouts.


Numerical simulations of recombination gain in the Li III transition to ground state (2→1 at 13.5 nm) are presented. The plasma simulated is a mixture of Li and H ions, and the space-time-dependent gain coefficient is calculated for different mixing ratios and different pumping beam parameters. The numerical model includes the initial optical field ionization of the plasma by an intense 100 fs laser pulse, taking into account residual heating, particle collisions, and spatial effects. Gain is then calculated during the process of recombination as the plasma expands and cools. We show that the addition of hydrogen to the plasma can lead to higher gain with a less restrictive range of experimental parameters. We analyze the effects of the addition of hydrogen on the gain and point to the optimal plasma and pump parameters to produce gain.


ObjectiveIntensive care units (ICUs) account for an increasing percentage of hospital admissions and resource consumption. Adverse events are common in ICU patients and contribute to high mortality rates and costs. Although evidence demonstrates reduced complications and mortality when intensivists manage ICU patients, a dramatic national shortage of these specialists precludes most hospitals from implementing an around-the-clock, on-site intensivist care model. Alternate strategies are needed to bring expertise and proactive, continuous care to the critically ill. We evaluated the feasibility of using telemedicine as a means of achieving 24-hr intensivist oversight and improved clinical outcomes. DesignObservational time series triple cohort study. SettingA ten-bed surgical ICU in an academic-affiliated community hospital. PatientsAll patients whose entire ICU stay occurred within the study periods. InterventionsA 16-wk program of continuous intensivist oversight was instituted in a surgical ICU, where before the intervention, intensivist consultation was available but there were no on-site intensivists. Intensivists provided management during the intervention using remote monitoring methodologies (video conferencing and computer-based data transmission) to obtain clinical information and to communicate with on-site personnel. To assess the benefit of the remote management program, clinical and economic performance during the intervention were compared with two 16-wk periods within the year before the intervention. Measurements and Main ResultsICU and hospital mortality (observed and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III, severity-adjusted), ICU complications, ICU and hospital length-of-stay, and ICU and hospital costs were measured during the 3 study periods. Severity-adjusted ICU mortality decreased during the intervention period by 68% and 46%, compared with baseline periods one and two, respectively. Severity-adjusted hospital mortality decreased by 33% and 30%, and the incidence of ICU complications was decreased by 44% and 50%. ICU length of stay decreased by 34% and 30%, and ICU costs decreased by 33% and 36%, respectively. The cost savings were associated with a lower incidence of complications. ConclusionsTechnology-enabled remote care can be used to provide continuous ICU patient management and to achieve improved clinical and economic outcomes. This intervention's success suggests that remote care programs may provide a means of improving quality of care and reducing costs when on-site intensivist coverage is not available.


Abstract : The Chesapeake Bay Program has identified habitat requirements for the restoration of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay estuary and tidal reaches of contributing river systems conditioned on the salinity regime of a specific location. The tidal Potomac River and Potomac Estuary is an important component of the Chesapeake Bay system to which these requirements can be applied. The SAV habitat requirements are formulated as threshold criteria that certain critical water-quality characteristics must satisfy during the SAV growing season. A multivariate scoring system based on these criteria was developed in order to synopsize water quality conditions during the 1983-1997 SAV growing seasons. Chesapeake Bay habitat criteria scores are displayed relative to annual SAV coverage for each Potomac River and Potomac Estuary segment. It is seen that although there is some correspondence in the inter-annual expansion or contraction of SAV coverage and compliance with Chesapeake Bay SAV habitat criteria, individual criteria provide neither necessary nor sufficient conditions to explain inter-annual dynamics of SAV coverage, especially in the Potomac Estuary.


Aim/Purpose: A literature review is often criticized for the absence of coherent construction, synthesis of topics, and well-reasoned analysis. A framework is needed for novice researchers to organize and present information obtained from the literature review.

Background: Information and communication technologies advancement have yielded overwhelming information. The massive availability of information poses several challenges, including storage, processing, meaningful organization, and presentation for future consumption. Information System Researchers have developed frameworks, guidelines, and tools for gathering, filtering, processing, storing, and organizing information. Interestingly, information system researchers have vast information that needs meaningful organization and presentation to the research fraternity while conducting a literature review on a research topic.

Methodology: This paper describes a framework called LACTiC (Location, Author, Continuum, Time, and Category) that we adapted from another framework called LATCH (Location, Alphabetical, Time, Category, and Hierarchy). LATCH was used to organize and present information on e-commerce websites for seamless navigation. We evaluated the LACTiC framework.

Contribution: Information System Researchers can use the LACTiC framework to organize information obtained from literature review.

Findings: The evaluation reveals that most researchers from information systems organize information obtained from the literature review category-wise, followed by continuum, author, time, and location.

Recommendation for Researchers: Overall, the framework works well and can be helpful for researchers for an initial idea for organizing information obtained from the literature review.

Future Research: To conceptualize the framework, the study was carried out using Information Systems related literature. To generalize the proposed framework, we may suggest that the study can be extended to other areas of business management, such as marketing, finance, operation, decision sciences, accounting, and economics.


Given here is the most recent research on skin frictional resistance of plane surfaces in air that was conducted by Dr. Wieselsberger under the direction of Dr. Prandtl of Gottingen University. In all, 16 models were tested. These were divided into four groups, as follows: 1) cloth, in the original condition; 2) cloth, with the nap singed off; 3) cloth, with three coats of dope; and 4) cloth, with six coats of dope. Each group consisted of four models of uniform width, 1 meter, and of lengths of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 meters. Tests were made on each model at speeds varying from 7.0 to 50 meters per second. The observed total resistance was corrected for the form resistance which was obtained from the pressure distribution on the end of the model. Previous tests had shown that the form resistance due to the rounded front edge used on the models was negligible. The results are expressed in terms of the absolute coefficient of frictionless resistance, C(sub F).


This thesis concerns the effect of attributions for failing in a creativity task and
organisational culture (OC) on motivation to engage in similar tasks.
In chapter one the relationship between situational attributions, attributional style
(AS), and motivation is reviewed. A reformulation of Amabile's model of the social
psychology of creativity is suggested on the grounds of recent developments in attributional
theory. An extension of Amabile's theory is also proposed by investigating various social
facilitators of creativity. In order for the proposed extension of Amabile's theory to be further
elaborated within the organisational setting, the effect of organisational culture on creativity
and innovation is reviewed in chapter two.
Five studies were conducted to test a series of hypotheses derived from the above
research. In study one, the moderating role of situational attributions in the relationship
between failure and subsequent motivation was empirically shown in terms of the refined
attributional theory of Weiner.
Since the literature in AS has questioned the psychometric properties of the various
measures of the concept, study two concerns the development of a more reliable and valid
measure of AS. Results showed that a generalised expectancy for negative events is a
predictor of low confidence and pessimism.
In study three the new measure of AS was used to test for the hypothesised influence
of AS on after-failure motivation through its effect on situational attributions. The suggested
extension of Amabile's social psychology of creativity was also tested by examining whether
pro-creativity social norms facilitate creative behaviour. The findings demonstrate that the
globality facet of AS and the perceived social norms for creativity determine the perception
of situational attributions, which in turn predicts the level of after-failure motivation.
In order to examine the effect of social norms on motivation to be creative in the
organisational setting, organisational norms as a manifestation of OC had to be measured.
The fourth study was a psychometric assessment of four questionnaire measures of OC which
showed the more reliable and valid measure to use. In addition, study four provided some
evidence that the organisational norms of creativity, internal co-operation, and achievement
constitute the cultural dimension of openness to change, while the norms of centralisation of
power and competition are associated with resistance to change.
The fmal study investigated the effect of OC on employees motivation to be creative
through the mediating effect of situational attributions for failure and expectancy of future
success. The hypotheses of this study were partly supported.
The final chapter discusses the findings and the limitations of this thesis, drawing out
possible implications for future research.


Alcoholism is the recent trend among college students. Peer pressure ,stress, depression are some factors that drive these students to practice this social evil. Under intoxication ,consequences are grave. Drunk and driving, road traffic accidents, legal issues, antisocial activities are some of them, that have proved alcoholism a public menace. The present study aimed to assess the risk factors and consequences of alcohol consumption among adolescents. The study was carried out in the selected college of Chennai. Total 60 samples were included for data collection. A questionnaire was prepared comprising of a set of 14 questions covering the main objective of the study. Findings concluded that social gatherings and peer pressure are major factors that prompt students to consume alcohol. Emotional stress and academic stress are other factors. The consequences observed are family problems and health issues. Findings concluded that more than 25% of the subjects consume alcohol due to social gathering, peer pressure, academic stress and emotional stress. Also, more than half of those consuming alcohol are involved in road traffic accidents and other familial problems.


This paper contributes to research endogenizing multinational finns in generalequilibrium trade modeis. We attempt to integrate separate contributions on horizontal multinationals which produce the same final product in multiple locations, with work on vertical multinationals, which geographically fragment production by stages. Previously derived results now emerge as special cases of a more general model. Vertical multinationals dominate when countries are very different in relative factor endowments. Horizontal multinationals dominate when the countries are similar in size and in relative endowments, and trade costs are moderate to high. In some cases, foreign investment or trade liberalization leads to a reversal in the direction of trade. Investment liberalization can also lead to an increase in the volume of trade and produces a strong tendency toward factor-price equalization. Thus direct investment can be a complement to trade in both a volume-of-trade sense and in a welfare sense. First Draft, May 1996


Due to industrialization and urbanization many pollutants are being introduced directly and indirectly into aquatic ecosystem. Behavioural bioassay have been widely used in toxicity assessment. Bioassay based on behavior is faster, more sensitive and ecologically more relevant as assessing growth and reproduction need longer bioassay. Behavioural bioassay is more promising alternatives than lethality evaluating bioassay which are currently used for the risk assessment of toxicant. Behavioural changes provide early warning signals about the health of exposed population which other standard tests do not take in to consideration. These endpoints may be 10–100 times more sensitive than those derived from acute or chronic tests because chemicals can induce rapid behavioural responses in organisms even at very low concentrations. Behaviour is an organism-level effect defined as the action, reaction, or functioning of a system under a set of specific circumstances. We rationalize that a greater understanding of behavioural responses in effect to chemical stress may increase. Therefore in current scenario there is a need of developing newer and effective methods to study the behavioural responses. Behavioural changes in a fish form an efficient index to measure any alterations in the environmental conditions.


Importance While statin therapy for primary cardiovascular prevention has been associated with reductions in cardiovascular morbidity, the effect on all-cause mortality has been variable. There is little evidence to guide the use of statins for primary prevention in adults 75 years and older. Objectives To examine statin treatment among adults aged 65 to 74 years and 75 years and older when used for primary prevention in the Lipid-Lowering Trial (LLT) component of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT-LLT). Design, Setting, and Participants Post hoc secondary data analyses were conducted of participants 65 years and older without evidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; 2867 ambulatory adults with hypertension and without baseline atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were included. The ALLHAT-LLT was conducted from February 1994 to March 2002 at 513 clinical sites. Interventions Pravastatin sodium (40 mg/d) vs usual care (UC). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome in the ALLHAT-LLT was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cause-specific mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal coronary heart disease combined (coronary heart disease events). Results There were 1467 participants (mean [SD] age, 71.3 [5.2] years) in the pravastatin group (48.0% [n = 704] female) and 1400 participants (mean [SD] age, 71.2 [5.2] years) in the UC group (50.8% [n = 711] female). The baseline mean (SD) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were 147.7 (19.8) mg/dL in the pravastatin group and 147.6 (19.4) mg/dL in the UC group; by year 6, the mean (SD) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were 109.1 (35.4) mg/dL in the pravastatin group and 128.8 (27.5) mg/dL in the UC group. At year 6, of the participants assigned to pravastatin, 42 of 253 (16.6%) were not taking any statin; 71.0% in the UC group were not taking any statin. The hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in the pravastatin group vs the UC group were 1.18 (95% CI, 0.97-1.42; P = .09) for all adults 65 years and older, 1.08 (95% CI, 0.85-1.37; P = .55) for adults aged 65 to 74 years, and 1.34 (95% CI, 0.98-1.84; P = .07) for adults 75 years and older. Coronary heart disease event rates were not significantly different among the groups. In multivariable regression, the results remained nonsignificant, and there was no significant interaction between treatment group and age. Conclusions and Relevance No benefit was found when pravastatin was given for primary prevention to older adults with moderate hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and a nonsignificant direction toward increased all-cause mortality with pravastatin was observed among adults 75 years and older. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000542


The Arctic is experiencing rapid climate change in response to changes in greenhouse gases, aerosols, and other climate drivers. Emission changes in general, as well as geographical shifts in emissions and transport pathways of short‐lived climate forcers, make it necessary to understand the influence of each climate driver on the Arctic. In the Precipitation Driver Response Model Intercomparison Project, 10 global climate models perturbed five different climate drivers separately (CO2, CH4, the solar constant, black carbon, and SO4). We show that the annual mean Arctic amplification (defined as the ratio between Arctic and the global mean temperature change) at the surface is similar between climate drivers, ranging from 1.9 (± an intermodel standard deviation of 0.4) for the solar to 2.3 (±0.6) for the SO4 perturbations, with minimum amplification in the summer for all drivers. The vertical and seasonal temperature response patterns indicate that the Arctic is warmed through similar mechanisms for all climate drivers except black carbon. For all drivers, the precipitation change per degree global temperature change is positive in the Arctic, with a seasonality following that of the Arctic amplification. We find indications that SO4 perturbations produce a slightly stronger precipitation response than the other drivers, particularly compared to CO2.


One of unexpected results of the economic reform in Russia was the rebirth of interest for regional programs and schemes as documents of strategic planning. Regional and municipal authorities, scientific community (not only Keynesian-like, but liberal economist Friedman-style as well), big and small business community, and civil society structures, now emerging in the Russian regions, all demonstrate their interest towards regional programs and schemes. Of course these documents are not of directive character now. They are of coordinative, partnership nature, oriented to consolidate efforts and resources of the state, business, citizens for modernization of the regional economy and increase of the GRP. Their ideology is based not only on principles of Soviet economists under the Gosplan era but on the achievements of institutional theory, theory of regional markets and the experience of regional policy in the European Union. However, in spite of new methodology of contemporary Russian regional programs and schemes, they neglect post-industrial challenges ahead of the country, in their concrete projects. For instance, cluster of federal programs of regional parity ("Diminishing discrepancies between Russian regions", "Socio-economic development of Kaliningrad; the Kurils Islands; Far-Eastern regions; Southern republics in the European Russia"), in contrast with cluster of federal programs on the new economy, deals only with current social problems. These defects of contemporary federal and regional programs of socio-economic development can be seen precisely in the federal Program "Diminishing discrepancies between Russian regions intil 2015" approved by federal government in 2001. In this document possibilities to decrease striking contrasts between leaders and outsiders are connected with state financed projects of social and communal infrastructure in the 40 oblasts, republics and okrugs, whose level of social and economic development is beyond the average. Same problems in the EU regions are solved by projects directed to increase the quality of human resources. They are proved to be very efficient. During the last years Council for Research for Productive Forces (CRPF) has been eleborated four programs of socio-economic development: for Republic of Komi, Kemerovo and Jewish Oblasts, Khanty-Mansi autonomous Okrug. These documents are not comprehensive in contrast with their Soviet predecessors. They deal with numbered list of problems. They admit that regional development is multi-actors process. Structures of regional authorities, business, civil society participate in the projects under the Program. Many program measures are oriented to provide balance of interest for economic agents. Special attention is devoted to improve regional norms and rules of economic behaviour for economic actors in the new section titled "Development of the regional normative base". CRPF is working under schemes of development and allocation of productive forces for Khanty-mansy autonomous Okrug and Chechen Republic. In comparison with programs schemes are more long-term documents of territorial planning. Also they include different variants of future development for every municipality. Experience of several federative states in the European Union meeting the challenge of striking inter-regional contrasts proves the necessity to elaborate new federal program "Innovative region" for the Russian Federation. It can be seen as analogue of the German program "Innoregio". This new program should affirm new perception of creative region (now dominating perception in the federal programs is about region as the location of social problems), stimulate build-up of regional innovative systems, development of post-industrial activities. Russian programs and schemes as tools of regional policy which in the Soviet era were so distinct from Europeans by their directive ideology, central role of the state, slowly but straightforwardly are synchronizing with their analogues in the EU by their goals, tasks, and mechanisms.


The pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases remains largely obscure despite extensive research. The role of triggering factors in the onset is unquestionable. However, at present, the focus of research lies in the mechanisms that locally control immune responses. Especially, enforcing the induction of regulatory T cells by self-antigens that are involved in the ongoing inflammation opens the way for new forms of specific immunotherapy. In this thesis, we aimed at exploring the mechanisms related to the ongoing inflammation in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) as a model for autoimmune disease. JDM is a multisystem inflammatory disease that involves primarily the muscle and skin, but may affect many other systems We describe the spectrum of the disease, with emphasis on indicators for disease prognosis and new instruments to evaluate disease activity. These parameters are warranted for optimal choice of treatment regimens. Because disease prognosis and disease activity are correlated with the extent of the inflammatory process, underlying immunological mechanisms contributing to disease were analyzed. We focussed on regulatory T cells (Treg) as main players in peripheral tolerance. We were able to describe the characteristics of Treg in JDM and found possible clues pointing at impaired Treg function. The selection of heat shock proteins (HSP) as the self-antigens possibly involved in the inflammatory process was made because of their specific characteristics and because of the results of previous research in other autoimmune diseases. We showed that HSP60 and HSP60 epitopes can induce T cell regulation in vitro in JDM. In this disease, to our knowledge, no previous studies on these subjects were presented. Interestingly, HSP70 did not seem to induce adaptive immune responses. On the other hand, overexpression of HSP70 at the inflammatory site can be regarded as a sign of protection against further damage. Because immune reactivity to the HSP60 epitopes is also demonstrated in other autoimmune diseases, these epitopes could be related to inflammation in general and thus be applied in a broader patient population. T cell responses to HSP60 epitopes could also be used as biomarkers for disease activity and prognosis or for follow-up of future immunotherapy studies with epitopes. Altogether, this thesis offers intriguing new insights in the pathogenesis of an autoimmune disease that lacks an adequate animal model for thorough research. It is of importance to confirm our findings in a larger group of JDM patients which, because of the rarity of these diseases, necessitates a multicenter approach.


Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to standard cancer treatments and are likely responsible for cancer recurrence, but few therapies target this subpopulation. Due to the difficulty in propagating CSCs outside of the tumor environment, previous work identified CSC-like cells by inducing human breast epithelial cells into an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiated state (HMLE_sh_ECad). A phenotypic screen was conducted against HMLE_sh_ECad with 300 718 compounds from the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository to identify selective inhibitors of CSC growth. The screen yielded 2244 hits that were evaluated for toxicity and selectivity toward an isogenic control cell line. An acyl hydrazone scaffold emerged as a potent and selective scaffold targeting HMLE_sh_ECad. Fifty-three analogues were acquired and tested; compounds ranged in potency from 790 nM to inactive against HMLE_sh_ECad. Of the analogues, ML239 was best-in-class with an IC50= 1.18 µM against HMLE_sh_ECad, demonstrated a >23-fold selectivity over the control line, and was toxic to another CSC-like line, HMLE_shTwist, and a breast carcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-231. Gene expression studies conducted with ML239-treated cells showed altered gene expression in the NF-κB pathway in the HMLE_sh_ECad line but not in the isogenic control line. Future studies will be directed toward the identification of ML239 target(s).


The elderly are generally "out of the loop" when it comes to texting and other new technologies. On the one hand, the elderly do not often send text messages and thus signal their ability and willingness to use the medium. On the other hand, stereotyping by the younger users perhaps inhibits them from sending text messages to the elderly. Is the non-use of texting by the elderly because of self-exclusion or lack of exposure or both? Should this be of concern to us?


This paper reports on the possibility and difficulties in building growth models from past Forest Administration records on cut and growth in the Italian Alps. As a case study, a matrix model was calibrated for uneven-aged forests in the Valsugana valley of the Trentino province. The model gave reliable predictions over 30 years, and plausible long-term forest dynamics, including steady-states that are similar to virgin forests. The results support the view that the current forests are deeply altered as to composition, relative to what would obtain from natural growth. They also support the concept of long cyclic changes in natural stands, gradually approaching a climax state. Shortcomings of the data are that they do not come from an experimental design, they are not always accurate, and they must be supplemented with other information, especially concerning mortality. Still, these cheap and available data can lead to workable models adapted to local conditions, with many management applications.


Magnetic Self-Assembly During self-assembly, objects spontaneously assemble into larger ordered patterns as observed, for example, in the phase segregation of block copolymers or the assembly of micrometer-sized objects and components in electronics. In dynamic self-assembly, the ordered patterns require an external energy source, but still form because of intrinsic interactions within the system. Timonen et al. (p. 253; see the Perspective by Hermans et al.) studied the organization of magnetic droplets, in the form of a ferrofluid, placed on a low-friction surface. A time-varying magnetic field transformed the statically arranged droplets into a dynamic pattern. Magnetic droplets oscillate between static and dynamic self-assembly patterns in a magnetic field. [Also see Perspective by Hermans et al.] Self-assembly is a process in which interacting bodies are autonomously driven into ordered structures. Static structures such as crystals often form through simple energy minimization, whereas dynamic ones require continuous energy input to grow and sustain. Dynamic systems are ubiquitous in nature and biology but have proven challenging to understand and engineer. Here, we bridge the gap from static to dynamic self-assembly by introducing a model system based on ferrofluid droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces. The droplets self-assemble under a static external magnetic field into simple patterns that can be switched to complicated dynamic dissipative structures by applying a time-varying magnetic field. The transition between the static and dynamic patterns involves kinetic trapping and shows complexity that can be directly visualized.


Abstract Background: Within Parkinson's there is a spectrum of clinical features at presentation which may represent sub-types of the disease. However there is no widely accepted consensus of how best to group patients. Objective: Use a data-driven approach to unravel any heterogeneity in the Parkinson's phenotype in a well-characterised, population-based incidence cohort. Methods: 769 consecutive patients, with mean disease duration of 1.3 years, were assessed using a broad range of motor, cognitive and non-motor metrics. Multiple imputation was carried out using the chained equations approach to deal with missing data. We used an exploratory and then a confirmatory factor analysis to determine suitable domains to include within our cluster analysis. K-means cluster analysis of the factor scores and all the variables not loading into a factor was used to determine phenotypic subgroups. Results: Our factor analysis found three important factors that were characterised by: psychological well-being features; non-tremor motor features, such as posture and rigidity; and cognitive features. Our subsequent five cluster model identified groups characterised by (1) mild motor and non-motor disease (25.4%), (2) poor posture and cognition (23.3%), (3) severe tremor (20.8%), (4) poor psychological well-being, RBD and sleep (18.9%), and (5) severe motor and non-motor disease with poor psychological well-being (11.7%). Conclusion: Our approach identified several Parkinson's phenotypic sub-groups driven by largely dopaminergic-resistant features (RBD, impaired cognition and posture, poor psychological well-being) that, in addition to dopaminergic-responsive motor features may be important for studying the aetiology, progression, and medication response of early Parkinson's.


Abstract. The potential coupling of nitrogen (N2) fixation and sulfate reduction (SR) was explored in sediments of the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Sediment samples were retrieved by a multiple corer at six stations along a depth transect (70–1025 m water depth) at 12° S, covering anoxic and hypoxic bottom water conditions. Benthic N2 fixation, determined by the acetylene reduction assay, was detected at all sites, with highest rates between 70 and 253 m and lower rates at greater depth. SR rates decreased with increasing water depth. N2 fixation and SR overlapped in sediments, suggesting a potential coupling of both processes. However, a weak positive correlation of their activity distribution was detected by principle component analysis. A potential link between N2 fixation and sulfate-reducing bacteria was indicated by the molecular analysis of nifH genes. Detected nifH sequences clustered with the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfonema limicola at the 253 m station. However, nifH sequences of other stations clustered with uncultured organisms, Gammaproteobacteria, and Firmicutes (Clostridia) rather than with known sulfate reducers. The principle component analysis revealed that benthic N2 fixation in the Peruvian OMZ is controlled by organic matter (positive) and free sulfide (negative). No correlation was found between N2 fixation and ammonium concentrations (even at levels > 2022 µM). N2 fixation rates in the Peruvian OMZ sediments were in the same range as those measured in other organic-rich sediments.


A strongly implicit, nonlinear Crank-Nicolson-based finite-difference scheme was constructed for the numerical study of the self-similar behavior of viscous gravity currents. Viscous gravity currents are low Reynolds number flow phenomena in which a dense, viscous fluid displaces a lighter (usually immiscible) fluid. Under the lubrication approximation, the mathematical description of the spreading of these fluids is reduced to solving a nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation for the shape of the fluid interface. This thesis focuses on the finite-speed propagation of a power-law non-Newtonian current in a variable width channel-like geometry (a "Hele-Shaw cell'') subject to a given mass conservation/balance constraint. The proposed numerical scheme was implemented on a uniform but staggered grid. It is shown to be strongly stable, while possessing formal truncation error that is of second-order in space and it time. The accuracy of the scheme was verified by benchmarking it against established analytical solutions, which were obtained via a first-kind self-similarity transformation. A series of numerical simulations confirmed that the proposed scheme accurately respects the mass conservation/balance constraint. Next, the numerical scheme was used to study the second-kind self-similar behaviour of Newtonian viscous gravity currents flowing towards the end of a converging channel. Second-kind self-similar transformations are not fully specified without further information from simulation or experiment. Thus, using the proposed numerical scheme, the self-similar spreading and leveling leveling of the current was definitively addressed. The numerical results showed favorable comparison with experimental data.


Previous studies have shown that guppies, Poecilia reticulata, can learn the route to a food source by shoaling with knowledgeable conspecifics, and prefer to shoal with experienced foragers and familiar fish. We tested the hypothesis that guppies would learn more effectively from (1) familiar than unfamiliar demonstrators and (2) well-trained than poorly trained demonstrators. Demonstrator fish were given experience in swimming a route to a food source and then introduced into shoals of untrained observer guppies; the spread of this foraging skill was recorded over 15 trials. The demonstrators were either familiar or unfamiliar to the observers and either well trained or poorly trained. Observers performed significantly better when the demonstrators were familiar. The training of the demonstrators made no overall difference to the performance of naive observers. However, whilst observers in shoals exposed to well-trained demonstrators did better initially than those with poorly trained ones, the latter learned the route to the feeder faster. Our results suggest that familiarity may generate a form of directed social learning in guppy shoals, in which fish learn more effectively from familiar conspecifics. An analysis of who follows whom suggests that well-trained demonstrators can provide a 'tip-off' as to the location of the hole but poorly trained demonstrators were more likely to be followed. The results suggest that while observers are able to shoal with poorly trained demonstrators, well-trained demonstrators swim the maze route too quickly to be followed, but may attract attention to the maze route.