We compare simple logistic regression with an alternative robust procedure for constructing linear predictors to be used for the two state classification task. Theoritical advantages of the robust procedure over logistic regression are: (i) although it assumes a generalized linear model for the dichotomous outcome variable, it does not require specification of the link function; (ii) it accommodates case-control designs even when the model is not logistic; and (iii) it yields sensible results even when the generalized linear model assumption fails to hold. Surprisingly, we find that the linear predictor derived from the logistic regression likelihood is very robust in the following sense: it yields prediction performance comparable with our theoretically robust procedure when the logistic model fails and even when the form of the linear predictor is incorrectly specified. This raises some intriguing questions about using logistic regression for prediction. Some preliminary explanations are given that draw from recent literature.Next we suggest that it may not be necessary to fit the linear function over the whole predictor space to achieve adequate classification properties. Procedures that restrict modeling to a subspace defined by minimally acceptable false-positive and false-negative error rates are suggested. We find that relaxing linearity assumptions to a subspace infers further robustness and that the logistic likelihood calculated over the restricted region provides a robust objective function for determining classification rules.Overall, our new procedure performs well but not substantially better than logistic regression. Further work is warranted to clarify the relationship between the two conceptually distinct procedures, and may provide a new conceptual basis for using the logistic likelihood to combine predictors.Note: This Working Paper is a revised version of the previously posted "Robust Binary Regression for Optimally Combining Predictors."


Interdisciplinary research is a manner of research carried out by an individual or group of persons. The knowledge, data, techniques, concepts are incorporated from two or more disciplines. In this paper we tried to throw light on this concept. Machine learning is a branch of computer science which uses the information, tools for collection of data, methods for analysis from the subjects like Electronics, Mathematics and Statistics. Why we use machine learning? Because it plays an influential role in prediction of data. Machine learning is used to find hidden patterns and essential ideas from data as well as it solve complex problems. In today's world, many applications have large volume of data like structured, unstructured and semi structured. This unexploited resource of knowledge can be used to improve business decisions. As data diversifies many are adapting to machine learning tool for analysis of data, so that, they can exploit intelligence and benefit from that data at most. Machine learning adopts different algorithms and each algorithm performs different functionality. In this paper, we tried to explain through example, how Electronics is used for collection of data while Mathematics and Statistics are used for analysis and finally using Machine learning results can be predicted.


Systems incorporating biometric technologies have become ubiquitous in personal, commercial, and governmental identity management applications. Both cooperative (e.g., access control) and noncooperative (e.g., surveillance and forensics) systems have benefited from biometrics. Such systems rely on the uniqueness of certain biological or behavioral characteristics of human beings, which enable for individuals to be reliably recognized using automated algorithms. Recently, however, there has been a wave of public and academic concerns regarding the existence of systemic bias in automated decision systems (including biometrics). Most prominently, face recognition algorithms have often been labeled as "racist" or "biased" by the media, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers alike. The main contributions of this article are: 1) an overview of the topic of algorithmic bias in the context of biometrics; 2) a comprehensive survey of the existing literature on biometric bias estimation and mitigation; 3) a discussion of the pertinent technical and social matters; and 4) an outline of the remaining challenges and future work items, both from technological and social points of view.


Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach to help agricultural systems worldwide, concurrently addressing three challenge areas: increased adaptation to climate change, mitigation of climate change, and ensuring global food security – through innovative policies, practices, and financing. It involves a set of objectives and multiple transformative transitions for which there are newly identified knowledge gaps. We address these questions raised by CSA within three areas: conceptualization, implementation, and implications for policy and decision-makers. We also draw up scenarios on the future of the CSA concept in relation to the 4 per 1000 Initiative (Soils for Food Security and Climate) launched at UNFCCC 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21). Our analysis shows that there is still a need for further interdisciplinary research on the theoretical foundation of the CSA concept and on the necessary transformations of agriculture and land use systems. Contrasting views about implementation indicate that CSA focus on the "triple win" (adaptation, mitigation, food security) needs to be assessed in terms of science-based practices. CSA policy tools need to incorporate an integrated set of measures supported by reliable metrics. Environmental and social safeguards are necessary to make sure that CSA initiatives conform to the principles of sustainability, both at the agriculture and food system levels.


ABSTRACT Adult female dajid isopods are ectoparasites found on carapaces, within marsupia, or rarely attached to the eyestalks or pereopods of crustacean hosts. We describe two new genera and species whose females exhibit a novel spheroid shape and envelope antennules of hosts: Akrophryxus milvus n. gen., n. sp. parasitizing Ethusa machaera Castro, 2005 (Madagascar, c. 900 m) and Telephryxus clypeus n. gen., n. sp. parasitizing Munidopsis crassa Smith, 1885 (Caribbean, c. 5000 m). Females of both species differ from other dajid species in their spheroid shape and a plate partially surrounding the host antennule; males are distinguished by reduction of pereopods. Females of A. milvus n. gen., n. sp. are distinguished from those of T. clypeus n. gen., n. sp. in possessing antennules and a triangular attachment plate with three holes (T. clypeus n. gen., n. sp. lacks antennules and the broad attachment plate has two medial holes). Males of A. milvus n. gen., n. sp. are distinguished from those of T. clypeus n. gen., n. sp. in having only six pairs of pereopods, rudimentary antennules, single segmented antennae, and pleon fused to pereomere 7 (T. clypeus n. gen., n. sp. with rudimentary seventh pair of pereopods, large single segmented antennules, two segmented antennae, and pleon distinct from pereomere 7). Pre-molt epicaridium larvae and cryptoniscus larvae of T. clypeus n. gen., n. sp. are described. We also describe Aegophila cappa n. sp. found on pereopods of the isopod Aegiochus symmetrica (Richardson, 1905) (Bering Sea, c. 650 m), distinguished from the type species of Aegophila Bresciani, 1966 by oostegite morphology of the female, form of the antennae, and shape of the pleon of males. Tables with comparative characters for genera of Dajidae G. O. Sars, 1883 are provided. Dajid life cycles and development are reviewed.


Abstract This work presents a systematic study of zircon and apatite in melt-bearing impactites from the annular trough of the ~180 km and ~66.04 Ma Chicxulub impact crater, Yucatán, Mexico, using in situ laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, in which the petrologic context of the analysed minerals was assessed. Geochronologic U–Pb results for variably shocked zircon from the Yaxcopoil-1 core, including monocrystalline grains and neocrystallised granular aggregates, yielded a discordant array of ages representing the Early Palaeozoic age of the crystalline–metamorphic Maya block in the crater basement and the timing of the Chicxulub impact, respectively, and provide evidence for impact-induced resetting of the U–Pb system. Zircon and fluor-chlorapatite from the Yaxcopoil-1 core, and fluorapatite in clasts of impact melt from the Yucatán-6 core have low 206Pb/204Pb, suggesting the presence of detectable common Pb. The Chicxulub impactites were altered in an initially hot hydrothermal system that lasted up to ~2 Myr; locally, Pb-rich sulphides precipitated. Hydrothermal conditions did not reset the U–Th–Pb systematics of relict zircon, however, due to elevated closure temperatures for Pb diffusion at the fast cooling rates associated with the crater locations of the Yucatán-6 and Yaxcopoil-1 boreholes. Thus, the zircon preserves pre-impact and impact-related ages, rather than those of the hydrothermal system. In contrast, no useful geochronologic information was obtained from relict apatite, because common Pb in these grains overwhelmed radiometrically derived isotope ratios.


Abstract
 Research on parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) is in progress in many countries, including Australia, India, South Africa, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Nepal. This book, with contributions from expert researchers with extensive involvement in parthenium weed research from these countries, has collected and synthesized existing knowledge on parthenium weed in 16 chapters covering aspects of: (i) biology; (ii) ecology; (iii) genetics; (iv) introduction histories; (v) geographical distribution; (vi) the impact on agriculture, natural forests and the environment of protected areas; (vii) allelopathy; (viii) impacts on human and animal health; (ix) potential uses; and (x) management strategies, including chemical, cultural and biological control methods. The book also provides current distribution records/status of the weed, along with future risks of spread based on climate change. There are dedicated chapters on the current status of parthenium weed problems in Australia and the Pacific, Southern Asia, East and South-east Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, and southern Africa. All chapters have relevant photos and figures included to make the reading interesting. This is the first book on parthenium weed under the CABI invasive species series. The book will be of immense value to all countries with a parthenium problem, which will benefit by sharing knowledge and experience.


Bridge construction projects are becoming increasingly complex as the demand for context-sensitive solutions, aesthetic designs, and accelerated bridge construction becomes more prevalent. In addition, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is entering a phase of design and construction of large border bridges, such as the I-80 (let 2008 for $56 million) and US 34 bridges over the Missouri River and I-74 over the Mississippi River. Compared to typical construction projects, these bridges generate more contractor Requests for Information (RFIs), Value Engineering (VE) proposals, Requests for Changes (RFCs), and shop drawings. Management of these submittals is a significant challenge for Resident Construction Engineers (RCEs) and other Iowa DOT staff. In addition, some submittals require cross-departmental and project consultant reviews. Commercially available software exists for managing submittals and project collaboration teams; in-house solutions may also be possible. Implementation is intended to speed construction submittal review time, reduce incidence of delay claims, and free up Iowa DOT staff from project management administrative tasks. Researchers from Iowa State University working with the Iowa DOT conducted a multi-pronged approach to identify a web-based collaboration solution for Iowa DOT bridge projects. An investigation was launched to determine the functional needs of the Iowa DOT. Commercially available software programs were also evaluated to find what functionality is currently available. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was written to select a commercial web-based collaboration solution for pilot testing. In the second phase of research, a solution will be selected and implemented on two pilot projects. Lessons learned from these pilot projects will assist the Iowa DOT in developing and implementing a long-term solution to improve the management of Iowa DOT bridge projects.


Turbo-discharging is a novel approach that can better utilize the energy recoverable by a turbine (or series of turbines) mounted in the exhaust flow of internal combustion engines. The recovery of blowdown pulse energy in isolation of displacement pulse energy allows the discharging (depressurization) of the exhaust system to reduce engine pumping work and improve engine fuel economy. This is a novel approach to air system optimization that has previously been studied for naturally aspirated engines. However, to be successful, turbo-discharging should be applicable to turbocharged engines, as downsizing is a promising direction for future powertrain systems. This study uses one-dimensional gas dynamics modelling to explore the effect of turbo-discharging on a turbocharged gasoline engine, particularly focusing on the interaction with the turbocharging system. The results show that the peak engine torque is increased at low to mid speeds with high speed torque slightly reduced due to restrictions in engine breathing with low lift exhaust valves. The engine peak torque as a function of speed with a larger turbocharger and turbo-discharging was comparable to that of the smaller turbocharger without turbo-discharging. Fuel economy improvements were evident over most part-load regions of the engine map, with peak values varying from 2 to 7% depending on the baseline engine air system strategy. Hot trapped residual mass was consistently reduced across a large fraction of the engine map, with the exception of high power conditions, where the valve pressure drop effect dominated. This is expected to enable spark advance and further fuel economy benefit. The results from this study are promising and show that the use of some of the available exhaust gas energy for turbo-discharging in preference to turbocharging can have a positive effect on both part-load and full-load engine performance. There remains significant potential for further optimization with application of variable valve actuation and turbocharger control systems (for example, variable geometry turbines).


Energy-efficient light bulbs are being developed to replace the incandescent lamp where they can satisfy the design criteria and be used in sockets that have long hours of annual use. The four technologies discussed here include the compact fluorescent lamp, coated-filament lamp, electrodeless fluorescent lamp, and compact high-intensity discharge lamp. The systems demonstrate efficacy improvements of two to four times that of their incandescent counterparts. These new lamps have required considerable advances in lamp technology. They offer the potential for achieving efficacies close to 80 lumens per watt. These new lamps will reduce the energy used annually by incandescent lamps (190 BkWh) by more than 50% in the 1990s, at which times they will be commonly employed.


Under the new health care regime, health insurance plans must cover contraception. While religious employers are exempt from this requirement, religiously affiliated employers are not. Several have sued, claiming that the "contraception mandate" violates the Free Exercise Clause, the Free Speech Clause, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This essay explains why the contraception mandate violates none of them.


CD97 expression is related closely to the dedifferentiation and tumor stage in thyroid carcinomas. We systematically examined the role of CD97 and its closest relative, EMR2, in normal and malignant gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic tissue. The normal tissues were EMR2-, whereas CD97 was expressed slightly in the parietal cells of gastric mucosa and in exocrine pancreatic cells. Interestingly, intralobular and interlobular pancreatic ducts were CD97+. All tumors were EMR2-. CD97 was expressed by 44 of 50 gastric, 14 of 18 pancreatic, and 10 of 13 esophageal carcinomas. Of the 44 gastric cancers, 27 showed disseminated or scattered tumor cells at the invasion front with stronger CD97 expression than tumor cells located in solid tumor formations. There was no correlation between CD97 levels in the tumors or soluble CD97 in the serum samples and the clinicopathologic features of the patients. Taken together, significant numbers of gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic carcinomas are CD97+, whereas its homolog, EMR2, does not have any role in such tumors.


Because of the conceptual level rather than the process or practices, many projects might have not been able to achieve their objectives and desired results. Therefore, project management research could be supported by strategic management theory and literature especially the Resource Based View (RBV). Furthermore, intangible resources that are made and organised during project realization are the factor on which differential performance of projects is dependent. In response to this need, this study aimed to understand the nature of the relationship between intangible resources and project success in public sector organizations by introducing a theoretical model that is applying the RBV theory application in Project Management. This model links and displays the influences of 'intangible resource factors' in one coherent model, introduces a theoretical model that can be challenged or considered by further research as a starting point in a research context, and supports project practitioners and project teams while working in the public sector. The objectives of the study are to identify key intangible resources that affect project success, identify how social, human, relational and organizational forms of intangible resource capital affect project success, and develop and validate a conceptual model that incorporates intangible resources and project success. To guide the entire study, a research question was defined as how intangible resource factors influence project outcomes. This study has an exploratory focus as it seeks to find how intangible resources influence project success. Such a focus favours the use of a qualitative research design and the case study approach was particularly appropriate as it encompasses the holistic, in-depth study of a phenomenon using a variety of data sources and procedures. Ten cases were selected for study and allowed the emergence and interplay of various factors. While the ten project cases were the primary focus of the study, the units of analysis were the capital projects in the utility sector in Abu Dhabi. Four of the cases were used to drive the theory, and six cases were used to validate it. Two data collection techniques were employed: documentary data analyses and interviews. A total of 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with project team members, carefully selected on the basis of their critical roles as project managers. Two data analysis techniques were employed: within-case analysis and cross-case analysis. A key finding of this study is that the results set out from the concept where it is not essential for project leaders to have in-depth technical skills and knowledge since the usage of team members that are subject matter experts regularly can be an actual technique to source the mandatory capability. These study findings provide a review of the conventional wisdom of the past 40 to 50 years which can help top managers and practitioners to re-evaluate their activities. Another finding is the motivation misalignment that increases the generalizability of a previous study results to project management in the research context. The control and monitoring strategy findings in this study were also the subject of a previous study conducted to measure improvements of project outcomes. This study finding brings findings from other cases from the public sector and helped to answer how and why questions. Evidence from this study also found that relationship quality has a significantly positive influence on joint problem solving. The results given from this study have some theoretical implications as well as practical applications, as they give a clear pattern with regard to the effect of planning on creative problem-solving.


The pockets of effectiveness (PoEs) debates and political settlements literature are rooted in particular forms of political economy analysis. At one level, this is a positive contribution to the mainstream development policy literature, and allows us to characterise political systems and their power relations, as well as forcing us to pay close attention to the dynamics of state institutions. Yet, these literatures are disconnected from a tradition of more critical political economy analysis and state theory. This brief review is a first attempt to connect these bodies of theory, largely in an African context. We find some promising new (and old) avenues of inquiry to connect critical political economy to PoE work, largely in terms of various meso-level theories of how states function, which move us away from all-encompassing metatheories of the state. Such meso-level theories enable us to theorise the more finegrained and developmentally positive institutions that constitute PoEs, since much of the meta-theory tends to be both broad brush as well as causally pessimistic, insofar as African states are rarely seen to engender positive developmental outcomes. These meso-level theories can also be more easily elaborated methodologically, which is vital, since most of the claims about state capacity and function require contextual empirical analysis.


We demonstrate the feasibility and potential of using large integral field spectroscopic surveys to investigate the prevalence of galactic-scale outflows in the local Universe. Using integral field data from SAMI and the Wide Field Spectrograph, we study the nature of an isolated disk galaxy, SDSS J090005.05+000446.7 (z = 0.05386). In the integral field datasets, the galaxy presents skewed line profiles changing with position in the galaxy. The skewed line profiles are caused by different kinematic components overlapping in the line-of-sight direction. We perform spectral decomposition to separate the line profiles in each spatial pixel as combinations of (1) a narrow kinematic component consistent with HII regions, (2) a broad kinematic component consistent with shock excitation, and (3) an intermediate component consistent with shock excitation and photoionisation mixing. The three kinematic components have distinctly different velocity fields, velocity dispersions, line ratios, and electron densities. We model the line ratios, velocity dispersions, and electron densities with our MAPPINGS IV shock and photoionisation models, and we reach remarkable agreement between the data and the models. The models demonstrate that the different emission line properties are caused by major galactic outflows that introduce shock excitation in addition to photoionisation by star-forming activities. Interstellar shocks embedded in the outflows shock-excite and compress the gas, causing the elevated line ratios, velocity dispersions, and electron densities observed in the broad kinematic component. We argue from energy considerations that, with the lack of a powerful active galactic nucleus, the outflows are likely to be driven by starburst activities. Our results set a benchmark of the type of analysis that can be achieved by the SAMI Galaxy Survey on large numbers of galaxies.


This review provides a comprehensive account of what is known presently about Amazonian aerosol particles and concludes by formulating outlook and priorities for further research. The review is organized to follow the life cycle of Amazonian aerosol particles. It begins with a discussion of the primary and secondary sources relevant to the Amazonian particle burden, followed by a presentation of the particle properties that characterize the mixed populations present over the Amazon Basin at different times and places. These properties include number and mass concentrations and distributions, chemical composition, hygroscopicity, and cloud nucleation ability. The review presents Amazonian aerosol particles in the context of natural compared to anthropogenic sources as well as variability with season and meteorology. This review is intended to facilitate an understanding of the current state of knowledge on Amazonian aerosol particles specifically and tropical continental aerosol particles in general and thereby to enhance future research in this area.


Abstract The Catholic concept of "sanctity" can be thought of as a "cultural unit" (Eco) composed of a wide variety of "grounds" (Peirce) or distinctive features. The figures of individual saints, i.e., tokens of sanctity, are characterized by a particular set of grounds, organized and represented in texts of different genres. This paper presents a semiotic study of texts seeking to offer an encompassing view of "sanctity" by listing all the saints and supplementing their names with a short description of their lives emphasizing the grounds characterizing each of them. The analysis focuses on a seminal liturgical text, the Martyrologium Romanun (1584–2004), and the first official encyclopedia of saints, the Bibliotheca Sanctorum (1961–2013), as well as a sample of digital texts and media such as websites and mobile apps. While the first text offers a dogmatic perspective on sanctity and saintly figures and the second offers a historical and culturological one, websites succeed in reconciling the two paradigms into a single syncretic form of interactive fruition in which the more up-to-date encyclopedic model subsumes the traditional calendar one and, in the case of apps, adds a glocal dimension, enhancing situated cognition. The analysis shows that the introduction of the encyclopedic genre and subsequent proliferation of digital repertoires is connected to a shift in the Catholic "episteme" (Foucault) of sanctity and a growing tendency to consider saints as not (only) religious characters and objects of cult, but (also) as historical individuals and components of a culture and, consequently, as suitable objects of critical discourse.


The ASO model provides a proposal for a new flight schedule, in situations when a carrier's flight scheduled is disrupted, and which would minimize the negative effects of the disruption. The objective function of the model is a mathematical formulation of the company's goals and preferences, where all assumptions and operational constraints must be satisfied. The disruption costs are given in weighted coefficients which present the penalties that can be changed by the dispatcher. One of the goals was to test to what degree the generated solutions are sensitive to changes in penalty values.


This paper studies the impact of unemployment insurance (UI) on the housing market. Exploiting heterogeneity in UI generosity across US states and over time, we find that UI helps the unemployed avoid mortgage default. We estimate that UI expansions during the Great Recession prevented more than 1.3 million foreclosures and insulated home values from labor market shocks. The results suggest that policies that make mortgages more affordable can reduce foreclosures even when borrowers are severely underwater. An optimal UI policy during housing downturns would weigh, among other benefits and costs, the deadweight losses avoided from preventing mortgage defaults.


The polymer spin coating is critical in flexible electronic manufaction and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices due to its simple operation, and uniformly coated layers. Some researchers focus on the effects of spin coating parameters such as wafer rotating speed, the viscosity of the coating liquid and solvent evaporation on final film thickness. In this work, the influence of substrate curvature on film thickness distribution is considered. A new parameter which represents the edge bead effect ratio (r e) is proposed to investigate the influence factor of edge bead effect. Several operation parameters including the curvature of the substrate and the wafer-spin speed are taken into account to study the effects on the film thickness uniformity and edge-bead ratio. The morphologies and film thickness values of the spin-coated PDMS films under various substrate curvatures and coating speeds are measured with laser confocal microscopy. According to the results, both the convex and concave substrate will help to reduce the edge-bead effect significantly and thin film with better surface morphology can be obtained at high spin speed. Additionally, the relationship between the edge-bead ratio and the thin film thickness is like parabolic curve instead of linear dependence. This work may contribute to the mass production of flexible electronic devices.


One of the tools that the United States Federal Highway Administration uses to evaluate highway infrastructure-signs, roadway markings, and geometric features-is a driving simulator. The nature of the research necessitates that important visual information is perceived similarly in the simulated world as in the real-world. Perceptual mismatches can lead to incorrect assumptions about driver behaviors and understanding of new or novel roadway designs. Because of limitations in simulator projector technology, and the lack of true depth in images projected onto a cylindrical scene, it is often necessary to adjust the size of projected objects. The objects may need to be scaled up or down relative to 1:1 equivalence of image projected on the retina in order to produce a detectable object or a desired apparent distance. For example, to achieve an appropriate legibility distance for highway signs, signs are scaled up to achieve a mean legibility distances of 1 inch of letter height per 60 feet of (simulated) viewing distance. On the other hand, to attain a 1:1 correspondence with real-world following distances between the subject vehicle and the vehicle ahead, simulated vehicles are scaled down to 75 percent of the correct retinal image size. The methods and theories for arriving at these scale factors are described. The need to scale up highway signs is believed to be related to resolution and contrast limitations of current technology projectors. The need to scale down vehicle sizes may be the result of a Ponzo illusion, in which the converging lines of highway lane markings distort the apparent size of vehicles ahead. Before using a driving stimulator to conduct studies of driver perception or behavior in response to out of vehicle stimuli, it is important to examine assumptions concerning the size of projected images and their detectability and perceived distance. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.


Rapid changes in the external environment of organisations have been accompanied by calls for accountants to change the nature of information they provide, the skills they possess and the role they play in the organisation. The proposed changes, which are encapsulated under the phrase accounting for strategic positioning or strategic management accounting are two pronged. On one hand accountants are required to reposition themselves in the organisation hierarchy where they will be involved in the formulation, implementation and choice of strategies. Accountants are also being urged to adopt a range of techniques whose emphasis is futuristic and external to the firm especially emphasizing the importance of monitoring customers and competitors. A review of the literature has revealed that while considerable effort has been put into the development of rational techniques for proposed use less has gone into whether, how and with what effect the proposed techniques have been implemented in organisations and society. The literature has adopted an uncritical approach to the proposals for a strategic accounting, providing little insight into how the discourse of strategy has come to occupy such a position of centrality in organisations and society with other functions seeking to be branded "strategic".


BACKGROUND AND AIM
One way to support evidence-based decisions in health care is by clinical guidelines, in particular, in highly specialized care such as intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to explore the development and dissemination of guidelines regarding mechanical ventilation (MV) in Swedish ICUs, and the use of evidence on MV in guidelines and everyday practice.

METHODS
Inviting all general ICUs in Sweden (N = 65), a national survey was performed on occurrence of MV guidelines, and a review of submitted ICU guidelines by four evidence items from the AGREE instrument. In addition, ICU head nurses and senior physicians were interviewed using semistructured and open-ended questions to explore development and dissemination of MV guidelines, staff adherence or nonadherence to guidelines, and everyday practice of MV management bedside.

FINDINGS
Fifty-five ICUs (85%) participated in the study; 51 ICUs submitted a total of 245 guidelines, including recommendations for medical or nursing MV actions. None of the documents included how evidence had been sought or assessed, while 22% included a list of references (n = 54). No guidelines included patients' experiences of MV. According to the managers, the guidelines were most often compiled by a multiprofessional team sharing the information through the ICU's website. The guidelines were mainly used as a basis for MV management bedside, but variation occurred as a result of personal preferences, lack of awareness, and adjustment to patients' needs.

CONCLUSIONS
Local MV guidelines seem to constitute a basis for healthcare practice in Swedish ICUs, even though the evidence proposed was limited with respect to how it was attained and lacked patient perspectives. In addition, the strategies used for dissemination were limited, suggesting that further initiatives are needed to support knowledge translation in advanced healthcare environments such as ICUs.


Within the fields of materials mechanics, the consideration of physical laws in machine learning predictions besides the use of data can enable low prediction errors and robustness as opposed to predictions only based on data. On the one hand, exclusive utilization of fundamental physical relationships might show significant deviations in their predictions compared to reality, due to simplifications and assumptions. On the other hand, using only data and neglecting well-established physical laws can create the need for unreasonably large data sets that are required to exhibit low bias and are usually expensive to collect. However, fundamental but simplified physics in combination with a corrective model that compensates for possible deviations, e.g., to experimental data, can lead to physics-based predictions with low prediction errors, also despite scarce data. In this article, it is demonstrated that a hybrid model approach consisting of a physics-based model that is corrected via an artificial neural network represents an efficient prediction tool as opposed to a purely data-driven model. In particular, a semi-analytical model serves as an efficient low-fidelity model with noticeable prediction errors outside its calibration domain. An artificial neural network is used to correct the semi-analytical solution towards a desired reference solution provided by high-fidelity finite element simulations, while the efficiency of the semi-analytical model is maintained and the applicability range enhanced. We utilize residual stresses that are induced by laser shock peening as a use-case example. In addition, it is shown that non-unique relationships between model inputs and outputs lead to high prediction errors and the identification of salient input features via dimensionality analysis is highly beneficial to achieve low prediction errors. In a generalization task, predictions are also outside the process parameter space of the training region while remaining in the trained range of corrections. The corrective model predictions show substantially smaller errors than purely data-driven model predictions, which illustrates one of the benefits of the hybrid modelling approach. Ultimately, when the amount of samples in the data set is reduced, the generalization of the physics-related corrective model outperforms the purely data-driven model, which also demonstrates efficient applicability of the proposed hybrid modelling approach to problems where data is scarce.


Introduction After decades of research, the importance of psychological factors in child and adolescent headache is no longer in doubt. However, it is not clearly understood whether different types of headache are comorbid with specific kinds of psychopathology. To address this issue, we set out to establish whether young patients with migraine do or do not show significant levels of psychopathological symptoms compared with age-matched healthy controls and patients with tension-type headache (TTH). Methods Ten studies were selected on the basis of a widely used psychodiagnostic tool (the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)) and by applying rigorous criteria: The studies were compared in a meta-analysis in order to evaluate the presence of Internalizing (mainly anxiety and depression) and Externalizing (mainly behavioral problems) symptoms in different types of headache (and versus healthy controls). Findings Patients with migraine showed more psychopathological symptoms than healthy controls. TTH patients also had more psychopathology than controls, although the difference was more marked in the area of Internalizing disorders. Finally, no differences emerged between migraine and TTH. Discussion and conclusion Psychopathological symptoms affect children with migraine, but also children with TTH. Biological, pathophysiological and clinical links need to be established. Effective treatment of affected children and adolescents is imperative in order to prevent chronic evolution. In this context, the CBCL may be a good screening instrument with a view to developing a tailored clinical approach.


The human body has limited regenerative capacity in most of the major tissues and organs. This fact has spurred the field of regenerative medicine, promising to repair damage following traumatic injury or disease. Multiple therapeutic strategies are being explored including small molecules, gene delivery, and stem cells; however, tissue engineering remains a primary approach to achieving regeneration. Organ transplantation demonstrates that damaged tissues can be replaced, but technology to regenerate complex organs de novo is not yet available. Instead, tissue engineering can augment the body's own regenerative ability by replacing tissue sections and enhancing the regenerative cascade. As a consequence of these opportunities, it is timely to review the criteria and current status of engineered tissue grafts designed as patches to replace or regenerate damaged or diseased tissue and restore organ function. This topic will be explored starting from the biomaterials and cells incorporated into the engineered graft, the environment into which the graft is implanted and the integration of the engineered graft with the host. Common issues will be addressed that are relevant to regeneration in multiple tissue and organ systems. Specific examples will focus on engineered grafts for myocardial and corneal repair to illustrate the tissue‐specific challenges and opportunities and highlight the innovation needed as the field moves forward. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2012, 4:207–220. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.164


Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by abnormal susceptibility to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The inability to terminate HPV infection leads to widespread and persistent wart-like and macular skin lesions. The extent of cutaneous inivolvement and progress of the lesions vary considerably, but the persistence of skin lesions throughout the life is a characteristic feature of EV. The interaction among potentially oncogenic HPV genotypes, ultraviolet radiation, altered immunity, and genetic factors will lead to the development of nonmelanoma skin cancers in 30%–60% of cases. Although there is lifelong increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the association with hematological or solid malignancies is rare. Literature search shows very few isolated reports of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, astrocytoma, thymoma, adenocarcinoma intestine, and leiomyosarcoma in patients with EV. Herein, we report a case of EV with an uncommon occurrence of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. EBV-associated squamous cell carcinoma carries increased number of viral proteins and this may play role in cell immortalization, chromosomal destabilization, and activation of telomerase. The development of lymphoma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis may be due to the defect in immune system and due to the oncogenic potential of the virus. These point to the importance of regular long-term follow-up of EV patients for the possible cutaneous and extracutaneous malignancy.


This study was done to investigate the possibility of semi-centralized design curriculum in the province of human resources. In this research, descriptive method was used. The study was conducted in the province center and 30 specialists, experts, teachers and professors of different disciplines related to the curriculum were purposefully selected. Brass determine sample size, were used from heterogeneous sampling method and collect data from Czech list and semi-structured interviews. The results show that, given the standards organization for research and educational programs in the province, the number of human resources for curriculum development is concentrated to half; But in terms of awareness, familiarity level professionals exploring the four elements: goals, content, teaching methods and evaluation examined the results of the analysis were obtained from interviews, field goals, content, good background information there are among professionals, but to set goals and design a curriculum guide that is necessary in these increase. But in terms of teaching methods and evaluation of academic achievement, excellent information between experts, teachers and professionals in determining these elements in there that is quite possible. In general, according to experts participated in the study, the specific situation of variability of climate causes decentralization be applied of curricula. To overcome the defects, training and faculty can be used in universities.


"Do you know" and "Do you remember" (DYK/R) questions explicitly ask whether one knows or remembers some information while implicitly asking for that information. This study examined how 4- to 9-year-old (N = 104) children testifying in child sexual abuse cases responded to DYK/R wh- (who, what, where, why, how, and which) and yes/no questions. When asked DYK/R questions containing an implicit wh- question requesting information, children often provided unelaborated "yes" responses. Attorneys' follow-up questions suggested that children usually misunderstood the pragmatics of the questions. When DYK/R questions contained an implicit yes/no question, unelaborated "yes" or "no" responses could be responding to the explicit or the implicit questions resulting in referentially ambiguous responses. Children often provided referentially ambiguous responses and attorneys usually failed to disambiguate children's answers. Although pragmatic failure following DYK/R wh- questions decreased with age, the likelihood of referential ambiguity following DYK/R yes/no questions did not. The results highlight the risks of serious miscommunications caused by pragmatic misunderstanding and referential ambiguity when children testify.


The last decade has seen an explosive growth in the generation and collection of data. In the field of data mining there are various techniques are used to extract useful information from the data set. There is various estimation techniques are used in clustering methods out of these Euclidean distance and density is used for estimation. Out of these estimation techniques one another technique mass is also used. Mass based clustering gives better performance when apply with PCA technique in multidimensional and high dimensional data set. On the basis of run time behaviour the DEMassDBSCAN algorithm is better than DBSCAN clustering algorithm is discussed.


Studies comparing the efficacy of combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy to single treatment (i.e., either psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy alone) for major depression have not found consistent differences in outcome, resulting in a range of conclusions regarding the efficacy of combined treatment. In order to clarify the efficacy of combined treatment for depression, the authors conducted both a meta-analytic and qualitative review. Our findings suggest that combined treatment is associated with a small improvement in efficacy, and that this finding appears consistent across studies. Trends in the literature suggest that adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication may be particularly efficacious among chronic or severely depressed patients. Further, adding cognitive-behavioral therapy to medication may be particularly efficacious in preventing relapse, particularly among individuals discontinuing medication use. The authors propose an illness-cognition model for better understanding outcomes in combined treatment.


Australian mungbean production is increasing, with the main cropping area in Queensland. The Australian Mungbean Association (AMA) has a strategic goal to increase the annual production from ~ 80 000 + t to 170 000 t by 2019. The bulk of production is exported, achieving high average prices (over $1000/t) in recent years. With the current price premium for mungbeans, gross margins compare very favourably to other summer crops. Given the benefits of including pulses in diets, and legumes in crop rotations, it is important to develop more reliable and higher yielding varieties to grow the industry.

While recently released DAF mungbean varieties have markedly improved grain yields compared to previous varieties, the best varieties still yield considerably less than other major summer legumes. It is important to identify the factors limiting production, identify sources of adaptation, and incorporate desirable traits into new varieties. A multidisciplinary approach to integrate an improved understanding of plant physiology with innovative breeding methodologies could be useful to deliver benefits to pulse growers and industry in Queensland.

This scoping study, conducted as an internally–funded innovation project in DAF, proposes that with a better understanding of crop physiology improved mungbean types could be developed. For example, new varieties that attain high leaf area early, that direct maximum resources to developing grain after flowering, and that ripen pods more uniformly, are likely to show higher yield potential. Superior varieties are also likely to exhibit improved plant architecture and be better adapted to key abiotic stresses such as drought and/or heat. Some plant physiology work has been undertaken as part of the current mungbean breeding program, but dedicated research in this area is limited.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is the main external funder of Australian pulse research, usually with substantial co-funding from host research agencies. The current scoping project has identified potential for physiology research to increase mungbean productivity. However, for a small crop like mungbean, with production centred in Queensland, it will be difficult to attract external funding until the utility of the concept can be demonstrated. A new mungbean physiology research effort will likely require initial funding support from DAF. Increasing research investment in a small crop like mungbean needs to be judiciously targeted to address issues of concern to stakeholders, ensuring appropriate returns on investment and to maximise gains. .


This thesis examines the implications of econometric estimation of energy demand in three separate empirical chapters. In particular; the issues addressed are: (i) the extent in which inappropriate modelling techniques could impact energy demand estimates, (ii) the relationship between energy demand estimates and carbon emissions and (iii) the relationship between the decomposition of derived energy input and carbon emissions. The research begins with the estimation of industrial energy demand across 29 European countries over the period 1995 2009 using both the generalised method of moments (GMM) and the dynamic multilevel model (DMM) that accounts for the hierarchical structure of the data used. The main results indicate that the long run income and price elasticities of the standard dynamic model, that is, the GMM, which does not account for the hierarchical structure of the data used, are overestimated.
The second empirical chapter carries out an exploratory investigation on the impact of energy demand elasticities on carbon emissions across Chinese sectors. The study allows for a structural change by dividing the period under consideration into period before (1995 2001) and after (2002 2009) China s accession to WTO. This chapter estimates/demonstrates how to compute a range of elasticities by estimating a translog model, and then examines the impact of these elasticities on industrial carbon intensity. Findings suggest that there is a moderately negative relationship between energy substitution and carbon emissions, more especially after the structural change.
The third chapter combines the first two chapters into a single study by adopting a two-stage procedure to measure the implications of inappropriate energy modelling technique/energy demand estimates on carbon emissions. The study is based on industry level data across Europe over the period 1995 2007. Firstly, the study decomposed energy estimates into substitution and output effects with a multilevel model and iterated seemingly unrelated regression (iSUR). The second stage examines the impact of the decomposition effects with other competing forces on carbon emissions. Findings reveal that the substitution effect dominates the output effect and is inversely related to the carbon emissions. For the output effect, the results derived from both techniques differ, as the output effect from the iSUR show a positive sign; however, the output effects from the multilevel model show a negative relationship with carbon emissions, which is more consistent with the ideal practice of a cost minimising firm.


Abstract In 1999 V. Arnol'd introduced the local contact algebra: studying the problem of classification of singular curves in a contact space, he showed the existence of the ghost of the contact structure (invariants which are not related to the induced structure on the curve). Our main result implies that the only reason for existence of the local contact algebra and the ghost is the difference between the geometric and (defined in this paper) algebraic restriction of a 1-form to a singular submanifold. We prove that a germ of any subset $N$ of a contact manifold is well defined, up to contactomorphisms, by the algebraic restriction to $N$ of the contact structure. This is a generalization of the Darboux-Givental' theorem for smooth submanifolds of a contact manifold. Studying the difference between the geometric and the algebraic restrictions gives a powerful tool for classification of stratified submanifolds of a contact manifold. This is illustrated by complete solution of three classification problems, including a simple explanation of V. Arnold's results and further classification results for singular curves in a contact space. We also prove several results on the external geometry of a singular submanifold $N$ in terms of the algebraic restriction of the contact structure to $N$ . In particular, the algebraic restriction is zero if and only if $N$ is contained in a smooth Legendrian submanifold of $M$ .


Epidemiologic studies of fibromyalgia have so far been based on rheumatologic and general practice settings, which are poor proxies for the underlying population. The study is based on a national health interview survey carried out by the Danish Institute for Clinical Epidemiology in 1990/91 on approx. 6000 randomly selected Danish citizens. For this study 1219 subjects from the eastern part of Denmark aged 18 to 79 years were asked about widespread muscle pain. One-hundred-and-twenty-three persons fulfilled the screening criteria. Clinical examination could be performed on 65 persons (53%). Eight subjects, all female, met the 1990 American College of Rheumatism criteria for fibromyalgia. Dropouts were regarded as not having fibromyalgia. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the Danish population between 18 and 79 years of age was found to be a minimum estimate of 0.66% (95% confidence limits 0.28%-1.29%).


Why has the Eurozone ended up with an unemployment rate more than twice that of the United States more than six years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers? Why did the vast majority of low- and middle-income countries suffer a prolonged economic slowdown in the last two decades of the 20th century? What was the role of the International Monetary Fund in these economic failures? Why was Latin America able to achieve substantial poverty reduction in the 21st century after more than two decades without any progress? Failed analyzes these questions, explaining why these important economic developments of recent years have been widely misunderstood and in some cases almost completely ignored. First, in the Eurozone, Mark Weisbrot argues that the European authorities' political agenda, which included shrinking the welfare state, reducing health care, pension, and other social spending, and reducing the bargaining power of labor played a very important role in prolonging the Eurozone's financial crisis and pushing it into years of recession and mass unemployment. This conclusion is based not only on public statements of European officials, but also on thousands of pages of documentation from consultations between the IMF and European governments after 2008. The second central theme of Failed is that there are always practical alternatives to prolonged economic failure. Drawing on the history of other financial crises, recessions, and recoveries, Weisbrot argues that regardless of initial conditions, there have been and remain economically feasible choices for governments of the Eurozone to greatly reduce unemployment-including the hardest hit, crisis-ridden country of Greece. The long-term economic failure of developing countries, its social consequences, as well as the subsequent recovery in the first decade of the 21st century, constitute the third part of the book's narrative, one that has previously gotten too little attention. We see why the International Monetary Fund has lost influence in middle income countries. Failed also examines the economic causes and consequences of Latin America's "second independence" and rebound in the twenty-first century, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. Available in OSO:


In September 2016, the Quebec government announced its intention to reform the Civil Code of Quebec to recognize and further regulate surrogate motherhood. Quebec's Minister of Justice indicated that in bringing forward these changes, the government will consider recommendations provided in a 2015 report by the Comite consultatif sur le droit de la famille (the Comite). This article explores the history, objectives, and effects of Quebec's current legal responses to surrogacy and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Comite's proposed reforms. It argues that while the report's proposals would better support and protect surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy than Quebec's current regime, the Comite's recommendations do not adequately account for intended parents' interests or recognize diverse family forms. It recommends that the Quebec government look to British Columbia's Family Law Act and Ontario's Children's Law Reform Act for further inspiration for how to re-imagine Quebec's surrogacy laws.


Abstract. This paper describes the calibration process for the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV) Version 8.6 (V8.6) ozone data product. Eight SBUV instruments have flown on NASA and NOAA satellites since 1970, and a continuous data record is available since November 1978. The accuracy of ozone trends determined from these data depends on the calibration and long-term characterization of each instrument. V8.6 calibration adjustments are determined at the radiance level, and do not rely on comparison of retrieved ozone products with other instruments. The primary SBUV instrument characterization is based on prelaunch laboratory tests and dedicated on-orbit calibration measurements. We supplement these results with "soft" calibration techniques using carefully chosen subsets of radiance data and information from the retrieval algorithm output to validate each instrument's calibration. The estimated long-term uncertainty in albedo is approximately ±0.8–1.2% (1σ) for most of the instruments. The overlap between these instruments and the Shuttle SBUV (SSBUV) data allows us to intercalibrate the SBUV instruments to produce a coherent V8.6 data set covering more than 32 yr. The estimated long-term uncertainty in albedo is less than 3% over this period.


It can be shown that present usage of amplitude modulation does not permit the inherent capabilities of the modulation process to be realized. In order to achieve the ultimate performance of which AM is capable synchronous or coherent detection techniques must be used at the receiver and carrier suppression must be employed at the transmitter. When a performance comparison is made between a synchronous AM system and a single-sideband system it is shown that many of the advantages normally attributed to single sideband no longer exist. SSB has no power advantage over the synchronous AM (DSB) system and SSB is shown to be more susceptible to jamming. The performance of the two systems with regard to multipath or selective fading conditions is also discussed. The DSB system shows a decided advantage over SSB with regard to system complexity, especially at the transmitter. The bandwidth saving of SSB over DSB is considered and it is shown that factors other than signal bandwidth must be considered. The number of usable channels is not necessarilydoubled by the use of SSB and in many practical situations no increase in the number of usable channels results from the use of SSB. The transmitting and receiving equipment which has been developed under Air Force sponsorship is discussed. The receiving system design involves a local oscillator phase-control system which derives carrier phase information from the sidebands alone and does not require the use of a pilot carrier or synchronizing tone.


Gender Articulated is a groundbreaking work of sociolinguistics that forges new connections between language-related fields and feminist theory. Refuting apolitical, essentialist perspectives on language and gender, the essays presented here examine a range of cultures, languages and settings. They explicitly connect feminist theory to language research. Some of the most distinguished scholars working in the field of language and gender today discuss such topics as Japanese women's appropriation of "men's language," the literary representation of lesbian discourse, the silencing of women on the Internet, cultural mediation and Spanish use at New Mexican weddings and the uses of silence in the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings.


Heavy metal contamination of soil resulting from sewage irrigation is a cause of serious concern due to the potential health impacts of consuming contaminated products. In this study an assessment made of the impact of sewage irrigation on heavy metal contamination of Spinach, Cabbage, Beetroot, Reddish, Okra, Tomato, and Cucumber is widely cultivated and consumed in urban India, particularly by the poor. A field study was conducted at seven major sites that were irrigated by either treated, (Dhandupura) or untreated wastewater in the suburban areas of Agra, India. Samples of irrigation water, soil, and the edible portion of all the vegetables were collected monthly during the winter seasons and were analyzed for Fe, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb. Heavy metals in irrigation water were below the internationally recom- mended (WHO) maximum permissible limits set for agricultural use for all heavy metals except Cd at all the sites. Similarly, the mean heavy metal concentrations in soil were below the Indian standards for all heavy metals, but the maximum value of Cd recorded during January was higher than the standard. However, in the edible portion of spinach, the Cd concentration was higher than the permissible limits of the Indian standard during summer, whereas Pb concentrations were higher in winter seasons. Results of correlation analysis were computed to assess the relationship between individual heavy metal concentration in the vegetable samples. The study concludes that the use of treated and untreated wastewater for irrigation has increased the contamination of Cd, Pb in edible portion of vegetables causing potential health risk in the long term from this practice. The study also points to the fact that adherence to standards for heavy metal contamination of soil and irrigation water does not ensure safe food. Fe was measured abundant in soil whereas Pb and Cd were found more in untreated sites as compared to treated site. Correlation, paired T-test and ANOVA were also carried out for pre post harvested soil and vegetables.


Using an original dataset of over 1,000,000 patents and empirical methods, we find that the patent system perpetuates inequalities between powerful and upstart firms. When faced with growing numbers of patents in a field, upstart inventors reduce research and development expenditures, while those already holding many patents increase their innovation efforts. This phenomenon affords entrenched firms disproportionate opportunities to innovate as well as utilize the resulting patents to create barriers to entry (e.g., licensing costs or potential litigation). A hallmark of this type of behavior is securing large patent holdings to create competitive advantages associated with the size of the portfolio, regardless of the value of the underlying patents. Indeed, this strategy relies on quantity, not quality. Using a variety of models, we first find evidence that this strategy is commonplace in innovative markets. Our analysis then determines that innovation suffers when firms amass many low-value patents to exclude upstart inventors. From these results, we not only provide answers to a contentious debate about the effects of strategic patenting, but also suggest remedial policies to foster competition and innovation.


The cohort of mission-driven organizations – institutions infused with social value – has grown from tens to tens of thousands. As more socially responsible organizations emerge, emphasis is increasingly placed on evaluating their impact. This study will instead shift the discussion from evaluation to organizing for prosocial good, answering the questions: how are organizations structured to create social good, and how can the odds of social impact be improved? My aim is to expand the current state of organizational scholarship surrounding social initiative implementation on an organizational level. To assist quantitative researchers in their assessment of social impact efforts, I built a qualitative typology revealing how social impact is modeled implicitly into the internal missions of organizations and their theories of how they can change the world. I then carried out two investigations to focus my research questions. First, I conducted a literature review to gain insights into the field and related disciplines. Next, I created a qualitative interview guide and conducted interviews with nineteen practitioners in the field representing a mixed sample of diverse profit structures and a variety of industries. Data analysis from these investigations yields an informed discussion on impact evaluation. Similarly, I created two broad categories – internal and external scaling – that explain how organizations are structured to create social good. Organizations using internal scaling to drive impact are likely to engage in organization-specific mission framing, asset priming, and internalization of stakeholdercentered decision making processes. Organizations using external scaling to drive impact are likely to act as movement leaders, leverage partners as impact vehicles, and allow partners to leverage their resources as well. By discussing evaluation, internal scaling, and external scaling in mission-driven organizations, I aim to reduce ambiguity on how organizations create social value and advocate for social mission management.


We studied the structural and morphological evolution of Rh clusters on an ordered ultrathin alumina film grown on NiAl(100) in annealing processes, under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and with various surface probe techniques. The Rh clusters, prepared on vapor deposition of Rh onto the alumina film at 300 K, had an fcc phase and grew in the (100) orientation; the annealing altered the cluster structure little—the lattice parameter decreased by a factor <2%—but the cluster morphology significantly. With elevated temperature, small clusters (diameter ≤1.5 nm) decreased little in size; in contrast, large clusters (diameter ≥2.0 nm) varied in a complex manner—their mean diameter decreased to about 1.5 nm on annealing to 450 K, despite their similar height, while it increased to above 2.0 nm at temperature ≥570 K. This atypical decrease in size was governed predominantly by energetics. Such a reduced size enhanced the total surface area as well as the reactivity of the clusters toward methanol decomposition, so increased the production of D2 (H2) and CO from decomposed methanol-d4 (or methanol). The result implies a higher temperature tolerance for Rh clusters on the alumina film and a practical approach to prepare small Rh clusters with high reactivity.


In the cerebellar cortex, forms of both long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) can be observed at parallel fibre (PF) - Purkinje cell (PC) synapses. A presynaptic variant of cerebellar LTP can be evoked in PCs by raised frequency stimulation (RFS) of parallel fibre at 4-16Hz for 15s. This form of LTP is dependent on protein kinase A (PKA) and nitric oxide (NO), and can spread to distant synapses. Application of an extracellular NO scavenger, cPTIO, was found to prevent the spread of LTP to distant PF synapses in rat cerebellar slices. G-substrate may be an important mediator of the NO-dependent pathway for LTD. 8-16Hz RFS of PFs without a high concentration of calcium chelator in the postsynaptic cell evokes LTD. In cerebellar slices from wild-type and transgenic, G-substrate knockout mice, 8Hz RFS was applied to PFs, with a low concentration of postsynaptic calcium chelator. In PCs from wild-type mice, LTD predominated, whereas in those from transgenic mice LTP predominated. The ascending axon (AA) segment of the granule cell axon forms synapses with PCs as well as the PF segment. PPF and fluctuation analysis of EPSCs in rat PCs confirmed that the release sites of AA synapses have a greater probability of transmitter release than PF synapses. Furthermore, AA release sites have greater mean quantal amplitude than PF synapses, which is not due to a different type of postsynaptic receptor. AA synapses were found to have limited capacity to undergo the presynaptic variant of LTP, and were potentiated less than PF synapses in the presence of the PKA activator, forskolin. AA synapses also did not undergo the postsynaptic form of LTP, nor LTD induced by conjunctive stimulation of climbing fibre and PF.


Sedimentary strata related with ophiolites commonly represent high interest for tectonostratigraphic reconstructions. Upper Cretaceous Perapedhi Formation represents lowermost part of sedimentary cover of Troodos Ophiolite Complex, and consists of umbers (sediments enriched by iron and manganese) and cherts with total thickness ranging from few meters up to nearly 50 m. These sediments are characterized only by radiolarians that still need detailed study. Best section of Perapedhi Formation is known in the former Mangaleni quarry, Limassol District. Three lithological units can be distinguished in this section: 1 – dark-brown massive umbers (2-20 m), 2 – intercalation of brown umbers and brown radiolarian cherts (610 m), 3 – pink ribbon cherts (up to 6 m). All units are characterized by abundant wellpreserved radiolarian assemblages. According to stratigraphic distribution of radiolarian taxa the following radiolarian zones and subzones can be distinguished in this section: 1. Alievium superbum Zone, Turonian, Theocoronium subtriquetrus Subzone. First occurrences (FO) of Pseudodictyomitra sp. A and Theocampe cypraea Bragina (middle part of unit 1). 2-3. Alievium praegallowayi Zone, Coniacian, subdivided into: 2. Multastrum regale Subzone, FO of Archaeospongoprunum bipartitum Pessagno, Annikaella omanensis De Wever (middle part of unit 1 – lower part of unit 2); 3. Microsciadiocapsa quasisutterensis  Subzone, FO of: Lipmanium (?) ovalum Bragina (lower part of unit 2). 4-7. Alievium gallowayi Zone, Santonian – Lowermost Campanian, subdivided to: 4. Quinquecapsularia sp. A Subzone, FO of Theocampe urna (Foreman) (lower – middle part of unit 2); 5. Dorypyle sp. A Subzone, FO of Acanthocircus sp. A, Dictyodedalus sp. A (middle – upper part of unit 2); 6. Multastrum mangaleniense Subzone, FO of Amphipyndax sp. ex gr. A. pseudoconulus (Pessagno) (lower part of unit 3); 7. Bisphaerocephalina (?) amazon Subzone, FO of Dorypyle sp. B, Neosciadiocapsa urquharti Bragina, Theocampe salillum Foreman (middle part of unit 3). 8. Crucella espartoensis Zone. FO of Dictyomitra koslovae Foreman subsp. B, Heliocryptocapsa sp. B (upper part of unit 3). Therefore the total stratigraphic range of this section is Turonian – Lowermost Campanian Another section of Perapedhi Formation was studied near Perapedhi Village, Central Cyprus. It is represented by umbers with recrystallized chert bodies and rare layers of pink padiolarian cherts with total thickness 10 m. These strata yield radiolarian assemblage of Subzone 6 only (Multastrum mangaleniense). Therefore, the deposition of metalliferous sediments of Perapedhi Formation was diachronous. In the Mangaleni Section it starts in the Turonian, but in the Perapedhi Section it was considerably later (Santonian). This phenomenon can be interpreted as result of deposition of Perapedhi Formation in isolated small depressions of Troodos Ophiolite Complex that was completely formed in Turonian.


Interprofessional education (IPE) for medical students is becoming increasingly important, as reflected in the increasing number of medical schools adopting IPE. However, the current status of and barriers to pre-registration IPE implementation in Japanese medical schools remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the status and barriers of IPE implementation in medical schools in Japan. We conducted a curriculum survey from September to December 2016 of all 81 medical schools in Japan. We mailed the questionnaire and asked the schools' undergraduate education staff to respond. The survey items were the IPE implementation status and barriers to program implementation. Sixty-four of the 81 schools responded (response rate 79.0%), of which 46 (71.9%) had implemented IPE, 42 (89.1%) as compulsory programs. Half of IPE programs were implemented in the first 2 years, while less than 10% were implemented in the latter years of medical programs. As part of the IPE programs, medical students collaborated with a wide range of professional student groups. The most common learning strategy was lectures. However, one-third of IPE programs used didactic lectures without interaction between multi-professional students. The most common perceived major barrier to implementing IPE was adjustment of the academic calendar and schedule (82.8%), followed by insufficient staff numbers (73.4%). Our findings indicate that IPE is being promoted in undergraduate education at medical schools in Japan. IPE programs differed according to the circumstances of each school. Barriers to IPE may be resolved by improving learning methods, introducing group discussions between multi-professional students in lectures or introducing IPE programs using team-based learning. In summary, we demonstrated the current status and barriers of IPE implementation in Japanese medical schools. Our findings will likely lead to the promotion of IPE programs in Japan.


This study presents a description and comparative analysis of Middle Pleistocene permanent and deciduous teeth from the site of Qesem Cave (Israel). All of the human fossils are assigned to the Acheulo-Yabrudian Cultural Complex (AYCC) of the late Lower Paleolithic. The Middle Pleistocene age of the Qesem teeth (400-200 ka) places them chronologically earlier than the bulk of fossil hominin specimens previously known from southwest Asia. Three permanent mandibular teeth (C(1) -P(4) ) were found in close proximity in the lower part of the stratigraphic sequence. The small metric dimensions of the crowns indicate a considerable degree of dental reduction although the roots are long and robust. In contrast, three isolated permanent maxillary teeth (I(2) , C(1) , and M(3) ) and two isolated deciduous teeth that were found within the upper part of the sequence are much larger and show some plesiomorphous traits similar to those of the Skhul/Qafzeh specimens. Although none of the Qesem teeth shows a suite of Neanderthal characters, a few traits may suggest some affinities with members of the Neanderthal evolutionary lineage. However, the balance of the evidence suggests a closer similarity with the Skhul/Qafzeh dental material, although many of these resemblances likely represent plesiomorphous features.


In Italy, over the past fifteen years, modern, or second generation roundabouts have become very popular. On these roundabouts, entering vehicles must yield to vehicles already within the circle. This modern design provides for much higher capacity of operation. Although first implemented in the UK in the 1960s, it took twenty years for the second generation to begin to spread to other European countries. Between 1987 and 2002, in particular, Germany, France and Switzerland conducted research that led to standards techniques that, along with English ones, now comprise the major technical references. The causes of the delay in implementation are uncertain and the subject of much speculation. The United States has only recently begun implementation, as it was not until the 1998 version did a chapter on roundabouts appear in the Highway Capacity Manual (developed further in the 2000 edition). In Italy, the first standards were proposed for the 1993 New Road Code, but it was not until 2004 that the standards were passed through national legislation. However, these codes are approximate and inadequate, and lack elementary technical foundations (see for instance Art. 4.5 of D.M. 19/04/2006, no.1699). A quick calculation for 4 legs and 60 meters diameter is sufficient to demonstrate its failure and infeasibility. The design of a roundabout, like that of any other road element, should be based on principles of safety, and should be deployed in a systemic context that combines geometric characteristics to meet capacity requirements – the perception of road space is also important. When designing a roundabout, the engineer should consider simultaneously both safety factors and capacity. But in addition to using geometric standards, formulas and models, aspects of perception and visual appeal should be considered.


Background: Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM) may experience an increased risk of cancer; however, it is not certain whether this effect is due to diabetes per se. Objective: To examine the association between DM and cancers by a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA guidelines. Data Sources: The systematic literature search includes Medline at PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, Bibliotek.dk, Cochrane library, Web of Science and SveMed+ with the search terms: "Diabetes mellitus", "Neoplasms", and "Risk of cancer". Study Eligibility Criteria: The included studies compared the risk of cancer in diabetic patients versus non-diabetic patients. All types of observational study designs were included. Results: Diabetes patients were at a substantially increased risk of liver (RR=2.1), and pancreas (RR=2.2) cancer. Modestly elevated significant risks were also found for ovary (RR=1.2), breast (RR=1.1), cervix (RR=1.3), endometrial (RR=1.4), several digestive tract (RR=1.1-1.5), kidney (RR=1.4), and bladder cancer (RR=1.1). The findings were similar for men and women, and unrelated to study design. Meta-regression analyses showed limited effect modification of body mass index, and possible effect modification of age, gender, with some influence of study characteristics (population source, cancer- and diabetes ascertainment). Limitations: Publication bias seemed to be present. Only published data were used in the analyses. Conclusions: The systematic review and meta-analysis confirm the previous results of increased cancer risk in diabetes and extend this to additional cancer sites. Physicians in contact with patients with diabetes should be aware that diabetes patients are at an increased risk of cancer.


Client-centred music therapy with individual pre-school children, involving playful but focused songs, behaviours and instrumental play, can enhance their speech and expressive language development. Four constructs were inductively created using the principles of grounded theory to represent how music therapy was used to support speech and expressive language development for pre-school children with special needs. Secondary analysis was undertaken of qualitative data drawn from usual clinical practice including clinical notes, reflective journal, audiovisual recordings, and notes from communications regarding two children from a student music therapist's caseload at a specialist centre in New Zealand. A case vignette is presented to illustrate these four meaningful constructs of individual music therapy and concepts that constitute each are presented, along with sample quotations from the data, and are theoretically integrated within wider music therapy literature. A tree model was used to capture these findings, which further suggested 'playfulness' may be a central aspect of the work. Implications for my developing and future clinical practice of music therapy are discussed, along with directions indicated for future research.


Conventional dual phase (DP) steel (0.08C-0.81Si-1.47Mn-0.03Al wt. %) was manufactured using simulated strip casting schedule in laboratory. The average grain size of prior austenite was 117±44 μm. The continuous cooling transformation diagram was obtained. The microstructures having polygonal ferrite in the range of 40-90 %, martensite with small amount of bainite and Widmanstätten ferrite were observed, leading to an ultimate tensile strength in the range of 461 – 623 MPa and a corresponding total elongation in the range of 0.31 – 0.10. All samples exhibited three strain hardening stages. The predominant fracture mode of the studied steel was ductile, with the presence of some isolated cleavage facets, the number of which increased with an increase in martensite fraction. Compared to those of hot rolled DP steels, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are lower due to large ferrite grain size, coarse martensite area and Widmanstätten ferrite.


Background: Previous research strongly suggests that ethnic minority groups are more likely to suffer a poorer health profile compared with the overall population, although it is not clear whether these inequalities persist over generations. This study aimed to establish the degree to which ethnic inequalities in health are transmitted from the first to the second generation, and to determine the extent to which intergenerational changes in socioeconomic status and health behaviours might explain any variation that exists. Methods: Data from the 1999 and 2004 Health Surveys for England assessed the prevalence of fair/poor general health across first (n = 4492) and second (n = 5729) generations of six ethnic minority populations. A white population was selected as reference (n = 18 407). The risk of fair/poor general health was estimated by applying logistic regression models and stepwise inclusion of demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural variables. Generational movement relative to the white baseline was assessed for all ethnic groups adjusted for age and sex. Results: No significant differences in levels of reported fair/poor general health were observed between generations. After adjusting for improved socioeconomic position, the second generation became more likely to report worse health, whereas adjusting for differences in health behaviours had no effect. The Bangladeshi population showed significant intergenerational improvement in general health relative to the white reference, showing a reduction in the odds ratio (95% CI) from 2.75 (2.14 to 3.56) for the first generation to 1.58 (1.17 to 2.13) in the second generation. Conclusion: Ethnic minorities in England report consistent rates of fair/poor general health across generations, despite the health benefits resulting from upward social mobility. These health inequalities are unaffected by changes in health behaviours. Understanding these intergenerational pathways will have important public health policy implications as the migrant population not only ages, but also reproduces.


The reestablishment of riparian forest is often viewed as "best management practice" for restoring stream ecosystems to a quasi‐natural state and preventing non‐point source contaminants from entering them. We experimentally assessed seedling survivorship and growth of Quercus palustris (pin oak), Q. rubra (red oak), Q. alba (white oak), Betula nigra (river birch), and Acer rubrum (red maple) in response to root‐stock type (bare root vs. containerized), herbivore protection (tree shelters), and weed control (herbicide, mowing, tree mats) over a 4‐year period at two riparian sites near the Chester River in Maryland, U.S.A. We started with tree‐stocking densities of 988/ha (400/ac) in the experimental plots and considered 50% survivorship (i.e., a density of 494/ha [200/ac] at crown closure) to be an "acceptable or minimum" target for riparian restoration. Results after four growing seasons show no significant difference in survivorship and growth between bare‐root and containerized seedlings when averaged across all species and treatments. Overall survivorship and growth was significantly higher for sheltered versus unsheltered seedlings (49% and 77.6 cm vs. 12.1% and 3.6 cm, respectively) when averaged across all species and weed control treatments. Each of the five test species exhibited significantly higher 4‐year growth with shelter protection when averaged across all other treatments, and all species but river birch had significantly higher survivorship in shelters during the period. Seedlings protected from weeds by herbicide exhibited significantly higher survivorship and growth than seedlings in all other weed‐control treatments when averaged across all species and shelter treatments. The highest 4‐year levels of survivorship/growth, when averaged across all species, was associated with seedlings protected by shelters and herbicide (88.8%/125.7cm) and by shelters and weed mats (57.5%/73.5 cm). Thus, only plots where seedlings were assisted by a combination of tree shelters and either herbicide or tree mats exhibited an "acceptable or minimum" rate of survivorship (i.e.,>50%) for riparian forest restoration in the region. Moreover, the combined growth and survivorship data suggest that crown closure over most small streams in need of restoration in the region can be achieved most rapidly (i.e., 15 years or less) by protecting seedlings with tree shelters and controlling competing vegetation with herbicides.


PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women problem gamblers, focusing on the meaning of gambling to them, how and why these women continue to gamble or stop gambling, and their needs and concerns. In order to effectively help women problem gamblers, practical in-depth knowledge is necessary to develop intervention programs for prevention, treatment, and recovery among women problem gamblers.

METHODS
The hermeneutic phenomenology approach was used to guide in-depth interviews and team interpretation of data. Sixteen women gamblers who chose to live in the casino area were recruited through snowball sampling with help from a counseling center. Participants were individually interviewed from February to April 2013 and asked to tell their stories of gambling. Transcribed interviews provided data for interpretive analysis.

RESULTS
In the study analysis one constitutive pattern was identified: moving beyond addiction by recognizing the two faces of gambling in their life. Four related themes emerged in the analysis-gambling as alluring; gambling as 'ugly'; living in contradictions; and moving beyond.

CONCLUSION
Loneliness and isolation play a critical role in gambling experiences of women gamblers in Korea. In other words, they are motivated to gamble in order to escape from loneliness, to stop gambling for fear of being lonely as they get older, and to stay in the casnio area so as not to be alone. The need for acceptance is one fo the important factors that should be considered in developing intervention program for women.


Visiting in ICU have always been quite restricted and limited. This restriction and separation from family on one side and encountering an unknown environment and fear of the unknown increases the fear on the other side. It will turn into a crisis for the patient and his family and causes severe concern and turmoil for them. However, there is no reason to restrict visitings in the ICU nowadays and the effectiveness of such visitings has become quite clear. The majority of therapeutic institutes still have a restricted visiting system. The present research seeks to study the obstacles to establishing a free visiting system according to health service providers from four aspects of attitude, knowledge, physical obstacles and cultural obstacles. This is a qualitative and descriptive research with three groups of participants including nurses, doctors and managers working in the subordinating hospitals of Iranian Medical Sciences University. Cluster sampling method was used for hospitals and simple random sampling was used in the ICU of hospitals while convenient sampling method was used for doctors and nurses in each unit. The last group included all the managers of that hospital. Each group answered a questionnaire with 40 questions designed in Likert scale whose validity and credibility was quite clear. Then, the resulting information was analyzed using SPSS16.0/win. the total number of participants from 21 hospitals and 86 units was 1008 people. The average age of the participants was 35 years old and some 66.7 % of them were female. The average working period in ICU was 60.47 months. Shortage of space and lack of separate beds were among the most important physical obstacles while unawareness of the procedure of disease and failing to control the emotions were among the most important cultural obstacles. Considering the negative attitude of the personnel and their limited awareness of the advantages of free visitings, training them and increasing their awareness of the advantages of free visitings are the most important strategies to change their attitude and make them accept this innovation. Considering the negative attitude of therapeutic personnel and their limited awareness of the advantages of free visitings, training them and enhancing their awareness of the advantages of free visitings are the most important strategies which can be utilized to change their attitude and make them accept innovations.


We analyze interannual variation in zooplankton biomass in the southwestern Barents Sea in spring (May) and summer (June‐July) 1959–1993. Using a threshold modeling approach, we quantify spatial, climatic, and across‐season autoregressive effects under contrasting regimes of low and high densities of planktivorous fish (capelin and herring). Main findings: (1) zooplankton biomass is mainly influenced by capelin feeding, first in the offshore parts of the western Barents Sea in spring and subsequently farther east and north in summer, whereas direct effects of herring are quantitatively less important; (2) effects of climate are stronger during the zooplankton increase phase in spring than in summer and are better predicted using the North Atlantic Oscillation index than using reconstructed sea surface temperature and Atlantic water influx; (3) regional anomalies in zooplankton biomass persist from spring to summer but not from summer to the subsequent spring, indicating that the observed fluctuations have little effect on next year's dynamics; and (4) effects of climatic variation and planktivorous fish interact: climatic (and autoregressive) effects are mainly evident when and where the effect of feeding is weak. Zooplankton dynamics thus appear to be under shifting top‐down and climatic control, the relative importance of the two processes varying spatially, seasonally, and interannually.


The changing of omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the food supply of Western societies occurred over the last 150 years is thought to promote the pathogenesis of many inflammatory-related diseases, including depressive disorders. Several epidemiological studies reported a significant inverse correlation between intake of oily fish and depression or bipolar disorders. Studies conducted specifically on the association between omega-3 intake and depression reported contrasting results, suggesting that the preventive role of omega-3 PUFA may depend also on other factors, such as overall diet quality and the social environment. Accordingly, tertiary prevention with omega-3 PUFA supplement in depressed patients has reached greater effectiveness during the last recent years, although definitive statements on their use in depression therapy cannot be yet freely asserted. Among the biological properties of omega-3 PUFA, their anti-inflammatory effects and their important role on the structural changing of the brain should be taken into account to better understand the possible pathway through which they can be effective both in preventing or treating depression. However, the problem of how to correct the inadequate supply of omega-3 PUFA in the Westernized countries' diet is a priority in order to set food and health policies and also dietary recommendations for individuals and population groups.


Delarivier Manley has long been discussed as a sensational and successful Tory political satirist of the early eighteenth century. In the late seventeenth century, however, she associated with Whigs, experimented with genres, and tested different techniques for marketing her texts. Mimicking the methods of celebrity actresses, Manley used paratextual addresses to engage public interest in a carefully curated identity, creating a commodity in her persona that she would employ throughout her career. This paper traces her developing persona in her first three publications: Letters Writen by Mrs. Manley, The Lost Lover, and The Royal Mischief. Although these texts are not explicitly political satire, they nevertheless explicate the preliminary and halting machinations of an astute businesswoman and the marketing tactics Manley would employ throughout her career. The result is a more complete and nuanced picture of Manley's commercial authorship.


The proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and differentiation of enteroblasts to form mature enteroendocrine cells and enterocytes in the Drosophila intestinal epithelium must be tightly regulated to maintain homeostasis. We show that genetic modulation of CyclinD/ Cdk4 activity or mTOR-dependent signalling cell-autonomously regulates enterocyte growth, which influences ISC proliferation and enteroblast differentiation. Increased enterocyte growth results in higher numbers of ISCs and defective enterocyte growth reduces ISC abundance and proliferation in the midgut. Adult midguts deficient for Cdk4 show severe disruption of intestinal homeostasis characterised by decreased ISC self-renewal, enteroblast differentiation defects and low enteroendocrine cell and enterocyte numbers. The ISC/ enteroblast phenotypes result from a combination of cell autonomous and non-autonomous requirements for Cdk4 function. One nonautonomous consequence of Cdk4-dependent deficient enterocyte growth is high expression of Delta in ISCs and Delta retention in enteroblasts.Wepostulate that aberrantactivationof the Delta–Notch pathway is a possible partial cause of lost ISC stemness. These results support the idea that enterocytes contribute to a putative stem cell niche that maintains intestinal homeostasis in the Drosophila anterior midgut.


Objectives
Epidemiologic evidence suggests consuming tomato and lycopene are associated with a reduced risk of advanced and lethal prostate cancer. Prior studies of prostate cancer prevention in the TRAMP mouse model indicate that lifelong tomato- or lycopene-feeding reduce incidence of early carcinoma by up to 70%, and this effect is dependent on the expression of Bco2 (beta-carotene oxygenase 2, a carotenoid metabolic enzyme). We hypothesize that gene expression patterns will reveal the mechanisms by which these diets act to disrupt early carcinogenesis.

Methods
To define the early transcriptional responses in the dorsolateral mouse prostate, TRAMP and wild-type littermate mice were crossed with Bco2+/+ or Bco2-/- mice (C57/Bl6 background). All 4 crosses were fed either control, lycopene, or 10% tomato powder diets from weaning at 3 weeks until 8 weeks. Expression of 84 genes was measured by a prostate cancer-focused PCR array (n = 5/group). Protein expression was measured by Western blotting (n = 4/group) and serum carotenoids by HPLC (n = 3-4/group). Statistical effects of TRAMP and Bco2 genotypes and diet treatment on final body mass (n = 6/group), serum lycopene, and gene expression were analyzed by ANOVA (alpha = 0.05).

Results
Body masses were not influenced by genotypes or diets. Serum lycopene concentrations were subject to a Bco2 genotype effect (P = 0.004), with greater lycopene being present in Bco2-/- mice than Bco2 +/+mice, but did not differ by TRAMP genotype nor between lycopene vs tomato diets. The TRAMP genotype influenced the expression of 49 genes, diet impacted expression of 11 genes, and Bco2 genotype influenced expression of 2 genes. Expression of 4 genes, Apc, Mto1, Nfkb1, and Rbm39, were subject to a significant Bco2 x diet interaction. Expression of 5 genes related to lipid metabolism, Fasn, Acaca, Srebf1, Hmgcr, and Ptgs1, were impacted by a diet effect.

Conclusions
Semi-targeted analyses suggest tomato and lycopene may affect lipid metabolism in early carcinogenesis. Future studies may elaborate upon specific pathways modulated by tomato and lycopene in early prostate carcinogenesis.

Funding Sources
NIH/National Cancer Institute, NIH/National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, USDA/Agricultural Research Service.


Lipid oxidation is currently one of the greatest economic problems facing the meat industry. It is one of the main causes of deterioration in the quality of meat and meat products during their storage and processing. Meat oxidation causes discoloration, the development of off-flavour, the formation of toxic compounds, reduced shelf life and nutrient losses. Meat becomes susceptible to oxidative deterioration due to high concentrations of unsaturated lipids, haem pigments, metal catalysts and a range of oxidising agents contained in the muscle tissue. Autoxidation is of the greatest significance. This takes place in three stages – initiation, propagation and termination. A large variety of volatiles, including alkanes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters and carboxylic acids, arise from this process. The aim of this study is to summarise current knowledge about the effect of lipid oxidation on the quality of meat and meat products and the use of natural antioxidants which are becoming increasingly important. Lipids, meat, oxidation,rancidity


This paper aims to study the determinants of innovation activity of small and medium-sized enterprises in five small post-Soviet countries. Empirical analysis is based on the data from the fifth wave of the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey. Innovation of SMEs is measured with five innovation practices. For each aspect of innovation probit model is applied. Estimation results shows that experience of managers has curvilinear effect on the innovation in SMEs. Moreover, foreign participation, export orientation and competitiveness in sectors are indicated as important condition for innovation by SMEs. Competition forces firms to innovate in order to survive, while openness of the economy provides with exporting opportunities and participation of the foreign capital. Especially the latter factor may significantly reduce costs of innovation through technological transformation from abroad.