National sporting organisations such as the AFL invest significant resources into establishing talent identification (TID) and talent development models to ensure the future success of their sport. The process usually involves predicting player potential through subjective assessments of game performances in combination with objective inputs inclusive of physical fitness testing, movement ability assessments, and match activity profiles. However, elite sporting performance is the product of a player's ability to overcome and master the dynamic interactions between organismic, task, and environmental constraints that may impede or facilitate physical fitness and skill development. Organismic constraints such as growth, maturity, and learning stages of individual players can all influence physical fitness, movement ability, and match activity profiles. Specific environmental constraints include differences in game play, skill level, game rules and policies, and field sizes. Task constraints are the limitations imposed by a set task, for example; the goals and rules of AFL, the sporting actions required, and the physical fitness qualities needed for high-level match performance. Of particular interest is the as relative age effect (RAE), a selection bias among players of differing skill and maturity levels caused when adolescent players are grouped into annual age-grouped teams. The extent to which these constraints contribute to variations in physical fitness and match activity between levels of junior AF competition is unclear. This thesis investigates the interactions between physical fitness characteristics, the RAE, and match activity profiles across multiple levels of the AFL participation pathway, and the subsequent implications for player TID and development.
The first study was a systematic review examining physical fitness measures of players across the AFL participation pathway levels to quantify longitudinal changes observed in physical fitness characteristics. Only studies examining physical fitness tests were included, with 27 meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Sprint time (20-m) was the most reported test across the AFL participation pathway, followed by vertical jump (VJ), AFL agility, and 20-m multi-stage fitness test (MSFT). The fastest times for 20-m sprint were for elite AFL players (range 2.94 – 3.13 s), with local level players the slowest (3.22 – 4.06 s). State Junior Under (U) 18s had higher jumps than senior players; with the lowest jumps reported for Local U10s (range 31- 66 cm). Interestingly, no elite-level data were reported for the AFL agility or 20-m MSFT, with AFL agility times only reported for talent pathway levels (8.17 – 9.12 s). However, 20-m MSFT scores were reported across the junior levels of the AFL participation pathway (6.1 – 13.5 shuttles). Talent squad players exhibit similar test scores between competition levels irrespective of the physical fitness test, with the exception of 20-m sprint and VJ. It was suggested that physical tests can discriminate between local participation level players, but are less useful within the AFL talent pathway.
Study II examined the influence of age-policy changes on the RAE across the AFL talent pathway. The study design was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of junior AFL players attending the annual National Draft, State, and State U16 combines between 1999 and 2016. Birth-date data was obtained for players attending the AFL State U16 (n = 663), State (n = 803), National (n = 1111) combines, with comparisons made against corresponding aged-matched Australian general population birth-rates. Specifically, Under 16s and State players had greater birth frequencies (2% to 4.9%, p < 0.05) for earlier months in the selection year. Age-policy changes at the National level reduced birth distribution bias for some months; however the RAE remained for other months (March 3.9%, June 6.1%, and July 4.3%, p ≤ 0.05). State U16s and National players had 2- 9% lower birth frequencies for the later months in the selection year compared general population. It seems that selection bias towards older players is instigated at the AFL's State U16, and maintained through to the State and National levels, with age-policy changes only partially successful at addressing the RAE at the National level.
Study III investigated the levels of association between physical fitness and match activity profiles of players within the AFL participation pathway. A total of 287 players across seven pathway levels were assessed on the 20-m sprint, AFL agility, VJ and running VJ, 20-m MSFT, and Athletic Abilities Assessment (AAA). Match activity profiles were obtained from global positioning system (GPS) measures; relative speed, maximal velocity, and relative high speed running (HSR). Correlational analyses revealed moderate relationships between sprint and jump test scores and match activity profiles in Local U12, Local U14, National U16 and National U18s (r = 0.32-0.78, p ≤ 0.05), but not jump tests in National U18s. AFL agility time was moderate-to-strongly associated with all match activity measures in Local U12, Local U14, Local U18, and National U16s (r = 0.37-0.87, p ≤ 0.05), and with relative speed in Local U18s (r = 0.84, p ≤ 0.05). Relative speed and HSR were moderate-to-strongly associated with 20-m MSFT in Local U14, Local U18, and National U18s, and AAA score in Local U12, and Local U18s (r = 0.41-0.95, p ≤ 0.05). Match activity profile demands increased between Local U12 and National U16s, then plateaued across the talent pathway levels. Physical fitness seemed to relate more strongly to match activity profiles in younger adolescent and National level players', therefore recruiters should consider the dynamic changes physical changes between AFL participation pathway levels.
The final study examined the utility of physical fitness and movement ability tests in differentiating and classifying players into specific AFL participation pathway levels. Players (n = 293) completed the same physical fitness tests battery as Study III; 5-m, 10-m and 20-m sprint, AFL agility, VJ, running VJ, 20-m MSFT, and AAA. A multivariate analysis of variance between AFL participation pathway levels for each test was conducted, and a non-linear analysis (classification tree) determined the extent players could be allocated to relevant levels. The magnitude of the difference between physical fitness and movement ability was age-level dependent, with the largest standardised effects between Local U12, Local U14s, and older levels for most physical fitness tests (Effect Size (ES): -4.24 to 4.65). The 20-m, 5-m, AFL agility, 20-m MSFT, overhead squat, and running VJ (right) all contributed substantially to the classification model, with over half of the players accurately classified into the appropriate AFL participation pathway levels (57%). The National U16 players were most accurately classified based these tests (87%); however, no National U18 players were classified. Talent selectors should consider differences in physical fitness and movement ability patterns between players when selecting players into the talent pathway; however other contextual factors (i.e., skills, psychological, and socio-cultural factors) are needed to establish a multi-component TID model in older levels of the talent pathway.
Physical development differences between players, age-grouped competition levels, and talent levels reported in these studies should be considered in the planning, implementation, and review of AFL development programs. Establishing associations between common physical fitness and movement ability tests used for TID in AFL and match activity profiles allows coaches and talent selectors to make more informed player selection decisions. Also, non-linear modelling facilitates TID decisions as it can highlight under or over-performing players; flagging them to selectors for further investigation of other contextual factors influencing a player's potential. Future studies should focus on including more areas that encompass TID and development (i.e., skills, psychological, and socio-economic attributes) to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactions that determine a player's success at an elite level. This research is not limited to AFL, with the methods used having the potential to provide more informed TID and development processes across other sports.


Biomarker analyses indicate that at least two petroleum systems operate in the Vienna basin, Carpathian thrust belt and the European foreland plate in Moravia--one associated with Jurassic and the other with Palaeogene organic-rich rocks. Four oils from the sub-Carpathian foreland plate and one sample from the Vienna basin were analysed and geochemically compared to extracts from Jurassic and Palaeogene source rocks. Two oils from the subthrust foreland plate Lubna-18 and Dolni Lomna-1) are genetically related based on similar geochemical compositions. These oils show high oleanane and 24-nordiacholestane ratios, age-related biomarker ratios that are consistent with an origin from Palaeogene organic-rich rocks. These rocks are inferred to be either the Menilitic shales of the Carpathian thrust belt or autochthonous Palaeogene deposits buried below the thrust belt. Two other oils from the subthrust plate (Zdanice-7 and Damborice-16 correlate geochemically with extracts from Jurassic source rocks in the Sedlec-1 and Nemcicky-1 wells. Like the oil extracts, these oils lack oleanane and show low 24-nordiacholestane ratios, supporting an origin from Jurassic organic-rich marls. The oil sample from the Vienna basin (Tynec-34) appears to be a mixture of the two oil groups.


The E-core transverse flux machine (ETFM) has major advantages with its different and unique structure in conventional electrical machines. It is a combination of transverse flux and reluctance principle. In this work, support vector regression machines (SVRMs) are used to obtain the magnetic characteristic parameters of the ETFM for the first time and it is compared with its artificial neural network model. The data for the training and testing of the SVRMs are obtained from experimental measurements. It is proven that SVRMs can conveniently be used in the modeling of the magnetic behaviors of highly nonlinear ETFM with better accuracy and efficiency.


The widespread use of cryptography is a necessary consequence of the information revolution. With the coming of electronic communications on computer networks, people need a way to ensure that conversations and transactions remain confidential. Cryptography provides a solution to this problem, but it has spawned a heated policy debate. Some government agencies want to restrict the use of data encryption because they fear that criminals and spies may use the technology to their own advantage.However, Encryption Techniques so far has both advantages and disadvantages to the society and issues about abuse required a formalized policy.


Abstract Increasingly global features have created new defining descriptions of borders outside the traditional notion of 'geography' or 'natural' border characteristics. But within the context of these new defining features emerge border problems similar to those experienced by geographically adjacent territories. The fresh concept of a Jamaica – Britain border is defined by differences between the economy of the former as a developing state and that of the latter as a developed state. This defining characteristic fosters the two main border problems, illegal immigration and drug trafficking, via lucrative opportunities for a better life and huge profits from drug sales. As a far more dominant border problem, drug trafficking has connected Jamaica and Britain in a drug producing and consumption web. The problematic nature of this connection has heralded bilateral efforts to curb drug trafficking across the Jamaica – Britain border. The result has been the strengthening of a Jamaica – Britain focus on border problems, particularly on drug trafficking but also on illegal immigration matters in terms of their connection to drug trafficking. This article analyses the basis for a Jamaica – Britain border. Within that context it examines the problems affecting this border. It demonstrates that Jamaican – British agreements have proven beneficial in curbing border problems across the Jamaica – Britain border region.


Experimentation has been carried out with additive Diethyl Ether (DEE) and Mahua biodiesel in diesel engines to replace convectional fuels. This idea is being floated with the objective that low temperature combustion can be maintained and thereby reducing the NOx emission. Biodiesel application reduces other emissions substantially, but for NOx. This is because of the reason that Tran esterified vegetable oil contains oxygen in its molecular structure. DEE possesses different properties altogether with higher Cetane number, lesser auto ignition temperature etc., may show the way for smoother start of combustion at lower atmospheric temperatures also. In this study DEE mixed with the Mahua methyl ester (MME) at different proportion such as 3%, 5% 10% and tested at different loads on diesel engine. Emission levels are decreased substantially with 15% DEE blend with MME at full load. The thermal efficiency rise and SFC are better in the case of 15% additive blend.


Backgrounds: Asthma co-mobidity is known to be associated with a poor prognosis for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Systemic and topical glucocorticosteroid has been proved to be effective for recurrent nasal polyps after surgery.
Methods: We evaluated the steroid responsiveness and bacterial culture in 42 patients with CRSwNP associated with asthma during postoperative follow-up.
Results: Seventeen patients controlled by topical glucocorticosteroid therapy did not require systemic glucocorticosteroids (non-users). The remaining 25 patients showed recurrence of nasal polyps in spite of basal medication of topical corticosteroids and required oral corticosteroids. Eight patients were considered to be steroid non-responders. On the other hand, 17 patients responded to a short-term intake of oral corticosteroids (steroid responders). There was a statistically significant difference in the detection rate of pathogens from the sinus during acute exacerbations between steroid responders and non-users of steroids. There was a significant difference in symptomatic scores only between steroid non-responders and non-users of steroids, whereas the other parameters showed no significant differences.
Conclusion: Bacterial infection plays a critical role in recurrent polyps and refractory symptoms as well as in the poor response to glucocorticosteroids during postoperative followup. Keywords: Chronic


Intention of this research is to know how student activity, creativity, and complete learn student in SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Malang at study of mathematics by use of model study Student Teams Achivement Division ( STAD) with approach of Scrambel.
Research which is represent descriptive qualitative research. As for subyek in this research is student class VIII A SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Malang. Research executed on 18 - 29 May 2009.
Instrument the used is test of think divergen, tes result of learning, and observation. This data research analysis use of percentage to measure activity, creativity and complete learn student. Pursuant to result of research indicate that (a) student creativity one class achiev mean 66.60 %, while student creativity level individually, obtained 6.25 % student which is creativity very good.
Then 28.125 % student categorized its creativity goodness. While student counted 53.125 % student categorized to have good enough creativity and 12.5 % student categorized to have creativity less, (b) research observation in research indicate that student activity in one class during good enough research, namely equal to 66.92 %. Percentage of highest activity is activity listen presentation items equal to 80.46 %. While percentage of highest from some meeting of moment applied model study of Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) with approach of Scrambel is 70.65 %, (c) Complete persentase of result learn student during study use model study of Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) with approach of Scrambel by clasical is
87.5 %.


The exceptionally strong 1996 year class of plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. at the Balgzand in the western Dutch Wadden Sea offered the opportunity to study whether such a strong year class is generated and determined only during the pelagic stage, or also in the juvenile stage. This was done by comparing the 1996 year class with other years (1993 to 1999), including a weak year class (1995). Larval immigration in 1996 was delayed by about 1 mo, compared to 1995. A significant relationship existed between reconstructed water temperature during developmental drift and the abundance of settling larvae. Estimation of the hatch date distribution of the larvae by means of otolith microstructure analysis showed that in 1996 the settling flatfish mainly originated from eggs hatched in February and March, while in the weak 1995 year class the larvae originated from eggs hatched in January and February. Mortality during the first months after settlement was density-dependent; however, in 1996 this relationship broke down and mortality was much lower than expected. After the severe winter of 1995-96, predatory crustaceans were absent in the nursery and as a consequence the already extremely strong year class of 1996 passed through this period of mortality relatively unharmed. These results confirmed earlier observations that when an extremely strong year class is generated after a very cold winter, the regulative mechanism of density-dependent predation in the nursery-which normally dampens interannual variability in abundance-may fail due to low abundance of predatory crustaceans.


Abstract. The Rapid Access Ice Drill (RAID) is designed for subsurface scientific investigations in Antarctica. Its objectives are to drill rapidly through ice, to core samples of the transition zone and bedrock, and to leave behind a borehole observatory. These objectives required the engineering and fabrication of an entirely new drilling system that included a modified mining-style coring rig, a unique fluid circulation system, a rod skid, a power unit, and a workshop with areas for the storage of supplies and consumables. An important milestone in fabrication of the RAID was the construction of a North American Test (NAT) facility where we were able to test drilling and fluid processing functions in an environment that is as close as possible to that expected in Antarctica. Our criteria for site selection was that the area should be cold during the winter months, be located in an area of low heat flow, and be at relatively high elevation. We selected a site for the facility near Bear Lake, Utah, USA. The general design of the NAT well (NAT-1) started with a 27.3 cm (10.75 in.) outer casing cemented in a 152 m deep hole. Within that casing, we hung a 14 cm (5.5 in.) casing string, and, within that casing, a column of ice was formed. The annulus between the 14 and 27.3 cm casings provided the path for circulation of a refrigerant. After in-depth study, we chose to use liquid CO2 to cool the hole. In order to minimize the likelihood of the casing splitting due to the volume increase associated with freezing water, the hole was first cooled and then ice was formed in increments from the bottom upward. First, ice cubes were placed in the inner liner and then water was added. Using this method, a column of ice was incrementally prepared for drilling tests. The drilling tests successfully demonstrated the functioning of the RAID system. Reproducing such a facility for testing of other ice drilling systems could be advantageous to other research programs in the future.


Malaria is disease which is affecting millions of people and it is generally detected by examining the Red Blood Corpuscles (RBC) manually using microscope. However, the manual microscopic approach is time consuming, and lack of experts in the rural area, makes diagnosis of malaria very challenging one. The reported image processing approch extent the modern digital facilities to address the demand of automation, by developing a computerised facility for the detection of malaria using image processing technique. And this technological development could be a significant part of a modern digital telepathology. Proposed technology helps diagnose through the digital slide. Here the screening of microscopic images of a blood sample is achieved with color image processing approach that involves Red blood corpuscles (RBC) Segmentation, color space conversion, segmentation of the parasite, feature extraction and classification of malarial sample. The presented work detects plasmodium parasites from leishman stained microscopic blood images which in turn support pathologists for faster diagnosis. Neural network and rule based classifiers were used for the classification of blood images. The images belonging to malarial and non-malarial classes.


A SOUNDVIEW EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BEST BUSINESS BOOK Accountability is one of the biggest challenges business leaders face, but it can also be one of the most important factors leading to success. This groundbreaking book explains why and how. Top business consultant and speaker Greg Bustin has dedicated a career to working with CEOs and the leadership teams of companies on this crucial topic. Over the last five years, he has interviewed and surveyed more than 3,200 executives around the world--from such admired companies as Marriott, Container Store, Ernst & Young, Sony, Herman Miller, Nucor, and Southwest Airlines--tounderstand how high-performing corporations successfully create and sustain a culture of purpose, trust, and fulfillment. Along the way, Bustin developed a set of leadership tools that will increase accountability and drive success for any type of organization. Accountability will transform the way you manage,maintain, and motivate yourself, your team, and, ultimately, your workforce. As a business leader's guide to the best practices to turn longterm vision into reality, it introduces the Seven Pillars of Accountability and shows how each pillar is a crucial part of effective leadership: Character Unity Learning Tracking Urgency Reputation Evolution Lack of accountability is the single greatest obstaclefacing even the most experienced leaders. It saps morale, drains profits, and disenfranchises employees--and it can shift your team into crisis mode on a daily basis. Greg Bustin shares his own stories, including what he learned the hard way: if you are not clear about everything--vision, values, objectives, strategy, rewards, and penalties--the likelihood of achieving your goals is slim.Bustin has tapped the experience of the senior leadersof the world's most respected organizations, and he shares their stories and advice in this book. Accountability offers powerful concepts and practical examples you can apply in your organizationalong with provocative questions and useful exercises to help you create a high-performance culture in your workplace. It's a must-read for anyone who wants practical, actionable steps to build and grow a thriving business.


We report on the development and testing of a compact laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) system. The system combines optical trapping and near-infrared Raman spectroscopy for manipulation and identification of single biological cells in solution. A low-power diode laser at 785 nm was used for both trapping and excitation for Raman spectroscopy of the suspended microscopic particles. The design of the LTRS system provides high sensitivity and permits real-time spectroscopic measurements of the biological sample. The system was calibrated by use of polystyrene microbeads and tested on living blood cells and on both living and dead yeast cells. As expected, different images and Raman spectra were observed for the different cells. The LTRS system may provide a valuable tool for the study of fundamental cellular processes and the diagnosis of cellular disorders.


Two appetitive conditioning experiments with rats investigated the mechanisms and properties of unblocking that results from the surprising omission of an expected post-trial unconditioned stimulus (US). Experiment 1 demonstrated unblocking under circumstances in which differences in the contribution of generalization decrement and within-compound associations are equated across experimental and control groups. Following Stage 1 training in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) A was followed by a US and a post-trial US, in Experiment 2 we arranged for the post-trial US to be present on some trials with AX but not others. Under these circumstances an enhancement of unblocking to X was observed, relative to a group who received standard unblocking by US omission. The implications of these results for attentional and US-processing theories of associative learning are discussed.


PURPOSE
This study was undertaken to determine patterns and outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy use in a population-based cohort of older women with primary breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Women were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare-linked database who met the following criteria: age > or = 65 years, stage I to III breast cancer, and diagnosis between 1991 and 1999. Adjuvant chemotherapy use was ascertained by Common Procedural Terminology J codes. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with chemotherapy use. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard of death for women with and without chemotherapy.

RESULTS
A total of 41,390 women met study criteria, of whom 4,500 (10.9%) received chemotherapy. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy more than doubled during the 1990s, from 7.4% in 1991 to 16.3% in 1999 (P < .0001), with a significant shift toward anthracycline use. Women who were younger, white, with lower comorbidity scores, more advanced stage disease, and estrogen receptor (ER) -negative disease were significantly more likely to receive chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was not associated with improved survival among women with lymph node-negative (LN) disease or LN-positive, ER-positive disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.31). However, among women with LN-positive, ER-negative breast cancer, chemotherapy was associated with a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.96). A similar significant benefit of chemotherapy was seen in the subset of women age 70 years or older (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.97).

CONCLUSION
In this observational cohort, chemotherapy was associated with a significant reduction in mortality among older women with ER-negative, LN-positive breast cancer.


Does the war-making/state-making thesis, most associated with Charles Tilly, apply in the developing world If so, how? This essay reviews the bellicist literature and offers an explanation for variation in state capacity among the most war-prone states in the developing world. We investigate the influence of war on state strength in two countries, Afghanistan and Vietnam. We examine three hypothesized causal mechanisms about how war contributes to state formation: raising money, building armies, and making nations. We find that war in Vietnam contributed to state-building, while war in Afghanistan has been state-destroying. There appear to be two main factors that contributed to state-making in Vietnam that were absent in Afghanistan: the existence of a core ethnic group that had served as the basis for a relatively long-standing political community in the past, and the combination of war and revolution, which inspired state officials and facilitated the promulgation of a unifying national ideology. Of these two factors, comparative data suggest relative ethnic homogeneity is the most important. Absent these specific conditions, war is more likely to break than make states in the contemporary Third World.


Unlocking Colon Cancer with Key of Prevention Study finds that patients who took 400 milligrams of Celebrex® once daily significantly reduced their incidence of potentially pre-malignant colorectal polyps. An international team of scientists reports that a single 400-milligram daily dose of celecoxib, commonly called Celebrex® and manufactured by Pfizer, significantly reduced recurrence of adenomas, or pre-malignant colon tumors - within three years of previous adenoma removal. The New England Journal of Medicine on August 31, 2006 published findings from the Prevention of Spontaneous Adenomatous Polyps (PreSAP) study, involving more than 1,550 participants at 107 sites in 32 countries on six continents. The study was led by Nadir Arber, M.D., chair of the Integrated Cancer Prevention Center and professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Bernard Levin, M.D., vice president of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Celecoxib 400 mg once daily significantly reduced colorectal adenoma occurrence, with a greater effect on advanced adenomas," said Arber. As excess amounts of the protein cyclooxygenase (COX-2) are associated with adenomas and coloncancer, PreSAP researchers studied celecoxib - a selective COX-2 inhibitor - to prevent the pre-cancerous lesions. "There is no doubt that celecoxib is an effective agent in reducing the size and occurrence of adenomas in patients with higher risks for colorectal cancer," said Levin. In the placebo-controlled, double-blind PreSAP trial, study leaders randomly assigned participants to receive either a single 400-mg dose of celecoxib (approximately 930 subjects) or a placebo (nearly 630 subjects). Subjects received colonoscopies after one and three years to detect potential pre-malignant tumors andtheir sizes, as well the overall adenoma burdens for participants. All polyps were removed and examined by study pathologists. At the conclusion of the trial, the cumulative adenoma rate for the celecoxib study group was 33.6 percent, while the cumulative rate of adenoma development in the placebo group was 49.3 percent (a 36 percent reduction). Celecoxib administration was associated with a 50 percent reduction in larger, potentially more dangerous adenomas. "Unlike the recent Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) trial, we did not find a statistically significant increase in cardiovascular risk associated with the use of 400 mg of celecoxib once daily," said Levin. "That said, because of the significant cardiac side effects seen in the APC study, further cardiovascular research on the use of all anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Celebrex®, Aleve® and Motrin®, as chemoprevention tools iswarranted. "Low dose aspirin also has been shown to reduce adenoma formation in individuals with a prior history of polyps and has the potential to decrease cardiovascular disease risk," said Levin. "However, its use is associated with an increased risk of upper-gastrointestinal bleeding and stroke." The three-year APC study, with more than 2,000 participants, sought to reduce adenoma size and occurrence through the use of celecoxib. In the study, APC researchers administered celecoxib twice daily at either 200 mg or 400 mg doses. The study showed that the drug nearly doubled cardiovascular risk to participants. "While our findings are exciting in that they suggest great potential for reducing adenoma formation in patients with high risk for colorectal cancer, we've scratched the surface with the PreSAP trial," said Levin. "Until theseimpressive prevention results are realized with lessened cardiovascular risk, we cannot advise celecoxib routinely as a tool for colon cancer prevention. Once daily dosing may provide an important insight into ways to diminish the untoward cardiovascular effects of celecoxib." Levin has served as a consultant for Pfizer, which provided grant support for the PreSAP trial. These arrangements are managed by MD Anderson in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.


This article seeks to understand the demands of the security sector in Latin America, in the context of reforms promoted by international aid agencies in the region. The hypothesis of this study is that international aid programs focused on Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Latin America have been generic, and have overlooked recipient countries' own reform agendas. Latin American perspectives on SSR have been inferred from Organization of American States (OAS) documents. Information on international assistance for SSR programs was [...]


The support vector machine (SVM) is a widely used tool in classification problems. The SVM trains a classifier by solving an optimization problem to decide which instances of the training data set are support vectors, which are the necessarily informative instances to form the SVM classifier. Since support vectors are intact tuples taken from the training data set, releasing the SVM classifier for public use or shipping the SVM classifier to clients will disclose the private content of support vectors. This violates the privacy-preserving requirements for some legal or commercial reasons. The problem is that the classifier learned by the SVM inherently violates the privacy. This privacy violation problem will restrict the applicability of the SVM. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been work extending the notion of privacy preservation to tackle this inherent privacy violation problem of the SVM classifier. In this paper, we exploit this privacy violation problem, and propose an approach to postprocess the SVM classifier to transform it to a privacy-preserving classifier which does not disclose the private content of support vectors. The postprocessed SVM classifier without exposing the private content of training data is called Privacy-Preserving SVM Classifier (abbreviated as PPSVC). The PPSVC is designed for the commonly used Gaussian kernel function. It precisely approximates the decision function of the Gaussian kernel SVM classifier without exposing the sensitive attribute values possessed by support vectors. By applying the PPSVC, the SVM classifier is able to be publicly released while preserving privacy. We prove that the PPSVC is robust against adversarial attacks. The experiments on real data sets show that the classification accuracy of the PPSVC is comparable to the original SVM classifier.


Boron carbide-aromatic composites, formed by plasma-enhanced co-deposition of carboranes and aromatic precursors, present enhanced electron-hole separation as neutron detector. This is achieved by aromatic coordination to the carborane icosahedra and results in improved neutron detection efficiency. Photoemission (XPS) and FTIR suggest that chemical bonding between B atoms in icosahedra and aromatic contents with preservation of π system during plasma process. XPS, UPS, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometery (VASE) demonstrate that for orthocarborane/pyridine and orthocarborane/aniline films, states near the valence band maximum are aromatic in character, while states near the conduction band minimum include those of either carborane or aromatic character. Thus, excitation across the band gap results in electrons and holes on carboranes and aromatics, respectively. Further such aromatic-carborane interaction dramatically shrinks the indirect band gap from 3 eV (PECVD orthocarborane) to ~ 1.6 eV (PECVD orthocarborane/pyridine) to ~1.0 eV (PECVD orthocarborane/aniline), with little variation in such properties with aromatic/orthocarborane stoichiometry. The narrowed band gap indicate the potential for greatly enhanced charge generation relative to PECVD orthocarborane films, as confirmed by zero-bias neutron voltaic studies. The results indicate that the enhanced electron-hole separation and band gap narrowing observed for aromatic/orthocarborane films relative to PECVD orthocarborane, has significant potential for a range of applications, including neutron detection, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Grant No.HDTRA1-14-1-0041). James Hilfiker is also gratefully acknowledged for stimulating discussions.


ABSTRACT Outcrop data derived from fieldwork, remote sensing satellite and LiDAR-derived 3D models were used to build an integrated dual porosity-permeability static reservoir model which captured stratigraphic, diagenetic and structural heterogeneities. The study focuses upon the Mishrif-Mauddud/Sarvak interval, one of the most prolific reservoir units in the Middle East. The study area is exceptionally well exposed in deep gorges which cut transversally across anticlines of the Simply Folded Belt of the Zagros Mountains. The outcrops reveal volumetrically significant dolomitization of the latest Albian to Turonian carbonates of the Lower and Upper Sarvak formations. Three different dolomite bodies, which are spatially connected and genetically linked to the same fluid flow event, were recognized and mapped: (1) a thick dolomite body replacing the Lower Sarvak and forming a massive dolomite core; (2) horizontally extensive stratabound dolomite bodies (sheets), emanating laterally from the massive dolomite; and (3) vertically elongated dolomite pipes, rooted in the massive dolomite and typically replacing slope facies of the Upper Sarvak Formation. The widespread development of tight, non-planar dolomite textures (a typical feature of high temperature dolomitization) drastically reduces the reservoir potential of the dolomitized geobody in the study area. In particular, this is present in the massive dolomitized body. Vuggy porosity seems to increase porosity only locally and to a limited extent, developing a non-connected pore network. The dominant porous dolomite textures are more abundant in the peripheral part of the geobody (dolomite sheets), where they are strongly controlled by precursor facies and diagenesis. Three main dolomite pore types were identified (intercrystalline, interparticle and mouldic), linked to the depositional environment of the precursor limestone. These pore types were used for petrophysical modelling. The approach adopted in this study allowed the distribution of rock properties in the dolomitized geobody to mimic the main depositional facies architecture. The study area is characterized by a simple fracture network. Two main fracture sets and two major sets of conjugate normal faults were recognized in the field and mapped on 3D virtual outcrop data. Non-stratabound fracture density varied according to stratigraphic unit and/or dolomite body type (pipes/massive/sheets), showing a general increase from precursor limestone to dolomite. Fracture density also varied according to distance from faults (fault damage zone). This was particularly true in the limestone. The data also showed a prominent increase in fracture height from limestone to dolomite bodies, indicating that the dolomitized geobodies are likely sites for high production and early water breakthrough.


Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of change leadership on organizational culture and change management practices in public-sector firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also examines the mediating role of organizational culture on the interactions between leadership and change management programmes in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical test of the hypotheses using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were applied to data collected from 210 middle-management respondents of public-sector organizations in the UAE.

Findings

The findings suggest that change-oriented leadership has a positive and significant direct effect on planned change (s = 0.20, p < 0.01) and a positive and significant but indirect effect on planned change (s = 0.279, p < 0.01) and emergent change (s = 0.262, p < 0.01) change. Furthermore, hierarchical culture was found to positively and significantly impact directly on both planned (s = 0.480, p < 0.001) and emergent (s = 0.245, p < 0.01) change management in the UAE public-sector service organizations.

Practical implications

Based on the study's findings, the role of the hierarchical culture in effecting change in the UAE public-sector organizations provides new and significant insights into the research literature on organizational culture as regards change management issues and the challenges facing these organizations.

Originality/value

The study makes a significant original contribution toward knowledge on the management of organizational change in UAE public-sector service organizations. It has practical implications for managers and leaders confronting organizational change management in the UAE.


The present configuration of the Făgăras Mountains is a snapshot of the long-term evolution that brought about significant alterations of the landscape, and especially of the relief, which has acquired different features depending on the intensity of the relationship between the exogenous and endogenous agents. Relief shaping in the study area is controlled by the orographic and climatic features. However, the climate of the high and middle-height mountains is the main cause that determines the mechanism, the intensity and the spatial distribution of the shaping processes. The massiveness and the considerable height of the Făgăras Mountains, which exceed 2500 m altitude (Moldoveanu peak 2544 m, Negoiu peak 2535 m, Lespezi peak 2522 m, Vanatoarea lui Buteanu peak 2507 m, etc.), are responsible for the vertical zonation of climate and vegetation. The study area lies in the middle of the Southern Carpathians range, on the southern slope of the Făgăras Mountains (the Arges mountain catchment). The scale of investigated phenomena and the frequency of their occurrence allow us to distinguish two types of different phenomena on the basis of their geological or geomorphological origin. Each slope section was analyzed by using a series of parameters considered as being stable from the morphodynamic point of view.


During the collapse of a massive star greater than 35- 40 M ⊙ , stellar core is considered to promptly collapse to a black hole. and stellar material may fall onto the hole greater than several solar masses with extremely high accretion rates (> 1 M ⊙ s -1 ). If the star has a sufficiently high angular momentum before the collapse, an accretion disk is likely to form around the black hole. Jets are suggested to be launched from the inner region of the accretion disk near the hole through magnetic and/or neutrino processes. Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are expected to be driven by the jets. This scenario of GRBs is called the collapsar model. Recently, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations were performed of the collapse of rapidly rotating, magnetized 25 M ⊙ and 40 M ⊙ stars in light of the collapsar model of GRBs (see papers listed at the end of the paper). For assumed angular velocity distributions and the uniform magnetic fields, the collapsars are shown to eject jets driven through the magnetic pressure. The simulations are however performed up to 4 s, which are shorter than durations of long GRBs ∼ 10 s. In the present work. we have performed long-tern (∼ 10 s), two-dimensional, MHD simulations of the collapse of a rapidly totaling, magnetized 40 M ⊙ star.


Carvedilol is a widely prescribed drug for the treatment of heart failure and the prevention of associated ventricular arrhythmias. It has also been reported to function as a biological antioxidant via hydrogen atom transfer from its carbazole N-H moiety to chain-propagating radicals. Metabolites of the drug include phenolic derivatives, such as 3-hydroxy-, 4'-hydroxy- and 5'-hydroxycarvedilol, which are also potential antioxidants. A comparison of the radical-inhibiting activities of the parent drug and the three metabolites was carried out in two separate assays. In the first, hydrogen atom transfer from these four compounds to the stable radical DPPH was measured by the decrease in the UV-visible absorption at 515 nm of the latter. The known radical inhibitors BHT, 4-hydroxycarbazole and α-tocopherol were employed as benchmarks in parallel experiments. In the second assay, inhibition of the photoinduced free-radical 1,2-addition of Se-phenyl p-tolueneselenosulfonate to cyclopropylacetylene, along with competing ring-opening of the cyclopropane ring, was monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy in the presence of the carvedilol-based and benchmark antioxidants. In both assays, carvedilol displayed negligible antioxidant activity, while the three metabolites all proved superior radical inhibitors to BHT, with radical-quenching abilities in the order 3-hydroxy- > 5'-hydroxy > 4'-hydroxycarvedilol. Among the metabolites, 3-hydroxycarvedilol displayed even stronger activity in both assays than α-tocopherol, the best of the benchmark antioxidants. These results suggest that the radical-inhibiting antioxidant properties that have been attributed to carvedilol are largely or exclusively due to its metabolites and not to the parent drug itself.


Shape from texture refers to the extraction of 3D information from 2D images with irregular texture. This paper introduces a statistical framework to learn shape from texture where convex texture elements in a 2D image are represented through a point process. In a first step, the 2D image is preprocessed to generate a probability map corresponding to an estimate of the unnormalized intensity of the latent point process underlying the texture elements. The latent point process is subsequently inferred from the probability map in a non-parametric, model free manner. Finally, the 3D information is extracted from the point pattern by applying a locally scaled point process model where the local scaling function represents the deformation caused by the projection of a 3D surface onto a 2D image.


This entry distinguishes captive orcas from their wilder and freer kin. We speculate that captive orcas embody three principle metaphors: Prisoner; Activist; Martyr. These metaphors help us to imagine the kinds of rhetorical thinking necessary for a deeper understanding of the costs of human behavior as well as the potential for creating new visions and modes of witnessing. By witnessing orcas-as-prisoners, humans begin to see marine parks anew, as prisons, understanding their own complicity in the imprisonment of animal activists. Captive orca metaphors help to convey the actions of other-than-humans as rhetorically salient and politically motivated.


The effects of logging on ecosystem sustainability are controversial. Sur- prisingly, existing data are inadequate to allow a comprehensive evaluation of logging effects on biodiversity, composition, and productivity since appropriate comparisons of stands of similar ages and differing disturbance histories are rare. We addressed this issue using a study of 2000 plots in 80 southern boreal forest stands in northern Minnesota, USA, wherein we contrasted naturally regenerated aspen (Populus tremuloides), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and black spruce (Picea mariana) stands established following logging or the dominant natural disturbance, wildfire, for stands of two age classes (25-40 and 70-100 yr old). For young stands, those established postlogging had higher vascular plant diversity than those postwildfire. Otherwise, we found no evidence of differing species diversity (including canopy tree, shrub, herbaceous, and bryophyte species), composition, produc- tivity, or nitrogen cycling, in forest stands of comparable age and forest type that originated after logging compared to after wildfire. These variables, however, differed significantly among forest types, with aboveground net primary productivity and plant species diversity generally higher in aspen than jack pine stands, even when growing on comparable soils, and lowest in black spruce. Although there is evidence that logging has increased the proportional landscape dominance by aspen, a forest type with higher diversity, nutrient cycling, and productivity than other types, our evidence refutes the idea that disturbance by logging has diminished stand-scale productivity or plant diversity in comparison to the common natural disturbance, wildfire.


As a Pakeha reviewer I find it necessary to hedge this review in opposition to a couple of statements about this film which regularly crop up in reviews and commentaries. Since the film is such a brutal and explicit interrogation of violence within a Maori community, Pakeha reviewers tend to applaud the 'honesty' or 'realism' of the film, which in a way assumes this kind of violence is quite the norm for Maoris. The 'real' Maori is then homogenised as the urban Maori disenfranchised from his or her 'traditional' culture. I don't see myself in a position to declare what I consider 'real' Maori life is like, and critics who, upon viewing a single film, think they have the knowledge to articulate the Maori reality are in a very dubious position. The other common statement is that the film succeeds because it deals with, in the words of a reviewer in The Australian Financial Review, 'the taboo subjects of indigenous representation and domestic violence' (Colbert 1994: 16). Just as the term 'honesty' naturalises Maori society as violent, the term 'taboo' naturalises representation as Pakeha. Indigenous representation in this case is assumed to be of Pakehas representing Maoris, and that is why it is considered such a touchy subject. But Maoris do represent themselves every day, only it is the Pakehas who generally have the luxury to debate the politics of representation. I think part of this film's success is, rather, the ways in which it supersedes this debate by assuming that authority to speak and the control of production of texts do not rely on Pakeha humanist generosity. The film steers away from examining Pakeha representation, which, I think, exposes Pakehas as being not nearly as important in Maori cultural issues as Pakehas would like to think they are. This journal article is available in Law Text Culture: https://ro.uow.edu.au/ltc/vol2/iss1/19 LEE TAMAHORI'S ONCE WERE WARRIORS


Abstract We developed a new method to generate topographic maps of tooth crowns from X-ray synchrotron microtomographic data. Maps are drawn after cervix-plane orientation of tooth image stacks, without the need for a geographic information system. Classical topographic maps with contour lines are complemented by slope maps and angularity maps. Cartography allows precise comparisons of cusps morphologies, and quantification of the directions of cusp axis elongation and slope. Application of this method to muroid rodents with cricetine and murine dental patterns reveals clear-cut differences in cusps morphology that are indicative of the direction of the chewing movement, in agreement with wear facet analyses. Rodents with a murine dental pattern were derived from ancestors with a cricetine pattern, and their origin is associated with important changes in cusp morphology and organization. In order to understand such evolutionary change, our investigation is applied to a sample of extant and fossil muroid rodents that are characterized by either a murine dental plan or a cricetine one, or a dental pattern intermediate between those of cricetines and murines.


Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as administered in the emergency department (ED) for the treatment of patients with acute ankle injuries. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years and older with unilateral ankle sprains were randomly assigned either to an OMT study group or a control group. Independent outcome variables included edema, range of motion (ROM), and pain. Both groups received the current standard of care for ankle sprains and were instructed to return for a follow-up examination. Patients in the OMT study group also received one session of OMT from an osteopathic physician. RESULTS: Patients in the OMT study group had a statistically significant (F = 5.92, P = .02) improvement in edema and pain and a trend toward increased ROM immediately following intervention with OMT. Although at follow-up both study groups demonstrated significant improvement, patients in the OMT study group had a statistically significant improvement in ROM when compared with patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Data clearly demonstrate that a single session of OMT in the ED can have a significant effect in the management of acute ankle injuries.


Preventable behaviors contribute to many life threatening health problems. Behavior-change technologies have been deployed to modify these, but such systems typically draw on traditional behavioral theories that overlook affect. We examine the importance of emotion tracking for behavior change. First, we conducted interviews to explore how emotions influence unwanted behaviors. Next, we deployed a system intervention, in which 35 participants logged information for a self-selected, unwanted behavior (e.g., smoking or overeating) over 21 days. 16 participants engaged in standard behavior tracking using a Fact-Focused system to record objective information about goals. 19 participants used an Emotion-Focused system to record emotional consequences of behaviors. Emotion-Focused logging promoted more successful behavior change and analysis of logfiles revealed mechanisms for success: greater engagement of negative affect for unsuccessful days and increased insight were key to motivating change. We present design implications to improve behavior-change technologies with emotion tracking.


Coking wastewater contains toxic compounds such as ammonia, phenolics, cyanides, thiocyanate, and thiosulfate. In normal situation, these compounds can be 100% decomposed by activated sludge in the wastewater treatment plant. However, a new factor, high water temperature, caused by the covering of the basins, has been found to reduce the removal rate of the pollutants, especially the thiocyanate.

Several remediation measures were applied to improve the biological process performance. A series of batch and continuous-flow biodegradation tests have demonstrated that the relatively low temperature ranging from 20 to 37°C attained perfect removal efficiency (∼100%) of SCN− from the coke plant wastewater. When the temperature is increased to 38, 39°C, the SCN− removal rate decreased to 30 ∼ 50% after 48 hours of temperature shift. Moreover, when the temperature is increased to 40 to 45°C, SCN− biodegradation is significantly decayed one day after the temperature shock, and the SCN− removal efficiency dropped gradually to 0%, with microbial deterioration during day 1 to day 4. Meanwhile, the COD removal has also decreased from 85% down to 45% at 45°C. Both laboratory verifications confirmed that 40°C should be the critical water temperature for the SCN− degrading microbe to function well in the activated sludge process.

In order to stabilize the pollutant removing ability of the procedure, the water temperature of aeration basin is set to operate under 37°C. Four modifications were practiced on site to decrease the temperature of activated sludge. Only the last alternative measure worked well with the opened hand hole, 50% of total cover area, to discharge the water vapor and gas emission from the head space of aeration basin. The water temperature has dropped from 41 to 36°C in the early summer of June with ambient temperature of 37°C, suggesting that partially uncovering the basin does help maintain the water temperature.

Finally, we suggest some measures that can be applied to establish a standard process on site in order to ensure that the aeration basin temperature stays under 37°C and that our biotreatment system can maintain its function in the future.


This report is based on an initial survey of the proposals received by the DOT (now DETR) for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems on motorways. The focus of the survey is the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) of the In-Vehicle Units (IVUs). Where possible, comments are made about each unit from a human factors perspective and recommendations made for improvements in the proposed designs. A formal evaluation against a design specification cannot be undertaken at this time. As a result, comments on proposed designs are either very general or specific. The UK Code of Practice for In-Vehicle systems has been examined and no major conflicts have been found between the requirements of the Code and ETC IVUs. It is recommended that the final ETC specification should include detailed requirements for IVUs which, together with the general principles embodied in the exiting Code of Practice, will ensure that acceptable operation is attainable. The next phase of work is proposed which will involve an examination of drivers' interaction with IVUs during field trials. This, along with the evolving system requirements, will lead to a consolidation of design guidelines for future IVUs. (A) (Published on the TRL CD-ROM entitled "Research on road user charging 1995-1998"). For the covering abstract see IRRD 491340.


Anne Lamott's poignant first novel, reissued in an attractive new edition.Writer (and sometime housecleaner) Jennifer is twenty-three when her beloved father, Wallace, is diagnosed with a brain tumor. This catastrophic discovery sets off Anne Lamott's unexpectedly sweet and funny first novel, which is made dramatic not so much by Wallace's illness as by the emotional wake it sweeps under Jen and her brothers, self-contained Ben and feckless, lovable Randy. With characteristic affection and accuracy, Lamott sketches this offbeat family and their nearest and dearest as they draw ever closer in the intimacy Jen prizes "among the other estimable things: good music, good hard laughter, good sex, good industry, and good books."


Objectives: To evaluate predictive value of heart rate turbulence (HRT), deceleration capacity (DC) and microvolt T-wave alternans (mTWA) for risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) during 60 months of follow-up. Methods: We studied 111 patients after MI occurred > 60 days (27 [9; 84] months) before enrollment (84 men; mean age 64.1±10.5 years). All subjects had 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring with HRT, DC and mTWA evaluation. Follow-up period was 60 months; primary endpoint was SCD, secondary endpoint included all non-sudden cardiovascular deaths. Results: During follow-up, we registered 19 cases of SCD and 11 cases of non-sudden cardiovascular deaths (including 7 fatal MI and 3 fatal strokes). DC had high negative predictive value (97.4% for all-cause mortality and 93.7% for SCD). DC values below 4.15 for all-cause mortality and 2.0 for SCD significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (OR 8.5, 95% CI 2.9 to 24.6, р 53 mcV, which increased risk both of all-cause mortality (30.7-fold) and SCD (63.3-fold); however, at 60 months this predictive value for SCD decreased (OR = 20.8 (95% CI 2.8 to 114.0), p <0.001). Conclusion: Evaluation of HRT, DC and mTWA during 24-hour ECG monitoring may define the high risk of cardiovascular mortality and SCD in post-MI patients especially during the first 12 months after the baseline examination.


Communicating location-specific information to pedestrians is a challenging task which can be aided by user-friendly digital technologies. In this paper, landmark visibility analysis, as a means for developing more usable pedestrian navigation systems, is discussed. Using an algorithmic framework for image-based 3D analysis, this method integrates a 3D city model with identified landmarks and produces raster visibility layers for each one. This output enables an Android phone prototype application to indicate the visibility of landmarks from the user's actual position. Tested in the field, the method achieves sufficient accuracy for the context of use and improves navigation efficiency and effectiveness.


The simultaneous construction of 3 large concrete arch bridges, of which the one over the Bloukrans Gorge ranks as the 4th largest of its kind in the world, required the development of some sophisticated construction techniques and equipment; the mobilization and commissioning of no less than 5 cable cranes; and the appointment of sufficient and competent construction personnel, capable of achieving the relatively tight programme safely, profitably and to a high standard of quality and workmanship. The completion of all three bridges ahead of their tendered schedules and the subsequent accolades bestowed upon the Bloukrans Bridge in particular are evidence not only of the success of the construction process, but also of the unique relationships which developed between contractor and consultants and which had such marked effects on the end result.


The American marten Martes americana is a species of conservation concern in the northeastern United States due to widespread declines from over‐harvesting and habitat loss. Little information exists on current marten distribution and how landscape characteristics shape patterns of occupancy across the region, which could help develop effective recovery strategies. The rarity of marten and lack of historical distribution records are also problematic for region‐wide conservation planning. Expert opinion can provide a source of information for estimating species–landscape relationships and is especially useful when empirical data are sparse. We created a survey to elicit expert opinion and build a model that describes marten occupancy in the northeastern United States as a function of landscape conditions. We elicited opinions from 18 marten experts that included wildlife managers, trappers and researchers. Each expert estimated occupancy probability at 30 sites in their geographic region of expertise. We, then, fit the response data with a set of 58 models that incorporated the effects of covariates related to forest characteristics, climate, anthropogenic impacts and competition at two spatial scales (1.5 and 5 km radii), and used model selection techniques to determine the best model in the set. Three top models had strong empirical support, which we model averaged based on AIC weights. The final model included effects of five covariates at the 5‐km scale: percent canopy cover (positive), percent spruce‐fir land cover (positive), winter temperature (negative), elevation (positive) and road density (negative). A receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the model performed well based on recent occurrence records. We mapped distribution across the region and used circuit theory to estimate movement corridors between isolated core populations. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of expert‐opinion data at modeling occupancy for rare species and provide tools for planning marten recovery in the northeastern United States.


Quadrilateral remeshing approaches based on global parametrization enable many desirable mesh properties. Two of the most important ones are (1) high regularity due to explicit control over irregular vertices and (2) smooth distribution of distortion achieved by convex variational formulations. Apart from these strengths, state-of-the-art techniques suffer from limited reliability on real-world input data, i.e. the determined map might have degeneracies like (local) non-injectivities and consequently often cannot be used directly to generate a quadrilateral mesh. In this paper we propose a novel convex Mixed-Integer Quadratic Programming (MIQP) formulation which ensures by construction that the resulting map is within the class of so called Integer-Grid Maps that are guaranteed to imply a quad mesh. In order to overcome the NP-hardness of MIQP and to be able to remesh typical input geometries in acceptable time we propose two additional problem specific optimizations: a complexity reduction algorithm and singularity separating conditions. While the former decouples the dimension of the MIQP search space from the input complexity of the triangle mesh and thus is able to dramatically speed up the computation without inducing inaccuracies, the latter improves the continuous relaxation, which is crucial for the success of modern MIQP optimizers. Our experiments show that the reliability of the resulting algorithm does not only annihilate the main drawback of parametrization based quad-remeshing but moreover enables the global search for high-quality coarse quad layouts - a difficult task solely tackled by greedy methodologies before.


Morris (1996, 1997) introduced preference-based definitions of knowledge of belief in standard state-space structures. This paper extends this preference-based approach to unawareness structures (Heifetz, Meier, and Schipper, 2006, 2008). By defining unawareness and knowledge in terms of preferences over acts in unawareness structures and showing their equivalence to the epistemic notions of unawareness and knowledge, we try to build a bridge between decision theory and epistemic logic. Unawareness of an event is behaviorally characterized as the event being null and its negation being null.


We propose a novel way to induce a random field from an energy function on discrete labels. It amounts to locally injecting noise to the energy potentials, followed by finding the global minimum of the perturbed energy function. The resulting Perturb-and-MAP random fields harness the power of modern discrete energy minimization algorithms, effectively transforming them into efficient random sampling algorithms, thus extending their scope beyond the usual deterministic setting. In this fashion we can enjoy the benefits of a sound probabilistic framework, such as the ability to represent the solution uncertainty or learn model parameters from training data, while completely bypassing costly Markov-chain Monte-Carlo procedures typically associated with discrete label Gibbs Markov random fields (MRFs). We study some interesting theoretical properties of the proposed model in juxtaposition to those of Gibbs MRFs and address the issue of principled design of the perturbation process. We present experimental results in image segmentation and scene labeling that illustrate the new qualitative aspects and the potential of the proposed model for practical computer vision applications.


During the month of November, 1922, I spent some days
on King Island visiting relatives, and took what opportunity
offered to investigate the Mollusca. No really comprehensive
list of the Island's shell fauna appears to have been published.
In one of the early French expeditions in 1802 the
Naturalists Peron and Lesueur made considerable collections,
their take being worked up principally by Lamarck
and Blainville. Some of the species described by Tenison-
Woods in the seventies of last century were from the Island,
and they and others appeared in his Census which was compiled
in 1877. Some of these, however, have not been retaken
and require confirmation. The late Professor Tate
had a small parcel of King Island shells sent him by some
correspondent, and they were recorded by Tate and May
in their Revised Census, 1901. There also appeared in the
Victorian nature publication, "The Wombat," Vol. V., page
35, 1902, a fairly long list containing 135 species.
I collected at Currie Harbour, Surprise Bay, Fraser, and
near "Grassy." The first two on the West Coast, and the
others on the East.


Contrary to evidence in Khurana et al. (2006), I find that firms from financially developed economies do not have systematically smaller propensities to save out of cash flow. This new result occurs for two interrelated reasons. First, cash flow uncertainty affects saving propensities at least as much as do external finance constraints. Second, although financial development eases external finance constraints, it also contributes to greater cash flow uncertainty through more innovation and higher asset intangibility. This cross-country result holds for financially constrained firms and those with greater cash flow uncertainty. The inverse relation between financial development and saving propensities can hold only for unconstrained firms and those with lower uncertainty. Liberalization of stock markets further bolsters the results.


In each year, Iranian government provides for food subsidy in its budget. Recently, the effect of food subsidy to the households has been controversial. In this Article we use vector autoregressive method for investigating the effect of food subsidy reduction on Iranian households' calorie intake. The results show that one unit standard error reduction in food subsidy without income compensation has a considerable negative effect on calorie intake in short-run and that it takes around five years for households to adjust themselves to the new condition. But, if the negative shock of food subsidy reduction occurs with the same amount of positive income, then the effect of income increasing not only removes the negative effects of subsidy reduction, but also will have positive effect on calorie intake in short-run and long-run. Therefore, it seems that focusing on food subsidy reduction is not the best solution.


Glycoconjugates are biologically important molecules with diverse functions. They consist of carbohydrates of varying size and complexity, attached to a non-sugar moiety as a lipid or a protein. Glycoconjugate structures are often very complex and their intricate biosynthetic pathways makes overexpression difficult. This renders the isolation of pure, structurally defined compounds from natural sources cumbersome. Therefore, to better address questions in glycobiology, synthetic glycoconjugates are an appealing alternative. In addition, synthetic methods allow for the preparation of non-natural glycoconjugates that can enhance the understanding of the influence of structural features on the biological responses. In this thesis, synthetic methods for the preparation of glycoconjugates, especially glycolipid analogues, have been developed. These methods make use of solid-phase chemistry and are amenable to library synthesis of series of similar compounds. Solid-phase synthesis is a technique where the starting material of the reaction is attached to small plastic beads through a linker. This allows large excess of reagents to speed up the reactions and the sometimes difficult purifications of intermediate products are reduced to simple washings of the beads. One problem with solid-phase synthesis is the difficulties to monitor the reactions and characterize the intermediate products. Gel-phase 19 F-NMR spectroscopy, using fluorinated linkers and protecting groups, is an excellent tool to overcome this problem and to monitor solid-phase synthesis of e.g. glycoconjugates. Two novel fluorinated linkers for the attachment of carboxylic acids have been developed and are presented in the thesis. These linkers can be cleaved with both acids of varying strengths and nucleophiles like hydroxide ions, and they are stable to glycosylation conditions. In addition, a novel filter reactor for solid-phase synthesis was designed. The reactor fits into an ordinary NMR spectrometer to facilitate the reaction monitoring with gel-phase 19 F-NMR spectroscopy. The biological applications of the synthesized glycolipids were demonstrated in two different settings. The CD1d restricted binding of glycolipids carrying the monosaccharide α-GalNAc as carbohydrate could be detected on viable cells of mouse origin. CD1d is one of several antigen presenting molecules (the CD1 proteins) that presents lipids and glycolipids to circulating T-cells that in turn can initiate an immune response. The CD1 molecules are relatively sparsely investigated, and the method to measure glycolipid binding on viable cells, as described in the thesis, has the possibility to greatly enhance the knowledge of the structural requirements for CD1-binding. Serine-based neoglycolipids with terminal carboxylic acids were used to prepare glycoconjugate arrays with covalent bonds to secondary amines on microtiter plates. Carbohydrate arrays have great possibilities to simplify the study of interactions between carbohydrates and e.g. proteins and microbes. The usefulness of the glycolipid arrays constructed in the thesis was illustrated with two lectins, RCA120 from Ricinus communis and BS-1 from Bandeiraea simplicifolia. Both lectins bound to the array of neoglycolipids in agreement with their respective specificity for galactosides. Glycobiology is a large area of great interest and the methods described in this thesis can be used to answer a variety of glycoconjugaterelated biological questions.


Due to the sheer volume of text generated by a micro log site like Twitter, it is often difficult to fully understand what is being said about various topics. In an attempt to understand micro logs better, this paper compares algorithms for extractive summarization of micro log posts. We present two algorithms that produce summaries by selecting several posts from a given set. We evaluate the generated summaries by comparing them to both manually produced summaries and summaries produced by several leading traditional summarization systems. In order to shed light on the special nature of Twitter posts, we include extensive analysis of our results, some of which are unexpected.


Use of vetiver as a green technology can address African farmers' ecological problems through protecting farmlands on steep lands. In addition, it offers the opportunity to integrate smallholders into the green economy as it sequesters carbon, keep water and nutrient fluxes within the system, sustain high crop yield with climate change adaptation potentials. This is particularly important as more slopes are converted to agricultural lands due to increase in population density and poverty. Thus, the study investigated the optimal strip width for increases in soil productivity and farmers' preferences for space. The study planted maize and cassava in between vetiver field structures (VFS) installed on the contour at 5, 15 , 25 m apart and compared it with Farmers' Practice (FP) on a 45 % slope and quantified the amount of soil displaced, water and plant nutrient losses and crop yields. Vetiver installed at 5 m surface interval spacing significantly enhanced carbon sequestration indicating potentials for GHGs mitigation and reduced N, P, Ca, Mg, Na and K losses when compared with FP. Vetiver allowed only 7 % rainfall lost as against 29 % on FP this demonstrates the climate change adaptation potentials of vetiver. Soil displaced under FP was 68 times higher than the soil loss tolerance limit of 12 t ha -1 yr -1 whereas under VFS at 5, 15 and 25 m it was 2½, 13 and 12 times higher. Maize grain yield were 35, 23 and 24 % higher on the VFS field at 5, 15 and 25 m respectively when compared to FP. The corresponding values for cassava fresh tuber were 43, 32 and 29 % higher. Unlike other technologies, vetiver grass contributes to the livelihood of the farmers by providing raw material for house thatching, handicrafts and fodder for livestock during lean seasons.


More and more, medical practitioners use modern technologies such as apps and wearables in their treatment plan. The GDPR defines these kinds of data as 'data concerning health'. However, also the term 'medical data' is being used. Furthermore, the Council of Europe uses terms such as 'personal health data' and 'medical welfare data'. Using all these different terms makes it difficult to understand what is protected by these terms and what is not. This article gives an historical overview of the evolution of the protection of data concerning health, which also leads to a discussion on the current broad definition and offers possible solutions for the use of (the term) 'data concerning health'.


This study focuses on how teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of mathematics may differ depending on teacher interactions in an online teacher community of practice (CoP). The study utilizes data from 26,857 posts collected from the South Korean self-generated online teacher CoP, 'Indischool'. This data was then analyzed using natural language processing techniques; specifically, text classification with word2vec, BERT, and machine learning classifiers was used. The results indicate that the texts of posts can predict the level of teacher interactions in the online CoP. BERT embedding and classifier exhibited the best performance, ultimately achieving an F1 score of .756. Moreover, topic modeling utilizing BERT embedding is used to uncover the specific PCK of teachers through high- and low-interaction posts. The results reveal that high-interaction posts with numerous likes and replies demonstrate more in-depth reflections on teaching mathematics and refined PCK. This study makes two significant contributions. First, it applies a data science framework that allows for the analysis of real data from an actual online teacher community. Secondly, it sheds light on the intricacies of knowledge management in an online teacher CoP, an area that has to this point received limited empirical attention.


INTRODUCTION: Rheumatologic findings may be the first manifestation of primary humoral immunodeficiencies. The frequency of selective IgA deficiency in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA like) and juvenile systemic lupus erithematosus (JSLE) is 2% to 4% and 1% to 4%, respectively. OBJECTIVE: To describe patients with primary humoral immunodeficiencies associated with arthritis and to determine the prevalence of selective IgA deficiency within JIA and JSLE patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1983 to December 2006, 4.876 patients were followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit. A retrospective evaluation was performed in patients that presented arthritis as the first clinical manifestation of immunodeficiency. The humoral immunodeficiencies were classified into selective IgA deficiency, hypogammaglobulinemia and IgG subclass deficiency. RESULTS: Eleven patients (0.2%) had primary immunodeficiency: selective IgA deficiency occurred in 8, common variable immunodeficiency in two, and IgG subclass deficiency in one. Five of the 11 patients had an acute arthritis and six patients a chronic nonerosive arthritis (JIA-like). From the 253 JIA patients evaluated, 70 had IgA level evaluation done and 6 (8.5%) presented complete IgA deficiency (serum IgA < 7 mg/dl) (JIA-like). From the 45 JSLE patients with IgA levels evaluated, 3 (6.6%) had selective IgA deficiency diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The present study showed a low prevalence of humoral immunodeficiency in patients with rheumatic diseases. However, this association suggests that similar defects in immune response could be related to both diseases and that prospective studies are needed to elucidate this hypothesis.


Blind source separation (BSS) is the process of separating the source signals from the combined observation signals without having any idea of the source signals as well as the method of combination. Though many methods are now emerging, based on performance and quality of separated signals MILCA (mutual information based least dependent component analysis) method has its outstanding capability with better separation quality and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Its main drawback which we have analyzed is that the time taken for separation of sources is very high compared to any other existing methods. It is normally in terms of hours when the number of source signals increases. Particularly when the number of source images goes beyond 9 or 10, it takes even a day for separation of all the images in which case all other methods take time just in terms of hours. One more observation we made is when the number of sources is increased, the performance of MILCA method becomes worse compared to other methods. So, the MILCA method is preferable one who is so picky about the separation quality and SNR. Instead of considering the ordinary images if the medical images like scanned images of any of the human body parts, EEG, ECG, MEG and Photographs of medical images can also be considered and BSS concepts can be applied for retrieving a clear and diagnosable images for further analysis about the diseases.


Statement of purpose In a state where over half of households own a gun, college students are resistant to discuss the perils of gun ownership. This study compares two teaching strategies used to overcome this problem in an injury prevention class taught at a large state university in the Southeastern United States. Methods/approach Students (˜35/semester) enrolled in an upper-level undergraduate injury prevention course. The format was hybrid (twice/week in-class, once/week online). The first semester, students read a chapter on gun violence, followed by an in-class discussion. The second semester, students watched an online gun violence panel discussion of experts and wrote a reflection. During the following in-class meeting, students discussed in small groups safety concerns of professors and students carrying guns on campus. Results During the first semester, students were visibly uncomfortable, avoided talking about the topic, and indicated that they were not knowledgeable enough to discuss with peers. During the second semester, students reported learning a great deal from the online panel discussion and wrote thoughtful reflections. All groups concluded that the campus would not be safer if professors and students were allowed to carry guns. However, many stated that they might feel safer if professors carried guns, following safety training. Conclusions Observing the panel discussion and reflecting privately provided a safe space for students to reconcile their previous held beliefs with evidence. Students clearly saw dangers of gun violence, not understood previously. In spite of evidence, the experience was not strong enough to undo the belief that armed professors would protect them and that safety training is enough to counterbalance the dangers of guns. Significance/contributions Gun violence is infrequently discussed in undergraduate education. More research is needed to examine best teaching strategies to modify widely-held beliefs.


In this study, the influence of an electrochemical pre-treatment was evaluated in dyeing wastewater reuse for five reactive dyes for cotton fabrics. The most proper dyeing method was established and the influence of alkali was also studied. Wastewater was treated in an electrochemical cell at 20 Lh−1 and 40 mA/cm2 for between 3 and 15 minutes before being reused. During the electrochemical treatment the evolution of the dye degradation was evaluated by COD measurements. From the results, it can be concluded that 70% of the wastewater can be satisfactorily reused by direct bath reuse with most of the reactive dyes obtaining DE (CMC (2:1)) values below 1 with respect to the reference. Differences of DE (CMC (2:1) can be improved up to 75% by applying an electrochemical pre-treatment. In DE (CMC (2:1)) values, DL* was found to be the most influential parameter. Finally, the influence of the level of dye degradation in the wastewater was observed as non-relevant in the direct reuse of the bath for most of the studied dyes.


Many models of economic growth exclude materials, energy and other intermediate inputs from the production function. Growing environmental pressures and resource prices suggest that this may be increasingly inappropriate. This paper explores the relationship between intermediate input intensity, productivity and national accounts using a panel dataset of manufacturing subsectors in the USA over 47 years. The first contribution is to identify sectoral production functions that incorporate intermediate inputs, while allowing for heterogeneity in both technology and productivity. The second contribution is that the paper finds a negative correlation between intermediate input intensity and total factor productivity (TFP)—sectors that are less intensive in their use of intermediate inputs have higher productivity. This finding is replicated at the firm level. We propose tentative hypotheses to explain this association, but testing and further disaggregation of intermediate inputs is left for further work. Further work could also explore more directly the relationship between material inputs and economic growth—given the high proportion of materials in intermediate inputs, the results in this paper are suggestive of further work on material efficiency. Depending upon the nature of the mechanism linking a reduction in intermediate input intensity to an increase in TFP, the implications could be significant. A third contribution is to suggest that an empirical bias in productivity, as measured in national accounts, may arise due to the exclusion of intermediate inputs. Current conventions of measuring productivity in national accounts may overstate the productivity of resource-intensive sectors relative to other sectors.


PLAYGROUPS ARE COMMUNITY-BASED programs that enable the creation of social capital resources by providing opportunities for young families to network and access peer support. However, there are insufficient Australian studies on community playgroups and the extent to which new parents feel supported through their playgroup involvement. This research sought to study the ways early parental interactions in community playgroups reflect parents' social capital. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen playgroup parents in Perth, Western Australia (WA). Data gave rise to three main themes: getting together, generating stocks of social capital and missing out. The study concludes that although community playgroups have the capacity to support young families, vulnerable and socially disadvantaged individuals may continue to feel isolated, excluded or left out. A number of policy implications can be drawn from this study, including consideration for employing support workers and enhancing the community playgroup model.


This paper argues that the Middle East as an analytical or geopolitical 'concept' has become too problematic. Prophylactic measures centre on two strategies. The first is the 'dissolution' of the Middle East based on differentiated continental association. Here, Turkey and Iran are part of Europe and Asia respectively, while the rest of the Middle East—including Israel—becomes part of a 'Greater Africa'. This reclassification ensures accentuating the difference between different parts of the Middle East, to the end of reducing tension between these parts. The other strategy is based on polycentricity. The paper argues for more emphasis on polycentric constitutional orders in the spirit of Spinoza's understanding of sovereignty. This vision necessitates international treaties to underwrite charter cities as the dominant governance structure in the Middle East. Sovereignty, as envisaged by Spinoza, is the key proposition for peace in the Middle East, given this sovereignty's subsidiarity between different organisational scales (the local, national, and global). The Middle East is made of a rich mosaic of religions and ethnicities that is especially amenable to such orders. A lasting peace in the Middle East requires relinquishing the nation-state model in favour of small, non-contiguous, jurisdictions connected in loose confederal structures within the cultural milieu of different continents. Syria and Iraq are ideal for implementing this new subsidiarity approach.


Abstract Animals access resources such as food and shelter, and acquiring these resources has varying risks and benefits, depending on the suitability of the landscape. Some animals change their patterns of resource selection in space and time to optimize the trade‐off between risks and benefits. We examine the circadian variation in resource selection of swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) within a human‐modified landscape, an environment of varying suitability. We used GPS data from 48 swamp wallabies to compare the use of landscape features such as woodland and scrub, housing estates, farmland, coastal areas, wetlands, waterbodies, and roads to their availability using generalized linear mixed models. We investigated which features were selected by wallabies and determined whether the distance to different landscape features changed, depending on the time of the day. During the day, wallabies were more likely to be found within or near natural landscape features such as woodlands and scrub, wetlands, and coastal vegetation, while avoiding landscape features that may be perceived as more risky (roads, housing, waterbodies, and farmland), but those features were selected more at night. Finally, we mapped our results to predict habitat suitability for swamp wallabies in human‐modified landscapes. We showed that wallabies living in a human‐modified landscape selected different landscape features during day or night. Changing circadian patterns of resource selection might enhance the persistence of species in landscapes where resources are fragmented and disturbed.


[1] Large-scale mass wasting is a natural part of the evolution of volcanic islands, where deformation and indications of flank instability, such as large-scale faulting and seismic and aseismic slip are common. The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands) provides an ideal setting to address fundamental questions about the structure, evolution and stability of island volcanoes. The island of La Palma is still in a shield-building stage, and it has been postulated that the western side of the island lies over a pre-existing zone of weakness that can nucleate ruptures. We undertook an audiomagnetotelluric (AMT) survey over the proposed unstable western flank to try to image structures that may be associated with the zone of weakness. The magnetotelluric method (MT) is a geophysical technique used to map the presence of fluids or image important structural contrasts. The goals of this study were (1) to delineate the unstable flank, (2) to map the structures underneath and (3) to determine the presence and geometry of fluids. The results show a 1 km thick top resistive layer overlaying an area of reduced resistivity (enhanced conductivity), interpreted as a layer consisting of an alteration zone and also fluids. Our results confirm previous studies that suggested the existence of a western flank lying over collapse debris material and hyaloclastites, and also they allow us to map part of the subaerial southern extent of the Cumbre Nueva units that lie beneath the more recent Cumbre Vieja rocks. In addition, dimensionality analysis maps the rotation of the dike emplacement off ridge, along the western flank in an en echelon fashion.


Rabies remains one of the most important global public health problems worldwide. Although many important developments have been made over the past century to combat this ancient disease, Rabies has become a re-emergent infection in the developing world. The 3e updates this classic reference with comprehensive coverage of the molecular virology, pathogenesis, vaccines, public health, immunology, and epidemiology of Rabies. Chapters new to this edition cover biothreat/bioterrorism, successful wildlife control and therapies of human Rabies, and the emergence of new lyssavirus species Rabies provides physicians, public health advisors, epidemiologists, research scientists and veterinarians with single source, authoritative and up-to-date information on the diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of this fatal infectious virus that continues to kill over 70,000 people a year.

 Rabies remains a significant global public health risk with over 70,000 deaths a year

 Alan Jackson a well-known researcher in Rabies, has gathered a team of experts to detail the science, treatment, and control of Rabies

 Completely revised, the third edition presents Rabies as a re-emergent infection with greater emphasis on a global perspective of the virus.

 Provides essential information to anyone diagnosing, treating, controlling and preventing the disease.


Domestic violence is thought to be at epidemic levels in New Zealand and is considered a priority in the health care sector. This research explored the topic of domestic violence service provision from the perspectives of nine Women's Refuge advocates . The data, in the form of interview transcripts, was analysed from a feminist standpoint and Sarbin's conceptualisation of narrative analysis was utilised. Findings from the analysis suggest that there are still many barriers to both providing and accessing service provision for D.V. related issues. The Refuge advocates expressed concerns about other organisations/agencies apparent lack of education/training in D.V., different views of D.V., and negative views of Refuge. They commented on the lack of links between organisations/agencies, the problematic systems of other service providers and the resulting propensity to subject women to structural violence. These outcomes have also been found in other literature, suggesting that despite implementation of various government initiatives, there still appear to be problems within this field of service provision. The advocates also discussed the difficulties they experience within their own jobs and further research is suggested to address this issue. 1 The participants views and opinions, and my interpretations of the participants stories, do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges.


Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) is an investor-owned urban utility which provides electricity to New York City and most of Westchester County. It is representative of the older investor-owned utilities which are currently in the poorest financial condition. Although these utilities do not serve rapidly expanding service areas, the replacement of obsolete generating plants necessitates continued large capital expenditures. Present conditions raise the possibility that older investor-owned utilities cannot survive in their present form of "regulated private monopoly." The failure of Con Edison to pay a quarterly dividend on April 23, 1974 focused attention on the deteriorating financial condition of the utility industry. Investor confidence in all utility securities plummeted and an unprecedented plunge in the value of such securities followed. The key to Con Edison's financial dilemma is that revenues have not increased sufficiently to compensate for higher operating and capital costs. While some of Con Edison's problems are unique, its financial crisis stems from forces buffeting the entire utility industry. This Comment will examine its problems and make suggestions for ameliorating them.


Regenerating sensory axons in the dorsal roots of adult mammals are stopped at the junction between the root and spinal cord by reactive astrocytes. Do these cells stop axonal elongation by activating the physiological mechanisms that normally operate to stop axons during development, or do they physically obstruct the elongating axons? In order to distinguish these possibilities, the cytology of the axon tips of regenerating axons that were stopped by astrocytes was compared with the axon tips that were physically obstructed at a cul-de-sac produced by ligating a peripheral nerve. The terminals of the physically obstructed axon tips were distended with neurofilaments and other axonally transported structures that had accumulated when the axons stopped elongating. By contrast, neurofilaments did not accumulate in the tips of regenerating axons that were stopped by spinal cord astrocytes at the dorsal root transitional zone. These axo-glial terminals resembled the terminals that axons make on target neurons during normal development. On the basis of these observations, astrocytes appear to stop axons from regenerating in the mammalian spinal cord by activating the physiological stop pathway that is built into the axon and that normally operates when axons form stable terminals on target cells.


Gerhard-Henrik Armauer Hansen, a Norwegian scientist, discovered Mycobacterium leprae as the causative organism for leprosy, defying the hereditary affliction theory of the disease. He was born in Bergen, Norway in 1841 in a Danish family. After acquiring his medical degree in 1866 from the University of Oslo, he joined as an assistant physician in a leprosy hospital in Bergen. In 1873, he published his report claiming leprosy to be an infectious disease with a description of the infectious material in leprous tissue. His conviction of belief and an unstinted devotion to a lifetime of scientific research changed the way leprosy was approached as a disease. It was the fruit of his untiring work that the amended act of 1885 was passed, which resulted in steady decline in leprosy burden in Norway. In February 1912 he breathed his last, leaving behind an inspirational story of a brave heart scientist who fought all odds to unveil the truth for the benefit of mankind.


A solar energetic particle event was detected by the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (IS⊙IS) instrument suite on Parker Solar Probe (PSP) on 2019 April 4 when the spacecraft was inside of 0.17 au and less than 1 day before its second perihelion, providing an opportunity to study solar particle acceleration and transport unprecedentedly close to the source. The event was very small, with peak 1 MeV proton intensities of ∼0.3 particles (cm2 sr s MeV)−1, and was undetectable above background levels at energies above 10 MeV or in particle detectors at 1 au. It was strongly anisotropic, with intensities flowing outward from the Sun up to 30 times greater than those flowing inward persisting throughout the event. Temporal association between particle increases and small brightness surges in the extreme-ultraviolet observed by the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory, which were also accompanied by type III radio emission seen by the Electromagnetic Fields Investigation on PSP, indicates that the source of this event was an active region nearly 80° east of the nominal PSP magnetic footpoint. This suggests that the field lines expanded over a wide longitudinal range between the active region in the photosphere and the corona.